Calasiao Sports Complex Reopens for PBA

 MACANLALAYS, CARAMAT LAUD EACH OTHER

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – The mayor of this burgeoning town recently told the municipal employees after their flag ceremony that the rehabilitated air-conditioned Calasiao Sports Complex was opened again to the public and the Philippines Basketball Association.

PBA. Pangasinenses and fans from nearby provinces during the PBA All- Star Game in Calasiao Pangasinan (Photo courtesy of Vijay Vasandani) 

Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay cited that when then Mayor Mamilyn “Maya” Caramat assumed office in June 30, 2022 she promised that a portion of the 2023 budget of the local government would be allocated to the repair of the complex and the replacement of the hardwood floors particularly that halted its operation for a basketball game.

“Sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon pumanaw po ang ating Mayor. Ngayon ipinagpatuloy po natin ang kanyang mga adhikain at ginawa kaya nandito po tayo ngayon sa publiko ang renovated at repaired newly painted pati aircon po pinaayos po natin kinulayan po natin na dating kulay ng dating Sports Complex,” he told the crowd that included his father and older brother former Mayors Roy and Mark Roy Macanlalay and incoming League of Barangays President Patrick Caramat – the Chairman of Brgy. Nalsian.

Macanlalay lauded his father and brother for conceiving and constructing the Complex despite it took more than a decade for its completion.

He hailed too former mayor Joseph Bauzon for bringing the professional players of the national Philippines Basketball Association to compete in the air conditioned gymnasium.

It was during the time of Bauzon that the flooring was ruined because of a leaking roof from the rainfalls, a source told this newspaper.

“Ngunit sa hindi po inaasahang pagkakataon sa hindi rin po kagustuhan ng nakakarami ang nasira po ay ang ating hardwood flooring na kaya naputol po ang pagpunta ng PBA ang paglaro sa napakagandang covered court sa bayan ng Calasiao,” the young chief executive of the town disclosed.

 Caramat praised Mayor Kevin in the reopening and the sprucing up of the recreation center.

“So kuyang hindi lang one thumb's up ibibigay ko sa iyo ay two thumbs up! Thank you for being a good caretaker. Maniwala po kayo sa akin sa susunod na pagbalik ko dito sabi ni Mayor Kevin meron na namang  bago dito -- bagong basketball ring sabi ni Mayor Kevin”.

Former Mayor Roy narrated how in 2004 the Complex was initially started by a shoestring budget of P1.5 million. P1 million, he cited, was raised from the town fiesta and another P500, 000 counterpart's fund was donated by the management of the Señor Divino Tesoro that were used to buy irons needed for the structural components of the building.

HIZZONERS. The past, present and the future Mayors of the thriving first class town’s Calasiao in Pangasinan pose for posterity at the shiny hardwood floor of the swanky air conditioned world class Calasiao Sports Complex. From left –to – right are Calasiao former Mayors Roy and Mark Roy Macanlalay, incumbent Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay and incoming League of Barangays President Patrick Caramat – the Chairman of Brgy. Nalsian.

Lack of funds, however, snagged the erection activities. The older Macanlalay recalled how some of his constituents mock and criticize the seemingly white elephant despite the P5 million, P3 million and P5 million funds he sourced out from then 3^rd District Cong. Generoso D. Tulagan, former Speaker Jose de Venecia and from the public coffer of the local government here, respectively.

Macanlalay said that the funds he lobbied from Senators Manny Villar and Jinggoy Estrada, other senators and from the presidential management staff (PMS) under then President Gloria M. Arroyo, he bought for bleachers and the construction of the façade of the complex.

“So maraming hindi naniniwala sa atin, maraming nangungutya but then hindi po kami nawalan ng pag asa noon ni former Vice Mayor Chuson kasi siya po ang kasama ko noon na nag-isip with the other leaders sa Calasiao”.

 After 10 years the covered court had not been completed thus the older Macanlalay asked his sitting mayor son’s Mark to finish the project before his term end on June 30 of 2016.

Mark persuaded the members of the lawmaking body to pass a resolution for a credit in Land Bank of the Philippines to fund the completion of the Sports Complex.

However, Mayor Mark did not see the operation of the edifice because he ran for the vice governorship of Pangasinan but was defeated while his father Roy lost against Mayor Bauzon for the mayoralty race in the May 2016 election.

With the Macanlalays back again in the political and social circulation, former Mayor Roy exhorted his son Mayor Kevin to upgrade the dug out for the players like those from the PBA to use.

“Hinihiling ko na rin sa susunod na Mayor na pagandahin pa rin lalo itong Calasiao Sports Complex kasi ito ang leading landmark ng bayan ng Calasiao”.

P.5-M Reward Against Kap's Killers

 

SEC. ABALOS, MAYOR BONA, PD FANGED ASSAIL THE CULPRITS

                                          By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan – The Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government offered half-a-million pesos from his personal fund for the immediate identification and eventual arrest of the killers of Barangay Poblacion Chairwoman Melinda “Tonette” Morillo, 60.

STAKEHOLDERS. From left photo and clockwise: Interior Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" C. Abalos, Jr., Pangasinan's Provincial Police Office Director Col. Jeff Fanged and Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno.

“I myself is offering P500, 000 reward for any information. Kalahating milyon sa makapagbigay ng impormasyon sa paghuli doon sa pumaslang po sa ating mahal na barangay Kapitan. Ito ay galing sa aking pamilya sana makatulong. Importante po dito ay mahuli natin of course ang ating kapulisan ay full force po dito,” Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" C. Abalos, Jr. told reporters at the wake of Morillo at a funeral home here last December 8 after meeting the family and friends of the late Kapitana.

Pangasinan's Provincial Police Office Director Col. Jeff Fanged, who accompanied Abalos, said that the police were looking into two angles that would be a key to identify the two killers on motorcycle when they ambushed Morillo who was driving her white Mitsubishi Montero on December 7 while it was cruising the stretch of Brgy. Tebeg of this central Pangasinan town.

“Yes! Meron tayong dalawang tinitingnan na angulo pero hindi ko pa eda-divulge ngayon para hindi ma preempt ang ating imbestigasyon”.

Fanged said that everything that could resolve the grisly murder including politics have been diligently look into.

“Napakalaking bagay po iyong binangit ni Secretary DILG ang pabuya kung sino man makatulong sa impormasyon kahit maliit na bagay mangyaring ipagbigay sa amin. Alam niyo iyong maliit magiging susi para ma-solve ang kaso,” the former chief of police of this town and now the provincial director said.

The on-the-spot police report Fanged sent to this newspaper a day after the murder said in part: "Review and backtracking of CCTV footages and continuous follow-up investigation/operation is still ongoing for the possible identification and arrest of the suspects and to determine the motive of the incident”.

Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno assailed the treacherous murder of Morillo – a political ally – by assuring her family that the local government would spare no one in finding justice for her. Morillo just won her reelection bid in the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) election.

“Let this tragic incident serves as a reminder to all of us to stand united against violence and foster a culture of peace, respect and understanding in our country. It is our collective responsibility to ensure the safety and security of everyone within our jurisdiction,” the chief executive of this 30 villages’ town considered as one of the most progressive municipalities Pangasinan.

According to this town’s police report that while Morillo’s sport utility vehicle bearing plate number IAC 3712 was traversing the Tebag road heading to her 2nd house in Brgy. Tebag, one of the two suspects shot her with a Cal. 45 handgun and left after the incident heading to Brgy Poblacion, Mangaldan, Pangasinan on-board their getaway motorcycle. As a result, the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds and rushed to Region 1 Medical Center ANNEX at Brgy. Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City for medical treatment. However, Morillo was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.

To expedite the resolution of the heinous criminal case of an elected official, Col. Fanged formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) - Morillo. 

Cops Backtrack Footage to Identify Killer of P’sinan Kapitana

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Upon the instruction of Pangasinan Provincial Police Office Director Col. Jeff Fanged to his cops to identify the killers, we could only cross our fingers that the perpetrator who treacherously murdered Mangaldan Poblacion Kapitana Tonette Morillo, 60, last December 7 with seven bullets of the lethal .45 caliber handgun will be identified the soonest and thrown to the slammer.

Mangaldan Poblacion Kapitana Tonette Morillo

On the spot-report by the police and signed by Col. Fanged – a friend and a long serving two-fisted “Sheriff”, err, Chief of Police of Mangaldan, that he sent to my Messenger when I requested it said:

 “Review and backtracking of CCTV footages and continuous follow-up investigation/operation is still ongoing for the possible identification and arrest of the suspects and to determine the motive of the incident”.

The backtracking of the video resulted in the past the apprehension of many malefactors. One of them was the hired killer Joel Escorial who ambushed to death acerbic tongued radio commentator Percieval Mabasa AKA Percy Lapid. Escorial identification sent to the national televisions and his fear to be executed by his principal made him rat to the cops then Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerard Bantag .Bantag – an alumnus of the Philippines National Police Academy - whom he said was affronted by Lapid’s tirades like his alleged illegal acquired wealth.

 It would not take long that – excuse me for being redundant -  the long arm of the law will get the absconding Bantag who until now keeps mocking the authorities like his pet peeve Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to get him at all cost.

“Get me if you can!” as what criminals would mock the authorities as seen on the celluloid screen.

If the police under Col. Fanged immediately got in custody Jason Marquez Vicente, 32, a tricycle driver more than a day after he conspired with hired killer Kelly Doroy Rosario, 54, Chief Tanod (night guard) of Barangay Dorongan Punta in Mangatarem who shot to death Arnel Adolfo Flormata, 41 in an evening rally for the village Kapitan’s election last October 22 in Brgy. Bayaoas, Aguilar and the immediate identification of the master mind Brgy. Bayaoas Kapitana Maria Magnolia Repascol Gelido, 58, - a Butch too like Morillo – and the duo’s arrest several hours later after the pronouncement of Vicente, we prayed that the culprits behind the assassination of the Kapitana in the landlocked Mangaldan will be exposed and eventually arrested.

According to the report by the two Sergeants of the Mangaldan police sent to me by the provincial director, while Morillo was driving at around 6 p.m last Thursday “her white Mitsubishi Montero Sports Vehicle bearing plate number IAC 3712 traversing the said road heading to her 2nd house in Brgy Tebag, Mangaldan, Pangasinan when one of the two suspects shot her with a Cal. 45 firearm and left after the incident heading (to) Brgy Poblacion, Magaldan (sic), Pangasinan on-board their getaway motorcycle. As a result, the victim sustained multiple gunshot wound(s) and rushed to Region 1 Medical Center ANNEX (at) Brgy. Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City for medical treatment. However, (Morillo was) pronounce(d) dead on arrival by the attending physician”.

I lauded how fast the police in Mangaldan responded after the 6 p.m killing and the report of a concerned citizen to the cops at 6 :15 pm, the peace officers arrived at the scene of the crime at 6:17 pm of December 7.

                                  I MET MORE THAN A WEEK AGO THE VICTIM

After the State of the Municipal Address (SOMA) of Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno – that was attended by Pangasinan Governor Monmon Guico – the invited guests (except the Guv) proceeded to the office of the Mayor at dusk of November 30 for  a banquet - as it coincided with the birthday of Parayno -  when I bumped into Kap Morillo.

“Hi Kap Tonette!” I quipped.

“Hi Mortz!” she retorted.

Son of a gun! We could not just predict the fate of one person. One day you’re animatedly talking with each other while on the next day he or she got a bullet hole in the head while slumping without life to the car’s steering wheel.

I hope the sleuthing of the peace officers under the tutelage of Col. Fanged bear fruits so we could see the Evil Reincarnate called Principal by Induction behind the grisly killing catapulted to the brig while the authority throws the key somewhere so they would suffer the reclusion perpetua (life sentence) for their dastardly act.

Meanwhile, Secretary Benjur Abalos of the Department of Interior and Local Government - accompanied by Fanged - visited the first wake (December 8) of Morillo at a funeral home in the town. Abalos pledged P500, 000 reward money to anyone who could tip the authority about the identification of the killers while the provincial director was looking for two angles -that he did not want to divulge for the meantime - that caused the murder.

200-K Jobs Loom in P’sinan

 

As Long Guico Admin. Mediates for Connectivity, Land, Power

By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The governor of the more than three million population’s Pangasinan province can attract 100, 000 to 200, 000 jobs for the employment of his constituents from investors of light industries as long as the needed power, land and internet connectivity could be met.

POWERS. Top of photo and clockwise are coal power plant, biogas reactor and swath of solar panels.

Governor Ramon Guico III said that he could chalk-up these major requirements that could eventually be a bonanza to the almost ten percent of the population.

“Isang lungsod 100, 000 to 200, 000 jobs pinapangako po nila. Andami pong hurdles like lupa, connectivity pinakamabigat na isa diyan ang power requirement kasi kailangan they need a certain megawatt in order to thrive at saka sa tamang presyo po ng kuryente,” the chief executive of the province said.

Guico said he is talking with some investors that could put the mentioned shops in the province.

When he inked the joint venture and tollway concession agreement for the 42.76-kilometer phase one of the Pangasinan Link Expressway at the Capitol in Lingayen last October 19, San Miguel Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Ang assured the governor that additional hundreds of megawatts power could be buttressed to the 1,200 megawatts’ coal power plant runs by SMC in Sual, Pangasinan.

Coal, biogas and solar are the sources Guico are looking to beef up the power requirement to attract investors to come in the northern Luzon province.

Minimum wage in this four cities and forty-four towns’ province is P435 a day while it is much higher a day in the central and southern Luzon’s provinces and P610 daily in Metro Manila.

The swath of land and mountain ranges of Pangasinan bode well to provide space for the solar panels of the probable investors

“Dahil malaki ang kalupaan at kabundukan ng lalawigan so binibigay po namin ito sa mga non-irrigated and non-arable land para hindi sayang and couldn’t be in conflict on the policy of donation binibigay namin gusto namin iyan. We allow them to use these unutilized lands of the province usually sa mountain ranges,” he said.

Presently the 321 megawatts (MW) solar power plants of CS First Green Agri-Industrial Development Inc., URIT Limited Philippines Corporation, China Energy International Group Company, and the China Energy International Group Company, the Aboitiz Power owned 94 MW Cayanga Solar power and the 159 MW 159-MWp Laoag and Laoag 2 solar power projects and the 60 MW Pangasinan Solar have invested in the towns of Dasol and Infanta, San Manuel, Bugallon, Aguilar and San Manuel, respectively.

What these investors are required is to register their businesses to the province so the hosts barangay and town can get tax allocations from the national government, Guico cited.

The Governor said that scarcity of power is not only a problem in the province but an endemic to the other parts of the country.

 

Flood Mitigation

By Eng. John Celeste

Introduction:

To mitigate flood in our country especially in our Province Pangasinan and our City of Dagupan, we have to know the causes of flood, types of flood and effects of flood in the community.

Flood mitigation is a concerted effort to reduce and prevent damages caused by floods to people, property, environmental, commercial   residential and agricultural areas.

Celeste

Failure to mitigate flood may result to loss of life, properties and income. If not given utmost attention, it may affect the residential, commercial and agricultural lands destroying homes, business establishments and agricultural production including fishponds and salt farms.

It is not worthy to mention that our country is importing tons of rice and salt and other agricultural products due to tremendous flooding.

Knowing the types and causes of flood will help concerned agencies to properly plan and design the desired intervention in terms of green flood control projects and grey flood control projects considering availability of fund from the government.

Types of Flooding

1.    Flash Flooding-- heavy rainfall, denudated forest, destroyed retention pond at watershed area.

2.    Urban Flooding—poor drainage system, reckless garbage disposal, stagnant water, river siltation, bottleneck, congestion, overflow,

3.    Coastal Storm Surge- strong typhoon, tide

4.    Dam flooding—poor O&M

5.    Groundwater Flooding—water table rises, swamp

Causes of Flood

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

1.    Storm, heavy rain

2.    Landslides, erosion

3.    Sedimentation/Siltation

4.    Climate Change

MAN-MADE ENVIRONMENT

1.    Improper land use/denudation of watershed area

2.    Improper disposal of garbage, waste and debris in the river.

3.    Illegal Structures inside the river and its easement area

4.    Improper planned, designed and constructed flood control structures

5.    Lack of appreciation/caring of the rivers and creeks that were created by God.

6.    Filling up of creeks/waterways with earth materials.

7.    Poor Operation and Maintenance of Drainage System

8.    Stagnant water— water pollution, water borne diseases

General Solutions

1.    Strict implementation of land use, replanting, reforestation

2.    Proper disposal system of garbage, waste and debris

3.    Demolition of all illegal structures inside river cross-section and easement area.

4.    Preparation of hydraulic design and structural design before construction

5.    Taking care of rivers and creeks created by God

6.    Restoration of creeks being filled up by earth materials

7.    Regular cleaning of drainage canals and maintenance of drainage outlet structures

8.    Checking of canal bed elevation and drainage outlet to river, pumping out drainage/stagnant water to river

Specific Hydraulic Solutions to Lower Flood Level in the River/Creek to Below Natural Ground (Grey Flood Control)

1.    Compute watershed/catchment area.

2.    Compute maximum flood discharge (volume of water in cubic meters per second) at certain stations of the river considering there are tributaries

3.    Assume maximum flood elevation in the river or creek to be below adjacent natural ground

4.    Compute designed width and depth of river based on maximum flood discharge and maximum flood level

5.    Align proposed river dike protection more or less in straight line or uniform designed width throughout for smooth flow of flood discharge to the sea.

6.    Resettle those affected families to provide area for river easement

7.    Demolish all illegal structures and remove illegal land reclamation along rivers and creeks.

In SUMMARY, it is a matter of widening and deepening of the river or creek to accommodate flood water to flow continuously and smoothly at right amount of flood discharge, at right time and at right place where it wants to go.

Likewise, restoring of lost waterways such as creeks can be of great help also to mitigate flood in the city, municipality or barangay.

Should there be not enough waterways to discharge the flood, the solution is to add and construct other waterways like what government is doing constructing supplementary or secondary roads.

We all know that rivers, creeks and other bodies of water are beautiful sceneries conducive to relaxation and physical exercise nearby them.

God already initiated, identified and created the waterways- rivers and creeks. If necessary, we could also add and create ones. We should take care and protect them to protect us from flood.

(Celeste, an Engineer, is a retired regional manager of the National Irrigation Administration. He is presently a member of the Dagupan Flood Mitigation Commission (DFMC))

NuKe Reg. Bill ni Cayetano Para sa Ligtas na Pagamit ng Radioactive Materials

Tiniyak ni Senador Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Biyernes sa publiko na ang panukalang Philippine Nuclear Regulation Act ay hindi naglalayong magtayo ng nuclear power plant kundi lumikha ng isang institusyon na mangangasiwa sa paggamit ng radioactive material sa bansa.

Ipinahayag ito ni Cayetano sa isinagawang public hearing sa Senate Bill No. 1194 (Comprehensive Atomic Regulation) at Senate Bill No. 1491 (Philippine Nuclear Regulation Act) ng Committee on Science and Technology, na kanyang pinamumunuan. “Doon sa mga may agam-agam, may doubt sa nuclear power plant, nuclear energy: this bill is not to put up one (nuclear power plant). It’s precisely to have the institution and the right people to be able to assess [the use of nuclear energy],” wika niya. Ayon kay DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Director Vallerie Ann Samson, ang nuclear energy ay ginagamit hindi lamang para sa power generation kundi maging sa agrikultura, medisina, at iba pang industriya. Ang counterpart measure sa House of Representatives na House Bill No. 9293 o ang "Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act" ay inaprubahan sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa noong November 22, 2023. Nilalayon nitong magtatag ng legal framework upang mapadali ang “safe and secure” na paggamit ng nuclear energy sa bansa. Ang parehong bersyon ng Kamara at ng Senado ay naglalayong lumikha ng Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority o PhilATOM na siyang susuri at magbibigay ng mga lisensya sa lahat ng pasilidad na gumagamit ng radioactive materials at electrically generated ionizing radiation, kabilang ang mga ospital na nag-aalok ng radiology procedures. Sa ngayon, ang mga pasilidad na gumagamit ng nuclear energy tulad ng mga provider ng PET/CT scan ay kailangang kumuha ng dalawang lisensya: isa mula sa PNRI para sa paggamit ng radioactive material, at isa mula sa Food and Drug Administration para sa klinikal na aplikasyon nito. Sinabi ni Cayetano na ang layunin ng PhilATOM ay protektahan ang publiko mula sa hindi ligtas na paggamit ng radioactive materials. “Para mong sinabing nag-create ka ng Bureau of Fire. Hindi mo gusto ng sunog; gusto mo ng mga tao na iwa-warn tayo, mag-i-inspect, magpi-prevent,” aniya. "You have our support," sabi niya sa PNRI.###

Would it be Gina VS. Amado or Brian for the Cong. Diadem?

 By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

I asked Ramon Bautista – the man Friday of Region-1 Medical Center Director Roland Mejia – when I bumped into him at the Capitol in Lingayen if his boss would be running for the congressional seat of the 4^th District because outgoing solon’s Christopher “Toff” de Venecia is already on his last term.

MARQUEE P'SINAN'S POLITICIANS. From left photo and clockwise: Former 4th District Cong. Gina de Venecia, former Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. and former Dagupan City Mayor Brian Lim.

Ramon answered in the negative to quash the rumors that Mejia – a kin of De Venecia – has a moist eye in the post the Filipinos (who understand politics) considered as powerful and lucrative.  

With the De Venecias’ matriarch Gina reclaiming the post, I heard from the grapevine that former Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. and former Dagupan City Mayor Brian Lim are considered by political spectators to duke out with her in the May 2025 electoral derby.

AMADO T. ESPINO, JR.

Oliver Silvestre, a Saluyot and my former political science student at a university in the bangus city, told me in the last village election that a mayor-friend told him the battle scarred politico’s Espino was “considering” running on the smallest district among the six congressional districts of the mammoth Pangasinan province.

Espino by the way, trounced out 5^th District Congresswoman Kimi Cojuangco in the 2016 tussle despite the pronouncements of many political kibitzers that he would be clashing with a formidable opponent.

But the former Governor (who stepped down after nine years to usher his son and namesake who beat Cojuangco’s hubby Mark for the governorship) proved the naysayers wrong by dusting off Kimi whose Achilles Heel – that probably the fox in Espino saw - was her bereft of interest to visit the villages of the one city and eight towns’ area thus Espino trampled her with 40,438 lead votes among the 226,324 voters in that fateful election.

In boxing we called that as an UPSET before the eyes of the mainstream spectators who see a “Fort Knox” being beaten by a PMYer.

When I asked another mayor who is closed to Espino, I was told the resident requirement is not a problem for him because the former police colonel has a house in San Fabian.

Qualifications in running a congressional office – as required by the Constitution -  provide that one must be natural-born citizen of the Philippines and, on the day of the election, is at least twenty-five years of age, able to read and write, and, except the party-list representatives, a registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected.

Silvestre quoted his source that Espino – a resident of the 2^nd District – preferred the 4^th because Gina de Venecia is beatable compared to the present Praetorian Guard of the District Rep. Mark Cojuangco. Cojuangco in the last congressional fracas “bludgeoned” Espino’s congressman son Jumel with chutzpah where breathtaking financial logistics shocked and awed the Espinos. Even after the election, people still queue at the resident of Cojuangco in the Poblacion Lingayen for “manna”, as what the residents of those area told me.

That political beating from Mark saw Jumel contented himself - according to my sources - to eye the mayorship of Bugallon in the next year's election.

But some of my friends where one of them is high politician told me that Espino could lose in the 4^th District because of the votes in Dagupan City – the bailiwick of the De Venecias and an independent component city (it means was not under the jurisdiction of the Espinos when they were governors). The 140, 000 registered voters in the second class city is more or less half in number of the voters in the four towns’ district.

BRIAN LIM

On the other hand, here my poser if Lim runs for the congressional post: Can he afford to navigate in the one city four towns’ district in an internecine take-no-prisoner financial warfare to a family that could swashbuckle a 21 years as congressman and House Speaker in Joe de Venecia, a six-year congresswoman to Gina and a nine-year House Representative in Toff (Son of a gun! That’s 36 long years of political entrenchment and I’m not yet talking here how much money they save for that) while allowing (Brian) family member to go mano-a-mano with the incumbent deep pocketed Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez to win in the ingratiation game to the mostly vote-for-sale electorates of the coastal city in the next year’s election?

Despite his father Benjie having a one term-stint as a congressman (1998-2001) of the district by winning most of the votes against rival Tessie de Venecia in the fours towns, can Lim wins the support and sympathy of the voters 18 months from now?

Lack of dough however is not the sine qua non of being triumphant. There were those who have little campaign chest who beat their rich rivals like a P500 pakurong (vote buy per voter) that won against a P1,000. A P3,000 won against a P5,000 in a mayorship race in Western Pangasinan in the last 2022 election.  Would it be Brian against the “aging” Gina de Venecia or would it still be the latter because her family are so well-entrenched in the district that even a U.S made deadly GBU 28 (Bunker Buster) bomb – that cost P8, 237, 450 each -  of the Israel Air Force - could not obliterate to smithereens and flush out their hold on their central Pangasinan’s fortress?

It’s the U.S not the Colombians that destroyed Escobar

MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.