Pangasinan News January 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

Mayor calls on Filipino-Chinese to help her build New Dagupan

(PNA), PDS/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, Jan. 31 (PNA)--Mayor Belen Fernandez called on the local Filipino-Chinese community to help her build a new Dagupan as she paid tribute to the early Chinese migrants who came to Pangasinan when the boundaries of the province still extended up to the Ilocos.

Speaking during a program marking Chinese New Year at the city plaza Thursday night, Fernandez extolled the local Filipino-Chinese for their enduring hard work, austerity and sense of community participation which she said were their foundations for progressive and happy life.

Fernandez is a daughter of early Chinese migrants who came to Dagupan.

The Chinese New Year at the city plaza was spiced up by some 30 minutes of fireworks, dragon and lion dances and presentation of rich Chinese culture, with every Filipino-Chinese who joined the occasion wearing red shirts and gowns.

The mayor said the influence of Chinese culture in Pangasinan dates back in 1572 with the coming and going of Chinese pirate Limahong, recalling what historians often tell that the family names "Sison", "Singson", "Quimson" and others were "traced back to him".

These descendants, she said, distinguished themselves through the years not only in business and other lines of endeavors but also in politics.

"How can one survive in a foreign land and achieve equality with the natives who prevailed in that area but survived and went on to become successful?" she asked.

"Hard work , yes and austerity, double yes", she said, were the traits that early Chinese migrants who came to settle in the Philippines, particularly in Dagupan, had invested so much in order to succeed.

She said it is a source of pride to know that many of them astonishingly became today's rising business titans in the country.

"In my generation, I saw Dagupan growing day by day due to the industry of many Filipinos working side by side with Chinese migrants who found Dagupan a hospitable home", she said.

She recalled that her own grandfather who came from Fujan province in China put up the first real honest to goodness grocery store the moment he arrived in Dagupan. When her grandfather died, the business was taken over by her father Jimmy, which was to become the CSI Group of companies today.

Then were the days, she said, when the present Barangay Herrero-Perez used to be called Pandayan which acquired that name because according to old folks there once lived a Chinese migrant who made early vintage guns for the Katipuneros.

The mayor told the Filipino-Chinese in Dagupan to marvel at the sacrifices made by their ancestors who left their homeland to find a new life here in those days when there are yet no airplanes but only boats.

She thanked the local Filipino-Chinese community and their Filipino counterparts who helped each other build Dagupan as the biggest trade and commercial center of the north today.

In parting, Fernandez said: "Allow me once more to embrace my Filipino and Chinese brothers and sisters so that we can find strength in each other's company as we move on to 2014".

Pangasinan receives hi-tech info system for agribusiness

(PNA), PDS/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 30 (PNA)--The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) has turned over to the province a system called Social Enterprise Development System (SEEDS) that will make Pangasinan a “viable agribusiness model for Northern Luzon.”

On behalf of Governor Amado Espino Jr., Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan,, accepted the system including three sets of computers at the Capitol Resort here where he was joined e concerned provincial department heads, private sector, academe and farmers’ cooperative.

Pangasinan has been chosen recipient for the project of the Department of Agriculture because of its high potential in agriculture and quality agricultural products.

Prior to the turnover, the group headed by Cheryl Marie Caballero, president and chief executive officer together with Dr. Manuel F. Bonifacio, technical adviser, Eduvigis Angeles, project coordinator and Froilan Orlanda, network specialist -- paid a courtesy call on Gov. Espino to discuss the project.

According to Caballero, the SEEDS “is a process oriented system that will provide an access to right information, right technology, and right marketing strategy to the farmers that would empower them to become competitive, innovative and profitable."

With the aid of the project, Caballero said it will help the province “formulate a holistic model for agri-business development plan to increase farmers’ income.”

Corollary to this, Bonifacio, an agri-advocate, urged the stakeholders “to create impact on the lives of the farmers by giving them a strengthened support through information network, research and extension so that a sustainable agribusiness development program will be achieved.”

The stakeholders who are tasked to craft the agribusiness development program of the province of Pangasinan include the provincial planning and development office, office of the provincial agriculturist, provincial population office, Agricultural Technology Institute, Cooperative Development Authority, Pangasinan State University, and farmers’ cooperative.

“Let us put our acts together as fast as we can and create a real difference in the lives of our people at the community level especially to our farmers,” Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan told the stakeholders as he added that “this is an ultimate success of a public servant.”

“All our programs will be useless if we have not seen the impact of these to the lives of our people at the grassroots level, and that they could say to themselves that Pangasinan is indeed the best place to live, work, invest and raise a family.” Baraan said.

“I want to see every family in Pangasinan stand-up and become productive, self-sufficient and dignified human being. That’s a tall order, and there’s no other way to go because this is the only way we should go,” the provincial administrator said.

Pangasinan hospital upgrade approved

By Johanne Macob

LINGAYEN—Health officer Dr. Anna Theresa de Guzman said the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital will be upgraded to 400 beds following an endorsement of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on January 27, 2014.

Provincial Resolution No. 411-2014 sought from the Department of Health) a license to expand the 150-bed capacity hospital located in San Carlos City.

“The next step is for the DOH to assess our hospital if we have the right number of personnel, equipment needed to upgrade our hospital from level 2 to letter 3, and the infrastructure that is available,” she said.

“We noticed that the increase of patients since 2011, the PPH has already complimented the number of its personnel.”

The hospital has 55 doctors, 210 nurses, 55 nursing attendants and midwives, 15 are pharmacists, 15 medical technologists, 15 dentists, and 210 administrative staff, De Guzman added.

She said the DOH will contribute P16-million to the expansion project.

Meanwhile, author of the resolution Board Member Antonio Sison said the hospital was last upgrade “way back 20 years ago.”

The hospital was devolved in the early 1990s to the provincial government.

Pangasinan provincial gov’t to adopt ATM payroll system

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

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan January 28 (PIA) – The Pangasinan government will soon switch to the automated payroll facility of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to facilitate efficient processing of employees and officials’ salaries and benefits.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution on Monday authorizing Governor Amado Espino, Jr. to seal a memorandum of agreement with the LBP for the construction of a second offsite automated teller machine (ATM) to be located at the premises of the provincial Capitol Building here.

The resolution proposed by Board Member Clemente Arboleda, Jr. is in preparation for the use of the digitalized payroll system in the provincial government.

Arboleda said in order to facilitate the installation of the second offsite ATM the board authorized the governor to enter into an agreement to serve the request.

Governor Espino will sign the MOA with Liza Mendez, manager of LBP Lingayen branch as representative of LBP President Gilda Pico.

The ATM payroll system enables a more quick and accurate payroll-related activities rather than the traditional system of stuffing cash in envelopes every pay day.

Pangasinan opens nominations for prestigious ASNA award

By Johanne Macob

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan --- The provincial government has opened nominations for the 2014 ASNA awards, which is presented to outstanding Pangasinenses who excelled in their field of disciplines, officials said.

Tourism Operations Division Chief Ma. Louisa Elduayan said nomination forms may be obtained at the ASNA Awards secretariat at the Malong Building, Capitol Complex until February 21.

“Any individual or group can nominate one or more individuals, who have excelled in the fields of government service, community service, arts and culture, medicine, agriculture and aquaculture, mass communications, business and entrepreneurship, law, education, science and technology and sports,” she said.

Asna is the old form of the Pangasinan word “asin.” It refers to the good quality of a man’s character or demeanor.

The past ASNA awardees include former president Fidel Ramos and his sister, former senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, former speaker Jose de Venecia and Civil Service Commission head Francisco Duque.

Elduayan said the Search and Awards Committee, which is composed of seven members representing various sectors, will review the nominations based on the following criteria: service with sincere commitment to the community (40%), leadership qualities with pioneering innovativeness (40%), and professional excellence, integrity and achievements (20%).

Pangasinan town holds Fish Harvest Festival

(PNA), CTB/LVMICUA/RMA

BINMALEY, Pangasinan, Jan. 26 (PNA)--The town here closed part of their two principal streets Saturday afternoon to give way to the spectacle called "Kalutan ed Dalan" (Grilling of fish On the Street), which is part of the town's Sigay Festival (Fish Harvest Festival).

Grilled by the people were milkfish, tilapia, shrimps and prawns all grown by the people in their brackish water fishponds, which statistics showed is the most extensive all over Pangasinan.

Mayor Simplicio Rosario said the "Sigay Festival" which he started in 2010, is part of the town fiesta of Binmaley which kicked off Jan. 24 and will wind up Feb. 2.

With balikbayans watching and sharing in the food, the "Kalutan ed Dalan" went on till the wee hourS in the morning.

The balikbayans are members of Class 1964 of the Binmaley Catholic High School (BCHS) from various parts of the world, particularly the United States who are holding reunion somewhere in the town..

Rosario said the "Sigay Festival" which will also be marked with street dancing, fun run and silent drill by cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is a celebration to thank God for giving the people bountiful fish harvest.

Rosario said it is also a sign of unity as the people trooped to the streets to join their mayor and other officials in cooking fish using charcoal which they themselves feasted, many in bare hands.

Three rock bands sponsored by wealthy people of the town and one from Mindanao entertained the crowd while they were grilling and eating fish before watching a fireworks display that lasted for 20 minutes.

Mayor Rosario said with cleaner rivers now, more fish are being caught in rivers and fish ponds in the town, confirming once again Binmaley's reputation as the undisputed aquaculture center not only in Pangasinan but the whole of Region 1 today.

Job fairs in Pangasinan this month

(PNA), SCS/CJT/LVM/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 25 (PNA) -- Thousands of Pangasinenses are expected to apply for work to be offered in two job fairs at the Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO) here this month.

PESO Manager Alex Ferrer said the special recruitment activity on Jan. 27 to 28 will open up to registered female nurses the opportunity to work overseas.

He said 23 posts are available in Libya for nurses with at least two years' experience.

Hanjin Industries and Construction Phils. Inc. based in Olongapo City will also offer, during another fair on Jan. 30 at PESO, various work opportunities for job seekers.

Ferrer said the posts are for 1,000 welder-trainees, 100 ship design staff, 35 maintenance staff, 15 engineering staff, 15 safety patrolmen, 10 watchmen as well as heavy equipment operators or trailer drivers.

Applicants for welder-trainees must be 18 to 35 years old, at least high school graduates, physically and mentally fit, of good character and able to communicate in English.

Work experience is not a prerequisite.

Applicants for ship design staff must be graduates of B.S. Naval Architecture/Marine/Mechanical/Electrical/Chemical or Electronics Communications Engineering, aged 25 years or below, knowledgeable in AUTOCAD 14 or any higher version, Microsoft Office-proficient and willing to undergo training.

Prospective male engineering staff applicants must be 21 to 35 years old and graduates of any engineering course.

For applicants seeking to be safety patrolmen, they must be 21 to 30 years old and reached college with basic safety seminar orientation/training an advantage.

Pakwan Festival set in Pangasinan town, Feb. 6 to 9

(PNA), FPV/LVM/RMA

BANI, Pangasinan, Jan. 24 (PNA)--Preparations are now in high gear for the holding of the Pakwan Festival here on Feb. 6 to 9 in a bid to further promote the primary product (watermelon) of this second class town in Western Pangasinan to the entire country, if not, the world.Mayor Gwen Yamamoto said they estimate up to 100,000 people, mostly visitors, will come to Bani to watch the festival. They target from only 30,000 to 40,000 visitors since the town has no inns, hotels and lodging houses.

She said that at this early, she asked hotels and inns in adjacent Alaminos City and the town of Bolinao to accommodate tourists coming to the Pakwan Festival.

Yamamoto said the watermelons of Bani is known far and wide to be the sweetest in the Philippines as they grow farms with soil rich with limestone.

"We suspect it is the limestone that makes our watermelon tastes sweet since it becomes a natural filter of the water that gets into the plant," said Yamamoto, only in her first term of office.

Some 100 to almost 200 hectares of farm lands in the town are devoted yearly for watermelon production. The watermelons from Bani, come in green and yellow and are marketed to Manila, Clark, Subic and Dagupan City.

Aside from watermelons, the town also produces the round and yellow melon, cantaloupe and honey dew, all belong to the water melon family.

The other major product of the farms in the town during summer is yellow corn which is bought by traders selling the commodity to animal feed manufacturer.

Yamamoto said although the municipality is second class with a budget this year of P106 million, it is able to provide subsidy to the unrelenting watermelon farmers numbering some 200.

Each watermelon farmer can apply up to P8,000 loan per season with only a modest interest of P200 after five months.

At this early, Yamamoto is extending her apology to motorists who may be passing Bani on Feb. 8 to 9 as their travel may be delayed for three hours when they will stage street dancing, a top feature of the festival.

There are almost a thousand dancers who will take to the streets during those days and each group of dancers with a minimum of 15 participants will perform for five minutes.

During those times, it is best that they get down and watch the street dancing and join in the fun, said Yamamoto in jest.

Other exciting features of the festival are "Anibersaya", and "Human Pakwan" to be participated in by the fattest of men in the town whose body will be painted with the color of watermelon.

Office of the Ombudsman sets 1st CIC Congress in Dagupan Friday

(PNA), JBP/LVM/RMA/JSD

DAGUPAN CITY, Jan. 23 (PNA) -- The Office of the Ombudsman is scheduled to hold its 1st Campus Integrity Crusaders (CIC) Congress on Friday, January 24 at the People’s Astrodome in Dagupan City.

The Office of the Ombudsman said the CIC Congress will convene 142 accredited CICs all over Pangasinan.

Under the CIC program, the Office of the Ombudsman accredits student organizations to serve as youth partner in cultivating the virtues of uprightness, responsibility, honesty and respect for human rights.

The program also aims to promote the integration of corruption prevention education in the school curricula.

The Congress will be spearheaded by Deputy Ombudsman Gerard Mosquera and the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office (PACPO) of OMB-Luzon.

The program will include recognition rites for CIC accomplishments of the student organizations, and team-building sessions.

Binmaley town retains lead in aquaculture production in Region 1

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

BINMALEY, Pangasinan, Jan. 22 (PNA) -- This town, considered as the "fishbowl" of the whole Region 1, managed to retain the lead in aquaculture in the area with its increased production of fish last year.

Municipal Agriculture Officer Fernando Ferrer said this Wednesday, three days before the town holds the activity dubbed "Kalutan ed Dalan (grilling in the street), the main event of the town's Sigay (Fish Harvest) Festival.

Ferrer attributed the increase in fish production here to improved water quality brought about by the removal of structures such as fish pens and cages from the river system.

He was proud to say that since 2004, there has been no massive fishkill here.

At present, there are 2,752 hectares of brackish water pond in the town dedicated mainly for the production of bangus (milkfish) while another 109.5 hectares are mainly used for the culture of tilapia.

The town also produces prawn, vannamei (white shrimps), and malaga (siganid).

He also said that the town holds the record as having the largest in-land fish pond in the whole Region 1.

To improve its aquaculture industry, the town spearheads regular seminars for fish pond management and aquaculture in general, in coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Pangasinan State University.

Ferrer said that the town's average production per year is at 2.5 yo 2.7 tons per hectare, most of which are bangus. The first-class fish ponds are being harnessed for three croppings per year while rain-fed ponds are used only for one cropping.

Some pond operators are making use of modular scheme for nursery and rearing stages of fish which are utilized about four croppings per year.

He disclosed that bangus fry fingerlings are coming from Bonuan, Dagupan City; Saranggani, and Indonesia and the yields are mainly delivered at Malimgas Market in Dagupan City.

Ferrer said most of their more than 2,000 pond owners and operators in 32 of the 33 villages venture in bangus production.

The other aqua-products such as malaga, prawn, vannamei, and tilapia are cultured in just some portions of Binmaley.

Prawn is only being polycultured or mixed with other products as its survival rate is at 20 percent. Tilapia, on one hand, is being produced in fresh water at an average of one cropping season per year.

Meanwhile, Ferrer said that instead of using chicken manure or tobacco dust as pesticide to kill predators in the fish pond, most of their fish farmers use tea seed powder.

According to agriculture.com, tea seed powder is the residue of tea seeds or what is also known as camellia seeds. "Tea seed powder is a natural pesticide, which is widely used for cleaning the pond and killing the snails, earthworm, clam, tadpole and other pests."

Ferrer said that tea seed is more economical than the other pesticides as 50 kilograms of this costs about P1,200 which can already cover a hectare.

He added that the residual effect of tea seed lasts shorter than that of other pesticides, allowing farmers to stock fingerling in the pond again even just after one to two days after the application of the tea seed powder.

Pangasinan, Benguet both claim 3 villages

(PNA), PDS/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 21 (PNA)--At least three villages in the foothills of the Cordillera mountain comprising 10,000 hectares are the subject of the ongoing boundary dispute between the towns of Sison, Pangasinan and Tuba, Banguet.

This was confirmed by Pangasinan Board Member Danilo Uy (5th District) who headed officials of Pangasinan in the conducting site inspection of the disputed areas last Friday along with officials of Benguet led by Vice Governor Nelson Dangwa.

Officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) were with the Pangasinan officials to try to validate the existing boundaries between the two towns.

Uy said on Tuesday that during the on-the-site inspection, they looked into three concrete boundary posts in the disputed areas to determine the legal boundaries between Sison and Tuba and intend to look for some more in their next site inspection sometime next week.

He said that in these three villages, some of land owners showed tax declarations issued by the province of Pangasinan while the others presented tax declarations issued by the province of Benguet.

Without undermining the claims of Benguet, Uy said the way he looked at it, these three villages belonged to Sison, Pangasinan although the roads, including barangays halls and elementary schools there were built by the town of Tuba some years back.

"We will settle the issue amicably without going to court. If really these are parts of Pangasinan, then Benguet should be willing to give these to us," he said in Pilipino.

But on the other hand, when it is found out that the villages are parts of Benguet, the provincial government must be willing to give these to them, he said.

He cited that the location of the Northern Cement Corporation (NCC)plant in Barangay Labayug really belongs to Pangasinan but on the other hand, the municipality of Tuba is claiming the back of the plant as its own.

The NCC is owned by the family of former Pangasinan Fifth District Rep. Mark Cojuangco whose wife Kimi is the incumbent congresswoman.

Uy said that in their next site inspection, they will concentrate on Barangay Labayug where the NCC plant and facilities are located.

Pangasinan electric coop defends higher power generation charge

(PNA), LGI/LVM/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 20 (PNA) -- The Pangasinan Electric Cooperative III (Panelco III) defended the increase of generation charge it imposed in November and December last year by P5.02 and P5.63 per kilowatt hour, respectively, which earned the ire of its consumers.

Speaking before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), Julius Cesar Peralta, chairman of the board of directors of Panelco III, explained the increase was not imposed by the cooperative but by the generation company that supplies power to the cooperative.

Panelco III which serves districts 5 and 6 in eastern Pangasinan is buying power from GN Power of Mariveles, Bataan and partly from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

These two companies are selling cheaper power to public utilities than San Miguel Energy Corporation (SMEC) which sources out power from the 1,200 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Sual and the San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam, both from Pangasinan, said Peralta.

Thousands of consumers decried the increased electricity rate imposed by Panelco III, saying it was imposed to them "without the benefit of consultation and without the benefit of democracy."

Sixth District Rep. Ranjit Ramos Shahani who is from Asingan, Pangasinan, echoed the sentiment of thousands of consumers as he described the rate increase as a sort of double-whammy that hit people which have the same effects as that of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that happened in Bohol and even super typhoon "Yolanda" that whipped the Visayas.

Peralta assured the SP that nothing was changed as far as the cost of electricity being charged by Panelco III is concerned, except its power generation charge.

The imposition of higher generation charge was approved by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB), asserted Peralta.

He said the reason for the higher generation charge by GN Power was when Malampaya Power Plant, which is the source of power for at least three electric distributors, conked out.

Peralta said it is just normal that they had to pass the higher generation charge to the consumers as Panelco III can not on its own shoulder the same.

Panelco is supplying electricity to some 150,000 consumers in eastern Pangasinan.

Answering questions posed by Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr., Peralta said that in December last year, Panelco III was billed P276 million by GN Power and WESM, whereas its collection totaled only P259 million.

He said they were compelled to borrow money in order to cover the deficit.

Peralta, however, said that power rate of Panelco III is set to normalize in February when hopefully Malampaya will be operational.

Red Cross-western Pangasinan has new home

By ELSHA MARIE B. SORIANO (MCA/EMS/PIA-1, Pangasinan)

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan, January 19 (PIA) – The Philippine Red Cross-western Pangasinan chapter will have its own home more than two decades after being housed at the City Health Office here.

The two-storey building stands at the western Pangasinan District Hospital compound, a lot donated by the provincial government to be used for free for 25 years and renewable for 25 years.

Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste, also the PRC-WPC chairman, donated an initial amount of P1.5 million to construct the facility. The building was completed with the support of the Pangasinan provincial government.

PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang said the new building represents the hard work and dedication of PRC staff and volunteers of Alaminos City Western Pangasinan Chapter.

“It enables workers to continue the endless service to humanity and to fulfill the PRC mantra to be always first, always ready, always there,” she said.

PRC Chairman Richard Gordon, who graced the inauguration, challenged the staff and volunteers to take the next action in serving humanity with the newly constructed building.

The chapter can have two ambulance vehicles complete with accessories that they can use in their operation if they will give half payment and continuously pay the remaining half in installment, Gordon said.

The building will also serve us blood bank and blood donation center to cater to more donors and patients and save more lives.

Meanwhile, Gordon vowed to provide a blood bank refrigerator for storage of whole blood and ensure sufficient blood supply in the province.

New Pangasinan police director ordered to focus on anti-drugs, hired guns

(PNA), CTB/LVMICUA/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 18 (PNA)--Pay special attention to drug trafficking and motor cycle riding hired assassins in the province.

These were the marching orders given by Governor Amado Espino Jr. to Senior Supt Sterling Raymund Blanco , newly designated officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan Police Office (PPO).

"My request is for the police OIC to give special attention to the growing number of shooting incidents perpetrated by motorcycle-riding tandem hitmen and cases related to drugs," said Espino, a retired police colonel who was once police director of Region 1.

Espino conveyed his order to Blanco when he made a courtesy call on Jan. 16, accompanied by Senior Supt. Moro Virgilio Lazo, OIC of the police regional office 1.

Blanco replaced Senior Supt. Marlou Chan who was designated Dec. 17 last year as chief of the police directorial staff of Police Region 1.

After Blanco's courtesy call, two officers from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) Adrian G. Alvarino, Director III of PDEA Region I and Dexter B. Asayco, PDEA chief of Pangasinan, also made a courtesy call on Gov. Espino.

In the same way, Gov. Espino asked Alvarino to intensify PDEA's anti-drug campaign, assuring him full support of the provincial government.

The governor reminded the two PDEA officials that he was one of the main authors of the Dangerous Drugs Act when he was still in Congress as representative of the second district of Pangasinan.

Espino earlier appealed to all law enforcers and members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to put their acts together and come up with a more comprehensive, innovative, and stricter policy to combat the dangerous drugs menace which he said is the “worst crime” he has ever knew of.

Corollary to this, the provincial government has also intensified its anti-illegal drugs campaign by involving the youth led by the provincial scholars in the fight against the menace as gleaned from their manifesto of commitment they signed to showcase their active involvement in the campaign.

“The youth must be made to internalize the ill-effects of the menace through a doctrinal movement,” the governor said.

He said that with the help of all stakeholders, his administration has set its sight to transform Pangasinan as drugs-free province in the near future.

Pangasinan releases P2.06 livelihood loans

(PNA), FFC/LVM/JMRM/RMA

LINGAYEN. Pangasinan, Jan. 17 (PNA) -- Thirteen associations and two individuals representing 13 towns received livelihood assistance from the Pangasinan provincial government Thursday, January 16.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. personally handed the checks ranging from P100,000 to P150,000 each, or a total of P2.06 to the beneficiaries from the towns of Urbiztondo, Bayambang, Burgos, Mabini, Alaminos City, San Jacinto, Mapandan, Manaoag, Laoac, Binalonan, Urdaneta City, Pozorrubio, and Natividad.

The financial assistance is a loan program of the provincial government charging only a minimum interest rate to help those who have just started their small enterprises by providing additional capital.

The fund came from the province's livelihood trust fund.

Provincial Population Office officer-in-charge Ellsworth Gonzales said the beneficiaries of the program first went through rigid screening.

He said that the association-beneficiaries were required to have at least 15 members and a minimum of P30,000 capital. The associations must all be legally registered.

With a remittance rate of 92 percent and booming businesses of the majority of the borrowers such as that of the Women's Unity for Progress group in Mapandan, the governor said that the program as very successful.

According to Luzviminda Muego, the provincial government's consultant on livelihood programs and population services, the project promotes values orientation among the people.

Muego said that their borrowers learned to give importance to responsibility with regards to paying their loans and with doing their best to perk up their respective businesses.

She added that the money being borrowed are commonly used in commodity trading, rice trading, farm impute, buy and sell and direct selling, vegetable trading, shell crafts and oh her souvenir items production, cooperative re-lending.

To date, more than 100 associations already benefited from this program since it was launched in October 2008.

The provincial government, Espino said, earmarked P38 million for the livelihood assistance project.

Muego said that the province is planning to increase the maximum amount that can be loaned to each association.

Gov. Espino said that those who can no longer borrow from the province can form cooperatives and can loan bigger amount from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) without collateral since the province was awarded credit surety fund by BSP.

'Festivals of the North' to return in Dagupan Bangus Festival

(PNA), LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, Jan. 16 (PNA) -- Mayor Belen Fernandez has assured that the crowd-drawing "Festivals of the North" will return when the city celebrates the 2014 Dagupan Bangus Festival from the early part of April to May 2, this year.

Fernandez, speaking during the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP) forum Thursday afternoon, said the "Festivals of the North" was always a top attraction in the Bangus Festival till it was phased out by the past city administration in 2010.

But because of its proven capability to attract tourists not only from all over Pangasinan but also from other parts of the country, including foreigners, the "Festivals of the North" will be back soon, said Fernandez.

The "Festivals of the North" is the conglomeration of festivals from Regions 1, II, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Region III represented by their champion dancers who are meeting in Dagupan in one big dance competition.

Fernandez admitted that it was her predecessor Benjamin Lim who started the Bangus Festival but there is no way she will stop this under her administration because it has been promoting Dagupan as a tourist destination during summer.

On the other hand, she pioneered the dance steps in "Gilon-gilon Dance (Bangus Harvesting Dance) when she chaired the Dagupan City 50th founding anniversary of Dagupan in the mid 90s which then Mayor Lim incorporated in his Bangus Festivals.

When Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. took over the reins of the city government from 2007 to 2010, she named his vice mayor Belen Fernandez as regular chair of the Bangus Festival.

Those were the years that the "Festivals of the North" were seen as special features of Bangus Festivals.

Fernandez also said she will bring back one feature of the Bangus Festival, the "Kalutan ed Dalan" (Grilling of Fish in the Street) along the De Venecia Expressway Extension which is an open space free from pollution rather than along the crowded A.B. Fernandez Avenue.

At the same time, Fernandez also announced she is reviving the Dawel River Cruise as she announced that there were generous members of the private sector who would like to donate boats to replace the three house boats towed away by Lim's men in June last year a few weeks after he lost in the election.

Noting that there is a need to bring more tourists to Dagupan, Fernandez said the city government is rushing the making of new boats so that they can be operational along the Dawel River before this year's Bangus Festival.

Investments in Pangasinan up by 7% - DTI

(PNA), LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, Jan. 15 (PNA) —- Investments in Pangasinan increased from P1. 7 billion in 2012 to P1.9 billion last year as gleaned from the business registration records of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Peter Mangabat, DTI provincial director said that for the past years the primary figures such as the investments, employments and the number of business establishments in the province were following an increasing trend.

In fact, the number of employed Pangasinenses last 2013 jumped up to 9, 099 from 2, 479 on 2012 or about 267% increased.

At the same time, the number of new business establishments in the cities and municipalities recorded a 4-percent rise, from 7,000 in 2012 to 7,318 last year.

According to the compositions made by DTI, retail industry remains on top of service oriented industries and manufacturing.

“Retailing is more convenient for the businessmen than manufacturing because with manufacturing there are a lot of expenses and documents or permits needed that is why most of them choose retailing,” Mangabat said.

However, the export market of the province experienced the downside as its figures decreased.

It was noted that the demand for bangus (milkfish) which is the main export product of Pangasinan in the United States market at $ 1.11 million in 2012,t has been reduced to $ 800,000 last year.

“Maybe, this is because of the economic situation in the U.S.,” said Mangabat.

Although DTI is positive that the export industry will recover this year as they are eyeing other continents such as Middle East, Europe and countries like Russia and Thailand as additional market.

As a whole, the economy of the province is in good condition declared Mangabat.

“The primary factor for the good economy is the increased growth rate in the economy of the country and the good governance of the present administration of President Benigno Aquino III gaining the confidence of the investors”, Mangabat added.

On employment, at least 9,099 Pangasinenses were employed last year, posting a 267-percent increase in the employment rate in the province over the 2,479 of 2012 based on DT records.

Mangabat said at least 9,099 individuals from the province were employed last year.

Pangasinan conducts door-to-door vaccination vs measles

(PNA), FFC/LVM/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 14 (PNA)-- Health workers in Pangasinan are now conducting door-to-door vaccination, particularly in 10 areas earlier placed under measles watch, in a bid to cover all children that were not yet immunized against the highly communicable viral disease.

Dr. Anna Theresa de Guzman, provincial health officer, said the massive immunization campaign is needed to prevent the transmission of measles and cases which as of January 13 stood at 26.

The health official pointed out that parents need not wait for health workers to go to their houses but instead bring their children to the nearest health center to avail of this free vaccination against measles.

The door-to-door campaign, she said, is being implemented, especially in areas earlier placed under measles watch such as Rosales, San Nicolas, San Quintin, Natividad, Sto. Tomas, Lingayen, Mangatarem, Alaminos City, Bani and Mabini.

De Guzman said the 26 measles cases already recorded is considered already alarming since there were only two cases registered during the same period last year.

She said the good news is that no measles fatality has been registered so far.

Of the cases so far registered, 38 percent were from zero to four years old and most of the victims were males.

Based on the statistics, Rosales registered the most number of cases with 12. This town has no recorded measles case last year.

De Guzman said she asked the health officials of Rosales to implement measures to prevent transmission and spread measles in the town.

Team Pangasinan wins 1st Espino Karate Cup

(PNA), LGI/LVM/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 13 (PNA) -- Pangasinan Wadoryu bagged 15 gold, 9 silver and 8 bronze mendals to grab the championship in the 1st Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. Karate Cup at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Gymnasium in Lingayen last January 11.

KDA (Karate Development Arts and Sports) Team from Manila landed first runner-up with 10 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze medals while ISKF-RSK (ISKF - Ryo Shotokan Karatedo) Club of Bacoor, Cavite settled for second runner-up with 6 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Some 150 karate players from seven teams namely, SKIF (Shotokan Karate-do International Federation) from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Anda, MKKPI (Maharlika Karatedo Kai of the Philippines International) from Taguig, Philippine Typhoons from Pasig City, UCCP Clad Center Karatedo Club from Ilocos Sur and Vigan; OSC (Okinawa Shorin-ryu Shizoku) Clan from Region IV, ISKF-RSK,KDA, and Pangasinan Wadoryu joined the tournament.

Raymund Lee Reyes, secretary general of PKF-NSA (Philippine Karatedo Federation – National Sports Association), said the event could provide the federation big chance to produce more potential athletes who could represent the Philippine team in national and international karatedo tournament.

Dr. Alejandro Enrico Guadez Vasquez, National President Federation of PKF, thanked Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. for supporting the Pangasinense karatedo athletes.

The one-day tournament was attended by Ali Parvinkar, an Iranian Karate Coach; Mr. David Lay, head coach of the Philippine team; Emmanuel Velez, deputy president of PKF; and Ramon Franco, chairman of the Referee Council and at the same time Asian Karatedo Double A Licensee.

Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay President Amado I. Espino III assured the athletes that Gov. Espino will continuously support the succeeding Karate Cup and is looking forward to a chance to host the PKF National Championship.

Dagupan's important role in Philippine history (Feature)

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

DAGUPAN CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) -- Eighty-six-year-old Dominic Ventenilla made a snappy salute as he helped the mayor of Dagupan City lay a wreath at the foot of the monument of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, some 50 meters away from the beach in Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City.

That was another act of respect and admiration of the people of Dagupan to the man who headed the allied forces that came to liberate the Philippines so that the Filipinos can be free from three hard years of Japanese Occupation.

As a boy of 14 and was in Grade IV in an elementary school in Bonuan, Dagupan where he was born, Ventenilla saw the landing of the liberation forces led by the Americans in Dagupan 69 years ago.

His personal account of the landing further reinforced claims by local historian Restituto Basa in his book, "Story of Dagupan" published by the Manaois Press that it was in Dagupan where MacArthur first landed on his way to liberate the whole of Luzon from the enemy.

"I did not see MacArthur in person as I was a few distance away from him. But my companions at that time who were boys at my age did," said Ventenilla, who was with the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1950 and lived in Hawaii.

He said during that fateful day of Jan. 9, 1945, they saw boats approaching the allied armada in the Lingayen Gulf, waving the Filipino and American flags as intense shelling from the American ships was continuing.

"My friends and I who were ducking for cover in one of the sand dunes who saw the unfolding events surmised the people in those boats were guerrillas and civilians simply wanting to welcome MacArthur," he said.

One hour after that, he said, the shelling had stopped and there they saw American soldiers crowding one part of the beach as if waiting for a very important person.

He thought that must have been MacArthur and his staff about to wade in the water preparatory to going to the shore.

He said in the shore, he befriended an American soldier who came to land first and informed him that his father Marciano was a U.S. Army soldier too then stationed at Fort Stotsenburg (renamed Clark Air Base later). He was given loads of canned goods which he had difficulty bringing home.

He did follow the footsteps of his father and became part of the U.S. Army in 1946 but was honorably discharged for disability in 1950.

An American citizen receiving monthly pension from Uncle Sam, he lived for sometime in Hawaii before heading home to the Philippines and now staying with the family of his youngest daughter in Bonuan, Dagupan City.

Ventenilla's vivid memories of the landing in Dagupan of the liberation forces confirmed what chroniclers said that from his flagship Boise, MacArthur came to shore along with the 1 Corps of the U.S. Sixth Army under Gen. Walter Kruger that made amphibious landing in the Blue Beach.

That must have been Day 1 of the landing and finding it was not possible to cross the Dawel River to visit his troops for lack of a bridge, MacArthur returned to his ship Boise to spend the night on.

Chroniclers said MacArthur came to shore again in Dagupan the next day as military engineers already finished a pontoon linking Bonuan to the rest of Dagupan. Another veteran who graced the 69th anniversary of the landing, Alejandro Balolong, now also 86 and a retired U.S. Navy man, said he did not see MacArthur at the beach but as he was on the road to Bonuan Catacdang to visit a fishpond he was tending, he saw the general on board a military jeep heading to the town proper of Dagupan.

Balolong, only 15 at that time, said although he did not see MacArthur in the beach, it was his cousin, Dr. Pedro Balolong, who saw MacArthur walking in the shore along with his troops.

Three months after the landing of troops, Balolong along with his other three cousins and 11 other boys from Dagupan, were recruited by the U.S. Navy sometime in April 1946.

They boarded a U.S. Navy light cruiser that sailed to Japan as the allied forces could have been targeting for the invasion of that country. Alejandro showed an old photo of his cousin Dr. Balolong waving to an American soldier who was among the first to land in the shores of Bonuan.

"When I was already on board a U.S. Navy ship, I saw this same photo of my cousin published in the Time magazine," said Balolong.

He said: "Many were saying MacArthur first landed in Lingayen. That's false. I saw MacArthur himself in Dagupan," he said.

Another veteran, Venancio Jimenez, 88, is still around to tell an unpublished and unrecorded episode in the history of Dagupan.

He said he was a private first class in the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and saw MacArthur when he visited the village of Mangin, adjacent to Salisay where the Japanese built an airfield.

At that time, MacArthur already made the Home Economics building of the West Central Elementary School in Dagupan City as his command post while directing the battle against the enemy.

That time, the provincial capital of Pangasinan in Lingayen was evacuated to Dagupan.

Jimenez said that unknown to many, Japanese Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, known as the Tiger of Malaya, preceded MacArthur in Dagupan.

Yamashita must have been mulling over of putting up a strong defense in Dagupan against the allied forces but for an unknown reason abandoned the plan and retreated instead to Baguio.

Jimenez said that before Yamashita left Dagupan, he put many parts of the town to the torch.

During the liberation, he was attached to the U.S. Army unit commanded by Gen. James Dalton II who was shot and killed by a Japanese sniper with just one bullet to the chest in the Battle of Balete Pass.

The Dalton Pass between Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya and Rizal, Nueva Ecija was renamed in his honor.

"I was filling my canteen with water from a free-flowing spring and a few meters away from General Dalton when the shot rang, hitting the general on the chest," he recalled.

He said he was among those who shot the Japanese sniper on a tree, severing his arm.

The continuing accounts of the few remaining veterans of World War II further bolstered Dagupan's role in the liberation of the whole Philippines.

It is only in Dagupan in all of Luzon where General MacArthur has a monument built in his honor, standing proud and towering above sand dunes in the beach of Bonuan.

Mayor Belen Fernandez of Dagupan vowed to restore and preserve the MacArthur Park where the monument stands and the young can stroll around any time of day and learn about their past.

Notorious pusher also wanted for robbery shot dead by Dagupan police

(PNA), CTB/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, Jan. 11 (PNA)--A notorious drug pusher who was killed in an encounter with the police following a buy-bust operation Friday at past 4:00 p.m. on Rizal Street here was tagged as a member of a notorious robbery syndicate operating in this city.

Argie Pimentel, alias "Tano', a resident of Bonuan here, was shot by a policeman who posed as buyer when the former resisted arrest after receiving P300 marked money in exchange for one heat-sealed plastic of shabu .

Pimentel tried to draw a Cal. 45 pistol from his waist upon sensing he was transacting business with a lawman but the police poseur-buyer beat him to the draw.

A verification made by the police showed Pimentel was not only a notorious drug pusher but also well known for his other illegal activities such as robbery-holdup and stealing from houses.

The suspect was pronounced dead by the responding personnel of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) and from the City Health Office led by Dr. Benjamin Marcial Bautista.

Aside from being identified as notorious drug pusher, Pimentel was also well known for his other illegal activities such as robbery-holdup and stealing from houses.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect was reportedly involved in a robbery with homicide where the victim was identified as Emy Banzuela, 69, a businesswoman from Bartolome Ceralde St., Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan that transpired at about 4:00 to 5:00 a.m. of December 7.

The police said the suspect was also involved in the robbery at the house of City Councilor Karlos Reyna at Ivory Coast Subdivision, also on Bartolome Ceralde Street in Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City on December 17.


500 Pangasinan veterans, kin benefit from medical mission

(PNA), FPV/LVM/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 10 (PNA)-- At least 500 World War II veterans including their sons and daughters and surviving spouses availed of the medical mission conducted by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) on Thursday.

The medical mission was part of the activities of the 69th Lingayen Gulf Landings and the 7th Pangasinan Veterans’ Day celebration held at the Pangasinan Veterans’ Memorial Park here.

Provincial Health Officer Anna Ma. Teresa De Guzman said eight doctors and other medical staff provided health services which include medical consultation and provision of free medicines to all the veterans and their kin at the Sison Auditorium.

The war veterans expressed elation over the gifts and tokens they received aside from the surprise incentive of P2,000 given them by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.

The celebration commemorated the Lingayen Gulf Landings on January 9 and the heroism of the World War II veterans who fought side-by-side with the allied forces to regain the country’s freedom from the Japanese invaders.

“We want to let them (veterans) know that we remember them”, said Gov, Espino, explaining the reason for the medical mission.

PVAO administrator salutes Pangasinan veterans

(PNA), CTB/LVMICUA/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 9 (PNA)-- “We salute Filipino veterans in Pangasinan for sacrificing their lives and wholeheartedly stood for the freedom of the country.”

This was made by Gen. Ernesto G. Carolina, AFP (Ret.), Administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), when he spoke during the commemoration of the 69th Lingayen Gulf Landings anniversary, noting that some 500 veterans were around.

The occasion also marked the 7th Pangasinan Veterans’ Day celebration being held every January 9 of each year at the Veterans’ Memorial Park per Provincial Ordinance No. 331-2007 signed by Gov. Amado Espino Jr.

“It was on January 9, 1945 -- that was 69 years ago -- when the historic landing of Allied Forces led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur in the Lingayen Gulf took place, the turning point which eventually led to the eventual liberation of the Philippines and the entire Pacific area from the Japanese,” Carolina recounted.

The Pangasinan Veterans’ Day, on the other hand, is an annual activity of the province held in honor of World War II veterans and their sons and daughters which started in 2008 under the administration of Governor Espino.

The acts of valor and heroism of about 8,000 veterans during World War II (759 of whom are Pangasinenses still alive) gathered us together in this hallowed ground as we acknowledge their significance in liberating our country from Japanese Imperial Army Occupation, Carolina said, adding that “the stories of Pangasinese heroes would serve as influence to the younger generation.”

In giving respect and high honor to the Pangasinense veterans and relatives, Gov. Espino said they (veterans) will leave behind graphic accounts and inspiring memories of their great love for our country, which they demonstrated with concrete acts of valor, self-sacrifice and heroism.

“We are continually challenged to follow their example, and it is now our obligation to bestow upon our children a future built upon their legacy of patriotism and self-sacrifice,” he added.

Gov. Espino, Gen. Carolina, and some representatives from the United States embassy -- Atty. James Curtis Smith, President of Returned Services League of Australia; Mr. Bill Tweddell, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, laid the wreaths in honor of the brave Filipino and allied soldiers who lost their lives during that fateful landing of troops.

Maj. Gen. Hernando Irreberi of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil, provincial board members, municipality and city chief executives and provincial heads and representatives of national line agencies also graced the occasion.

Meanwhile, 103-year old Bonifacio Agacer of Natividad town was recognized as the oldest living Pangasinense war veteran. His son and daughter however received the award as the World War II veteran found difficulty travelling to Lingayen from home because of his medical condition.

The veterans availed of free-of-charge medical services and medicines courtesy of the Provincial Health Office after the formal ceremonies.

Pangasinan to celebrate 69th Lingayen Gulf landing anniversary

(PNA), FFC/LVM/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 8 (PNA) -- The 69th year anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf Landing by the Allied Forces led by General Douglas MacArthur will be commemorated here on Thursday (January 9).

Governor Amado Espino Jr. will lead the affair together with Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Administrator Ernesto Carolina, Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines Bill Tweddell, James Curtis-Smith, president of the Returned Services League of Australia, war veterans and their families that will be held at the Veterans Memorial Park behind the provincial capitol here.

They will lead the wreath-laying ceremony in honor of soldiers who died in the fateful landing at the Veterans Memorial Park here on January 9, 1945, which is marked here as the 7th Pangasinan Veterans’ Day.

PVAO Administrator Carolina, a retired general, will be the guest of honor and speaker in the anniversary program that gives recognition to the valor and courage of the WWII heroes in fighting for their fatherland.

Gov. Espino, for his part, urged residents here to be part of the commemoration of the historic liberation of the country by the allied forces and the Philippine soldiers from the Japanese forces.

Espino said: "We want the people, especially the youth, to know the nobility and patriotism that the veterans displayed during the war."

The event will start with a 7 a.m. thanksgiving mass to be officiated by Archbishop Socrates Villegas with Rev. Fr. Francis Lucas Posadas as co-celebrant.

The wreath-laying ceremony will follow to be ushered in by the traditional entrance of colors, singing of the national anthem and the Pangasinan hymn and the 21-gun salute.

During the same occasion, Gov. Espino will present an award to the oldest living veteran, Pvt. Bonifacio Alagao Agacer, now 103 years old, from Barangay Salud, Natividad.

A medical mission for all the veterans and their families at the site will follow.

The governor said the celebration serves as the provincial government’s annual reunion with the WWII heroes which he started during the 50th Gulf Landing Anniversary in 1995 when he was the Pangasinan provincial director of the Philippine National Police.

20 ambulant vendors to receive 'NegoKarts' from DOLE

(PNA), FFC/LVM/JMRM/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 7 (PNA) -- Twenty ambulant vendors in this town will soon receive their own mobile store with merchandise and free marketing training or the Negosyo sa Kariton package (NegoKart) from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Pangasinan provincial government.

This was gleaned in Resolution No. 324-2014 approved Monday by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SDP) that authorized Governor Amado Espino Jr. to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with DOLE for the implementation of the project.

The P376,000 project, which aims to help people generate income through self-employment, will not only provide stores, but also basic training on business management and bookkeeping to the beneficiaries.

According to Provincial Employment and Services Office Chief Alex Ferrer, NegoKart, which is under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program in partnership with the provincial government, will benefit the 20 ambulant vendors around the Provincial Capitol compound.

He said that some towns in the province already extended assistance under the program last year.

DOLE will provide 80 percent of the project cost or P300,000 while the province will shoulder the P76,000.

Meanwhile, the vendors will be responsible for securing necessary permits. They are also expected to maintain their mobile stores well and generate maximum income from them.

Ferrer said his office will monitor the vendors as additional grant may be given to those who will be able to make their small business flourish.

He said they expect to distribute the Negokarts by March this year.

Dagupan seeks software, training from Phivolcs

(PNA), LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, Jan. 6 (PNA) -- The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Belen Fernandez to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) for the latter to provide its newly developed software on earthquakes and to train Dagupan City personnel to cope with and prepare for the hazard.

The resolution proposed by Councilor Jesus Canto called on Mayor Fernandez to ask Phivolcs to supply the city with its newly developed software called Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS) that aims to produce seismic hazard and risk maps minutes after the occurrence of potentially damaging earthquake.

In this case, REDAS can also be utilized as a tool for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into the local development planning process.

He said that the city of Dagupan, realizing the potential use of REDAS for disaster preparedness and emergency planning, has signified its interest to avail of the vital software and to have some of its selected personnel trained further on disaster risk reduction management.

Mayor Fernandez firmed up cooperation between the city and Phivolcs when Loida Bautista, a research specialist of that agency visited Dagupan in November where she warned of the danger posed on the city and Pangasinan if the Manila Trench, some 100 kilometers off Bolinao, Pangasinan moves at 8.2 magnitude.

Dagupan employees to mark their first full week of work in 2014 with a Mass

(PNA)

DAGUPAN CITY – Employees of the city government would like to start 2014 right by imploring the aid of Divine Providence when they attend a Thanksgiving Mass at the city plaza following a flag-raising ceremony on Monday, Jan. 6.

City Mayor Belen Fernandez, City Administrator Farah Decano and other ranking city officials will join the Mass, including a short message where the city mayor is expected to give a brief outline of the programs she intends to pursue for the whole year.

Fernandez, who is abroad and coming back to Dagupan yet on Jan. 5, earlier said she will spell out all her programs for the year in the State of the City Address (SOCA) she will deliver before the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) sometime this month.

Decano said the mayor may want to tell her co-workers the rationale behind the launching of the Cultural and Arts and Office headed by Mrs. Dada Sinlao which the mayor has tasked to prepare a year-long program to promote Dagupan’s cultural heritage.

It will be a new office separate from the City Tourism Office that will exclusively promote culture and the arts in Dagupan City, including possibly dance sports, said Decano.

After the program, Mayor Fernandez will go to her office to receive all callers, not only from the ranks of city hall employees, barangay health workers and other volunteers, but also barangay officials, heads of national government offices based in Dagupan and also members of people’s organizations and civic clubs.

At the same time, Decano confirmed a previous plan of Mayor Fernandez to personally issue business permits to owners of businesses renewing and securing these from the One-Stop Shop Business Center (OSBC).

Thus, a desk was reserved for the mayor at the OSBC from where she will sign business permits to be issued immediately to applicants after they have complied with all the requirements, without them waiting for hours if not days before their permits are issued.

Decano also said that the renovation of the Malimgas Market that was started sometime in December 2013 will continue to make it more business friendly and attractive to both buyers and sellers.

The purpose of the renovation, which was spelled out in the City Development Plan approved by the SP, is to make the Malimgas Market conform with the demands of stallholders and would-be stallholders from the ranks of ambulant vendors who would all be eventually moved there.

7 teams to join national karate tournament in Pangasinan

(PNA), SCS/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 4 (PNA) -- Some 300 karatedos from various parts of the country will see action in the first-ever Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. Karate Championship slated Jan. 11 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) gym here.

The national tournament was firmed up after several meetings between the host province represented by Provincial Sports Coordinator Modesto Operana and the Philippine Karatedo Federation headed by Dr. Alejandro Enrico G. Vasquez, national president and head coach of the Pangasinan Karate Team.

Seven karate teams from Southern Luzon, the National Capital Region (NCR), Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Angeles City, Cagayan de Oro City, Mandaue City, and the Pangasinan Team are joining the tournament.

Vasquez said at least 176 medals, including three major trophies, are up for grabs in the day-long tournament to be participated in by some of the country's top karatedos.

He said the Pangasinan Karate Team, which parades 20 players, has in its line-up five members of the Philippine Karate Team.

Last year, the Pangasinan Karate Team emerged as overall champion during the 2nd Philippine Karatedo Federation NSA Inc. Gov. JonVic Remulla Karate Championships held in Cavite.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) medalists Mae Soriano, brothers Mark Andrew and John Matthew Manantan, John Enrico Vasquez, Jurille Gilbert Arellano, including Philippine medalist KC Santiago, are set to power the host team.

“This invitational championship will encourage the youth to join karatedo to further strengthen the Pangasinan Karate Team,” Vasquez said.

On the other hand, Operana said the upcoming sports event will open opportunity for the Batang Pinoy karatedo champions to learn additional skills and techniques from their colleagues.

Karatedo, which means a “way of karate,” is a form of self-defense and its ultimate aim is to promote the total development of a person through discipline, perseverance, humility, honor, prudence and fortitude.

3 hurt in New Year's Day revelry in Dagupan

(PNA), SCS/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

DAGUPAN CITY, Jan. 1 (PNA) -- Three spectators were hurt during the New Year's noontime revelry Wednesday in Barangay Pogo Grande here, where thousands of unsold assorted firecrackers were tied together and exploded at one time in observance of an old tradition in the village.

George Galvan, the village chairman, said that it was only this time that spectators were hurt in the revelry that was started some years ago as part of the celebration of New Year in Dagupan City.

All the three injured persons were brought to the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan, where they were treated of their injuries in the neck, shoulder and arms.

Barangay Pogo Grande, considered as the seat of firecracker-making in Dagupan, started this tradition 10 years ago as an additional come-on to tourists visiting the village and Dagupan City in general.

It is generally believed that many households in the village have made firecracker-making as their seasonal livelihood over the years.

Former Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., at whose incumbency the revelry started, hailed this unique merry-making activity in Pogo Grande.

The revelry was hatched up as a form of assistance by well-off members of the community to firecracker manufacturers who may yet have some unsold products up to New Year's eve and as a way to entertain the people and visitors flocking to the village.

The manufacturers try to sell all their stuffs up to New Year's eve and if there are still some leftovers, they do not worry because a village "hermano mayor" will buy these anyway, to be exploded at one time in their new year's noon day revelry

The hermano mayor then will have all the leftover firecrackers tied up with a string for as long as a kilometer, from the boundaries in Barangay Pogo Chico in the north to Lasip Chico in the south.

Now regarded as a sort of fiesta in Pogo Grande, the revelry is done by picking a hermano mayor yearly from among the generous members of the community who understand the ups-and-downs of the firecracker industry.

The activity became more meaningful when three men dressed as "three kings" approach children among the spectators to hand them candies which they can melt in their mouths while watching the spectacles.

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