Pangasinan News October 2011

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Pangasinan Province - Archived News

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Firecrackers confiscated

By LIEZLE BASA IÑIGO

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines — A million worth of assorted firecrackers and pyrotechnics loaded was seized after police intercepted the ten-wheeler that was transporting it along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Nancayasan, Urdaneta City Monday.

Combined operatives of the Special Operations Group (SOG), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), the Pangasinan Intelligence Branch (PIB), and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) stopped the truck and found 157 boxes of the banned imported firecrackers.

Senior Inspector Lodovico Ellazar, Urdaneta chief of police, identified the truck driver as Nelson S. Eugenio, 36, married, of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

Superintendent Ronald Gayo of the SOG said the driver were shipped out of a warehouse in Binondo, Manila and consigned to Mario Lim of Ilocos Norte.

Gayo said those involved in the contraband will face charges of violating Republic Act 7183 (An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices) for not being covered by documents issued by the Firearms Explosive Division (FED) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Urdaneta sanitary landfill now open to adjacent towns

(Sunday Punch post)

URDANETA CITY–The P200-million engineered sanitary landfill of the city government here is now open to receive garbage from adjacent towns – for a fee.

The green light came after the Sangguniang Panlungsod led by Vice Mayor Onofre Gorozpe approved the ordinance authorizing the city government to charge users P900 per ton.

Among the first towns to avail of the landfill are Sta. Barbara, Mapandan and Pozorrubio.

Urdaneta’s rate is P50 more than the P850 per ton fee imposed by the older sanitary landfill in nearby Capas, Tarlac.

Users of the landfill are required to sign a memorandum of agreement with Urdaneta City that defines the terms of the service including a provision that only segregated wastes will be accepted at the landfill.

In a related development, Gorozpe announced that Mayor Amadeo Perez VI recently signed an agreement with a foreign firm that will produce methane gas out of the garbage collected at the landfilll which in turn will be used as an energy source by households.

Urdaneta is the first local government unit in Pangasinan to build an engineered sanitary landfill in compliance with the Solid Waste Management and Ecological Act, or Republic Act 2003.

Dagupan planned to build one in the supposed site in Barangay Awai, San Jacinto, a 30-hectare property, bought in 2001 by the Lim administration. The project was aborted after the city government paid and lost P16 million to the private owner when it turned out that the purchased land was covered by the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Firm finds sweet spot in organic sugar market

By: Marla Viray (Inquirer Northern Luzon)

MAPANDAN, Pangasinan – For the couple who put up the first company in Pangasinan to produce muscovado sugar, hopes that their endeavor will flourish stay high if not for limited technology.

“As much as we want to supply the international market, the demand of the local market alone is already too much for us,” says retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Yadao, who, together with his wife, Natividad, a chemical engineer, put up Sugarcane Gold in 2007.

Yadao says muscovado has been in demand due to growing health awareness worldwide, with more and more people shifting to healthy organic food.

However, the slow production process simply cannot cope with the increasing demand in the local and international markets, he says.

Compared to white sugar that is produced by a machine, muscovado is produced mostly manually. Both are made from sugarcane, but muscovado is pure and unrefined, and retains the natural ingredients of the cane.

To produce muscovado, sugarcane is crushed in a mill and its juice is collected and filtered. This is cooked to produce concentrations and then dried.

Even a machine created by the Department of Science and Technology, which cost more than P1 million, could not speed up production, Yadao says.

A semi-manual device he built was better in producing quality muscovado sugar, he adds.

Sugarcane planters and millers, he says, must overcome the problem of inadequate milling equipment before they can expand operations and capture a bigger share of the market for organic sugar.

Production takes place once a year, during summer or when rains do not occur for at least a full month.

“We do not harvest sugarcane during the rainy season because they contain much water, making them less sweet,” Yadao says.

Sugarcane Gold, which produces about 150 tons of muscovado sugar yearly, is seeking support for expansion to include Metro Manila in its market. It is also exploring export opportunities.

Before the Yadaos started producing muscovado sugar in 2007, the supply sold in Pangasinan came from the Visayas.

Now, Sugarcane Gold is the sole muscovado producer in the province. Its markets also include La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Baguio City and Tarlac.

Its sugarcane plantations in Mapandan and in nearby towns of Laoac, Manaoag and Binalonan, yield hybrid variety of sugarcane.

The company also produces sugarcane vinegar, which is naturally fermented, muscovado rocks or muscovado sugar in candy form, and “pulitipot,” a thick concentrated muscovado juice.

Yadao says nothing in their farms goes to waste because every sugarcane stalk is used.

The juice is made into muscovado sugar in powder, candy and syrup, and into vinegar, while the crushed stalks (bagasse) are used as biofuel.

“Farmers always know that everything in the farm is considered money,” Yadao says.

Yadao, whose parents are farmers from Tarlac, spent most of his life farming. His 82-year-old mother, Exaltacion Torres, is still helping him in his farm in Barangay (village) Luyan here.

While still in the military service, Yadao was overseeing his agribusiness projects.

He met his wife when he was assigned to Manaoag town in the 1980s. Natividad then worked as a chief chemist of Hind Sugar Co. until the company closed in 1997.

Wanting to dedicate his life to farming, Yadao retired in 2000 after spending 21 years in the military.

He tried various projects, such as piggery, poultry, tilapia raising and planting mango trees, corn and hybrid rice, but these did not yield much.

The couple soon realized the huge potential of sugarcane farming, particularly muscovado sugar.

With Natividad’s skills and experience in the sugar industry, the Yadaos put up Sugarcane Gold. Their products became known through trade fairs sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry and support from the DOST and the Department of Agriculture.

The Yadaos’ muscovado sugar was adopted as Mapandan’s One Town One Product (Otop) last year.

4 LGUs pool together targets against poverty

(Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Four local government units (LGUs) in Pangasinan have expressed confidence they would achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 in a bid to address poverty and other issues and problems facing them.

Mayors Hernani Braganza of Alaminos City, Marcelo Navarro of Bani, Alberto Guiang of Burgos and Noel Nacar of Dasol said they have put their MDGs together in their development agenda and integrated their projects in their respective annual annual investment plan starting 2012.

MDGs are a set of goals and targets, which more than 180 heads of state, including that of the Philippines, committed to pursue in 2000, as part of the United Nation’s Millennium Declaration by 2015. MDGs primarily aim is to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable human development.

Braganza, secretary general of the League of Cities of the Philippines, said local governments are responsible in the fight against poverty, and are in a better position to help the national government identify specific MDG targets.

“To determine the problem and solution is just half of the job. We must know the threats, weaknesses and strengths to be able to pursue our development goals,” he said in a press statement.

He said he is optimistic that the consolidation of programs and projects, and budget allocations would help achieve the MDG targets of each locality.

All budget items within the 2012 investment plans of the four local governments have been tagged according to their relevance to the MDGs in a recent seminar held in Alaminos City, Braganza said.

During the seminar the local officials identified other fund sources other than the 20 percent development fund of LGUs, he added.

The seminar workshop under the MDG tagging was the first of its kind as far as the local budget deliberation was concerned.

Poverty eradication, environmental protection and management and sustainability, maternal health care and universal primary education were addressed during the seminar workshop.

Braganza appealed to President Benigno Aquino III, the Department of Budget and Management and other concerned government agencies to pour in the much-needed investments to push the MDG projects of the LGUs.

Ban-oitan' comes alive in Alaminos

By LIEZLE BASA IÑIGO

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines — Excitement is brewing among residents of this city as preparations go full swing for the “Ban-oitan (fishing) Festival” which highlights the 6th anniversary of the turn-over ceremony of the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) from the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) to the City of Alaminos.

The festivities tomorrow serve as a call to Pangasinan folk to practice only legal fishing methods to protect the environment and boost eco-tourism.

Mayor Hernani Braganza said the Ban-oitan or sport fishing competition is a good way of promoting the use of traditional fishing methods for livelihood.

“We hope to fully promote and make this game fishing activity another major event and tourist attraction in our city,” Braganza, adding that the event has three categories – the heaviest single catch; and the longest catch; and the heaviest total catch, a team event.

In the future, he envisions the Hundred Islands National Park to be the Game Fishing Sports Center in the province.

Region I employment rate hits 91.9%

by Venus H. Sarmiento (ANL/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 26 (PIA) –- More Pangasinenses and Ilocanos are employed as the rate in the region reached 91.9 percent in a survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

Statistician Edgar Norberte said the quarterly survey for the labor force is still ongoing but the July 2010 data are more or less the same as the 2011 data on employment.

Norberte said those included in the survey are those 15 to 65 year old working at least one hour a day.

No data, however, were given on the percentage of employment per province.

He said the labor force survey is essential for government agencies and local government units because the results will serve as the basis for planning of government programs.

It is one of the major surveys being spearheaded by NSO today plus two ride-on surveys: survey on overseas Filipinos and survey on children aged 5 -17.

Norberte appealed to home owners to cooperate with the enumerators or field interviewers once they are chosen as respondents. He said the surveys being undertaken are bounded by confidentiality, thus the human rights of the respondents are not violated.

National stats center opens in Pangasinan

(ANL/DOS-PIO/PIA 1 Pangasinan)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Oct. 25 -- The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) has established the National Statistical Information Center (NSIC), the first in Luzon and the sixth in the country.

During the formal launching and blessing of the center held on Monday at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center here, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. said that the provincial government will ensure that resources are available to sustain the operation of the one-stop-shop which aimed to develop a system of integrated sharing of statistical information involving the province and the entire region.

The establishment of the statistics center in Pangasinan will serve as an added inspiration for Pangasinenses to work doubly hard to attain that vision of the province to become the best place to invest, work, live and raise a family and fulfill its mission to become number in the entire country, he said.

The establishment of the center here came as a reward having bagged several awards in different fields of endeavor most especially the Hall of Fame award for being the Best NSM province for three consecutive years in Region 1, proving that Pangasinan is the most statistically-developed local government unit regionwide.

Dr. Romulo A. Virola, secretary-general of the NSCB, congratulated the provincial leadership even as he challenged the administration to continue what it has started to attain its mission which he described as “ambitious yet not impossible to achieve."

“Statistics must challenge Pangasinenses to achieve better marks in the future towards the improvement of the quality of life of the people," he also said.

NSIC was first established in Makati City on October 20, 1993 through a project jointly implemented by the Statistics Sweden and the Swedish International Development Agency. It aimed to provide a one-stop-venue where users can access statistical data generated by government agencies.

The establishment of the center here, which is located at the second floor of the Malong building, was one of the highlights of the provincial celebration of the 22nd National Statistics Month.

Dagupan rescuers train for quakes

by Liezle Basa Iñigo (Manila Bulletin Luzon Newsbits #1)

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines —This city which was devastated by the 1990 killer-quake has yet to learn ways on how to deal with such disasters, officials said Monday as a training started for the Technical Working Group of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

The five-day training at the BSL Hall, City Schools Division here will be for Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS) is being supervised by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum is also expected to arrive and be one of the trainers particularly on how to assess the situation during earthquakes.

Gov. Espino rallies health workers to take care of the poor

(Sunday Punch)

LINGAYEN—Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. urged health workers in the province to step up the delivery of services to the poor, stressing that health care is one of the priority programs of his administration.

"We have a lot to do still,” said the governor in his address Thursday before health workers who gathered for the Symposium on the 2010 LGU Scorecard at the Pangasinan Training Center for a review and assessment of their performance last year.

Espino cited in particular health care for mothers and children saying no pregnant woman or her child should die because of neglect by health workers.

"To me, prevention is more important, sa unang buwan ma-eksamin na kung ayos ang ina at sanggol," he said.

He added that extra attention must be extended to those who have special needs such as a single mother who comes from a poor family.

"Who will help these people but you," he told the health professionals manning the district and community hospitals and the rural health centers.

"Yan ang mga bagay na ayusin nyo," he added.

Espino gave the health workers an overall score of 70 out 100 for their performance last year, a grade that the governor said he is satisfied with.

He underscored that hospitals being operated by the provincial government have been upgraded and are being managed well.

Some P300 million have been spent by the provincial government for the rehabilitation of the hospital premises in addition to the installation of new facilities and equipment.

Pangasinan LGU performs nearly excellent

By LIEZLE BASA INIGO

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines — This province reaped almost excellent ratings in the recently-concluded evaluation of the local government’s performance for the Productivity Improvement Scorecard and Labeling (PISAL) Award.

The PISAL Award gives recognition to government organizations that show exemplary performance in productivity and quality improvement.

A team, composed of representatives from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Pangasinan State University in Lingayen, and the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), revealed the results of its evaluation conducted last October 14.

Joseph Anthony Quinto, head of the evaluation team from NEDA said the provincial government of Pangasinan showed impressive performance under the leadership of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.

NEDA noted that under Espino’s leadership, this province came up with the performance requirements called for under the category Philippine Quality Awards which focuses on deployment of the organization’s vision and values through a leadership system covering all employees, key suppliers and partners.

“The exceptional leadership of Gov. Espino shows first rate performance especially in the provision of funds on regular programs and projects,” said Quinto.

“The beautiful thing is that Governor Espino’s office is implementing its programs well. It has followed our recommendations and although there are some minor recommendations for improvement, the Capitol is very open in receiving our evaluation,” he said.

In the implementation of 5-S, which stands for Sort, Systematize, Sweep, Sanitize and Self-Discipline program, the province was also rated as almost excellent.

Quinto stressed that the evaluation team will soon recommend the provincial government as a benchmark in 5S for other agencies or local government units.

In line with the work simplification category, the vision, mission and service pledge posted and displayed in public conspicuous areas, the workflow charts and the citizen’s charter were found to be very impressive by the evaluation team.

Quinto also praised the offices in the Capitol which he regarded as an excellent work place.

The province needs some minor improvements, though, in the behavioral evaluation of the staff or employee in terms of imbibing industry, timeliness, value for work and systematic customer service, generally the province performed remarkably.

As this developed, Human Resource Management Officer Janet Asis said that with all the preparations and enthusiasm of the employees of the provincial government, “we are very positive to win this time as we really made thorough preparations.”

Mother-daughter team of Rose Marie and Rachel Arenas leads medical mission

By: Maurice Arcache (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The accomplished, Harvard-trained Rep. Rachel Arenas is every inch as tireless and dedicated as her mother, philanthropist and impresario Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas, when it comes to helping the less fortunate.

On her big day, Rachel and her mother spearheaded a district-wide medical mission that offered health services to thousands of indigents. They also distributed wheelchairs and inaugurated a birthing center, palanggas.

The mission was a project of Rep. Arenas under her Health Education Livelihood for Pangasinenses (HELP) initiative, inspired and guided by her mom Baby, the ultimate socio-civic worker.

During the State of the Nation Address, dahlings, mother and daughter wore elegant white ternos.

“We chose white in honor of Our Lady [of Manaoag in Pangasinan], in keeping with the spirit of simplicity, austerity and timeless fashion,” explained Baby A. “We used our old classic ternos with the least adornment.”

Rep. Rachel has developed a sense of style distinctly her own, but one obviously still inspired by her mom, one of the most stylish and attractive women in our society, dahlings. It’s amazing what a mother’s correct influence on her daughter can do, ’di bala, palanggas?

New hip pub

It was fun time again when Draft Gastropub opened its doors at the Fort recently, and become an instant favorite watering hole of our night-life pack, dahlings.

The pub’s ambiance is definitely friendly, from the milk chocolate-colored woodwork to the awesome nostalgic music from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s.

Draft Gastropub has made international chilled beer on tap available for the very first time and paired it with an excellent European menu developed by celebrity chef Carlo Miguel. Hey, that’s definitely a winning formula.

Seen at the pub were hip, young movers and shakers: Tim Yap, Ken Solon, Rep. Owen Singson, Andrea and Boompy Martel, Alex Guitierrez, Clarisse Chiongbian, Jesse Maxwell and Alexandra Guerrero, plus others like them.

The savvy team behind Draft Gastropub includes Raj Sadhwani, Matthew Lim, Stephen Ku, Mitch Malli, Erik Cua, GP Reyes, Marco de Guzman, Manolet Dario, Ivan Zalameda and chef Carlo, of course.

Once you enter Draft Gastropub’s doors, you’ll have to really condition your mind when it’s time to leave, because that won’t be an easy decision. Check it out, palanggas, to see what I mean.

Fashion collections

Last week at Shangri-La Hotel Makati, Fashion Watch presented the Spring-Summer collections of OJ Hofer and Jerome Lorico, dahlings.

Frances Bean Cobain, daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, inspired OJ’s collection, which was all about “girly but rebellious—Rebel Ballerina.” Nirvana and Vivaldi, are the designer’s favorite tunes, so OJ’s works gave a different spin to dark fashion and girly trends, dahlings.

Hemingway’s classic book, “The Old Man and the Sea” was the inspiration for skilled designer Jerome’s collection. He presented pieces that were mostly in gray, to symbolize the maturity of Santiago, the old fisherman in the story. The pieces were complimented by accessories from OZ that were made from poly-utherane plastic and looked like real-life bones.

When asked why he used wool for the summer, he replied, “Wool is warm when the temperature’s cold, but then it becomes breathable during the summer. It adjusts to the weather.”

All-night dancing

It’s time to put on your shoes and dance the night away, dahlings, specifically at Oracle Hotel and Residences, which comes alive on Friday nights. An excellently prepared dinner, along with awesome dance-all-you-can moments with professional dance mentors, can be yours at an incredible price of P675!

Dance Friday VIP Night at the Ballroom has celebrities galore, plus an award-winning group in the Bong Marquez Group of dancers, whose performance was definitely one of the highlights of the night, dahlings.

Because of its great success, today, another Dance Friday VIP Night at The Ballroom will take place at the fifth floor of The Oracle Hotel at Katipunan Avenue, across Ateneo, as an early Halloween treat. Everyone is invited for a nonstop dance bash, dahlings, with great surprises and treats.

More info? Call 9267777 or visit www.oraclehotel.com.ph.

Classical concert

The Filfest Cultural Foundation, in partnership with Insular Life, ends its 4th season with a concert on Oct. 22, 8 p.m., at the Insular Hall, Alabang, featuring soprano Rachelle Gerodias, baritone Andrew Fernando and the Filharmonika, under the baton of Gerard Salonga.

Season 4 will present different orchestral ensembles: the Manila Symphony Orchestra, PREDIS Chamber Orchestra and Clarion Chamber Ensemble, playing with some of the country’s artists—tenor Carlos Ibay, violinist Joseph Esmilla, cellist Wilfredo Pasamba and pianist Rudolf Golez.

Filfest’s mission is to present the best possible classical music performances for the benefit, entertainment, exposure and appreciation of audiences, particularly in the Metro South, dahlings. Its generous benefactors are led by Insular Life and BMW, with 98.7 FM DZFE The Master’s Touch, San Miguel and Rustan’s.

The season-ender on Oct. 22 will have Rachelle, Andrew and Filharmonika interpreting the works of Mozart (“The Magic Flute,” “Don Giovanni” and “Cosi Fan Tutte”); Rossini (“The Barber of Seville”); Verdi (“La Traviata”), Bellini (“I Puritani”); Gershwin (Porgy & Bess); and Bizet (Carmen).

Tickets are at P800 and P400, with a 20-percent discount for seniors and 50-percent for students with valid ID. More info? Call 0917-8177261, 0918-9419472 or 5853823.


Quality health care for the poor now within reach - center chief

by Danny O. Sagun(ANL/DOS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 20 (PIA) -- The gap in the delivery of quality health care between the rich and the poor has decreased, the head of the Region 1 Medical Center said Thursday.

Center chief Dr. Roland Mejia said equipment and facilities are being put in place to meet the growing needs of the premier health facility north of Manila.

"The development of R1MC under my watch is unprecedented," he said.

Meija said the hospital's dream of improving services in three areas is already being fulfilled, those for O.B.-gyne, surgical and special areas.

The state-of-the-art emergency room which he said can compete with the best health facilities even in Manila will soon open. The room is spacious enough to accommodate equipment and facilities.

Mejia led media men in a brief tour of the ER and other facilities and equipment being put in place.

Patients not seeking confinement will no longer bear the heat and inconvenience of waiting or queuing as is the present situation with the opening soon of an air conditioned Out Patient department.

Under the bill sponsored by fourth district Rep. Gina de Venecia, the center will gradually increase its bed capacity from 300 to 600 in five years.

Also under the rationalization plan of the Department of Health, the hospital will have an additional 148 personnel, he said.

In five years, operating rooms will increase from the present four to 16, the biggest surgical facility so far north of Manila, he added.

Meija said he was proud to announce that the medical center was able to implement its infrastructure programs and projects and health services with hardly any help from outside. The ongoing improvements cost some P100 million which was funded by the hospital's own income.

Its maintenance and operating expenses coming from the national government is only P38 million which is barely enough for its electric and water bills and oxygen needs.

He expressed gratitude to party list groups and the six Pangasinan congressmen who are pouring their funds to help their indigent constituents.

Pangasinan officials support Wetland Day

By MAR T. SUPNAD

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines --- In support to the Wetland Day, provincial and municipal officials here led by Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. led recently the massive mangrove and tree planting activity in various parts of the province.

The event which is part of the Bakawan Eco-Tour was started at Bolinao's Mangrove Information Center and Arnedo Nursery Farm.

Each participant, together with the members of the local media and photographers based here, was enjoined to plant 10 mangrove seedlings that were provided by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

Aside from the tree planting activity, participants were treated to a river cruise to the cleanest river in the country, the Balingasay River in Bolinao, where they enjoyed some recreational activities.

Meanwhile, the provincial government through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) is also set to plant mangroves and trees along the coastal and riverine areas of Pangasinan from September 26 to 30 in the following areas: Lingayen, Labrador, Mangaldan, San Fabian and Infanta and Sual.

OPAG will be joined by the Office of the Municipal Agriculturists, Municipal Tourism Offices, Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council and fisherfolk in the area during the simultaneous planting activity, said Butch Velasco, Provincial Information Officer.

The massive tree planting program of Gov. Espino who had actually programmed to plant a million tree this year, was also being supported by the PNP led by Sr. Supt. Rosueto "Boyet" Ricaforte, Pangasinan police director, who had also conducted various tree planting activities in various parts of the province since he assumed the PNP directorship here.

"In fact, we have calendared a number of tree-planting activities in support to the clean and green program of Gov. Espino that every Pangasinense was aware of its importance in the future," said Supt. Gerry Roxas, spokesman of the PNP here.

Community health teams to be deployed in 4Ps areas

(ANL/DOS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 18 (PIA) -- Community health teams will be deployed next year particularly in the conditional cash transfer program (CCTP) areas, the regional program coordinator of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) said in a media conference.


The program will most especially benefit Pangasinan, where several areas including this city are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The province is one of the 12 areas included in the Millennium Development Goal whose primary goals, among others, are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, and improve maternal health.

The heath team will be composed of the concerned municipal health officer, the assigned midwife in the area, barangay chairman, barangay nutrition scholar and the barangay health workers, Regional Coordinator Victoria Manez said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development used the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Alleviation as basis in determining the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries.

“Dapat nakafocus at mabilis ang aksyon (It should be focused and action should be immediate),” Manez said in reply to a question about how different the program is to that being delivered by the health department at present.

She added that Heath Sec. Enrique Ona wanted to get immediate reports as to the actions taken.

Meanwhile, regional and provincial officers/ coordinators of agencies like NNC, DSWD, interior and local government, Population Commission and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation will meet in a consultation meeting in Manila on Wednesday to determine the status of areas affected by typhoons Pedring and Quiel for possible allocation of funding for supplementary feeding for children and even pregnant mothers.

Educators, students mourn murder of high school kids

by Danny O. Sagun (ANL/DOS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 17 (PIA) -- The Balungao town police filed today murder and attempted murder charges against suspects in the ambush-killing of three teenagers who were on their way home from a wake Friday night when waylaid in barangay San Raymundo in Balungao.

No less than education Secretary Armin Luistro led mourners on the untimely demise of Paul Brian Villapa, 14, Brian Villapa Luna, and Mike Sapiil, all high school students of the Balungao National High School and residents of barangay San Miguel, that town.

Their companion, Argie Sobrepilla, 14, was able to run away and left unscathed.

Luistro came Saturday night to personally offer his condolence to the bereaved family.

Pangasinan II schools division Superintendent Viraluz Raguindin in a statement said: "We condemn this very cruel manslaughter which they do not deserve!"

She said that the division executive committee convened an emergency meeting on Sunday to deliberate on the appropriate action to take.

Deputy police chief Insp. Rodolfo Olinda, Jr. said the suspects including a member of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (Pacer) were armed with high-powered weapons as evidenced by the recovered 20 empty shells of M-16 armalite rifle, one shell of M-14 rifle and three shells of carbine near the crime scene.

Initial investigation showed the assailants, identified as SPO2 Loreto Florendo and De Jesus brothers Jovito, Saturnino and Domingo waited for the victims at the boundary of barangays San Raymundo and San Miguel.

Revenge was being looked into by police investigators as the likely motive. The father of one of the victims, Villapa, was suspected by the De Jesus brothers as the one who killed their brother.

Dagupan City proposes P581M budget

(With report from CIO)

DAGUPAN Mayor Benjamin Lim has submitted a 2012 budget proposal of P581 million for review and approval by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).

The annual budget was transmitted to the SP through Vice-Mayor Belen Fernandez, chair of the council, on October 5.

The proposed 2012 budget is 2.2% higher than the proposal submitted last year. However, the sanggunian initially approved only P487 million or a P81 million cut. Subsequent supplemental budgets were approved only upon submission of legal justification by the concerned department heads.

The proposed budget provides for 40 percent allotment for the general public services sector, 29 percent for the social services sector, 25 percent for economic services sector, and six percent for other services.

Expenditures for capital outlays amount to P68 million or 11.73 percent of the total expenditures. It includes provisions for development projects to be initiated and realized in 2012.

The budget also includes a P3.1 million fund from the 20 percent of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for development projects.

“Next year, the city’s IRA will likely suffer a large diminution, however, the City Treasurer’s Office and the Financial Management Committee will jointly generate strategies and efforts not only to increase collection, but also to regain the first class status of the city,” said Lim.

“From a high revenue share of around 70 to 75 percent a few years ago, we have broken the 50 percent barrier, which is the result of our solid determination to gradually break free from our heavy reliance on the IRA share for our budget,” he added.

The city also apportioned P42 million for the payment of amortization on the remaining balance of the city’s existing loan with the Land Bank of the Philippines of P161.5 million.

The total expenditures for personal services for the next budget year is P211 million, which accounts for 36.38 percent of the total budget.

Amounts of P29,050,000.00 and P3,131,000.00 were allocated as reserve for calamity and aid to barangays, respectively.

GAG ORDER

City hall observers are not optimistic that next year’s budget will be approved en toto in the light of the gag order of the mayor preventing department heads to attend committee hearings and meetings of the sanggunian.

The drastic cut in the budget was largely a result of the failure of the department heads to explain and defend their submitted budgets owing to their absence in the sanggunian during budget deliberations as directed by the mayor’s gag order.

Pangasinan, Guam all set to forge sisterhood ties

(JCR/DOS-PIA 1 Pangasinan/PIO)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Oct. 15 (PIA) -- Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has welcomed with optimism the desire of the island of Guam and the province of Pangasinan to establish a sisterhood relationship and goodwill.

Espino said the sisterhood relationship will create closer ties in terms of business development, strong economic relationship and closer cultural experiences and exchanges.

The sangguniang panlalawigan (SP) approved provincial Resolution No. 394-2011, declaring the intent to establish a sisterhood between the people of Guam and the people of Pangasinan in a special session on Thursday.

Espino thanked the Federation of Pangasinenses of Guam (FOPOG), thru its president, Victor Rivo, a native of Mapandan town, and Guam Senators Rory Respicio and Judith Guthertz for making the partnership possible.

Espino said that as a former military officer, he knew how the United States military bases had employed more than 30,000 Filipinos before.

Respicio and Guthertz said that with Guam’s military build-up plan, they would ensure that foreign workers will come from Pangasinan.

Espino said that Pangasinenses will have job opportunities in Guam considering that “Filipinos have the advantage because they are experienced workers especially in military bases.”

The SP also enacted provincial resolutions declaring Respicio as adopted son and Guthertz as adopted daughter.

“What struck me most is how did Pangasinan became very organized, the roadways are very passable, the environment is very clean, and the people are very hospitable, I was very impressed," Guthertz said.

Health symposium

by Liezle Basa Inigo(Manila Bulletin Luzon Newsbits#5 )

LINGAYEN — The PQ Healthshield, Inc. partnered with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) in conducting a health symposium to protect women from cervical cancer. The symposium, "A Peril to the Pinay at Her Prime," was held at the Pangasinan Development and Training Center recently.

In the Philippines, cervical cancer is said to be the second leading killer cancer among women. A resource speaker, Dr. Paul Adrian Pinlac, said that worldwide, a woman dies of cervical cancer every two minutes.

Barangays play vital role in solid waste management

by Venus H. Sarmiento(ANL/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

PANGASINAN, Oct 13 (PIA) -- If only barangays own up the responsibility of segregating wastes at its level, 70 percent of the garbage problem in the province could be solved.

This was expressed by Rowena Dela Cruz, head of the provincial waste management division, stressing the vital role that barangays play in solid waste management.

Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act states that local government units should have waste management programs. Many LGUs have complied but some do not have concrete programs on these, Dela Cruz said.

Under the law, barangays have the responsibility of recycling, composting and segregating wastes while the municipality or the city takes charge of the residuals.

The LGUs must also take the responsibility of closing their open dumpsites which is deemed illegal since 2006. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources advises the use of the material recovery facility (MRF) or sanitary landfills and eco parks instead.

The National Solid Waste Management Council wants to stabilize dumpsites. “Mag-uumpisa sa simpleng pamamaraan gaya ng pagtabon ng lupa, lagyan ng singawan ng gas para hindi sumabog saka tabunan uli ng lupa, tamnan ng halaman, at meron kang MRF at composting facility,” Dela Cruz said.

Dela Cruz said the MRF can house the segregated recyclables and even the compostables as long as a composting facility is installed nearby. Residuals can also be stored near it for temporary storage only. An MRF need not be very huge as only recyclables are to be placed in it, she explained.

Dela Cruz dismissed the LGU’s claim that a sanitary landfill costs so much making it unattainable. A sanitary landfill can cost P10 million a hectare.

If funding is a problem, Dela Cruz said, the provincial government and DENR can render technical assistance while government banks like the Development Bank of the Philipines and Landbank offer loans for the purpose.

She said LGUs could also implement alternative technologies that can turn garbage into something productive and useful.

Comelec finds petition against Bani mayor insufficient

by Venus H. Sarmiento(JCR/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

PANGASINAN, Oct. 12 (PIA) -- The Commission on Elections trashed the petition against a town mayor after finding it insufficient due to lack of at least 11 signatures.

In a resolution promulgated on September 6, 2011, the COMELEC En Banc declared the petition for recall filed by former Vice Mayor Hannibal S. Olores against Mayor Marcelo E. Navarro of Bani town, as insufficient.

Bani Comelec Officer Nazario Radoc said the petition filed by Olores and 663 other petitioners presented only 5,450 signatures, 11 signatures short of the needed 5,461 signatures.

Under Comelec rules, a petition for recall must present enough signatures to represent at least 20 percent of the voting population. Bani’s voting population certified by the National Statistics Office is 27,304.

Radoc, who assumed the post only recently, said no update was given regarding Navarro’s petition against incumbent Vice- Mayor Filipina Rivera which was submitted one month earlier than the petition filed by Olores.

It can be recalled that Navarro filed a petition for recall against Rivera in May 2011 for loss of trust and confidence and for allegedly sitting down on approval of government programs and projects. In return, former Vice Mayor Olores filed a case against the town executive a month after, also for loss of confidence and for allegedly presenting a government program without proper feasibility studies.

Radoc said it is his job in the assigned town to accept any petitions filed by parties but the decision lies in the hands of the Comelec En Banc.

Pangasinan employment service office holds 3rd e-Passporting on Oct. 15

(JCR/DOS-PIO/PIA 1 Pangasinan)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Oct. 11 -- The provincial government, thru the Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) will conduct the third batch of the Special e-Passport Project on October 15.

PESO chief Alex F. Ferrer said that the Department of Foreign Affairs has allotted some 350 slots for applicants from Pangasinan on a first-come, first- served basis.

Ferrer said that with the success of the two batches of applications processed earlier, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. approved again the use of six (6) air-conditioned buses to transport the passport applicants to and from the DFA consular office in San Fernando City, La Union.

PESO has mobilized its local employment service offices throughout the province to assist in the distribution of application forms and pre-processing of documents.

Passport applicants who want to avail of the project may see their PESO managers assigned in their respective towns or cities or proceed to Provincial PESO office located at the Kalantiao building here.

The first batch of applications was processed in February, while the second batch was done in April.

Interested parties may contact PESO at telephone numbers 542-6211 and 542-4252.

DA threshes out problem facing fish processing plant

by Danny O. Sagun (ANL/DOS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 10 (PIA) -- Operations of the seafood processing plant here have been put on hold pending adoption of necessary guidelines by the agriculture department in coordination with the city government.

Plant interim Manager Westly Rosario bared Saturday that the Korean-built processing facility had temporarily closed as directed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources pending resolution of the issue as to which agency would run the plant. It was also gathered that the facility had been operating without the necessary business permit from the city government.

He said that a lawyer from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources would be arriving today (Monday) to thresh out the problem.

Earlier, BFAR representatives met with local stakeholders to draft a memorandum of agreement to be entered into between DA represented by BFAR and the city.

Mayor Benjamin S. Lim had raised the issue of ownership before Secretary Proceso Alcala during the latter's visit to the province about three months ago. Alcala thus tasked BFAR Director Asis Perez to look into the issue prompting the latter to send his representatives here.

It will be recalled that the old city council before the new administration took over last year adopted a resolution turning over operations of the plant to BFAR allegedly because the city had no capability to run it.

Lim however believed otherwise.

The plant when fully operational will benefit local bangus producers as they will have the opportunity to market their produce abroad.

Filipino maid in Hong Kong can’t believe she made history

By Yolanda Sotelo

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan—Evangeline Vallejos is happily incredulous that she won her case for permanent residency in Hong Kong, for which she had been fighting for three years.

“Unbelievable,” she said on Saturday when reached by the Inquirer in China where she was vacationing with her employers. “But I am very happy I won. Ang tagal kong hinintay ito (I have long waited for this).”

Vallejos, 59, has been employed as a maid in Hong Kong since 1986. She said that while she was not sure she would win the case, she trusted the law granting permanent residency to foreigners who had lived in the Chinese territory for seven years.

She said many Filipino workers in Hong Kong were happy about the court decision handed down on Sept. 30 because it paved the way for thousands of others to seek permanent residency.

But in Barangay Paurido where Vallejos’ family lives, there was hardly a stir when news broke of her legal victory.

Family members took pride in her achievement. But while a door has been opened for them to live in Hong Kong, Vallejos’ husband, Zacarias Oria, said they were not planning to do so.

And Vallejos—who is using her maiden name as it appears in her passport—has not discussed with the family the possibility of settling there, Oria told the Inquirer in an interview recently.

In reports, Justice Johnson Lam was quoted as saying in his decision that the immigration provision denying foreign maids the right to gain permanent residency after seven years, which is granted to other foreigners, was inconsistent with Hong Kong’s Constitution.

But the Hong Kong government will appeal Lam’s ruling, the reports said.

DENR, Pangasinan sign deal to rehabilitate mangroves

by Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre(Sunnex)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The Provincial Government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) signed an agreement that will rehabilitate 25 hectares of mangroves in Pangasinan.

Under the mangrove rehabilitation project, the province -- a Hall of Fame Awardee for being the Best Project Implementer for three straight years --will receive P287,500 fund which it will distribute to beneficiaries.

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Funds will be given to individuals and/or organizations that will plant 1,000 pieces of mangrove propagules in two coastal towns--a 15 hectare site in Dasol and a 10 hectare area in Infana.

Each beneficiary/recipient organization will receive P11,500 on a staggered basis for every hectare planted with mangroves.

The project's memorandum of agreement was signed by Governor Amado Espino Jr. and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Leduina Co representing DENR Regional Executive Director Samuel Penafiel.

The signing was held Friday morning at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center. The agreement also served to highlight the Coastal Resource Management partnership between the province and DENR.

Witness to the agreement signing were Dasol Mayor Noel Nacar (who is also the president of the Mayors League of Pangasinan), and Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez.

Espino thanked the DENR for recognizing and acknowledging the environment efforts of the provincial government, which includes, among others, the massive river clean-up drive under the “Ilog ko, Bilayen ko, tan Aroen ko” program, tree planting, and mangrove area rehabilitation program.

Meanwhile, the mangrove and tree planting activities in Bolinao town scheduled last September 27 but was postponed due to typhoons Pedring and Quiel will push through on October 12.

The mangrove planting was one of the activities included in the recent Tourism Month celebration, and it was supposed to be the highlight activity during the “World Wetlands Day.”

Espino will lead the activity which will be participated in by other provincial officials, municipal officials, other stakeholders and media practitioners in Pangasinan.

In Pangasinan, gold panning sustains life along riverside community

by Marla Viray (Inquirer Northern Luzon)

SAN JACINTO, Pangasinan—While everyone dreads typhoons for the damage these cause, villagers who earn a living by panning gold in rivers here anticipate them.

For these residents, there is indeed money in gold panning, but even more when the rains are heavy and the rivers swell.

Brothers Jose and Dominador Abril said gold panning (panag-sayyo in Pangasinan) has always been their families’ primary source of income all year round.

Jose, 44, and Dominador, 30, both started gold panning in their teens when their father and other men in the village asked them to tag along and help them.

“The elders taught us, and we teach the next generation of men in the family,” said Hermenejerdo Estareja, 52, who has been panning for gold since his teens.

Other villagers in San Vicente, Macayug and Bolo seek gold dusts or “balitok” from rivers that pass this town, including the Bued River which emanates from Benguet, where mining companies operate.

“We always get more gold dust after the storm, because the strong rains make the river current stronger, making more minerals, such as gold, to be

carried downstream,” said Romy Ocomon, 43.

Each of them earns between P3,000 and P5,000 weekly on ordinary days, including summer, and more during the rainy season.

In fact, when Tropical Storm “Ondoy” and Typhoon “Pepeng” struck Pangasinan in 2009, the Abril brothers said one of them earned up to P55,000 in a week while the other earned P35,000 in just three days of gold panning.

Residents earn about P1,800 for every gram of gold dust that they place in vials.

Dominador said a full vial of gold dust may cost up to hundreds of thousands of pesos.

However, gold panners here could not store much because they sell their gold dusts twice a week so they could have cash for their families’ daily expenses.

Their regular buyers include pawnshop owners and jewelers from Mangaldan and Manaoag towns and Dagupan City. During the rainy season, buyers from Metro Manila and Baguio City also come here.

“We find it interesting that Baguio businessmen buy the gold that came from their mountains in the first place,” said Jerry Navarete, 46.

Aside from gold panning, residents in San Jacinto also tend vegetable gardens.

Ocomon said that most men in the town tried working as carpenters and construction workers, but the little income and difficult work conditions made them return to gold panning.

“[In construction work], you have to work for a number of hours to earn just P200 to P300 at the end of the day. The work is tedious and you also have to endure your boss’ demands and temper. But in gold panning, you are your own boss, and of course, you earn more money,” said Ocomon.

“We are relatives and neighbors who grew up together, and gold panning is more like a lucrative hobby for us,” Ocomon added.

Carlos Tayag, Mines and Geosciences Bureau director in the Ilocos, said gold panning does not pose any danger to the environment.

“People engaged in such livelihood only use natural procedures. They get fresh gold. No chemicals are involved in trying to gather gold dust,” Tayag said.

2nd Children’s Congress launched in Dagupan

by Marla Viray (Inquirer Northern Luzon)

In Pangasinan, gold panning sustains life along riverside community 9:09 pm | Friday, October 7th, 2011 

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SAN JACINTO, Pangasinan—While everyone dreads typhoons for the damage these cause, villagers who earn a living by panning gold in rivers here anticipate them.

For these residents, there is indeed money in gold panning, but even more when the rains are heavy and the rivers swell.

Brothers Jose and Dominador Abril said gold panning (panag-sayyo in Pangasinan) has always been their families’ primary source of income all year round.

Jose, 44, and Dominador, 30, both started gold panning in their teens when their father and other men in the village asked them to tag along and help them.

“The elders taught us, and we teach the next generation of men in the family,” said Hermenejerdo Estareja, 52, who has been panning for gold since his teens.

Other villagers in San Vicente, Macayug and Bolo seek gold dusts or “balitok” from rivers that pass this town, including the Bued River which emanates from Benguet, where mining companies operate.

“We always get more gold dust after the storm, because the strong rains make the river current stronger, making more minerals, such as gold, to be

carried downstream,” said Romy Ocomon, 43.

Each of them earns between P3,000 and P5,000 weekly on ordinary days, including summer, and more during the rainy season.

In fact, when Tropical Storm “Ondoy” and Typhoon “Pepeng” struck Pangasinan in 2009, the Abril brothers said one of them earned up to P55,000 in a week while the other earned P35,000 in just three days of gold panning.

Residents earn about P1,800 for every gram of gold dust that they place in vials.

Dominador said a full vial of gold dust may cost up to hundreds of thousands of pesos.

However, gold panners here could not store much because they sell their gold dusts twice a week so they could have cash for their families’ daily expenses.

Their regular buyers include pawnshop owners and jewelers from Mangaldan and Manaoag towns and Dagupan City. During the rainy season, buyers from Metro Manila and Baguio City also come here.

“We find it interesting that Baguio businessmen buy the gold that came from their mountains in the first place,” said Jerry Navarete, 46.

Aside from gold panning, residents in San Jacinto also tend vegetable gardens.

Ocomon said that most men in the town tried working as carpenters and construction workers, but the little income and difficult work conditions made them return to gold panning.

“[In construction work], you have to work for a number of hours to earn just P200 to P300 at the end of the day. The work is tedious and you also have to endure your boss’ demands and temper. But in gold panning, you are your own boss, and of course, you earn more money,” said Ocomon.

“We are relatives and neighbors who grew up together, and gold panning is more like a lucrative hobby for us,” Ocomon added.

Carlos Tayag, Mines and Geosciences Bureau director in the Ilocos, said gold panning does not pose any danger to the environment.

“People engaged in such livelihood only use natural procedures. They get fresh gold. No chemicals are involved in trying to gather gold dust,” Tayag said.

2nd Children’s Congress launched in Dagupan

by Alex Romeo R. Fernandez(ANL/ARRF-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 6 (PIA) -- The celebration of the Children’s Month this October opened Tuesday with the launching of the 2nd Children’s Congress at the CSI Stadia with emphasis on technology and its effects on children.

Vice Mayor Belen T. Fernandez said the congress' theme “Educational Awareness on Modern Technology Threats: Saving the Kids, Strengthening the Families,” intends to bring awareness to the children and their parents about the good and ill effects of technology.

A robotics exhibit kicked off the event at CSI Stadia, where school children were brought to see several models of robots built by third year and fourth year high school students from the University of Sto. Tomas (UST).

Fourth District Rep. Gina de Venecia graced the opening ceremonies.

Junior Astronomer Christopher Go, who made pioneering study on the Great Red Spot of Jupiter, also made a visit to the exhibit.

On Thursday, the city will host for the first time the World Space Week National Water Rocket Launching competition. The winner of the competition will represent the country in Singapore.

Other activities in the congress include speed stacking, face painting, skateboarding, taekwondo camp, and salad and halo-halo making contest.

Around 18,000 children are expected to join the congress in its entire duration, Fernandez said,

expressing hope that participants next year will increase to about 25,000.

Children are now more exposed to risks, including cybersex and violence, due to the ease with which

they access the Internet, she said.

Fernandez promised to lobby for an amendment to the ordinance prohibiting school children from

entering Internet cafés during school hours.

The congress is jointly sponsored by the CSI Supermarket Inc, the Department of Science and

Technology, and the Department of Education.

GSIS Dagupan awaits calamity loan guidelines

by Danny O. Sagun(ANL/DOS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 5 (PIA) -- State workers from Pangasinan affected by two successive typhoons are now eagerly waiting for Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to open its calamity loan facility.

The sangguniang panlalawigan on Monday declared the province under the state of calamity after two strong typhoons came in succession. Typhoon Pedring slammed the province starting Tuesday last week. Typhoon Quiel took the same path on Saturday and with stronger winds and more rains it brought added misery to the already suffering people.

Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan told the provincial board that damages on agriculture and infrastructure already reached some P700 million.

GSIS Regional Manager Joselito Roldan said that the Dagupan branch was waiting for the guidelines from the central office which had already sent word about the availability of calamity loan for members from the affected areas.

He said the amount may be P20,000 as was granted earlier to Agno when the western town asked GSIS to extend calamity loan for the affected workers in August.

The loan may be availed thru the kiosks located at the regional office here and in five other locations - Rosales, Lingayen, and the cities of Alaminos, San Carlos and Urdaneta.

Meanwhile, Roldan said that GSIS is now very liquid with its P556 billion assets.

Safety office to inspect papers of buses, vans

by Venus H. Sarmiento(ANL/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 4 (PIA) -- After jeepneys and tricycles, it’s the turn of buses and public utility vans to be inspected by the Public Order and Safety Office.

Operators and drivers of buses and vans used for public transport plying the Dagupan route have been asked to renew their licenses and prepare the proper documentation papers of their units.

POSO Chief Robert Erfe-Mejia said the papers must bear the same name of owner or operator both in the registration paper for Land Transportation Office (LTO) and franchise of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“Dapat magkatugma yung prankisa na in-issue ng LTFRB at LTO,” Erfe- Mejia said.

Erfe-Mejia gave an example: If the LTO registration bears the name Juan dela Cruz and the LTFRB bears the name Pedro Santos, the LTFRB name should be taken into consideration. Pedro Santos might be the previous owner but the franchise will be based on the unit. The new owner, based on the unit and franchise is Juan Deal Cruz, under whose name the transfer should be made.

Erfe-Mejia said the move is one way to easily detect the owner of a certain vehicle once it gets involved in an accident.

Aside from the documentation papers of the unit, drivers are also asked to fix damages in their vehicles before the renewal-cum-inspection to avoid hassles.

The unit’s physical appearance will be inspected which includes the electrical system, headlights, park lights, brakes and others.

Pangasinan readies massive tree-planting

By MAR T. SUPNAD

MANILA, Philippines — The provincial government of Pangasinan, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Pangasinan, and civil groups Monday said they will plant trees around the San Roque Dam, the second biggest dam in Asia, located in San Manuel, Pangasinan, to support the government’s environmental campaign.

Provincial Police Director Rosueto Ricaforte of PNP-Pangasinan said that Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, PNP spokesman Gerry Roxas, and himself will be spearheading the massive planting of trees and seedlings along the vicinity of San Roque Dam, as soon as the weather would permit them.

Ricaforte allayed fears of massive flooding in the province after the dam’s management released water from its reservoir to prevent an overflow. He said they are ready to assist residents in the event of heavy rains and flooding.

“The water level of the dam when it released water had reached to 279.68 meters above sea level and that the reported outflow of water was 261 cubic meter per second while its inflow was 566 cubic meter per second,” said Ricaforte, who monitored the dam’s activities, along with Espino, during the height of the two typhoons that devastated several Luzon provinces.

Espino led the planting of mangroves and other trees last week with provincial and municipal officials and other participants, including members of the media, travel photographers and bloggers in support of “World Wetlands Day” to culminate the observance of Tourism Month in Pangasinan.

Espino said the activity was part of the Bakawan Eco-Tour kicked off in Bolinao, the Mangrove Information Center and Arnedo Nursery Farm. He said the provincial government is supporting the National Greening Program of plan.

Pangasinan battered anew, San Roque dam opens 2 gates

by Danny O.Sagun(JCR/DOS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 2 (PIA) -- Hardly had typhoon Pedring moved away and wrought damages and claimed lives than another strong typhoon came to bring more misery to people in northern Luzon, particularly Pangasinan.

Typhoon Quiel proved to be stronger as its winds battered the province and brought heavy rains causing flash floods in different parts of Pangasinan which were already suffering from Pedring's wrath.

San Roque dam in San Manuel town was forced to release more waters as inflow increased because of continued releases by upstream dams Ambuklao and Binga. From the initial half meter opening on Thursday noon, another half was added Saturday morning. At past 12 p.m., another half was added until the total opening reached three meters by around 3 p.m.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. called the attention of dam operators Saturday morning to closely follow an earlier agreement about opening spillway gates at the 278 meters above sea level mark to allow gradual releases of water and to avoid a repeat of the sad experience in 2009 when the dam opened its gates already late thus the massive flooding of eastern and central Pangasinan due to sudden release of huge volumes of water.

At about past 9 p.m., only one meter was left open as water inflow decreased and the water level steadied at the 282 masl mark. Power generation was put at the maximum producing some 408 megawatts. Total water outflow reached some 608 cubic meters per second including the releases thru the spillways.

Espino directed all local government units to effect preemptive evacuation and take necessary precautionary measures.

No casualty was received by the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council as of Saturday night. Low lying areas in the towns of Pozorrubio, San Jacinto, Mangaldan, Manaoag and San Fabian which are usually flooded were constantly monitored.

Reeling from flooding aggravated by high tide was Dagupan whose major roads linking nearby towns were not passable to light vehicles. At least 19 barangays came under water forcing evacuation of affected residents.

Sta. Barbara and Calasiao towns which suffered heavily from the onslaught of Pedring again saw more flooding.

Also monitored closely were the towns along the Agno river, particularly Bayambang, Bautista and Alcala because of the dam water releases.

Pangasinan to host bursars, assessors national sportsfest

(JCR/DOS-PIA 1 Pangasinan/PIO)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Oct. 1 -- Pangasinan will host the first national sportsfest of the Association of Treasurers and Assessors on October 4-7 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here.

The sports event will gather more than 1,000 delegates of the Philippine Association of Local Treasurers and Assessors from all over the country, including regional directors and regional association heads as part of their National Sharing of Best Practices on Treasury and Assessment Operations and Wellness Program.

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has instructed the special events working committee to assist the local treasurers and assessors in the preparation for their upcoming event.

Provincial Assessor Nestor Quiambao, overall coordinator of the special events working committee, disclosed that as host province, Pangasinan will stage a trade fair and exhibit featuring the various products of the province to further boost tourism.

A tour to the premier tourism sites in the province issuing the provincial buses will form part of the activities, he said.

The group will also be treated to a presentation of Pangasinan’s rich culture and history through the Dangoan Pangasinan Cultural Show.

The events include volleyball, basketball, tennis, relay obstacle race, walkathon, marathon, chess, billiards, bowling, practical shooting, 100-meter dash, tug-of-war, dance sport and cultural competition.

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