BSL weds JDV's trusted Body Guard

82 year-old Pablo "Pabling" de Asis (Left), a retired policeman, and a trusted body guard of former Speaker Jose de Venecia , has tied the knot recently with Jennifer Cagaoan, 21, at the office of Dagupan City Mayor Benjie S. Lim. 
Lim and the former Speaker are political rival.
Pabling is known as a smart dresser among folks in Dagupan City with his tight jeans and boots.  He has the mannerism to touch his already well-combed gelled hair. He paces with a spring that made matrons, in the campaign sorties of the de Venecias, curious.
Jenifer, who hailed from Victoria, Tarlac and a 2nd year nursing student dropped out in Dagupan, works at the CSI Mall of Companies owned by Dagupan City Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, another political rival of Lim.

Massive greening program, launched by Manay Gina

Rep. Gina de Venecia (4th District, Pangasinan

“As stewards of our environment, it is our responsibility to ensure that the next generation will enjoy the benefits of having a healthy and rich forest of trees”, said Rep. Gina de Venecia of Pangasinan’s 4th District, during the launching of her district-wide greening program in Dagupan City, over the weekend. She said that the greening project is aimed at establishing mini- forest in all public schools, soil protection system along the river banks, and beautification of major hi-ways. “More important than the aesthetic value is the health benefits that we can derive from trees because they also act as powerful shield against the toxic carbon dioxide emissions from motorized vehicles”, she added. For two days, Rep. De Venecia has distributed a total of 107,059 assorted tree seedlings to Dagupan City and the towns of Mangaldan, Manaoag, San Jacinto and San Fabian.

BIR regional head mum on boss’ nomination to SC

Director Arnel Guballa

By Mortz C. Ortigoza CALASIAO – The regional director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue adopted a wait- and- see attitude on Commissioner Kim J. Henares’s getting appointed as chief justice. Director Arnel Guballa, a lawyer said he had no idea who will get the high tribunal’s high post. He opined that there is movement among other nominees’ interest for the high post but he is not privy about his boss chance to be appointed. Meanwhile, Guballa is more optimistic about the collection performance of BIR Region -1 compared to its record in the last two years. He said that he is bullish because of the trillion-peso infrastructure projects by the government and the forthcoming national election next year. “The economy will be pumped prime by the election next year, then we will see the end result,” he stressed in Filipino. He said Region 1 is doing well despite the average of 20 percent increase given to him by the national government despite the country’s Gross National Product that averages only to 5 percent to 6 percent. He cited that the GNP of the region averages at 10 percent only. “But if you compare it to the actual economy of the country modesty, the region is doing good,” he said.

Bobom keeps eye on Dengue

Mayor Amadeo Gregorio E. Perez IV

URDANETA CITY – The mayor of the most progressive city in Region-1 has been on guard to thwart any outbreak of dengue that haunted various towns in Pangasinan. Mayor Amadeo Gregorio E. Perez IV said this city officials have been vigilant to any upsurge of the virus as he said it strikes “on and off”. “Binibigyan natin ng pansin”he quipped. He said this city is more capable to assist all of his indigent constituents who would be struck by the break bone fever. “I hope that this virus would no longer occur again,” he stressed. The province of Pangasinan according to the Department of Health topped in the number of dengue cases registered for the period January to June this year. Dr. Edwin Monis, spokesman of DOH Region 1, said that of the 1,528 dengue cases and nine deaths reported in the whole of Region 1 for the past six months, Pangasinan registered 880 cases and two deaths. Meanwhile , Perez , the son of this city former mayor Amadito now an “ambassador” to Taiwan, whose administration runs under a fiscal budget of P641million this year has no plan to resort to a supplemental budget to fund its countless projects.

JDV irons out glitches of Pangasinan's Leaders

JDV AND FOURTH DISTRICT LEADERS. Former five-time Speaker Jose de Venecia discuss with political leaders issues at the  4^th congressional district of Pangasinan. From Right: San Fabian Mayor Irene, Board Member Ming Rosario, Speaker de Venecia, and Mangaldan Mayor Hermie Romero. Extreme Left is Manaoag Mayor Napoleon. MORTZ ORTIGOZA

By Mortz C. Ortigoza QUEZON CITY – Former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. met with political leaders of the 4th congressional district of Pangasinan and discuss plans for next year’s local elections. At the office of his wife Rep. Gina de Venecia , he met with Mayors Herminio Romero of Mangaldan, Irene Libunao of San Fabian, Robert de Vera of San Jacinto, and Napoleon Sales of Manaoag, and Board Member Agerico Jeremy Rosario. Another ally Dagupan City Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez did not attend because she was reportedly monitoring the plan of the new majority members of the Sanggunian Panglungsod (city council) to pass a supplemental budget. According to a source who asked for anonymity, the vice mayor did not want a repeat of what the SP members who are allied with Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim who “sneak in legislation that puts her at a disadvantage.”

From Sauna to Sona

Lost in Sona:The author (Right) with Rep. Gina de Venecia's PR man Gypsy Baldovino.

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Partylist lady solon wears a Kukor, short of Kukortinahin (curtain) frock for the SONA

 BY MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

 This writer who dreams to go to “sauna” has at last attended the real Sona (State of the Nation Address) last July 23 at the Batasan Complex . Thanks to the invitation of Rep. Gina de Venecia (4th District, Pangasinan). What I observed inside the plenary hall, to my amazement, is no different to what looks inside the cockpit arena in my city. Only the plenary hall of the House of Representatives, 20 times bigger than the fowl arena, has sea of men and women outclassing each other in their sartorial elegance and whose first name has been appended with an adjective “Honorable.” That not all congresswomen beautifully carried themselves in Filipino gowns designed by Patis Tesoro and Pitoy Moreno, there were those in the party list sectors who lousily carried themselves in frock designed by Kukor, short for Kukortinahin (curtain), they probably bought in a bargain sale in Divisoria and Baclaran. That the lower box facing the rostrum where the Philippine president, senate president, and the speaker of the House of Representatives sat were rows of benches where present and former high government officials like former President Fidel V. Ramos, former 5-time Speaker Jose de Venecia, Vice President Jojo Binay, former President Joseph Estrada, and foreign ambassadors and their wives occupy. That I pitied the foreign dignitaries who looked like idiots listening to the one hour-and- a- half speech of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in Tagalog. That the Office of the Speaker should have purchased earphones (just like in the United Nations- for those dignitaries who come as far as the Republic of Timbukto ) on which they listen to translations in English.

BCC founder’s day

SAN CARLOS CITY. The Binalatongan Community College which was founded by the late Mayor Julian “Jolly” Resuello with the help of Engr. Marcelo Casillan, will celebrate its Founder’s Day on July 23 this year, in lieu of the usual July 22 which was the birth date of the former mayor who would have turned 60 years old were he still alive. The celebration starts with a 7:00 A.M. Holy Mass at the St. Dominic Church, after which there will be floral offering at the JVR monument in the Arenas-Resuello Sports complex of the city plaza or the Speaker Eugenio Perez Memorial Amphitheatre. The floral offering by the city officials will be led by the sons of JVR, namely Mayor Julier “Ayoy” Resuello and Vice Mayor Joseres. Program proper will also be at the sports complex. Doxology and Pambansang Awit will be rendered by BCC Chorale Group. Welcome Address will be delivered by the Mayor’s wife, Mrs. Suzanne de Dios Resuello who is the BCC Administrator. Vice President for Administration and Operations, Dr. Adonis Bautista, will present the school officials and faculty. Mister Mark Espino will introduce the Supreme Student Council officers who will be inducted into office by Mayor Julier Resuello. After the induction, SCC President Felipe Macam will give his message. Inspirational message will be delivered by Engr. Marcelo Casillan. Vice Mayor Joseres Resuello and former councilor Elpidio Fermin will also give special message. Guest Speaker Mayor Julier Resuello will be introduced by Dr. Eufrosina Zaragoza, Dean of Education Department. BCC offers courses in Education and Information Technology. Closing remarks will be done by Dr. Arsenio Bulatao. Interspersed in the program are intermission numbers by BCC students.

Calimlim hits Shahani; Mandapat pot shots Prov'l Board

BY MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

At the height of the brouhaha spawned by the P52 million loan contracted by Urbiztondo town with the Philippine National Bank, Santa Barbara Mayor Carlito Zaplan told me how he and his staff prepared the resolution that empowers him to borrow P100 million from the Land Bank of the Philippines for the construction of his new municipal hall. He said after he signed the resolution passed by his town council for review by the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (provincial board) he saw to it that it has the corresponding annual investment plan (AIP)and a legislated supplemental budget. He said after the SP approves them, he and his staff will submit it to the LBP for the latter to release a particular sum for them to start the construction of the new municipal edifice somewhere in Brgy. Ventinilla in his town. “You can not get the whole loan, LBP will only release a particular sum through progressive billing after its staff is satisfied that the constructed structures jibe with the money the bank released earlier,” he explained.

***
With Zaplan’s explanation, did the PNB and Urbiztondo Mayor Ernesto “ Jun” Balolong, Jr commit malfeasances after the bank gave him the entire package of P52, 400,000? The PNB and Balolong have been incessantly assailed by the members of the provincial board and the media of not complying with the legal procedures on how a loan to a local government unit is released. They said the bank and the mayor should have waited for the final review and approval by the board before the P52, 400,000 loans was released. But Balolong and his political and economic adviser Arturo Mandapat (former bursar of San Carlos City) emphatically disagreed with the accusation. They both told me the SP was in estoppels based on the 30 day prescription period provided by the Local Government Code. Section 56 (d) of the LGC provides if no action has been taken by the SP within 30 days after submission of such an ordinance or resolution, the same shall be presumed consistent with law and therefore valid. “How can we be liable when the secretariat of the SP furnished Balolong a certificate that the 30-day period has already lapsed?”Mandapat declared. He said the certificate, the ordinance and even the AIP and the supplemental budget have all been complied with. *** Critics of Balolong said the last two requirements have not been passed by the Sanggunian Bayan (town council) of the town and submitted at the board. Mandapat said all these requirements have been complied with that eventually made the PNB to release the sum. “PNB (in Manila)and the Bangko Sentral have their top notch lawyers who combed meticulously the application of the town’s for loan that they could see any requirements that application lacks,” Mandapat said.

Mangaldan benefits from Economic Manna

MANGALDAN- The mayor of this burgeoning town said that because of the converging of factors this municipality will be a beneficiary of economic windfall. Mayor Herminio Romero said that because of the economic spillover in nearby urbanized Dagupan City, this town will become a host to investors who want to put shop here. “Nandiyan na iyan. Ang sinabi ko ngayon ay palapit ng palapit ang spill-over kaya isagad at paluwagin na ang kalsada. Pati drainage, isagad na rin para maluwag ang flow ng transportation and traffic,” he stressed. He explained that if the highway is wide, businessmen follow suit by putting shops in this town. Eng. Rodolfo “Boy” Dion, chief of the 2nd Engineering District of the Department of Public Works & Highway, said that the national government through the DPWH has started to construct the concreting of the shoulder of the road from this town proper to Brgy. Anolid. Dion explained that his men would have their hands full supervising the private contractor who would be re-blocking and concreting the highway there until November this year.

PAPI Honors Manay Gina as Top Solon

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. will be the principal guest of honor and speaker during the 2012 Midyear Media Conference and Award Presentation of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PAPI) today, July 20, at 7 p.m. at the Makati Sports Club in Makati City. The awards conferment to the most outstanding congressmen of the Philippines will highlight the media event. The honorees are: Reps. Teodoro Casiño, Ma. Georgina de Venecia, Rodolfo Fariñas, Roilo Golez, Edcel Lagman, Hermilando Mandanas, Emil Ong, Angelo Palmones, Rufus Rodriguez, Lorenzo Tañada III and Rodolfo Valencia. Juan Dayang, PAPI president, said as the media sector covering all congressional districts all over the country, the Publishers Association of the Philippines, the largest and oldest association of publishers and mediamen in the provinces and urban communities, has kept a close watch of the performance of the members of the House of Representatives. The community press, he said, has been documenting the accomplishments of the members of congress. PAPI, in recognition of the excellent performance of some of the Representatives, will honor the House members chosen as most outstanding congressmen. Dayang pointed out that media has the inherent function to inform the people, especially those residing in the countryside, about the performance of their legislators in the House of Representatives.  

SPEECH OF REP. GINA DE VENECIA AT THE MIDYEAR MEDIA CONFERENCE & AWARD PRESENTATION 

 I am honored and deeply grateful to have been selected as one of the top Ten Congressmen of the Philippines. As the only woman honoree, I am doubly appreciative of this award, because it is truly heartwarming to be in the company of such a distinguished group of illustrious congressmen, who make us proud to be Filipinos. My entry in politics was quite daunting, because the congressman that I replaced in Pangasinan’s fourth district is a political maverick and a great statesman ---- the five- time Speaker himself, my husband Joe de Venecia. Nevertheless, I overcome the challenges, by following his counsel and the dictum of one of the most beloved presidents of our country, the late Tita Cory, who stated: “I didn’t have any formula for building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people." After all, leadership is really about serving the public.

Cojuangco, Espino inaugurate university in Binalonan

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BINALONAN – The mayor here said that Rep. Kimi Cojuangco (5^th District, Pangasinan) and Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino will be the guests of honor on July 20 on the blessings and inauguration of the new campus of this town operated University of Eastern Pangasinan.

Mayor Ramon V. Guico III, a doctor of public management, said the swanky university was his brainchild when he submitted a dissertation in 2005 to then President Gloria M. Arroyo, former Speaker Jose de Venecia, then Mayor Ramon N. Guico, Jr., and this town’s officials.

“Since then the dream of establishing a university for Binalonan came into reality,” the young looking mayor stressed.

Guico said that with the support of World Citi (umbrella of WCC Aviation Company, WCC Aeronautical School, World Citi Colleges, and World Citi Medical Center) President Dr. Arlyn V. Guico and Board Chairman former Mayor Guico, Jr., he envisioned to share his wealth of experiences in academic leadership through the birth of a local university financed and sponsored by the municipal government.

He said that through Ordinance No. 2005-007 (Establishing the University of Eastern Pangasinan and for other Purposes) that was approved on December 9, 2005 and Resolution No. 239-2006 of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan culminated his dream to reality.

“Hence, UEP was born and started operations in the upper “palengke” building of the poblacion”.

Guico said that the new modern structures are located at Barangay Canarvacanan

A resident here who asked anonymity declared that this town owned UEP, like the University of Urdaneta City operated by the nearby Urdaneta City would be one of the major sources of revenues for this town’s coffer as it attracts burgeoning number of students from the nearby municipalities.

 Gloria Mondares, Budget Officer of Urdaneta City, said that UCC gives a stagerring P170 million every year to the city from the revenues the university collected from tuition fees of the thousands of its students.

Mayor Guico said that residents here who want to enroll at UEP will be given 100 percent free tuition fee except the measly miscellaneous fees.

Manay Gina nominates Dolphy for Highest Congressional Award

R.P's Comedy King Dolphy

Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Congressional Medal of Distinction, the highest award the House of Representatives can confer to an exemplary individual is being sought by two lady solons for “Comedy King” Dolphy. In House Resolution 2581, filed by Reps. Gina De Venecia of Pangasinan’s 4th District and Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon Partylist, it is sought that the congressional medal of achievement be conferred posthumously to Rodolfo “Dolphy” Vera Quizon for his outstanding accomplishments as a stage, television and movie actor over a span of seven decades, earning for himself the title “Comedy King of Philippine Show Business.” According to De Venecia, “Tito Dolphy was worthy of that honor, in recognition not only of his performance as an actor but more so for his role in making the Filipino people laugh amidst crisis and poverty, a feat not every actor is able to achieve while maintaining humility and kindness.” De Venecia is the daughter of Sampaguita Pictures owner Dr. Jose “Doc” Perez, who gave Quizon the screen name Dolphy and popularized the comedy duo of Dolphy and Panchito. Sampaguita was Dolphy’s home studio for the first ten years of his illustrious movie career.

COA "punishing" kaps in Mangaldan

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA A scheming congresswoman and her favored husband- and- wife bosses of the Department of Public Works & Highway thought they were still under their benefactor former President Gloria M. Arroyo. The lady solon petitioned DPWH Secretary Roger Singson that a top boss of the public works in the province, who performs well in his post, be replaced with the husband — a former district engineer who has been sacked several times. As you know, the husband was kicked out, through the intercession of a powerful member of congress, as district engineer because of ghost projects he allegedly constructed in his district according to my source at the DPWH. He just barely warmed his butt at his new assignment in another province when he was kicked out again for some issues. Now that the guy has no job, the solon and the wife have the nerve to ask Singson to give them the post of a performer. Hoy, mahiya kayo! Nasa matuwid na daan na tayo ni P-Noy. Wala na tayo sa panahon ni Gloria kung saan binubulsa niyo ang 40% to 60% na allocation ng river dredging operation niyo. *** A supporter of Rosales Mayor Ric Revita commented on anomalous loan transactions from banks obtained by some mayors. He told me that the former police officer disdains burdening his constituents by tying them for countless of years when the loan is amortized. He said even though his mayor knows that some elective officials earns some portion of the loan for their personal interest, Revita subscribes that a town does not need to borrow from banks to build infrastructure but instead resort to PPP or Private Public Partnership (formerly Build Operate & Transfer). “Look at the offer of SM Investment’s Corporation, its big wigs told us that SM will build for free the first floor of our public market but we give to them the second and third floor for them to lease to vendors for a definite period of time so SM can recoup its expenses.”

Kap competes with province in raising “millions of pesos”

By Mortz C. Ortigoza LINGAYEN –The chief of barangay Estanza competes with the provincial government to get multi-million of pesos financial windfall for his pet projects. Brgy. Captain Mario Navarro said through the help of retired general Orlando Madela, enforcement chief of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, he had been promised a P15 million worth of auditorium and a barangay hall in his village. Navarro said Madela, a close associate of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, explained that the fund would come from the economic fund of President Aquino. He said the funds would be P10 million for the rehabilitation of the auditorium, and P 5 million for the barangay hall. “Both of these projects would be show windows to the world that a village in Pangasinan can be an epitome of progress,” he stressed. He said that village would be the “it thing” in the province as it is primed-up, together with nearby barangays Sabangan, Malimpuec and Capandanan, as a world class eco-tourism haven of Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino. In the recent final dialogue with villagers for the P202.2 million golf course project’s application for an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan said before the end of Espino’s ter, four barangays in Lingayen will become the most progressive places in Pangasinan. Mayor Ernesto Castaneda expressed full support also to the mega project that could spur full-scale development not just of Lingayen but the entire province. Meanwhile, Castaneda said he was going to add funds as his counterpart contribution to the more than P200 thousand seed fund of his school batch for the construction of a comfort rooms in his alma mater Pangasinan National High School. Castaneda is the chairman of high school batches of early 1960s.

End of Flood at old De Venecia Highway – Dion

DAGUPAN CITY – The almost knee-deep flood that haunts motorists at the junction of the old De Venecia highway in Barangay Lucao in this city could be a thing of the past. The chief of the 2nd Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works &

BM Ming calls TPLEX’s bosses to include Manaoag

Board Member Ming Rosario

MANAOAG- Board Member Jeremy Agerico”Ming” Rosario emphatically support the position of his colleagues at the Sanggunian Panlalawigan for a bypass highway that would occupy some part this pilgrimage town in the ongoing P19 billion pesos Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) project of the government. Rosario said this is just part of the first option that the SP wants the management of Private-Public Partnership (succesor of the Build Operate & Transfer) TPLEX to consider so this town and the neighboring town enjoy the multipliers effect the new superhighway gives. “With TPLEX passes through our town Manaoag eventually economic progress follows. Valuation of the lands of the people here would appreciate, and the town would draw investors” the visionary leader of this pilgrimage town who is rumored to be next mayor stressed. Phase One will consist of a two-lane expressway, 23 viaducts, eight interchanges, two central toll plazas, one toll operations center, 12 bridges and 63 underpasses. Phase Two becomes a four-lane project when traffic volume reaches 25,000 vehicles. Rosario said TPLEX original plan is to build a parallel road to the old national highway that connects the provinces of La Union and Tarlac. But he hopes that officials of TPLEX considered the suggestion of officials in Pangasinan to get a piece of TPLEX here. The 88.58-km expressway project from La Paz, Tarlac, to Rosario, La Union, has been in full blast. La Paz is the end of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (S-CTeX). Phase One of TPLEx from Tarlac City to Carmen, Pangasinan, is 67-percent complete. TPLEx is the first PPP project in the Philippines to feature an all-domestic cast of sponsors and lenders. Financing by the project was through domestic banks BDO Unibank, Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines. Meanwhile, Rosario, who is the chairman of the powerful education committee at the SP, eyes that close circuit TV (CCTV) should be installed at private and public schools all over Pangasinan to deter a repeat of what befell Madeline Goyena, a sophomore student of Dagupan City National High School who was stabbed 17 times to death. Rosario, a physician colleague of the mother of Goyena, said if there was CCTV installed all over Dagupan City high school, all the perpetrators would be easily identified without any doubts of their criminal liabilities (MCO).

Fake Gov't Engineers in Pangasinan

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA A district engineer (DE) of the Department of Public Works & Highway is to be expulsed from his post anytime from now by the DPWH’s central office. His fault: He is inefficient and incompetent in many tasks. My source said the district congressman, who is a relative of the DE, has chided him because his (solon) district continued to be deprived of national projects that are coursed through the DPWH’s central office. One example of the DE’s incompetence is the loss of a bailey panel (long iron used as steel bridges) that cost to tens of thousands of pesos. A part of the text message that reached me said: “Naubos na po ang karga bodega, aspalto, pintura, at mga sari-saring bakal.” Those thieves suspected to be the DE’s personnel are still on the loose because he did not lift a finger on them, say, by even filing a police blotter. O DE, baka pati iyong bailey panel pinagkikita-an niyo pa iyan? Baka hindi lang demotion abutin niyo kay DPWH Secretary Roger Singson! *** At the height of the expose’ of fake municipal doctor, nurse, and a midwife in Anda town in Pangasinan, a top honcho, an engineer of a government regional office, told me that many regional, provincial, and municipal engineers in Pangasinan hold fake engineering licenses. “They used to buy their license for P25 thousand to P30 thousand from someone who has connection at the Philippine Regulatory Commission,” the engineer said. He said he sacked many of them under his watch in the early 1990s because of their bogus licenses. “When I asked them to submit their license number because I was going to promote them, they uneasily declined. I found out at PRC later that these sons of guns possessed spurious licenses.”

Vice governorship tougher than mayorship – Calimlim

By Mortz C. Ortigoza LINGAYEN – The vice governor of Pangasinan who used to be a mayor for three terms said his present post is more demanding than being a mayor. Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Zerrudo Calimlim said being the second top head of the humongous province he has to barnstorm 1,333 villages unlike when he was a mayor of Mapandan, a small town. “My routine in going to the boondocks did not change when I was campaigning for the vice governor for one year and a half,” he stressed. He said his style in crisscrossing the villages by feeling the pulse of his constituents is the same as that of Governor Amado T . Espino. “Nothing changed,” he told the governor when they both exchanged notes when they ran for election in 2010. Calimlim said that he gives 20 monoblock chairs, a grass cutter and a megaphone to every barangay and to the entities who request for financial and material assistance. “Later, I and the governor will be giving air conditioner to every barangay hall in the province,” he said. Lately the vice governor joined the delivery of another set of water pumps and grass cutters to four municipalities in June 26 as part of the province’s program on agricultural productivity, conservation of the environment and a form to prevent spread of dengue.

Tax honcho aims to reach P2.6 B goal

By Mortz C. Ortigoza CALASIAO- The head of the biggest revenue district office (RDO) in Northern Luzon is unperturbed by 60% of the P900 million additional tax hike imposed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue on her office. Revenue District Office-4 Chief Christine Cardona said the first goal given to her by the Bureau of Internal Revenue was P2, 112,336,000. It is 18.89 % higher than her last year goal’s of P1, 776,721,000. But because of the new hike of P500 million from the central office, Cardona has to soldier- on this year a staggering P2.612,336 billion for the coffer. Cardona said that BIR ordered the six RDOs in the four provinces of Region-1 to collect a modified hike to buttress the national coffer in addition to the tax goal given to them in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012. Despite the new spike, Cardona was optimistic that she can hit the new target at the end of this year just like what she did last year. “I am always optimistic,” she said when asked if she turned pessimistic because of the herculean task given to her. In the first tax goal given to the six RDOs, each of them had the following target to collect: RDO-1 in Laoag City, P960,873,000.; RDO-2 Bantay, Ilocos Sur, P1,086,113,000; RDO-3 in San Fernando City, La Union, P1,447,845,000; RDO-4 in Calasiao, Pangasinan, P2,112,336,000; RDO-5 in Alaminos City in Pangasinan, P698,733,000; and RDO-6 in Urdaneta City in Pangasinan, P997,926,000. According to a source who asked for anonymity, the total of the goal for BIR Region-1 is P7, 303,826,000. But with the modified hike of P900 million from the P6, 526,186,000 goal last year, the new goal would become P7, 426.186,000. BIR Region 1 is under the watch of Director Arnel Gubala who used to head the National Investigation Division.

Calasiao is show window of progress – Macanlalay

CALASIAO – Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay is bullish on the business atmosphere that permeate this first class town after Robinson Land Corporation opens its mammoth retail store here. “Sunod sunod na ang mga nagpapatayo ng structures diyan. Nagkaroon ng mga karagdagang restaurants sa tabi ng Dagupena. Meron na doong Don Armando’s, tapos ngayon ang Nissan, Susuki, Laus Group of Companies, KIA. Haima na isang brand ng sasakyan. Tapos iyong mga gas stations pa na SEA Oil, Caltex, marami pa,” he explained. The business establishments that put shop here before the mall was constructed were Jollibee, Honda, Toyota, and Amianan Motors. He said Barangay San Miguel that host all of these businesses is the show window of this town to people who pass the MacArthur Highway going to and from Manila. He said that people who have not been to this area for three years would have a jolt of their life because of the edifices that sprouted there like mushrooms. Meanwhile,because of the influx of businesses and shoppers here, Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay said that his administration in coordination with the Department of Public Works & Highway mulls for a road widening and an overpass bridge in front of Robinsons Mall.

Bobom buys Military Truck, don’t like Garbage Truck for Rescue

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Mayor Bobom Perez gives Dignity to Urdanetans by buying this P1.4 Million brand new military cum rescue truck whenever calamity strikes Urdaneta City.

Mayor Perez instructs CDMRRC boss Johnny Sumait how to scramble the five rubber boats and the four rescue vehicles of Urdaneta City incase calamity strikes the city. URDANETA CITY – The mayor of this entrepot city bought recently a military cum rescue truck to give dignity to his people not being ferried by a garbage truck during calamity. Mayor Amadeo Gregorio “Bobom” E. Perez IV said that the brand new Japanese made Isuzu military truck cost this progressive city P1.4 million. “Parang pang rescue kasi ng ta-o na hindi naman sasakay sa truck ng basura. Usually ganoon talaga, dump truck iyong pinagsasakyan iyong sasakyan ng basura!” He added that somebody proposed to sell him a real rescue truck for P6 million but he preferred to buy another military truck instead. Johnny Sumait, the chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said that presently this city has five rubber boats where one was given to the police.

Lim is not liable on Awai deal – Mata

By Mortz C. Ortigoza DAGUPAN CITY – City administrator Vladimir Mata said there is no suit that could be filed against Mayor Benjamin S. Lim when he bought the controversial 30-hectare land intended for a sanitary landfill in San Jacinto town. “What‘s the case?” posed by Mata, saying Lim could not disburse P16 million without proper accounting and proper documents. “Sabihin mo mag-isip silang mga kritiko paano madi-disbursed ang pera. Dapat alam nila iyon.Meron tayong COA (Commission on Audit) that makes sure that the papers are in order (for the land) that we bought a long time ago. In other words we comply with the law,” he stressed. He explained that even thought there is no Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) because the heirs of Estrella Sangalang do not have an Original Certificate of Title (OCT), the ownership of this city to the 30 hectares lands can be found on the tax certificate in the assessor’s office in San Jacinto. The controversial land was bought by the city government from Jose Mariano Cuna for P16 million in April 11, 2002. Cuna bought it from Sangalang for P6 million in January 2002. He blamed some individuals for the aborted landfill plan in the town. “Mr. Lim bought the land with the imprimatur of the SP (Sangguniang Panlungsod) conducive for the engineered sanitary landfill. But it did not push through because of some political quarters who do not want the project implemented.” Meanwhile, Mata said it was farfetched to sue this city because of its non-compliance with Republic Act 9003 otherwise known as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act because which called for establishment of engineered sanitary landfill. “Pag hindi nag comply ang executive, mismo ang DENR na ang magpa-file ng kaso laban doon sa executive,” he said. He said when the Department of Environmental & Natural Resources sued the violators, all local government units in the country except Urdaneta City and Palawan would be in a bind.

Pinheads bosses of DILG

By Mortz C. Ortigoza Is Malacanang making life difficult to Governor Amado T. Espino? Radio reports announced recently that Police Colonel Sonny Versoza, a close ally of former governor Victor Agbayani, would assume as the Officer–In-Charge of the provincial police in Pangasinan. Media sources scooped Versoza’s appointment from General Nick Bartolome, chief of the Philippine National Police, last Monday when he graced an occasion in La Union. But incumbent OIC provincial director Lt. Colonel Michael Nicolas (yes Virginia, a Lt. Colonel, not a full colonel for the post of the top policeman in Pangasinan) told the media that he has no news about the assumption. Versoza’s closeness to the former governor could be traced to his sibling who was married to a sibling of Agbayani. I heard from sources that Malacanang wants to see that the appointment of the heads of the police in Pangasinan and the Commission on Election in the province would be under the behest of the palace’s occupants. They want to see that next year’s local election would be under their control. Malacanang dislike to the governor was ubiquitous after President Benigno Aquino III spoke in the recent Palarong Pambansa (National Game) in Lingayen, Pangasinan, he immediately flew in his presidential chopper (escorted by the newly purchased Poland-made Sokol military helicopter) to nearby Calasiao town. He ate and cooled his heels there while Espino, former president Fidel V. Ramos, and other dignitaries took their lunch at the swanky world class Sison Auditorium in Lingayen town. Espino is a former stalwart of Lakas-Kampi (under the now detained and former president Gloria Arroyo) who lately joined the Nationalist People’s Coalition of business tycoon Danding Cojuangco. ***

Finance, Customs yield to hog raisers’ requests

By Mortz C. Ortigoza