Sluggish jueteng bad for Pangasinan politicians

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

An extortionist policeman in Tarlac province is in a bind. 15 air-conditioned buses loaded with delegates from Bicol Region bound for the Palarong Pambansa (National Game) in Pangasinan were flagged down recently. A policeman mulcted each of the drivers of the 15 buses P1,000 because they do not have franchise to ferry passengers bound to Northern Luzon.
Former chief of the Bureau of Immigration and Dagupan City former Mayor Al Fernandez told me the other day over cup of hot choco and a plate of sumptuous tiny puto (rice cake) of Calasiao at Dagupena Restaurant that one of the passengers took pictures of the cop and gave the photos to the wife of Secretary Jess Robredo of the Department of Interior & Local Government whose son was a player for swimming in the national game. The Robredos were in one of the buses.
Secretary Robredo was with Mayor Al (a former DILG undersecretary too) and Sta. Barbara mayor Carlito Zaplan who are both stalwarts of the Liberal Party in Pangasinan at Dagupena a day before I met him.
Zaplan told me in another occasion that Robredo told them: “Kawawang pulis (I pity the policeman)”.
Robredo has the supervision over the Philippine National Police.
Police Lt. Colonel Rod Samson, a PNP Academy alumnus and the province’s police investigation head, told me that Camp Crame has already sent an investigator in Pangasinan to investigate the malfeasance involving “SPO1 Ngatngat (?)”.
He said the cop could not only be demoted but could be sacked from the service.
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BIR-Luzon director would sue too Pacquiao

World's Boxing champ Pacquiao

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO – The regional director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue would also subpoena and consequently sue world boxing champ Manny Pacquaio in case he lives in the region.

NCR reigns Palarong Pambansa

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – As expected, it was another domination by the National Capital Region (NCR) in the annual Palarong Pambansa.

The big city once again copped the overall championship of the biggest regional school-based sports meet in the country.

NCR amassed a total of 733 points after seven days of competition in 17 sports, dominating medal-rich events like swimming, gymnastics, athletics and most of the ball games to win another overall title in the games.

Castaneda has 3000 scholars

LINGAYEN – The mayor of this capital town said since he became mayor in 1994 he has sent 3,000 scholars who already graduated in college.
Mayor Ernesto “Jonas” Castaneda said most of them studied at the Pangasinan State University, while some he sent to schools in Dagupan City.
He said from 1994 to 2007 the funding of these scholars came from his personal account.

Dagupan City should emulate Valenzuela City

Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin T. Gatchalian

By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

DAGUPAN CITY – “Enough for the internal squabbling and tax cheats in Dagupan City,” blurted by a political spectator who asked anonymity.

Delegates laud Pangasinan's faster medical services

LINGAYEN--- Dr. Ana De Guzman, provincial

health officer said that despite the number of emergency and other medical

cases involving the Palarong Pambansa athletes and delegates, the Provincial Health

Office and other response teams were able to provide fast and immediate medical

attention to patients. 

Some 800 patients were properly attended in the

medical stations at the playing venues and billeting areas, and at the mini

hospital inside the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center and at the Pangasinan

Provincial Hospital including other provincial government hospitals.

Most of the emergency cases were minor injuries

suffered by players in athletics, basketball, baseball and football such as muscle

cramps, body pain, fractures, sprain, abrasion and laceration. 

Due to the sweltering heat of summer, cases of

hypertension among coaches and game officials were also listed. A coach

underwent operation due to acute appendicitis.

In a related development, De Guzman clarified that the

dengue virus that afflicted the 12 year old lawn tennis player from Region 10

(Bukidnon) was not acquired in Pangasinan.

She said the boy was already afflicted with dengue

even before he arrived in the province.

The provincial health officer said the boy who was

treated at the PPH has recuperated and has been discharged from hospital

confinement.

The injured gymnastics athlete Mico Paolo Federacion who

suffered from fractured bone in his hands during a practice was also operated

at the PPH.

There were also three cases of chicken pox among the

athletes of Region 11 while a 14-year old male athlete from Region IV-B in

Palawan had mumps.

According to Dr. De Guzman, officials and parents from

the various regions where the treated athletes came from hailed the provincial

government for the quick and systematic medical response procedures.

Dr. Jesart De Vera, a municipal health officer, reported

that various sectors had recognized the province’s efficiency and reliability

of its medical services.

“This is the first time that we have a very organized

referral system,” he said.

Jumel Miller, a sports director at the Systems Plus

College Foundation in Angeles City said “as a parent, I am very impressed with

the fast and immediate service of the medical team of Pangasinan even as he

said there is a feeling of security that his child is well taken care of.”

As this developed, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has

reassured the safety of the Palarong Pambansa athletes and delegates as

response teams manned by the Bureau of Fire Equipment, Philippine Coast Guard,

Philippine Red Cross and all provincial hospitals are continually deployed in

strategic areas since the national athletic games started on May 6.

Gov. Espino said the emergency response teams,

supported by 40 ambulance units have been strategically positioned in all the

playing venues and the billeting areas.

He said the Palaro secretariat has also established

close coordination with private hospitals for fast lane service for

athlete-patients in cases of emergency and the local government units on the

use of their hospital facilities.

He likewise assured the athletes of free medical

services from the provincial government hospitals in Pangasinan. (PIO/Angeline

D. Villanueva)

Bataoil: Remove my name from signages

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – Second district Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil asked the 2nd Engineering District of the Department of Public Works & Highway to remove his name on the signage of all his projects in deference to the Anti- Epal Bill.

Engr. Rodolfo Dion said Bataoil sent him a text message that he wanted his name removed from all his public works’ projects like roads, school buildings, and other infrastructure projects in the eight towns in the second congressional district of Pangasinan.

Dion, who oversees projects from the national government in the second and fourth congressional districts in the province, lauded Bataoil for his decision.