ONGOING CONSTRUCTION. Men are at work at the ongoing construction of the Ilocos Norte Capitol expansion building in this undated photo. Big construction projects such as this contribute to the high demand for sand in Ilocos Norte. (Photo by Leilanie Adriano) LAOAG CITY - Sustained infrastructure development in Ilocos Norte amid a pandemic has raised its quarry collections to PHP43.8 million in 2021 as compared to the PHP26.8 million figure in the previous year, the Provincial Quarry Office said Friday. In a phone interview, provincial administrator Yvette Convento-Leynes said the 40-percent increase in the 2021 quarry collections is attributed to the high demand for sand for various government and private projects. "We are thankful for the cooperation and high compliance of our quarry permittees in paying their dues to the government," she said. With this, the Commission on Audit has commended the Provincial Quarry Office under the provincial government for exceeding its quar