Dagupan and Urdaneta Cities, and Pangasinan Province

[koreanboy]

Originally Posted by hakz2007

good morning, koreanboy...kumustang weather diyan?

Ok lang po ang klima dito ,sa loob po ng isang taon,1 o 2 lang bagyo ang dumadaan dito.ok dito ,4 ang klima summer,autumn,spring at winter,2 months lang ang summer dito,napakaganda ng bansang ito,sarap dito tumira,dahil disiplinado mga tao dito ,my takot sa batas.sa ngaun patapos na ang summer papasok na ang winter.kau musta po kau dyan ,balita ko my bagong bagyo na naman,pero mapalad pa rin ang pinas kasi tunay ngang mayaman sa turismo ang bansa natin unlike dito,puro industrial complex.mahal na mahal ng mga korean ang pinoy bilang kapalit sa tulong ng pinas sa nakaraang world war dito between korea at japan.GOD BLESS SA INYO LAHAT DYAN .

[allan_dude]

Disaster council creates tactical operation centers

LINGAYEN -- In preparation for super typhoon “Pepeng,” the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) Executive Officer Paterno Orduna organized three strategically located tactical operation sectors.

On the instruction of Governor Amado Espino Jr., this is to ensure immediate response in case of emergency, with the PDCC serving as the over-all coordinating body.

The provincial engineering motor pool where the province’s heavy equipment is located here and it will take about two hours a dump truck, for example, could reach the far eastern or western part of Pangasinan.

The sub-sectors are: Western Pangasinan with the 106th Police Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) headquarters in Alaminos City as base, and with 106th PMG Group Director Rolly Saltat as tactical commander;

Central Pangasinan sector based at the PDCC headquarters at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here with Police Superintendent Michael Nicolas as tactical officer; and Eastern Pangasinan sector headed by 107th PMG Group Director Ronald Gayo with the PMG headquarters in Tayug as its base.

Provincial Information Officer Butch Velasco said the PDCC has deployed six dump trucks, a payloader, backhoe, and grader at the western sector; eight dump trucks, a forklift, crane, backhoe and payloader at the central sector; and 10 dump trucks, backhoe, payloader and bulldozer in eastern Pangasinan.

The Deltacom radio group was also tapped by the PDCC.

Meanwhile, all the 48 localities in Pangasinan were encouraged to conduct preemptive evacuation operations in low-lying and flood-prone areas following the directive from National Disaster Coordinating Council chairman Gilbert Teodoro. (LCMY/Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/disaster-council-creates-tactical-operation-centers

[allan_dude]

Pangasinenses help flood victims

DAGUPAN CITY -- Pangasinenses continue to gather food and used clothing, which will be transported to Manila for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy as they brace themselves for super typhoon “Pepeng.”

On Friday morning, students from the University of Pangasinan (U-Pang)-Phinma Education Network here and members of the Pangasinan Sangguniang Kabataaan Federation led by Board Member Kazel Celeste trooped to the station of the ABS-CBN North Central Luzon bureau bringing with them goods and used clothing.

They also helped-out in the repacking of the goods to be brought by the TV station to its mother station ABS-CBN Channel 2 in Manila for distribution.

Celeste said the used wearable clothing were brought to her office at the Provincial Capitol in Lingayen by some of the SK presidents and other concern citizens. More are expected to be delivered Saturday and on the coming days.

U-Pang students who joined the repacking work are National Service Training Program (NSTP) students and member of the school-based fraternity/brotherhood groups such as Tao Gama, Alpha Phi Omega, and Demolay.

U-Pang NSTP Extension Director Fatima Pamintuan said the whole community of U-Pang actually started mobilizing after news of the great flooding the cities and municipalities of Rizal province and nearby areas started to be flashed on television.

They sent 35 boxes of assorted goods and wearable clothing last Tuesday to the Ateneo Holding Center in Manila through Five Star Bus Company.

Pamintuan said Five Star is transporting U-Pang’s relief goods free of charge as earlier arranged by the Phinma management in Manila with the bus company.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (Pice) had a meeting Wednesday for their own relief operation.

Engineer Fidel Ginez of the Agno Flood Control Project said the Pice have more than 60,000 active members all over the country. They hope to collect so much goods and clothing for the flood victims.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/pangasinenses-help-flood-victims

[allan_dude]

Farmers’ group hails NFA for early corn buy

October 3, 2009

DAGUPAN CITY -– The Provincial Farmers Action Council (PFAC) has commended the National Food AuthorityWestern Pangasinan for its early corn procurement program.

PFAC Chairman Katho Moreno said that farmer organizations in the province benefited in terms of direct and indirect marketing support.

The corn procurement program of the agency has been beneficial to farmers, he said, noting that during the harvest season the farm gate price of corn is very low and usually dictated by the private traders. In this situation, farmer cooperatives benefit, he said, because NFA buys corn at a higher price.

He said that NFA Western Pangasinan bought a total of 27,280 bags of corn from the farmer organizations amounting to P853,727.528.

Because of the procurement incentives, he said that post harvest facilities may put up by the cooperatives. (NFA/PIA Pangasinan)

http://northernwatchonline.com/2009/10/03/farmers%E2%80%99-group-hails-nfa-for-early-corn-buy/

[allan_dude]

4Ps betters lives of 10,300 families

October 3, 2009

By Yolanda Z. Sotelo

DAGUPAN CITY -– P1,400 a month may not go far in these days when peso can’t buy much, but for Maribel Mapanao, 33, it means keeping her three children in school, and having just enough for their health needs.

Maribel and her husband Romeo, from Patar village, Bolinao; earn barely enough for the family meals from charcoal making. School expenses of their children aged 13, 10, 8 (the youngest is four does not go to school yet) is a luxury beyond reach.

“Sometimes there was no money even to buy pencil,” Maribel said.

In Urbiztondo town, Zenaida Espinoza, 46, used to work abroad as domestic helper for years. She was able to save for a tricycle which her husband used to earn money, and was able to pay for educational plan for her children.

Life was good. Or so she thought.

When she got pregnant with her youngest child, her employer sent her home. Slowly, the savings were used, and then the tricycle had to go. Worse, the company from which she got educational plan for her children folded up.

Espinoza now earns money by sewing dresses but there are no regular customers in Sawat village where she lives. Her husband earns by working in rice fields during planting and harvesting seasons. Her eldest stopped going to college and works as a household helper.

“As a mother, when there is no food on the table for the children, I feel like losing my mind,” she said.

But life changed for the better the two women when they started receiving cash from the Department of Social Works and Services’ Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) since November 2008.

Mapanao, Espinoza and two other women shared their experiences to reporters during a press conference on Wednesday.

“Sa mga mayayaman, maliit lang ang P1,400. Pero sa amin, napakalaking tulong yon,” Espinoza said, fighting back tears.

DSWD Asst. Regional Director Marlene Peralta said 10,300 families from Urbiztondo, Bolinao, Aguilar and Mabini, the towns with highest poverty incidence, receive financial assistance from the 4Ps program.

The 4Ps is a poverty reduction strategy of the national government that provides cash grant to extremely poor households to allow them to meet certain human development goals in exchange of compliance to core responsibilities.

The five-year program invests on human capital, primarily focusing on the improvement of health, nutrition and education particularly of the growing members of the family aged 0-14.
Each family receives P500 monthly for the health needs of the children, such as for vitamins and shots. Each child (maximum of three each household) receives P300 monthly for school expenses for ten months.

The monthly cash grants or P1,400 (P15,000 a year) is received by the household as long as it complies with the conditions (such as the children attending 85 percent of classes and parents attending parenthood sessions), Venus Rebuldela, incharge of the 4Ps project said.

The amount is received by the most responsible person in the household, usually the mother, through a Land Bank cash card.

Asked why the households are not just given money for livelihood opportunities, Peralta explained that if a hungry person is given capital for business, the money is usually spent for food.

“Investing in health and education is better,” she said, as “4Ps goal is to break the intergenerational cycle of povertyamong poor households through the promotion of human capital accumulation among young children.”

The cash is aimed at alleviating their need, albeit short term, but it is also investing in breaking the poverty cycle because children, who will make up the next generation, will be healthier and educated.

The parents, too, mired in oppressive poverty that they are, are finding their worth in the community.

Liza Molina, 40, from Cabanaitan, Mabini, said she and the other beneficiaries are helping in keeping the community clean and green. “We know that clean surroundings would mean healthier children.”

Molina, married to a tenant-farmer who tills an unirrigated piece of land, said she and the other women are aware that the grant will not come forever. “Alam namin na pantawid lang talaga,” she said.

This is why the grantees are already planning to save so they can start projects from which they can earn money in the future, she said.

As if inspired by the project, Espinoza also has started to collect plastics and other waste materials in the Patar beach which she sells to earn a little money.

There are a total of 10,300 beneficiaries of 4Ps in Pangasinan where, according to the National Statistics Coordination Board statistics, has the highest poverty incidence in the Ilocos Region as of 2006.

So far, P78,989,600 have been granted to them from November 2008 to August 2009.
Peralta denied claims that the 4Ps is being used as a political tool by the government officials. She said there was “no politics, no favoritism, no graft and corruption in the program as the beneficiaries were picked (from pre-selected surveyed households) through a computer program.

For whatever its worth, it has given a hope for the poorest of the poor, and according to Maria Victoria Briones, 33, from San Jose village in Aguilar, “it gives us a confidence to speak in the community.”

“We are no longer very shy. We have found our voices,” she said.

http://northernwatchonline.com/2009/10/03/4ps-betters-lives-of-10300-families/

[allan_dude]

Prov’l gov’t bags fiscal management awards

October 3, 2009

LINGAYEN — The provincial government has already exceeded its Real Property Tax (RPT) collection for the first two quarters of last year from P269,585,999.81 to P277,706,555.18, an increase of three percent from the previous collection for the same period.

This means a bigger budget for general fund which can be utilized for the various infrastructure and developmental projects of the provincial government, as well as, to the Special Education Fund which is used for school projects provincewide.

In the launching of Talakayan sa Kapitolyo last September 22, Provincial Treasurer Ramon Crisostomo said that apart from the present collections, there is more to collect in the last two quarters of this year.

The reasons cited by the Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO) for the increase in the collection were “the intensified collection efforts in the local government units, new assessment methods, discovery of new properties and conversions of lands from agricultural to commercial use.”

Due to the good fiscal management of the provincial government under the leadership of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr, other departments housed in the upgraded Finance Building , are bagging awards at the national level.

The Provincial Accounting Office, headed by Officer-In-Charge Marilou Utanes, will receive an award as one of the Most Outstanding Accounting Offices in the entire country on October 12 in Bacolod City.

Last year, Provincial Assessor Nestor Quiambao was adjudged the Most Outstanding Provincial Assessor of the Philippines by the Department of Finance-Bureau of Local Government Finance. (PIO/Rafael Manuel III and Ruby R. Bernardino)

http://northernwatchonline.com/2009/10/03/prov%E2%80%99l-gov%E2%80%99t-bags-fiscal-management-awards/

[allan_dude]

San Roque Dam in Pangasinan assures it won't release water yet

By Leonardo V. Micua

DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 3 (PNA)—The people of Pangasinan need not worry as the San Roque Multipurpose Project (SRMP) in San Manuel town has no plan yet of opening any of its gates even if typhoon “Peping” is already ravaging northeastern Luzon.

Officials of the San Roque Power Corporation (SRPC), which operates the SRMP assured that there may be no need to release water from the project downstream of the Agno River yet.

Raymond Mariano, facilities engineer of SRPC, said that as of 8 a.m. Saturday, the water level of SRPP was still at 277.95 meters.

The normal high water level of San Roque is 280 meters but when it reaches 282 meters and the inflow of water to the reservoir is 500 cubic meters per second, the National Power Corporation may decide whether or not it will open the spillway gate of the project, he said.

As of 2 p.m. Saturday, six gates of Ambuklao Dam and another two gates at Binga Dam, both in the upper stream of the Agno River, were opened.

All their released water is absorbed by the much bigger SRPP.

The SRMP is considered as the highest rockfill dam in Southeast Asia and the second highest in the whole of Asia.

Although the builder and operator of the project is the SRPC, the owner of the same is the government through the Napocor.

The SRMP is considered as a world-class build-operate-transfer project.

Mariano said over radio station Bombo Radio Dagupan that at this stage, there is only little rain yet in the Upper Agno River Watershed.

In fact, he noticed that water level in the reservoir was much higher when storm “Ondoy” struck last week.

Saying they need all the available water for power generation, Mariano expressed hope that rains spawned by typhoon ”Pepeng” would stop soon so they do not have to open any of the project’s spillway gates.

Mariano said if heavy rains continue and if it cannot be avoided anymore, Napocor may decide to open a few gates of SRMP by just few meters only in order to save the dam.

He said that before they can do this, the Agno Flood Forecasting System of the Napocor would be given four hours to go around and warn the people near the lower stream of the Agno River to move out to higher grounds as a standard operating procedure.

Mariano admitted that since SRMP was built, there was only one instance that it opened its gates and this happened during a strong typhoon in 2004, which lasted though just for only few hours. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=233124

[allan_dude]

186 families in Pangasinan forced to evacuate due to typhoon 'Pepeng'

By Leonardo V. Micua

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Oct. 3 (PNA)--At least 186 families living along coastal and low-lying areas were evacuated as Pangasinan was battered by typhoon “Pepeng” which triggered intermittent but heavy downpour.

The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) reported that as of 8:35 a.m. Saturday, the number of families affected by pre-emptive evacuation operations was 860.

Dagupan City was reported to have the highest number of evacuees with 118 families or 558 persons, followed by Lingayen with 40 families or 185 persons and Sual, 28 families or 117 persons.

The evacuees in Dagupan City were temporarily sheltered at five different public elementary schools while those in Lingayen were brought to the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) Gym.

The municipal building of Sual was converted as a temporary evacuation center for families who fled their homes due to Pepeng.

On the other hand, the Calasiao Police Station reported that a 13-year-old boy was missing as a result of the flood in Barangay Talibaew.

The missing boy, who was feared to have drowned, was identified as Amadeo De Vera Austria of Nalsian, Calasiao.

The PDCC has directed its Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) Team to conduct retrieval operation for the boy, in cooperation with the Coast Guard Sual Station.

Storm signal No. 1 is still hoisted in the eastern part of Pangasinan.

Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. ordered the PDCC to be on 24-hour alert since 5 a.m. of Oct. 1 to monitor and assist towns that may be affected by typhoon “Pepeng.”

Three “advanced command posts,” composed of Western, Central and Eastern Sectors, were formed in order to ensure an integrated and faster relief and rescue operations in the six districts of Pangasinan during the present emergency.

The PDCC has deployed six dump trucks, a payloader, backhoe and grader for the western sector; eight dump trucks, a forklift, crane, backhoe and payloader for the central sector; and 10 dump trucks, backhoe, payloader and bulldozer for the eastern sector.

The Deltacom radio group was also tapped by the PDCC to assist by providing communications to rescue and relief teams. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=233133

[allan_dude]

Alaminos City extends aid to Marikina

The city government of Alaminos has extended yesterday its initial assistance to the victims of tropical storm ‘Ondoy’ in Marikina City.



Ten “Kapakanan ng Bayan” (KNB) vans and a dump truck were used to transport the 100 bags of rice and other donations that include canned goods, grocery items and even buri mats.

Mayor Hernani A. Braganza had tasked, as early as Sunday afternoon, city administrator Wilmer Panabang to immediately deliver the relief goods to Marikina, one of the areas in Metro Manila that experienced the worst flooding in more than four decades brought by heavy rains from typhoon ‘Ondoy’.



Panabang was joined by city councilors Carolyn Dizon-Sison and Earl James Aquino, social welfare and dev’t. officer Imelda Ruiz, some barangay leaders and personnel of the city general service office.

Braganza said when two super typhoons devastated Alaminos in 2008 and last May, Marikina and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) quickly extended assistance to the city.

Both tropical depressions left thousands of Alaminians homeless and hundreds of millions of pesos worth of damages to properties and agriculture.



And in the aftermath of both typhoons, Marikina City and the office of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo through MMDA came to Alaminos and western Pangasinan’s aid.

MMDA donated hundreds of GI sheets and plywoods which were given to the residents whose houses were destroyed by the typhoon.



Chairman Bayani Fernando had also sent some of his personnel here to help the city government in the reconstruction the damaged homes and other rebuilding efforts in the affected barangays.

Braganza said the support that was outpoured by Marikina and MMDA to the city and the rest of first district of the province has been tremendous.

“Now, it’s our turn to help them," he stressed. "We are doing these not only because Marikina is our sister city and many of our kabaleyans are working and residing there.”

“We are simply reciprocating the good deeds they have shown us as well as the numerous assistance they have extended to our city without even asking them,” he added.



“We pray for our brothers and sisters in Marikina that they will overcome this very difficult trial in their life and quickly get back on their feet,” said Braganza.

“We know that most of the victims are totally dependent upon what we, their concerned countrymen, give them to survive from day to day,” he added.

The mayor then appealed to his citymates that if they still have some more to share, they have to give it now to the CSWD.



He assured the donors that their assistance will reach Marikina including Makati, also a sister city of Alaminos, and that it will be of great help to the victims of typhoon Ondoy.

Right after the flag raising ceremony, city government employees work hand in hand to pack the goods and have it loaded in the KNB vans and a dump truck.

The convoy left the city at 1 p.m. and reached their destination around 7 o’clock in the evening.

Director Ramon Santiago of Metropolitan Manila Dev’t. Authority (MMDA) received the city’s donation in behalf of Chairman Bayani Fernando, who with his wife Mayor Marides, were very busy attending the needs of their citymates.



Informed about their arrival, Sec. Fernando managed to drop by at a city-owned warehouse where the goods were temporarily stored to personally thank his friends from Alaminos for coming over.

He also expressed his sincerest gratitude to Mayor Braganza and the people of Alaminos for their concern and timely and valuable assistance extended to Marikina.

After a hearty talk with the hard working secretary and the volunteers in the field who were working round the clock to distribute the relief goods, the city administrator and his group left Marikina at 10 p.m. They were safely home at 3 o’ clock the following morning.

This is just the beginning as far as the Alaminian community is concerned, as the city is set to continue helping its sister city recover from the wrath of Ondoy in any possible means. (CIO)

[allan_dude]

Why Dagupan’s Bonuan ‘bangus’ tastes better

DAGUPAN CITY—In the fish consignacion (wholesale) market of Dagupan that operates 24/7, fish dealers sort out to look for the Bonuan bangus which they intend to ship to other provinces other than the milkfish produced in other areas of Pangasinan.

It seems the Bonuan bangus is a preferred stock of milkfish which vendors can cash on once these are shipped via refrigerated vans to the markets of Metro Manila.

A few hours later, the Bonuan bangus would sell like hot cakes in Q-Mart in Quezon City, the Quinta Market in Manila and other markets though priced higher than other milkfish sourced out from other fish producing areas of the country.

Nothing can compare with Bonuan bangus. Even the milkfish produced in Western Pangasinan, like Bolinao, Bani, Alaminos and Anda or Binmaley, and even those from Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan can’t stand in comparison with the bangus produced in Dagupan’s brackish water.

That is why in so many times, vendors try, but fail to fool their customers by placing tags of Dagupan bangus in their selling tables although in truth, their milkfish comes from other milkfish producing areas of the country.

One trick they usually do is to make it appear as if the fish they are selling came from Bonuan in Dagupan City is by cutting the lower tail of bangus.

This is because of the little known fact that the real Bonuan bangus has a lower tail shorter than the upper tail, which really makes it very unique as compared with the milkfish produced in other areas.

But, according to director Westly Rosario, chief of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) in Dagupan and one of the top technical experts on bangus, this is not the only distinguishing mark of the Bonuan bangus. The other is that it has a short head, a protruding stomach which is its most delicious part when cooked in any way, and a short mouth.

How come the Bonuan bangus acquired these distinct physical characteristics not present in other milkfish produced for instance in Western Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan and even at Laguna de Bay?

This question was posed to Rosario, also executive director of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) who is among those behind the establishment of the National Bangus Center as chief of the NIFTDC.

Rosario admitted he was involved in a study during his early years in the BFAR that looked into why Dagupan bangus tastes better than the other milkfish grown in other areas.

The BFAR team, he said, not only looked into the kind of soil that is present in Dagupan, but also the water that serves as the life blood of fishponds culturing bangus in commercial scale.

Rosario said that though Dagupan and the towns of Binmaley and Lingayen share the same river system called simply as the Dagupan River, they produce bangus with varying tastes and qualities.

Based on the study, the sweet taste of the Dagupan bangus may have been partly influenced by the clayish soil condition in Bonuan fishponds and rivers.

Aside from that, the soil, said Rosario, was found to be low on phosphorous, but high in calcium, the element contributing to the growth of bones of the bangus being raised in captivity.

As to the water, the type existing in Dagupan is brackish, which is a mixture of fresh water from the upland draining into the Dagupan River and salty water from the Lingayen Gulf. This makes the water in Dagupan truly unique, aside from the fact that there are seven rivers criss-crossing the city whose water ends up in the Lingayen Gulf.

Restituto Basa, one of the most respected historians of Pangasinan, wrote in his column “From the Salt Bed” syndicated in many of the newspapers in Pangasinan, that the mixture of fresh water and salt water to form into brackish water is really the secret why Bonuan bangus tastes better.

The fresh water comes from the upland of Mount Ampucao in Tuba, Benguet that drains into the Tagamusing River in Binalonan, onto Santa Barbara through the Sinocalan River, the Marusay River in Calasiao and then to Dagupan’s Pantal River down to the Lingayen Gulf.

Other water bodies and estuaries from the south are draining into Dagupan, the catch basin of many rivers in Pangasinan.

As to the physical aspect of Bonuan bangus, its short head and a lower tail shorter than the upper tail, was influenced by the unique feeding method being applied by local fish farmers they inherited from their ancestors.

Rosario said local fish farmers used to feed their fish with the naturally-grown lablab, an aquatic plant produced through fertilization with the aid of the burning sun.

The process is done once the fishpond is emptied with water after one production cycle and dried for a few days.

Rosario said because of this unique feeding method, Bonuan bangus won’t eat the food in the surface of the water vertically, unlike other fish, but rather horizontally. And in the process, its lower tail is thrusted into the lablab in the bottom of the fishpond, thus explained why its lower tail is shorter than the upper tail.

Its round head, according to Rosario is influenced by constant diving into the floor of the fishpond to eat lablab undergrowth, the natural method of feeding bangus. PNA

http://businessmirror.com.ph/component/content/article/53-agri-commodities/16732-why-dagupans-bonuan-bangus-tastes-better-.html

[allan_dude]

Rosalie Ellasus (fourth from left) with other Southeast Asian farmers who visited her biotech corn farm in Pangasinan.

OFW-turned-farmer now biotech hero

By Rudy Fernandez (philstar.com) October 04, 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Rosalie Ellasus has dabbled in many different fields. From working in medical technology, to becoming an OFW, then a farmer, and finally a leader and speaker giving testimonials on her success, Ellasus has truly crossed many boundaries and hurdled many obstacles to become what she is today.

It was 1987 when Ellasus worked as a nanny to two children of an American widow in Singapore, leaving behind her family and medical technology profession. Two years later, she moved to Canada where she again served as a nursemaid to a Canadian couple’s twins. While in Canada, she immersed herself in other fields that could improve her intellectual capabilities.

In 1992, she returned to Singapore where she landed a better-paying job as a market executive. Unfortunately, her husband died so she decided to return to the Philippines to take care of her sons.

Yet another transformation came when she turned to farming, particularly production of biotechnology corn, a genetically modified crop that has a built-in defense mechanism against destructive corn pests.

From her savings as an OFW, Ellasus bought a 1.3-hectare farm and tried producing corn. But aflatoxin contamination, as well as pests and weeds that reduced her yield, made it impossible to sell her produce.

Unfazed, Ellasus attended a 16-week Integrated Pest Management-Farmers Field School on corn conducted in 2001 by the Department of Agriculture. From the seminar, she changed her farm practices and, after seeing a demonstration farm on biotech corn, she decided to adopt the technology. She sold her bountiful biotech corn produce to feedmills and the corn husks to local craft producers because these were flawless and sturdy.

Subsequently, she expanded her farm to six hectares. “I was truly convinced that a marginal farmer can improve his life only if he will adopt biotechnology,” Ellasus asserts. She has since become one of the country’s successful GM corn producers.

In 2006, she was elected president of the prestigious Philippine Maize Federation (PhilMaize), a national association of corn farmers’ cooperatives. She was also elected municipal councilor of San Jacinto, Pangasinan in the 2007 elections.

Ellasus shot to global prominence when she was chosen in 2007 as the first recipient of the Kleckner Trade and Technology Advancement Award, named for Truth & Technology (TATT) chairman Dean Kleckner, an internationally known farmer-leader.

The award is given for “exemplary leadership, vision and resolve in advancing the rights of farmers to choose the technology and tools that will improve the quality, quantity and availability of agricultural products around the world.”

Ellasus was commended for using biotechnology to solve the production challenges on her farm.

Over the past two years, she has also been invited to speak at the Des Moines Roundtable Discussion on Agricultural Biotechnology in Iowa, USA; Minneapolis Conference of the Western Canada Wheat Association; a conference sponsored by Mexico’s Department of Agriculture; and a farmer’s forum in Medan, Indonesia.

When Peruvian and Vietnamese government officials and scientists visited the Philippines recently, she was tapped to share her experiences in biotechnology farming. She is also often invited as resource person in Philippine forums on biotechnology.

Now 49, she is featured in a book together with 64 other trail-blazers in biotechnology crop production in 14 countries in Asia and Africa.

The book, entitled “Communicating Crop Bio-technology: Stories from Stakeholders,” documents how farmers, media practitioners, policymakers, industry representatives, scientists, academicians, religious leaders, and students have benefited from science communication efforts and how in turn they are now part of the process of realizing a collective voice on crop biotechnology.

The 175-page volume was published by the New York, USA-based International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).

Edited by Dr. Mariechel Jamias-Navarro, ISAAA Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology manager, the book contains 49 articles from stakeholders (farmers, media practitioners, policymakers, scientists, academics, religious leaders, industry representatives and students) in 14 countries in Asia and Africa.

Aside from Ellasus, the other Filipinos featured in the book are former UP president Dr. Emil Javier, now president of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST); multi-awarded journalist Melody Aguiba of Manila Bulletin; Dr. Edita Burgos, wife of the late press freedom fighter and icon Jose Burgos Jr.; Dr. Cynthia Hendreyda, a professor and scientist at UP Diliman; Edwin Paraluman, a successful corn farmer from General Santos City, South Cotabato; and Fr. Emmanuel Alparce, former executive director of the Social Action Center in Sorsogon and now vice rector of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Guam.

Each of those featured in the book is an important figure in his or her field – a field that Ellasus has tended to, both literally and figuratively.

She says, “Here in the Philippines, many farmers are not proud of their job. I want to see them shine. I’m just a small candle, but even the weakest flame can spread fire.”

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=510914&publicationSubCategoryId=473

[allan_dude]

Sual power plant now a bird sanctuary



October 4, 2009

SUAL -– Ten years ago, there were two Philippine duck sightings in the vicinity of the coal-fired Sual Power Station, a 1,200 MW facility owned by TeaM Energy. In May of this year, the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) conducted a two-day Asian Waterbird Census in the area and discovered that the number has increased considerably.

“This is proof that our Philippine mallards have found a home here inside the plant,” says TeaM Energy Foundation’s Eric Dela Torre. Dela Torre, who is also a member of the WBCP, has accompanied the bird watchers on their trips since 2004.

The census, which is conducted every year, provides the basis for estimates of waterbird populations, monitors changes in numbers, and aims to increase awareness of the importance of waterbirds and the conservation of their habitats.

Within the plant premises is an ash lagoon, a large tract of land used to hold and neutralize the ash by-product of burnt coal. Cement manufacturing plants now buy the plant’s ash and the area is beginning to show signs of re-growth. Various species could be found in and around the ash lagoon: an Osprey and a Brahminey Kite; Philippine ducks, nesting in the cogon grass on a nearby hill; Buff-banded Rail, Red Jungle Fowl and Lowland White-eyes.

“The number of birds in the ash lagoon is an indicator of the sound environmental practices of the plant,” said Ricky de Castro, Deputy Executive Director of TeaM Energy Foundation.
“It has also provided a haven for various bird species; it’s a great site for bird-watchers. We are committed to protecting as well as enhancing the environment, particularly in the areas where we operate.”

The group spotted at least 40 different bird species over the course of two days. They were particularly pleased to see the Philippine ducks (also known as Philippine mallards or Anas luzonica) at the ash lagoon. Although not yet critically endangered, the Philippine duck is classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“We found both endemic and migratory birds inside and outside the plant premises. And since the power plant has well-manicured lawns and well-kept shrubs, it was easy to spot and photograph park and garden species of birds, including the Java Sparrow and Barred Buttonquail,” dela Torre said. “Over the years, the site has truly become a birder’s wonderland.”

http://northernwatchonline.com/2009/10/04/sual-power-plant-now-a-bird-sanctuary/

[allan_dude]

Paragua headlines Pangasinan chess

MANILA – Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Mark Paragua banners a host of woodpushers from all over the country in the inaugural Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. Cup Open Rapid Chess Championships in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

According to sports Website BilliardPhilippines.com, Paragua and the rest of the participants will vie for the tournament's P10,000 top prize and the Gov. Amado Espino trophy. Paragua recently competed in the 4th President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Cup.

Other participants in the Rapid Chess tournament are GM-elect Ronald Dableo, Woman International Master Cristine Rose Mariano and International Masters Rolando Nolte and Chito Garma.

Joining them are National Masters (NM) Dennis Gutierrez, Efren Bagamasbad, Ric Portagalera, Edgardo Garma, Edmundo Gatus, Reggie Olay, Haridas Pascua, Deniel Causo, and Allan Macala.

The tournament will run from October 10 to 11 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/10...ngasinan-chess

[allan_dude]

Kason Dengue unaatagey dyad Urdaneta city

DAGUPAN CITY- Patuloy ni so pangiatagey ya kason dengue dyad syudad na Urdaneta anggan manontan abuba ni iya no ipara ed apalabas ya taon.

Lapud saya patuloy ni so gobyerno lokal na Urdaneta ed panbuo na programa unpian nalabanan so pankalat ya ageyet ya mangaawit na dengue virus.

Sakey na programa na gagaween da so pangipapatunton ya pantanem na pisisng ed saray barangay lapud aglabat makatulong ed pambilay na aray residente no andi ingen natulungan ya nalinisan so lugar ya panayaman na aray ageyet.

http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=111432

[allan_dude]

Waloran sumisigay ya nabutan na bagyo diad Infanta, ligtas ya akapawil

10/4/2009

DAGUPAN CITY - Ligtas ya akapawil so waloran managsigay ya nabutan na bagyon Ondoy diad baley na Infanta, diad luyag na Pangasinan.

Onong ed kinen punong barangay Carlito Maniago na barangay Cato,Infanta, tinmawag ed sikara niman na palbangon so pamilya na saray managsigay tan manpapasalamat ed gobyerno lapud intulong dad panananap ed saraya.

Impalapag nen Maniago ya saray managsigay so apadpad samploran milya so kaarawi diad Scarborough shoal.

Onong ed saray managsigay, aderalan ira na banca diad samay bagyong Ondoy nen imbeneg ya simba tan nabutan lamet ira na bagyon Pepeng diad dayat.

Akaabi iraya diad Mariveles, Bataan nen karuman lugan na sakey ya motorized banca ya tinmulong ed sikara.

Diad sayan kaplesan so maong met la so kalagayan daranya tan akagetar iran abeten diad Bataan.

http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=111570

[allan_dude]

Pigaran evacuees diad ciudad na Dagupan, kalkalna lan unsesempet diad kaabungan da

10/4/2009

DAGUPAN CITY - Kalkalnan unsesempet diad kaabungan da so pigaran evacuees diad ciudad na Dagupan.

Onong ed si city information officer Ryan Ravanzo, akasempet la so pigaran pamilya ya temporaryon akisilong diad gymnasium diad Bonuan Gueset diad sayan ciudad.

Impalapag nen Ravanzo ya sangkarakelan na evacuees so wala ed Bonuan Gueset. Wala metso 40 pamilya so inlikas diad Bonuan Gueset, 36 pamilya diad Bonuan Binloc.

Onong met ed report na Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, 142 pamilya so inlikas diad evcuation center diad Pangasinan.

Apataplon pamilya manlalapud barangay Maniboc, Lingayen so inlikas met diad Narcisco SPorts complex lapud baleg ya daluyon legan ya 28 pamilya balet so inlikas diad western Pangasinan.

http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=111574

[allan_dude]

Bus tertminal diad ciudad na Dagupan, nanmonitor ed kipapasen na bagyo

10/4/2009

DAGUPAN CITY - Akikasakey iray bus terminal diad panmomonitor ed kipapasen na bagyo.

Onong ed kinen Mr. Alejandro Sebastian, terminal master na Victory Liner, walay monitoring team dad nanduruman rota ya mangipapasabid sikara no walay problema diad dalan.

Impalapag nen Sebastian ya walay problema diad arum ya rota da partikular diad Tuguegarao.

Inyarum tonin nanbawas ira na biyahe diad arum ya terminal lapud bagyo.

Onong nid sikato, no walay bagyo so pan-aalwaren daray drayber tan babagan ya tantanan so batik naluluganan da piyan naiwasan so disgrasya diad dalan.

http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=111571

[allan_dude]

DENR Region execs ascertain encroachment of Tuba on Sison lands



Loejan S. Anudon

What started to be a mere dispute regarding an encroachment issue in Barangay Dungon, Sison, Pangasinan bared the Jurassic territorial conflict between the municipalities of Sison and Tuba sustaining the latter’s claim as per an act creating the municipality of Tuba, R.A. 2877.

The scheduled early dinner meeting with the DENR officials under the leadership of Ms. Corazon C. Davis, RED, DENR, and the Local Executives also headed by the town’s chief, Hon. Kimi S. Cojuangco, and Vice Mayor Bensaulozacheus L. Mari?as on September 22, 2009 at the Mayor’s Office turned an alarming encounter when upon presentation of various territorial maps by both parties revealed vast portions of land originally belonging to the municipality of Sison to have been evidently encroached but legally taken by the municipality of Tuba by virtue of Republic Act 2877. Mr. Inocencio G. Carganilla, the Mayor’s executive assistant, insisted that the municipality of Sison possesses original maps that clearly identify its territorial boundaries, even adding stories that were retold and passed on by many ancestors, but all were futile attempts to alter a clear encroachment that is being protected by a law, unless amended in a proper forum or court.

A resumption of the meeting was reset on October 15, 2009 for the DENR executives to present other maps that specifically identify the encroached lands and their total areas to be used as a basis for the amendment that will be filed by concerned Pangasinan officials.

http://www.sisonlgu.gov.ph/read_news.php?news_id=202

[allan_dude]

All systems go for Alaminos Airport Dev’t. Project

Mandaluyong City- Its official, the home of the world famous Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) will host the first commercial airport in the province of Pangasinan.



The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Alaminos City government entered into Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) yesterday for the realization of the Alaminos Airport Development Project.

Atty. Doroteo A. Reyes, DOTC Undersecretary and Mayor Hernani A. Braganza signed the MOA in behalf of the DOTC and the Alaminos Government at the DOTC Office in Columbia Towers, Ortigas Ave., Mandaluyong City.



DOTC Secretary Leonardo R. Mendoza then approved the MOA to finally commence the project this year, thus, ending all speculations as to where really a commercial airport will be built in the province.

Witnessing them seal the deal were other high ranking officials of DOTC namely Directors Ricardo Diaz and Guillermo Leonardo. Also present were Alaminos City Vice Mayor Teofilo G. Humilde Jr. , city councilors Joselito Fontelera, Orlando Go, Earl James Aquino, Carolyn Dizon-Sison, Constante Carasi, Oscar Boling, Cirilo Radoc and Helen Bumagat, former mayor Eduardo Fontelera, Board Member Danilo Dizon and some department heads.



After signing, Mayor Braganza and Sec. Mendoza immediately gave their brief messages.

Bolstering Pangasinan’s potentials

“It’s indeed our honor and privilege to host in our city the first commercial airport for the province of Pangasinan,”



“This will definitely bolster not only the industrial potential of Pangasinan but likewise the tourism potential of our province as well,” stressed the former two-term first district congressman.

He also said that the Pangasinan Airport will also complement the Seaport and the power plant in Sual.”



“Hopefully, the completion of this project will make the province accessible to commercial traffic of both people and goods in the province,”

Braganza said Sec. Mendoza can easily appreciate this (airport project) since he is very familiar with the province.



Sec. Mendoza once served Pangasinan as the former PNP provincial director from 1989 to1992 before he was promoted to higher positions and became the PNP top brass.

And under his watch, the province was relatively peaceful and orderly thus, sustaining its economic development.

“Again, in behalf of the people of Alaminos, allow me to thank the good secretary, Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and our DOTC family for this very laudable project,” said the mayor.



Great benefits

An airport in Alaminos is a boon to the province, said the Sec. Mendoza

“This is not just all about passengers but more importantly there’s bigger and more traffic in cargo, he said.

Mendoza cited Cebu as an example of how cargo traffic is generated.

He said that there are so many industries and factories that are being developed around the airport alone.



Aside from that many cargo planes transport goods outside the province and the country.

The secretary noted that the country is strategically located at the heart of Asia-Pacific.

“From the Philippines, you can go anywhere in Asia-Pacific within five hours, he pointed. This makes our country an ideal hub of cargo.”



“With the potential and the skills of the people of Pangasinan, we expect so many industries will be developed in your place.”

SONA commitment

“(On the part of the national government particularly the DOTC) we welcome with great anticipation, this airport of international standard to be built in the great province of Pangasinan at Alaminos City,” said Sec. Mendoza in his opening statement.

“We all know that many towns were very much interested, lobbied to get the airport project,” he said.



But Braganza is the man, he added even as he recalled how good leader the hardworking and visionary mayor of Alaminos really was.

Mendoza disclosed that when he was still the PNP Chief, Braganza, then a cabinet secretary, was instrumental in the release of an Italian priest who has held captive by bandits.

“Of course, we are doing this upon the instructions of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, he continued.

“This is part of her SONA commitment.”

Alaminos Airport Dev’t. Project was actually announced in 2007 during the president’s State of the Nation Address.

DOTC conducted pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for almost two years and in 2009 it has appropriated P 150M under its Infrastructure Program of the General Appropriations Act.



The agreement was finally signed paving the way for the realization of the Phase 1 of this P 2.2 B investment here in Alaminos and the province.

DOTC will deliver

While the project couldn’t be completed within the term of the President, what is important according to the DOTC chief is that the construction of the airport will now commence.

The initial P150 M allocation for the land acquisition and improvement is already set to be released now that the MOA has already been signed.

Mendoza assured that once the construction has started, the next administration will definitely provide the needed funds for its completion.

“From your DOTC family, congratulations again to Mayor Braganza, the people of Alaminos City and the province of Pangasinan, he said.”

“It’s really high time to have a commercial airport in Pangasinan, he stressed. As mentioned by Mayor Nani that smaller provinces have more than one airport, Pangasinan, one of the biggest provinces, therefore deserves to have one.”

“For us, your partner, we will make sure that we will deliver a world class airport that will not only benefit the province but also the entire nation.

Funds are ready

Under the MOA, DOTC shall allocate available funds to cover the cost of acquisition of lands and improvements affected by the airport project.

The city government has earlier submitted a Program of Work (POW) for the land acquisition and Earth works with an estimated total cost P 135, 760, 066.13 M.



DOTC will transfer to the city coffer the first tranche amounting P50 M which will be released within a month from the signing and execution of the MOA.

While, the second tranche amounting to P 85, 760, 066.13 will be released upon liquidation of the first tranche.

The said agency will also conduct a ground survey to establish the final area covered by the airport.

It will also exercise its audit powers over the LGU expenditures and monitor the site/right of way and acquisition activities in accordance with the approved POW prepared by the city.

On the part of the city government, it will conduct negotiation with lot owners for the acquisition of lands.

The city has already prepared the POW on the acquisition of lands and improvement and will be submitting a monthly accomplishment report on the status of the funds utilization and progress of work to DOTC.

Groundbreaking of the project will be this December or early part of 2010.

The construction of the Alaminos Airport is envisioned to spur economic development not just of the city but the whole of western Pangasinan that has been identified as part of the Agri-Tourism Cluster.

Furthermore, the local tourism industry is expected to skyrocket in terms of arrival of local and foreign tourists to the Hundred Islands and other major tourist havens in Northern Luzon. (CIO)

[springrolls]

wow these pictures are beuatiful, i like it