D.A Exec. Certifies How Seaweed Fertilizer Spikes Palay Harvest

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

SUAL, Pangasinan – A top agriculture official attested how a seaweed based fertilizer significantly increased the harvest of rice farmers here while they reduced their expenses.

“Tumaas po ang ani nila and saka iyong cost bumaba siya,” declared to GMA-7 regional television by Dr. Jovita Datuin, the chief Science Research Specialist of the Department of Agriculture Region-1, after a farm trial in this western Pangasinan town of AMO Plant Growth Enhancer.

SEAWEED BASED – Dr. Jovita Datuin confirmed to GMA – 7 regional television how a seaweed based fertilizer’s AMO Plant Growth Enhancer increased the harvest of farmers in Pangasinan while it reduced their expenses.

Dr. Datuin said that despite the farmers not using insecticide, the department found out that the root development and yield of the palay hike.

“Tumaas po iyong yield nila at maganda pa rin iyong leaf color at mga parameters na tinitingnan ng mga researchers na tumutok okay po siya,” she stressed.

In 2018, the regional office of the D.A had its on-farm trial here using AMO with laudable result.

Eric Acuña, AMO founder and general manager, told this newspaper about the efficacy of his product when he and the then mayor Roberto Arcinue of Sual, Pangasinan piloted it here in a countless of hectares.

SM CENTER DAGUPAN OPENS

Dagupan is the economic center of Pangasinan and one of the centers of modern medical services, media, and communication in North-Central Luzon.

A regional market center for centuries, it recently welcomed another gathering place with the opening on SM Center Dagupan last Friday, October 4, 2019. It is SM Prime Holdings’s 74^th mall and the third in Pangasinan after SM City Rosales and SM City Urdaneta Central.

Located at the heart of Dagupan City, along M.H. Del Pilar Street, SM Center Dagupan will serve customers in Pangasinan's economic centre and nearby towns and cities - Lingayen, Binmaley, Mangaldan, Santa Barbara, Malasiqui, and San Carlos City.

            Located close to the Dagupan Downtown District, the new and vibrant SM Center Dagupan will bring residents and visitors a state of the art two story shopping center, complete with ample parking and a transport terminal. It will serve customers in this bustling area, as well as in nearby towns and cities in Pangasinan - Lingayen, Binmaley, Calasiao, Mangaldan, Santa Barbara, Malasiqui, and San Carlos City.

Bataoil Defeats Lambino in Close - Shave Race

                ESPINOS VS OPPOSITION’S “PROXY WARS” CONTINUE

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO – Seen as a continuation of a “proxy war” between the provincial leadership and the opposition members, an ally of the governor defeated a well-oiled rival for the leadership of the mayors’ organization in Pangasinan.

Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil shocked the opponents of Pangasinan governor Amado Espino III and his father and namesake when he defeated Mangaldan mayor Mary Marilyn Lambino with a thin hair 21-19 result among the 44 members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Pangasinan Chapter (LMP-PC).

MAGNANIMOUS WINNER – Newly elected League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Pangasinan Chapter (LMP-PC) President Leopoldo Bataoil (right) shakes hands with Pangasinan Vice Governor Mark Lambino. Lingayen Mayor Bataoil, a former solon, defeated in the recent LMP-PC poll Lambino’s mother Mangaldan mayor Marilyn Lambino.

It was the first defeat of a family member of Cabinet Secretary and powerful Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) Chief Raul Lambino where Marilyn and son Pangasinan vice governor Mark rampaged to win the electoral derby in the May 13, 2019 election.

An insider of the LMP-PC told this writer that the night before the September 2 election, Vice Governor Lambino billeted at the plush The Monarch Hotel here the mayor-supporters of his mother. The hotel was the venue in the next morning’s poll.

“Several days ago they met with the Lambinos and last night they were here,” the source, who asked for anonymity, said after the counting of the votes.

He cited that several weeks ago, mayors friendly with Bataoil met too with the latter in his resort at Purok Marcela at Barangay Libsong West in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

“Governor Pogi Espino was there in that meeting,” the source said.

Cops File Criminal Charges Vs. Espino, Bodyguards' Ambushers

The police have filed two counts of murder and four counts of frustrated murder against the identified suspects of the slay try of former governor and congressman Amado T. Espino Jr.

Philippine National Police's Region 1 Director Brig. Gen. Joel S. Orduña said in the October 2 press conference in Lingayen, Pangasinan that cases were filed on October 1 at the San Carlos City Prosecutor’s Office based on sufficient forensic examination and other pieces of evidence.

DASTARDLY - Gun men armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles unleashed their treacherous and dastardly acts against their ambushed victims.

The police cited the following suspects: Albert Palisoc, alias “Alvin Pascaran:” Armando Frias, alias “Jong;” Benjie Resultan; Joey Ferrer; Ronnie Delos Santos; Gerry Pascua, alias “Kagawad Guapo;” Sherwin Diaz; Teofilo Ferrer, alias “Pong;” a certain Ruseller, alias “Sel;” Jewel Castro; John Paul D. Regalado; Alfred Pascaran; and 10 other “John Does” as masterminds, financiers, conspirators and accessories to the murder case.
According to a radio report, many of these suspects are residents of Urbiztondo, Pangasinan.

Some of the suspects, Orduña bared, are natives of Pangasinan, while one is from Tondo, Manila and one is from Baguio City.

It can be learned that Castro is the present owner of the Hyundai Elantra while Regalado is the owner of the Ford Everest – both of these vehicles were retrieved earlier and were proved to be used by the gunmen.

Nevertheless, Orduña said that the PNP is not closing this case and is still identifying the mastermind behind the violent ambush.

“Hinahanap na natin ang mga suspect at lahat ng posibleng puntahan nila ay pupuntahan natin ‘yan kahit sa labas pa ng Pangasinan,” Orduña said.

The motive of the attack remains unkown, Orduña added, but the police is looking on all issues, including politics, business rivalry and personal grudge.

The regional director also urged the general public to take courage and report any information that will help in the identification of the other suspects and their whereabouts to the PNP hotline number (09175175305).

Pangasinan PNP Director Redrico A. Maranan said that the police is committed on promoting peace and order in Pangasinan as he pledged that the PNP is always on top of the situation.

Meanwhile, the former governor extolled the efforts of the Philippine National Police for a speedy and thorough probe to assure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

In the press statement, former governor expressed his gratitude to all Pangasinenses for their prayers and steadfast support he and his family has been receiving after the vicious ambush on September 11 in San Carlos City.

Espino also condoled with the family of his driver, Agapito V. Cuison, and security aide, Richard D. Esguerra, who perished after the ambush.

Despite the continual acts of political harassment and new mode of uncalled for violence, Espino said that his intention to fulfill his other missions and to serve the best interest of the people still prevails.

“Let us all unite and work together to preserve our long-established tradition of peaceful co-existence, and for continual progress and development in Pangasinan  and as our vision which we started in 2007, that is “ Pangasinan, the best place to invest, work, live and raise a family,” urged Espino.

/Shiella Mae C. De Guzman/ Edited by Mortz C. Ortigoza

Group welcomes another power plant in Pangasinan

 SUAL, Pangasinan – A group of residents called Sual Proprogress reiterated their support for the plan to put up another coal-fired power plant here to address the problem on frequent power supply interruptions and high cost of electricity in the country.

            In welcoming the project, the group said aside from the exorbitant cost of electricity, there is now an impending power crisis as evidenced by the frequent power interruptions with Pangasinan as no exception.

They cited a recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia Research which showed that a majority of Filipinos are dissatisfied with the current prices of electricity in the Philippines, which is the second highest in the Asia-Pacific region.

Filipinos are also getting fed-up with the intermittent brownouts or blackouts.

Having more coal-fired power plants, which are much cheaper to build, should be pushed to generate adequate supply of electricity to make it cheaper and more affordable to many Filipinos, the group pointed out.

Mayor “saves’ P33M for auditorium

                        FUNDS HE GOT WHEN HE WAS A SOLON




By Mortz C. Ortigoza

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LINGAYEN – The multi-million pesos budgets of the multi-purpose building here have been acquired by the mayor when he was still a congressman.

Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil said that the P33 million infrastructure funds came from the four sources he interceded when he was a last term congressman of the Second District of Pangasinan.

“Kasi one year ni program ko na ito. Itong covered court na ito nakahingi na ako ng pondo. Nakita ninyo ang apat na tarpaulin dito. Iyong tarpaulin na iyan iyong unang tarpaulin nahingi natin iyang amount na iyan sa isang party list. Buhay Party List. Iyong isa naman nanggaling iyan sa Manila Teachers Party List. Iyong isa naman isa sa local infrastructure project ng congressman ninyo so iyong bahagi na iyan. So iyong isa na iyon ay nahingi natin sa isang senator inipon ko, “Bataoil declared during the groundbreaking ceremony at the plaza of the building cum auditorium early this month attended by Second District Congressman Jumel Espino and Second Pangasinan Engineering Office’s District Engineer Editha Manuel of the Department of Public Works & Highway.

P33 million Lingayen Multi-Purpose Building.

 The funds were nearly transferred by these sources to other projects in other parts of the country when the former members of the Sangguniang Bayan (legislature) here objected to the infrastructure.

But Bataoil begged off for the patience of the sources of funds because he told he them he would win the May 13, 2019 mayorship election and eventually implement the project.

10 Years Jail Time vs Cultural Property Destroyer

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

When the private contractor of the Department of Education imprudently and controversially stripped to bare bones early this month the historical landmark’s Economics Building in Dagupan City that once housed United States Pacific Supreme Commander and Five-  Star Army General Douglas MacAthur during his liberation campaign in World War II, old timers and historical buff’s Jaycekeen and other stakeholders  cried “desecration”, “mutilation”, and whatchacamallit to the gall of the DepEd leadership in Manila and Dagupan City and  the private contractor, who is an ally of the city’s mayor, when they scandalously stripped off the walls and floors of the edifice and dumped them to the ground for the elements to consume.

DESTRUCTION - The two-storey bare to the bones Economics cum MacArthur Building recklessly stripped off by its walls, floors, and other materials by the Department of Education and its contractor raised furors from stakeholders in Dagupan City who cried destruction of the heritage house used as headquarter by United States Pacific Supreme Commander and Five-  Star Army General Douglas MacAthur during his liberation campaign in World War II. The DepEd said it wanted to restore the edifice to correct deterioration. PHOTO CREDIT: PNA

The endeavor of those parties was no longer the ideal restoration but plain and simple demolition, son of a gun.

Republic Act No. 10086 (National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Strengthening Its Powers and Powers and Functions, Etc.) says about restoration on heritage structure like the economics building. Restoration" shall refer to the action taken or the technical intervention to correct deterioration and alterations. 

The prohibited acts, penalties for those who violated Republic Act No. 10066 (An Act Providing for the Protection and Conservation of the National Cultural Heritage, and Others):

To the extent that the offense is not punishable by a higher punishment under another provision of law, violations of this Act may be made by whoever intentionally:

 Photo of General Douglas Mac Arthur addressing Dagupenos from his General Headquarters (now West Central Home Economics building).
On January 9, 1945, American troops landed in Luzon between the towns of Lingayen and Dagupan. That afternoon, General MacArthur himself waded ashore south of San Fabian. On January 13th, MacArthur moved his General Headquarters to Dagupan. Addressing the residents of Dagupan from this building, MacArthur said: "I am happy to have returned. Thank you and God bless you." CREDIT TO THE OWNER OF THE PHOTO

 (a)Destroys, demolishes, mutilates or damages any world heritage site, national cultural treasures, important cultural property and archaeological and anthropological sites; 

(b)Modifies, alters, or destroys the original features of or undertakes construction or real estate development in any national shrine, monument, landmark and other historic edifices and structures, declared, classified, and marked by the National Historical Institute as such, without the prior written permission from the Commission. This includes the designated security or buffer zone, extending five (5) meters from the visible perimeter of the monument or site (Section 48. Prohibited Acts).

Upon conviction, the offender shall be subject to a fine of not less than Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) or imprisonment for a term of not less than ten (10) years, or both, upon the discretion of the court: xxxxx
Heads of departments, commissions, bureaus, agencies or offices, officers and/or agents found to have intentionally failed to perform their required duty as prescribed by the deputization order under Section 28 of this Act shall be liable for nonfeasance and shall be penalized in accordance with applicable laws (Section 49. Penal Provisions).

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