List of Classified Caves

Frank Cimatu, PDI - North Luzon Bureau For comments, suggestions and inquiries, please call (074) 442-2150/8240 or email at nclcluster.pia@gmail.com

Yearend usually brings a rundown of previous achievements that mark the end of a productive year.

Ilocos Norte, however, is marking the end of 2011 with a parade of fresh private and government-initiated investments as a prelude to brighter business climate come 2012.

Consider these: Commercial structures around the capital city of Laoag have sprouted like mushrooms from SM's Savemore Store, the La Tabacalera business complex courtesy of the provincial government and a couple of business centers in downtown Laoag indicating an upbeat economy in the coming days.

Giant mall chain Robinsons has outran its competition when it built its first full-service mall in San Nicolas town in 2009. Housed inside the sprawling Valdez Center in San Nicolas town, Robinsons is complemented by a homegrown commercial joint, the 365 Plaza, a family enterprise of the Valdez clan that include San Nicolas Mayor Alfredo Valdez, Jr.

Waiting in the wings is a flood of businesses from yet another store chain Puregold, Wilcon household depot and realty projects namely Robinsons Land Development Corporation and Camella Homes.

Ilocos Norte's investment efforts form part of a larger road map under the Philippine Development Plan that President Benigno Aquino III laid down for the next five years from 2011 to 2016. To support the plan, regional growth centers across the country came out with their own Regional Development Plans to synchronize national and local development plans.

Considering the volley of businesses in December alone, Ilocos Norte is off to a head start. The province is clearly building its position as one of the key trading and tourism hubs in Northern Luzon.

Consistent with the Ilocos Regional Development Plan strategies, the province is taking advantage of its proximity to both East and Southeast Asian countries as a leverage to establish priority investment areas from agribusiness, agri-tourism, business process outsourcing, logistics and, of course, tourism.

Not to be outdone, the capital city of Laoag is complementing the province's efforts in sustaining large-scale businesses by accommodating new private business ventures. Next to SM SaveMore is the establishment of Puregold Supermart in downtown Laoag and a new branch of Wilcon depot, the home of the biggest industrial and household supplies. Talks of the entry of SM mall in the near future has not ceased after the opening of SaveMore last December 13.

Amidst the drone generated by economic activities, the province is not losing its charm as a community replete of rich cultural heritage where every Ilocano from here and far could always take pride as their best kept secret.

Cristina Arzadon, PIA-1

Ending the year with new beginnings

StoryStory

Lantern parade and Walking Christmas Decoration Competition participatedby barangay mates and pupils at Laoag City

Lantern parade and Walking Christmas Decoration Competition participatedby barangay mates and pupils at Laoag City

Media fellowship with Cagayan media practitioners sponsored by the Provincial Government of Cagayan, Kainang Pilipino at Tuguegarao City

Media fellowship with Cagayan media practitioners sponsored by the Provincial Government of Cagayan, Kainang Pilipino at Tuguegarao City

"Cruceiro: Spanish Galicia at some Crossroads in Philippine History and Culture" authored by Lino Dizon, a Kapampangan, and Jose Rodriguez, a spanish. Held at Holy Angel University in

Angeles City, Pampanga

"Cruceiro: Spanish Galicia at some Crossroads in Philippine History and Culture" authored by Lino Dizon, a Kapampangan, and Jose Rodriguez, a spanish. Held at Holy Angel University in

Angeles City, Pampanga

"PARTY IN THE RUINS" - Christmas Party of the students of Dominican Elementary School at the Dominican Heritage Hill hosted by the the Baguio Character Council and city officials

(photo by Paul Rillorta, PIO Baguio City)

"PARTY IN THE RUINS" - Christmas Party of the students of Dominican Elementary School at the Dominican Heritage Hill hosted by the the Baguio Character Council and city officials

(photo by Paul Rillorta, PIO Baguio City)

,PDI

Statisticsby: BAS/DA

National Statistical Coordination Board

Ilocos Norte Crime Statistics

Every Thursday

PIA Hour, DZWT, Bonifacio St. Baguio City

3

Dec 12 Enhancing Social Contract Thru Transparency & Accountability Forum with

Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales Baguio Country Club

Dec 16 111th Itogon Foundation Anniversary

Dec 16 CARE-CESG General Assembly and Year-end Assessment

NEAP Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio Cit

Dec 15 4th Quarter Meeting RLECC & Christmas Party, Log Cabin, PRO-COR, Camp Dangwa

Transparency International – Philippines Forum on graft and corruption,

Baguio Country ClubDec12

Kapihan sa Baguio on DSWD updates

Dec14

Planning-Workshop on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

as a Convergence Strategy for the Attainment of the Cordillera Region's MDG Targets,

Hotel Supreme, Baguio CityDec14-15

4th Quarter RLECC Meeting and Christmas Party, Log Cabin, Camp

Dangwa, La Trinidad Pag-ibig 31st Anniversary Celebration, Palm

Grove Hot spring, Asin, Tuba, BenguetKapihan sa Benguet on Tuba

Founding Anniversary, Tuba, Benguet

Dec 15

Dec 16 Investors and Media Night, Itogon Municipal Gymnasium, Itogon,

BenguetCARE-CESG General Assembly & Year-end Assessment, NEAP

Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio City

CARE Fun Run, Lake Drive, Burnham Park, Baguio CityForeign Groups

Christmas Festival, SM Atrium, Baguio City911 On Call 5th year

Anniversary, PIA grounds

Dec 18

Dec. 12 7:30 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco

heritage Channel (IHC) 16Dec.12/ 8:00 amIlocos Norte Infocen's “Morning

Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 12 8:00 am Laoag City Staff MeetingDec. 12/ 2:00 pmVigan City Council Session

Dec. 12 Sangguniang Panlungsod (Pangasinan) Regular SessionDec. 12/2:00 pmRDC

Sectoral Committee on Environment Meeting

Dec. 12 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag

Dec.13 7:30 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over

Iloco heritage Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.12 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 13 8:00 am Bagnet Festival in Narvacan, Ilocos Su

rDec.13 Pangasinan Infocen's hh “Pantongtongan Tayo” Radio Program over DZMQ

Dec. 13 2:00 pm Sangguniang Panlungsod (Vigan City) Regular Session

Dec. 13 2:00 pm Ilocos Sur's Board Member Regular Session

Dec 13 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB

Dec.13 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag in Santol, La Union

Dec. 14 7:30 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco heritage

Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.14 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 14 8:00 am La Union Infocen's HDMF Fund Coordinator Meeting

Dec. 14 11:30 am AREX Program/Induction of Officers at Hotel Ariana, Bauang, La Union

Dec. 14 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB

Dec. 15 7:30am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco heritage

Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.15 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 15 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB

Dec. 15 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Ilocos Sur

Dec. 15 Pangasinan Infocen's KBP ForumDec. 16/ 7:30 amIlocos Sur Infocen's “Issue

lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.16 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 16 Pangasinan Infocen's Media in Action Forum

Dec. 16 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag in Pangasinan

Dec. 17 8:00 am San Fernando City Diocese Spearhead Annual Celebration of the OFW Family day

Dec. 17 12:30 pm Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Arimbangaw” Radio Program over DZTP

Dec. 18 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Nia't Makunam Kaillian Radio Program over DWRS

December 12, 1PM Regional Multi-sectoral Forest Protection Committee 4th Quarter Meeting,

DENR, Tug. City

December 12, 1PM Regional Population Executive Board (RPEB) Regional Inter-Collegiate Population

Debate, Crown Hotel, Tug. City

December 13, 9AM DTI – One Town One Product (OTOP) meeting, DTI Cagayan

December 14, 8AM Orientation/Consultative Meeting on the renewed campaign in preventing

fireworks-related injuries, DOH Conference Hall, Carig, Tuguegarao City.

December 14, 8:30AM RGIN-TWG workshop, NEDA, Tug. City

December 14 31st Pag-Ibig Fund anniversary, turn-over of the 28 computer units to selected

public elem. school

December 15-17 DepEd Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) Elementary and Secondary,

Gattaran, Cagayan. RD Licas as evaluator on News Writing, Editorial Writing,

Feature Writing, and Copy and Headline Writing.

December 16 Christmas Party with Nueva Vizcaya Press Club

December 16, 9AM Forum on Free Trade Agreements dubbed as “Doing Business in Free Trade

Areas I-Market Approach”, Brickstone Mall, Tuguegarao City.

December 20 Regional OTOP Fiesta Trade Fair, Theme: “Proud Ako Sa OTOP Ko…Kaagapay Ko

Ito” Brickstone Mall, Tug. City

December 20, 8:30 am Regional Nutrition Committee 4th quarter meeting, Kainang Pilipino Tug. City

December 21, 9am Regional Risk Reduction and Management Council 2 4th quarter meeting, Ivory

Hotel, Tug. City

Every Monday

- Cover Isabela Sangguniang Panlalawigan session

Every Tuesday

- Tipon-Tipan sa PIA, 9-10 am

- Tungtongan Ti Tribu Biskayano, 2 pm

-