Flash Flood in Dagupan City Reduced – DPWH

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

SANTA BARBARA – The flash flood that haunts Dagupan City had been significantly reduced after the Department of Public of Works & Highway (DPWH) built a one kilometer dike in Calasiao town, according to the Third Engineering Office of the DPWH here.

Maintainance Engineer Isagani Jose told this paper that the massive flood that endangered lives and properties of the residents of the five villages in Dagupan City would no longer be the same because of the one kilometer slope dike protection near the Ramos Bridge the DPWH constructed last  year.

Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez inspects flood prone Barangay Malued
with Barangay Chairman Filipina S. de los Santos (2nd from left) and City Engineer
Jane Rosario (2nd from right). 

Jose was summoned recently by Third Engineering Office’s District Engineer Simplicio D. Gonzales because the latter just assumed the post from DE Mariatta B. Mendoza and was not privy of the brouhaha brought by the 1.5 meters each three culverts constructed by Mendoza that got the goat of Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez who blamed the up to eight feet flood in her Barangays Lasip Chico, Lasip Grande, Malued, Lucao and Tapuac to that construction.

Because of the egresses created by the culverts classes from elementary to college in Dagupan City had been incessantly suspended despite the absence of downpour.

“Hinde na kasi sa Calasiao tinaasan namin para di mag overflow ang tubig. So iikot doon sa Banaoang,” Jose cited.

Pangasinan farmers, fisherfolk oriented on ASEAN benefits

By Venus May H. Sarmiento

STA. BARBARA - As the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on August 8 is nearing, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) intensified its advocacy campaign to help promote awareness on the ASEAN.

Farmers, fisherfolks, irrigators and women’s groups from the six districts of Pangasinan were the latest audience in a Barangay Forum explaining the economic and socio-cultural benefits of ASEAN.

Undersecretary Harold E. Clavite, director-general of the PIA under the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), underscored the importance of ASEAN integration especially the marketing of the produce of the farmers and fishermen. 

Clavite said being a member country of ASEAN, peace will reign among the ten countries and there will be special treatment  and connection for the residents. Selected products for export and import in ASEAN member-countries is also tariff-free  and migrant workers will have protection because of the integration. 

Rivera confirmed as Dagupan City Health Officer

DAGUPAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panlungsod confirmed on Monday, July 24, the appointment of Dr. Ophelia T. Rivera as Dagupan’s City Health Officer.

 Mayor Belen T. Fernandez earlier appointed Dr. Rivera as new Dagupan City CHO, a position left vacant with the demise last year of Dr. Leonard Carbonell.

.Rivera was appointed to the position after she substantially qualified with all the requirements of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code.

 As department head her appointment needed the concurrence of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, subject to Civil Service Law, rules and regulations.

 Rivera is a native of Dagupan City and studied at the Dagupan City National High School.

 Prior to her present position, Dr. Rivera served as Municipal Health Officer of the Municipality of Mangaldan for 15 years. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/July 25, 2017)

He Wants Corrupt Gov’t Execs Killed

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

This country leader warned government brass that “unexplained wealth means unexplained death”.

“I assure you pag sinumbong mo na sa akin iyan I guarantee you, tawagin ko iyan sa harap mo at sabihin ko talaga, mag-hingi ka uli p*tang ina mo, papatayin kita (I assure you if you report him to me I guarantee you I am going to hail him before you and will tell him son of a bitch I am going to kill him),”  Philippines President Rodrigo R. Duterte warned them at the recently held Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Incorporated (FCCCI) meeting in Manila.

It is high time for the citizens to inform the media or call the government’s Anti-Corruption Hot Line 888 and report callous faces public officials and their kin who stashed government funds and flaunt some of them at social media Face Book.

This Man thought Ebola is a Terrorist

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

As I encoded my column, yes Virginia sometimes I scribbled my draft on paper, I overheard the interview of Iron Sheik – a cussing wrestler who speaks like actor Sacha Baron - at the Howard Stern Radio Show why Muslim and Jews (Israelis for example) do not eat pork.

Terrorist named Abala that my friend Sheik Faquir Afaq hated

By the way the Sheik or in real name Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri is an Iranian - American former professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, actor, one-time world champion, having won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983, and former body guard of Iranian Shah (King) Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

BLACK LADY CO-HOST ROBIN QUIVERS: It is a sin in your religion to drink (alcoholic beverage), take drugs..?

SHEIK: God bless you, good question Robin! Ah, ah, ah, as an Islamic man I am not supposed to eat pork, I am not supposed to drink alcohol, but since I am in your country America I will be sociable sometimes, I drink a couple of beer, a little bit glasses of whisky and a little bit sometimes, ah, eat, ah instant bacon which is pork. That is against our religion since like Jewish people that when we eat pork that’s the dirtiest animal in the earth because pork or pig eat dead animals.

Just like Jews, Muslim people we don’t eat pork only lamb, goats, and beef okay? Ah, because sheep and goat they eat grass that son of a bitch pork or pig (chuckle from the radio staff) eat, eat, eat dead animals and the dirtiest animal in the world. I respected Jew people they don’t eat pork!

New City Hall to ‘Banish the Spectre of Corruption’ - Dagupan Mayor

                                     REPRINTED FROM X-RAPPLER

“The height of irony” is how Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez described the opposition to the approved plan to move their City Hall to a new location. According to the Mayor, there would be no need for the transfer in the first place, had the previous Mayor not engineered a highly irregular transaction during his term.

At present, the Dagupan City Hall is located at A.B. Fernandez Avenue, but because of the structure’s advanced age (91 years), state of deterioration, and inability to address the needs of a now-booming city population, talk of a new City Hall has been discussed since 2002. It was on this same year that the Asset Privatization Fund sold the former five-star McAdore International Hotel property to the City of Dagupan at the highly discounted price of P50 million, with the understanding that the property would be converted to a new City Hall.

“Had former Mayor Benjie Lim honored the terms of this agreement, we would have an updated and functioning City Hall by now,” explained Fernandez. “He had a chance to cement his legacy, but instead, he and his allies orchestrated perhaps the most infamous act in Dagupan’s political history. Curiously, it is now those very same allies making noise about the current relocation plan,” she added.

Rather than begin repurposing the McAdore property to serve as the new City Hall, Lim instead put it up for sale at P70 million, which was significantly lower than both public and private zoning values and appraisal. Fernandez, who was then serving as Vice Mayor, refused to sign off on the sale, pointing out that even the most conservative valuation of the property was pegged at P180 million.

Mayor Belen rebukes Brian, Red

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The mayor here exposed the hypocrisy of the vice mayor and a councilor who did not question the anomalous bargain sale of the former Five-Star McAdore International Palace Hotel in 2012 that should be converted to city hall.

Mayor Belen T. Fernandez said that when former Mayor Benjie S. Lim conspired to fire-sell the P400 million worth seven-storey with a theater Palace Hotel for P119 million, her staunch critics Vice Mayor Brian Lim and Councilor Red Erfe-Mejia did not question the graft ridden transaction.

PROTAGONISTS. From left is Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez and
opposition members' Vice Mayor Brian Lim and Councilor Red Erfe-Mejia.

The duo instead conspired by empowering Mayor Lim in signing the onerous contract of sale to AMB ALC Holding and Management Corporation.

“Time pa ni Mayor Al 1988. 1990 time ni Vice Mayor Teddy Manaois may resolution na bilhin ang Mc Adore for city hall. 2005 binili ni (Mayor) Lim ang city hall McAdore kaya Lang binenta ni Benjie Lim. Brian Lim author nila Red Erfe Mejia. Kaya nawala ang city hall natin binenta ng mura,” Mayor Fernandez dished out the two opposition members in the FaceBook Account of Teddy Villamil – another bitter critic of the mayor.

In the same Account the mayor lambasted her predecessor and allies on their unabashed streak to sell this city’s local government properties

“Look around other municipalities and cities is there any mayor who sold their city hall ? Their park like the Magsaysay Park. A road sold to Victory Liner? False income statement negative with thirty seven million pesos as misdeclaration and a positive one million two hundred thousand pesos?  Who fools the Dagupenos ? Is it me or both the Lims? Why against my Family?”

The mayor also rebuked, in a consultation hearing, Mejia who opposed the donation of the 1.2 hectares land as situs for the city hall.

“Noong ako ay nagpunta sa U.S ay binenta nila Mayor Benjie Lim nandiyan si Red at bakit siya pumayag na mabenta ng palugi? Dapat tumayo si Councilor Red kailangan natin ng consultation bago natin ibenta. Bakit hinde niya ginawa?” 

At the last consultation of the Cluster 6 of the villages here, the mayor narrated that the P50 million procurement of the local government here in 2002 of the McAdore from the Asset Privatization Trust, a government owned privatization program, became possible because of the intercession of then former Vice Mayor Al Fernandez and Alfred Balingit to then former Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Both of whom were friends of Arroyo.

DepEd Exec behind Classy Nat’l Anthem's Choir

To Instill Patriotism and Nationalism

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

SAN CARLOS CITY – The world class singing feat of the national anthem being sung by officials of the Department of Education was a brainchild of the new City Superintendent here.

Dr. Sheila  Marie D. Primicias said the video presentations of the Lupang Hinirang at the facade of the Provincial Capitol and the ground of the Veterans Memorial Park in Lingayen, Pangasinan was created at her behest so the youth can appreciate the love of country and enhance their patriotism and nationalism.

VIDEO of officials of the Department of Education in San Carlos City, 

Pangasinan strut their singing prowess of the Lupang Hinirang.

“Para ipalabas sa mga bata na makita nila ang mga opisyales ng San Carlos City ay patriotic and nationalistic (So we can show to the students that the officials of the DepEd in San Carlos City are patriotic and nationalistic),” she stressed.

ASEAN forums to roll in Pangasinan schools, barangays

By: VENUS MAY H. SARMIENTO

DAGUPAN CITY - In pursuit of  informing more Pangasinenses about the goals and benefits of being a member of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) , the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the information arm of the government, is embarking on a nation-wide forum for various sectors of the community. 

In Pangasinan, a youth forum toke on July 21 at the Pangasinan State University for the university students and senior high school students of the Pangasinan National High School in Lingayen town. 

On the other hand, a barangay forum for farmers, fisherfolks and barangay officials is scheduled on the same day at the Farmers Pavilion of the Provincial Nursery in Sta. Barbara town. 

Undersecretary Harold E. Clavite, director-general of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) under the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), said the agency  has been tapped to be one of the offices to help advocate the importance of the ASEAN.  

Councilor Asks Mayor, Chiefs Whereabouts of Funds

Juday Versus Iday Continues

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – “Where did those funds go?” A lady councilor here posed to the media where the mayor and her staff put the One Million Forty Thousand One Hundred Sixty Five Pesos appropriation for two years and seven months on the two positions that have not been filled up after they were created in 2015.

DISSENT - From left Stalwart Councilor Juday Vargas
and SGLG Awardee Mayor Iday Castaneda. Vargas questions 
the Mayor on the whereabouts of the million pesos funds.

Councilor Judy “Juday” Vargas cited a document given to this paper that the two positions of Mechanic III and Supply Officer II have a yearly budget of P165, 656.98 and P236,987.92, respectively, or a total of P1,040, 165.00  for two years and seven months as of press time for salaries, allowances, and others.

Nurses hold medical mission as part of alumni fete

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – Members of the Nursing Batch of 1992 at the Lyceum Northwestern University conducted a medical mission at the barangay hall of Tapuac here as part of their 25^th Alumni Homecoming.

MEDICAL MISSION. Filipino-American nurses man the arrays of medicines given to the marginalized residents of Barangay Tapuac in Dagupan City. The medical mission held Friday morning was part of the first of the two days 25^th alumni homecoming programs of the graduates of Bachelor of Science in Nursing of Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan City.

Second from left is Chief Nurse Buenafe Viray - Redoble, Dialysis Technician Nolito Soriano, Dialysis   Performance Improvement Nurse Jose Saguibal, Robotic Surgery Coordinator Marites Aquino- De Guzman and Specialist Teacher Evelina Pasca. Text and Photo by Mortz C. Ortigoza

According to Jose Saguibal, the medical mission participated by local physicians catered to the marginalized residents of the village who lived at the back of Lyceum Northwestern University.

Party at the swanky and ritzy Stadia with
Dagupan City's Mayor Belen T. Fernandez

"Our mission was to give back to our community. We did not want a reunion just to have fun. It's a cause with a mission  serving back to our community where we all came from," stressed by Christine delos Reyes - Batalla -  a Case Manager at Kaiser Permanente in San Jose, California..

Guamanians following blunder of Filipinos

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Many elected officials committed these boo-boos. They look stupid because they open their mouth without enough understanding of a legal question or topic or did not ask an advice from a lawyer or those who understand the law.

Here’s a city councilor who lambast the mayor who wants to build a government building in a lot donated by a resident of the city.

The lawmaker harangued the mayor in the media and the public meetings because there was no road going from the main highway to the edifice.

Son of a gun, did the councilor not hear about Eminent Domain, Expropriation, and Easement?

These three words are defined by laws where one can get a right way in going to the building.

EMINENT DOMAIN means the right of a government or its agent to expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation.

EXPROPRIATION means the action by the state or an authority of taking property from its owner for public use or benefit. 

EASEMENT means a right to cross or otherwise use someone else's land for a specified purpose.

***

When I bumped into Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez after her recent State of the City Address (SOCA) at the Stadia and told her about this pronouncement of the councilor and quoted by a national daily, she told me the District Congressman Toff de Venecia has appropriation of P73 million for the highway going to the proposed new city hall.

“There is a road leading from the national highway to the city hall, how can there be none?” she told me.

City hall donor can deduct gift from his gross income – BIR

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The donor of the more than hundred million pesos of land to host the new city hall here can deduct his donation to his taxable gross income to the government, according to a high official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

CPA-Lawyer Maria Isabel B. Utit, the chief of the BIR in Eastern Pangasinan, cited the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) that provides that contribution to the government political subdivision is deductible in full.

“Contributions or gifts actually paid or made within the taxable year to, or for the use of the government of the Philippines or any of its agencies or any political subdivision thereof exclusively for public purposes,” she cited some parts of  Paragraph H Section 34 of the NIRC that talks about allowable deduction from gross income of donor like Kerwin Fernandez.

Pangasinan buys rescue vehicles

by VENUS MAY H. SARMIENTO

LINGAYEN - The Pangasinan provincial government  affirmed its objective of being a highly responsive local government unit to disasters as it provided more rescue vehicles for Pangasinenses. 

Gov. Amado Espino III  turned-over two multi-purpose trucks, couple of rubber boats, one Falcon 650 big boat and other equipment for disaster response to the Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

“Ingatan niyong mabuti ang mga kagamitang ito para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan,” Espino said during the kick-off ceremonies of the National Disaster Resilience Month held at the PDRRMO grounds at the Narciso Ramos  Complex.

Aside from the vehicles and equipments, the new Search and Rescue Office (SARO) was inaugurated in the vicinity.

“Magpapatayo din tayo ng mga district offices ng PDRRMO sa eastern, western at central Pangasinan to house the equipment para sa  easy deployment  pagdating ng kalamidad,” Espino added. 

PDDRMO Chief Col Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro said the activities  aim to show the PDRRMO’s motivation that in the face of any disaster, there is always safety and unity. 

“Looking at a disaster is like managing an orchestra. Lahat ng member agencies tulong-tulong para sabay-sabay ang pagkumpas ng PDRRMC chair para sa pagkakaisa at kaligtasan ng lahat.” Oro said. 

Other activities of PDRRMO lined-up for the NDRM include a weekly  tree-planting/growing and disaster management seminar for media people. (VHS/PIA-Pangasinan) 

Lingayen Execs Rebuff Critics on Ghost Worker’s Raps

IDAY VS. JUDAY

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – High officials of this Capital Town rebutted the accusation of critics that the mayor here violated the law when she created a funded position of a mechanic but without an appointed worker.

Mayor Josefina “Iday” Castaneda explained even that position was included in this year’s annual appropriation budget it is not feasible to spend the amount because it needs for a motor pool to be created first and  be funded by the Sangguniang Bayan (Legislative Body).

CRITIC. Lingayen Mayor Josefina “Iday” Castaneda (Left)  and
critic Councilor Judy "Juday" Vargas.

“Wala pang motorpool kaya iyong pang sueldo sa mechanic nilagay sa savings. Tapos iyong savings iyon inilagay sa supplemental (budget),” she stressed.

Human Resources Chief Raul Ungson explained that despite the funding and creation for the position of a mechanic by the executive department and legislature the post is not yet final. The appropriation for the post, the HR Officer added, would become a saving for the coffer.

Wait for SONA on Brgy Poll – Solon

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN -  Will there be a barangay election on October?

A congressman said that stakeholders should wait for the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte at the State of the Nation Address on July 24.

President Rodrigo Duterte in his State of the Nation Address (SONA)

“Whatever is the stand of the chief executive and it will be made as priority to conduct or postphone, the barangay election there will (inaudible),” declared by Pangasinan Second District Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil.

When asked for a law to empower the president to postphone the election on October and if the Congress can expedite the passage of the bill to back up the extension, the solon said he was not privy about the House of the Senate, but members of the House of Representatives can fast tract it.

Greedy, Corrupt Member of Congress

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

I and a first class town mayor talked about an avaricious and corrupt member of the House of Representatives.

The spouse of this lawmaker chided a mayor when the former learned that the latter was responsible for the downloading of the sum of a multi-million pesos national project to a government bank in the province the latter faithfully followed up with the powers that be in Manila.

“Sabi ng mayor when it was downloaded from the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) the spouse of the lawmaker angrily called her on the phone. Ang sabi, bakit ninyo pinangungunahan ang project dapat sa amin iyan!” I said.

To the uninitiated, being a recipient of a project means twenty percent of the project goes to the pocket of the congressman. Politicians and private contractors called this anomaly in the jargon as S.O.P.

“Hinde lang ganid iyang mag-asawa ayon sa mga contractors, ma epal pa kahit kaunting drainage canal andoon na ang mukha nila,” my mayor friend narrated.

The hizzoner cited his experiences with his former congresswoman where a downloaded project was claimed by the underlings of the latter.

“Sasabihin nila na sila daw ang nag follow up sa Manila. I disagreed and argued with them. Tapos, hihirit kung ilang percent daw ang bigay ko sa kanila sa project. I told them bluntly, wala kayong porsiyento dito!”

The mayor added that his present congressman does not interfere with the dilemma of the mayor I mentioned earlier. He said whatever projects the mayors in the district chalked up in Manila the solon did not intervene.

Do we have congressmen and congresswomen like this non-covetous solon in the province?

PAYAO FOR BETTER FISHING

DAGUPAN CITY – In a bid to increase the income of small fisher folks here, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – Region 1 and the local government of Dagupan installed at least six fish aggregating devices called payaos in the Lingayen Gulf, particularly along the area of Barangay Pugaro on July 12.

Fisher folks of Barangay Pugaro install four aggregating devices called payaos in the Lingayen Gulf, particularly along the area of Barangay Pugaro on July 12. The installation of six payaos is under the livelihood assistance program of the City Agriculture Office on order of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in a bid to increase the income of small fisher folks. (CIO photo by Jojo Tamayo)

Being a livelihood assistance to the small fisher folks, residents of Barangay Pugaro, – in the spirit of “bayanihan” – helped staff of the City Agriculture Office and BFAR in installing the payaos in four strategic areas in the gulf.

“This is another significant day for our fisher folks in the city as this will help them save more time in looking for fish to catch without going far into the middle of the sea thus spending more money for their gasoline", ” said City Agriculture Officer Emma J. Molina.

The payaos were submerged in about six to seven feet deep and each is about three to four kilometers away from the shoreline of Pugaro.

“We choose Pugaro because this area will soon be a tourist spot and we would like to show to the people that we are serious in protecting our sea especially against dynamite fishing. Furthermore, we are assured that our fisher folks here will keep the payaos safe from getting lost in the sea,” said Molina noting that the first payao installed was lost in the sea and was never recovered.

Pugaro, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is the breeding place of some high-value fish like lapu-lapu and talakitok.

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Mangaldan Mayor retrofits market’s façade

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN – The mayor here graced recently the groundbreaking ceremony of the renovation of the public market she dubbed as the market central of the three towns and a city that surrounded it.

“The objective of this project is kept atop of the design of modern infrasture and architectural design of the modern world. Sabi nga nila embrace change and we all knew Mangaldan market is the center market catering to the nearby towns which are San Fabian, Manaoag, Mapandan and even Dagupan City,” the mayor stressed.

Architect's design of the face-lifting of the Mangaldan Public Market.

She cited that because of this strategical location the burgeouning town has a “market day” every day - a comparative advantage to other local government unit (LGU) that has one market day only in a week.

Huge High School has New Principal

NEW PRINCIPAL. Dr. Leo Blaquir takes his Oath of Office as the new Principal IV of Mangaldan National High School with the town’s Mayor Bona Fe De Vera-Parayno and Vice Mayor Jojo Surdilla at the Mayor's Office this morning. Mangaldan, Pangasinan has the biggest national high school in Region -1 with 35,000 students to boot. (Photo Credit: Councilor Aldrin Soriano)

DAGUPAN JOINS ASIA CEO FORUM IN MAKATI

DAGUPAN CITY – This city joined the province of Pangasinan in promoting the potentials of the province to foreign and local investors in the Asia CEO Forum held at Dusit Thai Hotel in Makati City on July 5.

MBTF JOINS ASIA CEO FORUM – Mayor Belen T. Fernandez (4^th from left),  along with other Pangasinan Local Chief Executives, namely  (from left) San Carlos City Mayor Joseres Resuello, Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste, and Urdaneta City Mayor Amadeo Perez IV, Pangasinan Governor Amado I. Espino III (center), Harriet Abordo (5^thfrom left) of PEZA, Rey Untal (6^th from left) of IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines,  Manaoag Mayor Kim Amador (6^th from right), Binmaley Mayor Simplicio Rosario (7^th from right), Dasol Mayor Eric Versoza (8^thfrom right), Umingan Mayor Michael Cruz (9^th from right) and Raffy Baraan (2^nd from right) serves as one of the panelists in the Asia CEO Forum at Dusit Thai Hotel in Makati City on July 5 where she promoted the city to foreign and local investors as a zero corruption and red tape free city. (CIO photo by Jojo Tamayo)

As one of the panelists at the forum, Mayor Belen T. Fernandez presented Dagupan to some 150 local and foreign investors which include resorts property owners, food processing companies, renewable energy companies, and business process outsourcing industries among others.

Fernandez made a sales pitch for the city that Dagupan is a pool of talents, strong infrastructure and the presence of investors’ support services.

“In our city, we hate corruption that is why we have zero corruption and our city is red tape free,” said Fernandez.

With the city’s new Comprehensive Land Use Plan duly approved by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board in Resolution No. 945 series of 2017 on May 3, Dagupan is opening new gates of development in Lucao-Pantal as tourism growth center, Poblacion, Caranglaan-Tebeng and Bonuan area as the other new growth centers.

DAGUPAN RE-INTENSIFIES FLOOD MITIGATION PROGRAM

DAGUPAN CITY – The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) and the City Engineering Office (CEO) have re-intensified their respective flood mitigating programs in the barangays on order of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez.

With the arrival of the newly acquired dump trucks of the city, Fernandez assigned one dump truck to the CDRRMC for its Operation Sitio program, which in the past was temporarily put on hold in the absence of dump trucks to haul sand to backfill low-lying and flood-prone areas.

Free backfilling is among the CDRRMC’s flood mitigating measures to complement road elevation, upgrading of drainage system, dike construction, creek and waterway clean up drive, and dredging of the rivers program of Fernandez.

Under the program, sitios affected by flooding may log-in their request at the CDRRMC office for free backfilling. Each request will be validated and affected areas will be evaluated to see if the area also needs a drainage system.

“If the CDRRMC and the city engineering office recommend that a drainage system is needed before backfilling, we will provide hollow blocks and cement to the community whose residents will take charge in constructing this under the “bayanihan" system", said Fernandez.

Meanwhile, the CEO will launch its creek and waterways clean-up drive simultaneously in all the 31 barangays on July 10.

A number of families will be hired by their respective barangays in cleaning the creeks and waterways in their areas.  

They will be compensated not in cash but food packs consisting of 10 kilos of rice and grocery items worth P1,000.00 under the city’s food for work program. Each family will work for four days.

“While we have never stopped finding ways to solve flooding in our city, let’s work together to mitigate flooding in order to make our city flood-free and a safer place to live in,” said Mayor Fernandez. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/July 7, 2017)