Comprehensive Land Use Plan of City of Laoag 2020-2029

Fconceptual

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Comprehensive Land Use Plan of City of Laoag 2020-2029

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................. 6

I. VISION ................................................................................................................... 6
II. BRIEF SITUATIONER ........................................................................................ 6
A. Demography........................................................................................................... 6
B. Ecosystem Sector.................................................................................................... 7
C. Social Sector ........................................................................................................... 8
D. Economic Sector .................................................................................................... 9
E. Infrastructure Sector........................................................................................... 10
F. Special Areas Sector ........................................................................................... 11
III. MISSION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................ 13
A. Mission .................................................................................................................. 13
B. Goals and Objectives .......................................................................................... 13
IV. THE CONCEPT PLAN ...................................................................................... 15
V. THE PROPOSED LAND USE ......................................................................... 18
BRIEF PROFILE OF THE CITY .................................................................................. 20
I. HISTORY AND THE CREATION OF CITY OF LAOAG ......................... 20
II. PHYSICAL PROFILE ........................................................................................ 22
III. DEMOGRAPHY ................................................................................................ 40
IV. ECOSYSTEM SECTOR .................................................................................... 47
V. SOCIAL SECTOR ............................................................................................. 56
VII. INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR ...................................................................... 67
VIII. SPECIAL AREAS SECTOR ........................................................................... 73
VISION, MISSION, GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES ..................... 81
I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 81
II. VISION ................................................................................................................. 81
III. MISSION ............................................................................................................. 81
IV. GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES ................................................ 81
THE CONCEPT/STRUCTURE PLAN ...................................................................... 94
I. SETTLEMENT PATTERNS ............................................................................. 94
II. GROWTH CENTER CONCEPT STRATEGY ............................................... 98
III. ROAD NETWORK SYSTEM ......................................................................... 102
PROPOSED LAND USE............................................................................................ 104
A. LAND USE ALLOCATION MODEL............................................................. 104
B. OPTIMIZATION RESULTS ............................................................................ 108
C. PROPOSED GENERAL LAND USE .............................................................. 109
D. PROPOSED PROTECTION AND PRODUCTION AREAS .................... 114
E. PROPOSED URBAN LAND USE ................................................................... 116

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. 1. Elevation of City of Laoag .......................................................................... 22

Table 1. 2. Slope of City of Laoag ................................................................................. 27
Table 1. 3. Different Soil Types in the City of Laoag................................................. 31
Table 1. 4. Barangays of City of Laoag and their Land Area ................................... 35
Table 1. 5. Annual Growth Rate of City of Laoag ..................................................... 40
Table 1. 6. Population Density of City of Laoag, 2015 .............................................. 40
Table 1. 7. Population by Age and Sex, City of Laoag, Year 2010 and 2015 .......... 44
Table 1. 8. Household Population in the City of Laoag, Year 2015 ........................ 45
Table 1. 9. Computed Diversity Index of Terrestrial Fauna in City of Laoag ....... 55
Table 1. 10. Housing Situation for the Past Years, City of Laoag ............................ 57
Table 1. 11. Sources of Revenues and Income Per Capita, City of Laoag .............. 65
Table 1. 12. Average Energy Consumption (kwh) by Type of Consumer, City of
Laoag ........................................................................................................... 70
Table 1. 13. Water Service Connections by Type of Consumer, City of Laoag, 2019
...................................................................................................................... 71
Table 1. 14. Inventory of Communication Facilities in the City of Laoag .............. 71
Table 1. 15. Irrigation System by Areas Served and Beneficiaries, City of Laoag 72
Table 4. 1. Mathematical Optimization Model for Land Use Allocation in the City
of Laoag 105
Table 4. 2. Constraints Set for Land Use Allocation in the City of Laoag ............ 106
Table 4. 3. Optimization Run Results on the Land Use Allocation in City of Laoag
.................................................................................................................... 108
Table 4. 4. Results of the Constraints Set in the Optimization Run ...................... 109
Table 4. 5. Existing and Proposed General Land Use of City of Laoag................ 111
Table 4. 6. Proposed Protection and Production Areas, City of Laoag ................ 114
Table 4. 7. Existing and Proposed Urban Land Use of City of Laoag .................. 118

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Comprehensive Land Use Plan of City of Laoag 2020-2029

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. 1. The City of Laoag ...................................................................................... 20

Figure 1. 2. City of Laoag, Capital of Ilocos Norte .................................................... 21
Figure 1. 3. Geographical Location of City of Laoag ................................................ 23
Figure 1. 4. Transect Map of City of Laoag ................................................................ 24
Figure 1. 5. Elevation of City of Laoag ........................................................................ 25
Figure 1. 6. Topographic Map of City of Laoag ......................................................... 26
Figure 1. 7. Slope of City of Laoag ............................................................................... 28
Figure 1. 8. Soils of City of Laoag ................................................................................ 29
Figure 1. 9. Normal Monthly Rainfall in the City of Laoag ..................................... 34
Figure 1. 10. Monthly Weather Averages in the City of Laoag ............................... 34
Figure 1. 11. Base Map of City of Laoag ..................................................................... 38
Figure 1. 12. Urban Base Map of City of Laoag ......................................................... 39
Figure 1. 13. Population Density of City of Laoag .................................................... 43
Figure 1. 14. Age-Sex Distribution of City of Laoag ................................................. 45
Figure 1. 15. Flood Hazard Susceptibility in the City of Laoag............................... 49
Figure 1. 16. Landslide Hazard Susceptibility in the City of Laoag ....................... 50
Figure 1. 17. Storm Surge Hazard Susceptibility in the City of Laoag ................... 51
Figure 1. 18. Tsunami Hazard Susceptibility in the City of Laoag ......................... 52
Figure 1. 19. Earthquake Impact in the City of Laoag .............................................. 53
Figure 1. 20. Haliastur indus (Brahminy Kite) located at Brgy Gabu Sur (35) ...... 54
Figure 1. 21. Historical Enrollment Participation Rate, City of Laoag ................... 56
Figure 1. 22. Locator Map: Schools and Library in the City of Laoag .................... 59
Figure 1. 23. Locator Map: Hospitals/Clinics in the City of Laoag ........................ 60
Figure 1. 24. Locator Map: Burial Grounds in the City of Laoag ............................ 61
Figure 1. 25. Locator Map: Fire/Police Stations in the City of Laoag .................... 62
Figure 1. 26. Locator Map: City Jails in the City of Laoag........................................ 63
Figure 1. 27. Sources of Income (In Millions of Pesos), City of Laoag ................... 64
Figure 1. 28. Local and Total Income Per Capita, City of Laoag ............................. 66
Figure 1. 29. Transportation Map of City of Laoag ................................................... 69
Figure 1. 30. Average Energy Consumption by Type of Consumers, City of Laoag
........................................................................................................................................... 70
Figure 1. 31. Built Heritage in the City of Laoag ....................................................... 79
Figure 1. 32. Built Heritage in the Urban Area of City of Laoag ............................. 80

Figure 3. 1. Growth Nodes in the City of Laoag ........................................................ 97

Figure 3. 2. List of Proposed Growth Nodes .............................................................. 98

Figure 4. 1. Existing General Land Use of City of Laoag ....................................... 112

Figure 4. 2. Proposed General Land Use of City of Laoag ..................................... 113
Figure 4. 3. Proposed Protection and Production Areas of the City of Laoag .... 115
Figure 4. 4. Existing Urban Land Use of City of Laoag .......................................... 119
Figure 4. 5. Proposed Urban Land Use of City of Laoag........................................ 120

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LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix 1. Local Chief Executive and Heads of City Government Offices ..... 126
Appendix 2. Sanggunian Panlungsod ...................................................................... 127
Appendix 3. City Planning Team (EO No. MMK-048 series of 2019) .................. 128
Appendix 4. North Planners, Inc. .............................................................................. 130
Appendix 5. Schedule of Activities for CLUP Preparation.................................... 133
Appendix 6. Stakeholders’ Meeting/Public Consultation..................................... 134
Appendix 7. Sample Attendance Sheet During Stakeholders Meeting/Public
Consultation.................................................................................................................. 138
Appendix 8. Technical Working Group and the North Planners, Inc. Meetings 139
Appendix 9. Ocular Inspection .................................................................................. 140
Appendix 10. Biodiversity Assessment .................................................................... 141
Appendix 11. List of Data and Data Source ............................................................. 142
Appendix 12. Data Encoding and Processing .......................................................... 144
Appendix 13. Presentation of Initial Results to the LGU ....................................... 145
Appendix 14. Weights of the Different Elements of the Vision ............................ 147
Appendix 15. Goal Achievement Matrix .................................................................. 148
Appendix 16. SWOT Analysis of the Ecosystem Sector ......................................... 149
Appendix 17. SWOT Analysis of the Social Sector ................................................. 152
Appendix 18. SWOT Analysis of the Economic Sector .......................................... 164
Appendix 19.SWOT Analysis of the Infrastructure Sector .................................... 172

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Comprehensive Land Use Plan of City of Laoag 2020-2029

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The City of Laoag Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for the period
2020 to 2029 was prepared by the local government of the City of Laoag with
technical assistance from North. Planners, Inc. based on the mandate indicated in
the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160) for the local government units to
“prepare their comprehensive land use plans and enact them through zoning
ordinances”.

This plan is meant to guide the city towards its future physical, social and
economic development and to hasten the city’s role as the commercial and tourism
center of the North. It provides a framework for the objectives and strategies that
need to be implemented to achieve its goals and realize its vision of BARO A
LAOAG by 2029.

I. VISION

The City of Laoag shall be the “BARO A LAOAG that empowers its people
through inclusive governance to sustain economic growth and vibrant culture
while preserving the environment.”

II. BRIEF SITUATIONER

A. Demography

The annual growth rate of the City of Laoag had a decreasing trend from
0.18 in 2007 to 0.15 in 2015. This implies that even if the population is increasing,
the rate of growth is decreasing.

In 2015, the City of Laoag had a population density of ten (10) persons per
hectare. Brgy Sto. Tomas (14), an urban barangay, had the highest population
density of 206 persons per hectare. Whereas Brgy. Bacsil North (56-A) and Brgy.
Bacsil South (56-B) obtained the lowest population density of two (2) persons per
hectare.

Also, in 2015, ages from 15-19 comprise 10.4% of the total population of the
City of Laoag. Infants have 2.1% of its total population. About 29.9% of its
population belongs to the youth-age group of 0-14; 64% to the working-age group
of 15-64; and 6% of its population are age group of 65 and over. The city comprises
51.06% of females (56,742) and 48.94% of males (54,383).

The City of Laoag has the greatest population of young and old dependency
in Ilocos Norte, with a population of 26,685 for 0-14 years old (young dependency)
and 6,683 for 65-over (old dependency).

The ratio of population in the City of Laoag for both young and old
dependency is 49.95%. Specifically, the young dependency ratio (0-14 years old) is
39.95% and the remaining 10% is old dependency ratio (65 and over).

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B. Ecosystem Sector

The highest possible future rainfall increase of 32.2% under representative

concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 scenario in the mid-21st century (2036-2065)
would be in the season of December-January-February (DJF). The projected
impacts during this season are improvements in the growth and yield
performance of transplanted rice but an increase in susceptibility of vegetables and
fruits to pests and diseases and decrease in quality of harvested vegetables. On the
other hand, the highest possible rainfall decrease of 25.9% was projected under
RCP 8.5 scenario during the season of March-April-May (MAM). The projected
impacts during MAM’s season are quicker drying of corn and palay, delay sowing
of seeds for rice production, occurrence of ambient pests (poultry and livestock
diseases), low level of dissolved oxygen in ponds and increased susceptibility of
vegetables to diseases.

The highest projected temperature increase under high emission of

greenhouse gas scenario is 2.4°C in the season of June-July-August (JJA). The
potential impacts are adjusted working time in the field (rice transplanting) but
with no significant impacts on rice production.

The likelihood of occurrence of flooding in the city is every one (1) to three
(3) years. The flood hazard map shows that 60.10%, 13.24% and 17.25% of the land
area of the City of Laoag is with high, moderate and low susceptibility to flooding.
These areas are low-lying and can be found along the Padsan River and creeks.

Landslide in the City of Laoag is a very rare event, occurring once every
200 to 300 years. A small percentage (173.47 ha) of the land area of the city is highly
susceptible to rain-induced landslide. This is mostly found in barangays Bacsil
North (56-A), Bacsil South (56-B) and Lagui-Sail (54-A).

Storm surge has not occurred yet in the lifetime of key informants.
However, based on the model generated by the DOST’s Project NOAH, less than
one (1) percent (102.45 ha) of the land area of the city is covered by highly
susceptible to storm surge and 1.80% (194.57 ha) by moderately susceptible.
Highly susceptible areas are mostly found at barangays Gabu Norte West (34-A)
and Gabu Sur (35). They can also be found along the shorelines of Madiladig (60-
B), Caaoacan (60-A) and Cataban (61).

The return period of a tsunami is 200 to 300 years. Based on the DOST’s
READY Project, all the barangays along the shoreline are affected by tsunami and
even extending to Mangato West (38-B), Mangato East (38-A), Cabungaan North
(48-A), Cabungaan South (48-B), Zamboanga (44), Navotas North (62-A), Dibua
South (59-A) and Dibua North.

The 1983 Laoag earthquake scenario, having a magnitude of 5.3, has a

return period of ten (10) to 30 years. The top barangays which will have two (2) to
three (3) buildings or structures in complete damage with collapse state would be
San Lorenzo (1), San Isidro (12), Santa Joaquina (2), San Matias (23), San Bernabe
(28), Buttong (50) and Nra. Sra. De Natividad (7-A).

According to CENRO, the City of Laoag comprise of 71 flora species, 16

species of amphibians, 22 species of reptiles and 34 species of avifauna. Over-all,

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there are 69 flora species and 72 fauna species. Nine (9) species of flora are exotic
species and 62 species are endemic. Most of fauna species are endemic with a total
of 53 species; 12 species are native; 3 species are introduced; and four (4) species
of avifauna are migratory.

C. Social Sector

With high literacy rate of 98% and with students from neighboring towns
also enrolling in schools in Laoag, the city maintains a high net enrollment
participation rate (NEPR) in primary and secondary education. The City of Laoag,
being the educational center of Ilocos Norte, offers quality education from
elementary, secondary to collegiate level. At present, there are 33 elementary
schools, six (6) high school institutions and eight (8) colleges and universities.

To address the medical concerns of Laoagueños, the following healthcare

facilities are available: Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH); Governor Roque
Ablan, Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRASMH); seven (7) private hospitals, three (3)
Rural Health Units (RHUs) located at Brgys. Sta. Joaquina (2), San Tomas (29) and
Mangato (38); and 15 Barangay Health Centers located at different barangays.
There are also 31 medical clinics/ laboratories offering general medicine,
obstetrics, family planning, dermatology, pediatrics, ophthalmology and EENT
services, among others, as well as 20 dental clinics in the city. There is however a
need to construct more barangay health centers and hire more healthcare
professionals to comply with the standards and to ensure adequate delivery of
medical services.

Low crude death rate and low malnutrition are indicative of a healthy
population. However, the local government of Laoag should focus on addressing
the following top causes of mortality and morbidity: pneumonia (mortality);
hypertension, animal bite and diabetes mellitus (morbidity).

With regard to housing, the projected total housing requirement in 2029 is

66,383 units and the demand for additional housing units is 43, 154 units.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of the City of
Laoag has several programs and services for the underprivileged and
marginalized sectors. Meanwhile, peace and order in Laoag are primarily
maintained by the City of Laoag Police Station (with 95 personnel: that is 86
officers and 9 non-uniformed personnel for administrative and operational works,
and with a total of 27 motor vehicles. This is complemented by the following
number of barangay security force and volunteers, to wit: 550 traffic enforcers;
1,599 staff for peace and order; 250 personnel for disaster concerns; 250 for
auxiliary services; and another 221 persons in charge for other concerns. The
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has 30 personnel and five (5) fire trucks while the
City Jail has 31 jail personnel. Different sports and recreation facilities are located
in different barangays in the city to improve health and wellness of Laoagueños;
some however need repair while in some barangays, the construction of such
facilities is still recommended.

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D. Economic Sector

The City of Laoag, being the capital of its province is a hub of economic
activities not only in Ilocos Norte but also of the nearby provinces of Ilocos Sur,
Abra and Cagayan. It is in a position to be a preferred investment destination as it
pursues its objectives of increased agricultural productivity, more vibrant
commercial and light manufacturing activities along with income-generating
tourism activities.

These economic objectives supported by adequate infrastructure and

communication facilities are expected to launch the city to be an attractive agro-
eco/light industrial hub in the region.

The City of Laoag gets its income and revenues from business, special
education and real property taxes, regulatory fees, service and user charges,
permits, licenses and other income receipts. The city also receives subsidies from
the national government in terms of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). From the
foregoing sources of revenues, the total local income in 2019 amounted to
PhP218,623,213.12. This is a 20.3% increase from the previous year. It has been
observed that the local income has been increasing by 12.16% annually from 2015-
2019.

The IRA is the biggest source of income with PhP 494,092,149.00 or 69.33%
of total income in 2019. It has been increasing from 2015 to 2019 with an average
annual increase of 9.76%. Meanwhile, business taxes, with 27.5% of the local
income in 2019, comprise the biggest source of local income which have been
increasing with an annual average of 15.18%, followed by real property taxes with
8.3% of the local income and with average annual increase of 7.59%.

The Local Income Per Capita (LIPC), computed by dividing Laoag’s

internally generated income by the population, increased by an average of 10.95%
from 2016-2019. Subsidy from the government increased by 8.58% annually in the
same period. With these increases in local and total income per capita, it can be
inferred that the economy is improving and the local government is better able to
serve its constituents.

The agriculture subsector is further divided into crop production, livestock

and poultry, and fisheries. Agricultural land in the City of Laoag covers 70.63%
of the total land area or 9,004 hectares. Rice production occupies the largest area
with 3,949 hectares or 43.86%. Important fruits and crops in the area include
mango, assorted vegetables, eggplant, tomato, peanut, cassava, watermelon, sweet
potato, garlic, squash, okra, upo, string beans, pechay, patola, pepper, cabbage,
ampalaya and onion.

There are a lot of small and local commercial businesses in the City of Laoag
which have significant community impacts. Because of commercial strips’
convenient location, more economic opportunities are arising to meet consumer
demands. The economic benefits of commercial strips and complexes are
numerous and show how even the smallest shops can have a positive impact to
the community. These local businesses provide local jobs, increased tax base,
consumer product diversity and local community identity.

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In 2019, there were a total of 2,542 business permits issued in the city. No
permits were issued from 2015 up to 2019 in the primary category. In general,
permits issued in the city are continually increasing. This steady increase in
permits issued over the years indicates an improvement in the business
environment in the city. Currently, the city has a higher number of permits issued
in the tertiary sector which include wholesale and retail trade/repair of motor
vehicles and motorcycles, hotels/restaurants, transport, storage and
communication, finance, real estate education, and health and social work with a
total permit of 2,289. While in the secondary category, the local government issued
a total of 253 permits. This category includes manufacturing, electricity, gas and
water supply, and construction /contractor.

The City of Laoag is known for the production of basi, suka and the juice
drink Golden Coolers - a beverage-like juice which has a capitalization of
PhP500,000.00 in the year 2007. Fifty-one (51) manufacturing/industrial
establishments are built in the city but most of the establishments are related to
hollow blocks-making. Only two (2) manufacturing/industrial establishments
have employment with more than five (5) employees, to wit: The Laoag Kambal
Corporation, a hollow blocks manufacturing company having 25 employees, and
the Golden Coolers, which has 200 employees. The rest of the industrial
establishments have less than five (5) employees.

The City of Laoag is the entrance port and central capital in the Province of
Ilocos Norte. Tricycle, jeepney, van or private vehicle are the available means of
transportation in land, if tourists will visit the tourist attractions in the city. Laoag
has an airport, the Laoag International Airport, covered by Brgys. Cavit (43),
Araniw (36) and Apaya (42) which will make Laoag a potential international
tourist destination.

The city is known for a lot of historical landmarks, scenic natural landscapes
and beaches which give tourists a lot of memorable and excitable experiences.
Facilities are in place to serve the visitors with their needs. Most of the tourist
destinations in the City of Laoag have accommodation facilities including hotels,
resorts, cottages, restaurants, fast-food stalls and resto bars. There are also a lot of
banks for financial transactions and medical facilities for health emergencies.

E. Infrastructure Sector

The road network pattern of the City of Laoag follows the radial-
circumferential network. The transportation map shows roads and bridges
connecting all barangays to commercial districts. The city is accessible to and from
the other provinces and to the rest of the Luzon Island cluster through the national
highway, Manila North Road that is traversing it. The total length of city road is
399.681 kilometers excluding the 34.24 kilometers of national road thereby
exceeding the total road requirement by 121.161 kilometers and by 155.401
kilometers if national roads are included. As of census year 2019, road to
population ratio is 3.74 kilometers per 1,000 population. Road density is 4.34
kilometers per square kilometer area.

All the barangays of the City of Laoag are already energized as all the
households are served by the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC), a
cooperative supply system of the province of Ilocos Norte whose main source of

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power is the National Power Corporation transmitting electricity through the

facilities of the National Transmission Commission (TRANSCO). The major source
of electricity is the 69,000 KVA hydro-electric plants in Ambuklao Dam and Binga
Dam in Benguet.

A total of seven (7) types of consumers for energy were identified in the
City of Laoag. The energy in the city is mostly used for residential purposes.
Energy consumed for industrial uses were only ten (10) and only in the recent year
(2019).

The Ilocos Norte Water District (INWD) is the water supply agency that
extends water service to consumers of the city. It is under the supervision of the
Local Water Utilities Administration. Its facilities include two (2) reservoirs with
a combined capacity of 1,750 cubic meters, five (5) pumping stations with a total
capacity of 295 cubic meters per hour.

The INWD active sources of water are the Pump Station 1 and Pump Station
6 located at Brgy. San Tomas (29), Brgy. Nra. Sra. De Consolacion (27) Pump
Station, Suyo Booster Pump Station and the Barit On-Line Booster Pump Station.
The two concrete ground reservoirs are located in Ermita Hill and Camp Juan.

The modern modes of communication are mails, emails, fax and telex
services, landline telephones and mobile/cellular phones. For news, information
and entertainment, the following play important roles: newspapers of national,
regional and provincial circulation, radio, television and internet. With these
facilities, the population of a locality is informed and updated on the latest
development trends in all aspects of living and learning.

The National Irrigation Administration’s Provincial Irrigation Office in

Ilocos Norte has a concrete dam (Laoag-Vintar RIS) servicing an area of 2, 860
hectares of agricultural lands within the City of Laoag and the municipalities of
Vintar, Bacarra and Sarrat. This irrigation system also serves as flood control in
the areas mentioned.

Solid waste and domestic sewage continue to be a priority challenge across

the city. Fortunately, disease outbreak, rodent infestation and groundwater
contamination are currently not exigent issues; nevertheless, these are the
potential consequences if the city cannot address the problem on solid waste. This
perennial problem of waste management draws attention to the need to
rehabilitate/restore non-functioning material recovery facilities (MRF)s to reduce
and recycle wastes. Successful operation of MRFs often requires community
involvement, which is basically exhibited through the practice of waste
segregation at source. To help ease the problem on solid waste, the city through
an ordinance (C.O. 2012-045) regulates the use of plastic bags and other materials
made of plastic as secondary packing or carryout bags for all forms of
merchandise; bans the use of styrofoam and prescribes the penalties for violation
thereof.

F. Special Areas Sector

The City of Laoag currently practices conventional ways of making

progress in its economic growth. Presently, it has not enacted a local Green

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Building Code that would provide for the adoption of sustainable strategies,
assure resilient and sustainable infrastructure and serve as technical reference side
by side with the National Building Code of the Philippines. The city implements
the Solid Waste Management Act, although there are no clear-cut policies on
sustainable practices like innovative recycling and managing waste. The use of
material recovery facilities (MRF)s is imperative to complement innovative
sustainable practices and support waste management. Opportunely, a sanitary
landfill is in the plans in an identified site. The City of Laoag is visited regularly
by strong typhoons and threatened by earthquakes but it has not established a
state-of-the-art hazard monitoring center. It is prone to flooding even under its
present network of drainage canals. As yet, there are no best management
practices adopted on storm water management and flood mitigation to protect
water bodies from pollution, erosion of riverbanks and siltation of both river and
productive farmlands.

The Central Business District is characterized by a variety of period

architectural styles and of low and medium rise buildings and residential houses.
The streetscapes generally do not have physical and visual aesthetics and
distinctive character to create a sense of neighborhood identity and beauty, and
ownership. Walkable streets are also wanting. Some streets have sidewalks
though most have none, and bike lanes are notably absent. This then shows a
situation that does not encourage walking and biking in the area. There is also a
lack of public parks, public restrooms and street arts/sculptures that would
provide shade, comfort, ease of pedestrian movements and visual quality along
the streets. The roads surrounding Aurora Park have become dangerous entry and
exit roads making the park unsafe and unusable. Aside from Aurora Park, there is
no other central urban park that exists except for the Rizal Amusement Park and
Mariano Marcos Stadium northeast of the urban area. Laoag can increase its open
spaces for urban pocket parks to achieve urban greening for walkability and
livability.

The City of Laoag’s rich history is being showcased and is the focus of this
sector on Special Area. The inhabitants of the city, having been part of an
extensive, largely coastal northwestern region of the Ilocano ethnic group,
engaged in the barter trade of gold with merchants from Japan, China, Malaysia
and Indonesia for ceramics and silk during the pre-colonization period. Captain
Juan de Salcedo went to Vigan and sailed along the coast of Laoag enroute to
Cagayan in 1572. Salcedo’s discovery of this northern region led to the naming of
“Ylocos” Province meaning "from" and “lo-oc”, translated as "cove or bay",
thereby pertaining to "people of the bay" from the present provinces of Ilocos Sur,
Ilocos Norte, Abra and La Union.

Laoag was a busy trading port, shining like a night beacon for river
travelers, thus the name “light” or “laoag”. Even then, it was a closely packed
settlement in Ermita Hill, situated along the north bank of the Padsan River, with
a population numbering more than a thousand when it was discovered by the
Spanish. It was founded in 1850 as one of the early settlements by Augustinian
missionaries with a parish dedicated to Saint William the Hermit. By early 19th
century, Laoag was a thriving pueblo when the Ilocos Province was split into two
provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur by a Spanish Royal Decree on February 2,
1818 with Laoag made as the capital town of Ilocos Norte. On June 19, 1965, the

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municipality status of Laoag was changed into a component city of Ilocos Norte,
maintained as its capital and proudly called by its residents as “Sunshine City”.

After more than 300 years, Spanish-influenced intangible transformations

are still practiced in the city such as cultural festivals and religious traditions
intended to preserve the city’s cultural heritage as well. The city celebrates the
month-long Pamulinawen Festival every February in honor of its patron Saint
William the Hermit highlighting its culture and heritage through arts and crafts,
cuisine, comedia, parades along Rizal Street that wind up in front of the Provincial
Capitol and street dancing showdowns in front of the Laoag City Commercial
Complex (Public Market).

III. MISSION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

A. Mission

The City of Laoag shall endeavor to develop empowered citizens who value
environment and culture, support agro-industrialization and adopt state-of-the-
art technologies towards global competitiveness.

B. Goals and Objectives

Goals of the Ecosystem Sector

Goal 1: minimize disaster risks by ensuring the safety of the people;

Goal 2: improve and sustain good ambient air quality;
Goal 3: improve the quality of water bodies of the City of Laoag; and
Goal 4: enrich the forest and coastal biodiversity of the City of Laoag.

Objectives of the Ecosystem Sector

1.1: reduce risk caused by flooding, earthquake and COVID-19;

1.2: decrease the number of families, critical point facilities and lifeline utilities
located in disaster prone areas by 20%;
1.3: enhance the coping capacity of the economic sector;
2.1: decrease the level of PM10 and PM2.5 in the air by 10%;
3.1: improve and maintain the water quality;
4.1: increase the forest biodiversity by 20%; and
4.2: increase coastal biodiversity by 20%.

Goals of the Social Sector

Goal 1: empower the people by ensuring equitable access to education;

Goal 2: empower the people by promoting good health;
Goal 3: empower the people by giving them access to affordable and safe housing;
Goal 4: empower the people by uplifting their well-being thereby improving social
and economic development;
Goal 5: empower the people by allowing them to live in a safe, peaceful and
orderly community; and
Goal 6: empower the people by promoting healthy lifestyle and providing
accessible sports and recreation facilities.

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Objectives of the Social Sector

1.1 increase literacy rate from 98% to 100%;

1.2 achieve 100% enrollment participation rate of students from Laoag for
kindergarten, primary and secondary education so that Laoag shall retain its
status as the educational center of Ilocos Norte;
2.1. decrease crude death rate from the average of nine (9) to five (5);
2.2. eliminate animal bite in the top five (5) leading causes of mortality;
2.3. reduce number of malnourished children to zero;
2.4: make more available and less costly burial plots;
3.1. accommodate the increase in population and reduce housing backlog by 50%;
4.1. increase the participation of the inhabitants, especially women, children and
elderlies in programs focused in improving their well-being by 10%;
5.1. reduce the incidence of fire and crimes by 50%; and
6.1. increase the number of barangays having sports/recreation facilities by 50%.

Goals of the Economic Sector

Goal 1: increase agricultural productivity and income;

Goal 2: establish a globally competitive agribusiness system;
Goal 3: establish a globally competitive agro-industrial hub; and
Goal 4: become an internationally recognized tourism destination in South East
Asia.

Objectives of the Economic Sector

1.1. ensure food security while protecting the environment;

2.1. increase agricultural production and income by 20%;
3.1. promote sustainable agricultural practices;
4.1. increase the number and scale of commercial establishments by 20%;
5.1. increase the level of employment generated by the trade and commerce
subsector by 20%;
6.1. promote sustainable commerce and trade practices;
7.1. increase the number and scale of industrial establishments by 10%;
8.1. increase the level of employment and income generated by the industrial
subsector by 20%;
9.1. increase the number of employment and income in the industrial subsector by
20%; and
10.1. create a tourism identity.

Goals of the Infrastructure Sector

Goal 1: generate sustainable, efficient, comfortable and affordable transportation

system in the city;
Goal 2: secure the availability of safe and potable water in both the rural and urban
barangays of the city;
Goal 3: design and construct enough and quality drainage infrastructure,
wastewater treatment and disposal;
Goal 4: tap and maximize renewable opportunities as power source;
Goal 5: establish advance and excellent communication services for the city; and
Goal 6: construct environment-friendly infrastructures.

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Objectives of the Infrastructure Sector

1.1: enhance the walkability in the urban areas of the city;

1.2: improve existing mode and situation of public transportation in the city;
1.3: improve the traffic situation in the urban areas of the city;
2.1: increase the coverage of waterworks system in all barangays by 50%;
3.1: extend irrigation system services to unserved barangays by 20%;
3.2: reduce flooding incidence in highly susceptible areas by 50%;
4.1: prioritize the use of renewable energy sources;
4.2: decrease the power outage incidence by 50%;
5.1: improve the communication facilities and services for community updates of
information by 30%;
5.2: increase internet connectivity services to all public and private sectors by
100%;
6.2: heighten the implementation of the city’s waste management system;
6.4: implement no build-zone on high risk areas; and
6.5: sustain and maintain a clean and green environment to balance the effect of
urbanization on the environment.

Goals of the Special Areas

Goal 1: improve the local economy by engaging in environment-friendly

agricultural, commercial and industrial activities;
Goal 2: maximize physical urban development and aesthetic values; and
Goal 3: maximize biodiversity and cultural values.

Objectives of the Special Areas Sector

1.1: be the nexus of green technology and innovation;

1.2: ensure air, land and water resources are clean;
2.1: implement planned and balanced developments in four quadrants of the city;
2.2: achieve visual quality, character and overall quality of life in the city;
3.1: heighten residents’ awareness and appreciation, and pride of place and
heritage in all-ages, levels and sectors of the society; and
3.2: protect and conserve the tangible and intangible cultural resources and natural
resources of the city.

IV. THE CONCEPT PLAN

Growth Center Concept Strategy

Uniform development in all sections of the city shall be assured by

assigning growth nodes in the north, west, east and south as well as in the
southeast across the river. These growth nodes shall function to spread the
economic activities, facilities and services to equalize development in key sections
of the city, serving their own areas of influence and capturing their own market in
support to the Central Growth Node.

1. Central Growth Node: The Heritage Core, Buffer Zone and Central Business
District

The urban core/city proper (poblacion) shall continue to be the city’s Central
Growth Node. Presently, it is serving as the site of the provincial government

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center as well the commercial, institutional, educational, recreational and

communications center. The Central Business District (CBD), city public market,
major sports center, playgrounds, historical landmarks, clinics and hospitals are
located in this area.

Its strategic location makes it appropriate as the urban core of the city. It is
traversed by the Manila North Road that is being plied by buses going to Metro
Manila, Baguio City and the rest of Luzon area in the south; by buses to the north
headed to Cagayan Valley and to the neighboring towns towards the east.

a. The Heritage Zone

The Heritage Zone shall encompass the city’s major heritage structures that
include Plaza Aurora, Saint William’s Cathedral and belltower, the Provincial
Capitol, Museo Ilocos, present City Hall of Laoag (for adaptive re-use), Heroes
Hall, Holy Spirit Academy of Laoag and Laoag Central Elementary School.

b. The Buffer Zone

The Buffer Zone covers the street blocks that immediately surround the
Heritage Zone.

c. Central Business District, Mixed Residential-Commercial and Residential

Sections

This section of the urban core are all the outer street blocks after the Buffer
Zone and constitutes the Central Business District, mixed residential-commercial
and residential sections of the city.

2. West Growth Node: The New Government City

The West Growth Node shall be the “new government city” which shall
host the new City Hall of Laoag, provincial branches of national agencies and
related and support land uses. This proposed growth node shall be nucleated by
the intersection of Laoag Bypass Road and extension of GomBurZa Street,
enabling the development of the city’s western section and influencing the
peripheral barangays, particularly Brgy. La Paz with its famed sand dunes at the
western end, and immediate barangays northwards of the Laoag By-Pass Road
towards the town of Bacarra. The proposed relocation site of the City Public
Market which is midway to the new government city shall be well-supported
because of its accessibility with the construction of wide, parallel and
perpendicular road extensions from the urban center for convenient, fast and
increased entry and exit.

a. Influenced Growth Area: The La Paz Sand Dunes

The development of a new government city in the western part of the city
will influence the development of La Paz Sand Dunes, and this envisioned
development is harmonized with the Metro Ilocos Norte Development Plan that
identifies Barangay La Paz Sand Dunes as a priority area for development.

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b. Influenced Growth Area: Barangays North of New Government City

Continuing a little farther north of the proposed new government city shall
be a commercial development to support the new city.

c. Influenced Growth Area: The New City Public Market Site

The proposed new City Public Market site shall be beside the central
terminal. It is midway between the Central Growth Node (City Center) and
proposed new government center.

3. East Growth Node: Ermita Hill Traditional Village

The East Growth Node shall be based on the development of the Ermita
Hill Traditional Village partly as a reconstructed native settlement to become a
cultural tourist attraction, and the rest of the area as reforested hill with tourism
amenities.

a. Influenced Growth Area: The Proposed San Nicolas-Laoag By-Pass Road-

Solsona-Laoag Road intersection

The construction of the proposed San Nicolas-Laoag By-Pass Road that will
intersect with Solsona-Laoag Road will be a catalyst in the development of this
node. It is expected that this major access will conveniently bring in more tourists
to Ermita Hill taking this alternate road from the south.

b. Influenced Growth Area: The Proposed San Nicolas-Laoag By-Pass Road-

Laoag-Vintar Road Intersection

The construction of the proposed San Nicolas-Laoag By-Pass Road that will
intersect with Laoag-Vintar Road will stimulate the development of the existing
light industrial development of this area. Any additional light industrial activity
in this area is seen as a stimulus to the activities in the nearby Ermita Hill
Traditional Village.

c. Influenced Growth Area: Redevelopment of Old Dumpsite into a Man-made

Forest.

Another potential influenced growth area towards east is the proposed

redevelopment of the city’s old dumpsite into a man-made forest with low-impact
tourism amenities, and the nearby hills and mountains as added natural
attractions perfect for nature-based tourism. This strategy would create a demand
for tourism which is lacking in Laoag at present and allows this area to grow and
develop by itself.

4. Southeast Growth Node: The Mall and Commercial Strip

The Southeast Growth Node shall cover the development of the whole
stretch of Laoag Airport Road and the Manila North Road Nangalisan Section up
before the Laoag Bridge. The Manila North Road Nangalisan Section shall be
allotted for commercial development with a mall before the Laoag Bridge as the
central magnet supported by large commercial establishments to serve as seamless
spillover of Robinsons Mall complex and commercial establishments in San
Nicolas town.

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a. Mixed-Use Development along Laoag Airport Road

The Laoag Airport Road shall be characterized by mixed-use development

such as commercial, commercial-residential, medium and high-density residential
(apartments, hotels, condominium units) and institutional. The urban design for
this whole length of mixed-used development shall be formulated so as to create
an architecturally impressive and organized built-up development from the
airport to the city proper.

5. South Growth Node: PEZA-Registered Eco-Tourism Zone

The South Growth Node shall encompass the proposed PEZA-registered

Eco-Tourism Zone, with the Fort Ilocandia, Plaza del Norte Convention Center,
the Calay-ab Sand Dunes and Laoag International Airport as support amenities.
This zone is accessed from the Laoag Airport Road and Laoag-Paoay Road.

a. Influenced Growth Area: The Calay-ab Sand Dunes, Fort Ilocandia, Plaza del
Norte Convention Center, and Laoag International Airport Development Area.

The Calayab Sand Dunes stay protected as a natural heritage resource while
nature-based tourism-related activities similar to La Paz Sand Dunes development
shall be allowed within the periphery of Fort Ilocandia and Plaza Del Norte
Convention Center. The expansion and modernization of the Laoag International
Airport will improve the attraction of the city and the province as a tourist-and-
business destination and it will spur growth and development of the surrounding
communities. The airport will also create a demand for cargo warehousing.
Warehouses shall be located in the area zoned as Light Industrial along the Laoag-
Paoay Road which is ideal for cargo trucks, thus avoiding traffic along the Manila
North Road.

b. Influenced Growth Area: Darayday Road-Paoay-Balacad Road Intersection.

This node located at Brgys. Mangato East (51-A) and Mangato West (51-B)
is envisioned to develop as a support growth area to the PEZA-registered Eco-
Tourism Zone which shall be largely commercial with a proposed mall
development in the area. This area shall provide the shopping needs of guests,
visitors and residents in PEZA-registered Eco-Tourism Zone and in the Calay-ab
Sand Dunes, Fort Ilocandia, Plaza del Norte Convention Center and shall cater to
travelers at Laoag International Airport.

V. THE PROPOSED LAND USE

A. Proposed General Land Use

B.
Percent
Proposed General Land Use Area (ha)
(%)
Industrial 382.38 3.19
Residential 3,811.65 31.82
Agricultural 4,762.81 39.77
Commercial 378.56 3.16
Environment 1,205.90 10.07
Institutional 230.48 1.92
Open Area 52.91 0.44

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River 1,152.22 9.62

Total 11,976.90 100.00

A. Proposed Urban Land Use

Area Percent
Proposed Urban Land Use
(ha) (%)
Industrial 40.46 4.85
Residential 271.82 32.59
Agricultural 363.22 43.55
Commercial 59.07 7.08
Environment/Tourism 0.00 0.00
Institutional 99.50 11.93
Open Area 0.00 0.00
Total 834.07 100.00

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CHAPTER 1
BRIEF PROFILE OF THE CITY

I. HISTORY AND THE CREATION OF CITY OF LAOAG

Known as the country’s Sunshine City and the capital of Ilocos Norte, the
City of Laoag (Figure 1. 1) emits rays of opportunities to the entire province
making it the center of education and economic activities.
The city’s name was derived from the Ilocano term of light or brightness
because of its clear atmosphere and blue skyline highlighting its beautiful beaches,
famous sand dunes, lush green landscape, and picturesque heritage sites.
Focusing on the well-being of its people while embracing its rich and
vibrant history and preserving the environment, the city is ready to embark into
the future towards a sustainable and more progressive BARO A LAOAG (a New
Laoag).

Figure 1. 1. The City of Laoag

Prior to Spanish conquest, trade in Ilocos was already flourishing with

merchants from Japan and China visiting the area to trade beads, ceramics and silk
with Ilocos’ gold. During that time, the inhabitants called their place samtoy, from
sao mi itoy, which literally meant "this is our language."

In 1572, Juan de Salcedo, in one of his expeditions, headed north of the

Philippines and landed in Vigan until he proceeded towards Laoag, Currimao and
Badoc. As he and his men sailed along the coast, they were surprised to see
numerous sheltered coves (looc) where the locals lived. From then on, they named
the region "Ylocos" and its people "Ylocanos".

Slowly, colonization and Christianization of Ilocos was carried out as

churches, plazas, convents, towers, tribunals and settlements were built forming a
gridiron pattern inspired by the early Romans. It was sometime in the year 1584
or 1585 when Laoag was first organized as a parish while on June 19, 1965, Laoag
became a city through a plebiscite.

Revolution took place and freed the Filipinos from the abusive practices of
the Spaniards. Eventually, Ilocos was divided into two provinces due to the surge
of the population in the 1700s. It was on February 2, 1818 when the Province of
Ilocos Norte was formally separated from the Province of Ilocos Sur. Laoag,
having the most numerous inhabitants, was made the capital of Ilocos Norte
(Figure 1. 2).

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Figure 1. 2. City of Laoag, Capital of Ilocos Norte

With the creation of Laoag as a city, Hon. Eulalio F. Siazon became the first
city mayor. He was followed by Hon. Jose P. Santos who assumed office in the
year 1976. He was succeeded by Hon. Atty. Rodolfo C. Fariñas in 1980 then by
Hon. Ernesto L. Tamayo in 1988. The fifth city mayor was Hon. Cesar A. Ventura
who started his office in 1992 while the sixth was Hon. Roger C. Fariñas
commencing in the year 1995. Hon. Michael V. Fariñas was the seventh city mayor
in 2004; and his wife, Chevylle V. Fariñas, became the eighth city mayor when he
ended his term in 2013. The present administration is led by Hon. Michael Marcos
Keon who dreams of a more prosperous yet environment-friendly and people-
centered BARO A LAOAG.

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II. PHYSICAL PROFILE

Geography

Located at the west-central part of the Province of Ilocos Norte bordering

the West Philippine Sea, City of Laoag is bounded on the east by the Municipality
of Sarrat, in the southeast by the Municipality of San Nicolas, in the southwest by
the Municipality of Paoay, in the northeast by the Municipality of Vintar, in the
northwest by the Municipality of Bacarra, and in the west by the South China Sea
(Figure 1. 3). It is 488 km away from Manila, 274 km from Baguio, and 78 km from
Vigan. With Laoag International Airport and the international seaport of
Currimao, the City of Laoag helps the country in maintaining strong external
linkages.

With total land area of 11,976.90 hectares (ha), City of Laoag has residential
area of 3,311.65 ha, commercial area of 127.10 ha, industrial area of 494.47 ha,
agricultural area of 4,123.16 ha, forest and tourism area of 1,054.93 ha, open area
of 1,527.36 ha and river covering 1,152.22 ha.

Topography

Figure 1. 4 shows the transect line which traverses across the City of Laoag.
The city has an elevation of one (1) meter above sea level (msl) extending from its
shoreline at Brgy. Apaya (42) to 12.5 km at Brgy. Lagui-Sail (54-A). Starting from
Brgy. Bacsil South (56-B), the elevation rises to 72 msl traversing toward Brgy.
Bacsil North (56-A) which has the highest elevation of 225 msl in the transect.

The City of Laoag has generally low elevation of -2 to 8 msl covering an

area of 4,689.31 ha or 39.15% of the total land area (Table 1. 1 and Figure 1. 5). This
favors agricultural, residential and commercial activities. However, the lowest
elevation can be found at Brgy. Rioeng (53), Brgy. Camanggaan (54-B) and Brgy.
Nangalisan (51- A & B), making these areas prone to flooding. The northeastern
portion of the city, specifically Brgy. Dibua North (59-B), Brgy. Dibua South (59-
A), Brgy. Salet-Bulangon (55-B), Brgy. Lagui-Sail (54-A), Brgy. Bacsil North (56-A)
and Brgy. Bacsil South (56-B), composed the area with elevation ranging from 44
to 309 msl. Brgy. Bacsil North (56-A) has the highest elevation of 309 msl. These
barangays are predominantly covered by forest. A small portion of Brgy. La Paz
Proper (33-A) is also slightly elevated because of the sand dune. Brgy. Balatong
(50) is also elevated with 61 msl as its highest point.
Figure 1. 6 shows the topographic contours of the City of Laoag.

Table 1. 1. Elevation of City of Laoag

Elevation (msl) Area (ha) Percentage (%)
-2 to 8 4,689.31 39.15
8 to 11 1,847.89 15.43
11 to 18 2,226.48 18.59
18 to 44 1,672.34 13.96
44 to 309 1,540.87 12.87
Total 11,976.90 100.00

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Figure 1. 3. Geographical Location of City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 4. Transect Map of City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 5. Elevation of City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 6. Topographic Map of City of Laoag

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Slope

Land within the poblacion and all adjacent barangays and the rural
barangays south of the river except Brgy. Balatong (40), parts of Brgy. Balacad (41)
and part of Bacsil (56 A& B) and Lagui-Sail (54-A), coastal barangays of barangays
Calayab (37), Gabu (35), La Paz (32-C), Cataban (61) and Caaoacan (60-A) are level
to very gently sloping, having a slope of 0-8% with a total land area of 8,924.33 or
74.5% (Table 1. 2). Brgy. Pila (57), Brgy. Dibua (49) and part of Brgy. Balatong (40),
Brgy. Balacad (41), Brgy. Lagui-Sail (54-A) and Brgy. Barit (55-A) have a slope of
8-18% with a land area of 1,827 ha. Barangays Vira (55-C) and Bacsil (56 A &B)
have a slope of 18-30% characterized as sloping to moderately steep. The forest
land has a total land area of 74.71 ha with a slope of 30% and over. The highest
peak is in Bacsil North (56-A) with a slope of over 50% (Figure 1. 7).

Table 1. 2. Slope of City of Laoag

Slope Area (ha) Percentage (%)
0-3 7,953.71 66.409
3-8 970.63 8.104
8-18 1,827.00 15.254
18-30 1,150.38 9.605
30-50 74.71 0.624
50 and above 0.48 0.004
Total 11,976.90 100.00

Soil Type

The different soil types found in the City of Laoag are presented in Table 1.
3 and Figure 1. 8.

Bantog Sandy Loam. The surface soil is brown sandy loam; friable; 25 centimeters
thick. The subsoil is dark sandy clay loam to clay loam. The texture of this layer
becomes finer as its depth increases. The substratum is yellowish brown silty clay
loam. This type is found east of Brgy. Balacad (41). Bantog soil series is suitable for
lowland and upland rice, corn, sugarcane, vegetables, root crops, coconut and
perennial trees (Carating, et al, 2012). Bantog sandy loam lies in 57.86 hectares in
the City of Laoag.

San Manuel Loam. The surface soil is very pale brown to pale brown loam; loose
and friable; 30 to 35 centimeters deep. Other profile characteristics are similar to
those of the San Manuel Silt Loam. San Manuel soil series is generally suitable to
lowland and upland rice, corn, coconut, vegetables, sugarcane, root crops and
perennial trees (Carating, et al, 2012). City of Laoag is covered with 21.28% or
2,548.99 hectares of San Manuel Loam.

San Manuel Silt Loam. The surface soil is coarse granular; and mellow when
moist. The boundary with the lower layer is diffuse. The subsoil is pale brown silt
loam to fine sandy loam with yellowish brown streaks; slightly compact. The
lower limit of this layer is 90 to 100 centimeters from the surface. It is underlain by
yellowish brown fine sandy loam to fine sand, which is slightly compact. The
boundary with the lower layer is gradual. San Manuel silt loam occupies 153.45
hectares or 1.28% of the total land area of the City of Laoag.

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Figure 1. 7. Slope of City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 8. Soils of City of Laoag

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San Manuel Sandy Loam. The surface soil is very pale brown to brown sandy
loam; loose and very friable; 25 to 30 centimeters deep. The boundary with the
lower layer is diffuse. The subsoil is pale brown fine sandy loam, very friable. Its
lower boundary is about 110 centimeters from the surface. This layer is undertaken
by yellowish brown sandy loam to fine sand; loose and friable. The boundary with
the upper layer is diffuse. The city is covered with 1,627.82 hectares or 13.59% of
this type of soil.

San Manuel Silt Clay. The surface soil is silty clay; slightly sticky; 30 to 35
centimeters thick. It easily puddles and becomes hard when dry. The subsoil and
stratum are more or less similar to those of other San Manuel Soils. San Manuel
silt clay lies on 378.17 hectares or 3.16% of the total land area of the city.

Bantay Clay Loam. The surface soil is brown to dark brown loam; friable;
granular; and 15 to 20 centimeters deep. The boundary with the lower layer is
granual. The upper subsoil is yellowish brown clay loam; friable; and coarse
granular in structure. Beneath is a layer of highly weathered shale, which breaks
into cube-like fragments under slight pressure. Lime precipitates are present. The
substratum consists of highly weathered shale. This is good for grassland and
second growth forest with bamboo and boho. This can be cultivated with
sugarcane, rice, corn, cassava and vegetables (Costelo, n.d.). Bantay clay loam
covers 1,567.60 hectares in the city.

Dune land. This is composed of coarse to medium, light gray to gray sand. It is
characterized by an undulating to rolling topography. The greater portion of the
land is unstabilized which means that strong winds induce sand movement. This
is characterized with the absence of vegetation. Sand dunes made up 767.62 ha or
6.41% of the city.

San Fernando Clay. The surface soil is gray, dark gray to black massive clay; firm;
sticky and plastic when wet, hard and compact when dry. The average depth is
about 30 centimeters. San Fernando series is generally covered with cultivated
crops, such as rice, sugarcane, corn, vegetables and fruit trees. It covers 2,305.13 ha
or 19.25% of the total land area of City of Laoag.

San Fernando Clay Loam. This type has the same profile characteristics as those
of San Fernando Clay. They differ in the nature of their surface soil. San Fernando
Clay loam consists of gray to very dark gray clay loam. It is slightly sticky when
wet and slightly friable when moist. City of Laoag is covered with 260.73 ha of San
Fernando clay loam.

Faraon Clay. Faraon series are classified as black limestone soils. The soils are very
shallow, good drainage, and fairly friable clay soils. They are fairly productive
and good for crops that require plenty of calcium, such as corn, sugarcane,
coconut, vegetables and root crops (Carating, et al, 2012; Costelo, n.d.). City of
Laoag has 121.04 ha of Faraon clay.

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Table 1. 3. Different Soil Types in the City of Laoag

Soil Type Location Area (ha) Crops Cultivated
lowland and upland
rice, corn, sugarcane,
Balacad (41), Balatong 57.86
Bantog Sandy Loam vegetables, root
(40) (0.48%)
crops, coconut and
perennial trees
San Tomas (29), Rioeng
(53), Camanggaan (54-B),
Suyo (30-A), Sta. Maria
(30-B), Talingaan (31),
Gabu Norte West (34-A),
San Guillermo (4), San
Jacinto (16), San
Guillermo (15), Sto.
Tomas (14), San Quirino
(18), Sta. Marcela (19),
San Isidro (12), Sta.
Angela (9), San Jose (10),
Sta. Balbina (11), Nra. Sra.
de Visitacion (13), San
Pedro (5), San Agustin
(6), Nra. Sra. de
Natividad (7-A), San
Vicente (8), Nra. Sra. de
Natividad (7-B), San
Lorenzo (1), Sta. Joaquina
(2), Nra. Sra. del Rosario
lowland and upland
(3), Balatong (40), Sta.
rice, corn, coconut,
Rosa (39), San Francisco 2,548.99
San Manuel Loam vegetables,
(17), Balacad (41), San (21.28%)
sugarcane, root crops
Andres (22), Nra. Sra. de
and perennial trees
Consolacion (24), Sta.
Cayetana (25), San
Marcelino (26), Nra. Sra.
de Soledad (27), San
Bernabe (28), San Miguel
(20), San Pedro (21), San
Matias (23), Raraburan
(49-B), Nangalisan West
(51-B), Nangalisan East
(51-A), San Mateo (52-A),
Zamboanga (44), Bengcag
(47), Tangid (45), Nalbo
(46), Buttong (50),
Darayday (49-A), Araniw
(36), Gabu Sur (35), Gabu
Norte East (34-B), Cavit
(43), Apaya (42), Mangato
West (38-B), Mangato
East (38-A), Cabungaan
South (48-B), Cabungaan
North (48-A)

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Table 1.3. Cont…

Soil Type Location Area (ha) Crops Cultivated

lowland and upland
Pila (57), Barit Pandan rice, corn, coconut,
San Manuel Silt 153.45
(55-A), Dibua North (59- vegetables,
Loam (1.28%)
B), Vira (55-C) sugarcane, root crops
and perennial trees
Pila (57), Dibua North
(59-B), Madiladig (60-B),
Caaoacan (60-A), Navotas
North (62-A), Navotas
South (62-B), Cataban
lowland and upland
(61), Dibua South (59-A),
rice, corn, coconut,
San Manuel Sandy Talingaan (31), Casili (58), 1,627.82
vegetables,
Loam Suyo (30-A), Sta. Maria (13.59%)
sugarcane, root crops
(30-B), San Lorenzo (1),
and perennial trees
Sta. Joaquina (2),
Balatong (40), Calayab
(37), Balacad (41), Araniw
(36), Sta. Rosa (39), Apaya
(42)
Lagui Sail (54-A), Salet
Bulangon (55-B), San
Jacinto (16), San Quirino
(18), San Isidro (12), Nra.
lowland and upland
Sra. de Visitacion (13),
rice, corn, coconut,
San Manuel Silt San Bernabe (28), San 378.17
vegetables,
Clay Francisco (17), Nra. Sra. (3.16%)
sugarcane, root crops
de Soledad (27), Sta.
and perennial trees
Marcela (19), San Miguel
(20), San Pedro (21), San
Matias (23), Barit Pandan
(55-A)
Madiladig (60-B),
Caaoacan (60-A), Navotas
South (62-B), Cataban lowland and upland
(61), Talingaan (31). La rice, corn, coconut,
San Manuel Silty 884.91
Paz (32-C), La Paz Proper vegetables,
Clay Loam (7.39%)
(33-A), La Paz Proper (33- sugarcane, root crops
B), La Paz West (32-B), La and perennial trees
Paz East (32-A), Monroe
Island
Bacsil South (56-B), Bacsil
North (56-A), Lagui Sail sugarcane, rice, corn,
1,567.60
Bantay Clay Loam (54-A), Lataag (52- B), cassava and
(13.09%)
Balacad (41), Balatong vegetables
(40), Darayday (49- A)
Calayab (37), Balacad
767.62
Dune Land (41), Araniw (36), Gabu no vegetation
(6.41%)
Sur (35), Apaya (42)
Salet Bulangon (55-B),
Bacsil South (56-B), Bacsil rice, sugarcane, corn,
San Fernando Clay 260.73
North (56-A), Lagui Sail, vegetables and fruit
Loam (2.18%)
Madiladig (60-B), trees
Caaoacan(60-A)

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Table 1.3. Cont…

Soil Type Location Area (ha) Crops Cultivated

Pila (57), San Tomas (29),
Salet Bulangon (55-B),
Barit Pandan(55-A),
Bacsil North (56-A),
Lagui Sail (54-A), San
Mateo (52-A), Lataag (52-
B), Rioeng (53),
Camanggaan (54-B),
Bacsil South (56-B), Dibua rice, sugarcane, corn,
2,305.13
San Fernando Clay South (59-A), Dibua vegetables and fruit
(19.25%)
North (59-B), Casili (58), trees
Sta. Maria (30-B), San
Isidro (12), Nra. Sra. del
Rosario (3), San Pedro (5),
Nra. Sra. de Natividad (7-
A), San Lorenzo (1), Sta.
Joaquina (2), San Bernabe
(28), San Matias (23), Vira
(55-C)
Dibua North (59-B),
Nangalisan East (51-A), corn, sugarcane,
Faraon Clay / River 121.04
Zamboanga (44), Cavit coconut, vegetables
Wash (1.01%)
(43), Barit Pandan (55-A), and root crops
Vira (55-C)

Climate

The City of Laoag belongs to Type I climate, characterized as having two

(2) pronounced seasons, i.e., dry from November to April and wet throughout the
rest of the year. The southwest monsoon or “habagat” causes frequent heavy
rainfall and humid weather during the wet seasons.

The City of Laoag’s driest month is February which recorded a two (2) mm
or 0.1 inch of precipitation (Figure 1. 9). From the month of May to August, the
precipitation is continuously increasing, where August has the highest recorded
precipitation with an average 566 mm or 22.3 inches. The transition of
precipitation level from September to October was an abrupt decrease and
continually decreasing up to December, signifying the dry season.

May is recorded as the warmest month with an average of 28.8 °C or 83.8

°F. While the coldest temperature is recorded in the month of January with
temperature averaging 24.3 °C or 75.7 °F (Figure 1. 9).

The average lowest minimum temperature in the City of Laoag is 19.4⁰C or

66.0 ⁰F which was recorded in the month of January, while the average highest
maximum temperature is 33.3⁰C or 91.9⁰F recorded in the month of May (Figure 1.
10).

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Source: https://en.climate-data.org/
Figure 1. 9. Normal Monthly Rainfall in the City of Laoag

Source: https://en.climate-data.org/
Figure 1. 10. Monthly Weather Averages in the City of Laoag

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Barangays

There are a total of 80 barangays, 30 are considered urban/población while

50 are rural. Listed below are the said barangays with their land areas (Table 1. 4).
Figure 1. 11 shows the base map of the City of Laoag. Figure 1. 12 presents the 30
urban barangays.

Table 1. 4. Barangays of City of Laoag and their Land Area

Barangay Land Area Percentage
Barangay Name
Number (ha) (%)
Urban
1 San Lorenzo 103.52 0.96
2 Sta. Joaquina 68.87 0.64
3 Nra. Sra. del Rosario 14.08 0.13
4 San Guillermo 9.93 0.09
5 San Pedro 29.46 0.27
6 San Agustin 9.26 0.09
7-A Nra. Sra. de Natividad 6.49 0.06
7-B Nra. Sra. de Natividad 11.57 0.11
8 San Vicente 7.86 0.07
9 Sta. Angela 8.73 0.08
10 San Jose 11.82 0.11
11 Sta. Balbina 11.20 0.10
12 San Isidro 23.87 0.22
13 Nra. Sra. de Visitacion 19.15 0.18
14 Sto. Tomas 3.52 0.03
15 San Guillermo 17.79 0.16
16 San Jacinto 13.53 0.13
17 San Francisco 14.74 0.14
18 San Quirino 19.46 0.18
19 Sta. Marcela 19.93 0.18
20 San Miguel 23.36 0.22
21 San Pedro 21.63 0.20
22 San Andres 6.65 0.06
23 San Matias 100.40 0.93
24 Nra. Sra. de Consolacion 6.25 0.06
25 Sta. Cayetana 11.00 0.10
26 San Marcelino 26.03 0.24
27 Nra. Sra. de Soledad 27.65 0.26
28 San Bernabe 85.16 0.79
29 San Tomas 101.16 0.94

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Table 1.4. Cont…

Barangay Land Area Percentage

Barangay Name
Number (ha) (%)
Rural
Monroe Island 83.43 0.77
30-A Suyo 31.51 0.29
30-B Sta. Maria 172.46 1.59
31 Talingaan 596.75 5.52
32-A La Paz East 8.34 0.08
32-B La Paz West 143.76 1.33
32-C La Paz 33.12 0.31
33-A La Paz Proper 40.67 0.38
33-B La Paz Proper 6.68 0.06
34-A Gabu Norte West 18.29 0.17
34-B Gabu Norte East 10.33 0.10
35 Gabu Sur 154.60 1.43
36 Araniw 110.01 1.02
37 Calayab 574.65 5.31
38-A Mangato East 97.88 0.91
38-B Mangato West 94.68 0.88
39 Sta. Rosa 131.17 1.21
40 Balatong 508.83 4.70
41 Balacad 518.23 4.79
42 Apaya 246.45 2.28
43 Cavit 69.58 0.64
44 Zamboanga 160.43 1.48
45 Tangid 124.61 1.15
46 Nalbo 100.75 0.93
47 Bengcag 198.72 1.84
48-A Cabungaan North 132.01 1.22
48-B Cabungaan South 115.54 1.07
49-A Darayday 128.44 1.19
49-B Raraburan 68.77 0.64
50 Buttong 160.95 1.49
51-A Nangalisan East 167.85 1.55
51-B Nangalisan West 29.95 0.28
52-A San Mateo 53.23 0.49
52-B Lataag 228.90 2.12
53 Rioeng 230.43 2.13
54-A Lagui Sail 605.21 5.60

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Table 1.4. Cont…

Barangay Barangay Name Land Area Percentage

Number (ha) (%)
54-B Camanggaan 136.41 1.26
55-A Barit Pandan 352.87 3.26
55-B Salet Bulangon 393.44 3.64
55-C Vira 261.28 2.42
56-A Bacsil North 394.41 3.65
56-B Bacsil South 548.26 5.07
57 Pila 290.72 2.69
58 Casili 96.54 0.89
59-A Dibua South 219.11 2.03
59-B Dibua North 247.90 2.29
60-A Caaoacan 52.44 0.48
60-B Madiladig 431.58 3.99
61 Cataban 159.42 1.47
62-A Navotas North 84.17 0.78
62-B Navotas South 155.62 1.44

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Figure 1. 11. Base Map of City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 12. Urban Base Map of City of Laoag

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III. DEMOGRAPHY

Annual Growth Rate

The annual growth rate of the City of Laoag had a decreasing trend from
0.18 in 2007 to 0.15 in 2015 (Table 1. 5). This implies that even if the population is
increasing, the rate of growth is decreasing.

Table 1. 5. Annual Growth Rate of City of Laoag

Annual
Population Increase/Decrease Growth
Year Rate
Male Female Total Male Female Total

2000 46,230 48,236 94,466

2007 50,141 52,316 102,457 3,911 4,080 7,991 0.18
2010 51,338 53,566 104,904 1,197 1,250 2,447 0.12
2015 54,383 56,742 111,125 3,045 3,176 6,221 0.15

Population Density

In 2015, the City of Laoag had a population density of ten (10) persons per
hectare. Brgy. Sto. Tomas (14), an urban barangay, had the highest population
density of 326 persons per hectare. Brgy. Bacsil North (56-A) and Brgy. Bacsil
South (56-B) obtained the lowest population density of two (2) persons per
hectare (Table 1. 6 and Figure 1. 13).

Table 1. 6. Population Density of City of Laoag, Year 2015

Population
Land Area
Barangay Population Density
(ha)
(persons/ha)
Urban
1 San Lorenzo 4,733 107.03 44
2 Sta. Joaquina 2,568 74.07 35
3 Nra. Sra. Del Rosario 1,189 15.28 78
4 San Guillermo 1,256 10.34 121
5 San Pedro 1,723 32.78 53
6 San Agustin 1,371 10.96 125
7-A Nra. Sra. De Natividad 1,131 8.40 135
7-B Nra. Sra. De Natividad 968 11.49 84
8 San Vicente 1,042 8.97 116
9 Sta. Angela 802 8.08 99
10 San Jose 1,005 11.49 87
11 Sta. Balbina 1,365 14.46 94
12 San Isidro 1,607 27.66 58
13 Nra. Sra. De Visitacion 1,443 19.25 75

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Land Area Popn Density

Barangay Population
(ha) (persons/ha)
Urban
14 Sto. Tomas 1,147 5.58 206
15 San Guillermo 1,098 22.41 49
16 San Jacinto 1,060 14.80 72
17 San Francisco 708 15.98 44
18 San Quirino 723 74.96 10
19 Sta. Marcela 1,144 23.82 48
20 San Miguel 1,029 24.15 43
21 San Pedro 1,349 28.29 48
22 San Andres 1,065 8.03 133
23 San Matias 2,857 100.31 28
24 Nra. Sra. De
1,054 8.28 127
Consolacion
25 Sta. Cayetana 1,201 10.61 113
26 San Marcelino 963 21.29 45
27 Nra. Sra. De
1,618 24.85 65
Soledad
28 San Bernabe 1,758 100.65 17
29 San Tomas 1,330 103.45 13
Subtotal 42,307 947.72 45
Rural
30-A Suyo 762 31.51 24
30-B Sta. Maria 1,516 172.47 9
31 Talingaan 1,616 596.77 3
32-A La Paz East 1,433 8.34 172
32-B La Paz West 1,065 143.76 7
32-C La Paz East 1,693 33.12 51
33-A La Paz Proper 1,113 40.67 27
33-B La Paz Proper 1,052 6.68 157
34-A Gabu Norte West 777 18.29 42
34-B Gabu Norte East 1,230 10.33 119
35 Gabu Sur 1,778 154.61 11
36 Araniw 873 110.02 8
37 Calayab 2,081 574.67 4
38-A Mangato East 1,040 97.89 11
38-B Mangato West 1,188 94.68 13
39 Sta. Rosa 789 131.18 6
40 Balatong 2,659 508.85 5
41 Balacad 1,422 518.25 3
42 Apaya 916 246.46 4
43 Cavit 1,086 69.58 16
44 Zamboanga 1,331 160.44 8
45 Tangid 997 124.61 8
46 Nalbo 2,401 100.76 24

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Population
Land Area
Barangay Population Density
(ha)
(persons/ha)
47 Bengcag 1,874 198.72 9
48-A Cabungaan North 1,788 132.01 14
48-B Cabungaan South 1,239 115.54 11
49-A Darayday 976 128.44 8
49-B Raraburan 1,658 68.78 24
50 Buttong 3,044 160.95 19
51-A Nangalisan East 1,510 167.86 9
51-B Nangalisan West 814 29.95 27
52-A San Mateo 629 53.23 12
52-B Lataag 876 228.91 4
53 Rioeng 1,616 230.44 7
54-A Lagui-Sail 2,372 605.23 4
54-B Camanggaan 1,005 136.41 7
55-A Barit 2,233 352.88 6
55-B Salet-Bulangon 2,521 393.46 6
55-C Vira 1,377 261.29 5
56-A Bacsil North 951 394.42 2
56-B Bacsil South 1,349 548.28 2
57 Pila 1,866 290.74 6
58 Casili 964 96.54 10
59-A Dibua South 1,100 219.11 5
59-B Dibua North 865 247.91 3
60-A Caaoacan 1,430 52.44 27
60-B Madiladig 1,469 431.60 3
61 Cataban 766 159.42 5
62-A Navotas North 796 84.17 9
62-B Navotas South 912 155.63 6
Sub-total 68,818 9,898.28 7
Total 111,125 10,568.00 11
Source: Community-Based Monitoring System

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Figure1. 13. Population Density of City of Laoag

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Population Distribution
In 2015, ages from 15-19 comprised 10.4% of the total population of City of Laoag
City. Infants have 2.1% of its total population. About 29.9% of its population belongs to
the youth-age group of 0-14; 64% to the working-age group of 15-64; and 6% of its
population are age group of 65 and over. The city’s population comprises 51.06% females
(56,742) and 48.94% males (54,383) (Table 1.7).
Figure 1. 14 shows that there were more males than females for age groups 0-4
until 10-14. However, from age group 15-19 and onwards, the female population was
greater than the male group. This can be attributed to lifestyle and occupation of the latter
which makes lifespan shorter. It can also be observed that the age pyramid is tapering
which implies that the population still has an increasing trend. The pyramid has a broad
tip because the population of the elders were clumped to age group 65 and over.
Age Dependency Ratio

The City of Laoag has the greatest population of young and old dependency in
Ilocos Norte, with a population of 26,685 for 0-14 years old (young dependency) and 6,683
for 65-over (old dependency).
The ratio of population in the City of Laoag for young and old dependency is
49.95%. The young dependency ratio (0-14 years old) is 39.95% and the remaining 10% is
old dependency ratio (65 and over).
Urbanization Level
The urbanization level of the City of Laoag is computed to have 38.07% in 2015, a
slight decrease of 0.59 from 2010. This means that 38% of the population of the city reside
in the urban areas, implying that there is a need to enrich the economic activities in the
urban area.

Table 1. 7. Population by Age and Sex, City of Laoag, Year 2010 and 2015
Age 2010 Population 2015 Population
Group Male Female Total Male Female Total
Under 1 1,199 1,012 2,211 1,270 1,072 2,342
1-4 4,464 4,102 8,565 4,729 4,345 9,074
5-9 5,238 5,081 10,320 5,549 5,382 10,931
10-14 5,248 5,071 10,320 5,559 5,371 10,930
15-19 5,350 5,561 10,912 5,668 5,891 11,559
20-24 4,943 5,223 10,155 5,236 5,532 10,768
25-29 4,355 4,794 9,149 4,614 5,078 9,692
30-34 4,122 4,021 8,142 4,367 4,260 8,627
35-39 3,548 3,647 7,196 3,758 3,863 7,621
40-44 2,933 3,114 6,047 3,107 3,298 6,405
45-49 2,438 2,681 5,118 2,582 2,840 5,422
50-54 1,993 2,265 4,260 2,112 2,400 4,512
55-59 1,659 1,770 3,429 1,757 1,875 3,632
60-64 1,240 1,501 2,742 1,314 1,590 2,904
65 and 2,603 3,724 6,327 2,761 3,944 6,705
over
Total 51,337 53,567 104,904 54,383 56,742 111,125
Source: Community-Based Monitoring System

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7,000 5,000 3,000 1,000 1,000 3,000 5,000 7,000

65 and over
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
Age Group

35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4

7,000 5,000 3,000 1,000 1,000 3,000 5,000 7,000

Population

Female Male

Figure 1. 14. Age-Sex Distribution of City of Laoag

Household Population

In 2015 Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) census results, the total number of
households in the City of Laoag was 27,874 wherein 10,612 were urban households while
17,262 were rural households (Table 1. 8). Among urban barangays, Brgy. San Lorenzo
(1) had the largest number of households with a total of 1,420, while Brgy. San Francisco
(17) had the lowest household population of 185. Meanwhile among rural barangays,
Brgy. Buttong (50) had the highest number of households with a total number of 764,
while Brgy. San Mateo (52-A) had the least number of households of 158.

Table 1. 8. Household Population in the City of Laoag, Year 2015

Number of
No. Barangay Population
Households
Urban
1 San Lorenzo 4,733 1,240
2 Sta. Joaquina 2,568 673
3 Nra. Sra. Del Rosario 1,189 311
4 San Guillermo 1,256 329
5 San Pedro 1,723 451
6 San Agustin 1,371 359
7-A Nra. Sra. De Natividad 1,131 296
7-B Nra. Sra. De Natividad 968 254
8 San Vicente 1,042 273
9 Sta. Angela 802 210
10 San Jose 1,005 263
11 Sta. Balbina 1,365 358
12 San Isidro 1,607 421
13 Nra. Sra. De Visitacion 1,443 378
14 Sto. Tomas 1,147 300

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15 San Guillermo 1,098 288

16 San Jacinto 1,060 278
17 San Francisco 708 185
18 San Quirino 723 189
19 Sta. Marcela 1,144 300
20 San Miguel 1,029 270
21 San Pedro 1,349 353
22 San Andres 1,065 279
23 San Matias 2,857 748
24 Nra. Sra. De Consolacion 1,054 276
25 Sta. Cayetana 1,201 315
26 San Marcelino 963 252
27 Nra. Sra. De Soledad 1,618 424
28 San Bernabe 1,758 461
29 San Tomas 1,330 348
Sub-Total 42,307 10,612
Rural
30-A Suyo 762 191
30-B Sta. Maria 1,516 380
31 Talingaan 1,616 405
32-A La Paz East 1,433 359
32-B La Paz West 1,065 267
32-C La Paz East 1,693 425
33-A La Paz Proper 1,113 279
33-B La Paz Proper 1,052 264
34-A Gabu Norte West 777 195
34-B Gabu Norte East 1,230 309
35 Gabu Sur 1,778 446
36 Araniw 873 219
37 Calayab 2,081 522
38-A Mangato East 1,040 261
38-B Mangato West 1,188 298
39 Sta. Rosa 789 198
40 Balatong 2,659 667
41 Balacad 1,422 357
42 Apaya 916 230
43 Cavit 1,086 272
44 Zamboanga 1,331 334
45 Tangid 997 250
46 Nalbo 2,401 602
47 Bengcag 1,874 470
48-A Cabungaan North 1,788 448
48-B Cabungaan South 1,239 311
49-A Darayday 976 245
49B Raraburan 1,658 416
50 Buttong 3,044 764
51-A Nangalisan East 1,510 379
51-B Nangalisan West 814 204
52-A San Mateo 629 158
52-B Lataag 876 220
53 Rioeng 1,616 405

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54-A Lagui-Sail 2,372 595

54-B Camanggaan 1,005 252
55-A Barit 2,233 560
55-B Salet-Bulangon 2,521 632
55-C Vira 1,377 345
56-A Bacsil North 951 239
56-B Bacsil South 1,349 338
57 Pila 1,866 468
58 Casili 964 242
59-A Dibua South 1,100 276
59-B Dibua North 865 217
60-A Caaoacan 1,430 359
60-B Madiladig 1,469 368
61 Cataban 766 192
62-A Navotas North 796 200
62-B Navotas South 912 229
Sub-Total 68,818 17,262
Total 111,125 27,874
Source: Community-Based Monitoring System

IV. ECOSYSTEM SECTOR

Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction

The highest possible future rainfall increase of 32.2% under representative

concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 scenario in the mid-21st century (2036-2065) would be
in the season of December-January-February (DJF). The projected impacts during this
season are improvements in the growth and yield performance of transplanted rice, and
adversely, an increase in susceptibility of vegetables and fruits to pests and diseases and
decrease in quality of harvested vegetables. On the other hand, the highest possible
rainfall decrease of 25.9% was projected under RCP 8.5 scenario during the season of
March-April-May (MAM). The projected impacts during MAM’s season are quicker
drying of corn and palay, delay sowing of seeds for rice production, occurrence of
ambient pests (poultry and livestock diseases), low level of dissolved oxygen in ponds
and increased susceptibility of vegetables to diseases.

The highest projected temperature increase under high emission of greenhouse

gas scenario is 2.4°C in the season of June-July-August (JJA). The potential impacts are
adjusted working time in the field (rice transplanting) but with no significant impacts on
rice production.

The likelihood of occurrence of flooding in the city is every one (1) to three (3)
years. Figure 1. 15 shows that 60.10%, 13.24% and 17.25% of the land area of the City of
Laoag is with high, moderate and low susceptibility to flooding. These areas are low-
lying and can be found along the Padsan River and creeks.

Landslide in the City of Laoag is a very rare event, occurring once every 200 to 300
years. Figure 1. 22 shows that a small percentage (173.47 ha) of the land area of the city is
highly susceptible to rain-induced landslide. This is mostly found in barangays Bacsil
North (56-A), Bacsil South (56-B) and Lagui-Sail (54-A).

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Storm surge has not occurred yet in the lifetime of key informants. However,
based on the model generated by the DOST’s Project NOAH, less than one (1) percent
(102.45 ha) of the land area of the city is covered by highly susceptible to storm surge and
1.80% (194.57 ha) by moderately susceptible (Figure 1. 17). Highly susceptible areas are
mostly found at barangays Gabu Norte West (34-A) and Gabu Sur (35). They can also be
found along the shorelines of Madiladig (60-B), Caaoacan (60-A) and Cataban (61).

The return period of tsunami is 200 to 300 years. Based on the DOST’s READY
Project, all the barangays along the shoreline may be affected by tsunami and even
extending to Mangato West (38-B), Mangato East (38-A), Cabungaan North (48-A),
Cabungaan South (48-B), Zamboanga (44), Navotas North (62-A), Dibua South (59-A)
and Dibua North (59-B) (Figure 1. 18).

The 1983 Laoag earthquake scenario, having a magnitude of 5.3 has a return
period of ten (10) to 30 years. The top barangays which will have two (2) to three (3)
buildings or structures in complete damage with collapse state would be San Lorenzo
(1), San Isidro (12), Santa Joaquina (2), San Matias (23), San Bernabe (28), Buttong (50)
and Nra. Sra. De Natividad (7-A) (Figure 1. 19).

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Figure 1. 15. Flood Hazard Susceptibility in the City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 16. Landslide Hazard Susceptibility in the City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 17. Storm Surge Hazard Susceptibility in the City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 18. Tsunami Hazard Susceptibility in the City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 19. Earthquake Impact in the City of Laoag

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Biodiversity
According to CENRO, City of Laoag has 71 flora species; 16 species of
amphibians; 22 species of reptiles; and 34 species of avifauna. Over-all, there are
69 flora species and 72 fauna species. Nine (9) species of flora are exotic species
and 62 species are endemic. Most of fauna species are endemic with a total of 53
species; 12 species are native; three (3) species are introduced; and four (4) species
of avifauna are migratory.
A total of 13 species of avifauna were found in the mangroves of Brgy. Gabu
Sur (35) and Brgy. Apaya (42). At Brgy. Gabu Sur (35), the number of individual
Philippine Duck (Anas luzonica) is uncountable because they fly as flocks. The
pond behind the mangroves is classified as their breeding area because it’s
inaccessible for the community living in the area. As observed, Crested Myna
(Acridotheres cristatellus) has the largest number of individuals with a total of 659
individuals, making it the most abundant in the area together with A. luzonica.
There is also one species of eagle observed at Brgy. Gabu Sur (35) and Brgy.
Apaya (42) named Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) (Figure 1. 20). Five (5)
individuals were observed roaming in the area.

PHOTO CREDIT: OCPDC

Figure 1. 20. Haliastur indus (Brahminy Kite) located at Brgy Gabu Sur (35)

Based on the assessment conducted (Table 1. 9), the biodiversity index of

the terrestrial fauna in the City of Laoag is computed as 1.28 which implies very
low biodiversity (Fernando Scale, 1998).

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Table 1. 9. Computed Diversity Index of Terrestrial Fauna in City of Laoag

Number of
Species Pi log(Pi) Pi[log(Pi)]
individual
Artramus leucoryn 46 0.048 -1.323 -0.063
Lanis schach 37 0.038 -1.418 -0.054
Passer montanus 24 0.025 -1.606 -0.040
Arderia cineria 22 0.023 -1.643 -0.037
Rhipidura nigriteguis 19 0.020 -1.707 -0.034
Haliastur indus 5 0.005 -2.287 -0.012
Geopelia striata 3 0.003 -2.509 -0.008
Egretta alba 79 0.082 -1.088 -0.089
Ixobrychus sinensis 17 0.018 -1.755 -0.031
Anas luzonica 32 0.033 -1.481 -0.049
Acridotheres cristatellus 659 0.681 -0.167 -0.114
Anthus cervinus 4 0.004 -2.384 -0.010
Alcedinidae 2 0.002 -2.685 -0.006
Dendrocopos maculatus 2 0.002 -2.685 -0.006
Turnix ocellatus 1 0.001 -2.986 -0.003
Phapitreron leucotis 1 0.001 -2.986 -0.003
Cynopterus brachyotis 2 0.002 -2.685 -0.006
Rhinella Marina 12 0.012 -1.907 -0.024
Gecko gecko 1 0.001 -2.986 -0.003
Total 968 0.9845 -0.557
Biodiversity Index 1.282

Air Quality

The air quality of Laoag is compared to its neighbor, Batac City. The month
with the highest recorded average for PM10 is October with 40.19 ug/Ncm in Batac
City. While the lowest average for PM10 was recorded in the month of June (14.85
ug/Ncm). The quality of air in Batac City is considered good and has no adverse
effect on health. The same is true therefore in the case of Laoag.

During the first half of 2018 in Batac City, the month with the highest
recorded average for PM2.5 was March with 20.643 ug/Ncm while the lowest
average for PM2.5 was recorded in the month of February (14.398 ug/Ncm).
Highest and lowest recorded average was considered fair and has no adverse
effect on health. It is likewise assumed for Laoag.

Water Quality

In 2019, Laoag creek, having a dissolved oxygen (DO) of 0.6 mg/L, did not
meet the Class C standard of 5 mg/L; whereas, Tupec creek passed the standard
having a DO level of 5.3 mg/L. The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of 47
mg/L of Laoag Creek exceeded the water quality standard of 7 mg/L; while,
Tupec creek has 3 mg/L BOD. Results of DO and BOD of Laoag Creek imply that
it is polluted.

Average total suspended solid (TSS) in Laoag creek was 9 mg/L while
Tupec creek has 21 mg/L TSS. Both bodies of water passed the standard by not
exceeding 80 mg/L. This is an indicative that the bodies of water had no siltation.

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V. SOCIAL SECTOR

Education

With high literacy rate of 98% and with students from neighboring towns
also enrolling in schools in Laoag, the city maintains a high net enrollment
participation rate (NEPR) in primary and secondary education (Figure 1. 21). The
City of Laoag, being the educational center of Ilocos Norte, offers quality
education from elementary, secondary to collegiate level. At present, there are 33
elementary schools, six (6) high school institutions and eight (8) colleges and
universities (Figure 1. 22).

Figure 1. 21. Historical Net Enrollment Participation Rate, City of Laoag

Health and Sanitation

To address the medical concerns of Laoageños, the following healthcare

facilities are available: City of Laoag General Hospital (LCGH); Governor Roque
Ablan, Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRASMH); seven (7) private hospitals (Figure 1.
23), three (3) Rural Health Units located in Brgy. Sta. Joaquina (2), Brgy. San Tomas
(29) and Brgy. Mangato (38); and 15 barangay health centers located in different
barangays. There are also 31 medical clinics/ laboratories offering general
medicine, obstetrics, family planning, dermatology, pediatrics, ophthalmology
and EENT services, among others, as well as 20 dental clinics in the city. There is
however a need to construct more barangay health centers and hire more
healthcare professionals to comply with the standards and to ensure adequate
delivery of medical services.

Low crude death rate and low malnutrition are indicative of a healthy
population. However, the local government of Laoag should focus on addressing
the following top causes of mortality and morbidity: pneumonia (mortality);
hypertension, animal bite and diabetes mellitus (morbidity). Location of burial
grounds are presented in Figure 1. 24.

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Housing

The housing situation from 2000 to 2015 obtained from the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA) is shown in Table 1. 10.

Based on the foregoing and the projected total housing requirement in 2029
which is 66,383 units, the demand for additional housing units is 43, 154 units.

Table 1. 10. Housing Situation for the Past Years, City of Laoag
2000 2007 2010 2015
%
% Inc/ % Inc/
No. No. No. No. Inc/
Dec Dec
Dec
Households
19,751 21,895 10.86 23,892 9.12 25,285 5.83
(HH)
Household
93,837 101,872 8.56 104,337 2.42 110,413 5.82
Population
Housing Units
18,123 20,410 12.62 22,027 7.92 23,229 5.46
(HU)
Vacant HU 836
Ratio of HH to
1.09 1.07 -1.83 1.1 2.80 1.09 1.04
Occupied HU
Ratio of HH
Population to 5.18 4.99 -3.67 4.7 -5.81 4.75 1.13
Occupied HU
Source: Philippine Statistic Authority

Social Welfare

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of the City of
Laoag has several programs and services for the underprivileged and
marginalized sectors.

At present, there are 91-day care centers; one (1) Care Home for the Elderly
(Retirement Home) for the elderly; one (1) Bahay Pag-asa Youth Rehabilitation
Center for youth ages 15-17 years old considered children in conflict with the law;
Gender and Development (GAD) Center for women and children who are victims
of violence and other forms of abuse; Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center
(STAC) for people with special needs; and Senior Citizens Center. Some of the
programs provided by the City of Laoag are: Livelihood Development Program,
Practical Skills Development, Emergency Relief Assistance, and Special Social
Services.

Peace and Order

Peace and order in Laoag are primarily maintained by the City of Laoag
Police Station (Figure 1. 25) with 95 personnel: that is 86 officers and 9 non-
uniformed personnel for administrative and operational works, and with a total
of 27 motor vehicles. This is complemented by the following number of barangay
security force and volunteers, to wit: 550 traffic enforcers; 1,599 staff for peace and
order; 250 personnel for disaster concerns; 250 for auxiliary services; and another
221 persons in charge for other concerns. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has

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30 personnel and five (5) fire trucks while the City Jail (Figure 1. 26) has 31 jail
personnel.

Sports and Recreation

Laoageños enjoy various sports and recreation facilities available in the City
of Laoag including City of Laoag Sports Stadium, Marcos Stadium, Rizal
Amusement Park and the Centennial Arena. Laoag’s delicious food and rich
culture are likewise showcased in the following activities: Palarong Pamasko,
Pamulinawen Street Pageantry, Dulang Food Festival and Calesa Festival. For
tourists who intend to stay longer, the famous five-star Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel
and Casino can be their home while in Laoag. It offers sports adventures such as
parasailing, jet skiing, water skiing and cruising on motorized boat.

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Figure 1. 22. Locator Map: Schools and Library in the City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 23. Locator Map: Hospitals/Clinics in the City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 24. Locator Map: Burial Grounds in the City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 25. Locator Map: Fire/Police Stations in the City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 26. Locator Map: City Jails in the City of Laoag

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VI. ECONOMIC SECTOR

The Economic Structure

City of Laoag, being the capital of its province is a hub of economic activities
not only in Ilocos Norte but also of the nearby provinces of Ilocos Sur, Abra and
Cagayan. It is in a position to be a preferred investment destination as it pursues
its objectives of increased agricultural productivity, more vibrant commercial and
light manufacturing activities along with income-generating tourism activities.

These economic objectives supported by adequate infrastructure and

communication facilities are expected to launch the city to be an attractive agro-
eco/light industrial hub in the region.

Revenue Sources

City of Laoag gets its income and revenues from business and real property
taxes, regulatory fees, service and user charges, permits, licenses and other income
receipts. The city also receives subsidies from the national government in terms of
Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). Table 1. 11 shows the city’s sources of revenues
along with its local and total income per capita. The total local income in 2019
amounted to PhP 218,623,213.12. This is a 20.3% increase from the previous year.
The local income has been increasing by 12.16% annually from 2015-2019.

The biggest source of local income is the business taxes with 27.5% of the
local income in 2019 and it has been increasing with an annual average of 15.18%,
followed by real property taxes with 8.3% with an average annual increase of
7.59%. The IRA is the biggest source of income with PhP 494,092,149.00 or 69.33%
of total income in 2019. It has been increasing from 2015 to 2019 with an average
annual increase of 9.76% (Figure 1. 27).

Sources of Income (In Millions of Pesos)

600

500

400

300

200

100

0
Business Tax Real Other taxes Regulatory Service/User Other Total Local Internal
property tax fees Charges income Income Revenue
receipts Allotment

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Figure 1. 27. Sources of Income (In Millions of Pesos), City of Laoag

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Table 1. 11. Sources of Revenues and Income Per Capita, City of Laoag

Income and Income Per

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Capita (PhP)
Total Local Income 139,126,650.70 160,300,229.74 169,114,536.68 179,769,191.01 218,623,213.12
Internal Revenue Allotment 340,525,560.18 372,026,905.00 416,848,199.00 447,637,204.00 494,092,149.00
Total Income 479,652,210.88 532,327,134.74 585,962,735.68 627,406,395.01 712,715,362.12
Population 111,125 112,336 113,561 114,799 116,050
Local Income Per Capita 1,251.983358 1,426.971138 1,489.195557 1565.94736 1883.870858
Total Income Per Capita 4,316.330357 4,738.704732 5,159.894116 5465.260107 6141.450772
% of TLI to total Income 29.01 30.11 28.86 28.65 30.67
% of IRA to total Income 70.99 69.89 71.14 71.35 69.33

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The local income per capita (LIPC), which is City of Laoag’s internally
generated income divided by the population, increased by an average of 10.95%
from 2016-2019 (Figure 1. 28). Subsidy from the government increased by 8.58%
annually in the same period. With these increases in local and total income per
capita, it can be inferred that the economy is improving and the local government
is better able to serve its constituents.

According to 2018 PSA, City of Laoag, as part of Ilocos Norte, was classified
as having the least poor population.

Local and Total Income Per Capita

7000

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Local Income Per Capita Total Income Per Capita

Figure 1. 28. Local and Total Income Per Capita, City of Laoag

Agriculture

The local economy is composed of the primary, secondary and tertiary

sectors. The Agriculture subsector is further divided into crop production,
livestock and poultry, and fisheries. Agricultural land in the City of Laoag covers
70.63% of the total land area or 9,004 hectares. Rice occupies the largest area with
3,949 hectares or 43.86%. Important fruits and crops in the area include mango,
assorted vegetables, eggplant, tomato, peanut, cassava, watermelon, sweet potato,
garlic, squash, okra, upo, string beans, pechay, patola, pepper, cabbage, ampalaya
and onion.

Commerce and Trade

There are a lot of small and local commercial businesses in the City of Laoag
which have significant community impacts. Because of commercial strips’
convenient location, more economic opportunities are arising to meet consumer
demands. The economic benefits of commercial strips and complexes are
numerous and show how even the smallest shops can have a positive impact to
the community. These local businesses provide local jobs, increased tax base,
consumer product diversity and local community identity.

In 2019, there were a total of 2,542 business permits issued in the city. No
permits were issued from 2015 up to 2019 in the primary category. In general,
permits issued in the city are continually increasing. This steady increase in

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permits issued over the years indicates an improvement in the business

environment of the city. Currently, the city has a higher number of permits issued
in the tertiary sector which include wholesale and retail trade/repair of motor
vehicles and motorcycles, hotels/restaurants, transport, storage and
communication, finance, real estate education, and health and social work with a
total permit of 2,289. While in the secondary category, the local government issued
a total of 253 permits. This category includes manufacturing, electricity, gas and
water supply, and construction / contractor.

Industry

The City of Laoag is known for the production of basi, suka and the juice drink
Golden Coolers - a beverage-like juice which has a capitalization of PhP 500,000 in
the year 2007. Fifty-one (51) manufacturing/industrial establishments are built in
the city but most of the establishments are related to hollow blocks making. Only
two (2) manufacturing/industrial establishments have employment with more
than five (5) employees, to wit: The Laoag Kambal Corporation, a hollow blocks
manufacturing company which has 25 employees; and the Golden Coolers, which
has 200 employees. The rest of the industrial establishments have less than five (5)
employees.

Tourism

The City of Laoag is the entrance port and central capital in the Province of
Ilocos Norte. Tricycle, jeepney, van or private vehicle are the available means of
transportation in land if tourists will visit the tourist attractions in the city. Laoag
has an airport, the City of Laoag International Airport, located in Brgy. Gabu Sur
(35) which makes it a potential international tourist destination.

The city is known for a lot of historical landmarks, scenic natural landscapes
and beaches which give tourists a lot of memorable and excitable experiences.
Facilities are in place to serve the visitors with their needs. Most of the tourist
destinations in the City of Laoag have accommodation facilities including hotels,
resorts, cottages, restaurants, and fast-food stalls and resto bars. There are a lot of
banks for financial transactions and medical facilities for health emergencies.

VII. INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR

Transportation

The road network pattern of the City of Laoag follows the radial-
circumferential network (Figure 1.29). The transportation map shows roads and
bridges connecting all barangays to commercial districts. The city is accessible to
and from the other provinces and to the rest of the Luzon Island cluster through
the national highway, Manila North Road that is traversing it. The total length of
city road is 399.681 kilometers excluding the 34.24 kilometers of national road
thereby exceeding the total road requirement by 121.161 kilometers and by 155.401
kilometers if national roads are included. As of 2019, road to population ratio is
3.74 kilometers per 1000 population. Road density is 4.34 kilometers per square
kilometer area.

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City of Laoag roads, regardless of classification, are mostly concrete. The

urban city road has a total of 178.00 km. Complementing the road network system
of the City of Laoag are 24 bridges with a total length of 1,353.50 linear meters
including the 750 linear meter Gilbert Bridge connecting the city to the southern
part of Ilocos Norte through the Manila North Road. These bridges are mostly
concrete or permanent structures except for a 90 linear meter bridge made of
timber.

The modes of land transportation within the city and to/from the city are
buses, jeepneys, taxi/FX, public utility van, tricycles, privately-owned vehicles
and government-owned vehicles. A total of 2,800 registered tricycles can serve
from different barangays to the city center while 245 tricycles can serve only within
barangays. There are eight (8) bus companies operating in the city plying the
routes from Laoag to Manila, Baguio City and Cagayan. Public utility van also
covers the route from Laoag to Claveria, Cagayan. Mini buses and jeepneys also
ply the routes to/from other municipalities of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga and
Cagayan.

The presence of the Laoag International Airport complements the mode of

transportation. The airport is located in Brgy. Araniw (36), Brgy. Cavit (43) and
Brgy. Apaya (42) and has nine (9) commercial air carriers that serve domestic and
international flights. Cebu Pacific is the only carrier that operates both domestic
and international flights. Air travel is the fastest mode of transport and it takes 55
minutes to Manila.

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Source: City Engineering Office, Laoag City

Figure 1. 29. Transportation Map of City of Laoag

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Power

All barangays of Laoag City are already energized with 100% of the total numbers
of households are served by the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC), a
cooperative supply system of the province of Ilocos Norte whose main source of
power is the National Power Corporation (NPC) transmitting electricity through
the facilities of the National Transmission Commission (TRANSCO) (Table1.12).
The major source of electricity is the 69,000 KVA hydro-electric plants in
Ambuklao Dam and Binga Dam in Benguet.

Table 1. 12. Average Energy Consumption (kwh) by Type of Consumer, City of

Laoag
Type of Energy Consumption (Kwh)
Consumer 2017 2018 2019
Residential 3,611,240.00 3,798,799.00 4,032,048.00
Small
1,282,388.00 1,330,478.00 1,433,067.00
Commercial
Large
3,201,858.00 3,233,238.00 3,276,336.00
Commercial
Public Building 238,627.00 253,659.00 284,569.00
Irrigation 1,666.00 3,954.00 2,557.00
Industrial 10.00
Streetlights 116,983.00 137,237.00 124,168.00
Total 8,452,762.00 8,757,365.00 9,152,755.00
Source: Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc.

A total of seven (7) types of consumers for energy (Table IS-10) were
identified in Laoag. The energy in the city is mostly used for residential purposes
(Figure 1. 30) and energy consumed for industrial uses were only 10.00 and only
in the recent year (2019).

4,500,000
4,000,000
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
KW

2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
Residential Small Large Public Irrigation Industrial Streetlights
Commercial Commercial Building
Type of Consumer

2017 2018 2019

Source: Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Figure 1. 30. Average Energy Consumption by Type of Consumers, City of
Laoag

There are three (3) lines distributing power within the city with equal
amount of kilovolt capacity. Beside the main source of energy, the city has three

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(3) alternative power sources: Solar Power Plant, Windmill Bangui Bay Power
Plant and the Mini-hydro Power Plant. It supplied a capacity of 5,051.40
megawatt/hour in 2019. The wind farm in Bangui uses 20 units of 70-meter high
Vestas V82 1.65 MW wind turbines. These turbines are arranged facing the West
Philippine Sea in a single row of nine-kilometer on the shoreline of Bangui Bay.

Water

The Ilocos Norte Water District (INWD) is the water supply agency that
extends water service to consumers of Laoag (Table 1. 13). It is under the
supervision of the Local Water Utilities Administration. Its facilities include two
(2) reservoirs with a combined capacity of 1,750 cubic meters, five (5) pumping
stations with a total capacity of 295 cubic meters per hour.

The INWD active sources of water are the Pump Station 1 and Pump Station
6 located at Brgy. San Tomas (29), the Brgy. Nra. Sra. De Soledad (27) Pump
Station, the Brgy. Suyo (30-A) Booster Pump Station and the Barit On-Line Booster
Pump Station. The two (2) concrete ground reservoirs are located at Ermita Hill
and Camp Juan.

Table 1. 13. Water Service Connections by Type of Consumer, City of Laoag,

2019
Average Water
Type of Consumer Number of Connections
Consumption (Unit)
Domestic 10,828 19
Commercial 1,107 20
Industrial 456 59
Others 186 77
Total 12, 577
Source: Ilocos Norte Water District

Information and Communication Technology

The modern modes of communication are in the forms of mails, emails, fax
and telex services, landline telephones and mobile/cellular phones. For news,
information and entertainment, newspapers of national, regional and provincial
circulation, radio, television and internet play important roles (Table 1.14). With
these facilities, the population of a locality are informed and updated on the latest
development trends in all aspects of living and learning.

Table 1. 14. Inventory of Communication Facilities in the City of Laoag

Type Number Location Ownership
Postal Services Brgy. San Jose (10) Public
2 Brgy. Nra. Sra. De Public
Soledad (27)
Cell site Network Providers
Public Calling Station Brgy. Sta Balbina (11) Private
1
(PLDT)
Digitel/Sun Cellular Brgy. Nra. Sra Del Private
1
Rosario (3)
Smart 1 Brgy. San Jacinto (16) Private

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Globe Brgy. San Guillermo Private

2 (15)
Brgy. Sta Balbina (11) Private
Bayan Telecom, Inc. 1 Brgy. Sto. Tomas (14) Private
Radio Station
AM Brgy. Cabungaan (48) Private
3 Brgy. Sto. Tomas (14) Private
Brgy. Sta Angela (9) Private
FM Brgy. Sta Angela (9) Private
3 Brgy. Sta. Marcela (19) Private
Brgy. San Matias (23) Private
Government 1 Brgy. Sto. Tomas (14) Public
Broadcasting & Television
Network
GMA 1 Brgy. Talingaan (31) Private
ABS-CBN 1 Brgy. Sta Angela (9) Private
Planet Cable Brgy. Nra. Sra. De Private
1
Consolacion (24)
Sky Cable 1 Brgy. San Quirino (18) Private
Private Couriers
Ilocandia North Brgy. Sta. Marcela (19) Private
1
Delivery Express
Airfreight 21 Co., Inc. 1 Brgy. Sta Angela (9) Private
JRS Business Brgy. Sta. Marcela (19) Private
1
Corporation
Kwikee Courier Brgy. San Quirino (18) Private
1
Services
Brgy. San Quirino (18) Private
LBC Express 2 Brgy. San Vicente (8) Private
Wide Wide World Brgy. Sta. Balbina (11) Private
1
Express, Corp.
WCC Aviation Co. 1 Laoag Intl. Airport Private
J&T Express 1 Brgy. San Quirino (18)
Publications
Ilocos Times (Area Brgy. San Matias (23) Private
Covered: Ilocos 1
Norte)
Sunshine news (Area Brgy. Sto. Tomas (14) Public
Covered: City 1
Government)
Source: Office of City Planning and Development Coordinator

Irrigation and Drainage

The National Irrigation Administration’s Provincial Irrigation Office in

Ilocos Norte has a concrete dam (Laoag-Vintar RIS) servicing an area of 2, 860
hectares of agricultural lands within the City of Laoag and the Municipalities of
Vintar, Bacarra and Sarrat (Table 1. 15). This irrigation system also serves as flood
control in the areas mentioned.

Table 1. 15. Irrigation System by Areas Served and Beneficiaries, City of Laoag

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2015 Area No. of Farmer

Name of System
Served (Ha) Beneficiaries
National Irrigation System
1. Laoag-Vintar RIS 1,303 1,834
2. Bonga Pump # 3 PIS 98 228
NIA-Assisted Communal Irrigation
System (CIS)
1. Mabisbis CIS 30 55
2. Matoc CIS 30 50
Other Government Agencies Assisted
(CIS)
1. Balatong SWIS 37.5 74
2 Pandan DD 10.13 63
3. Zanjera Ganagan 292.5 574
Total 1,801 2,878
Source: National Irrigation Administration

Solid Waste Management and Pollution

Solid waste and domestic sewage continue to be a priority challenge across

the city. Disease outbreak, rodent infestation and ground water contamination are
potential consequences associated with solid waste and its management, thus the
need to address this concern. This perennial problem of waste management draws
attention to the need to rehabilitate/restore non-functioning materials recovery
facilities (MRFs) to reduce and recycle wastes. Successful operation of MRFs often
requires community involvement, which is basically exhibited through the
practice of waste segregation at source. Presented in Table IS-25 are the semi-
functional 74 MRFs in the city. The City has an ordinance (C.O. 2012-045) which
regulates the use of plastic bags and other materials made of plastic as secondary
packing or carryout bags for all forms of merchandise; bans the use of Styrofoam
in the City of Laoag; and prescribes the penalties in violation thereof.

In pursuance to the provisions of City Ordinance No. 97-143

(Environmental Protection and Management Code) and all other existing laws on
solid waste disposal and pollution, a five-hectare sanitary landfill facility was
established in Brgy. Lagui-Sail near the boundary of Laoag and Vintar town. Brgy.
San Lorenzo (1) was also identified as a zero-waste pilot area for the zero-waste
management program of the city.

The sanitary landfill was officially operational in 1988 and has an estimated
life of 20 years. There are two (2) big chambers where garbage is dumped, one for
the biodegradable and the other for the non -biodegradable.

VIII. SPECIAL AREAS SECTOR

Green Growth

The City of Laoag currently practices conventional ways of making

progress in its economic growth. Presently, it has not enacted a local Green
Building Code that would provide for the adoption of sustainable strategies,
assure resilient and sustainable infrastructure and serve as technical reference side
by side with the National Building Code of the Philippines. The city implements

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the Solid Waste Management Act, although there are no clear-cut policies on
sustainable practices like innovative recycling and managing waste. It lacks
materials recovery facilities (MRF) to complement innovative sustainable practices
and support waste management. However, a sanitary landfill is in the plans in an
identified site. City of Laoag is visited regularly by strong typhoons and
threatened by earthquakes but it has not established a state-of-the-art hazard
monitoring center. It is prone to flooding even under its present network of
drainage canals. As yet, there are no best management practices adopted on storm
water management and flood mitigation to protect water bodies from pollution,
erosion of riverbanks and siltation of both river and productive farmlands.

The City of Laoag has innovative programs and activities for the social
sector but these are not yet well-defined and clearly established- all aimed to raise
the level of, and benefit the family, women and children, the poor and
marginalized, unemployed, older persons and ageing, youth, physically-
challenged and disadvantaged due to natural and man-made-disasters. Presently,
there is no dedicated Training Center for women (cooking, baking, weaving,
sewing, hair and make-up), children (arts classes, cooking classes, SPED classes),
youth (Alternative Learning System, games, arts, cooking, beauty courses),
physically challenged (skills training); LGBTQI (training center, counselling),
unemployed, disadvantaged, poor (skills training) to accommodate and secure
inclusive social development programs. There is a lack of demonstration,
experiment, or model farms for organic and sustainable farming systems for
farmers. There is not a well-demonstrated clear-cut program for the protection,
conservation and judicious utilization of the city’s water resources and watershed
for water needs and health of Laoageῆos. A sewerage and septage treatment
facility for the incorporation of water recycling is absent. Sustainable tourism
practices have not been fully trained on the residents particularly in the coastal
areas aimed at building awareness on natural heritage resources as sources of
sustainable income.

Ilocos Norte has the biggest wind farms and large areas of solar farms for
renewable energy. The City of Laoag has started to explore this potential like
benchmarking on solar-generated irrigation pumps but has not yet explored the
institutionalization of solar-generated electricity in public/government buildings,
public plazas, open spaces and streets. The city continues to be vigilant about the
state of the environment aimed at maintaining and achieving healthy air for
Laoagenos by implementing the Clean Air Act of 1999 which covers all potential
sources of air pollution. However, public transportation vehicles using
conventional gas is the present system that contributes to air pollution.
Laoag tourism and industries are mostly anchored in the La Paz (32-C) and
Calayab (37) sand dunes being its foremost natural heritage resource, and the rest
of the coastline. Other than this resource, tourism activities in the city is minimal.
Its forested hills, mountain peaks and rivers have not been explored for eco-
tourism. The city has a cultural heritage core with potential for cultural tourism
but remains undefined officially including a buffer zone to protect this core.
Ermita Hill has a significant role in the history of the city with great potential for
cultural tourism. Presently, it is occupied by the Ilocos Norte Water District office.
The city’s traditional industries and crafts have not been documented including
possible features of best practices in environmental management (or green)
practice that could support livelihood and employment of residents.

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Green Growth has not been made imperative in the City of Laoag that
would institutionalize a process aimed to ensure sustainable future developments
while it remains largely a city with lush natural environment, ensure an
accelerated, integrated and inclusive sustainable development through actions
that would strengthen environmental resilience, drive social improvement and
reduce poverty, enhance economic growth at the same time builds capacity to
withstand and manage anticipated adverse effects of climate change.

Urban Design and Development

The Central Business District is characterized by a variety of period

architectural styles and of low and medium rise buildings and residential houses.
The streetscapes generally do not have physical and visual aesthetics and
distinctive character to create a sense of neighborhood identity and beauty, and
ownership. There is a lack of walkable streets. Some streets have sidewalks, most
have none and bike lanes are notably absent, a situation that does not encourage
walking and biking in the area. There is an absence of public parks, public
restrooms and street arts/sculptures that would provide shade, comfort, ease of
pedestrian movements and visual quality along the streets. The roads surrounding
Aurora Park have become dangerous entry and exit roads making the park unsafe
and unusable. Aside from Aurora Park, there is no other central urban park that
exists except for the Rizal Amusement Park and Mariano Marcos Stadium
northeast of the urban area. Laoag can increase its open spaces for urban pocket
parks to achieve urban greening for walkability and livability.

Present-day Laoag has an urban core where majority of its government

functions are carried on, and economic, social, civic, religious activities are
conducted. The innermost core contains the city’s Spanish-period religious and
government structures that include the church, city and provincial halls. There is
a general sense of overcrowding in key government offices particularly the City
Hall and Provincial Capitol, and this is expected to continue in the next ten (10)
years. Other provincial offices are located in various buildings in the urban area.
Overcrowding is aggravated by parking needs and traffic generated in the
surrounding streets.

The urban core is generally a mixture of commercial and residential uses

with various types of commercial establishments of different scales scattered
everywhere. The Laoag City Public Market and Commercial Complex is the main
magnet in the commercial area which gets crowded daily and congested with
traffic during peak hours. Elsewhere in the city, lack of parking areas and extreme
vehicular traffic continue to be problems due to narrow urban roads and road
widening issues. Some buildings may need to be evaluated on their structural
soundness due to past earthquakes.

The city has culinary attractions but there is inadequate choices of specialty
restaurants and pubs serving international cuisine and decent nightlife that would
feature weekend live acoustic bands. There are no investments for mixed-use low-
rise developments for a complex of restaurants, small specialty shops and function
halls with pocket parks to complement the heritage core of the city.

The City of Laoag has no defined physical character and identity. It has an
intact heritage core but this core containing the most significant Spanish and

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American -period structures is not delineated that would give a historic character
and distinct identity to the city for potential international tourism. A substantial
area of the Church-convento-atrium-belltower complex has been leased to
McDonald’s fast-food restaurant which has marred the original plan of the
religious complex. The city has a Tourism and Arts Council but has no City
Tourism Center and a pasalubong center complex with souvenir shops, coffee-
internet shops, offices and hotel/transient rooms. There are no innovative
interactive libraries to cater to tourists of all ages. The urban core is showing signs
of congestion. The busy roads compete with pedestrians. Pedestrians cannot enjoy
a walking tour since there are no pedestrianized streets or streets pedestrianized
at other times of the week or day for a vehicle-safe and pedestrian-friendly
heritage core. The Pamulinawen Festival is not competitive with recognized major
Philippine festivals because it lacks adequate space to accommodate street dancing
showdowns, other important provincial and city celebrations, the participants and
spectators. A buffer zone is non-existent to provide protection and seamless
transition from existing and new commercial developments in the urban center to
the heritage core, nor a heritage conservation ordinance to regulate adaptive re-
use projects, compatible activities or permitted architectural character. The Ermita
Hill history has not been highlighted to add to the city’s attractions.

In 2001, Republic Act 7916– the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995,
amended by Republic Act 8748 established the Laoag City Special Economic Zone
designating a total of 25 hectares in barangays Calayab (37) and Balacad (41), with
79.20 hectares as the ecozone industrial site. The project has not taken off pending
resolution on issues on lot acquisition where only two (2) public lots have been
identified and the rest is still privately-owned, and area identified as too big. The
City of Laoag has high potential for international tourism, but there is lack of
tourism activities and facilities implemented along the Green Growth Path for
green tourism and inclusive social development to entice tourists to stay longer in
the city. There is an inadequate infrastructure for major MICE (Meetings,
Incentives, Conventions and Exhibits). The La Paz sand dunes is a potentially rich
natural resource in terms of eco-tourism development.

There is a continuous development along this section of the city across the
Padsan River due of its proximity to the Robinsons’ Mall complex in neighboring
San Nicolas town and being along the McArthur Highway and Laoag Airport
Road characterizing the ribbon-type/linear development.

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Heritage Conservation

City of Laoag is rich in history having been part of an extensive, largely

coastal northwestern region of the Ilocano ethnic group engaged in the barter trade
of gold with merchants from Japan, China, Malaysia and Indonesia for ceramics
and silk during the pre-colonization period. Salcedo’s discovery of this northern
region led to its naming of “Ylocos” Province meaning "from", and “lo-oc”, meaning
"cove or bay", thus "people of the bay" comprising the present provinces of Ilocos
Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra and La Union. After Vigan, Captain Juan de Salcedo sailed
along the coast of Laoag enroute to Cagayan in 1572.

Laoag was a busy trading port and a closely packed settlement in Ermita
Hill with a population numbering more than a thousand when it was discovered
by the Spanish, along the north bank of the Padsan River shining like a night
beacon for river travelers, thus “light” or “laoag”. It was founded in 1850 as one
of the early settlements by Augustinian missionaries with a parish dedicated to
Saint William the Hermit. By early 19th century, Laoag was a thriving pueblo
when the Ilocos Province was split into two provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos
Sur by a Spanish Royal Decree on February 2, 1818 with Laoag made the capital
town of Ilocos Norte. On June 19, 1965, the municipality status of Laoag was
changed into a component city of Ilocos Norte, remaining its capital, proudly
called by residents as “Sunshine City”.

The natives were resettled in later parts of the 16th century by the
Augustinians to the present urban area to improve their living conditions,
designing a gridiron pattern with a plaza, church, convent and belltower in the
center to comply with King Philip's 1573 Law of the Indies. The houses were
constructed in marked locations while relatives were grouped in the barrios
assigned with a patron saint.

The City of Laoag has a panoramic visual approach from southern Ilocos
through Gilbert Bridge renamed Marcos Bridge that crosses the Padsan River
towards Aurora Park, formerly Plaza de Alfonso XII, the city’s central plaza. The
grid streets of the urban core were intended to be walkable or travelled by horse-
driven calesas. Around Aurora Park are important Spanish and American periods-
civic and religious buildings, namely, Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol Building,
Museo Ilocos Norte, Marcos Hall of Justice, Laoag City Hall (formerly Casa
Tribunal (1861), Ilocano Heroes Hall, the famous sinking belltower, St. William’s
Parish Church, Laoag Central Elementary School and Holy Spirit Academy of
Laoag.

The City of Laoag has mapped 118 built heritage (Figure 1. 31) structures in
both urban and rural barangays, most of them concentrated in the urban area
(población) (Figure 1. 32). The city’s-built heritage is classified into structures of
Spanish, American, pre-war, and post-war periods up to the 1960s. They are
typified as religious, monuments, public, civic and school buildings, and ancestral
houses holding different values of significance along architectural, historical,
socio-cultural, political and technological aspects. A collection of heritage
structures is found in Barangays 10 and 11 with many ancestral houses still
standing along Rizal Street. The oldest existing is the Samonte House built in 1898
located in Brgy. GomBurZa.

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The built heritage structures are in various states of conservation, from

well-maintained, moderately maintained, improperly repaired, partially
renovated or re-modelled, needing repairs and deteriorated. RA 10066, the
National Cultural Heritage Law mandates the City of Laoag to protect and
conserve its rich cultural and natural heritage. The originally wide and spacious
Church-atrium-belltower complex has several modern structures built within it in
the last fifty years, notably McDonalds. There is no heritage core that is purposely
delineated by an ordinance to encompass the dominant heritage structures and
most of the ancestral houses, and define its boundaries, identify the compatible
adaptive re-use projects allowed, and establish a set of conservation guidelines
setting forth the architectural design such as dominant style adopted in harmony
with existing character of heritage structures, height, signage, materials and
setback, among other aspects. The absence of a defined heritage core has affected
Aurora Park where the approach to and exit from the city has become busy and
dangerous around it becoming unsafe for pedestrians and people intending to
relax in the park.

After more than 300 years, Spanish-influenced intangible transformations

are still practiced in the city such as cultural festivals and religious traditions
intended to preserve the city’s cultural heritage as well. The city celebrates the
month-long Pamulinawen Festival every February in honor of its patron Saint
William the Hermit highlighting its culture and heritage through arts and crafts,
cuisine, comedia, parades along Rizal Street that wind up in front of the Provincial
Capitol and street dancing showdowns infront of the Laoag City Public Market
and Commercial Complex.

The City of Laoag is endowed with a combination of natural heritage sites

and landscape and coastal resources that include the semi-arid coastal La Paz Sand
Dunes in Barangay La Paz (32-C), declared national geological monument and a
coastline of 12 kilometers that stretches from Calayab (37) in the south to Caaoacan
in the north spanning other seven coastal barangays. The coastal areas provide
livelihood for the residents and are valued for their socio-economic benefits
especially along tourism, historical and cultural significance. The city has a
generous share of land formations, water resources, flora and fauna. Forested hills
and mountains with elevations ranging from ten (10) feet to 52 feet above sea level
can be found in the northeast west of Dibua (59) while the highest among the
mountain peaks is 183 feet above sea level in Barangay Bacsil North (56-A). Water
bodies include the Padsan River that divides the city lengthwise from east to west,
the Bacarra River providing boundary with the Municipality of Bacarra, and their
tributaries, the Mangato and Daorao Creeks and small streams that all drain
towards the West Philippine Sea.

Laoag is a proud home to personages who have contributed to the history

of the province and the country, among them Roque Ablan, Sr., Santiago Fonacier,
Tomas Fonacier, Gen. Fidel V. Segundo, Anastacia Giron-Tupas, Fred Castro and
Diosdado Peralta.

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Figure 1. 31. Built Heritage in the City of Laoag

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Figure 1. 32. Built Heritage in the Urban Area of City of Laoag

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CHAPTER 2

VISION, MISSION, GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

I. INTRODUCTION

The Comprehensive Land Use Plan of City of Laoag 2020-2029 was prepared
pursuant to Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code which mandates the
Local Government Units “to prepare their comprehensive land use plans and
enact them through zoning ordinances (Section 20).”

The Plan shall pave the way in pursuit of Laoaguenos’ vision of realizing BARO
A LAOAG.

II. VISION

BARO A LAOAG that empowers its people through inclusive governance to

sustain economic growth and vibrant culture while preserving the environment.

III. MISSION

The City of Laoag shall endeavor to develop empowered citizens who value
environment and culture, support agro-industrialization and adopt state-of-the-
art technologies towards global competitiveness.

IV. GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

Goals of the Ecosystem Sector

Based on the Goal Achievement and Ecosystem Sectoral Analyses, the

following goals were formulated:

Goal 1: minimize disaster risks by ensuring the safety of the people;

Goal 2: improve and sustain good ambient air quality;

Goal 3: improve the quality of water bodies of Laoag City; and

Goal 4: enrich the forest and coastal biodiversity of Laoag City.

Objectives of the Ecosystem Sector

In order to achieve those goals of the Ecosystem Sector by 2029, the City of Laoag
aims to:

1.1: reduce risk caused by flooding, earthquake and COVID-19;

1.2: decrease the number of families, critical point facilities and lifeline utilities
located in disaster prone areas by 20%;

1.3: enhance the coping capacity of the economic sector;

2.1: decrease the level of PM10 and PM2.5 in the air by 10%;

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3.1: improve and maintain the water quality;

4.1: increase the forest biodiversity by 20%; and

4.2: increase coastal biodiversity by 20%.

Strategies of the Ecosystem Sector

The following corresponding strategies are keys in achieving the objectives

of the Ecosystem Sector:

1.1.1: construct or upgrade flood control infrastructures in high-risk areas;

1.1.2: comply strictly with the Building Code and COVID-19 protocols in new
buildings;

1.2.1: relocate families that are living in the low-lying areas;

1.2.2: install better drainage system;

1.3.1 formulate local economic development strategy with “green jobs”

component;

2.1.1: establish greenbelt in the urban areas;

3.1.1: monitor regularly the different parameters of water in the City of Laoag;

3.1.2: impose upon the residents the policy of zero disposal of wastes to rivers and
creeks;

3.1.3: develop a water treatment facility system for the liquid wastes;

4.1.1: designate a forest protection and production areas;

4.1.2: plant fruit-bearing trees;

4.1.2: monitor strictly the forest in the area;

4.2.1: protect mangrove areas and replant mangrove if damage occurs; and

4.2.1: implement zoning in coastal areas and coastal water.

Goals of the Social Sector

Based on the Goal Achievement and Social Sectoral Analysis, the following
goals were formulated:

Goal 1: empower the people by ensuring equitable access to education;

Goal 2: empower the people by promoting good health.

Goal 3: empower the people by giving them access to affordable and safe housing;

Goal 4: empower the people by uplifting their well-being thereby improving social
and economic development;

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Goal 5: empower the people by allowing them to live in safe, peaceful and orderly
community; and

Goal 6: empower the people by promoting healthy lifestyle and providing

accessible sports and recreation facilities.

Objectives of the Social Sector

In order to achieve those goals of the Social Sector by 2029, the City of Laoag
aims to:

1.1 increase literacy rate from 98% to 100%;

1.2 achieve 100% enrollment participation rate of students from Laoag for
kindergarten, primary and secondary education so that Laoag shall retain its
status as the educational center of Ilocos Norte;

2.1. decrease crude death rate from the average of 9 to 5;

2.2. eliminate animal bite in the top 5 leading causes of mortality;

2.3. address concern on malnourishment so that there will be no more

malnourished children;

2.4: make more available and less costly burial plots;

3.1. accommodate the increase in population and reduce housing backlog by 50%;

4.1. increase the participation of the inhabitants, especially women, children and
elderlies in programs focused in improving their well-being by 10%;

5.1. reduce the incidence of fire and crimes by 50%; and

6.1. increase the number of barangays having sports/recreation facilities by 50%.

Strategies of the Social Sector

The following corresponding strategies are keys in achieving the objectives

of the Social Sector:

1.1.1. encourage innovation and train teachers to be technologically adept to

prepare them to face the new normal;

1.1.2. prepare for natural hazards by relocating schools with high exposure to
hazards and by availing of technology and improving internet capability;

1.2.1. increase the number of teachers and classrooms in accordance with the
projected enrollment and required ratios;

1.2.2. recommend expansion of tertiary-level schools that have not attained the
standard area requirement;

2.1.1. construct more barangay health stations and hire more medical personnel to
comply with the minimum requirements;

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2.1.2. provide low-cost but effective medicine and medical equipment especially
those related to pneumonia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus;

2.1.3. provide incentives to healthcare professional to encourage them to work in

Laoag;

2.1.4. encourage the construction of tertiary-level hospital for specialized

treatment;

2.2.1. implement aggressive programs such as dog impounding, tagging and

vaccination subject to laws and regulations in coordination with concerned
departments such as City Veterinary Office;

2.3.1. provide more feeding programs with balanced meals and provision of
vitamins for children below six (6) years old;

2.4.1. construct additional city cemetery or crematorium;

3.1.1. relocate low-income Laoageños whose houses are exposed to hazards such
as flood;

3.1.2. for those who were displaced, may avail of government programs such as
community mortgage program with assistance from the LGU;

3.1.3. subsidize housing for the poorest families who still could not afford the
available financial schemes for homebuyers;

3.1.4. allocate land for socialized housing;

4.1.1. encourage women, children and elderlies to participate in programs such as

counseling and skills training for them to be productive members of the society;

4.1.2. construct additional day care centers to accommodate increase in

population;

4.1.3. provide adequate medicine and vitamins for senior citizens;

4.1.4. allocate budget for the affected families/individuals by natural hazards;

5.1.1. hire more firemen, policemen and jail personnel as per requirement;

5.1.2. construct additional police substation for police visibility in barangays were
there are more incidence of crimes;

5.1.3. provide more programs for reformation of CICLs to allow reintegration in

the society;

5.1.4. expand the area of police headquarters to assist clientele better;

5.1.5. provide more vehicles for policemen; and

6.1.1. construct basketball courts or any other sports or recreation facilities in every
barangay.

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Goals of the Economic Sector

Based on the Goal Achievement and Economic Sectoral Analyses, the following
goals were formulated:

Goal 1: increase agricultural productivity and income;

Goal 2: establish a globally competitive agribusiness system;

Goal 3: establish a globally competitive agro-industrial hub; and

Goal 4: become an internationally recognized tourism destination in South East

Asia

Objectives of the Economic Sector

In order to achieve those goals of the Economic Sector by 2029, the City of
Laoag aims to:

1.1. ensure food security while protecting the environment;

2.1. increase agricultural production and income;

3.1. promote sustainable agricultural practices;

4.1. increase the number and scale of commercial establishments;

5.1. increase the level of employment generated by the subsector;

6.1. promote sustainable commerce and trade practices;

7.1. increase the number and scale of industrial establishments;

8.1. increase the level of employment and income generated by the subsector;

9.1. increase the number of employment and incomes in the subsector; and

10.1. create a tourism identity.

Strategies of the Economic Sector

The following corresponding strategies are keys in achieving the objectives

of the Economic Sector:

1.1.1. enhance farming capabilities through wider access to agricultural

mechanization and sophisticated farming methods, such as multiple cropping,
crop diversification, use of high yielding, climate resilient, pest and disease
resistant varieties;

2.1.1. ensure Laogeños’ accessibility to agricultural mechanization and

sophisticated farming methods;

2.1.2. promote the development of sustainable domestic and foreign markets for
agricultural commodities in order to enhance access and generation of income;

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2.1.3. improve agricultural infrastructures for production, processing and

marketing of farm products;

2.1.4. establish scaled up linkages between farmers, processors and distributors of

agricultural products;

2.1.5. explore and develop new markets (local, national and international) for farm
products;

2.1.6. provide additional support to farmers in terms of trainings, credit and

finance facilities;

2.1.7. improve information and communication facilities for better access to

markets;

2.1.8. develop livelihood diversification for farmers to improve their incomes;

2.1.9. encourage private sector investment in storage and post-harvest

technologies and facilities;

2.1.10. introduce risk transfer instruments;

3.1.1. encourage and promote organic farming for environmental protection;

3.1.2. introduce climate resilient agricultural practices;

3.1.3. encourage and promote organic farming for environmental protection;

4.1.1. establish an effective incentive scheme to attract local and foreign

investments in key and supporting industries - (OFW’s and OFW families);

4.1.2. improve competitiveness and ease of doing business;

4.1.3. establish adequate and effective support programs for small and medium
scale enterprises;

4.1.4. establish an adequate infrastructure support (transportation, information

and communication facilities);

5.1.1. identify labor market needs and develop the appropriate skills to match
industry requirements;

5.1.2. invest in human capital development such as education, training, healthcare

and other social services to suit the needs of the agribusiness;

5.1.3. establish sufficient infrastructure support -transportation, information and

communication facilities;

6.1.1. encourage eco-friendly and energy-efficient production technologies and

facilities;

7.1.1 attract local and foreign investments in key and supporting industries -
(OFW’s and OFW families) by establishing an effective incentive scheme;

7.1.2. encourage competitiveness and ease of doing business;

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7.1.3. establish support programs for small and medium scale enterprises;

8.1.1. specify labor market needs and develop the appropriate skills to match
industry requirements;

8.1.2. support the development of human capital such as education, training,

healthcare and other social services to suit the needs of the agribusiness;

8.1.3. establish an adequate infrastructure support - transportation, information

and communication facilities;

8.1.4. use eco-friendly and energy efficient production technologies and facilities;

9.1.1. promote intensively tourism packages through face-to-face or online

platforms;

9.1.2. coordinate and strengthen the linkage between stakeholders (tourist

operators, transport operators, hotel and lodging facilities and food business
owners);

9.1.3. promote the city as an agri-tourism, eco-tourism, religious tourism, food

tourism and cultural tourism destination;

9.1.4. encourage community participation in creating tourism products and

services;

9.1.5. establish tourist/visitor’s center; and

10.1.1 preserve, restore, rehabilitate and maintain historical landmarks and

heritage sites.

Goals of the Infrastructure Sector

Based on the Goal Achievement and Social Sectoral Analysis, the following
goals were formulated:

Goal 1: generate sustainable, efficient, comfortable and affordable transportation

system in the city;

Goal 2: Secure the availability of safe and potable water in both the rural and urban
barangays of the city;

Goal 3: Design and construct enough and quality drainage infrastructure,

wastewater treatment and disposal;

Goal 4: Tap and maximize renewable opportunities as power source;

Goal 5: Establish advance and excellent communication services for the city; and

Goal 6: Construct environment-friendly infrastructures.

Objectives of the Infrastructure Sector

In order to achieve those goals of the Infrastructure Sector by 2029, the City
of Laoag aims to:

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1.1: enhance the walkability in the urban areas of the city;

1.2: improve existing mode and situation of public transportation in the city;

1.3: improve the traffic situation in the urban areas of the city;

2.1: increase the coverage of waterworks system in all barangays by 50%;

3.1: extend irrigation system services to unserved barangays by 20%;

3.2: reduce flooding incidence in highly susceptible areas by 50%;

4.1: prioritize the use of renewable energy sources;

4.2: decrease the power outage incidence by 50%;

5.1: improve the communication facilities and services for community updates of
information by 30%;

5.2: increase internet connectivity services to all public and private sectors by
100%;

6.2: heighten the implementation of the city’s waste management system;

6.4: advocate high risk areas as no build-zone; and

6.5: sustain and maintain a clean and green environment to balance the effect of
urbanization on the environment.

Strategies of the Infrastructure Sector

The following corresponding strategies are keys in achieving the objectives

of the Infrastructure Sector:

1.1.1: oblige the large commercial corporations and establishments along roads to
provide crossing for pedestrians;

1.2.1: foster the use of electronic vehicles, bike lane development and other green
and smart transportation;

1.3.1: create off-street parking in the Central Business District for the minimization
of traffic backlogs;

1.4.1: update/create and implement comprehensive Traffic Management Plan;

1.4.2: upgrade existing weathered rural road networks and airport equipment to
ensure safety;

2.1.1: expand water connections in unserved barangays;

2.2.1: develop surface water as source and find other possible sources to augment
water supply;

3.1.1: extend irrigation facilities to areas with inadequate irrigation;

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3.1.2: draft and implement ordinance on rainwater harvesting to regulate run off
in the city;

3.2.1: construct additional drainage waterways and structures in flood-prone

areas;

3.2.2: rehabilitate and improve all existing drainage structures and water system;

4.1.1: prioritize the use of solar energy;

4.2.1: engage in sustainable approach to rural electrification;

5.1.1: enlarge cell-site coverage to reach unserved barangays;

6.1.1: craft an Air Quality Management Plan implemented through ordinance in

consonance with Clean Air Act;

6.2.1: establish a better solid waste management policy (composting facilities and
Materials Recovery Facility [MRF]);

6.3.1: require waste-water treatment/management to projects, activities and

developments that pose danger to the environment;

6.4.1: oblige waste-water treatment/management to projects, activities, and

developments considered dangerous to the environment; and

6.5.1: impose an improved solid waste management (composting facilities and

MRF).

Goals of the Special Areas

Goal 1: improve the local economy by engaging in environment-friendly

agricultural, commercial and industrial activities;

Goal 2: maximize physical urban development and aesthetic values; and

Goal 3: maximize biodiversity and cultural values.

Objectives of the Special Areas Sector

In order to achieve those goals of the Special Areas Sector by 2029, the City
of Laoag aims to:

1.1: act as the nexus of green technology and innovation in the north in the next
ten (10) years;

1.2: ensure air, land and water resources are clean in the next ten (10) years, with
the help of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO);

2.1: implement planned and balanced developments in four quadrants of the city
in the next ten (10) years, through the efforts of the City Planning and
Development Office (CPDO);

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2.2: ensure that the city achieves visual quality, character and overall quality of life
in the city in the next ten (10) years, through the Laoag Heritage Conservation and
Urban Development Council;

3.1: heighten residents’ awareness and appreciation, and pride of place and
heritage in all-ages, levels and sectors of the society in the City of Laoag in the next
three (3) years, through the Department of Education (DepEd) in coordination
with the city government of Laoag;

3.2: enact Special Zoning Ordinances and related ordinances for the protection and
conservation of the tangible and intangible cultural resources and natural
resources of the city in the next three (3) years; and

3.3: enact Special Zoning Ordinances and related ordinances to protect and
conserve cultural and natural resources of the city in the next three (3) years.

Strategies of the Special Areas Sector

The following corresponding strategies are keys in achieving the objectives

of the Special Areas Sector:

1.1.1: implement wastewater and septage treatment plant project in the next five
(5) years, through the City Engineering Office in coordination with the CENRO;

1.1.2: implement green infrastructure practices for storm water and flood
mitigation projects such as water detention ponds, bioswales, vegetative swales,
infiltration trenches and water detention ponds in the next five (5) years, through
the City Engineering Office in coordination with Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
(CDRRMO);

1.1.3: introduce innovations in the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) that will
process recyclable materials for marketing to manufacturers as raw materials for
new products, and in the system of garbage collection in the next three (3) years,
through CENRO;

1.1.4: endorse the adoption of public e-jeeps and e-tricycles while establishing a
multi-modal transport hub for a clean, convenient, and sustainable public
transport system, through CENRO;

1.1.5: implement the Laoag City Sustainability Training Center for the conduct of
traditional industries and livelihood trainings for gainful employment of residents
in their own communities especially catering to community tourism, through the
City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO);

1.2.1: implement the sanitary landfill project in the next three (3) years, through
the City Engineering Office in coordination with CENRO;

1.2.2: invite investors in green industries, i.e. clean energy (solar, mini-hydro,
wind), organic farming, sustainable fishing, (aquaculture), waste reduction,
pollution control, green transportation, etc. within the next ten (10) years, through
the Office of the City Mayor;

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1.2.3: enact a Local Green Building Code to require rainwater harvesting, urban
and/or roof gardens, permeable pavements, among others, in the next three (3)
years, by the City Council;

1.2.4: establish demo/experimental/model farms for innovative/sustainable

agricultural practices, i.e. permaculture, hydroponics and aquaponics, urban
agriculture, agro-forestry and food forests, biodynamic farming, natural animal
raising, etc., through the City Agriculture Office;

2.1.1: enforce strictly the provisions of PD 1096- The National Building Code of the
Philippines complying with architectural requirements including provision for
parking and setbacks, and structural requirements to ensure that buildings are safe
and sound in the next ten (10) years, through the City Engineering Office;

2.1.2: widen roads and provide sidewalks and bike lanes for a safe, walkable and
bikeable city in the next five (5) years, through the City Engineering Office in
coordination with the DPWH;

2.1.3: create a traffic plan re-routing the entrance and exit to the city to get in and
out of the city efficiently and fast in the next three (3) years, through the City
Engineering Office in coordination with the City Traffic Management Office;

2.1.3: create a traffic plan in the next three (3) years, through the City Engineering
Office in coordination with the City Traffic Management Office;

2.1.4: adopt a development scheme roughly in four quadrants of the city, i.e.,
establish a north growth eco-tourism development node in the former garbage
dumpsite; east development growth node with the Ermita Hill Native Settlement
as attraction; Laoag City Special Economic Tourism Zone as stimulus; and the west
growth development node with the government center as main magnet, in the next
ten (10) years, through the CPDO;

2.1.5: propose a multi-modal transport hub in the west for a systematized,

organized traffic and transit in the next five (5) years, through the CPDO in
coordination with the City Traffic Management Office;

2.2.1: review and approve the development plan of proposed government center
complex and relocation site in the next three (3) years, by the CPDO, City
Engineering Office and Laoag Heritage Conservation and Urban Development
Council;

2.2.2: review and approve development plan for the proposed public market and
relocation site in the next three (3) years, by CPDO, City Engineering Office and
the Laoag Heritage Conservation and Urban Development Council;

2.2.3: introduce partial pedestrianization of the Heritage Zone and complete

pedestrianization around Aurora Park and street going to the Church-convento-
belltower-atrium complex in the next three (3) years, through the Laoag Heritage
Conservation and Urban Development Council;

2.2.4: formulate design guidelines for the urban design and development of the
city in the next three (3) years, through the Laoag Heritage Conservation and
Urban Development Council;

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2.2.5: propose appropriate cultural activities in places and structures that will
house them for the residents to enjoy a vibrant cultural life, in the next ten (10)
years, through the City Tourism Council in coordination with the Laoag Heritage
Conservation and Urban Development Council;

2.2.6: create pocket parks with public art in all parts of the city in the next five (5)
years through the City Engineering Office in coordination with the CENRO and
Laoag Heritage Conservation and Urban Development Council. The theme of the
public art may include the history and values of the city becoming cultural
landmarks in themselves, transforming public spaces into places that can lift the
spirit and connect with the city;

3.1.1: make a GIS inventory map of the built heritage structures in the urban area,
through the City Tourism Office in coordination with the CPDO;

3.1.2: create and print coloring books and workbooks on built tangible and
intangible and natural heritage resources of the city for grade school pupils, and
inclusion of inabel weaving and other traditional crafts as electives in senior high
school, through the DepEd City Division in coordination with the City Mayor’s
Office and City School Board;

3.1.3: gather senior citizens and elicit oral history of the different places of the city
at various periods of history to add to the intangible heritage resources of the city,
through the City Tourism Office in cooperation with the City Office of Senior
Citizens Affairs;

3.1.4: conduct tour-guiding trainings for local residents, tricycle and calesa drivers,
shop/stall/store owners, college students, teachers, housewives and other
stakeholders, through the City Tourism Office;

3.1.5: conduct a seminar on heritage conservation of the city’s resources for the
City Councilors and Section Chiefs, through the City Tourism Office in
coordination with the Mayor’s Office and Vice-Mayor’s Office;

3.2.1: undertake documentation of the major heritage structures, followed by the

heritage houses, and come up a Statement of Significance of each structure,
through the City Tourism Office in cooperation with the Department of
Architecture of DWCL and NWU;

3.2.2: enact a Special Zoning Ordinance and related ordinances to protect and
conserve other built heritage resources in other barangays of the city in the next
three (3) years, by the City Council. Said Special Zoning Ordinance shall delineate
Heritage and Buffer Zones in the urban area, specifying allowable and
incompatible uses and Design Guidelines,

3.2.3: create a Laoag Heritage Conservation and Urban Development Council,

through the Office of the City Mayor. Said Council shall review and recommend
approval, disapproval or give recommendations for compliance prior to approval,
all development plan applications in the Heritage and Buffer Zones, Ermita Hill,
La Paz and Calay-ab Sand Dunes, eco-tourism projects and urban design of the
city; and the same shall be composed of the City Mayor as Chair; the City Tourism
Committee Chair as Vice-Chair; sectoral members coming from each of the UAP
and PIA Chapters, City Chamber of Commerce, City Tourism Officer, BFP, PICE,

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IIEE, INEC, Laoag City Water District, City Environment Committee Chair; and
City Engineer as Secretariat;

3.2.4: delineate a Heritage and Buffer Zones as a vibrant walkable “small district”
within the city center to provide appropriate context and setting for the major
heritage structures of the city, through the City Engineering Office in coordination
with the City Planning and Development Office and City Tourism Council;

3.2.5: enact a Special Zoning Ordinance to Protect and Conserve the La Paz and
Calay-ab Sand Dunes by the City Council; said ordinance shall be delineating the
protected zones and specifying the allowable and incompatible uses and activities.
Said ordinance and related ordinances to preserve and conserve other natural
heritage resources of the city to be enacted in the next three (3) years;

3.3.1: undertake the cultural mapping for tangible immovable and immovable,
intangible and natural heritage resources, through the City Tourism Office and
sectoral representatives (DepEd, CHED/academe, CSOs, youth, church, OSCA,
City Section Offices, SKF, ABC, etc.), with NCCA under its Philippine Registry of
Cultural Property (PRECUP) program established through Article V Section 4 of
the National Heritage Act of 2009, otherwise known as Republic Act 10066;

3.3.2: delineate a representative portion of Ermita Hill to recreate as the earliest

native settlement in the city for heritage tourism, playing up the story of the
nightlamps from the settlements to guide river travelers in nearby Padsan river,
thus, the name “laoag” (light); this shall be done by the City Tourism Office in
coordination with the CPDO and City Engineering Office;

3.3.3: promote, through the City Tourism Office, to highlight the intangible
heritage resources of the city based from the completed Cultural Mapping and
attract a continuous flow of tourists by creating year-round festivals in addition to
the Pamulinawen Festival,;

3.3.4: promote the La Paz (32-C) and Calay-ab (37) Sand Dunes and sea coast as
sustainable tourism attractions by training and engaging barangay residents in the
management of these natural resources, through the City Tourism Office in
coordination with CENRO;

3.3.5: promote the forested hills and mountains as controlled ecological-tourism

attractions by training and engaging barangay residents in the management of
these natural resources, through the City Tourism Office in coordination with
CENRO;

3.3.6 establish more museums to include private home museums, interactive

children’s museum, among others, in addition to the Museo Ilocos to promote
tangible movable and intangible heritage resources of the city, through the City
Tourism Office in cooperation with the National Museum and private homes with
historical significance..

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CHAPTER 3

THE CONCEPT/STRUCTURE PLAN

The Concept/Structure Plan shall be the ten-year framework that shall

guide the development and/or redevelopment of land in the City of Laoag,
providing the patterns of spatial development that the city shall undertake. It is
expressed by diagrams of proposals for development/redevelopment areas,
growth centers, layout of primary infrastructure network and main transportation
routes, conservation and protected areas, and other key features for managing the
direction of development. The land use proposals may alter the distribution
pattern of existing land uses but they are made with the ultimate aim of achieving
rational and optimum land utilization. These proposals embodied in the Structure
Plan are based on meeting the sectoral goals, objectives and strategies framed in
the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

A spatial strategy, on the other hand, provides the strategic policies for the
development and use of the land in the city. It is an abstract conception of the
desired pattern of the city’s physical development realized through creative
combination of built-up areas and open spaces. This concept organizes and guides
the location and allocation of spaces for different land-using activities, the
regulation of public and private investments, and the preservation of resources
that must be protected against damaging human intrusion and other agents of
destruction.

I. SETTLEMENT PATTERNS

A. Urban Core/Poblacion Area

1. Existing Settlement Pattern: Grid Development

The City of Laoag is a wide spreading land bisected into two parts by the
powerful Laoag River. The population is distributed over this wide area in 80
barangays. The larger land contains the central urban area, the original growth
node. The población was originally laid out in rectangular street blocks from east
to west forming approximately 450 street blocks in varied sizes which were
subsequently divided into barrios, each named after a patron saint. This pattern
expanded from a rectangle where the plaza, church, convent, belltower, “tribunal”
and other church and civic buildings were erected.
Currently, the settlement pattern in the area follows the same grid
development pattern, characterized by rectangular pattern of blocks defined by
parallel and intersecting road network. The city’s urban core is resting on a
generally flat/level terrain. This layout provides easy access to plots and
structures.

2. Proposed/Planned Development: Continuation of Grid Development

The existing settlement pattern shall continue, expanding towards the

periphery- westwards, northwards, eastwards, southwards and southeast across
Laoag River. With the identification of proposed major growth areas in five (5)
nodes of the city, the centers of these growth areas shall be laid out in a grid
development pattern. The existing configuration of the urban area provides a
reference point for the definite location of proposed growth centers in its

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peripheries. Moreover, development in the urban area has already taken a definite
shape and pattern, thus, shall serve as blueprint for the physical layout of
development in the proposed growth centers.

Outside and around the city’s urban core is the rural area where settlement
patterns are less defined but generally follows the linear/ribbon/strip and
nucleated development, characterized by a radial and circumferential system of
settlement. Generally, built-up areas/settlements in these areas are along main
arterial barangay roads, city/provincial roads, national highways and around a
designated community center.

B. General/Citywide Area

1. Existing Settlement Pattern: Combination of linear/ribbon/strip and

nucleated development

a. Rural Area (Rural Barangays)

The rural area (rural barangays) has settlement patterns that are less
defined but generally follows the linear/ribbon/strip and nucleated development.
The road system is radial or circumferential and that’s where the built-up
areas/settlements are found, too - along main arterial barangay roads, city/
provincial roads, national highways and around a designated community center,
becoming the “urban section” of that rural area.

b. The Urban Core in Relation to Identified Growth Centers (Nodes)

The urban core or the city proper serves as the government, commercial,
institutional and communications center of the whole city. It is linked with the
growth centers including their influenced barangays, by a radial/circumferential
road system. The city proper and those neighboring rural barangays and growth
centers (nodes) form a settlement pattern similar to that of a nucleated
development pattern, wherein there is an urban area which serves as the major
core, functioning as a central point of activity and providing specialized services
and facilities while the nodes (urbanizable barangays/areas) around it support
this major center as its influence area or captive market providing neighborhood
facilities and services to their respective areas or influence.

2. Proposed Settlement Pattern: Combination of Linear/ and Radial

Circumferential Pattern
a. Rural Area (Rural Barangays)

There is a vast supply of potential buildable areas for expansion and growth
offering a lot of alternatives in choosing or planning for spatial development, but
existing settlement patterns is largely determined by its road network. For the City
of Laoag, the best option is to continue the existing settlement pattern in the rural
area on a regulated scale. The ribbon/linear type of settlement will be continued;
however, the radial/circumferential system will also be encouraged. Continuing
the ribbon/ linear system ensures easy access to facilities, goods and services while
the radial/circumferential system which is related to nodal/central type of
development will bring about a more efficient and effective development since the

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road system leads to low-density areas or anchor points such as a commercial

center or housing project.

b. The Urban Core in Relation to Identified Growth (Nodal) Centers

At present, the urban core or city proper serves as the government,
commercial, institutional and communications center of the whole city. It is linked
to the rural barangays by road extensions that developed into
radial/circumferential road systems.

The urban core shall serve as the major nucleus functioning as a central
point of activity, providing specialized services and facilities, with more nuclei
(nodes/urbanizable barangays/areas) being created radiating from it. The city
proper, neighboring rural barangays and growth centers (nodes) in the west,
north, east, south and southeast shall form a settlement pattern resembling that of
a nucleated development pattern.

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Figure 3. 1. Growth Nodes in the City of Laoag

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Figure 3. 2. List of Proposed Growth Nodes

II. GROWTH CENTER CONCEPT STRATEGY

The growth center concept strategy shall help the City of Laoag plan for
the future by identifying where growth and development can occur and what it
shall want that growth to look like, and plan ahead for the infrastructure needed
to support that growth. The growth centers are selected on the basis of their
potentials, resources, location, accessibility, existing facilities, utilities and physical
features, serving as linkage between the rural areas and the urban core.

At the same time, directing future growth to specific areas is a strategy to

preserve the character of some parts of the community, including natural/open
spaces, historic areas and boundaries that provide a sense of place. Development
of these areas shall be integrated for a coordinated and cost-effective planning and
implementation of programs and projects. In this strategy, physical development
shall be limited to the identified areas taking into account the limited resources of
the city and amount of support from the national government to attain the sectoral
goals towards the realization of the city’s vision.

Uniform development in all sections of the city shall be assured by

assigning growth nodes in the west, north and east, and in the south and southeast
across the river of the Central Growth Node. These growth nodes shall function
to spread the economic activities, facilities and services to equalize development
in key sections of the city, serving their own areas of influence and capturing their
own market in support to the Central Growth Node.

A. Central Growth Node: The Heritage Core, Buffer Zone and Central Business
District

The urban core/city proper (poblacion) shall continue to be the city’s Central
Growth Node. Presently, it is serving as the site of the provincial government
center as well the commercial, institutional, commercial, educational, recreational
and communications center. The Central Business District (CBD), city public

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market, major sports center, playgrounds, historical landmarks, clinics and

hospitals are located in this area.

Its strategic location makes it appropriate as the urban core of the city. It is
traversed by the Manila North Road that is being plied by buses going to Manila,
Baguio City and the rest of Luzon area in the South; by buses to the North going
to Cagayan Valley and to the neighboring towns to the East.

However, with the increasing need of more spaces for the city government
to better serve its population, relocation of the city hall is necessary. Traffic
congestion in the urban core created by bustles of activity in the city public market
also necessitates transfer in a bigger location where there is ample parking space.

While the urban core shall continue to function as a center of commerce,

recreation, tourism and education serving the entire city, nearby towns and
provinces and Region 1, defining and delineating it into specific zones will
improve its growth, urban design, character, quality and sense of place according
to zones’ potentials, resources, location, existing facilities, utilities and physical
features. Thus, the urban core or the Central Growth Node shall be delineated into
three sections: the proposed Heritage Zone, the Buffer Zone or transition zone,
and the Central Business District, comprising the commercial, mixed residential-
commercial and residential sections.

1. The Heritage Zone

The Heritage Zone shall encompass the city’s major heritage structures that
include Plaza Aurora, St. William’s Cathedral and belltower, the Provincial
Capitol, Museo Ilocos, present Laoag City Hall (for adaptive re-use), Heroes Hall,
Holy Spirit Academy of Laoag and Laoag Central Elementary School.
2. The Buffer Zone

The Buffer Zone covers the street blocks that immediately surround the
Heritage Zone.
3. Central Business District, Mixed Residential-Commercial and
Residential Sections

This section of the urban core are all the outer street blocks after the Buffer
Zone and constitutes the Central Business District, mixed residential-commercial
and residential sections of the city.
B. West Growth Node: The New Government City

The West Growth Node shall be the “new government city” which shall
host the new Laoag City Hall, provincial branches of national agencies and related
and support land uses. This proposed growth node shall be nucleated by the
intersection of Laoag Bypass Road and extension of GomBurZa Street, enabling
the development of the city’s western section and influencing the peripheral
barangays, particularly Barangay La Paz with its famed sand dunes at the western
end, and immediate barangays northwards of the Laoag By-Pass Road towards
the town of Bacarra. The proposed relocation site of the City Public Market which
is midway to the new government city shall be supported by the new government
city because of its accessibility with the construction of wide, parallel and

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perpendicular road extensions from the urban center for convenient, fast and
increased entry and exit points.

1. Influenced Growth Area: The La Paz Sand Dunes

The development of a new government city in the western part of the city
will influence the development of La Paz Sand Dunes, and this envisioned
development is harmonized with the Metro Ilocos Norte Development Plan that
identifies Barangay La Paz Sand Dunes as a priority area for development. Whilst
the sand dunes will largely remain protected throughout as a natural heritage
resource of the city, nature-based tourism-related development is proposed such
as private resorts (pods, villas with private pools), activity area (hot-air balloon,
horseback riding, fat bike riding, outdoor physical activities); track for off-road
activities (dune buggy, dune bashing, quad bike, fat bike); proposed road access
and connection; retail commercial (food and beverage, souvenir shops); tourist
information center (information kiosk, restroom, waiting area, briefing area);
parking area; zorbing area; mixed-used commercial (hostel, accommodation,
restaurants, souvenir/specialty shops, and 4-meter easement (perimeter sand
boardwalk/seaside rail bike).

2. Influenced Growth Area: Barangays North of New Government City

Continuing a little farther north of the proposed new government city shall
be a commercial development to support the new city.

3. Influenced Growth Area: The New City Public Market Site

The proposed new City Public Market site shall be beside the central
terminal. It is midway between the Central Growth Node (City Center) and
proposed new government center.

C. East Growth Node: Ermita Hill Traditional Village

The East Growth Node shall be based on the development of the Ermita
Hill Traditional Village partly as a reconstructed native settlement to become a
cultural tourist attraction, and the rest of the area as reforested hill with tourism
amenities. It shall influence the peripheral barangays to engage in traditional
crafts and arts to support the cultural tourism strategy for this growth node.
Further, the creation of an intersection of existing major arterial roads- the Laoag-
Vintar Road and Laoag-Solsona Road with the proposed San Nicolas By-Pass
Road will help spur development in the east side of the city and support the Ermita
Hill Traditional Village. And farther towards the town of Vintar will be another
influenced growth area which is the proposed redevelopment of the old dumpsite
into a man-made forest with low-impact tourism amenities.

1. Influenced Growth Area: The Proposed San Nicolas-Laoag By-Pass Road-

Solsona-Laoag Road intersection

The construction of the proposed San Nicolas-Laoag By-Pass Road that will
intersect with Solsona-Laoag Road will be a catalyst in the development of this
node. It is expected that this major access will conveniently bring in more tourists
to Ermita Hill taking this alternate road from the south.

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2. Influenced Growth Area: The Proposed San Nicolas-Laoag By-Pass Road-

Laoag-Vintar Road Intersection

The construction of the proposed San Nicolas-Laoag By-Pass Road that will
intersect with Laoag-Vintar Road will stimulate the development of the existing
light industrial development of this area. Any additional light industrial activity
in this area is seen as stimulus to the activities in the nearby Ermita Hill Traditional
Village.

3. Influenced Growth Area: Redevelopment of Old Dumpsite into a Man-

made Forest.

Another potential influenced growth area towards east is the proposed

redevelopment of the city’s old dumpsite into a man-made forest with low-impact
tourism amenities, and the nearby hills and mountains as added natural
attractions perfect for nature-based tourism. This strategy will create a demand for
tourism which is lacking in Laoag at present and will allow this area to grow and
develop by itself.

D. Southeast Growth Node: The Mall and Commercial Strip

The Southeast Growth Node shall cover the development of the whole
stretch of Laoag Airport Road and the Manila North Road Nangalisan Section up
before the Laoag Bridge. The Manila North Road Nangalisan Section shall be
allotted for commercial development with a mall before the Laoag Bridge as the
central magnet supported by large commercial establishments to serve as seamless
spillover of Robinsons Mall complex and commercial establishments in San
Nicolas town.

1. Mixed-Use Development along Laoag Airport Road

The Laoag Airport Road shall be characterized by mixed-use development
such as commercial, commercial-residential, medium and high-density residential
(apartments, hotels, condominium units) and institutional. The urban design for
this whole length of mixed-used development shall be formulated so as to create
an architecturally impressive and organized built-up development from the
airport to the city proper.

E. South Growth Node: PEZA-Registered Eco-Tourism Zone

The South Growth Node shall encompass the proposed PEZA-registered
Eco-Tourism Zone, with the Fort Ilocandia, Plaza del Norte Convention Center,
the Calay-ab (37) Sand Dunes and Laoag International Airport as support
amenities. This zone is accessed from the Laoag Airport Road and Laoag-Paoay
Road.

The PEZA-Registered Eco-Tourism Zone shall cover 79.2. hectares to be

developed exclusively into tourism-related activities. This Special Use Zone shall
be co-managed by locally-owned small and medium tourism enterprises having
structures built with low- impact designs and practicing sustainable operation
methods, and involves the community people for the conservation of the ecology
and biodiversity of the area which in return provides the economic incentives to
them. This zone shall encompass the area sandwiched between the designated
Light Industrial Zone along the Laoag-Paoay Road on one side.
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Tourism-related activities that shall be allowed to operate in this zone

include eco-resorts, theme parks, eco-camping grounds, yoga retreats, meditation
centers, eco-friendly cottages, organic farms, eco-lodges. This type of facilities uses
less energy and water, relies on earth-friendly amenities like solar gardens, smart
lighting, solar panels and advanced onsite energy, water and waste management
systems. Local suppliers for food and materials are used wherever possible, and
furniture is handcrafted and produced by local craftspeople. Other sustainability
measures include growing fresh produce on-site from organic farming.

c. Influenced Growth Area: The Calayab Sand Dunes, Fort Ilocandia, Plaza del
Norte Convention Center, and Laoag International Airport Development
Area.

The Calayab (37) Sand Dunes stay protected as a natural heritage resource
while nature-based tourism-related activities similar to La Paz (32-C) Sand Dunes
development shall be allowed within the periphery of Fort Ilocandia and Plaza Del
Norte Convention Center. The expansion and modernization of the Laoag
International Airport will improve attraction of the city and province as tourist
and business destination and spur growth and development of the surrounding
communities. The airport will also create a demand for cargo warehousing.
Warehouses shall be located in the area zoned as Light Industrial along the Laoag-
Paoay Road, which is ideal for cargo trucks, thus avoid creating traffic along the
Manila North Road.
d. Influenced Growth Area: Darayday Road-Paoay-Balacad Road Intersection.
This node located at Brgy. Mangato (38) is envisioned to develop as a
support growth area to the PEZA-registered Eco-Tourism Zone which shall be
largely commercial with a proposed mall development in the area. This area shall
provide the shopping needs of guests, visitors and residents in PEZA-registered
Eco-Tourism Zone and in the Calay-ab (37) Sand Dunes, Fort Ilocandia, Plaza del
Norte Convention Center and travellers at Laoag International Airport.

III. ROAD NETWORK SYSTEM

The City of Laoag has a radial circumferential road network system. This
system is characterized by major radial roads extending from the urban core or
Central Growth Node to areas/barangays of influence, the rest of the city and to
nearby towns and provinces. This type of road network system shall be
maintained for the planning period.

The following are existing radial roads emanating from the urban core:

- Manila North Road to Manila

- Laoag-Allacapan Road to the North
- Laoag-Sarrat Road to the East
- Laoag-Piddig Road and Laoag-Vintar Road also to the East

The Laoag Airport Road, Laoag-Paoay Road and the Manila North Road-
Nangalisan section connects the area South of the Laoag River to rest of the city
and the province.

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The Laoag By-Pass Road which passes through the western section of the
city, from the boundary with the Municipality of Bacarra, in barangays in the north
to Barangay Bengcag in the south, crossing the Laoag Airport Road, and continues
on to the Laoag-Paoay Road, has greatly improved the city’s circulation system
and diffused traffic in the city’s urban core. More significantly, a major intersection
of the Laoag By-Pass Road shall be created with the extension of GomBurZa Road
from the urban core to serve as the nucleus of the proposed “New Government
City”.

The following are the proposed arterial roads:

● San Nicolas-Laoag By-Pass Road in the east to connect to Solsona-Laoag

Road thence to Laoag-Vintar Road.
● Proposed Darayday Road to connect to Laoag-Paoay Road.

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CHAPTER 4

PROPOSED LAND USE

A. LAND USE ALLOCATION MODEL

Considering the vision of City of Laoag in 2029, the proposed general land use
paves its way to “BARO A LAOAG”. The land use allocation was based on the priority
goals identified by the people of Laoag during a series of stakeholders’ meetings. The
goals were then translated into a mathematical optimization model (Table 4. 1).
Goal 1 is to allocate the land to residential areas to address the projected housing
needs as determined in the sectoral analysis. Goal 2 is to minimize environmental cost
brought by land conversion. The third goal pertains to minimization of disaster risk
considering the six (6) hazards, namely, flood, landslide, storm surge, tsunami,
earthquake and COVID-19 pandemic. Goal 4 is maximizing social development by
prioritizing areas with low social development index and determining the optimal
number of social development sites. Goal 5 is to maximize land suitability taking into
consideration the requirements of each land use. Goal 6 which is maximizing economic
value is obtained by considering the gross income of commercial establishments and
farmers out of the six (6) major crops. And lastly, Goal 7 is maximizing cultural value by
preserving the identified heritage sites.
The land use allocation model also set nine (9) initial constraints so that the
solution would be feasible and optimal (Table 4.2). The first constraint ensures that
allocation will not go beyond the total land area of Laoag to be managed. Constraint 2
ensures that the allocation assigned will not consume water beyond the water supply of
Laoag. The third constraint ensures that the allocation for the different crop can meet the
consumption demand of Laoaguenos. Constraint 4 warrants that at least one (1) social
development structure is established within 667 hectares. Constraint 5 ensures that
cultural heritage sites can be compatibly assigned residential, institutional or commercial
land uses; and natural heritage sites are assigned ecological tourism land uses only. The
sixth constraint warrants that social development site and cultural heritage site cannot be
assigned at the same area. Constraint 7 sets the minimum space requirements for 2029 on
residential (3,811.65 ha), commercial (339.34 ha), social development sites (10.63 ha) and
cultural heritage sites (25.75 ha). The eighth constraint warrants that the built-up areas,
such as industrial, residential, commercial and institutional, will remain as is. And
Constraint 9 ensures that only one land use is assigned in one grid.

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Table 4. 1. Mathematical Optimization Model for Land Use Allocation in the City of Laoag
Goal Objective Function Optimization Equation
𝑛𝑔
Minimize total area allocation for
1 Minimize = ∑ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,2 ∗ 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑔
residential
𝑔=1
𝑛𝑔

2 Minimize environmental cost Minimize = ∑ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,𝑢 ∗ 𝑒𝑛𝑣_𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑔,𝑢

𝑔=1
𝑛𝑔

3 Minimize disaster risk Minimize = ∑ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,1,2,9,11 ∗ 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟_𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑘𝑔

𝑔=1
𝑛𝑔

Minimize = ∑ 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙_𝑑𝑒𝑣_𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑔 ∗ 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑔

𝑔=1
4 Maximize social development 𝑛𝑔

Maximize = ∑ 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙_𝑑𝑒𝑣_𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
𝑔=1
𝑛𝑔

5 Maximize land suitability Maximize = ∑ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,𝑢 ∗ 𝑠𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦𝑔,𝑢

𝑔=1
𝑛𝑔

6 Maximize economic value Maximize = ∑ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,3−9 ∗ 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠_𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑔

𝑔=1
𝑛𝑔

7 Maximize cultural value Maximize = ∑ ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒_𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑔,𝑢 ∗ 𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙_𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑔

𝑔=1

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Table 4. 2. Constraints Set for Land Use Allocation in the City of Laoag

No. Constraint/Target Equation

𝑛𝑔

1 Land area requirement ∑ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,𝑢 ∗ 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑔 ≤ 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙_𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑

𝑔=1
𝑛𝑔

2 Water requirement ∑ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔, ∗ 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑢 ≤ 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙_𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

𝑔=1
𝑛𝑔

3 Demand per crop ∑ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,3−8 ∗ 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑢 ≥ 𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑢

𝑔=1
𝑛𝑔
At least one (1) social dev’t site per 667
4 y = 1 + 667*i ∑ 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙_𝑑𝑒𝑣_𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑔, 𝑦,𝑧 ≥ 1
z = 668 + 667*i 𝑔=1
ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒_𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑔 ≤ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑔,11 + 100 ∗ 𝐵
Cultural hertitage site assigned only to
5
residential or institutional
ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒_𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑔 ≤ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,2 + 100 ∗ (1 − 𝐵)
Social development site cannot be a ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒_𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑔 + 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙_𝑑𝑒𝑣_𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑔 ≤ 1
6
cultural heritage site

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Table 4.2. Cont…

No. Constraint/Target Equation

𝑛𝑔

∑ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,2 ∗ 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑔 ≥ 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒_𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙

𝑔=1
𝑛𝑔

∑ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,9 ∗ 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑔 ≥ 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒_𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙

𝑔=1
Minimum space requirements per land 𝑛𝑔
7
use
∑ 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙_𝑑𝑒𝑣_𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑔 ∗ 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑔 ≥ 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒_𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝑔=1
𝑛𝑔

∑ ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒_𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑔 ∗ 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑔 ≥ 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒_𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙

𝑔=1

Built-up areas will not change their

8 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,1,3,9,10,11 ≥ 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡_𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,1,3,9,10,11
existing land use classification
𝑛𝑔

9 One assignment, one grid ∑ 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑_𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑔,𝑢 == 1

𝑔=1

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B. OPTIMIZATION RESULTS

The land use allocation in City of Laoag for 2029 was facilitated by the use of
multiple goal linear programming (MGLP) as a decision-support system. This tool is
utilized to provide a science-based solution with the many complementary and
conflicting goals of the local government unit.

Table 4. 3 reveals that the prioritized goals of Laoagueños will be achieved in 2029
given the land use allocation provided by Gurobi, an MGLP software. The residential
areas would be optimally allocated in 3,811.65 hectares to accommodate the additional
populace and relocate families who are living in disaster-prone areas. The environmental
cost entailed in land conversion would be reduced to 3,614 from the potential cost of
83,560. The total average disaster risk score of City of Laoag of 63,758 would be
minimized to 25,913.80 by allocating safer places to residential, commercial industrial
and institutional uses. In order to address the social development backlogs of Laoag,
there were sixteen (16) social development sites allocated.

The land suitability would be maximized to 53,618, much higher than lowest
potential score of 16,712. This implies that different land uses were placed where they
have high suitability. The goal of maximizing economic values of the agricultural and
commercial lands would also be achieved. With land use allocated specifically to the
seven (7) crops and the commercial establishments, City of Laoag would gain an
economic value of Php 3,473,750,528.82. The cultural value of the city would be
maximized to a score of 750 by preserving rich natural and built heritage indicated on the
map.
Table 4. 3. Optimization Run Results on the Land Use Allocation in City of Laoag
Goal Unit Potential Optimal
1 Allocate residential areas ha 3,811.65
2 Minimize environmental cost 83,560.00 3,614.00
3 Minimize disaster risk 63,758.10 25,913.80
4 Prioritize social devt sites 16.00
5 Maximize land suitability 16,712.00 53,618.24
6 Maximize economic value Php 3,473,750,528.82
7 Maximize cultural value 181.00 750.00

The total land area of 11,976.00 hectares of City of Laoag would be used up
optimally (Table 4. 4). Water requirement of the different crops and the water usage of
the different consumers of built-up areas, estimated at 100,900,978 cu.m., would not go
above city’s water supply of 318,983,032 cu.m. With allocation provided, the production
of tomato (15,618 mt), cowpea (2,121 mt), mungbean (293 mt), mango (335 mt), corn (1,102
mt) and tobacco (3,285 mt), would be able to meet the per capita consumption of
Laoaguenos. Half of the demand for rice of Laoag, would be met by the production of
9,404 mt.

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Table 4. 4. Results of the Constraints Set in the Optimization Run

Constraints Unit Potential Optimal

Total land area ha 11,976.90 11,976.90
Water supply/Water requirement cu.m. 318,983,032.40 100,900,977.76
Crop demand/Crop production
Rice mt 9,221.72 9,403.79
Tomato mt 547.77 15,617.74
Cowpea mt 379.91 2,121.22
Mungbean mt 174.42 292.87
Mango mt 320.41 335.11
Corn mt 9.60 1,101.54
Tobacco mt 57.37 3,284.76

C. PROPOSED GENERAL LAND USE

City of Laoag has a total land area of 11,976.90 hectares, consisting of 10,824.69 ha
land part and 1,152.22 ha river.

Industrial Land Use

From the existing land use, industrial use occupies 494.47 hectares or 4.13% of the
total land area (Table 4. 5 and Figure 4. 1), which only composed of a few industries at
Brgys. San Bernabe (28), San Matias (23) and Lagui-Sail (54-A). The Laoag City
Government identified the economic zone located at the Brgy Apaya (42), Balacad (41),
Balatong (40), Calayab (37), and Sta. Rosa (39) however no industries have been
established yet in the area. This area is intended for light non-pollutive industries or I1.

There would be reduction of 0.94% or 112.09 hectares in the proposed industrial

land use City of Laoag (Figure 4. 2), making it 382.38 ha. This would be converted into
commercial zone which can be used for tourism economic zone.

Residential Land Use

The existing residential use occupies a total land area of 3,311.66 hectares or 27.65%
(Figure 4. 1). To meet the housing need, specifically for the relocation of families living in
high-risk areas and for the additional population, the proposed residential area would be
increased to 3,811.65 hectares or 31.82% of the total land area (Figure 4. 2). That would be
an additional of 499.99 hectares or 4.17% increase. From this area, the existing socialized
housing occupies 5.30 ha and 67.56 ha are proposed for cultural heritage sites.

Agricultural Areas

The current agricultural area covers 4,123.16 hectares or 34.43% of the total land
area. The proposed agricultural land use, in general, would have a 5.34% increase drawn
from the open area, resulting in 4,762.81 hectares coverage. From this, rice should be
planted in 1,561.79 hectares, tomato in 814.42 hectares, cowpea in 233.10 hectares,
mungbean in 232.44 hectares, mango in 31.03 hectares, corn in 198.05 hectares and
tobacco in 1,691.98 hectares, such that the demand of Laoagueños would be met. Those
seven (7) crops are recommended to be planted in the areas indicated on Figure 2. This
does not limit other crops that can be planted in the area after the major cropping season.

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Commercial Land Use

Existing commercial area only covers 127.10 hectares or 1.06% of the total land
area. This could be increased to 378.56 hectares or 3.16%. The current commercial areas
along the National Road and Airport Road would be expanded. Additional commercial
areas along the By-pass Road in the west, specifically at Brgys. San Lorenzo (1), Sta. Maria
(30-B), Vira (55-C), Pila (57), Casili (58), is proposed to decongest the current urban areas.

Environment Land Use (Forest/Duneland/Tourism)

The existing areas for forest, duneland and tourism cover 1,054.93 hectares or
8.81% of Laoag. The existing forest area of 227.79 hectares would be retained. The forest
area located at Brgy Bacsil North (56-A) and Bacsil South (56-B) is bound to be protected.
The forest at Brgy Dibua South (59-A), Dibua North (59-B), Pila (57), Barit (55-A), Salet-
Bulangon (55-B), and Vira (55-C) would be devoted for production, such as agroforestry.

The tourism zone would be expanded to 978.11 hectares, drawn from the
designated economic zone. Hence, giving an additional 150.96 hectares for the
environmental area. The proposed environment land use would make up 1,205.90
hectares.

Institutional Land Use

The institutional land use, composed of government buildings, cemeteries, parks

and infrastructures, measures a total land area of 186.00 hectares or 1.55%. The additional
44.48 hectares for the institutional land use would be allocated for the additional
government offices at Brgys. Casili (58) and Sta. Maria (30-B) for 8.83 hectares, expansion
of Laoag International Airport for 10.96 hectares, sanitary landfill at Brgy. Balatong (40)
for 14.01 hectares, cemetery/columbarium and crematorium at Brgy San Lorenzo (1) for
1.89 hectares and the social development sites for 8.79 hectares. The additional (16) social
development sites distributed in areas where there is a need for such include health
facility, sports facility, jail, police substations, social welfare facility.

Open Area/Grassland

The existing open area and grassland compose the 1,527.36 hectares or 12.75% of
the total land areas of the City of Laoag. Almost all the developments in the different land
uses (residential, agricultural, and commercial) will be drawn from the open area or
grassland, thus reducing it to 0.44% or 52.91 hectares.

River

River lies in 1,152.22 hectares or 9.62% and it will be retained as is.

Cultural Heritage Sites

From the existing residential and institutional uses, there are 181 sites identified with
high cultural importance. The optimal solution allocated 150 cultural heritage sites
covering a total area of 80.09 hectares, of which 67.56 hectares are residential units and
12.54 hectares are government-owned. These need to be declared as cultural heritage
sites.

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Table 4. 5. Existing and Proposed General Land Use of City of Laoag

Land Use Area Percent

Percent Percent
Existing General Land Use Area (ha) Proposed General Land Use Area (Ha) Change Change
(%) (%)
(ha)
Industrial 494.47 4.13 Industrial 382.38 3.19 (112.09) (0.94)
Residential 3,311.66 27.65 Residential 3,811.65 31.82 499.99 4.17
Socialized Housing 5.30 Socialized Housing 5.30
Cultural Heritage Sites 67.56
Agricultural 4,123.16 34.43 Agricultural 4,762.81 39.77 639.65 5.34
Rice 1,561.79
Tomato 814.42
Cowpea 233.10
Mungbean 232.44
Mango 31.03
Corn 198.05
Tobacco 1,691.98
Commercial 127.10 1.06 Commercial 378.56 3.16 251.47 2.10
Environment 1,054.93 8.81 Environment 1,205.90 10.07 150.96 1.26
Forest 227.79
Tourism 978.11
Institutional 186.00 1.55 Institutional 230.48 1.92 44.48 0.37
Government Offices 196.58
Cemetery 12.57
Cultural Heritage Sites 12.54
Social Devt Site 8.79
Open Area 1,527.36 12.75 Open Area 52.91 0.44 (1,474.45) (12.31)
River 1,152.22 9.62 River 1,152.22 9.62 - 0.00
Total 11,976.90 100.00 11,976.90 100.00

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Figure 4. 1. Existing General Land Use of City of Laoag

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Figure 4. 2. Proposed General Land Use of City of Laoag

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D. PROPOSED PROTECTION AND PRODUCTION AREAS

From the proposed agricultural area of 4,762.81 hectares, 53.77% or 2,561.07

will be under protection area and 46.23% or 2,201.75 will be for the production
area. This is based on the Network of Protected Areas for Agriculture and Agro-
Industrial Development (NPAAAD) identified by the Department of Agriculture.
Agricultural protection areas include all irrigated areas, expansion for agriculture
areas and fragile agricultural lands, whereas agricultural production areas include
agro-industrial croplands and all irrigable lands. Specific crops under protection
and production areas are presented in Table 4. 6 and Figure 4. 3.

The proposed land use for forest area covers 227.79 hectares. From this,
52.11% or 118.71 ha would be under the protection area and 47.89% or 109.08 ha
would be under the production area.

The forest area located at Brgy Bacsil North (56-A) and Bacsil South (56-B)
is bound to be protected. The forest at Brgy Dibua South (59-A), Dibua North (59-
B), Pila (57), Barit (55-A), Salet-Bulangon (55-B), and Vira (55-C) would be devoted
for production, such as agroforestry.

Table 4. 6. Proposed Protection and Production Areas, City of Laoag

Protection Production
Total Area
Land Use Area Area
(ha)
(ha) (ha)
Agricultural Area
Rice 851.33 710.46
Tomato 412.82 401.61
Cowpea 125.60 107.50
Mungbean 116.90 115.54
Mango 25.83 5.20
Corn 103.95 94.10
Tobacco 924.64 767.34
2561.07 2201.75 4762.81

Forest Area 118.71 109.08 227.79

Total 2689.74 2310.83

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Figure 4. 3. Proposed Protection and Production Areas of the City of Laoag

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E. PROPOSED URBAN LAND USE

The city has a total land area of 11,976.90 hectares and is primarily rural
having 50 of the 80 barangays are in rural area. Thus, 834.76 hectares is occupied
by the urban core of población while 11,142.14 hectares is being occupied by rural
barangays.

Residential Areas

Existing residential area is found in all the thirty urban barangays

encompassing 255.81 hectares or 30.67% of the total urban land use (Figure 4.4).
The proposed residential areas will be increased by 32.59 hectares, giving a total
of 271.82 hectares (Table 4.7and). Of which 26.54 hectares would be preserved or
developed to cultural heritage sites. The intensity of the land use is low to medium
density residential use. It is situated primarily along the northern bank of the
Laoag River, borders of the Central Business District (Central Urban Core), in the
vicinity of several schools and near the roads going to the municipalities of Vintar,
Sarrat and Bacarra.

Commercial Areas

Commercial Areas cover 45.57 hectares or 5.46% of the total urban land use
of the city. The proposed commercial will be 59.07 hectares or 7.08%. The large
portion of this land use is the Central Business District which is bounded on the
west by Nolasco Street and General Segundo Avenue, in the east by Zulueta Street,
by M.H del Pilar in the north and by Juan Luna Street and F.R. Castro Street in the
south.

Institutional

Existing institutional land use, which includes government buildings, parks

and cemeteries, covers an area of 95.1 hectares or 11.40%. The area of institutional
in proposed will be 99.50 hectares or 11.93%. Of this, 86.0 hectares would be
devoted to government buildings (offices, hospitals/clinics, churches,
public/private schools, and parks), 12.5 hectares for cultural heritage sites and 1.0
hectare for social development site (hospital, jail, police station).

Industrial Areas

Industrial land use is 4.92% of the total urban land use or 41.01 hectares and
is predominantly situated at the periphery of población and in proposed industrial
area, the area would be reduced to 40.46 or 4.85%.

Agricultural Areas

The intensity of agriculture in City of Laoag is high, it encompasses the

largest land use in the city having a total of 392.35 hectares or 47.04% of the total
urban area. It will be decreased to 363.22 hectares or 43.55%. Specifically, rice
would be planted to 159.31 ha, tomato to 73.13 ha, cowpea to 12.38 ha, mungbean
to 9.0 ha, corn to 8.33 ha and tobacco to 88.68 ha. This is to attain the optimum
benefits of using the land.

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Environment/Tourism

This zone occupies 3.87 hectares or 0.46% of the city’s urban land area. This
would be reduced to zero since tourism zone would be focused on the coastal areas
and the built-up tourism spots would be reclassified as cultural heritage sites.

Open Area

Open areas in the city are the undeveloped lands having no built structures
or buildings and it accounts the least area of the city’s existing urban land use of
only 0.36 hectares or 0.04%. This small area would be converted to agricultural
use.

Proposed Cultural Heritage Land Use

The areas hosting structures with high cultural values were identified to be
preserved or developed into cultural heritage sites. The cultural heritage sites in
the urban area will be 12.50 hectares.

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Table 4. 7. Existing and Proposed Urban Land Use of City of Laoag

Urban Land
Existing Urban Land Area Percent Proposed Urban Land Percent Use Percent
Area (ha)
Use (ha) (%) Use (%) Area Change Change
(ha)
Industrial 41.01 4.92 Industrial 40.46 4.85 -0.55 -0.07
Residential 255.81 30.67 Residential 271.82 32.59 16.01 1.92
Cultural Heritage Sites 26.54
Agricultural 392.35 47.04 Agricultural 363.22 43.55 -29.13 -3.49
Commercial 45.57 5.46 Commercial 59.07 7.08 13.50 1.62
Environment/Touris
3.87 0.46 Environment/Tourism 0.00 0.00 -3.87 -0.46
m
Institutional 95.1 11.40 Institutional 99.50 11.93 4.40 0.53
Government Buildings 86.00
Cultural Heritage Sites 12.50
Social Devt Site 1.00
Open Area 0.36 0.04 Open Area 0.00 0.00 -0.36 -0.04
Total 834.07 100.00 Total 834.07 100.00

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Figure 4. 4. Existing Urban Land Use of City of Laoag

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Figure 4. 5. Proposed Urban Land Use of City of Laoag

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APPENDICES

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METHODOLOGY

The preparation of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of City of Laoag

2020-2029 was done through the initiative of the Local Chief Executive, Hon.
Michael Marcos Keon (Appendix 1) and the Sangguniang Panglungsod, headed by
Hon. Vicentito M. Lazo (Appendix 2), by virtue of Executive Order No. MMK-048,
s. 2019. The City Planning Team (Appendix 3. City Planning Team (EO No.
MMK-048 series of 2019)
, headed by EnP. Ruby Ann R. Bunalade, OIC- City Planning and Development
Coordinator, was facilitated by North Planners, Inc. (Appendix 4), an
environmental consultancy firm.

The City Planning Team was guided by the 12-step process prescribe in the
2013 Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) Guidebook. The schedule
of activities is shown in the Gantt chart (Appendix 5).

Organizing the City Planning Team, identifying the stakeholders and

setting the vision were done in February 2020. The onset of CLUP preparation was
challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic which brought the modifications in the
schedule and procedures.

Setting the Goals and Objectives

Public Consultation/Stakeholders’ Meeting

Series of stakeholders’ meetings and workshops were conducted in June

2020 via Zoom. Stakeholders were divided into 10 groups, namely, institutional
sector, informal sector, infrastructure sector, special sector, health sector,
educational sector, environmental sector, barangay sectors, business, commercial
sector and industrial sector, and civil society organizations sector (Appendix 6).
Goal Achievement Matrix (GAM) and Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and
Threats (SWOT) analyses were drawn from the public consultation.

Analysis of the Situation

Sectoral Analysis

Secondary data were gathered from the different departments of the Local
Government of the City of Laoag, and from other regional, provincial government
agencies for the sectoral analysis.

Sectoral analysis was focused on five (5) areas: (1) Ecosystem Analysis, (2)
Social Sector, (3) Economic Sector, (4) Infrastructure Sector and (5) Special Areas
Sector. Ecosystem Analysis had five (5) subsectors, Climate Change Disaster Risk
Assessment, Biodiversity, Air Quality and Water Quality. Data were obtained
from the different offices, and DOST PAGASA, DOST PHIVOLCS, DOST Projects
READY and NOAH, CDRRMO, CAO, CHO, CEO, DENR-EMB Region 1, and
CENRO.

Social Sector Analysis had six (6) subsectors, namely, Education Sub-Sector,
Social Welfare, Protective and Orders, Housing, Health and Sanitation and Sports
and Recreation. Data were obtained from Dep-Ed and different schools, CSWD,
CHO, PNP, BFP and BJMP.

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Economic Sector had four (4) subsectors: Agriculture, Commerce, Industry

and Tourism. Data were drawn from CAO, BPLO, City Tourism Office.

Infrastructure Sector had four (4) subsectors: Transportation, Power, Water

and Information and Technology. Data were obtained from CEO, INWD, INEC,
SMART, GLOBE, PLDT, NIA, and DPWH.

Special Sector had three (3) subsectors: Green Growth, Urban Design and
Development and Heritage Conservation. Data were obtained from the Provincial
Government, City Tourism Office and CPDO.

The City’s Technical Working Group also met with North Planners, Inc to
solicit more data and identify problems specific to each sector (Appendix 8).

Based on the data collected, current and projected needs of subsectors were
computed. Policy and program interventions were identified according to the
technical findings.

Ocular Inspection

Ocular inspection of the City of Laoag was conducted by some members of

the City Planning Team and the North Planners, Inc. in July 2020 (Appendix 9).

Climate Change and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA)

CDRA was conducted using the 2015 CLUP Guidebook: Supplemental

Guidelines on Mainstreaming Climate Change and Disaster Risks in the CLUP of
HLURB and the 2017 Books 3 & 4 -Enhanced LGU Guidebook on the Formulation
of LCCAP (Process Guide and References) of LGA-DILG, as references.

The data on projected seasonal change in rainfall and temperature in the

Mid-21st Century (2036-2065) for Ilocos Norte relative to 1971-2000 was provided
by DOST PAGASA. The corresponding impacts and adaptation options were
identified by the City of Agriculture.

There were six (6) hazards that had been assessed in the City of Laoag,
flood, landslide, storm surge, tsunami, earthquake and COVID-19. Flood hazard
map was obtained from LIPAD, landslide and storm surge hazard maps were
obtained from Project NOAH, tsunami hazard and earthquake impact maps were
obtained from DOST-PHIVOLCS and the COVID-19 map was generated from the
data of City Health Office (CHO) of the City of Laoag.

For the exposure database, five (5) sectors were considered population,
economic, environment sector, critical point facilities, lifeline utilities. The data
were obtained from the City Social Welfare and Development Office, City
Agriculturist Office, City Engineering Office, Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Office, City Planning and Development Office and City Health
Office. Series of meetings with the representatives of the different representatives
were held to prepare the CDRA report.

Disater risk scores of the city were computed by multiplying hazard scores
with vulnerability scores. Hazards considered in this study include flood,

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landslide, storm surge, tsunami, earthquake and COVID-19. Vulnerability on the

other hand, is a function of sensitivity and adaptive capacity.

Biodiversity Analysis

Flora and fauna biodiversity assessment was conducted for seven (7) days
in two ecosystems: coastal ecosystems at Brgys. Apaya (42), Gabu Sur (35),
Calayab (37) and Caaocan (60-A) and the forest ecosystem at Brgys Bacsil North
(56-A) and Bacsil South (56-B) (Appendix 10). This is a collaborative effort of
OCPDC, CENRO and North Planners, Inc.

Preparing the Land Use Plan

Model formulation

With the assistance of technical consultant, Dr. Jerrold M. Tubay, faculty

member of Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics, University of the
Philippines Los Baños, the model of land use allocation of the City of Laoag was
formulated.

The model formulation was based on the priority goals identified by

stakeholders during the series of public consultation.

The tools that were used in gathering all the data for land use allocation are
secondary data and primary data. The data (Appendix 11) needed are based on the
identified priority goals in the city.

Land suitability

Delineation of land management units was done by overlaying the soil

type, slope, land cover and administrative boundary maps using geographic
information system (GIS). River was eliminated from total land area, leaving
residential, commercial, industry, institutional, open area and agricultural area as
the land to be managed. The generated land management unit was further divided
into one-hectare grid.

Land suitability classification using the limitation method regarding

number and intensity of limitations devised Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO) was adopted in this study. The seven (7) major crops of the city were
evaluated, namely, rice, corn, cowpea, mungbean, tomato, mango and tobacco.

Crop requirements were obtained from Land Evaluation authored by Sys,

et al. Land characteristics of the study sites area were evaluated against the
requirements of the crops. They include slope (t), flooding (w), drainage (h), coarse
fragments or surface stoniness (s), soil depth (d) and fertility limitations (f). Ranges
of classes used in land suitability were highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable
(S2), marginally suitable (S3), currently not suitable (N1), and permanently not
suitable (N2) (Sys, C.; Van Ranst, E.; Debaveye, 1993). These were translated into
land suitability index scores (5, 4, 3, 2 and 1, respectively) assigned to each grid as
inputs to Multiple Goal Linear Programming (MGLP).

Factors considered in the land suitability for residential use include slope,
existing land use, accesibility, and hazard susceptibility. The first three factors are
cited in the National Housing Authority-Memorandum Circular (NHA-MC) 2015-
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0015. Six experts (three engineers and three human settlements planners) were
solicited to provide weights of the different factors in a pairwise manner. Their
answers were subjected to Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) devised by Saaty.

Land suitability for industrial use considered the slope, groundwater

resource, erosion, flood hazard and existing land use. For commercial use, the
factors are the land cost, existing land use, slope, accessibility and hazard
susceptibility.

Economic value

Economic values of the different land uses were drawn from primary and
secondary data. City Agriculturist Office (CAO) of the City of Laoag provided the
agricultural data for the different major crops. The assessed values of residential
and commercial lands were gathered from the City Assessor’s Office, whereas, the
income of commercial establishments was obtained from the Business Permit and
Licensing Office (BPLO).

Cultural mapping- cultural value

Cultural value was obtained through cultural mapping by the City Tourism
Office which the scores were identified as 1 and 5, 1 as non-present of cultural and
5 as present in the City of Laoag.

Social Development Index

The data from the different sub-sectors of the Social Sector (number of
enrollment, number of hospital beds, available lot cemeteries, number of sanitary
toilet, number of ejectment, number of social welfare centers, number of police
vehicles, number of crimes below 18, crime adult, number of sports facilities) were
given corresponding score for each barangay, generating the social development
index score.

Average disaster risk score

The average disaster risk score of each grid was obtained from the
vulnerability of the population sector of each hazard multiplied by the likelihood
of occurrence of the hazard and multiplied by the average hazard susceptibility
score of the 6 hazards under study.

Data encoding and processing

All the data mentioned above were encoded in one spreadsheet. Running
the model was done using Gurobi®, a mathematical optimization software
(Appendix 11. List of Data and Data Source) .

Presenting the Initial Results to the Local Government Unit of City of Laoag

Results of the optimal land use allocation were presented to the Executive
and Legislative offices of the City of Laoag on December 11, 2020, to draw
comments and suggestions (Appendix 12). This became the basis in drafting the
Integrated Zoning Ordinance.

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Appendix 1. City Mayor and Heads of City Government Offices

CITY MAYOR: Hon. MICHAEL MARCOS KEON

HEADS OF OFFICES

1. Atty. Roxanne Lee I. Castro - City Administrator

2. Atty. Josephus R. Nerez - City Legal Officer
3. Mr. Enrico A. Aurelio - Sanggunian Secretary
4. Mr. William Albino Antonio R. Agcaoili - Community Affairs Officer
5. Mr. Arturo Diomedes B. Gayban - OIC, City Treasurer
6. EnP Ruby Ann Ramos-Bunalade - OIC, CPDC
7. Ms. Nelda C. Casas - OIC, City Budget Officer
8. Mr. Ferdinand Quiroga - OIC, City Accountant
9. Ms. Felicar Alba-Ancheta - CHRM Officer
10. Mrs. Jean P. Manuel - City Civil Registrar
11. Engr. George A. Dimalaluan - OIC, City Assessor
12. Dr. Renato R. Mateo - City Health Officer
13. Mrs. Marilyn G. Martin - City Agriculturist
14. Mrs. Perlita B. Cabello - OIC, CSWD Officer
15. Engr. Manuel N. Aurelio - OIC, City Engineer
16. Dr. Arturo M. Cabello - City Veterinarian
17. Dr. Eliezer John P. Asuncion - Chief of Hospital
18. Mr. Jun Miguel - OIC, LCPMCC
19. Ms. Mylene Isabel A. Pascual - OIC, CENR Officer

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Appendix 2. Sanggunian Panlungsod

CITY VICE-MAYOR: Hon. Atty. VICENTITO M. LAZO

SANGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD MEMBERS

1. Hon. Juan Conrado A. Respicio

2. Hon. Roger John C. Fariñas II
3. Hon. Handy T. Lao
4. Hon. Justine Clarence G. Chua
5. Hon. Edison U. Chua
6. Hon. Derick B. Lao
7. Hon. Jason Bader Ll. Perera
8. Hon. Roque Benjamin C. Ablan
9. Hon. Jaybee G. Baquiran
10. Hon. Edison H. Bonoan
11. Hon. Mikee V. Fariñas (ABC)
12. Hon. Anzhelyka Faye Lao (SK)

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Appendix 3. City Planning Team (EO No. MMK-048 series of 2019)

PLANNING CORE GROUP

CPDC: EnP Ruby Ann R. Bunalade, OIC-CPDC

Planning Officer: Mrs. Esperanza S. Tamayo, Planning Officer IV
Project Development Officers: EnP Liberty A. Ros, PDO I
Engr. Esmeralda B. Antonio, PDO III
Economist: Mrs. Marie Michelle F. Streegan, Economist III
GIS Expert: Mr. Franz Reginald Felipe, Information Technology Officer
Engr. Gregory C. Bareng, Project Evaluation Officer I
DILG: Mrs. Janette P. Duarte, CLGOO
CDRRM: Dr. Melvin Medel D. Manuel, CDRRM Officer
LnB: Hon. Mikee V. Fariñas, President

SUPPORT GROUP

Technical Staff: Engr. Marishel B. Batuac, Engineer III

Engr. Joefray A. Salvador, Agricultural Technologist
Ms. Josephine Aldeon, Agricultural Technologist
SP Rep on Housing and Urban Development: Hon. Roque Benjamin C. Ablan,
Chairman
SP Rep on Zoning/Land Use: Atty. Juan Conrado A. Respicio II, Chairman on
Landed States
Dep. Ed. District Supervisor: Mr. Vilma D. Eda, CESO V, City Schools
Superintendent
CHO: Dr. Renato R. Mateo, City Health Officer
CSWDO: Mrs. Perlita B. Cabello,OIC-CSWDO
PNP Chief? Rep: PLTCOL Amdor Quiocho, Chief of Police
Youth Rep: Hon. Anzhelyka Faye T. Lao, SK Federated President
Real Estate Developer/Rep: Ms. Janette C. Belisario, Board of Director,
Philippine Association of Real Estate brokers, Inc. (PAREB)
City Treasurer: Mr. Arturo Diomedes B. Gayban, OIC-City Treasurer
City Budget Officer: Mrs. Nelda C. Casas, OIC-City Budget Officer
City Accountant: Mr. Ferdinand Quiroga, OIC- City Accountant

TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP (per sector)

Social Sector
1. Community Leader/Representative
Women: Ms. Marilyn Ramos, President
Senior Citizen: Mr. Alfredo E. Alba, Sr., President
PWD: Ms. Genevieve Arcangel, President

2. Liga ng mga Barangay: Brgy. Chairwoman Suzanne Bueno, Brgy. 3

3. Senior Citizen Rep: Mr. Ernesto S. Tamayo, OSCA
4. SP Rep: Hon. Jaybee G. Baquiran, Chairman, Committee on Health and
Public Sanitation
5. GAD Focal Person: Mrs. Mary Joan R. Pasigui, SWO III

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Economic Sector
1. City Agriculture: Mrs. Marilyn G. Martin, City Agriculturist
2. City Tourism: Mrs. Ana Carmela V. Remigio, Tourism Officer
3. Trade and Industry Office: Ms. Rosario Q. Quidola, OIC-Provincial
Director, DTI
4. SP Rep: Hon. Handy T. Lao, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,
Cooperative and Livelihood
Hon. Justine Clarence G. Chua, Chairman, Committee on
Trade, Commerce and Industry
5. TESDA Rep: Ms. Shirley S. Pascua, Supervising Specialist, TESDA
6. PESO Rep: Ms. Mylene Isabel A. Pascual
7. Business Sector Rep: Mr. Pastor Albano, Jr., PCCI President

Infrastructure/Physical and Special Ares Sector

1. City Engineer Office: Engr. Roy A. Tomas, City Engineer
2. INWD Rep: Engr. John Teodoro, INWD Manager
3. Electric Coop Rep: Engr. Felino Agdigos, INEC Manager
4. TeleCom Rep: SMART- Ms. Elaine B. De los Santos, Manager
GLOBE- Ms. Vina Lao, Manager
PLDT- Mr. Joel Torres, Manager
5. Irrigators Association Rep: Mr. Elpidio Lamug
6. PNP Rep: PCMS Ernesto Ramiscal
7. Academe: Mr. Marju Miguel, Education Program Supervisor, Dep. Ed.-
Laoag
8. Assessor: Engr. Ruben J. Domingo, City Assessor
Engr. George Dimalaluan, Asst. City Assessor
9. PPDO Rep: Engr. Pedro Agcaoili, PPD Officer
10. Urbanism: Arch. Rex Hofileña

Ecosystem/Climate & Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA)

1. CDRRMO: Ms. Erlinda V. Caspe, SAR Team member

2. LnB Rep: Dr. Noel Daquioag, Brgy. Chairman, Brgy. 52A, Laoag City
3. DENR Rep: Ms. Noemi Ruadap, CENRO

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Appendix 4. North Planners, Inc.

Dr. Gella Patria L. Abella, EnP

Project Team Leader
Ecosystem Sector Analyst
• BS Human Ecology, maj in Human
Settlements Planning - UPLB
• MS & PhD in Environmental Science -
UPLB
• Associate Professor, Central Luzon State
University
Arch. Maria Jorquesa A. Hakcholna, EnP
Project Team Member
Infrastructure Sector Analyst
• AB Architecture - University of Santo
Tomas
• MA Urban and Habitat Planning, Cum
Laude - Saint Louis University
• Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning
– SLU -on-going
Arch. Fatima Nicetas R. Alonzo, EnP.
Project Team Member
Special Areas Sector Analyst
• AB Architecture - Saint Louis
University
• Master of Architecture - University of
the Philippines, Diliman
• Ph.D. in Environmental Studies -
Miriam College on-going
• Dean, College of Architecture,
University of Northern Philippines,
Vigan City
Dr. Judith A. Teaño, EnP
Project Team Member
Economic Sector Analyst
• BS Agricultural Business - University of
the Philippines at Los Banos
• MS in Economics - De La Salle
University
• Phd in Economics - Ateneo de Manila
University
• Associate Professor, Central Luzon
State University

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Atty. Dick Fernandez, EnP

Project Team Member
Social Sector Analyst

• Bachelor of Science in Political Science,

Cum Laude
• Bachelor of Laws, Saint Louis
University
• Lawyer, Fernandez Law Office, San
Jose City, Nueva Ecija

Mr. Neal Vincent L. Fernando

Project Research Assistant

• BS in Environmental Science - Central

Luzon State University
• Research Interests:
Wildlife studies
Parasitology
Environmental Impact
Assessment
Traffic Impact Assessment
Land Use Planning
Mr. Ace Angelo A. Labuguen
Project Research Assistant

• BS in Environmental Science - Central

Luzon State University
• Research Studies:
Vulnerability Assessment in the
Municipality of Masinloc, Zambales
• Research interest:
• Disaster risk assessment
• Vulnerability assessment
• Environmental Impact
Assessment
• Land Use Planning

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Hon. Michael Marcos Keon and the North Planners, Inc.

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Appendix 5. Schedule of Activities for CLUP Preparation

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Appendix 6. Stakeholders’ Meeting/Public Consultation

1. Informal Sector

2. Education Sector

3. Business Sector

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4. Tourism Sector

5. Social Service Sector

6. Health Sector

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7. Barangay Sector

8. Institutional Group

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9. Infrastructure and Environmental Sector

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Appendix 7. Sample Attendance Sheet During Stakeholders Meeting/Public

Consultation

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Appendix 8. Technical Working Group and the North Planners, Inc. Meetings

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Appendix 9. Ocular Inspection

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Appendix 10. Biodiversity Assessment

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Appendix 11. List of Data and Data Source

Maps Source
Delineation of land management
units
Administrative boundary of City of CPDO, City of Laoag
Laoag
Land cover of the municipality CPDO
Soil type of the municipality DA-BAR
Slope of the municipality DA-BAR
Area covered by corals and CAO
mangrove
Data Source
Land use allocation
Land suitability classification
Crop requirements SYS, I. C., VAN RANST, E., &
DEBAVEYE, I. (1993). Land Evaluation .
In Part III: Crop Requirements.
Land qualities of soils of Carating, R., Galanta, R., & Bacatio, C.,
Laoag City (2014). The Soils of the Philippines.
Slope DA-BAR
Hazard susceptibility
Flood LIPAD
Landslide Project NOAH
Storm Surge Project NOAH
Tsunami DOST-PHIVOLCS
Earthquake DOST-PHIVOLCS
Exisiting land use City Planning Development Office,
Laoag City
Accessibility Road Map from City Engineering Office,
Laoag City
Total economic value of
agricultural land
Gross income of farmers City Agriculturist Office, Laoag City
Assessed value of land City Assessor’s Office
Total economic value of built-up
land
Gross income of commercial Business Permit and Licensing Office
establishment
Assessed value of residential City Assessor’s Office
and commercial lands
Disaster risk scores of the laoag city
Exposure City Social Welfare and Development
Office
City Agriculturist Office
City Engineering Office
Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Office
City Planning Development Office
City Health Office

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Data Source

Sensitivity City Social Welfare and Development

Office
City Agriculturist Office
City Engineering Office
City Planning Development Office
City Health Office

Adaptive Capacity Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Office
Constraints on land use allocation
Minimum residential area
requirement
2015 population and growth PSA, 2015
rate

Housing condition http://rsso11.psa.gov.ph/sites/default/

files/
attachments/Household%2C%20Numbe
r%20of%20Household%
2C%20avarage%20size%2C%20by%20m
un.pdf

Minimum production requirement

per crop
Per capita consumption City Agriculturist Office

Average production City Agriculturist Office

Water availability
Water consumption Ilocos Norte Water District

No. of commercial Business Permits and Licensing Office

establishments
Water supply Ilocos Norte Water District

Water consumption Ilocos Norte Water District

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Appendix 12. Data Encoding and Processing

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Appendix 13. Presentation of Initial Results to the LGU

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GOAL ACHIEVEMENT ANALYSIS

Among the different elements of the vision (Appendix 14), people of City
of Laoag put equal weights (0.28) on the people as society and the local economy.
Some stakeholders believed that when the local government takes care of the
people everything else will follow, whereas others believed that when the
economy of the local government is good, then all other aspects will follow.
However, the concern on the natural environment to make it sustainable, clean,
attractive and restored shortly followed having weighted score of 0.23. The built
environment which pertains to housing, buildings, roads, bridges and built
heritage also was not that far from the weighted score, in fact, it got 0.21.

Results of the Goal Achievement Matrix (GAM) Analysis during the

stakeholders’ meeting or public consultation reveal that among the alternative
development strategies, the people of City of Laoag prioritized environmental
protection which got an average total score of 9.24 (1). Stakeholders viewed that
all kinds of development should consider protection of the environment. It is
followed shortly by social development with 9.17. Agricultural development
ranked third with a score of 8.98, followed by tourism development with 8.94 and
lastly by commercial and industrial development with 8.65. It is noteworthy that
the scores of the different alternative strategies were not far from each other, which
implies that stakeholders want all these development strategies to happen in the
City of Laoag.

The results of this GAM analysis became the basis of the priority
development goals that were translated into the land use allocation model
processed in the multiple goal linear programming (MGLP).

SWOT ANALYSIS

Results of the SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and

Threats/Challenges) are presented in Appendices 16 to 19). These, and the sectoral
analysis, were the basis of the Objectives and Strategies of each sector.

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Appendix 14. Weights of the Different Elements of the Vision

Weight Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 Alternative 5

Environmental
Social Development Commercial and Protection (coastal,
(health, education, Tourism Industrial Agricultural rivers, forest,
VISION social welfare, peace & Development Development Development biodiversity)
100%
order) (Panangpatan- (Panangpatan- (Panangpatan-ay ti (Panangsaluad ti
(Panangpatan-ay ti ay ti Turismo) ay ti Komersio Agrikultura) Aglawlaw agraman
Kabibiag) ken Industria) nainsigudan ken dagiti
pasdek a tawid)
People as society (empowered, vigilant,
resilient)
Dagiti umili kas maysa a komunidad (naikkan ti 0.28 9.73 8.09 9.00 9.45 9.45
turay, natibker ken nadaras a makabangon, ammona ti
kalinteganna)
Local economy (sustainable, diversified,
environment-friendly)
0.28 9.09 9.55 9.82 9.91 9.45
Ekonomia ti lugar (agtultuloy, nadumaduma, saan
nga makadadael ti aglawlaw)
Natural environment (sustainable, clean,
attractive, restored)
0.23 9.09 9.18 6.64 8.64 10.00
Nainsigudan nga aglawlaw (agtultuloy,nadalus,
makapaguyugoy, naisubli ti dati a kondision)
Built environment- housing, buildings, roads,
bridges, built heritage (balanced, planned,
sustainable) 0.21 8.64 9.00 8.82 7.45 7.82
Amin a paset ti aglawlaw a nabangonan (balanse,
naplano, agtultuloy)

1.00

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Appendix 15. Goal Achievement Matrix

Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 Alternative 5

Environmental Protection
Social Development Commercial and
(coastal, rivers, forest,
(health, education, Tourism Industrial Agricultural
VISION biodiversity)
social welfare, peace & Development Development Development
(Panangsaluad ti
order) (Panangpatan-ay (Panangpatan-ay ti (Panangpatan-ay ti
Aglawlaw agraman
(Panangpatan-ay ti ti Turismo) Komersio ken Agrikultura)
nainsigudan ken dagiti
Kabibiag) Industria)
pasdek a tawid)
People as society (empowered, vigilant,
resilient)
Dagiti umili kas maysa a komunidad (naikkan ti 2.73 2.27 2.52 2.65 2.65
turay, natibker ken nadaras a makabangon, ammona ti
kalinteganna)
Local economy (sustainable, diversified,
environment-friendly)
Ekonomia ti lugar (agtultuloy, nadumaduma, saan
2.57 2.69 2.77 2.80 2.67
nga makadadael ti aglawlaw)
Natural environment (sustainable, clean,
attractive, restored)
Nainsigudan nga aglawlaw (agtultuloy,nadalus,
2.08 2.10 1.51 1.97 2.28
makapaguyugoy, naisubli ti dati a kondision)
Built environment- housing, buildings, roads,
bridges, built heritage (balanced, planned,
sustainable) 1.81 1.88 1.84 1.56 1.64
Amin a paset ti aglawlaw a nabangonan (balanse,
naplano, agtultuloy)

Average Total 9.17 8.94 8.65 8.98 9.24

Rank 2 4 5 3 1

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Appendix 16. SWOT Analysis of the Ecosystem Sector

INTERNAL
STRENGTHS (S) WEAKNESSES (W)
(Pagpigsaan) (Pakarigatan, Pagkapsutan)
o Observance of the code on Oplan dalus o Funding
o Enactment of city ordinances on o Lack of staff in ENRO
environment concerns
o Implementation of environment programs
SWOT (no use of single plastic, etc.)
ANALYSIS o Existence environmental measures-
Ecosystem Sector resolution/ordinances
o Existing environmental city officer
o Landfill concerns (location and
o Existence SWM Board implementation)
o Water sewerage/Canal system
o Increasing Environmental Awareness
concerns that cause flood
o Decreasing Population
o The status of environment is still good (Air&
Water)

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OPPORTUNITIES (O) SO Strategies WO Strategies

(Mabalin a pagsayaatan) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden)
o Support of the provincial o Provide awards to barangays and schools o Coordination among LGUs on
government on environment organization and individuals that/who the implementation of
programs display or implement excellent environmental programs
o Assistance of non-government environmental programs
organizations on programs on
EXTERNAL

environmental protection and

conservation

o Strong relationship with

o Establishment Brgy. Environment Officer o Realization of Sanitary Landfill
environmental sectors such NGAs,
o Additional Deputized Enforcer
DENR, NGO, PINAKBET Academe
o Maintain population growth & regulate in- of Environmental Code
migration

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THREATS (T)/CHALLENGES ST Strategies WT Strategies

(Pangta, Mabalin a pakadadaelan) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden)
o COVID-19 o Enhance conduct of orientation and training o Creation of special task force
o Natural Calamities on disaster and risk reduction management among units/zones on
(DRRM) prevention and reduction of
o Let the personnel and Barangay responders disaster and risks
to actively participate in all life-savings o Coordination among
activities government agencies and non-
EXTERNAL

government organizations for

joint programs on environment
o Participation and awareness of
every citizens in response to
natural and man made disaster

o Strengthen education campaign on

o Commercialization environmental protection Even/effective
o Land Conversion enforcement of laws (EIA for industries)
o Monitor land conversion
o Designate area for industries

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Appendix 17. SWOT Analysis of the Social Sector

INTERNAL
STRENGTHS (S) WEAKNESSES (W)
(Pagpigsaan) (Pakarigatan, Pagkapsutan)
(Barangay Sector) (Barangay Sector)
o Business District of the Province o Limited access to internet
o Available area for economic growth connection
o Limited space for economic base
expansion
o No federated civil society
organizations (CSOs)
SWOT o No federated Tanod
ANALYSIS
Social Sector (Education Sector) (Education Sector)
o Strong Leadership in the Organization o Ten (10) schools have weak
o ISO 9001:2015 Certified connections to internet in Schools
o Presence of skilled information and Division Office (SDO) of Laoag;
communications technology (ICT) human some students cannot access online
resources to provide assistance and learning modalities due to lack of
expertise internet connections
o Sufficient number of teachers o Lack of availability of
o Sufficient number of classrooms equipment/gadgets for Digital
Learning for both teachers and
students

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o Availability of water supply, toilets, and o Nine (9) schools are in need of
handwashing facilities to all schools additional standard facilities for
o Presence of Radio Station for alternative group handwashing
mode of instruction for learners who have o Seven (7) schools are situated in
no online access flood-prone areas
o Availability of Learning Resources: o Twenty-Six (26) classrooms still for
Outcome Based Education Learning connection to Electrical Grid
Resources which are most essential Power Supply
learning competencies (MELC) aligned o Teachers’ unfamiliarity with video
o Continuous Training of teachers and conferencing across different
SDOLC personnel with the trends in the platforms as prescribed by DepEd
New Normal (Microsoft teams, Google Meet and
o Each barangay has a day care center Workplace)
o Presence of a state university known as o Outdated/Insufficient copies of
Center of Excellence and with accredited MELC aligned materials, modules
programs, and private higher education and references in school libraries
institutions (HEIs) with accredited o Insufficient funds to sustain the
programs and ISO-certification Learning Alternative Delivery
o DepEd Division office as ISO-certified Modes
o Existence of pool of consultants on o No perfected agreement with
education stakeholders to support the
o Awards received by school administrators Learning Continuity Plan (printing
and faculty press, telco, radio, others)

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o Students and faculty-coaches/trainers as o Overlapping of senior high school

winners in various competitions in (SHS) track offerings of adjacent
different levels Senior High Schools
o Classrooms, laboratory rooms and other o Competition of course offerings
activity areas are adequate, spacious and among higher education
can be restructured in the observance of institutions (HEIs)
social distancing o Non-uniformity on transfer credits
o Updated trainings for teachers o Incomparable school fees between
o Presence of a laboratory school SUC and private HEIs
o Fast turn-over of faculty from
private to DepEd public schools
and the state universities and
colleges (SUC)
o Enrollment decreased during
pandemic
o Fast turnover of faculty and
personnel due to salary

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(Health Sector)
o Lack of budget
o Lack of medicine/medical
supplies
(Health Sector) o Lack of equipment/facilities
o Full support of city officials o Lack of doctors, specialists, nurses,
o Commitment of the hospital officials & and midwives
employees to work harder for the o Some programs are compromised
improvement of the operation of the because funds are re-aligned due
hospital to pandemic
o Competence of healthcare personnel; o Lack of protectives devices PPEs
physicians, nurses and midwives are during COVID pandemic
equipped with knowledge, attitude and
skills (KAS) through seminars in different
programs of DOH so we are able to
provide the services to our patients and
clients
o NGOs are helping in government projects

SO Strategies WO Strategies
OPPORTUNITIES (O)
(Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden)
(Mabalin a pagsayaatan)
(Barangay Sector) (Barangay Sector) (Barangay Sector)
o Strong CSOs o Provide incentives for barangay o Identify properties to be registered
EXTERNAL

o Presence of barangay associations stakeholders as heritage sites

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(Education Sector) (Education Sector) (Education Sector)

o Strong leadership of LGU officials, o Tap LGU leadership to convince o Tap LGU officials for support on
NGAs and other government telecommunications companies to provide internet connectivity and provision
agencies free airtime for radio-based instruction of materials/equipment needed
o Presence of private and free use of community channels for o Launch the “I’M SAFE NOW”
organizations/entities/individuals TV-based instructions, by invoking the project, Investing and Mobilizing
supportive to the cause of education existing laws that mandate such Support for Accessible and Future-
o Presence of Executive Order o Forge partnership for the reproduction of ready Education: A fundraising
mandating all Telecom companies to printing of available MELC aligned project for the installation of VSAT
provide services for free in times of learning resources. Satellite Communication System
emergencies as shared by USEC o Tap the LGU, NGAs, NGOs to provide for the schools with weak to no
Alain Del B. Pascua (EO 205 S. 1987 sanitation, disinfection supplies as well as internet connectivity
& NTC MC-04-08-88) maintenance and improvement of school o Request Internet Service Provider
o Presence of DILG Circular stating facilities (ISP) to install boosters to
the support that the LGU must o Partner with expert resource speakers to strengthen internet connectivity
provide to ensure implementation of ensure continuous upskilling of teachers o Implement the mandated activities
Learning Continuity Plan in line with the trends in the new normal of Brigada Eskwela (DM 053 s,
o Scholarship/fellowship grants from o Share resources among educational 2020)
CHED, DepEd, and TESDA institutions o Propose the construction of
o LGU subsidies and financial o Coordinate with drainage system and elevation of
assistance to faculty and students agencies/bodies/organizations that floor levels flood prone schools to
be funded through SEF

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o Additional provide o Follow-up the of Sub-Allotment

benefits/support/assistance from scholarship/fellowship/assistance and Release Order for the
the government for private schools o Collaborate among schools on moral Electrification Project of SDO
o Provisions of laptops and other enrichment/recovery programs Laoag City
technology gadgets for learning both o Roll-out the DepEd CO and RO
for teachers and students o Upgrade internet connectivity sponsored trainings on video
o Provisions of health materials to o Tap expertise of other experts from the conferencing platforms to teachers
mitigate the spread of diseases university to develop applications and o Utilize funds downloaded for the
(COVID, Dengue, etc.) software to be used for NEW normal reproduction of MELC aligned
o Facilitating the safety of school teaching-learning materials and source out
personnel and the students by o Tap expertise of other experts from the additional funding form other
providing medical assistance university to conduct teacher training stakeholders
o Availability of experts from the o Comply with the law (Executive
university Order) for the free airtime to
o Receiving overwhelming support deliver education to learners
from PTA and LGU o Review of policies on the track
offerings for SHS to focus on
school specialization
o Orient parents regarding the
strategy
o Prioritize granting scholarship
slots to schools with accredited
programs or international
certification

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o Create consortium among

educational institutions on
academic program offerings
o Increase financial subsidies to
faculty and students of private
schools
o Upgrade or purchase new laptop
for teachers for fast access to the
internet for additional learning
materials
o Spearhead orientation seminar for
parents/guardians especially in
guiding the studies of their
children especially regarding the
use of digital technology in
support to the delivery of
learnings
o Develop applications and software
for remote and blended learning
o Reach out to PTA and LGU for
other learning materials and
facility that the university cannot
provide such as, but not limited to
internet connectivity

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(Health Sector)
o Be efficient in using resources to
(Health Sector) lessen expenses
(Health Sector) o Encourage investors through a public o Provide the needed drugs &
o Laoag City Government Hospital private partnership in terms of logistic, by medicines, medical supplies,
(LCGH) good reputation providing equipment and medical hospital equipment
o Coordination of barangay health o Encourage visiting
supplies especially in the areas of
units and city health office, consultants/medicine specialists to
laboratory, radiology and dialysis units
especially during pandemic enter into agreement with LCGH
o Capacitate healthcare personnel by
o Financial support from the o Disseminate information on health
providing trainings
government and different protocols to avoid spread of
o Increase virtual medical conference
organizations/other private COVID-19
o Increase health workers
sectors/individuals o Provide additional incentives for
o Increase medical facilities & equipment
o Proper trainings of healthcare nutrition workers
o Increase barangay health units
workers o Allocate additional funds &
o Maintain cleanliness/orderliness
programs to solve malnutrition
o Maintain available transportation
o Open communication between the
o Provide additional benefits to all health
government and private sector in
workers
terms of health matters
o Prioritize health in budget
appropriation
o Network with other stakeholders
like IO’s, NGO’s
o Hire additional physicians, nurses,
and midwives to meet the ratio:
-1 Physician is to 20,000 population

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-1 nurse is to 10,000 population

-1 midwife is to 5,000 population
o Provide enough PPes during
pandemic
THREATS (T) SO Strategies WO Strategies
(Pangta, Mabalin a pakadadaelan) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden)
(Barangay Sector) (Barangay Sector) (Barangay Sector)
o Flooding o Integrated drainage system o Strengthen various sectors
o Illegal drugs o Strengthen P&O Councils
o Establish PNP Assistance Center

(Education Sector) (Education Sector) (Education Sector)

o Declaration of public health o Launch the “I’M SAFE NOW” project to o Initiate the Project ROOM 101: An
emergencies due to COVID-19 augment the resources provided by the initiative to provide free
pandemic resulting to demand in LGU offline/online tutorials for learners
internet connectivity to support o The DepEd thru the leadership of SDS, by teacher’s volunteers
online learning, decrease in initiated innovations towards learning o Establishment of VSAT Satellite
enrollment and possible decline in continuity to make education inclusive Communication System to support
revenue collection leading to the amidst the COVID-19 pandemic online learning to schools with
reduction of available resources o Revive, improve and upgrade the INCAT weak to no internet connectivity
o Hazards (especially during rainy Radio Station as a means to deliver Radio- o Secure memorandum of agreement
season) and other health threats based instruction and to provide (MOA) with stakeholders to
o Promising work outside Ilocos Norte instructional support to parents along provide instructional support for

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with teachers who may provide assistance distance learning not only to
to parent as needed teachers and learners but also to
o Assign skilled ICT human resources to parents
explore other possibilities to address o Follow health protocols
internet connectivity limitations o Formulate school’s guidelines
o Strengthen information dissemination regarding pandemic and natural
about COVID awareness through text calamities and other related
o Strengthen school stability occurrences
o Enhance linkage among schools with o Coordinate with barangay officials
LGUs on pandemic measures for the distribution of learning
o Ensure wide dissemination of information materials
from DOH and LGU o Further sustainable inter-
o Avail distance learning (offline or online) university as well as MMSU-LES-
including blended learning modality LGU-PTA linkages to minimize
o Provide additional financial support for physical mobility to avoid
students transmission of the disease
o Maintain strong collaboration among o Improve/strengthen the income
school, family and LGU especially in the
deliveries of learning materials
o Ensure active collaboration with the
University Health and Wellness Center
o Provide sustainable economic assistance to
parents such as hiring them as personnel
in IGPs and farms of the university

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o Remodel systematic plan and strategies on

how to overcome the problems/ issues
that cause low income to private
schools/educational institutions

(Health Sector)
(Health Sector)
(Health Sector) o Specific programs to address
o Provide additional funds for nutrition
o COVID-19 pandemic and other malnutrition
activities and other health programs
health risks which result overworked o Ensure safe and support for BNS
o Ensure that employee
health workers by providing adequate incentives
compensation/benefit should be ideal
& trainings
o Allocate designated quarantine/isolation
o Increase budget on medicine
facilities for COVID patients
o Increase allocation in health
o Continue advocacy on health issues &
prevention
concerns
o Empower business health workers
o Increase staying capacity
(BHWs)
o Provide additional training, remuneration,
o Provide enough PPE supplies for
benefits to healthcare workers
healthcare workers
o Involve adolescent and women of
o Follow health protocols
reproductive age to alleviate their well-
o Disseminate information on how
being on all the activities and programs on
to prevent spread of COVID-19
population management
and strengthen partnership with
o Observe policies set by the government
other stakeholders advocating
amidst covid-19 crisis
health awareness

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o Implement programs to ensure

welfare of adolescent and women
of reproductive age and to equip
them with knowledge about
reproductive health

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Appendix 18. SWOT Analysis of the Economic Sector

INTERNAL
STRENGTHS (S) WEAKNESSES (W)
(Pagpigsaan) (Pakarigatan, Pagkapsutan)
o Availability of areas for o High costs of aquaculture production inputs
aquaculture and low quality of fingerlings
o Wide fishing ground and rich o Overstocking of fish at the aquaculture
marine resources projects
o Existence of Mangrove Areas o Many fisherfolks shifted to fish caging
o Existence of Monroe Island o The mangrove project did not benefit many
o Regular coastal clean-up and recipients failed to sustainably operate
o Existence of Material Recovery the mangrove project
Facilities (MRF) o The Monroe Island is privately owned
o Availability of fish nurseries o Unregulated/Illegal fishing grounds and
SWOT
ANALYSIS o Suitability of areas for oyster practices
Economic Sector production o Lack of a sound and efficient solid waste
o Government agencies are management plan
supportive for livelihood projects o There are no sanctions for dumping wastes
o Existence of payao, fish cage and along riverbanks
fish nursery o Non-functioning MRF
o High amount of fish catches o Some owners of lot for the fish nursery are
o Existence of other Support reluctant to adopt oyster culture production
Services o Lack of adequate cold storage facilities

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o Existence of banks, financing o Aquaculture farmers have a lot of

and lending institutions uncollected payments
o Existence of Community Fish o Lack of some support services
Landing Center (CFLC) o High interest rates on loans and voluminous
o Availability of government paper requirements of lending institutions
agencies’ projects (BFAR, LGU Laoag) o Limited budget for livelihood projects and
in the form of facilities and equipment Coastal Resource Management (CRM)
such as fish aggregating device-payao, recipients
tuna hand lines, gillnets, and fish nets o Lack of trainings for CRM related capacity
o Availability of Trainings and building for fisherfolks
orientations on the latest o Some fisherfolks are not cooperative and
aquaculture technologies non-compliant to BFAR policies, laws and
o There are demonstrations for Food ordinances
Processing Operations o Some fisherfolks are not members of
o Full support of the DA by giving out Aquaculture associations
(plastic crates, flower inducers, o Negative values and traits
fertilizers, mango grafted seedlings, o Some farmers still practice traditional
and others) fishing
o Existence of Rural Based o Some fisherfolks are not aware of the
Organizations (RBO’s) such as policies and ordinances
CFARMC, RIC and 4H; members are o Ineffective implementation of policies and
receptive to skills trainings and ordinances on illegal fishing
educational programs o Some Aquaculture farmers/operators are
o Hardworking fisherfolks not yet registered with SEC/CDA

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o Laoagueños Practice Bayanihan o Not all members benefit from government

o Good Governance programs and other support
o Presence of fishery and o High cost of vehicle spare parts
environmental related policies and o Low Fare relative to operational costs
ordinances o Limitations on the roads that can be
o Annually, the Department of travelled and lack of parking spaces in the
Agriculture conduct project City of Laoag
interventions such as seeds (vegetable o High cost of fuel
seeds), and fertilizer (organic & o Lack of repair shops for Calesas
inorganic) provision o Lack of additional income for Calesa
o Active participation of all the operators/drivers
members o Limited & not enough to sustain all the
o Conduct of FFS to vegetable growers
areas. o Lack of efficient and adequate urban
o Organized SEC registered planning
tricycle drivers and operators’ o Limited commercial space/parking
associations areas/areas for business expansion
o Active participation of o Traffic/Congested Roads
constituents in the different programs o High rental gates for commercial spaces
of the City Government o Absence of recreational facilities & centers
o Organized DOLE and SEC o Lack of new/additional computerized
registered Calesa Associations system to the enhance city’s operations
under the supervision/monitoring of o Multiple lot owners
the Department of Agriculture and
Tourism

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o Active participation of all

members in the association’s programs
and activities
o Relatively efficient and adequate
road networks and alternate
routes (Diversion Roads) to
accommodate commuters
o Skilled Workforce
o Existence of an International and
Domestic airport
o The City is compliant with RA
11032, Ease of Doing Business Act
o Information Technology support
facilities are in place (internet
providers, utility providers, etc.) and
available within the vicinity of the
Bypass road
OPPORTUNITIES (O) SO Strategies WO Strategies
(Mabalin a pagsayaatan) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden)
o Establishment of fish ports o Enact and implemt o Issue and implement policies/ordinances
o There are still a lot of room to policies/ordinances o Strictly enforce coastal and environmental
EXTERNAL

grow for the tourism industry o Close Monitoring & Strict laws
o Existence of projects from Implementation of Fishery Laws o Create opportunities for partnership in the
BFAR and other agencies that CM program implementation
create livelihood to fisherfolks

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o Additional income of o Regular Monitoring & o Mobilize local and international financial
fisherfolks from fishery Establishment of partnership/ resources
projects & tourism industry networks Stakeholder capacity building on CM
o Presence of available market o Grow off-season high value o Collecting of membership fees annual fee
for agricultural produce vegetable to take advantage of high o Requesting free vegetable seeds (east west,
o High price of vegetables price rango, allied company)
o Conduct a vegetable derby to o Association to proposed subsidy on fuel and
during off-season
encourage the production of the best spare parts
o Existence of City Government varieties o Association to proposed additional roads
of Laoag support to various o Propose livelihood projects to for more passenger
farmers, fisherfolks, drivers various TODA/JODA and CODA o Association to proposed fare standards to
and operators associations (Calesa Operators and Drivers tourist
o Increasing number of tourists Association) o Association to propose higher fares
who hire tricycle for special o Provide loan assistance to specially tourist per for rent calesa
TODAs/JODAs and CODAs for a more o Association to propose more roads in the
trips at higher contract prices
presentable tricycles/jeepneys/calesas city available for calesa for tourist
There are livelihood projects with better features for tourists
from the DA, BFAR and o Collecting of membership fee & annual fee
o Associations to request for to all members
Tourism Department additional support from Agriculture
o Increasing number of tourists o Collecting of membership fee & annual fee
and Tourism Department for a more to all members
in the locality attractive tricycle, jeepney, calesa o Convert Idle Lands (Diversion Road) to
o There are markets for o Provision of farm facilities Commercial Areas
products equipment & agricultural machineries o Present cost and benefits analysis to the
o There are processing facilities o Request for farm machineries administration
for some commodities (hauling trucks, pover sprayer by the o Encourage future stakeholders and
o Mango is a focus commodity resolution to be submitted to DA). investors with a solid plan for a good
of HOCC o Invite businesses to invest in investment
Laoag City to cater to additional
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o Existence of Mango demands for products and services o Wide experienced/skilled employees to
Processing (for dried mango, which will be brought about by utilize existing machineries and equipment
mango wine & vinegar) developments in the area. This will
o Availability of job eventually spur job opportunities &
opportunities economic growth.
o Availability of new and o Allocate funds for the
computerized government acquisition of computerized
application system government application systems
o Newly constructed bypass o Enact an ordinance to convert an
road allows the development of a area to be developed as a modern
new, modern and technology- technology-based business district
based business district o Continuous provision of public
service from the efficient government
employees.
THREATS (T) SO Strategies WO Strategies
(Pangta, Mabalin a pakadadaelan) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden)
o Climate Change o Strengthen enforcement of o Strengthen flood action plan
o Water and Air Pollution and Coastal and Environmental Laws o Improvement of resilience and
increase of Solid Waste o Regular Monitoring & Establish natural defenses of the coastal and marine
partnership ecosystem services
o Waste generation of tourism
o Use of IPM, Physical, Chemical, o Implementation of pollution and
industry waves & breeding
Biological Control waste management programs
grounds of fishes o To high cost of fuel and spare parts
o Association to proposed subsidy
o Excessive use of chemicals and limited roads to travel with increasing
on fuel and spare parts
control taxi operating in the city, tricycle will soon
o Association to proposed more
o Continuous high cost of fuel be eliminated in the roads
additional in generating livelihood
and spare parts

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o Investors of taxi that treatens o Association to propose additional o Calesa will soon fade if there are limited
the tricycle in the city for hire livelihood projects to encourage roads, few shops and few next
o Calesa is fading out due to few more next generation kutseros generation kutseros
next generation kutseros o Association to propose subsidy to o Look for the assistance of DA, OA for
o Few and fading-out shops Calesa shops OA registration
who are repairing and o Linkages to government agencies o Inviting chemical company to
constructing calesa o Training of Farmers present their best products for controlling
o High cost of feeds and repairs o Attending trainings/workshops pest & seek a choice to them on how to
forum control pest
of Calesa
o Use of sticky trap (methyl eugenul) o Redesign urban planning to address
o Hiding of products
o Early flower inducing to prevent the problems in road congestion and
o High cost of OA registration
pest identify the threats on how to resolve
o Pest &Diseases o Attract investors to facilitate them
(Kurikong/Cecid fly) (no
business growth in Laoag City via o Implement all mitigation measures
chemical control)
o Traders dictates price putting up new businesses & o Encourage community participation in
o Oversupply of mango during maximizing the Idle Lands the development of the project
March-April that result to low o Institutionalize disaster recovery o The city government to
price which falls to 10.00 plan appropriate/allocate funds to acquire new
pesos/kg o Entice and work a good deal for lot machineries and equipment
o High labor cost owners
o High expenses cost o Utilize existing machineries and
o Excessive use of chemical equipment within the barangays
o Presence of competitors
outside the city (Commercial
Centers/Malls)

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o Expected return of investment

may be delayed caused by
force majeure.
o Lot ownership may not want
to sell or will ask for a high
price
o Insufficient funds to purchase
new machineries and equipment
o Economic crisis due to
pandemic

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Appendix 19.SWOT Analysis of the Infrastructure Sector

INTERNAL
STRENGTHS (S) WEAKNESSES (W)
(Pagpigsaan) (Pakarigatan, Pagkapsutan)
o Presence of Laoag Airport with feeder land o Old urban core road network is a high traffic
transportation lines. narrow road right of way which is constricted
o Abundance in electricity. by developments.
o Sand Dunes are natural tsunami barrier. o Lack of walkable, pedestrian friendly streets
o Presence of Eco-zone for industrial growth and lacking open public parks.
o Intact Heritage Core and some supportive o Lack of public restrooms.
tourism facilities. o Lack of urban vehicular parking areas
SWOT
o Presence of advance technological o Lacking domestic airline players, and no direct
ANALYSIS
Infrastructure Sector infrastructures and ICT international flights; No seaport; no wharf.
o Existing public transportations are lacking of
comfortability
o Weak drainage infrastructure and insufficient
wastewater treatment.
o Old buildings may not be structurally sound;
Lacks Built Heritage Protection Law to defined
character and identity, lacks image-ability and
ideal aesthetics.
o No Major MICE Infrastructure (Meetings,
Incentive, Conventions, Exhibits)

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o Tourism activities, decent nightlife, and

facilities, lacks competitiveness to entice
tourists to stay longer.
o Lack of LGU properties for a defined
government center complex;
o Laoag Public Market location no longer
conducive

OPPORTUNITIES (O) SO Strategies WO Strategies

(Mabalin a pagsayaatan) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden)
o Support of the provincial o Implement a pedestrian-friendly, Green and o Coordinate, create and implement a special
government on by-pass road Smart Avenue along the Airport Road and task force among units/zones an Integrate
o “New City” project for a the new By-pass Roads to present Laoag Route Rationalization Plan with walkable
Post- COVID livable city City’s Image-ability and Ilocano-Heritage. Superblock concept to realize a Green Network
(Green, Smart Healthy City) o Encourage Public-Private Partnership and Development in highly dense built-up areas.
EXTERNAL

o High level of foreign fund joint-venture projects on catalysts o Encourage “Home-town Staycation”, Home
supports developments. Town coming, and Retirement Village and
o Cordillera and Sierra Madre o Provide awards to barangays, organization, establish MICE facilities.
Mountain Range are natural and individuals that/who maintain excellent o Establish multi-village economic growth nodes
typhoon barrier. Materials Recovery Facility and Program. through walkable neighborhood start-up retail
o Political Will to pioneer an facilities
integrated Waste treatment o Improvement of Road-Right-Of-Way drainage
and Management System and utility systems at all road types
THREATS (T) ST Strategies WT Strategies
(Pangta, Mabalin a pakadadaelan) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden) (Ania ti mabalin nga aramiden)

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o COVID-19 o Create a River Esplanade at both sides of o Reinvent the city’s character and distinct
o Natural Calamities river easement. Minimum of 9 meters as identity (sense of place) to encourage leisure
o Cyclical Seismic threat 30-50 per National Building Code (NBC). and energizing walks.
years such as flooding o Monitor creek and irrigation easements o Enhance Heritage Structures for tourism
o Heavy siltation of Laoag and re-establish the minimum 3 meters sites to create employment opportunities for
river as per NBC. locals and in line with the national program
o Traffic Congestion o Require Environmental Management
for Balik-Probinsya
Plan and Traffic Impact Assessment for
o Coordination among government agencies
new developments.
and non-government organizations for joint
o Identify and establish Wharf and retail
programs on pocket public gardens, and
area for both locals and tourists, possibly
tree-planting with adopt a tree.
at Monroe Island or the delta.
o Participation and awareness of every
citizens in response to natural and man
made disaster

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