Laoag is among top rice producers in PH

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

Laoag City agriculturist Oscar Recta announced that Laoag City is a national awardee in the field of quality rice production.

The awarding ceremony will be held at Resort World Hotel Plaza in Pasay City on March 14 and Laoag City is set to receive P1 million worth of agricultural projects as prize for the award.

According to Recta, the selection for award was based on rice production wherein Laoag produced 220 cavans per hectare compared to the past years which was only about 60 cavans per hectare. In effect, the city attained a 60 percent increase for 2013.

He added that it was also based on the quality of rice produced with the use of improved varieties of rice, including hybrid rice seeds. This became possible after an ordinance was passed in the city calling for the city’s share in Republic Act 7171, or the tobacco excise tax act, to be used in the purchase of hybrid rice and corn seeds to be distributed for free to farmers.

Records show that Laoag has an estimated 3,150 hectares used for rice production with 69,300 cavans produced every planting season.

Recta also disclosed that currently, some parts of Brgys. Madiladig, Cataban, Tangid and Bengcag have at least three cropping seasons for rice after they became fully irrigated.

Meanwhile, Recta was also named the national most outstanding city agriculturist and most outstanding agriculture extension worker Josephine Aljon. Both are set to receive cash prizes of P20,000 each.

In addition to this, Recta also said that his office recently received a communication that Laoag was also adjudged as a regional winner for 2014 Gawad Saka Search as Outstanding Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council and that they would be vying for the national title.

Likewise, a farmer of Laoag, Mario Pagal of Brgy. Barit, also won as Regional Outstanding Small Animal Raiser and would also be vying for the national award.

Unluckily, Recta said that Pagal died with heart failure due to overexcitement.

Relative to this, Recta requested the DA regional office the possibility of replacing the deceased winner with his wife for the continuation of the award for the national category.

Pagal owned an integrated farming system and was a hog, goat and cow raiser.

Comments

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City. (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.

Pagudpud’s tourism transformer passes away

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Retired Philippine Air Force Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr., owner of Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte passed away on Wednesday evening, July 11, 2018. He was 67. “He did not survive an open-heart surgery,” said Ronald Dominguez, spokesperson of the largest resort at Brgy. Balaoi in Pagudpud. Known as the architect behind the transformation of Pagudpud town as a premiere destination of the north, Mr. Nolasco put up Hannah’s Beach Resort in what was originally meant as a family vacation resort. The rest is history when it expanded into more than 300-room executive villas and cabanas, with on-going infrastructure developments and set up various amenities. As a result, hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists visit here daily. The resort is on a cliff by the beach, which provides a spectacular view of the sparkling blue lagoon. “Yesterday will go down my lifeline as one

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog