The Ilocos Times

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee R. Marcos formally opens the newly constructed Sta. Magdalena Bridge in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte on July 18, 2014. Constructed with steel from France, the bridge will serve residents of at least four barangays in this side of Sarrat as well as travelers heading to Batac City. (Alaric A. Yanos) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter SARRAT, Ilocos Norte—People of this municipality were in a joyful mood after Ilocos Norte Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos inaugurated the Sta. Magdalena Bridge here on July 18. The 40-meter bridge will benefit Sarrat residents from Brgys. 13, 14, 15 and 16 as it will now also connect them to Brgy. Camandingan in Batac City. The project was worth at least P40 million and was implemented by the Dept. of Public Works and Highways’ Ilocos Norte Second Engineering District with Engr. Elmer Alfaras as project engineer. Ms. Marcos praised the beauty of the bridge as she disclosed that the steel materials used were fro

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Laoag City —In an effort to promote healthy eyes and to prevent blindness, the Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI) conducted visual screening among Ilocos Norte children aged seven and below. Dr. Leo Cubillan, PERI director, said, “Childhood blindness can be prevented if only highly specialized services that are needed to diagnose and treat it is readily available especially in rural areas.” A study of the University of the Philippines Manila-National Institute of Health shows that every year, about 531 Filipino children will go blind due to Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), an important and emerging cause of childhood blindness in the Philippines. If left untreated, ROP can cause variable degree of visual loss and can lead to complications. Aware of this situation, Rep. Imelda R. Marcos (Ilocos Norte, 2 nd district) invited PERI doctors and nurses to visit Ilocos Norte and conduct vision screening training workshop for Ilo

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —New Laoag City Jail warden J/Sr. Insp. Jerry Palalay hit the ground running in his new post. Mr. Palalay was the Batac City Jail warden prior to this transfer to the capital of Ilocos Norte. Erstwhile Laoag jail warden J/Sr. Insp. Herminigildo Rivera was transferred to the Batac jail. The warden exchange, Mr. Palalay explained is the norm in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology as both he and Mr. Rivera have both been “overstaying” in their former posts. Immediately upon assuming office at the Laoag jail, Mr. Palalay implemented several projects which he had also done with the Batac jail. Among these are vegetable gardening, dragon fruit growing and mushroom production. Mr. Palalay stressed that the Laoag jail inmates will learn mushroom production and this would later become their source of income once they are set free. The new warden also tasked the city jail personnel to clear drainage canals of the

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter San Fernando CITY, La Union—The Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office based here has shown their capability in responding to typhoon victims as typhoon ‘Glenda’ (Rammasun) barreled down Northern Luzon. Iryn Cubangbang, DSWD region I information officer said a total of 2,338 stockpile family food packs and 4,000 family food packs were prepositioned in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. At least 7,900 boxes of bottled water were also distributed to 23 LGUs, provincial operations offices, and five centers and institutions. Along with these, non-food items worth P6 million which include hygienic items, mats, blankets, water jugs, are being kept at a warehouse in Urayong, Bauang, La Union where repacking activities are also being done. As of today July 16, 2014, the Quick Action and Response Teams (QuART) have been activated in the field offices and in the provincial operati

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—The Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) continues to promote Integrated Farming System (IFS) among local farmers here as a means of poverty reduction and hunger alleviation. IFS, also known as mixed farming, is a technique that combines crop and livestock production. This technique helps farmers in reducing inputs and increasing productivity as crop residues are fed to animals while their manure is used as fertilizer. Provincial Agriculturist Norma Lagmay said that through a consolidated technology-based integrated farming system, the provincial government through the agriculture department has been distributing hybrid seeds, organic fertilizer, tilapia fingerlings and livestock source out from the province’s share of RA 7171 or tobacco excise tax as a counterpart to program beneficiaries particularly those who are on the Listahanan or the so-called National Household Targeting System (NHTS) list popularized by the Depa

Ni Jayson Lorenzo Antonio Contributor Masarakan ti ili a Piddig iti kabanbantayan a paset ti probinsia ti Ilocos Norte. Masarakan daytoy iti nagbaetan ti dua a karayan – Guisit ken Dingris. Nasin-aw tin danum dagitoy dua a karayan a kasda la ipasimudaag ti naraniag a masakbayan dagiti agindeg iti daytoy a lugar. Dagiti immuna a nagindeg iti ili ti Piddig ket dagiti Tingguian. Isuda ti nangwaknit iti lugar ket pinagbalinda ti kabanbantayan a paset ti lugar a pagtatalonan. Ti Piddig ket dati a managnaganan iti Pidipid a kayatna a sawen, lugar a masarakan iti turod ken bambantay. Nabuangay ti Piddig kas maysa a visita ti Dingras a kayatna a sawen maymaysa ti padi wenno curaparroco kadagitoy a lugar. Dagiti papadi nga Agustino ti immuna a grupo ti misionero nga   immay nangitandudo ti Kristiyanismo iti lugar. Ni Apo Santa Ana, nga ina ni Birhen