RPOC HOLDS FIRST MEETING IN DAGUPAN

DAGUPAN CITY – Mayor Belen T. Fernandez welcomed the members of the Region 1 Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) when she led the first meeting of the council on August 27 at CSI Stadia as the new RPOC chairman.

In her opening statement, Fernandez thanked President Benigno S. Aquino III and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas for her appointment as she encouraged the council to stand with her to achieve harmony and peace in the region.

“The defining moment for us is when our RPOC communicates and acts on a shared vision for all. It is thus stated in Proverb 29:18, ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’ And only if we stand side by side, we achieve harmony and peace for everyone,” Fernandez said.

Also present during the meeting were PNP Region 1 acting Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Roman A. Felix, RPOC vice-chairman; DILG Region 1 Director Dr. Julie J. Daquioag, RPOC head secretariat; and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas.

Cuts for Dads in LGU's Loan

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

A reporter asked a politician why members of a council (it can either be of the town,  city or province) stayed loyal to a sitting elective chief executive.

“What’s with the official?” he posed.
The politician tried to be civil in his answer how hypocrites are these members of the legislature.
 But the straight and honest answer that I’ll tell you in the vernacular: Itong mga members ng council walang loyalty ang mga ito. Just like some members of the media, ang loyalty niyan ay sa pera primera. Kung saan ang pera doon sila nag i-ingratiate sa power-that-be. Gaya rin iyan ng mga members ng Congress, kung saan ang nagbibigay ng pork barrel doon ang mga congressmen  at senators nagiging loyal lamang dahil sa pera. Without it, they go against the chief executive, by impeaching him or rejecting the bill he wants to be passed.
In that meeting I told a lawmaker who was part of a group who approved the multi million of pesos loan. “Magpa-inum kayo boss alam kong marami kayong pera as your share in approving the loan”.
 “Wala pa ang pera galing sa banko. Pag andiyan na text ko kayo,” he told me and some media colleague.
Ganoon lang ang kalakalan sa LGU, ginigisa sa sariling mantika ang mga kawawang gullible na voters at residente na walang kaalam-alm. Hindi lang ang mayor ang dapat kumita (up to 30% of the loan or 50% if he owns the dummy contractors for the project.) dapat kumikita rin ang mga councilors, ng tag ka-kalahating million pesos or mahigit, na nag-aaproved.

***
Manaoag chief of police Chief Inspector Edison Revita is the lesser version of Vietnam’s Võ Nguyên Giáp – the general who defeated in May 1954 the French in Dien Bien Phu and the Americans in April 30, 1975 in the Vietnam War as the Yanks scampered for safety to the Huey helicopters that waited for them at the rooftop of the U.S Embassy in Saigon. Giap greatness was not by his own choosing, he was a journalist (who was a dedicated reader of military history and philosophy, revering Sun Tzu particularly) before he was plucked to the dirty calling of war to fight the French and the U.S that wanted to colonize his country.
Revita, an optometrist by diploma, told me that he took just for kicks the entrance examination of the Philippine National Police Academy thrice and passed them thrice handily.

P’sinan Shooting Lower this Month vs. August 2013 – PD Biay

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – Despite the brutal murder of a Filipino/Indian businessman and the attempted slay of a media man here, the new acting provincial director said the shooting incidents in the province are lower this August compared to the same month last year.

POLICE BRASS. New acting  Pangasinan Police Director Reynaldo Biay (Extreme
Right) and Chief Inspector Benjamin Ariola, Chief of  Operation of the Provincial
Police Office are in a huddle with the chief of the Department of Interior & Local
Government after their meeting at the Regional Peace & Order Council held last
August 27, 2014 at the Jimmy L. Fernandez Center CSI Stadia in Dagupan City.
Photo by: MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

In the data provided to Northern Watch by P/Chief Inspectors  Benjamin Ariola and Ryan Manongdo to collaborate the declaration of Police Senior Supt. Reynaldo Biay, it said that there were 18 total numbers of shootings perpetrated by motorcycle riding criminals (MRC) and plain shootings in August 2013 than the 15 in same period this year.

“There were 18 shootings last year where 5 have been from MRC and 13 from plain shooting while 15 shooting this year where 7 have been from MRC and 8 from plain shooting,” Ariola, the chief of the Operation Division of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, said.

He said 94 of the cases in January to August 22, 2013 have been solved while 90 of the cases in the same period in 2014 have been answered.

Province holds “Buntis Congress” for Binmalenians

---It’s another big day for pregnant mothers from various barangays of Binmaley town tomorrow, August 29 as the “Buntis Congress” 2014 reels off at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center here.

            The special day will treat around 500 expectant mothers from the 33 barangays of the town to a variety of free services and lectures on maternal health care by the provincial government through the Provincial Health Office with the support of the Philippines Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) , Region 1 Medical Center, Philhealth Regional Office, and all municipal health officers of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital-Inter-Local Health Zone.

            The affair, the 6^th Congress to be held, will consist of lectures on birth plan, breast feeding, responsible parenthood, briefings on Philhealth and contraceptive technology.

            Free availments include pre-natal check-up, laboratory services, dental check-up and the provision of “Buntis” kits containing rice, canned goods, packed noodles and a piggybank to help instill in them the value of saving for their child’s future.

Group lauds Prov’l Govt’s support to accreditation of curricular offerings in PSU

Lingayen – The Accreditation Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) has lauded the provincial government led by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. for its active participation and all-out support to the accreditation of various curricular offerings in the Pangasinan State University (PSU).

            The appreciation and high regards to the present provincial administration came from Prof. Randolf Warren Gregorio T. Mayo II, Over-all Coordinator of AACCUP team during a courtesy call to the Governor on August 26 at the Urduja House.

            “Never before accreditation that a Local Government Unit (LGU) participates; but for the province of Pangasinan, it’s participation to accreditation manifests support to the lone state-run university in Pangasinan, Mayo said.

            Mayo, a professor at Central Luzon State University, was joined by 21 experts from State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) in the country. The accrediting team will be in PSU from August 26-30 for accreditation survey of eight curricular offerings in Lingayen, Infanta and Urdaneta campuses of PSU.

            “With the Governor as alumnus of the PSU, we can be assured of a big help in developing the four core areas -- instruction, research, extension and production – to make PSU become a world-class institution of higher learning,” Mayo said.

            PSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Manolito Manuel, on the other hand, said the courtesy call to the Governor of AACCUP accreditors has become a culture. “The Governor always wanted to meet the visitors of PSU where he, himself, earned his Master’s Degree in Development Management,” Dr. Manuel said.

            Meanwhile, during the 65^th birthday celebration of outgoing PSU President Victoriano Estira held at the Sison Auditorium the Governor vowed all-out support to PSU in all its endeavors to attain total quality education for Pangasinenses.

            To help the bright students who are from families with meager income, the province has given scholarship grants to PSU students since Governor Espino assumed office in 2007. At present, the province supports 1,240 Provincial Scholars enrolled at PSU; 500 others are under the joint-scholarship program of the province and 1^st District Congressman Jesus “Boying” Celeste.

            The province has already produced 847 provincial scholars (from 2007-to present) who are now successful on their chosen careers.

DepEd P’sinan-1 Initiates K-to-12 Seminars to Mentors

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – As a strategy to improve the quality of teaching in the public elementary education, the leadership of the Department of Education launched recently the “Managing K-to-12: Teaching & Learning for Pangasinan 1 Cluster Batch 2”.

SEMINAR - Dr. Sheila Marie Primicias, Assistant School Superintendent
 Elementary Division of DepEd Pangasinan, gave her inspirational message
 to hundreds of head of teachers who attended recently in Lingayen, Pangasinan
 the two days seminar “Managing K-to-12: Teaching & Learning for Pangasinan -1 
Cluster Batch 2.Listening to Premicias are DepEd Pangasinan -1 Superintendent 
Alma Ruby Torio and Dr. Vivian Pagatpat, chief of the Elementary Division, DepEd
 Region 1. PHOTO: MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Attended here by all school heads of DepEd - Pangasinan 1 under the watch of Assistant Superintendent Sheila Marie Premicias, the seminar endeavored to determine the various interventions for school heads to improve the quality of teaching of their teachers’ wards.

“A suitable intervention can then be customized to answer the needs and fit the requirements of school heads,” stressed by Premicias, Assistant School Superintendent, Elementary Division, at Hotel Consuelo Resort & Chinese Restaurant.

She said the seminar, graced by DepEd Regional Director Terisita Velasco and Dr. Vivian Pagatpat, chief of the Elementary Division, Region 1, assessed the field of expertise, special skills, and trainings of the school heads who are mostly principals.

Pangasinan: The country’s only outstanding LGU to implement BSP’s coin recirculation program

Lingayen- - - Pangasinan bagged another outstanding feats from the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) after previously cited as the only local government unit in the country that successfully implemented the currency program dubbed, Coin Recirculation program.

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. expressed elation on the province’s recent award as he thanked all provincial government offices and hospitals, LGUs, and non-government associations and organizations for their support which led to the success of the currency program of the BSP.

Earlier, the provincial government was again cited as the most outstanding local government unit (LGU) in the promotion of small and medium enterprises through the BSP’s Credit Surety Fund (CSF) program.

The CSF award which came in two consecutive years, according to the governor, manifests the provincial government’s serious intention to eradicate poverty in the grassroots and empower households in the community to become more productive while the currency award proves the strong unity of Pangasinenses which led to the successful implementation of the currency program.

In 2013, the provincial government has collaborated with the BSP for the implementation of the currency program through the ‘Coins for Three’ activity. This means that for every fifty (50) pieces of each denominations (1,5, 10 and 25 centavos) that an individual surrenders, he or she, is entitled to receive certificate of participation, fruit-bearing tree and the face value of coins submitted.

P500K Reward for Arrest of Dagupan Radio Man Assailant

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 08/27/2014 9:29 AM | Updated as of 08/27/2014 9:29 AM

Cabangon Chua offers half-a-million
pesos as reward to anybody who
can pinpoint the shooter of mediaman
Navarro.

MANILA – A P500,000 reward is being offered for information that will lead to the arrest of the assailant of DWIZ station manager Orly Navarro. 
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel of Cabangon Group of Companies chairman Antonio-Cabangon Chua, said his client is offering P500,000 ''to any person who can furnish information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of the attack against Mr. Orly Navarro."
Navarro, 54, was shot by an unidentified suspect while he was talking to a friend in Barangay Pantal shortly before 1 a.m. on Tuesday.
Navarro sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder and back. He is now in stable condition at a hospital. Topacio said Navarro is set to undergo operation today.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Cabangon-Chua group, through Atty. Topacio, condemned the attempted killing of Navarro, noting that ''DWIZ has been very vocal on exposes corruption in the ranks of those in power in Dagupan City, paying particular attention to the incumbent mayor, Belen Fernandez."
''The finger of suspicion points squarely at Mayor Belen Fernandez and her supporters, who have every reason to try to silence Mr. Navarro. We call on the law enforcement officers in Dagupan to immediately conduct a full and impartial investigation of this matter, even as we fear a cover-up as Mayor Fernandez has never hesitated to use her vast powers to emasculate her opponents, both in and out of government,'' Topacio said.
''We also call on Mr. Navarro’s colleagues in media to be extra-vigilant about this issue, and to be careful of themselves, knowing the capacity of those in Dagupan who would seek to sow terror among the local press."
Topacio said Commission on Human Rights has officially taken cognizance of the case. He added CHR Chairman Etta Rosales has endorsed the case to the CHR Regional Director for Region I based in La Union.

Another Media Man Shot, Suspension of PTCFOR in P’sinan Blames

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Look what did the suspension of permit to carry firearm outside residence (PTCFOR) had done in Pangasinan?

Recently, provincial broadcaster Orlando “Orly” Navarro, 54, was treacherously shot at his back when he was entering his house in Brgy. Pantal, Dagupan City.

But Navarro survived that frustrated dastardly assassination that ensued on the wee hour of August 26 as the slug the assassin pumped ensconced one-and-a-half from his heart.

As far as I know, Orly has a 9mm pistol he carried. But with President Benigno Aquino III ordering Philippine National Police Chief Director Alan Purisima to arbitrarily suspend the  PTCFOR in the gargantuan province because a mayor friend was assassinated, criminals and would be criminals in Pangasinan have been emboldened to kill not only journalist but businessmen and other professionals who have threat in their lives.

The arbitrary and unlawful suspension, protested by the lawyers group in Pangasinan, does not pass deliberation  and approval at the License Revocation and Restoration Board (LRRB) as mandated by Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms & Ammunition Law) has been claiming victims.

After businessman Raja Mirchandani, 35, owner of the Maya Emporium (who was shot early this month), Orly, and the countless of defenseless victims of assassination in Pangasinan, then who will be the next victim by the unrestrained hit men in the Pangalatok Land? Thanks, but no thanks to the stupidest act done by our leaders in our country in this ballyhooed suspension of the PTCFOR.

For my thorough discussion of the suspension of PTCFOR, you can accessed my article Naivete' of P-Noy and Purisima : PTCFOR’s Arbitrary Suspension at http://wwwmortzcortigoza.blogspot.com/2014/07/naivete-of-p-noy-and-purisima-ptcfors.html.

***

Watching the August 25 TV 5 Evening News: An effeminate member of the Left Monete Silverstre was explaining that there is still Pork Barrel (PB) (after his group mustered only 20 thousand warm human bodies after their call of a million march in EDSA  against the president plan for Charter Change.

Dagupan Cops Arrested Suspect in Failed Media Man Killing

CAMP BGEN OSCAR M. FLORENDO- Region 1 police director commended the members of Dagupan City Police after the immediate arrest of a suspected gunman responsible in a foiled slay of a media practitioner in Barangay Pantal, Dagupan City, Pangasinan on August 26 (Tuesday)

Radio Broadcaster Orly Navarro recuperated at the Pangasinan Medical Center
in Dagupan City after a slug ensconced one-and-half inches from his heart
when an assassin  treacherously pumped recently a bullet at his back.
He is in this photo with media colleagues. Photo grabbed from Media Scribe
Minnie Caburnay's Face Book account . 

Police Chief Superintendent Roman A. Felix, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) extended his commendation to Police Superintendent Christopher Abrahano, Chief of Police (COP) and ordered him to conduct an in-depth investigation after the arrest of a suspect identified as Rolando A. Lim Jr. alias “Ronnie/Oning. The victim identified as Orlando “Orly” Navarro, 54 years old, married, resident of Pantal District and station manager of DWIZ FM based in the city, sustained gunshot wound on his left back. After the failed slay, he was immediately rushed to Pangasinan Medical Center in the same village where he was treated and now out of danger. 

M&M versus E&E in Pangasinan 2016?

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA


Political grapevine says it would be M&M versus E&E for the Capitol Race in 2016. M&M stands for Former Congressman Mark Cojuangco and Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay who officially declared last Thursday their moist eye for the governorship and vice governorship of the gargantuan province. Comes 2016 election, Pangasinan would have almost 2 million registered voters. This could earn her as the biggest voting province in the country in lieu of the provinces of Cebu and Cavite.

M&M: Mark Cojuangco (Left) and Mark Macanlalay

 Oh by the way, E&E represents the son and father tandem in Board Member Pogi Espino and outgoing Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. Pundits and even the village idiots share that this electoral tiff would be the biggest and most expensive Pangasinenses could ever see in their lifetime.
Kung sa boxing Manny Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather ito.
But voters of Dagupan City, an independent component city, should not be envious on their fellow voters in Pangasinan who are salivating on this clash. Bakit kaya sila naglalaway dito sa laban na ito he he? Information I got from the camp of former mayor Benjie S. Lim said that it would be Lim’s spouse Celia and son Vice Mayor Brian Lim against the city’s incumbent Mayor Belen Fernandez and her vice mayoralty tandem present Councilor Maybelyn Fernandez.

SP approves resolution to establish sisterhood with Oriental Mindoro

Lingayen --- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved Provincial Resolution No. 735-2014 declaring the intent to forge sisterhood agreement between the provinces of Pangasinan and Oriental Mindoro during the regular session of SP at the Session hall last August 18.

SP Member Shiela Marie S. Perez-Galicia, author of the resolution, said the provincial board supports the creation of sisterhood for the promotion of diplomacy, cultural exchange and economic development.

She further noted that the twinning agreement between the two provinces is needed in order to set understanding as reference for the sisterhood relationship.

The provincial resolution authorizes Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. to enter into a twinning agreement with Oriental Mindoro Governor, Alfonso Umali, to establish a sisterhood pact between the two provinces.

According to SP Member Perez-Galicia the sisterhood will certainly build closer ties in terms of business development, agricultural development and cultural experience and exchange.

Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. has authorized SP Secretary Verna Nava Perez to furnish copies of the approved provincial resolution to Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. and Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali Jr. for their personal information and guidance. (EjS)

Cojuangco Backs Macanlalay as Vice Guv

For M&M vs. E&E 2016 Capitol Race?

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – Former Pangasinan Congressman Mark Cojuangco declared his all out support to the mayor here whom he formally picked last August 21 as his candidate for the vice governorship of the gargantuan province.

M&M for 2016: The 29 year-old two-term Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanla-
lay  (4th from right) acknowledges the reiteration of support from former
 Congressman Mark Cojuangco (3rd from left) who was exhilarated that the
young hizzoner finally accepted his offer to be his vice governor tandem in the 
2016 gubernatorial race where he will be throwing his hat. The duo's press
conference was held at the commercial building of the Macanlalays in Brgy.

Bued, Calasiao last August 21.  MORTZ. ORTIGOZA 

 Cojuangco, Pangasinan chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, said his tandem with Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay has been 100% final.

“So puwedi na po nating sabihin na 100% na kami po ang magkasama pagdating ng election sa 2016. Siya po ang vice governor”.

Macanlalay formally declared his bid during his 29th birthday celebration last Wednesday held at the residence of his father Vice Mayor Roy Macanlalay. The following day he and Cojuangco called a press conference, held at the commercial edifice of the Macanlalays here, attended by this town’s vice mayor and almost all of its village chiefs.

Cojuangco said he prefers Macanlalay than Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim who remains with the NPC after Governor Amado T. Espino resigned lately from the party.

The name of Calimlim cropped out as a timber of the NPC for the vice gubernatorial race after political experts said he (Calimlim) could not be a vice governor for Board Member Amado T. Espino III bid for the governorship as the exiting Governor Espino would be his tandem for the number two post in the almost two million vote rich province comes the 2016 polls.

Guv Espino Bares Community-Based Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Livelihood Programs for OFW Families

LINGAYEN – The provincial government has organized and forged a tie-up with the Pangasinan OFW Family Association in Pangasinan for the implementation of community-based anti-illegal recruitment and livelihood program dubbed “Bantay-Barangay, Tulong Hanapbuhay."

​The project is a strategic, comprehensive and innovative anti-illegal recruitment, human trafficking and poverty alleviation program of the province which aims to train OFWs and their families to look after their communities against intrusion of illegal recruiters and human traffickers in their barangays.

​In his special message during the general meeting of the Pangasinan OFW Federation on August 20 at the Pangasinan PESO multi-purpose hall, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. said that the “Bantay-Barangay Tulong Hanapbuhay” program is among the projects undertaken by the provincial government in support of the OFW families.

"We are concerned about you, we may not be able to solve all of your problems but rest assured, the province is ready to help,” the provincial chief executive said.

​ In his brief speech, the governor underscored the importance of human resource in development. ​He said that OFWs have been great contributor to the economic development of the province.

Macanlalay declares Vice Guv's Bid

Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay officially declared  last Wednesday night
his vice gubernatorial bid for the 2016 provincial derby. The declaration coincided
with his 31st birthday held at the residence of his father Calasiao Vice Mayor Roy
 Mancanlalay. The young Macanlalay will tandem with gubernatorial wannabe former
Congressman Mark Cojuangco. Cojuangco and 10 mayors of the
Sixth District of Pangasinan declared on August 8 their endorsement of Macanlalay's
bid. 

Abono Party-list Rep. Conrad Estrella (7th from right, front row) raised
the hand of Macanlalay for the latter vice gubernatorial bid.
Macanlalay was accompanied here by his village chiefs and other
major supporters in Calasiao, Pangasinan.

SPES summer jobbers hired by province receive final paychecks

LINGAYEN – The 100 students recently hired by the provincial government as summer jobbers in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) received their remaining remuneration for the services they have rendered from April 14 to May 14 under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES)

            Led by DOLE Regional Director Grace Y. Ursua and PESO Manager Alex Ferrer, the students’ remunerations were handed to the students on August 19 at the Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) here.

            The checks worth P3, 272 were disbursed to each of the students who have completed a 20-day work at the various departments of the provincial government during the summer season.

            The amount is part of the remaining 40 percent shouldered by DOLE in addition to the amount of P4, 909 paid earlier in May by the provincial government representing the 60 percent share of the province for the implementation of the program.

            Each summer jobber received a total of P8,181.80 for the complete duration of their working period last summer.

NPC Mums what Next District Supports Cojuangco’s Guv’s Bid

As Speculation Looms Another District Readies 

By Mortz Ortigoza

URDANETA CITY – A gubernatorial bet’s spokesman of the Nationalist People's Coalition in Pangasinan would not disclose what congressional district mayors, board members, and congressman will throw their hats for the bid of his candidate.

GUEST SPEAKER. Former Congressman Mark Cojuangco gamely tested the
intellectual prowess of public school children in San Carlos City last Tuesday.
He was guest speaker of the Buwan ng Wika celebration attended by
pupils and parents of seven big elementary schools in seven villages in
the City. The event was held at Talong Central School in Barangay Talong,
San Carlos City.

Engineer Rosendo So said after four solons and 17 mayors of Districts 1 and 2 declared their alliance with the plan of former Congressman Mark Cojaungco to run for the governorship of the province in 2016, he expect another district to follow suit  immediately.

“”Maybe Fourth, maybe Third, maybe Second, maybe Fifth,” he quipped when pressed by this paper what particular district where its congressman, board members and mayors will publicly show their support to Cojuangco.

In July 25  Board Members  Rene Anthony Sison and Napoleon Fontalera and seven mayors of the First District of Pangasinan went to the Nationalist People’s Coalition‘s headquarter in Quezon City.

They were led by Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste.

So said although the District’s Congressman Jesus Celeste was not there, his brother said the lawmaker supported Cojuangco’s bid.

WPDH Eyes Level 2 Classification

LINGAYEN-- In order to provide better health services to more Pangasinenses, the Western Pangasinan District Hospital (WPDH) located in Alaminos City will apply for a reclassification from level 1 to 2, under the new hospital classification of the Department of Health (DOH).

In view of the application, the provincial board during its regular session on Monday (August 18) ratified provincial resolution no. 718-2014 endorsing to the DOH the application to operate a 150-bed capacity of the WPDH from 75-bed capacity at present.

According to WPDH chief of hospital Dr. Susan Rita Meriño, the resolution is one of the requirements of the DOH for the reclassification of the hospital.

"With an increased bed capacity, the comfort of patients will be more addressed," she said.

She also mentioned that the hospital upgrade will equip the WPDH to provide better health services to the people from the whole first legislative district and even from other towns.

Under the new DOH reclassification order, level 2 hospitals should have additional departmentalized clinical services as a respiratory unit, high pregnancy risk unit, and second level X-ray with mobile unit.

A level 1 hospital must already have the following facilities: surgery room, isolation, surgical and maternity facilities, dental clinics, secondary clinical laboratory, blood station, first level X-ray, and a pharmacy.

Pogi Tells Student Leaders: Lead by Example.

BM “Pogi” Espino Tells Student Leaders: Lead by Example.  Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay President Amado “Pogi” Espino, III (left photo) urges the students (rightt photo) during the Acquaintance Ball and Induction Ceremony of the Supreme Student Council (SSC) of PSU Lingayen Campus at the Sison Auditorium last August 14 to lead by example as each person has personal, spiritual and moral obligations to consider while chasing their dreams and aspirations in life.  /VFS

NEW PNP MARITIME REG'L CHIEF PAYS COURTESY CALL ON MAYOR BELEN

Newly-designated PNP Maritime Region I Chief P/Senior Supt. Edgar Cuanan (2nd from right) and Deputy Regional Director P/Supt. Policarpio Cayabyab (3rd from left) pay a courtesy call on Mayor Belen T. Fernandez (3rd from right) last August 18 where they discussed measures on how the city government and the Maritime Police can work together to stop blast fishing and protect the municipal waters of Dagupan. The mayor encouraged the new regional chief to conduct regular monitoring and patrolling as she cited the importance of prevention, visibility and closed coordination as key elements for them to succeed against blast fishing and fishermen doing illegal activities.( photo by Jojo Tamayo) 

SWINDLING CASE IN MANGALDAN?

 Former Mangaldan Human Resources Management Head Helen Aquino (Fourth from Left) and her lawyer Manuel Manuel listen as the town’s Mayor Bona Fe de Vera-Parayno presided last August 15 the administrative case she filled against Aquino and former Municipal Accountant Evelyn Bernabe. The duo were administratively charged with misrepresenting more than 60 employees of the municipal government, using bogus names for some of them, in obtaining loans from Villasis Pri Villasis Prime Lending Corporationme Lending Corporation in Villasis, Pangasinan. Aquino denied the charges saying she did not sign the documents and added that the same charges under then Mangaldan Mayor Berex Abalos had been dismissed by the Civil Service Commission.  In case prima facie is found by Mayor Parayno, Aquino and Bernabe would be meted a 60- day preventive suspension.  PHOTO BY HAROLD BARCELONA

Relieve and Charge Urbiztondo Police Chief

After Justice Sec de Lima’s body guard ran amuck

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

What is happening to our country Region 1 Police Regional Director C/Supt. Roman A. Felix and Pangasinan’s Police Provincial Director S/Supt. Reynaldo Biay?

Photo grabbed of a person arrested for gun poking.

The Chief of Police (COP) of Urbiztondo, Pangasinan is an utter embarrassment to the Philippine National Police.

After Ronnie Dayan, the driver and body guard of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, poked his .45 caliber firearm to his liquor drinking mate Budoy Palisoc, recklessly fired his pistol in the air, fired his firearm at the destination of his scampering drinking mates, collared the 72 year-old mother of the Palisoc because she said Dayan was looking for him to kill her son, Police Chief Inspector Wilfredo Cabayanan told the media that he did not arrest and file immediately a case against de Lima’s body guard because Dayan, who even dropped by at the police station, and the Palisocs had already amicably settled their conflict.

Reason Behind Cha-Cha: Pres. Aquino Fears Jail

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

I got mixed reactions on President Benigno Aquino III latest pronouncement that he welcomes Charter Change (ChaCha).

Ever since I was espousing in this column that to get rid of that present 12 million unemployed Filipinos, over abused Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), and the moral backlash brought by the migration of Filipinos abroad where the families at home committed immoralities and indulging to illegal drugs because no one watch them, the government should open its restricted xenophobic economic 60-40% provision that favors the financially overstretch Filipino oligarchs in the Constitution.

My usual argument: More foreign investment in our country means more jobs. More jobs means OFWs from Libya, and other countries would no longer be vulnerable to rape and other abuses. Husband or wife does not resort to infidelity with fellow OFWs or the woman or man next door in the Philippines, or sons and daughters don’t become drug addict or impregnated at an early age because a parent or parents are there to watch them grow.

My usual poser: Why the standard of living of a Thai is much better than those of the Filipinos who in the 1970s have almost the same number of population? Aside from their aggressive government sponsored family planning program, they snared, according to the World Investment Report, last year $12.95 billion of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) while the Philippines contented herself with a minuscule $3.9 billion in the same year.

Now it seems that I digress to why I have a mixed reaction on the president’s amenability for Cha-Cha. Our balding president smarted as seen on his State of the Nation Address (SONA) how he was being treated by the 13-0 of the Supreme Court because of his Disbursement Acceleration Program that jerk-up, er, perk- up by more than 6% the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Zaplan delivers P4.9M Aggie Projects in Sta. Barbara

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

STA. BARBARA - The mayor here had implemented almost P4.9 million of  farming projects to his farmer constituents that composed the bulk of this agricultural town dependent’s population.

Mayor Carlito Zaplan said the distribution of the projects commenced from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

“The Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Sta. Barbara had distributed 2,319 cavans of Inbred Certified Seeds with subsidy amounting P1, 391,400.00 serving 2,288 farmers,” he stressed in his recent State of the Municipal Address conducted at the this town’s gymnasium.

He said the national government, through his intercession, gave 1,747 farmers here P2,451,600 for 2,043 bags of certified seeds.

“Another national program is Plant Now Pay Later (PNPL) which was 50 bags of hybrid seeds worth P175,000 covering 50 hectares was given to 38 farmers during the wet season in 2013; and 531 packs worth P796,500 during dry season which benefited 119 farmers”.

He said the Accelerated Rice Production Program sponsored by the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, Abono Partylist and the Department of Agriculture had provided 100 cavans of certified seeds to augment the seed requirement of this town amounting to P35,000.00.

He cited too that a Community Seed Bank (CSB) program of the national government was given to address the 800 hectares of land affected by drought. He said nine agricultural extension workers (AEWs) supervised and monitored 7,511 hectares for rice production: 4,280 hectares during wet season and 3,231 during the dry season.

“A technology demonstration projects was conducted in the barangays by harvesting 19 tons of Vermi Compost Fertilizer. 151 farmers have attended Capacity Enhancement Training Course on Sustainable Rice Production and also Participatory Action Research Demonstration that was conducted by MAO Personnel”.

Zaplan enumerated the other projects he gave as Inbreed Rice Seed Production, Municipality Soil Fertility Map, trainings on financial education for IA members, and farmers’ livestock school on integrated goat management in Barangay Corusocan.

Return the stolen P9M to the Coffer - Mayor Bona

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN -  The P9 million allegedly stashed by the three former department heads here should be returned to the treasury, according to this town mayor Bona Fe de Vera-Parayno.
Although she pitied the fate that befell them when they were sacked recently by the Civil Service Commission, she declared that it is her job as mayor that whatever amount the accused purportedly  took from the coffer here they should return them.  

Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe de Vera-Parayno during her
last State of the Municipal Address (SOMA).

The three were former Municipal Accountant Evelyn Bernabe, former Municipal Treasurer Susana Bauzon and former Municipal Assistant Municipal Treasurer Marilyn Gonzales.
Parayno warned the personnel of the local government unit (LGU) here to maintain integrity and discipline in serving the government.
The three were administratively charged with grave misconduct after they were found tampering the payroll of this town's LGU, according to Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued, in a radio interview at Bombo Radyo.
 Baniqued said that the decision of the regional CSC in Region 1 in San Fernando City, La Union was final and executory.
“They could still appeal within 15 days after they received the decision”.
She said that in the investigation led by the Commission on Audit in 2011-2012, it showed that the three committed payroll padding during the time of then Mayor Herminio Romero.
“The COA found out that some amounts did not tally with the total amounts below,” she said.
She cited the accused have signed, for instance, documents that included P2, 500 for each of the three months period in a table that would have a total of almost P8000 but instead it had a total of P20,000. 
“Hindi magkakatugma dahil doon,” Baniqued added.

The CSC 33- page decision signed by CSC-Region 1 director Nestor Sarmiento blamed  Gonzales who committed irregularities in preparing the padded checks while Bernabe and Bauzon tolerated them by failing to perform their duties of safeguarding the finances of the municipal government.
Although the three accused are no longer working at the LGU here, they can still appeal for the case for the sake of due process, the mayor said.

BIR Eastern P’sinan feted with Customer Service Excellence

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

URDANETA CITY – The Civil Service Commission has awarded the Bureau of Internal Revenue that oversees this city and all towns in Eastern Pangasinan as No. 1 in terms of Customer Service Excellence by besting other government departments and agencies in Region1.

RDO-6 Chief Nasrollah Conding (Right) with BIR
Commissioner Kim Henares.

According to Assistant Revenue District Office Chief Maria Bernadette Mangaoang, RDO-6 under the leadership of RDO Chief Nasrollah Conding has been rated excellent this year.
“It is a report of the Civil Service (Commission) that we won through the Report Card Survey,” she stressed.
She said RDO-6 did not only excel against other governments agencies but bested the other five RDOs in the region.
Grounds for the scoring of the ESC are the following Anti Red Tape, Physical Set Up, Compliance R-T.A.
According to the website of the Customer Service Council that gives the ESC said: “The CSC runs an Annual Award Program which encourages individuals and organisations to achieve and promote customer service excellence, innovation, and best practice”.
It continued that the Best Practice" covers the key elements of customer satisfaction around response times, quality and depth of service including product, people and process, along with staff satisfaction, innovation, communication, technology, customer access, reporting and other key areas. The assessments are carried out during June, July and August followed by the Gala Awards Event "Raising the Standards" on the 3rd October 2014.  

‘Jumpstart livelihood projects to spur local investments’ -- PA Baraan

Lingayen -- Take advantage of our rich natural resources to jumpstart livelihood ventures at the grassroots level and spur  investments in the province.

            This was a piece of advice given by Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard Baraan during the first meeting of Investment Promotion Board (IPB)  held on August 6 at Malong building conference room, here,

He urged IPB members to help organize communities to set-up big-scale economic operations while the government builds strategic infrastructure projects to bolster investments.

Among the major projects Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. seeks to accomplish as “economic legacy” of his administration are: the: Sual seaport, Lingayen airport and the Eco-Tourism Zone, also in Lingayen.

            But in the meantime, the Provincial Administrator stressed, “We must build from from whatever we have.”

“Investment promotion is not just about waiting for outside entities to come in. At the end of the day, the ultimate measure of success is how we are able to translate the vision of the province (The best place to invest, work, live and raise a family) to the household level,” he said.

While the IPB is  serious at planning an investment promotions offensive, the provincial government had been empowering households and sectoral groups in the province by giving them seed capital and financial assistance for their livelihood ventures with their membership to the Credit Surety Fund (CSF) program and the Livelihood Assistance program of the provincial government.

            As of date, Pangasinan CSF has facilitated the release of P91million to 18 CSF-member cooperatives in the province engaged in  various livelihood ventures such as rice and corn production and trading, livestock raising and piggery  since it started in 2011.

            The Livelihood Assistance program, on the other hand, which  was launched in 2008, has already released P41million for 317 cooperatives and associations with 11,527 beneficiaries; and 33 owners of Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs).

Cayetano: Extend PNoy’s gains, not his term

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter “Companero” S. Cayetano said he is all for extending the reform agenda of President Benigno Aquino III's administration but not the term of the chief executive.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (Left)

"I have been fully supportive of President Aquino and his administration's 'Tuwid na Daan' reforms and platform of good governance which have led to an impressive economic growth. Moving forward, the Filipino electorate must choose a leader who will continue what the Aquino administration has started," Cayetano said.

The Senate leader said Aquino has done more than enough for the country and deserves to enjoy his life with his family when he steps down by the year 2016. 

The President himself as well as the Palace have said that he is not interested nor favors in Charter Change nor term extension.

Aside from its economic gains, the Aquino government also proved to be committed to the principles of transparency and accountability by stopping the abuse of public funds and putting powerful politicians-turned-alleged plunderers behind bars.

"Choosing the next chief executive in the 2016 elections will be crucial. It will determine if we will continue to move forward or go back to a GMA type of governance where protest and instability were constant because of widespread corruption," he said.