The Ilocos Times

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —In a move to help avoid future wide-scale flooding in the province and with the effect of typhoon Ineng in 2019 still fresh on everyone’s minds, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) along with four government agencies officially launched Phase 1 of the Padsan River Restoration Project through a ceremonial dredging in Metro Gabu, this city, on Dec. 15, 2022. PGIN, through the Provincial Quarry Office, has been collaborating with the Depts. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), as well as the official contractor, He Sha Prime Sand & Gravel Aggregates Philippines Inc., to conduct vital research, studies, and campaigns for the project. Present during the ceremonial dredging were Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, regional d

The waste issue is a global problem as shown here in a photo of a dump site that can be found everywhere in the world. (File photo) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —In a concerted effort and continuing action of a global scale to address the negative impact of the excessive use and disposal of hazardous wastes, the city government here has reiterated the ban on the use of plastic bags and Styrofoam packaging. City environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) Mylene Isabel Pascual said the use of said packaging has resulted in environmental degradation, flooding, problems on sanitation and worst of all, climate change. The local government units (LGUs) “has a sublime responsibility must have to protect the constituency from the harmful or even fatal effects as ill results of disregarding the environment and therefore must support this move to save Mother Earth from total degradation”. Citing Article II Section 6 of the Philippine Constitution, it provid

ECO-FRIENDLY. On Oct. 20, 2021, a worker at the newly-inaugurated Ilocos Norte Eco Hub demonstrates to local officials of the province led by Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos how the stripped plastic sachets are mix with cement to produce eco-bricks. Also shown in the background photo are eco-bricks used in the construction of the first eco hub in the province which is envisioned to be replicated in various parts of the province to help beat plastic pollution. ( Lei G. Adriano) Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—The province of Ilocos Norte is heading towards beating plastic pollution with the manufacturing of eco-bricks using recycled plastic wastes for construction purposes. Located along the national highway at Sitio Bato, Brgy. Tonoton in Piddig, Ilocos Norte the project is a model eco hub recycling facility, the first of its kind in Ilocos region. Through a public and private partnership agreement between the Ayala-led renewable energy corporation-North Luzon

Heads and officers of Green Antz Builders and the Ayala Corporation with Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Marcos-Araneta and Piddig Mayor Eddie Guillen lead the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ilocos Norte Eco Hub located at Brgy. Tonoton in Piddig, Ilocos Norte. ( Green Antz Builders photo) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Piddig , Ilocos Norte—First in Ilocos. The Green Antz Builders and the Ayala Renewable Energy Corporation in cooperation with the provincial government of Ilocos Norte and the municipal government of Piddig launched the first EcoHub recycling facility, dubbed as Green Antz Ilocos Norte EcoHub, with the ground breaking ceremony held at Sitio Bato, Brgy. 6 Tonoton in Piddig, Ilocos Norte on July 30, 2021. The “eco-friendly project” aims to convert plastic wastes into hollow blocks and bricks for construction purposes. Piddig Mayor Eddie Guillen thanked the two big companies as this project is part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to Ilo

Laoag City —The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and the city government of Laoag will soon establish a nipa plantation in the city of Laoag. In a resolution, certified as urgent by Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon, and unanimously approved by the city council sponsored by the committee of the whole led by Laoag councilor Juan Conrado Respicio as movant, MMSU and Laoag City will enter a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the said purpose. Respicio, who chairs the committee on ethics, rules and regulations, said the nipa resource establishment supports the “Expanded National Greening Program” and the production of bio-ethanol, a climate change mitigation and a source of livelihood. The nipa, which is a mangrove species, has been shown by MMSU as a promising source of bioethanol to augment the shortage of locally produced bioethanol as required by RA 9367 known as Biofuels Act of 2006 and reduce the country’s dependency on imported fossil fuels. “The valuable economic and ecologi

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) City of Batac —Mayor Albert D. Chua recently confirmed that a developer has approached the city government to put up a large-scale solar power plant at Brgys. Camandingan, San Pedro and Biningan in this city. In view of this, Chua endorsed the letter of intent submitted by Apolaki One, Inc. to the Sangguniang Panlungsod here for evaluation and deliberation. He added that the city council will also verify whether the mentioned barangays are incorporated in the city’s 10-year development plan of the city as some areas of those barangays can be water sources and tourist destinations. Chua added that the proposed power plant is a lengthy project that needs thorough study as well as the approval of the Dept. of Energy, Dept. Environment and Natural Resources and other national agencies. The mayor also said that it will also require resolutions from the identified barangays and the Sangguniang Panlungsod. The mayor disclosed that the develope

BACK INTO THE SEA. Sea turtles find their way home after their accidental capture by a fishing gear on Feb. 25, 2021. The female Olive Ridley turtles weighed approximately eight to 10.5 kilos each. ( Photo courtesy of Raymond Sesuca) By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—Three more female green sea turtles, weighing approximately eight to 10.5 kilos each, were found and rescued at Ayoyo Cove along Brgy. Caparispisan, this town on Feb. 25, 2021. The village hosts an 81-megawatt wind farm covering a 625-hectare forest reserve. At around 6:30 am, local fishermen said their fishing gear accidentally captured the reptiles, prompting them to call the attention of barangay officials and volunteers of the Pagudpud Pawikan Conservation Group patrolling the shoreline for possible nesting and hatching events during this time of turtle migration period. Raymond Sesuca, a volunteer of the said group and corporate social responsibility (CSR) manager of the town

(From left) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 6 Regional Director and Lead Convenor for Fisheries Management Area 11 Remia Aparri, Acting USAID Environment Office Director Paul Seong, USAID Fish Right Program Chief of Party Nygiel Armada, RMN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Erika Sanchez, and RMN Chairman and President Eric Canoy formally launch the USAID-RMN partnership on marine conservation. Manila —The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) Foundation formalized a media partnership to promote marine conservation in the Philippines.   The partnership will target coastal communities that rely on radio as a source of information and entertainment in the Visayan region, the country’s seafood capital and home to more than 140,000 small-scale fishers.   USAID, through its Fish Right project, and RMN, will produce and distribute messages on biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries manag

By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte—Coastal villagers at Brgy. Caparispisan, this town, cheered with glee as they watched a female green sea turtle measuring 102 centimeters long and 97 centimeters wide crawl its way to the sea on Jan. 14, 2021. Henelyn Alterado, president of the lifeguard association in this town said in a phone interview that a fisherman spotted the green sea turtle nestling in a beach front owned by the family of Pagudpud mayor Rafael Benemerito at about 3:00 am on Jan. 14, 2021. "The fisherman immediately reported what he saw to a village chief tanod and relayed it immediately to local authorities,” said Alterado who is also an active member of the Pagudpud Pawikan Conservation Group. Following the conduct of a training on Pawikan conservation, Alterado said more and more villagers are now becoming more aware of their responsibilities towards nature particularly on saving these endangered species. Since November last year,

Laoag City recently won as the cleanest and greenest city in the province. (File photo) By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) commended Laoag City’s 10-year solid waste management (SWM) plan. Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon presented the plan to the 14-members NSWMC group who came from the different government sectors and non-government organizations, particularly in the recycling and plastic industry. The mayor said the 10-year plan is all about the future strategy and course of action of the city regarding the proper management of wastes. The presentation included the city’s projection on the collection, storage, transfer and disposal of wastes collected from the different households and establishments including diversion of wastes for the next 10 years.   According to the mayor, the city’s SWM plan garnered favorable response from the NSWMC compared in the past 20 years when city failed to present the plan

  Laoag mayor Michael M. Keon receives a plaque of recognition and a P250,000.00 check as the winner in the search for the cleanest and greenest city in the province of Ilocos Norte. The awarding was witnessed by VG Cecilia Araneta Marcos, PENR officer Ms. Estrella 'Baby' Sacro and DENR-IN provincial director Vic Dabalos.  (CMO-Laoag photo) By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Laoag City —Laoag City and the municipality of Nueva Era emerged as this year’s “cleanest and greenest” local government units (LGUs) of Ilocos Norte.   Under the “Narimat nga Aglawlaw” (A Brighter Environment) campaign of Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, the provincial government, through its environment and natural resources office (ENRO), started the province-wide “Search for the Cleanest and Greenest Competition” last year to challenge component local government units to improve their waste management.  Held at the Sirib Mile on December 9, 2020, Laoag City won its second

By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—The Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources on Dec. 7, 2020 released the rescued Brahminy kite, formerly known as red-backed sea eagle and locally known as “lawin,” into the wilds of a thickly forested mountain of Brgy. Sulbec in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte. DENR personnel watched as the lawin as was set free from its cage. At first, the bird seemed reluctant to leave the cage despite encouragement from the DENR personnel. Eugenio R. Santos Jr., in-charge of the office of the chief, technical services division took custody of the Brahminy Kite after it was turned over to the DENR office on the afternoon of Dec. 5, 2020. Mr. Santos said the Brahminy Kite is of the raptors species common in the Philippines and is considered as endangered and protected. Initially, the DENR planned to turn over the Brahminy Kite to the Fort Ilocandia Bird Sanctuary but Mr. Santos said it is better if it they release to the wild to find his pack

By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—The city government here is eyeing the establishment of an organic composting facility in a three-hectare idle lot located at Brgy. Camangaan, this city. The organic composting facility aims to reduce the volume of wastes being generated in the city as the collected biodegradable wastes will be converted as organic fertilizer for farmers. Laoag mayor Michael M. Keon said this is a welcome development for all Laoag residents as the project is expected to create more jobs and to prolong the lifespan of the city landfill. "The proposed site will be put up on a 3-hectare lot offered by the family of Virgil Corpuz, uncle of our OIC provincial environment and natural resources officer, Estrella “Baby” Sacro, subject to a usufruct agreement, which will be effective for a period of 25 years and may be renewed thereafter,” said Mr. Keon. In addition to the organic composting facility, the city will also host a plastic recycling

By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—Owing to massive river siltation and soil erosion in this town, Pagudpud mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito sought the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to reconsider the grant of gratuitous permit to the local government unit in order to extract quarry resources from the silted rivers at Brgys. Dampig, Saguigui, Pancian, Pasaleng, Burayoc and Caparispisan. The mayor likewise urged local communities to support the DENR’s greening program as part of mitigating the impact of climate change and help preserved the town’s remaining forest cover. In October, this year, Mr. Benemerito was accused of illegal quarrying in his town, prompting members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to recommend to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc to revoke the municipality’s gratuitous permit for violations of its terms and conditions. Based on the investigation report of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, it

  By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Jail will soon have a stable source of fresh vegetables grown on a healthy soil which they themselves produce out of scraps from the kitchen. As a pilot site for household composting and community gardening project, at least 162 PDLs at the INPJ are currently being trained to turn their food wastes into organic soil. The organic soil comes from fermented food wastes mix with locally-available materials that helps in faster decomposition without foul odor. Using improvised bucket with tight cover and a faucet for draining purposes, food wastes are properly segregated so that these may no longer be transported to the city landfill which are becoming congested due to increasing waste production. During the launching of the household composting project, Estrella Sacro, chief of the provincial government’s environment and natural resources office said, “It is h

  Law enforcers witness a "slash-and-burn" site just a kilometer away from one of the town's pristine waterfalls where tourists enjoy trekking and swimming on July 11, 2020. Adams tourism officer Anavic Medrano said the area is covered with cogon grass and it will be planted with banana saplings. ( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie G. Adriano ( Staff Reporter) Adams, Ilocos Norte —The provincial government’s Environment and Natural Resources Office sounded the alarm on the rampant practice of slash-and-burn farming in this eco-tourism destination of the north. During a tree-planting program on July 11, 2020 with the ENRO and the Philippine National Police and a non-government organization participating, ENRO chief Estrellla “Baby” Sacro expressed her dismay on the rampant practice of slash-and-burn practice in this municipality, which she personally witnessed during the said activity. Overlooking a lush forest and streams that surround a population of less than 2,000, or a