Our Congressmen are better than Zambales' Solons

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

In my more than a decade stint as media practitioner, the bursting birthday party hosted by a politician that I attended was the one by then House Speaker Joe de Venecia in early 2000s in Dagupan City and the one in 2011 at the high-end Golden Bay Sea Food Restaurant in Pasay City when he was no longer the top whip of Congress.

Six lanes MacArthur Highways at Urdaneta City in Pangasinan.
This happened through the intercession of former Congressman
Mark Cojuangco (5th District, Pangasinan) to the national 
government.

At his sprawling residence in Dagupan  I saw five or seven roasted calves chopped by the waiters for his literally hungry constituents at the 4th Congressional District to devour and for many of them to ‘balkot” (Pangasinan derisived term for those who wrapped and bring the food home) while the elites, mostly government officials who ingratiate with the Speaker for promotion and favour,  rubbed elbows and patted the backs of each other at the corner as they waited for the rabble rousing top man of the Arroyo Administration descended from the white helicopter he leased from Manila.
His other birthday that was held at the Golden Bay Sea Food Restaurant in Manila saw only the invited elites of the society while the “illeterate Unwashed of the Society” who loved to “balkot” were conspicously absent.
The elites were composed of former President Fidel V. Ramos, many members of Congress who were closed when he was the Speaker, diplomatic community like the U.S and Chinese Ambassadors to the Philippines, lady solons brought by de Venecia's wife Rep. Gina, the members of the media elite like Larry Henares, whom President Ramos introduced to me as half-Illonggo-half-Pangasinense, and other illustrious members of the opinion section of the national dailies.
As you know the Speaker loved to mingle and discuss with media men worth their salt as he was a journalism graduate of the elite Ateneo de Manila.
All these parties were held for a day or six hours.

Two days and Two Nights Party

Here was the ostentatious party of a politician I attended recently  where for the first time, son of a gun,  all the residents of the entire province were literally invited for a two days bacchanalian feast for people to eat the roasted calves, prawn , ox tongues, fried chicken, variety of tropical fruits served in small plates, others from breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the swanky ground covered by three giant make shift tents that covered hundreds of people sitting on white cloth covered plastic chair and surrounded a red mantled round tables. While they gorged the free foods, bands, one of them the famous Manila pop group Free Style, actors Christian Bautista and Kim Chiu  and stand up comedians entertained them.
I, my son Nico, and broadcaster Harold Barcelona were in another building that hosted the VIP visitors watching the shows and pyrotechnic display as we contented ourselves with the same foods eaten by the governor’s constituents except those sushi bar that provided nigirizushi, makizushi, temaki, other Japanese rice delicacies, where I heartily mixed with Silver Swan, kalamansi, and the hot wasabi paste, served to us by a Bulacan based caterer.

Stalemate between Dagupan Mayor and Dads sizzles

DAGUPAN CITY – Mayor Belen T. Fernandez held a year-end meeting with all department heads on December 28 where she briefed them on what to do if the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) fails to pass the 2016 annual budget of P768 million  by January this year.

In that meeting, she urged department heads to properly use their 2015 Project Procurement Management Plan (PPMP) in accordance with what the law dictates if the city has no new annual budget by next month.

The proposed 2016 annual budget of P768 million is P77 higher than the 2015 annual budget of P691 million.

Fernandez is however confident that the SP will be able to pass the proposed annual budget so the city government will not suffer much financial woes at the start of the New Year.

“I have faith on the wisdom of the SP that it will eventually approve our city’s 2016 budget as this will redound to the benefit of our city and people,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez expressed fear that if the city operates on a reenacted budget, there will be delay in the delivery of services like the implementation of infrastructure projects as well as the salary standardization for regular employees, and a good number of job order employees will lose their jobs.

Moreover, the city’s good financial housekeeping status  will not be maintained, thus it may lose its chance to win anew the Seal of Good Governance (SGG) and the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) of P5 million.

In anticipation of a reenacted budget, Fernandez urged all department heads to follow the legal flow in processing their PPMP.

She reiterated the procedures that there must be an appropriation first before a request form for procurement of goods and services is charged from their PPMP and for department heads to attach a proposal or budgetary requirements duly approved by the mayor.

Also, they must submit an accomplished purchase request before the City Budget Office will certify as to the availability of appropriation duly signed by the Budget Officer then it will be submitted to the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) to undergo the bidding process.

“After the bidding, accomplish a purchase order before the delivery of goods or items is made. If the goods or items are delivered, prepare an accomplished inspection and acceptance report and an accomplished disbursement voucher to enable the City Treasurer’s Office to prepare the check or cash disbursement for release,” said Budget Officer Luz de Guzman. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Dec. 28, 2015)

FORMER JUSTICE SEC. DE LIMA SERENADES THE PEOPLE OF DAGUPAN

DAGUPAN CITY – Former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima serenaded the people of Dagupan City when she joined the Barangay Night on Dec. 27 as special guest on the occasion of the  city’s Happy City, Happy Family City Fiesta 2015 celebration at  the city plaza. 

Also present were former House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr., 4th District Congresswoman Gina de Venecia and their son Christopher ‘Toff’ De Venecia.

Along with Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, City Fiesta 2015 Hermano Mayor Councilor Joey Tamayo as well as the Barangay Captains, De Lima amused the people of the city with her dancing prowess and singing talent in a night filled with fun and music.

De Lima serenaded the people with her rendition of her version of the “Careless Whisper” while Mayor Fernandez sang the “Hinahanap-Hanap Kita Dagupan” version 

The people were entertained by De Lima, Fernandez and the city councilors with their respective special presentations. 

In her message Fernandez disclosed that the “The Barangay Night” is for the people and it is but fitting that she and the councilors are one in achieving a Happy City, Happy Family fiesta. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Dec. 29, 2015)    

 

 

 

 

JDV's son introduces self to P'gasinenses

Bayaan n’yong ipakilala ko ang aking sarili, bilang inyong kapatid, na si Toff de Venecia.   Kapatid, dahil tulad n’yo, ako ay anak din ng Pangasinan, partikular ng ating Distrito.   Ako ay halos kasabay nyo ring lumaki, at mula sa aking pagkabata,  ay  nakita ko, kung pa’no kayo minahal ng aking ama’t ina. 

Mahirap pantayan ang nagawa ng aking ama, dahil limang-beses s’yang naging Speaker, at itinuturing s’yang Arkitekto ng Modernong Dagupan.  Mula sa aking pagkabata, nakita ko rin kung paano niya binago ang ating lungsod—mula sa mga nagawa n’yang roads and bridges at halos lahat ng mga public buildings, mula sa mga hospitals, school-buildings, barangay halls, covered courts, markets, municipal buildings  at marami pang iba.
Ang akin namang ina ay gumawa ng pangalan bilang “puso” ng Distrito.  Dahil sa kanyang programang LOVE.  ay naiparamdam nya sa ‘tin ang pagmamahal ng isang ina, sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatuloy sa mga projects  na inumpisahan ng aking ama, gaya ng scholarship programs, at sa mas pinasiglang medical and dental missions. 
Para sa isang kabataan, na nagsisimula sa pulitika, talagang medyo nakakalula ang  kanilang nagawa at tila mahirap pantayan.   Pero, alam kong ako ay handa na para harapin ang challenges  ng  paglilingkod because I have the best teachers.   
Ako ay nagtapos ng kursong Political  Science sa Ateneo de Manila, at naka-experience na rin ng pamumuno bilang  Editor ng ilang national publications, at  bilang founder ng isang theater company.   Pero sa aking palagay, ang best source ng aking training ay ang mga lessons na nakita ko at natutuhan sa maraming taon nang malinis na paglilingkod ng aking mga magulang.
May kaba, pero at the same time, lahat ng aking  pagdududa  ay napapalitan ng matindingexcitement,  na maipakita sa inyo, ang mga bagay na aking natutuhan, bilang isang kabataan ng bagong milenyo.
Bukod sa pagtutuloy sa magagandang programsng aking magulang, gaya ng pagtatayo ng importantinfra-projects, at pagbibigay ng scholarships atmedical services,  ang  bibigyan ko ng pansin ay ang pagpapaunlad  sa turismo para may bago tayongsources of livelihood,  at ang pagpapayaman sa kultura ng bawat bayan, na mahalaga para sa atingregional pride.  
Kaya kung ang aking ama ang BUILDER, at ang aking nanay naman ang HEART, ang inyong kapatid na si TOFF naman, ang magsisilbing nurturer of the SOUL ng ating Distrito, na magiging kasama n’yo sa pagharap sa mga hamon ng makabagong milenyo.

Manay Gina cites new projects during village's night

BILANG OPISYAL ng barangay, kayo ay  maitutulad din kay Saint John, na nag-aalay ng buhay para gabayan ang ating kababayan, tungo sa kabutihan.  Ako naman, bilang ina ng Quatro Distrito ay gayundin, kaya patuloy ang aking pagsisikap na maihatid sa Dagupan ang mga biyaya, na magpapaginhawa sa  inyong buhay. Kaya bayaan nyong ibalita ko sa inyo ang  aking mga pinagsikapang ihatid sa ating kababayan.

Nitong 2015, ilan sa aking mga proyekto:  ang anim na school buildings  na kasalukuyang ginagawa, sa limang high-schools  sa Dagupan, worth 76 million pesos.

Kabilang dito ang two school-buildings na may tig-apat na palapag at 32 classrooms, worth  26.8 million sa Dagupan City National High School;  Isang 4-storeyschool-building sa Carael National High School, na may 12 classrooms, worth  22 million;  Ang dalawang palapag na school-building sa Salapingao National High School na may anim na silid-aralan worth 8.3 million;  Isang school-building sa Bonuan Boquig National High School, na may tatlong palapag at anim na silid-aralan worth 10.5 million pesos; At dalawang palapag na school-building sa Federico Ceralde Integrated School sa Bonuan Binloc, na may anim na silid-aralan, at nagkakahalaga ng 8.3 million pesos.

Ako ay lumapit din sa PAGCOR at pinalad namang nakakuha ng pondo para sa pagtatayo ng isa pang 4-storey school-building na may 24 classrooms, worth 40 million sa Dagupan City National High School, at isang 3-storey building with 15 classrooms, worth 33 million para naman sa Judge Jose de Venecia Memorial National High School sa Barangay Bolosan.

Inspiring government communicators

 

By VENUS MAY H. SARMIENTO

DAGUPAN CITY- Twelve years after its organization, the Pangasinan Association of Government Information Officers (PAGIO),  remains true to its vision to work cohesively with the citizens  to promote government development programs in Pangasinan.

In 2003, in a bid to reach out to more agencies and more people,  PAGIO moved to include not only line agencies but also local government units and humanitarian organizations.

PAGIO serves as a forum to express and exchange  ideas,  seeking necessary assistance from the government, the private sector and national funding institutions,  adopt measures for the promotion of the welfare of members and encourage people’s participation in government programs in order to promote and stimulate appropriate action for the attainment of provincial  and national goals.

Its mission is also in line with President of the Republic’s  advocacy to reach out and get feedbacks from project beneficiaries and the general public as well.

In got its boost recently with the presence of Undersecretary Jose Mari  Oquinena, director- general of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), who inspired the communicators and swore-in the new  set of officers.

Oquinena underscored the need for information officers to sustain  unity for development. 

“If communicators  can unite a nation, then the power would be unimaginable,” Oquinena said during the group’s general assembly at the Dagupan City Museum on Monday.

DOLE-1 hurdles stage 2 ISO audit

“I will recommend the DOLE-RO 1 for ISO 9001:2008 certification,” were the magic words that sparked off rejoicing from both the management and staff of the Department of Labor and Employment-Regional Office 1 after passing the stage 2 ISO audit.

 

The statement from Margarita Pambid, the Certification International Philippines, Inc. (CIPI) audit team head who conducted the stage 2 audit is actually a declaration that the office’s quality management system (QMS) generally complies with the requirements of ISO 9001:2008.

 

Pambid and another auditor, Rene David, conducted the audit in the regional office and its entire six field offices on December 17 and 18, and on December 21 and 22 as part of its goal of obtaining an ISO 9001:2008 certification by the end of the year.

 

While the CIPI audit report showed three minor non-conformities and a few opportunities for improvement (OFIs), it, nonetheless, indicated that the QMS of the regional office and its entire six field offices generally complies with ISO 9001:2008 standards.

 

The office has one month from the date of the exit conference to submit to the CIPI an action plan on the corrections that will be undertaken regarding the minor non-conformities and OFIs.

 

“Thank you to the CIPI audit team for extensively looking into the different aspects of our QMS, and helping us further improve in the process. I am quite happy with the results, as it means that everyone has remained focused and committed in our goal of making our processes at par with international standards,” Regional Director Grace Ursua said at the exit conference held at the DOLE-1 conference room Tuesday afternoon.

CITY JOINS NATIONWIDE PWD CELEBRATION

DAGUPAN CITY – At least 1,286 persons with disabilities here were  issued their respective identification cards when the city joined the whole nation in celebrating International Day for Persons with Disabilities last week.

Josephine S. De Vera, Social Welfare Assistant and Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office Coordinator, announced  that through the efforts of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, several PWDs were given support gadgets so that they can move with ease  like normal persons.

At least  13 PWDs were given prosthesis for them to be able to walk normally and gain confidence in themselves; five were recipients of orthopedic shoes; 20 received personalized wheelchairs courtesy of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) while another 31 also received wheelchairs donated by Dr. Ashok Vasandani; five were given crutches and 19 were given folding canes.

PWDs were also enrolled in a livelihood skills training program in operating a sari-sari store, carpentry and basic computer skills to help them become self-employed.

“We are truly grateful to Mayor Fernandez because for the first time we received much attention from the city especially with  respect to our rights and privileges,” said De Vera, president of the Katipunan ng Maykapansanan sa Pilipinas, Inc. in Dagupan.

De Vera added that with all the programs and assistance given by the city, PWDs need not confined themselves anymore in the four corners of their homes  out of fear and shame.

“By joining the different skills training programs of the city, our PWDs have become productive and more active members of our society,” said De Vera. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Dec. 23, 2015)    

Why the Espinos could not pole vault Bautista town?

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

During luncheons hosted by top officials, it disgusted me to see some members of the media surreptitiously whisked some plastic bags from their pockets and shamelessly put some foods ordered by the host into them whenever there is a press conference held in some fancy restaurants.

Gubernatorial bet Amado Espino, III , the son of the
governor, ran 4th class town Bautista for nine years.
His uncle Deo Espino is the incumbent mayor
 of the poor town. 

Although these malpractices are assailable, I still hold my horses not to chide them since they seem to have propriety not to pocket the table utensils of the restaurant.

Son of a gun, that would be theft and entails a jail sentence of probably more than four years ha ha ha.
I was just happy to see drank media colleagues in a fisticuff because they quarrel about somebody hiding the head of a "lechon" pig head in a knapsack.

***

With every Christmas parties being celebrated every day and night by national and local government offices particularly these days, I was at a party of a city police station where foods, booze, band music, and gifts overflowed.

“We slaughtered a cow and roasted pigs for this occasion,” the deputy of police told me and some media men.

“Despite the sea of police men and their frolicking families, the revelry is orderly,” I told him.

He said he got a lesson last Christmas that embarrassed him so much.

“When I entered the (police) station I saw a big lechon carried by those who roasted it at the main door. I saw them put the roasted pig at the table inside. When I went at the back to entertain the mayor, I asked a cop to bring the lechon at our table so the mayor could pick the crackling and delectable pig skin. I was “horrified” seeing the pig staring at us probably feeling sorry as it was almost bare except of its skeleton,” he narrated.

I asked him why the swine’s meat had been ransacked. He said police men, when they saw the inviting roasted animal hustled and jostled with each other by pulling or slicing the meat and fill it in their plastic bags so they stock them for their next meal at home.

Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.
incumbent governor of the 44 towns and 3
cities' province for almost nine years

“Nag balkot (Pangasinan derisive term for wrapping)!” he sadly concluded.

***

Media men working with Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr have been using as “Exhibit” the 3rd Class Sison town located at the outermost part of Pangasinan.

“Mark and Kimi Cojuangco have been a resident of this town and they have been a congressman for a while but look at Sison, it is not thriving,” these media men have been bitching and bellyaching Ad Nauseam on radio and newspapers.

For me, even Sison is run by Superman or business magnate Donald Trump, it could not be burgeoned like first class towns Calasiao, Mangaldan, and Sta. Barbara.

Why? Sison’s economies - of- scale are not at par with these municipalities.

Why Ginebra San Miguel and RC Cola put plants in Barangays Tebag and Marunong in Sta. Barbara and pay the public coffer with P21 million, P8 million business and real property taxes, respectively?

ANSWER: Sta. Barbara has been strategically located at the center of Pangasinan where they can efficiently distribute their goods to their customers in and outside of the province.

When RC Cola had not yet built its edifices there, it paid already its yearly P600, 000 real property tax (RPT) to the town coffer because of the swanky land it brought, Mayor Carlito Zaplan told me in 2012.

Another case: Why Robinsons Mall, Honda and Toyota Display Centers -, and other Top 100 Corporations in the Philippines opened store in Calasiao and not in Sison? ANSWER: Calasiao was strategically located in the centre of the mammoth province. Same with Mangaldan, Barangay Carmen in Rosales town where it hosts giant retail store SM, and other cities in Pangasinan where businessmen gravitate because of the profit that await them.

If pro Espino media lap dogs non-intelligently gobbled Sison as a pariah, just like the way they idiotically pounce on Mark Cojuangco, a resident of Sison since 1967 as a non-Pangasinense, they should look at Bautista town where Espino’s son and namesake, who runs against Cojuangco for the 2016 gubernatorial race, was mayor for nine years. Yes Virginia, nine years and daddy was the governor and almost nothin’ significant happen to Bautista unlike the transformation of Calasiao under the six years of the tutelage of Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay.

Bautista was still pathetically 4th Class town (2010 Census, Wikipidea) if based on the rankings of the Departments of Finance and the Interior & Local Government.

Why Espino Jr., could not pole vault Bautista to first class? ANSWER: Just like Sison its location is not conducive to investors.

The saving grace of Sison however compared to Espinos’ Bautista where the incumbent mayor there is the brother of the governor, Sison has No.1 corporate taxpayer’s Northern Cement Corporation owned by the Cojuangcos that give multi-millions of pesos of business and real property taxes to the treasury because of thousands of cement bags it churn-out.

The Espinos apologists argued with the nine years reign of Cojuangco as congressman and the six years rule of his wife Kimi as solon of the 5th District, why they could not make an aesthetic or economic turn-around of the town despite the pork barrels in their disposal?

ANSWER: The Cojuangcos judiciously and equally distributed to the eight towns and one city’s district the hundreds of millions of pesos of pork barrel the national government gave them.

Have you seen the expanded national highway in Urdaneta City that solved the dreaded monstrous traffic congestion there decade ago where motorists bound from the north and vice versa were struck in a hell hole of traffic in the heart of the city? Thanks to Mark Cojuangco’s aggressive intercessions with the power-that-be in Imperial Manila to give him funds to solve the congestion.

R1MC bares protocol for reporters on 'crackers' injuries

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – A protocol should be followed before media men report the victims of the revelry in the eve of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, this according to the management of the government runs hospital here.

Dr. Noel Manaois, of the Region-1 Medical Center  (R1MC),  told media men  to first ask permission to the victims and their respective families, the attendant doctor,  or the social welfare here.

Manaois, chief of the Health Emergency Management, said media should be careful that the patients and their families who do not want the carelessness or folly of the victims announced by the media sued them and the members of the fourth estate.

“Baka kasi kung minsan bumaliktad. Kasi talaga ang mga pasyente na sensitive. Para proteksiyon din ninyo iyon at para protektahan natin ang isat-isa kasi puweding baliktarin. Walang hinde puweding iyong hinde humingi isasama ninyo. Meron kasi ibang patient na hinde ninyo puweding i publish. Baka bumaliktad ho sa inyo,” he stressed.

He singled out those moneyed victims or their families who would take offense on the media report.

In reporting, he said media practitioners should not mention the whole name of the victim but instead quote or write the initials of their name.

“Hinde na nila mamasamain iyon kasi  hindi naman natin sasabihin. Sige gawin na lang natin P.A.G, 77 years old, pero (hindi kasali) iyong buong pangalan”.

PROTOCOL. Peha Lagao Batallones, Region 1 Medical Center’s spokeswoman, briefs media men on the preparation of the government hospital on the 2015 New Year’s firecrackers and other explosives hoopla. Listening at the background is Mr. Ramon Bautista, R1MC’s chief of staff, Dr. Noel Manaois, chief of the Health Emergency Management, Dr. Cesar Guico, Chief of Clinic. Manaois and Guico explained to the media practitioners the protocol on interviewing and reporting the casualties of the revelry. MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Corpse thrown at subdivision as gift from Death Squad

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The residents of a subdivision in this city have been recipient of a creepy Christmas gift last Tuesday: A sprawled cadaver of a notorious criminal with a written greeting tagged on his body compliments by a death squad.

MACABRE GIFT. The cadaver of a hog tied robber and illegal drug pusher who allegedly victimized residents of Saint Michael Subdivision in Brgy. Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City. Two nails were buried in his head while a white paper reads he was a criminal.

MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

According to the spot report of the police here the still unidentified male, five feet and four inches in height, medium built, sporting a hooded orange sweat shirt, and black jogging pants was found at 9:30 Am by residents supine near the main gate of Saint Michael Subdivision.
Residents there said the body was thrown from a car 8 Am on that day.

“A male cadaver with huge white paper tagged “Magnanakaw, Holdupper, Akyat Bahay, at Tulak. Magnanakaw ako sa subdivision. Pamaskong Handog ng DDS (I am a burglar, robber, and drug pusher in the subdivision Christmas greetings from DDS, “the spot report said.

DDS was known in past news reports as Dagupan Death Squad.

Both hands of the victim were hogtied by a black rope at his back with two nails used for concrete planted by a hammer in his head.

Keep the Faith: Romulo

Cong. Roman T. Romulo today called on supporters of Sen. Grace Poe to "keep the faith" as he expressed confidence that the Galing at Puso standard bearer will overcome the challenges facing her campaign to win the country's top post.

Grace Poe (center) visits Foundation University with Vice President-hopeful
 Sen. Chiz Escudero, and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo (left)

"Those who believe in her and her platform should keep the faith," he said. "This is not the time to be disheartened. Let us remain steadfast in our pursuit for a better life for our countrymen."

The Supreme Court will ultimately decide with finality on these issues. I am confident that it will rule that in the final analysis, over and above Grace Poe herself, the indomitable people of the Philippines most certainly deserve to be governed by a leader of their overwhelming choice as sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them," said Romulo.

Sen. Grace Poe is a natural-born Filipino citizen as the Supreme Court already ruled in many cases that " A citizen who is not a naturalized Filipino, i.e., did not have to undergo the process of naturalization to obtain Philippine Citizenship, necessarily is natural-born Filipino.

With regard to her residency, It is well known that the fact of residence, not a statement in a certificate of candidacy, [is] decisive in determining whether or not an individual has satisfied the Constitution’s residence qualification requirement," said Romulo. Without a doubt , it is a fact that Sen. Grace Poe was already a resident of this country as early as 2005.

P'sinan health officials revisit projects in Dulag, Leyte

Lingayen- - -After two years since the holding of a 10-day humanitarian mission from December 13-23, 2013, in the Typhoon “Yolanda”-devastated towns of   Dulag and Palo, Leyte, the provincial government through the medical team headed by Dr. Anna Maria Teresa De Guzman, revisited the area recently.

Provincial Health Officer Anna Ma. Teresa de Guzman and her team were welcomed by Dulag Vice Mayor Edwin Mabanta and the Sanggunian Bayan members

It can be recalled that the provincial government under the stewardship of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. provided various support services in the area such as cleaning and clearing operations, medical-dental missions, relief operations, repair and rehabilitation of community facilities to include artesian wells, school buildings, government buildings and the local church.

Team Pangasinan, composed of  111-man contingent of doctors, nurses, engineers, social workers, a few military personnel, engineering and general services crew.

Team Pangasinan was able to rehabilitate nine classrooms in the town of Dulag consisting of four classrooms for SPED center, two classrooms for Dulag Central School, and three classrooms for Dulag National High School.

It has also completed various engineering, electrical and plumbing works for the police and fire stations, the rural health unit, cultural center and town hall, town plaza and the Dulag Church.

The rehab efforts conducted by the Espino administration have brought hope in the hearts of the officials and residents of Dulag, Leyte especially after seeing their town church installed with lights and adorned with Christmas decorations that time.

Gratefulness still fills the heart of the typhoon-devastated community as Dulag, Leyte Vice Mayor Edwin Mabanta together with the members of the Sanggunian Bayan welcomed the team of Dr. De Guzman.

To this day, the Pangasinan humanitarian mission remains unforgettable to the community as proven by signage printed on the wall of Dulag Central School building. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Ex-Mayor Lauds Manaoag COP

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANAOAG – Former Mayor Napoleon Sales hailed the strictness of this pilgrimage town officer –in- charge chief of police (COP) for the excellent peace and order situation here being enjoyed by the populace and tourists.

Former Mayor Nap Sales (2nd from left) joins at the table (from left) P/SInp.
Rowel V. Albano, former Board Member Ming Rosario, and OIC Chief
of Police Eric Gonzales.

“Sa aking pananaw kayo ang pinaka importante na tao sa balat ng lupa,” he told last Friday the applauding policemen and their families at the swanky Jessie's Place and Resort in Barangay Tebuel here during their Christmas party.
Aside from Sales, who runs for the vice mayoralty in the 2016 election, former Board Member Jeremy Rosario,  village chiefs, auxiliary forces, and media men attended the festivity.

Senior Inspector Roderick Gonzales asked his men their understanding about his toughness and firm resolve to them.

Clowns entertain the dependents of the Manaoag policemen.

“Suwerte, malas, at bawl jack ang naibibigay ko sa inyo dahil sa pressure ng trabaho. Pero ang kagandahang impression nila sa atin ang bayan ng Manaoag hanggang ngayon ay nanatili pa ring tahimik, matiwasay, progresibo para sa ating lahat,” the COP cited.

Gonzales thanks the cooperation and support reciprocated by his personnel on his aggressive leadership to attain their objectives and continues tranquillity of the first class municipality.

When Gonzales took the reign of the police here in September from Chief Inspector Edison Revita, he expedited the procurements of needed equipments like the two P15 thousand worth Epson F-20 printers and P16 thousand high resolution cameras.

 A policeman at the behest of PSINP. Gonzales forks out hundred peso
 bill to children of policemen every time they won a contest in a game.

He said he bought them through solicitations with friends when he was just two weeks in office.

The other solicited gadgets he chalked up from businessmen friends are the 15 brand new hand held two-way radios his police would be using in their patrol and operation.

Gonzales said he relied on asking donations because he could not use the P49 thousand a month Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) because it is only appropriated, as ordered by higher headquarter, on gasoline, office supplies, and others of his station.

“I got two patrol cars like the Mahindra and Innova, four Motorized Anti-Street Crime Operatives (MASCO), and four mountain bikes,” when asked how many vehicles he had in this pilgrimage town’s police station.

The police station of the almost 70 thousand populated town, according to the COP, have 50 personnel including him and two other officials.

Policemen gamely played a card game being picked up by their lips.