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. With the ongoing multi-million of pesos road shoulder-expansion from the Poblacion Area to Anolid village that borders Dagupan, this town will not only become conducive to businesses from the nearby towns and city but bodes well for those prudent businessmen who want to avoid floods that gobble the main thoroughfare of Dagupan every time there is a strong downpour and high tide. Eng. Rodolfo Dion, chief of the 2nd Engineering District of the Department of Public Works & Highway in Lingayen, said the private contractor was given until November this year to finish the project. Mangaldan is richer by millions of pesos in 2012 compared to San Fabian, San Jacinto, and Santa Barbara and other major towns in Pangasinan, according to Dr. Rose Ramirez R. Hulipas, executive officer of Mayor Romero. Based on data acquired by this paper, Mangaldan will have P145 million budget next year, higher than P138 million of Santa Barbara, P132 million of Calasiao, and P130 million of capital town Lingayen. Hulipas said one of the major sources of revenues of the town are the laboratories of renowned pharmaceutical companies and the businesses. Meanwhile, Romero asked Pangasinan congresswomen Ma. Georgina de Venecia, Kimi Cojuangco, Ma. Rachel Arenas, and Marlyn Primicias-Agabas to intercede for funds to convert the earth dikes in Sison town Pangasinan into a concrete dike. He explained that present earth dikes needs regular maintenance and endangers lives and properties in the four congressional districts of the province. Nelson Sotto, a private contractor, said concreting of the dikes in Sison would cost the national government billions of pesos.