The Ilocos Times

VINTAR  residents revive loom weaving that once thrived in the community. (Photo courtesy of Erwin Suguitan) By Leilanie G. Adriano Vintar, Ilocos Norte—A vintage photo of a woman manually spinning thread in Vintar, Ilocos Norte, documented by an American writer in 1920, has sparked interest among residents to revive a cultural gem that once flourished in this landlocked municipality. Vintar, located some 330 miles north of Manila, was once known for Abel Iloco or Inabel, the traditional loom weaving industry. "A good friend sent this photo to me and I thought what a glorious way to display the history and culture of Vintar,” municipal tourism officer Erwin Suguitan told The Ilocos Times . He said the industry was said to have flourished “in the north of the river,” citing as proof a loom weaving machine displayed at the Museo de Siwawer at Brgy. Abkir. “And now, here comes this picture and its writeup that was copyrighted by a certain H. V. Rohrer and taken from the US

  ASF in Vintar. Vintar Vice Mayor Victor Amado Rasimo confirms that Brgy. Dipilat of his town is ASF-affected during an interview with the local media. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—The African swine fever (ASF) has now affected this town. Vintar Vice Mayor Victor Amado Rasimo personally confirmed this in an interview with the local media. Rasimo reported that they have culled 581 ASF-infected hogs at Brgy. Dipilat here. He said he and municipal agriculturist Dr. Myrna Simon have already met with the provincial ASF task force twice, which confirmed the ASF cases in the said barangay. “ Isu a pangngaasi tayo appo lalo dagiti adda taraken na a baboy ti intero a Vintar ta ipalubos tayo kuma a maalaan iti blood samples dagiti baboy tayo tapnu saan kuman nga agwaras ken al-alisto met laeng a mai- declare ti ili tayo nga ASF-free no maduktalan a negative dagiti taraken tayo a baboy ,” Rasimo implored his townmates. With

Vintar municipal health officer Dr. Heidi Albano (standing, right) speaks to the members of the Sangguniang Bayan presided over by Vintar vice mayor Amado Victor Racimo (seated, left) on the Jan. 18, 2021 regular session regarding the plan of the said municipality for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Of the 23 local government units (LGUs) in the province, Vintar is still among those few which has yet to pass its 2021 annual budget. In an interview with Vintar Sangguniang Bayan member Arlene Ruadap, she disclosed that the proposed budget of said municipality for CY 2021 was still under review due to lack of documents needed and they are still incorporating additional items. In the proposed budget, Ruadap, who chairs the committee on finance and appropriations, said the municipality of Vintar deemed it proper to incorporate financial assistance for the transport sector, like the tricycle and jeepn

By Dominic B. dela Cruz  (Staff Reporter) Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Vintar vice mayor Amado Victor Rasimo proposed the establishment of a financial aid for children with disabilities (CWDs) program. He said this will affirm the municipal government’s role in providing additional benefits and privileges for persons with disabilities (PWD’s) as provided under RA 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons as amended by RA 9442. Mr. Rasimo explained that the program aims to institutionalize the grant of a regular financial aid “to those who have less in life”, particularly indigent children with disabilities. As the author of the measure, the vice mayor and council presiding officer said the Vintar government adheres to the declared policy of the state by prioritizing the needs of the underprivileged, sick elderly, disabled, women and children as provided in Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution. The program will provide to all qualified indigent chil

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—Intermediate students in this town no longer need to share books during classroom discussions as they enjoy watching high quality video and photos flashed on screen while their teachers discuss the presentation. For a teacher like Flordeliza Domingo of this town, she said they feel so lucky to enjoy the benefits of a 21 st century school as the local government unit of Vintar is giving priority to the needs of their students. Sourced from the town’s Special Education Fund, the municipal government here allocated about PHP940,000 for the purchase of 114 cameras to all schools in this first-class municipality. The cameras, AverVision U50 5.0 megapixel features an auto focus lens up to 25-30 FPS live video capture, which students and teacher can use to project materials such as textbooks and other visual aid. It can also shoot clear pictures and videos. “We are thankful to the local government unit

  Vintar Vice Mayor Amado Victor Rasimo assists provincial veterinary officer Dr. Loida Valenzuela in the distribution of 321 goats to Vintar farmers. The recipients are those farmers whose crops were destroyed by typhoon “Ompong” two years ago. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—The Department of Agriculture (DA) thru the Provincial Veterinary (PVet) Office distributed 321 goats to farmers here. The farmer-beneficiaries were affected by the typhoon “Ompong” two years ago. PVet head Dr. Loida Valenzuela led the distribution of the said goats assisted by Vintar Vice Mayor Amado Victor Rasimo and several members of the Sangguniang Bayan. Dr. Valenzuela said the beneficiaries are farmers whose crops and animals were affected by “Ompong”. The Ilocos Times learned that former Ilocos Norte Governor, now Senator Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos has requested this rehabilitation for farmers not only in Vintar but in t

Vintar Vice Mayor Amado Victor Racimo, representing the municipal government, meets the delegates from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the DPWH regional office on January 9, 2019 to verify the proposed rehabilitation of the hanging bridges destroyed by typhoon Ineng at Brgys. Isic-Isic and Lipay. The said project has an appropriated budget of PHP3 million and PHP8 million respectively, which was already approved. The Vintar government hopes the project will start at the soonest possible time. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—To strictly implement approved municipal ordinances here, Vintar Mayor Larisa C. Foronda issued an executive order (EO) deputizing several municipal employees and barangay officials, both elected and appointed, as citation officers. The EO states that the there are many violations of municipal ordinances without any apprehensions. This issue came out during a Municipal Peace and Order Council meeting. To correct this, Mrs. Foronda issued the EO to deputize municipal government employees and barangay officials to apprehended violators of this town’s ordinances. In addition, the EO will also help the municipal government in earning additional income through the fines prescribed for violations of ordinances here. The municipal government has also deputized local police and fire officers as citation officers. The EO also advised apprehended violators to pay their penalties at the municipal treasury off

By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor LAOAG City —ZAK Green Energy Philippines plans to put-up a mini hydropower plant in Vintar, Ilocos Norte. The said project is set to generate electricity using water source from the river particularly at Brgy. Canaam in the said town using the modernized ‘diversion type hydro plant’.   From the water source, they will use large steel pipes down to the ‘Power House’ where the water turbines are located. The hydro plant can produce 12 megawatts (MW) of power that can cater to about 10,000 households near it. Atty. Jingboy Atonen, ZAK’s legal counsel said the project cost is more than PHP1.5 billion. The project’s completion will take up to five years, or in 2024 if it starts this year. The project’s design officer Engr. Warlito Ramos, meanwhile, assures that there will be no dredging activity in the area. Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Atty. Saul Lazo, however said he is worried about the hazardous effects of the said

Vintar Vice Mayor Victor Amado Rasimo and other members of the Sangguniang Bayan discuss amendments to their internal rules of procedures for better work input as the new set of councilors begin their terms. (Doms dela Cruz )

Vintar Mayor Larisa Foronda delivers her State of the Municipal Address (SOMA) before other town officials and her constituents including municipal councilors headed by Vintar Vice Mayor and presiding officer Victor Rasimo, barangay officials, NGOs, NGAs, stakeholders and the public. She reported the municipal government’s accomplishments in her first three-year term of office. Mrs. Foronda specifically mentioned in her administration’s accomplishments with the help of the Sangguniang Bayan in all areas of agriculture, tourism, education, environment, infrastructure, and health among others. The mayor promised that her administration will continue to serve the people of Vintar in the next three years if she is given the chance to serve for her second term of office in the upcoming midterm elections. (Doms Dela Cruz)

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—In time for the summer season, the municipal government here launched another extreme adventure activity in the north that will surely entice both local and foreign tourists. Measuring around 230 meters, the very first bike zipline in the Ilocos region is being managed by the Vintar government led by Mayor Larisa Foronda. Located at Sitio Bucana in Brgy. Parparuroc, or about eight kilometers from downtown Laoag City, Mrs. Foronda hopes this latest tourism attraction in her hometown will awaken the town’s tourism potentials and bring in more livelihood opportunities to the locals. During the launching, provincial government tourism head Aianree Raquel has lauded the efforts of Vintar officials and those behind the realization of the project, offering something new for first time and returning visitors in the province. “We’ve seen and always know that Vintar has a very strong potential in terms of

Engr. Rudy G. Acacio (third from left), chief administrative officer of the provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Ilocos Norte, leads the reorganization of the Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee (BARC) at Brgy. Salsalamagui, Vintar. Among the functions of BARC is to mediate and conciliate parties involved in agrarian disputes at the barangay level. DAR Ilocos Norte is set to reorganize and strengthen the BARC in all barangays in the province. (Jorge Richard P. Guerrero)

SOON TO RISE . A bridge connecting Vintar poblacion to barangays north of the Bislak River will soon rise in this area.  ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—This town will soon have a bridge that will connect its poblacion area with barangays on the other side of the Bislak River. Rep. Rodolfo “Rudy” C. Fariñas (Ilocos Norte, 1 st district) initiated the project with an estimated fund of PHP300 million. Vintar vice mayor Amado Victor R. Racimo Jr. made the announcement. He said the Dept. if Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is conducting soil testing for the project. He said the bridge will measure at least 320 meters. The bridge will connect Vintar’s poblacion area to Brgys. Alsem, Salsalamagi, PF Alviar, Abkir, Columbia, Cabisuculan, Malampa and Manarang, all located north of the Bislak River. Brgy. Abkir kagawad Jojo Cumlat said that during the rainy season, barangays on the other side of the ri

VINTAR  vice mayor Victor Racimo leads the release of at least 10,000 tilapia fingerlings Sitio Nagalangan, Tamdagan in Vintar, Ilocos Norte. The Ilocos Norte provincial government provided the tilapia fingerlings.(Doms dela Cruz )

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Vintar , Ilocos Norte—The Soroptimist International of Ilocos Norte, with Atty. Atty. Amuerfina A. Respicio leading it, adopted Brgy. Mabanbanag in this town for its “Adopt-A-Barangay” project. The group signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA)was signed with Brgy. Mabanbanag chairperson Evelyn Carsola. Present during the signing were Vintar mayor Larissa Foronda; Dr. Louie Agnir-Paraan, Vice-President of Northern Christian College and Laoag City councilor Portia Respicio Salenda, both officers of Soroptimist of Ilocos Norte, witnessed the signing along with other barangay and local education officials. After the MOA signing, club officers distributed new pairs of shoes, shirts and stuffed toys to all the 45 pupils of Mabanbanag Primary School. Soroptimist International Northern Luzon District Director, Dr. Asuncion Pagdilao, former Mayor of Pinili, Ilocos Norte witnessed the distribution.