Dagupan Mayor Crows World-Class Features of New City

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The mayor of this burgeoning city bares the “Guideline for the Development of the Local - Pantal Tourism and Growth Center (LPTGC)” as contained in the Zoning Ordinance for 2015 to 2025.

On its race to world class commercial and governmental landscapes, Mayor Belen T. Fernandez cited on the documents she presented that the LPTGC is developed into two major zones.

An artist perspective of a modern city. After the approval of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan

for the Growth Center in Lucao-Pantal Areas, skyscrapers like in this photo would be constructed
 by Ayala Project Estates, SM Properties, Megaworld Business Park, and others just like the
economic hubs in Iloilo City. Mayor Belen T. Fernandez told reporters during the Information
Technology - Business Process Management Summit that after the approval of growth center
 mammoth corporations on IT-BPM would be providing 5,000 direct jobs to the graduates of
  colleges and universities. PHOTO CREDIT. SMART CITY DAGUPAN CITY

“Zone 1 located in the Northern Site or more commonly known  as the Pantal Area and Zone 2, located on the Southern Area or more commonly known as the Lucao Area,” according to the already approved ordinance known as the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

The two zones will be linked by a Midway Zone with approximately 3.5 kilometers apart from the Zones.

“The Midway Zone shall be an activity mode in the middle these major zones. It is aimed to enliven the environment by hosting wholesome festivities, mini - concert and mini- play, among others,” the law says that was already sanctioned by the The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).

Mayor Fernandez said that Zone 1 Regulations (Pantal Area) will be known as the New Growth Business District with the following buildings, structures, development types, and city hall with adjacent government offices; activity grounds and space; retail shop connected through green and open spaces; riverside retail shop; mixed used offices that would be future development, institution buildings for future developments,; university campus; college buildings, hospitals and other;  residential development; fish ports, transport terminal, party block, and socialized housing site”.

The zone known as Lucao Area, according to the mayor, will be doubled as the Entertaining Tourism, and Recreational District with the following buildings and development types; Retail Strip; Ferry Terminal for Riverside Tours, Resort Development and Themed Parks and hotels; and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Middle of last year Mayor Fernandez told reporters during the Information Technology - Business Process Management Summit that after the approval of growth center mammoth corporations on IT-BPM would be providing 5,000 direct jobs to the graduates of colleges and universities here.

Fernandez said if she and the ICT-BPM stakeholders succeed, they might even extend this opportunity to other Pangasinan towns because of the enormous job generation potentials of this industry.

 In 2020, IT-BPM will be a U.S $40 to $55 billion industry due to the American English proficient Filipinos and the cheaper salaries, dusting off the remittances of the traditional dollar source of the country, the overseas contract workers (OFWs) that will generate $30 billion this year.

U.S corporations such as Citibank, Safeway, Chevron and Aetna all have  Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) operations in the Philippines according to the Los Angeles Times, as do smaller companies ranging from a Georgia medical collection agency to a New York spa operator that outsources its customer appointments.

DAGUPAN RANKS NO. 13 NATIONWIDE IN COMPETITIVENESS

DAGUPAN CITY – The city of Dagupan jumped to number 13 overall among all component cities nationwide from No. 15 last year in terms of competitiveness as gleaned from the results in the 5th National Competitiveness Summit and Awards Ceremony 2017 held at the Philippine International Convention Center on August 16.

Dagupan was ranked number 15 last year in the overall national competitiveness index among all component cities in the country.

In economic dynamism, the city also ranked No.16 overall this year from No. 17 last year, ranked No. 9 in government efficiency from No. 13 last year and ranked No. 16 in infrastructure from No. 28 last year.

The city’s overall ranking in the national competitiveness index made a big leap in 2015 when it climbed to number 19 from number 44 in 2014; from 76th place to 28th in infrastructure; and from 25th to 17th in economic dynamism. This after Mayor Belen T. Fernandez employed good governance with zero corruption and consequently implemented numerous programs and projects.

Hospital director unfazed on ouster move

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The regional director of the biggest government hospital in Region-1 was unfazed about an influential woman who wants his head out at the Region-1 Medical Center (R-1MC).

“Iyong mga ganyan hindi na namin pinapatulan. They can do what they can say (but) we don’t have to appease anyone as we do our job,” Director Joseph Roland Mejia stressed recently to reporters.

Region-1 Medical Center Director Joseph Roland Mejia (2nd from right)
explains the various programs in the biggest government hospital
in the region he is going to implement.

Mejia explained that the woman wanted a piece of a project in the 600-bed hospital by skewing the bidding process in her favour but that would violate the procurement law of the country.

”Iyan ang mahirap sa atin kung humihingi sila. Hindi basta humingi ang contractor, you have to bid, isasama kayo sa bidding. Pag nanalo kayo, kayo ang (winning) bidder. Hindi ho natin maibibigay dahil may procurement process,” he said when asked if his detractor was spurned after she was not accommodated.

The detractor, a source who asked anonymity, is a stakeholder in a gambling franchise and a close friend of a Malacanang official.

Binalonan celebrates 50th ASEAN Bday with Hoopla

BINALONAN - This burgeoning town celebrated with festivity the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) last August 8 with the theme “Under One Light, We Are one ASEAN".

Fifty years ago the organization was established in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (also known as Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of the organization like Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia followed suit from 1984 to 1999 making up what is today the ten Member - states of ASEAN.

This town was lucky to be one of the 75 local government units (LGU) in the entire country to participate in this momentous celebration. One of the highlights of this celebration was the simultaneous lighting ceremonies of the 20-foot lantern and fireworks display at exactly 7:00 o’clock in the evening. It was where the LGU showcased and promoted to the whole world its culture and talents. Staging of other activities like cultural presentation , fireworks display, bands, concerts and food festival that spiked the excitement here.

The town made a difference and pushed through this historic event because of the unwavering commitment of all the people here from the municipal officials, barangay officials and all government and non-government sectors in the municipality. It was not easy to make a difference but through UNITY this town was able to chalk-up with everyone under the leadership of Mayor Ramon V. Guico III and Vice-Mayor Melicio F. Patague II.

 Based on the conclusion of the fete, this town strutted her stuff at  her best by showcasing the benefits of the harmonious relationship of member countries in the ASEAN region. It was an opportune time to raise the awareness of the folks here about ASEAN, in order for them to have interest and realization about its aims and purposes like soaring economic growth, unwavering social progress and laudable cultural development in the region. /TED

DAGUPAN CITY VETERINARY OFFICE ISSUES AVIAN INFLUENZA PROTECTION MEASURES

DAGUPAN CITY – The City Veterinary Office here released several avian influenza protection measures that should be observed by the public amid the bird flu outbreak in Pampanga.

A the same time, City Veterinarian Dr. Michael P. Maramba advised the public to report to authorities any illegal entry of infected chicken and their  products and by-products in the market or any unusual death or unexplained high mortality of chicken in poultry farms for  three consecutive days.

Maramba disclosed that exposure to influenza virus such as H5N2, H7N2, and H5N1 is possible during the slaughtering process and when plucking feathers of chicken or fowls.

He said bird flu is transmitted to humans through close contact with infected birds or through inhalation or contamination with infected discharges, feces of sick birds; or when virus secreted in feces is pulverized and is inhaled. Flapping of wings could also hasten the transmission, he added.

While there is no evidence established as of press time that any human case of Avian Influenza have been acquired by eating poultry products, it is not recommended that meat of sick chicken be taken in as food for humans and other animals.

DOST, De Venecia turn over bioreactor facility to San Fabian

 

 

SAN FABIAN-- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Region 1 and Pangasinan fourth district Rep. Christopher de Venecia turned over on Aug. 12 an almost P600,000 worth bioreactor facility to the municipal government here that would help farmers turn their biodegradable wastes into organic fertilizer.

ORGANIC FERTILIZER. Department of Science and Technology Regional Director Armand Ganal, Pangasinan fourth district Rep. Christopher de Venecia and San Fabian officials led by Mayor Constante Agbayani pose in front of a bioreactor facility that converts biodegradable wastes to organic fertilizer.

DOST Region 1 Director Armand Ganal said their agency would also provide the other component of the facility, the shredder, by allocating another P200,000 for it. These are partners that would be placed in the facility while the equity of the local government will be the infrastructure and the road network going to the facility, he said.

MANGO FORUM

MANGO FORUM was held recently at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen, Pangasinan graced by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol (right) where attendees hailed from as far as the Cordillera and Bulacan provinces.

Photo shows Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar dropped by at the Forum to greet the Agriculture Secretary and the hundreds of stakeholders and participants. Andanar was the guest of honor of elected officials and their communication officers of the 47 towns and cities local government unit of Pangasinan lead by Governor Amado Espino III and his father Fifth District Congressman Amado T. Espino, Jr. at the nearby Training Center.
Piñol told the representatives that he was a fighter and will commit the resources of his department to advance the welfare of the Mango Industry's stakeholders.

He explained the worth of the huge highways built and to be build under the Duterte Administration’s Build-Build-Build Project when the government could not fund small farm-to-market roads that will connect with these big highways for farmers like those in the mango sector.

“We mull for ten billion peso loans to the farmers. That’s pittance for the seventy billion give away by the government to the indigents on its 4Ps Program. In that ten billion pesos loan the government will be paid by the farmers, say, even five billion pesos while the seventy billion peso from the 4Ps is not amortized by the recipients to the government,” he said. MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA