SM AND THE MEDIA

 In a huddle during the Christmas Party with SM Northern Luzon's public information big boss Rain Cervantes (extreme right and clockwise are:) Philippines Star's lensman and reporter Cesar Ramirez, Manila Times reporter Ging Cardinoza, Philippines Daily Inquirer's photographer Ray Zambrano, Philippines Daily Inquirer's lensman Willy Lomibao and Northern Watch Editor Mortz Ortigoza.

SM Super Malls sponsored recently a Christmas Party to the members of the fourth estate held at SM-Rosales in Rosales, Pangasinan. (Photo credit: Prisco de Guzman) 

Sual, Dagupan, Binalonan P’sinan Richest LGUs on PCI

By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

At first blush, the present and the proposed budget for 2024 of the following local government units (LGUs) in Pangasinan mentioned below showed that those with bigger budgets are the richer than those with the others.

They are not true however.

 Dagupan City (P1.3 billion 2023), Sual (P520 million proposed 2024 budget), Bayambang ((P699,218,002 (2022 budget), Malasiqui (P503 million proposed 2024 budget), Mangaldan (P430 million proposed 2024 budget), Lingayen (P408, 222, 843 proposed 2024 budget), Binalonan (almost P400, 000, 000 proposed 2024 budget), Calasiao (P380, 000,000 plus proposed 2024 budget), Binmaley (P324, 360, 000 proposed 2024 budget) and Manaoag (P268 million proposed 2024 budget).

MAYORS of rich local government units in Pangasinan. From left photo and clockwise: Sual Mayor Liseldo D. Calugay, Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez and Binalonan Mayor Ramon Ronald V. Guico, IV.

The newspaper used the data of 2023 for Dagupan and 2022 for Bayambang because of the lack of information for the following years’ budget.

If we based on the per capita income (PCI) where income of each of the LGU is divided by its population the miniscule demographically first class towns Sual and Binalonan could eclipse all of the towns mentioned above.

Here the rank and computation of the 10 richest LGUs in Pangasinan by PCI from the highest to the lowest:

1)      Sual                            P13, 302 PCI

2)      Dagupan City                  7, 458

3)      Binalonan                       7, 094

4)      Bayambang                     5, 419  

5)      Mangaldan                      3, 515

6)      Lingayen                         3, 789

7)      Calasiao                          3, 782

8)      Binmaley                         3, 733

9)      Manaoag                         3, 524

10)    Malasiqui                         3, 515

Sual (P520 million divided by 39, 091 (2020 Census) equals P13, 302 PCI); Dagupan (P1.3 billion (2023 budget) divided by 174,302 (2020 Census) equals P7,458 PCI); Binalonan (P400 million divided by 56,382 (2020 Census) equals P7, 094 PCI; Bayambang (P699,218,002 (2022 budget) divided by 129,011 (2020 Census) equals P5, 419 PCI); Mangaldan (P430 million divided by 113,185 (2020 Census) equals P3,799 PCI); Lingayen (P408, 222, 843 divided by 107,728 (2020 Census) equals P3,789 PCI); Calasiao (P380 million divided by 100,471 (2020 Census) equals P3,782 PCI); Binmaley (P324, 360, 000 divided by 86,881 (2020 Census); Manaoag (P268 million proposed 2024 budget); and Malasiqui (P503 million divided by 143,094 (2020 Census) equals P3,515 PCI)

 

Bayambang then Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao told this newspaper in 2019 that one of the sources of the LGU’s revenues came from the P80 million yearly taxes his family controlled corporations like Stradcom pay to the coffer of the municipality.

Sual has its monolith San Miguel Corporation runs 1,200 megawatt coal power plant that pays more than half of its yearly budget.

When this writer asked Governor Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III – the former three-term mayor of Binalonan - during the State of the Municipality Address of the Mayor of Mangaldan if the town’s local El Dorado comes from the business tax of the renowned Japanese owned Sumitomo North Philippines Wiring Systems Corporation, he instead said that it was the University of Eastern Pangasinan (UEP).

He cited that the 11,500 population of the college are beneficiaries of the hundreds of millions of pesos yearly from the national government.

Binalonan piggy backed on Republic Act 10931 otherwise known as Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. The law provides that all eligible Filipino students enrolled in courses leading to a bachelor's degree in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs) and technical-vocational schools will be exempted from paying tuition and other school fees. They are also exempted from admission fees and fees for the use of library, laboratory and computers

All of the towns and city above have no tertiary institution like UEP that becomes the goose that lays the golden eggs for Binalonan.

The governor said that the NTA – the successor of the internal revenue allotment (IRA) – of Binalonan is P191,264,614.00 while it has a bigger collection of P201, 289, 386 from the local taxes and revenues.

When this writer asked decade ago Urdaneta City former mayor Amadito Perez, Jr. why the eastern Pangasinan city was almost neck and neck with the annual budget of Dagupan City, the seasoned politician – a former congressman and ambassador – cited the LGU owned Urdaneta City University that gave the public coffer the golden eggs.

His son Mayor Bobom Perez told this writer in 2014 that one-third of the P600 million budget of the previous year came from the tuition fees collected from the 15, 000 students of the UCU, the others come from the local taxes and the allotment from the national government.

The other LGUS like the highest populated Dagupan have their goose cooked because of their leaders lack of initiative to spike their revenues unlike what the visionary then Binalonan Mayor Monmon Guico had done to the eastern Pangasinan's town.

As governor of the gargantuan province, Guico is opening anytime from now the provincial government owned Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC) to cater to poor but deserving students of the province.

Can one imagine how hundreds of millions if not billions of pesos’ revenue this new tertiary institution could churn-out and buttress the yearly provincial budget (proposed 2024 appropriation is P5.73 billion)?

Mayor Bona Denies Non-Invitation of Veem, Dads on SOMA

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno vehemently denied to this writer that she did not invite Vice Mayor Mark Stephen de Venecia Mejia, Councilors Juvy Frialde (my student in college), Christopher Romero and Joel Meneses on her crowd filled State of the Municipality Address (SOMA) held at the Public Auditorium in November 30.

It coincided with the Herzoner natal day.

MANGALDAN Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno (left photo and clockwise), Vice Mayor Mark Stephen D.V. Mejia and Councilor Joel Meneses.

“Hindi toto iyan! Rose pakidala mo dito iyong mga signatures ng nakatanggap ng invitation natin,” she ordered Dr. Rose Ramirez – Hulipas – the Cooperative Officer and her speech writer.

 On the list of the luminaries from the Sangguniang Bayan (lawmaking body headed by Mejia), those who were invited to the significant event were of Mejia, Frialde, Romero and Meneses and the corresponding signatures of those who received the invitation and their respective dates.

These four have been seen by the media as opposition to the Parayno Administration.

The non-invitation brouhaha of these folks cropped up when I bumped into a staff of Vice Mayor Mejia who told me that those people were not invited by Parayno.

“Bakit wala sila Vice Mayor at tatlong Councilors noong SOMA,” I posed to him.

“Hindi sila inimbita Mayor,” he told me in the vernacular.

The SOMA that was jam-packed with the local officialdom, private luminaries, the Kapitans – that included the newly elected – on their immaculate white barongs -, and folks from the 30 villages.

Governor Ramon “Monmon” Guico, Jr was the lone official from the provincial government that attended the shindig.

Photo below is the list of those invited in the lawmaking body to the Mangaldan SOMA and the corresponding signatures of those who received the invitation:

SM Treats P'sinan Mediamen with a Xmas Party

 SM AND THE MEDIA. In a huddle during the Christmas Party with SM Northern Luzon's public information big boss Rain Cervantes (extreme right and clockwise are:) Philippines Star's lensman and reporter Cesar Ramirez, Manila Times reporter Ging Cardinoza, Philippines Daily Inquirer's photographer Ray Zambrano, Philippines Daily Inquirer's lensman Willy Lomibao and Northern Watch Editor Mortz Ortigoza.

SM Super Malls sponsored recently a Christmas Party to the members of the fourth estate held at SM-Rosales in Rosales, Pangasinan. (Photo credit: Prisco de Guzman)

HIYAS NG PILIPINAS 2023

 

 

HIYAS NG PILIPINAS 2023. Basista, Pangasinan Mayor JR Resuello (3^rd from left) poses for posterity with this year’s pageant winner of Hiyas ng Pilipinas when they made a courtesy call to the office of the chief executive in the rustic town. The local government treated with a motorcade the beauties because one of them - second runner-up’s Vanessa F. Baraquio (2^nd from left)– is the town’s present elected member of the Sangguniang Bayan (lawmaking body). (Texts by Mortz C. Ortigoza)

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.