Pangasinan News February 2014

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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

Ramos, De Venecia lead Pangasinense awardees

(Manila Standard Today)

Dagupan City—Former President Fidel V. Ramos and former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. will lead the awarding rites on Saturday (March 1) for outstanding Pangasinenses at the President Hotel in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Ramos and De Venecia, both Pangasinenses and considered as the twin architects of the Philippines’ “launching pad to its bid to become a tiger economy,” recognized the media’s role in their success as public servants.

Pangasinan Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. will lead the awardees such as Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas and Reps. Rosemarie Arenas, Georgina de Venecia and Leopoldo N. Bataoil.

The awards will b presented by the monthly magazine Pacebook founded in 2010 by noted journalist Jun Velasco and edited by former Philippines Graphic editor Cesar M. Carpio.

Essayist and opinion writer Mita Sison-Duque, publisher of the newest weekly newspaper in the Ilocos region, will introduce Ramos, while De Venecia will share his experience as a journalist before he became a politician.

The other awardees are Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Antonio Villar, Jr., Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez, Mayors Ricardo Camacho (Bayambang), Carlito Zaplan (Sta. Barbara), Gwen Palafox-Yamamoto (Bani), Abono Party-list Chairman Rosendo So, Dr. Joseph Roland Mejia, Atty. Gonzalo Duque, Atty. Liberato Reyna, Jr. Dr. Robin Navarro, Engr. Reynaldo Mencias, Angelo Padua of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), noted acupressure specialist Eddie Quinto, journalist Maki Pulido, evangelist Bro. Diony Espiritu, Zeny Palisoc, painter Claireyenne Malanyaon, businessman-philanthropist Ashok Vasandani and Dr. Vicky Tada.

Urdaneta to celebrate 16th year of cityhood on March 21

(PNA), PDS/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

URDANETA CITY, Feb. 28 (PNA)--The city of Urdaneta in Pangasinan will observe its 16th anniversary on March 21 though the celebration will begin on March 15 with a fun run called "Urdane-Taray".

City Administrator Ronald San Juan said the week-long charter celebration to be led by Mayor Amadeo "Bobom" Perez VI will focus mainly on the conduct of public service to the city residents, like the holding of job fairs, tree-planting and a city-wide clean up drive.

Other activities will include a parade, a thanksgiving mass and a variety show scheduled on March 21, the 16th anniversary of Urdaneta cityhood to be held at the Urdaneta Civic and Sports Center

Urdaneta is a second class city with an annual income of from P300 to P400 million which was created as a city through legislation passed in Congress authored by then- Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr., now chairman of the Manila Economic Cooperation Office (MECO) in Taiwan

San Juan said Urdaneta has undergone a lot of physical transformations since it became a city on March 21, 1998, from a mere town of Pangasinan.

He said Urdaneta, which is the cross road of Eastern and Western Pangasinan, is now an investment, educational, convention and trading center in the whole province if not in the entire Northern Luzon.

Its vegetable market and livestock market, two biggest sources of income of the young city, are among the biggest in the whole Philippines today.

In a bid to accommodate more traders and farmers bringing in vegetables to Urdaneta City, the city is now building its Agri-Pinoy Market with initial funding of P27.8 million from the Department of Agriculture.

Already 40 per cent complete, the project is the expanded "Bagsakan Market of Urdaneta" located at the former city auditorium as the present one now proves inadequate for all vegetable traders coming from Northern Luzon and from Metro Manila.

Urdaneta City is the only local government unit in Pangasinan that has so far complied with Solid and Ecological Waste Act when it built its sanitary landfill in 2010 which is now accommodating the wastes of the whole city and adjacent small towns of Pangasinan.

The project was constructed during the administration of former mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. which became operational when his son Amadeo "Bobom" Perez IV succeeded him as city mayor.


Dagupan slates 31-day Women month's celebration

(PNA), LGI/LVM/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, Feb. 26 (PNA) -- Mayor Belen Fernandez, the first elected woman mayor of Dagupan, will lead the celebration of the Women's Month this coming month of March on the theme: "Dagupena, ang tatag mo ay tatag natin sa pagbangon at pagsulod" (Dagupena, your stability is our firmness in rising and moving forward).

This is the first time in the history of Dagupan that a woman is at the helm of the city government since time immemorial.

City Nutrition Officer Leah Aquino, also acting head of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD), chair of the celebration, said the Women's Month will start March 3 with the holding of health service delivery; health lifestyle for women to be held at the City Museum and at the City Health Office.

Here the women will undergo blood testing, cholesterol check up, urynalysis, hemoglobin/hematocrift determination, Taebo and Zumba dance exercises and diet management.Aquino said the beneficiaries are women employees at city hall and indigent women of Dagupan City, especially pregnant teenagers.

All those who will undergo checkup will be given freebies courtesy of the City Supermarket Inc., one of the cooperating agencies.

The women will parade in the early morning of March 7 and will wind up at the city plaza in time for a thanksgiving mass. A slogan contest on the women as topic will also be held with the City School Division as the lead agency.

March 10 will be the 'Buntis' Congress and 'Buntis' Day celebration where some 500 pregnant women will attend a fora at CSI Stadia. At the congress, they are provided with pre-natal services and check up, laboratory examinations and ultra sound for free.

Mayor Fernandez will also distribute in the Buntis Congress health insurance cards from the Philippine Insurance Health Corporation (PhilHealth) to pregnant women. There will also be a Search for Mrs. Buntis 2014.

Aquino said that from March 1 to 31, the city government will intensify its livelihood skills development for women, like in sewing, cosmetology, food processing, basic computer and arts and crafts.

At the same time, entrepreneurship training for women engaged in fish drying and in making coated peanuts will also be held on March 7 is in connection with the program, One Product, One Barangay for womenfolk in barangay Pugaro and Sitio Puelay, Caranglaan

The Pangasinan Medical Society and the Philippine Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists chapter both headed by Dr. Bertha Fe Manaois Castillo will also hold free cancer screening for breast and cervix of women.

There will also be free assistance for women Overseas Filipino Workers at the office of the City Assistance Service Team (CAST) and massive information dissemination on teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, alcoholism and smoking and responsible parenthood by the Population and Development Office headed by Professor Alex de Venecia.

Governor's in 100 Islands group set for development

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

ALAMINOS CITY, Feb. 25 (PNA) --The city government of Alaminos led by Mayor Arthur Celeste in partnership with the provincial government led by Governor Amado Espino Jr. will soon embark on an ambitious program to develop the Governor's Island in the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) group.

Celeste, speaking after hosting the first out of town regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP)on Monday said they are preparing necessary requirements to begin the improvements in the said island.

"The Governor is there to really help me in beautifying the island," Celeste said citing that Gov. Espino, himself, was asking as to when they could start the project.

Meanwhile, Celeste said the Quezon Island- which is now solar-powered and has new structures like monuments, gazebos and toilets- have greatly contributed to the P1-million increase in the profit of the HINP for the past six months, at an average of P50,000 during Saturdays, P30,000 on Sundays, and P10-15,000 on weekdays.

He said that his administration aims at increasing the HINP-generated annual income from about P4 to P5-million before to P10 to P15-million.

The Mayor also disclosed that they target to provide fresh potable water in the three major islands namely Children's, Governor's, and Quezon by April of this year.

Aside from the 123 islands, the HINP also offers helmet diving which Celeste said is the second of its kind in the entire country. Alaminos City and Boracay are the only ones which have helmet diving.

He added that there will be two more water activities- another type of diving and underwater scooter-to further boost tourist arrivals, both local and foreign.

Meanwhile, Celeste expressed his pride and gratitude to the SP for holding its first out of town regular board session at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) Extension Office in their city.

Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. said that their out of town session was intended to "give focus on concerns that are prevalent in the area."

He said, "This is the provincial government coming closer to each and every LGU in very parts of Pangasinan. This is your provincial government in action, closer to you, closer to where you live."


Pangasinan boosts tilapia stock

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

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, February 24 (PIA) – The Provincial Agriculture Office have released some 120, 000 pieces of tilapia fingerlings in Pangasinan’s river systems to boost the province’s tilapia supply.

The river systems in the towns of Balungao, Bolinao and Malasiqui received fresh fingerlings last February 19 to 21.

Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya said the continuing dispersal of tilapia fingerlings promotes the steady growth of the fishing industry that maintains the increasing production of quality fishery products while conserving resources.

This accounts for the year-round production of tilapia fingerlings in the government-owned hatcheries in Lingayen, San Quintin and Sta. Barbara that is augmented by fingerlings from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

“It reflects our current thrusts on sustainable production and resource conservation which makes Pangasinan as the leading producer in agriculture and fisheries contributing 87 percent of the region’s fish production in 2013,” Moya said.

Recently, BFAR conferred to Pangasinan the Gawad Pagkilala Award for the province’s efforts in restoring the bounty of the river system.

Pangasinan is the sole local government unit that BFAR recognized for its programs’ significant impact in the protection, conservation and sustainable development in the fishing industry.

Fish dispersal to communal bodies of water is among the components of the agricultural programs of the provincial government that resulted to increased fish catch.

To date, the provincial government had a total of 3.22 million tilapia fingerlings dispersed since 2007 in 123 communal bodies of water throughout the province.

Red Cross targets one blood donor, volunteer, first-aid person per family by 2020

(Philippines News Agency)

DAGUPAN CITY - A blood donor, a volunteer, and one who knows first aid in every Filipino family. This is the obsession not only of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) but also of all Red Cross chapters around the world as contained in the Red Cross Strategic Direction 2020.

Florame Magalong, PRC administrator in Pangasinan, said the program aims to see at least one blood donor, one who can deliver first aid, and a volunteer in every home by year 2020 to ensure that they are prepared whenever disaster strikes.

"In Red Cross Strategic Direction 2020, we are actually transferring the values of disaster preparedness, volunteerism, and giving to the community," said Magalong

Magalong said to a certain extent, this is exactly what Red Cross started doing when it put up the group Red Cross 142, which basically comprises of 42 volunteers and one team leader in every barangay.

She said the group is the one that will connect the community to the PRC whenever a disaster strikes using the community-based early warning system so that help can be dispatched immediately.

Pangasinan releases fish fingerlings in 4 towns

By Dexter A. See

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan --- Gov. Amado Espino has announced dispersal of 120,000 tilapia fingerling in the communal waters of three municipalities to boost production of fresh water fishes.

He said the fingerlings were released in the towns of Malasiqui, Bolinao, and Balungao as part of the provincial drive to attain self-sufficiency in fish and meet the needs of the entire province.

“The continuing dispersal of tilapia fingerlings promotes the steady growth of our industry that maintains the increasing production of quality fishery products,” he said.

The province produce tilapia fingerlings year-round in government-owned hatcheries in Lingayen, Sta. Barbara and San Quintin, which are in addition to the fingerelings provided by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The latest dispersal brought to 3.22 million tilapia fingerlings dispersed by the province in 123 communal bodies of water throughout the province.

Espino said the province has been pushing to maximize utilization of existing hatcheries to sustain the government’s campaign for fish sufficiency.

“This reflects our current thrusts to attain sustainable production and resources conservation, which makes Pangasinan the leading producer in agriculture and fisheries , contributing 87 percent of the region’s fish production in 2013,” Espino said.

Medical mission of U.S. based group serves 8,932 people

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

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Feb. 21 (PNA) -- At least 8,932 residents of Bayambang town benefited from a medical mission by a private organization in the United States in coordination with the Pangasinan provincial government held at Bayambang District Hospital from Feb. 17 to 20.

According to the summary report of the Bukas Loob sa Diyos Foundation (BLD) of Newark, New Jersey, USA, 75 major surgical operations, 371 minor surgeries and 847 dental services were done during the four-day mission.

The group also provided thousands of reading glasses and care packs to the beneficiaries.

The provincial government expressed its gratitude to the 248 doctors and nurses of BLD during a farewell party held Thursday at the Sison Auditorium.

"No measure of thanks or no material gratitude can ever replace what you have done for the people of Bayambang, the people of Pangasinan," Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. said. Calimlim represented Governor Amado Espino Jr. in the event.

Calimlim noted that BLD is the biggest, overseas-based delegation to have conducted a medical mission in the province.

For his part, Bayambang Mayor Ricardo Camacho thanked the BLD-delegation for helping his constituents, stressing they will never forget the support and help they have extended to their municipality.

Pangasinan Team lands 10th in Batang Pinoy finals

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

DAGUPAN CITY, Feb. 20 (PIA) – The 90-strong Pangasinan Team landed 10th place in the 2013 Batang Pinoy Finals held in Bacolod City City from January 28 to February 1.

Despite the stiff competition among 128 participating Local Government Units, Pangasinan hauled in 45 medals – seven gold, 18 silver and 20 bronze after the five-day competition.

The Provincial Information Office (PIO) said the team got its first gold medal on Day One courtesy of Mariz Sabado of Umingan National High School who competed in the 2000-m walk at the Panaad Stadium. Kim Xyros Macanas, also from the same school, landed second.

The Athletics team bagged a total of 12 medals (2-5-5) while five cyclists from Pangasinan amazed spectators as they occupied first to fifth spots in the 30-km race held at the new Silay road heading to Silay airport on January 30.

The Karatedo team, composed mainly of athletes from Dagupan City-based private schools, romped off with 17 medals (2-8-7), giving Pangasinan team the most number of medals from kata and kumite categories of Karatedo.

Pangasinense arnis players got one silver and three bronze medals while taekwondo athletes hauled in two silvers and one bronze.Two bronze medals were secured by the lawn tennis team in the boys and girls categories, respectively while chess player Samantha Glo Revita from Rosales town wrapped up the last silver medal of Pangasinan in the last day of competition.

Gov. Amado Espino, Jr. congratulated the team which managed to be in the top ten and said the national championships opened opportunities for the athletes, according to a PIO release.

Delegation official Marlon Domalanta said the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), organizer of Batang Pinoy, shortlisted five Pangasinense basketball athletes along with athletes from other delegations who will be trained in the US under the Sports Visitors Program of the US State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

Some members of the champion volleyball team of Pangasinan could also avail of the same training opportunity, but will still be subjected to further screening from the PSC, said Domalanta.

The PIO release said Quezon City reigned champion with 29 gold, 22 silver and 19 bronze medals. Rounding out the top 10 were: Baguio City (22-18-10) 2nd; host province Negros Occidental (19-11-14) third; Cebu (16-19-19) fourth; IloIlo (13-0-4) fifth; Laguna (12-7-6), sixth; Zamboanga City (11-13-18) seventh; host City Bacolod (8-14-29), eight; and Manila (8-4-4), ninth.

Pangasinan PESO bags regional awards anew

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

DAGUPAN CITY, February 19 (PIA) - The Public Employment Services Office (PESO) of Pangasinan bagged various awards anew in the annual Regional Yearend Performance Assessment for 2013 conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the Ilocos Region.

Pangasinan PESO hauled in a total of 10 awards including the citations for Alex Ferrer as Best PESO for the provincial level, Roel Sabado of Rosales town for the 1st and 2nd class municipalities and Gloria Fernandez of Balungao town for the 3rd and 4th class municipalities.

A special award was also conferred to Ferrer for having the highest accomplishment in the job fair program. Pangasinan PESO initiated 12 provincial job fairs in 2013 and assisted in at least 29 job seeking events.

The winners each received a certificate of recognition and cash incentive.

Ferrer, who won the national award last year as Best Performing PESO at the Provincial Level, was thankful for another citation given by the region this year.

"The success of PESO can be attributed to the support of the local chief executives and the resourcefulness and hardwork of its employees,” Ferrer told the Philippine Information Agency.

He said even with the many programs and projects cascaded by DOLE, an employment office not supported by the local government, its staff and the public, will not meet its accomplishments.

As a regional winner, Pangasinan will again be nominated in the national contest this year.

Regional Director Grace Ursua said the awarding event was useful in assessing the performance of PESOs in key employment programs of DOLE such as referral and placement, job fairs, Labor Market Information, Skills Registry System, Special Program for the Employment of Students and livelihood program, among others.

Pangasinan scholars receive financial assistance

(PNA), FPV/LVM/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Feb. 18 (PNA)-- More than 1,000 college scholars of the provincial government studying at the Pangasinan State University (PSU) received their financial assistance of P5,000 each.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. and Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim led the distribution of financial assistance to the individual scholars in a ceremony Tuesday at the Pangasinan Trade and Development Center at the provincial capitol.

Gov. Espino expects that after graduation, the provincial scholars will stay and serve the province of Pangasinan and its people.

The bulk of the financial assistance will go to tuition fees of the scholars for one semester at PSU. The remaining amount will be for their school needs.

An official of the provincial government said the scholars will continue to receive financial assistance if they maintain good grades otherwise they will be dropped from the roster.

The scholars are from various campuses of the PSU spread in various towns and cities of Pangasinan.

Pangasinan seeking sisterhood pact with Cebu

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

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Feb. 17 (PNA)-- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) passed a resolution declaring the province of Pangasinan's intent to establish sister-province relationship with Cebu.

Provincial Resolution No. 446-2014 authored by all SP members noted that the entire officialdom of Pangasinan and its people are opening its doors to the province of Cebu in fostering cordial relations, cultural enhancement, and economic development.

During Monday's regular session, it was stated the Pangasinan SP fully supports the sisterhood relationship with the province of Cebu to establish continuous contacts and cordial relationship and understanding with its government and its people.

Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr., SP presiding officer, said that "there has been previous dialogues" on the matter during the visit of the province of Cebu led by its Governor Hilario Davide III last February 4-5 in Pangasinan for them to learn from the latter's best practices.

"The team of Davide was fully impressed and satisfied on its first visit to some provincial government hospitals in Pangasinan and was inspired to emulate the achievement of the province in terms of its delivery of health services to the people," the resolution stated.

The SP said the sisterhood relationship will pave the way to a stronger relations between the two provinces as both shared common denomination in terms of their visions, goals, and aspirations in pursuing local good governance.

Dagupan market to operate 24/7

By Leonardo V. Micua [(PNA), CTB/LVMICUA/RMA]

DAGUPAN CITY, Feb. 16 (PNA)--The city government here is mulling over the idea to operate the three-storey Malimgas Public Market into a 24-hour market to further boost the city's economic activities, and consequently, the incomes of vendors and stall holders.

This was bared by Mayor Belen Fernandez when she announced her determination to move all ambulant vendors into the Malimgas Market in order to finally clear the streets and restore them for exclusive use of motorists and pedestrians.

The 24-hour market will be effected as soon as all the ambulant vendors are moved to the Malimgas Market, which at present is yet to be fully occupied 10 years after it was built in 2004.

The first floor of the market is reserved for vegetable vendors and the second floor for vendors selling accessories, including used clothing called "ukay-ukay" which are teeming on the streets of Dagupan especially on Saturdays and Sundays.

The third floor of the market will continue to be used for car parking.

City Planning and Development Coordinator Romeo Rosario said five vendors of accessories and apparels so far agreed to move to the Malimgas Market in a few days but some vegetable vendors are yet reluctant to move inside the market.

"I understand the sentiments of the vendors who are used to selling their wares on the streets despite the fact that they are only 10 meters away from the Malimgas Market," the mayor said.

"But I am not running out of patience and will continue to convince them that moving to the Malimgas Market is for their own good and their business", Fernandez further said.

Fernandez directed the City Engineer's Office to continue renovating the Malimgas Public Market and provide it more lighting in order to make it more attractive for buyers and traders not only from Dagupan but also from nearby towns and cities.

The ongoing renovation was boosted with the offer of food giant Nestle Philippines to donate paints to be used in repainting stalls which shall be color-coded based on the products they sell.

Under the scheme, the vegetable section will be painted green, the meat section, red and the fish section, blue.

184 couples wed in Hundred Islands park

By Yolanda Sotelo (Inquirer Northern Luzon)

ALAMINOS CITY—Before the sun rose on Valentine’s Day, 184 brides, resplendent in flowing white dresses and flower tiaras adorning their hairs, boarded boats to the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) here. With them were their grooms who were dazzling in white short-sleeve shirts, short pants and leis around their necks.

Friday was a special day for the couples, many of them having lived together for years and have started their own families. It was the first day of their lives officially as husbands and wives as the Alaminos City government organized a mass wedding to solemnize their union on Valentine’s Day.

The oldest couple were Virgilio Banogon, 62, and his partner for about 20 years, Tita Ubungen, 58. They have three children, aged 15 to 20. The youngest couple were both 18 years old.

The mass wedding, dubbed “I do, I do, Araw ng Pag-Ibig 2014,” was sponsored by the Alaminos City government and the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-Ibig Fund). It was solemnized by Mayor Arthur Celeste on Quezon Island, one of the three major islands at HINP.

Lilia Anguluan, Pag-Ibig Fund Northern Luzon area head, said there were 4,356 couples married in 27 sites where the mass weddings were simultaneously held by the agency on Friday. The event was held in coordination with local governments and the Department of Tourism.

“We are planning to enter the activity in the Guinness World Records for having the most couples wed simultaneously,” she said. Since the agency is also known as Pag-Ibig (the Filipino word for love), she said the agency’s officials decided to hold the event on Feb. 14, the day of love.

The mass wedding at HINP was held on the white sand beach of Quezon Island while the reception was held on the Quezon, Governor’s and Children’s islands.

Celeste said the wedding was held here to showcase the beauty of HINP, Pangasinan’s top tourist destination.

“We are also making history because this is the first time that a [mass] wedding was held here,” he said.

In 2011, a couple renewed their vows through an underwater and cave wedding ceremony at Cuenca Cave at HINP. The city government has been conducting mass weddings at the HINP’s jump-off points, Lucap Wharf or Bolo Beach, since 2004.

Lovely Milles, city assistant civil registrar, said 189 couples had registered for Friday’s mass wedding but four of the brides were in their late stages of pregnancy.

Celeste decided to officiate the ceremony at the City Hall because travel to the islands would be risky to the expectant mothers. Another couple failed to join the mass wedding and was also married by Celeste in his office.

Pangasinan Provincial Health Office now ISO registered

(PNA), PDS/LVM/LVMICUA/1100/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Feb. 14 (PNA)--The Provincial Health Office PHO)of Pangasinan is now officially operating a quality management system after receiving its certificate of registration from Certification International Philippines Inc. (CIPI) to ISO (International Organization for Standardization) last January 23.

The certification was the result of two-year extensive research, brainstorming, and planning pertaining to the specific scope on the “formulation of health plan, capability building, monitoring and evaluation of health programs.”

Rommel Cardinoza, administrative officer of the PHO), said on Friday that the certification will be valid for three years.

“This is two years in the making. We, especially Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., are happy with this development. It is the governor who is continuously pushing for reforms for better Pangasinan,” he disclosed.

Cardinoza said that the CIPI has thoroughly scrutinized and validated the core process of the PHO as embodied in the manual which centered on six mandatory procedures thus finally winning the nod of the group.

CIPI, according to him, is the lead agency accredited by ISO which is comprised of trained professionals from various entities who are in charge of the review and auditing.

ISO is a non-profit organization that develops and publishes standards of virtually every possible sort, ranging from standards for information technology to fluid dynamics and nuclear energy.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, ISO is composed of 162 members, each one the sole representative for their home country.

As the largest developer and publisher of standards in the world, ISO fills the vital role of a medium for agreement between individual standards developers, spreading progress made by one country's local developers across the world to further the goal of standardization.

The Espino administration has endeavored to introduce an innovative health program for Pangasinan since July 2007.

4-day medical mission to be held in Pangasinan town

(PNA), FFC/LVM/RMA/UTB

DAGUPAN CITY, Feb. 13 (PNA -- Bayambang town will hold a grand medical mission on February 17-20 to be participated in by Filipino-American doctors and nurses from the United States as part of the year-long celebration of the 400th year of founding of the town.

Dr. Henry Fernandez, chair of the executive committee of the Bayambang Quadri-Centennial Celebration, said this is the biggest medical and dental mission yet to be held in Bayambang with target beneficiaries not only local residents but also from other towns all over Pangasinan.

He said that to date, some 4,800 people from Bayambang have already registered to avail the services during the medical mission, stressing that the beneficiaries of the the four-day mission would reach 10,000 before the actual date.

He also said that about 115 crates of medicines that will be used during the mission have already arrived from the U.S., adding that these are more than enough to serve all the patients.

Among the services to be undertaken during the medical and dental mission are surgeries for hyper-thyroid, goiter, lumps in any part of the body, hair-lip, hernia and others which would normally cost thousands of pesos in private hospitals.

DFA to launch consular office in Pangasinan

By Elsha Marie B. Soriano (MCA/EMBS/PIA-1, Pangasinan)

PANGASINAN February 12 (PIA) - Pangasinan will soon be the home of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) consular office.

Board member Ranjit Shahani, author of a provincial resolution, said the measure endorses the creation of a DFA consular office in the province.

“The DFA’s field service office that will be launched in the province will help lessen the burden of traveling to Manila or to the regional consular office in San Fernando, La Union and Baguio-Benguet to secure passports,” Shahani said during the KBP Forum held at the PIA-Pangasinan office on Thursday.

Shahani said the office will start its operation after the completion of the office site construction in June.

In a statement released by the Provincial Information Office, Eriberto Castillo, officer-in-charge of DFA-NCR Northeast and DFA-Ali Mall, said the project fulfills the request of Pangasinan to establish a passport processing office here.

The services of the satellite office will include issuance of new passports, renewal of expired passports, replacement of lost, expired or mutilated passports and authentication of necessary documents.

The consular and passport processing office that will be launched in Pangasinan can serve the entire region including parts of Zambales and Tarlac.

Pangasinan eyed as carabao dairy center in Northern Luzon

(PNA), FFC/LVM/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Feb. 11 (PNA) -- The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) has chosen Pangasinan as a pilot province in dairy carabao production with the ambitious goal of making Pangasinan as the dairy capital of the North.

Gov. Amado Espino Jr. announced this during his State of the Province Address (SOPA) Monday, adding that the program will be a big boon to Pangasinan farmers who will soon earn additional income from carabao milk aside from their crops.

Under the program, the PCC will give 30 female Bulgaria Murrah Buffaloes to the Free Farmers Association of Bugallon town and another 30 to the Samahan ng Maralitang Magsasaka in Tumbar, Lingayen to serve as initial stocks for the production of hi-breed dairy cattle through artificial insemination.

Dr. Gloria de la Cruz, chief of the PCC based in Rosario, La Union, earlier said that female Murrah Buffaloes produce more milk than the native carabaos.

At present, there are seven existing carabao milk producing farmer groups in the province located in Asingan, San Nicolas, Umingan, Urdaneta City, Lingayen, Bugallon and Anda.

Espino said former Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani has a successful carabao milk processing farm in Barangay Tulong West, Urdaneta City, which now supplies processed carabao milk to high-end establishments in Metro Manila, including the Manila Hotel.

In order to strengthen Pangasinan's position as carabao milk center, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Provincial Ordinance No. 170 s. 2014 which was signed into law by the Governor in March 2013.

The PCC sought the provincial ordinance not only in a bid to save the remaining carabao population in the province but also to raise the level of the local carabao dairy industry.

According to Espino, Pangasinan is the only province in the country to have so far passed and implemented an ordinance regulating the sale or slaughter of female carabaos to contain the depleting number of female carabaos in the province.

Espino said the move includes an initial allocation of P1.5 million to buy back breedable female carabaos to be distributed by the province as additional stocks to dairy cooperatives.

Espino also said the province will introduce a new model in agri-business development, patterned after a successful experience in India, through which small farmers can engage in the commercial-scale production and marketing of agricultural products.

"We will organize and train our farmers to use better production technologies and information systems, and improve the competitiveness and commercial value of their agricultural products," the governor added.

Pangasinan is currently the leading province in Ilocos Region in the production of food crops like rice, corn, vegetables, mangoes and coconuts as well as livestock.


DOLE releases job fairs sked in Region I

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

DAGUPAN CITY, February 10 (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has released the schedule of local and overseas job fairs for February and March to facilitate employment services in Region I.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the conduct of year-round job fairs is one of DOLE’s employment facilitation strategies to provide jobseekers continuous opportunities to find jobs and to assist employers to find qualified workers.

For February, the schedule and venue of job fairs are as follows:

February 13 – Ilocos Sur Community College in Bantay, Ilocos Sur

February 14 – Bolinao, Pangasinan

February 17 – Municipal Kiosk in Sta. Maria, Pangasinan

February 21 – Infanta Covered Court in Infanta, Pangasinan

February 24 – Colegio de Dagupan in Dagupan City

February 25 – Union Christian College in San Fernando City, La Union

February 27 – University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City, Ilcoos Sur

February 28 – Divine Word College of Vigan in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur and University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City

In March, two job fairs will be held in Ilocos Sur: March 6 at North Luzon Philippine State College in Candon City and March 7 at STI Inc. in Bantay town.

Meanwhile, the DOLE has posted a short video in its Facebook account: Dole Ilocos Region that could help jobseekers land on jobs.

The video presents information on requirements that an applicant needs to prepare before applying for a job such as resume, birth certificate, diploma, transcript of records, NBI clearance, police clearance and training certificates.

In preparing for a job interview, DOLE advised applicants to know the company they wish to apply for and to groom before facing interviewers in order to leave a good impression.

The agency also gave some tips on what to do during interview proper. These are: (1) Be punctual; (2) Be polite; (3) Carry extra copies of your resume; (4) Answer competently and professionally; (5) Avoid eating and chewing a gum and using cellular phone; (6) Prepare for salary negotiation, if given the option; and (7) Say “Thank you” after the interview.

DOLE also prepared an Employment Guide for Students and Jobseekers that contains relevant information on many basic situations in every phase of the job cycle or entrepreneurial or practice of profession cycle in a simplified question-and-answer format. Information is presented in a categorized manner based on the phases of every cycle.

The guide is also complete with the latest contact details (including websites and hotlines) of all concerned agencies for easy access to all the needed information.

To view and download the guide, just visit www.dole.gov.ph or www.blr.dole.gov.ph.

Pangasinan governor to deliver 7th SOPA Monday

By Ruel Pelone (PNA)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. will deliver his seventh State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Monday, February 10 at the Provincial Capitol grandstand here.

Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan said the SOPA will not only dwell on the achievements of the province but will embody the aspirations of the governor who is on his final term of office.

Baraan assured that the governor’s SOPA is “simple yet meaty.”

Expected to join the governor on this event are the key officials of the provincial government, the department heads and chiefs of hospitals, congressmen and local chief executives, representatives of different government and non-government agencies/organizations, and students from various schools.

The affair will start with a thanksgiving mass at 7 a.m., followed by the main event which is the SOPA. This will be followed immediately by the traditional courtesy call.

“We are inviting the public to come and witness the event and listen to the governor as he delivers a factual report on how far the province had gone since he assumed his post as the provincial chief executive,” Baraan said.

2014 Bangus Festival to get international flavor

(PNA), SCS/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, Feb. 8 (PNA) -- The 100 Ways to Cook Bangus, a regular feature of the Dagupan Bangus Festival set on April 28 at CSI Stadia, will go international with the participation of foreign students studying in various educational institutions in the city.

This was bared by Mayor Belen Fernandez, honorary chairperson of the 2014 Bangus Festival, after meeting with the heads of colleges and universities in the province affiliated with the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) headed by Gonzalo T. Duque, president.

Duque, who is president of Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU), endorsed the event, saying this is one way of showing the importance of the city’s bangus (milkfish) industry internationally.

In her talk with educators, Mayor Fernandez laid down the plan for the holding of Bangus Cuisine International, or "Bangusine" for short, to showcase bangus cooked in different gustatory delights based on the traditional menu of each foreign participant.

She urged the officials of colleges and universities to send their foreign students to participate in the event that will give them (students) a chance to showcase their own native cuisines out of Dagupan's tasty milkfish. .

“We are encouraging educational institutions to join us in this endeavor because we are not just promoting our bangus, where every foreign student will prepare dishes out of our native fish according to their traditional way of cooking x x x but also we are promoting our place as one of the best venues for education," Fernandez said.

She expressed hope the event can help add international flavor to the city's milkfish, which in the short or long terms can contribute a lot in perking up the local economy.

At the same time, she said that the event is also part of the preparations of Dagupan to meet the challenges that will be posed with the implementation of the country's free trade agreement with other nations starting 2016.

Among the schools that expressed their support and cooperation to the project are Lyceum Northwestern University, University of Luzon, University of Pangasinan, Pangasinan State University–Binmaley, and AMA Computer College in Dagupan.

Among the other exciting features of the 2014 Bangus Festival set for the whole month of April till May 1 are a a triathlon, the "Festivals of the North" and the "Gilon-gilon:" (bangus harvesting) street dance.

DFA to open provincial satellite office in Pangasinan

(PNA), LAM/LVMICUA/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Feb. 7 (PNA) -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is bringing its services closer to the people of Pangasinan when it opens a consular office at the Robinson’s Place in Calasiao town in the next few months.

An official of DFA, Cesar Balarbar, came to Pangasinan Thursday to discuss the details of the project with local officials led by Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan.

Others in that meeting were Executive Assistant IV Ramon M. Morden, SP Secretary Verna Nava-Perez and Provincial Information Officer Orpheus M. Velasco.

The consular office will be DFA’s first provincial satellite office in the country outside Metro Manila that will process passports for clients in Pangasinan and other provinces.

Eriberto Castillo, officer-in-charge of DFA-NCR Northeast and DFA-Ali Mall, earlier said the project aims to finally put to fruition the request of the Pangasinan provincial government to establish a passport processing office here.

The request endorsing the establishment of a DFA passporting office in Calasiao was contained in Provincial Resolution No. 317-2013 authored by Sixth District Board Member Ranjit Shahani and all members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Shahani in August last year announced in one of the regular sessions of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the potentials of the project.

The consular office will start its operation as soon as the construction of its office site is completed in May this year.

The services of the satellite office will include issuance of new passports, renewal of expired passports, replacement of lost, expired or mutilated passports and authentication of necessary documents.

Provincial Administrator Baraan lauded the establishment of a DFA consular office in the province as a very good move.

Baraan said this will give Pangasinenses and those from neighboring provinces an easier access to the services of DFA.

With the large number of overseas workers from Pangasinan, Baraan said the DFA’s field service office will greatly help lessen their burden of traveling to Manila or to the regional consular office in San Fernando, La Union to secure passports.

The passporting office can also reach out and serve residents of various towns of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija among others.

Feature: Seafood treat in Binmaley’s Sigay festival

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

BINMALEY, Pangasinan, February 6 (PIA) – Locals and visitors feasted on seafood selections during the town’s fourth “Sigay Festival” (Fish Harvest Festival) last week.

The Pangasinan word sigay broadly translates to harvest or a time to gather the rich yields of the farm, the sea, the ponds and the rivers.

The festival is Binmaley’s way of celebrating the town’s rich aquaculture industry which serves as the main source of living for residents here. The fest promotes the town in the tourism map of the Philippines as the Aquaculture Center of the North.

As the main spectacle to demonstrate the success of the local fishing industry, the town’s people took part in the “Kalutan ed Dalan” (Grilling on the Street), a simultaneous cooking of seafood products over hot coals.

Part of the grilled menu were bangus (milkfish) and other aquaculture products such as malaga (siganid), prawns, shrimps and tilapia that are abundantly produced in the town’s brackish water fishponds, which statistics showed is the most extensive all over Pangasinan.

Mayor Simplicio Rosario, who started the festival in 2010, said the event is a boost to their aquaculture industry and an opportunity for the townsfolk to showcase their unity and hospitality, which every home displays during fiesta celebrations.

The Sigay Festival is part of the Binmaley town fiesta celebration in honor of the Our Lady of Purification which coincides with its 424th year founding anniversary celebration.

Vice-Mayor Pedro Merrera, the hermano mayor of this year’s fiesta celebration, said religious, cultural, fun and entertainment activities were staged from January 24 to February 2.

KBP-Pangasinan bags 3rd spot as best local chapter

By April Montes (JCR/AMM/PIA-1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, February 5 (PIA) – The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) has recognized its Pangasinan chapter as one of the best local chapters in the country.

Pangasinan tied with Iloilo chapter in third place while Bacolod won as second place. Bukidnon chapter took home the first place award as KBP’s Best Local Chapter for 2013.

The winners received a cash incentive of P50,000 (1st place); P20,000 (2nd place); and P12,500 (3rd place).

The four local chapters were awarded for faithfully complying with the following: (1) implementation of the KBP Radio Broadcast Code as a self-regulatory body; (2) having local chapter activities like sports fest during Broadcaster's Month; (3) holding Christmas party and others; (4) joining the program of the KBP like the “broadcastreeing,” a tree planting activity held nationwide every year; and (5) regular submission of up-to-date monthly meeting minutes and also having a sound financial standing.

Jay Mendoza, chairman of KBP-Pangasinan chapter, said he feels happy and grateful for the recognition.

“It is the product of the support, unity and trust of KBP members and other media outlets to the endeavors of the group especially to the weekly KBP Forum,” Mendoza said.

He added that Pangasinenses can expect for better service from KBP member stations as they continue to abide by the KBP broadcast standards.

KBP holds a regular forum at the PIA office here where government officials and some private people are invited as guests every Thursday for information dissemination.

The KBP or Association of Broadcasters of the Philippines is the foremost broadcast media organization in the country.

It was organized to elevate professional and ethical standards in Philippine broadcasting, promote social responsibility in broadcasting, work for the advancement of the broadcast industry and protect the rights and interests of broadcasters.

Gov. Davide, other Cebu officials visiting Pangasinan

(PNA), LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Feb. 4 (PNA) -- Officials of the province of Cebu led personally by Governor Hilario Davide III are in a two-day study tour in Pangasinan starting today, Tuesday till Wednesday.

The Cebu delegation made a courtesy call on Governor Amado Espino Jr. at the provincial capitol at 8:30 a.m., followed by a tour around the capitol and a briefing on the health situation and services in Pangasinan.

Gov. Davide said they are visiting Pangasinan's hospitals because "they are considered one of the best practices in the effective delivery of quality health care and hospital management".

The Cebu governor is joined in the tour by his Provincial Health Officer, chair of the committee on health of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) and other provincial health personnel of Cebu.

The group will next visit the Western Pangasinan District Hospital in Alaminos City, the Dasol Community Hospital, the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City and the Urdaneta District Hospital.

1st 100 Islands International Ultra Marathon set March 15-16

By Leonardo V. Micua [(PNA), CTB/LVMICUA/RMA]

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Feb. 3 (PNA)--The first-ever 100-kilometer and 50-kilometer Hundred 100 Islands Ultra International Marathon is set March 15-16 from Alaminos City to the western Pangasinan towns of Bani and Bolinao and vice versa.

Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste said that the event will not only be a redeeming factor for their city once dubbed as one of the Wonders of the World but will serve as a big boost to Pangasinan’s brand new moniker as ‘home of sports events’.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. expressed full support to the project, saying the event is not only a grand sports event for Pangasinan but a rallying factor in the promotion of tourism specifically to the western wonders--Hundred Islands of Alaminos City and the mystical wonders of Bani and Bolinao.

“I thank the governor for supporting all our programs and projects especially this international ultra- marathon because this will initiate good foreign relations,” the city mayor disclosed.

He added that this early, the organizers are expecting some 30 foreigners specifically a Kenyan group that earlier signified intention to participate.

Big prizes await the winners which will be made up of two categories, the 100-kilometer run exclusively for males and 50- kilometer run for male and female.

Cash prizes for the 100 kilometer marathon are as follows: P100,000 (1st), P30,000 (2nd), and P20,000 (3rd).

For 50 kilometer category prizes include P20,000 (1st), P10,000 (2nd), and P7,000 (3rd).

Registration fee of P3,500 for the 100 kilometer and P3,000 for the 50 kilometer is required.

The fee shall cover the following: souvenir shirt, welcome drinks and snack, get-together party at Lucap Wharf before the run, dinner and awarding at the Governor’s Island, boat ride day tour and island hopping Quezon, Children, and Governor’s Islands.

Phivolcs monitoring quakes in West PH Sea

By Dexter Ganibe (DZMM, ABS-CBNnews.com)

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is monitoring and studying the consecutive earthquakes recorded in the West Philippine Sea, northwest of Bolinao, Pangasinan.

According to Phivolcs science research specialist Mylene Enriquez, they are trying to determine what caused the consecutive, if mild, shocks in the West Philippine Sea as well as to find out if an “earthquake swarm” is occurring in the area.

The first tremor was recorded at 1:40 p.m. Saturday, with the epicenter of the magnitude 3.9-quake located 96 kilometers northwest of Bolinao in Pangasinan.

More tremors followed, the strongest of which was a magnitude 3.8 quake, until 5:21 a.m. Sunday.

Enriquez said the earthquakes had a depth of focus that ranged from one kilometer to 21 kilometers.

The epicenters of the quakes were located near the Manila trench, but Philvolcs is checking if there is another fault system in the area that may be the cause of the consecutive tremors.

Enriquez warns that more earthquakes may occur in the area.

'Say less, listen more’

By Joyce Pangco Panares With Vito Barcelo and Ronald O. Reyes

CBCP: Consider Yolanda victims’ plea for charity

A CATHOLIC Church leader appealed to the government and aid organizations to listen to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda and not just provide them with relief or shelter without considering their needs.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said that it is not enough that humanitarian agencies must respect the feelings of the people.

“They must be consulted first and heard. If they prefer building materials, let it be. If they prefer that houses be constructed, let’s do it. Let us be sensitive to their feelings,” he said.

Villegas said benefactors must deal with beneficiaries as equals.

Some victims, he said, did not like the idea of concrete houses with iron sheets for roofing.

“We asked them why and they told us that it’s because they can’t live in a house that would bring back memories of concrete walls and iron sheets that killed their parents,” the prelate said.

“The bottom line is please listen to the needs of the people because we might have great ideas but they have feelings of devastation and even trauma. Therefore, we should be respectful of that because it will take time to heal these pains,” Villegas said.

The archbishop’s appeal came as the Palace announced that it has identified four pilot areas devastated by super typhoon Yolanda for rehabilitation.

Presidential Assistant On Rehabilitation And Reconstruction Panfilo Lacson identified the areas as Tacloban City, the hardest-hit area and the economic center of Eastern Visayas and a regional logistical hub; Tanauan; Leyte for its tourism potential and build-back capacity; Guiuan, Eastern Samar for the high level of private sector interest; and Biliran for government-led programs.

President Benigno Aquino III ordered the Interior, Defense and Social Welfare departments to provide a reliable baseline for the recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

“The President also ordered the immediate completion of land-use plans that would clearly delineate no-build zones,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said.

The 171 cities and municipalities affected by Yolanda were divided into 24 areas of intervention and development.

Eighteen areas have been adopted by companies such as PLDT-Smart-Metro Pacific Group; the ICTSI Group; Metrobank; the Injap Group; the Lopez Group; the Aboitiz Group; and the Engineering Equipment Inc. of the Yuchengco Group.

A multi-donor fund was launched and will be managed by top business executives in a bid to hasten the post-Yolanda rehabilitation efforts. Lacson said the government will set up a map-based website to ensure that the public can track all donations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on Thursday said 43,577 families in the Visayas were being assisted to plant rice.

“By March or April, this should yield enough rice to feed 800,000 people for a year, at an estimated value of $84 million,” the organization said in a report.

Complementing seed distribution, FAO is also providing affected farmers with 8,250 tools, 4,013 tons of fertilizers and other vital agricultural equipment in Mimaropa, Bicol, and Western, Eastern and Central Visayas.

An Agriculture Department report said the country needs some $724 million to rehabilitate 600,000 hectares of farm land devastated by the super typhoon. Yolanda also destroyed coconut (73 percent), rice (16 percent) and corn (4 percent) crops in the area.

Ireland’s Ambassador to the Philippines Joseph Hayes, who is based in Singapore, visited Sta. Fe in Leyte to visit the farmers and observe the emergency response project to restore the rural livelihoods of farmers affected by typhoon.

“It’s my personal pleasure to go back to my country to tell them about you and what you need,” Hayes said in a speech before farmers in Sta. Fe.

FAO Representative in the Philippines Rajendra Aryal said the rice seeds distributed by their agency would bring hope.

“We’re planting seeds of recovery, seeds of hope and restoration because we cannot keep the people dependent on relief goods. We want as much as possible that farmers go back to their farms and produce their own food,” he said.

“About 2,900 bags of certified seeds have been distributed. At the same time we are expecting the same number of bags for the fertilizers. We welcome the donation of Ireland. Had it not been for your great help and with the support in terms of funding, we should have not seen plants growing at this time,” said Jeanjit Amante, rice field officer from the Leyte provincial agriculture office, who oversaw the distribution of seeds to the farmers in Sta. Fe.

The FAO said there was still an urgent need to fund coconut and fisheries rehabilitation.

Also on Friday, Louisville Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, and officials of the Catholic Relief Services said they were coming to the Philippines to visit and help areas devastated by the super typhoon.

The US archbishop said was saddened by the report that more than 1.1 million homes were damaged, more than half of them completely destroyed. More than 8,000 were killed or missing.

“Numbers like that overwhelm everyone. That’s why on the eve of the Super Bowl, I’m packing sneakers to join a delegation with CRS to meet with Filipino church leaders and people from Samar and Leyte,” Kurtz said.

“I’ll visit Palo, just south of the city of Tacloban, and I’ll walk through rubble to let people know that the Catholic Church in the United States cares and will help,” he said.

The USCCB head will be accompanied by CRS chairman of the board and Oklahoma Archbishop Paul Coakley, Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, president of Catholic Health Association, and Carolyn Woo, president and CEO of CRS.

The delegation is expected to be in the country from Feb. 2 to Feb. 7.

“I and others are visiting personally so that we can wrap our hearts and minds around the situation. This firsthand look will enable us to adequately convey to fellow Catholics the spiritual, physical and emotional extent of the damage,” Kurtz said.

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