Major Problems and Issues in Region I

MAJOR PROBLEMS AND ISSUES

REGION I: ILOCOS REGION

The general problems and issues faced by the Ilocos Region, comprising the provinces Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan are as follows:

Agricultural Problems

* Issues on smuggling of agricultural crops from neighboring countries

* Open importation of crops

* Crop damage due to natural calamities

* Vanishing of indigenous food plants such as paco, barangbang, libokeg, among others

Poverty Alleviation

(particularly in Ilocos Norte and La Union)

* Lack of proper implementation of government projects.

* Lack of transparency in government projects.

* Lack of coordination at the barangay level and with other stakeholders

Climate Change Adaptation

* Improper waste disposal at the community level

* Lack of coordination with the barangay and stakeholders.

Youth Education

* Household financial problem increases number of Out-of-School Youth

* Negative mindset from the beneficiaries

Strengthening of Values Formation at Local Government Level

* Corruption of Values

Delivery of basic social services to the under-privileged (health,sanitation,youth education)

* Lack of Funds

* Lack of commitment and support from the members of the community

Unification of NGOs in the Region

* Lack of coordination between and among NGOs

* Each NGO focuses only in their own area of concerns

The following are the problems in different areas of the four provinces. Also included are issues in other areas of the region.

Ilocos Norte

* Garlic farmers in Batac, Ilocos Norte have shifted to the planting of other crops, corn in particular, as the unchecked smuggling and open importation of garlic from Taiwan pulled local prices below profitability levels. According to Batac farmers, what used to be a billion-peso garlic industry in Northern Luzon has now been relegated to a backyard enterprise that is slowly collapsing to extinction....