Classes Return to Normal After Macanlalay Donates 200 Chairs

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO, Pangasinan - It takes the intervention of the mayor here who donated 200 monobloc arm chairs for several students to have their regular classes.

“Pasalamat ho kami doon sa kanila from BNHS. We have that 200 arm chairs kasi po as of this time we do conduct our classes in shifting because we lack chairs. And so we assured the parents by next school year we have the regular session,” Dr. Genvevz Erto Ballesteros, the Principal of Buenlag National High School (BNHS), told Northern Watch Newspaper.

EXECUTIVES of the local government of Calasiao and Buenlag National High School (BNHS) pose for posterity inside the Mayor’s Office. From left to right are BNHS Faculty President Jaime Pascua, Executive Asst. IV to the Mayor Miguel Luis Sto. Domingo, Calasiao Municipal Administrator Roma Macanlalay, BNHS Principal Dr. Genvevz Erto Ballesteros, BNHS Head Teacher Susana Flores and BNHS DPDS Coordinator Michelle Salcedo.

The monobloc chair is a lightweight stackable polypropylene chair, usually white in colour, often described as the world's most common plastic chair.

Ballesteros profusely extends her gratitude through this newspaper about the timely action of this town’s Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay.

“We’re so thankful to our honorable Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay for this request granted and we are so thankful”.

 Ballesteros, the younger sister of Pangasinan’s late broadcaster Ben Erto, has been the top honcho of the BNHS for three years already. Her previous post was in the national high school in Mapandan, Pangasinan before being reassigned by the Department of Education in BNHS.

Guico Admin Passes “Underground Cabling” Law All Over P’sinan

 NO MORE UGLY “SPAGHETTI” WIRES

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 To improve the aesthetic of the surroundings in Pangasinan by getting rid of those eyesore’s “spaghetti” wires overhead from the cable and telecommunication providers, the provincial government passed a law that orders providers to relocate underground their cables.

Provincial Ordinance No. 299-2033 titled “An Ordinance Mandating All Telecommunication Companies, Service Providers and Other Similar Entities that Use Overhead Wires and/or Cables Operating Within the Province of Pangasinan to Install and/or Relocate Wires and Cable System”.

New cables being buried underground to replace the overhead lines and pylons in the area somewhere. The photo is an internet grabbed.

Known for its brevity as “The Underground Cabling Ordinance of the Province of Pangasinan”, it was authored by Board Member Napoleon C. Fontellera, Jr., attested by Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino, and signed into law by Governor Ramon Guico, III.

SAFETY STANDARDS

As mandated, all wires and cables in the forty-four towns and three cities’ Pangasinan must be safe and of high quality. They must be properly and systematically relocated to assure the public safety of the residents. There should be warning signs and labels that must be placed for public safety and information. These areas must also have protective strip that must be kept free from deep-rooting trees and shrubs, where buildings are not allowed to be built. Coordination with the Provincial Government Engineering Office, Department of Public Works and Highways and the building officials of the local government units shall always be observed so that installation guidelines and safety standards will be followed

PROHIBITIONS

 It shall be unlawful for any covered entity to: 1. Install, erect, or construct telephone/telecommunication posts, cable network and the like without securing the necessary permits from the concerned offices; 2. Install a pole or construct an edifice in a location duly identified for underground cabling services; 3. Install unmarked telecommunication wires and cables or temporary wires and cables without permission from concerned authorities; 4. Retain idle poles, wires and cables and other overhead line accessories within two months from issuance of notice to remove the same; 5. Dig and excavate in the streets for purposes of laying telecommunication and cables without securing the necessary permits from concerned Local Government Unit and the DPWH.

LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES

In addition to the provision of the New Civil Code of the Philippines, and other relevant laws, all covered entities shall be liable for any damages caused to any person or properties which may arise from the faulty installation, design and maintenance of the wires and cables. Any modification of the approved underground cabling plan/system in accordance with the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Ordinance shall be submitted for review and approval

PENAL PROVISIONS

 Any covered entity that will violate the provisions of this Ordinance shall be penalized as follows: 1. First Offense is a fine of P5,000.00 and one-month suspension of business permit and license to operate; 2. Second Offense - Revocation of business permit and license to operate within the Province of Pangasinan.

EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE

After its third week publication in Northern Watch Newspaper – a weekly of general circulation in Pangasinan - that ends on July 1, 2023, the Ordinance shall take effect after the posting requirements pursuant to Republic Act No. 7160 and other applicable laws' rules and regulations, and upon approval of the Implementing Rules and Regulations to be promulgated by the Office of the Provincial Governor.

Opp. Majority Dads Back Calasiao Mayor’s Programs

 UNLIKE THE POLARIZED LEADERS OF DAGUPAN CITY

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – Despite being dominated by majority of opposition lawmakers, the mayor of this fastest growing first class town in Pangasinan has seen all his programs passed into law by the magnanimous lawmaking body.

Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay credited his constant consultations with the six opposition lawmakers and their vice mayor after they won their mandate in the May 9, 2022 election.

MAYOR, OPP. MAJORITY DADS. Then Vice Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay (extreme right, photo) – who is the present Mayor of the thriving Calasiao town – poses with the lawmakers of the Sangguniang Bayan. Eight out of the ten members of the august body are allied with former Mayor Joseph Bauzon.

Recall the then Councilor Macanlalay and League of the Barangays President Mamilyn “Maya” Caramat won the vice mayorship and the mayorship, respectively, in the May 9, 2022 election while only two of their party mates won a seat in the lawmaking body’s Sangguniang Bayan (SB).

Just like the six councilors, the Presidents of the League of the Barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation who are ex–officio members of the SB came too from the party of former mayor Joseph Bauzon. Bauzon served as two terms or six years chief executive here before the well –oil political machine of Caramat trounced him last year with a margin of 2, 105 votes. Caramat died however due to an illness last January 8, 2023.

 “Tatawagin ko sila dito lalatagan ko sila ng plano. O tapos mag-uusap sila tapos ini-invite nila ako minsan dini-discuss namin iyong sinabi ko. “Mayor, puweding bang ganito?” “Dito na lang natin gawin ilagay ganyan ganyan” o “baka puwede na e priority natin itong project na ito parang ganoon”” Mayor Macanlalay told Northern Watch Newspaper in an interview held at his office here.

The consultation by the mayor with the majority lawmakers is held regularly when the former asked their ideas.

“Hindi naman nakakasama may idea sila o sige ganoon”.

Macanlalay said that this rapport with the opposition dominated legislature started during the helm of Caramat where she gave credence to the authority of the chairmen of the committees in the SB.

“Dahil parang sa chairmanship ng bawat councilor blanket authority ang binigay niya (Caramat) sa vice mayor. Pero iyong blanket authority with respect na nag-usapusap kami”.

The 34 years old Macanlalay attributed his stint as the vice mayor when he regularly interacts with most of the 10 councilors.

“Galing ako diyan kasama ko sila doon. Noong naging vice mayor naman ako I never imposed my will to them”.

The present mayor just cited how successful the May 6 fiesta because of his collaboration with the majority lawmakers. They created a committee to make it more efficient in the entertainment of their constituents.

“Nag-usap kami kung sino gusto magsalita hindi iyong gagawa ka ng tarpaulin mo mag-isa ka lang magsasalita ka sa fiesta ikaw lang ganoon”.

He said the critical cooperation of the present crops of politicians in this 24-village burgeoning town is a far cry to the scar left by their politician parents when they undermined each other just to hold the reign of power here.

The fathers of Macanalalay and Councilor Felipe K. de Vera had been a perennial political rival and nemesis. Former mayors Roy Macanlalay and Celso de Vera had been a long reigning mayor here.

Former Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay – the older brother of the present mayor – and his father Mayor Roy had been routed out in the May 2016 and May 2019 elections by Mayor Joseph Bauzon. Bauzon’s father and Mayor Roy are first cousin.

“Siguro rin sa tingin ko dahil may malalim na sugat ang mga parents namin,” he recalled the feuds of the earlier politicians here who are the parents of the present crop of leaders.

He cited that Mayor Celso de Vera was his godfather (ninong) while he clashed and defeated in the May 9, 2023 election former vice mayor Mahadeva Das Mesina.

“Si vice mayor Mesina kalaban ko noong vice mayor noon siya, konsehal naman namin iyong kapatid niya noon. Iyon ang isang kasama namin sa partido noon”.

Unlike in the acrimonious politics of the nearby Dagupan City, the young Calasiao mayor avoids politicizing his relationship with the other party by lambasting them in public just like what Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez had done to the seven majority councilors of the city. As a result of this polarization, the coastal city had to implement this year a reenacted budget from the last year's appropriation because the budget of Fernandez was chopped off significantly from P1.3 billion to P865 million by the dominant lawmakers. The solons blamed her stubborness not to show to them all the names of her appointed job order workers and their corresponding salaries.

Macanlalay said that undermining the opposition lawmakers before the eye of the public would only prejudice the interest of his landlocked town.

 

 

Sec. Estrella’s Province Gets Less Farm Eqpt. from DAR

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Before I asked Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrad Estrella my main poser that bothered me after he inequitably distributed the P42.487 million farm equipment and machinery (FEM) like the 4WD tractors brush cutter with harvester, hauling trucks and others at the expense of his province’s Pangasinan, I told him I was reinvigorated and inspired by his earlier pronouncement about his management of the department.

Ang Department of Agrarian Reform, sa pangunguna ni Secretary Conrado Estrella, III ay namahagi ng farm machineries at equipment (FMEs) sa mahigit 100 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) mula sa Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, at Pangasinan.

Ang pamamahagi ng FMEs na may halagang P42.487 milyon ay ipinapatupad sa ilalim ng Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Communities (SuRe ARCs) Project na layuning makapagbigay ng farm mechanization projects na makakatulong para mapalakas ang produksyong pang-agrikultura at mapataas ang kita ng mga agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). (Photo credit and caption: DAR)

“Hindi mawala-wala sa isip ko ang sinambit niyo kanina noong may lumapit sa inyo na mag-asawang Ilocano na sinabi nila kung paano sila nakipagbuno sa hirap ng buhay na kanilang sinusuong,” I told the Ilocano and Rosales, Pangasinan resident Estrella who is a sexagenarian during his visit at the Provincial Training and Development Center II in Lingayen, Pangasinan for the distribution to the agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) from Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan of farm machineries and equipment (FME) worth P42.487.

To further appreciate the anecdote of the Secretary, here’s my transcript of his pronouncement where I asked my Ilocano readers to forgive me if I did not get them all correct here:

“Ada pay nangyarasaas kanyak data na manalon. Sir, kakaasi kami nagregat ti biag mi. Akaselyo ket pati saluyot binbingayen me. Ti pang regat: SA, ti pang-aldaw; LU, ti pangrabii…, (the crowd -probably mostly prurient -  shouted and guffawed) YUT! (This author’s translation:”A farmer confided to him. Sir, life is too tough for me and my wife, we even divide the saluyot (herbaceous vine) to survive our every day’s struggle. During breakfast “SA”, during lunch “LU” and during supper…  (the crowded shouted and guffawed) YUT!”.

The obviously hungry Estrella – it was already past lunch - lightened up and was amused by the first blast of my question.

***

Let’s go now to the jugular!

I asked the resident of Rosales, Pangasinan Secretary why Pangasinan got less farm materials and equipment (FME) in terms of amount compared to what the provinces of La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

Pangasinan got P17, 539,000 while the two Ilocos provinces and La Union had P8,316,000 each. Pangasinan with a population of 3,163,190 (2020 PSA) is far bigger in demography than La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte with 822,352 (2020 PSA), 706,009 (2020 PSA) and 609,588 (2020 PSA), respectively.

“Pangasinan should have P70, 156, 000 and not the miniscule P17, 539, 000 because the population of the province is four times than each of the three smaller provinces”.

Secretary Estrella retorted: “Unang-una mawalang galang na rin po. Hindi pa naman tayo mamatay bukas e kaya maghintay lang kayo (With your indulgence, first of all I’ll not die tomorrow thus I beg my constituents to have patient to wait (for more equipment)). You’ve not seen anything yet”.

DAR Region -1 Director Maria Ana Francisco: It is just the first semester of the year mahaba pa…

Estrella: Mahabang panahon pa iyan (We have still a long way to go), Boss.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

It’s the U.S not the Colombians that destroyed Escobar

MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.

 

Pag-IBIG has P1.5-B for Housing in CAR, P’sinan

Aside from the support of the Development Bank of the Philippines, Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System and Land Bank of the Philippines, the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) allocated PHP1.5 billion for the housing program in the Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for this year until 2028.

Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico, III (2nd from right) and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar sign a Memorandum of Understanding this year to commence the partnership under the flagship project of President Marcos’ Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program.

This massive cooperation of government bodies and corporations is part of the collaboration to solve the 6.5 million housing needs of the country under the administration of the President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

 Pag-IBIG Housing Division Chief Ferdinand Jacildone said the PHP1.5 billion is equivalent to 1,100 housing units that can be availed of by the members in the different housing programs being offered by the agency.

“They (members) may avail through the local government units or contractors,” he said.

Pag-IBIG Ilocos Region housing business center chief Meriam Pamittan added that only members can avail of the housing programs and it will only take 17 days to process if requirements are complete and are without any problems.

The program also gained the support of the country’s private developers' groups' Subdivision and Housing Developers Association Inc., the National Real Estate Association Inc., and the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines

Meanwhile, Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico, III and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar sign a Memorandum of Understanding early this year to commence partnership under the flagship project of President Marcos’ Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program.

Governor Guico expressed his gratitude to Secretary Acuzar – a self-made Housing Czar - for ensuring the harmonization of housing strategies among local government units to help them provide decent yet affordable shelters for their constituents, adding that the 4PHs Program will finally address the 160,000 housing backlog in Pangasinan.

Secretary Acuzar likewise thanked the governor for bringing the flagship housing program to his province and vowed the Department’s all-out support to ensure that every Pangasinense will have a house of their own.

According to a source, some of these houses are already being constructed in Mangaldan town and San Carlos City of the huge province.

Mayor Mulls: To Loan or Leave to Pvt. Sector

 CONSTRUCTION OF NEW MANAOAG PUBLIC MARKET

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANAOAG, Pangasinan – The leadership of this pilgrimage town mulls whether to fund the proposed construction of the two-storey public market through the private sector or the local government unit borrows money in the bank.

Mayor Jeremy Agerico Rosario told Northern Watch Newspaper the scenarios in each of these two options he preferred so his government can start the pick-and-shovel works this year.

 

Manaoag Mayor Jeremy Agerico “Doc Ming” Rosario (standing under the big umbrella) confers with vendors at the Rizal Park Compound of the landlocked town.

The construction – the biggest project with a tentative value at P200 million in his more than one-year administration – will spruce up the look of the old market where it will cater not only to the needs of his constituents but to the 55, 000 devotees a week that visit the The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.

“Kasi the reason why we need a good public market because the chemistry ng bisita they buy religious articles, souvenirs, bibili ng pamalengke pauuwi. So we want the whole package nasa Manaoag na ito. Mamalengki na sila dito,” he explained the comparative advantages in drawing incomes from the customers of the reconstructed marketplace.

Rosario, an anesthesiologist, said that leaving to the private sector through public private partnership (PPP) the management of the retail and trading center will tie the LGU here for the next 20 to 25 years before it could operate the market. The second storey will become a parking space for rent for vehicles to solve the crowded spaces the motorists are confronted whenever they visited this first class town north of Manila.

“We have not yet reach as to how much we are going to spend. Dapat magandang public market at may ample parking area isa pa iyan”.

Since the market will be self-sustaining, Rosario leans to contract the loan to the Land Bank of the Philippines. He said the bank evaluated the LGU capacity to P305 million to borrow and pay in ten years   the loan.

“One option ang PPP (private –public-ownership). Ang PPP kasi you gonna be handtied for the next 25 years napakahirap. Sisihin naman kami ng (mamayan). It’s a matter of seeking public consultation with these people”.

The public market, Rosario said, is walking distance to the The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.

He said the LGU will settle for a two-storey edifice because he saw the sad experiences of other local governments creating large multi-floor building that are not profitable. He explained however that the new market is capable of being converted someday for more stories as the situation calls for it.

Bataoil Cites Ideal Venues for Airport, BPO Hub

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – If it would be his way, the mayor here wants the present airport be phased out and converted to a business park as what real estate giant’s Megaworld had done in the old Iloilo City’s airport.

“Natuwa nga ako noong maglakbay aral ang provincial government doon sa Iloilo mismo. They should be able to appreciate what Iloilo did in Mandurriao Airport sinarado pero ang ganda na ngayon. Ngayon, ang ni-relocate nila sa Cabatuan sa Iloilo the new international airport. Malaking pondo rin iyon but malaki connection ni Governor Guico he should be able to find for that purpose”.

CROSSWIND IN LINGAYEN AIRPORT

Bataoil cited the crosswind, as one of his reasons for the closure of the coastal airport here, that pummels the area above and on the runway that could endanger the lives of the passengers as the plane lands or takes off.

“I recommended for the closure of that old airport and convert it into a commercial district. That was my stance just like the Iloilo experience,” the Mayor, a former Congressman and Police General, explained to Northern Watch Newspaper.

ILOILO BUSINESS PARK

Iloilo Business Park is a 92-hectare (230-acre) mixed-use master-planned community development in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, Philippines by Megaworld Corporation. It is located on the site of Iloilo's former Mandurriao Airport which the conglomerate acquired for P1.2 Billion from the Philippines national government. The real estate behemoth poured in P25 Billion for the entire development in a span of years. It is an integrated township project featuring a commercial district, a lifestyle mall, office buildings catering to business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, boutique and deluxe hotels, and a convention center.

The BPO association president of Pangasinan, Bataoil cited, made a courtesy call to his office to inform him the association considered his town as their planned hub.

BPO HUB

Aside from the old airport here Bataoil looks at Brgy. Estanza and the sprawling land of the Gonzales-Bengzon Families (near the being constructed overpass highway) as center of the BPO.

“Street designs, service area, pati underground cabling,” he cited the aesthetics and the services being done there.

Initial development of the Iloilo Business Parks includes construction of a road network, the 12-storey Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and Richmonde Tower, Festive Walk, Two Business Process Outsourcing office buildings. The information technology (IT) complex has been certified as an IT park by the Philippines Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), granting locators perks such as tax holidays and duty-free importation of equipment among others, according to ABS-CBN on its 2011 article’s Megaworld Builds Iloilo Business Park.

INTERNATIONAL, DOMESTIC AIRPORTS

Bataoil leaves to Governor Ramon Guico, III, the congressmen and provincial officials either to construct an airport in Alaminos City, in the proposed San Carlos – Lingayen area or at the 184 hectares Barangays Estanza, Malimpuec and Capandanan

“Doon sa Alaminos meron ng naumpisahan kasi e. Ang stance ni Cong. Conjuangco San Carlos – Lingayen. ngayon hindi ko alam kung ano ang susupurtahan ni Governor. I was reconnecting initially iyong either to relocate doon sa western (part of Lingayen) kasi meron ng 184 hectares available”.

The venue for these two locations became interesting when Pangasinan 2^nd District Rep. Cojuangco disagreed with Pangasinan 1^st District Cong. Celeste when the latter said the airport could be hosted in western Pangasinan.

“So about the airport it’s an update, before the election (May 2022) noong bumaba ang Director ng Planning sa DOTR (Department of Transportation) before the election natapos na po nila ang feasibility study at P1.2 billion budget. Since I’m now in Congress I think with the help of our fellow Congressmen here we could lobby to the President Bongbong Marcos…,” excerpt of Celeste pronouncement in a press conference he attended in this town on May 11, 2022.

“Ngayon in the spirit of transparency Pareng Art I really thanked that. It’s a good idea to have the international airport at the boundary of Lingayen, Binmaley-San Carlos because the bulk of the population is here. The airport in Alaminos would be a nice regional airport. The problems there are the mountains. So for small aircraft perfect trans Philippines transportation, tourism perfect but the intention with really big airplane ay good ang central Pangasinan because anlalayo sa bundok for safety purposes…,” Cojuangco retorted to Rep. Celeste’s statement.

Bataoil said those mentioned above by the national and local officials could extend the planned airport or the BPO hub to Brgy. Sabangan because the family of former Speaker Jose de Venecia who have a land there are willing to augment the 184 hectares’ area.

“This will even complement iyong plano ni governor na gagawa ng iconic bridge from the east of the Baywalk, Capandanan, Malimpuec connect to the bridge in the Baywalk all the way to Sual”.

LEAVE TO THE EXPERTS

Bataoil leaves however to government bodies like the DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and other to have the final decision as they are the experts whether Lingayen needs another airport despite the one in Clark, Pampanga, the 19.8 kilometers shortcut access highway from the Clark to the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, and the new airport being constructed in Bulacan International Airport.

The last airport will be finished in year 2026.

“It might be better to fund for PEWEx (Pangasinan East West Expressway) and interconnectivity expressway towards Bulacan or to Clark so we can make use of those airports in Clark, Tarlac or Bulacan,” Bataoil opined.

It’s the U.S not the Colombians that destroyed Escobar

MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.

Army Thermal Scanner in Davao City, Welcome Sight vs Bad Guys

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

When I passed by recently at Toril District, Davao City – the first boundary of the city from Digos City, Davao del Sur Province, armed to the-teeth’s soldiers of the Task Force Davao clad in camouflage and wielding their  M-4  5.56×45mm NATO standard assault rifles flagged our air con van  from Kidapawan City, Cotabato Province. 

DAVAO. Task Force Davao personnel man the x-ray machine for public utility vehicles' passengers upon entering Davao City at the checkpoint in Toril, Davao City to ensure tighter security check. (Macky Lim)

The Cebuano speaking van driver told us passengers to disembark and bring all our belongings so they could enter the thermal machine scanner in the air con makeshift container van cum checkpoint for inspection.

The government is wary about bombs being sneaked by Islamist terrorists from Muslim populated provinces of Maguindanao and Cotabato to bomb thus maiming and killing the Christian population of Davao City.

Rappler.com reported that eight bombs had exploded that wounded and took the lives of countless of people in the city.

Lt. Col. Consolito Yecla, the commander of TF Davao, told the media that the use of scanner just like in Brgy. Sirawan. Toril District checkpoint would speed up inspection and lessen waiting time of the passengers.

He said from the usual seven minutes, the inspection is now reduced to four minutes with the use of baggage scanner, which was installed last week.

The x-ray machine – just like what you see in our airports, 5-Star Conrad Hotel in Pasay City and in Malacanang Palace – is a welcome sight. In my blog’s UselessMilitary Check Points in Davao City, I criticized in my commentary there the lack of foresight of our state security when I passed by at Toril in April, 2017.

“I was dismayed about the antiquated system of the military in searching the bags of those who entered Duterte’s City Davao. Since time immemorial I’ve been observing the lack of initiatives of our government in searching the belongings of the commuters and motorists for concealed bomb that have rocked the City for several times in the past. How can a 12 inches stick, son of a gun, used by the soldiers detect an improvised explosive device (IED) in the three different checkpoint hubs they use to dig like idiots the upper portion of the stuffs in the bag? How about the taped packages and the boxes at the back of the van, trunks of the car and bus? How about if there was a bomb hidden at the lower belly pan of the motor vehicles? The government could purchase efficient detectors for these soldiers like those explosive sniffing dogs, hand held metal detector, and car security camera with motion detection device that cost only U.S $150 apiece as shown in the internet. These instruments have been used by the guards at those huge malls' SM, Robinsons, plants of Coca-Cola and San Miguel Corporation, five star hotels, and other top 500 corporations in the country,” I wrote then.

***

This sight in 2017 could be comparable to the stupidity of Congress in passing a law on requiring drivers of vehicles to retake an exam before the Land Transportation Office (LTO) issued a license made of bond paper, my goodness, because the leadership of the LTO did not preempt that they would be short of the plastic identification cards.

Soldiers from the Task Force Davao checkpoint in Barangay Sirawan, Toril District ask questions from motorists as part of the restriction measures. BING GONZALES

A friend in Dagupan City told me that cunning and enterprising Filipinos run around this LTO test. He said the masa did not take the exam themselves. They just pay the fixers outside the LTO for P500 to P300 per examinee for somebody to take an exam (which has no limit if one failed) for them in an internet connected computer or cellphone. The noble intention of Congress and LTO brass to make those who renew their license to restudy the highway laws thus honing their knowledge for the safety of everybody is not enough. This was a FIASCO since allowing examinees to take the 25-question text anywhere and not in the LTO office (while they are being watched not to cheat) was sheer stupidity among our lawmakers.

Ito ang epekto ng batas natin na naging butas pag karamihan sa members ng Congress nanalo sa eleksiyon dahil sa vote buying at mga bobotantes.

***

There are still loopholes on the checkpoint in Toril, Davao City of the TFD despite the presence of the thermal scanner.

THIRTEEN DEAD and 64 wounded on the September 2, 2016 Davao City Night Market Bombing.

The soldiers did not flag down motorists riding on private vehicles even just to have a visual search inside of the cars – because the forcible opening of the vehicles’ doors, gloves and storage compartment and the trunk outside violates the Right of Privacy as provided by the Constitution.

Bombs can still be sneaked-in at the 182 villages burgeoning Duterte City and caused mayhem to the civilian population there. Of course this unless the soldiers and police in the nooks and crannies of the most progressive city in Mindanao are not vigilant to any bad guys that would plant their EIDs they manufactured in Cotabato, Lanao, or Maguindanao Provinces.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

It’s the U.S not the Colombians that destroyed Escobar

MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.

Cong’s Bagman Greed, Mayor Mulls to Defect to Cong's Rival

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

A Mayor in the 3rd District told me that the Hizzoner of the other congressional District was distressed because the multi-million pesos projects he lobbied with two Senators - where he gave 15% of the S.O.P (euphemism of “lagay” in the vernacular) - have been snatched from him by the bagman of the Congressman.
When I met the anguishing Mayor he confirmed to me what his fellow Chief Executive told me.

He could let the greed of the family of this congressman pass by not giving him even a miniscule of the part of the cut they had from the contractors who did the public works in his town, but felt betrayed by being robbed by the bagman his more than P60 million of the projects from Manila that he would be constructing at the district of the Department of Public Works & Highway (DPWH).
The Hizzoner has a dummy construction firm.

"Naglagay pa ako sa DPWH. Noong ginagawa ko na inistop ako ni D.E (District Engineer of the DPWH) dahil utos ng tao ni Cong," he deplored

Another Mayor of the same District told me that the family of the congressman since time immemorial did not give a share of the loot from the funds of the projects being hosted by the town.
When I asked the affronted mayor that I mentioned earlier why another mayor of the landlocked town told me that the solon and his family gave him a percentage whenever the DPWH had a project in his town.

“Siga-siga kasi si Mayor (Because the mayor is a thug),” he told me.

The aggrieved mayor warned: Sabi ko nga pag di naayos ito pag hindi na ako pupunta diyan alam na nila,” he told me in Tagalog about his mulled withdrawal of support from the solon and his family because of their avarice.

When I asked him if he would support their purported rival – a high provincial official – in the May 2025 congressional election, he vigorously quipped: “Malamang (for sure)!’
The congressman and his family should check the gall of their bagman because this Hizzoner and his family are so popular in their municipality that would cost them their cash-cow office when they tangle with the well - funded provincial high official.
This would be a probable tussle between a young congressional candidate versus a very old and frail kin of the solon in 2025.
May tama kayo dito pag nag defect sa kabilang kampo pati iyong ibang mga mayors dahil sa kasakiman ninyo.

TESDA OK P’sinan School to Train for Free Wannabe Farmers

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has awarded a school that offers a Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Program based here to attract poor Filipinos to learn for free a course on Rice Machinery Operators NC –II.

“I saw how sorry the plight of our farmers. I am a daughter of a farmer and I want to help them improve their lives through the TESDA Programs given to my school in Lingayen,” President Hedelin T. de Vera of the Excellent Agro Farm Training and Assessment Center, Inc. (EAFTACI) told Northern Watch Newspaper.

With a duration of 251 hours plus 100 Supervised Industry Learning (SIL) hours, the Rice Machinery Operators NC-II covers the following core competencies:

Operate rice land preparation machinery and equipment; Operate rice crop establishment machinery and equipment; Operate rice crop care machinery and equipment; Operate rice harvesting and threshing machinery and equipment; Operate rice drying machinery and equipment, and; Operate rice mill machinery and equipment.

In an allocation of P3 million from the TESDA given recently to EAFTACI, President De Vera said 100 students would benefit of the scholarship.

“The grant allowed P28, 302 per students for an almost one-month training in our school and farm in Barangay Aliwekwek in Lingayen,” said by an Executive Officer of EAFTACI.

A student in the school is given an allowance of P160 a day by the government. The P3 million allocation to EAFTACI is part of the promised P10 million by TESDA that could totally fund the training of 333 mostly poor Filipinos where they can use their skills and earn in the farm or go abroad and work there.

The certification from TESDA given to the school was March 24, 2023 and signed by the TESDA Director General and TESDA Region-1 Director Vincent Aljon A. Cifra.

No More Amortization By Agrarian Reform Recipients - DAR

          ESTRELLA, GUICO GRACE ISSUANCE OF P42.3-M EQPT TO ARBOS

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella, III and Pangasinan Governor graced here the distribution of farm equipment worth P42.3 million where the former announced too the revocation of the amortization of the land of farmers who are beneficiaries of the land reform.

The momentous event coincided with the 127^th Independence Day Celebration of the country.

HUDDLE. Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrad Estrella, III (2^nd from left photo), Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico, III (extreme left) and La Union 2^nd District Cong. Dante Garcia listen while Pangasinan 5^th District Rep. Ramon Guico, Jr. talks to Estrella. The meeting of these top officials ensued before the distribution of farm equipment worth P42.3 million and the announcement of the DAR Secretary of the forthcoming revocation of the amortization of the land of farmers who are beneficiaries of the land reform program of the government.

The DAR Secretary said that under the bill’s New Agrarian Emancipation Act just passed by Congress and to be signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on July 7 this year the farmers who are beneficiaries through government distributed lands will no longer pay their amortization.

“Lalagdaan na po ng ating Pangulo itong panukalang batas na ito. Pag nilagdaan niya magiging batas na po ito. Ito ang pangarap ng ating mahal na pangulo at ng inyong abang lingkod pagkukunan ng mga magsasaka ng tunay na kalayaan sa utang, tunay na kalayaan sa kahirapan at ang gusto natin ay umunlad ang buhay ng lahat na mga magsasaka para lang mapakain ninyo ang sambayanang Pilipino”.

Estrella was here to spearhead the distribution to 100 agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) from Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan of farm machineries and equipment worth P42.487 million

Guico told the ARBOs from the four provinces who converged at the Provincial Training and Development Center II here that the provincial government left the usual tradition of honoring national hero’s Jose Rizal by giving instead the plaudit to Governor Daniel Maramba - Grand Old Man in Pangasinan and her 7^th Governor.

The newly minted governor complimented the contribution of Maramba in the construction of roads and bridges in the province and the transfer from the Casa Real of the Capitol to its present location.

“Casa Real used to be the Provincial Capitol – the seat of the power of the province – and became a major contributor to solve the problem of rice (in the country) during the time of President Manuel Quezon. Marami pa not written in the history books not taught in school but you only learned about it from us, the family members, from fellow Pangasinenses. That’s the reason why we are celebrating our 127^th Independence localizing and giving honor to the 7^th Governor of our dear Province Pangasinan Don Daniel Maramba,” cited by Guico who is a former Congressman and a Mayor.

Senator Daniel Maramba was born in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan on July 21, 170. He was educated in San Juan de Letran College, where he finished his secondary course and in the University of Santo Tomas, where he took a course in surveying. He qualified and served as Justice of the Peace of his home town, (1895-1898); Municipal Secretary (1902-03) Municipal President (1907-1908) and Provincial Governor of Pangasinan (1916-22). Maramba was a Congressman from the 3rd District of Pangasinan to the 10th Legislature (1934-1935); elected Assemblyman from the same District to the National Assembly on September 17, 1935 and re-elected to same office on November, 1938. He was a Senator supposed to serve from 1941-194 but died of tuberculosis on 28 December 1941. This was three days before his term in the Senate was due to begin amid the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II.

Before he died because of illness, Maramba according to his grandson Alikhan Maramba - the guest of honor in the earlier commemoration – that his grandfather interceded for the reconciliation of the two feuding high officials of the country.

Upon hearing the plea, Commonwealth of the Philippines President Manuel Quezon acquiesced to Senator Maramba and shook hand and embraced the youngest and 1^st President of the country’s Emilio Aquinaldo.

Guico told the crowd that he was honored to have as speaker in Sec. Estrella who came from a lineage of the great leader of the province and the national government. The present top executive of the forty-four towns and three cities’ province referred to the grandfather of the DAR top man’s and namesake the former Pangasinan Governor and Minister of the DAR.

“Now we have the grandson the honorable Secretary Conrad Estrella, III,” Guico declared that was greeted with a resounding applause from the spectators.

Mar Roxas as Next Sec. of D.A?

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

According to one of the bigwigs (national, regional and provincial elective and appointive officials as seen on the top photo below) I conversed yesterday when I posed to him: WHO WILL BE THE NEXT SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (D.A)?

HE QUIPPED: SI MAR ROXAS

The wife of President Bongbong Marcos is Roxas' kin.

Aside from being affiliated with the Marcos family, FIRST LADY LIZA ARANETA-MARCOS is a relative of the Roxas family. Her father is the first cousin of Judith "Judy" Araneta-Roxas, the mother of politician Mar Roxas, which makes her and the former Interior Secretary second cousin.

I rubbed elbows yesterday with the who's and who of the politics of Region- 1 and its illustrious sons who are appointive officials of the provincial, regional and national government.

They were Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, Pangasinan Governor Ramon "Mon-Mon' Guico, III, Pangasinan 5th District Representative Ramon Guico, Jr., La Union 1st District Representative Francisco Paulo Ortega V, La Union 2nd District Rep. Dante Garcia, NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Financial Sector of the National Irrigation Ralph Du, Pangasinan Police Director Col. Jeff Fanged, Bani Mayor Boying Palafox, former San Quintin Mayor Clark Tiu, Lingayen Vice Mayor Dexter Malicdem and other local officials from the Ilocos Region.

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They spearhead the distribution to ARBOs from Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan of farm machineries and equipment worth P42.487 million to more than 100 agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in Region 1 being held at the Provincial Training and Development Center II in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

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The distribution is under the Sustainable and Resilient Agrarian Reform Communities (SuRe ARCs) Project, which aims to provide farm mechanization projects to support farm-to-market produce, increase agricultural productivity, and boost income of agrarian reform beneficiaries.