BUB PROJECTS

BUB PROJECTS. Regional Director Florante Leal and Provincial Director Peter Mangabat of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) turn over Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) 2016 fund amounting to Php700,000 Alaminos City  Mayor Arthur Celeste for the city's candle making project.  The other photo shows the two DTI officials turning over Php700,000 Binmlay Mayor Simplicio Rosario of Binmaley for the town's mushroom production project. (photos by DTI)

Mayor Belen condemns extra-judicial killings

DAGUPAN CITY – “We condemn in the strongest term possible the extra-judicial killings being perpetrated by supposed vigilante groups that identify themselves as "Dagupan Death Squad" and "Pangasinan Death Squad" upon innocent people  whom they simply perceive to be persons involved in illegal drugs in the city".

 

This was expressed by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez in the light of several recorded killings of innocent persons, including two students here one of whom was Rowena Vergara Tiamson, a 20-year old Mass Communications student of Colegio de Dagupan and Roman Clifford Fernandez Manaois of Barangay Carael.

“There is no such thing as Dagupan Death Squad or Pangasinan Death Squad operating in our city,” said Fernandez when she spoke  July 28 in front of students at the City Library during the training and launching of the free Wi-Fi access in Public Places.

The Dagupan City Police Station confirmed that Tiamson was not among the drug peddlers and users in their list while Manaois’ autopsy reportedly yielded negative result on any trace of drug use or abuse in his system. Both were about to graduate from their respective courses this year.

Fernandez called on students to be selective in choosing the right company for their safety as she further urged them to observe the curfew hours being implemented in the city for them to stay away from trouble.

Mayor Belen lauds for improved traffic flow

DAGUPAN CITY – Drivers and operators as well as owners of business establishments along Arellano Street were all-praise over the improved traffic flow along this thoroughfare and went on to thank Mayor Belen T. Fernandez for forming Task Force Arellano. Drivers are saying that they are now earning more than in the previous months as they can now make more rounds from downtown to Bonuan and vice versa and pick up more passengers than before. “I am happy to note that our drivers’ income has improved from the time we strictly enforced the provisions of our traffic ordinance along the area especially on loading and unloading, illegal parking, anti-jaywalking and truck ban.

At least, aside from saving time and fuel, the improved traffic flow helped them earn more,” said Mayor Fernandez who often times personally oversees the management of the traffic flow in the area, along with members of the Task Force Arellano headed by retired police officer Carlito Ocampo and former Bonuan Gueset Punong Barangay Angel Gumarang. In their courtesy call with the mayor, the Jollibee Group of Companies thanked the mayor for solving the daily traffic bottleneck along Arellano Street. “It is very heart-warming to hear these words of appreciation from the store managers of Jollibee about the improvement of traffic flow along Arellano Street when they came to my office for a courtesy call,” said Fernandez.

Crash course for traffic enforcers held

DAGUPAN CITY – Traffic enforcers of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) and City Action Service Team (CAST) underwent a one-day crash course on Traffic Direction and Control on July 26 at the city museum on order of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez.

The traffic enforcers training was aimed at further strengthening the skills of traffic enforcers in managing the flow of traffic along the city’s main thoroughfares with much ease and less trouble.

 The training was facilitated by the Dagupan City Police Station at the request of Mayor Fernandez as part of her continuing efforts to ease the city’s traffic flow for the benefit of pedestrians and motorists as well as make the city more business-friendly.

The city police in turn tapped the services of the PNP Highway Patrol Group in Pangasinan and invited Police Chief Inspector Allan Antonio Calaguas to conduct orientation. 

Calaguas oriented the POSO and CAST enforcers on Republic Act 4136, also known as the “Land Transportation and Traffic Code” and provided some road safety tips. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO)

Possible to eradiicate illegal drugs in 6 months - PNP

DAGUPAN CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are positive that the drive of the Duterte administration to eradicate illegal drugs in the country in  a span of six months is possible and achievable .

Police Sr. Supt. Ronald Lee, acting provincial director of Pangasinan PNP, said the police force is highly motivated in the fulfilment of their tasks especially on the anti-drug campaign.

“Kayang-kaya ‘yan (na ma-achieve) dahil una, mismong si Presidente Duterte at  ang  Chief PNP nagsabi na nasa  likod namin sila.  Second is, every agency, nagtutulungan at iisa ang layunin. Pangatlo, ang community na mismo ang nagrereport,” Lee said during the first quarter meeting of the Provincial Anti- Drug Abuse Council held on Thursday.

Lee said since the agencies that constitute the PADAC help each other, there is no competition on information today because it is readily available. He said the community is now actively involved in reporting and even the drug personalities themselves surrender to authorities.

“If you were surprised on the number of drug personalities who surrendered, nagulat din kami. Tatayo ang balahibo niyo pag narinig ninyo ang kwento nila at nangyari sa kanilang  buhay,” Lee added.

Regional Director Jeoffrey Topacio of PDEA in the Ilocos agreed with the PNP that  drug eradication in six months is achievable.

CPS Inaugural lecture delves on Federalism

 

Lingayen – University of the Philippines (UP) Vice President for Public Affairs Prospero E. De Vera, III gave an extensive explanation about ‘federalism’ during the inaugural lecture of the Center for Pangasinan Studies (CPS) held at the Sison Auditorium on July 29.

 

            Dr. De Vera, a political analyst who traces his roots in Tayug town, focused his lecture on “The Challenges and Opportunities for a Federal Philippines” which clarified among the participants from the bureaucracy, academe and private sectors the differences between unitary and federal systems of government.

 

            Pending issues about federalism which include spheres of government; division of powers; division of resources; and entrenched and enforced constitution were also discussed and expounded further via a panel discussion.

 

             In addressing the participants, Governor Amado ‘Pogi’ Espino, III expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support of UP administration and five collaborating private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the province for the successful launching of CPS.  

 

            The conduct of Federalism lecture by the CPS, he said, supports the drive of President Rodrigo Duterte for the country to mull over in shifting to a federal system of government.

 

1st PADAC MEETING

1^st PADAC MEETING. Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III (center) convenes the members of the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) for the first time under his watch on July 28 at the Ceremonial Hall of the Urduja House in Lingayen. Expressing deep concern over the influx of self-confessed drug users who voluntarily surrendered during the past weeks which totaled to more than 7,000, the new governor is keen on addressing the illegal drug menace in Pangasinan. His initial marching orders include the rehab of the thousands of drug users and the conduct of mandatory random drug testing from the Capitol down to the barangay. With the Governor were Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. (left), also the executive director of PADAC, and PDEA Regional Director Jeoffrey C. Tacio (right). (Photo by Romulus Guttierez III/rrb)

Free Wi-Fi in Dagupan City deal with care and responsibility - Mayor Fernandez

DAGUPAN CITY – Mayor Belen T. Fernandez lauded the launching here on July 28 by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the program free Wi-Fi internet access in public places but warned that this must be always tempered with care and responsibility.

“There is now great power in the hands of our children because unlimited information is now within their reach. It’s therefore imperative among us to properly guide, monitor and assist our children to utilize this power to make productive use of this resource,” said Fernandez in a ceremony held at the City Library. Fernandez believes that the free Wi-Fi is among the defining accomplishments of the city in terms of enhancing the education of the young people.

Accordingly, Dagupan is the third LGU in the country which received the services of free Wi-Fi access from DOST. Fernandez said there is no more stopping the public schools in the city from being at par now with the private education sector and this will greatly reform the way the children in public schools will be educated.

“This compliments our great reforms and our great vision for education in Dagupan. With proper use, these free public Wi-Fi should be utilized as a platform for our young people to prepare themselves to become potential employees for our envisioned ICT-BPM enterprise that will soon rise in our new growth centers," Fernandez said.

Dagupan is now in the process of inviting and setting the stage for the entry of ICT-BPM and knowledge processing industries after Fernandez opened the gates of the city last week for new businesses.

“This is now possible following the approval of our new comprehensive land use plan which now makes it possible for us to allow the entry and establishment of IT parks that would be the hub of new global investments in our city,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez believes that Dagupan will soon be the leading cities for innovation and investment in ICT, and this free public Wi-Fi "shall bridge everyone into this kind of future". (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/July 28, 2016)

SONA watching narc seller killed by assassins

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO – A suspected narcotic pusher was assassinated here as he watched on television the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to this burgeoning town's Chief of Police Superintendent Fabiano B. Sudario, Jr., Rechel H. Agpoon, 37 years old, married, and a tricycle driver was shot by killers riding in tandem.

“He was watching the SONA when he was shot,” the newly assigned chief of police was overheard speaking to a reporter in a mobile phone.

President Duterte spoke last Monday at his first SONA at the Batasang Complex in Quezon City.

Duterte won the presidency last May 9 with a promised to wage a no-nonsense war against drug pushers all over the county.

He promised to eradicate the menace in three to six months upon assumption of office at noon of June 30.

In a signed spot police report by Supt. Sudario, it said that at around 6:25 pm last Monday, the victim was sitting in a makeshift waiting shed located along the intersection of Barangay Banaoang road and Jose de Venecia Highway in Dagupan City when the two suspects arrived.

 “Then the back rider alighted and shot the victim at close range. The victim sustained two gunshot wounds on his head and was brought by the responding policemen to Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, San Carlos City where he was later pronounced Dead on Arrival (DOA) by the attending physician,” the report said.

Sudario said the killers, who were both clad in a jacket, fled towards an unknown direction. He said coordination with the nearby police stations had been set for the apprehension of the suspects.

Agpoon was listed as one of the drug personalities here.

P’sinan all set to pilot PH’s 1st Geocloud tech in Nov

 

Lingayen – Disaster management-useful technology GeoCloud Integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) is all set for its pilot run in the country on November 9 in partnership with the Province of Pangasinan and three other local government units within the province.

The project steering committee bared this on its first meeting last July 26 at the Pangasinan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Operations Center here.

In the verification survey conference among team members, project team leader Noriaki Ishibashi from the Geocloud developer, Informatix Incorporated, said that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded project is hitting target dates leading to the 10-month formal run with full-blown operation following afterwards.

“I am confident that this would be a success with the active participation of the local government units (LGU) involved especially the provincial government,” he said.

Ishibashi noted that Pangasinan, among other provinces in the country, is the most ideal model to run the technology owing to its being disaster-prone balanced by its cooperative, skilled personnel and administration, under Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III, who play crucial part in the continuity of the project.

Through the Japanese Geocloud system, LGUs can access, utilize and disseminate crucial data resulting in a more comprehensive disaster risk reduction and management in all of its phases – preparedness, response and rehabilitation.

Aside from the provincial government, the coastal city and towns of Dagupan, Lingayen and Binmaley have also been chosen as recipients of this first-of-its-kind Integrated GIS venture in the country.

JICA-local partner Philippine National Information Technology Standards Foundation (PhilNITS), which provides technical assistance in rendering outputs using the GeoCloud tools, is set to complete map arrangement by August and installation of hardware and software in the four LGUs this September.

How cuts from gov’t project are divided

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Kalabaw na kasali sa fiesta sa Ozamiz City pinagbabaril ng mga pulis.

Kasalukuyang iniimbestigahan pa ng joint teams ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) kung nang-agaw din ng baril ang kalabaw gaya ng mga drug pushers na pinagpapatay ng mga alagad ng batas.

Here’s an excerpt of the news:

 “CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A carabao that was part of the activities of Ozamiz City’s annual fiesta ran amok on Saturday.

Witnesses said the carabao, a full grown male bull, lost its temper when it was paraded around the Birhen sa Cotta grounds where the final judging of street dancing also took place.

The street dancing competition was one of the highlights of the Subayen Keg Subanen Festival”.

***

A big time private contractor with the government told me how he and public officials earn in a, say, ten million pesos farm-to-market road in a town.

“15 percent lang ang tubo ko diyan. 15 percent bigay ko sa congressman, 5 percent sa DPWH (Department of Public Works & Highway) for the boys nila to divide, and 10 percent kay mayor,” he enumerated.

He cited that before he wins the bidding for the project at the DPWH, he first get the nod of the other two bidders (required by law) who would quote the first two highest bid to make the project so they would lose while my source, who bids the lowest ten million project wins.

“I will give them P300 thousand to divide among them or to those other bidders who are interested to the project”.

When I asked him how much he shell-out to the village chief that host the farm-to-market road, he told me he gives the “kapitan” P5000 as token of appreciation in signing the document to attest the program of works in his barangay had already been done by his construction firm.

“Pag maganda ang mood ko at humirit ang kapitan na bigyan din iyong mga kagawad (members of the village’s legislative council), binibigyan ko sila ng P10 thousand”.

To quantify how government funds are pocketed, the narrations say: More than 45 percent goes to those people I mentioned, while the Republic of the Philippines settle for the more than 50 percent or more than P5 million of the P10 million farm-to-market road from the taxpayers’ monies.

This scenario of how the public monies, be it P10 million or 100 million are divided is endemic all over the Philippines.

Many of these government officials would justify that they did not pocket the monies of the government since the contractor gives his personal fund to them.

Even that justification was partially true, it is still grossly disadvantageous to the Republic since the people settle for a substandard infrastructure.

Son of a gun, where do you think the contractor would recoup those almost 50 percent he fed to those vultures so he wins the bid at the DPWH until the time he chalked up the signature of a corrupt village chief in the document attesting that the public work had been excellently done?

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

Brgys volunteers showcase cooking skills

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – Eight groups from different villages here strutted recently their cooking skills on meal that caters from a six month old baby to a senior citizen.

NUTRITION MONTH. Contestants from various villages in Dagupan City joined the cooking contest to commemorate the Nutrition Month held at the city plaza. Participants are village scholars, Barangay Service Point Officer (BSPO), Barangay Social Workers (BSW), and librarians. PHOTO: MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Ana Kour Fernandez, head of this City’s Nutrition Office, said the contestants were volunteers from different barangays here who were village scholars, Barangay Service Point Officer (BSPO), Barangay Social Workers (BSW), and librarians.

“Sila po ay nagpakitang gilas kung gaano sila kagaling sa pagluto, at ito po ang in-line with the Nutrition Month Activity. Sila po ang magluluto ng mas masustansiyang lutuing bahay na good for six month old child to senior citizen, kasi tayong mga Filipino ay mahihilig sa extended family,” the Nutrition Office’s chief said.

Ex-cop and narc peddler slain in Dagupan

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY - The police in this city shot to death in a buy bust operation a former cop assigned here and in the nearby Mangaldan town.

KILLED NARC DEALER. Slain suspected dangerous
 drug seller former policeman Vicente Moulic. 
PHOTO BY MORTZ ORTIGOZA

Superintendent Cristopher Abrahano, chief of police here, said that former SP0-1 Vicente Moulic shot it out with police intelligence unit at 10:45 am today in Sitio Tambac Melag, Barangay Pantal here when one of operatives was discovered by Moulic to be a poseur-buyer.
Moulic remains sprawled prostrate after policemen shot him through his locked  iron grilled  door.
"Na consumate na iyong buy bust operation, effect na iyong arrest. May back up officer naka set na hulihin na siya. Binunot niya ang baril niya, pinutok doon sa poseour -buyer natin. Hinde tinamaan pero nakapag-retaliate tinamaan itong si Moulic, " explained by Superintendent Abrahano to reporters.
The handgun under the possession of the deceased was a 1911 model 9mm.
The suspected pusher was dismissed in early 2000s from the police service when he was discovered to be into dangerous drugs activities and was found positive with the illegal substance in his body.
Moulic was able to reverse through appeal at the national police office in Manila his dismissal from the service.
He however did not return back to the Philippine National Police upon the reversal of his dismissal.
"He chose to peddle illegal drug's shabu in Mangaldan and Dagupan," Abrahano said.
The chief of police cited the former peace officer was in the Drug Watch's lists of the police here and those in the Counter Intelligence Unit of the Provincial Police Office in Lingayen, Pangasinan 
Moulic was living  at Barangay Pantal East here with a common law (lived -in) wife and two of his children with his legal wife who left him.
The common law wife, according to the police, is languishing in jail for drug pushing, too.
"He was the lone drug peddler in the neighborhood," Abrahano referred to the deceased cop.
Moulic is the10th drug pusher killed in this city since President Rodrigo Duterto assumed office at noon of June 30

U.S War Jets Frequent Fly-By near Scarborough

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

INFANTA, Pangasinan – United States war jets have been seen making regular flyby in this coastal town, according to a village official of Barangay Cato here.

Jowe Legaspi, a village councilor, said that every week he saw thundering American jets flying low here as they proceeded to the location of Scarborough Shoal.

WARTHOGS. One of the five A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft left by
the Americans after the April 2016’s Balikatan (Military Exercise)

Legaspi was one of the 16 of this rustic town's fishermen who asked the United Nations' Commissioner for Human Rights last September 2015 to direct China to respect their rights to their traditional fishing grounds at the Scarborough or Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
He said the personnel of the Chinese Coast Guard barred him and fellow fishermen to fish at the Scarborough Shoal, 260 kilometers from here.

The jets Legaspi has been seeing with regularity here were probably the five A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft left by the Americans after the April 2016’s Balikatan (Military Exercise).

The pugnacious twin engines’ A-10s passed by at the Shoal in April 19 to send a message to China that the area was for free aerial and maritime navigations.

The U.S used the airports at Subic, 204 kilometers from here, and the one at Clark Field in the nearby Pampanga province.

The Americans left Subic, Clark, and other U.S Bases in the Philippines after the Philippine Senate did not ratify in 1991 the treaty extending their stay in the country.

The Chinese took the Shoal in 2012 as part of her Nine-Dash Doctrine. But the Philippine government filed a case at the U.N Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague in early of 2013.
The Tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in July 12 this year.

Leptospirosis cases down in Pangasinan

 

DAGUPAN CITY– Leptospirosis cases in Pangasinan have dropped but health officials here said the public should not let their guard down against the threat of the water-borne disease. 

Dr. Anna Maria Teresa de Guzman, provincial health officer, said the office has, so far, recorded 19 cases of leptospirosis from January 1 to July 4 this year which is 17 percent lower than the 23 cases noted from same period last year.

However, the PHO has urged the public not to be complacent against leptospirosis especially since rainy season has started and more typhoons are expected to enter the country.

“Kami ay nangangamba na baka tumaas pa ang kaso ng leptospirosis kung kaya sa ating mga hospitals ay nagpapa-express lane para sa mga nilalagnat ng tatlo hanggang limang araw para ma-detect agad kung apektado ng leptospirosis ang pasyente,” De Guzman said.

The PHO also advised the public to avoid wading in floodwaters but if not possible, one has to wear a protective gear like boots to protect themselves from contaminated water.

Moreover, the PHO has coordinated with barangay health workers to conduct lectures in the communities to inform the residents on how to avoid leptospirosis.

MORTZ'S CARTOON: RICH SUBDIVISIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Pimentel, Ilocos Region New Police Director

CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO- Police Chief Superintendent Gregorio R. Pimentel received the flag of responsibility as he assumed his post as the new Regional Director of Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) on Thursday (July 19) afternoon during a simple turn-over ceremony held at the PRO1 Grandstand.

PCSupt. Pimentel, the then Deputy Regional Director for Administration of PRO13 and a native of San Quintin, Pangasinan replaced PCSupt. Ericson T. Velasquez who rendered almost one year service in this region.

The turn-over ceremony was officiated by PCSupt. Ramon C. Apolinario, the PNP’s Acting Chief of the Directorial Staff.

The three generals were classmates at the Philippine Military Academy and members of the PMA “Sandiwa” Class of 1985.

In his assumption speech, PCSupt. Pimentel said that he will continue the good works of his predecessor and engage crime busting advocacies to make Region 1 a premiere region in Luzon. He also vowed to clean the ranks up to the lowest unit under his command.

“I commit myself to sincerity and dedication to duty and we will unite and work hand-in-hand to attain our goal for better public service and we should never get tired of doing what is good,” PCSupt. Pimentel added.

Solon to 5 Generals: Face Narco Charges!

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The five active and retired police generals incriminated by President Rodrigo Duterte who coddle illegal drug lords should be braved enough to face their accuser, Pangasinan Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil said.

5 GENERALS. House Representative Leopoldo Bataoil (2^nd District, Pangasinan) gives his takes to Mortz C. Ortigoza, co-anchor of Sonshine Radio 9:00 to 10:00 Am weekdays program, on the five active and retired police generals incriminated by President Rodrigo Duterte to be in cahoots with illegal drug lords.

Bataoil is a retired two-star police general before he became a congressman in 2010. He is on his last term in Congress.

“If they are truly involved they have to face the consequences of their actions, they have to be braved enough to involve themselves on the illegal activity they should be braved enough to face the consequences of their actions. But if they are not involved they have to defend themselves even in Plaza Miranda,” the solon stressed.

Bataoil, a former two-star police general, said since the president has implicated the alleged involvement of former Region 6 Director Bernardo Diaz, former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Joel Pagdilao and former Quezon City’s Police Office’s Director Edgardo Tinio and retired generals Vicente Loot, who is now mayor of Daan Bantayan, and Marcelo Garbo.

In his speech during the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force, the President jolted the nation through television when he announced the names of these generals and their involvement in dangerous drugs.

5000 Direct Jobs for Dagupenos - Mayor BTF

DAGUPAN CITY - This burgeoning city's mayor meets today executives of the Information Technology and Business Process Management's industry where they discussed plans how the local government unit  can draw IT-BPM investors and provide jobs for the people here.

 Mayor Belen T. Fernandez fervent hopes that her constituents can get a share in the mammoth U.S $25 billion industry and create 5,000 direct jobs in the next three years in the City.

One of the most dynamic and fastest growing sectors in the Philippines,  the industry is composed of eight sub-sectors, namely, knowledge process outsourcing and back offices, animation, call centers, software development, game development, engineering design, and medical transcription. 

Joining Mayor Fernandez in the IT-BPM Conference held at the world class Stadia are Jonathan De Luzuriaga- President of the Philippine Software Industry, lawyer Jocelle Sigue- Board of Trustee of the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, Paul Tajon-Senior Investment Specialist, Alvin Juban- President of the Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Natalie Hunter- Executive Director of the Philippines Software Industry Association.

Students from different colleges and universities are part of today's Conference as the mayor embarks on a mission of creating the City's ICT-Business Process Management Industry.