1999 – 2005 Chronology

2002

February
Laoag retained its national title as the country’s cleanest and greenest city. At the same time, however, it shared its place and award with Oroquieta City in the component city categories of the 2001 Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran Award.

February 24
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made her first official visit to the province since assuming the presidency.

May (2nd week)
Close to P1 million were earmarked for materials to rehabilitate 13 public schools damaged by Typhoon Feria the previous year.

President Arroyo appointed Gen. Roy Cimatu, who traces his roots to Bangui, as the new Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He became the third Ilocos Norte general to occupy the top military post, after the late General Fabian Ver of Sarrat and Segundino Velasco of Bacarra.

May (3rd week)
Installment of the first traffic light in Laoag City, over the busy crossing of Paco Roman and J.P. Rizal Streets.

May (4th week)
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) declared Ilocos Norte under a calamity state, in a move to preempt the disastrous impact of the El Niño phenomenon on the province’s agricultural sector. The onslaught of El Niño is characterized by a warm inshore current annually flowing south along the coast of Ecuador. Every 7 to 1 – years it extends to Peru and other areas around the world, with devastating consequences to weather, crops, and aquatic resources. In Ilocos, fears had been aired as early as April when farmlands started drying up.

June (3rd week)
The Regional branch of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ruled in favor of the Fort Ilocandia Resort and Casino in its dispute with the D’sierto Beach Owners Association over the foreshore lease contracts along the Barangay Calayab beachfront. The latter association’s establishments were also closed by the mayor of Laoag due to lack of business permits.

August 9
Museo Ilocos Norte received the Gawad Alab ng Haraya from the National Commission of Culture and the Arts for Outstanding Conservation Program (Adaptive Reuse) as demonstrated by the rehabilitation and conservation of the old Tabacalera Building.

September 14
The Museo Ilocos Norte was robbed of precious relics loaned by the Philippine Independent Church for an exhibit on the Church’s centennial celebration. Eventually, a ciborium was located and returned to its owners. The fracas prompted the assignment of security guards to patrol the museum on a round-the-clock basis.

December 12
Laoag City was given the Hall of Fame Award for being adjudged the country’s cleanest and greenest component city for 3 times, in the 2002 National Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran search.

December 18
Formal launch of the Laoag City Tourism Night Market, along Bonifacio Street between Paco Roman and Nolasco Streets.