Pangasinan News May 2015

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Pangasinan Province - Archived News
Interactive Google Satellite Map of Pangasinan Province, Philippines
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Map Locator of Pangasinan Province
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The Capitol Building of Pangasinan in the municipality of Lingayen

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.

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Pangasinan State University, Asingan Campus
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Church in Aguilar Pangasinan

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.
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Tondol Beach, Anda

Another foreign cruise ship docks at Hundred Islands

By Johanne Macob

ALAMINOS CITY— The world-famous Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) has arrived as a major tourist destination. It is now a regular destination for foreign cruise programs.

Last week, for the seventh time, another foreign cruise ship docked here and its passengers and crew toured the Islands.

MS Caledonian Sky, a European cruise ship, with around 100 passengers, docked at the HINP last May 21, as part of their 11-day world tour.

The cruise ship, part of the Noble Caledonian Sky ships, launched in May 2012, sails to the world’s most captivating destinations, including Iceland, the Arctic, Norway, the British Isles, North America, South /Central America and the Pacific.

It has 77 crewmembers and 66 of which are Filipinos.

In his Facebook account, City Mayor Arthur Celeste welcomed the Ship Captain Håkan Gustaesson and his more than 100 passengers on board MS Caledonian Sky and thanked them for the inclusion of Alaminos City on their 11-day tour.

Martin Limsiaco, chief officer of the cruise ship, said the ship will visit again next year.

Other cruise ships that visited the Islands in the previous months included the MS Europa that brought 250 European and Asian passengers and the six-star cruise ship Seabourn Sojourn with over 700 onboard guests and crews.

According to city tourism officer, Sol Tablang, the arrival of more foreign tourists is a boon to the city’s tourism industry.

Tablang said development and innovations at the islands are continuing to add more activities. The newest addition is the holding of Zumba for visitors’ wellness. he said.

Other activities at the Hundred Islands already include zipline, rappelling, wall climbing, and water sports activities namely helmet diving, snorkeling, diving, and kayaking.

Local, foreign buyers queue up to buy Dagupan Bangus

By Joseph C. Bacani (CIO)

BALON DAGUPAN NEWS

DAGUPAN CITY – Local and foreign visitors queued to buy and have a taste of the world’s tastiest milkfish at the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) 2015 held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on May 21-24.

“The visitors had only one word to describe our Dagupan bangus, that word is “delicious!” said Mayor Belen T. Fernandez who joined Bangus Industry Development Program coordinator, Sharon M. Maramba, in receiving Dagupan bangus buyers at the IFEX on May 23.

A surprise best seller was the suman pinipig of Mamita’s of Barangay Mangin which two Australian visitors, Joseph and Linda Elvis, enjoyed eating and called it ‘sticky rice’.

The products were Dagupan certified. The producers, most of whom are housewives of small fisherfolk, trained and attended seminars to earn an accreditation.

The local producers that participated the IFEX event were: Jabez Peanut Bites, Ciudad Bangusan, Lisa Seafood Products, Mamita’s kakanin ATBP., Catalina Food Processor, Felly’s Fish Products, Nana Cion Fish Products, LBV Processed Fish, Noreen Fish Products and Pugaro Fish Products.

“Joining the IFEX is one of our marketing strategies in promoting our Dagupan bangus including a number of our local products in the city like the suman malagkit, monamon, banana chips, dried fish like the espada or pingka of Barangay Pugaro,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez also commended Maramba for spearheading the four-day exhibit.

Mountain bike race in Mangaldan, June 6

By JAG Jr.

PANGASINAN’s mountain bike enthusiasts hit the dirt road anew when the IBP Pangasinan Mountain Bike Challenge unfolds on June 6 at Barangay Nibaliw of Mangaldan town.

The event, also dubbed as “Bike the Dike,” organized by Integrated Bar of the Philippines Pangasinan Chapter in cooperation with Philippine National Police Mangaldan office, will be conducted in six categories, open, newbie, ladies, executive, open relay and mixed relay with cash prizes and medals are up for grabs in each division.

According to Mangaldan Chief of Police Supt. Jack Candelario, Mangaldan, registration fee is P450 and free t-shirt will be given to all participants. Interested contestants should register with the Mangaldan Police Station office.

DILG grants P7-M performance challenge fund to Pangasinan

By April M. Montes (MCA/AMM/PIA-1, Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, May 28 (PIA) – The province of Pangasinan will receive a Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) worth P7-million from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for passing the 2014 Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH), a component of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

Pangasinan was also one of the passers of the 2012 Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH).

The SGH is a program of DILG that gives incentives to provinces, cities and municipalities that passed the areas of transparency, accountability, planning and fiscal management.

Last year, the DILG has scaled-up further its performance metrics through the SGLG contained in Memorandum Circular 2014-39 dated March 24, 2014 entitled 2014 Seal of Good Local Governance: Pagkilala sa Katapatan at Kahusayan ng Pamahalaang Lokal which remains as one of the core assessment areas of the New Seal where Pangasinan has been a consistent GFH passer for two consecutive assessment years which is in 2012 and 2014.

In a report of the Provincial Information Office, Assistant Provincial Engineer Tonette Delos Santos said the P7-million PCF will be used for the asphalting of the Pao-Pozorrubio roadline in Pozorrubio town.

The road is a provincial roadline that connects the municipalities of Manaoag and Pozorrubio, Binalonan and San Jacinto. It is also an alternate route for visitors of the Minor Basilica of Manaoag.

Delos Santos said the asphalting of at least 1.709 kilometer stretch from Barangay Dilan, Manaoag to Barangay Malasin, Pozorrubio will shorten travel time, improve the accessibility of commuters, farmers, traders and visitors, aside from providing support to the agricultural and tourism development thrusts of the provincial government.

The project is also expected to directly benefit at least 28, 000 local residents and stimulate more economic, commercial and tourism activities.

Delos Santos said the PCF will be used solely for the cost of asphalt materials for the blocktopping of the Pao-Pozorrubio road while the provincial government will provide for the manpower needs, equipment, and fuel as its counterpart.

National greening summit set in Pangasinan

By Venus May H. Sarmiento (MCA/VHS/PIA1-Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, May 27 (PIA) - A regional summit on the National Greening Program (NGP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for Local Government Units and People’s Organization is set on June 3-5 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Officer- In-Charge Regional Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. of the DENR in the Ilocos said the summit aims to enhance the implementation of the NGP and associated major programs and projects of DENR and will also serve as a venue for sharing success stories and lessons learned during program implementation.

“The summit also aims to identify action plans for improved accomplishments for the forest rehabilitation program established,” Moreno said.

This year’s summit will revolve on the theme: “Addressing the Challenges of the National Greening Program in the Ilocos Region: Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.”

The NGP is a project considered as a climate change mitigation strategy which seeks to enhance the country’s forest areas and also designed to reduce poverty by providing alternative livelihood activities such as seedling production and maintenance of planted trees.

'Bangus' branding is Dagupan's response to ASEAN integration challenge

(PNA), LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, May 26 (PNA) -- The branding or tagging of "bangus" (milkfish) produced from the fishponds of Dagupan is the city's response to the big challenge posed by the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) integration that will start this year.

This was bared by City Agriculturist Emma Molina who admitted that the tagging of the Dagupan Bangus with the label "Dagupan Certified Product", although launched last week, remains in its early promotional stage.

"We are now tagging milkfish being brought outside Dagupan and more if we are through with our promotional stage", said Molina one week after the label was introduced.

Right now, the city is still awaiting the approval of the registration of the label with the Intellectual Property Rights Office (IPRO) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure that Dagupan can lay claim to that label "Dagupan Certified Product" and never to be duplicated or copied somewhere else.

This label was already introduced and launched when Dagupan City showcased some of its native products in the International Food Exposition (IFEX) May 21 to 25 at SMX Mall of Asia which was graced by dignitaries, including diplomats who participated in the recent Asia Pacific Economic Conference at Mall of Asia in Manila.

Molina said bangus branding is the culmination of the long efforts of the city government led by Mayor Belen Fernandez to promote its number one agricultural product, bangus, in the national and international markets.

But the biggest beneficiaries to this marketing strategy are the unrelenting producers who must now get better returns of their investment after the Dagupan bangus, although tastier and fleshier, were priced similarly with products produced in other areas of the country and even in Pangasinan.

"We are positioning bangus so that it can compete with the same products brought to the markets by fish farmers from other areas in the Philippines and Pangasinan," said Molina, explaining the rationale for branding local milkfish.

The only way that we can make Dagupan Bangus special is the branding process so that it can be known, seen and tasted by those people who often hear about this but had no chance to buy the product, Molina added.

She said that branding has long been conceptualized but it only came to actual fruition when Mayor Fernandez came to power, when she asked the city council to pass an ordinance (No. 2028-2015) which became the legal basis for such marketing strategy.

Asked if the price of bangus will become unaffordable to ordinary consumers if the product carries the label "Certified Dagupan Product", Molina said the cost of tagging with the use of a tagging gun owned by the city government is 50 centavos per piece, which is the only add-on cost to the commodity.

Not only fresh or blast frozen Dagupan Bangus will carry the label but also deboned marinated and smoked milkfish and also those placed in cans and bottles as well as "relyenong bangus" and other product produced by home industries in Dagupan, said Molina, citing the products brought by Dagupan to IFEX which became among the best sellers.

Dagupan sending 520 scholars to college this year

(PNA), LAP/LVMICUA/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, May 25 (PNA) -- The city government will award 525 college scholarships for the coming school year to deserving students from poor families who passed the criteria set by the city government.

Mayor Belen Fernandez invited the scholars and their parents to receive their scholarship grants in a ceremony on Monday at the CSI Stadia when she spoke during a program at the city plaza after the flag-raising ceremony on Monday.

The scholars will be enrolled either at the Lyceum Northwestern University, University of Luzon, University of Pangasinan Phinma, Colegio de Dagupan or the Pangasinan Maritime Academy (PAMA).

The city government will shoulder their tuition and other school fees and will maintain their scholarships provided they will earn good grades in all their subjects till they graduate.

Fernandez congratulated the scholars and their parents who are happy their children can now go to college with the help of the city government as they cannot afford the high cost of college education.

She said the city government is investing for the education of children as they may someday take over the reins of the city government.

(Feature) Dagupan steps up preparations for possible tsunami

By Lilia M. Micua [(PNA), SCS/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA]

DAGUPAN CITY, May 24 (PNA) -- A small city, only 50 square kilometers in area, Dagupan is earning plaudits from all over the country for giving premium and recognizing the value of preparation.

Today, Dagupan is possibly the only city outside Metro Manila zealously preparing for nature's fury such as earthquakes, tsunami, typhoons, storm surges and floods, taking a lesson from the earthquake of July 16, 1990 that put the whole city to its knees in seconds.

While officials and the people of Metro Manila are now pre-occupied in preparing for the coming of what experts call the "Big One" where in their estimate, some 37,000 people might die and scores of others injured, the city of Dagupan, some 240 kilometers north of Manila, is doing a parallel activity in coordination with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Noting reports from Phivolcs that in case the Manila Trench fault line located some 250 kilometers off Bolinao into the West Philippine Sea that runs from north to south moves at 8 magnitude, it can generate a powerful tsunami as high as seven meters in Dagupan City alone, the city government created an office called Public Alert Response and Monitoring Center (PARMC).

PARMC is a special office dedicated to put the people in the city on their feet once a strong earthquake, especially emanating from the West Philippine Sea, strikes.

The West Valley Fault that runs 100 kilometers across Bulacan, Metro Manila, Laguna and Cavite may be capable of generating a force strong enough to bring incalculable damages if it movers at 7 to 8 magnitude. But it may be felt at lesser magnitude in Dagupan as the West Valley Fault and the Manila Trench are not interconnected.

That is why, it is the Manila Trench in the West Philippine Sea which the people of Dagupan and Pangasinan fear more and are preparing for than the West Valley Fault.

PARMC is a brainchild of Mayor Belen Fernandez who formed the office right after Phivolcs conducted a Rapid Earthquake Disaster Assessment System (REDAS) and pointed to the dangers posed by the Manila Trench fault line, along the coastal areas of Pangasinan, including Dagupan.

Placed side by side with the office of the City Disaster Risk and Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) for easier coordination, PARMC is tasked to perform its mandate of alerting the people of the city in case of a big earthquake that may be needing evacuation to higher grounds.

PARMC is basically a technical and scientific office working under the Office of the City Mayor to provide the mayor what is called decision support system for whatever questions she may want to be answered relative to Risk Reduction and Disaster Mitigation, said Professor Nick Melecio, chief of PARMC.

With high tech computers and maps it is using, intensity meter installed by Philvolcs as well as the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera of the city with which it was asked to administer, PARMC is doing the monitoring 24/7.

Its personnel are still wide awake when most of the city's population are already in deep slumber.

"It is flooding and earthquake damage which are our expertise," said Melecio, pointing out that the 17 CCTV cameras installed in the city's central business district and the approaches of the new Pantal Bridge were given additional application for flood tracking.

He said all roads where there are CCTV cameras will be given flood scales and when these are captured by CCTV cameras, it could determine right away the height of the flood in these areas.These are valuable inputs that could be used by the decision-makers, the city executive and relief agencies, in assisting the flood victims, reminding that Dagupan is flood-prone city.

On the possibility of a seven-meter high tsunami that may come in case the Manila Trench moves at magnitude 8, the city will soon build a four-storey evacuation center in Barangay Salapingao with the help of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

This will replace a man-made tsunami hill proposed by the past city administration in another island village of Pugaro which was phased out as soon as the new city administration took over for being impractical as it would be located only few meters from the sea.

"Imagine, residents would run towards the sea to meet the coming tsunami and not run away from it, said Mayor Fernandez, ruling out the project which was already started with the construction of the man-made tsunami hill's base.

She said the four-storey evacuation center will be in Barangay Salapingau and not in Pugaro since the latter is linked to the town of Binmaley by a bridge where residents can run to in case of tsunami to save themselves.Meanwhile, PARMC initiated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between 565 owners of high-rise buildings and the city mayor so that in case of tsunami these buildings can be used as Privately-Hosted Evacuation Centers (PHEC). ,

Saying that this is not enough, Mayor Fernandez ordered the CDRRMO headed by Ronald de Guzman to draw up an evacuation route to the south for Dagupan residents escaping from tsunami.

At the same time, some 600 children of the estimated 7,000 in the city, have already been given free swimming lesson at the Dagupan City's Olympic-size swimming pool so that in case of a big flood, they can save themselves and their families.

Earthquake and flood drills were intensified in schools and communities in a bid to teach people what to do in case of disasters.

Thefts a concern in Pangasinan schools as start of classes nears

By Joel Locsin / LBG (GMA News)

With school to start in about a week's time, authorities in Pangasinan are looking for ways to protect schools from thieves.

Police had recorded several thefts in public schools in the province in past months, GMA Dagupan reported.

"Nag-meeting na nga kami diyan, kami ng mga schools superintendent(s). Dapat diyan mag-hire sila ng mga security guards, meron naman silang MOOE (maintenance and other operating expenses). Dapat may security guard sila, o kaya yung may janitor sila, sabay bantay na rin," said Pangasinan governor Amado Espino Jr.

For its part, the Department of Education Pangasinan 2 division said its MOOE may not be enough to hire security guards for the schools.

The DepEd noted the amount of the MOOE depends on the number of students in a school.

"Hindi ho kakayanin ng eskwelahan lang. Kaya nakiki[usap] kami ng tulong sa mga (local government units) like sa mga barangays para katuwang ng aming barangays is yung mga barangay kagawads," said schools division superintendent for Pangasinan 2 Atty. Donato Balderas.

For his part, Mangaldan police head Superintendent Jackie Candelario urged Parent-Teacher Associations to add security features like grills and padlocks.

Those who can afford it can invest in closed-circuit television systems, he added.

"Isangguni din sa kanilang PTA members magdagdag ng security features katulad ng mga grills na kung saan hindi agad-agad napapasok katulad ng mga padlocks, kung kakayanin ng mga magulang ay bibili ng CCTV," Candelario said.

521 Pangasinan scholars receive allowance

(PNA), LAP/LVM/JOHANNE MARGARETTE R. MACOB/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, May 22 (PNA) -- At least 521 students from the first congressional district in the province received P3,000 each under the joint scholarship program of the provincial government and the Office of the First Congressional District.

During an awarding ceremony held at the Provincial Training and Development Center, Lingayen, Board Member Amado Espino III, who represented the Governor in the event, said the scholarship assistance is but another proof of the importance the Espino administration is giving to youth development.

He then challenged the scholars to devote their achievement, particularly through their education, to their families and respective communities.

“"This is a good opportunity to uplift oneself and family and to help the barangays," he intoned.

According to the provincial information office, the Espino administration has a total of 2,240 scholars. These are 1,250 provincial scholars enrolled at the Pangasinan State University; 405 Provincial Scholarship Fund Board (PSFB) academic scholars, 30 National Commission on Indigenous peoples (NCIP) scholars, and 12 Federation of Pangasinan Muslim Association (FPMA) scholars.

The academic scholars, who qualified through an examination, are set to receive P8,000 financial grant per semester or twice every academic year.

Under the PSFB scholarship program, students get to choose which schools and which four-year or five-year degree course they would like to enroll in.

However, to continue receiving the scholarship assistance until graduation, the scholars need to maintain a minimum general weighted average of 85 percent, except for highly technical courses like engineering, architecture, and accounting that only require a minimum grade of 82 percent.

Nat’l Fishery Congress gears eyes ASEAN competitiveness

By Venus May H. Sarmiento (MCA/VHS/PIA1-Pangasinan)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, May 21 (PIA) – Fishery industry leaders from across the Philippines convened in Pangasinan for a three-day National Fishery Producers’ Congress geared towards competitiveness in the economic integration for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Eduardo Maramba, national president of the Philippine Association of Fish Producers, Inc. (PAFPI), said the congress which began on Tusday (May 19) aims to pursue the fishery industry's full development.

“An advanced fishery industry calls for shared responsibility and sacrifices that is why PAFPI makes every effort to help the fishery industry attain status as a strong player and a world economic order where trade barriers are torn down,” Maramba said at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen town.

The three-day Congress looked into modern methods for maximizing production and enlarging the market of marine products worldwide. It also served as an informative, innovative and comprehensive approach for the fishing business to position the fishery industry towards competitiveness under the ASEAN economic integration as stated in the theme, Maramba added.

Maramba said PAPFI will come up with a resolution pushing for the campaign against illegal fishing, intensification of technological researches, massive dredging of rivers, creation of the Department of Fishery and Aquatic Resources and a resolution seeking the granting of a subsidy by the government to the industry.

The Pangasinan provincial government, represented by Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim, welcomed the participants to the Congress and said that the Philippines is one nation that has the best of everything.

“Our fishery industry is very rich which is the reason why other countries like Korea, Taiwan, China and Vietnam are lured, but everything will go to waste if we will not work together and not help each other,” Calimlim said.

Aside from lectures and workshops on investment opportunities in the fishery sector and regulatory requirement for fishery products, the delegates from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were treated to a cultural presentation and a field trip to the Minor Basilica in Manaoag town and the Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos City.


BFAR lauds Dagupan's bangus branding

(PNA), FFC/LVM/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, May 20 (PNA) -- An official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has lauded the successful effort of the Dagupan in branding its locally-produced bangus (milkfish) to distinguish it from others produced in other areas.

"I am happy to know that there is already bangus branding in Dagupan City that can easily distinguish its own product. We hope other places in the Philippines will do likewise," said BFAR Regional Director Nestor Domenden.

He said the branding of Dagupan bangus is consistent with a standing resolution of the Regional Development Council (RDC) seeking the labeling of all OTOP (One Town One Product) products in the region.

"So, I am happy indeed that finally Dagupan has branded its own bangus," Domended told newsmen during the First National Fishery Producers' Summit held here from May 19 to 21.

But he said the branding of milkfish in Dagupan is still "work in progress", that is why nobody expects them to perfect the methodology at once, noting there is already an action on the part of Dagupan towards a better system.

Admitting that it was BFAR regional office who recommended the concept to the Dagupan City government, Domenden said his office is ready to assist in improving the system if requested.

He admitted that branding was really intended to protect consumers from being hoodwinked by vendors who would say the milkfish on their shelves are from Dagupan when in fact it is not, making this as a convenient reason for selling their product at a higher prices.

As a result of branding, Domenden said he expects that there will be short of Dagupan bangus supply soon because lots of consumers would be looking for milkfish that carries the tag "Dagupan certified."

He said he also expects the price of Dagupan bangus to go up but must be kept always at a fair level for all consumers to afford.

Domenden said that aside from protecting the consumers, bangus branding will be a boon to producers who will get better prices for their product.

Dagupan City to showcase products in int'l food expo

By April M. Montes (MCA/AMM/PIA-1, Pangasinan with reports from CIO)

DAGUPAN CITY, May 19 (PIA) – Dagupan’s local products will be showcased in the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City along with other Asia’s ethnic food and ingredients from May 21 to 24.

City Tourism Coordinator Sharon Maramba said that the event is considered a melting pot of flavors and ingredients all under one roof.

“Over 700 food exporters from countries all over the world and more than 13,000 global buyers and visitors are expected to flock to the event which is tailored to suit every buyer’s unique sourcing needs,” Maramba said.

Exhibit hours will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“Dagupan will be showcasing our very own bangus, deboned and marinated bangus, smoked (tinapa) bangus, bangus in oil, alamang, monamon, suman and pinipig, peanut bites, banana chips, and dried fish. All these are Dagupan certified products” Maramba said.

In a report of the City Information Office, Mayor Belen Fernandez is extending her invitation to everyone to join and support the exhibition.

“The exhibition will certainly boost the city’s bangus industry and other local products to benefit our fisherfolks and their families,” Fernandez said.

Public school in Pangasinan gets new classrooms

By Venus May H. Sarmiento (MCA/VHS PIA1-Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, May 18 (PIA) - Dozens of communities are thankful for private companies’ commitment to their corporate social responsibility – a clear gesture of their willingness to give back to the people hosting their multi-billion investments.

The latest beneficiary is a distant elementary school in Barangay Cablong in Sta. Barbara town which is host to a new seven-hectare substation of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). The firm is set to construct the substation in Barangay Balingueo.

The facility has a one- by-100 megavolt ampere (MVA) power transformer and is aimed at improving the electric transmission in the province.

The new Sta. Barbara substation will serve DECORP, PANELCO 3 and CENPELCO. It will also serve as a contingency facility reducing time of power outages in the province. Power can be shifted from this station aside from the existing substation in Pangasinan.

A new classroom also for Balingueo Elementary School is now in the works to help improve public school facilities.

At present, the Cablong Elementary School has nine instructional rooms and two non-instructional rooms for its 320 pupils.

School Principal Imelda Bonifacio lamented that most of their old classrooms were already dilapidated. During the rainy season, water drips from the roof.

Bonifiacio said the new classrooms will provide pupils with a learning environment conducive for them.

NGCP’s Lilibeth Gaydowen of the corporate communications office said the corporation has already donated several other infrastructures in the communities hosting their facilities .

Numerous public schools were granted with comfort rooms, computer hardwares, multi-purpose halls and thousands of school supplies.

PH team to compete in Informatics Olympiad

By Gabriel Cardinoza (Inquirer Northern Luzon)

DAGUPAN CITY—Robin Christopher Yu, 15, was nervous when he sat down in front of a computer as one of the finalists in the two-day National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI) held at University of Pangasinan here that started on May 12.

Yu, an incoming Grade 11 student at Xavier School in San Juan City, Metro Manila, was competing with 11 other students from Philippine Science High School, Ateneo de Manila High School and other schools.

“The problems were very difficult, but then I was able to push through to solve them and it was enjoyable as a contest,” Yu said.

On Wednesday, Yu topped the competition and earned one of the four slots in the Philippine team to the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), which will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from July 26 to Aug. 2.

Other winners and automatic Philippine team members are Aldrich Ellis Asuncion (Ateneo), Matthew Ryan Tan (Xavier School) and Ian Vincent Palabasan (Rizal National Science High School).

The IOI, according to its website (www.ioinformatics.org), is one of five international science Olympiads whose primary goal is to stimulate interest in informatics and information technology (IT). It was proposed to the 24th General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in Paris.

The first IOI was held in 1989 in Bulgaria.

This is the first time the Philippines is competing in the IOI, said Martin Gomez, NOI chair and Philippine team leader. Last year, the country joined the IOI in Taipei as observers.

Gomez said he and IT expert Wilson Chua had thought of organizing the NOI last year to enable more Filipino students to be recognized on the world stage.

They gathered all requirements and sought the approval of the Department of Science and Technology to hold the first national competition in 2014. For the elimination round last year, close to 200 participated nationwide, Gomez said.

According to the IOI website, contestants must show basic IT skills, such as problem analysis, design of algorithms and data structures, programming and testing. They must also have analytical skills and should learn to solve problems using algorithms, or patterns that have been studied throughout history.

Pangasinan to receive PHP7-M DILG Performance Challenge Fund incentive

(PNA), JBP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, May 16 (PNA) -- The province of Pangasinan is set to receive a Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) of PHP7 million from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for passing the criteria for the 2014 Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH), a component of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

A report from the Provincial Information Office (PIO) showed that Pangasinan was also one of the passers of the 2012 Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) -- a program of DILG that gives incentives to provinces, cities and municipalities that passed the areas of transparency, accountability, planning and fiscal management.

In 2014, DILG has scaled-up further its performance metrics through the SGLG as provided for in Memorandum Circular 2014-39 dated March 24, 2014 entitled 2014 Seal of Good Local Governance: Pagkilala sa Katapatan at Kahusayan ng Pamahalaang Lokal.

The latter remains as one of the core assessment areas of the New Seal where Pangasinan has been consistent GFH passer for two consecutive years, 2012 and 2014.

Meanwhile, Assistant Provincial Engineer Tonette Delos Santos said Gov. Amado Espino Jr. directed that the PHP7 million incentive will be used for the asphalting of the Pao-Pozorrubio roadline in Pozorrubio town.

This stretch is a provincial roadline that connects the municipalities of Manaoag and Pozorrubio, and Binalonan and San Jacinto. It is also an alternate route for pilgrims visiting Minor Basilica of Manaoag.

Delos Santos said the asphalting of at least 1.7 kilometer stretch from Barangay Dilan, Manaoag to Barangay Malasin, Pozorrubio will shorten travel time, improve the accessibility of commuters, farmers, traders and visitors, aside from providing support to the agricultural and tourism development thrusts of the provincial government.

She said the project is also expected to directly benefit at least 28,000 local residents and stimulate more economic, commercial and tourism activities in the area.

ATI promotes computer, Internet literacy among aggie extension workers

(PNA), FPV/LVM /JOHANNE MARGARETTE R. MACOB/RMA

STA. BARBARA-- The training arm of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the region, the Agricultural Training Institute- Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC1), puts forward the use of technology in extension works, as it held a Skills Enhancement Training on Computer-Internet Literacy among agricultural extension workers (AEWs).

At least 30 AEWs from Pangasinan and La Union participated in the five-day training at the ATI-RTC1 in Barangay Tebag East, Sta. Barbara on May 11-15, 2015.

"The training aims to equip and strengthen the capabilities of AEWs for a more effective and efficient del Kerry of program and to update them on new technology especially the knowledge sharing and learning, ICT-based tools in agriculture, and the e-learning component of the e-extension program," said Maricel Dacapias, ATI-RTC1 information officer.

According to ATI-RTC1 Director Rogelio Evangelista, they want to instill that technology is a big help in their extension programs.

He said that they hope "participants will learn that although technology is often complex, it is simply a way of doing things."

The training also focused on creating an electronic and interactive bridge where farmers, fishermen, and other stakeholders meet and transact to enhance productivity, profitability, and global competitiveness.

Lectures and presentation on computer systems, computer applications, Internet, knowledge sharing and learning, ICT-based tools, geo-tagging, e-extension program, and e-learning courses were provided to the AEWs.

E-learning employs information and communications technology (ICT) tools and multimedia technologies to upgrade the learning and capacity-building of individuals and institutions, Dacapias said.

Binmaley exec anchors success of tourism campaign on planted Cherry Blossom trees

(PNA), LAP/RCK/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

BINMALEY, Pangasinan, May 14 (PNA) -- Cherry Blossom trees can be grown in cold countries as well as in the tropics.

This was bared by Josefina Victorio, consultant of the municipality of Binmaley, who said the success of their tourism program "Blooming Binmaley" depended much on the Cherry Blossom trees they planted one year ago.

She said Mayor Simplicio Rosario led the planting of 70 saplings of Cherry Blossom trees on May 1, 2004, the same day they launched their tourism campaign dubbed "Blooming Binmaley".

Now, one of those trees is now taller than him, said Victorio, who stands at about five feet and two inches. However, the Cherry Blossom tree is expected to bear flowers only after six years.

"If they do, we need not go to Japan, Korea or Washington D.C. in the U.S. anymore just to see Cherry Blossoms, said Victorio who recounted seeing much of these blooms when she was in Japan last year.

The saplings of the Cherry Blossom tree was donated to the municipality by a concerned citizen of Binmaley who obtained these from the Manila Seedling Bank and which has certified that this kind of tree, which is indigenous in Japan, can be planted in tropical countries.

The Cherry Blossom trees that they planted would bear white and pink flowers.

"We have our beach as our only tourist attraction, that was why we thought of Cherry Blossoms to lure more tourists into our town," said Victorio, now one of the senior citizens of Binmaley.

She said the 70 saplings donated were planted in front and around the municipal hall and municipal parks in the poblacion area. All these are now robustly growing as they are being watered daily especially this summertime.

He said Mayor Rosario invited all the barangay captains from 33 villages during the first anniversary of "Blooming Binmaley" last May 1 where he challenged them to also plant Cherry Blossom trees.

As a matter of fact, other saplings of Cherry Blossom trees will soon be made available to the municipality.

Rosario said with the aid of private citizens, he will launch a contest in September this year to choose the Best Barangay Bloom based on any flowering plants, the winner of which will receive P60,000.

Victorio clarified that the "Blooming Binmaley", backed up by private citizens, is a non-political program and she believes that anyone who will be the town mayor later on, will still continue the program.

Binmaley is the aquaculture capital of Pangasinan. It produces from fish ponds and rivers not only milkfish but also siganid, tiger prawns, sea bass and other marine products.

Dagupan-certified bangus now in the market

By April M. Montes (JCR/AMM/PIA-1, Pangasinan with reports from CIO)

DAGUPAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) – Consumers can now find authentic Dagupan “bangus” (milkfish) in the market as this city started labeling its seafood product with a tag bearing the “Dagupan Certified” logo.

Mayor Belen Fernandez said the tagging will prevent unscrupulous bangus dealers from using the brand “Dagupan bangus” on milk fishes produced from other areas.

“This will give an added value to the city’s main produce aside from assuring milkfish consumers of buying the real Dagupan bangus in the market,” she said.

In a report of the City Information Office, Dagupan's agriculture officer Emma Molina said that the city is the first local government unit to tag its bangus and the first to officially recognize its local produce as Dagupan bangus.

Though the tagging is not mandatory to all bangus growers in the city, Molina believes that the tagging will soon mean something to bangus growers and will eventually have their produce be tagged by the city as Dagupan bangus.

She said that the tagging is exclusive only for Dagupan territorial jurisdictional-produced bangus.

“To be assured that the milkfish were truly grown in the city, all Dagupan bangus growers and dealers are required to apply for accreditation before they will be granted the right to sell Dagupan Certified bangus,” Molina said.

Lourdes Cayabyab, a bangus dealer in the consignacion market since 1975, is thankful that the city has already started tagging the Dagupan bangus.

“Consumers all over the country always wanted to buy Dagupan bangus because of its distinct taste but for those who are not really knowledgeable on buying the genuine Dagupan bangus, they always have a hard time determining the real one," she said.

"Most of the time, they end up buying the fake ones. But with this, our consumers will no longer have a hard time buying the real Dagupan bangus and I am sure siguradong dudumugin ito ng mga tao sa palengke,” Cayabyab said.

Cayabyab is now looking into the possibility of expanding her business by becoming an authorized dealer of Dagupan bangus outside of Dagupan City.

NGCP to put up substation,donates 3 classrooms in Pangasinan

(PNA), FPV/LVM/HILDA AUSTRIA/RMA

STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan May 12 (PNA)—The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will build a substation on a seven-hectare land here to further improve transmission of electricity in the province.

Engr. Alan Medrano of NGCP Northern Luzon said the substation will be a one by 100 power transformer to be installed in barangay Balingueo, Sta. Barbara.

Medrano said prior to the approval by the Sangguniang Bayan (SB), an inspection and public hearing among the communities were held to inform the people of the project.

He thanked the local government of Sta. Barbara headed by Mayor Carlito Zaplan for approving the project.

“In return, we in NGCP donated three classrooms, two model classrooms for Cablong Elementary School (CES) and the other one in another barangay”, said Medrano.

Imelda Bonifacio, school principal said the two classrooms will be used by grade five and grade six pupils or by kinder pupils.

“This is really needed by our school since there is not enough classrooms for the 320 pupils, as some classrooms are dilapidated and rain drips during rainy season,” said Bonifacio.

Bonifacio assured the classrooms will not be turned into offices.

Aside from the classrooms, NGCP also donated a four- door comfort room (CR).

“Pupils now have better CR than my own in my office,”said Bonifacio.

The classrooms and the CR were inaugurated on Tuesday.

Medrano said the project is part of the corporate and social responsibility of the NGCP as it continues to bring good service of transmitting electricity all over the province.

Governor eyes putting up provincial hospital in Lingayen

(PNA), LAP/LVM/JOHANNE MARGARETTE R. MACOB/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, May 11 (PNA) -- A plan is afoot to turn the existing Lingayen District Hospital (LDH) in this capital town into a provincial hospital, once the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) in San Carlos City becomes a medical center.

This was bared by Governor Amado Espino Jr. during the unveiling of the bust of Don Mariano Verzosa at the LDH, also known as Don Mariano Versoza Memorial Hospital, on May 11.

Espino said they are working on making the current PPH in San Carlos City a training facility for it to become a medical center soon.

Once the hospital in San Carlos City becomes a medical center, it will be under the supervision of the national government, and the LDH will then be the new provincial hospital.

Consequently, Espino also announced the plan to expand the LDH for it to eventually house the PPH in the province's capital town.

We really want this hospital to grow big," the Governor remarked.

As part of the hospital expansion, Dr. Athena Merrera, LDH chief of hospital, said a two-storey building will soon rise at the LDH.

"The building will house the administrative offices and the out-patient department," she said.

Espino led the unveiling of the bust of the late Lingayen Vice Mayor and later Mayor Versoza, to whom the hospital was named after.

"Mariano Versoza, a nurse before he became a lawyer, served as Vice Mayor of Lingayen from 1963 to 1968 and eventually Mayorfrom 1968 to 1979.

As then mayor of Lingayen, he had the vision of establishing a public hospital in the capital town, Espino said.

As written on his bust, Versoza has "selflessly served the people of Lingayen...with public health as his priority program."

Versoza's family, through the eldest son Titus, thanked the provincial government for giving such a "humbling experience to the family."

Titus also said, "I don't see his bust as lifeless...I see his bust with his compassionate heart still beating...and I also thank the Governor for his compassionate heart."

LDH is currently a Level 1 hospital under the new Department of Health classification capable of providing major clinical, medical, surgical, obstetrics-gynecology, and pediatrics services.

Merrera said they cater to an average of 108 out-patients daily.


Limahong Tourist Center proposed

By Johanne R. Macob

NEW TOURIST DESTINATION

LINGAYEN– After initiating the Lingayen Baywalk project, 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil is eyeing another cultural-tourism project. This time it’s for the establishment of the Limahong Tourist Center in this capital town.

“We want to put Lingayen in the map of the world by way of putting a marker where the Chinese invader, Limahong, temporarily stayed in 1574,” the Mr. Bataoil said.

The congressman, citing historical footnotes, said Limahong, then a notorious Chinese pirate, hid and dug a channel to escape the pursuing Spanish forces in a portion of the Agno River in Brgy. Pangapisan Norte in Lingayen.

According to the Wikipedia, Limahong has resolved to stay in Pangasinan which is “a rich place and far enough from the reach of the Spaniards and the Chinese emperor.”

“Near the mouth of the Agno River about four miles from the sea, he built a fort consisting of an outer palisade of palm logs, and an inner enclosure of palm planks which sheltered his palace.”

Bataoil disclosed he already submitted to the Department of Tourism, the Limahong Tourist Center project proposal for inclusion in the succeeding budget deliberations.

The proposal includes the establishment of a river cruise, construction of a pavilion and of a multi-purpose pavement alongside the river, and development of the roads leading towards the Channel from the Lingayen town proper.

The pavilion will house Limahong artifacts.

Mr. Bataoil said the plan is to replicate the Loboc River Cruise in Bohol, but the boats will be replica of Limahong’s boat.

There will be three stations or river ports- Bantayan, Domalandan, both in Lingayen; and Banyaga in Bugallon.

Bataoil said even the Lingayen municipal administrator attested that many come to their office to ask for the location of the Limahong Channel.

The proposal has also been furnished to the provincial government and Lingayen- local government unit to solicit more support for the project.

During the Banca Parada (fluvial float parade) last May 1, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and Dr. Prospero De Vera, UP vice president, expressed support for the project.

Sual town to plant 1M trees

(PNA), JBP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, May 9 (PNA) -- The town of Sual is eyeing to plant one million trees comprising of coconuts, cacao and coffee (cocaco) starting from residents' backyards and up to the mountain sides which now badly need reforestation.

This was bared by Mayor Robert Arcinue who said there are some 7,000 households in Sual which they intend to give 30 seedlings each or 210,000 seedlings to be planted in their backyards or any vacant lot.

However, Arcinue clarified that they will give seedlings only to families who wanted to plant and will plant the remaining seedlings in barren mountainsides that have lost their forest covers over the years due to slash and burn farming or "kaingin"

He said they chose coconuts, cacao and coffe to plant because aside from helping in the reforestation of the town, these trees when they bear fruit will become a chief source of livelihood for the people.

The municipal government has tied up with the San Miguel Energy Corporation (SMEC) in the massive reforestation project specifically using coconuts, cacao and coffee.

The reforestation project also intends to help stabilize the soil in the mountainsides and help prevent erosion.

Arcinue said this will complement the ilang-ilang seedlings the town of Sual planted on both sides of the national highways at the beginning of his term in July 2013.

Sual is home to the 1,218 megawatt Sual coal-fired power plant and is being eyed by Kampac, an international corporation based in Dubai, as the location of several multi-billion dollar projects, like an oil refinery, international port, petrochemical and even another coal-fired or gas-fired power plant.

Dagupan to host National Olympiad in Informatics

(VHS/PIA-1Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, May 8 (PIA) – The prestigious National Olympiad in Informatics Philippines (NOI) will hold its final round of competition in Dagupan City from May 11-14, 2015.

Some 12 High School students from various parts of the country will battle it out for the finals to be held at the University of Pangasinan.

Vangie Padilla, president of the Pangasinan Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Council under the Department of Science and Technology, said the national event will serve as a campaign to all Pangasinense high school students to be included in the next NOI competition.

“We brought the activity to Dagupan to make Pangasinenses aware of this event and encourage them to join teh NOI next year,” Padilla said.

At present, Robin Christopher Cham Yu of Xavier School has been on top of the eliminations followed by Ian Palabasan of Rizal National Science High School and Leodegario Orpilla III from Philippine Science High School Main Campus.

The event will be hosted by the University of Pangasinan-Phinma, Bitstop Network Services and Kalibrr and co-organized by the Metro-Dagupan ICT Council and Pangasinan ICT Council. It is also supported by the City Government of Dagupan, Provincial Government of Pangasinan and Smart Telecom.

The NOI.PH is the official qualifier for the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) to be held in Kazakhstan. The IOI approved the inclusion of the Philippines in the said prestigious international olympiad through the efforts of the DOST- ICT Office headed by its Executive Director Usec. Luis Casambre and Deputy Executive Director Monchito Ibrahim.

'Brigada Iskwela' slated May 18 to 23

(PNA), LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, May 7 (PNA)-- The 'Brigada Iskwela', an annual activity of the Department of Education (DepEd) along with parents, teachers and other stakeholders, will be held from May 18 to 23, a week before the opening of classes for school year 2015-2016 on the first Monday of June this year.

This was bared by Linda Ventenilla, an official of the Dagupan city schools division, who said the activity is being done to ensure that classrooms and teachers are all ready before the pupils and students go back to their respective classes.

She said during the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP) forum here Thursday that during the week-long 'Brigada Iskwela', parents, including barangay official officials and other stakeholders will go to schools and assess what these need and provide these needs via the "bayanihan" way.

These include school repair and maintenance, cleaning of the schools and surrounding areas and painting of classrooms to make them ready and fit when the pupils and students return to their respective classes.

Ventenilla said that June 1 is the start of classes since there is a need for them to start early as they have a schedule to follow and must set the graduation on March 31 next year.

At the same time, school teachers at this point and time are attending a seminar on K to 12.

In the same forum, Provincial Board Member Danilo Uy, chairman on education of the Pangasinan provincial board, hailed "Brigada Iskwela", saying the Maintenance Operating and Other Expenses (MOOE) of public schools is not enough to answer all their needs during the opening of classes.

Since it is the responsibility of stakeholders to also help public schools, parents must lend their hand during the "Brigada Iswela" to make sure that their kids are comfortable when they begin their classes, he said.

But he assured that not only parents will help but also well-heeled people as well as business establishments in the area that will support the endeavor by providing materials such as cement, paints, nails and even galvanized iron roof.

Skimboarding soon to become permanent water sport in Lingayen beach

(PNA), LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, May 6 (PNA) -- Skimboarding will soon be a regular activity in the yearly "Pistay Dayat" (sea festival).

This, after the waters of Lingayen Gulf was found an ideal venue for skimboarding, a fun-filled water sports done by a person standing on top of a thin board as he slides with his full weight above the water and along with the waves.

Those who introduced skimboarding in the last Pistay Dayat (sea festival), said the capitol beachfront is perfectly ideal for skimboarding as this water sports activity is usually played in shallow waters with just small waves.

It is like in surfing, only it uses a thin board minus the fins which are found in surf boards and played in deeper water where the waves are bigger.

Skimboarding is done by meeting an incoming breaking wave using a smaller board and then sliding across the water surface to get back to the shore

During the recent Pistay Dayat, clinics and exhibitions were conducted by members of the Skim-Your-Hearts-Out (SYHO) from 7am-10am and 2pm-5pm from April 27 to May 1 for free to encourage the youth to do skimboarding as additional fun-filled activity in the beaches.

Michael Bugarin, an SYHO official, thanked the provincial government for giving skimboarders the chance to exhibit their skills in this kind of water sports even as he expects that skimboarding could become a regular activity in the shores of Lingayen Gulf soon.

Bugarin said many are interested to learn skimboarding in Pangasinan as the Capitol beachfront alone is most ideal for skimboarding as only small waves develop in the area which are actually what this water sports need," Bugarin said.

Officer-in-Charge Provincial Population Officer (PPO) Ellsworth Gonzales, who facilitated the skimboarding event in the just concluded Pistay Dayat, said beach-goers, visitors and tourists at the Capitol will now always anticipate this kind of activity.

“The present provincial administration considers this skimboarding as a regular activity that could attract more tourists to visit the Capitol beachfront,” Gonzales stressed.

To add more excitement, invited skimboarders from Agoo, La Union provided lectures and clinics to the skimboarding participants.

On the other hand, personnel from Provincial Health Office (PHO) were tasked to check health concerns of the participants while Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) crewmen of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) manned the beach area to assure safety and security of the beach-goers.

Pangasinan solon pushes for Limahong Tourist Center project

(PNA), LGI/RCK/LVM/JOHANNE MARGARETTE R. MACOB/DMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, May 5 (PNA) -- Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil is pushing for the establishment of the Limahong Tourist Center, another cultural-tourism project similar to the Lingayen Baywalk along the Lingayen beach.

"We want to put Lingayen in the map of the world by way of putting a marker where the famous invader, Limahong, temporarily stayed," the congressman remarked.

Bataoil cited Limahong, a Chinese corsair who dug a water channel on a portion of the Agno River in Barangay Pangapisan Norte in Lingayen which he used as escape route when being pursued by the Spaniards under Captain Juan de Salcedo.

After an unsuccessful attack of Manila, Limahong and his men fled to Pangasinan which was "a rich place and far enough from the reach of the Spaniards and the Chinese emperor," according to Wikipedia.

"Near the mouth of the Agno River about four miles from the sea, he built a fort consisting of an outer palisade of palm logs, and an inner enclosure of palm planks which sheltered his palace."

Bataoil disclosed he has already submitted, through the Department of Tourism, the Limahong Tourist Center project proposal for inclusion in the succeeding budget deliberations.

The proposal includes the establishment of a river cruise, construction of a pavilion and of a multi-purpose pavement alongside the river, and development of the roads leading towards the Channel from the Lingayen town proper.

The pavilion will house Limahong artifacts while the pavement will be a haven for tourists, said Bataoil.

Meanwhile, the congressman said the plan is to replicate the Loboc River Cruise in Bohol, but the boats will be replica of Limahong's boat.

There will be three stations or river ports- Bantayan, Domalandan, both in Lingayen; and Baniaga in Bugallon.

Bataoil added that even the Lingayen municipal administrator attested that many come to their office to ask for the location of the Limahong Channel.

The proposal has also been furnished to the provincial government and Lingayen local government unit to solicit more support for the project.

During the Banca Parada (fluvial float parade) last May 1, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. has expressed his support to the project, further citing that Agno River is one of the cleanest in the country.

Further, on the same event, University of the Philippines (UP) Vice President for public affairs, Dr. Prospero De Vera, vowed the support of UP, particularly the Department of History, to the project.

We can help in the training of the cruise tourist guides, De Vera said.

Pangasinan board backs PRC membership program

(PNA), RMA/LVM/LVMICUA/1600/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, May 4 (PNA)--The provincial board on Monday passed a resolution expressing its support to the membership program of the Philippine National Red Cross (PRC) in Pangasinan.

The resolution, proposed jointly by Board Members Shiela Perez-Galicia and Amado Espino III, noted that PRC is the leading humanitarian organization in the Philippines.

The two officials said that one of the programs of the PRC was to encourage the entire population of the Philippines to be Red Cross members regardless of citizenship, status, gender and political affiliation.

Being a member of the PRC would mean instilling the value of giving and sharing for the benefit of the most vulnerable. Being a member would also mean availing of the benefits extended by the PRC, the two said.

Pangasinan has 1,333 barangays, three cities and 44 municipalities and numerous organizations, organized groups and associations that could ably participate in the membership program of the PRC.

Galacia and Espino III said the provincial board fully supports the membership program of the PRC and encouraged all local chief executives and leaders to pursue the same.

No problem seeing the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight in Pangasinan

(PNA), SCS/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, May 3 (PNA) -- There's no problem seeing the blockbuster fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in Dagupan City and Pangasinan live.

This is because people here can see the fight live for free without any more paying their way to movie houses and restaurants like they do on Sunday in Metro Manila.

The people here need only to go to one of the malls, hang on in the Lingayen beach area and stand by in front of supermarts with LED screens in front or gather in front of one of the colleges in Dagupan.

Many others are staying home to watch in the cable television Urban Satellite Vision (USATV) the Fight of the Century between Filipino icon Pacquiao and American champion Mayweather, hugely rooting for the Filipino fighter.

No movie house in Pangasinan and Dagupan is showing the fight for a fee as they can see it live for free anywhere that is reached by USATV which forged another tie-up with Solar, as in other earlier fights of Manny Pacquiao.

The fight, including its preliminaries, is now also being seen through the giant screen at the Big Atrium of CSI the City Mall, a sister company of USAT.

USATV is the biggest cable TV company in Pangasinan, with subscribers in all four cities of the province and in the towns of Calasiao, Malasiqui, Bayambang, Bautista, Alcala, Sto. Tomas, Villasis, Sta. Barbara, Mapandan, Manaoag, San Jacinto, Mangaldan, San Fabian, Binmaley, Lingayen, Labrador, Sual, Bugallon, Aguilar and Mangatarem.

All CSI malls in Pangasinan reached by USATV are showing the fight in their LED screens while its malls where the cable television is not available are getting live feed of the fight from the company Cignal to be shown for free to the people.

Meanwhile, the provincial government is also showing the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight in the Lingayen Beach live through its audio visual vans for the benefit of those who flock the beach during the current "Pistay Dayat' (Sea Festival).

The Colegio de Dagupan is showing the fight live in its LED screen in front for tricycle and jeepney drivers waiting for their passengers and for others in front of the Nepo Mall to see.

Amazing race to save Pangasinan’s protected landscape

By Venus May H. Sarmiento (MCA/VHS/PIA-1/Pangasinan)

MANGATAREM, Pangasinan, May 2 (PIA) - Employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Ilocos region raced their way to show concern for Pangasinan’s protected landscape.

The 2nd Annual Eco-Adventure Race to Manleluag Spring Protected Landscape started Thursday at 7 a.m. with nine competing teams. Each team comprises 10 players from various CENRO and PENRO offices in the region.

The ‘survivor-themed’ adventure boasts of several station-challenges that involved running, jumping, rolling and swimming.

“This is still part of our contribution in the observance of Earth Day. We, the employees, do our share in communing with nature,” said Leduina Co of PENRO-Pangasinan.

With activities such as the eco-adventure, the employees re-learn to appreciate the beauty of protected areas and conserve resources, Co told the Philippine Information Agency.

After the race, female employees took part in the Search for Binibining Kalikasan.

Mangatarem is one of only two parks in Pangasinan proclaimed by the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Law as a ‘Protected National Park’. It is rich in bio-diversity and is home to more than 300 species of birds.

The other proclaimed national park is the Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos City.

800,000 join Dagupan's Bangusan street party

(PNA), JBP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, May 1 (PNA) -- The people of Dagupan and the neighboring towns, including tourists, partied all night along the entire stretch of Jose R. de Venecia Expressway in Dagupan City on April 30 to cap 2015 Bangus Festival.

An estimated 800,000 joined the street party which opened after the ceremonial lighting of grills by former Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arenas and Mayor Belen Fernandez at past 6:00 p.m. Thursday.

The crowd was higher compared to the 700,000 registered last year, which marked the return of the Bangusan Street Party to the Jose R. de Venecia Expressway after three years.

There were 700 grills that were set up, bought by individuals and establishments at P2,800 per piece. The amount included five kilos of milkfish, one pack of hot dog, salt, six big bottles of Coke, charcoal and apron.

Some 4,000 kilos of milkfish, including other fishes, sausages and meat were simultaneously grilled for the event.

The milkfish came from the clayish fishponds of Dagupan.

No untoward incident happened as the police deployed some 300 uniformed and plainclothes personnel for the event as stream of revelers were still coming in past 9 p.m when most of the participants had already finished their dinner.

Arenas said she was happy to join the party which is attended yearly not only by Dagupenos and Pangasinenses but visitors and tourists, including foreigners.

Arenas was awed by the huge crowd who joined the street party and went on to congratulate city officials led by Fernandez for such a feat.

The Department of Tourism extended due recognition to the Bangusan Street Party in 2009 as one of the biggest street parties in the Philippines.

The biggest attraction in the Bangusan Street Party was the presence of famous bands from Manila like Parokya ni Edgar, Join D Club, Lunar Lights, Sponge Cola, Kamikaze, Gloc 9, Hale, Itchy Worms, and others.

Traffic was rather heavy along the national highway in Lucao as vehicles there were not almost moving at past 10 p.m. in contrast to the lighter traffic on Perez Boulevard and in the downtown.

Fernandez said she was overjoyed by the big show of support of the Dagupenos and Pangasinenses to the yearly street party and to the entire Bangus Festival.

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