This Week in Vigan (November 07 to 13, 2016)

Traffic is usually heavy at Quezon Avenue especially during lunch time. Quezon Avenue is one of the busiest roads in Vigan where the Vigan City Hall and bus stations going to Manila are located. Tourists may take the Rizal St. or Quirino Blvd. instead to explore the city.

Ilocos Sur, where Vigan City is located, is one of the 45 local governments in Region 1 that has been awarded a Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The SGLG has been introduced in 2014. This award is given to local government units who practice good financial housekeeping, have a solid disaster preparedness program, and provide ample social support protection to marginalized sectors. They should also be able to promote one of either three essential areas: Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness, Peace & Order, or Environmental Management, shall be recognized and awarded accordingly.

According to Governor Ryan Luis Singson, the PhP 7 million prize given to Ilocos Sur will be allotted for the improvement of provincial hospitals in Vigan City.

On October 25, 2016, Ilocos Sur was formally placed under state of calamity due to the effects of super typhoon “Lawin” that struck the Ilocos Region, including Vigan City last October 19 and 20. Telecommunication networks and power lines in certain areas were affected. The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Director Melchito M. Castro is working with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to restore the services as soon as possible.

Declaration of state of calamity allows for the allocation of calamity funds to affected places. Relief operations for the affected families are ongoing with the distribution of the food packs from the provincial government and from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Night time tourists can visit Baluarte Zoo which is also open during night time from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM every Friday to Sunday including holidays. It is still free for daytime visitors but those who want to visit at night must pay the following fees: Discovery Trail (PhP50 for adults, PhP20 for children, PhP40 for persons with disabilities or senior citizens), Tram on Tour (PhP100 for adults, PhP40 for children, PhP80 for persons with disabilities or senior citizens). Included in the fee is a guided shuttle tour, a 20-minute fire show and a visit to the Safari Gallery.

Ipon is sold at PhP170 per kilogram at the Vigan City Public Market or at the Bantay national highway during the afternoon. This seafood is usually cooked as torta (folded in scrambled egg) kilawen (raw with vinegar and spices), sinigang (sour soup), and bagoong (fermented) among others.