Mangaldan official mulls libel vs. FB members

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MANGALDAN – Were the administrators behind the acrimonious Face Book community group’s Kumusta La Mangaldan (KLM) scampered so they can be insulated to a pending libel case against them?
A public official slighted by the vitriol’s hurled in the past by pro-active members of KLM has asked this paper to warn them that a criminal libel case against them is in the offing. Has the leadership of KLM took note about this threat, or it has just started to purge many of its rambunctious and libel case- prone members , who are part of its more than 4000 population, after the Cyber Crime Bill was just signed into law by President Simeon Benigno Aquino III?
In its FB wall, a purportedly public statement from a group of hackers said: “This group has been compromised by several groups of hackers from DemonoidPH and Anonymous.

JDV, Gina still deciding who will run

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By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 DAGUPAN CITY – Five-time Speaker Jose de Venecia said either he or his wife Gina, the congresswoman of the 4th District of Pangasinan, will run for the top district’s post. He said the family is still consulting with each other because of demands from various quarters that want to see any of them head the district that is composed of one city and four towns. “The family consults each other for the best interest of Dagupan City and the towns in the 4th District of Pangasinan,” he stressed. 
The former Speaker said he and Gina are still deciding whether they will stay with Nationalist People’s Coalition (NP) or shift to the Liberal Party (LP). 

NPC Stalwarts Support Gov. Espino

Stalwarts of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of Pangasinan led by the six Congressmen of the province and the Pangasinan-based Abono Partylist expressed their all out support to the re-election bids of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (4th from left) and Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim Jr. (3rd from left) during a caucus meeting yesterday (September 27) at the residence of NPC Regional and Provincial Chairman Mark Cojuangco, a former congressman, (2nd from right) in Sison, Pangasinan.

 By Provincial Information Office 
LINGAYEN - Stalwarts of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in Pangasinan mapped out a bandwagon masterplan during a caucus meeting on September 27 in Sison Pangasinan in a bid to seal off victory at the polls for Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. who is seeking a third and final term. Led by former 5th district Rep. Mark Cojuangco, NPC Chairman of Pangasinan and Region 1, the party’s local leaders that include six Congressmen of the province and the Pangasinan-based Abono Partylist expressed their all-out support to the re-election bid of Gov. Espino and Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Jr., and the entire NPC Provincial Ticket. Present during the meeting at the residence of Cojuangco were five incumbent Congressmen Jesus Celeste (1st District), Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd District), Rachel Arenas (3rd District), Kimi Cojuangco (5th District) and Marlyn Agabas (6th District), together with Abono Partylist Chairman Rosendo So and former Cong. Conrado Estrella III.

With FVR behind him: BRAGANZA BELITTLES ESPINO'S GOLD

Braganza consults recently with Liberal Party's stalwarts in Binmaley

Two Probable Tandem: (From Left): Braganza and Agbayani

Media men "endorsed" Braganza's gubernatorial bid at Star Plaza in Dagupan City

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 DAGUPAN CITY - The Liberal Party’s bet to challenge the reign of Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino in the 2013 poll is unfazed about the huge financial chest the latter will spend against him.
 Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza cited the experiences of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and his uncle former President Fidel V. Ramos who both ran and won the presidency. “The president now is the best example. Even former president FVR (Ramos' moniker) who was a minority president e kinakantiyawan Lakas Loob ang partido (na) Lakas Tao (he was mocked not as a member of Lakas Party but just a party of sheer grit instead of Lakas Tao (Humanity)), he became president. He was one of the better presidents of this country,” he stressed.

Cop pokes gun at police director’s daughter

Pangasinan Provincial Director Versoza (Right) in a huddle with Gov. Espino

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

 PO1 Sta Maria should have been sacked from the police service just like what the Philippine National Police did to “bolotong”,er, “Kotong (extorting)” cop SP04 Jose dela Pena.
 But Sta Maria was a lucky son of a gun despite his poking a gun recently at the daughter and the friends of Pangasinan’s Police Provincial Director Sonny Versoza, the latter has a soft heart who only settled for the suspension of the scalawag cop. Col. Versoza told me that at the wee hours sometime early this month , his daughter Ma-an, a councilor in Lingayen, was having a meeting with friends at the Warehouse Club in Dagupan City when an altercation spawned between the group of his daughter and the group of Sta. Maria. He said to freeze the group of his daughter Sta.Maria, the grandson of Dagupan City former Councilor Manok Sta. Maria whisked his handgun and started to poke at the group of the younger Versoza.

Protective Wall para iligtas sa erosion ang Seafood Plant

Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia

Nitong Lunes ay sinimulan nang gawin ang protective wall sa Cayanga river sa Bonuan Binloc, para mapigilan ang pagkatibag ng ilang bahagi ng sitio Puntok at ang kinatatayuan ng Dagupan Seafood Plant.
 Ang proyekto, na inaasahang matatapos ngayong taon, ay nagkakahalaga ng dalawampung milyon, at isa sa mga priority projects ni Congresswoman Gina de Venecia. Nagpasya ang kongresista na agad itong ipagawa matapos personal na bisitahin ang nasabing lugar, at makita ang pinsalang dulot ng soil erosion mula sa umaapaw na tubig ng Cayanga river kapag may baha o malakas na bagyo.
Ayon kay Manay Gina, halos pitong metro na lamang ang layo ng natitibag na bahagi mula sa planta. Napag-alaman din nya na malaking bahagi ng sitio Puntok ang natatangay ng baha kapag umaapaw ang tubig sa Cayanga river.

Estrella favors 100% foreign equity in RP’s industries

Abono Party List No. 1 Nominee Conrad Estrella

By Mortz C. Ortigoza
MANGALDAN – Former congressman Conrado Estrella favors 100 percent ownership of Philippine industries in favor of foreign investors to generate employment among Filipinos. Estrella, the first nominee of Abono Party List group for the next year’s poll, said he was in favor of amending the constitution that hamper 100% ownership of industries for the country to be just like in China and Vietnam that draw cash-awashed foreign businessmen. “Everything should be open if you want to invite them (investors).
 If you want to keep them here, (they should) know (they are) secure,” he stressed. The economic provisions of the Philippine Constitution gives only a maximum ownership of 40 percent to non-Filipinos. Many believed that because of these laws, employment generation in the country suffers.

DOLE Region 1 undermines Sec. Baldoz

DOLE Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

 I emphatically call the attention of Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz of the Department of Labor & Employment. Your DOLE provincial and regional office in Pangasinan and in San Fernando Ciy, La Union have been giving you and your department a bad name for inefficiency and incompetence. Last summer, students from the marginalized sectors all over the country have been selected by local government unit (LGU) to work in your department’s Special Program for the Employment of Students or SPES where the LGU shoulder 60 percent of their salary while DOLE shoulder 40 percent of the more than P7000 salary in a one month work.
Susmariosep, the LGU of Dagupan City has long been given the 60 percent counterpart in May this year while many of these sorry students and out-of-school youth still wait for the counterpart from your local offices here in Northern Luzon. What is happening with your department Secretary Baldoz?
Sylvia Catapia, your point woman for this endeavor in Pangasinan, has been telling parents who follow up the balance fees of their children that their papers are still being scrutinized in the DOLE’s regional office.

Huge population means power – Villar

CYNTHIA CIRCLES PANGASINAN TOWNS.  Senatorial wannabe Cynthia Villar (3rd from Right) exchanges pleasantries with Malasiqui Mayor Armand Domantay during her sortie in Pangasinan town last Thursday.  Third from left is Abono Party-list Chair Rosendo So. Villar was in the vote-rich Pangasinan recently in a helicopter-hopping fashion by barnstorming the towns of Manaoag, Malasiqui, and Mangaldan. MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Hoi Polloi for Villar: Thousand of crowd listen to the programs enunciated by Villar  in her past visit in Pangasinan

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

 MALASIQUI – Is the stance of senatorial wannabe Cynthia Villar jibes with the projection of 2012 Wealth Report that the Philippines will be the fastest growing economy between 2010 and 2050 based on its vaunted runaway population? Villar, a congresswoman who represents Las Pinas City, explained that being pro- life, in reference to the acrimonious Reproductive Health Bill that hit a snagged in congress, means the more Filipinos in the demography the more economic asset the country can derive from them.

SM and Robinson VS. Walmart

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

 A recent thread in Face Book among friends in and out of the province discussed 1) if U.S giant retail store WalMart can crush Philippine mammoth retail store SM in case the former is allowed in the country; and, 2) What happens if foreign investors are allowed to own 100 percent of the power plants in the Philippines.

***
My comments on No.1: This could happen if we amend our onerous Filipino-foreigner equity in favor of the Pinoy businessmen in terms of  running retail business like SM (100% Pinoy ownership as based on Category A of Republic Act No. 8762 or an Act Liberalizing the Retail Trade Business )

Braganza salutes Saltat, welcomes OIC-PNP chief

Mayor Hernani A. Braganza has thanked outgoing City Chief of Police-P/Supt. Rolie Saltat for his valuable contributions to the city and outstanding achievements during his stint here. “You have done a lot for the city of Alaminos and you will always be remembered as one of the better chief of police of our city. My congratulations to you,” he told Saltat in his speech during the simple turn-over rite last August 30, 2012 held at the Alaminos City Police Station (ACPO) grounds here, “I salute Col. Saltat not only as chief of police of our city but also as an officer and as a gentleman. During his (Col. Saltat) stint as chief of police, our city PNP has regained the trust and confidence of our citymates, he pointed out.

How a Mayor, Vice Mayor, Dads Pocket Loot in Loan

BY MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

 Ernie Beltran, the caretaker of the City of the McAdore International Palace, told me that Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez of Dagupan City should buy the edifice pronto. He said that in 2015 the swanky CSI Mall, owned by the vice mayor, would be renegotiated with the city government for another 25 years franchise. “Paano iyan pag si Benjie pa rin ang mayor, saan pupunta si Belen?” he posed to me. He said that there is a possibility that the CSI building would be remanded to the city and eventually converted to a city hall. “Ngayon, papayag ba si Belen na Magic Mall na lang ang mall dito sa downtown? She can use McAdore as another CSI,” Ernie, who impressed me with his per square meter per floor area pricing of the building, explained to me.
 ***

 Filling of candidacy of all candidates from senator to municipal councilor will be on October 1-5, 2012, or a month from now. This is the earliest schedule given by the Commission on Election. According to a veteran politician who became a three-term mayor, many candidates will bleed through their pockets up to the time voters mass to the PCOS machines in different voting places in the country. “Ang masakit diyan iyong solicitations ng mga mag pi-fiesta. Isali mo na rin diyan iyong mga players ng basketball,” he stressed. He said these basketball players would be knocking at the doors of rival candidates and shamelessly ask them to fund their uniforms.

Manay Gina plans to construct anti-flooding structure in Dagupan

By Mortz C. Ortigoza DAGUPAN CITY – Fourth District Rep. Ma. Georgina de Venecia planned to establish an anti-flooding projects next year to end flooding in the city. The plan is elevate by one meter the entire AB Fernandez Street, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways. This year alone, de Venecia has implemented projects in the fourth district worth millions of pesos.

Romero to investors: ‘Mangaldan is flood-free’

By Mortz C. Ortigoza MANGALDAN – Mayor Herminio Romero invited investors to put their businesses here instead of doing business in nearby Dagupan City, as the town is “tsunami-free, flood-free, and earthquake free.” “There are no recurring floods here,” he said, adding that he worked for infrastructure projects like dikes to protect the town from floods. Romero explained that because of the economic spillover from urbanized Dagupan City, this town will inevitably become a host to investors. “Nandiyan na iyan. Ang sinabi ko ngayon ay palapit ng palapit ang spillover kaya isagad at paluwagin na ang kalsada. Pati drainage, isagad na rin para maluwag ang flow ng transportation and traffic,” he stressed.

Anemic presence of gov’t infras affects BIR in Region-1

 RDO-6 chief Beverly Milo  

 RDO-4 chief Christine Cardona 

Anemic presence of gov’t infras affects BIR in Region-1 URDANETA CITY – Most revenue district offices (RDO) of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Region 1 are suffering a sluggish collection because government’s projects build by private contractors are bided in Metro Manila. RDO-6 chief Beverly Milo said despite the absence of a significant numbers of these contractors making public projects in the region, only a miniscule of these numbers are taxed by the BIR because they are registered in the region. Just like Milo, RDO-4 chief Christine Cardona was not able to collect the tax target given to her by the government in the first semester of this year. But unlike Milo who observed the anemic presence of Tax Remittance Advisory, Cardona said in an early interview with this paper that big businesses like Robinson and SM located in Calasiao and Rosales, Pangasinan do not pay tax at RDO but instead pay it to Manila. “Registration ng large taxpayers like Robinsons bale ang registration nila classified sila as Large Taxpayer (They are registered as Large Taxpayer),” she stressed. The only payment they make every year in the offices of the BIR that supervised them in the province is the registration fee of P500. It means Robinson Land Corporation and SM Prime Holding, Inc, the operator of the two malls; pay P500 each to RDOs 4 and 6 in Calasiao, Pangasinan and in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan every year. A congressman recently has passed a bill that would revoke this practice by requiring these businesses to pay their taxes in the place where their businesses are located and not in Manila. Among the six RDOs in Region 1 under the watch of Director Arnel Guballa, it is only RDO-5 based in Alaminos City, Pangasinan that surpassed its tax goal in the first semester of this year. Qurino Ramos , chief of RDO-5, said he breached the goal given to him from January to June by P35 million or 10.56 percent. Ramos said that RDO 4, 5, and 6 have collected P30 million, P13 million, and P37 million TRA respectively. According to Charmaine dela Torre, Assistant RDO - 4 chief ,TRA is when private subcontractors’ income tax and Value Added Tax are withheld by the government that contracted their service for a certain project. Milo, a Certified Public Accountant and a lawyer just like Guballa, said that because of the anemic inflow of TRA in the region a bigger collection activities depend on“manna from heaven”. “Some happenings may come in a regular basis, closures of business wherein the automatic payment of taxes are forced by law. Big estate taxes, one time transaction, sale of big properties.” She stressed. Milo explained that compared to the United States, taxes in the Philippines are still minimal. “Progressive ang taxation natin meaning how it depends in your ability to pay kung magkano lang talaga ang earning mo is the equivalent ng tax mo. The higher you earn, the higher your tax”. She said tax rates the Filipinos pay are in the average. A source, who asked anonymity, at the regional office of the BIR based in Calasiao said that the tax goals given to each of the six RDOs are the following: RDO-1 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte is P960,873,000.00; RDO-2 in Bantay, Ilocos Sur is P1,086,113,000.00; RDO-3 in San Fernando, La Union is P1,447,845,000.00; RDO-4 in Calasiao, Pangasinan is P2,112,336,000.00; RDO-5 in Alaminos City, Pangasinan is P698,733,000.00; RDO-6 in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan is P997,926,000.00. All of these have a total collection of P7, 303,826,000.00 for the fiscal year of 2012 for the regional office to achieve. The national government this year has a tax goal of P1.066 trillion (Mortz C. Ortigoza).