Guico’s 2024 SOPA: Historic Mark of Transformative Projects

 LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Governor Ramon V. Guico III revisited the vision and mission set by his administration through the second State of the Province Address (SOPA) that he delivered in time for the 444thFounding Anniversary of Pangasinan on April 5.

Governor Ramon V. Guico III during the recent 2024 State of the Province Address.

Entitled, ‘Pangasinan Ang Galing! Creating a Syzygy of Excellence,’ the governor elaborated on the various gains of the province for the past year as he highlighted the big-ticket projects that are considered historic marks of his leadership, such as the establishment of the Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC), management of the Pangasinan Salt Center, the groundbreaking of the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEx), the establishment of the Banaan Museum, which is the first museum of the province, and the major transformation of the Capitol Complex through the construction of the Reflective Pool and Interactive Fountain.

Stressing the strategic plan of the province, he stated that the people or constituency are the priority. “We want to provide a wide range of services to realize this goal of uplifting the socio-economic status and well-being of Pangasinenses,” he said as he mentioned the following goals to achieve: 1) care for the Capitol workers; 2) significance of library services for the people; 3) provide scholarship for poor and deserving students; 4) provide job opportunities and gainful opportunities for unemployed Pangasinenses; 5) support for Pangasinan Cooperatives; 6) shelter for the homeless; 7) societal welfare programs for living veterans, child development workers, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens.

To be able to accomplish the goals set for the constituents, Gov. Guico said his administration upholds participatory governance by implementing and evaluating programs and projects, focusing on the need to systematize the utilization of land resources, and intensifying efforts to make Pangasinan the province of choice.

On peace and order, the provincial chief executive reported that the Provincial Peace and Order Council was cited as the “Functional Peace and Order Council” and bagged a grade of 100 in the 2023 Performance Audit.

In addition, the provincial government, through the Pangasinan Provincial Jail (PPJ), continuously implements restorative and transformative programs through spiritual nurture, the provision of an alternative learning system, livelihood training, and an anti-drug use campaign among Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL).

With regards to health, Gov. Guico enumerated major accomplishments such as the improvement of all health facilities, the acquisition of new state-of-the-art medical and laboratory equipment, and the hiring of more than 200 medical personnel to improve the services offered by the 14 government-run hospitals. “Our marks of excellence exceed our highest expectations; the provincial government spent P7,943,869.47 for the construction, repair, rehabilitation, and maintenance of hospital buildings and facilities,” he disclosed.

It was likewise reported that all 14 hospitals in the province increased their authorized bed capacity to 912, with Actual Implementing Bed at 1,632. A total of 468,122 outpatients and 111,631 in-patients were served in 2023.

Worth mentioning was the successful implementation of the Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP). From 2022 up to March 11, 2024, a total of P383,816,375.51 were transferred to Pangasinan, of which 14 hospitals had already utilized P316,771,657.70. This translates to an 82.53% utilization performance rate. Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) in Dagupan City also received P500,000.00 in MAIP funds.

Citing the importance of protecting, conserving, and managing the province’s environment and natural resources, the governor said the Green Canopy program, which is his brainchild, remarkably propagated 230,326 species of forest, fruit, and culinary plants; expanded 125,021 multiple species of mangrove seedlings, of which 106,410 pieces were distributed for reforestation efforts in riverine and coastal ecosystems.

Under Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM), he took pride in reporting that the provincial government facilitated the activation of the Pangasinan 911 Hotline Number through a signed Memorandum of Agreement with the Office of the Civil Defense-Region 1. He also said that the province launched the first Pangasinan One Response Command Center which is envisioned to respond to all emergency needs with three satellites to support its system.

Another remarkable achievement of the province is the efficiency of its internal management and accountability. This, the governor pointed out, can be attributed to the establishment and implementation of effective systems and processes compliant with laws and regulatory standards that adhere to the principles and practices of good corporate governance. “First, we guaranteed that we have a reliable system to ensure transparent and judicious management and utilization of financial resources,” he said as he bared that in 2023, the total tax revenue amounting to P5,245,481,733.29 exceeded the estimated income of P5,043,164,820.00 for a 103% collection performance.

For the implementation of Provincial Tax Ordinance No. 1-22, Gov. Guico stated that the province collected P32.189 million from the collection of fees on veterinary inspection and shipping permits, which translates to a 190% performance increase from the 2022 collection.

On agriculture, Gov. Guico specially mentioned corporate farming, another design of the present administration, as the main driver of success for the sector. It can be recalled that corporate farming was launched in the latter part of 2022 with the pilot project during the cropping season for CY2022–2023. Four farmer cooperative associations were among the pilot beneficiaries. This covers an area of 66.03 hectares.

Aside from this, farm mechanization intensified. Some six units of hand tractors, 10 units of combine harvesters, two units of multi-pass rice mills, and one unit of walk-behind transplanter were distributed by the provincial government in partnership with the Philippine Center for Post-Harvest and Mechanization.

The operation of the Laoac Dairy Farm formed part of the province’s accomplishments in agriculture. From the carabao population of 118 heads in 2022 to 211 in 2023, 54 calves and 30 yearlings plus 50 pregnant cattle were acquired from the National Dairy Farm. The dairy farm produced 6,487 liters of raw milk, which generated total sales of P2,093,000. Recently, Pangasinan was cited as the country’s third among the Top 10 economic performers in terms of economies, with the largest share of National Gross Value Added of agriculture, forestry, and fishery by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Aside from the officials of the province led by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino and the members of the provincial board, the 2nd SOPA was graced by 1^st District Representative Arthur F. Celeste, Sr., and 5^th District Representative Ramon Guico, Jr.; former Bayambang Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao; Pangasinan First Lady Maan Tuazon-Guico; and the governor’s mother, Dr. Arlene Guico; Atty. Melanie Lambino, local chief executives, department heads led by Provincial Administrator Melicio F. Patague II, chiefs of hospitals, representatives of different sectors and line agencies, and other guests. (Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)