Dagupan and Urdaneta Cities, and Pangasinan Province - Compiled Threads

[allan_dude]

P2.5 B re-regulating pond for San Roque cancelled

BLACK PROPAGANDA BLAMED

China funding eyed instead

URDANETA CITY—It’s goodbye finally to the proposed P2.5 billion re-regulating pond below the San Roque Multi-Purpose Project in San Manuel after the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) had a change of heart.

National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Regional Director John Celeste confirmed that JBIC withdrew its funding support for the project earlier set to be implemented by NIA.

Celeste said JBIC’s decision was largely a result of the black propaganda waged in Japan and through the internet by original oppositors to the dam who sought the withdrawal of the loan due to the unsolved slaying of farmer- leader Jose Doton, president of the Tignay Dagiti Mannalon a Mangwayawaya ti Agno (TIMMAWA) about two years ago.

TIMMAWA, a militant farmer organization, earlier opposed the construction of the San Roque Multi-Purpose Project.

However, Celeste said the Arroyo government is presently seeking to source the P2.5 billion fund from another foreign lending institution, possibly from China.

He said that if a new lending agency is found, the implementing agency will no longer be NIA but the National Power Corporation.

The re-regulating pond is another mega dam just like San Roque that will store all the water the power plant discharges when it produces electricity.

The re-regulating pond can irrigate more that 70,000 hectares of land in eastern and central Pangasinan, as well as in northern Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.

When not impounded, the water will just flow down the Agno River and ends up in the Lingayen Gulf.

The P2.5 billion re-regulating fund is part of the identified projects to be built in the North Luzon Agri-business Quadrangle in order to spur food production.

As an alternative to the project, NIA is now rehabilitating its old and silted irrigation canals built in Pangasinan more than 50 years ago to increase their capacity to irrigate farm lands.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has designated Engr. Reynaldo Mencias in charge of rehabilitating irrigation canals that seeks to irrigate additional 15,000 hectares of farmlands.—LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archiv...que-cancelled/

[allan_dude]

GK to build 1,000 homes in Alaminos

goodnewspilipinas.com
First Posted 14:11:00 05/17/2008

GAWAD Kalinga and the city of Alaminos, Pangasinan are set to build an eco-village that will provide more than 1,000 homes for the fisherfolk along the shorelines of Bolo Beach in the village of Pandan.

The city and GK would pour in their resources and capacity to implement the joint housing and community project for the fishermen of Pandan.

While the locality will provide GK with free access to land titles and other vital documents, and draw up a site development plan, a feasibility study, and the legal, technical, financial, architectural and engineering plans.

To give livelihood to the area, GK would put up GK-Kapitbahayan livelihood programs and ensure that basic services, such as education and health, are provided.

The local government would identify homeless constituents living along the shorelines as well as those within the riverbanks and public lands to qualify under the low-cost housing program.

“It’s the dream of the local government that there should be no squatters in the city,” local officials stressed. “In partnership with Gawad Kalinga, this ardent dream will soon be realized.”

Alaminos also welcomed the initiative of GK to provide the informal settlers with a permanent source of income.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view/20080517-137161/GK-to-build-1000-homes-in-Alaminos

[tracymack]

Lingayen eyes own Bagoong, Bucayo Festival, too!
http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archiv...-festival-too/

LINGAYEN–The fiesta fever is on.

So how about one for celebrating bagoong and bucayo?

A festival revolution continues to catch fire in Pangasinan after the very successful staging of the Dagupan Bangus Festival and the Puto Festival in Calasiao.

Refusing to be left out, capital town Lingayen is now planning to hold its ‘Bagoong and Bucayo Festival’ during its fiesta celebration in January next year.

Other towns are also set to revive their old festivals, which they allowed to mothball in the past for lack of funds.

In the case of Lingayen, Mayor Ernesto Castañeda said plans are now being mapped out for the holding of the ‘Bagoong and Bucayo Festival’ to focus on the two popular industries in his town.

Lingayen is known for its bagoong-making and it is generally believed that bagoong was introduced in the town by early Chinese settlers

The mayor said it is about time Lingayen promotes its bagoong industry to the world in order to create bigger demands for the commodity.

‘Lingayen Bagoong’ is already being exported to the United States, Saudi Arabia and some parts of Europe countries where Filipino communities thrive.

Castañeda, who comes from a family that makes bagoong, said not even one from the original houses that manufactures bagoong had closed shop, proof that the industry is stable and a viable investment prospect.

Nonetheless, like all industries, bagoong is also beset by challenges, the biggest of which is the dwindling supply of fish.

“Did you know that the bulk of fish being made into bagoong are now coming all the way from Bicol, Quezon and Navotas and only a little comes from Pangasinan and other provinces in Region 1,” Castañeda said.

He said there is a big demand for bagoong but the supply has been limited.

BUCAYO

In the case of bucayo, Castañeda admitted this home industry is now on the decline because of the shortage of coconuts.

He said he intends to revive this age-old industry in Lingayen by initiating the massive planting of coconuts in any available land, including the beaches so the bucayo industry can be sustained.

Aside from bucayo, Lingayen is also famous for native cakes like the ‘talamis,’ Castañeda said—LM

[tracymack]

2 Pangasinense police generals promoted
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pan...promoted..html

DAGUPAN CITY -- Two Pangasinense police generals got their second star last Friday.

Chief Superintendents (one-star general in military rank) Leopoldo Bataoil of the Directorate for Police Community Relations and Silverio Alarcio of the Directorate for Police Operations were promoted to Director (two-star general)

National Police Chief Avelino Razon Jr. led the oath taking of the two inside his office at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Bataoil and Alarcio are both members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1976.

They are also both Pangasinenses. Bataoil is from Lingayen town while Alarcio is from Laoac town.

"God is really great," Bataoil said as he thanked his fellow Pangasinenses and the people of the Ilocos Region for continuously praying for him.

Bataoil served as spokesperson for the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the leadership of three PNP chiefs.

His recent achievement was the back-to-back (2006 and 2007) award of Police Regional Office (PRO) 1 as Best Regional Police Office Nationwide while he was the regional director of PRO-1.

Meanwhile, two other police officers were promoted to Chief Superintendent (one-star general).

They are Chief Superintendents Juan Luna of the Directorate for Police Comptrollership and Rommel Heredia, secretary to the PNP Directorial Staff. (LCMY/Sunnex)

[tracymack]

Goat-raising a potential livestock industry
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pan....industry.html

STA. BARBARA -- Goat-raising is one of the promising livestock industries in the Philippines because of the high demand for goat meat.

This was revealed last Tuesday by Neo Abalos of Abalos and Sons Agro-Industrial Corporation before the opening of the 1st Ilocos Region Goat Exposition at the Provincial Nursery Reservation here.

It was also the soft opening of the 1st Aliguas Farmers Festival, a project of the Municipal Government led by Mayor Reynaldo Velasco.

One of the guest speakers was Bicuvido Rara, president of the four-year-old Federation of Goat and Sheep Producers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (FGASPAPI).

Abalos, FGASPAPI secretary, said the supply cannot cope with the demand.

The group is conducting seminars and trainings to promote the goat-raising industry in the country. They also pass on new technologies and information to their members and encourage farmers to venture into goat-raising.

In Pangasinan, they organized the Pangasinan Goat and Sheep Raisers Association (PGSRA) last month.

"Market-wise domestically the demand is high, what more internationally. Number one market is the Muslims because they don't eat pork. Demand is high in Malaysia and Indonesia. These are target markets, but for the meantime let's go local," Abalos added.

He said goat meat is selling like hot cake since 1999. One of the reasons for the high demand, he added, is that "goat meat is the healthiest red meat. It is high in protein and iron, but low in saturated fat compared to pork, beef and chicken."

In Manila, he said, a dressed goat is sold at P240 a kilo. In Pangasinan, a kilo of goat meat ranges from P190 to P200.

In Southern Tagalog Region, a liter of goat's milk is sold at P120.

"Goat milk is second to human's milk. It's better than cow's milk because it's easier to melt," Abalos said.

Abalos said they would also to educate goat raisers of the kind of grasses that can be feed to goats and the energy and protein level of each grass.

Goats are feed with leaves of ipil-ipil, madri de cacao, cacao, rensonii, ranie, trichantera and stylo.

"Goat-raising is high on capitalization, but once started, labor is the only expense because the goats feed on grass. Whether you have 200 heads or 20 heads of goat, only two people will facilitate," Abalos remarked as he compared goat with pig and chicken that eat feeds everyday.

Abalos said they are promoting the goat industry, as they want more goat raisers for them to be able to meet the demand, which would mean decrease in the prices of goat meat. (LCMY/Sunnex)

[allan_dude]

From www.dagupan.gov.ph

Pantal bridge finally opens
Posted by City Information Office on May 18, 06:41 PM

While President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Congressman Joe De Venecia did not turned up to “bridge the gap”, the Pantal bridge and Dawel-Lucao diversion road nevertheless opened smoothly to the public without glitch in a simple ceremony attended by key national and local officials led by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr..

Public Works and Highways secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, a self-confessed Dagupeno, waxed sentimental as recalled serving as Dagupan police chief in 1977, before he presented a detailed briefing on the city’s biggest infrastructure project that stands to benefit 8000 vehicles daily and lessen traffic congestion most especially in A.B. Fernandez Avenue.

Mayor Fernandez expressed appreciation to the President, De Venecia and the Japanese government for its continued support for Philippine development.

He said the opening of the new road network will increase the usable land area in Dagupan by at least one third, prop up the city’s position as an investments site and reaffirm its tag as regional center of trade and commerce, education, healthcare, media, telecommunications, and banking.

The twin mega-projects were initiated by De Venecia with the 4.897 km diversion road funded from his priority development fund and the 380 meter long bridge component made possible by an 8 billion pesos sovereign loan procured by President Arroyo from the Government of Japan under her Medium Term Public Investment Program (MTPIP).

Touted as the centerpiece of Contract Package III of the Urgent Bridges Construction Package for Rural Development with funding assistance from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the Pantal bridge was completed 5 months ahead of its September 2008 target. President Arroyo led the groundbreaking rites in August 2006.

Ambassador Makoto Katsanura said the bridge project is part of Japan’s ongoing commitment to help develop the infrastructure and economy of the Philippines and connect a “livelihood sphere”.

Acknowledged with her sharp business acumen, Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez said the new bridge strategically connects two emerging business districts – Lucao and Bonuan – and positions Pantal and Careenan as gateways to growth corridors that will open up the city’s island barangays to eco-tourism opportunities.

She said the opening ceremony is also a celebration of a vision accomplished.

“As we share our vision and speak with one voice, no amount of political crosswinds can alter our destiny” she said. (CIO/RR)

http://www.dagupan.gov.ph/index.php?id=65

[tracymack]

Buti naman at nabuksan na yan.

Originally Posted by allan_dude

P2.5 B re-regulating pond for San Roque cancelled

Senator Biazon seeks probe on missing irrigation project

Senator Rodolfo Biazon, who visited Umingan town on May 2, said he is initiating a Senate inquiry on the delay of the construction of the irrigation component of the San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam.

“I’m going to ask irrigators why San Roque Dam has not delivered the irrigation component,” Biazon said.

The irrigation component, he said, is a crucial factor in seeking to increase rice production in the province by providing water to 83,000 hectares of farmlands.

“Just imagine how much it (the irrigation) can add if indeed our production of rice is averaging four metric tons per hectare of in-bred rice,” Biazon said, adding “We need to this irrigation project.”

Earlier, Governor Amado Espino Jr. said he will make an official inquiry about the reported cancellation of funding of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for the irrigation dam component of the 245- megawatt San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam located in San Manuel town.

The irrigation component, estimated to cost about P2.5 billion, was originally scheduled for completion five years ago.

Espino said the JBIC’s withdrawal of the funding could not have been solely a result of strong lobbying by militant farmers’ following the killing two years ago of peasant leader Jose Doton.

FARMERS’ WOES

Farmers have pointed to lack of irrigation as one of the major obstacles to their being productive.

Elpidio Bato, a farmer from Bayambang said “tubig ang pinakaproblema” since they spend so much on fuel to bring water into the un-irrigated areas.

Other problems being raised by farmers are expensive agricultural inputs such as pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer and the low price of the palay.

Meanwhile, Edgareo Tugas, municipal agriculturist of Alcala town, said there are local efforts to help the plight of farmers, i.e., teaching farmers on the use of organic and liquid fertilizer, a cheaper and more effective alternative to commercial brands. - with a report from Glaiza Pinto, UPB

Source: http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archiv...on-irrigation/

Haaayyy.. Sana matuloy na to.

[Skyprince]

Originally Posted by tyronne

:
Patopat (local delicacy)




Patopat and Tupig (local delicacies)

In malaysia.. its " Ketupat"

Great pics of Pangasinan

[cq7cc2]

For the second consecutive time, WOWOWEE in Lingayen was postponed and again, a natural calamity occurred on the supposed date of presentation itself, this time more destructive than the first!
May 15, 2008---Stage of Wowowee under construction at the Capitol Beach Area

May 16, 2008---The stage almost ready for the live show for May 17

Because of Typhoon Signal #2, Wowowee was postponed but this did not stop our poultry boys and their families try the Lingayen Beach! Despite the inclement weather swimming pushed through:

By 4:00PM of May 17, everybody packed up. Not knowing that a super-typhoon never before felt in Lingayen will strike. This morning (May 19), I returned to Lingayen and along the way, from Mangatarem to Lingayen, the devastation was beyond compare:
Mangatarem: Many trees uprooted

Aguilar:Most houses do not have roofs

Same in Bugallon:


GI sheets on top of electrical cables

fishpens destroyed:

40 hours after the storm, the national road was still like this

shoulders eroded

typical road scenery(?) from Mangatarem to Lingayen (my final destination)

Photos of Lingayen to follow:

[cq7cc2]

Pangasinan Provincial Capitol with almost all trees uprooted!!!


the beach!!!


There used to be 2 cottages here owned by my uncle

Spitfire Bar and Grille's newly constructed function room totally devastated

Mine is next, and here it is now:

only 2 cottages left standing out of 7!!!

one cottage was swept away 50 meters from its original location

even the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center was not spared

my neighbors with the Narciso Ramos Gym at the background

Maramba Boulevard became a boulevard of broken dreams!

Lingayen Poblacion's residential area!




Lingayen Beach Shed Association

The only good thing that happened: Bangus now sells at P50.00 per kilo at the expense of the fishpen operators!!!

For more photos:
http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u...sinan/?start=0
Let's help in the recovery of Pangasinan!!!

[tracymack]

'Cosme' death toll reaches 12
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage...StoryId=118732

Twelve people were killed across Northern and Central Luzon after Tropical Storm Cosme (international codename Halong) battered the country over the weekend, officials and reports said Monday.

Anthony Golez, deputy chief of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said the number of casualties and the extent of the damage are expected to surge as reports from the field come in.

As of 6 a.m. Monday, a total of 6,700 families were displaced by the storm, he said.

The fatalities in Pangasinan were identified as Lourdes Soriano and Cesario Basi from Bugallon; George Pascua from San Fabian; Miguel Poserio, Randyl Poserio and Rodyl Poserio from Dagupan City; Carlito Maganes from Mangaldan; Marcos Quinto from Urdaneta; Elpidio Maoile from Infanta; Nicadio Ferrer from Lingayen; and Rogelio Austria from San Carlos City.

The number of casualties in Pangasinan may go up as two children who were reported missing at the height of the onslaught still remained unaccounted for, officials said

The children are feared to have drowned in Dagupan.

More than half of Pangasinan’s towns, cities and municipalities have been destroyed by the storm. A substation of National Transmission Corporation (Transco) and electricity posts were severely damaged, cutting power supply in the entire province.

Damage to crops was initially estimated at P168 million.

Typhoon damage to go up

Disaster officials said their assessment of the extent of the damage and casualties are slowed down by debris and uprooted trees that are blocking their way to the affected areas.

Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. said it would take more than two months to fully restore power and repair the damaged infrastructures.

Disaster and local officials will meet Monday afternoon to decide whether to declare a state of calamity.

The worst-hit town in Zambales, meanwhile, is Sta. Cruz where almost 7,000 houses were destroyed. A resident also died at the height of the storm.

The victim’s identity and the cause of death have yet to be established.

Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso estimated that the damage to structure and agriculture might reach P150 million.

Reports said residents of Sta. Cruz are in need of food and medicine supplies.

“Right now a lot of government agencies are still undergoing clearing operations. Every after an emergency or every after a typhoon, the most urgent need will be food and water and since yesterday (Sunday) the [Department of Social Welfare and Development] has been sending relief supplies to different areas,” Golez said.

He said the government has also sent medical surveillance team to evacuation centers and other crowded areas to monitor their health condition.

Construction materials to build the destroyed homes are also one of the basic and urgent needs of the typhoon victims who have started to return to communities to rebuild their lives.

[tracymack]

Solon says policy on rice imports bad for economy
By FA SISON ALMAZAN
http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080520125120.html

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan — Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco (5th district, Pangasinan) assailed yesterday a government policy that allows rice importation while there is an abundant local supply of the staple.

Cojuangco said that the government policy which calls for the buying of rice abroad at high prices and selling it to the local market at low prices is bad for the country’s economy.

This policy drains the national treasury of dollars and causes disincentive to local rice farmers, the congressman said.

The government should adopt a policy that encourages increase in rice production by giving more support to the farmers, he also said.

To increase production, he said, the government should immediately allocate at least a R2.5 billion for fertilizer subsidy for rice farmers.

Cojuangco said that the provision of substantial fertilizer subsidy to the rice farmers in the next planting season will result in increased harvest that would boost the country’s buffer rice stock.

Noting the policies and programs of developed and industrialized countries on grains productions, Cojuangco said that it is necessary to make the Filipinos aware that these progressive nations give priority concern to their agricultural economy by providing big amounts of subsidies to their farmers.

To maintain soil fertility and productivity and prevent land degradation and erosion, nutrients taken by crops must be replenished with the application of fertilizers, he said.

Fertilizers increase farm yield, which enables the country to attain sufficiency in food and agro-industrial crops, the congressman said.

He added that fertilizers can make crop grow in unproductive soil and can increase farm yield by at least 30 percent.

[barrera_marquez]

Balita diyan sa Pangasinan wala pa ring kuryente a? Kayo ba diyan sa Pangasinan may kuryente na?

[allan_dude]

Hala nasira pala yung Aguilar convent!

Parang sa Myanmar ngyari sa Pangasinan. Effect na talaga to ng global warming. 1st time ngyari ganitong magnitude ng natural disaster sa probinsya.

Originally Posted by cq7cc2

Aguilar:Most houses do not have roofs


Same in Bugallon:


GI sheets on top of electrical cables

fishpens destroyed:

40 hours after the storm, the national road was still like this

shoulders eroded

typical road scenery(?) from Mangatarem to Lingayen (my final destination)

Photos of Lingayen to follow:

Originally Posted by barrera_marquez

Balita diyan sa Pangasinan wala pa ring kuryente a? Kayo ba diyan sa Pangasinan may kuryente na?

^Merong kuryente sa South Central and Eastern Pangasinan. Western, Central and Coastal towns wala parin.

Luluwas ako ngyon. Punta rin kami sa Dagupan later, . Update ko kayo with pics tonight.

[capricorn2000]

wow..ang laking damage...

tanggal din yon bubong ng lumang bahay namin sa dagupan sabi ng sister ko at nadamage din yon bago-bagong bahay at wala pa raw kuryente.

[tyronne]

Buti na lang hindi nasira bahay namin na lumang-luma na at puro anay

[barrera_marquez]

Hindi rin, mas maswerte ang Pangasinan kasi hindi umabot ang death toll ng halos 30,000 tapos hindi naman naging ganoon ang damage sa Pangasinan kung iko-compare mo sa Myanmar...

So, I'd say you all thank God dahil nalampasan niyo ang trahedyang ito without too much being sacrificed.

[Sinjin P.]

Please vote for your favorite entries in the 2008 Philippine Independence Day Banner Contest here: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=630569

[allan_dude]

Originally Posted by barrera_marquez

Hindi rin, mas maswerte ang Pangasinan kasi hindi umabot ang death toll ng halos 30,000 tapos hindi naman naging ganoon ang damage sa Pangasinan kung iko-compare mo sa Myanmar...

So, I'd say you all thank God dahil nalampasan niyo ang trahedyang ito without too much being sacrificed.

Well-prepared naman ang disaster management team ng Dagupan and Pangasinan, nasabihan agad mga tao na mag evacuate kaya onti lang casualties. Hindi lang nila ineexpect na ganito kalakas yung bagyo.
Kinumpare ko sya sa Myanmar dahil majority ng nasalanta sa probinsya asa may Agno River Delta at sa mga coastal areas. Til now baha parin maraming lugar, karamihan ng mga bahay walang bubungan or nawasak.

Kagagaling ko lang sa Dagupan. Bagsak lahat ng billboards reminiscent hagupit ni "milenyo" sa EDSA. Mga signboard sirasira. Maraming salamin at traffic lights sa downtown basag. Nagkalat mga wires. Binagyo man ang syudad, tuloy parin ang buhay. matraffic, maraming tao sa downtown, maraming namimili sa csi..

Wala parin kuryente sa Dagupan, pati sa Calasiao and Malasiqui. Samin dito sa Bayambang hindi kami affected ng bagyo. Affected kami sa pag swell ng Agno river.

[allan_dude]

Calasiao: May 20,2008 1:30PM

Nilipad isang parte ng GI sheets ng Calasiao Catholic Church. naka-expose na mga wooden beams.


Calasiao Central School (Mula sa tulay)