Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos leads the inauguration of the three-storey pay ward building of the Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital...

PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL UPGRADE. Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos leads the inauguration of the three-storey pay ward building of the Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital. The new edifice features luxurious rooms for paying patients as it tries to generate income for the hospital’s operation. ALARIC YANOS

source: The Ilocos Times - December 6 - December 12 2010 issue

WINNERS ALL

WINNERS ALL. Members of INEC’s district election committee declare (from top left) Dr. Diosdado Garvida of District I, Marlon Valdez of District 4, Virgilio Calajate of District 7 and John Que of District 11 as winners of the board elections held last month. All of the four run unopposed in their respective districts.

source: The Ilocos Times - November 29 - December 5 2010 issue

Local members of the tri-media joined the entire nation in commemorating the first anniversary of the gruesome Maguindanao Massacre...

NEVER AGAIN. Local members of the tri-media joined the entire nation in commemorating the first anniversary of the gruesome Maguindanao Massacre where 58 people, including 32 mediapersons, were brutally murdered. LANIE ADRIANO

source: The Ilocos Times - November 22 - November 28, 2010 issue

Expensive lots turn off potential Ilocos Norte investors

BY LEILANIE G. ADRIANO
STAFF REPORTER

ASK SEVERAL prospective businessmen to come and invest in Ilocos Norte’s attractive market niche and they will cite that they have second thoughts due to expensive lots around the city.

This is because Ilocanos value their land so much — whether it is generating income or underutilized, that makes it so hard for them to let go because of its “emotional value,” said Felino “Jun” A. Palafox Jr., the principal architect and wellknown urban planner of the Palafox Associates and whom the Marcos administration personally tapped to stir change and development to propel Ilocos Norte’s to the next level of tourism and investment ventures.

The high price of lots in the province as compared to the prime lots in Metro Manila however makes investors hesitant to establish their businesses here.

More budget airlines needed at Laoag airport

BY LEILANIE G. ADRIANO
STAFF REPORTER

WHILE LAYING the blue prints of this province’s new face to the world, the Laoag International Airport (LIA) needs more budget airlines to provide better passenger service to the growing number of tourists and visitors coming in.

As the yuletide season is fast approaching, air passengers wish to have more budget airlines servicing the Manila-Laoag routes and vice versa as bookings as early as November are already full.

Architect Jun Palafox in his capacity as principal architect and urban planner of Ilocos Norte’s major tourism master plan said these problems have to be addressed soon by inviting more passenger airlines to service this northern gateway of Luzon.

At present, daily flights are offered by at least two airlines servicing the Laoag airport’s round the clock operation. Several chartered flights to Hong Kong and Kaohsiung has been temporarily stopped due to the Quirino Grandstand incident.

Governor Imee Marcos offers a suggestion on improving the packaging of native delicacies...

ILOCOS Norte Governor Imee Marcos offers a suggestion on improving the packaging of native delicacies made by the people of Currimao. Various other Ilocano products are featured in the DTI’s “Partuat ti Kailokuan” trade fair at the Ilocano Heroes Hall in Laoag City from November 11-22, 2010. ALARIC YANOS

source: The Ilocos Times - November 15 - November 21, 2010 issue

NEW INDONESIAN Ambassador Kristiartos Legowo and wife Caecilia presents a token of gratitude...

NEW INDONESIAN Ambassador Kristiartos Legowo and wife Caecilia presents a token of gratitude to Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Angelo Marcos- Barba on November 9 during the Indonesian delegate’s courtesy call and visit in the province. PHOTO BY ARIEL TEJADA

source: The Ilocos Times - November 8 - November 14 2010 issue

Central Java in Indonesia eyes sisterhood ties with Ilocos Norte

BY LEILANIE G. A DRIANO AND DOMINIC B. DELA CRUZ
STAFF REPORTERS

THE NEW Indonesian am- bassador to the Philippines Kristiartos Legowo offered friendship to Ilocanos here as he visited this province on November 9.

During his first visit to Laoag City, he told reporters at the Pro- vincial Capitol on Tuesday, No- vember 9, 2010 that the proposed sisterhood relationship to be forged between Central Java in Indonesia and Ilocos Norte would open opportunities for both provinces.

“We believe that the great- est form of diplomacy is through personal friendships,” said Legowo following his courtesy call at the Ilocos Norte Capitol with his wife and other delegates to Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo M. Barba who was then the acting governor as Ilocos Norte Gov. Ma. Imelda R. Marcos was reportedly on travel to China.

Personnel of the Provincial Engineering Office cut narra trees in front of the Ilocos Norte Capitol...

BEAUTY AND ENVIRONMENT. Personnel of the Provincial Engineering Office cut narra trees in front of the Ilocos Norte Capitol to give way to a new look in line with the on-going renovation of the Provincial Capitol building. The DENR granted permit to the provincial government to cut the trees. ARIEL TEJADA, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA OFFICE

source: The Ilocos Times - November 1 - November 7 2010 issue

Incumbent Badoc-Pinili INEC director retains seat

BY DOMINIC B. DELA CRUZ
STAFF REPORTER

INCUMBENT Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative Director Virgilio Calajate was re-elected on the Badoc-Pinili district after no one challenged his re-election bid.

The district election, which was set for November 6, gave 10 days prior to the date for other candidates to file their candidacy; however no one has filed until the 10-day pe- riod lapsed.

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos gets a firsthand look at the rescue equipment...

PREPARED. Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos gets a firsthand look at the rescue equipment brought to the Provincial Capitol by the Philippine Air Force 505th Search and Rescue Team in preparation to the then immediate threat brought by typhoon Juan over Northern Luzon. ALARIC YANOS

source: The Ilocos Times - October 18-24, 2010 issue

Pagudpud oil spill threatens to tourism, marine resources

BY LEILANIE G. A DRIANO
STAFF REPORTER

PAGUDPUD, Ilocos Norte— Resort owners and fishermen directly affected by an oil spill in Barangay Balaoi in this town are being threatened with loss their regular income in the next few years if gov- ernment authorities fail to respond quickly to contain the more than three-kilome- ter oil spillage of a wrecked North Korean vessel that ran aground the Pagudpud shoreline in early January.

Super typhoon Juan aggravated the cranks of the vessel’s bunker oil containing about 160,000 liters on its upper deck, leaking about 30 liters per hour.