Mangaldan “Pasalubong Center” opens

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN – This town runs shop center here had its soft opening last December 16 to simultaneously ushers with the Misa de Gallo.

Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno poses with Pangasinan 4^th District congressional aspirant Christopher de Venecia at the facade of the P2.5 million Pasalubong Center  of Mangaldan. The first local government run center that sells home grown products in the District if not the entire province of Pangasinan. De Venecia pledges to the mayor that after he wins the 2016 election he will boost the tourism come-on of the burgeoning town.

Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno said that it will sell home grown products like pindang (dried beef), longganisa (long pork sausage) processed milk fish like boneless bangus, sardine, and other products like the plastic packaged peanut brittle manufactured by entrepreneurs here.
“There are consignments of goods there. But those that are not consigned because they are owned by the LGU (local government unit) are the processed meat, longganisa, and the processed fish like bangus sardines. There are other products that are in display there”.
The mayor said the grand opening of the Center will be on December 30 or on the Rizal Day Celebration.
“The very first Pasalubong Center in the 4th District and we received a special recognition award already last week from the provincial tourism office and our last fiesta celebration. Thanks to our one -product- one -town come on like pindang where we celebrate it as Pindang Festival,” the mayor crowed.
Parayno said the Center, situated besides the town hall, will not be a threat to local meat vendors whose shops are located at the public market because she will see to it that the prices of the Center will be at par with those with the vendors.
“It is a friendly competition na ibig sabihin, nakikita ang products talagang pino-promote ng LGU. Iyong ibang gustong pupunta sa palengke, kung sino ang pipiliin nila, endorse ng iba kung sino ang gusto nilang bilhan andiyan at present na pag close market nandiyan ang pasalubong center".

She said the Center will be opened until 9 pm to cater to people who come from work.

“Hopefully iyang mga iba papunta ng Manaoag dumadaan diyan alam na nila kung saan sila bibili ng pindang at mga longanissa dito kung kailan na close na iyong market”

She cited that there is a code where this town can see how the Pasalubong Center earns and how it spends its revenues.
“It has a special code na separate income from the market, separate income from the meat processing para alam mo ang gastos at the incoming na tutubuin”.
The Center has coffee shop too at its second floor to serve those people from here and outside who want to cool their heels.
The edifice of the center materialized after the mayor approved a P2.3 million funds for it.
Meanwhile, Parayno said the schedules of the Pindang Festival will be scheduled earlier in March 3 to 5 instead of March 5 to 9 so it can jibe with the Coronation Night of Miss Mangaldan.
“It would be culminated on its last day by the street grilling party,” the mayor cited.