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