FLOODED. Rice farms in Barangay Bernabe, Laoag City remain submerged in floodwater on Wednesday (Aug. 24, 2022) due to the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Florita. Mayor Michael Keon said there is a need to dredge creeks, get rid of water lilies, and improve the city's drainage system to prevent flooding. (Photo by Leilanie Adriano) LAOAG CITY - Strong winds and heavy rains brought about by Severe Tropical Storm Florita have left over PHP10 million worth of initial damage, the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) bared Wednesday. Based on its report, the PDRRMC said the biggest damage was to infrastructure which included an old bridge in Barangay Badio that collapsed on Monday afternoon due to raging waters. Other ongoing flood control projects and a temporary bridge in Nagrebcan, San Nicolas town were also washed out. "The damage could have been worst but we are thankful the storm did not directly hit us," said Marcel Tabije, head of the PDRRMC. As
COLLAPSED BRIDGE. A bridge in Barangay Badio, Pinili, Ilocos Norte collapses on Monday (Aug. 22, 2022) due to raging waters brought about by Severe Tropical Storm Florita. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc suspended work and classes on Tuesday (Aug. 23, 2022) as he urged residents to brace for the storm. (Photo courtesy of Rod Sadian) LAOAG CITY - Ilocos Norte residents have been bracing all day for the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Florita as the weather disturbance continued to bring light to moderate rains in this part of Luzon. While inspecting typhoon damage in Batac City with several flooded homes due to the swelling of the Quiaoit River, Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc on Tuesday reiterated his call to all concerned residents, particularly those living in flood-prone areas, to prepare for the storm. "Please exercise caution and make preparations as this is only the calm before the storm," Manotoc said as his team left Batac and proceeded to neighboring Pi
ILOCOS INFLATABLE ISLAND. An inflatable island is being set up at Paoay Lake which is expected to open this December. The province of Ilocos Norte continues to invest in outdoor tourism as part of its economic recovery amid the pandemic.(Photo courtesy of Ilocos Norte Tourism) LAOAG CITY - The province of Ilocos Norte keeps on innovating outdoor sites as tourism stakeholders find ways to bounce back in the "new normal" amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. As 2021 ends, the Department of Tourism (DOT) along with the 21 towns and two cities of Ilocos Norte are rebooting the province's tourism development framework focusing on promoting more outdoor sites to attract tourists with no more testing required at the provincial borders for fully vaccinated individuals. As of Dec. 22, 2021, the Pinili tourist triage has registered a total of 15,741 tourists since Oct. 1, 2020, with more tourists arriving when Ilocos Norte started to relax its travel protocols amon