2 million fry for Western Pangasinan

The National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center in Dagupan City has committed two million bangus fry to help rehabilitate the bangus industry in Western Pangasinan that nearly collapsed as a result of the damage caused by Typhoon "Emong".

NFTDIC Chief Westly Rosario said he was authorized by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Malcolm Sarmiento to allocate two million fry for Western Pangasinan.

He said he will coordinate shortly with Mayor Alfonso Celeste of Bolinao and the BFAR regional office regarding the release of the fry.

The two million fry, he said, is on top of the 12 million fry earlier promised by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap to western Pangasinan.

Rosario said the two million fry was produced by the National Bangus Hatchery in Bonuan Binloc.

It's up for the mayors to distribute the fry to their respective constituents, Rosario said. - LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/06/21/2-million-fry-for-western-pangasinan/

Malunggay Roadshow and Information Caravan ed GK Bangusville

by Lanie Tomas

Taloran opisinay gobiernoy siudad na Dagupan so nantogyup parad nagawan Malunggay Roadshow and Information Caravan ed Gawad Kalinga (GK) Doña Josefa Samson Bangusville, barangay Bonuan Gueset, siudad na Dagupan, sano Hunyo 26, 2009, ongapod ala-sais na labi.

Ibangat na kabiangay City Agriculture Office so suston pantanem tan pan-asikaso na marunggay, legan ya say City Nutrition Office so manbangat na naalan nutrisyon ed pangan na bulong tan bunga na marunggay. Kaleganan ya say City Cooperative Office so man-plano no panon makapangilesa na trabaho tan makarumog na kaaroman ya inkam iray unresidentis ed GK Bangusville.

Onong ed kinen City Cooperative Officer Teddy Villamil, nepeg ya ibangat ed saray unresidentis ed GK Bangusville so importansya na marunggay lapud saya so primeron lugar ya apili na taloran kooperatiba ed siudad ya pantaneman na abitlan pising. 350 stem cuttings na marunggay so intanem dad abitlan pasen sanen Mayo 24 tan 25, tan diad kaplesan et mabila-bilay la so masulok duanlasos, legan ya saramay arom et nagawa so rehabilitasyon o nakaukolan dan uliten ya itanem pian mas marakep so ibulaslas daranya.

Saray akaprepara niran aktibidadis et pikabiangan na film showing, feeding program, tan say presentasyon na CNO na 101 ways to cook moringga (marunggay), kasompal et say pangipataway na inluto da.

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=553

City observes austerity measure

Money saved will help finance city’s rehabilitation efforts

In an effort to save government funds to help fully sustain the city’s rebuilding program in the barangays, Mayor Hernani A. Braganza recently initiated a timely belt-tightening measure.

Braganza has signed Executive Order No. 07 Series of 2009 which orders the deferment of all trips/travels outside the City of Alaminos pending the rehabilitation efforts of the city in all the typhoon devastated communities here.

The said executive order is addressed to all city government employees and city and barangays officials.

But as explicitly stated in the EO, there are still two important travels that are allowed by the city government.

First, if one will attend meetings to follow up and submit requirements for the accomplishment of Flagship Projects of the City. And second, to seek assistance from national offices and other agencies for the city’s rehabilitation efforts.

Other than the aforesaid purposes, concerned city employees or officials must seek first the mayor’s clearance before thinking of future trip locally or abroad.

In issuing said executive order, the mayor considered the extent of damage done by typhoon Emong last May 7, regarded as one of the worst disasters that ever hit the city in years.

Braganza said that with the devastation wrought by Emong, it will take some time, resources and efforts before everything will be restored in the city.

“Hence, we need to have a unified and concerted efforts and resources of the city and barangay government units to facilitate the completion of all these rehabilitation projects in all the affected areas in our city,” he added.

“As government official or civil servant, it’s our responsibility to exercise prudence and frugality by avoiding too often, needless and costly seminars, and conference, local trips and foreign travels,” the hardworking chief executive further pointed out.

Serving as a good example to his citymates, Braganza earlier cancelled his travel abroad upon the invitation of an international organization even if it will not cost him and the city a single centavo for the said official trip.

Instead, he’s here to run the affairs of the city and to personally oversee the massive rebuilding effort which is now in full swing in all affected barangays.

Starting last week, thousands of GI sheets and construction materials purchased by the city and those that were donated by generous entities are now being distributed to the typhoon victims.

Destroyed houses, barangay halls, centers, chapels and schools buildings are currently being reconstructed by the members and volunteers of Task Force Bayanihan and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel.

The mayor noted that are still so many things that need to be done in the barangay.

He then reiterated his appeal for help and assistance to his kabaleyan working and living in Metro Manila and anywhere in the world and other benevolent groups and friends of the city.

He also asked the support and assistance of the barangay leaders and his citymates “citing what ever aid the city is getting from national government agencies and Good Samaritans must be complemented by the city residents’ time, effort and commitment on working with them to rebuild their lives.”

And likewise, reciprocate their good deeds with their very warm reception, sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude for all their worthy gifts and contribution to the city.

Meanwhile, city administrator Wilmer Panabang also reminded all the city employees to save electricity by turning off the lights and computer during lunch break.

He also urged the shutting off of air-conditioning units and the use of government only to official and relevant trips to save tax payer’s money.

City Budget Officer Rowena Ruiz said by observing said austerity measure, the city government can save much money which can be spent better on high-impact projects such as this going reconstruction of houses for the homeless Alaminians.

She added that the executive order also covers field trips as well as seminars and conferences in far-off cities and provinces that need a huge sum for the registration fees and other incidental expenses. (CIO)

http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=521

Regional Center for disabled trains 100 a year

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City -- The Area I Vocational Rehabilitation Center here produces at least a hundred trained persons with disabilities (PWDs) every year, according to the center’s training superintendent.

Trainees, who come from as far as Cordillera and Cagayan can become successful masseurs or therapists, tailors, dressmakers or even musicians, said Elizabeth Manuel, who told the Pantongtongan Tayo radio program of the Philippine Information Agency over Radyo ng Bayan Tuesday that the center already produced many successful PWDs since it started operations 47 years ago or in 1962. "Di ko na mabilang kung ilan yong nag-graduate," she said when asked if she had the number of successful trainees.

The center, which caters to PWDs from Regions 1, 2, 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region, provides free training, billeting and a daily allowance of P75, Manuel said. She clarified that massage and reflexology courses are exclusive for the blind to prevent unfair competition.

Dagupan itself provides training for PWDs from the city, according to Josephine de Vera, who heads the PWD section of the city social welfare and development office. She said those aged 14 and below are enrolled at the Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center while the Training and Development Center caters for the young adults.

De Vera, herself a polio victim, said the training centers are being operated by the city in cooperation with the Kapatiran ng May Kapansanan sa Pilipinas, Inc. or Kampi. "Hindi pampulitika yan kundi samahan ng mga PWDs," she clarified in jest. She heads the regional Kampi board.

The two radio guests said that the main goal of the government training centers is to give opportunities to the PWDs to become productive and not a burden for their families or to the society. "Huwag nyo silang itago, bigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon na mabuhay ng normal," they said, calling out on the families of PWDs.

The country observes on July 17-23 the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation week with the theme "Tungo sa Katuparan ng Karapatan ng PWDs."

Several activities were lined up in the city thru the social welfare office and AVRC.

At least 10 percent of the population has mental or physical disabilities. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090624.htm&no=10

Young people lead Dagupan City hall

Dagupan City -- Starting today, young leaders take over city hall here.

The "Manlingcor ya Kalangweran" program in line with the 62nd Agew na Dagupan celebration, aims to increase awareness on good governance and active citizenship among the youth.

Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. said a healthy democracy needs committed and energetic young people to represent their peers and to get them involved. "As outstanding young people, they are an influential and credible source of youth perspectives on various issues in local governance," he said.

Fernandez said the Manlingcor ya Kalangweran project aims to build a critical mass of young leaders in Dagupan who will be trained as leaders in democratic governance processes.

He said the city recognizes that young leaders are an important constituency that requires further attention and investments to enable them to serve as more effective leaders for the future.

Councilor Farah Marie Decano, Agew na Dagupan event chairman, said the youth governance internship program helps build leadership values and capacities of the young leaders as it enhances their knowledge and skills in their various areas of expertise and influence.

"This serves as a leadership and citizenship program for young people in public and private schools. They will be exposed and trained on the concepts of citizenship, social development, research, and project planning – inputs necessary in coming up with proposals addressing different identified concerns," she added.

Mayor Fernandez said he believes young people will shine in this role and their positive attitude will help highlight the enormous contribution that young people play in making Dagupan City a vibrant place.

Kim Alexis Vidal of the University of Pangasinan High School Department and Eleazar Estrada of Dagupan City National Highschool will serve as little mayor and little vice mayor, respectively, along with ten councilors, two sectoral representatives, and 36 other appointed city department heads, who will serve on June 22–26.

To prepare the youth officials for the weeklong program, the City Schools Division and Councilor Decano initiated a training seminar covering wide range of topics, including values and work ethics, dynamics of leadership, introduction to local government operations, parliamentary procedure, development management and strategic planning last June 17 & 18 at the City Museum. (CIO/PIA-Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p090622.htm&no=11

Hundred Islands National Park


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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by klang2x (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ogsmeister/3465397412/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by pixelplated (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixelplated/3585329818/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by klang2x (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ogsmeister/3465397336/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by klang2x (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ogsmeister/3464582959/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Joebenick Badiola (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jobad/3577970300/)

Investors' confidence up in Sta. Barbara town

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City -- Investors' confidence is building up in the third district town of Sta. Barbara as shown by the entry of another bottling company, according to Mayor Reynaldo Velasco.

Velasco said RC Cola Bottling Company is constructing its plant in barangay Marunong along the road going to neighbor Malasiqui town. For several years now, La Tondena Distillers has been operating its plant in barangay Tebag, giving much-needed revenues for the municipality aside from employment opportunities for Pangasinenses especially residents of that town.

On concerns that pollution as a price for industrialization may eventually affect the town's river systems particularly the Sinucalan river which empties its waters to the Lingayen Gulf, the mayor said he was confident that agencies concerned like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources would have fully evaluated the plant's application for an environmental compliance certificate.

He also told the Engkwentro sa Lenox forum Tuesday that his administration would see to it that the plant complies with the ECC particularly on the requirement for the provision of water treatment facilities.

A retired police general, Velasco said he was using his connections and friendships developed over the years in getting projects and investments for his town, which has been reclassified first class. "Yon bale ang advantage ko over other mayors, puede akong dumiretso sating mga kaibigan," he said.

He also said that former military men like him can become effective administrators or managers. "Karamihan dyan may master's degrees, yong iba may doctorate pa tulad ko," he noted as he mentioned names of retiring police officers who used to work under him in the police organization and who are said to be eyeing political posts in the coming elections.

He said that his accomplishments in barely two years only proved that former men in uniform can effectively work for the benefit of their constituents. He cited the on-going rehabilitation of the town's irrigation system courtesy of the National Irrigation Administration and the Department of Agriculture and construction of school buildings and other facilities as best proof of his performance. "For the past 35 years pinabayaan nila yang irigasyon," he said. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p090616.htm&no=41

Typhoon Emong victims get fund assistance

Dagupan City -- The provincial government of Pangasinan under Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr, extended financial assistance to the victims of typhoon "Emong" in a simple ceremony yesterday at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center gym in Lingayen.

"Kami po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa ating gobernador sa kanyang taos-pusong pagtulong. Nang dahil po sa kanya, kami ay makapagsisimula ulit," Glenda Aspa, mother of three children from Anda who drowned during the wrath of typhoon "Emong" last May, said on behalf of all the beneficiaries.

Espino, in his speech, recalled how they rushed to the towns greatly devastated by the typhoon and saw for himself the damage it caused. "Naramdaman po natin kung ano ang hapdi, sakit at kalungkutan na namayani sa bawat isa na nasugatan, namatayan at nawalan ng bahay," he said.

"Ako po, sampu ng aking pamilya at ang buong provincial government, ay nakikiramay sa inyong lahat," the governor said at the end of his speech.

Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) Executive Officer Paterno Orduña pointed out the lessons learned from the tragedy. "Hindi po natin ninanais na magkaroon tayo ng mga kalamidad ngunit sadyang dumaraan po ang mga iyan kaya muli't muli ay nananawagan kami ng ibayong pag-iingat. Makinig po tayo sa mga tagubilin ng ating pamahalaan at mga otoridad pag may mga kalamidad na dumarating upang maiwasan natin ang disgrasya," he said.

On the other hand, Mayor Ruperto Martinez of Infanta also thanked the governor and the PDCC for facilitating the return of the fishermen from his town who got lost in the sea during the typhoon and extending financial and transportation assistance to them.

There were 44 persons from the towns of Agno, Bani, Malasiqui, Bolinao, Infanta, Lingayen, Mabini, Sta. Barbara and Alaminos City who lost their lives mostly from drowning and getting hit by falling debris. Their immediate families or relatives received P10,000 from the provincial government. (PIO/PIA-Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090624.htm&no=11

Pangasinan soon to open dialysis center

Dagupan City -- A dialysis center that will cater especially to indigent patients will soon open at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in barangay Bolingit in San Carlos City.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., who visited the facility last Saturday, sounded optimistic for its opening this month. "Within the month of June we will inaugurate our very own dialysis center," he said. The center was named after the late Mayor Julian "Jolly" Resuello, whose son, Julier, is now the city mayor.

The city government donated P15 million for the construction of the building that will house the dialysis machines, which were donated by the US-based Da Vita Corporation through its Bridge of Life Foundation. The 15 machines already arrived last Sunday, the governor disclosed.

Interestingly, Espino and Resuello, who accompanied the governor in the site visit, were celebrating their birthdays on that day.

The governor said that the provincial hospital will charge only a maximum fee of P3,000 per session, much lower than the P7,000 charged by private hospitals. "Sigurado akong di tataas ng P3,000 ang bayad sa dialysis," he said.

Da Vita originally pledged 12 machines but eventually sent three more.

Espino also bared that two more units were donated by a civic group from Bayambang town. Each machine, which can accommodate three to four patients a day, costs more than a million pesos.

It will be recalled that in his State of the Province Address, Espino said that health care would be the barometer of his success as governor.

The province has the highest number of enrollees with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in Region 1 including 140,000 indigent families. It is only second to Cebu nationwide. (DOS/PIA Pangasinan/PIO)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090623.htm&no=36

8,000 jobs open in 3-day jobs fair at Dagupan CSI City Mall June 21-23

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City -- More than 8,000 jobs await applicants at the three-day Job and Livelihood Fair at the CSI City Mall in barangay Lucao here, according to Regional Director Henry John Jalbuena of the Department of Labor and Employment.

In his message during the opening program yesterday morning, Jalbuena said that job opportunities abroad get the bulk of the vacancies with 5,189 openings. There are 2,183 local vacancies and 675 government openings.

Vice-Mayor Belen Fernandez, in her welcome address, said the jobs fair was held in conjunction with the 62nd Agew na Dagupan celebration. She said the CSI City Mall along with the other CSI stores in the city offer discounts under the Diskwento Plus program of the city, the Department of Trade and Industry and DOLE.

Aside from job placements, the fair also saw awarding of scholarship grants to deserving students under the One Town One Scholar (OTOS) program and launching of other programs to include student financial assistance, out of school youth achievers, outstanding community learning center, vocational rehabilitation for persons with disabilities, workers income augmentation, work entrepreneurship, youth entrepreneurship, and the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS).

Government agencies during the course of the three-day fair also extend their respective services to their clients. A seminar for business opportunities and a film showing on livelihood projects were also scheduled.

Jalbuena told a press conference later that Region 1 is an "employment gainer" because of the increase in the number of workers from 1.7 million in January 2008 to 1.8 million in January this year despite the onset of the global financial crisis. He said that only 208 workers were laid off in Region 1 including the 14 workers of the Amianan Motors. The rest were Overseas Filipino Workers from Taiwan.

He also lauded the efforts of some local government units to sponsor training programs like that one in Alcala town which already produced skilled welders some of whom are now working abroad.

The jobs fair here replicated the Mega Jobs and Livelihood Fair held last June 12 in San Fernando City in La Union and in various parts of the country as the nation on that day celebrated Independence Day. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p090622.htm&no=38

Agno river flood control projects completed next year - Esperon

by Danny O. Sagun

Dagupan City -- Presidential Management Staff Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. led Thursday inspection of the P4.12 billion Agno River Flood Control Project (ARFCP)-Phase II in Tarlac and Pangasinan.

Esperon, head of the Pro-Performance System Steering Committee, motored from Moncada town in Tarlac to Rosales and then to Alcala in Pangasinan to inspect three project components-the 6-kilometer Moncada-Sapang Provincial road and the Baquero Norte Evacuation Center in Moncada, and the Hector Mendoza Bridge in Alcala.

According to Esperon, the ARFCP Phase II involves river improvement works in the 23-kilometer Bayambang-Bautista-Alcala stretch of the Agno River extending from the Wawa Bridge in Bayambang to Alcala.

Major improvement works include the construction of the floodway to the Poponto Swamp retarding basin and closure dike at the floodway entrance, heightening of existing dike, construction of new dikes, revetment groin, and bridges.

The project aims to mitigate damages in the Agno river basin caused by recurrent flooding due to the insufficient carrying capacity of the river and the lack of height and width of existing earth dikes to cope with flooding, which has affected towns in Tarlac and Pangasinan since the 90s.

"Once completed, the project will provide relief to residents from recurrent flooding and reduce damages to crops, properties, and public facilities, and risk to people's lives," said Esperon.

"This will benefit the municipalities of Alcala, Bautista and Bayambang in Pangasinan and the municipalities of Paniqui and Moncada in Tarlac, including neighboring towns in Northern Luzon," he said, adding that "this will dramatically improve the lives of our people, including farmers, or our agri-businessmen, motorists and residents."

The project is broken down into four contract packages: 1) Contract Package I ( Bayambang Stretch and Floodway) - Construction of floodway to the Poponto River Basin and river improvement works from Bayambang to Alcala; 2) Contract Package II (Guide Channel to Bayambang) - Construction of Guide Channel to Bayambang; 3) Contract Package III (Social Development for Poponto Retarding Basin) - Construction of 24 evacuation centers and the heightening of provincial and barangay roads; and 4) Contract Package IV (Hector Mendoza Bridge in Alcala, Pangasinan)-Construction of the 1.02-km, 2 lane reinforced concrete deck girder (RCDG) on Bored Piles and RC piers.

The Moncada-Sapang Provincial Road and the Baquero Norte Evacuation Center are part of Package III, while the Hector Mendoza Bridge is part of Package IV. Packages I, III and IV are already complete. Package II is nearing completion with 70.1% accomplished.

The Moncada-Sapang Provincial Road, costing P68.9 million, was turned-over to the Provincial Government of Tarlac in 2006. It traverses four (4) barangays, namely Camangaan West, Baquero Norte, Baquero Sur and Sapang. With its construction, the provincial road now enables the transport of farm products all-year round and provides easy access for the residents of the said barangays.

The Baquero North Evacuation Center, a two-storey building with total project cost of P8.2 million, was constructed in 2004, The evacuation center, which can accommodate more than 500 people, now houses the barangay hall and is being used as a multi-purpose building by barangay residents.

On the other hand, the Hector Mendoza Bridge, costing P995 million, was inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004.

Over-all the Agno River Flood Control Project Phase II is targeted for completion early next year.

"We are conducting on-site inspections and meeting with various stakeholders to make sure that our priority infrastructure projects are implemented on the ground with utmost efficiency, transparency and effectiveness," said Esperon, a former Armed Forces chief staff.

"We will do what needs to be done to meet our targets. With 2010 just around the corner, we are now working triple time to ensure that the projects are implemented, completed and operationalized as scheduled," added Esperon.

Joining Esperon in the project inspection are Pro-Performance Team members Caritas Manila Executive Director Fr. Anton Pascual (religious sector), National Youth Commission Chairman Richard Nalupta (youth), Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) Executive Director Atty. Monina Camacho representing ULAP President Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr. (local governments), and Jonathan Decena of the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) representing Manila Broadcasting Company President and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Vice President Ruperto Nicdao, Jr. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090619.htm&no=36

Mahogany trees delay Agno Flood Control Project

ALCALA– Malacañang has stepped into the controversy over construction of a right of way for Phase 2 of the big Agno River Flood Control Project (ARFCP) in Pangasinan.

In the middle of the controversy are thousands of mahogany trees planted smack in the middle of the planned right of way by private landowners.

The refusal of landowners to yield to government pleas effectively stopped the construction of the channel thus further delaying the completion of the whole project. Worse, the completed phase is beginning to suffer from negative slippage.

Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. of the Presidential Management Staff has stepped in to help resolve the impasse after inspecting Package II of Phase 2 of the big Agno River Flood Control Project (ARFCP) on Thursday.

Package II project, costing P1.5 billion, involves the construction of a closure dike and approach channel located in Barangay Laoac West, Alcala.

A report of the Department of Public Works and Highways showed that Package II is already suffering negative slippage in its construction mainly due to the unresolved problem of the right of way.

Although the closure dike as well as the approach channel is nearing completion, the refusal of landowners to sell their land where the channel will cut through on its way to the Agno River prevents government from proceeding.

The landowners who planted some 10,000 or more fully grown mahogany trees on a land that would be traversed by the channel are demanding payment of from P6,000 to P7,000 per tree, aside from the value of their land.

Esperon scheduled a meeting on June 24 at the Alcala municipal hall among all stakeholders, namely: the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd, the landowners and their lawyer and the municipal government of Alcala led by Mayor Manuel Collado.

Philip Menez of the DPWH accused the landowners of bad faith because the landowners started planting mahogany trees at an unusual spacing of just a few inches just about the same time the DPWH started Package II project, knowing fully well where the channel will be built.

Mayor Manuel Collado, a lawyer, echoed Menez's lament noting the unusual spacing of the trees.

The Korean engineers of Daewoo said the landowners even put snakes in the tree plantation area and barricaded the whole place to ward them off.

The funding came from part of the multi-billion peso loan extended to the Philippine government by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that also funded ARFCP's Phase I which was already completed.

Expropriation proceedings have reportedly been filed by the DPWH on the properties but no early date of the resolution was seen.

Meanwhile, Esperon noted that the court already issued a writ of possession in favor of the DPWH which means that that the government can already enter the property even if the landowners have not been compensated. - LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/06/22/mahogany-trees-delay-agno-flood-control-project

City honor’s first-ever gold medalist in Palaro

Another promising young athlete of the city was honored by the Alaminos City government for his amazing feat in the national stage.

Albert Jay T. Callejo, gold medalist in high jump-elementary level in the recently concluded Palarong Pambansa held in Tacloban City, Leyte was recognized during last Monday’s flag raising ceremony.

http://hundredislands.ph/photos/PalaroGoldMedal1.jpg

Callejo, a fresh graduate of Victoria Elementary School and an incoming freshmen student of Telbang National High School here, was warmly received and applauded by the city hall employees when he was finally introduced to his citymates.

City administrator Wilmer S. Panabang then handed Callejo his P 6,000 cash incentive for winning the gold medal for Alaminos City Division.

http://hundredislands.ph/photos/PalaroGoldMedal2.jpg

Panabang congratulated the city’s pride for capturing the lone medal in the said annual sporting event.

“Callejo brought honors to his city which will definitely serve as an inspiration to his fellow athletes and citymates who also dream big and work really hard to attain it,” said the city administrator who spoke in behalf of the city mayor.

“This young man deserves all the accolades from our city, his school and our city division and also the emulation of his co-athletes for putting up a gallant and creditable performance,” he added.


Despite being downed by flu-like symptoms for a day due to erratic weather condition, it was reported that 13-year old son of a fisherman in the coastal village of Victoria here managed to pull-off a major upset.

City’s athletics trainer Rubelyn Esperanzate recalled seeing Callejo, still visibly weak, praying when he visited him to check his condition hours before the finals in long jump.

“He was sweating profusely (due to the medicines given to him) but he is in high spirit and determined to compete.”

Callejo confessed that being in Palaro is a dream-come-through.

“I worked hard and sacrificed a lot for this important day and not even my illness could stop me from playing,” he said.

“When I heard from Sir Art (Viray-education supervisor for MAPEH and head of the city’s delegation) and coach Rub that I’m the last man standing (in our division), I prayed really hard to God to guide and help me in the finals.”

“I really wanted to win this one for our city and for our beloved Mayor Hernani A. Braganza who had been very supportive to us young athletes.”

And he did scored an earth-shaking upset at the expense of powerhouse teams from Northern Mindanao.

Prior to his debut in the Palaro, Callejo bagged gold medals in his favorite event, long jump and the 4 x 400 meter realy in the 2009 Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) Meet held in Dagupan City last January.

He also snared two golds in 4 x 100 meter relay and 400-meter dash.

In last year’s edition of Milo Little Olympics held in Lingayen, Pangasinan, Callejo helped Telbang Elementary School (TES) win 10 golds, 6 silvers and 2 bronzes all in athletics. (CIO)

http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=520

Pigaran Dagupeños, Pinagalangan nen Agew na Dagupan

by Lanie Tomas

Pinagalangan so pigaran Dagupeños ed agawan selebrasyon na 62nd Agew na Dagupan sanen Hunyo 20, 2009 ed City Astrodome.

Onong ed kinen Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., manepeg labat lan pagamoran na pagalang irayan Dagupeños lapud sikara so mansisilbin biskeg tan kaantabay ed manpapatuloy ya pakakagamor na aliguas na pinablin Dagupan.

Si Atty. Cornelia Español na barangay Bonuan Boquig so apilin Most Outstanding Senior Citizen koneksyon ed pambibirbir na andi-sawa ton pitutulong ed kapara to tan diad kommunidad ya anggapoy alagaren ton tumang.

Ontan met, say Most Oustanding Person with Disability et si Al Randy Solitario na barangay Bonuan Gueset, tan wala met so impreparan citation award parad sikara di Felipe Siapno (senior citizen) tan Josephine de Vera (person with disability).

Pigara met ya empleyadoy gobiernoy siudad so pinagalangan ed agawan selebrasyon ed pangiiter da na matonong tan suston serbisyo publiko, iloloob tan isasabi na suston oras ed opisina tan wala met so inkonsideran puntos nilirad inpan-rate ed sikara na mangidadauloy kulaen dan opisina.

Say Best in Internal Client Service awardee et si Jonnafel Radovan na City Accounting Office, legan ya si Angela Basto na City Treasurer’s Office so Best in External Client Service awardee.

Si Dr. Evelyn Dy na City Health Office so apilin Outstanding Health Worker, Francisca Sanggalang bilang Outstanding Community Worker tan si Michael Mejia so Outstanding Traffic Enforcer.

Initdan na plaque so amin ya awardees, ontan met iray finalists. Saraya so dimmalan ed malet ya inpan-sapit na kabiangay Evaluation and Search Committee ya indauloan na kabiangay Active Learning Team tan Monitoring Team na siudad.

Kaleganan tonya, wala met so sertipikasyon ya pamagalang parad
kinen Barangay Health Workers o BHW Dagupan City Federation President Roberta Biason ya impawit na The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency – Regional Search Committee chairperson ya si Director Leonardo Quitos, Jr.

Si Biason so regional nominee parad 2008 National Search for Oustanding Volunteers – Individual Adult Category.

Pinagamoran na pagalang so presidenti na pederasyon na BHW koneksyon ed boluntaryo ton pantratrabaho ed dasig na health education and nutrition care, ontan met ed promosyon na volunteerism parad iyaliguas na komunidad.

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=552

Manlingkor ya Kalangweran, Onakto larad Posisyon

Posted by Lanie Tomas

Say masakbay ya pangiwanwan ed saray kalangweran bilang ikokonsideran sekder tan ilalo na baley et baleg lan tulong pian natangguyor irayan ipatuloy tan inspirasyon da metla ed piogagep dan magmaliw ya lideres kasabi na suston panaon.

Tinibokel tan impasa na saray kabiangan na Sangguniang Panlungsod so Resolution Number 6383 o mangidedeklaran say Hunyo 22 anggad 26, 2009 bilang Boys and Girls Week ed siudad na Dagupan.

Koneksyon tonya, pimmasilong ed duaran agew ya inpanpasal tan lektyur iray pigaran estudyante manlapod nanduroman eskwelaan ed siudad bilang parte na pangilunsay Manlingkor ya Kalangweran o saray kalangweran ya public servant. Saraya so temporaryon onsalat bilang opisyalis tan mangidaulo na nanduroman departamento ed siudad manlapod Hunyo 22 anggad Hunyo 25.

Agawa so inpanpasal tan lektyur na saray 46 ya eskwela sanen Hunyo 17 anggad 18, 2009 ed city museum. Pinan-aralan da so nipaakar ed Values and Work Ethics, Dynamics of Leadership, Introduction to Local Government Operation, Parliamentary Procedure, Young Leaders in Focus tan Challenge Towards Development Management, ontan met so Strategic Planning.

Say Manlingkor ya Kalangweran so kabiangan na selebrasyon na kuma-62 taon na Dagupan ya walay tema ya “Itanduro, Pinablin Dagupan.”

Say event chair na Agew na Dagupan natan a taon et si Konsehala Farah Marie Decano, diad pitutulungan na Department of Education o DepEd.

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=550

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2357739516_a4878c8555.jpg?v=0
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Cedric Valera (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cedsaid/2357739516/in/set-72157604279467236/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2190/2356904291_c5c8491291.jpg?v=0
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Cedric Valera (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cedsaid/2356904291/in/set-72157604279467236/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/2357739334_d85499c67c.jpg?v=0
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Cedric Valera (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cedsaid/2357739334/in/set-72157604279467236/)

Jaded newshen calls Dagupan City as a 'never give up' metropolis

DAGUPAN CITY — Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid, a respected lady journalist, educator and social scientist attributed the continuing success of her own city, Dagupan, to the “never give up” attitude of its people.

Braid said the resiliency, flexibility, courage, resolve and tenacity of Dagupenos to face all odds were the reasons for Dagupan’s on-going progress.

Braid talked during the 62nd Charter Anniversary of Dagupan City on June 20 (Saturday).

Dagupan became a chartered city when President Manuel Roxas signed into law Republic Act 147 on June 20, 1947.

Speaker Eugenio Perez, a foremost son of Pangasinan, filed the charter bill in Congress.

Dr. Braid lauded the city for its many noteworthy achievements in many fields owing to the innovative governance of the duo -- Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez.

Braid said Dagupan is called the Most Business Friendly Local Government Unit.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry gave this honor to the city.

The Asian Institute of Management Policy Center also called Dagupan as a Highly Competitive City.

The Information Communications Technology (ICT) lauded Dagupan as one of the Next Wave Cities of the Philippines.

The United Nations Strategies for Disaster Reduction honored the city as a Global Model on Disaster Reduction.

Dagupan, likewise, is acclaimed as the Bangus Capital of the World, because of milkfish, one of the tastiest fishes in the world.

Braid recalled that when an intensity 7.7 earthquake struck Dagupan on July 11, 1990, many tangible support systems were destroyed and there was call for the transfer of Dagupan as it was reportedly sinking at that time.

Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., former house speaker, ignored that call and instead stood fast on their ground while awaiting the all-out rehabilitation of their beloved city.

Congress allocated Php10 billion for the rehabilitation of the city during the term of then President Corazon Cojuanco Aquino.

Dagupan was beefed up and soon was developed as today's one of the richest cities in Central Luzon.

“The city is strong because our barangays are strong and as Mayor Al (Fernandez) noted, because it is a child-friendly city,” said Dr. Braid.

She observed that in the city, decisions are made always in the best interest of the children which, she added, is a recognition that “we cannot build a city or a nation unless we take care of our human resources.”

“Dagupan has been that way and continues to give primacy to education and culture – the two areas of development that address the critical problems today—poverty, corruption, and deterioration of moral values,” Braid said.

As a native born Dagupena, she witnessed how the former town of Dagupan evolved into a city.

Braid disclosed she was very much impressed on the city’s comprehensive development program.

She said the program was put up, because of the partnership in governance between the Dagupan City officials and the non-government organizations (NGOs).

She said this effective approach is anchored on the Millenium Development Goals, namely: poverty reduction, food security and productivity, environmental protection and conservation, a right-based approach for all especially the disabled, the elderly and marginalized. (PNA)

http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Jaded_newshen_calls_Dagupan_City_as_a_never_give_up_metropolis.shtml

Pangasinense wins ASEAN Chess Tournament in Vietnam

ROSALES, Pangasinan, -- A grade four pupil of the Rosales North Central School here did her town and country proud anew when she won a gold, three silver and one bronze medals in the 10th ASEAN Age Group Chess Championship held June 6-10 in Hue, Vietnam.

The nine-year old girl chess prodigy is Samantha Glo Revita, whose latest feat just increased her medal harvests from various international competitions to 18.

She already hauled three gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals in different tournaments held in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Turkey. The girl already saw action in eight international chess classics.

Samantha is the daughter of Sammy Revita, an engineer; and Gloria Revita, a public school teacher. Her uncle, Ricardo Revita, is the town mayor of Rosales.

The girl has consistently won in the National Age Group Chess Championship since 2006, qualifying her to represent the country in many international competitions.

In the recent Vietnam tournament, the Revita girl won the gold for her individual performance, three silver in the team competition, and a bronze for another individual performance.

Her father Sammy said each time her daughter comes home with new medals, she is given a heroine’s welcome through a parade around the Poblacion area and a recognition program in her honor.

Samantha not only shines in chess but also in academics as she is a consistent valedictorian since kindergarten.

Engineer Revita admitted he was the one who honed her daughter in chess with his wife Gloria taking care of the academic side.

In an interview, Samantha said she is proud of what she has achieved so far and urged other young people like her to believe in their own capabilities for them to succeed in any endeavor.

Samantha will again see action in the World Youth Chess Championship on November 11 to 23 this year in Antalya, Turkey. (PNA)

http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Sports_28/Pangasinense_wins_ASEAN_Chess_Tournament_in_Vietnam.shtml

Construction of Dagupan Seafood Processing Plant to really start on July 1

DAGUPAN CITY — An official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has confirmed that the construction of the Dagupan City Seafood Processing Plant is really due to start on July 1.

Westly Rosario, chief of the BFAR’s National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC), said if the start of the construction of the project would be postponed to a later date, the project project might not be finished in December.

The time frame was agreed upon during a meeting here and in Manila by Dagupan City officials, representatives of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and himself.

The project would be constructed by a Korean contractor who won the bidding of the project in Seoul with the aid of a local contractor.

‘If we delay the start of the construction, there is fear the target date of completion of the project might not be met,” Rosario said.

The groundbreaking rite for the proposed project was attended by Korean Ambassador Choi Joong Keung, along with Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. of the Fourth District of Pangasinan last month.

Rosario said with December as the deadline for the project, the Koreans expressed their willingness to work even 24 hours a day just to finish the project within the time frame.

This explains why a team from the city government, accompanied by policemen, went to sitio Russia in Bonuan Binloc on Monday as the date for the start of the construction of the project now nears.

Rosario said there were 12 of the 65 squatter families in sitio Russia who have so far volunteered to be relocated to the Gawad Kalinga-Bangusville II as of Monday.

There were 53 other families that are set to be relocated from the area.

The city government, in order to entice squatters in sitio Russia to move out, built Gawad Kalinga-Bangusville II in sitio Korea, Bonuan Binloc which is comprised of 65 row houses.

Those who will voluntarily move to the relocation site would be given a house and lot for free. The village was provided with amenities, like electricity and running potable water.
The city government had given all the demands of the squatters of sitio Russia and yet some of them still refuse to move out, raising speculations they were being brainwashed by big squatters of public land not far from their village. (PNA)

http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Construction_of_Dagupan_Seafood_Processing_Plant_to_really_start_on_July_1.shtml

NFA sets up 32 buying stations

To facilitate buying of palay from farmers, the National Food Authority (NFA) has 32 more stationary buying stations in Pangasinan to procure palay from farmers.

The NFA is buying clean and dry palay from farmers at a rate of P17 per kilogram, plus a procurement incentive fee of 70 centavos per kilogram if the seller is a member of a farmers' cooperative and 40 centavos if the sellers are individual farmers.

The 70 centavo incentive fee is broken down as follows: 30 centavos per kilogram as cooperative development incentive fee, 20 centavos per kilogram as delivery incentive fee and 20 centavos per kilogram as drying incentive fee.

De Guzman also announced that the NFA will provide express lanes for palay deliveries of 50 bags or less and will intensify the fielding of mobile procurement teams, especially in harvest areas.

The agency will also assign additional trucks to collect and pick up palay stocks in collection centers if needed.—LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/06/14/nfa-sets-up-32-buying-stations/

Calasiao Children's Chorus gets P1M assistance

LINGAYEN—The Pangasinan Provincial Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PPEMCO) and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan led by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., handed over on Wednesday P1 million as cash assistance to the Calasiao Children's Chorus for its bid to win a prestigious international competition.

The local children choir will represent the country in the Korean Open Competition and First World Choir Championship International - children category - to be held in South Korea from July 7 to 17 next month.

The cash donation came from the proceeds of the recently-concluded "Bingo Caravan sa Pangasinan" conducted by the cooperative of the provincial government.

The young choral group, founded in 2005, is composed of youngsters’ ages ranging from 7 to 16, residing in the town of Calasiao. PIO

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/06/21/calasiao-childrens-chorus-gets-p1m-assistance/

Street Children, Imbangat na Good Grooming tan Swimming Strokes

by Lanie Tomas

Nakaukolan ya naaralan ya maong na saray street children o ogogaw ya liber-liber ed karsada so pan-asikaso na sarili da lapud dakerakel la natan so onlelesan klase sakit.

Nen Hunyo 22, 2009 et imbangat nen City Health Officer Dr. Leonard Carbonell iray street children nilirad dugan pan-asikaso na pisikal tan abig-laman daranya.

Onong ed kinen Marge Navata, Executive Assistant tan mangidadaulo na Children at Risk Protective Unit, naralan na saray ogogaw so dugan pan-uras na lima, panlinis na kuko, importansya na inagew-agew ya pan-ames tan siningbat da met iray masustansyan naakan. Wala met so anti-lice activity, deworming o inpampurga tan feeding program.

Likod ed City Health Office et kaantabay da met ed sarayan programa parad street children so Innerwheel Club of Dagupan City ed panangidaulo nen firstlady Elmina Fernandez.

Simmublay met si Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Carlos Alipio Fernandez ya nanbangat na swimming strokes ed saray street children.
Say ogaw ya Fernandez so kabkabat ya kampeon ed dasig na panlangoy, aliwa labat lan diad bansa no agta ontan met ed intiron mundo.

Manisia si Fernandez ya diad panamegley na pampursigi na sarayan ogogaw ya manpasal ed dasig na panlangoy et walay ontombok ed sikato o kapara ton Dagupeño ya manlibit tan mangibantog ed siudad na Dagupan ed biek taew.

Onabet ed 30 ya street children so manprapraktis natan na panlalangoy, likod nid pampapasal da na dance sport.

Kabansag tonya et angipasabi na pasasalamat si Navata ed saray opisyalis na barangay laot laray kakapitanes ya manpapatuloy ya unsusuportad implementasyon na saray proyekto tan programa na siudad parad saray children at risk ya pikabiangan na Barangay Uno, Poblacion Oeste, Herrero Perez, Pantal tan Mayombo.

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=555

Kiwanis, Rotary Club also reach-out to Emong victims

Alaminos City-Two more local chapters of global and non-government organizations have been very responsive to the appeal of Mayor Hernani A. Braganza for help by raising funds and implementing their own disaster-relief program for the benefit of the victims of typhoon Emong here.

The Kiwanis Club of Hundred Islands (KCHI) and the Rotary Club of Hundred Islands Rotary Club (RCHI) conducted separate distribution of food supplies and other important donations to three barangays that suffered the most damage from the deadly storm.

In the coastal barangay of Cayucay, KCHI headed by its charter president-Engr. Fausto Lopez handed relief goods and packs iodized salt to more than 200 homeless residents here last June 6.

The group also conducted supplemental feeding to the school children and likewise distributed hundreds of tooth paste, tooth brush and soaps.

Also on the same day, Kiwanis Club of Alaminos City led by Engr. Generoso Sison distributed bags of rice and grocery items at the Don Leopoldo Sison Auditorium to select families of barangays Pogo, Poblacion (sitio Dampay), Amandiego, Tangcarang, Polo and Baley-daan.

The said distribution of relief goods by both clubs was witnessed by Division I Lt. Gov. Minnie Caburnay and the officer and members of KC Golden West Bani who also spearheaded a relief operation in barangay Ranom Iloco in Bani town.

Caburnay, according to Lopez, helped him follow-up KCHI’s request for assistance for Alaminos from KC Royal Grant (Division 3-D), KC Sumbrero, KC Princess Urduja, KC Dagupeña, KC Aliguas Progressive, Kiwanian Naty Soriano KC Bangus Pandaragupan & KC Amputi Layag.

“These simple gifts to our citymates is our club’s commitment to the city government’s on going efforts to provide direct aid to the typhoon affected families,” said Lopez.

On the other hand, the RCHI headed by Atty. Henry Onia, the club president, has likewise able to raise cash donations amounting to more than P 62, 000 for the ‘Emong’ victims.

Onia disclosed that the financial assistance amounting P 17, 500 came from RC Paranaque Southwest. While, delegates of the Rotary Club’s District Assembly 2009 held in Makati City last month through the initiative of Smiling Visionary Gov. Sid Garcia collected another P17, 500.

Other donations came from RC Mallaca, Rt. Goefrey Little of Australia, RC Waling-waling of Davao City, Rt. Raul Siabal of RC San Pablo City South, Rt. Teresita Peralta Cai of Dela La Salle University.

The financial assistance is currently being used in the repair of a classroom in Landoc Elementary School and construction of toilets in other affected schools in the city.

“We are expecting more cash donations from our sister clubs and other chapters and we hope to receive the assistance very soon so that we could continue in extending our fair share in the Braganza administration’s rebuilding program for the typhoon affected communities in our city,” stressed Onia.

He revealed that part of RCHI’s plan is to help finance the repair or reconstruction of more school buildings in the city which were second or third on the priority lists of DepEd and the city government.

Aside from cash donation, Onia said that their club also received assistance from Rotary ShelterBox.

Eight ShelterBoxes arrived in the city just recently and were subsequently delivered by RCHI to the intended beneficiaries in barangays Pangapisan, Mona, and Bued. Shelterboxes were also distributed in Bani, Bolinao and Anda, according to Onia.

ShelterBox Response Personnel visited the city last month to assess the damage and to determine whether the beneficiaries are entitled to receive Shelter Boxes.
In a club meeting of the Hundred Islands Rotary, SRP Team Leader Peter Pearse and Lyndon Tumblyn explained how they were sent to the Philippines to help the victims of typhoon Emong.

Rotarian Tom Henderson of the Helston-Lizard Rotary Club in Cornwall, England conceived and introduced the ShelterBox in 2000. which was described as “a simple package of aid delivered to the most needy people in the shortest amount of time."

Designed to help an extended family survive for a minimum of six months, the lightweight, weatherproof box contains items such as a10-person tent, blankets, basic tools, water-purification tablets, a compact stove, mosquito nets, and other items tailored to the particular region in crisis.

Our eight citymates are very fortunate to be among of the recipients of the ShelterBoxes which costs approximately 1000 Australian dollars or roughly P34, 000 each, said Onia.

ShelterBoxes are said to be not for sale. It is only distributed for free to the victims of natural disasters anywhere in the world.

The Shelter Box organization had responded to more than 70 disasters in 46 countries, aiding more than a half-million victims.

It was learned that Tom''s ShelterBox was regarded as the best disaster relief tool the international relief agency Feed the Children have seen in their 20 years of experience.

For their utmost concern, effort and initiative of sharing their resources to their typhoon affected citymates, Mayor Braganza extended his heartfelt thanks to the KC- Hundred Islands and KC-Alaminos City and Rotary Club of Hundred Islands.

“These gifts are very timely, said the mayor. These will help our constituents rebuild their lives.”

Though Alaminos was spared a direct hit by Emong, the damage was still devastating and considered as the costliest typhoon to hit the city as evidenced by thousands of houses blown-away, government facilities, infrastructures and agricultural crops destroyed and worst it claimed three lives.

Alaminos though is starting to get back on its feet thanks largely to the overwhelming response and the outpouring of support and assistance to the city by generous entities and modern day Good Samaritans.

The city will always remember your good deeds and may the Almighty God reciprocate your selfless contributions.(CIO)

http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=522

Alaminos Job Fair hires many jobseekers

This job fair had indeed helped address the high rate of unemployment in this part of the country.

Thus said Provincial Board Member Danilo B. Dizon while numerous unemployed went job-shopping for hundreds of assorted job vacancies presented by at least 30 multinational corporations and employment agencies during the job fair held at this city''s DLS Auditorium last June 17.

The said job fair is a joint project of BM Dizon and Mayor Hernani A. Braganza with the cooperation of the Provincial Government, Vice Mayor Teofilo G. Humilde, Jr. and all the city councilors.

Dizon said coordinating agencies that they have invited also did their roles remarkably such as PESO, POEA, DOLE, SSS and OWWA.

According to the 3rd-termer provincial solon, there were 1, 156 registered applicants and 145 of them immediately qualified for overseas employement, 23 were hired on the spot and almost 400 are still undergoing final interview.

For local employment, 6 applicants were immediately hired, 175 are for final interview, 85 persons just need to submit documentary requirement and more than 100 are undergoing training, orientation and examinations.

Dizon then cited the all-out support of the city government, the city council and people’s organizations which indeed contributed a lot to the success of said activity.

“We likewise appreciate the time and effort of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Hundred Islands, Rotary Club of Hundred Islands and Kiwanis Club of Hundred Islands in assisting the job applicants.”

“We are hoping and praying that more of our job applicants will hurdle the tests and interviews and eventually get hired,” said Braganza upon receiving the summary report of the jobs fair.

“I even heard from BM Dizon that even college undergraduates were hired as call center agents, factory workers, technicians, hotel and hospital personnel here and abroad since opportunities were plentiful,” added the dynamic city chief executive.

Nejemias Racho, city information officer and PESO Manager of Alaminos said a couple of employment agencies even sought for the extension of recruitment for two more days.

“We informed our beloved mayor (Braganza) about this and he quickly offered the city hall’s lobby as the venue of their recruitment activity knowing that this will benefit more job seekers in the city and from other towns in the district who missed the jobs fair or who failed to qualify in their initial tries,” he added.

City Councilor and over-all job fair coordinator Carol Dizon-Sison said job seekers who could not find desired vacant positions that they desire to fill-in at the job shopping area sought the help of the Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) and they were provided with the lists.

The management staff of Philippine Overseas Employment Agencies (POEA) was also present to ensure the legitimacy of all job placement agencies to prevent any fraudulent job hiring.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment Office (DOLE) saw to it there were no registration fees or other unnecessary charges imposed on job applicants.

While, the Social Security System (SSS) drummed up membership, provided SSS numbers to those who were interested and answered the queries of the current members which regards to their claims, benefits and other issues and concerns.

Sison, added that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administrations (OWWA) were likewise very accommodating and assisted Filipino workers abroad and their families with their problems.

“This job fair did not only provide employment to applicants, more importantly, it reminded our workers of their rights and privileges and were assisted on their job-related problems by our very accommodating government agencies, noted the SP committee chair on Labor, Trade and Industry, OFW.

The overseas recruitment agencies that participated are as follows: United Global Agencies ManPower Resources, EastWest Placement Center, Gold & Green Manpower, Mgt.& Dev’t Services, Neostar Int’l Manpower Services, JS Contract, D. A. Rodrigo Int’l, International Experts forTechnical Support Services Inc. ( IETSSI), Altima Manpower Agency Inc., Asian Konstruct, ABC Manpower Agency, Ascend Int’l Services, Mothers Way Overseas Manpower Specialist Eyequest Int’l Manpower Services, Kabayan ko Overseas Manpower Placement, Seven Ocean International Manpower Corp.

The local companies that did their direct hiring are: St Joseph Drug Store, People 2 Outsource, AMA CLC, OBC Assessment & Learning Center, Kolin Phils. Int’l, PR4 Gas Marketing, Magic Appliances Center, Aimstaff, North Asia Academy, Willito Joy’s Enterprise, Smart Wireless, FTH Family Trade House Corp. (CIO)

http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=523

SCCP to safeguard cash flow disbursement

BY DANLOR HIDALGO

San Carlos City-The local government of San Carlos City is now planning to implement special measures that would safe guard Cash flow and cash disbursements in order to protect the coffer of the city.

In a radio interview Mayor Julier Resuello said that whenever the city government has to withdraw cash from its depository bank the city government would used the secured withdrawal system which will make used of the armored van that will be provided by the security service of the Bank.

Resuello admitted that the city government would have to scrutinized the documents that has something to do with cash transactions including cash disbursements of both petty cash and huge amount of money

If it would require some arrangements between the bank and signatories of cheques for double check up purposes then we will do kit. This is aside from the documents purse which most banks require.

The Mayor admitted that this is another setback in his leadership but just the same the truth will prevail and believes that this will only proved that despite serious injuries for the local government under his term a democratic bureaucratic exist in the city that is just but equal to being just.

It will be recalled that the city government has lost Nine Million Pesos as reported by the city disbursing officer Leny Fermin in an alleged hold-up incident last March 31 and was only reported on the 18th of May this year and is now being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation

http://pangasinantoday.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/sccp-to-safeguard-cash-flow-disbursement/#more-612

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Private firm to elevate flood-prone school

BY DANLOR HIDALGO

DAGUPAN CITY- The CSI group of companies and the Jimmy Fernandez Foundation headed by City Vice Mayor Belen T. Fernadez are helping the East Central Elementary School in elevating the school ground above the flood level.

The flood prone school dilemma was learned after School principal Socorro Dimalanta reported to Fernandez that frequent class suspension had resulted in poor academic performance of the pupils despite the make-up classes during Saturdays to achieve the required number of school days.

Vice mayor Belen Fernandez said that the school, located in Barangay Mayombo, is often flooded during the rainy season and even during high tide in the adjacent Pantal River, thus often resulting in the automatic suspension of classes.

Such, Fernandez noted the drop in the attendance of pupils and many already transferred to other schools.

Dimalanta also said they suspended classes in the school for three months last year after typhoon Cosme.

The principal believed that elevating the school premises to at least one foot will solve the flooding problem.

It was learned that the Jimmy Fernandez Foundation, the CSI Group of Companies and the vice mayor’s friends and supporters, consistently support the “Brigada Eskwela” with the East Central Elementary School as one of the identified priority schools.

Corollary to this, the Dagupan City council passed a resolution requesting the local school board to allocate funds from its annual budget for the construction, repair and maintenance of various schools in the city.

Under the Local Government Code, local school boards are allotted a Special Education Fund from one percent of the real property tax collection which is primarily intended for the improvement and development of school facilities.

“What we really care about in the City Council is to ensure that our children can learn under the best environment possible,” Fernandez said, justifying the reason of the council in passing Resolution No. 4509.

According to Fernandez, the resolution was passed after she conducted an ocular inspection and found that there are classrooms in public elementary and secondary schools that are unfit for occupancy.

Other schools lack rooms to accommodate the increased enrollment this school year.

http://pangasinantoday.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/private-firm-to-elevate-flood-prone-school/#more-591

http://www.musica-mundi.com/fileadmin/template/root/global_gfx/logo_gfx/WCC-ACG.GIF

The Calasiao Children’s Chorus will represent the Philippines in the Korean Open Competition and First World Choir Championship International – children category. This will be held on July 7 to 17, 2009.



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Pangasinan Medley - Calasiao Children's Chorus

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Cordillera Soundscape - Calasiao Children's Chorus

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Kruhay - Calasiao Children's Chorus

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Laudi Alla Virgine Maria - Calasiao Children's Chorus

Pangasinan now number one in PhilHealth enrolment in RP

DAGUPAN CITY -- Pangasinan now ranks number one local government unit (LGU) throughout the country in terms of enrollment under the sponsored program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Dr. Leo Douglas Cardona, PhilHealth regional director, said that Pangasinan, with 185,229 families enrolled, outpaced previous front-running Bukidnon in the number of families enrolled under the sponsored program.

Bukidnon, the previous leader in PhilHealth enrollment had only 164,000 families enrolled under the sponsored program.

Pangasinan’s enrollment under the sponsored program constitutes 89 percent of the target or four percent higher than the target coverage of 85 per cent, which must be achieved to be considered universally covered.

All the other provinces in the region, like Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union are also universally covered, said Cardona, thanking LGUs for sponsoring indigents whose members cannot afford to pay their hospital bills whenever they get sick.

Cardona said that the entire Ilocos Region has 94 percent enrollment and among the few regions in the entire country with high coverage.

Region 1, he said, is better than Region III because while the latter’s other provinces are universally covered, Nueva Ecija is not.

Region IV, according to Cardona, is universally covered but the province of Quezon is not.

The provincial government headed by Governor Amado Espino Jr. is also actively involved in providing PhilHealth coverage to indigents so that these families need not worry much when they are hospitalized if they get sick.

“This sponsored program is the concerted efforts of everybody. So, I salute all officials who all worked together to give their constituents the benefit of PhilHealth,” he added. (PNA) FFC/LVM

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=213611

'One College Graduate in Every Home' pushed in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY -- Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Presidential Management Staff chief, is pushing a novel advocacy called "one college graduate in every home."

He bared this advocacy on Wednesday in "Engkwentro sa Lenox" forum organized by the Pangasinan Press Club headed by Allan Sison.

"My vision is to have a college graduate in every home", Esperon said, adding that if this can be realized, each family -- especially in the rural areas -- will have a better chance to survive in this time of economic crisis," he said.

In pushing this advocacy, Esperon asked: "Was it not a tricycle driver's daughter who topped the bar examinations last year?"

He said he is confident that every other Filipino family can do this and can produce not only lawyers but other professionals if they work hard and save.

"In other words, if we put ourselves in focus of graduating our children from college, we can do it," he said.

He said families will have a better advantage in this challenging times if at least there is one college graduate in every home.

During in his rounds of the Ilocano-dominated sixth district of Pangasinan, Esperon noticed that families now have more than one college graduates.

He said the "One Town, One Scholar" initiated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo can achieve the dream of rural families to have one or more graduates in every home.

The "One Town, One Scholar" is a project of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Local Government Units (LGUs) for deserving but poor college graduates in every town, he said. (PNA) FFC/LVM/rma

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=213705

UK-based firm signs P27-B biomass contract with 3 power firms

MANILA (PNA) -- United Kingdom-based Global Biomass PLC Corporation (GBC) has signed three biomass supply contracts that will generate P27 billion direct and indirect economic benefits for a 25-year period.

GBC signed supply contracts with Green Power Panay Philippines, Inc., Green Power Nueva Ecija Philippines, Inc. and Green Power Pangasinan Philippines, Inc.

The three companies are developing each a 15 megawatt biomass power plant in their respective locations.

The biomass supply contracts will provide biomass that is derived from farm wastes such as corn and rice straw, sugar cane waste and other agricultural residues.

"The injection of cash into the local community over the 25-year life of each biomass supply contract can be as much as, or even exceed 9 Billion Pesos through biomass and ancillary services supply such as transport, storage and biomass fuel preparation". Gordon Thomson, Chief Financial Officer of Global Biomass PLC Corporation said.

"This is exactly what will happen at the Municipality of Mina in Iloilo, Panay where Green Power Panay Philippines Inc., have based their 15-megawatt biomass power plant.

The biomass plant has signed 25-year electricity supply contracts with "A" rated electric cooperatives Ileco 1 and Ileco 2 in Iloilo.

According to GBC these wastes are currently burnt in the field or left to rot causing methane, a Green House Gas that significantly contributes towards Climate Change.

The effects of Climate Change are widely held responsible for the increasing severity of global weather patterns that are adversely affecting the Philippines archipelago as evidenced by the devastation caused Typhoon Frank in 2008.

"It is very encouraging that the Philippine Government, and especially the Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture are reacting quickly and positively to support renewable energy projects that address climate change whilst helping our farming communities. We must all work together to deliver programs that bring renewable energy to the Philippines at the same time as delivering measurable, positive impacts to our poorer, developing communities. Such projects have the potential to uplift lives whilst providing tangible, solid opportunities. Filipinos are hard working, innovative and entrepreneurial; they just need to be presented the opportunity to use their skills and to be treated fairly," Maribeth de Montaigne Global Biomass PLC Corporation Director of Social Programs and Poverty Alleviation stated.

Global Biomass PLC delivers tremendous socio-economic development through their local Philippine operations by delivering an estimated 900 direct and indirect jobs per contracted biomass plants.

Global Biomass PLC Corporation is a Philippine company that is invested by the UK Company Global Biomass PLC. (PNA)
DCT/MSN

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=3&rid=213846

Steps to meet recession now in place - Esperon

DAGUPAN CITY (PNA) — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo did not stop in making ways and means to cushion the impact of the recession in the Philippines predicted to hit the country soon.

Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr., chief of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), reported the President's move in the face of the prediction of world bodies that the economy of the country would contract by one percent this year, resulting in recession or zero growth rate.

Esperon said many steps were undertaken to ensure that the economy will not be hit hard by recession if it does come.

Esperon talked with newsmen Wednesday at Lenox Hotel in Dagupan City during a press conference put up by the Pangasiman Press Club.

“Upon realization that the global economic crisis is indeed reaching our shores, even worse than we had predicted, the President ordered the adoption of measures that could prevent further contraction or recession of the economy,” Esperon said.

The President ordered the front-loading of infrastructure development projects with a specific directive that all infrastructure programs must be bid out during the first semester of the current year, he disclosed.

According to Esperon, as per the directive of Mrs. Arroyo, up to 60 percent of these infrastructure projects were expected to have been bid out by March this year.

He said that while the government undertook pump-priming and front-loading, it at the same time asked the private sector to contribute to what is called the stimulus fund of P100 billion on a 50-50 sharing basis with the government.

Also, he cited the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Project (CLEEP) designed to provide emergency employment to unemployed citizens, some of whom were laid off from work here and abroad.

The CLEEP, he said, was meant to employ or re-employ those who had been laid off from jobs here and abroad when employers reduced their workers due to the heightening global economic crisis.

Esperon was designated by President Arroyo as CLEEP steward for the fifth and sixth districts of Pangasinan, aside from being Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) of the Ilocos region.

He told newsmen that all these strategies were designed specifically to push or get more investments into the country, among them business processing and outsourcing.

Meanwhile, defending the trips of the President to Korea, Japan, Brazil and other countries, Esperon said these were designed not only to promote friendly relationship between the Philippines and those countries but also to invite more investors that can open jobs and help stimulate the economy. (PNA) LAP/wi/Lvm/lvmicua/rma

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=213540

The Medical City returns to profitability despite seeing fewer patients

CHERYL M. ARCIBAL, GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines - The Medical City (TMC) turned around last year, registering profits as revenues improved, even though it treated fewer patients.

Net income reached P434.4 million in 2008 from losses of P410.8 million last year as gross profits rose by nearly a third from P941.15 million to P1.228 billion, TMC reported.

TMC, which manages the hospital of the same name, is on track to meet its earnings target for this year, the company said.

For the first four months of the year, the hospital's revenues amounted to P1.1 billion, 10-percent higher than results reported during January to April last year.

However, patients checking into the hospital have dropped by three-percent.

Fewer patients have decided to seek treatment because the current crisis may have forced them to “cut back on medical-related expenses," said Benita Macalagay, senior vice president for Finance & Administrative Services Group.

Patients with specialized needs – those with heart ailments and stricken with cancer – only go to the hospital for their treatment.

Despite fewer patients, TMC is planning to expand in the near term.

It is eyeing to establish a “secondary or a tertiary hospital" in Dagupan. It will also be partnering with a Tagaytay resort for wellness and medical tourism.

The proposed facility will offer “massages, acupuncture and other related services," said Margaret Bengzon, head of the TMC Strategic Services Group.

Although business has been steady, Bengzon admitted that attrition rates for related medical services such as pharmacists and medical technicians are high.

“We have noticed lesser turnover rate for nurses especially after the US stopped recruiting nurses from overseas," she said.

TMC also plans to build nine satellite clinics and complete the hospital's second tower in its main campus in Pasig City.

TMC will be spending between P200 million and P300 million for the “tertiary hospital" or a major hospital in Dagupan next year and will allot P240 million for the 12 TMC branches this year.

Satellite clinics usually occupy between 180 square meters to 600 square meters. Most of the TMC's satellite clinics are also located in major malls. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/164996/The-Medical-City-returns-to-profitability-despite-seeing-fewer-patients

Dagupan official laments conversion of fishponds to commercial lands

By Venus H. Sarmiento

Dagupan City -- Fishponds being converted into agricultural or residential lands earned the ire of a top officer of the city government here.

City Planning and Development Officer Romeo Rosario, in an interview at the 'Pantongtongan Tayo' radio program of the Philippine Information Agency aired live over DZMQ Radyo ng Bayan, lamented the conversion of fishponds to agricultural, residential and commercial spaces.

"Most of our bodies of water like the fishponds are hastily converted into business establishments and it saddens me why the proponents of conversion are doing these," Rosario said.

Rosario also noted that the contractors of the commercial spaces are being issued permits for their digging and raising of grade activities in what used to be the home of fishes and other aquatic resources.

Marlyn Banda of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, who was also present at the radio program, explained that the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) is not a permit but rather a certificate that presents the conditionalities in construction to avoid any negative impact of the activity to the environment and to the public.

Banda added that an ECC cannot be issued to an applicant if the requirements are not met. Such requirements include an endorsement from the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Barangay and a zonal clearance.

When Rosario asked about cases of those doing their dumping at night so as not to be seen and those that do not have permits for conversion, Banda explained that if this happens, the contractors will be penalized. A cease and desist order, she said, will be issued by the Environmental Management Bureau against the erring landowner. (PIA-Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090617.htm&no=40

Wow....Allan Dude.. that's a big effort in uploading all these news. I never thought that Calasiao can produce such a good children's choir (tiplis?)

Anyways, many thanks for the update.

Thread:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=887250

^^ and a nice thread you got there too...:colgate:

^ Thanks capricorn2000! There's a lot of things happening in Pangasinan recently and I think not all Pangasinan [people] are aware. Just wanna share the news with you guys. Hopefully, there is something that we can talk about here.

The kids in Calasiao are amazing! I got goosebumps especially when they sang the Pangasinan medley. Now I'm searching for " Lupang Hinirang" in Pangasinan [language]. PSU Bayambang Choir did the rendition in our town fiesta and it's beautiful!

BTW, great pictures you have! :)

Pangasinan, now a global model in health insurance

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan --The province of Pangasinan can serve as a global model for universal health insurance of indigent families.

In a letter sent to Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., PhilHealth senior manager for marketing and collection department Walter R. Bacareza expressed the desire of PhilHealth to chronicle the remarkable feat of the province that has resulted to 100 percent coverage of indigent constituents to PhilHealth.

“With this effort, we will be able to keep a record of the accomplishments of your province, which can serve as model and inspiration for other desiring provinces that have not yet accomplished the same feat,” Bacareza said in his letter.

Bacareza also said that Pangasinan’s good practice would be published in book form and distributed worldwide.

The launching of the book, he said, would serve as highlight of the 15th year anniversary of PhilHealth on Feb. 14, 2010.

Based on the benchmark of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID), Pangasinan should enroll 140,000 indigents to PhilHealth to reach the 100 percent universal coverage.

However, barely before the second year administration of Gov. Espino, Pangasinan has now enrolled 185,789 indigent families ,or 132.71 percent more than the benchmark as of May 31.

The number includes those enrolled in Dagupan, which is separate from Pangasinan being a chartered city.

The sponsors of the PhilHealth card are: Provincial Government, 96,762; other LGUs, 40,782 and other institutions, 37,786.

Another 15,000 PhilHealth cards, sponsored by the province, are now being processed, to bring its total count to 111,762 and 200,789 if other sponsors are included.

With an average of five members per family, over one million Pangasinenses can now avail of PhilHealth benefits.

According to Provincial Population Officer Luzviminda N. Muego, this was the first time that the province had enrolled a large volume of indigents.

The previous provincial administration, in partnership with other LGUs, had enrolled no more than 6,000 indigent families in a year.

The true status of the indigents was identified through the Living Standard Survey (LSS), a tool designed by the USAID. (PNA)
RMA/lvm/lvmicua/0700/rma

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=7&rid=214140

thanks allan and pi malejana for your comments on my thread.

yeah, the calasiao children's chorus' rendition of the pangasinan medley made me nostalgic, though I only know "nanrosas so kapasulan". well, i'm hoping to hear them sing "malinak la'y labi", "balo ya limmesa, gunigoy pagew ko...."santo tomas mapalar ka" and other pangasinan songs.

your posting # 769 really made me sad. sana i-maintain nila yong fishpond which is a source of income.I fear na hindi magtatagal, yong mga fishponds that are near the de Venecia road will become commercialized.

Thread:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=887250

your posting # 769 really made me sad. sana i-maintain nila yong fishpond which is a source of income.I fear na hindi magtatagal, yong mga fishponds that are near the de Venecia road will become commercialized. There's no more room for expansion in Dagupan CDB except reclaiming adjacent fishponds next to the newly built highway (Dawel-Pantal Area). For me, maong labat ya walay development tan para ed employment, mayamay angapo'y trabaho natan. Fishpond operators are the only one benefiting from the industry. Majority of the bangus stocks sold in Dagupan Markets comes from Binmaley, Lingayen and the western corridor. As long as sustainable tan they can maintain the aquaculture heritage pati may quality na Bonuan Bangus, ayos lan walaray fishponds ya ma convert.

DSWD extends P1.5-M in housing assistance to Alaminos City

By Lilia M. Micua

ALAMINOS CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended a total of P1.535 million in housing assistance to 746 families here who lost their houses due to super typhoon "Emong" that lashed out last May 7.

Officials of DSWD Regional Field Office 1 in San Fernando City, La Union personally handed out the cash assistance to the beneficiaries at the Don Leopoldo Sison Auditorium here.

Claudia Barcelona, chief of operations division and representative of DSWD Regional Director Leonardo Reynoso, said a total of P1.106 million was awarded to 317 families whose houses were totally destroyed by the typhoon.

The beneficiaries received P3,500 each under the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) program of the DSWD.

Mayor Hernani Braganza urged the beneficiaries to use their money in buying construction materials in rebuilding their destroyed houses.

On the other hand, a total of P429,000 was given to 429 families whose houses were partially damaged under DSWD's Cash For Work (CFW) program.

Barcelona explained that CFW is a program that provides cash/food to disaster victims in exchange for their services or involvement in the rehabilitation of their communities.

DSWD gave P180 per day for a maximum of three days to typhoon victims as their temporary source of income while repairing their own houses.

It was learned that other typhoon victims in the first district of the province also received assistance from DSWD through its ESA and CFW programs.

City social welfare and development officer Imelda Ruiz disclosed that 23 out of 39 barangays in the entire city benefited from these twin programs.

These are Barangays Poblacion, Pocal-pocal, Pogo, Lucap, Magsaysay, Palamis, Mona, Bued, Pangapisan, Tangcarang, San Roque, Cabatuan, Bisocol, Amandiego, Bolaney, Alos, San Antonio, Maawi, Amangbangan, Tawin-tawin, Dulacac, Sta. Maria and Baleydaan.

Ruiz said it was Mayor Braganza who requested assistance from the DSWD in behalf of his homeless city mates.

Mayor Braganza recalled that DSWD Region 1 was among the first national government agencies that quickly came to provide family packs and other relief assistance to the city and other towns in western Pangasinan hit hard by typhoon "Emong."

Braganza said with the CFW and ESA programs of DSWD, homeless families could now have money for the repair or reconstruction of their houses. (PNA)
scs/lvm/lmmicua/rma

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=7&rid=214184

DOTC okays construction of Pangasinan seaport

By Leonardo V. Micua

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has finally given the green light for the construction of an international seaport in Sual, a coastal town in the Lingayen Gulf where a natural cove exists.

This was gleaned when DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza gave the go-signal for the release of P100 million to initially fund the project that will be constructed under the joint venture agreement among DOTC, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Pangasinan provincial government and the municipal government of host Sual town.

Mendoza conveyed to Governor Amado Espino Jr. the green light to start the P500-million project that will be constructed on a cost-sharing basis among all those involved in the project.

Of the amount, at least P100 million each will come from the DOTC and PPA, P200 million from the Pangasinan provincial government, and P100 million from the Sual government.

The novel joint venture agreement stipulates that the national government, the province of Pangasinan and Sual municipality will jointly manage the construction and the eventual operations of the project.

Both DOTC and PPA earlier conducted feasibility studies to determine if Sual can accommodate an international port, similar to those existing at Poro Point, La Union; Subic, Manila, and Cebu.

“This is a long overdue project, a dream that is coming true,” Governor Espino said after receiving the nod to proceed with the project from Secretary Mendoza.

He said that an international port is a necessity in Pangasinan, being the main recipient of products such as fertilizers and fuel being landed at Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union by big international shipping vessels.

Earlier, Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) for Pangasinan, said officials of the province should work out the establishment of a seaport, rather than an airport, which has a bigger chance of being approved in the Cabinet.

Esperon said that it is rather unlikely that the government will agree to build another international airport when in fact Pangasinan is already surrounded by big airports, like those in Clark and Subic and San Fernando City, La Union.

Governor Espino said the province will gain huge benefits from the seaport, like employment, support services, new industries and provide access for exportable mineral products, aside from opening new windows of other opportunities that will bring lots of economic activities.

He said that without a seaport, the province cannot attract big industries and other businesses.

According to the governor, 23 locators have already signified their intention to set up their investments in the various piers of the about-to-be built Pangasinan seaport.

Under the 10-Major Development Thrusts of the provincial government, a seaport was envisioned to be built in order to ensure unprecedented growth and development in Pangasinan.

Espino said that he will arrange a meeting shortly with Mayor John Rodney Arcinue of Sual and PPA Regional Director Silverio Mangaoang Jr. to finalize the details of the plan for the construction of the seaport. (PNA)
scs/Lvm/lvmicua/rma

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=214183

Pangasinan keeps top spot in bangus yield

Philippine Daily Inquirer

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines—Pangasinan has retained its title as the country’s leading producer of bangus (milkfish) despite the devastation that its fishery industry suffered last year because of Typhoon “Cosme.”

Based on data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, Pangasinan produced 77,995 MT of bangus last year, 22.23 percent of the country’s total production of 350,836.14 MT in 2008.

“The fishery industry, especially in Sual, was able to recover immediately after the typhoon,” said Nestor Domenden, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

In May 2008, Cosme destroyed hundreds of fish pens and cages in western Pangasinan. The provincial government had estimated the total amount of losses in fisheries alone at P1.1 billion.

At that time, 80 percent of bangus in Pangasinan swam to sea after their pens and cages were destroyed, Domenden said.

“That was only equivalent to three weeks of production,” Domenden said. “It will not affect significantly the annual production,” he added.

He said many bangus growers increased their stocks after the typhoon to meet their production targets.

“If you have 50,000 fingerlings in your fish cage, you can add about 10 percent, as long as your cage can accommodate them,” Domenden said.

He said quick government intervention had made it easier for the province’s industry to recover.

Last year, Domenden’s office distributed some 11 million bangus fry in western and central Pangasinan towns.

But last year’s bangus production decreased by 6,776.85 MT compared to harvest in 2007, which was 84,771.64 MT.

Although 62.63 percent of bangus produced in the country last year were cultured in brackish water ponds, 67 percent of those produced in Pangasinan were harvested from marine fish pens and cages.

Water is brackish if its level of salinity is between fresh water and sea water.

Other bangus-producing provinces and their share in the country’s production were Bulacan (9.06 percent), Capiz (6.33), Rizal (6.08), Iloilo (5.34), Negros Occidental (5.27), Pampanga (5.15), Batangas (4), Davao del Sur (3.67), and Sultan Kudarat (1.72).

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090626-212624/Pangasinan-keeps-top-spot-in-bangus-yield

LG seeking top spot in appliance market

THE LOCAL unit of South Korea’s LG Electronics will take advantage of the standstill strategy of rivals to aggressively expand market reach this year even if demand for electronics is expected to slow down.

"We believe this year is the good chance to be a leader in the industry, while our competitors chose to wait and see what will happen to the Philippines’ economy. The company has undergone major restructuring for the past four years and now we are ready," Seung Chul Lee, president of LG Electronics Philippines, Inc. said in an interview with BusinessWorld.

Mr. Lee recalled that the Korean conglomerate has been in the country since 1989 but it is restarting after experiencing turbulent economic times and undergoing a restructuring that allowed the company to reduce expenses, recruit top people from other companies, and invest a lot on marketing the LG brand.

"The Philippines’ contribution to the overall bottom line of LG Electronics is small because we just started here but hopefully in two years we will be able to catch up," Mr. Lee said, pointing out that the company had decided to do business in the country to make LG Electronics the most preferred brand in the electronic industry.

"There are a lot of potentials here since there are not too many strong brands in the market and so we can easily compete with them and secure the top position in two years," he said.

This year, LG Electronics Philippines is boosting its market investment to $5 million from $2 million last year, further increasing the amount to $10 million next year.

After opening its first "concept store" on Friday, the company is also looking at opening five more concept stores all over the country especially in key cities such as Cebu, Davao and Dagupan as part of a strategy to be even more aggressive next year.

A concept store is a one-stop shop for all LG Electronics products.

"I see that the market is slowing as people are trying to save money and technology is changing fast. But we think this is a good chance while our competitors are on a standstill," Mr. Lee said.

Mr. Lee said sales went up by as much as 25% to 30% from January to June, expecting the trend to continue for the latter part of the year.

LG Electronics is seeing a 40% growth in sales for the whole year, without disclosing the actual figures.

In January, LG Electronics products secured the No. 3 and 4 spots in the overall electronic industry, but hopes to improve by securing the No. 2 and 3 positions by yearend, and No. 2 and 1 by 2010.

"LG offers products across all segments, and we sell cellular phones for as low as P3,000. Our mobile penetration is already 65% to 70% in the country and we are optimistic about getting more this year," Richard B. Javier, head of the firm’s mobile communications division, said.

The unit plans to open five LG mobile phone stores in the country this year.

"We are spending a lot in media exposure and increasing the contact points with our customers. Fortunately our products are very good," Mr. Lee said.

LG Electronics offers all types of appliances ranging from air-conditioners, LCD television sets, refrigerators, and cellular phones, among others. — Kristine Jane R. Liu

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW062909/content.php?id=047

Cops, Hawaiians partner in 'Feed and Read to Lead'

By Cecille Suerte Felipe

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/672/good1hires.jpg

Former state Rep. Dennis Arakaki (standing second from left) and the members of the group from Hawaii with their hosts in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.

MANILA, Philippines – The “Feed and Read to Lead” program of the Sta. Barbara Police in Pangasinan, which aims to instill the love of reading among children and promote the appreciation of our national heritage through supplemental feeding, gained support from a group of Americans from Hawaii.

The group from Hawaii, led by Dennis Arakaki, a 25-year veteran of the State Legislature, donated funds for the construction of classrooms in Sapang and continued their support for Kalinga ng Ama shelter, an orphanage for abandoned and abused children under Christ Our Life Ministries.

Arakaki pointed out that “Feed and Read to Lead” is a holistic feeding program to nourish minds and bodies and that never fails to impress supporters.

“We are impressed with their patriotic themes and resourceful strategies. It actually gives an idea for our own work in other countries,” said co-team leader Andrew Hongo.

“My favorite thing about this trip is seeing street-children happy when we give them such little things, like a Gospel bracelet that explains the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ,” said 13-year-old Christopher Furr, one of the youngest in the group.

Arakaki and his team of 10 went on a two-week tour in Bacolod, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, and Manila. It was their ninth visit to the Philippines, but the first time to partner with police in a community project.

“We are very thankful to the group of Congressman Arakaki and we hope our message of gratitude reaches their communities back in Hawaii,” said Sta. Barbara Police chief Superintendent Eric Noble.

Previously, Noble’s wife Cecilia, currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Sociology at the University of Hawaii, worked with Arakaki on a project for the disabled in Honolulu.

The project is supported by Sta. Barbara Mayor Reynaldo Velasco as part of his 10-point progress agenda on Social and Health Services, and co-funded by PMA Magilas Class of 1976 and JC Hardware, a local distributor of construction supplies.

An important highlight of the visit was the donation of a sculpture, the “Transformation Torch,” to honor and memorialize the ties between the Hawaii group’s Kalihi hometown and Sta. Barbara.

“We requested that the symbolic transformation torch be placed at the grounds of the local police station as we have witnessed their inspiring leadership in pursuing genuine transformation and progress for the town,” said Arakaki.

The Hawaiian group took part in the local police’s Heritage Tour of Lingayen and other sites that showcase the rich patriotic heritage of Pangasinan. They also witnessed the graduation ceremonies of the malunggay pasta-making enterprise and the turn-over of equipment.

The malunggay enterprise was spearheaded by Deanna Gregorio of the National Anti-Poverty Commission-Persons with Disability Sector, and the local PNP.

Aside from Arakaki and Hongo, the Hawaii team consisted of Christopher, Romina and Rowena Furr; Jackie Gamboa; Shelly Hokama; Roy Takemura; Yoriko Young; and international composer and singer Randy Hongo.

A Hawaiian cultural presentation, film showing and supplemental feeding event at Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan capped the 14-day visit.

The group performed Hawaiian songs, dances and did magic tricks for the children of Gawad Kalinga community in Barangay Leet and Kalinga ng Ama Shelter Foundation.

They also contributed sports equipment to various schools, and provided medical supplies to communities in Nueva Ecija.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=481576&publicationSubCategoryId=473

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/3664773266_3e80333d8a_o.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Anne Jimenez (http://www.flickr.com/photos/anne_jimenez/3664773266/)

Sustainable opportunities for OPAL area seen

Alaminos City Mayor Hernani A. Braganza expressed optimism that One Pangasinan Alliance of LGUs (OPAL) will be strengthened and institutionalized as in economic alliance in the province of Pangasinan, thereby, creating greater opportunities for the people in the OPAL area.

Braganza made such assessment during the launching of the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) and the National Forum on LED which is highlighted by the signing of the Statement of Commitment of Support to Promote Economic Governance in the Philippines held last Monday at the Ayala Museum in Makati City.

Present during said historic signing were DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Canadian Ambassador Robert Desjardins, Governor Felipe Hilan Nava of Guimaras, Vice Governor Julius Herrera of Bohol, and Governor Rolando Yebes of Zamboanga del Norte and chairperson of DDPKaRoMa, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) First Counsellor for Development May Wong, DILG Usec. Austere A. Panadero, Canadian Executing Agency’s Field Director Marion Villanueva, and Herman Ongkiko, Program Manager of the LGSP-LED.

OPAL is an economic alliance of 7 co-equal local government executives in the 1st district of Pangasinan.

It is one of the four LGU alliances selected by the LSGP-LED Project Steering Committee for Phase 1 of the project and was officially launched here last June 10.

The launch was highlighted by the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the project partners namely the Canadian Executing Agency, CIDA’s implementing arm, DILG Regional 1 and OPAL.

LGSP-LED is an eight-year collaborative project of the Governments of Canada and the Philippines aimed at fostering efficient, responsive, transparent and accountable governance at all levels.

It is a program of DILG and CIDA, and implemented by the Canadian Executing Agency (CEA), a consortium composed of the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC).

LGSP-LED seeks to reduce poverty by strengthening local governance and supporting sustainable local economic development (LED).The project is also intended to enable an effective national policy and program environment and improving the prospects for local economy in the local governments, the briefer adds.

National LED Forum and the LGSP-LED Launch is intended as venue to create awareness, build support and advocate for sustainable economic governance among the key national government agencies, private sector, LGU leagues and international donor community.

By the end of this month, we expect thru LGSP-LED that we have empowered our local government in the exercise of their corporate mandates, said Braganza in his message.

“We have harmonized or thrusted new policies that will attract investments in the OPAL district,” added the OPAL chairperson. “We have set-up a system that will enhance our revenue enhancement programs for the OPAL District and not just relay on IRA and modernize our governmental system in the OPAL and municipal as well.”

Sustainable opportunities
Braganza cited that the biggest challenge to OPAL now is how to transform its natural resources into sustainable opportunities for its people in terms of business, jobs, or even incomes.

The OPAL district is basically rich in agricultural resources and in tourism potentials, being home to 75% of the major tourist destinations foremost of which is the Hundred Islands National Park and historical sites in the province of Pangasinan.

It has a power plant in the municipality of Sual. All towns are covered by major telecommunication companies and are accessible by land 24 hours a day and accessible by sea thru the seaport and hopefully by 2011 or 2012, the first commercial airport in the province of Pangasinan will be built in the city.

Water is not a big problem in the district having two water district and five municipal water works.

But despite of all these natural resources, agriculture remains untapped, eco-tourism destination remains undeveloped, commerce is relatively young and the LGUs are dependent on their IRA share in the OPAL district And poverty is still equal to the national average at 37%.

In the case of Alaminos which almost 86% dependent on IRA, which simply means, the city is not generating enough resources from the establishments in the area.
Our vision to LGSP-LED is to modernize our respective LGUs to empower or strengthen our capabilities to become enablers of opportunities or more great opportunities for the people in the OPAL district.

“It is likewise our vision to make our economy more vibrant compared to the present led by agriculture and tourism which is the dominant drivers of growth in the OPAL district,” added the former two-term congressman.

“We also envisioned providing adequate water not only for the houses but for agriculture as well and for business. It is also important to develop our capacities in terms of social mobilization for us to deliver and effectively reach out to our respective constituents.”

Impact on local economy
By utilizing media for example, the mayor firmly believes that in a span of 15 months, OPAL will able to promote the natural beauty of the district. It will also able to create more opportunities, not only among its constituents but reach out beyond OPAL and promote the economic and investment opportunities of the respective municipalities.

OPAL is also expected to come-up with an integrated system and strategies to be able to provide opportunities for the respective LGUs as well as in the conservation, protection and rehabilitation program for its watershed areas.

After 15 months, we believe, thru these programs that we will be able to develop more modules for agricultural enterprises in the OPAL area, said Bragranza adding that this will lead to the reduction of poverty especially to the agricultural sector.

He added that OPAL will be able to build, more or less, an average of 45 major cooperatives, or an average of 6-7 per local government that will reach out to almost 5% of the total household in OPAL and 3% of the total number of agricultural lands.

“This is our belief that these will have a major impact not only in our local economy, but in terms of attracting investors in the first district or the OPAL district,” the mayor pointed out.

Also in tourism, OPAL will be able to capacitate potential business partners and stakeholders that can immediately go into business within that 15 month period.

It will also easily promote, conserve and protect the natural beauty in the OPAL area and transform these resources into potential economic opportunities and, integrate all of these under one major program.

“After 15 months of being together, we do sincerely believe that after an expensive preparation and capacity building program, we will be able to secure investments for the OPAL district,” said the mayor.

“At the end of the day, if we have fully capacitated our local government and our business partners, then the propose agricultural and transportation terminal will better be filled in the city of Alaminos and other support facilities like the medical facility, the state university that will further institutionalize what we have done in the last 15 months and in other areas of OPAL, prepare OPAL for phase II,” he added.

“With that I say thank you to the Department of Interior and Local Government, of course to CIDA, for these opportunities to be working with all of you. See you in the next 15 months,” the mayor finally quipped.

Huge investment
Aside from OPAL of Western Pangasinan, the other three participating LGU alliances that also won the foreign grant were the Province of Guimaras Agri-Tourism Development Alliance, the Dapitan-Dipolog-Polanco-Katipunan-Pres.M.Roxas-Manukan (DDPKaRoMa) Growth Corridor in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, and the Bohol Integrated Area Development Cluster V in the province of Bohol.

The said principal stakeholders have already conducted their respective project launch in order to generate greater public awareness and stakeholder commitments in pursuing their priority local economic development initiatives in agri-business development, agri-tourism, sustainable agriculture and micro, small and medium scale enterprise development.

Desjardins in his keynote speech expounded the theme of the LGSP-LED launching “Canada’s Commitment of Support to Economic Governance in the Philippines.”

“As your partner for more than 25 years, we have been your development part, he said. We have invested in this country $ 600 M and we are very proud of our investments here.

“What we have invested here is hard earned Canadian tax payers’ dollars. And I can tell you that we will do what we can to inform Canadians on what we do here and how well there money invested here and how we have practical results to show for,” he added.

Desjardins then commend the Philippine government under the leadership of the Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for providing the environment that makes the lower community, a community welcomed here and thru rigorous process team-up with the people who were carefully selected based on their past records on their competence of the quality of there engagement for the future.

“As Canadians, we are enormously proud to be associated with people like you who have demonstrated love and will continue to demonstrate commitment to the improvement of the economic situation in the Philippines,” said ambassador who even made a commitment to personally visit the LGU alliances in the next few months.

“Congratulations to you all for your achievement of being part of this project. Over the next 8 years, we expect your courage and strength in making this development project the biggest ever in the Philippines,” he added. “We have to, more than ever, work very hard to make sure that those who are not as fortunate as we are can find hope and find better ways to support themselves and support their family.

Meanwhile, Villanueva said experiences of the four LGU alliances will serve as beacons of local economic development for the other LGUs in the country to replicate.

As the country charts its economic future, in this difficult time, LSGP-LED will play an important role in the addressing this challenges, she added.“Inspired by one community of LGUs, LGSP-LED together with DILG and other key national government agencies, we will work together under one vision, one mission and that is for the improvement of the quality of life of the Filipinos to effective economic governance.”

Miracle areas
Sec. Puno opened his message by saying he’s very proud of the local officials that have been chosen to be part of the LGSP-LED.
He described the four LGU alliances as miracle areas in the country.

First is Guimaras, the province that is now into exports of mangoes which for many years the entire country was trying to export and it was Guimaras that was able to place the trade in that area.

Zamboanga del Norte was once considered as one of the poorest provinces before and now one could see the major development and transformation in this province.From being one of the 20 poorest provinces, Bohol is now being the ranked 45th province in the entire country in a very short span of time.

And finally Alaminos, which according to the secretary, become a much greater city under the leadership of the energetic and visionary city mayor.

“We are launching this program today which I believe is an indication that we are reverting direction from where we were few years ago, said Puno.

“This is one of the two programs that we are inaugurating this year which highlights the participation of local governments that rest upon the capacity and the leadership of local government which considers all the values of the community and more importantly involves the private sector in the effort and establish a teamwork among themselves in the different localities,” he added.

“So this is really great moment for us, not just the beginning of a program but I think re-establishing our participation in cooperating with the local government as catalyst for them to undertake several projects.”

“It marks a change (I think) in the perspective of the over-all development management in local government…with the framework that has been described earlier; we think that the local government will be able to develop themselves into vibrant economic entities that will truly lead us out of all the crisis that we will face in the future.”

Towards greater reliance on LGUs
Puno said it is easy for the national government sometimes to bring up the macro level of all the problems you see in the different provinces in the country.It is easy to write nationwide statistics and establish general programs that address the national statistics.

Having been an advocate and participant in local government development for almost his entire profession, Puno explained that “what you see in the province, what you see in the community is very different from the statistics that you see on the table of the cabinet meeting.”

He said that it has been a constant effort on his part to try to ensure that this point of view of LGU officials on how they can they develop themselves into better communities and into better partners in the national development programs really is a very vital part of how they proceed with the affairs of the government.

Puno then thank the government of Canada, His Excellency, for being the first in line in this recharging of our past towards a greater reliance on the local government throughout the country.

“And we thank the entire Canadian people through you for there concerned and continued friendship and partnership,” he said.“We are proud of the capacity and the ability to lead of our local government officials. I’m proud that the progress they have made over the many years that they being involved in capacity building. I am proud to be with them in any meeting with international lending institution,” he added.

“And like you, we are confident about the success of this program. I have no doubt that we will live up to the expectation of the government of Canada, the Canadian people for this program.”(CIO)

http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=524

There's no more room for expansion in Dagupan CDB except reclaiming adjacent fishponds next to the newly built highway (Dawel-Pantal Area). For me, maong labat ya walay development tan para ed employment, mayamay angapo'y trabaho natan. Fishpond operators are the only one benefiting from the industry. Majority of the bangus stocks sold in Dagupan Markets comes from Binmaley, Lingayen and the western corridor. As long as sustainable tan they can maintain the aquaculture heritage pati may quality na Bonuan Bangus, ayos lan walaray fishponds ya ma convert.

yeah, I got your point...pero mas maong komon no i-convert da raman ya dalin na panggaway factory buildings ta pian makapangiter na trabaho ed saray totoo pero medyo malabo ya. most probably, gawaen dan comercial or residential buildings.
FYI and to others, in case you don't know yet, that Dagupan used to be the biggest commercial center north of Manila before like in the 60's.... I don't know now. Also, some middle class from Ilocos, La union and Tarlac come to Dagupan to study/take their education in the 70's. Now I observe that Dagupan had been overtaken by some other northern cities. The reasons for these maybe is that the expansion of the city is limited because (for vertical expansion) the soil is soft that constructing a building will cost more for more
solid foundation and (for horizontal expansion)you have to sacrifice those fish ponds and agricultural land to convert to commercial but then again there's the danger of perrential flooding.

Thread:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=887250

^That's true. Even in the colonial era, one strong evidence that Dagupan is a thriving settlement was the construction of the Manila-Dagupan Railway Line. Same goes with the operation of PANTRANCO (Pangasinan Transportation Company) making Dagupan the hub of N. Luzon.

I agree with the city's geographic and territorial limitations. Nayari met kumon if they have planned Metro Dagupan ahead of time. Calasiao, Mangaladan and San Fabian are possible areas for expansion. Nankulang ira na urban planning nen saman.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3648/3669040494_2c02fe9fd9_b.jpg

BTW,

We were in Dagupan yesterday. Had lunch here and food was ok. So glad i took this shot. :)

^^waahhh..agko la anta yan building pero marakep.

sakey ya kinmulang ed Dagupan et daeset so karsada to katon karakelan ya kaabungan et walad interior.

no nanunutan ko nen ogaw ak ni so walaray factories ya angapula natan..example... tabacalera, cooking oil factory, pansit bihon, ice drops tan inasin (bagoong) wholesale. wala met so pagawaay sabong tai nen agni uso so tide tan breeze.

the only tall building i remember in Dagupan is the Star Plaza...:colgate:

ag ko anta natan balet...:dunno:

^^waahhh..agko la anta yan building pero marakep.

sakey ya kinmulang ed Dagupan et daeset so karsada to katon karakelan ya kaabungan et walad interior.

no nanunutan ko nen ogaw ak ni so walaray factories ya angapula natan..example... tabacalera, cooking oil factory, pansit bihon, ice drops tan inasin (bagoong) wholesale. wala met so pagawaay sabong tai nen agni uso so tide tan breeze.

Lenox Hotel tan diad Rizal Ave. Ampetapetang nen karuman thats why agak la angala na pictures.

Nen 90s singa gagawen da met may Papa Ketchup ed Mayombo :)

the only tall building i remember in Dagupan is the Star Plaza...:colgate:

ag ko anta natan balet...:dunno:

Still it's the tallest commercially functining building in the city. Though by structure, the long defunct McAdor International Hotel, with it's rotating roof top restaurant, is the tallest building. Three years ago wala ni plano dan i-restore tan gawen ya commercial complex may McAdor, awey balet natan no gawen da ni.

It's a 'Go' for construction of Sual seaport - Espino

Posted on June 29, 2009 - Filed Under Business, News |

LINGAYEN–Governor Amado Espino Jr. said the Department of Transportation and Communication has given signal for the initial release of P100-million fund to start the construction of commercial seaport in Sual.

Espino said that DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza gave the green light during their talk Wednesday.

"May go signal ako na simulan ko na raw," he said.

Espino is set to meet with representatives from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Sual Mayor John Rodney Arcinue on the cost sharing scheme to complete the project.

When completed, it will be jointly handled by the PPA and the provincial government.

The seaport will be built along the Bacquioen Bay, a natural harbor parallel to the Sual Power Plant.

Some 23 prospective locators have already signified their interests to avail of the services of the port.

Espino said the planned seaport will allow for easy transport the province's reserve of mineral resources to other countries.

He said the province can not attract industries and other businesses, and the local mining, commercial fishing, and other export-oriented industries without a commercial seaport, and a bigger airport.

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/06/29/its-a-go-for-construction-of-sual-seaport-espino/

***


International seaport soon to rise in Pangasinan

Dagupan City (29 June) -- Pangasinan may soon have an international seaport.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., said that Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has given the green light to start the construction of the international seaport in Sual town.

Espino said that the project will be under a novel joint venture scheme where the national government and the host province and municipality will jointly fund and manage the construction as well as operations of the port.

As per the cost sharing scheme, the provincial government will earmark P200 million while Sual will shoulder P100 million. The national government thru the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and DOTC will allocate P100 million each.

"This is a long overdue project, a dream that is coming true," Gov. Espino said.

He said that it is ironic to see fuel and fertilizer products being transported thru Poro Point in La Union or in Subic although Pangasinan has over 60 percent share of the total demand for these products in the entire Region I.

The province is expected to gain huge benefits in terms of employment opportunities, support services, building of new industries, export of rich mineral products and opening of new windows of other opportunities that will bring a lot of economic activities in Pangasinan, he said.

According to the governor, twenty locators have already signified their intention to set up their investments in the various piers of the port.

Espino said that he will arrange a meeting with Sual Mayor John Rodney Arcinue and Port Management Officer Silverio Mangaoang, Jr. of Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), next week to finalize the details of the plan for the construction of the seaport. (PIO/PIA Pangasinan/dos)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=r01&y=&mo=&fi=p090629.htm&no=07

^^
Wow..Congratulations!..Another new development for Pangasinan...

^^
Wow..Congratulations!..Another new development for Pangasinan...

Thanks to the leadership of our new Governor and the rest of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members.

Pangasinan needs a lot of catching up with regards to infrastructure development.

Pangasinan provincial gov’t launches productivity programs

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan (PNA) - The Pangasinan Provincial Government is complementing its physical infrastructure development with human resource programs and empowerment when it launched its Productivity and Quality Programs on Monday during its regular flag-raising ceremony at the Capitol Plaza.

“The provincial productivity and quality programs will surely give our offices another facelift, enhance individual commitments at work and further develop teamwork and camaraderie among employees within offices,” Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas said.

Included in the program are office practices such as the 5 S or Sweep, Sanitize, Sort, Systematize and Self-Discipline; ISTIV or Industriousness, Systematic, Time Conscious, Innovativeness and Value for Work; and the JIT or Just in Time.

Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan led the reading of the pledge of commitment for the launching of the provincial programs on productivity and quality.

Simultaneous with the launching was the declaration of Pangasinan as Red Cross emblem misuse-free.

According to Vice-governor Agabas, “Today, we are catapulting our province into a status attained only by a few local government units as we declare our province to be a territory free from violating the international agreement that the Red Cross emblem shall not be misused in order to protect its sanctity and neutrality.”

Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario informed the audience that Pangasinan is the sixth province in the entire country to declare as such, and said that “the declaration signifies our full commitment and dedication to the Red Cross movement and recognizes the importance of the role of Red Coss as an appellate of the government and as an independent humanitarian organization.”

Meanwhile, Board Member Alfonso Bince said he will request the governor for the provincial government to undertake a blood-letting activity to support Red Cross. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=214573

'One College Graduate in Every Home' pushed in Pangasinan (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Education_20/One_College_Graduate_in_Every_Home_pushed_in_Pangasinan.shtml)

DAGUPAN CITY, June 26 (PNA) -- Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Presidential Management Staff chief, is pushing a novel advocacy called "one college graduate in every home."

He bared this advocacy on Wednesday in "Engkwentro sa Lenox" forum organized by the Pangasinan Press Club headed by Allan Sison.

"My vision is to have a college graduate in every home", Esperon said, adding that if this can be realized, each family -- especially in the rural areas -- will have a better chance to survive in this time of economic crisis," he said.

In pushing this advocacy, Esperon asked: "Was it not a tricycle driver's daughter who topped the bar examinations last year?"

He said he is confident that every other Filipino family can do this and can produce not only lawyers but other professionals if they work hard and save.

"In other words, if we put ourselves in focus of graduating our children from college, we can do it," he said.

He said families will have a better advantage in this challenging times if at least there is one college graduate in every home.

During in his rounds of the Ilocano-dominated sixth district of Pangasinan, Esperon noticed that families now have more than one college graduates.

He said the "One Town, One Scholar" initiated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo can achieve the dream of rural families to have one or more graduates in every home.
The "One Town, One Scholar" is a project of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Local Government Units (LGUs) for deserving but poor college graduates in every town, he said. (PNA)

Pangasinan provincial gov’t launches productivity programs (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Pangasinan_provincial_gov_t_launches_productivity_programs.shtml)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, June 30 (PNA) - The Pangasinan Provincial Government is complementing its physical infrastructure development with human resource programs and empowerment when it launched its Productivity and Quality Programs on Monday during its regular flag-raising ceremony at the Capitol Plaza.

“The provincial productivity and quality programs will surely give our offices another facelift, enhance individual commitments at work and further develop teamwork and camaraderie among employees within offices,” Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas said.

Included in the program are office practices such as the 5 S or Sweep, Sanitize, Sort, Systematize and Self-Discipline; ISTIV or Industriousness, Systematic, Time Conscious, Innovativeness and Value for Work; and the JIT or Just in Time.

Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan led the reading of the pledge of commitment for the launching of the provincial programs on productivity and quality.

Simultaneous with the launching was the declaration of Pangasinan as Red Cross emblem misuse-free.

According to Vice-governor Agabas, “Today, we are catapulting our province into a status attained only by a few local government units as we declare our province to be a territory free from violating the international agreement that the Red Cross emblem shall not be misused in order to protect its sanctity and neutrality.”

Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario informed the audience that Pangasinan is the sixth province in the entire country to declare as such, and said that “the declaration signifies our full commitment and dedication to the Red Cross movement and recognizes the importance of the role of Red Coss as an appellate of the government and as an independent humanitarian organization.”
Meanwhile, Board Member Alfonso Bince said he will request the governor for the provincial government to undertake a blood-letting activity to support Red Cross. (PNA)

Lenox Hotel tan diad Rizal Ave. Ampetapetang nen karuman thats why agak la angala na pictures.

Nen 90s singa gagawen da met may Papa Ketchup ed Mayombo :)



Still it's the tallest commercially functining building in the city. Though by structure, the long defunct McAdor International Hotel, with it's rotating roof top restaurant, is the tallest building. Three years ago wala ni plano dan i-restore tan gawen ya commercial complex may McAdor, awey balet natan no gawen da ni.

say McAdor et sakey ya modernong building lapud walay roller tod dalem which means earthquake proof. say Vicar hotel balet ya ginawa nen 1951 so sakey ya naunan building ya walay elevator to outside metromanila tan aya so first time kon makalugan ed elevator.

Atagey met amo may balon building na Luzon University along Perez Blvd...
no agak nalilingo et anemiran palapag.

thanks garzland for the update.

^ Kumon aray kaaro tayo dia mambasa nira, ni a double post la. :lol:

Wow nice trivia! Historic manayay Vicar Hotel. Singa Art Deco so Architecture to. Alan ko pa na litrato soon. Aga masanting may building na UL, magulo agawa da.

Partial list of buildings w/ elevators in Dagupan:
Star Plaza Hotel
Lenox Hotel
de Luxe, Tapuac
Nepo Mall
Quattro

City hall now wants jail out of Dagupan

TO RID LINGAYEN GULF OF POLLUTION

It will have to go.

Thus said Dagupan City Administrator Alvin Fernandez about the fate of the District Jail located in Bonuan Gueset.

Evidently peeved by the endless reports about the continuing pollution of the beachfront emanating from the district jail, he said the city government is now prepared to seek its transfer to any location outside the city.

Fernandez said the city government is spending regularly for the dislodging of the jail's septic tank only to find the pollution in the area has not diminished.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Leduina Co earlier confirmed that that waste water from the city jail continues to flow into the sea, prompting the provincial government to react.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. volunteered to moderate in the dialogue between the Dagupan City government and the BJMP in order to resolve the problem soonest.

Fernandez added that the city will not even consider shouldering the any expense for the jail's relocation.

Stressing that dislodging is only a palliative solution to the problem, Fernandez conceded the city cannot do more to stop the waste water flowing out from the district jail to the Lingayen Gulf.

The district jail houses 400 inmates whereas it was built for 100 inmates only.

Fernandez said the facility simply cannot handle the wastes of this big number of inmates.

"The only remaining solution (to this problem) is the construction of a new jail facility at the expense of the BJMP to another location outside the city," Fernandez said.

He said the earlier the jail is transferred the sooner the city can develop the area into a commercial docking area.

He pointed out that the city government built the jail for the city's offenders but BJMP converted it into a district jail without informing the city when it took over.

"The intention of Dagupan when it built the facility was for it to become a city jail but not a district jail or a regional jail," he said.-LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/06/29/city-hall-now-wants-jail-out-of-dagupan/

JDV Jr. hands out PhilHealth cards to constituents

DAGUPAN CITY -- Fourth district Representative Jose de Venecia Jr. led recently the distribution of PhilHealth cards to indigent recipients from the 31 barangays here.

With him were his wife Gina, Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., and wife Elmina who heads the Inner Wheel Club of Dagupan.

To date, the lawmaker has distributed about 3,000 government health insurance coverage to his constituents in the fourth district of Pangasinan.

De Venecia said he is giving much attention to extending PhilHealth cards to as many of his constituents as possible as this will enable them to get better health care service from PhilHealth-accredited hospitals.

The barangay captains here thanked de Venecia for the health insurance cards he distributed to their barangay mates.

There are many families who no longer seek medical attention since they cannot afford to pay for their medical needs.

Meanwhile, treatment of the influenza A (H1N1) is now covered by the PhilHealth insurance.

PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Rey Aquino sighed on June 4, 2009 PhilHealth Circular No. 25, s-2009.

The circular was addressed to all accredited health care providers, members of PhilHealth, PhilHealth personnel, and all others concerned.

Among others, it states that the benefit is limited to PhilHealth members and dependents with novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus infection confirmed by the Department of Health; hospitalization benefit for PhilHealth members and dependents is set at a maximum of P75,000; the benefit is set at a maximum of P150,000 for qualified health workers who a) rendered service in a DOH (Department of Health)-designated hospital for influenza A (H1N1) and b) contracted the disease while performing their duties and or caring for an influenza A (H1N1) patients certified or attested by the DOH.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/jdv-jr-hands-out-philhealth-cards-constituents

Flooding in Dagupan due to tidal rise blamed on global warming

DAGUPAN CITY (PNA) -- The frequent floods occurring in Dagupan due to every rise of tide are being blamed on global warming which spawned climate change now affecting all countries of the world.

Dagupan City Administrator Alvin Fernandez declared that flooding occurs in the coastal areas of Dagupan no matter how the city will dredge the rivers.

He said the city though is continuing with its dredging activities on major rivers without let-up, using the dredging machine bought by the past city administration.

The dredging is now concentrated on the part of the Calmay River in Barangay Salapingao, where the dredging machine was stationed for months now, Fernandez said.

"But no matter how we dredge, there is no stopping the flood from coming in during high tide," he said, admitting that water from the river is practically back-flowing down to drainage canals.

While reminding that Dagupan is only one meter above sea level, Fernandez said dredging can only hasten the exit of water to the sea when the level of the water retreats during low tide.

Tagged by Fernandez as being frequently affected by high tide are Dior Village, Arellano Street, part of A. B. Fernandez Avenue and Barangay Pantal.

Some 10 years ago, these areas do not yet encounter such problem.

On A.B. Fernandez Avenue, Dagupan's major thoroughfare, shops pumps out water that is flooding them daily every time tide rises.

There is no way the people can stop this phenomenon, he said, but they can at least help by not burning their garbage and adopting segregation so that the volume of wastes that go to the dump site will be considerably reduced.

This way, he added, gases that will escape to the atmosphere will be reduced, considerably slowing down global warming that causes climate change. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=214742

Depositors seek to rehabilitate closed bank

BINMALEY–A group of depositors of a rural bank here that was placed under receivership by the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) agreed to bond themselves to revive the bank.

The group, known as People's Bank of Binmaley Uninsured Depositors Association (PBBUDA) headed by Armi Bangsal-Lorica, an entrepreneur, is leading efforts to rehabilitate and reorganize the bank through the conversion of their uninsured deposits into equity.

People's Bank of Binmaley (PBB), founded by Lorica's grandfather Julio Javier in 1964, was taken over by Fidel Lo Cu in December 2003 with the infusion of P37.5 million in fresh capital.

The group accused Cu of allegedly mismanaging the bank.

The group's members are among the depositors who could not be paid since their deposits exceeded the maximum P250, 000 deposits to be covered by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC).

Lorica had written President Gloria Arroyo to intervene for them by persuading the BSP and the Philippine Deposit and Insurance Corporation (PDIC) to consider their "deposit-to-equity" proposal.

PBBUDA will also ask the PDIC to provide it financial statements covering deposits of all depositors to support its proposal.

Lorica's group has partnered with an investor, who she did not identify, who, she added, is willing to put up the needed P270.76 million as additional capital to the PBB if the proposal is approved by the two agencies.

Deputy BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla had informed the group that the uninsured depositors of closed bank are free to put up a rehabilitation program and need only to get the nod from the PDIC.

He added, however, that the conversion of deposits into equity is not enough to constitute the rehabilitation of a closed bank as there are other creditors, including the BSP, which should also be considered.-LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/06/29/depositors-seek-to-rehabilitate-closed-bank/

SOUTHERN PANGASINAN MUNICIPALITIES - PHOTOS TAKEN YESTERDAY 07/30/09
Shot from a moving car

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Alcala Town Hall - click image to enlarge

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New Bautista Town Hall - click image to enlarge

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Santo Tomas Town Hall - click image to enlarge

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Alcala

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Alcala - Market Strip beside town plaza

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Alcala Market Strip beside town plaza/ infront of town hall

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Alcala Public Market

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Alcala - small clean town

DTI simplifies business registry

By Venus May H. Sarmiento

Dagupan City -- The Department of Trade and Industry continues to exert its efforts to simplify business registration for Filipino entrepreneurs.

DTI Consumer Welfare Division Chief Marjury Lorezco, speaking Tuesday at the 'Pantongtongan Tayo' radio program of the Philippine Information over DZMQ Radyo ng Bayan, said the agency is in the process of simplifying all transactions pertaining to businesses.

"We are in the process of reviewing transaction costs and simplifying procedures like securing business permits, looking for signatories and paying the necessary fees," Lorezco said.

Lorezco noted that different municipalities have various requirements from business permit applicants, causing confusion to investors.

"It is our aim to have a standard procedure, requirements and fees in all municipalities according to their income classification. We have started this in some towns and in time, we can achieve this for the entire province," Lorezco explained.

Meanwhile, Business Development Officer-in-Charge Noel Gapuz said that in Pangasinan alone, there are more than 40,000 registered business names in the province. Seventy - percent of these businesses fall under personal business categories like parlors and body hygiene while a big number accounts for sari-sari stores.

Gapuz noted that more Pangasinenses venture into self-employment to combat the global crisis. (PIA-Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090630.htm&no=59

Local cop bags national award

By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre

STA. BARBARA -- This "global Filipino cop" taught his men to think and work "outside the box." And they are reaping the change they somehow embraced. "Thank God, it pays to love the children."

This was the initial reaction of Sta. Barbara Police Chief Eric Noble when asked what he can say about the national recognition he is about to receive -- as one of the Country's Outstanding Policemen in Service or Cops 2009.

"To my fellow policemen: Just do it. When you do good, it will end up building yourself," were his words of wisdom to fellow policemen, especially the younger ones.

From the time he assumed post as police chief, he started injecting ideas and programs beyond the conventional police norms that policemen are accustomed to doing at their respective police units.

Among his accomplishments as police officer include the human development programs he painstakingly introduced for the benefit of the local policemen and the townspeople they are serving [all in sync with the PNP (Philippine National Police) Transformation Program]. He was also chosen as one of the outstanding policemen in the Philippines.

Noble is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1992. He is a native of Barangay Banaoang here. He and wife Cecilia has a 13-year-old son named EJ.

Joining him from Pangasinan is PO3 Arturo Melchor Jr. who is assigned at the Human Rights Affairs Office of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office.

Cops is an annual joint project of Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of New Manila East, in coordination with the Philippine National Police.

The awarding ceremonies will be held in Malacañang with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferring the award.

The annual search for Cops "seeks to identify gallant men and women in the police force who are able to work with the community to prevent and solve crime. Every year, four Commissioned Officers, and six Non-Commissioned Officers win this prestigious award."

Noble introduced at the Sta. Barbara Police Station livelihood projects (involving both the policemen and the community) such as "Training on Paper Mache Coffin and Bags Making," "Malunggay Noddles and other by-products" both with the personal assistance of Commissioner Deanna Lorenzana-Gregorio of the National Anti-Poverty Commission-Persons with Disabilities sector.

He launched the monthly program "Feed and Read to Lead" for children from indigent families. This is supported by non-government organizations like the Kalinga ng Ama shelter and other religious groups here, the Kiwanis Club of Dagupena, the Rotary, and the PMA Class of 1976 led by PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa and General Leopoldo Bataoil of the PNP Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Northern Luzon.

"The Feed and Read to Lead program is a holistic and hybrid feeding program that addresses the problem that hungry people are angry people. It caters to malnourished bodies as well as hungry minds, souls, and pockets. The idea is to not only feed, but more so to lead poor families into viable and sustainable futures," he explained.

He introduced anti-illegal drugs and anti-frat gang campaigns; he organized heritage tours of students to different areas in the Pangasinan to inculcate in the minds of the heroism of their forefathers; and institutionalize the memory of Sta. Barbara heroes by researching on their life and heroisms, naming each room/office at the police station after these heroes.

While assigned at the PNP's Directorate for Personnal and Records Management at Camp Crame, he caused the discovery of "ghost cops" who were regularly receiving their salaries on the 15th and 30th of the month. It saved the National Government about P3 million per month on salaries and benefits.

Noble was dubbed by his peers as "global Filipino cop," having served in United Nations (UN) missions twice, in Haiti and Kosovo.

He said his UN Mission experiences inspired him to write the book "Gearing up to be a global cop (A Reviewer for aspiring UN Civilian Police)"

"We have a lot of policemen qualified to serve in the UN Missions. The only hindrance is they don't know what to do or how to go about it. The book aims to guide them and help them pass the different examinations and interviews," he explained.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/local-cop-bags-national-award

PNP establishes first service store system branch in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan (PNA) — The first-ever provincial branch of the PNP Service Store System (PNP-SSS) nationwide was established Saturday at the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) here.

Police Director General Jesus A. Verzosa, chief of the Philippine National Police, led the inauguration of the branch along with Police Director Jose Antonio Salvacion, administrator of the PNP-SSS.

This was in accordance with a memorandum of agreement signed by Verzosa and Salvacion with PNP Regional Director Ramon Gatan and Police Provincial Director Percival Barba, witnessed by Mrs. Cynthia Verzosa, wife of the PNP chief; and Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr.

The PNP-SSS, which was the old PC-INP Commissaries that was created under Presidential Decree No. 875, used to be concentrated only at the PNP National Headquarters at Camp Crame and some separate units and regional headquarters.

But this is being set up in as many PNP units throughout the country to benefit other policemen and their families who are not insulated from the economic crisis and also as part of the PNP Integrated Transformation Program.

Salvacion said several more PNP-SSS provincial branches will be set up this year although the objective is to bring this down to the municipal and city police station level.

Selling eight percent lower than prices of goods that can be bought outside, the PNP-SSS will serve only active policemen and their families, retired policemen and their dependents and authorized buyers that may be categorized by the PNP-SSS board headed by Verzosa.

Verzosa said the PNP-SSS will soon sell gasoline to authorized customers and will be the only source of equipment, supplies, uniforms and other items for the official use of policemen.

What is good about the PNP-SSS, Verzosa said, is that it sells 15 percent lower than the prices of goods that can be purchased outside and that 15 percent of the net income of the store will go to the Pangasinan provincial command to support its various activities.

According to Salvacion, they are buying goods from big and small suppliers and manufacturers, among them San Miguel, Coca Cola and Nestle Philippines, which sell goods to them at 12 percent lower.

The PNP-SSS in turn sells the goods to customers at eight percent lower, retaining four percent as mark up to pay for salaries and allowances of personnel and for store operations, said Salvacion.

He explained that the PNP-SSS is one of the five government entities entitled to receive tax subsidies from the government in the form of 12 percent discounts for goods and supplies that it buys from big and small suppliers.

At the same time, Salvacion turned over to Police Senior Superintendent Percival Barba, Pangasinan police director, at least 100 hand cuffs donated by the PNP-SSS to the national police.
This was just part of the 6,000 handcuffs made available by PNP-SSS to the police nationwide. (PNA)

http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/PNP_establishes_first_service_store_system_branch_in_Pangasinan.shtml

MPIC-San Miguel rivalry shifts to Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway

By Mary Ann Ll. Reyes

MANILA - After a protracted battle for control of power utility giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), two of the country’s biggest conglomerates have both expressed interest in acquiring a stake in the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) from the state-run Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).

BCDA sources told The STAR that the Metro Pacific Group – which have ownership ties with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) – and San Miguel Corp. have proposed separate offers for the SCTEX stake.

BCDA financed the construction of the 93.77 kilometer toll road through a P22-billion loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JICA).

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan confirmed his group’s interest in acquiring government’s interest in the project, as well as his desire that the JICA concessional loan remain.

BCDA officials said they are always open to the possibility of the sale of SCTEX but added they are not sure how that would impact on the JICA loan.

Meanwhile, the San Miguel group reportedly offered to enter into a joint venture with the BCDA for SCTEX.

The Tollways Management Corp. (TMC), partly owned by MPTC, currently operates the SCTEX as well as the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

The Lopez Group earlier sold its toll road business held in First Philippine Infrastructure Inc. (FPII) to Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC) for P12.2 billion. MPIC has renamed FPII into MPTC.

FPII owns 100 percent of First Philippine Infrastructure Development Corp. (FPIDC), which, in turn, owns 67.1 percent of NLEX concessionaire Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) and 46 percent of TMC.

SCTEX is the country’s longest toll road. A flagship project of BCDA, this four-lane expressway runs through the provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, and interconnects three major economic zones in Central Luzon, namely Central Techno Park in Tarlac, Clark Freeport Zone and Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

BCDA has inaugurated early this yearthe Clark Logistics Interchange and Clark South Interchange, bringing to a total of nine the fully operational interchanges.

Two more interchanges, Floridablanca and Porac, are under construction and are scheduled to be finished soon. Supplemental loans from Japan would fund the construction of the Floridablanca and Porac interchanges.

Pangilinan said P2.1 billion would be spent for the construction of the NLEX-Segment 8.1, which will link it to the C-5 Road. The project is expected to be completed by April 2010.

Meanwhile, Pangilinan said around P20 billion would be spent on the road that will link the NLEX and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

MPTC and state-owned Philippine National Railways (PNR) earlier signed a deal to conduct a pre-feasibility study link the NLEX and SLEX by road and rail. The link will be an integrated rail and tollway project using the PNR’s right of way, which cuts across Metro Manila.

Initial discussions focused on the development of an 18-kilometer integrated rail and tollway project that will have “at-grade” and elevated roads over the existing PNR line.

The project is an alternative to various plans to link the two tollways. Other alternatives include the government’s P420-million plan of building a flyover that will connect the C-5 Road to Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City, so that vehicles from the SLEX no longer have to deal with traffic on EDSA to get to the NLEX.

Another plan, worth P55 billion, is to extend the Skyway from Parañaque to Balintawak in Quezon City.

Aside from the two projects, Pangilinan said they hope to start with their Tarlac-La Union Toll Expressway project this year.

“It is still in the early stages of discussion. The objective is to start within the year even if [we would only able to secure] the right of way,” he added.

The project cost, he said, is about P15 billion, half of which would be raised by borrowing from the public.

The 10-member consortium, composed of big players in the local construction industry, will oversee the design, construction, financing and operations of the 88.5-kilometer expressway project.

The Tarlac-La Union Expressway will extend from La Paz, Tarlac to Rosario, La Union, and is expected to lessen the travel time between Central and Northern Luzon.

The Tarlac-La Union Expressway will have eight interchanges, nine toll plazas, two operating buildings, 20 bridges, two viaducts, 26 overpasses and three farm crossings.

Partial operations will start in January 2010 for the Tarlac-Carmen section, in January 2011 for the Carmen-Urdaneta stretch, and in March 2013 for the Urdaneta-Rosario segment.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/06/30/09/mpic-san-miguel-rivalry-shifts-subic-clark-tarlac-expressway

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SM Rosales Annex - 07/30/2009

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SM Rosales Annex - 07/30/2009

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Villasis - 07/30/2009

^^Pati bagsakan namin piniktyuran mo he he he! :D

^^Para sayo talaga yan! :lol:

Nu'ng mabuksan ang Calvo Bridge, naging routine ng mga taga samin mag malling muna sa Rosales, pagkatapos mamamalengke naman sa Villasis.

OPAL to be institutionalized as economic alliance in western Pangasinan

By Lilia M. Micua

ALAMINOS CITY (PNA) -- The newly-created One Pangasinan Alliance (OPAL) is set to be strengthened and institutionalized as an economic alliance that could provide new hope and opportunities to the people in six towns and one city of western Pangasinan.

This was disclosed by Mayor Hernani Braganza during the launching of the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) and the National Forum on LED at the Ayala Museum in Makati City on Monday.

OPAL is an alliance of Alaminos City, Anda, Agno, Bani, Mabini, Burgos and Sual, to be joined later on by the towns of Bolinao, Dasol and Infanta.

The activity was highlighted by the signing of the Statement of Commitment of Support to Promote Economic Governance in the Philippines by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Canadian Ambassador Robert Desjardins.

Other signatories to the document are Governor Felipe Hilan Nava of Guimaras, Vice Governor Julius Herrera of Bohol, and Governor Rolando Yebes of Zamboanga del Norte, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) First Counsellor for Development May Wong, DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero, Canadian Executing Agency’s Field Director Marion Villanueva, and Herman Ongkiko, program manager of the LGSP-LED.

OPAL, an economic alliance of seven co-equal local government executives in the first district of Pangasinan, is one of the four LGU alliances selected by the LSGP-LED Project Steering Committee throughout the country to undertake Phase 1 of CIDA-assisted projects.

Braganza explained that this is an eight-year collaborative project of the Governments of Canada and the Philippines aimed at fostering efficient, responsive, transparent and accountable governance at all levels.

A program of DILG and CIDA, it is implemented by the Canadian Executing Agency (CEA), a consortium composed of the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC).

LGSP-LED, among others, seeks to reduce poverty by strengthening local governance and supporting sustainable local economic development (LED).

The project is also intended to enable an effective national policy and programs on environment and improving the prospects for local economy in the local governments.

“We have harmonized or thrusted new policies that will attract investments in the OPAL district,” said Braganza, who is the OPAL chairperson.

“We have set-up a system that will enhance our revenue enhancement programs for us not just to rely on Internal Revenue Allotments, and consequently modernize our governmental system," Braganza said.

According to Braganza, the biggest challenge to OPAL now is how to transform its natural resources into sustainable opportunities for its people in terms of business, jobs, or even incomes.

The OPAL district is basically rich in agricultural resources and in tourism potentials, being home to 75 per cent of the major tourist destinations, foremost of which is the Hundred Islands National Park and historical sites of Pangasinan.

On top of these is the fact that it has a power plant in the municipality of Sual.

All towns are covered by major telecommunication companies and are accessible by land 24 hours a day and the sea thru the seaport. Hopefully, according to Braganza, the first commercial airport in the province of Pangasinan will be built in the city by 2011 or 2012.

Water is not a big problem in the district, having two water districts and five municipal waterworks.

But despite all these natural resources, agriculture remains untapped, eco-tourism destination remains undeveloped, commerce is relatively young and the LGUs (Local Government Units) are dependent on their IRA share.

Poverty in the OPAL district, according to the Alaminos City Mayor, is still equal to the national average at 37 per cent.

Alaminos is a case in point which is almost 86 per cent dependent on IRA. This simply means that the city is not generating enough revenues locally.

"Our vision is to modernize our respective LGUs to empower or strengthen our capabilities to become enablers of opportunities or more great opportunities for the people in the OPAL district," Braganza said.

He said it is the vision of OPAL "to make our economy more vibrant as compared to the present", acknowledging that agriculture and tourism are the dominant drivers of growth in the OPAL district.

The mayor firmly believes that in a span of 15 months, OPAL will able to promote the natural beauty of the district. It will also be able to create more opportunities, not only among its constituents but reach out beyond OPAL and promote the economic and investment opportunities of the respective municipalities.

OPAL is also expected to come up with an integrated system and strategies to be able to provide opportunities for the respective LGUs as well as in the conservation, protection and rehabilitation program for its watershed areas.

After 15 months, we believe, that thru these programs, we will be able to develop more modules for agricultural enterprises," Braganza said.

He added that OPAL is expected to build more or less an average of 45 major cooperatives, or an average of 6 to 7 per local government unit that could reach out to almost five per cent of the total household in OPAL and three percent of the total number of agricultural lands.

"It is our belief that OPAL will have a major impact not only on our local economy, but in terms of attracting investors in the first district of Pangasinan or the OPAL district,” the mayor pointed out.

He added that in tourism, OPAL will be able to capacitate potential business partners and stakeholders that can immediately go into business within a 15-month period.

OPAL, according to Braganza, is expected to conserve and protect the natural beauty in the OPAL area and transform these into potential economic opportunities for integration of all these under one major program.

After 15 months of being together, we do sincerely believe that given an expensive preparation and capacity building program, we will be able to secure investments for the OPAL district,” he said. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=214784

allan dude, ilang minutes ang biyaheng bayambang to sm rosales?

^15-20 minutes lang.

Bayambang > Bautista > Alcala > Santo Tomas > Rosales.

Panay maliliit na bayan madadaanan. :)

Hundreds of forest trees planted on Arbor Day

To help combat climate change in their simplest, smallest ways, the city’s cross section planted forest trees at the Adopt-A-Mountain Project Site and a timberland which will soon be a proposed tree park expansion area in barangay Sabangan here last Thursday morning.

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The activity is in celebration of the Philippine Arbor Day and the World Environment Month this June.

From the academe, to the local communities, city government officials and civil servants, other national government agencies based in the city, non-government organizations, lawmen and reservist, almost everyone who felt its high time to act collectively to fight environmental degradation showed up to get re-united with Mother Nature.

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Around 1,000 gmelina seedlings were planted at the city’s 16-hectare tree park in just an hour, according to Gester Tolentino, Agriculturist II and in-charge of the park’s development.

Tolentino said the most of the seedlings were already locally grown at the city’s plant nursery.

The said nursery was established a year ago at the project site and is now supplying the forest tree seedlings requirement of the city’s 39 barangays.

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The initiative, it was learned, was part of Mayor Hernani A. Braganza’s effort to encourage Alaminians to plant and nurture trees aimed at covering the city in lush green.

“But the bigger goal of our beloved mayor, is of course, contribute much to the worldwide effort to address global warming,” he added.

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Tolentino disclosed that the seedlings are given to interested residents for free.

In exchange of the seedling though, recipients are advised to bring any kind of seeds of fruit bearing or forest trees or even high commercial crops or veggies to the nursery.

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This will help replenish the seed bank which are being grown and nurtured by the park’s personnel at the plant nursery for future use in the barangays.

Other seedlings that were planted at forest park come from the community environment and natural resources office (CENRO)-Alaminos.

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City councilor Earl James Aquino, who earlier welcomed all the participants during the brief program, said the tree planting activity is one of the perfect ways to give back to Mother Nature what was taken from her.

This is the time of the year when we share the same commitment and act as one to save our environment from further destruction, said the SP committee chair on agriculture and the vice president of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Hundred Islands.

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“Hopefully, we could really sustain what we are doing right now because this does not only benefit our environment,” said city councilor Carolyn-Dizon.

“This is beneficial to us human beings, who should be taking good care of our environment in the first place,” added the president of JCI-Hundred Islands.

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Sison expressed her excitement to be a part of the bigger campaign of re-greening the city especially now that thousands of the trees in the communities were uprooted or destroyed by typhoon Emong.

She also assured that the city council will continue to support all the environmental protection, conservation and rehabilitation program of the city government.

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City administrator Wilmer Panabang, who called the tree planting activity as green day in the city, further stressed that this annual tree-planting activity is in line with the Alaminos vision of green and vibrant city in the next 10-15 years.

“We are gathered here today to re-green our denuded mountains,” he said. Tomorrow, let’s plant more trees in our idle private lands but not near our houses, segregate our solid waste and encourage our barangaymates to do the same to fight climate change.”

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Meanwhile, Forester Pacencia Votacion of CENRO-Alaminos challenged the city’s students to take giant strides to nurture the trees that they have planted.

Please find time to visit your plants regularly and plant more trees not only in our city’s tree park but within your school premises, she added.

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For her part, OIC-city agriculturist Arceli Talania noted that with the flora and fauna present at the city’s tree park, the city residents could easily transform more idle hilly lands into forest parks in the future.

Talania, who was joined by some organic rice farmers in the city, took the opportunity to encourage the city’s youth groups, NGOs to join other movement that champions the cause of the environment

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This include environmental awareness campaigns, coastal clean-up drives, and on proper disposal of solid wastes as well as supporting the Go-Organic Movement on which, the city government is one of the key movers to produce healthier food for the people, provide better yield for the farmers and ensure cleaner and sound environment.

In 2003, the city government of Alaminos was among the few cities or town in country that entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the latter’s Adopt-A-Mountain Project, a program aimed at encouraging local government units or entities to adopt a portion of public lands for agro-forestry development.

http://hundredislands.ph/photos/2009arborDay14.jpg

Today, the city’s tree park is almost 95% covered with various plants and trees. Aside from its green landscape, it boosts cool ambience, biodiversity and the presence of some wild life in the area.

It is also perfect for family or group outings, camping, adventure sports such as hiking, mountain bike race, retreats, bird watching or nature photography.

http://hundredislands.ph/photos/2009arborDay15.jpg

And since the area almost saturated with trees, the city government is now looking for expansion areas which will soon be established as potential tree park or another tourist attraction in the city.

Noting that the program has so many benefits to the environment, both locally and globally, to the city residents in general and to the future generations of Alaminians in particular, plans for city to adopt more areas for development are already on the pipeline. (CIO)

http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=526

APAUSA donates 16 computers,76 bags of rice to Alaminos

Sixteen brand new computers and seventy six sacks of rice were the latest gifts of the Alaminos Pangasinan Association-USA (APAUSA) to the city.

Bob Basobas, APAUSA president, personally handed their club’s donations to Mayor Hernani A. Braganza, the public elementary school principals and other city officials here during yesterday’s flag raising ceremony held yesterday at the city hall grounds.

The recipients of the computer sets were Alos Elementary School (ES), Bisocol ES, Bolaney ES, Bued ES, Cayucay ES, Dulacac ES, Landoc ES, Palamis ES, Lucap ES, Poblacion ES, Pocal-pocal ES, Sabangan ES, San Vicente ES, Tangcarang ES and Victoria ES.

Mrs. Angelina Rapatalo, Principal II of Alos Elementary School thanked Mayor Braganza and APAUSA for the computer donations.

“This is very necessary for us to teach our pupils basic lessons on computers, she said. We could also use it to facilitate in the preparation of our voluminous reports.”

“We thank the men and women of APAUSA for their gift to our students,” added Mrs. Sylvia Godoy, Principal IV of Lucap Elementary School. “

“We hope that they could give more computers to our public school in the future to complement Mayor Braganza’s massive computerization and internet connectivity program in all our schools in Alaminos.”

APAUSA also donated one unit of computer to the Alaminos City Library which serves hundreds of students daily who are searching relevant information from the internet.

In extending her gratitude to APAUSA, city librarian Zenaida C. Romero said that the city library is very fortunate to receive said office equipment.

“Like our school principals, we would like to assure our beloved Mayor and the APAUSA that we will take good care of their donations so that more students could make use and benefit from it, she further noted.”

Basobas explained that the direct beneficiaries of their project are the birth places or respective barangays of their members and co-officers in the APAUSA.

He said APAUSA learned about the laudable program of the mayor few years back that is why they came up with these computer donations to public schools.

“We are not promising anything but we will work hard and do our best to also give computers to remaining 29 public elementary and high schools in our beloved city.

A recipient of special citation from the city government in 2007 for his valuable contributions to the city, the club president likewise vowed to help the city government in luring his fellow Alaminians living in US as well as foreign friends to invest their fortunes in the city.

“APAUSA’s rice donations are really huge and certainly of great help to our citymates who were victims of typhoon Cosme, said Braganza in his message.

“We sincerely thank APAUSA headed by Bob Basobas and Allan Credo,(through his father retired Col. Manuel Credo ) that even if they’re thousand miles away from us their unconditional love and concern are being felt by their citymates back home,” he stressed.

“We also appreciate the fact that they have donated computers for our public schools, the mayor added noting that majority of the computer rooms that were put-up by the city and computers that were purchased and donated by various entities were destroyed by the typhoon.

There are now 44 public schools in the city, 36 of which are elementary schools.

All of the city’s public schools are already fully computerized and its seven high schools were connected to the internet through the city’s Wireless Internet-based Governance System (WINGS) program.

The arrival of the new computers will definitely boost the city’s WINGS program, one of the major components of the Braganza administration “Bright Child Program”.

Other components of said noble thrust includes the city’s expanded feeding program for the more than 19,000 school children.

The said program provides alternative income for the parents, local farmers and even the students who produced the vegetables that are needed in the feeding program.

Also part of the Bright Child Program were the city’s expanded scholarship programs, the city’s comprehensive community-based sports development program and the computer literacy program for out of school youth.

WINGS offers free wireless interconnectivity to all public schools in the city, thereby, providing the city’s youth quality education that they deserve using the internet.

Under the policy of the national government in partnership with the private sectors, high schools are the utmost priority as far as providing computer education and connecting the schools to the world via the internet are concerned.

But in Alaminos, Braganza had taken bold steps to fully computerize and provide internet access even to students of public elementary schools in the city.

“We wish to inform Bob, the members of the APAUSA and our kabaleyans abroad that Alaminos is the first town or city in Region 1 to be fully computerized,” the mayor pointed out.

“The city government was also first to offer free computer education to out-of-school youths in the city especially those high school undergrads that couldn’t afford to continue their studies, he continued.

The city had already produced hundreds graduates for the past 4 years, who passed the TESDA examinations and are now working in the city government, in private companies in the province and in Metro Manila and even abroad.

Braganza disclosed that the city government had allocated P 9M to complete the WINGS project for the remaining 27 barangays.

But because of typhoon Emong that damaged most of the school buildings here, the mayor had requested the city council and the department heads for the re-alignment of said fund to finance the construction of new and modern computer buildings.

“This is all part of our noble program, our major investment to improve the quality of education in our city and for our youth to have a brighter future ahead of them,” stressed Braganza.

“Again, we wish extend our heartfelt gratitude to our kabaleyans working and living in the US for their generosity, for their continuing support and assistance to the city in terms of worthy projects that truly benefits our citymates and for helping as well in our sustainable tourism development program.” (CIO)

http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=527

Once a social volcano in Dagupan now a zone of peace

By Leonardo V. Micua

DAGUPAN CITY, July 1 (PNA) — Love now reigns in Sitio Russia in Barangay Bonuan Binloc, which was previously dubbed as a social volcano in Dagupan that was about to erupt.

But all’s well that ends well there now as squatters, numbering 65 families, finally softened up and eventually accepted their relocation.

Thanks to Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. for resolving the issue resolutely that resulted in a win-win solution for both parties -- the squatters on the one side and the city government of Dagupan on the other side.

This happened despite the flare up of emotion between the squatters and the police in at least two occasions, not to mention a court case filed by the squatters against the Dagupan City government.

But just like all tele-novelas, there was a happy ending to the story as squatters ultimately abandoned their hard stance after eventually seeing the light of day, thus paved for the start of the construction of a state-of-the-art Seafood Processing Plant there.

"After finally seeing the light, residents of sitio Russia did not wait any more for the demolition team to come and tear down their houses. It was them who already tore their own, in an obvious display of recapitulation, tempered with understanding," said Ronaldo Torio, barangay chairman of Bonuan Binloc.

Torio said residents of sitio Russia decided to put up a struggle at the very start as they were brainwashed by people who acted as their leaders.

These people who are even strangers to the place, he said, acted as leaders but eventually abandoned the cause when the going was already rough.

Torio thanked Mayor Fernandez for adopting a firm hand in dealing with the crisis in Sitio Russia, otherwise the stalemate would not have been resolved.

This led to the satisfactory solution of the problem whose convulsion reverberated throughout the whole city, which was allowed to drag on for months, even a year.

Through the advice of their leaders, the residents took an early offensive by filing a civil case before the sala of Regional Trial Court Judge Genoveva Maramba of Branch 44.

But while the issue was still in the period of free-trial conference, with no writ of preliminary injunction issued by the court yet as prayed for by the Sitio Russia Neighborhood Association, the city government moved in to end the stalemate.

This finally ended anarchy in sitio Russia, exacerbated by the presence of anti-government elements mouthing inflammatory slogans against the state and determined to create trouble.

Three days after the flare up of emotions in sitio Russia, love, not hate, now reigns in Sitio Russia and in adjacent Gawad Kalinga-Bangusville II.

Torio said those who had moved to the relocation site already are now sporting hearty smiles if they see him, a big departure from their squirming mood when they had not yet moved in there.

At the relocation site, each family was guaranteed one row house each from 55 units that were already built by the city government.

There are 10 more units to be built there in order to complete the original number of families earlier marked for relocation.

There were 65 families that were marked for relocation, all of them poor and are sustenance fishermen. The rich people, who built vacation and rest houses in Sitio Russia, were not accommodated in the relocation site but nevertheleess, their rest houses were crushed.

Torio said these families will also enjoy priority for employment when the construction of the Seafood Processing Plant will finally begin.

He said they are also priorities to be hired once the plant is already operational.

City Administrator Alvin Fernandez said the Seafood Processing Plant, a gift to Dagupan by the Korean government, will be a big boon to the whole city.

He expressed optimism that Barangay Bonuan Binloc will be transfrormed into an economic beehive when the fish processing plant shall have been operational.

There will be a need for the opening of trucking services and restaurants as support services to the processing plant, he said. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=215011

Feature: Continuous improvement is key to Pangasinenses' business success

By Venus H. Sarmiento

Dagupan City (1 July) -- The legend of the bamboo tree tells us that when strong winds and heavy rains poured in the plantation field, the bamboo just swayed, bent, stooped and went with the direction of the wind. After the storm, it went back to its original form. However, the trees near it which boasted of their strength and physical grandeur were all uprooted and fell to the ground.

Thus, the bamboo should be the nation's national tree, stressed Mr. Alfredo Vicente, proprietor and manager of Dorevi Industries, one the leading manufacturers and exporter of bamboo products based in Pangasinan.

Vicente, an accountant by profession, has been designing his products according to the needs of the buyers. He goes with the flow of innovations so as not to be left out.

"Continuous improvement, innovations and original concepts of product designs made us survive the bamboo products business. Of course, the quality is of utmost standard," Vicente explained.

He noted that the Philippines was once the number one exporter of bamboo products, until China penetrated the market. China products were much cheaper but the quality also deteriorated, said Vicente.

Vicente urged lawmakers to utilize part of their priority development assistance fund to certain endeavors like the plantation of bamboo in river banks which will not only help bamboo buyers and sellers but also prevent soil erosion and environmental degradation.

A successful entrepreneur, Vicente recalled the days when he was just starting out. "I don't even have a work area to begin with. We worked under the heat of the sun just to finish our work. Little by little, with my meager earnings and income from the businesses, I was able to buy two pieces of galvanized iron sheets, until I was able to build my work place," Vicente explained.

He joined seminars on business management like packaging, costing and marketing conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry in various places. He later joined DTI-sponsored trade fairs where he got good feedbacks about his products from customers and eventually gained a good number of prospective buyers and loyal customers. To date, Vicente now exports his products to Japan, Spain, new Zealand and Germany, among others.

Adopting to changes brought by time, Vicente ventured into'mixed media', which means mixing the bamboo with other locally available raw products to introduce a new item.

The San Carlos-city-based businessman advised would-be business owners to overcome obstacles that may come their way. It is ok to think big he said but it is proper not to start big outright. Little by little, the business would prosper if you love what you do. "Anuman ang gawin, if it comes from the heart, magagwa mo ng maganda," explained Vicente. (PIA-Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=r01&y=&mo=&fi=p090701.htm&no=35

Lukas so finance department ed kaaruman ya senior citizen discounts

by Danny O Sagun

Daguapan City -- Pabor so Department of Finance ed proponi ya itagey ed 30 porsiento so discount manlapud 20 porsiento ya iiter ed saray senior citizen.

Inkuanen finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran ya leleg ya susuportaan na departamento so probisyon ed sakey a Senate bill ya pangitagey ed discount, amasakbay balet so departamento ed saray managpanday na ley asuntod pangiter na P1,500 ya monthly stipend.

Inkuan en Beltran ya leleg dan aapresyaen so maabig ya getma na bill pian mangiter na karuman ya tulong ed saray mataken lan sektor, ag da balet nasuportaan so proponi ya usaren so value added tax pian itday binulan ya sustento iray mataken.

Impalinew ton manresulta ed pakabalang na P4 billion ya binulan ya anap na gobyerno so pangiter na stipend odino manga P53 bilyon tinaon. Bilang resulta, inkuan ton nalimitaan so gobierno ed pangibadyet tod melag ya nanaanap to.

Likod ed pangitagey na discounts, getma na proponin ley ya ipaliis laray senior citizen ed pambayar na income taxes no say tinaon dan taxable income et aliwan atagey nen say sankaunoran ya poverty threshold ed bansa.

Sayan probisyon, inkuan to, so kaukolan ya mitukoyan ed insentibo ya impila ed Minimum Wage Law odino R.A. 9504. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&sec=reader&fi=p090630.htm&no=48

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1.021 km long Hector Mendoza Bridge - click image to enlarge

The 1.021 km Hector Mendoza Bridge in Alcala is the second longest bridge in the province after Narciso Ramos Bridge in Asingan and Sta. Maria, Pangasinan

Costing P726 million, the bridge project formed part of the Agno River Flood Control project Phase II which was funded by a loan with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation worth some P1 billion.

The bridge project was actually started during the Marcos era but it was abandoned apparently due to funding problems. Twelve piers or foundations were already built at the time. (PIA)

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Newly rebuilt Calvo Bridge, connecting Bayambang and District 5 - click image to enlarge

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District 3 Madam Congresswoman Arenas even painted Bautista's bridge rail (District 5). It's no longer her constituency. The boundary that separates the two engineering districts is in the middle. :lol: - click image to enlarge

New Calasiao town hall up by December

The Pangasinan Star Online

CALASIAO, noted for its tender sweet-tasting puto, will have a new three-storey town hall by December, an exuberant Mayor Roy Macanlalay told the weekly Enkwentro sa Lenox forum Wednesday.

Macanlalay, who may eventually run for vice-mayor next year in tandem with his son Mark, an incumbent councilor, belied reports that the municipality’s loan of P60 million with Land Bank was suffering from hitches that would delay the construction of the new hall. Fire gutted the old building last year.

He also brushed aside rumors about treasure hunting at the construction site. “Kung maghahanap pa ng gold yong contractor di na nya matatapos yong building sa December.” He said that the contractor has six to seven months to finish the project and that will be in December. On the high fence surrounding the construction site, it was just normal for the owner or the contractor to secure the property and prevent any theft or pilferage, he said.

Mayor Roy needed to stay longer than his co-guests at the forum (he was paired with Pat Orduna and company and newsmen had their focus on the buried/excavated medicines at the Capitol compound), to answer questions surrounding the town hall reconstruction and many other controversial issues like the killing of engineer Domingo Ballesteros right at the temporary town hall premises. The mayor could have been the star of the show (as did Sta. Barbara Mayor Rey Velasco in the special edition of the weekly forum a day earlier) if he was not paired with the provincial officials. He had to bear waiting for newsmen’s prying questions. It could not come until all questions involving the medicine scandal would have been exhausted.

We thought the mayor would be scheduled in later editions. That was the impression we got from Pangasinan press prexy Allan Sison because Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. would have to get prime time, so to speak. It already happened exactly a week before when almost all questions raised were for second district Rep. Victor E. Agbayani. Philhealth Regional Manager Douglas Cardona and District Engineer Rodolfo Dion had to play ‘supporting roles’ only. Well, the governor just sent his men.

Anyway, Macanlalay had all the time after the provincial officials left. He said his town is welcome for investors, businessmen and mall developers since neighbor Dagupan would no longer accept “outsiders.” He has not abandoned the planned conversion of the Central School lot into a commercial center.

On his political plans, he said he might run as vice-mayor with his son Mark as the front-runner “for the continuity of his programs for the town.” We in jest told him to be careful reminding him of what happened to San Carlos City Mayor Julian “Jolly” Resuello, who, while campaigning for vice-mayor with son Ayoy as the candidate for mayor, fell into assassins’ hands. Well, politicos from his town, he pointed out, have kept their campaign at a high level and have not resorted to any violent means.

On the alleged landgrabbing charge hurled against him in connection with the property he got along the Bonuan beach, he said the area involved is not covered by Proclamation 98 and is therefore alienable and disposable. The case is pending at the regional prosecutor’s office since the city prosecutor’s office inhibited itself. A sirin?

http://pangasinanstar.prepys.com/archives/2009/06/29/column-the-pen-speaks-new-calasiao-town-hall-up-by-decembero/

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Agno Flood Control Project in Alcala

Esperon hints writ of possession for project

ASINGAN–To break the impasse that's causing the delay in the completion of the flood control project, Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. hinted government may proceed with the enforcement of a writ of possession issued by the court.

Esperon mentioned this possibility as the scheduled dialogue between the landowners and their lawyer, officials of the Flood Control Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the contractor, Daewoo Engineering and Construction Corporation last June 24 was postponed to June 30.

Alcala Mayor Manuel Collado said the postponement was requested by the landowners.

The dialogue was scheduled to resolve a right-of-way problem that stood in the way of the construction of an approaching channel of the Agno River Flood Control Project in Alcala.

The approaching channel seeks to re-direct the flow of water from the upper stream of the Agno River down in to Alcala, instead of meandering to other arable areas.

The approaching channel which already registered a negative slippage of more than 25 percent, is part of Package 2 of the project's Phase II budgeted at a cost of P1.5 billion, from a loan obtained by the government from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency thru the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

The completion of the approaching channel is being blocked by a tree plantation whose owners are now demanding an enormous amount as compensation.

Director Philip Menez of the DPWH Flood Control Office accused the land owners of bad faith for insisting to plant trees of unusual spacing at a time when they were just plotting the P1.5 billion project under Package 2 of Phase II of the Agno Flood Control Project.

There are about 10,000 full-grown mahogany trees in that plantation, spaced very thickly, and the owners of the trees are now demanding payment from P6,000 to P7,000 per tree, aside from the value of their land which may amount to something like P160 million..

Esperon said that since the writ of possession was issued by the court as early as two years ago, the government can now enter the area and proceed with its project and will pay the compensation when there is agreement on the rate of compensation.

"This means that we can now work on the project and if later the court would decide to compensate the property and determine the amount to be paid, the government will pay," Esperon said.

He said the government will go to the dialogue on June 30 but stressed that the enforcement of the writ of possession is an option for the government to prevent any more project delay.-LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/06/29/esperon-hints-writ-of-possession-for-project/


***

Right-of-way halts flood control project

ALCALA -- The Phase II (Package 2) of the Agno River Flood Control project in Pangasinan is stalled because of the right-of-way problem.

A closure dike and a channel have been constructed in Barangay Laoac West here by the foreign contractor.

However, the contractor could not proceed with constructing the remaining part of the project that would connect the channel to the Hector Mendoza bridge because of resistance from lot owners where the channel will pass through.

Presidential Management Staff chief Hermogenes Esperon personally saw the problem when he and members of the Pro-Performance Steering Committee or Pro-Performance Team of the National Government conducted ocular inspections on the flood control projects in the province last week.

Alcala Mayor Manuel Collado volunteered to arrange and host the dialogue between the Agno Flood Control Project officers, the lot owners, and the contractor.

Esperon said the original schedule was moved to June 30.

"We already have the writ of possession, which means we can work on that area already. Later on when the court decides to compensate the owners of the lot and decide on the amount, the government will pay them," he said before the Engkwentro sa Lenox media forum hosted by the Pangasinan Press and Radio Club.

He added that they have "exhausted all means" beginning with the dialogue with the landowners, the contractor, and the flood control office.

"As Mayor Collado said, it will be the people who will benefit from this project. I hope things will be settled by June 30 so that we can proceed with the project," the official said.

The landowners started planting mahogany trees years ago at the area where the channel will cut through when the Department of Public Works and Highways started paperwork on the Phase II project.

Now the mahogany trees (numbering about 10,000, the distance in between are shorter that what is required by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources) are fully grown.

The long-winding Agnor River passes through the towns of Sto. Tomas, Alcala, and Bayambang in Pangasinan down to the Lingayen Gulf.

Esperon likened Phase II (Package 2) project to that of the Panama Canal. In effect, bulk of the water from the Agno River will be diverted here, lessening the impact of the rush of water in Bayambang.

Meanwhile, the Agno River Basin Flood Control project was funded by the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC).

Esperon said the original project cost was P5.1 billion. But because of the delay, the total project cost will reach about P6.1 billion.

He said Phase I (from the mouth of the Agno River in Lingayen/Lingayen gulf to Bayambang) is finished. Packages 1 and 3 of Phase II have been completed while Package II is 92 percent completed.

Phase II covers Sto. Tomas, Rosales up to San Manuel town where the San Roque Dam is located.

Esperon said the re-regulating pond (which will impound water coming out from the San Roque Power Plant) project has been bidden out. Groundwork will commence in August this year. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/right-way-halts-flood-control-project

SALT OF THE EARTH: Mapandan

By RESTITUTO C. BASA

THE town of Mapandan started as a barrio of the municipality of Mangaldan. It is located at the extreme southeast section of its mother town.

The leaders, who spearheaded the move to create their village into a town independent from Mangaldan, were the landed gentry such as the Sorianos and the Aquinos. Their adviser was a priest, Fr. Jose Torres.

The original townsite was hilly where the pandan tree grew in abundance. They named the town Mapandan, after the pandan. Mapandan means abundance of pandan.

Because the townsite was hilly, it was not very productive. It was not suited for agricultural pursuit.

Under the guidance of the parish priest, Fr. Jose Torres, the residents moved the townsite to at a flat terrain (the present townsite). They named the abandoned townsite Torres, in honor of their spiritual leader.

Other Pangasinan towns named their abandoned townsite Namagbagan, as in Anda, and Balaydaan as in Alaminos.

Mapandan was created as a town on May 11, 1902. The governing authority at that time, which had the power to create a town, was the Philippine Commission. The country was already under American rule, although there were still pockets of resistance in some parts of the country. Mapandan has a land area of 2,545 hectares, one of the smallest in the province. (The smallest town, in terms of land area, is Sto. Tomas which has 1,572.42 hectares).

It celebrates its town fiesta on May 1 when the coastal towns of Pangasinan are celebrating Pistay Dayat.

The main occupation of its residents is agriculture.

It is one of the Pangasinan towns that continue to produce cane sugar. To extract sugar from the cane, the farmers rely on the traditional carabao-drawn mill.

This process of milling cane sugar is resorted to for the purpose of producing the traditional delicacy patupat.

The town is drained by the Angalacan river.

During the Japanese occupation, two natives of Mapandan were active in the underground movement that resisted Japanese rule. They were the cousins Arturo and Nicanor Carino.

To evade Japanese arrest, the Carinos had their base at Barangay Banzal of Sta Barbara, which is at the border of Mapandan. The Carinos married into the Salon family of Bansal.

There is a government hospital in Mapandan and a private school offering secondary education (The Mapandan Academy, a branch of the University of Pangasinan).

Mapandan is bounded in the north by San Jacinto; in the east by Manaoag in the southeast by Urdaneta, in the southwest by Sta. Barbara and in the west by Mangaldan.

As of this writing, the leadership of the town is supplied by the Calimlim clan. The Calimlims are newcomers to Mapandan; they came from Dagupan.

In Dagupan, the Calimlims are of the ruling clans.

The native son of Mapandan who attained national prominence is General Jose Calimlim.

http://pangasinanstar.prepys.com/archives/2009/06/29/column-salt-of-the-earth-mapandan/

Bonuan

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1003/3171873561_917a8eee90.jpg?v=0
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Aris Aquino
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/arisletrato/3171873561/)
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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Aris Aquino
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/arisletrato/3195875560/)
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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Aris Aquino (http://www.flickr.com/photos/arisletrato/3171873049/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Aris Aquino (http://www.flickr.com/photos/arisletrato/3170365616/)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1036/3169544307_72225731a9.jpg?v=0
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Aris Aquino (http://www.flickr.com/photos/arisletrato/3169544307/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Aris Aquino (http://www.flickr.com/photos/arisletrato/3170363932/)

Pilalek na Pigaran Dagupeños ya Mangiletneg na Sarili dan Negosyo, Natoor la

Posted by Lanie Tomas

Naroman lamet so bilang na saray Dagupeños ya awalaan na trabaho ed tulong na lokal a gobiernoy siudad.

Immabet ed 130 ya residentis na Dagupan so abenipisyuan na taloran simba ya libren inpanpasal panamegley na Hair and Beauty Culture Seminar ya inkurang na City Social Welfare and Development Office o CSWDO, no iner saray trained personnel da met la so angidaulo ya nanbangat ed saraya.

Agawa so mass graduation program daranya sanen Hunyo 30, 2009 ed city museum. Saray nansompal so pikabiangan na unemployed ira ya bibii, katayakdang tan pigaran miembro na third sex manlapod apatiran lugar ya nanpasalan daranya kabiangan lay CSWD multi-purpose hall, University of Luzon, Barangay Lucao tan Barangay Bonuan Binloc.

Nanpasalamat iray nansompal ed kinen Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. lapud wala lay napan-anapan da kasompalan iran nanpasal nilirad pan-manicure, pan-pedicure, pankatli tan pamproseso na naakan.

Diad kaplesan, pigara ed saray nansompal so mantratrabaho larad parlors, legan ya saray arom et manserserbisyo ed kabkaabongan o angiletneg laray sarili dan negosyo ed panayaman daranya, osar so complete set na pan-manicure tan pan-pedicure ya impangaro na lokal a gobiernoy Dagupan.

Indayew nen City Administrator Dr. Alvin Fernandez iray akibiang ed agawan mass graduation lapud seseg tan inpanpoger dan maka-aral tan maka-almo na kuwarta ed malinis ya kipakaran. Inyarom ton, sakey so livelihood programs ed saray iitdan na prayoridad na gobierno pian ontagey so kipapasen na panamilay na kada pamilya ed siudad na Dagupan.

Dinmagop met ed agawan okasyon si Manay Gina De Venecia. Tinangguyor to iray bibii ya manpatuloy dan labanan iray subok ya kaarapen dad bilay tan ontalindeg ira panamegley na pangipasen na sarili dan negosyo.

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=561

Earth Run, Nagawa no Hulyo 4

by Lanie Tomas

Panangaro ed abig-laman tan environment so inkanonotan ed pakagaway EARTH run no Hulyo 4, 2009 ed siudad na Dagupan, ongapod alas-sais na kabuasan, ed arapan na city plaza.

Say fun run so proyekto na Land Transportation Office ed pitutulungan na lokal ya gobiernoy Dagupan, Kiwanis Club of Dagupeña, Metro Dagupan tan say Dagupan City Schools Division.

Lukas so Earth Run parad saray amin ya interesadon mipartisipa tan libre so pamparehistro. Walay 3-kilometer run parad saray ogogaw ya bibii tan lalaki ya mantaon na 13 mamabeba, legan ya 5-kilometer so parad saray mantaon na 13 patagey.

Makaresibi na kas ya premyo tan medalya so limaran manunaan ya makasompal na pambatik ed kada kategorya, legan ya wala met so special awards ya pikabiangan na sakey ya sangkaogawan tan sakey ya sangkatakkenan ya bumabatik ya akasabid finish line.

Dauloan nen Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. so ceremonial gun fire bilang panekder ya ongapo lay pambatik. Mikakasakey so ama na siudad ed getma na LTO ya lalon pabiskegen so pangikamayat na impormasyon nilirad road safety tan clean air act.

Mibiang met ed nagawan Earth Run si LTO Chief Arturo Lomibao.

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=560

PNP forms village peacekeeping teams in Pangasinan

by Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City (3 July) -- A community-police partnership scheme is being worked out by the Philippine National Police for the maintenance of peace and order, according to the Pangasinan PNP police community relations office.

Supt. Policarpio Cayabyab said that the system involves organization of barangay peacekeeping action teams in the more than 1,300 barangays in the province. Ten people who will be given training for the purpose will compose the team in each barangay, he said.

Cayabyab, who graced the Engkwentro sa Lenox forum Wednesday, said that police chiefs will first undergo a seminar for the effective implementation of the program which aims to improve the cooperation of the community with the police in the maintenance of peace and order in the barangays.

The program will not only focus on anti-criminality but also on the campaign against terrorism and insurgency, he said.

Asked if the present barangay security forces or tanods will be the same persons to be tapped for the action teams, he said that those tanods who meet the qualifications may be taken in. He said that the members of the teams will undergo rigid training.

Meanwhile, the PNP provincial office, faced with shooting incidents held in succession for the past three weeks, said it is stepping up its campaign against loose firearms.

Reacting to a question why the police usually treat shooting incidents as isolated cases, Supt. David Rapizora, deputy provincial director for administration, told the media forum that the police could not cover all areas 24 hours a day seven days a week although the police, he pointed out, try their best to maintain visibility in crime prone areas to deter crime.

He said that criminals have "different motives," adding, "alam nila kung nasaan ang pulis at kung saan titira."

Earlier, third district Rep. Racel Arenas in a letter called the attention of Sr. Supt. Percival Barba, police provincial director, regarding spate of killings in her district with public officials and prominent citizens as targets. She said the recent four high profile murder cases in her district negated the claim of the police that the prevailing situation in Pangasinan was peaceful.

Only last Friday early morning, less than 24 hours after the media forum where the police officials guested, a daughter of broadcaster Susan Yadao was gunned down on her way to work.

The Dagupan city police is looking into angles like robbery and threats on her life. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p090703.htm&no=43

Pangasinan entrepreneurs can cope with financial crisis – ECOP

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City -- The business climate in Pangasinan may be sluggish due to the global financial crisis but businessmen are optimistic they can survive it, the head of the Employers' Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) Pangasinan chapter said Thursday.

Businessman Salvador "Ed" Poserio said that his group primarily aims to "ensure business survival and jobs preservation." He said that entrepreneurs particularly the micro and small ones bear the brunt of the economic meltdown as noted in the closure of small shops and stalls particularly those located in malls.

"Matumal," he said when asked of the business situation in the province, citing the sentiments of his colleagues in the business sector. He bared that business establishments in Pangasinan incur an average loss of some 10 percent as a result of poor sales or lower demand.

Still, business owners have not resorted to laying off employees, he said. "We see to it na walang matanggal sa trabaho … kawawa naman ang pamilya ng mga workers kung biglang wala silang pagkunan ng kabuhayan," he told the KBP Forum at the Philippine Information Agency office. He said he agreed with the observation earlier made by Regional Director Henry John Jalbuena of the Department of Labor and Employment that Region 1 was an "employment gainer" instead because of the increase in the number of workers.

He said that ECOP in cooperation with concerned government agencies continue to provide assistance to small and medium enterprises thru business productivity seminars for them to cope with the prevailing meltdown.

He also lauded government intervention efforts that lessen the impact of the crisis like the implementation of such programs as the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) and the Pangulong Gloria Scholarships, a training program being conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

He however called on government to use people's money properly noting that corruption is the "root cause of economic hardships."

Meanwhile, the Dagupan Electric Corporation (Decorp), the top taxpayer in the city, vowed to provide efficient services for its customers even as it tries to wither the effects of the crisis.

Manager Augusto Sarmiento, who also guested at the weekly forum, said that Decorp only charges systems loss of eight percent or even less to its customers even if electric utilities are allowed to charge up to 9.5 percent because of efficient distribution system being implemented by the company.

Sarmiento said Decorp is expanding its load in the city particularly along the new De Venecia expressway extension spanning barangays Lucao and Pantal. A new substation beside the Decorp office on A. B. Fernandez Avenue west is being constructed to serve the needs of the city proper. Presently, the city is being served by its substation in nearby Calasiao town. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=r01&y=&mo=&fi=p090702.htm&no=34

The perfect rainy day destination

By : Lito Cinco
Manila Standard

Summer is officially over and for a lot of people, it also signals the end of those beach visits and other outdoor activities.

But then look again, if you enjoy visiting the Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan—123 islands in all, actually—during summer, why not do it during the rainy season and visit any of the islands you like using a tandem kayak?

This is the newest way to enjoy and explore the Hundred Islands, and if it rains while you are in the middle of the water in between the islands, you get a bonus.

This writer visited this protected marine park for the Kayak Explore Hundred Islands Eco Summer Challenge. Backed by the Department of Tourism and Cebu Pacific, among others, this adventure is actually the second leg of the 2009 Philippine Kayaking Series, and aside from the competitive 25K kayak marathon race and the 5K novice race, the two-day event also featured an eco-tour for those interested.

The tour kicked off with a trek from Bolo Beach to Camantiles Island, which was a separate island before but is now part of the mainland.

Bolo Beach, which adjoins the Hundred Islands, had a lot of weekenders as the place boasts of fine white sand and clear sea water, never mind that the lodging facilities available are mostly no-frills rooms.

According to kayaking pioneers Val and Didi Camara and organizers of the Kayak Explore Hundred Islands Eco Summer Challenge, Camantiles is a proposed kayak camp for those wanting to avail of the different kayaking packages being offered by the Hundred Islands Eco Tours Association (HIETA ), a local livelihood program where local folks were trained to become water guides.

The start of an adventure

Unfortunately, this plan was shot down by local authorities wanting to maintain the pristine nature of the place. As it turned out, the place is the most sheltered spot in the area, with no waves whatsoever even during stormy days. The water was clean and clear, irresistible to those yearning for a quick dip. But the Camaras had other ideas, the place was just the starting point for the more interesting adventure for the group.

Soon enough, there was a long line of kayaks pulled by a motorboat and once the tandem kayaks were already assigned, off we went to what turned out to be a more than three-hour kayaking experience around the islands, with interesting stopovers along the way..

http://www.yehey.com/travel/articles.aspx?id=241560

San Roque Dam
San Manuel and San Nicolas, Pangasinan

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by pochbelmonte (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39605936@N05/3645984428/) - click image to enlarge

2 Pangasinan cops picked MetroBank Foundation national awardees

CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO (PNA) -- Two policemen from Pangasinan were among the 10 best cops throughout the country and will receive awards on Monday (July 6) from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Malacanang.

For their excellent police service and outstanding community involvement, Police Superintendent Eric Noble, chief of the Sta. Barbara Police, and Police Officer 3 Arturo DC Melchor, assigned with the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, were adjudged as among the recipients of awards in the nationwide search conducted by the prestigious Metrobank Foundation.

Both representing Police Regional Office I in the search, PSupt Noble won in the Police Commissioned Officers (PCO) category, while Melchor, a pre-charge investigator assigned with the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, won in the Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCO) category.

As chief of Police of Sta. Barbara, Noble introduced the novel first of its kind "Feed and Read to Lead" that stimulated in children the love of reading and love of country as well.

Together with the other winners, PSupt Noble and PO3 Melchor were adjudged as the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) this year by the Metrobank Foundation and its partners PSBank and the Rotary Club of New Manila East.

Police Chief Superintendent Ramon V. Gatan, Police Regional Office 1 Regional Director, expressed high appreciation to the twin win of PSupt Noble and PO3 Melchor who truly manifested excellent performance worthy of emulation.

“I am proud that out of 109 aspirants from various police offices and units all over the country, two of our contenders made it to the list of four PCOs and six PNCOs comprising this year’s title-holders,” Gatan said.

Gatan added that PRO1 will also give plaques of appreciation to Noble and Melchor in recognition of their feat that brought much honor not only for themselves but also the whole Police Regional Office 1.

The COPS winners will each receive a trophy and a cash price of P250,000.

The search for COPS is an annual project implemented by the Metrobank Foundation, PSBank and the Rotary Club of New Manila East, in coordination with the Philippine National Police.

Aiming to recognize the shared responsibility between the police and the community, the award is conferred annually on gallant men and women of the police force for their exemplary work with the community in preventing and solving crimes. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=215518

LTO chief to lead ‘Earth run for the environment’

DAGUPAN CITY -- Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Arturo Lomibao will lead Saturday about 400 runners who will participate in the “Earth run for the environment.”

The sporting event will be held at the city’s main business thoroughfare. The race will start at 6 a.m.

Lomibao will fire the starting gun for the three-kilometer race for male and female runners below 13 years old, while Mayor Alipio Fernandez will shot the go-signal for the five-kilometer run.

The post-environment month activity is a project of the LTO in cooperation with the Dagupan City Schools Division and the Kiwanis Club of Dagupea.

The theme is “Run and walk for good health and clean environment.”

“One of the major causes of pollution is the motor vehicles. And air pollution is one of the causes of global warming. Aside from the campaign against smoke belchers, we also would like to encourage the public to just walk for short distances. It is good for the health as walking is an exercise, it will save you some money from fare or gasoline (if you are using your own vehicle) not to mention you are helping mitigate air pollution,” Lomibao said.

At the same event, the LTO chief will lead the provincial launching of the “Road safety campaign” earlier launched in Manila by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

“On the road safety aspect, the LTO’s thrust is to put order and safety on the road. Based on statistics, about 16,000 lives are lost nationwide because of road accidents. Attaining zero accident is next to impossible. Our aim is to reduce greatly the number of road accidents by inculcating on the drivers road discipline,” Lomibao further said.

“The LTO’s primary concern is always life. Road safety is everyone’s concern and responsibility. And one of the objectives of holding the Earth Run marathon is to remind everybody road safety is pro-life. And taking care of yourself and of the environment is pro-life. Moreover, road safety is self-discipline and being considerate to others,” he stated.

Meanwhile, to ensure the safety of the runners, the city’s Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) will post traffic enforcers at every street intersection. Deltacom-Dagupan, on the other hand, will compliment this with motorcycle-riding members.

First-aid personnel will be provided by the City Health Office and the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)-Pangasinan chapter.

In the three-kilometer run, the first to arrive at the finish line will receive P1,500 and a medal. The second placer will receive P1,200 and a medal while the third place will bring home P1,000 and medal. Fourth and fifth finishers will receive P700 and P500, respectively.

In the five-kilometer race, the prizes are: P2,000 and medal for the first place; P1,700 and medal for the second place; and P1,500 and medal for the third place. Fourth and fifth placers will receive P1,300 and P1,000, respectively.

There will also be special awards for the youngest and oldest runners to reach the finish line. (LCMY/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/lto-chief-lead-%E2%80%98earth-run-environment%E2%80%99

Ministop eyes 100 outlets annually

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/04/2009

MANILA - Robinsons Convenience Stores Inc. (RCSI), which operates the Ministop store chain in the Philippines, plans to open 100 outlets annually as it aims to be the leading convenience store player in the country, it said in a recent statement.

In addition to its current 250 outlets, 35 new stores are now under construction, said RCSI, the joint venture formed by the Robinsons Retail Group, Mitsubishi Corp. and MINISTOP Co. Ltd., Japan.

RCSI said it is also looking to open more provincial outlets, reaching as far as Nueva Ecija, Cabanatuan, Tarlac, Dagupan, Lucena, and Baguio. As of today, Ministop has operations in the provinces of Batangas, Pampanga and Bataan.

In line with the company's aggressive expansion, RCSI has introduced a new and attractive business package called Creative Lease, which was designed to encourage prospective business partners to start their own Ministop chain.

"RCSI is presently in the expansion mode and through the Creative Lease business agreement, we hope to open more Ministop stores while giving our business partners a new option on how they can grow with us," stated RCSI deputy general manager Paul Darroca.

The Creative Lease package combines the key characteristics of RCSI's existing Standard and Master Lease packages.

Under Standard Lease, RCSI's business partner shoulders land and building rental, and hires a manager to look after the daily operations of his Ministop store.

The Master Lease Package, on the other hand, stipulates that business partners render full-time, hands-on work in the store for 10 years (the standard contract duration) preventing them from opening another outlet even if they can already afford a new one. Here, RCSI takes care of land and building rental.

The Creative Lease is the combination of the two. Under this package, business partners are allowed to hire a store manager while RCSI pays monthly rental expenses.

"We are projecting to open 100 stores annually and without these business packages, it can be quite difficult," Darroca said.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/07/04/09/ministop-eyes-100-outlets-annually

3-yr old boy finishes 3-km fun run in Dagupan; adjudged as youngest runner

DAGUPAN CITY (PNA)--Believe it or not. A three-year old boy finished a three-kilometer fun run called "Earth Run" held on Saturday in Dagupan, in a race joined by 800 participants.

Adjudged as the youngest participant, Jhero Christian Lomboy Fama ran with his sisters Airis Danielle, 12; and Harleen Gabriele, 9; and brother Harris Mathew, 5.

The kids were joined by their father Police Supt Harris R. Fama, chief of police of Lingayen, and their grandmother Juliana Lomboy.

The Earth Run, called a marathon for the environment, was flagged off by Department of Transportation Secretary Arturo Lomibao, chief of the Land Transportation Office, sponsor of the event in front of the Dagupan City Plaza.

Fama said his family had been running for the past four years in previous fun-run marathon.

"Joining marathon as a family brings us more closer together and develop the kids as sports enthusiast,” he said.

The mother of the children failed to join the fun run as she attended a seminar in Manila.

After the marathon, three-year old Jhero Christian Lomboy Fama, born on September 21, 2007, was declared as the youngest fun-run participant who reached the finish line in front of the Dagupan City Plaza.

The winner of different categories received medals and cash prizes given by Lomibao during a short ceremony at Dagupan City plaza.

Lomibao said the Earth Run was LTO's way of delivering message in support of cleaner air that could abate the worsening problem on global warming. (PNA)

http://www.positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Sports_28/3-yr_old_boy_finishes_3-km_fun_run_in_Dagupan_adjudged_as_youngest_runner.shtml (http://www.positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Sports_28/3-yr_old_boy_finishes_3-km_fun_run_in_Dagupan_adjudged_as_youngest_runner.shtml)

LTO launches road safety campaign in Dagupan

DAGUPAN CITY (PNA) -- Department of Transportation and Communications Assistant Secretary Arturo Lomibao, chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), launched here on Saturday the road safety campaign dubbed as "Road Safety: Ligtas na Daan, Ligtas na Mamamayan."

Dagupan was the first city in the country where the campaign was launched after it was kicked off in Manila last July 1 in a ceremony led by Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, National Capital Region Police Office Director Roberto Rosales and Lomibao.

The launching here consisted of the distribution of posters, pamphlets and streamers that stressed the need for road safety which were received in behalf of the Dagupan City government by Dr. Edwin Aguirre, special assistant to Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., and Michelle Lioanag, tourism head of Dagupan.

It coincided with the Earth Run, a marathon for the environment sponsored by Lomibao, the Dagupan City government and the Kiwanis Club, and attended by some 800 runners from the rank of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, LTO employees and pupils and students from Dagupan and Pangasinan.

Attending the launching were Police Provincial Director Senior Supt. Percival Barba and LTO District Officer for Pangasinan Patricio Urmaza.

Lomibao said the road safety campaign was launched because of the need to reduce fatality, injury and damage to property due to road accidents in order to protect the lives and safety of both motorists and pedestrians.

He said that based on the data gathered by LTO, a daily average of 41 or two cases per hour of road accidents are reported in the Philippines.

Last year, there were 15,534 reported cases of traffic accidents, 465 of which were “fatal,” 4,284 were “non-fatal” and 9,798 caused damage to property.

Based on the 2001 study of traffic accident victims, the very young people 15 years old would fall under the most vulnerable age group representing 36 percent of total population of the country.

The number of fatalities for young people (age 15 to 39) is also high and more than 70 percent of the victims are male. The study also shows that the most vulnerable road user group is comprised of pedestrians that account for 25 percent of the fatalities, while 40 percent of the seriously injured pedestrians are less than 15 years old.

Based on data from the Traffic Management Group, the top 10 causes of road accidents are: Driver’s error; driving under the influence of liquor/prohibited drugs; mechanical defect; over-speeding; using cell phone while driving; road defect repair; hit and run; bad overtaking; bad turning; and overloading.

Assistant Secretary Lomibao said the government mounted the nationwide road safety campaign in support of the Ligtas Lakbay program of DOTC which covers air, land and sea travel.

According to Lomibao, road safety is an important component in the daily lives of the Filipinos since it is: everyone’s concern and responsibility; concerns life and death; promotes self-discipline, the virtues of patience and being considerate to others.

He added that road safety rules apply to all –- rich or poor, public or private.

DOTC and LTO will be staging a Road Safety Summit and Workshop Conference on Traffic Enforcement on August 12 and 13 at the Manila Hotel that will gather all stakeholders "to help us win the battle against road accidents," Lomibao said.

Other activities include fun run, school and mall tours, seminars and tri-media campaign.

Lomibao said that aside from educating motorists and pedestrians on the need to observe road safety, the LTO will also exert efforts to persuade the Department of Education to integrate road safety as part of the school curriculum.
He said that the collective dream and vision to make road safety as a national advocacy must be embraced by all 90 million Filipinos. (PNA)

http://www.positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/LTO_launches_road_safety_campaign_in_Dagupan.shtml

Bantay Balungao

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by moogs (http://www.flickr.com/photos/anjin/166511865/)

Mt. Balungao stunningly rises as one of the peculiar features of Balungao. Its natural beauty and historical significance is something the people of Balungao should be proud of It is located five kilometers southeast of Balungao town proper. Geographically bounded between 120 41' 30" east longitude and 15 52' 30" north latitude. It is accessible thru a motor vehicle following the National road highway no.3 from the north and from Manila in the South passing thru Carmen, Rosales, Pangasinan and traveling eastward via Rosales to Balungao route and from the town of Balungao, thru Barangay roads, foot rails and the Napudot road.

The Mountain is an extinct volcano in which a spring of hot water flows endlessly. The sulfuric content of water contains medicinal properties that can cure many dermal and epidermal diseases. Mt. Balungao whose elevation is 382 meters above sea level is a favorite weekend destination of people because of its famed natural beauty. It was then as it is now, a much sought after hideaway by those seeking to flee the humdrum and ennui of daily life, free from the suffocating tensions and pressure and worries of living. The mountains wide swaths of evergreens, aged trees and palms or its slopes provide refreshing view of God's natural creation.

With the development of Mt. Balungao into a Hot & Cold Springs Resort, local products especially the "tuba" a wine made from palm tree and the native cake "tupig" which both gained prominence due to their distinctive tastes would be exposed to local and foreign tourists that would pave the way to a longer market.

Balungao was officially founded in the year 181S. The town was formerly a part of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. But due to its geographical location, it was deemed proper to make it a separate town. In the latter part of the 18th century, it was separated from the mother town of Cuyapo and was annexed to the Municipality of Rosales sometime in the early of the 19th century.

The historical event that took place in the municipality dates back during the time when the locality was segregated from the township of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija where many of the political personages were involved.
Revolution broke out in the municipality in the year 1896. During the time of Raymundo Laureta as the Cabeza de Barangay, he organized the Katipuneros. After the revolution, the town was again ceded to the Municipality of Rosales; it was named formerly as "Panaclaban". However, by virtue of the Spanish Royal Family Decree, Balungao became again a town and one Don Pascual Dasil was appointed as the first Municipal President. During the American Regime, Don Calixto Soliven was appointed by the Americans as the first Municipal President of the municipality. History also tells that during the early part of the Spanish Regime, the north western portion of the plaza (where the municipal auditorium is now located) was the municipal cemetery, and the southwestern portion (where the basketball court is now situated) rose the Spanish Catholic Church.
Apparently, long before the outbreak ofWorld War II, the town plaza was totally covered with thick "talahibs", "amorsico", and cogon grass. It was then inhabited by astray animals like carabaos, cows, goats, sheep, pigs which were then roaming around day and night. In other words, it was a "paradise and a playground" to animals; for that matter it was then an eye sore especially to visitors.

But time has changed marvelously the area. During the liberation period, the town plaza was made as an Army Camp by the American forces. The 341st Ordinance Depot was stationed in the municipality for a year and during their sojourn it was leveled and filled with sand and gravel.

Economic Development

Due to the laboriousness of the founding fathers and the fertility of the soil, the first 1OO years of the municipality was marked with growth and progress. These people who were rooted to the bondage of the soil optimized the use of the land into agricultural purpose which became the backbone and the principal source of Balungao' s economy up to the present.

Ethnic Origin

The ethnic origin of the people was not clearly known or identified. Based however from the stories of the living centenarians, the aborigines or the early settlers of Balungao forebears came from the town of San Fabian, Pangasinan and from the Ilocos Region. These people were leading a nomadic life at that time and in their search for a promising land where they could settle, they came across the small town of Balungao. Finding the place peaceful and abundant of agricultural produce they mastered the development and full utilization of the land. To this date, Balungao being inhibited by people from the Ilocos during the early days, is now one of the Ilocano-speaking towns in the Pangasinan province.

As the early settlers were farmers, early settlements were made in areas where their farms are located. As years went on, roads, irrigation and other infrastructure projects were constructed in the settled areas and areas leading to the old settlements. Today, most settlements are found lying along municipal and barangay roads.

balungao.org

‘Public markets must start organic-produce section’

Written by Jonathan L. Mayuga

WITH a growing number of health-conscious Filipinos going for “healthier” food free of toxic chemicals, it’s about time public markets have their own section on “organic” produce.

Efren Moncupa, lead convenor of Go Organic! Philippines, a consortium of nongovernment organizations advocating organic farming in the Philippines, said even some grocery stores now have a section for organic rice, fruits and vegetables.

Some restaurants, he added, now have a menu for organic food for health-conscious customers.

“Filipino consumers are becoming more conscious of their health, particularly on the food they eat. The problem is they don’t know where to buy organic food. Public markets should have an organic section where organically grown produce, such as rice, fruits and vegetables, can be accessed,” he said.

Go Organic! Philippines promotes organic farming and is taking the lead in implementing the Organic Fields Support Program of the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management.

Phase 1 of the project, launched by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap last November, ended in April. Phase 2 of the project is currently in the pipeline.

“Local government units [LGUs] should similarly put up an organic-food section in the market, where organically grown products can be bought. It is also ideal that LGUs put up a bagsakan center for organically grown agricultural products, as well as byproducts, in support of the growing organic industry,” said Moncupa, a former agrarian-reform undersecretary and is now with the Malasimbu Agricultural Cooperative.

Officials of Alaminos City, Pangasinan, and Samal, Bataan, have initiated the move to turn their towns into organic zones. Aside from promoting organic farming among farmers, Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza had ordered the administrator of the public market in the city to put up an organic section.

He said one way of promoting organic farming is to institutionalize support such as access for consumers and organic-food producers.

Mayor Rolando Tigas of Samal, who wants the entire town to go organic, is spearheading the move to convince farmers to shift from conventional to the more sustainable organic farming to boost their income.

Tigas has asked members of the Municipal Council to pass several resolutions in support of organic farming, including declaring the municipality an organic zone and one day a week as organic farming day, and a portion of the Samal public market a wholesale section for organic products.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/component/content/article/53-agri-commodities/12682-public-markets-must-start-organic-produce-section.html

gud day dagupan and urdanta pips, just wanna ask kung meron kayo pics ng coca-cola plant jan? paki post naman, tnx. :)

Pangasinan hospital sees more patients due to improved facilities

Dagupan City (6 July) -- The number of patients seeking medical treatment at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital located in San Carlos City has increased apparently due to the improvement and upgrading of facilities being done.

Dr. Policarpio Manuel, PPH chief, pointed to this factor as he noted the changes not only in the physical appearance of the hospital but also in the work attitude of the personnel.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. who recently led the blessing of the new administrative building also took note of the changes. "Siguro naman pag pumasok ang pasyente dito he will say: I'm gonna get well in this hospital," he said.

Espino recalled the days when the provincial government-owned hospitals appeared to discourage a patient to seek medical treatment as he might say: "I'll die tomorrow if I stay here."

"We wish to give them something that will soothe their feelings not only due to physical health but also in their state of mind. Let us help them by showing them at least a clean physical infrastructure and fresh air here in your hospital," he stressed.

According to the governor, seven dilapidated buildings were already demolished inside the PPH and new buildings are being constructed as replacements. This includes the first government- dialysis center which will soon be available to the public and offers a much lower medical fee for indigent patients.

Backfilling for the provincial hospital grounds alone already consumed 976 10-wheeler trucks of sand and gravel, he said.

Aside from the improvement in physical structures and facilities, the governor also commended the renewed mindset and culture of the hospital staff. "I'm happy to see the nurses are now in uniform and they are wearing their caps," as he recalled that there was a hospital staff before who instigated not to wear uniform.

He also called on the chief of the hospital down to the lowest utility workers to uphold professionalism, dignity and self-respect as public servants.

Manuel confirmed the governor's observation saying that it is not only the physical appearance that has been changed but also personnel's discipline and work habits even as he stressed that "bawal ang tamad at suplado."

These changes, he said, moved many to seek treatment at the hospital.

"Magdadalawang taon pa lang ang ating gobernador pero malaki na po ang naibigay sa atin," Manuel pointed out. (PIO/PIA Pangasinan/dos)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090706.htm&no=37

gud day dagupan and urdanta pips, just wanna ask kung meron kayo pics ng coca-cola plant jan? paki post naman, tnx. :) PM tracymack he has a pic on file :)

Activities for Nutrition Month bared

Dagupan City -- Several activities have been lined up in Pangasinan for the 2009 Nutrition Month Celebration this July to increase awareness among Pangasinenses on the importance of good health and proper hygiene. The theme is "Wastong nutrisyon kailangan, healthy lifestyle diseases iwasan."

PHO Nutritionist Dietitian II Milagros A. Gutierrez said that the month-long event kicked off last June 30 via a four-day Training on LGU Localization Technical Guidelines in Implementing the Asin Law (RA 8172) at the President Hotel here.

This, she said, aims to educate Pangasinenses especially those at the grassroots level the importance of using iodized salt and its various health benefits.

The Asin Law, passed in 1995, required all producers or manufacturers of food- grade salt to fortify or iodize their products to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition in the country particularly iodine deficiency disorders.

Gutierrez said that micronutrient malnutrition is a disorder resulting from deficiencies in vitamin A, iron, iodine which the body needs everyday, while iodine deficiency disorder manifests from lack of iodine in the diet that leads to the reduction of intellectual and physical capacity which can cause goiter, mental retardation or defects and cretinism.

Other activities include health education class and food assistance program targeting underweight preschoolers, promotion of good oral health especially toothbrushing,and deworming of all public elementary school pupils throughout the province. (PIO/PIA Pangasinan/dos)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p090706.htm&no=38&r=r01&y=&mo=

City hall finally wins "battle" in Sitio Russia

SITE FOR PROCESSING PLANT READY

PEACE and quiet finally reigns in Dagupan City's Sitio Russia in Barangay Bonuan Binloc after it was finally cleared of illegal settlers.

But it was not achieved without another clash between the remaining squatters on one side, and the policemen and demolition team on the other for control of the place last Monday.

On Friday, City Legal Officer George Mejia said all’s well that ends well in Sitio Russia – meaning for the city government. For a while, the issue threatened to turn into a series of violent incidents.

Mejia said Sitio Russia has already been completely cleared of houses and its 58of 63 families that used to occupy the area have already voluntarily moved to the relocation site Gawad Kalinga-Bangusville II in Sitio Korea, also in Bonuan Binloc.

There are only five families that remain to be accommodated in the relocation site since the construction of the fives houses had not been completed.

They were assured, nonetheless, by the city hall they can move in soon as the units are finished. Meanwhile, the remaining five families were allowed and agreed to temporarily build tents near the relocation site while awaiting the completion of their assigned housing units.

Two other families chose to return to Baguio and Nueva Ecija where they originated.

Last June 27, personnel of the city government, led by City Administrator Alvin Fernandez, returned to sitio Russia to continue the clearing operations but were met again with resistance by residents.

But like in previous episode of the conflict, Sitio Russia residents capitulated after a brief scuffle between the squatters and the policemen, and after Fernandez himself was reportedly nearly struck with a cut wood by an angry resident at the height of the melee.

Ronaldo Torio, barangay captain of Bonuan Binloc, hailed the decision of the remaining residents to vacate the area to allow the start of the construction of the state-of-the-art Seafood Processing Plant.

“After finally seeing the light, residents of Sitio Russia decided to tear down their own houses. tempered with understanding,” said Torio.

Torio credited City Mayor Al Fernandez's efforts for the eventual peaceful resolution of the issue.

Mejia, meanwhile, said that with Sitio Russia already cleared, he deemed that the civil case filed by the Sitio Russia Neighborhood Association against the city government moot and academic.

He added that representatives of the Housing and Urban Development Council (HUDC) who went to the resettlement area determined that the newly resettled families from Sitio Russia are happy in their respective housing units.

“Sa totoo lang po, niyayakap ng mga tao si Engr Rosario (Virginia) at nag-iyakan na diyan at nagsabing ang ganda pala ang pinaglipatan ninyo sa amin” said Mejia.

The resettlement area was provided with electricity, water and toilets and a police detachment will soon be set up in the area to maintain peace and order.

The Korean contractor is expected to arrive this month with the pre-fabricated materials for the project.

Mejia said the construction has officially started on July 1 with the construction of the perimeter fence and scheduled to be finished in December, and inaugurated in April in time for the 2010 Dagupan Bangus Festival.-LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/06/city-hall-finally-wins-battle-in-sitio-russia/

Interesting naman ang mga pangalan ng sitio sa Dagupan:D

SAN FABIAN


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3584/3449216445_f18f0544b4_o.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3584/3449216445_f18f0544b4_o.jpg)
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by EJ Sabandal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ejsabandal/3449216445/in/set-72157603772479864/)



San Fabian : "the Crusading Pope"


Lying on a broad plain with expansion opportunities, Angio could have been a most ideal site but to forewarn villagers of Moro raids and invasions, and to develop the town into a city and port of entry.

On order of the stern Governor Fernando Manuel de Bustamante, the seat of the town was transferred to its present location near the seashore Thick-walled fortifications and a lookout tower along the coast was built for security of its inhabitants from Moro depredations.

In anticipations of its conversion into a city, the town was divided into blocks with wide streets named after the town's historical personalities. Vessels of varied makes coming from Ilocos, Zambales, Manila and even the neighboring countries made port calls at the town through "Sinsendukel" or "Ilog na Bahley" river now shallowed by erosion and narrowed by illegally built fishponds.

Made the center of missionary work, the Dominican Order erected a church and a big convent through forced labor. The convent served partly as sanatorium for ailing members of the Order. Its healthful climate, abundant supply of drinking water, and cheap fresh fish made San Fabian and ideal hospital area for missionaries besides a convenient stop-over of travelling bishops to and from Vigan to Manila during the Spanish regime.

With boundaries originally embracing the town of Sison (formerly called Alava) and part of Sto. Tomas (La Union) for over 200 years, San Fabian was founded by the Dominican friars naming it after the crusading Pope St. Fabian. pangasinan.gov.ph (http://www.pangasinan.gov.ph/towns/san-fabian.htm)


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1090/1209992756_725dd86655_b.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Lawrence Reyes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pangktin/1209992756/in/set-72157600653983951/)

Possible wage hike this year hinted

The labor force in the region may yet celebrate an early Christmas this year.

An official of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Pangasinan Chapter expressed the view that there may be a need to adjust the wages of workers in the Ilocos Region this year.

Salvador "Ed" Poserio, ECOP chapter president, said the adjustment may be possible since the one year prescription of Wage Order No. 13 promulgated by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB) will lapse this month.

RTWPB can only adjust the wage of workers once a year.

Speaking during the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP) Forum in Dagupan City, Poserio who represented the employers sector in the RTWPB that promulgated Wage Order No. 13 last year, agreed that there may be a need for the board to meet soon to discuss possible adjustment of the workers' basic pay.

The RTWPB in the Ilocos Region is headed by Department of Labor and Employment Regional Director Henry John Jalbuena with representatives from the workers’ sector and the employers' sector.

Poserio, chief executive officer of the Dagupan-based Chimes Enterprises, maintained that wage increase seeks to restore to the workers' their lost purchasing power as a result of the present economic crisis, which he believes to continue till 2012.

He admitted that the possibility of holding another public consultation to find out on whether the employers in Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte can grant a new wage increase to their workers, is being discussed inside RTWPB.–LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/06/possible-wage-hike-this-year-hinted/

Mayor invites ‘kababayans’ in Canada to visit Villasis

TORONTO, Ontario, Canada -- Mayor Nonato Abrenica of Villasis, Pangasinan, urged natives of his town who are working in Canada to see for themselves the many improvements of the town that every one of them can be proud of.

Abrenica spoke on July 1, 2009, before his town mates at the Memories of Japan Restaurant at Don Mills Avenue in Toronto as he came to invite them during the forthcoming town fiesta in honor of the town's Patron Saint, San Antonio de Padua.

Abrenica, who is on his last term as Villasis Mayor, said the construction of the new public market is now completed and P25 million was spent for it which is a part of the P40 million loan that was lent by the Philippine National Bank.

He said the P40 million was already paid by the Municipal Government in full.

He said the balance of the total amount is now being used for the construction of the Public Auditorium and the roofing is now being completed, which will be ready for use in January 2010 for the town fiesta.

Abrenica, who was introduced by Cristy Pe Benito, president of the Annak Ti Villasis of Canada, pointed out that the municipal building now looks elegantly because of the edifice’s new color, which is yellow.

He lauded the three candidates of Ms. Villasis 2010, which include Ms. Reynalda Lagleyva-Ramos presenting Canada, Ms. Violeta Madayag-Menor of France, and Ms. Nelpha Velasco-Vejano of Australia, for their participation in the contest. The proceeds of the project will go to a worthy cause.

Aside from the officers of Annak Ti Villasis of Canada, those who welcomed Mayor Abrenica were Quintin Palisoc, the incumbent president of the Pangasinan Association of Canada (Paca) and his wife Emily; Willie Rapanan, the incumbent president and immediate past president of Paca, and his wife Precy; Julio Sison, president of the Binalonan Association of Canada, and his wife Lan. (Jojo Taduran)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/mayor-invites-%E2%80%98kababayans%E2%80%99-canada-visit-villasis

Interesting naman ang mga pangalan ng sitio sa Dagupan:D
Hindi ko nga rin alam bakit Sitio Russia tawag :lol:

Produce-your-own-food program re-intensified in Urdaneta City

URDANETA, Pangasinan, July 8 (PNA) — The city government here has re-intensified its program on food production aiming to enable every backyard as source of food of families in this time of economic crisis.

Saying a vegetable garden in every home can help families reduce their food budget, Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. stressed that it is better that families produce their own food than buy these from the market.

The program aims to make families sufficient in food, such as vegetables and fruits, so that they can save their money for their more important needs, he said.

Perez said that ever since he took over the reins of the city government some eight years ago, he continuously encourage families to produce their own foods.

The city government, through the City Agriculture Office, produces the seeds for distribution to barangay officials, senior citizens and school children.

This year, they have so far distributed more or less 12,000 malunggay cuttings and hundreds of packs of vegetable seedlings.
Others items distributed were papaya seedlings and cuttings of cassava which could serve as substitute for rice if the staple would get scarce. (PNA)

http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Produce-your-own-food_program_re-intensified_in_Urdaneta_City.shtml (http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Produce-your-own-food_program_re-intensified_in_Urdaneta_City.shtml)

P6 million pedestrian overpass set to perk up Urdaneta City's economy

URDANETA CITY, July 8 (PNA) — A modern pedestrian overpass being constructed across the MacArthur Highway here is expected to perk up the public market constructed two years ago and the city's economy in general.

Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. said the project, costing P6 million, was initiated by 5th district Congressman Mark Cojuangco, who also bankrolled from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) the widening of the MacArthur and Maharlika highways in the heart of the city a few years ago.

The overpass, he said, will connect the eastern side of MacArthur Highway to the western side, where the public market’s Building Nos. 1 and No. 2 are located.

Once completed, he said, the overpass will ensure that the public market will be more accessible to buyers sellers as well as investors.

Perez confirmed that the second floor of both Public Market buildings Nos. 1 and 2 are yet to be fully occupied to this day, thus the overpass is really necessary.

At the same time, he announced that the city government is buying two generators for the two public market buildings, and is also installing soon one elevator each on them.

All these are designed to spark the full occupancy of the two public market buildings to further anchor Urdaneta’s bid to become the center of trade and commerce as well as education in eastern Pangasinan.

Perez thanked Rep. Cojuangco for funding the construction of a modern overpass from his own PDAF, just after the completion of the road widening of both MacArthur Highway and Maharlika highways.

The road widening as well as overpass projects are expected to transform Urdaneta City into a modern city and bring it closer on the thresh-fold of becoming highly-urbanized.

Urdaneta is now the leading city in the Ilocos Region and with its big assets in both manpower and resources, it may now have outpaced older cities like Dagupan, San Carlos and Laoag. (PNA)

http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/P6_million_pedestrian_overpass_set_to_perk_up_Urdaneta_City_s_economy.shtml (http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/P6_million_pedestrian_overpass_set_to_perk_up_Urdaneta_City_s_economy.shtml)

Earthquake drill set in Pangasinan on July 17

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 8 (PNA) -- An earthquake drill will be held on July 17 at the St. Columban’s College (SCC) here under the auspices of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) as part of the simultaneous drill nationwide.

Engr. Ruben Aquino, PDCC representative, said the drill is the main highlight of the National Disaster Consciousness Month with the theme “Pag Alerto, Malayo sa Peligro.”

The earthquake drill was the subject of a conference conducted on July 7 among line agencies which include the Philippine National Police, Fire Brigade, Philippine National Red Cross (Pangasinan Chapter), Department of Education, SCC officials and representatives of different entities.

The drill will be conducted one day after the anniversary of the powerful earthquake that occurred in northern and central Luzon on July 16, 1990.

The participants will be divided into several team committees such as the scenario team, evaluators, first aid, security, fire safety, communication and evacuation.

The scenario team will be composed of the actual drill participants whose members will serve as the first responders during a specific disaster, while the first aid team will consist of medical and health workers like doctors and nurses who will take care of the injured responders.

The fire safety team takes charge when there is fire during the earthquake, communication team will require quick action on disseminating the occurrence of the disaster through hand-held radio, phones or other means of communication.

Chief Inspector Hilario Toledo, Lingayen PNP Deputy Chief of Police, said the drill is important because it will orient people on what to do when a powerful earthquake strikes.

The most important, he said, is that during actual disaster everyone must remain calm and alert. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=216357&nga_Session=e39c1a247755271107ce1cf05e7d09e3 (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=216357&nga_Session=e39c1a247755271107ce1cf05e7d09e3)

:eek: Definitely one of the most beautiful government buildings in the country! (both inside and out)



These were scanned from the original prints taken and collected by my lola during the pre-war era (1920-1930s). Apparently, she travelled a lot during those days and had some friends who send her pictures from all over.

This was the inauguration of a provincial capitol building. I forgot to write down which province though. (it was hand-written at the back of this picture, but forgot to take note of it). Any idea where?

BEFORE
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3162/lolabebangsoldpic01.jpg
I'm not sure, but it looks like Lingayen, Pangasinan...can anyone verify?

CONFIRMED it's in Lingayen, the Provincial Capitol of Pangasinan

NOW
courtesy of Mr. Ronald Hilton from flickr
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3321/3283444976_6f8c3b1f10_o.jpg
Originally built in 1918 by American architects, the capitol building of Pangasinan was destroyed in World War II. It was rebuilt in 1945 to it's original splendor and continues to serve as the provincial capitol today

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/3283444400_d99eed0763_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3441/3282624165_ee8f54ecdc_o.jpg

courtesy of genecarl from flickr

inside the Lobby
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3366/3252797414_db4f158e70_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3512/3252808734_8b1476fb28_b.jpg

;39477576']:eek: Definitely one of the most beautiful government buildings in the country! (both inside and out)
^^ here's more :)

THE SWANKIEST PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT CENTER IN ILOCOSLOVAKIA

http://i44.tinypic.com/2itpt95.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/25iyr13.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/e0kg36.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/tz5nm.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2wd13dy.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/2ex79na.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/15gqybt.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2ptugx5.jpg

Captured by rhilton4u (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hilton_photos/)

Sanitary landfill to rise soon in San Carlos City

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City -- The first sanitary landfill in Pangasinan is set to rise in the agricultural city of San Carlos, Mayor Julier "Ayoy" Resuello bared Tuesday in a radio interview.

Resuello said that P72 million was allocated for the purchase of heavy equipment and other needs for the putting up of the garbage disposal project. "Nasa first phase na tayo ng paglalagay ng sanitary landfill," he told the Pantongtongan Tayo radio program of the Philippine Information Agency over Radyo ng Bayan-DZMQ.

The site for the landfill is barangay Paitan where three hectares of land were already acquired for the purpose. He said that negotiations are ongoing for the acquisition of nearby lots to complete the needed four hectares.

"Nasa tamang pagpapaliwanag sa tao ng kabutihang idudulot ng proyekto," he said in answer to a question why his administration was able to push thru with the sanitary landfill project in his city while other local executives are having a hard time convincing their constituents about the need for such facility.

He clarified however that the garbage facility will only serve the city. "Huwag lang manggagaling sa labas ng syudad yong basura," he stressed.

Dagupan City up to now has yet to relocate its open dumpsite in Tondaligan, a park located along the beach in the Bonuan area. A lot was bought in barangay Awai in San Jacinto town by the former city administration to be developed into a sanitary landfill. The project did not push thru as local residents there vehemently opposed it even as controversy enveloped the purchase of that land, located in a hilly area about seven kilometers from the poblacion.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has sent strong notice to the city government on the need to remove the dumpsite because of ill-effects to the environment. It is not yet clear how the city is going to solve the problem. In the meantime, waste segregation system in the barangays is being implemented to reduce the bulk of garbage thrown at the dumpsite.

The southern town of Bayambang also tried to put up a similar project to serve the needs not only of that town but also surrounding areas. It failed to push thru even after holding several consultation-dialogues with the affected sectors.

Resuello said that local government units are required to put up a sanitary landfill. A fine of P500,000 is imposed against those who fail to comply plus a possible complaint before appropriate agencies.

Presently, the city is implementing controlled dumping in the present site.

He expressed hope that before the end of his term, the landfill project will have already started operating. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090709.htm&no=84

Pigaran Ulopan, Pinagalangan ed Pamsusuporta dad Nutrition Programs na Siudad

by Lanie Tomas

Pinagalangan na gobiernoy Dagupan so pigaran ulopan ya mampapatuloy ya onsusuportad ikakalukar iran programad nutrisyon ed siudad, katekep na selebrasyoy 2009 Nutrition Month, ed sayay bulan na Hulyo.

Saray initdan na pagalang ed agawan regular flag raising ceremony nen kabuasan na Hulyo 6, 2009 ed city plaza et pikabiangan na Innerwheel Club of Dagupan ya dadauloan nen first lady Mdm. Elmina Fernandez, CSI Group of Companies, JCI Dagupan Incorporated, Rotary Club of Uptown Dagupan tan say ABS-CBN Foundation.

Maliket ya impakabat nen City Nutrition Officer Leah Aquino ya kapigan labat et analo so Kalinga para sa Calima project na JCI bilang The Best UN Millenium Development Goals Project ed agawan ASPAC Conference ed Nagano, Japan.

Onong ed kinen Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., importanti so marakep tan mabiskeg ya kipapasen na abig laman na kada miembroy pamilya. Sakey iyan misyon na administrasyon to nanlapo ni nen taon 1990 pian nasiguro so patuloy ya iyaliguas na komunidad laot lad pangiter na atensyon ed pangkaukolan ya nutrisyon na saray ogogaw tan katayakdang.

Kekerewen nen Mayor Fernandez so balang sakey ya mitulungan irad pilalek ya magmaliw ya healthy city so Dagupan kaniyan aliwa labat lan ed dasig na pamapakan ed saray ogogaw so tutukan na gobierno no agta wala met so pangikakamayat na impormasyon kontrad malnutrisyon, livelihood program tan lektyur nilirad maternal and childhood care ya ikukurang na kabiangay City Nutrition, legan ya say food production et sakey ed saray prayoridad na City Agriculture.

Onong met ed kinen City Administrator Dr. Alvin Fernandez dakel iray naakan ya aliwan mabli balet masustansiya. Saya et pikabiangan na marunggay mabiskeg ya pankontrad malnutrisyon. Inkuan to nin say itulong ed kaparan too ya singa ginawa na saray pinagalangan ya ulopan et nasalatan na ag nabilang ya grasiya.

Say tema parad Nutrition Month natan a taon et “Wastong Nutrisyon Kailangan, Lifestyle Disease Iwasan.”

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=564

Sakey ya Dagupeño kabiangan ed saray COPS Awardees ed intiron bansa

by Lanie Tomas

Kagalangan parad siudad na Dagupan so impakapanalo na sakey ya Dagupeño ed 2009 Metrobank Foundation Search for Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS).

Intanduro nen P/Supt. Eric Escosio Noble tan angiter iya na kagalangan parad Dagupan kasompalan ya sikato et sakey ed saray apilin awardees ed dasig na Police Commissioned Officers Category.

Si P/Supt. Noble so peteg ya anak na Dagupan tan sikato natan so hepe na Santa Barbara Police Station.

Nagawa sano Hulyo 7, 2009, bandad ala-una na ngarem ed Rizal Hall, Malacañang Palace so pangiter na pagalang ed saray 2009 COPS. Personal ya iyawat nen Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo so tropeo tan kas ya P250,000 ed kad awardee.

Say COPS et tinaon lan ikukurang ya programa na Metrobank Foundation, the Rotary Club of New Manila East tan PSBank. Ingagala iyan programa ta pian naitdan na pagalang iray outstanding men and women na Philippine National Police lapud kaabigan na inpantrabaho dad inpan-osay tan kurang dad pambabaat na nagagawa iran krimen ed komunidad, ontan met so matoor dan panlilingkor bilang miembro na PNP.

Koneksyon tonya, ag nasabsabaan ya liket so alikna nen Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. tan inkuan ton, idadayew to si PSupt. Noble ed impangitalindeg tan impangawit to na sakey ya kagalangan parad siudad na Dagupan.

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=563

Timely, credible reports for swift assistance

To avail of the valuable assistance from national government agencies especially in times of disasters, barangay leaders must closely coordinate with and submit on time the needed and validated reports or important documents to the city government or concerned department.

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This was the reminder of Marlene Febes Peralta, DSWD assistant regional director, to the city’s 39 villages during her recent visit here.

Peralta, who turned-over 382 boxes of tomato juice and hundreds of sacks of used clothes to the Alaminos City government, said that the barangay captains already knew the whole process and that part of their job to is maintain an open line of communication with the city officials.

“But sometimes they tend to ignore it because of some personal or even due to political reasons,” she stressed.

And as a consequence, their affected constituents were being deprived of the assistance they deserved in the first place.


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The assistant regional director stressed that the reports will really come from the barangays.

CSWD will then validate the report before forwarding the final report to the DSWD provincial office and all the way to the regional and central office.

IF didn’t reach supposed beneficiaries, it’s CSWD nor city government or DSWD regional are be blamed but their barangay leaders who remiss of there duties, she added in reaction to few complaints that some barangays were not given assistance by the DSWD.

In some cases, upon validating the report, only few were declared as beneficiaries because the report submitted was not credible. Sometimes, it also depends on the allocated budget.

“DSWD Regional Field Office 1 acted with dispatch on your request for assistance because your CSWD immediately forwarded the reports you have submitted to them,” said Peralta who was accompanied by Roldan Cadag of DSWD Central Office.

http://hundredislands.ph/photos/credibleReport3.jpg

It can be recalled that Mayor Hernani A. Braganza handed a copy of damage report and personally appealed for help from DSWD Regional Director Leonardo C. Reynoso during the latter’s visit here a day after deadly typhoon Emong pummeled the city.

It was on the said visit that hundreds of relief packs from DSWD were likewise turned-over to the city which was immediately distributed to the typhoon victims here.

Last week, P 1.538M worth of Emergency Shelter Assistance and Cash for Work were distributed to homeless city residents at the Don Leopoldo Sison Auditorium.

Peralta said additional assistance from DSWD central office will soon be arriving for the Emong victims.

“And just in case there’s more for Alaminos, I am now asking our barangay leaders to give priority to other victims who didn’t receive any assistance from us, the city government or other benevolent groups.”


http://hundredislands.ph/photos/credibleReport4.jpg

In reaction to some complaints that reached her office, she likewise stressed that typhoon Emong did not discriminate as he urged the barrio chiefs to refrain from politicking.

“I am sure Mayor Nani Braganza and our volunteers in the aftermath of typhoon didn’t check whether the victims they are aiding are rich or poor or an ally or a foe,” she added.

She pointed out that everybody deserves assistance during calamities.

Like the Alaminos government, DSWD is extending its assistance to the affected families irregardless of who they are in the community and whatever is there political color.

As we have seen earlier in your video presentation, there are a lot of things to be done to fully fix the damages left by the typhoon in your city,” stressed Cadag.

http://hundredislands.ph/photos/credibleReport5.jpg

He said that the central office had released more than P 10 M shelter assistance and disaster relief to 6 towns in the first district which were battered by the recent typhoon.

“With the help of our barangay officials and other government agencies or generous groups, we assure the city government of DSWD central office’s continued support and assistance to the affected families,” he added.

For the city’s continued support and assistance to the city, CSWD chief Imelda Ruiz, thanked the DSWD in behalf of Mayor Hernani A. Braganza who is currently following up several projects and other requests for the city in Metro Manila.

Ruiz said Alaminos is fortunate to be included in agency’s priority list of beneficiaries.

“We are hoping that DSWD will continue to help us in the future because there are so many things that are still needed in our barangays.” (CIO)

http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=528 (http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=528)

Pangasinan strengthens disaster-preparedness program

Dagupan City (10 July) -- The provincial disaster coordinating council (PDCC) has appealed to all city and municipal disaster coordinating councils and civil defense deputized coordinators throughout the province to strengthen their group in order to establish simple but beneficial disaster-preparedness program.

In a meeting with the CDCC/MDCC chairmen and civil defense deputized coordinators on July 8 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center mess hall, PDCC Executive officer Paterno Orduña said that the main role of the disaster council is to educate the people in their community regarding any forthcoming disaster so that they know how to properly react in case of calamities.

"Malaki ang pagkukulang natin sa paghihikayat sa mga tao para maitaas ang level ng awareness nila tungkol sa kalamidad o sakuna," he said as he stressed that the people do not exactly know what to do during the onset of calamities.

The people, he said, must know what to do and how to react in case there is a typhoon especially those residing at flood-risks areas to avoid accidents or fatality.

He mentioned that the barangay officials must act as the first responders and afterwards coordinate with the higher ranking officials for immediate action.

The PDCC chief has also urge all local government units in the province to conduct their own earthquake drill to raise awareness in line with the celebration of National Disaster Consciousness Month this July.

The PDCC will conduct an earthquake drill as part of the nationwide simultaneous activity. On July 17.

The official kick off of National Disaster Consciousness Month will be on July 20, coinciding with the regular flag raising ceremony at the Capitol plaza here.

Other activities include dramatization of simulated search and rescue and emergency response in a flood situation scenario participated in by the coast guards and water search and rescue team followed by a concert featuring the five finalists in the recent Pistay Dayat celebration’s Battle of the Bands. (PIO/PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p090710.htm&no=60&r=r01&y=&mo= (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p090710.htm&no=60&r=r01&y=&mo=)

There is still hope for hydrocephalic children (http://positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Health_21/There_is_still_hope_for_hydrocephalic_children.shtml)

By Leonardo V. Micua

DAGUPAN CITY, July 10 (PNA) — A Fil-Am group tied up with a local hospital and the Rotary Club of Pangasinan to give hope to hydrocephalic children whose parents cannot afford a costly operation for them.

Dr. Carlito Arenas, medical director of Specialist Group Hospital and Trauma Center, said the Shunt for Life based in the United States agreed to partner with his hospital in order to rescue hydrocephalic children from certain death.

The group, said Arenas, donates the shunt, a tube that is being used to drain the fluid of the sick child from the head, which would be connected to the stomach, where the fluid will flow and stay before it joins the blood.

These children are suffering from an inborn disease called hydrocephalus which is a medical condition characterized by an excess cerebrospinal fluid in the child’s cranial cavity that is causing enlargement of the skull and mental retardation.

“These are the children that we have to capture at the very early stage because while you are delaying any medical management, the brain might be destroyed,” Arenas told the breakfast forum “Engkwentro sa Lenox” on Wednesday.

He said while parents may let this condition happen without any medical intervention, the child’s attitude and mentality will continue to deteriorate.

If the child will stay in this condition, their parents cannot earn any more as they have to always attend to him 24/7—feeding him, putting himself to sit in the john and to sleep.

Ano na lang ang magyayari sa atin kung patuloy nating aalagaan ang bata na wala nang pag-asa? he asked as he urged parents of hydrocephalic children to get their help soon to rescue the child from such difficult medical condition.

Arenas said the cost of operation of a hydrocephalic child is between P300,000 to P400,000 but with the help of the Shunt for Life, the Specialist Group Hospital and Trauma Center and Rotary Club of Central Pangasinan, headed by Ashuck Vasandani, everything will be free.

According to Arenas, they have so far conducted 22 operations and all those who underwent the medical procedure have returned to normal life.

He appealed to newsmen in Pangasinan to get in touch with him or the Rotary Club of Central Pangasinan if they happen to know a hydrocephalic child.

The entire treatment is free but the patient have to be scheduled because the children will have to undergo through inspection to find out if they have infection and so on.

After the operation, the child’s head will be restored to its normal child and his mentality will be improved, pointing out that the recovery rate is 52 percent and mentality is increased up to 62 percent.

He explained that the stay and the operation of hydrocephalic children are given free by his hospital, located on Tapuac Road in Dagupan City.

The operation will be done with the use of a shunt or tube that will connect the head and the stomach. In this process, the pressure from the head will go down to the stomach where it will stay before it joins with the blood.

Arenas explained that in a hydrocephalic condition, the passageway from the head to the stomach is being blocked, thus the fluid builds up in the head. (PNA)

Urdaneta pays tribute to its OFWs

By Leonardo V. Micua

URDANETA CITY (PNA) — Literally bursting at the seams in terms of economic opportunities, the city of Urdaneta just could not forget the contributions made to its burgeoning economy by its citizens who had gone abroad to work.

Now the leading city in the Ilocos Region despite being only more than 11 years old as a city, Urdaneta is the home of thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who not only send money to their relatives but also keep their close ties with people at home.

With its highways in the downtown area already widened, the city's growth continues and seems unstoppable, thanks to the unrelenting people here and partly to those from overseas.

Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr., now on his last term as city mayor here, said Urdaneta's strategic location as being in the crossroad from north to south and east and west, is its biggest asset.

Credit also goes to Perez and other city officials and employees as well as Fifth District Rep. Mark Cojuangco, for launching a deliberate plan to preposition Urdaneta to become an envy of all cities today.

Very accessible from all directions, the city is now a beehive of investors who have put up multi-million peso businesses over the years, he said.

Its new multi-story public market on Mac Arthur Highway, funded partly from local fund and loan with the Land Bank of the Philippines, is considered as the biggest and most modern of its kind north of Manila.

"We do not have billion peso investors but the investors that we have are small ones whose capitalization could reach a million or more each and there are plenty of them," Perez said in an interview.

Some of these investments, the mayor said, are from people who have relatives abroad.

The mayor said if the city is now continuously booming, it is due to the concerted efforts of the citizens who work endlessly in order to improve their lives despite the odds.

The OFWs are among those who made the city grow over the years as they continuously send money to their loved ones who spend and invest these in Urdaneta, he added.

These OFWs are now in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Saudio Arabia, Bahrain, Dubai and other Middle East countries, Hongkong, Singapore and Taiwan.

Perez hailed the OFWs as heroes of modern times as the money they send to their relatives help prime up the local economy and strengthen the value of the peso.

Urdaneta is perhaps only among the few local government units in the country that are continuously honing the skills of its citizens to prepare them for more challenging jobs locally and abroad.

The Urdaneta Livelihood and Skills Training Center built two years ago had already graduated 1,600 youth and adults, with another 300 still graduating in two months time.

These were trained on welding, vulcanizing, cosmetology, food technology, electronics, and others to prepare them for jobs abroad and to man the wheels of local industries,

The Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) accredits all the graduates by issuing them diploma which they can use as their passports for their jobs abroad.

The center, said Perez, is opening new courses, like in cell phone repair, practical electricity, refrigeration and the most important one, meat butchering.

Perez said meat butchering is most in demand abroad, like in Europe and Australia, and locally because of the need for properly cut meat.

The meat butchering class can be held at the city’s double A slaughterhouse where Monterey is now also butchering its meat six times a day. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=10&rid=216381 (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=10&rid=216381)

Dagupan to hold memorial on 19th year of July 16, 1990 killer quake

By Leonardo V. Micua

DAGUPAN CITY, July 11 (PNA) — When the clock strikes 3:26 p.m. on July 16, 2009, the siren atop the public market in Dagupan City will wail for about 30 seconds and everybody is expected to stay motionless anywhere they are and remember the tragedy that struck the city 19 years ago.

That was the exact time on July 16, 1990 that Dagupan City and the rest of Northern Luzon "fell down to their knees" after being trembled by an intensity 7.7 earthquake of 7.8 magnitude, which was yet the strongest tremor to hit the country in memory.

Many people in Dagupan City were caught flat-footed as buildings and houses swung like hammocks for seconds, then jarred again repeatedly by the temblor's aftershocks that, as far as can be remembered, lasted for months.

Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., who was vice mayor of Dagupan City at that time, called on every Dagupeno to observe a moment of silence and pause from all their activities to remember the disaster brought about by that powerful earthquake.

He asked the residents to offer prayer for all those who lost their lives, and ponder and reflect on the importance of preparedness whenever a disaster strikes.

“We will remember that Dagupan was destroyed but it was not defeated. The feat of rebuilding from so great a devastation in so short a time attests to the resiliency of the Dagupenos,” said Fernandez.

The July 16, 1990 earthquake to date remains one of the largest and costliest natural disasters in recent years, with a toll of 1,000 deaths, damaging P6 billion worth of public infrastructures, buildings and other structures.

Although destruction of properties in Dagupan was heavy, death though was minimal as buildings and houses did not crumble like decked cards but merely tilted to their side due to the effect of a natural phenomenon called liquefaction.

“Through our shared efforts, tenacity, and ingenuity, we have rebuilt our city with the help of proud sons of Dagupan like (former) Speaker Jose De Venecia. In just three years, we have reclaimed our prestige as the prime city in the province,” Mayor Fernandez said.

After 19 years, Dagupan is now acclaimed a global model on disaster preparedness, citing its strong capacity-building programs, the launching of the Emergency Operations Center, the Citizens Helpline and its strong partnerships with the community, sharing its best practices to local and international communities for many years now.

A simple memorial will be held to mark the July 16, 1990 disaster, coinciding with the renewal of pledge of commitment of non-government organizations and volunteer groups to fully participate in the emergency preparedness, disaster response, rehabilitation and renewal initiatives of the city.

During the July 16, 1990 earthquake, nobody really had the time to prepare as the powerful temblor came in a flash like a bolt of lightning. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=10&rid=217213

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This is the tallest earth and rock-filled dam in South East Asia. 200 meters high! :)

This is the tallest earth and rock-filled dam in South East Asia. 200 meters high! :)

and also the 11th largest dam in the world!

^^ Very cool trivia. The last time I was there it was being constructed :cheers:

Pozorrubio on the upswing

July 13, 2009

POZORRUBIO–Mayor Emma Zosima Chan, in her state of the municipality address last July 8, hailed the major contribution of the people here and abroad, citing them as the town's new heroes.

The town posted an P88 million income in 2008, higher than the P77 million the previous year and Chan quickly credited the residents for the 14 % increase in the town's income last year in spite of the national domestic financial crisis.

Chan said that if the trend continues in the next three years, the town can look forward to a cityhood status.

"For the meantime, let us enjoy being a peaceful and progressive 1st Class town," she added.

With no major tourist attraction and no large-scale industry to boost the local economy, the mayor credited the town's financial performance not only to good governance but also to the Pozorrubian migrants, emigrants and overseas workers who have generously supported not only their own families but also the programs and projects of the local government.

Pozorrubio was listed by Western Union as the only community in the Philippines with an LGU that is able to encourage its overseas residents to make collective remittances not only to support their families but also to raise funds for the development of their town.

She also thanked the Sangguniang Bayan for passing laws that facilitated the delivery of goods and services to the people.—JV

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/13/pozorrubio-on-the-upswing/

^^ congrats sa pozorubio....

i hope na sana after 10 years makaroon na ng metro urdaneta (urdaneta villasis rosales pozorubio binalonan and malasiqui aside from metro CAMADA nga daguapn...

^ Malasiqui is part of Metro San Carlos. :)

Pangasinan's chess whiz kids hailed

Dagupan City -- Three chess whiz kids from Pangasinan topped the recent 10th Asean Age Group Chess championship in Hue, Vietnam.

Gold Medalist Cherry Ann P. Mejia, a 14-year old 3rd year high school student of Colegio de San Juan de Letran who hails from Poblacion, San Jacinto Pangasinan together with nine–year–old Samantha Glo C. Revita, who took a silver and eight–year–old Dennis Guttierez, Jr, a bronze medalist, received commendation from the provincial government.

The three chess wizard paid a courtesy call on Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. who was even more elated when told that the kids were just "trained at home" by their guardians and parents.

Mejia, who started playing chess at the age of nine, snatched a gold medal in the 9-round standard crosstable chess in the 14 and below age category defeating other contestants from participating countries including Vietnam, the host country.

Mejia was named as Most Valuable Player during the 2007 World Asean Age Group Chess Championship held at Danang, Vietnam, and now a member of the Federation of Chess Champions. She has already hauled 50 medals.

Revita, who hails Rosales town, received a special commendation from the sangguniang panlalawigan, for winning multiple medals in the same chess competition. She started playing chess at the age of three.

A consistent honor student from Rosales North Central School, Revita, with 18 medals to her name, placed second and third in the 7-round crosstable rapid chess and 7-round standard crosstable chess games, respectively.

Both Mejia and Revita are consistent medalists in the chess event during the 2008 Palarong Pambansa, Inter-Regional Athletic Association (IRAA) and Milo Little Olympics.

The province's youngest chess wizard Dennis Gutierrez, Jr., a grade two pupil of the Stella Maris Academy who hails from Nibaliw in San Fabian town, also won games that made him 7th placer in the 9-rounds standard crosstable and 7-rounds rapid chess.

Espino pledged his continuous support to the talented kids.

The kids received cash incentive for their sterling performance. Earlier they were given P25,000 each as financial assistance before they flew to Vietnam. (PIO/MRT/PIA)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090714.htm&no=50 (http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090714.htm&no=50)

Early education on for kids in remote barangay

Dagupan City (July 14) -- At least 80 families from a remote, mountainous area in Mabini town are now benefiting from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for early childhood education.

Head Teacher Virgilia B. Ruiz of barangay Bacnit Integrated School said that the Kindergarten class now has 11 kids. The class was created upon the request of the 4Ps families who have kids ready for early education.

The head teacher said that more parents became more active in school activities such as the Brigada Eskuwela and meetings.

To ensure continuity of the 4Ps in barangay Bacnit, which is 15 kilometers from the town proper, Ruiz instructed the teachers to monitor the daily attendance of the 4Ps beneficiaries. A separate logbook is signed by every child to confirm their daily attendance. No signature would mean absent on that specific date.

Regional Director Leonardo Reynoso of the Department of Social Welfare and Development said that parents are now more concerned on the school attendance of their children. As much as possible they do not want their children to skip classes to maintain a good record and comply with the 85% school attendance as required, he added.

Ofelia Mamaril, who has a child in the Kidergarten class said, "Malaking tulong sa mga anak ko ang 4Ps. Nabigyan po sila ng sapat na kagamitan sa school at pagkain. Nabayaran na din yung aming utang." (4Ps is a great help to my children. They were provided with enough money to buy things for their school needs and food) (DSWD/PIA/dos)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p090714.htm&no=51

Construction of new police station in Dagupan in full swing

DAGUPAN CITY, July 14 (PNA)--Construction of the three-storey new Dagupan City Police Station with a roof deck on A.B. Fernandez Avenue West here is now in full swing, according to Supt. Mariano Luis Verzosa, chief of police.

Saying no one can hamper work on the project anymore, Verzosa revealed the new police station is expected to be completed and be occupied in December this year.

The funding of least P15 million for the police station project came from the Philippine National Police. An additional P3 million came from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. of the Fourth District of Pangasinan.

Verzosa said another P10 million is needed for the construction of a separate building to become the quarters and mess hall of policemen, including landscaping.

According to him, the PNP hierarchy already approved in principle the additional P10-million fund.

He said as to the furniture and fixtures of the new police station, he is tapping the help of other agencies and the Dagupan community.

"We will show that in this new and modern PNP building, it was not only the PNP that built it but also the community," Verzosa said.

The Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, he said, already pledged to donate the flagpole to be called "friendship flagpole" for the new PNP station. (PNA)

http://www.positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Construction_of_new_police_station_in_Dagupan_in_full_swing.shtml

Dagupan Police Station aims to become Police Office

DAGUPAN CITY, July 14 (PNA) — The Dagupan Police Station has not given up its vision to become a Police Office, separate from the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office.

Superintendent Mariano Luis Verzosa, chief of the Dagupan Police, said they are now close to realizing this vision, especially with the slated completion of a modern police station on A.B. Fernandez Avenue West here sometime in December this year.

Verzosa said the Dagupan Police Station bid to become a separate Police Office sometime last year to ensure that more policemen, not to mention resources, will be deployed in the city maintain peace and order.

It was Police Director General Jesus Verzosa, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, who suggested to the Dagupan Police to aim high and become a Police Office when he came to the city last year when he led the groundbreaking rites for the construction of a modern police station here.

Construction of the P19 million three-storey police station with a rook deck, at 240 square meters per floor, is now in full blast.

A separate building, estimated to cost P10 million, was also planned to serve as quarters and mess hall for policemen.

“To date, we have only 126 personnel divided into three shifts so only 40 policemen are on duty per shift,” said Verzosa, adding that if the station will become a police office, “we have more police personnel to be assigned in the city”.

He said the only problem now is the population requirement of 200,000 as Dagupan has a registered population of some 150,000.

“But we can make a justification for this since it is a fact that the day-time population of the city today swells up to 450,000 if we will include the students, office workers, traders, shoppers and others coming to the city daily.

Dagupan, being the melting pot of the province, is the center of education, trade and commerce and hospital care all over Pangasinan, hence its name “Dagupan” which connotes “place where people gather”.

With its five shopping malls, Dagupan is now the shopping capital of the Ilocos Region, if not in the whole of Northern Luzon. (PNA)
FFC/LVM/rma

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=217728 (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=217728)

http://www.interkultur.com/uploads/pics/World_Choir_Championships_125px_03.png

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Pangasinan Medley - Calasiao Children's Chorus

:banana:


Calasiao Children's Chorus brings home 2 gold medals in world competition

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 14 (PNA) -- The Calasiao Children’s Chorus put Pangasinan province in the map when they brought home two gold medals and two diplomas in the lst Korean International Open Choir Competition from July 16 to 12 in Jyaong Nah, South Korea.

Gilbert Allan Dispo, choir master who is a professor at Saint Louis University in Baguio, said his group won a gold medal in folklore competition and another gold medal in grand prix, which served as the battle of champions from 2005 to 2008.

He said in the folklore, they were up against nine teams, among them were those from Nigeria, Indonesia, China, Estonia and Latvia, and against 19 teams in the children’s choir competition.

Two other teams from the Philippines, the Young Voices of the Adventist University of the Philippines as well as Mandaue City, also saw action in that competition but in other categories.

Just two days after arriving from Korea, the children’s chorus, together with their trainers and coordinators, called on Governor Amado Espino Jr. to present their medals and diplomas earned from that competition.

Their diplomas, said Dispo, was for the children’s choir and the Korean open folklore.

At the office of Espino, they gave the governor samples of their winning pieces that won them acclamation from the judges in that competition as among the best children’s choirs of the world.

It was Governor Espino who sponsored the trip of the group, comprising of children aged nine to 16 years old, including their chaperons and mentors, giving them a total of P1 million.

Part of this came from the proceeds of a Bingo Social sponsored by the Pangasinan Provincial Employees Cooperative (PPEMCO) sometime in June this year.

Espino lauded the choir, composed of pupils and students studying in various schools in Calasiao for besting their rivals from different parts of the world.

“From the governor down to all employees and their families, we congratulate you for your outstanding feat,” said Espino “We are very, very happy with what you have earned.”

Benedict Joseph Gutierrez, 11, pupil of Mother Lourdes School in Calasiao, personally thanked Governor Espino without whose support, he said, it would have been impossible for them to go to Korea and compete among the best choirs of the world.

Asked on who gave them confidence in that competition participated in by among the best children’s choir of the world, Gutierrez replied: “Si Guv po.”

At the same time, he also thanked parents and the kid’s school mates for their prayers which helped them earned their gold medals.

Lyra Ayson, 9, a pupil of Sir Milan School, said she joined the audition and passed it and did not realize she would be included with the champion choir in the trip to Korea.

Dispo said the Calasiao Children’s Chorus, assembled in January 2005, may join the international choir competition in China in 2010 and in the United States in 2011. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=217840

Calasiao children's choir shines in Korea

By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre

CALASIAO -- The Calasiao Children’s Choir again brought home honor to the province of Pangasinan, the second for two international outings.

From the 1st Korean International Open Competition recently held in Jyaong Nah, South Korea, the group captured the Champion Gold Medal in the Folklore competition, Gold Diploma in Childen’s Choir category, and Golden Certificate with Gold Medal in the 1st Grand Prix Choral Music.

On Tuesday morning, the group made a courtesy call to Governor Amado Espino Jr.

The Calasiao Children’s Choir was founded in 2005. It is composed of youngsters from the town of Calasiao aged seven to 16 years old, who have joined several local, national, and international competitions for the past four years.

In 2006, the group won several awards World Choir Games held in Xiamen, China. It also won Silver Diploma Award and Bronze Diploma Award for the Children’s Choir Category and Music of the Religions Category, respectively.

To help the group with its traveling and other expenses, Espino gave it P1 million.

Some of the funds were proceeds from the Bingo Social, a fund-raising activity organized by the Pangasinan Provincial Employees Cooperative.

One of the choir members said they did not only showcase the culture of the Pangasinenses but also the talent that is world class.

This early, the group is eyeing the 2010 international choir competition in China and 2011 competition in the US.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/calasiao-childrens-choir-shines-korea

Dagupan restaurants now required to oblige customers to wash hands before eating

DAGUPAN CITY (PNA) — The city council passed an ordinance requiring all restaurants and eateries in the city to ensure that their customers would first wash their hands before eating as a safety precaution against A(H1N1) influenza.

Councilor Jesus Canto, who authored the ordinance, said under this legislative measure, restaurants are now required to provide sufficient water and soap which could be used by customers in washing their hands before they eat.

The restaurants are also required to provide hand sanitizer or alcohol to be placed in every table within the establishment, which the customers may conveniently use in sanitizing their hands before they will take on any food and drinks.

The measure was proposed by Canto so that eatery patrons would be safe not only from A(H1N1) influenza but also the seasonal flu, typhoid fever, gastro-enteritis and other intestinal diseases.

Stressing that A(H1N1) influenza can be prevented only through personal hygiene, Canto, a doctor of medicine, said there is a need to wash hands as often as necessary to stay clean and healthy.

He said one should also cover one’s mouth and nose when coughing, warning people not to cover their mouth and nose with both hands which could touch on anything later.

The best way to cough is to cover the mouth and nose with handkerchief and if there is none, with tissue paper which must be properly discarded later.

The most important thing, he said, is to build one’s body’s resistance by eating green leafy vegetables, such as kamote leaves, malunggay, green lettuce, kangkong and red onions.

In this season of flu, we must build our resistance by also drinking plenty of fluid and having plenty of rest and sleep, he said.

At the same time, he called on the people here not to panic because the A (H1N1) influenza that is now in some parts of the country is mild and can be contained by just staying home.

He said those who are feeling the symptoms of flu should not to go to school or office anymore but just stay home, rest and take plenty of fluid. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=7&rid=217868

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/3502075570_0d24d0042b_o.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by jun gomez (http://www.flickr.com/photos/facs/3502075570/in/set-72157616612942736/)

Senior Citizens, bangatan da iray day care na values strengthening

Lanie Tomas last Jul 15, 08:41 AM

Iliing tan pabiskegen so values na saray ogogaw. Saya natan so proyekton iitdan na imano na kabiangay Federation of Senior Citizens of the Philippines (FESCAP) Dagupan City Chapter ed panangidaulo nen Felipe Siapno tan panamegley na suporta na gobiernoy siudad.

Ikurang so Strengthening Values Project ed loob na duay bolan ed 31 barangays diad siudad. Saray man-aaral ed day care centers so bangatan na volunteer teachers ya miembro na FESCAP Dagupan o mas kabkabat ira natan ed tawag ya Lolo Basyong tan Lola Basyang.

Onong ed kinen Luz Gemeniano, project committee chair tan sekretarya na FESCAP – Dagupan apili da iray day care ya bangatan na values pian diad ibaleg da et awi-awit da la iyan marakep ya inka-ugali a singa say pan-osar na salitan po tan opo.

Man-lektyur si Lolo Basyong tan si Lola Basyang panamegley na storytelling no iner say katibokelan na istorya et nilirad panangaro tan panrespeto ed nasyun, pamilya, kakaaro, ontan met ed kaliber-liber tan diad saray ayep.

Impaliwawa nen Lorna Fernandez, focal person na senior citizens ed Dagupan, tinibokel so asalitan proyekto bilang pangunor ed Republic Act 7432 o mas kabkabat bilang An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building.

Misasalamat met si Fernandez ed tulong di Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, Liga President Marcelino Fernandez tan saray opisyalis na barangay parad pantalonggaring na sayan ikukurang dan proyekto.

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=570 (http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=570)

Dagupeños, mankasakey ya mandasal tan nonoten so July 16, 1990 earthquake ed loob na sakey minuto

by Lanie Tomas

Kasabi alas-tres biente sais na ngarem sano agew na Huwebes, Hulyo 16, 2009 et ombatangtang o ontanol so sirena ya walad tuktok na tindaan pampubliko pian unalerto so interon Dagupan tan manpareen ed loob na anemamplon segundo. Gaween iya pian itdan na dalan so pannonot ed agawan trahedya ya kimmena ed siudad, 19 taon lay apalabas.

Kekerewen nen Mayor Alipio Fernandez, Jr. ed saray opisyalis tan empleyado na gobierno, estudyante, bumabangat, trabahadores, negosyante, opisyalis na barangays, boluntaryon komikimey ya mibiang tan mikasakey ed anemaplon segundo ya pandeen tan pan-opresi na dasal parad amin ya atigguayan na bilay ed agawan July 16, 1990 earthquake, ontan met omamengen tan nonoten so importansya na pantarya kada untubat so kalamidad o antokaman ya klase disgrasya.

Inkuan to nin panamegley na pantutulungan tan inisyatibo lapud ag nanpatenyeg iray Dagupeños a singa si Speaker Jose de Venecia et nibangon lamet so siudad, kaniyan diad loob na taloy taon et abawi lamet na siudad so kagalangan tan bantog to bilang unaan ya siudad ed interon luyag na Pangasinan.

Inyarom ni nen Mayor Fernandez ya kasompalan na 19 taon, say Dagupan et idadayew la natan bilang modelo ed dasig na disaster preparedness panamegley na strong capacity-building programs, say impangilunsa na Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the Citizens Helpline tan say mabiskeg ya pitutulungan na komunidad, panamegley na pangibabasil na marakep iran apasalan ed lokal tan internasyunal ya komunidad ed loob la na pigaran taon.

Kaleganan tonya, no Hulyo 17 et mibiang so siudad ed nationwide earthquake and fire simulation drill ed amin ya pampubliko tan pampribadon eskwelaan, ibiang met laray bangko tan hotels.

Onong ed kinen City Administrator Dr. Alvin Fernandez, iilaloan ton naaroman so kakabatan na kada Dagupeño tan natalosan da so Disaster Preparedness Program na gobiernoy siudad, ontan met magmaliw iran preparado kasabi na kalamidad o segsegang.

Nen Hulyo 10, 2009, say City Disaster Coordinating Council et pormal to lan nilukasan so obserbasiyon na National Disaster Consciousness Month panamegley na Emergeny Preparedness Seminar ya inatindian na saray representantis manlapod boluntaryon grupo, nasyunal iran ahensya, prinsipals na pampubliko tan pampribadon eskwelaan, mangimamanehoy bangko tan hotels, ontan met iray safety tan compliance officers daranya.

Tinibokel na Office of the Civil Defense – Region One so sanagew ya seminar nilirad earthquakes, fire prevention, tsunami alert warning systems, internal security threats tan arom nira. Saray nan-lektyur et manlapod PHIVOLCS, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police regional office tan saray kabiangan na CDCC.

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=569

Traditional values keep Pangasinan store growing

By Gabriel Cardinoza
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DAGUPAN CITY – TWENTY ONE YEARS ago, Chimes Enterprises was just an unknown small retail store of school and office supplies renting a cramped office space in the neighboring town of Calasiao.

It was also among the few stores in Pangasinan at that time that offered repair and maintenance services for common office equipment, such as typewriters and calculators.

Today, Chimes is housed in its own three-story building, right in the heart of this city. It has also opened branches in San Fernando City in La Union and in Baguio City, making it the leading dealer and distributor of office automation machines and furnishings and computers in Ilocos and Cordillera.

“It was all because of STD – sikap [diligence], tiyaga [patience] at dasal [and prayers],” says its owner and chief executive officer, Salvador Poserio.

“But I do not claim that it’s my own effort alone. I know I was blessed by the Lord. So, it’s a product of my faith in our Great Provider. Anything you do, as long as He is with you, will be successful,” he says.

Dare to dream

But Chimes is what it is today because Poserio first dared to dream and worked very hard to make this dream come true.

“As I child, I had always wanted to be a businessman. I was 11-years-old when I earned my first peso by selling vegetables that I grew in our school garden,” Poserio says.

He would later venture into backyard animal-raising when he was in high school and sold ready-to-wear clothes, sunglasses and other apparels to his classmates when he was studying at the Far Eastern University in Manila, where he earned a degree in economics.

“I also had to work as a student aide at FEU at that time to augment my income and be able to finish college,” Poserio says.

When he was in his second year in college, Poserio’s father met an accident and died. His mother, a public school teacher, had asked him to transfer to Dagupan to cut on cost.

“But I told my mother to give me what she could afford and I would take care of the rest,” he says.

Poserio’s first job after graduating from college in 1983 was teaching at the Catholic Church-owned St. Charles Academy in San Carlos City.

At the same time, he handled evening classes as part-time instructor at the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation.

But even as a teacher, Poserio sold cupcakes and supplied every school canteen in the city that accepted the product that he asked his neighbor to bake. He also offered life insurance and housekeeping products to friends and acquaintances.

“I was virtually a walking store, an ambulant vendor,” Poserio says. “But I was enjoying it. Every time I met somebody I knew, I offered this and that product. And it was then that my salesmanship was developed.”

At that time, Poserio was already earning more than enough for himself and he had been able to help his mother send his younger siblings to college.

In 1987, barely four years after finishing college, Poserio put up Chimes Enterprises from his savings. The following year, he moved his store to a wider, more conspicuous site in front of the Dagupan City cathedral.

“I had only P16,000 then as capital, my savings from selling backyard animals and from my commission in selling life insurance and housekeeping products,” he says.

Running his business at the start was not a walk in the park, Poserio says. He had to visit various government offices then and talk with government officials in Pangasinan to sell his products.

Big break

His big break came in 1989 when his company was appointed regional dealer of Acer Computers, which was still being introduced in the Philippines at that time. A few months later, he became a dealer of Sharp copiers.

“These were the big names, famous brands in office automation that also helped us become big,” Poserio says.

But it was his work ethic, superb management skills and good relationship with his staff that made his company bigger.

“A prosperous business is a partnership with your people, with your staff. I consider them a prized asset and you have to treat them well,” he says.

As a result, he says, he introduced a gain-saving mechanism and profit-sharing scheme to motivate them to work harder and become more productive.

He also formulated Chimes Green Book, an employee manual that stipulated employees’ conduct while doing business.

“I also help them develop by giving them proper training. And I’m treating them well, as if they are my immediate relatives,” he says.

His relationship with his staff would later help him recover after his store was burglarized in 1998.

“When our store was ransacked, I lost around P600,000 and that was too big for me at that time. I thought I could no longer recover from the losses,” Poserio says.

It was then that he asked the cooperation of his employees by sharing the burden of keeping the company operational. He told his staff that salary increases would have to be frozen. But he promised that they would have them back as soon as he recovered his losses.

In no time, Poserio was back into business. He would begin reaping different awards in 2001 from labor industry groups and other award-giving bodies in the country for his best practices in business.

Among these were: Best in People Development from the Department of Labor and Employment (2008), Outstanding Alumnus in Entrepreneurial Leadership from FEU (2003), Outstanding Achievement in Industrial Peace and Harmony from the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (2003) and Best Practice in Leadership from the National Wages and Productivity Commission (2001).

But for Poserio, his most memorable ‘award’ was when he was invited by then United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan as one of two Philippine representatives to the Global Compact Summit at the UN headquarters in New York in 2004.

“I was really surprised by the invitation. I told myself, ‘Who is Chimes, compared to McDonald’s, Nokia, Starbucks and other big names?’ In our group discussions, there were CEOs, directors and presidents of big corporations. I’m just a small retail store owner,” he says.

Today, Poserio is no longer thinking of opening new branches. “In retail, maybe, I have reached its apex. I’ll just have to maintain it,” he says.

Chimes remain one of the most liquid companies in Pangasinan because Poserio never borrowed money to keep his business afloat.

He says he is now thinking of diversifying into other businesses, like real estate and opening a technical-vocational school in this city.

http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20090712-215066/Traditional-values-keep-Pangasinan-store-growing

Best PCR cops, police units awarded

SAN FABIAN -- The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) paid tribute to its members who performed well in establishing good police-community relations (PCR) in their respective areas of responsibility.

On Wednesday, Police Provincial Director Percival Barba led the giving of merit awards to individuals and police units relative to its observance of the 14th Police Community Relations (PCR) Month Celebration.

After which was the one day “Enhancement Seminar of Lead Operators and Designated Supervisors,” attended by PCR branch head and staff from the 50 police units in Pangasinan.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. was the guest of honor and speaker. Also in attendance was Police Regional Office Director Ramon Gatan.

“The best PCR work is to be a member of the community. PCR means when you are invited by the members of the community to their private or group gatherings, you are invited to be a member of their civic clubs,” Espino said.

“Most importantly, stop acting as soldiers because you are not. You are civilians in civilian uniforms with sidearms. If you can avoid it, don’t bring to public places long firearms because these are assault weapons, these are for battle,” the governor added.

Awarded as Best PCR Units were Dagupan City Police Station (city category), Calasiao Police Station (Class A municipality), Sta. Barbara Police Station (Class B), San Jacinto Police Station (Class C), and 106th Provincial Mobile Group (mobile group).

The Best PCR Officers (Police Commissioned Officer Category) were Chief Inspector Eddie Granil (Police Provincial Office), Inspector Alexie Desamito (Dagupan Police Office), Calasiao Police Chief Rodelio Samson, Manaoag Police Chief Mateo Casupang, San Jacinto Police Chief Giovanni Mangonon, and 106th PMG Deputy Director Ryan Manongdo.

Certificates of Merit were likewise awarded to Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCO), namely: Senior Police Officer4 Jesus Fernandez, SPO2 Rodrigo Vinluan, PO3 Brenda Cristobal, PO1 Soledad Sergote, PO3 Charito Orenza and PO2 Leandro Valenzuela, and to Diosdado Crisostomo of the Philippine Tourism Authority.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office-Ilocos held the kick-off ceremonies for the twin observance of the PCR Month and the National Disaster Consciousness Month last July 6.

The program was held at the Police Regional Office in Camp Florendo in San Fernando City, La Union.

This year’s PCR Month theme is “Bayanihan ng Pulis at Mamamayan, Tungo sa Kapayapaan at Kaayusan,” while the National Disaster Consciousness Month’s theme is “Pag Alerto, Malayo sa Peligro.”

Plaques of recognition were given to Rev. Conrado Lumahan, coordinator of the International Christian Mission; Ruben Floresca, president of Junior Chambers International–Naguilian Basi; and Engineer Jesus Nicdao, governor of Rotary Club International District 3790. (LCMY/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/best-pcr-cops-police-units-awarded

Sitio Surip, Centro Toma, Bani

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3683101519_82a94aae91_b.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifflickr photo by Alvin Dizon (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alvins_photo/3683101519/)


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Surip is located at the western most part of Bani along the South China Sea- ideal for scuba diving, snorkeling and recreational fishing.

Construction of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Extension starts in August

ROSALES, Pangasinan (PNA) — Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. has announced construction of the 88-kilometer extension of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway up to Rosales, Pangasinan is set to start in August this year.

Esperon made the announcement when he led a Pro-Performance team of Malacanang, composed of representatives of different government agencies, in inspecting the proposed alignment from Lapaz, Tarlac to Carmen, Rosales in Pangasinan.

He said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is already undertaking the purchase of land that will serve as right-of-way for the project costing P12.1 billion.

Members of the Pro-Performance team also met with representatives of different government agencies and the municipal mayors of Rosales, Cuyapo and Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija to confer with them about the project.

He said the Philippine Infrastructure Development Corporation has committed to start civil work on the proposed alignment of the project on the areas already by the DPWH.

This is Phase I of the expressway extension which will pass through Victoria, Gerona, Paniqui and Moncada, Tarlac.

Phase I will pass through Villasis, Urdaneta, Binalonan, Pozorrubio and Sison before reaching Rosario, La Union.

Once completed, the project will spur economic opportunities in Regions 1, II, III and the Cordilleras as it will cut travel time from Tarlac to La Union by two hours. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=218167

Pinoy priest wins medals in int’l taekwondo tilt

abs-cbnNEWS.com

A priest from the Jesus the Nazarene Church in Binmaley, Pangasinan bagged one silver and two bronze medals at the recently-concluded World Taekwondo Culture Expo in South Korea.

Fr. Rojohn Ramirez, who was the only representative from Region I, spent eight days in South Korea along with 44 other Philippine team delegates.

Ramirez said he could not explain the happiness and honor he received as the South Korean tournament was his first time to join an international competition.

“Kapag nakita nila ang flag mo sa Philippines, dagdag puntos na ‘yun dahil alam naman natin na gumagawa talaga tayo ng pangalan pagdating sa sports,” he said.

Despite being a taekwondo expert, Ramirez said his priesthood remains his top priority.

“Buti nga pinayagan ako ni Archbishop na pumunta doon eh,” he remarked.

According to Ramirez, he just wants to promote the sport because taekwondo highlights the importance of health, fitness, as well as the discipline that has to be instilled in every athlete.

Ramirez is back to celebrating masses and teaching taekwondo especially to children. Report from Kori Quintos, ABS-CBN News North Central Luzon

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/07/15/09/pinoy-priest-wins-medals-int%E2%80%99l-taekwondo-tilt

‘Balikbayan’ donates land for city’s E-Kawayan project

One of the city’s major thrusts gets a big boost thanks to a kind-hearted balikbayan who donated her ancestral land to the city government.

Mrs. Estrella Rancudo Bumacod, a prized daughter of Barangay Alos here, personally announced that her family is donating their property to the city during yesterday’s flag raising ceremony.

http://hundredislands.ph/photos/balikbayan_donateLand1.jpg

The 3,512 square meters of land of the Bumacod family is situated in Brgy. Alos.

The area is said to be site of the bamboo processing plant for the adoption of the Engineered Kawayan Technology Project.

New jobs, additional income

E-Kawayan is a technology that converts bamboo poles into tiles for furniture and handicrafts.

And Alaminos is the first recipient of the said technology in the entire Northern Luzon if not in the whole country.

The technology which was developed by Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) uses the university’s patented ''Kawayan Tile Machine'' (KTM).

KTM produces the tiles which will be used as material for making an array of furniture products and handicrafts.

Last year, the city government and MMSU and Ilocos Region Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILARRDEC) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to realize the project.


http://hundredislands.ph/photos/balikbayan_donateLand2.jpg

Under the agreement, the city’s partners will fabricate and install one unit of E-Kawayan machine in the city and provide trainings for the bamboo producers and handicraft makers.

By harnessing the city’s bamboo resources, the project is said to have a huge impact on the local economy as it provides another source of livelihood for the residents and generate additional income to the community.

Returning to share blessings

Bumacod, in her message, recalled how she arrived at the decision to donate one of the properties to the city.

She said she never thought of coming back to her city of birth after spending 25 years with her husband and children in the US.

More so when her husband passed away, confessed the former instructress at the Lyceum Northwestern in Dagupan City.

“I always think of our properties in the Philippines but none of my children wanted to come home with me,” she added.

The mother of seven professionals already made up her mind until she met Mayor Hernani A. Braganza in Carlson City few year’s ago.

http://hundredislands.ph/photos/balikbayan_donateLand3.jpg

It was the induction ball of the officers of the Alaminos Pangasinan Association of California USA (APASCA) then and the visionary chief executive was invited as the affair’s guest of honor and speaker and at the same time the inducting officer.

“I was totally astonished to all the beautiful presentations he (Mayor Braganza) had of our city,” she continued. I start imagining where our land is in the city’s master plan of the development.”

Seeing is believing

Lured by the mayor to revisit her city of birth just like other Alaminians living in the US and take part in the city’s Hundred Islands Global Homecoming and City Fiesta Celebration, she decided to come home all alone.

She arrived here quietly and didn’t bother the mayor, whom she said was very busy at that time.

But she managed to visit the city hall and pay their real property taxes.

While walking along the city’s central business district, Bumacod have seen all the changes and noticed the kind of development her citymates is starting to enjoy.

http://hundredislands.ph/photos/balikbayan_donateLand4.jpg

“Now, I remember what our beloved mayor was talking about," she said. "Come home to see for yourselves and all your questions will be answered.”

Touched, grateful

Bumacod disclosed she prayed hard until she was able to make an appointment to see the mayor.

It was during their brief meeting that Mayor Braganza decided to lend his Land Cruiser to the city’s guest. This, after learning that she is already having a difficulty riding on a tricycle or a jeepney.

“With his very good gesture and concern, I’ve been thinking of how I can return a little bit of Mayor Nani’s kindness,” she stressed.

She then ask her children but they don’t know what their citymates, particularly those less privileged ones, need the most.

“Finally, I decided to help most energetic mayor in Western Pangasinan in realizing some his projects,” she continued.

“So I’m donating today one of our properties,” she quipped further.

Generous kabaleyan
On his part, Mayor Braganza said that the city was extremely fortunate to receive another worthy gift from a bighearted balikbayan.


http://hundredislands.ph/photos/balikbayan_donateLand5.jpg

“In behalf of a very grateful city, allow me to say thank you to Madam Estrella Vda. de Liberato Bumacod for her and her family’s graciousness and benevolence to their beloved citymates.”

The mayor recalled when she first met the future benefactor.

“Mayor Nani Braganza, I do not know you but I know your parents, says Bumacod. I am from the City of Alaminos. I’m not been in Alaminos in the last 25 years.”

The mayor quickly asked her why she never bothered to come home.

“I’m afraid of pickpockets,” was her quick reply.

A better Alaminos

Braganza then told Madam Estrella, whom he learned is not an ordinary woman but an accomplished citizen in Carlson City, that Alaminos has changed.

“Many of our countrymen and even foreign tourists have made Alaminos their residence by choice,” he said.

http://hundredislands.ph/photos/balikbayan_donateLand6.jpg

“You might want to visit Alaminos, your city, my city, our city one day,” the mayor remembered saying it to her.

And apparently that day has come.

“I am so happy that finally, Madam Estrella has finally arrived in the city of Alaminos," noted the mayor. "She will soon leave Alaminos and we are hoping and praying that no untoward incidents will happen to her.”

Long term effect
Braganza had confirmed that the valuable land which was donated to the city will be used for the E-Kawayan Project.

“With this gift, we were able to save a lot of government funds since we will no longer need to purchase land for the city,” he pointed out.

“(But beyond that), is the long-term effect of this project, he said. With this particular donation, the people of Alos and the city of Alaminos will be known in the future for its furniture products made of bamboo are modern in design but purely Filipino in character.”

For her family’s major contribution to the city, the city mayor handed a plaque of appreciation to Madam Estrella which was witnessed by more 400 city employees and department heads.

Giving back to the city

Braganza said upon his assumption of office in 2004, many of his citymates started donating their properties to the city government which are intended for future projects.

If you notice, most of the new buildings today in the city of Alaminos are direct investments of our citymates, he said.

“These are our balikbayans, whom we have talked to and convinced to invest their fortunes or share some of their blessings to their city and citymates.”

“These are our typical balikbayans, who, while still strong, didn’t forget their beloved city and extend assistance to their citymates."

“Our sincerest thanks also to them,” said the mayor.

All these commercial buildings, hotels, apartments, and transient homes continue to mushroom in barangays Poblacion, Lucap, Palamis, Bolaney and Tanaytay.

These huge investments provide jobs to local residents and pump prime the city’s economy,

Braganza stressed that for having invested millions of pesos of their hard-earn savings in the city “our kabaleyans’ working and living abroad now have confidence in our vibrant economy.”

“Their investments will go along way not only for their relatives here but also to serve best our citymates and the city as whole,” he added. (CIO)

http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=530

Dagupan Seafood Processing Plant's construction finally starts

DAGUPAN CITY (PNA) -- A Korean contractor has already started the construction of a P100 million Seafood Processing Plant in Sitio Russia, Barangay Bonuan Binloc here, Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. said.

According to the mayor, the contractor, who won a bidding for the project in Seoul, Korea, conveyed his desire to complete the project till December this year.

The project is a grant to Dagupan by the Korean government thru the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), arranged sometime in 2006 by Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., when he was yet the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

While in Dagupan for the first time last week, the contractor also surveyed the road leading to the project site to find out if it can accommodate big 10-wheeler trucks that would carry machineries from Manila.

All the machinery as well as the pre-fabricated materials that will be needed for the project will come from Korea.

The project is being built on a five-hectare area beside the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center, operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Bonuan Binloc.

The city government, as well as the BFAR, will co-manage the project per a memorandum of agreement signed last year by Mayor Fernandez, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and the KOICA country representative.

Although originally set to be built in 10 months, the project will be fast-tracked so that it can be inaugurated in April next year in time for the 2010 Bangus Festival, Fernandez revealed.

The seafood processing plant will be operated by a management team to be formed by the Dagupan City government and the BFAR, using members of the local community as laborers and employees.

City officials said once operational, the project will create a chain-reaction effect to the economy of Dagupan, spawning the growth of allied industries, such as trading, trucking and others. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=218050 (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=218050)

Cleanest toilets in the country (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/13304-cleanest-toilets-in-the-country.html)

Written by Not Business as Usual / Margaret Jao-Grey Thursday, 16 July 2009

http://businessmirror.com.ph/images/stories/columnst/col-companies-not%20business%20as%20usual.jpg


DAGUPAN City in Pangasinan has the best publicly run toilets in the country. This means all the city’s toilets are clean and have soap and running water for washing hands. According to the World Bank, the success of the city’s ongoing two-year project can largely be traced to the commitment of the mayor down to the barangay captains who regularly check the toilets.

Elsewhere in the country, the best toilets for a traveler to go to are those inside fast-food outlets. And even then, the soap dispenser might be empty.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/13304-cleanest-toilets-in-the-country.html

Calasiao Children's Chorus brings home 2 gold medals in world competition (http://positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Inspirational_25/Calasiao_Children_s_Chorus_brings_home_2_gold_medals_in_world_competition.shtml)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 15 (PNA) -- The Calasiao Children’s Chorus put Pangasinan province in the map when they brought home two gold medals and two diplomas in the lst Korean International Open Choir Competition from July 16 to 12 in Jyaong Nah, South Korea.

Gilbert Allan Dispo, choir master who is a professor at Saint Louis University in Baguio, said his group won a gold medal in folklore competition and another gold medal in grand prix, which served as the battle of champions from 2005 to 2008.

He said in the folklore, they were up against nine teams, among them were those from Nigeria, Indonesia, China, Estonia and Latvia, and against 19 teams in the children’s choir competition.

Two other teams from the Philippines, the Young Voices of the Adventist University of the Philippines as well as Mandaue City, also saw action in that competition but in other categories.

Just two days after arriving from Korea, the children’s chorus, together with their trainers and coordinators, called on Governor Amado Espino Jr. to present their medals and diplomas earned from that competition.

Their diplomas, said Dispo, was for the children’s choir and the Korean open folklore.

At the office of Espino, they gave the governor samples of their winning pieces that won them acclamation from the judges in that competition as among the best children’s choirs of the world.

It was Governor Espino who sponsored the trip of the group, comprising of children aged nine to 16 years old, including their chaperons and mentors, giving them a total of P1 million.

Part of this came from the proceeds of a Bingo Social sponsored by the Pangasinan Provincial Employees Cooperative (PPEMCO) sometime in June this year.

Espino lauded the choir, composed of pupils and students studying in various schools in Calasiao for besting their rivals from different parts of the world.

“From the governor down to all employees and their families, we congratulate you for your outstanding feat,” said Espino “We are very, very happy with what you have earned.”

Benedict Joseph Gutierrez, 11, pupil of Mother Lourdes School in Calasiao, personally thanked Governor Espino without whose support, he said, it would have been impossible for them to go to Korea and compete among the best choirs of the world.

Asked on who gave them confidence in that competition participated in by among the best children’s choir of the world, Gutierrez replied: “Si Guv po.”

At the same time, he also thanked parents and the kid’s school mates for their prayers which helped them earned their gold medals.

Lyra Ayson, 9, a pupil of Sir Milan School, said she joined the audition and passed it and did not realize she would be included with the champion choir in the trip to Korea.
Dispo said the Calasiao Children’s Chorus, assembled in January 2005, may join the international choir competition in China in 2010 and in the United States in 2011. (PNA)

Construction of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Extension starts in August

ROSALES, Pangasinan (PNA) — Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. has announced construction of the 88-kilometer extension of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway up to Rosales, Pangasinan is set to start in August this year.

Esperon made the announcement when he led a Pro-Performance team of Malacanang, composed of representatives of different government agencies, in inspecting the proposed alignment from Lapaz, Tarlac to Carmen, Rosales in Pangasinan.

He said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is already undertaking the purchase of land that will serve as right-of-way for the project costing P12.1 billion.

Members of the Pro-Performance team also met with representatives of different government agencies and the municipal mayors of Rosales, Cuyapo and Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija to confer with them about the project.

He said the Philippine Infrastructure Development Corporation has committed to start civil work on the proposed alignment of the project on the areas already by the DPWH.

This is Phase I of the expressway extension which will pass through Victoria, Gerona, Paniqui and Moncada, Tarlac.

Phase I will pass through Villasis, Urdaneta, Binalonan, Pozorrubio and Sison before reaching Rosario, La Union.

Once completed, the project will spur economic opportunities in Regions 1, II, III and the Cordilleras as it will cut travel time from Tarlac to La Union by two hours. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=218167


napaka unlad na talaga ng rosales,

pati ung income nila tumaas din, from 67 M to 80.9M nung last year lang, sana mareach na nila ang 100M paramaging City na.....

Dagupenos' fighting spirit tagged for their city's fast recovery from the quake (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=218434)
By Leonardo V. Micua

DAGUPAN CITY, July 17 (PNA) -- Were it not for unity, resiliency and indomitable fighting spirit of Dagupenos to survive from all odds, their city would not have recovered as fast as it did from the large-scale destruction wrought by the killer quake 19 years ago on Thursday.

This was stressed by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. when he led a memorial in front of the city's One-Stop-Shop on A.B. Fernandez Avenue in observance of the big tragedy that struck at 3:26 p.m. DST (Daily Savings Time) on July 16, 1990 that literally caught many Dagupenos "with their pants down".

The siren atop the city hall wailed for 60 seconds to mark the exact time when the earth trembled, as Fernandez and his co-workers at city hall that included City Administrator Alvin Fernandez and City Legal Officer George Mejia, held lighted candles for a moment of prayer.

When the quake struck, Fernandez was still vice mayor of Dagupan with Liberato Reyna Sr. as city mayor.

Many said it was Reyna who laid the foundation for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Dagupan. But it was Fernandez who executed the plan from 1992 when he became mayor till 2001 when he completed his third term.

He came back in 2007 after six-years as Interior and Local government Undersecretary and Immigration Commissioner.

The mayor recalled that the Intensity 7.7 earthquake nearly wiped out Dagupan from the map of Pangasinan. But because the people loved their city, they stood fast their ground and rallied together so that they can rebuild their city from the rubble of the quake.

Thus, in so short time, Dagupan was back on its feet again and even became many times more progressive than before, to be an envy of many local government units in Northern Luzon.

Records showed there were some 20 people that perished in the city from the quake. In addition to this, at least 1,200 houses were reported as completely destroyed and 3,325 others destroyed partially. The condemned houses and buildings numbered around 600.

The Magsaysay Bridge on Perez Boulevard collapsed, leaving only the Quintos Bridge to absorb the heavy north-south traffic, and in no time suffered what Fernandez personally called traffic fatigue, and had to be reconstructed later.

Approximately, 80 percent of the city’s roads were also destroyed, making Dagupan literally looked like as if it was the scene of war from the previous day.

Fernandez recalled that after the quake, Manila-bound vehicles from the north had yet to pass through Dagupan enroute to Manila and vice versa as the Plaridel Bridge in Carmen, Rosales—then the longest bridge in Luzon-- also crumbled.

Fernandez believed that what may have rallied Dagupenos to fight on and refuse to buckle down despite the frightening news that their city was already sinking to the sea was the fighting phrase “Dagupan is unsinkable, to leave is impossible....” painted in bold letters in one of the placards in front of one of the damaged old houses on Perez Boulevard.

As to who coined that phrase still remained a mystery today but whoever did it surely contributed largely to the rebuilding of Dagupan and in crafting a new city from the ruins of the quake.

Fernandez told newsmen that phrase "Dagupan is unsinkable, to leave is impossible" was eventually adopted as a motto that served as an inspiration for all Dagupan residents, irrespective of political affiliations and religious boundaries, to join hands so that together they can rebuild their city.

The Metro Dagupan Civilian Earthquake Reconstruction Fund Foundation set up by Dr. Salvador Duque was instrumental in rallying local businessmen, educators, professionals, media men and Dagupenos abroad to lend their helping hands in building a new Dagupan.

Fernandez believed that the earthquake setback back Dagupan for only one year as life again became normal soon when the help from the national government under then President Corazon Aquino finally came.

The city got a lion's share from the P10 billion rehab fund appropriated by Congress through the sponsorship of a native son, Rep. Congressman Jose de Venecia Jr., who was latter hailed as the "architect in building a New Dagupan."

Officially, said Fernandez, only about seven of the 47 buildings that tilted to their side and subsequently declared as condemned, are yet to be removed and replaced by their owners.

And when this is done, the scars left by the July 16, 1990 earthquake in the face of Dagupan will soon be completely erased, said May Viray of Dagupan’s City Information Office, who read a report on the damages wrought by the 1990 quake as a flash back. (PNA)
FFC/LVM/rma

napaka unlad na talaga ng rosales,

pati ung income nila tumaas din, from 67 M to 80.9M nung last year lang, sana mareach na nila ang 100M paramaging City na.....

Masgusto ng mga negosyante manatiling municipality ang Rosales dahil tataas ang singil sa buwis kung nagkataon.

DaVita to formally turn over 15 dialysis machines

Dagupan City -- Fifteen dialysis machines worth more than P15 million will be formally turned over to the provincial government by the Davita Medical Mission Group-Bridge of Life on Monday at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. along with provincial and city officials will lead the turn-over ceremony. "This is another breakthrough in the upliftment of health care services especially for indigent patients who need kidney treatment at an affordable price," said Gov. Espino in a talk with the team headed by Cindy Barnard, vice-president of the DaVita medical mission team in the Philippines.

According to Barnard, DaVita is one of the leading service providers of kidney care in the United States and continues its support service to the Bridge of Life's efforts in partnering with local entities to help bring much needed assistance to impoverished communities.

"We have already helped established dialysis clinics worldwide such as in South America, Guatamela Cameroon, India, Ecuador and the latest is here in the Philippines," Barnad said.

Asked why the group chose Pangasinan to be the first recipient in the Philippines of their medical mission, Barnard said that "only the province of Pangasinan through its local officials has extended their support, commitment and partnership with us to achieve our goal."

"What really matters here in our mission is local partnership because without it, our effort is nil," she stressed.

Aside from the 15 dialysis equipment, the DaVita Medical Mission will be providing free supplies for six months such as dialyzer, an artificial kidney, bloodlines, syringe needles and other supplies.

During their three-week stay since they arrived here in Pangasinan last June 21, the group has provided hands-on training to nurses on handling the machines including troubleshooting. (PIO/MRT/PIA)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090717.htm&no=79

Six popular Pangasinan restaurants padlocked for misdeclared sales

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City -- Six restaurants in Pangasinan were padlocked Friday morning under the Oplan Kandado campaign of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Led by no less than BIR Commissioner Sixto Esquivias IV himself, three teams of revenue personnel accompanied by police officers and the media proceeded to the targeted establishments amid heavy rains.

Esquivias, with four deputy commissioners in tow, went first to the Tondaligan area along the Bonuan Blue Beach where three targeted establishments are located - the Matutina's Restaurant Annex 1 and 2 and Nena's Catering and Restaurant - to impose the closure orders. The restaurants were padlocked and a streamer was placed at the entrance to serve as notice to the public that the establishments would be closed temporarily. Posters were also pasted at the restaurants' windows announcing the government's campaign against tax evasion.

A separate team proceeded to Urdaneta City to impose the closure order for a branch of Matutina's which is located along the national highway in that city.

The Silverio's restaurant located at the famous Dawel area in this city was also ordered padlocked along with its outlet in nearby Binmaley town, which restaurant opened only recently.

Esquivias, in a brief press conference at the BIR regional office before the teams proceeded to their targets, said that the BIR means business. "We will go after you," he said addressing taxpayers especially business owners who under-declare their sales.

He said that he already signed more than 60 closure orders against erring establishments including the six restaurants here in Pangasinan. He urged taxpayers to make voluntary payments even as he noted that back collections are going up because of the Oplan Kandado campaign.

Asked if there was leakage and that the concerned targets had already been informed ahead about the "raid," he said the owners would be surprised when the teams get at them. The owners of the Matutina restaurants were nowhere in the place when the teams imposed the orders and only the cashier and supervisor received them.

A few customers were around. Curious onlookers in the area watched the proceedings even in the middle of a heavy downpour.

Esquivias said Oplan Kandado will send a strong message to the public especially concerned taxpayers that the government is really serious in its campaign against tax evasion.

Under-declaration is detected when more than 30 percent of sales are not reported to the BIR, which is experiencing shortfall in collections because of the economic slowdown.

The commissioner in a huddle with the media said there is really a need to fully inform the public about strengthening tax collection efforts by asking for receipts or invoices in every transaction. He also said he was unaware that President Macapagal-Arroyo usually dropped by one of the padlocked restaurants on her way to Baguio City or if she was visiting the province.

The establishments will remain padlocked in five days for the owners to settle their tax obligations, according to Regional Director Tomas Rosales, who along with Revenue District 4 Officer Joseph Catapia, accompanied the commissioner in implementing the closure orders. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p090717.htm&no=60&r=&y=&mo=

New Urban Suburb

If there is one strategically located town in Pangasinan, it is Sta. Barbara.

It lies at the center of a province with 45 towns and four cities where over 3 million people live. Three of those cities are nearby with Urdaneta City, the fastest growing commercial center in Northern Luzon, only a few minutes to the east traversed by the main road going to the Ilocos and the Cordilleras, the McArthur National Highway.

Fifteen kilometers to the west is the old commercial hub of the province, the seaside City of Dagupan. A town away to the south is San Carlos City. Due to its being a natural suburb of three cities, Sta. Barbara has become the home of choice of well-heeled Pangasinenses who preferred residences in more quiet surroundings.

The town now hosts five thriving exclusive subdivisions, one developed by a real estate conglomerate owned by Senate President Manny Villar. A sixth village for the poor is being developed by the town government in partnership with the private sector, particularly the movers behind the Gawad Kalinga national housing program for the poor.

Sta. Barbara, or part of it, is fast becoming the Ayala-Alabang of Northern Luzon
A new government that is investment-friendly has made it its business to build support infrastructure like roads and bridges in its pitch to attract more real estate developers to make the town the upscale and medium-scale residential suburb of the province. This was the idea behind positioning Sta. Barbara as the emerging Urban Suburb between a triangle of cities.

Also on the basis of its close proximity to the commercial centers of the province, plus its vast agricultural wealth, makes Sta. Barbara an ideal agro-industrial hub. Already, the town is the seat of the Regional Agriculture Training Center. The sprawling training complex could be converted into an incubator for food processing and other farm-based enterprises and may later be developed into a special economic zone specializing on natural resource-based enterprises.

It could follow the steps taken by the TESDA training complex in Taguig City in Metro-Manila that started off as a training ground for workers of start-up micro and small enterprises. It evolved into an SME incubating institution that gave birth to quite a number of successful new industries. This year, part of the complex is being converted into a special economic zone.

First major step taken by the town government is to get the network of irrigation canals straddling through practically all of Sta. Barbara’s farm lands to work efficiently and provide abundant water to the fields 12 months of the year. With that accomplished, farm productivity is seen to at least double and even triple as a result of relay planting backed with the latest in best farming practices.

In a few years, Sta. Barbara’s farmers will be ready to enter into contract growing arrangements with big food processors and exporters, or enter into joint venture with them or serve as reliable suppliers of cash crops and grains. Exploratory studies have been undertaken to determine the capacity of the town to embark and sustain such an ambitious program as building it as an agri-business center of Northern Luzon. The next critical step is selling those surplus and processed farm products to the world.

Sta. Barbara’s Dream Gateway
Central Luzon already has two international airports, one at the Subic Freeport and a bigger one at the Clark Special Economic Zone. Northern Luzon has one at its northern tip, the Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte. With its rich mineral resources including gold, silver and copper in the central Cordillera Region; grains, cash crops and forest products along the Sierra Madre in the Cagayan Valley and unique handicrafts, spices, fish products and abundant farm crops in Pangasinan and Ilocos, the super-region has been left behind in Luzon’s march to progress.

http://www.stabarbara-pangasinan.ph (http://www.stabarbara-pangasinan.ph/)

Agribusiness Capital of Luzon

Himself a farmer, Mayor Velasco has set his goal to transform Sta. Barbara into a powerhouse agri-business center in the Philippines.

The province of Pangasinan has long been known as the food basket of Luzon. It supplies almost half or 40 percent of the lowland vegetable needs of Metro Manila, the bulk of milkfish (bangus) needs of Luzon, a large surplus of rice and corn shipped out to grains-short parts of the country and rivals Nueva Ecija and the Ilocos provinces in growing a wide range of spices that include garlic, onions and pepper.

The province is the country’s largest producer of the world’s favorite Philippine Super Mango whose growth into a major cash crop in the country could be traced to the mango seedling producers of Sta. Barbara. It is also home to a sizable number of commercial poultry and piggery farms in addition to extensive backyard hog and poultry raisers.

In capsule, Pangasinan is distinctly one of the few provinces that produces more food than its three million residents can eat. It is a land of plenty that keeps the cost of living a lot cheaper than in most other provinces and a net exporter of food.

These natural blessings past and present leaders have been proud of. And yet, except for one failed attempt to build a mango processing factory in San Carlos City, no determined program has been developed to capitalize on its rich farm and fishery products to develop a thriving agribusiness industry. Farm productivity has, however, remained low as a result of the yearly overflowing of the Sinacalan and Tolong rivers into wide areas of farms during the rainy months and water-less irrigation canals during the dry months.

This major obstacle to sustained growth in the farming sector has not deterred the new set of of Sta. Barbara town officials to overcome the immediate challenge but plan beyond it.

Located at the center of a food-abundant province, Sta. Barbara, under its new leaders, has positioned itself as the future agri-business capital of Northern Luzon. The town is located in the upstream section of the fertile Agno River valley.

About six of every ten families are into farming. They are self-sufficient in food but short in cash. By setting their sights at making their town the agri-business capital of Northern Philippines, town leaders are convinced they can help the farmers prosper.

First in their work agenda is to rehabilitate the neglected network of irrigation canals that suck water from the river system and rebuild dikes that keep flood waters from flooding the fields and the villages during the rainy months. At the same time, farm to market roads are to be made passable under any weather, good or bad.

Next in the plan is to make those farms yield abundant staple and cash crops year-round with the use of the best practices and latest practical farm technologies and techniques under a well calibrated, comprehensive land-use plan the town government has started to hammer out.

Initially, those surplus food will be sold raw to the bigger markets of nearby cities and fast growing towns. This early, town planners are serious looking at the prospects of converting the town’s Regional Farmers Training Complex into an agri-business and food processing incubation center of Northern Luzon along the same line as the TESDA Complex in Taguig, Metro Manila took off as an SME incubator.

The agribusiness incubated entrepreneurs, when graduated into full-pledged entrepreneur, may then form the nucleus of an Agro-Industrial Special Economic Zone based at the center of the biggest food producing province in the country.

By then, Sta. Barbara will be ready to help feed a hungry world.

http://www.stabarbara-pangasinan.ph/ (http://www.stabarbara-pangasinan.ph/)

GATE holds dialogue with Abono Partylist and Irrigators

Lingayen- - - Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has conferred yesterday, July 9, with the Irrigators’ Association of the 4th, 5th and 6th Districts of Pangasinan at the Agricultural Training Institute in Sta. Barbara town to personally hear their grievances thru a consultative dialogue.

The governor said that during the first two years of his term he has concentrated the ground works on the rehabilitation or improvement of the agricultural facilities of the province first to basically position the needs of the marginalized farmers.

According to him, after the improvement of the six agricultural facilities, the province can now proceed to the next step which is irrigation.
“I can relate to your problems because I am also a farmer” he said, as he expressed full support to all the endeavors of the different irrigators associations throughout Pangasinan.

Governor Espino stated that ‘pragmatic approach’ must be done to transform Pangasinan into a premier agricultural province in the next two to three decades.

To achieve this, the province must first increase its yield, be self-sufficient and rice importation must be minimized, if not stop. To do this, irrigation must be given priority in the coming days, he stressed.

Meanwhile, Engr. Roberto Aboli from the NIA Regional Office disclosed that the implementation of various irrigation projects will be fast-tracked until next year.

“Nakakuha po tayo dito sa Pangasinan ng P243 million na pondo para sa 27 communal irrigation at 4 national irrigation’” he bared as he added that to date, NIA has accomplished 50% of the target from which 4,700 hectares are rehabilitated and 1,616 are restored.

Aboli, however, encouraged the farmers to follow the cropping calendar to avoid problems on irrigation.

On the other hand, Engr.Rosendo So, ABONO Party-list’s chairman, told the members of the irrigators’ associations that for the past years his group has been fighting for irrigation, and only now that the province has displayed a pragmatic approach to solve the irrigation problems of the province.

“We are lucky that the governor is concern with the welfare of the farmers,” he said as he bared that the national government has allotted P2 billion additional budget for irrigation program.Said funds, however, has not reached the local government units yet because of bidding problems.

http://balitapangasinan.blogspot.com/ (http://balitapangasinan.blogspot.com/)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fGmu02B0MtA/Sl7iLDZsVgI/AAAAAAAAAIs/RNv0hXi_Aks/s1600/pc_chess%2Bprodigies.jpg

LINGAYEN--- Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr hailed the chess champion kids from the recently concluded 10th Asean Age Group Chess Championship held from June 6 to 16 at Hue, Vietnam when they paid courtesy call on the governor here last Monday.

Gold Medalist Cherry Ann P. Mejia, a 14-year old 3rd year high school student of Colegio de San Juan de Letran who hails from Poblacion, San Jacinto Pangasinan together with Samantha Glo C. Revita, 9-year old and Dennis Guttierez, Jr, 8-year old, a silver and bronze medalist, respectively received commendation from the provincial officials.

Gov. Espino has even made proud of the kids’ talents when he learned that they are just “trained at home” by their guardians and parents since they started their enthusiasm for chess sports.

With already 50 medals in her cap, Mejia, who started playing chess at the age of nine, has snatched gold medal in the 9-round standard crosstable chess in the 14 years of age and below category defeating other participating countries including Vietnam, the host country.

Mejia was named as Most Valuable Player during the 2007 World Asean Age Group Chess Championship held at Danang, Vietnam, and now a member of the Federation of Chess Champions.

Meanwhile, Revita, who hails from Rosales town, has received a special commendation from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, through a provincial resolution, by winning multiple medals in the same chess competition. She started playing chess at the age of three.

A consistent honor student from Rosales North Central School, Revita who already hauled 18 medals in various chess tournaments, placed second and third in the 7-round crosstable rapid chess and 7-round standard crosstable chess games respectively.

Both Mejia and Revita are consistent medalist in the chess event during the 2008 Palarong Pambansa, Inter-Regional Athletic Association (IRAA) and Milo Little Olympics.

The province’s youngest chess wizard Dennis Gutierrez, Jr., a grade two pupil of the Stella Maris Academy, who hails from Nibaliw in San Fabian town, also won games that made him 7th placer in the 9-rounds standard crosstable and 7-rounds rapid chess.

By bringing home the bacon for the province, Gov. Espino has pledged his continuous support to the talented kids especially in the field of sports even as he added that the youth and development program of the province would always be assisting the Pangasinan youth in honing their skills and talents.

The kids have received cash incentive from the province aside from the P25,000 each as financial assistance provided to them prior to their flight to Vietnam. (Merly R. Tibalao/PIO)

Provincial dialysis center set to open

SAN CARLOS CITY -- The Davita Medical Mission Group–Bridge of Life will formally turn over to the Provincial Government the P15-million worth of dialysis machines on Monday.

A thanksgiving mass will be held in the morning at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in Barangay Bolingit here.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. and San Carlos City Mayor Julier Resuello will lead the turnover ceremony.

The event will likewise signal the opening of the first dialysis center in Pangasinan.

The building was donated by the City Government of San Carlos. It was named after the late city mayor Julian Resuello.

“This is another breakthrough in the upliftment of health care services especially for indigent patients who need kidney treatment at an affordable price,” Espino said during his talk with the team headed by Cindy Barnard, vice-president of the DaVita medical mission team in the Philippines.

Barnard said DaVita is one of the leading service providers of kidney care in the United States. It continues its support service to the Bridge of Life’s efforts in partnering with local entities to help bring much needed assistance to impoverished communities.

Accordingly, DaVita has helped establish dialysis clinics worldwide such as South America, Guatamela, Cameroon, India, and Ecuador. The latest is here in the Philippines.

Barnard said they chose Pangasinan to be the first recipient in the Philippines of their medical mission as “only the province of Pangasinan through its local officials has extended their support, commitment and partnership with us to achieve our goal.”

“What really matters here in our mission is local partnership because without it, our effort is nil,” she stressed.

DaVita Medical Mission will also be providing free supplies for six months such as dialyzer, an artificial kidney, bloodlines, syringe needles, among others.

Technicians first arrived in the province last June 21. At the provincial hospital, the group has provided hands-on training to dialysis nurses in handling the dialysis machines including troubleshooting. (LCMY/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/provincial-dialysis-center-set-open

Agno, Pangasinan

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PDCC events for disaster consciousness month slated

LINGAYEN—Various activities intended to prepare Pangasinenses for calamities and mitigate the effects of disasters such as earthquake, fire and flashfloods have been lined up by the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) to observe National Disaster Consciousness Month this July.

The program will kick-off on July 20 during the regular flag-raising ceremony of the province at the Capitol Plaza.

A simulated search and rescue and health emergency operation will be held along the San Vicente River, Poblacion, Lingayen and at the Lingayen District Hospital.

PDCC Executive Officer Paterno Orduña said the event will feature real-life, worst-case rescue operations that will include rooftop rescue, drifting and capsized boat victims rescue, evacuation, first aid, transfer to hospital, emergency response, relief operation and distribution and stress management.

A free concert-for-a-cause dubbed "Konsyerto Kontra Peligro" will be held Monday night at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center featuring the "Banda ni ATE" and the finalists of the battle of the bands held last Pista'y Dayat. —PIO

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/19/pdcc-events-for-disaster-consciousness-month-slated/

Pangasinan disaster council lines up events

Dagupan City (20 July) -- The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) has lined up various activities in line with the celebration of National Disaster Consciousness Month this July to prepare Pangasinenses to any eventuality and mitigate the effects of disasters such as earthquake, fire and flashfloods.

An earthquake drill was set to be conducted today at St. Columban's College in Lingayen as part of the simultaneous exercise nationwide.

The observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month kicks off today, July 20, during the regular flag-raising ceremony of the province at the Capitol Plaza.

As part of the program, a simulated search and rescue and health emergency operation will be held along the San Vicente River in Poblacion at the capital town and at the Lingayen District Hospital.

According to PDCC Executive Officer Paterno M. Orduña, the event will feature real-life, worst-case rescue operations that include rooftop rescue, drifting and capsized boat victims rescue, evacuation, first aid, transfer to hospital, emergency response, relief operation and distribution and stress management.

A free concert-for-a-cause dubbed as "Konsyerto Kontra Peligro" will be held at t night at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Grandstand featuring the Banda ni ATE and the finalists of the battle of the bands held last Pista'y Dayat. Each of the Konsyerto finalist will play its original composition on environmental awareness.

Orduña said that the PDCC's role is to educate and raise the awareness of the people in the community regarding any forthcoming disaster so they will know how to properly react in case of calamities to avoid accidents or fatality.

"Kailangang maitaas ang level ng awareness ng mga tao tungkol sa kalamidad o sakuna," he added. (PIO/PIA-Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090720.htm&no=02 (http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090720.htm&no=02)

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TeaM Energy Foundation donates P2.8M for school rehab

SUAL–TeaM Energy Foundation, Inc. (TEFI) spent P2.8 million to help in the rehabilitation and construction of classrooms in schools here damaged by Typhoon Emong last May.

One new classroom was built at the Cabalitian Elementary School and rehabilitation work was done for classrooms in Pangascasan Integrated School and Baybay Sur Elementary School.

TEFI, an arm of TeaM Energy that owns and operates the 1,200 MW Sual Power Station, undertook the project in partnership with the Sual town government, the Department of Education-Sual District, and the Federation of Sual Multipurpose Cooperatives.

TeaM Energy Vice President for Operations and Sual Power Station Manager Engr. Ruben H. Licerio were in town recently for the official turn-over and unveiling of a marker for the project.

Typhoon Emong heavily devastated areas in the first district of Pangasinan, including this town.

TeaM Energy stands for Tokyo Electric and Marubeni, one of the largest private producers of electricity in the Philippines with more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) of installed generating capacity.

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/19/team-energy-foundation-donates-p2-8m-for-school-rehab/ (http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/19/team-energy-foundation-donates-p2-8m-for-school-rehab/)

Council of Delano City commended

By MAR T. SUPNAD

Lingayen, Pangasinan – Mayor Ernesto “Jonas” Castaneda has approved a municipal council resolution commending the Delano City (US) government headed by Mayor Sam Ramirez for donating police bikes for the use of policemen here.

In Resolution No. 433, S-2009, the sangguniang bayan headed by Vice Mayor Orlando Bartolome cited Mayor Ramirez, the Delano City council, and Chief of Police Mark Derosia, together with Abdel Salem of the Rotary Club of Delano, for donating eight units of US-made police bikes to the Lingayen police office.

The resolution was signed by Vice Mayor Bartolome, Councilors Sheila Castaneda-Gonzales, Edith A. Hallare, Randall Q. Bernal, Jose C. Ferrer, Jo-an Jude R. Lopez, Silverio V. Tapia Jr., Ramon N. Bataoil, Gilbert M. Mangapot, Genaro S. Gregorio (ABC president) and Irish T. Fabia (SK president).

The resolutions states that the current Chief of Police of Lingayen Police Station, Supt. Harris Reyes Fama, a graduate of 228th FBI National Academy, successfully coordinated with Reverend Joseph Wright Jr. of the Delano City Police Department for the donation of eight police bikes which will be used for Lingayen police visibility and other police activities in relation to its peace and order campaign.”

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/211642/council-delano-city-commended (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/211642/council-delano-city-commended)

Alaminos execs, folk honor mangroves

By Yolanda Sotelo
Inquirer Northern Luzon


ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines—Officials and residents on Friday honored their mangroves by planting propagules (seedlings) in a coastal village facing the Hundred Island National Park to celebrate the International Day of Mangroves.

The site in the village of Bued is fast emerging as a mangrove forest because at every opportunity for more than 10 years now, city officials and residents plant seedlings there.

On Friday, about 100 residents and officials braved the strong rains accompanying Typhoon “Isang” to plant seedlings in a corner of the 10-hectare forest in Bued, which has also become a sanctuary to local and migratory birds.

The International Day of Mangroves is celebrated on July 26, but the city decided to hold the activity earlier to take advantage of the low tide.

“[We did this] to prevent newly planted seedlings from drowning and dying,” said Mayor Hernani Braganza.

Braganza cited the importance of mangroves in maintaining ecological balance because mangrove patches are breeding grounds of fish and shellfish and these prevent soil erosion. Mangrove forests also protect the sea from pollution and act as a defense of coastal communities against storm surges.

“I have seen the beauty of mangroves in other places and how they have affected the lives of the community around those areas. We hope to do the same here,” he said.

He said the city’s mangrove forest will benefit fishermen not only because this ensures the breeding of marine species but because this could provide them another livelihood as guides to bird watchers.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090719-216256/Alaminos-execs-folk-honor-mangroves (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090719-216256/Alaminos-execs-folk-honor-mangroves)

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/5-ROAD-PLANNING.jpg

ROAD PLANNING—Presidential Management Staff Secretary Hermogenes Esperon (left) pores over a list of landowners and tenants in Pangasinan whose properties would be subjected to Right-Of-Way-Acquisition by the government to give way to the proposed 88-kilometer Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Extension (TPLEx). The list was shown to him by Department of Agrarian Reform Director Homer Tobias. (Punchphotos by Butch Uka)


TPLEx construction starts Aug. 2010

ROSALES–Construction of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) is expected to commence in August next year upon completion of the Right-Of-Way Acquisition (ROWA) from Tarlac to Gerona, according to Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

TPLEx will run from the end of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway in La Paz, Tarlac to Rosario, La Union.

Esperon, who headed Malacanang's Pro-Performance Team that visited Rosales on Thursday, said the Philippine Infrastructure Development Corporation (PIDC), the project's contractor, committed to start civil works immediately as soon as lots for the alignment had been acquired by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

While in Pangasinan, Esperon’s team met with the implementing agencies, the municipal mayors of Rosales in Pangasinan and Cuyapo and Nampicuan in Nueva Ecija to plan for the completion of ROWA.

The first phase of the project will be from La Paz to Gerona with a distance of 88.6 kilometers, second phase, from Gerona to Rosales; and the third phase, from Rosales to Rosario, La Union.

TPLEx will traverse the municipalities of Victoria, Gerona, Paniqui and Moncada in Tarlac; Rosales, Urdaneta City, Asingan, Binalonan, Pozorrubio and Sison in Pangasinan; then onward to Rosario, La Union.

The project is expected to spur economic developments in Regions 1- 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region by extending the backbone of integrated expressway towards Northern Luzon.

Estimated to cost P12.1 billion, the project is seen to provide faster, safer, and more efficient transport of people and goods.

The expressway will also cut travel time from Tarlac to Rosario, La Union by about two hours from the current three hours using the Manila North Road.—LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/19/tplex-construction-starts-aug-2010/

Conglomerate inks deal to build tollway

SAN MIGUEL Corp. has formally expressed its interest to join the consortium that will build the 88.5-kilometer Tarlac-La Union Expressway, a road network that will cut travel time to northern Luzon.

In a disclosure, San Miguel said it had entered into a non-binding agreement to acquire a significant stake in the Private Infrastructure Development Corp. (PIDC), a consortium of construction companies behind the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Toll Expressway Project.

"This is in line with our diversification plans and we’re happy to be a catalyst for the infrastructure needs of the country," San Miguel President Ramon S. Ang said in a statement yesterday.

Mr. Ang noted that the northern and central Luzon stretch is a "potentially dynamic industrial corridor" and the proposed expressway will make it easier and cheaper to move goods and people from one point of Luzon to another.

"As a food and beverage conglomerate with one of the most developed distribution networks in the country, we have a strong interest in making it happen," Mr. Ang said.

The expressway project will extend from La Paz, Tarlac to Rosario, La Union. Once completed, the expressway will cut by half the travel time from Manila to Baguio.

San Miguel said it had agreed to execute and finalize a definitive agreement, which would be subjected to government approval.

It was unclear whether San Miguel would acquire a majority stake in the project but D. M. Consunji, Inc. President Jorge A. Consunji said in an interview that investors have yet to thresh out details of the deal.

"Significant could mean 35%. Right now, we cannot give the exact figure since we have yet to [discuss that]. San Miguel is still reviewing [the project]," Mr. Consunji said.

Mr. Ang has earlier expressed his intention to acquire up to 51% of PIDC, saying San Miguel might invest P2 billion to P3 billion on the project as it continues to be on the lookout for potential investments in infrastructure and energy.

San Miguel was approached by the Consunji-led consortium to build the Tarlac-La Union road network after the latter ended talks with Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

Consunji-led DMCI Holdings, Inc. earlier said it would begin construction this year to complete the road network by 2012.

DMCI Holdings terminated talks with the Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific in January, saying the latter failed to "come up with an agreement in time for the project’s financial needs."

Earlier this month, San Miguel said it was also interested to acquire a stake in the operations of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway from the state-led Bases Conversion Development Authority.

Southeast Asia’s largest food and beverage giant began a major diversification strategy two years ago, acquiring stakes in Petron Corp. and the Manila Electric Co.

The company has also partnered with state-owned Qatar Telecom, Inc. to venture into telecommunications, acquiring a 20% stake in Liberty Telecoms Holdings, Inc. It is in the process of acquiring Express Telecommunications Co.

On top of these, San Miguel has also submitted an unsolicited proposal to the government for the development of the Laiban Dam.

San Miguel "A" shares, exclusive to locals, yesterday gained 0.84% or P0.50 to P60 apiece while its "B" shares, open to all investors, lost 0.82% or P0.50 to close at P60 each. — Kristine Jane R. Liu

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW072109/content.php?src=3&id=045 (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW072109/content.php?src=3&id=045)

Town builds classrooms at half the cost

Philippine Daily Inquirer

STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan – The local government in this central Pangasinan town pooled and used funds to build classrooms at half the cost spent by the national government for the same projects.

Mayor Reynaldo Velasco, a retired police general, said for P250,000, the local government built a 7x7-m classroom that has a ceiling, jalousie windows and a toilet. The expenses covered painting, too.

In contrast, the national government spent P500,000 for the same project but for unpainted classrooms with no ceilings and jalousie windows.

“How can this town do it? By having contractors willing to earn ‘tubong lugaw.’ We tell them: Are you willing to earn just P10,000 to P15,000 per classroom?” Velasco said.

Usually, the contractors agreed, he said. This was because they were given not only one classroom to build.

“If it is just one classroom, the profit is small. For six weeks, the regular construction period, they just earn only P10,000. But we usually ask them to build six to 10 classrooms. So if there are 10 classrooms, they earn P150,000 in six weeks. Not a bad profit because contractors usually have simultaneous projects,” Velasco said.

He said no substandard materials were used in the school buildings. “I’m good at computation and Math and I studied some engineering,” he said.

Since Velasco became mayor in June 2007, 250 classrooms had been built or repaired in the town. But not all were locally funded, he said.

He said 20 classrooms were built by the Department of Public Works and Highways, 10 by the Department of Education, and seven by the provincial government.

Velasco also tapped his schoolmates at the Philippine Military Academy to donate school buildings. Among them were Chief Superintendent Mario Sandiego, police director for Eastern Visayas; Chief Supt. Danny Emperad, police director for Northern Mindanao; and Chief Supt. Ramon Gatan, police director for Ilocos region.

Velasco sponsored a golf tournament which earned P750,000. A donor gave P200,000 and another gave P100,000.

“With over P1 million, we were able to repair eight classrooms, each with a comfort room and which all looked new,” he said.

Velasco said they spent P150,000 to P200,000 for the repair of the classrooms while they spent P250,000 for the construction of new ones.

Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090719-216133/Town-builds-classrooms-at-half-the-cost (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090719-216133/Town-builds-classrooms-at-half-the-cost)

Contract between Malasiqui and Magic Group questioned

MALASIQUI–Former Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, a native of this town, has questioned the legality of the lease contract entered into by the municipal government led by Mayor Armando Domantay with the Magic Group of Companies over a prime property beside the municipal hall.

Lambino said the contract is based on a proposed municipal ordinance that was rejected by the provincial board in 2003 when Domantay was vice mayor.

"What we cannot understand is that five years after the controversial ordinance was remanded to the municipal council, Domantay – now Mayor – now used it as basis in entering into a lease contract with Magic despite the fact that the ordinance had no effect, being void from the very beginning," Lambino said.

He further raised asked why the lease price per square meter in the said contract is lower than what was specified in the invalid ordinance.

"In all of these, Mayor Domantay is showing the people of Malasiqui that he is above the law," said Lambino.

A resolution approved by the municipal council gave Domantay authority to enter into contract with the Magic Group.

"The resolution authorizing Domantay to enter into contract with Magic is in order but the ordinance on which the resolution was based is invalid," explained Lambino.

The voided ordinance, numbered 005-2003, sought the conversion of some 1,100 square meter prime lot beside the municipal hall, where two statues of local heroes were standing, from public to commercial use as the municipal government then wanted to lease it out with a food chain.

Baniqued, then and now


Then Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued issued the opinion that the proposed ordinance was defective. The provincial board adopted it and remanded the ordinance to the Malasiqui municipal council.

But Lambino has noted that Baniqued, who has returned as the provincial legal officer, seems to have changed her mind and now appears to be "lawyering for Domantay". Baniqued was the Dagupan City legal officer in the previous Benjamin Lim administration. Lim is the head of Magic Group of Companies.

Lambino stressed that he has nothing against the Magic Group and actually welcomes the potential investment that will boost the town's economy. However, he maintains that the lease contract should be above board.

In a related development, Mario Armas, a private citizen, filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court, Branch 57 in San Carlos City, seeking to nullify the lease contract.

Lambino said Domantay should not have ordered the demolition of the puericulture center, Sangguniang Bayan session hall, post office and two statues of local heroes on the project site with the case still pending before the RTC.—LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/20/contract-between-malasiqui-and-magic-group-questioned/ (http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/20/contract-between-malasiqui-and-magic-group-questioned/)

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/5-ROAD-PLANNING.jpg

ROAD PLANNING—Presidential Management Staff Secretary Hermogenes Esperon (left) pores over a list of landowners and tenants in Pangasinan whose properties would be subjected to Right-Of-Way-Acquisition by the government to give way to the proposed 88-kilometer Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Extension (TPLEx). The list was shown to him by Department of Agrarian Reform Director Homer Tobias. (Punchphotos by Butch Uka)


TPLEx construction starts Aug. 2010

ROSALES–Construction of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) is expected to commence in August next year upon completion of the Right-Of-Way Acquisition (ROWA) from Tarlac to Gerona, according to Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

TPLEx will run from the end of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway in La Paz, Tarlac to Rosario, La Union.

Esperon, who headed Malacanang's Pro-Performance Team that visited Rosales on Thursday, said the Philippine Infrastructure Development Corporation (PIDC), the project's contractor, committed to start civil works immediately as soon as lots for the alignment had been acquired by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

While in Pangasinan, Esperon’s team met with the implementing agencies, the municipal mayors of Rosales in Pangasinan and Cuyapo and Nampicuan in Nueva Ecija to plan for the completion of ROWA.

The first phase of the project will be from La Paz to Gerona with a distance of 88.6 kilometers, second phase, from Gerona to Rosales; and the third phase, from Rosales to Rosario, La Union.

TPLEx will traverse the municipalities of Victoria, Gerona, Paniqui and Moncada in Tarlac; Rosales, Urdaneta City, Asingan, Binalonan, Pozorrubio and Sison in Pangasinan; then onward to Rosario, La Union.

The project is expected to spur economic developments in Regions 1- 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region by extending the backbone of integrated expressway towards Northern Luzon.

Estimated to cost P12.1 billion, the project is seen to provide faster, safer, and more efficient transport of people and goods.

The expressway will also cut travel time from Tarlac to Rosario, La Union by about two hours from the current three hours using the Manila North Road.—LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/19/tplex-construction-starts-aug-2010/


akala ko ba august dis year na mag start?

San Miguel eyes stake in P15-billion toll road project
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña Updated July 21, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has entered into a non-binding agreement to acquire a substantial stake in Private Infrastructure Development Corp. (PIDC), which won a government concession to build and operate the P15-billion Tarlac-La Union expressway project.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, San Miguel said the parties agreed to execute and finalize a definitive agreement which shall be subject to government approval.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said the move is part of a strategy to diversify from the group’s core beer brewing business. “This is in line with our diversification plans and we’re happy to be a catalyst for the infrastructure needs of the country,”he said.

“The North to Central Luzon stretch is a potentially dynamic industrial corridor and the proposed expressway will make it easier and more cost effective to move goods and people from one point of Luzon to another. As a food and beverage conglomerate with one of the most developed distribution networks in the country, we have a strong interest in making it happen,” Ang said.

The 88.5-kilometer toll road project will extend from La Paz, Tarlac to Rosario, La Union, providing a seamless land link between Manila and the Northern Philippines. Once completed, it is estimated that the expressway will cut by half the travel time from Manila to Baguio.

San Miguel earlier confirmed it was in talks with DMCI Holdings Inc. to explore potential participation in the Tarlac-La Union expressway project. DMCI has a 34-percent equity in PIDC.

DMCI Holdings president Isidro Consunji earlier said San Miguel was eyeing a 49 percent stake in PIDC with an option to increase its holdings to 51 percent.

The Lopez Group’s First Balfour Inc. also owns a 34-percent interest in PIDC. However, it assigned its option to participate in the project to Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MMC) following the sale of its stake in the operation of the North Luzon Expressway, the same road that will be extended to La Union.

MPIC was earlier reported to be not too keen on participating in the Tarlac-La Union expressway as it cited initial studies showing that the project would only be viable if it was extended only up to Gerona from Capas in Tarlac.

Aside from DMCI and First Balfour, other PIDC shareholders include construction firms EEI Corp., R.D. Policarpio and Co. Inc., D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc., J.V. Angeles Construction, J.E. Manalo and Co. Inc., New Kanlaon Construction Inc. and Rockford Development.

Construction of the Tarlac-La Union expressway began in September last year and is slated for completion in 2012. Once completed, travel time from Manila to Baguio will be reduced from six to three hours with a safe speed of 80 kilometers per hour. The project’s first phase is set for completion and operation by 2010 while full tollway operations by 2013.

San Miguel eyes stake in P15-billion toll road project
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña Updated July 21, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has entered into a non-binding agreement to acquire a substantial stake in Private Infrastructure Development Corp. (PIDC), which won a government concession to build and operate the P15-billion Tarlac-La Union expressway project.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, San Miguel said the parties agreed to execute and finalize a definitive agreement which shall be subject to government approval.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said the move is part of a strategy to diversify from the group’s core beer brewing business. “This is in line with our diversification plans and we’re happy to be a catalyst for the infrastructure needs of the country,”he said.

“The North to Central Luzon stretch is a potentially dynamic industrial corridor and the proposed expressway will make it easier and more cost effective to move goods and people from one point of Luzon to another. As a food and beverage conglomerate with one of the most developed distribution networks in the country, we have a strong interest in making it happen,” Ang said.

The 88.5-kilometer toll road project will extend from La Paz, Tarlac to Rosario, La Union, providing a seamless land link between Manila and the Northern Philippines. Once completed, it is estimated that the expressway will cut by half the travel time from Manila to Baguio.

San Miguel earlier confirmed it was in talks with DMCI Holdings Inc. to explore potential participation in the Tarlac-La Union expressway project. DMCI has a 34-percent equity in PIDC.

DMCI Holdings president Isidro Consunji earlier said San Miguel was eyeing a 49 percent stake in PIDC with an option to increase its holdings to 51 percent.

The Lopez Group’s First Balfour Inc. also owns a 34-percent interest in PIDC. However, it assigned its option to participate in the project to Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MMC) following the sale of its stake in the operation of the North Luzon Expressway, the same road that will be extended to La Union.

MPIC was earlier reported to be not too keen on participating in the Tarlac-La Union expressway as it cited initial studies showing that the project would only be viable if it was extended only up to Gerona from Capas in Tarlac.

Aside from DMCI and First Balfour, other PIDC shareholders include construction firms EEI Corp., R.D. Policarpio and Co. Inc., D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc., J.V. Angeles Construction, J.E. Manalo and Co. Inc., New Kanlaon Construction Inc. and Rockford Development.

Construction of the Tarlac-La Union expressway began in September last year and is slated for completion in 2012. Once completed, travel time from Manila to Baguio will be reduced from six to three hours with a safe speed of 80 kilometers per hour. The project’s first phase is set for completion and operation by 2010 while full tollway operations by 2013.

akala ko ba august dis year na mag start?

For sure may delay yan. Alam mo naman mga pulitiko sa pinas, hihintayin pa nila matapos ang elections next year, delaying tactic yan. Baka marami pang mga "S.O.P." hindi nababayaran, at "S.O.P." uli if ever may bagong administration. :lol:


OT:

May mga kumakalat na balibalita, hindi na nila papalakihin ang SM Rosales dahil magtatayo pa raw sila ng 2nd SM mall sa Pangasinan. Location na pinagpipilian Mangaldan or Bugallon/Lingayen Area.

FYI, Dagupan is off limits to non-local mall developers. Sometimes protectionism is good for local entrepreneurs. :cheers:

5,000 job openings up for grabs in Pangasinan jobs fair

By Danny O. Sagun

Dagupan City (23 July) -- Another jobs fair will be held in Pangasinan tomorrow, July 24, according to the Presidential Management Staff.

PMS Secretary Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. said that simultaneous with the jobs fair at Tayug National High School, a one-stop-shop agency services will also be held.

He said that various government agencies like the Department of Foreign Affairs, Labor and Employment, National Statistics Office, National Bureau of Investigation, and Social Security System have been invited to participate in the activity.

Also on hand will be local and overseas recruitment agencies and members of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines. Some 5,000 jobs are expected to be offered.

On May 1, a jobs fair was held at SM City Rosales. Later, on June 21-23, a similar activity was conducted at the CSI City Mall in barangay Lucao, Dagupan City in time for the 62nd cityhood anniversary of the city.

Meanwhile, National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban revealed that at least 237,601 Filipinos have earned employment during the last six months under the Arroyo government's Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).

Secretary Panganiban said the generated jobs are in public works and services with more than P7 billion already committed of the P13.58 billion as pledged by various agencies to the CLEEP.

Panganiban reported that DPWH has hired some 46,604 workers; DA provided emergency jobs for 37,524 workers; DSWD 27,127; DTI hired some 29,545; DepEd employed 19,356 workers for its herbal soap-making project and as utility workers; and 13 other government agencies provided jobs to 77,445 Filipinos across the country.

Accordingly, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is closely watching the implementation of the project to ease the burden of the people amidst the challenges of the global economic slowdown.

The Arroyo administration, in its relentless effort to open new and better job opportunities here and abroad, has already generated more than 6.3 million jobs since 2001 for wage employment alone in sectors like the ICT and BPO and through jobs facilitation program.

The daily minimum wage in the private sector was increased from P265 in 2001 to P382 to date, while in the government, salaries of state employees were raised four times, including this year with the first of the four tranches of the Salary Standardization Law 3 after being signed by President Arroyo. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090723.htm&no=38

Esperon leads job fair in Pangasinan

MANILA - More jobs will be offered to Pangasinan folk as Presidential Management Staff Secretary Hermogones Esperon Jr. leads a job fair Friday in Tayug, Pangasinan.

While preoccupied with the preparations for President Arroyo’s State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Esperon is working on his tasks as Cabinet steward for the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) for the 5th and 6th districts of Pangasinan.

“Even as we are pressed with last-minute preparations for the SONA, we are keeping our appointment with our people in Pangasinan, especially our poor and our vulnerable sectors through our job and livelihood programs,” said Esperon.

According to Esperon, the CLEEP is the government’s response to threats of the current and global economic crisis and created particularly to protect the poor, hungry, returning expatriates, workers in the export industry and out-of-school youth from consequences or reduced lost income as a result of the crisis.

Esperon said the CLEEP has now generated 117,800 jobs and employed more than 230,000 people. For Eastern Pangasinan, more than 12,000 individuals have benefited already from the program.

The Tayug job fair is the third in as many job fairs spearheaded and graced by Esperon. Most recent is the job fair held in conjunction with the regional Independence Day celebration in La Union, which he led together with fellow Cabinet member and Pangasinense Health Secretary Francisco Duque. In the La Union job fair, more than 12,000 jobs have been offered and 2,500 applicants were hired on the spot.

More than 5,000 jobs shall be offered in the Tayug event to be participated by more than 30 agencies, including government agencies, private companies and recruitment/placement agencies for government, local and overseas employment.

Government agencies that have been invited include the Department of Public Works and Highways, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines. Also participating are government frontlines such as National Bureau of Investigation for clearance, National Statistics Office for civil registry certification, Social Security System for membership and Department of Foreign Affairs for passport application requirements. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=1&rid=219659

PSU marks 30th year; confers doctorate degree to COA chief

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City -- The Pangasinan State University marked today its 15th Biennial Celebration with the theme "PSU at 30: Sustaining a Culture of Responsibility, Integrity and Excelence."

Several activities were held including the conferment of Doctor of Humanities (honoris causa) to Commission on Audit chair Reynaldo A. Villar who delivered the keynote address as guest of honor and speaker during a program at the PSU Convention Hall at the university’s main campus in Lingayen town.

Dr. Victoriano C. Estira, PSU president, assisted by Dr. Lauro B Tacbas, who is president of PASUC and UNP, and Dr. Caridad O. Abuan, OIC-Director of the Commission on Higher Education, conferred the honorary degree to the proud son of Sto. Tomas town. Villar is the elder brother of Undersecretary Antonio "Bebot" Villar, who is chair of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG).

Another highlight of the celebration was the turn-over of funding check for the operationalization of the Pangasinan Institute of Environmental Governance by engineer Federico E. Puno, president and chief executive officer of Team Energy Foundation Inc., which operates the Sual Coal-Fired Power Plant.

The 30th founding anniversary celebration started Tuesday with campus level activities in Bayambang, San Carlos City, Asingan, Infanta, Urdaneta City, Sta. Maria, Binmaley, Lingayen and Alaminos City.

Other events for the four-day celebration include exhibit and trade fair, street dancing and cultural presentation, search for Mr. and Miss PSU Biennial 2009, sportsfest, medical mission, talent showdown and grand fellowship and awards night on the fourth day.

Estira, who last week guested at the weekly KBP Forum at the Philippine Information Agency office, proudly announced that the state university is number one in Region 1 and number seven on passing percentage in the nursing board, while its engineering department based in Urdaneta is number one in the region and number six in the country among state colleges and universities.

The university also saw increase in the number of enrollees from 9,000 to 12,000 when it adopted the open admission system, he bared. He quickly clarified that the government-run educational facility maintains its level of excellence in spite of the open system.

On the proliferation of local government-operated universities which is being protested by private schools, Estira explained that the law allows the establishment of such institutions if the city or the first class town can support them. "Kung kaya ng kanilang budget, puede silang mag-operate ng university," he said. But the Commission on Higher Education, he stressed, should see to it that said learning institutions conform to standards.

The Urdaneta City University and the Eastern Pangasinan University in Binalonan are two examples of LGU-run universities.

Private school owners have complained that their schools undergo several years of efficient operation for them to attain college or university status. Yet LGUs, they pointed out, can just put up their colleges or universities without going thru tedious processes.

Estira noted however that government-run institutions charge "pang-masa" tuition fees like PSU. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p090722.htm&no=65 (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p090722.htm&no=65)

St. Joseph the Patriach Parish
Aguilar, Pangasinan/ Photos by Momon Corpuz

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/3378265524_b55c8729ec_o.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gif by Momon Corpuz (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmncrpz/3378265524/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gif by Momon Corpuz (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmncrpz/3378251198/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gif by Momon Corpuz (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmncrpz/3378247152/)

Tents also give hope to typhoon victims

By Yolanda Sotelo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ALAMINOS CITY, Philippines—For Leo and Sheryll Bumacod, both 30, and their three young children, it was time to go home.

The family has been staying at the house of Sheryll’s mother since May 7, when their house was destroyed by the strong winds of Typhoon “Emong.”

Three families actually shared her mother’s cramped, little house in Alaminos City proper for almost two months.

“Uuwi na tayo (We’re going home),” Leo told Sheryll on Wednesday, their anticipation mirrored by smile.

“Home” is an igloo-shaped tent donated by the ShelterBox Trust, a United Kingdom-based charity group that provides emergency aid for victims of natural and other disasters around the world.

The ShelterBox Trust partners with the Rotary Club for the distribution of the dwelling materials—a green plastic box containing a tent designed for a wide range of conditions and items, such as insulated groundsheets, thermal blankets, a stove, cooking and dining equipment, tools, mosquito nets, water containers and water purifying tablets.

The shelter box is designed to accommodate 10 people.

‘Bayanihan’

Through bayanihan (community cooperation), villagers assembled the tent beside the ruins of the Bumacods’ house in Mona, an agricultural village that was among the worst-hit by Emong.

Another villager, Marichu Recide, 30, could not contain her happiness when she received the shelter box. “My children will have a safe place to stay,” she said.

Recide, a mother of six children aged one to 12 years, said her family stays in different houses after their house was destroyed by Emong.

William Chan, assistant governor of the Rotary Club 3790, said the shelter boxes should have been delivered immediately after a calamity, but it took some time before these arrived from an Australian depot and were cleared by the Bureau of Customs.

More than a week after the typhoon struck Pangasinan, the Rotary Club of Hundred Islands delivered 20 boxes on Dewey Island in Bolinao town, 20 boxes in Tore-tore village in Anda town, and 10 in Olanen village in Bani town. Eight families in Alaminos received the shelter boxes.

“The typhoon victims are just so many and there are just not enough shelter boxes,” Chan said.

‘Tent city’

The Rotary Club plans to establish a “tent city” in Olanen where about 100 houses were destroyed and washed into the sea by strong waves.

Residents now live with their relatives and the Bani municipal government plans to establish a housing project for them, in cooperation with the Gawad Kalinga.

Chan said residents would stay in the tents while their houses were being built.

It’s a race against time for the reconstruction of houses by local governments, residents and volunteers in the western towns devastated by Emong, especially with the onset of the rainy season.

In Alaminos, at least 2,408 families lost their houses to the typhoon. At least 5,745 houses were damaged.

Assistance

Mayor Hernani Braganza said those who lost their houses were given financial assistance, while those whose houses were damaged were given galvanized iron sheets and other construction materials for repair.

The city government has not even completed constructing or repairing houses destroyed by Typhoon “Cosme” in May last year when Emong struck, Braganza said.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recently sent teams to help in the reconstruction of houses in Alaminos, Agno, Anda and Bani. The MMDA teams brought construction materials.

Anda Mayor Nestor Pulido said the local government bought several rolls of canvas and gave these to typhoon victims “as a temporary roofing material.”

“With the rains here, they could have at least temporary shelter,” he said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090722-216620/Tents-also-give-hope-to-typhoon-victims

BENECO SURVEYS SITIO PILAWAN FOR ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT

by: Loejan S. Anudon

“It’s only then that we can conclude that the energization of Pilawan is a success once the power is on!”… Mayor Kimi

The earnest request of Mayor Kimi addressed to the president of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) Board of Directors, Atty. Victorino Palangdan, to energize Sitio Pilawan in Barangay Sagunto was given immediate attention, as it was one of their priority matters presented during previous board meeting in La Trinidad, Benguet.

At first, a meeting with the officers and heads of the La Union Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LUELCO), the present electricity provider of the municipality of Sison, was called for by Mayor Kimi to inform them the long time quandary of the residents of Sitio Pilawan and Sitio Galluga but a solution was not immediately established because the officers of the LUELCO requested a time to survey the areas. At the final meeting, the LUELCO officers along with their engineers presented their detailed estimate of the project requiring the municipal government of Sison to pay almost four million pesos to cover the expenses of all the materials to be used in Pilawan; from the smallest screw to everything including the cost of labor. This put the Mayor in extreme aghast. “I don’t understand, you mean to say that Sison will pay what should be your electric company’s investment?” the Mayor blurted.

http://www.sisonlgu.gov.ph/news%20pix/BENECO.jpg

The failed negotiation prompted the Mayor to look for other options. Being close to Tuba, BENECO was recommended. Mr. Keong Reyes was tasked to arrange with the BENECO office and favorable events soon ensued.



On July 14, 2009, the BENECO office sent Engr. Percival C. Aspillan, Systems Planning Engineer III, along with Mr. Joseph Taguibos III to survey Sitio Pilawan. With Mr. Reyes and Brgy. Kgwd. Angel E. Castillo, all climbed the steep mountain to as far as Capacuan and Bato and marked all potential areas where the electric posts will be placed. After Pilawan, the BENECO men left for Barangay Dungon to also mark the area where tapping can be made.

The Mayor was informed of the activity but she said, “it’s only then that we can conclude that the energization of Pilawan is a success once the power is on!”

http://www.sisonlgu.gov.ph/read_news.php?news_id=180 (http://www.sisonlgu.gov.ph/read_news.php?news_id=180)

DATUS AND MEMBERS OF PANGASINAN TRIBAL FEDERATION, NCIP CONFER RE PRIORITY PROJECTS

by: Loejan S. Anudon

Heads and members representing the many tribal councils of Pangasinan converged for a consultative meeting at the town’s Senior Citizens Building.

Major concerns of the meeting were: to be able to determine the factual needs in the area, confirmation of the submitted proposed priority needs, and systematic implementation of the projects.

http://www.sisonlgu.gov.ph/news%20pix/datus.jpg


Some of the many project proposals submitted for approval were the construction of water impounding dams, farm to market roads and community rice mills but the NCIP officials stressed the limited project fund allocated to them so they said that some proposals would be submitted to other government agencies for funding.

The NCIP Regional Director, Engr. Sancho Buquing, M. A. Ed, attended the meeting along with Ms. Felinor B. Sajonia from the Technical Management; Jaime V. Dumaslaw, Chief Administrative Officer; Bugtong Eyde Carantes, Urdaneta Sevice Center Head; Engr. Efren Bello, Sison Service Center Head; Acting vice mayor Bensaulozacheus L. Marinas; and the Provincial Tribal Federation Chieftain, Mr. Inocencio G. Carganilla.

http://www.sisonlgu.gov.ph/read_news.php?news_id=179 (http://www.sisonlgu.gov.ph/read_news.php?news_id=179)

Pangasinan
Photos by highlights.photo

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Campaign for Postal IDs in barangay level up in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY (PNA)--The Philippine Postal Office has urged the city council here to enjoin the people of Dagupan City to secure postal identification card which is one of the requirements in transacting business with financial institutions.

Diosdado Garcia, the area manager for central and western Pangasinan, and other officials of the postal office, appeared before the city council on Monday in connection with the launching of the Postal ID in the barangays.

The launching targets barangay officials and their constituents who should secure postal IDs so that they can transact business with any authorized financial institutions, like for instance when they are applying for loans, opening bank accounts and withdrawing money from banks sent by their relatives abroad.

"In the barangay launching of the Postal ID, we are going to the barangays and bringing the Postal ID within reach of the people instead of them coming to our office," Garcia said.

He said when somebody transacts business in a bank, he or she is normally required to produce three identification cards and when somebody is not an employee, a driver or a Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) or Social Security System (SSS) member, it would be difficult for him or her to produce these three requirements.

The applicants for Postal ID must produce his or her birth certificate, barangay clearance certifying that the issuing officer knows the applicant, a police clearance and NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance.

Garcia said the postal office has adopted numerous stringent measures in establishing the identity of the Postal ID applicant.

Garcia stressed that the Postal ID is recognized by the Universal Postal Union which also prescribed that the ID must be renewable every three years.

A Postal ID costs P315, which includes expenses like lamination fee of P15, Barangay Clearance Fee of P25, Notarial Fee of P100 and Documentary Stamp of P100.

Garcia said the Postal ID is one identity card that could easily identify a person when he or she is transacting business with financial institutions.
As to fear expressed by Councilor Farah Decano that the Postal ID might be abused by unscrupulous persons, Garcia said the postal office has adopted safety nets so that not any Tom, Dick and Harry can secure the same. (PNA)

http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Campaign_for_Postal_IDs_in_barangay_level_up_in_Pangasinan.shtml

Police chief assures safety of Dagupenos

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City -- This premier city of the North is a safe place to live in, the chief of police assured Thursday in a media forum.

Supt. Mariano Luis "Sonny" Versoza told the KBP Forum at the Philippine Information Agency office here that cases from January to July this year involving crime against person have actually decreased to four from six cases in the same period last year.

Versoza made the assurance in the midst of concerns that the peace and order situation particularly in the entire province of Pangasinan is deteriorating because of the series of killings in the past few weeks.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz even issued a circular-letter to parishes under him raising deep concern about the worsening peace and order situation. He called on concerned authorities to act immediately.

The sangguniang panlalawigan also expressed its concern as it called on the provincial police office headed by Sr. Supt. Percival Barba to strengthen its campaign against criminality. Board Member Alfonso Bince expressed alarm over the rising criminality in the province as shown by the 132 reported killings.

Barba, denying that his office has been remiss in its job of maintaining peace and order, claimed that the Pangasinan police have been doing its job in solving criminal incidents as proven by statistics.

Versoza however admitted that incidents involving crime against property have increased, attributing it to the economic hardships being experienced during these times. He noted that suspects involved in cellphone snatching, pickpocket and theft belong to families located in a depressed area in the city.

Lately, personnel from the Philippine Information Agency central office became victims of bukas-kotse gangs when a van they left at the parking area of a fast food outlet at Post Traffic No.1 was forcibly opened. Several valuables were taken including P10,000 cash, the victims reported.

The police chief noted that criminals would strike when there are no policemen in sight although, he pointed out, his men are conducting constant patrols in busy areas of the city like schools and business sections.

Assuring safety of the residents, Versoza maintained that the four incidents recorded since January were considered isolated including the killing of the daughter-nurse of a media practitioner who was waylaid while on her way home at dawn some three weeks ago.

Investigation of the case continues because of change in the ballistic examination result earlier submitted, he said. The gun of the suspect, a security guard, turned out to be negative. "Pero tuloy ang imbestigasyon kung involved talaga sya," he said.

On what to do with the depressed area in the city where suspected criminals reportedly lurk, he said the place needs a long term intervention measure. "Hindi lang pulis ang involved dyan, dapat may long-term solution," he said. Once he tried to do something for children from the area, even bringing them to the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City to observe how poor but deserving students can excel in the society thru scholarships being offered by the government. Apparently, his efforts were not enough.

Meanwhile, the new PNP building in the city costing some P18 million may be finished in December. A separate quarter for personnel will also rise courtesy of a donor who, he said, refused to be identified. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p090723.htm&no=64 (http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p090723.htm&no=64)

Petron volleyball goes to Pangasinan

THE Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleball Tournament heads north of Luzon for the first time at the Purok Marcela Resort in Lingayen, Pangasinan, this Friday.

The tournament may be headed to a new venue, but organizer Tisha Abundo, a former commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, expects the same brand of volleyball excitement in the two-day event backed by Petron.

“The farthest that we’ve been in Luzon were in Subic and Clark in Pampanga and never beyond those two venues,” said Abundo at the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch. “We are excited because once again, we are able to reach out to the volleyball fans, who are one of the primary reasons why the Petron circuit is such a big hit.”

Favored to do good in the coming leg is April Almaden, a 5’8” communications art senior at De La Salle University-Dasmariñas. She made it to the semifinals of the Battle of Champions last year when she joined the spikefest for the first time with former teammate Precious Grace Abano.

This time around, Almaden vows to go all the way with new partner Jennifer Manzano in the volleyball extravaganza also backed by Speedo and Mikasa, with support of Pagcor, Coca-Cola, Victory Liner, Tanduay Rhum, Orica Philippines Inc. Dragon Fireworks Inc., Mandarin Chemicals, Trust Trade Inc. and Izumo Builders Inc.

“Nag-improve na ang defense at receives ko. Ganoon pa rin ang palo ko. Pero, mas mautak ngayon dahil kailangan ng diskarte sa laro ng beach volleyball,” said Almaden in the session sponsored by Shakey’s, Outlast Battery, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Accel.

Manzano, who is taller than Almaden at 5’11”, is expected to stand her ground as a first-timer against the likes of Ateneo spikers Sharah So and partner Jessica Morado, along with Pepi Sison and Asia Urquico.

University of the Philippines bets Amanda Christina Isada and Lorraine Chua will also try their luck, alongside partners Ana Maria del Mundo and Liechel Tiu.

Also joining the event are La Salle-Dasmariñas bets Wensh Tiu and Regina Tungol; Nina Lopez and Japanese-Filipina spiker Hidemi Mujata; Philippine School of Business Administration standouts Dyrene Rose Benecio and Jamaica Lauzon; Quijencio twins Angela and Angelica and Philippine Women’s University’s Aileen Ayuman and Suzanne Navarro. Peter Atencio

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=sports2_july22_2009

Pampili na Little Miss Nutrition 2009, Nagawa no Hulyo 26

by Lanie Tomas

Ontulong ed promosyon na programa tan proyekto na gobiernoy siudad na Dagupan nilirad nutrisyon so napilin Little Miss Nutrition 2009. Nagawa so laslasan sano ngarem na Hulyo 26, ungapo bandad ala-una na ngarem ed CSI Stadia, ed barangay Lucao.

Onong ed kinen City Nutrition Officer Leah Aquino, overall-coordinator na siudad ed selebrasyon na Nutrition Month, saray contestants et grade 3 tan grade 4 manlapod pampribado tan pampublikon eskwelaan ed Dagupan. Say irepresenta da et say pan-uurongan dan eskwelaan.

Walay porsyon ya mansulong iray contestants na long gown, ipanengneng talento da tan nasubok so inkadunong da panamegley na pantepet ed sikara na saray hurado. Saray insitan criterias so pikabiangan na personality (beauty and grace) – 30%, health (signs of good nutrition) – 30%, intelligence – 30% tan audience impact -10%.

No pigara so premyo ya naresibi na saray manalo et pareho met so kantidad ya naawat na pan-aaralan ton eskwelaan. Makapangisempet na P10,000 kas so napilin Little Miss Nutrition 2009, P5,000 so premyo na first runner-up, legan ya P4,000 so iter ed magmaliw ya second runner-up, ontan met say third runner-up et makapangibulsa na P3,000, tan P2,000 so naisempet na fourth runner-up.

Wala met iray minor awards a singa Miss Talent ya manalo na kas ya P1,000, ontan met so Little Miss Lucky Me, Little Miss Kraft, Little Miss Nido, Little Miss Colgate, Little Miss CSI, Little Miss Safeguard, Little Miss Goldilocks tan Little Miss Headzone. Diad kada award et makaresibi so manalo na gift check ya manbalor na P1,000.

Diad kabuasan na Hulyo 26 et walay nagawan nutri-quiz, nutri-jingle tan on-the-spot poster making contest parad saray elementaryan unuurong ed pampublikon eskwelaan. Saray manalo et makaawat na premyo ya kas tan gift packs, wala met so iter ed sikaran sertipiko da.

Say abitla iran pakontes koneksyon ed selebrasyon na Nutrition Month 2009 so tinibokel na gobiernoy siudad na Dagupan, katulungan so Department of Education tan CSI Group of Companies.

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=574

Sangkatageyan ya grado ed gagaween ya earthquake tan fire drill nanlapo nen 2006, agamoran na Dagupan

by Lanie Tomas

Inkaliketan nen Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. so impakaala na Dagupan na 95 porsiyenton grado ya impagamor na kabiangay Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Office I, Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) tan nanduroman ahensiya manlapod regional tan national level ya nan-imaton ed ginawan earthquake tan fire drill nen Hulyo 21, 2009.

Impromisa na abitlan mayor ya mas pabiskegen na siudad so pampreprepara pian mas naiter da so suston pangkaokolan na kada Dagupeño diad bektan unarap la irayad peligro bunga na kalamidad o emergency.

Kabansag tonya et nanpasalamat si Mayor Fernandez ed impanengneng ya kooperasyon na kada ahensya na siudad, saray volunteer groups, ontan met so impan-aksobi na administrasyon na CAP Building, Inn Asia Hotel tan West Central Elkementary School ya nagmaliw iran lugar ya impakagawaan na earthquake tan fire drill.

Onong ed kinen OCD Regional Director Eugene Cabrera, say 95% ya agamoran na Dagupan so sangkatageyan lan grado ya nala na Local Government Unit (LGU) nanlapo nen gimmapo so earthquake tan fire drill sanen 2006.

Indayew ya maong nen Cabrera so impanengneng ya dedikasyon na lokal a gobierno ed agawan inpanpasal tan say pangigegetar da na igastos parad pangaliw na saray gamgamit tan say pampreporepara kasabi na kalamidad.

Indayew met na saray miembro na evaluation team so ag natawalan ya in-akto na saray biktima tan rescuers ed agawan eksena nilirad panrespondi ed panaon na kalamidad.

Say agawan drill so kabiangan nid obserbasyon na siudad na Disaster Conciousness Month natan, bolan na Hulyo. Koneksyon tonya et pinirmaan nen Mayor Fernandez kaiba iray nanduroman katanbayan dan sektor ed siudad ed sakey ya paknaan ya mangipapanonot na promise ya mikasakey irad disaster response activities tan akatarya irad itulong dad panaon na kalamidad tan segsegang.

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=573

Malasiqui Civic Center

http://www.rachelbabyarenas.com/images/a%20convention2.jpg

Construction nears completion. Photos to be posted soon!

Kaso na krimen ed Dagupan, lenmeksab

DAGUPAN CITY – Lenmeksab so pigaran kaso na krimenya nagagawa diad syudad na Dagupan.

Impalapag nen Dagupan City Chief of Police Mariano Luis Versoza, hepe na Dagupan City PNP, base ed talaan da, manlapud nen Hunyo uno anggad kaplesan ya bulan na Hulyo, apatera labat so naitalan kaso na homicide.

Itetetel to balet ed economic crisis so intagey na na pigaran kaso na crimes against property .

'Kapit sa patalim' la kunoy maiirap ya totoo kanyan mangagawa iray makapoy umpian naalay nakaukuan da.

Impalapag nen Versoza, ya aliwa yan rason ompian magaway makapoy so pigaran residente diad syudad na Dagupan.

http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=99345

Text to Teach, gapuan la natan ya agew

DAGUPAN CITY – gapuan la natan ya agew anggad Sabado na City Schools Division ed syudad na Urdaneta so training na aray mamaestra parad 'Text to Teach Program'.

Taluran maestra tan sakey ya principal ed labing anim na apilin eskuwelahaan so ompasilong ed Ayala Foundation, Nokia at Globe Telecom, kaibay Department of Education o DepEd, at Info Tech.

Mangusar iray madam na telebisyon tan mobile phone ed pantraining no iner iialaluan ya nabangatan iray maong iray ugogaw.

Dia met iilaluan na Deped iray atateng iray dakel ya bagay so naamtaan na aray estudyante tan nagemtan so pipilaliken dan maong ya edukasyon.

http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=99169 (http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=99169)

Malasiqui Civic Center

http://www.rachelbabyarenas.com/images/a%20convention2.jpg

Construction nears completion. Photos to be posted soon!


anung meron dyan?

FYI, Dagupan is off limits to non-local mall developers. Sometimes protectionism is good for local entrepreneurs. :cheers:

Kasi dalawang pamilya lang naman ang naglalaban-laban sa mall supremacy dyan, and incidentally parehas pang Tsinoy: mga pamilya nina ex-Mayor Benjie Lim (Magic) at Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez (CSI).

Haka-haka rin dyan na tatakbo ulit si ex-Mayor Lim dyan ah. And ewan ko kung sino ang susuportahan ni Manay Gina dyan because the de Venecias are friends with Mayor Al, although they now belong to opposite sides of the political fence.

And isa pang chismax: lalaban din daw sa pagka-gobernador etong si outgoing Rep. Macoy Cojuangco bilang pambato ng partido ni Escudero? (Lalabanan umano nito si Gov Espino at si Cong Agbayani)

Kaso na krimen ed Dagupan, lenmeksab

DAGUPAN CITY – Lenmeksab so pigaran kaso na krimenya nagagawa diad syudad na Dagupan.

Impalapag nen Dagupan City Chief of Police Mariano Luis Versoza, hepe na Dagupan City PNP, base ed talaan da, manlapud nen Hunyo uno anggad kaplesan ya bulan na Hulyo, apatera labat so naitalan kaso na homicide.

Itetetel to balet ed economic crisis so intagey na na pigaran kaso na crimes against property .

'Kapit sa patalim' la kunoy maiirap ya totoo kanyan mangagawa iray makapoy umpian naalay nakaukuan da.

Impalapag nen Versoza, ya aliwa yan rason ompian magaway makapoy so pigaran residente diad syudad na Dagupan.

http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=99345

Kumusta na kaya ang imbestigasyon ukol sa nurse na pinaslang dyan?

Malasiqui Civic Center

http://www.rachelbabyarenas.com/images/a%20convention2.jpg

Construction nears completion. Photos to be posted soon!

anung meron dyan?[/QUOTE]

Nanlapo ed website nen Rep. Arenas dyan 3rd District:

"The center will be an integration of a various municipal activities such as Multi-use Gymnasium/Theatre, Barangay Service facilities, Adult School, Day Care, Medical and Dental Clinics, Sports Facilities, Free Legal Counseling Offices, Micro Financing Livelihood Center supplemented by shopping stalls for local delis anchored by famous fast food chain."

Kasi dalawang pamilya lang naman ang naglalaban-laban sa mall supremacy dyan, and incidentally parehas pang Tsinoy: mga pamilya nina ex-Mayor Benjie Lim (Magic) at Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez (CSI).

Haka-haka rin dyan na tatakbo ulit si ex-Mayor Lim dyan ah. And ewan ko kung sino ang susuportahan ni Manay Gina dyan because the de Venecias are friends with Mayor Al, although they now belong to opposite sides of the political fence.

And isa pang chismax: lalaban din daw sa pagka-gobernador etong si outgoing Rep. Macoy Cojuangco bilang pambato ng partido ni Escudero? (Lalabanan umano nito si Gov Espino at si Cong Agbayani)

Ay, Tagalog ka la?

Amay true-blooded Pangasinan ni so manalo ed election tayo.

Si Cojuanco dayo labat. He's a Tarlaqueño (from Tarlac Province).

Si Agbayani met, manila boy tan. He's only seen once a week in the capitol when he was the Governor because he lives in Metro Manila.

Rains frustrate Digitel customers

CALASIAO–Subscribers of Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel) whose services were suspended when a construction work at the poblacion damaged the company's underground cables may not have their services restored yet in the days ahead.

Rains have hindered work of the contractor to install new cables that would enable Digitel to restore service to subscribers.

Ainee Jardin, district manager of Digitel in Central Pangasinan, said the company has been flooded with complaints because of the continued delay in restoring the service.

About 600 customers lost their phone connection when the company's underground cables were accidentally dug by a backhoe while clearing the poblacion area for a road-widening project.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, which has the jurisdiction over the contractor doing the road widening project, said it has been assured by the contractor that priority is being given to to restore the damaged cable.

Meanwhile, Jardin said the continuing theft of their cables remains a major problem for the company.

She urged the police, local officials, barangay tanods, and the people in the community to help them by doubling their vigilance against cable thieves in their respective areas.

She said these thieves hamper their efforts towards improved service.

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/26/rains-frustrate-digitel-customers/ (http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/26/rains-frustrate-digitel-customers/)

Natividad, Pangasinan

http://images.cheximma.multiply.com/image/2/photos/6/1200x1200/289/DSC03424.JPG?et=VBUGmIETSCDqn2bv85QW7w&nmid=162579863

http://images.multiply.com/multiply/splash/splashheaderlogosmall-white-no-r.png photo by cheximma (http://cheximma.multiply.com/photos/photo/6/289)


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http://images.multiply.com/multiply/splash/splashheaderlogosmall-white-no-r.png photo by cheximma (http://cheximma.multiply.com/photos/photo/6/184)

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http://images.multiply.com/multiply/splash/splashheaderlogosmall-white-no-r.png photo by cheximma (http://cheximma.multiply.com/photos/photo/6/231)

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http://images.multiply.com/multiply/splash/splashheaderlogosmall-white-no-r.png photo by cheximma (http://cheximma.multiply.com/photos/album/6#226)

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http://images.multiply.com/multiply/splash/splashheaderlogosmall-white-no-r.png photo by cheximma (http://cheximma.multiply.com/photos/photo/6/178)

Revenue bureau allows 6 restos to reopen

By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre

CALASIAO -- The six restaurants in the province that were padlocked by Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Sixto Esquivias IV and other BIR officials are now back to business.

This after Esquivias lifted the closure order through a memorandum.

The closed restaurants were Matutina Seafood Restaurants located in Bonuan Tondaligan in Dagupan City and its branch in Urdaneta City, Nena's Garden Restaurant in Bonuan Tondaligan, Silverio's Restaurant in Arellano-Bani in Dagupan City and its branch in Binmaley town.

In a telephone interview, BIR Revenue Region 1 Director Tomas Rosales said the restaurant owners have made full payment of their tax due for the first quarter of 2009.

Also, they have agreed to voluntarily amend their sales declaration for the second quarter.

Rosales said the said establishments were earlier given notice after the BIR discovered that they have under-declared their respective sales by more than 30 percent.

Under the BIR “Oplan Kandado” campaign, the restaurants were padlocked after failing to act on the notice sent to them by the BIR.

All the six restaurants are famous dining places in the province. Matutina, is in fact, the favorite dining spot of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whenever she visits Pangasinan.

Esquivias earlier explained that the bureau get information through third party sources. The information is compared to the information to the establishment's own tax situation.

Disparity by more than 30 percent, he said, is a ground for the closure of the business.

“For many years now, the taxpayers declare what they want to declare. It is about time the BIR show the taxpayers out there that this time, the BIR has the capability to detect their efforts to cheat the government of the rightful amount of tax due it,” Esquivias stated.

The BIR is instituting the so-called fear factor approach through the Oplan Silip (for cash registers) and Oplan Kandado.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/revenue-bureau-allows-6-restos-reopen-0

those pictures of Natividad I think is a place called Bachelor. I'd been there long time ago. Nice and cool mountain water.

those pictures of Natividad I think is a place called Bachelor. I'd been there long time ago. Nice and cool mountain water. Thanks for sharing that info. I'm not familiar with the name of the locality. I've been there too years ago. Yes, the water is very refreshing and surprisingly clear. :)

Automated polls elate Pangasinan election officers

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City (27 July) -- Election officers from Pangasinan have expressed elation that the country will have automated elections next year.

Election officer Carmen Claveria who is stationed in Bayambang town noted that the new electoral system would unburden teachers, board of election inspectors and other concerned personnel of the hardships usually encountered under the old mano-mano system.

Automated elections is one of the priority concerns of President Macapagal-Arroyo under the BEAT THE ODDS program.

The only concern so far voiced out by the poll officers regarding the automated system is the clustering of precincts to have at least 1,000 voters for a machine and how voters adopt to the new system especially the elderly.

Provincial election supervisor Reddy Balarbar said he is waiting for further instructions from the head office as to the conduct of the automated polls as he expressed confidence that the poll body would be able to meet the deadlines for the various activities like training for election officers and teachers who will man the poll precincts.

The President has outlined her priority programs in her yearly State of the Nation Address that include balanced budget, education for all, transportation and digital infrastructure, termination of hostilities with rebel groups, healing the wounds of Edsa, electricity and water for all, opportunities for livelihood and 10 million jobs, decongesting of Metro Manila and development of former U. S. bases Subic and Clark.

There were 330 quarters of uninterrupted economic growth amid the global crisis which showed a resilient economy that was better than most countries around the world.

A total of 68,888 classrooms were built from 2004 to June 2009 along with 10 million beneficiaries of scholarships and educational assistance.

There are now 30 operational Roll-on-roll-off ports linking the archipelago making travel and transport of goods faster and cheaper.

A total of 549 former rebels have been integrated into mainstream society. Suspension of offensive military operations against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is expected to pave the way for the resumption of peace talks.

Some P63 billion went to the Bureau of Treasury to fund the comprehensive agrarian reform program.

Almost 98 percent of barngays have already been energized while 70 percent of towns outside Metro Manila have access to potable water. Ten million jobs have been created for some five years and government was busy conducting job fairs in various parts of the country. Only last Friday, a job fair was conducted at the Tayug National High School with Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. of the Presidential Management Staff spearheading the event.

The Cheaper Medicines Act is expected to provide affordable medicines to many.

Many infrastructure projects are on-going to decongest Metro Manila. Construction of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union expressway that will connect to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway is due to start in August. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090727.htm&no=53

Feature: Pangasinan dialysis center fruit of love and care

Dagupan City (27 July) -- It all started with an e-mail. And the result was a dialysis center at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in barangay Bolingit, San Carlos City.

Neill Mosqueda of the Bridge of Life DaVita Medical Mission e-mailed last year Peter Cayaban, a former nurse in the same organization who retired and went home to Alcala town, his birth place, about Da Vita's advocacy to help provide quality health in Third World countries.

Cayaban relayed the message to Alcala Mayor Manuel Collado who later referred the matter to Dr. Nicolas Miguel, Bayambang District hospital chief, who thought that the idea would best serve the Pangasinenses if it would be put up at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital considering the influx of patients there every day.

Miguel introduced the idea to Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. With Cayaban, a meeting with the provincial chief executive finally materialized. After meeting the governor and witnessing the renovation works at the provincial Capitol, Cayaban said that he knew the partnership would materialize.

Series of telephone calls and exchange of e-mails came between the province and the Da Vita Medical Missions.

Espino directed Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan to meet with Ginny Mello, Executive Director of Da Vita, in the United States.

Baraan toured the Da Vita Dialysis Center in Tracy, California with the aid of Cindy Barnard, the vice president of Da Vita.

The building, costing some P15-million courtesy of the city government of San Carlos led by Mayor Jullier Resuello was named after his late father and city mayor Julian "Jolly" Resuello.

"We operate solely on the generosity of individual donors," Mello said, adding that their primary objective is to further serve the less-fortunate members of society.

Espino thanked the officers and staff of Da Vita for choosing Pangasinan as one of the recipients of their worthy cause worldwide. In the Philippines, Pangasinan is the first recipient of the Bridge of Life's outreach program. "We want to give extra attention and utmost health care services to the poor and the powerless because they cannot afford expensive medical treatment in private hospitals and clinics," he said.

The dialysis center is now equipped with 15 brand new dialysis machines donated by the Bridge of Life-Da Vita Medical Missions.

Aside from the machines, the group also provided technical assistance and a steady supply of free medicines for the first six months of operation.

Manned by 12 nurses and two technicians who underwent rigid training under Da Vita, the center is presently treating 68 patients. (PIO/PIA Pangasinan/dos)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090727.htm&no=33

Patar, Bolinao
Photos from Flickr by Randy Azul


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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Randy Azul (http://www.flickr.com/photos/randyblu/3663780723/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Randy Azul (http://www.flickr.com/photos/randyblu/3664582656/)


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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Randy Azul (http://www.flickr.com/photos/randyblu/3663785665/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Randy Azul (http://www.flickr.com/photos/randyblu/3663784915/)


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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Randy Azul (http://www.flickr.com/photos/randyblu/3664131647/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Randy Azul (http://www.flickr.com/photos/randyblu/3664935038/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Randy Azul (http://www.flickr.com/photos/randyblu/3663783989/)

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Randy Azul (http://www.flickr.com/photos/randyblu/3664583810/)

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Pangasinan councilors to hold meeting in Boracay

DAGUPAN CITY -- The municipal and city councilors in the province of Pangasinan are set to have a convention in Boracay.

Board Member Raul Sison, Pangasinan Councilors League (PCL) president, said this will be held on September 2 to 5, 2009 at the Regency Hotel in Boracay.

Ten outstanding councilors in the province will be given recognition in the convention. The awardees will be evaluated and chosen by a team of evaluators coming from the education sector, from the Interior and Local Government and the president of the Pangasinan Press and Radio Club, among others.

“There are 76 councilors who will graduate or finish their third term in 2010. They will all be given a graduation ring which will symbolize their dedication and commitment in serving the people,” Sison said.

Also to be given recognition will be the longest serving councilor in the Philippines (37 cumulative years), as well as, the oldest councilor in the country who both are Pangasinenses.

Among the invited guest speakers are presidential aspirants.

“The guest of honor and speaker during the awarding ceremony will be our very own Governor Amado Espino Jr. That night is especially reserved for him as we want him to be with the 476 councilors,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sison clarified the rumor circulating that he will run for mayor of Urbiztondo next year.

He said he will run as regular board member. (LCMY/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/pangasinan-councilors-hold-meeting-boracay (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/pangasinan-councilors-hold-meeting-boracay)

100,000 INC members flock in Lingayen

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 28 (PNA) — About 100,000 members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) flocked to the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) here on Monday and participated in the commemoration of the 95th founding of the religious sect.

Mostly sporting in red sleeved–shirts, the INC members—men, women and children—came to Lingayen aboard chartered buses, jeepneys and trucks and on board private cars and vehicles.

The participants not only came from locales of the INC in all towns and cities of Pangasinan, but also from La Union, Zambales and Bataan provinces.

An elaborate traffic scheme was put in place by the police in all roads leading to Lingayen as the flow of vehicles to the capitol town was unusually heavy.

It was the biggest crowd that converged in one place in Pangasinan for a single day ever.

Though it was a bumper-to-bumper situation in all roads leading to Lingayen, only a slight accident was noted along the road in Binmaley town, according to the police.

It as learned non-INC government officials were not allowed to participate in the occasion but nevertheless monitored the situation. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220598

Pangasinan governor hails President Arroyo’s SONA

By Leonardo V. Micua

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 28 (PNA) — Governor Amado Espino Jr. hailed the last State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo before the joint session of Congress on Monday.

Espino, who is the most ardent ally of the President in Pangasinan, said: “That’s okay to me. She mentioned what she did for the past eight years and spelled out what she really wanted to say.”

The governor of Pangasinan expressed his reaction over the President’s SONA when he inaugurated the newly-built Sangguniang Bayan session hall of Binmaley on Tuesday, along with Binmaley Mayor Simplicio Rosario.

To the Pangasinan governor, the President made good in her nine years in office as borne out by the numerous infrastructure projects that were put up and that the economy is in good shape despite the financial crisis that affected almost all nations of the world.

But the governor noted there were some side remarks against her critics whose names she did not mention. He said this was understandable because “she is just but a human being and got hurt by some unproven accusations hurled against her by her critics.”

“Overall, I rate that as a very nice SONA,” said Espino, who admitted not being in Congress on Monday as he was indisposed. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220659 (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220659)

DoT boosts Region 1 tourism potentials

CLARK FREEPORT, July 28 (PNA) -- There are now more reasons why tourists should flock to Alaminos City in Pangasinan province, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said as it announced various new amenities available at the famous Hundred Islands National Park.

DOT Region 1 Director Martin Valera said the tourism potential of the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) has been further enhanced by other leisure activities “that would surely make every tourist’s stay a memorable one.”

Valera said the HINP is no longer known for just island hoping but also for other activities such as snorkeling, spelunking, fun-fishing, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, diving, bird watching, and rides like the infamous banana boat ride.

The area, he added, also abounds with scenic spots like the Governors Island, which was used as one of the homes of the hit reality show Pinoy Big Brother.

Cuenco Cave, on the other hand, is another scenic spot that boasts of its twin white beaches.

Milagrosa Island is among the area’s islands that has a cave filled with stalactite and stalagmite formations but is only accessible during low tide.

For those craving for an underwater experience, the Scout Island is the choice spot to visit, Valera said.

The Old Scout Island, meanwhile, is ideal for beach buffs who want to bask in the sunshine along the beach’s white sands. Another attraction is the Monkey Island famously known for sightings of monkeys in the area.

Valera said his office is working with DOT Region 3 Director Ronnie Tiotuico to bring members of the Pampanga Press Club (PPC) to Alaminos City for a familiarization tour of Hundred Islands National Park.

Tiotuico said PPC members are set to meet with Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza who will deliver a brief update on the tourism, as well as the economic developments of the area. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=6&rid=220614

Massive river clean-up drive set in Pangasinan

BINMALEY, Pangasinan, July 28 (PNA) — The municipal government here has agreed to tie up with the provincial government in undertaking a massive clean up drive in all rivers to make them navigable and teeming with fishes anew.

Mayor Simplicio Rosario revealed that Governor Amado Espino, Jr. has agreed to allocate funds in support of the clean up drive in a meeting held by the governor with barangay captains on Tuesday.

Espino suggested the clean up drive so that all rivers in the town will be freed of any obstruction and become navigable again and become the models in the whole of Pangasinan.

The project is part of the program “Save the Lingayen Gulf, Save Our Rivers” launched by Espino during the “Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival) in Pangasinan sometime in April this year.

Under this program, Rosario said, big and small rivers will be cleaned of any fish trap particularly the so-called “pasabing”, which was the only kind that have remained after the municipal government did away with the illegal fish pens years back.

Espino, who was in Binmaley on Tuesday to inaugurate the newly-built Sangguniang Bayan Building, is a Special Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (SPENRO) in Pangasinan, a deputation extended to him last year by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose Atienza.

Mayor Rosario, said funding pledged by the provincial governor will boost the P100,000 earlier given by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to be used in mobilizing people to remove all bamboo poles that have not yet been totally removed from the water since the fish pens were dismantled.

Under the plan initially hatched up by the provincial and municipal governments, the barangay captains will spearhead the clean up drive on rivers in their respective areas, using volunteer labor under the bayanihan system. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220726

BFAR to donate motorized banca to boost campaign vs illegal fishing in Lingayen Gulf

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 28 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is set to donate a 26-foot long, 114-horsepower motorized banca to boost the floating assets of lawmen in Pangasinan in the fight against illegal fishing.

BFAR Regional Director Nestor Domenden said this will boost the two motorized bancas that were made available to the Pangasinan Police Office on Saturday by the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.

Domenden said the 26-footer banca will go to the local government unit (LGU) of Sual, a coastal municipality in western Pangasinan to strengthen its fight against illegal fishers who have resurfaced in the Lingayen Gulf.

In the past, there were already several floating assets turned over by BFAR to different LGUs in Pangasinan and in La Union in support of their respective fights to weed out illegal fishers in their municipal waters.

Domenden acknowledged that under the law, the LGUs had been empowered to secure their respective municipal waters with the national government, such as the BFAR, only to support them.

So far, he said, the government is winning the war against illegal fishers with only a few blast fishing activities being noted now in any part of the Lingayen Gulf.

“That is why, I personally appreciate when the Philippine National Police (PNP) national headquarters made available two motorized patrol bancas for the Philippine Maritime Police and other police units in going after illegal fishers,” he said,

The two patrol boats, including one trooper carrier, were presented by Director Leopoldo Bataoil of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation (DIPO) in Northern Luzon to Police Provincial Director Percival Barba last Saturday. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220603 (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220603)

10,000 kids benefit in Dagupan’s breakfast feeding program

DAGUPAN CITY, July 28 (PNA) -- Some 10,000 school children from pre-school to Grade III benefited so far from the month-long breakfast feeding program conducted by the city government here.

With the support of a corporate sponsor, CSI Group of Companies, the breakfast feeding was conducted in 28 of 33 public elementary schools in the city.

The City Nutrition Office, along with Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, co-chairperson of the City Nutrition Program and also president and chairman of the board of CSI Group of Companies, conducted the month-long feeding program.

The school breakfast feeding program started last July 1 and will continue up to July 31 as part of the many activities slated in the city for the July Nutrition Month, said City Nutrition Officer Leah Aquino.

Under the month-long feeding program, CSI supplied all the oat meals and milk needed.

Each pupil underwent one breakfast session but those found malnourished were continuously fed for three or four more sessions, using the extra supply of oats and milk allotted by CSI for every school.

Vice Mayor Fernandez said this is the second year that the breakfast feeding program was undertaken in the city.

She said that based on the report of the nutrition office, last year’s program yielded good result.

“Our (family-owned) company joined the city in pushing the program to fight malnutrition in the city as we saw from statistics the unusually high malnutrition rate among school children way back in 2007 before Mayor Alipio Fernandez and I took over the reins of the city government,” she said.

City Schools Superintendent Alma Ruby Torio hailed the partnership of the government and private sectors in pushing programs to fight malnutrition in the city, saying this is quite unprecedented. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220684 (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220684)

Malunggay 101 to climax July Nutrition Month in Dagupan

DAGUPAN CITY, July 28 (PNA) -- A malunggay cooking contest called Malunggay 101 will be held held here on July 30 as a culminating activity in the celebration of July Nutrition Month.

To be held at CSI the City Mall here, the activity will feature the different ways of cooking malunggay, considered as the country's and the world's most nutritious vegetable which is abundant anywhere.

The first malunggay cookfest in the city will start at 2:00 p.m. under the auspices of the City Nutrition Office headed by Leah Aquino.

Aquino said the contest will pave the way so that the people will learn more about the different ways to cook the nutritious malunggay and ensure that people will develop the habit of eating malunggay.

Malunggay 101 is open to all residents of Dagupan who want to showcase his or her own unique malunggay recipe.

The entries will be judged by the following: originality, 20 percent, palatability (flavor and taste), 30 percent: presentation, 20 percent: and nutritive value, 30 percent.

The first prize winner will receive a gift certificate worth P2,000; second prize winner, P1,000 worth of gift certificate, and third prize, P800 worth of gift certificate.

The contest will be continuously held by the administration of Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. until a book on the 101 ways to cook malunggay will be published.

The contest is sponsored by the city government through the City Nutrition Office with the support of the CSI Group of Companies, Shellane and Knorr. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220563 (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220563)

Bugallon, Pangasinan
Photos from Flickr by Catalina Navarro

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/3544459905_58d072a65f_b.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Catalina Navarro (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38501277@N04/3544459905/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/3545261840_22ed52c376_b.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Catalina Navarro (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38501277@N04/3545261840/)

Lingayen, inmutang na 45M parad saray proyekto na baley

7/28/2009

DAGUPAN CITY – Inmutang na 45 million pesos so baley na Lingayen ed Land Bank of the Philippines ya osaren ed saray aka-linyan proyekto natan ya taon.

Impalapag nen Municipal Engr. Ted Sison, ya sarayan proyekto et kabiangan na panpapa-alagey na Slaughter House ya unaabot ed anggad 12 million pesos, panpaayos na wet market ya 12 million pesos, development na Mun. Cemetery Lot ya unaabot ed 5.6 million, pangilarga na escalator ed Lingayen Agri-Aqua Market ya mangastos na 2 million, pangaliw na saray reconditioned firetruck ya 5M, patrol cars parad 32 barangay tan PNP Lingayen, tan Dumptruck ya 2 million pesos.

Imbaga nen Sison ya Recondition so amin ya saliwen ya luganan tan heavy equipment ta agmet lam lamang naabot so bili na balon fire truck, payloader, dumptruck tan patrol car.

Imbaga tonya makelaw ni Land Bank no akin et 5M labat so bili na firetruck amta say bili na balo tan matakep ya klase na fire truck et unabot ed 12 million pesos, balet kulang so kwarta na Lingayen tan mantitipid ira.

Inyarom ni nen Sison ya say Land Bank la so nan-endorso no iner mangaliw na heavy equipment tan patrol car.

http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=99971 (http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=99971)

Bolinao gets 3 million bangus fry

By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre

LINGAYEN -- Three million bangus fry will be delivered today, July 28, to Bolinao by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

DA-Ilocos Director Nestor Domenden said this will be the initial delivery for the 10 million supply allotted for the province of Pangasinan.

He said this is an intervention program of the National Government to bring back the usual capability of the bangus production areas in the province destroyed, if not damaged, by both typhoons Cosme and Frank.

The second delivery of 3 million bangus fry will be in Anda town.

The recipients were identified by the local government. BFAR will also be giving cage materials to the said recipients.

According to Domenden, about 60 to 70 percent of the fry are released at fishponds for nursing until fingerling size survives.

The fingerlings will then be transferred to fish cages. It will take about seven to eight months before these can be harvested.

Because the targeted production could only be about 3.4 percent and the rest of the supply for the year is affected, Domenden said they are encouraging especially the coastal town of Sual to expand its production area, otherwise called as its Mariculture Park, to compensate the losses.

Meanwhile, BFAR will lease to the municipality of Sual a 28-footer, 114-horsepower patrol boat.

"This is part of the commitment of the Department of Agriculture to strengthen the patroling of coastal area first of Sual, and later to expand to the whole of Lingayen Gulf. The patrol boat is issued to my office but we are going to lease it to Sual. It is due for pickup at Sangley Point. It will either be transported by coastal navigation or by land," he stated.

The patrol boat will be used against fishermen using improvised dynamite or those in big fishing boats using fine mesh nets and other illegal fishing paraphernalia.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/bolinao-gets-3-million-bangus-fry (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/bolinao-gets-3-million-bangus-fry)

Labrador, Pangasinan
Photos from Flickr by Neil Ratuita

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2868656815_72854a8760_o.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Neil Ratuita (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilgratuita/2868656815/in/set-72157605381290068/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/2868656827_ef9b1db1e0_o.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Neil Ratuita (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilgratuita/2868656827/in/set-72157605381290068/)

Making Dagupan pedestrian-friendly

TAKE a walk around downtown Dagupan and you will find that the city is now pretty much pedestrian-friendly with majority of the sidewalks cleared of obstructions.

The Sidewalk Recovery Program, steadily implemented since City Ordinance No. 1873-2006 was passed, has borne fruit with city officials concerned keeping up to the tasks.

The streets of Burgos, Rivera, and Gomez are noticeably free of sidewalk obstructions and these areas actually appear enticing for a stroll.

In Arellano-Bani, the ongoing road construction is nearing completion and elevated sidewalks are being readied. The stores and houses along the road have finally yielded spaces to give way to the mandatory two-meter wide sidewalk.

Mayor Al Fernandez Jr. has a standing order to make and maintain Dagupan clean and orderly.

The Anti-Littering Task Force continues to chase away ambulant vendors who occupy the sidewalks on A.B. Fernandez Avenue.

Eng. Carlos delos Reyes, Chief of Anti-Littering Task Force, however, said the city government will have to deal with the ambulant vendors on a daily basis because many insist on taking chances with the law to make a living.

As a compromise, the city hall recently agreed to allow the vendors to sell in specified areas of the sidewalks on designated periods during the day outside of peak hours. Outside of the allowed period, the cat-and-mouse chase continues.

Meanwhile, the City Engineering Office, tasked with dismantling of illegal structures and extensions, continue to serve notices to violating establishments, giving them 5-days to clear obstructions; failing that, the CEO dismantles them.

City Engineer Virginia Rosario said clearing operations continue without let-up to make Dagupan a pedestrian-friendly city. —Sunshine Erfe, UPang

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/26/making-dagupan-pedestrian-friendly/ (http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/26/making-dagupan-pedestrian-friendly/)

sa third quarter of 2010 nb talaga mag oopen ang tarlac-carmen section of TPLEX?????

sa third quarter of 2010 nb talaga mag oopen ang tarlac-carmen section of TPLEX????? Expect some delays for this project.

Here's an interesting article about the road project. The road should be called TLUTEx :)

TLUTEx vs TPLEx

Three-and-half hours to Baguio? From Tarlac, not Manila. That’s how bad Highway 3 or the so-called MacArthur Highway has become — worn pavement in some parts, lots of trucks from dusk to midnight, besides buzzing scooters and tricycles from 4 a.m. onwards. The only time it is clear of traffic is from 12 midnight to four in the morning. Driving through Highway 3 in the day, after the civility and freedom of the SCTEx, is a stress-filled ordeal. An endless slog of piecemeal attempts to overtake slow mini buses and trucks. Jeepneys go on and off the shoulder every 300 meters and tricycles just never seem to get off the road. But if PIDCo finishes the TLUTEx (Tarlac La Union Toll Expressway) in 2013, three and half hours to Baguio from Manila may just be possible.

To recap, the SCTEx is a project of the BCDA (Bases Conversion Development Authority). JBIC (the Japan Bank for International Cooperation) gave the BCDA generous funding of P29 billion — interest rate of 0.95% per year, 40-year term, grace period for 10 years — which means the BCDA will only start paying for the loan in 2018 up to 2048. With such generous conditions, JBIC only required that the highway be built by Japanese contractors to Japanese standards and should be four-lane dual carriageway. Filipino contractors can apply as subcontractors. Now operated by Metro Pacific Tollways’ TMC, same operator as the NLEx, the SCTEx is a huge success.

The BCDA, having been a successful partner of the JBIC, was supposed to continue with the TPLEx (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union-Expressway) from SCTEx Tarlac to Bacnotan in La Union, with a spur expressway to Dingalan Bay, Nueva Ecija. The BCDA-JBIC funded TPLEx plan would also divert Cagayan Valley truck traffic from the two-lane Maharlika Highway to the safer dual carriageway SCTEx and on to the NLEx.

About a year before the full operation of the SCTEx, PIDCo proposed the TLUTEx — a 88.58-km two-lane single carriageway expressway parallel to Highway 3, continuing from the Balingcanaway, Tarlac terminus of the SCTEx to Rosario, La Union. TLUTEx copies the BCDA’s TPLEx’s alignment and will have interchanges in Victoria, Gerona-Pura and Paniqui, all in Tarlac. There’s an interchange to serve both Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija and Anao, Tarlac. Crossing into Pangasinan province, interchanges will also be built to serve Carmen-Rosales and congested Urdaneta City. After Urdaneta, the TLUTEx will cross over Highway 3 to align west of it before another interchange for Pozzorubio. The TLUTEx toll plaza terminus will be where the Rosario-Pugo, La Union highway leads to Marcos Highway.

Section 1A — a distance of 16.95 km from the SCTEx Tarlac toll plaza to Gerona — is due to be finished in 2009. Section 1B is 31.75 kms of expressway from Gerona-Paniqui-Moncada-Carmen. Section II, at 9.47 kms from Carmen to Urdaneta, will be the most expensive section per km because a long and costly viaduct will have to cross the wide Agno River. Section III traverses 30.41 km from Urdaneta-Pozorrubio-Rosario, which bypasses one of the most dangerous parts of Highway 3.

To be initially financed by loan and toll collections, TLUTEx will be completed piecemeal — just like the decade-old STAR Tollway. Total project cost is estimated to be P15 billion. The Philconstruct Web site claims the consortium is negotiating for P8 billion from BDO and that San Miguel Infrastructure is also interested in buying 55% of the project. DPWH right-of-way acquisition is ongoing.

The BCDA’s four-lane dual carriageway TPLEx was to finish in three years, as fast as the SCTEx. PIDCo’s TLUTEx has the same schedule but is only two lanes. Sadly, the latter will be fraught with traffic risks as fatal head-on accidents are germane to long and lonely single carriageway highways. Scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2010 is the 48-km Tarlac City to Carmen, Pangasinan Section 1. A target traffic volume of 25,000 vehicles/day should trigger PIDCo to start building the other two-lane carriageway, a traffic volume that is already reached every weekend at the SCTEx Mabalacat toll plaza.

It’s a pity that the project was packaged merely as a construction one without linked commitments to operate. A comprehensive package from building to operations, like the NLEx rehabilitation, would have attracted bigger financing. At P15 billion, project finance is limited to building only two lanes and several interchanges without the access roads, if only to finish sections 1A and 1B by 2010. And since a long viaduct spanning the Agno river will be costly, the Pozzorubio, Pangasinan to Rosario, La Union segment of Section 3, should be prioritized so that traffic can avoid the crumbling and sinking Highway 3 from Binalonan to Sison. The ideal three-and-a-half hour dream journey from Manila to Baguio will have to wait a while longer.

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW072909/content.php?id=200 (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW072909/content.php?id=200)

Bangus fest volunteers to be entertained

DAGUPAN CITY -- Members of the different volunteer groups who helped out in the holding of the 2009 Bangus Festival will have their own special day.

The Volunteers' Day will be held tomorrow, Friday, starting 2 p.m. at the CSI Stadia-Jimmy L. Fernandez Center.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, Bangus Festival 2008 and 2009 executive committee chairman, said they have invited comedians to give entertainment. They are Ethel Booba, Chocolate, and Dr. Judy Bello.

Highlight of the event will be the gift giving and raffle draw of LCD television.

Expected to attend the Volunteers' Day are the members of the Philippine National Red Cross, Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, from the different communication groups and others who lend a hand during the holding of the biggest festival in Northern Luzon.

Fernandez said they started this activity last year when she first chaired the Bangus Festival.

"This is to acknowledge and thank them for their help. This is a time for them to relax and be entertained after a serious work especially that the Bangus Festival was a success," she remarked.

Part of the activity is a 30 to 45-second confidence building for each volunteer.

Aside from the famous and delicious Bonuan bangus, the city has established its own identity through the Bangus Festival.

This year, the festival committee was able to gather together the two giant television networks and the well-known bands in the country.

Two of its grandest events were the Festivals of the North (street dancing competition) wherein about 30 festivals from different localities in Northern Luzon participated.

Added to it was the Grand Bangusan Street party where hundreds of thousands of people partied until the wee hours of the morning at the Lucao-Pantal-Dawel road as several bands performed simultaneously. (LCMY/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/bangus-fest-volunteers-be-entertained

500 pupils benefit in police feeding program

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 29 (PNA) -- The Lingayen Police station conducted feeding program to almost 500 pupils in kindergarten and Grades 1 and 2 pupils of the Poblacion Central School here on Tuesday.

The activity was a joint project of the police with the Rotary Club of Dagupan East headed by Mario Lim, president; Korean missionaries headed by Rev. James Shim and Chuchi C. Malagayo, school principal.

The feeding program coincided with the celebration of the Nutrition Month on the theme "Wastong Nutrisyon Kailangan, Lifestyle Diseases Iwasan".

Others present during the activity were Korean missionaries who showcased a dance and cultural presentation that entertained pupils, parents, teachers and visitors.

Also there were Boy Rayos, Tony Patungan, Sundy Lorica of R.C.D.E., Department of Education District Supervisor Jose Rivera, Parents Teachers Club president Leonardo Cruz, Parents Teacher Club president, parents, teachers and members of Lingayen Police Station. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220921

JdV in Argentina to preside world meet

FOURTH District Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. is now in Buenos Aires, Argentina to preside over a meeting of political parties in Asia and Latin America that will discuss issues of poverty, corruption, climate change, terrorism and illegal narcotics trade.

He announced his trip last Sunday when he distributed some 1,200 Philippine Health Insurance cards to indigent families in Dagupan, Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto and Manaoag.

De Venecia will open the conference as executive committee chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), composed of 240 Asian political parties from 45 countries.

His counterpart in that conference is Chairman Antonio Cafiuero of the Latin America and Caribbean Political Parties (COPPAL), representing 58 political parties from 29 countries.

The meeting will also discuss De Venecia's long-time proposal for a global debt-swap plan, without need of new appropriations from the rich G-8 industrial democracies, by converting global debts into anti-poverty projects with debt-service savings to be used for irrigation, mass housing, healthcare, education and to meet the U.N. Millennium Development Goals.—LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/26/jdv-in-argentina-to-preside-world-meet/

Youth council officials get study grants

DAGUPAN CITY -- As provided by law, Youth Council officers down to the barangay level are covered with the study grant at state universities and colleges (SUC).

Board Member Kazel Celeste, Youth Council Provincial Federation president, reiterated this at their recent regular meeting as she relayed the good news.

Some members of the federation seek the help of Celeste on the concerns of some youth council officials whose application for the government scholarship program at the government school they enrolled in were not accepted.

Celeste said Youth Council National Federation President Jane Censoria Cajes issued a memorandum to all youth council federations for the dissemination the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) guideline.

Ched Memorandum Order 5, series of 2009 contains the implementing guidelines on the "study grant program for barangay officials and their legitimate children dependents to implement Section 393, paragraph 4 of the Local Government Code, the inclusion of the SK (Sangguniang Kabataan or Youth Council) officials for the study grant per section 434 of the same code, amending Ched order No. 62, 2.1997."

Beneficiaries of the program are the barangay captain, the seven barangay kagawad, barangay secretary and the barangay treasurer. For the Youth Council, the program covers the barangay youth council chairman and the seven barangay youth council councilman.

Aside from the admission documents required by the state university or college, all that a youth council official has to present are the Commission on Election certification that the scholarship applicant is a duly elected official, certified by the barangay captain and Local Government Operating Officer.

The Ched memorandum, however, clarified that a youth council official could only avail of the program only at the government school within or near their area of jurisdiction.

They are also to "enroll preferably in Ched-identified priority courses or in any course deemed needed in the community as certified by the Punong Barangay, carry a full semestral load as prescribed in the course curriculum, and complete any incomplete grades during the semester or summer immediately after the school term at the school where enrolled."

Meanwhile, the youth council and barangay officials can only avail of the scholarship grant during their incumbency.

Celeste said this will be a big help to the youth leaders especially those who could not really afford the tuition fees at private schools.

With the many campuses of the Pangasinan State University in the province, she is hoping that her fellow youth leaders could finish their college or vocational courses for them to have a better future.

She also encouraged all the youth council leaders to focus on their studies and be good examples to their fellow youths.

Celeste is likewise encouraging all youth council officials and members who are already qualified to vote next year to register at the Commission on Elections.

"We should let our voices be heard in the upcoming elections, the first step is to register," she remarked. (LCMY/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/youth-council-officials-get-study-grants

CSI City Mall & BHF Family Plaza (Dagupan)
Photos taken yesterday July 29

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Dagupan gets 95% rating for emergency preparedness

AN earthquake and fire drill conducted by the Dagupan City government on Tuesday as part of the celebration of the Disaster Consciousness Month earned a 95% rating from the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC).

Director Eugene Cabrera of the Office of Civil Defense regional office said it was the highest rating they have so far given among local government units in Region 1 undertaking similar drills.

Cabrera said the participants from various agencies came prepared and tackled their respective roles in "saving lives and properties" with precision.

The simulated drill started at 9:00 a.m. with a mock fire set off at the CAP Building along Burgos.

‘Smoke’ bellowed from the top floor of the building and out came 'survivors' with hands covering their noses, many of them limping.

On cue, 'survivors' were immediately assisted by Emergency Operation Center (EOC) marshals. A couple of minutes later, a portable generator and ambulances arrived.

Six minutes after the ‘fire’ began, a fire truck arrived although it took another six minutes for the firemen to set up a ladder to reach the building's second floor.

A couple more minutes later, a ‘severely injured victim’ was rescued from the ‘burning’ structure. Three more 'victims' were pulled out and brought to the Triage Area where they were attended to by paramedics and partially treated while awaiting the service ambulance to transport the victims to the hospital.

The 'blaze' was declared out exactly thirty minutes later.

Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. said the drill helped all those involved in emergency response prepare for a real eventuality.

"Nahahasa (sila) in the role-play in disaster response," he said, adding "Dagupan aims to become one of the most prepared and equipped cities for emergency procedures.”—Sunshine Erfe, UPang

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/26/dagupan-gets-95-rating-for-emergency-preparedness/

Number of fishpens in Dagupan just right

THE number of fish pens in Dagupan has not reached their allowable limit.

This was assured by City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina who pointed out that the number of privately-owned fish pens in the city is still within the limited carrying capacity of the rivers.

Some sectors in the city recently expressed alarm over the continuous unloading of bamboo poles at the Jose R. de Venecia Expressway Extension, an indication of plans to erect new fish pens.

Molina explained that this should not be cause for worry as the current rainy season is not the time for setting up fish pens on a river, particularly in are as close to the water exit to the sea.

"Many of our fish pens located in rivers that serve as exit point of water to the sea do not operate during this period of the year, except for some that have the capacity to withstand the onslaught of typhoons," she said.

She also stressed that the city government issues, with a corresponding fee, Aqua-culture Lease Agreement (ALA) to individuals seeking to build fish pens in any river in the city, which allows the city government to monitor and limit the number of pens that will be set up.—LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/07/26/number-of-fishpens-in-dagupan-just-right/

Anda town residents get relief goods

By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre

ANDA -- Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) sent 2,500 packs of relief goods Tuesday to local residents pre-identified by the municipal social welfare office as recipients.

The goods was delivered and turned over by Sto. Tomas Acting Mayor Timoteo Villar III and PASG-Ilocos Director Dave Alunan to the local officials led by Board Member Alice Pulido and Mayor Nestor Pulido.

Accordingly, the Pulidos asked assistance from Undersecretary Villar for their constituents who were badly hit by typhoon Emong last May. A good number of residents lost their roof, if not their houses were wrecked.

“The Villars fully support the mayor and the board member. The mayor and Undersecretary Villar use to give out help. Our town is only small but the officials here have a big heart,” said the acting mayor.

As to the presence of the local officials of Sto. Tomas and other municipal employees, he stated: “It has been the habit of Sto. Tomas people to support each other. This is among the factor why we made it to Guinness World Record for Longest Grill last year.”

Both the acting mayor and Alunan said Undersecretary Villar bought the goods from his own pocket and that some of his friends also contributed to his outreach program.

Board Member Pulido profusely thanked the PASG head and his wife for listening and acting to their plea without any reservation.

She said it further proved how good they are as friends.

Almost all the barangays of the island town of Anda were badly hit by Typhoon Emong. The fishpens where some local residents work as caretakers were destroyed leaving nothing but debris.

The town also received damaged to properties and lives from the strong typhoons last year.

Meanwhile, Acting Mayor Villar said the food packs with powdered milk were given to recipients with small children.

All the barangay captains here were present to receive their respective relief good allotment for their constituents.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/anda-town-residents-get-relief-goods

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Here's a photo update. :)
Malasiqui Civic Center

http://www.rachelbabyarenas.com/images/a%20convention2.jpg

Construction nears completion. Photos to be posted soon!

anung meron dyan?Nanlapo ed website nen Rep. Arenas dyan 3rd District:

"The center will be an integration of a various municipal activities such as Multi-use Gymnasium/Theatre, Barangay Service facilities, Adult School, Day Care, Medical and Dental Clinics, Sports Facilities, Free Legal Counseling Offices, Micro Financing Livelihood Center supplemented by shopping stalls for local delis anchored by famous fast food chain."

Alaminos City: Kick bad habits, live a healthier life

Local residents here were encouraged to maintain healthy eating habits as the city joins the whole nation in celebrating the Nutrition Month this July.

This, to reduce the risk of succumbing to various diseases or prevent them from acquiring diet-related lifestyle diseases or commonly known as non communicable diseases (NCDs) in the future, said Dr. Maria Victoria O. Carambas, city health officer.

NCDs, according to Dr. Carambas, are among the leading of causes of death in the country which include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

These diseases were called as such since much of the risk factors associated with them are related to how one lives.

Guided by this year’s theme “Wastong Nutrisyon Kailangan, Lifestyle, Diseases Iwasan,” the city government is promoting anew the ABCs of good nutrition among its constituents.

Virginia Francisco, Nutrition Officer 1, said the city’s month-long celebration started with the Nutrition Month Info-Campaign during flag raising ceremonies at the city hall grounds.

Through the city government’s radio program, the city health office (CHO) also educated the Alaminians on the importance of the Dietary Management of Lifestyle Diseases and promoted lifelong healthy eating habits especially to children.

Dr. Carambas said her office teamed-up with RiteMed Pharma in the conduct of scientific lectures on lifestyle diseases for the city government employees and personnel of the Alaminos City Police Office.

The said series of lectures were facilitated by Dr. Danna May Ragudos, Medical Officer IV-CHO, Ms. Tina Camba, Dietician at the Western Pangasinan District Hospital (WPDH), Ms. Josephine Llaban of RiteMed Pharma and Mrs. Francisco.

CHO and RiteMed Pharma also conducted free fasting blood sugar screening and blood pressure check to all government workers in the city.

Likewise, there was an information lecture on lifestyle diseases as well as dengue and cholera, Influenza A (H1N1) virus and Healthy Lifestyle to the Max Exercise for parolees and probationers.

Mayor Hernani A. Braganza earlier advised all the employees to avail of the free services for them to check their blood pressure and blood sugar level.

He stressed that a healthier city workforce is tantamount a better services tendered to their general clientele.

The mayor said “with the kind of environment we have right now coupled with our poor eating habit and the nature of our work, anybody is susceptible to these dreaded killer diseases.”

“Its is then incumbent on our part as civil servants not to ignore any warning signs of NCDs or substantial threats to our health, added the hardworking city head who recently quit smoking for good to set a good simple to his subordinates and constituents.

“The best and the biggest favor you can do to your body, to the city government and your family is to kick those bad habits that we have, he continued.

Today and all year round, let’s embrace lifelong healthy eating habits to live a healthier, happier and longer life.”

Noting that for the city and entire nation to be healthy and progressive its citizens must also be living a healthy life, Braganza even cited his administration had already taken bold steps to ensure his citymates are getting the right nutrition they deserve.

His decision to feed more than 19,000 school children in the city three times a week under the City’s Expanded Feeding Cum Livelihood Program, best expressed the mayor’s utmost desire not only to teach good nutrition but also produce healthy and bright children.

The said program is one of the major components of his laudable initiative-the Bright Child Program”, which is now on its second year of implementation.

The Go-Organic movement, another brainchild of the mayor, has also been realized last year in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and other partner-entities.

With emphasis on producing full organic rice, high value commercial crops and veggies, the city government not only eyes on providing healthier food the city’s residents.

It also aims to increase the income of farmers, achieve food security and help curb the adverse effects of climate change.

The city government, through the city health office, also conduct regular medical mission in the barangays and provides free medical check-up and medicines and attend to other needs of patients. (CIO)

http://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/news/newsdetails.aspx?newsid=532

Claimants' demand delays Pangasinan flood control project

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City (30 July) -- Flood control engineers may alter the course of the flood control diversion channel in Alcala town if land claimants continue to demand unreasonable payments for the newly planted mahogany trees in the area.

Project Director Fidel Ginez of the Agno River Flood Control Office said the claimants that include a barangay captain were asking an additional P83 million for the mahogany trees they had planted right on the path of the diversion channel. Government estimates for the improvements done in the area run only to about P22 million.

Ginez, who guested at the KBP Forum Thursday at the Philippine Information Agency office along with District Engineer Rodolfo Dion, said that a parapet wall and other protection works which cost some P3 million are being done to protect about 47 houses downstream.

"It will serve the purpose," Ginez said when asked if the protection works being done were enough for the flood control project in the area and even without settling the claimants' huge demands.

It will be recalled that Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. of the Presidential Management Staff who heads the project monitoring team asked the stakeholders to include town and barangay officials and the claimants during an inspection last month to sit down with public works officials and the contractor to facilitate resolution of the issue.

Ginez said the claimants wanted government to deposit P83 million in a bank pending the expropriation proceedings at the Villasis municipal trial court. He said government had no money to pay the claims.

Because of the right of way problem, the original completion date for the guide channel project which falls under Package 2 was moved to March 31 next year instead of October 30 this year. Korean firm Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. is the contractor.

Actual accomplishment was placed at 72.75 percent as of July 24 when it was supposed to be 97.96 percent, or a slippage of -25.21 percent. Projects under Packages 1, 3, and 4 are already 100 percent complete.

Overall, the actual accomplishment of projects under Phase II which have a budget of P5.9 billion was 90.88 percent instead of the targeted 99.32 percent, or a slippage of -8.44 percent.

Under Package 4 was the construction of the kilometer-long Hector Mendoza bridge which was completed on March 18, 2004.

Phase I projects worth P2 billion including construction of the Bugallon channel and bridge were completed in May 2005 with TOYO Construction as the contractor.

Phase III, which will cover the upper Agno river basin and may cost P2 billion, is yet to be included in the "short list" for loan negotiation, he said.

Meanwhile, Dion announced that the completion date for the elevation of the busy Arellano street here was moved from July 31 to August 15 because of the heavy downpour for the past days.

The Mayombo-Caranglaan roadline which is also usually flooded during heavy rains was included for priority projects to be funded next year. Some P50 million is needed to elevate the road, he said. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090730.htm&no=31 (http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090730.htm&no=31)

Oplan Kandado bearing fruit – BIR

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City (30 July) -- After sampling restaurants for the Oplan Kandado scare, the Bureau of Internal Revenue is now turning its attention on gasoline stations, Revenue District Officer Joseph Catapia told a media forum Wednesday.

Catapia, who figured in the padlocking of a popular restaurant chain in Tondaligan this city two Fridays ago, bared that owners of gasoline stations who had been found under-declaring their sales and not issuing receipts were already issued 48-hour notices. They have five days to settle their tax obligations, he said.

If they fail to pay their taxes, the owners will bear the brunt of the Oplan Kandado campaign as experienced by the owners of the six padlocked restaurants, Catapia told the Engkwentro sa Lenox forum.

He said that the determination of the bureau to go after tax evaders with no less than BIR Commissioner Sixto Esquivias IV himself coming here to enforce Oplan Kandado along with five deputy commissioners was already bearing fruit. Jolted by what happened during that day, many business owners now have begun flocking to BIR offices to file their amended tax returns, Catapia said.

Esquivias had told a press conference before his teams proceeded to the erring establishments to enforce the closure orders that the Oplan Kandado was aimed at instilling what he described as fear factor so that taxpayers eventually will have to settle their tax dues voluntarily.

Catapia during the forum reiterated the appeal of the commissioner and BIR Regional Director Tomas Rosales for taxpayers to pay their taxes voluntarily and not force BIR to take the last resort to enforce tax laws.

He said he expects tax collections to increase as a result of the Oplan Kandado campaign.

Also being eyed are other businesses like lumber and hardware, he said. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p090730.htm&no=48

Partylist: Buy local palay first

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City (30 July) -- The Abono partylist has reiterated its call for the government to obtain palay stocks from local farmers rather than procure rice from other countries.

Abono President Ponciano Onia told a media forum Wednesday that rice importation only serves the interest of farmers from the rice-exporting countries like Thailand and Vietnam to the disadvantage of local farmers.

The government thru the National Food Authority imports rice to serve as buffer stock during the lean months when prices of commercial rice usually soar up.

Onia, the lone guest at the 31st anniversary of Diwa, Salita at Gawa at the Star Plaza Hotel representing Party chair Rosendo So, urged government to buy rice from the local farmers. "Sana huwag muna silang mag-import, sumugal muna sana sila sa mga Filipino farmers bago mag-import," he stressed.

Asked if local rice production can meet the country's total demand, he said that rice production in the country is sufficient. "Kung may kakulangan man maliit lang, yong kulang lang sana ang kanilang punan sa pag-import sa ibang bansa," he said.

"Kung kailangan talagang mag-import, huwag yong marami," he also said, noting that up to now NFA bodegas are still full of imported rice. "Sana ubusin muna nila yon, baka maging mabaho pa," he added.

In an earlier media forum, So sounded a similar call maintaining that local farmers can ably meet the country's supply of the staple food. The partylist also advocates production of white corn, which it said can be substitute for rice as staple food. "Dyan papasok ang white corn," Onia said in reaction to an observation that the country might suffer rice shortage if it would only depend on local rice production.

He initially refused to comment when asked why the country continues to import rice and even vegetables. But he later slipped when he said that there was money in importation.

A new partylist, Abono was able to muster two seats in Congress as it garnered most of the votes from Pangasinan, which had some 1.1 million votes cast in the last elections. About half voted for partylists. (PIA Pangasinan)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p090730.htm&no=27&r=r01&y=&mo=

Dagupan spaghetti cables. Common cable crossing not yet fully implemented.

Colorful classic and traditionally designed small jeepneys roam the city and neighboring towns. Only in Pangasinan:)

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Burgos Street

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A.B. Fernandez West

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Perez Blvd

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Perez Blvd

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Zola of Baguio City in Perez Blvd, open 24 hrs

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Perez Blvd

Province gets US$13M construction grant

By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre

LINGAYEN -- The province of Pangasinan was chosen by the Korean government as one of the recipient provinces in the Philippines of a US$13-million grant.

The grant will fund the construction of modern Rice Processing Complex (RPC) in different areas in the country.

Earlier, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by Kim In representing the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica), Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap for the Philippine government, and Governor Amado Espino Jr. for the province.

In Pangasinan the P112-million RPC will be constructed in a one-hectare lot inside the provincial nursery located at Barangay Tebag, Sta. Barbara.

Construction will start on September 12, 2009.

Last July 29, Espino hosted the Koica delegation led by Kim In and Young Saeng Lee who made and ocular inspection at the side.

Accordingly, more than 200,000 Pangasinan farmers stand to benefit from this the rice processing complex.

The project aims to raise the farmers' income by reducing the post-harvest loss of rice through the provision of modernized rice production facilities.

In effect, this will, enhance the international competitiveness of rice produced in the Philippines.

As described, the rice processing complex will be equipped with a state-of-the-art post harvest facilities. It will serve as one-stop service center for milling, drying and storing. It will also provide contemporary production technologies to produce high quality rice.

Under the specifications of the project, the RPC -- with an area of 1,700 square meters -- will have a drying capacity of 5,600 metric tons per year or 1,000 bags per day.

It has a milling capacity of 2.5 metric tons or an equivalent of 50 cavans per hour, and a storage capacity of 1,100 tons of dried paddy.

The Korean government will also provide equipment and materials for the project. These include a dust collection system, high quality rice-producing facilities, electric generators, and agricultural machineries like trucks, moisture meters, and conveyors among others.

Lee has given an assurance that the Korean government would be bringing in its experts to provide high quality rice production technology as well as skill trainings on operation of modern post-harvest facilities.

“We will make the province the best place for modern rice processing complex here in the Philippines,” he said.

“This is very timely and so important to us because Pangasinan is an agricultural province,” Espino stated.

He further said the establishment of project RPC would open various opportunities in terms of agricultural development in helping the farmers increase their income.

The other provinces chosen by Koica for the said project are Bohol, Davao del Sur, and Iloilo.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/province-gets-us13m-construction-grant

Two provinces, two towns offer Baguio dispose its 110 tons of trash daily

BAGUIO CITY (PNA) -- Two provinces and two municipalities have offered the Baguio city government proposals to assist this mountain resort in handling 110 tons of daily garbage to an engineered sanitary landfill (ESL).

City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. disclosed this development in his weekly "Ugnayan" aired by DZEQ "Radyo ng Bayan Baguio."

Bautista said after news reports indicated the hauling of garbage here will be maintained pending the development of Baguio's ESL, "we received many offers for the needed facility where we could dump our garbage."

He said: "With 10 tons of garbage carried by every truck, the town where we dump our garbage earn as much as P24 million monthly on tipping and other charges."

Bautista said since the city government treated these offers in first-come, first-serve basis, "we start to talk first with the provincial government of La Union and then to the municipal government of Urdaneta, Pangasinan."

The other offers for possible development of ESL were Benguet province under Governor Nestor Fongwan and Itogon municipality in Benguet.

Records show that since late last year, the city government had talked with many landowners here and adjacent towns of Benguet like Tuba and Itogon, but nothing materialized.

Bautista said: "When many learned that we are in a sound fiscal position to carry on with our hauling remedy to deal with our garbage, suddenly we were swamped by these offers.

"But I have to talk first to the executives of La Union and Pangasinan under the principle of first come, first served basis."

Correct garbage disposal is essential in this city which is determined to keep its excellent tourism industry plus the title of being the cleanest and greenest city in the country. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=221127 (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=221127)

Pinoy kids Dominate choir tilt

By Llanesca T. Panti, Reporter

Three Philippine children’s choir groups registered four first-place finishes in the First World Choir Championships held in Changwon City, Gyeongnam province, in South Korea this month.

The winning choirs, according to the Foreign Affairs department, were the Mandaue Children’s Choir, the Young Voices of the Adventist University of the Philippines and the Calasiao Children’s Chorus.

The Calasiao Children’s Chorus bagged two championships, winning the first prize in the folklore category of the Korean International Open Choir Competition and pocketing the gold medal in the Korean International Open Choir Competition.

Not to be outdone, the Mandaue Children’s Choir topped the Children’s Choir category of the Grand Prix of Choral Music, while the Young Voices of the Adventist University of the Philippines garnered the gold medal also in Children’s Choir category for the Second Asia Choir Game and captured the silver medal in the Music of the Religions category also of the Second Asian Choir Game.

Each of the three Philippine choirs received a cash award of $12,000 or around P580,000 for their feats.

The INTERKULTUR group and the city government of Changwon organized the World Choir Games, which is held every two years in different partner cities around the world with competing choirs vying for the title of “Champions of the World Choir Games.”

An international jury, one of whom is renowned Philippine choral conductor and former member of the Madrigal Singers Jonathan Velasco, judged the choir groups.

Members of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul attended the choir competition in Changwon City, around four hours south of the South Korean capital.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/july/30/yehey/top_stories/20090730top9.html

July 16, 1990 an earthquake struck Luzon, Philippines affecting Baguio and Dagupan cities. What lessons can we learn from this earthquake?

BYxcexWHfo8

Dagupenos must now learn to live with tidal floods

By Leonardo V. Micua

DAGUPAN CITY, July 31 (PNA) -- Dagupenos must now learn to live with the the daily tidal floods as these can not be prevented anymore based on the view expressed by two engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The two, Director Fidel Ginez, chief of the Agno Flood Control Office and Second Highway District Engineer Rodolfo Dion, said tidal floods are here to stay.

Speaking before the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas Forum in Dagupan, the two engineers concurred with the opinion expressed earlier by city officials blaming the daily tidal flood to global warming.

City Administrator Alvin Fernandez said the flooding is caused by the rise of ocean level aggravated by the melting of ice in the polar regions on earth due to excessive production of carbon dioxide that causes global warming.

Given this situation, Ginez and Dion said dredging will not solve the frequent tidal floods in Dagupan but nevertheless encourage it as this will at least enhance the exit of tidal water that overflowed inland back to the sea when low tide comes.

Based on the opinion of the two DPWH engineers, there will be no end to the frequent tidal flooding in Dagupan anymore and that residents should learn how to live with it.

In fact, Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. said in an earlier interview said Dagupan experiences the same situation as the cities in Cambodia and Vietnam but in those cities, the people converted tidal floodings into opportunities.

The mayor said Dagupan cannot do what the city of Rotherdam in Holland did when it built series of flood control folders that will cost billions of dollars to build.

Dion said dredging will not solve the problem citing the situation on Tuesday last week when the highest elevation of tide at one point was 1.8 meter, which was already above normal sea level.

That was why, he said, some areas on A.B. Fernandez Avenue, particularly near the bank of the Pantal River that day, were under water, as Dagupan is practically in the same level as the sea.

He stressed that even if the rivers are dredged if the volume of water is high, there is no stopping the water from the sea from flowing inland.

Director Ginez said dredging is still necessary to ensure that the exit of tidal water that flowed inland during high tide will be faster when low tide comes.

However, he said, dredging is costly as one big dredging machine, which has the capacity to dredge 4,200 cubic meters of silt in one day, could consume some 10,000 liters of diesel fuel in three weeks or equivalent to P300,000.

Observers said that is possibly the reason why the dredging machine bought by the city in 2006 at a cost of P50 million from a letter of credit secured by the city with Land Bank of the Philippines is being seldom used now.

City Administrator Fernandez, however, said the city's dredging machines is stationed in Barangay Salapingao and is still being harnessed for dredging.

Ginez recalled that a dredging machine from the DPWH was stationed at the Calmay River last year to dredge silt, using the P5 million allotted for fuel by Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr.

At the same time, Ginez called on residents of Dagupan not to throw their garbage to the drainage canals which will obstruct the flow of water to rivers and the sea.

Dion observed that the flood along portions of the Bonuan road occurring every heavy rain was caused by garbage that closed a drainage canals leading to the Tanap River.

He said it is not advisable to convey the water from Bonuan direct to the sea for fear that water may back flow to community sites during high tide. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=221370

BIR to padlock more business establishments

Saturday, August 1, 2009

DAGUPAN CITY -- Revenue District 4 Officer Joseph Catapia has warned taxpayers who are cheating on the government that after the recent temporary closure of six restaurants in Pangasinan, there is more to come.

At the Engkwentro weekly forum of the Pangasinan Press and Radio Club, Catapia said there are six revenue district offices in Region 1 (including revenue district 4).

All of which are strictly monitoring the different business establishments in the region in lieu of the implementation of Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) Oplan Kandado.

He said approximately 60 business establishments all over the country has been padlocked since the launching of the Oplan Kandado. The very first to be padlocked was a taxpayer in Magalang, Pampanga.

Those padlocked establishment were given a certain period to settle their tax obligation, otherwise, it will be padlocked permanently.

Catapia explained the prelude to Oplan Kandado operation is the Oplan Silip campaign.

It is being conducted on business establishments who are using the “point of sales machine,” otherwise known as cash register machine. These include, among others, department stores, groceries.

“We require them to submit their accumulated sales for the day, as well as, the cumulative sales from the start of a certain period up to the time Operation Silip,” he remarked.

“If it can be found out later that such taxpayer under declares his sales volume by 30 percent or more, then we have to implement the Oplan Kandado. Except if the taxpayer (before the notice of closure, will be approved by the BIR Commissioner) will settle immediately whatever tax liabilities the taxpayer has to the government, the business establishment will be padlocked,” he added.

Meanwhile, Catapia admitted that death threats and danger has become part of their lives.

“That’s part of our work. Even in my past assignment even when I was with the tax fraud division of the national office…we received plenty of death threats,” he stated.

Catapia gave this appeal to the taxpayers: “If we affected someone there in line with doing with our job, hopefully they would understand that we are only doing our jobs according to our mandate in the BIR.”

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/bir-padlock-more-business-establishments (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/bir-padlock-more-business-establishments)

Pangasinan governor condoles with Aquino family

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Aug. 1 (PNA) -- Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr. expressed his profound condolences to the Aquino family and the entire Filipino nation for the passing away of former President Corazon C. Aquino at 3:18 a.m. on Saturday.

In a message to all media outlets in Pangasinan relayed by Provincial Information Officer Butch Velasco, the governor said: "On behalf of the people of Pangasinan, I express my heartfelt condolences to the family of former President Corazon C. Aquino when she passed away early this morning.

"The former President will be remembered not only for restoring democracy in the country but also for showing and sharing genuine love and concern to every Filipino.

"As she joins her Creator, we will pray for her eternal peace and harmony in heaven as well as for God's comfort to her family." (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=221557

Archbishop Cruz indayew si Presidente Aquino

DAGUPAN CITY - Sakey na sankarakepan na presidente si Corazon Aquino ya nanpasimbalo ed nengneng na buon mundo dyad pilipino.

Unong ed kinen Dagupan-Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz, baleg so pasalamat tayon pilipino ed saray mararakep na agawaan dyad bansa ne Aquino tan inmari to so agawan people power ya sikato so tuwan demokrasya.

Ed say mensahe nen Cruz nen apitiyawan na Bombo Radyo, say impatey nen Presidente Aquino so aliwan kaandian dyad bansa no andi ingen sikato so abendesyunan lapud no baleg so ginawa to nen mabilay ni mas lalon baleg sikato ed kanonotan na aray Pilipino.

http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=100743 (http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=100743)

Dagupan, Pangasinan owe many things from President Aquino

By Leonardo V. Micua

DAGUPAN CITY, Aug. 1 (PNA Feature) -- The people of Dagupan City and Pangasinan have many things to thank former President Corazon C. Aquino for as it was she who was instrumental in rebuilding their city from the rubble of the July 16, 1990 earthquake.

Just two days after the big earthquake that put Dagupan in shambles, President Aquino came and visited their devastated city and assured them not to worry as help will be coming.

That time, many buildings were yet tilting to different directions due to a phenomenon called liquefaction, roads cracked and crumbled as if they were plowed down, the Magsaysay Bridge crumbled like a decked card and mud were flowing endlessly from almost everywhere.

Aquino sent to the city then Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos a day earlier so that the latter could assess the situation and report to her what had happened as the temblor cut all communication lines from Dagupan to Manila and vice versa.

That visit was the first for President Aquino since she was swept into power by an EDSA People Power-backed Revolution. But during the presidential campaign where she was pitted against then President Marcos in a one-on-one duel, she and former Senator Salvador Laurel made a whirlwind stopover at the city plaza here that was covered by just a motley group of mediamen.

When Dagupenos led by then Mayor Liberato Reyna Sr. and then Vice Mayor Alipio Fernandez bade her goodbye before boarding the presidential chopper on her way back to Malacanang, she waved and made a reassuring smile.

And that was big enough to comfort the people of a devastated city whose business district then looked like it was a war zone or the scene of an epic battle between two great armies the day before.

A few weeks later and through the prodding of Pangasinan Fourth District Congressman Jose de Venecia Jr., Congress passed a law appropriating P10 billion to be used in rehabilitating the quake devastated areas in Luzon -- Dagupan and Pangasinan included.

The rest is now history.

Dagupan is now back on its feet as the leading trade and commercial center in Northern Luzon with modern infrastructure projects, comparable with the best infrastructures in the world today.

Thanks to President Aquino who presided over the rehabilitation of Dagupan and Pangasinan from the ravages of the earthquake. Her reign ended in 1992 but was succeeeded immediately after by a son of Pangasinan, Fidel V. Ramos. (PNA Feature)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=40489396

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Photos from Flickr by Ec Castillo

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http://l.yimg.com/g/images/pulser2.gifby Ec Castillo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/enghelcastillo/3776651911/)
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112 M rice processing complex to rise in Sta. Barbara soon

August 2, 2009

LINGAYEN–A state-of-the art rice processing complex (RPC) will be built in Sta. Barbara town this year to be funded by a financial grant from the Korean government.

The plan was firmed up during a call to Gov. Amado Espino Jr. by a delegation from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) led by Kim In and Young Saeng Lee on Tuesday after they visited the site inside the Provincial Nursery in Sta. Barbara where the project will be located.

Prior to their visit, Espino and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap signed a memorandum of agreement with Kim for the establishment of the RPC that will occupy a one-hectare area and estimated to cost P112 million.

Construction is expected to start in September and once completed, the RPC is seen to benefit more than 200,000 farmers in Pangasinan.

The project aims principally to reduce post-harvest costs with the use of modern rice production facilities for milling, drying and storing and other contemporary production technologies to produce high quality rice.

The RPC will have a drying capacity of 5,600 metric tons per year or 1,000 bags per day, milling capacity of 2.5 metric tons or an equivalent of 50 cavans per hour, and a storage capacity of 1,100 tons of dried paddy.

"This is very timely and important to us because Pangasinan is an agricultural province,” said Espino as he thanked the Korean government for choosing the province as one of the recipients of the project.

The other RPC projects to be financed from the Korean financial grant will be in Bohol, Davao del Sur and Iloilo. —LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/08/02/p112-m-rice-processing-complex-to-rise-in-sta-barbara-soon/ (http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/08/02/p112-m-rice-processing-complex-to-rise-in-sta-barbara-soon/)

DENR launches land titling program in Manaoag town

August 2, 2009

MANAOAG–The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently launched a program to help facilitate the titling of lands in this town.

With the cooperation of Mayor Napoleon Sales, DENR took the initiative as it noted that there are almost 4,000 lots in the town that have yet to be titled and legalized.

"We are bringing the project to the people," Amante Burbano, OIC Land Management Officer of the DENR office in Dagupan, said after conducting a briefing for the barangay officials and school principals.

The titling covers residential and agricultural lands as well as plots for public use.

"We also accept special sales patent. By this we mean, lahat ng school, public plaza, playground, day care center, material recovery facilities of barangay matitituluhan nang walang bayad,” he explained.

He said the Department of Education and other local government units should seek titles for schools and public buildings so these will not be called “squatters" or illegal settlers.

The titling program will also be conducted in Mangaldan on August 3.

The DENR will process applications for land titles daily including Saturdays and Sundays.

Claimants will have to pay for the cadastral cost, which include surveying, including establishment of boundaries, property lines, etc. Tax will be paid after the issuance of the titles.

The offer of DENR is cheaper as compared to the torrens system of land title, said Burbano.

"Sa korte, umaabot ng Php50,000 to Php100,000 sa kulang-kulang na one hectare na lupa. Pero sa DENR-CENRO Dagupan, ilang libong piso langmakakapagpatitulo ka na, makakakuha na ng pre-patent title," he explained.

DENR has also been directed to survey, delineate and make an inventory on foreshorelands as the government is inclined toward developing these resources.

“By utilizing these resources (foreshorelands), the local authorities are hoping that progress of these areas will contribute to the economy,” the DENR official said.—Sunshine Erfe-Mallary

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/08/02/denr-launches-land-titling-program-in-manaoag-town/

City hall bent on restoring sidewalks

August 2, 2009

THE Dagupan City government is determined to reclaim the lost sidewalk on Arellano Street, illegally expropriated for private use by owners of commercial establishments and residential houses.

The Sidewalk Recovery Program (SRP) was launched by the city on Arellano-Bani with the completion of the upgrading of the Arellano Street.

The SRP seeks to provide a two-meter side walk on each side of Arellano Street.

The Dagupan City Engineering Office has already issued notices to property owners by delineating the required two meter-sidewalk in front of their establishments and houses.

The Dagupan City Water District (DWD), for example, has already responded by transferring some water meter stands outside the two-meter area.

This requires affected property owners to reconfigure their frontage layout and the process had many owners complaining about the costs.

"Hindi pabor sa amin kasi gumastos kami para sa mga naglalakad papuntang Nepo," laments Grace Coquia, a tenant ofthe 20-year old Blossoms and Lace Building, who was made to share in the costs of reconstruction of the frontage.

The City Engineering Office has reportedly promised partial reimbursement to the affected property owners but City Engineer Virginia Rosario clarified that, "Wala pa namang compromise agreement, but the city government is willing to pay if the fund is available."—Sunshine Erfe-Mallary

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/08/02/city-hall-bent-on-restoring-sidewalks/

PASG confiscates illegal vegetable imports

August 2, 2009

URDANETA CITY–Two truckloads of imported onions, garlic, pepper and monggo were seized by operatives of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) on Thursday at the old cattle market here after the owners failed to show importation documents.

The PASG has been monitoring movements of illegally imported vegetable products that have been flooding local markets to the disadvantage of local producers.

Anacleto Aquino, PASG intelligence officer in Region 1, told The PUNCH that the owners of the seized goods, Chinese-Filipino businessmen, were unable to present the required papers for the cargo in their trucks with plate numbers RFR 392 and YGT 198.

Only a receipt of one truck showing payment from their source in Manila was presented to the PASG operatives.

PASG is now tracking warehouses with imported onions and garlic.

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/08/02/pasg-confiscates-illegal-vegetable-imports/ (http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2009/08/02/pasg-confiscates-illegal-vegetable-imports/)