1999 – 2005 Chronology

2001

January 30
Most Rev. Ernesto Salgado D.D. was installed as the fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag. The bishop’s chair was left vacant for 15 months when Bishop Edmundo Abaya was installed as Archbishop of Nueva Segovia in Vigan, Ilocos Sur n September 1999.

April 24

An earthquake ranked Intensity 3 on the Richter Scale rocked the province at 10:20 p.m., according to the station of the Commission on Philippine Volcanology and Seismology in Pasuquin.

May 14
In provincial and mayoral elections, the following won the corresponding posts:
Congressmen:
1st District: Roque Ablan, Jr.
2nd District: Imee R. Marcos

Governor: Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
Vice Governor: Windell D. Chua

Sangguniang Panlalawigan:
1st District: Ameurfina R. Salenda; Pacifico C. Velasco; Shirley Ong Sin; Purisima A. Bueno; Jose Antonio R. Raquiza
2nd District: Eugenio Angelo M. Barba; Carlito N. Abadilla; Jimmy P. Raña; Da Vinci M. Crisostomo; Fe A. Aguinaldo

Laoag City:
Mayor: Roger Fariñas
Vice Mayor: Edward Domingo

June-July
The province’s first CT-Scan facility was inaugurated at the Pioneer Imaging Center, Inc., in front of the Batac Public Market.

July 3-4
Typhoon Feria battered the province with 140 kph winds and torrential rains. The worst storm in living memory broke several bridge spans (including that of Badoc Bridge); caused extensive flooding, power and communication outages and even a tidal wave; and left two people dead, four missing, and 24 injured. (The same typhoon carried away a major section of the Banaoang Bridge along the Vigan-Manila route.) Damages were estimated at P174 million, surpassing the P164 million losses caused by Typhoon Iliang on October 16 1998. Badoc Bridge was made passable by July 14, but eleven towns remained in the dark for some time due to fallen power lines.

July 19
Inauguration of direct flights between Macau, China and Laoag through Air Macau.

July 20
Relocation of the Sarusar Trade and Product Information Center form Paoay to The Museo Ilocos Norte.

July 28
Inauguration of the Laoag City Hall Annex, housing to executive and legislative offices and a 600-seater, fully air-conditioned auditorium.

August
Inauguration of thrice-weekly flights between Laoag and Taiwan, through China Southern Airlines. The route is alternated with Far Eastern Airlines’ Kaoshiung-Laoag run.

September
Commencement of construction of Laoag City’s new public transport parking area. Estimated budget: P33 million. The project aims to decongest the commercial district traffic.

September 21-22
Although it rated only a Storm Signal No. 2, Typhoon Labuyo left the province with some P17.4 million in damages and inundated homes affecting 2,189 families.

November 17-18
The Ilocos Norte Taekwondo team bagged the gold medal at the National Taekwondo Championships held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila. The team bested over 1,500 contestants from 87 clubs and chapters from across the country. The final tally for the province was seven gold, three silver, and three bronze medals.

November 30
Inauguration of China Southern Airlines’ thrice-weekly flights between Guangzhou, China and Laoaog.

December 1-7
At the Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy Championships held in Bacolod City, the Ilocos Norte athletes garnered three gold, one silver, and three bronze medal sin the gymnastics, taekwondo, little league baseball and table tennis competitions.

December 18
Death of Florenda Gagarin Perucho, of Barangay 44 (Zamboanga), Laoag City; she left behind a multi-million peso bagoong (fishpaste) industry, with exports reaching Hawaii and California, USA.

December 19
Grand opening of Fort Ilocandia, under the year-old ownership of the Hong Kong-based Fort Ilocandia Property Holdings.