Monday, June 30, 2014

DFA to name its Satellite Office in Pangasinan



LINGAYEN—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan in an approved resolution on Monday, June 30, requested the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Robinsons Land Corporation to name the DFA satellite office at Robinson’s Place in Calasiao town as Narciso Rueca Ramos Hall.
            Provincial Resolution No.635-2014 stipulates that the satellite office expected to open soon will cater to the needs of the people of Pangasinan and neighboring provinces for passporting issuances and other related activities.
            Ramos whose birthplace is Pangasinan was a former secretary of Foreign Affairs who had a long and distinguished career in foreign service.
            Resolution authors, Board Members Mojamito Libunao, Jr. and Generoso Tulagan, said Ramos is a worthy son of Pangasinan who had achieved several milestones in his career and in the Philippines’ international relations.
            Towards this end, the authors said the SP finds the need to memorialize the remarkable accomplishments of Don Narciso Rueca Ramos in the hall of the newly-created DFA Satellite Office.
            The consular office in Calasiao will be the first provincial satellite office that will rise in the country outside of Metro Manila.
            The services of the satellite office will include issuance of new passports, renewal of expired passports, replacement of lost, expired or mutilated passports and authentication of necessary documents.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

PROVINCIAL DOC LAUDS ABONO

  Dr. Anna Maria S. de Guzman, chief Provincial
 Health Office, said she brought dozens of doctors,
 dentists, and medical personnel of the provincial 
government as Abono Party-list provided the free 
medicines at the just concluded medical mission.
De Guzman said  Abono has been donating tirelessly 
medicines at the 16 district hospitals of the provincial
government under Governor Amado T. Espino since 
time immemorial.


MEDICAL MISSION SWARMS BY FOLKS: The multitudes in Malasiqui, Pangasinan that flock at the medical and dental mission sponsored by Abono Party List through its chairman Rosendo So at the Arenas Civic Center that started at 8 Am to 3 Pm of June 28.
The mission was in coordination with the provincial health office based in Lingayen, Pangasinan that provided the technical assistance like doctors, dentist, and nurses. The endeavor was through the initiative of the town’s municipal government under Mayor Armando Domantay.

Millions of Pesos Bribe from Thousands of "Colorum" in Region 1?


By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Last Sunday (July 20) when I asked my errand boy to deliver the bundle of copies of this newspaper through a mini-bus plying Dagupan City-Carmen, Rosales and vice versa son of a gun I was told that dozens of busses except two were on a business-as-usual mode while the rest stopped plying because of the stiffed penalties imposed by the Land Transportation Office that reached up to P1 million to be paid by the operator of a colorum bus caught on the street.
The new regulation and penalty was mandated by the Land Transportation, Franchising, & Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and as published in the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2014-01 that was released early this month by the LTFRB and LTO.
If all hundreds if not a thousand of mini- buses hauling passengers vice versa not only in Dagupan City –Carmen, Rosales but Dagupan City-Lingayen,  Dagupan City-San Fernando City, La Union,  Carmen, Rosales- Vigan, Ilocos Norte, and others notwithstanding the vans that ply Alaminos City and  Dagupan City, Dagupan City-Tayug, Pangasinan, and others have  no franchise from the government since time immemorial until the JAO took effect in June 19 this year, then may kumikita ng malaki sa Land Transportation Office (LTO) and LTFRB kasi itong mga hinayupaks na colorum operators have been paying protection monies to corrupt officials of these government agencies at the expense of the fines they should be paying the government.
In July last year I wrote in this column the following:
“What this I heard? The regional office of the Land Transportation Office in Region 1 has been earning

Police Official Complains on Murdered Mayor Report

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA


A TV reporter said in a morning program that with Manaoag Shrine becoming a tourist destination because of the bill passed by Rep. Gina de Venecia (4th District, Pangasinan) in congress and the corresponding allocation of P200 million from the government to bankroll the town's bid, the tourist site transformation would become a DOMINO EFFECT to the market there. 
The lifeless body of assassinated Mayor Ernesto
Balolong of Urbiztondo, Pangasinan.
Teka mali ata, is it not MULTIPLIER EFFECT to the market forces there? High school pa lang ako alam ko iyong Domino Effect negative ang connotation noon. Sabi ng nabasa kong pambalot sa tinapa, pag natumba ng Komunista ang Vietnam noong Vietnam War, ang Domino Effect, tumba rin ang Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, at ‘Pinas. Pero noong college ako  (opo nakapag-colleg po kami nila Atong at Harold prof pa nga namin si media man Jo Melchor),  sabi ng author ng economics book na si prophet of boom Bernie Villegas, pag may namuhunan ng malaking projects gaya ng construction sa isang bayan, ang multiplier effects may trabaho ang mga standby at iyong mga CPA or Counting Post Around na mga dyaski gaya ng pagiging laborer nila, dahil diyan si Aling Puring magkaka-sari-sari store din gaya sa pag benta ng Kuwatro Kantos, yosi, at iba pa dahil sa pera na kinita ng laborer sa namuhunan ng project.
Isa pa kahit sa mga business reporters ng broadsheet hindi Domino Effect ang ginagamit kung hindi Multiplier Effect, Sparkplug, or Catalyst pag you want to use the word or words that could perk the market forces.

***
Nasa headline kamakailan ng Business World na kulelat ang Pinas sa pag hatak ng Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) sa South East Asia.  Ito po ang take ko: Habang nandiyan ang 60-40% biased na pro-Filipino equity sa negosyo sa bayan natin, habang mahal ang kuryente sa Pinas, habang magulo ang Mindanao na kinukulang na rin sa supply ng kuryente, magiging kulelat tayo maski na lang sa Vietnam in terms of snaring FDI sa taon-taon na lang na ginawa ng Diyos. Ayon sa Business World noong last year 2013 "Singapore emerged as the top FDI destination in the region anew with $63.77 billion. It is followed by Indonesia, $18.44 billion; Thailand, $12.95 billion; Malaysia, $12.31 billion; and Vietnam, $8.9 billion, while Philippines netted $3.9 billion.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Bataoil denies pork scam tagged recipient


By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – A congressman could not fathom why his name and photo have been published by a broadsheet despite the absence of a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO ) for  an allegedly pork barrel scam and not meeting in his lifetime accused multi-billion pesos pork barrel scammer Janet Lim- Napoles.
FORMER CONGRESSMEN:(From Left:) Pangasinan Governor
Amado T. Espino, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, and
Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan).
Espino and Cayetano were former congressmen while
Bataoil is an incumbent member of the House of Represen-
tatives. 
Representative Leopoldo Bataoil  (2nd District, Pangasinan) said the dragging of his name and that of past and present members of the House of Representatives by the Philippine Daily Inquirer has been a big question and mystery for him.
 “At least no SARO (was given to me) when we have to implement the project. And as far as we are concerned I have no dealing with Napoles.  I have no projects with Napoles. Somebody has do explain that situation na kasama pangalan ko,” he stressed.
SARO is a document issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). It triggers the release of funds for lump-sum items such as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork.
The release of amounts from the PDAF and other lump-sum funds was classified as “needing clearance” by the DBM, and thus requires approval by the Budget department or the President. Before they can draw amounts from such funds, agencies need to submit a Special Budget Request and supporting documents to the DBM.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Lawyers oppose Purisima nixing of PTCFOR in P’sinan



TO QUESTION IN COURT POLICE CHIEF'S ORDER

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

LINGAYEN – Some members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Pangasinan Chapter were up in arms on the unilateral decision of Director General Alan Purisima, chief of the Philippine National Police, suspending lately the permit- to- carry- firearms- outside- residence (PTCFOR) in the province
“The decision of Purisima was arbitrary. It is a violation of the constitutional rights (of due process) of the citizen to bear arm. What was his authority? There should be first a board resolution before he suspended it,” lawyer Joseph Samson stressed.
He said he and Baby Ruth Torre, vice president of the IBP-Pangasinan would request the leadership of the provincial IBP to question in court the revocation of the PTCFOR in June 13 by Purisima.
The president of IBP-Pangasinan Chapter is lawyer Manuel Manuel.
In June 23, outspoken member of the provincial board (Sangguniang Panlalawigan) Alfonso Bince, Jr. assailed the PNP and other law enforcement agencies to instead “improve, sharpen and update their intelligence and operational skills” in running after criminals.
PNP Director General Alan Purisima
 “The PNP appears to be an agency that becomes vibrant and proactive only when the President of the country is agitated and gives instruction to high-profile murders,” said Bince in his privilege speech at the recent August Body’s regular session.
In June 13 Purisima verbally ordered Police Regional Office Director Chief Superintendent Roman Felix to suspend the PTCFOR.
When asked about the opposition of the provincial IBP, Pangasinan’s Police Provincial Director Raymond Sterling Blanco retorted, in a text message, that the IBP should address their concern to Purisima as the local police only implement’s his directive. 
Blanco earlier said, as quoted by this paper, that it is the prerogative of the chief PNP to sign and cancel the permits and therefore has the option to suspend the permit.
Former president of the IBP-National Feliciano Bautista said that those with PTCFORs should not suffer because Urbiztondo Mayor Ernesto Balolong, Jr. , a friend of the president, was assassinated.
He explained that those with threats in their life and property would now be vulnerable from criminals who can pounce at will at them.

Cayetano Assails Special Treatments of Revilla, Estrada, Napoles in Jail

We have to put our foot down as a nation and say na ito ang criminal justice system natin na kahit mayaman o mahirap, pantay-pantay ang turing
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano rebuts then Senate
President Juan Ponce Enrile in one of the acrimonious
and sensational bitte exchanges in the August Body.

Napakalaking challenge sa ating yan. At totoo yan. Bakit may custodial area sila na hiwalay sa ordinaryong kriminal? Ibig sabihin, pati ba sa kulungan merong senador at merong hindi senador? Pero sundan natin kung saan nakaugat yan. Bakit si Ms. Napoles ay may sariling kulungan pa din hanggang ngayon? Bakit hindi siya sinasama sa ordinaryong kulungan?

So kung sasabihing may threat sa kanilang buhay, wala din bang threat sa buhay ng ibang mga kriminal o ibang mga nahuhusgahan o kinakasuhan sa ating bansa? Kung sasabihin nab aka magulpi o baka ganito, hindi ba trabaho ng BJMP yan at hindi ba open naman sa media kaya pwedeng siguraduhing malinis, etc.?

Don’t get me wrong. I am 100% for human rights. Ibig sabihin, even sa kondisyon ni Sen. Bong, alam ko kung ano ang feeling ng isang may migraine at unusual punishment yan. Cruel punishment kung araw-araw kang may migraine. So yung mapalamig ng kaunti ang kwarto, walang problema yan. Ang point, paano ang ibang mga nakakulong na may migraine din? wala naman pong problema sa akin na pumunta sa espesyalista ang may sakit, pero dapat lahat ng nakakulong ganoon din ang turing natin.

Young liberals slam UNA's Tiangco on Hitler youth remarks



The Filipino Liberal Youth (FLY) calls on Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco to stop politicking and instigating instability for Youth Reforms.
 
DILG Secretary Mar Roxas
FLY, being the premiere organization of young liberals today, accounts Rep.Tiangco’s ill- thought accusations regarding the process of choosing the Task Force for Youth Development.

Mr. Jyleazar Dela Rosa, Lead Convener and Chairman Emeritus of FLY, alarmed by the statement of Rep. Tiangco, said, "I am troubled on how Rep. Tiangco mustered his facts before accusing the DILG Secretary. His statement is alarming and reflects how the opposition thinks, the allegations especially that of the comparison with “Hitler Youth” is alarming considering its historical basis is very ill, he should review world history. This only means that the opposition will do anything to veer the public away from the reforms this administration has been doing, and it is unfortunate that some politicians like Tiangco and Ridon will use even the youth top push for their political agenda.  We are more intelligent and informed as you think, so don't drag us into baseless and pointless issues."

This is to answer Rep. Ridon and Tiangco's statement that Mar Roxas and the Liberal Party are using LP exploiting SK vacancies to prepare for 2016 polls. 

"Rep. Ridon said that Sec. Roxas, through the IRR, instructed the baranggay councils to appoint the members of the new SK Task Force. This is an outrage! If we are going to read the IRR, the process of choosing the SK Task Force starts from the nomination of the youth organizations within the baranggay. After the nomination, the citizens within the baranggay can share their issues and concerns related to the nominees. Then from those issues and concerns submitted by the citizens, there will be a hearing conducted by the Sangguniang Barangay to determine the capability of the nominees. Clearly, the process of choosing the the SK Task Force starts from the bottom, from the youth, from the grassroots level. His statements are rather pointless and badly lacked facts."

Monday, June 23, 2014

PA Baraan with Pangasinan Producers’ Association





 Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan (right photo, right) exchanges views with the members of the newly-formed Pangasinan Producers’ Association (PPA) last June 13 at the Capitol Resort Hotel in Lingayen.  Pangasinan, in cooperation with the Pangasinan-USA Brotherhood Association, is set to join other 13 countries in the Diversity Business Exposition in California, United States of America this October. Joining Baraan are (from right of right photo): Ms. Natalie Dalaten, Department of Trade and Industry representative; and Mariano Aguinaldo, Jr., PPA vice president.  /gdm

Sunday, June 22, 2014

BIR Region 1 Examiners first to go in Revamp



CALASIAO – Examiners and collectors of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in the regional office based here have been reshuffled as ordered by BIR Commissioner Kim Henares as a first wave of a looming massive revamp of the same personnel all over the country.


TAX HONCHO: Lawyer Arnel Guballa, regional 
director of BIR Region-1, being interviewed by 
reporters in La Union province during one of his visits
 there.
According to Assistant Revenue District Office-6 chief Bernadette Mangaoang roughly 60 examiners and chief collection agents assigned in the six revenue district offices (RDO) of the tax bureau in the Ilocos Region have been affected by the reshuffle that started last May 2014.
“The law says that internal revenue officers assigned to perform assessment or collection function shall not remain in the same assignment for more than three years. This massive revamped has been a normal process at the BIR,” Mangaoang stressed as she cited Section 17 of the National Internal Revenue Code.
In the RDO-6 based in Urdaneta City, where she is assigned, all of the examiners there have been reassigned as far as Ilocos Norte, while new ones in RDO-6 come from other RDOs in Pangasinan and the provinces of Ilocos Sur and La Union.
The same situation took place in RDO-4 that included Susan Cabanayan, the chief of Assessment who has been given the green light for a new assignment in RDO-2 Vigan City, Ilocos Norte.

Friday, June 20, 2014

PSG Smitten by the Smoking of the President?

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

 When I was at Davao City last June 17, I dropped by at the office of Regional Director Mariano Alquiza of the Department of Public Works & Highway –Region 11 in Uyanguren Street of the city.
“Sir, mas maganda at malaki itong office ninyo kaysa sa San Fernando City (La Union),” I posed to Alquiza who is known for his meticulousness on details.
“Siempri malaki ito kasi Davao ito,” a priest, who was a caller like me in his office, quipped.
I asked Alquiza to compare DPWH Region 1, where he spent more than two years as top honcho, and his present post in Davao “sino sir ang mas mataas ang appropriation sa budget?” I posed.
He said DPWH regional office in La Union has a huge budget too because of lots of projects being implemented by the power-that-be there during his stint.
Alquiza, an Ilocano born Davaoeno, used to be the regional director of his present post when he was whisked to Region 1 by then President Gloria M. Arroyo through DPWH Secretary Jun Ebdane at the expense of DPWH Region 1 Director Fidel Ginez who got the goat of La Presidenta.
The reason for the sacking of the media darling Ginez, La Presidenta Gloria hits the roof after being incessantly jolted by the rough and tumble pavement of the national highway in Urdaneta  City and Sison town in Pangasinan that was under Ginez’s jurisdiction.
“Na yog-yog ata ang bagong injected na breast implant ni President,” some media men, who were privy about the livid phone call made by the president to Ebdane to fire Ginez when the La Gloria arrived for a dinner at her favorite Matutina Restaurant & Sea Foods in Dagupan City, told me.
***
“God is good to me,” this was what Region 11 National Irrigation Administration’s Manager John Celeste told me when I dropped by too at his swanky office in Bolton Street, Dagupan City.
Celeste, as everybody knows, is a Pangasinense who was the manager of NIA Region 1 based in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.
But before the start of the acrimonious May 2013 local election, politicians who have an ax to grind against his relatives Congressman Jesus “Boying” Celeste and former Congressman and now Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste (both in the 1st District, Pangasinan) unceremoniously ousted him from the helm of the irrigation bureau that oversees the four provinces.
He said they even created a Project Management Office deemed as holdover area (euphemism for those condemned in the floating status) for him and other three regional managers who hailed from different parts of the country.
 Source said he (Celeste) went to Civil Service Chairman Francisco Pinggoy” Duque III, a province mate, who empathized with his plight.
“The law says a director who is reshuffled from his original managerial post should be returned to his post if nothing incriminatory was found against him one year upon his relief,” my source stressed.
Celeste said even though he was not returned to his original post in Northern Luzon, his Davao City post is a good alternative as it is a major post of NIA in the country that controls four huge provinces like Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley.
“Buti pa kayo sir, sa tagal ko na sa Mindanao, itong Davao Oriental at Compostela Valley o ComVal ay hindi ko pa napupuntahan,” I told Celeste in a mixed Pangasinense and Tagalog.
“Look at all those managers who preceded me, they came from the Visaya and other parts of Mindanao. Some of them even became deputy administrator of NIA,” the soft spoken NIA top honcho told me as he proudly toured me in the different sections of his wide office.
“Kaya pala sir sabi ni (Region 1 NIA Manager)Vic Vicmudo, Masaya na kayo dito sa Davao”.
I bumped into the new Region 1 NIA manager, whom I thought was a hunk and the groovy Provincial Irrigation Management Officer, Engr. Renato Millan when they accompanied  two weeks ago Senator Cynthia Villar, former Congressman Mark Cojuangco, and Abono Party-list Chairman Rosendo So at the famous Matutina Restaurant and Sea Food in Urdaneta City.
Presidential Security Guard at the crime site of former
Urbiztondo Mayor Ernesto Balolong , Jr.
Since I dropped by at Celeste’s office at 5 Pm and my airline flight was 9:55 Pm (that was delayed by another hour as it bogged down because of a flat tire, tee-heh, on the mid air 27,000 feet somewhere in Cebu) he and Ramon Abogacia, regional chief of administration and finance, and friends of the Pacolors in M’lang, Cotabato Province, asked me to join them for dinner at Celeste’s five rooms’ staff house.
“Sir, dahil they sold at P85 ang kakapiranggot na isang order  ng tuna na kinilaw sa food court sa SM-Ecoland, pagawan niyo ako sa cook niyo ng  tuna na kinilaw – kahit iyon na lang ulam ko, favorite ko kasi iyon”.
Son a gun, the two honchos treated me with a yummy bowl of tuna mixed with cucumber and others that  Abogacia just bought from the nearby General Santos City and variety of big roasted lapu-lapu, maya-maya, matambaka,  and Whatchamacallit for me to indulge.
“These are all big roasted quality fishes. Bakit sir wala bang ganito sa inyo sa (aqua product rich) Bolinao (Pangasinan)?” I posed .
Celeste deplored the scarcity of aqua products in the sea of his home town compared to the fishes in Davao Gulf.
“Masyadong malakas ang competition with Chinese fishermen and poachers,” he cited.
***
Susmariosep, if Boy Yosi President Benigno Aquino and Lamay King Vice President Jojo Binay paid their last respect to the remains of Mayor Balolong, where’s Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior & Local Government and the perceived rival of the Lamay King for the 2016 presidential polls who should have emulated a Ramon Magsaysay to Moises Padilla’s Balolong, a fellow member of the Liberal Party?
Roxas has been beaten by the wake king when the latter stormed the affair on just on its second day and virtually comforted the widow of the assassinated hizzoner.
“Son of a gun, if election would be held a week after Binay visited the remains of Balolong, he would be the shoo-in winner in the almost 2 million voters of Pangasinan. You know Pangasinenses have a soft heart for a person, despite being not a party mate but possesses the gall, er, the volition to pay his last respect to the fallen,” Boy Kape, a former media man who now works in a funeral home, whispered to me.
What say you my friend Senator Alan Peter Cayetano?
***
It’s a knowledge that military or police personnel is not allowed to smoke while donning a uniform.
But it’s a different story with some members of the armed-to-the-teeth Presidential Security Group who guard President Benigno Aquino III in his previous visit to the wake of assassinated Urbiztondo Mayor Balolong in Pangasinan – a personal friend.
From the time the Vietnam vintage UH-1H and the two U.S made Bell helicopters landed at the soccer field of the Virgin Milagrosa University in San Carlos City to the time he condoled to the family of the slain mayor at their abode in Urbiztondo, helmet sporting and bullet vest wearing black garbed commando style PSG wielding an Israeli made submachine guns have been popping their lighted cigarettes with gusto as they waited for the president of the land.
President Aquino is a personal friend of the assassinated
mayor. Balolong told this blogger that before he
became mayor he worked at the Oreta-Aquino Construct-
tion.
“Susmariosep, these dudes look like some smokin’ G.Is in the Easy Company of  “Sgt. Rock”  as they waited for the dirty Krauts (pssst that a slang word for Germans) as published by D.C Comics I zealously subscribed in Manila when I was in elementary grades,” I muttered at the sidelines.
“Papaano hindi magyo-yosi ang mga iyan, look at the president, too he was sometimes caught puffing Marlboro red ciggie with some of his security,” a media pal quipped.
I ain’t give a damn about politicos smoking cigarette just like Senators Chiz Escudero and Grace Poe puffing Marlboro White, but if men-in-uniform have been doing  it because the boss indulge with it, then there is something wrong about discipline and order.
***
In a baptismal last Sunday (June 14) at the St. Therese Catholic Church in M’lang , Cotabato Province  where I was one of the godfathers I bumped into former mayor , the Spanish descent, Lugie Cuerpo. We have some chats about the latest in politics of Pangasinan and North Cotabato. I asked Cuerpo who will be the probable candidate for hizzoner of my town since my friend Mayor Lito Pinol is on his last term.
“It could be Bobong Pinol (Lito’s younger brother)”.
 He said Lito will be challenging the province’s 3rd District congressman Ping-Ping Tejada while older brother Manny Pinol runs for either the governorship or vice governorship.
 “It’s 2016 presidential election and the party in Manila needs somebody to represent the presidential bet in the boondocks,” said by the former mayor in our vernacular Ilonggo of course and not in the Shakespearean language which he is known to be not so proficient.
 Earlier grapevine said that lawyer Vice Mayor Russel Abonodo is being groomed by supporters to run for the highest post of the local government of the town which derived its name from the Muslim word Tamlang or Bamboo.
So where’s the multi-millionaire former mayoral candidate Litoy Mercado in the radar screen of the town for 2016?
A source closed to the Mercados (his wife the beauteous Grace Arana still call me ‘pakas (cousin)' as the town folks already know whenever we meet) said that Litoy has no plan for the 2016 polls.
“Let’s leave to the prospective candidates the politics of the town where they could earn their living.  The Mercados have been discouraged anymore to run as a lot of folks have been shot, ambushed, mauled, and suffer physical pain because of partisanship in the last election where millions of pesos have circulated for the hoi-polloi. The Mercados are  enjoying their businesses and foreign trips abroad”.
I just heard that the Mercados, who owned hundreds of dump trucks and other equipment in their construction firm, have been given by the government with “Triple A” license – a prestigious badge among big time private contractors even here in Luzon.

(You can read my selected columns at http://mortzortigoza.blogspot.com and articles at Pangasinan News Aro. You can send comments too attotomortz@yahoo.com).

Mayor Bona Inaugurates 6 Major Projects

First 366 Days in Office

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN – In June 30 the mayor of this burgeoning town will inaugurate six big ticket projects she siphoned from the P25, 575,755 development fund allocated to this year’s budget.
Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe de Vera-Parayno, accompanied by former
Mayor Tito Sarzaba, enters the public plaza for her first 100 Days
  in office speech in Septermber last year.

Dr. Rose Hulipas, executive officer in the office of the mayor, said that before Mayor Bona Fe de Vera-Parayno presents at dusk the State of the Municipal Address (SOMA) to her constituents she would inaugurate the new infirmary, the slaughter house’s water treatment facility, the four shanties for the carabao merchants, one- stop- shop located at the ground floor of the main building of the municipal hall, and the multi-purpose hall and disaster center located at the 3rd floor of the same building.
“Ang ginawang meat processing ay nasa second floor ng vegetables market. Sa second floor ng market may facilities binigay ang DTI (Department of Trade & Industry), parang sa slaughter house merong water treatment facility sa livestock naman may apat na bahay kubo na purchased ng municipio para gamitin ng mga biyaheros na nagdadala ng karabaw. Tapos dito sa main building natin iyong ground floor may one-stop-shop, 3rd Floor naman ang multi-purpose center at ating Disaster Center,” Hulipas stressed.
She said the SOMA of Parayno would enumerate not only the projects and programs she had done in her first 366 days in office here but would emphasize the road map she would do in the next year as hizzoner.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

P'sinan PNP Gear for E-Learning Skill's Test

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – The Pangasinan’s police provincial office (PPO) not only tries to give the best protection for the citizenry but harness its personnel with computer skills as part of the requirements of the Philippines National Police’s Integrated Transformation Program – Performance Governance System ( ITP-PGS).
 Officers at the Police Provincial Office in Pangasinan
prepare for the Integrated Transformation Program -
Performance Governance System.
 Police Senior Inspector Velmar Gonzales said PPO's Director Senior Superintendent Raymond Sterling Blanco sees to it that policemen in every police station in the four cities and 44 towns in Pangasinan is attuned to the nuances of electronic communication.
“In Class A municipality dapat mga three padala, everyday from the (first) week of June  hanggang matapos, Class B apat,” he told this paper when asked how the mechanics work for testing of police in Pangasinan.
He said those policemen would undertake an array of online examinations until they pass them so they can be ready for the electronic - learning test to be conducted anytime from now in the national headquarter in Quezon City.
Gonzales said the review conducted by PPO to policemen all over the province will harness them to distinguish the right answers the examiners ask them when they are finally tasked for the examination in the national headquarter.
He said those who failed the test at the PPO will be asked to re-take until they master the nuances and pass the examination. 

Detour Road in Lieu of Closed Lucao Bridge - DPWH


By Mortz C. Ortigoza
DAGUPAN CITY – Commuters and motorists bound to this city from western part of Pangasinan have to take the detour road as the Lucao Bridge is being reconstructed.
District Engineer Elpidio Paragas, chief of the 2nd Highway Engineering District of the Department of Public Works & Highway, said the construction of the bridge is part of about P135 million allocation to his office this year by the national government.
He said the closure of the bridge started in the first week of this month.
“On going ang mga tulay dito sa Lingayen, San Jose Bridge, Mangalanday Bridge, Dagupan City-San Fabian Quiray Bridge. Tapos na iyong controversial Longos Bridge (that connects Dagupan City and San Fabian). Iyong Quiray Bridge sa Aguilar (Pangasinan).
He said the detour road is up to Lucao Elementary School where it connects to an old road and then to the De Venecia Highway.
Meanwhile, Mayor Belen Fernandez here deplored the sloppy work on the white painting of the pedestrian lanes on the recently constructed P49 million road elevation at the AB Fernandez Avenue here.
“Gawa ata sa kalburo (calcium carbide) kaya nag fade kaagad,” she said told media men after her State of the City Address.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Capitol Execs Pay last Respects to Mayor Balolong

  Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan (2nd from right) leads other 
provincial department heads in paying their last respects to the slain mayor of
 Urbiztondo, Ernesto Balolong, Jr., last June 16.  Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.,
 who earlier visited the wake last June 9, condemned in the strongest terms
 possible the heartless assassination of Balolong.
/mvs

Prov’l board to pass a resolution to strengthen BDAC


Lingayen- - -The Pangasinan provincial board will exert all efforts to help strengthen the anti-drug abuse council in the grassroots level in a form of provincial resolution.
This developed after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional director was invited for a question hour during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on June 16 where presentation of report regarding illegal drugs campaign was done.
Board Member Alfonso Bince, Jr. in an interview said that the provincial government wants to be updated in the overall situation on drug-related crimes in Pangasinan.
Adrian Alvarino, PDEA regional director(Right)
The social menace, according to Bince, is among the priorities of the present administration led by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.
It can be recalled that the provincial government has intensified its anti-illegal drugs campaign by involving the youth led by the provincial scholars.
A manifesto of commitment was then signed to showcase the active involvement of the youth in the campaign.
Gov. Espino earlier said that drug operation is a continuing process thus intensification of the campaign is a must that will be made more effective through prevention of the use of the illegal substance and the apprehension as well as prosecution of persons behind the illegal drugs trade.
Adrian Alvarino, PDEA regional director, said that Pangasinan ranks first in the entire region in terms of volume of seizures or apprehensions with 108% increase this early quarter of the year compared to last year’s record.
He said that PDEA Pangasinan is doing its job to strengthen partnership with other law enforcement units and intends to further intensify its intelligence operations through linkages with authorities.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Lamay King Binay Beats Roxas in LP Mayor's Wake



By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Kung  kayo ay tumatangap ng pera galing sa abroad, mag dalawang isip kayo kung ito ay kukunin ninyo sa Cebuano Lluirrier, BDO branch, o sa Western Union.
Kahapon, holiday dahil June 12 Independence Day, may nagpadala sa akin sa inbox ko sa Face Book ng XOOM Number at halaga ng pera na pati tuldok at sentimos ay isinali na dahil converted na from U.S dollar to Philippine Peso.
LAMAY (WAKE) KING: Philppines Vice President Jojo Binay
 Beats Presidential rival Secretary Mar Roxas in the wake of
Pangasinan's town mayor, a Liberal Party member of Roxas,
 who was assassinated recently.

Remains of former mayor Ernesto Balolong
Dahil holiday sarado ang nakasanayan ko na BDO (siempre sa harap lang ng bahay namin), tumakbo, este, sumakay ako sa car ko papuntang Western Union malapit sa Victory Liner terminal sa Dagupan.
“Off line po kami sir sa XOOM, subukan niyo ang Cebuana Lluirrier and Pawnshop diyan sa Perez Boulevard,” ani ng guwardiya.
Ta-tatlo lang kami na customers sa loob ng pawnshop (pero balisa ako kasi baka sabihin ng nakakita sinasanla ko ang singsing ng lola ko), ng biglang sabihin ng lady employee kung may Cebuana Card ako.
“Wala, saka hindi ko kailangan iyan. Itong driver’s license ko ang ginagamit ko either sa Western Union o BDO”
Naiinis ako, dahil mapilit ang babae na kumuha ako ng card na kung saan nakalagay ang mga tsi- tse-buritseng pansariling come-ons ng Cebuana sa ibat-ibang negosyo nitong  Just Jewel, Le Soleil de Boracay, Dphiten retail outles, Mr. Quickie at Healthway.
“Masyadong aggressive naman itong management ng Cebuana sa pagbenta ng product nila,” ani ko sa sarili ko.
“Ayosin mo muna iyang pera ko habang binabasa ko ang brochure ng card niyo,” aniya ko.
Aba tinawag uli ako at binigyan ako ng one half page na papel kung saan may mga 10 or 15 na checks siya na kailangan ko daw e file-up.
“E puro survey ang laman ng tanong ng papel ninyo, gaya magkano halaga ng bahay ko, ilan ang nakasanla na ari-ari-an ko, ilan at ano ang kotse ko, at iba pa. May balak pa ata kayong mag-pa loan. Masyadong na dedelay ang customer ninyo dito sa mga pinag-gagawa ninyo, masisira kayo dito,” Sinabi ko sa dalawang female workers na nasa loob ng mala rehas na kuarto kung saan sila naka puesto.
Tumagal ako sa loob, na kung saan dadalawa na lang kaming customers, ng 20 to 30 minutes. E paano kung maraming customers doon at bawat isa sini-sales talk sa card at obligadong pinapa sulat sa half page na papel, anak ng bakang dalaga aabutin lahat ng siyam-siyam?

Cojuangco to Rappler: Unfair to drag NPC in Balolong’s Killing


By Mortz C. Ortigoza

URBIZTONDO – The provincial chairman of the dominant political party’s Nationalist People’s Coalition in Pangasinan assailed the insinuation of an internet based news outlet that the party has something to do with the death of this town’s mayor.
Tête-à-Tête.  Former Congressman Mark Cojuangco, 
the chair  of the dominant party NPC in a tête-à-tête 
recently with the chief of police Senior Inspector Michael
 Bautista of Urbiztondo, Pangasinan.
“At nag-ta-take exception po ako tulad ng Rappler(.com) insinuate na may kinalaman ang NPC sa nangyari. Kasi daw ang vice mayor dito ay NPC. E kung napag-aralan nila ang local pulitika  ang tatay ng  vice mayor e nag-resigned sa NPC about two weeks ago.  Formality lang po ang pagka NPC nitong vice mayor,”
The vice mayor that Cojuangco referred is the incumbent newly assumed Mayor Martin Raul Sison II in lieu of the assassinated Mayor Ernesto Balolong.
The father, the former congressman pointed-out was Board Member, is Raul Sison who jumped ship in May 7, together with four members of the provincial board, from the party Cojuangco chaired.
The families of Sison and Balolong have been a bitter political rival in the rambunctious politics of this 3rd class town.
Sison and his mother were political rivals of the Balolongs in the May 2013 municipal election.
Balolong was pitted with Martin’s mother, while Martin and Merla, the wife of Balolong, contested the vice mayoralty post.
Balolong won but his wife lost in that contest.
But the rivalry did not stop in the May 2013 derby, the older Sison and Merla clashed for the chairmanship of Barangay Poblacion in the village polls in October of that year.
Merla is now the president of the Liga ng mga Barangays of this town where she represented the village chairmen as ex-oficio councilor at the Sanggunian Bayan while his councilor-son Voltaire is a regular member of the August Body.
According to newly assumed Vice Mayor Vicente Frias, Jr. after Sison became mayor by operation of law he left one ally in the Sanggunian Bayan (council).
“Most of the members of the council are allied with the Balolongs,” he told this paper.
The late mayor, a party mate of President Benigno C. Aquino III is known to have a close ties with the latter.
He narrated in this paper before that he used to work in the security agency of President Aquino as one of its supervisors in the late 1980s.

Board member denies hand in Urbiztondo mayor’s murder

BY PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – A provincial board member who had a running feud with slain Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr. even before the 2013 election has clarified he and his family have nothing to do with the cold-blooded slaying that happened in broad daylight on June 7.
 Board Member Raul Sison
Interviewed by newsmen at his office before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) started its regular session Monday, a teary-eyed Second District Board Member Raul Sison said even if his son Raul Martin Sison is the vice mayor of Urbiztondo and will succeed as mayor by operation of law, he can swear that the Sison family had nothing to do with the slaying.
Sison said he was attending a cockfighting at Araneta Coliseum on the day Balolong was assassinated while supervising work on a construction site owned by his family at the back of CSI Supermarket in Poblacion, Urbiztondo.
He said he is willing to cooperate with investigators and to give his statement if it is needed by them.
“If they (investigators) need my statement, I will do it if only to help expedite the solution of the case, he said in Filipino.
In the interview with newsmen, Sison said he knows that the suspicion will be heaped on them (Sisons) because it is his son Raul Martin who will benefit from the incident and become the town mayor.
That is why, he said, he advised his son not to assume yet the position of the mayor till Mayor Balolong is brought to his final resting place.
The elder Sison used to be councilor of Urbiztondo during the first term of office of Mayor Balolong, a position that qualified him to be elected as president of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL).
Now, he is on his first term as regularly elected board member of Pangasinan representing the second congressional district.