Carabao City lowers garbage fee to draw more LGUs

URDANETA CITY – To attract more clients, the mayor of this burgeoning city in Region-1 has lowered the tipping fee of its vaunted sanitary landfill. The strategy is to draw more local government units in and out of the region to patronize it. Mayor Amadeo Perez IV said that he decreased the fee per ton of segregated rubbish from P2,200 to P900 so it could attract more towns and cities to avail the land fill located at Sitio Caegu, Barangay Catablan here. This city has yet to reach the projected annual income the landfill can generate to the coffer after the administration of former mayor Amadito Perez Jr., the father of the incumbent hizzoner, borrowed a P220 Million loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines in 2010.
 He said there were feelers from Baguio City who want to intercede for the city to avail the service of the landfill. Perez explained that he was privy of the intention but until now he is to receive a formal proposal from the City of Pines. “That is the time I am going to peruse the application,” he stressed. Presently, only the towns of Sta. Barbara, Mapandan, Alcala, Bautista , and Pozzurobio have availed the sanitary service of the city. The land fill here was created in conjunction with Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act that prohibits open dumpsites in all local government units all over the country. The law mandates that all thrash will be segregated and its residuals will be dumped for at the landfilld. Meanwhile, with a more than P700 million annual appropriation this year, this city has eclipsed older cities Dagupan and San Carlos and is now virtually miles away from Pangasinan’s youngest city, Alaminos.
A political spectator here who asked anonymity said that other city executives in Pangasinan and Region 1 acknowledged that they have a lot to catch up with the progress this city chalked up under the stewardship of Mayor Perez IV. This happened after he blasted them in virtually all aspects of development, not only financially but also in urban development and environmental sanitation. “Seguro, political will,” Perez quipped when asked about his secrets in managing this entrepot city famously known for its cattle industry in Northern Luzon. (MCO).

Pangasinan governor linked to jueteng sued for plunder, Espino denies charges

By: Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com

MANILA, Philippines -- Pangasinan
Governor Amado Espino Jr. has been charged with plunder before the Office of the Ombudsman Friday over his alleged involvement in the illegal numbers game "jueteng." The charges were filed by Mayor Rodrigo Orduna of Bugallon town, who claimed Espino was on the take from jueteng operators. But Espino denied the accusation. “That’s an old issue , nasagot ko iyan lahat [I’ve already answered everything], the governor said at a press conference in Pangasinan on Friday. "I am denying na may tinanggap ako diyan sa jai-alai na iyan o sa jueteng ngayon kung meron man sa Pangasinan," he added. [I am denying that I received something from jai-alai or jueteng if ever there are in Pangasinan.] Orduna made the accusations against Espino at a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City earlier in the day where he was joined by Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II. Also with him was Fernando Alimagno alias 'Boy Bata,' a barangay captain of Candelaria, Quezon.
 In his sworn statement, Orduna described Espino as the "big boss" of jueteng in Pangasinan Aside from himself and Alimagno, Orduna said Espino had also worked with a certain Lito Millora and Bong Cayabyab. Orduna said the governor had received between P800-900 million in jueteng payoffs over the past 10 years. Jueteng trail Orduna said his relationship with Espino started in 2001, when the latter was running for a congressional seat in Pangasinan and sought his support.
 During his stint in Congress, Espino allegedly ordered Orduna to collect protection money from jueteng operators in Pangasinan, including a certain Romy Lahara. When Orduna met with the operators, they agreed to give Espino P3 million a month divided into four installments of P750,000 a week.
The payoffs were made every Saturday, supposedly on Espino's request. "May mga pagkakataon na sa bahay niya ako nagdadala ng pera, at mayroon din namang okasyon na idinideposito ko ito sa kanyang account sa Security Bank, Dagupan branch, para mapondohan kung mayroon siya na inisyu na tseke (There were times I would take the money to his house, and there were occasions I deposited it in his account at the Security Bank, Dagupan branch, to fund the checks he issued)," Orduna said in his statement.
 When Espino became governor in 2007, his take allegedly increased to P10 million monthly, or P2.5 million every Saturday, though this went up during months with five Saturdays. "Hindi po puwedeng ma-delay ang pagbibigay ng pera kay Gob. Espino. Pero dahil siya ang Big Boss,puwede pong mapaaga o maging advance ang paghahatid sa kanya ng pera (The delivery of money to Gov. Espino could never be delayed. But because he was the Big Boss, it could be advanced)," Orduna said. Campaign fund Orduna claimed that during the 2010 presidential elections, Espino received an additional P2.5 million monthly for his "campaign fund" and was even angered when he stopped receiving the additional amount after the election season.
 The mayor said a police Superintendent Wilson Lopez, whom he described as Espino's godson, acted as a jueteng collector when he was intelligence officer in Pangasinan. The revelation prompted PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome to order the relief of Lopez and his transfer to Camp Crame for investigation. Orduna did not spare Manila-based police officers, claiming P825,000 in jueteng money was delivered to Camp Crame every month for distribution to officials on the take. For his part, Alimagno claimed journalists from Metro Manila and the provinces also got jueteng payoffs.
However, he claimed he could not name them as they were assigned aliases. Jueteng operations in Pangasinan stopped in 2010 when Archbishop Oscar Cruz, who was also at the press conference, went public against the illegal numbers racket. In 2011, jueteng operators in the province shifted to jai-alai, a similary illegal racket Orduna claimed was run by Charlie "Atong" And and from which Espino allegedly got P8 million monthly. Espino dismissed the accusations made by Orduna and Alimagno , saying their claims were "politically motivated."
 Espino also denied he was receiving about P8 million monthly from Charlie "Atong" Ang, through jai alai which was allegedly being used as a front for jueteng operations in the province. "Wala akong ibinigay na permit kay Mr. Charlie Ang so how can I ask anything from him?" Espino said. "Wala akong tinatanggap na kahit ano man iyan." [I did not give permit to Mr. Charlie Ang so how can I ask anything from him? I did not receive anything.]
 In a subsequent statement, Roxas described Orduna's revelations as “documented” and “actionable.” “We have two insiders who have come out in the open, and have submitted sworn statements, which will be the basis of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to conduct a thorough investigation,” he said. “With my background in finance, I know that when money flows, there will be a trail. We will use the anti-money laundering law para makita ang money trail,” he said. “As they say, we will follow the money.” Politics? Orduna said he would not be surprised if people would attribute his accusations against Espino to the May 2013 elections. "Siguro pag sinabi kong hindi ito sa pulitika baka di rin kayo maniwala pero sa totoo lang po matagal ko nang pinag-isipan ito. Nagkataon lang na ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob (Maybe if I said this was not motivated by politics you will not believe me but the truth is I have long been thinking of this. It is only now that I found the courage to do so)," Orduna said.
 But Roxas said Orduna's motives were not important. 'Find a good lawyer' At the press conference, Roxas said: "Matapos ito tatawagan ko si Gov. Espino ... 'kumuha po kayo ng mahusay na abogado dahil hindi ito madadaan sa pulitika, sa kampihan. Dadaan ito sa legal process na tama (After this I will call up Gov. Espinoa ... 'get a good lawyer because this cannot be solved through politics or comradeship. This will pass through the right legal process')'." At the same time, the statement from Roxas' office said the expose of Orduna, “a self confessed jueteng operative," followed a falling between the mayor and Alimagno, a "notorious jueteng financier" in his province, on one hand, and Espino, on the other. Roxas promised Orduna his support. “Lalo na at alam kong inilagay niya ang kanyang sarili at ang kanyang pamilya sa peligro, kaya naman gagamitin ko ang kapangyarihan ng aking tanggapan sang-ayon sa batas upang imbestigahan ang usaping ito at tutukan ito hanggang katapusan (Especially since I know he put himself and his family in danger, I will use the powers of my office in accordance with law to investigate this matter and stay with it to its conclusion),” Roxas said.
 The statement from Roxas’ office also said he had ordered the reshuffling of police personnel in Pangasinan to prevent any whitewash. Roxas said he would work for Orduna and Alimagno to be enrolled in the Witness Protection Program. While this is being worked on, he said he would assign a security detail to the two, who will be given "religious sanctuary" in the meantime.

Romero lauds de Venecia

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 MANGALDAN – The mayor here hailed Rep.Gina de Venecia (4th District, Pangasinan) for making this town the first recipient of the PhilHealth cards worth P1.2 million.
 Mayor Herminio Romero said that 505 poor family members have been the recipient of the P1.2 million cards that came from de Venecia’s Priority Development Assistance Fund. “This is good for two years and Manay Gina said she will increase the 505 recipients,” Romero announced to the hundreds of residents that came from different village who attended the distribution at the stadia of a public school here.
The mayor said this burgeoning town is the favorite of the solon because the mayor and the people here gave her the biggest votes compared to the city of Dagupan and the towns of San Fabian, San Jacinto, and Manaoag against her opponent in the 2010 congressional election.
“Because of her a lot of government projects have been brought here. Look at the P22 million fish building that came from her PDAF that edifice is the most beautiful fish building in the entire province!”.
 Meanwhile, Rep. de Venecia has given P50 thousand to Barangay Salaan through its village chief Cesar Junatas . She said she gave the sum because Salaan gave here 100% votes in the 2010 election.
Brgy. Salaan, according to the former chieftain there, has more than thousand of votes.
 “Kaya bilang pasasalamat, gusto kong tawagin si Kapitan Cesar Junatas para ibigay ang aking munting handog. Ito po ay cash money, worth 50 thousand na puwede niyong gamitin sa kasayahan o anumang proyekto na nais nyong paglaanan ng pondo. Gusto kong bigyang-diin, na ito ay hindi premyo dahil alam kong hindi kayang tumbasan ng materyal na bagay ang inyong katapatan. Sa halip, ito ay isang munting bonus lamang, mula sa amin ng inyong Kuya Joe, dahil ang talagang handog namin sa inyo ay ang pag-aalay ng aming buhay bilang inyong mga lingkod. At umasa po kayo, na habang kami’y nabubuhay, ang inyong pagmamahal ay susuklian namin, ng Serbisyong Walang Hanggan”.
The congresswoman said she interceded also for funds from the Department of Agriculture to bankroll the farm-to-market roads in Barangays Amansabina, Macayug, Banaoang, Guiguilonen, Embarcadero, Alitaya, Nibalew, Buenlag, at Guesang.

Incompetent DOLE Personnel

Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz 

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

 Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz of the Department of Labor should be hitting with tongs and hammer the DOLE’s Region-1 and Pangasinan-Dagupan City offices because of inability of its personnel to give the P3000 counterpart in the wages of students who worked at the city hall for a month.
The DOLE is supposed to give P3,000 of the P7000 wages in the department’s Special Program for the Employment of Students last summer. Even Administrator Vlad Mata and City Information Officer Ana Velasco could not believe that until now the counterpart fund DOLE pledged to the city has not been given to some of the sorry summer job workers. Mata even told me that some of these students or their parents have complained to him in the past about this red tape.
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In September this year I wrote the following in this column: “ Last summer, students from the marginalized sectors all over the country have been selected by local government unit (LGU) to work in your department’s SPES where the LGU shouldered 60 percent of their salary while DOLE shoulder 40 percent of the more than P7000 salary in a one month work.
Susmariosep, the LGU of Dagupan City has long been given the 60 percent counterpart in May this year to the workers while many of these students and out-of-school youth still wait for the counterpart from your local offices here in Northern Luzon. What is happening with your department Secretary Baldoz? Sylvia Catapia, your point woman for this endeavor in Pangasinan, has been telling parents who follow up the balance fees of their children that their papers are still being scrutinized in the DOLE’s regional office.
 But Holy Casseroles and Guacamole Secretary Baldoz, it is already September of 2012 but still no courtesy of text or call from Catapia from the “scrutiny crap” just to ease up the parents’ anxiety who have been given a run-around in that office despite being there for the umpteenth time. Catapia and your staff in La Union should have the common sense to call up and update the recipients or their parents on what your office should be paying. I could not believe that the DOLE personnel could not even send a letter why the compensation of these workers had not been given.
 Imagine, eight months since that summer job in year 2012 the actuation of DOLE on this counterpart pay’s brouhaha has scandalized a lot of people. Secretary Baldoz,a few days from now and its already year 2013. Baka umabot pa iyan ng Summer 2013?

Calimlim mum on Lomibao as opponent

Lomibao

Calimlim

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN – Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim refused to comment on who between former Vice Governor Oscar Lambino and former Police Director General Arturo Lomibao is the tougher opponent in the vice gubernatorial race. Instead, he said he concentrates on barnstorming the towns, villages and boondocks of Pangasinan with the same propensity and aggressiveness when he ran against Lambino for the province’s number two post in the 2010 poll.
The vice governor is pitted in the May 13, 2013 election against Lomibao who is his relative. Lomibao, a retired four –star general used to head the Philippine National Police, National Electrification Administration, and Land Transportation Office. Political spectators said the three departments Lomibao headed were ‘juiciest” posts many political appointees dream. Lomibao who runs in tandem with gubernatorial bet Hernani Braganza, mayor of Alaminos City, under the Liberal Party is pitted with Calilim and Governor Amado T. Espino.
 In the three years stint of Calimlim as vice governor that has more than 1.5 million voters, he has been known to distribute 26,660 monoblock chairs or 20 pieces in each of the 1,333 villages of the province. Calimlim gave also 300 plastic chairs to each of the 44 municipalities of Pangasinan. Calimlim used to be a mayor of Mapandan for three terms.
He said his present post is more demanding than being a mayor, as being vice governor means he has to barnstorm 1,333 barangays unlike when he was a mayor of Mapandan, a small town. “My routine in going to the boondocks did not change when I was ‘campaigning’ for the vice governor for one year and a half before the election in 2010,” he stressed.
 He said his style in crisscrossing the villages by feeling the pulse of his constituents is the same as that of Governor Espino. “Nothing changed,” he told the governor when they both exchanged notes when they ran for election in 2010. Aside from the monoblock chairs, he distributed grass cutter and megaphone to every barangay and to the entities who request for financial and material assistance in his office here.

Navy fetes Marine Colonel Mata

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Admiral Alexander P. Pama (2nd from Left), flag officer-in- command of the  Philippine Navy, awarded Lt. Col. Vladimir Mata  (Extreme Right) of the Officer Reservist of the Year (Field Grade) 

Dagupenos should laud City Administrator Vladimir Mata, a CESO eligible and a Master in National Security Administration graduate. If he was not reaping awards for himself, he is abroad representing Dagupan City as its ambassador. He told me last week that he was invited by Jennifer Chen, acting director, Kaohsiung City (Taiwan) Environmental Bureau to be one of the distinguished speakers (together with mayors and who’s who of the United States) on the “2012 U.S – Taiwan Sustainability Symposium: Creating Sustainable Cities and Promoting Sustainable Ports in the Asia Pacific Region”. The four-day seminar would start on December 10. Susmariosep, its all hair raising trip for Vlad (a Philippine Marine reservist with a ranked of Lieutenant Colonel), he was just in South Africa and Europe lately speaking about the disaster preparedness of the Bangus City, and now he is in our neighbor the Republic of China of Generalismo Chiang Kai-shek.

*** 

He told me and former congressman Ranjit Ramos Shahani (who treated us at the Japanese Restaurant Miki Yaki Bar) that he just received an award from the Philippine Navy (mother branch of the “Few, the Proud, the Marine) as an Officer Reservist of the Year (Field Grade) in an awarding rite where no less than Vice Admiral Alexander P. Pama, flag officer-in- command of the Navy giving it to him.

*** 

Speaking of our fledgling navy ridiculously called a bathtub Navy in the East Asian region, don’t you know that our water force (99% water, one percent force) has benefited militarily on the spat between China and Japan over the disputed islands known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China? A news recently from the New York Times said for the first time since World War II the “great” Nippon will be giving the biggest bulk of its aid to the Philippines. In article written by Martin Fackler he said that “Our strategy is to offer hardware and training to create mini-Japanese coast guards and mini-Japanese Self-Defense Forces around the South China Sea,” said Tetsuo Kotani, a researcher at the Japan Institute of International Affairs in Tokyo. Under the decade-old civilian aid program to build up regional coast guards, Japanese officials say they are in the final stages of what would be their biggest security-related aid package yet — to provide the Philippine Coast Guard with 10 cutters worth about $12 million each (or a staggering P4.8 billion). Ministry officials say they may offer similar ships to Vietnam”.