520 Students Receive Allowances from Mayor Bona

 MANGALDAN, Pangasinan - Four hundred fifty-four (454) and 66 colleges students received here recently their municipal stipends for this month from Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno at the social hall of the municipality.

MANGALDAN Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno gives pep talk to the 520 high school and college scholars that converged at the social hall of the local government. (Caption by Mortz C. Ortigoza/ Photo credit: Mangaldan PIO)

The mayor exhorted them to be diligent and continue to be good on their studies.

Education, she said, would pave for them to reach their dream and help uplift the economic and social status of their lives and families.

Application form for the scholarship will be opened for the incoming Grade 7 and freshman college students for school year 2024-2025 on May 20 to May 31. Forms can be availed at the Office of the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (OMPDC).

Meanwhile, the local government of Mangaldan led by Mayor Parayno distributed 300 sets of learning materials to five pilot barangays on March 19 at the Municipal Hall Grounds.

Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) Rowena de Guzman and staff along with the Child Development Workers (CDW) assisted in the distribution.

According to de Guzman, the pilot barangays Anolid, Bari, Lanas, Maasin and Malabago have been chosen because they have the most number of day care learners in Mangaldan. (With reports from 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒅𝒂𝒏 𝑷𝑰𝑶)

BIR East - P’sinan Tops Collection

 UNDER ITS NEW CHIEF

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan – The newly minted Revenue District Office (RDO) No. 6 Chief that oversees the collection for the government in the eastern Pangasinan tops the collection in the six RDOs in Region 1.

“Actually we exceeded our goal by 20 percent. We actually topped the February collection (in the region),” told by Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) RDO No.6 Chief Ma. Susana SP. Santos to Northern Watch Newspaper after she exceeded by twenty percent (20%) the collection of her office compared what her predecessor collected on the same month last year.

 

NEW Revenue District Office No.6 Chief Ma. Susana SP. Santos of the Bureau of Internal Revenue who supervises Urdaneta City and 15 towns of eastern Pangasinan.

Upon assumption of the post here, Santos disclosed that her hands were already full mapping and implementing strategies how to boost collection for the government this year.

Another high tax official told this newspaper that Santos is tasked to collect P3.023 billion this year.

“Actually we already planned our strategy for the whole year that include in intensifying the tax audit program and we will concentrate in those who are complying less instead of those who are complying taxpayers so we will deal with them first,” she stressed.

 Santos said that her office focuses too on industries thus her zealous implementation of the Oplan Kandado (closure of a business) and the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) Program.

Her team already conducted surveillance in the past weeks before they pound on the erring taxpayers.  

“We also follow it up with stock taking. Basically, we will be busy for the whole year. We are sure that with those programs we will reach our collection target for the year”.

One of the strategies for compliance is to instill to the mind of the taxpayers that the BIR is serious on its enforcement.

She wants to see that the lessors and the leases would be accountable too on their noncompliance. Santos pledges to vigorously run after them.

She told optimistically this newspaper that with the strategies she laid down with her staff “we will definitely reach our collection target for this year”.

The one city and fifteen towns’ eastern Pangasinan is the first post of Santos as RDO chief.

She was Assistant RDO No. 50 chief in South Makati – one of the top collecting RDOs in the country – before the main office in Quezon City assigned her here.

Santos finished her elementary and high school at an affiliate schools of St. Scholastic in Pasig City while she graduated her tertiary at Holy Spirit College in Metro Manila.

Guico’s Brainchild PLEX to Spike Tourism in P’sinan

 By ZJ R. Ortigoza

During my studies for a Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management at Centro Escolar University in Makati City, I distinctly recalled a forum where the Department of Tourism invited a guest speaker. He discussed strategies outlined in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) by emphasizing the urgent need to improve infrastructure and connectivity in our tourism’s industry. A key strategy highlighted was the collaboration between the government agencies and the private sectors to enhance access to tourism destinations, boost business activities, create jobs, and provide various multiplier effects to the communities.

                                                     Photo credit: Skyscrapper City 

Pangasinan faces challenges attracting local and foreign tourists and investors due to its poor road infrastructure and accessibility, despite its extensive land area and population of 3,163,190 as per the 2020 census of the Philippines Statistics Authority. News of the joint venture agreement, however, for the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) between San Miguel Corporation (SMC) leads by the Forbes Magazine’s billionaire Mr. Ramon Ang and the visionary Pangasinan Governor Ramon “Mon-Mon” Guico III brings optimism to the folks for the economic turn-around of the provincial tourism from the present snail paced state.

This collaboration aims to bridge the province’s east and west corridors, spurring tourism and economic activities. Notably, the behemoth multinational conglomerate’s San Miguel Corporation will cover the construction costs at the staggering Php 34 billion while the provincial government gains a substantial share of earnings from the toll gates the vehicle owners pay.

TWO PHASES

PLEX will have two phases: The first phase spanning from the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) in Binalonan to capital town’s Lingayen with 42.76 km that significantly reduces travel time from 1 hour 40 minutes to just 20 to 30 minutes, while the second phase will extend further to Alaminos, Pangasinan.

Phase 1 of PLEX will be split into three segments: the first 6.90-km section from Binalonan to Manaoag, followed by a 11.30-km section from Manaoag to Calasiao, and the third segment, the 22.17-km section from Calasiao to Lingayen. A 2.39-km spur road will also be built in Calasiao that could benefit travelers from the nearby Dagupan City – the most populated local government in forty-four towns and four cities’ Pangasinan.

 Meanwhile, Phase 2 of the project will be a demand-driven expansion all the way to Alaminos, Pangasinan.

EXPRESSWAY. San Miguel Corporation President Ramon Ang and Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III press flesh during the joint venture and toll concession agreements of the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) held at the Sison Auditorium at the Capitol in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

                                                                 GAME CHANGER

            Furthermore, after 35 years the project will be fully owned by the provincial government because of the statute’s private-public partnership (PPP) mandate. The Php 34 billion expressway project in Pangasinan is set to attract more investors and address the issues faced by both local and foreign tourists. These issues primarily stemmed from the inconvenience of travel and the lack of adequate accessibility to our world-class tourism sites that include the pristine white beaches of Bolinao and Dasol – which rival renowned destinations like Boracay and Siargao -, the breathtaking beauty of Alaminos’ Hundred Islands – with its 123 islets that are among the country’s most stunning natural geological formations -, the cultural pilgrimage site of The Our Lady of Manaoag Church – recognized as a “Basilica Minore” by the Vatican -, Malico in San Nicolas – often referred as Pangasinan’s “Baguio” due to its elevation of 1,675 meters -, surpassing that of Baguio City, and a lot more of Pangasinan’s world class hidden gems.   Bolinao Regional Airport is a pet project of the Guico Administration and a new U.S$1 billion (P56 billion) seaport and brewery are being constructed by SMC in San Fabian to enhance travel links.

 “PLEX is one of the most important projects, a game-changer for Pangasinan and for this administration. This is because it is envisioned to reinvent the transportation and enrich the tourism landscape; prioritize accessibility of citizens to major towns and cities, magnify business and livelihood opportunities, multiply economic activity, build more infrastructure, and protect the environment,” said Guico.

The economics benefit of PLEX is vast, attracting tourists, traders, and investors, thereby creating more jobs and contributing more tax revenues for the province. Imagine esteemed commercial hotel brands like Shangri-La, Marriott Hotel, and Holiday Inn, and prestigious bars like what we saw in Siargao, San Juan La Union, and casinos like Okada, Solaire, and City of Dreams will someday be relocating along the beaches of Western Pangasinan.  They can help attract deep pocketed tourists from South Korea, the USA, Japan, Australia, and China to splurge their money for the benefit of the locals and the province.

 This strategic partnership between Guico and the SMC is poised to elevate Pangasinan into an international tourism hub just like Boracay and El Nido in Palawan, offering a comprehensive one-stop-shop experience with world-class beaches, an airport, and various tourism amenities.

 Indeed, this sweetheart deal chalked up by the zealous governor – that could shame his predecessors – will undoubtedly transform Pangasinan into a sought-after destination.

PHOTO CAPTION 1:

EXPRESSWAY. San Miguel Corporation President Ramon Ang and Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III press flesh during the joint venture and toll concession agreements of the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) held at the Sison Auditorium at the Capitol in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

PHOTO CAPTION 2:

Photo credit: Skyscrapper City 

Matalino at Eloquent si Maan Guico

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Naimbitahan ako ni Pangasinan Public Information Office’s Chief Dhobbie de Guzman – dating top man ng ABS-CBN na may hawak ng Pampanga hanggang Ilocos Norte o kalahati ng Luzon – na sumali sa Q&A pagkatapos ng press presentation kamakailan ng mga biente na nagagandahang kandidata ng prestihiyosong Limgas ng Dayat sa Monarch Hotel sa Calasiao, Pangasinan.

Pangasinan First Lady Maan Tuazon-Guico and Urdaneta City Mayor Julio Rammy Parayno III.

Ako’y napabilib noong nagsalita na ang maganda at matangkad na Pangasinan First Lady Maan Tuazon – Guico - maybahay ni Governor Monmon Guico. Di ko akalain na eloquent o magaling magsalita pala siya sa Inglis.

“Puede  siyang maging reporter o anchor ng English cable TV channel's ANC gaya nila Ginger Conejero, Gretchen Ho, at Gigi Grande o ng CNN-Philippines host gaya nila Pinky Webb, Pia Hontiveros at Menchu Macapagal at iba pang anchors ng Pinas” ani ko kay Sto. Tomas Kapitan Tony Oculto – fan ng mga Guicos - noong sumakay ako sa sasakyan niya habang binabaybay namin ang kahabaan ng national highway sa Binmaley.

Naalaala ko noong naghahatid pa ako ng tig isang sakong high end Puyat na Davao Durian sa bahay ni Congressman Monmon at Madam Maan sa Binalonan noong pumapayagpag pa ang Davao Fruits naming negosyo sa Dagupan City, nakilala ko si Mrs. Guico noong tinanong niya ako kung anong gusto naming lunch ni mister niya doon sa V.I.P lounge ng airport nila.

My impression now is she’s not only a doting housewife to her husband and children but could be one of the most eloquent in the English language intelligent mayors – we have a dearth of them in Pangasinan concerning eloquence- of the gargantuan province in case she’ll be elected as the chief executive of Urdaneta City in the next year's battle royal.

EXCHANGES OF NOTES

Sa isang huntahan sa function room ng Monarch - matapos ang press con kasama ang mga Manila media at mga fashion vloggers at bloggers - sinabi ni Mrs. Guico sa mga local media practitioners na workaholic siya magmula pa noong alkalde ng Binalonan ang kanyang mister.

Napuntahan daw niya ang pinaka malayo at mga liblib na mga pobreng pook sa Pangasinan na hindi pa napuntahan ng mister niya.

“The area doesn’t have a clean water kung baga one opted to fix the water system there and do the charity and gave hygiene kits as well as some grocery packages for the family,” aniya.

Naramdaman niya ang damdamin ng mga mahihirap dahil nakita daw niya sa lugar nila sa Bacolor, Pampanga ang mga kalunos-lunos na sitwsyon ng mga dukha doon lalo na noong inanod ng baha kasama ang mga lahar ang mga tao doon.

“Iyong iba nakikita kong nakasabit sa mga puno ng kahoy,” dagdag niya.

PAG FILE AS A NEW VOTER IN URDANETA CITY

Noong nag file ng registration of voter sa Urdaneta si Madam Maan noong March 14, umani ito ng papuri at batikos  sa mga fans at mga supporter ng kanyang nakikitang katungali na si Urdaneta Mayor Rammy Parayno.

Sabi nila kaPampangan daw si Madam, dayo at walang maiiambag sa siyudad pag siya’y nanalo.

Napaka idiotic naman ang ganitong klaseng buladas na nagsilabasan sa social media at mga radyo.

Laos na iyang salitang “dayo”. Nasa Constitution, Omnibus Election Code, Local Government Code (LGC) at iba pang mga batas na ang pagiging residente ng isang tao para magkandidato ay “An elective local official must be… a registered voter in the… city…; a resident therein for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election… (Section 39 LGC). 

Pag nasunod niya iyang mga pangangailangan na sinabi ko siya'y maging residente at hindi ayon sa batikos ng mga tangang blogger, istupidong writer, sira ulong mga radio commentators at dorobong commenters sa social media.

Parang mga nincompoop na mga pulitiko dati na nababanatan ko sasabihin nila na umuwi na daw ako sa Mindanao dahil hindi ako taga Pangasinan at nanggugulo lang ako dito, hahahaha Mga GAGO!

Mas matagal pa ako dito sa kaharian ni Princess Urduja matapos mag migrate kami ng mga magulang ko noong five years old ako galing sa tahanan namin sa Philippines Military Academy sa Baguio City noong 1973 at bumalik ako para magtrabaho sa PMA, Baguio noong 1988, naging professor sa isang unibersidad sa Dagupan City at naging publisher at editor nitong Northern Watch Newspaper dito noong 1987.

Saka kung dayo ang pinaguusapan, paano iyong mga elective political leaders natin dito tulad nila 3^rd District Congresswoman Rachel Arenas, 5^th District Rep. Mark Cojuangco, returning 4^th District Cong. Gina de Venecia at Bayambang beauteous Mayor Nina Jose-Quiambao? Mga taga Metro Manila at Tarlac ang mga iyon pero naging matagal na mga pinuno dito sa probinsiya.

Laos na iyang mga buladas niyo mga kritiko!

BUY ONE TAKE THREE

Ito pa: Wala daw maiambag na maganda si Misis Guico. Sigurado kayo sa mga pinagsasabi ninyo?

Sino ba ang mister niyan di ba ang guapong Gobernador ng seventh economically biggest province in the Philippines kung saan lalong dumami ang kita noong isang taon ng tax initiative niya sa quarry resources: Nakapagkulekta ang province, cities, towns at barangays ng P626, 626, 641.73 noong 2023 kontra sa  P51, 729, 841.6 noong gobernador pa si Pogi Espino noong 2022.

May P5.73 billion budget pa ang mister niya sa taong ito. Ngayon sasabihin ninyo walang maiambag e kung iyong ibang proyekto noong probinsiya e channel ng mahal niyang esposo sa Urdaneta e di lalong jackpot ang Carabao City dahil naka buy one take three sila.

Tandaan, hindi take two kundi take three kasi father-in-law ni Madam Maan si 5^th District Cong. Monching Guico.

 E kung nabigyan si Cong. Monching ng P2 billion allocation ng Malacanang ngayong taon sa iba’t ibang departamento ng gobyerno at e funnel iyong karamihan sa Urdaneta e di baka malunod ang mga tao diyan sa dami ng proyekto.

Hindi kaya ni Mayor Rammy ang ganoong opurtunidad para lalong mapaganda ang Urdaneta.

Hindi pa natin pinaguusapan ang mga strategies na gagawin ng mga Guicos diyan sa Urdaneta na ikakagulat ng karamihan.

 

BATTLE ROYAL LOOMS: Guv Guico's Wife Transfers Residence to Urdaneta

By Mortz C. Ortigozas

Pangasinan First Lady Maan T. Guico has just transferred today her residence from Binalonan to Urdaneta City as a new registered voter of the city. She was accompanied by hubby Governor Monmon Guico and father-in- law 5th District Cong. Monching Guico and some political allies at the city election office

Some political kibitzers including this columnist have been saying in the past that Maan Guico would be a favorite mayoralty bet against incumbent Mayor Rammy Parayno in the looming battle royal for the May 12, 2025 election.

Supporters of outgoing Senator Grace Poe are calling her to run against reelectionist Pangasinan 3rd District Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas on the May 12, 2025 local and national elections.

“May tama si Rachel kay Grace Poe. Taga Malasiqui siya tapos ang kalaban kinikilalang taga vote-rich San Carlos City at anak pa ni Fernando Poe, Jr (Congresswoman Rachel will have a run for her money. She came from Malasiqui while the challenger is a recognized daughter of the vote –rich San Carlos City and movie icon Fernando Poe, Jr. who was the favorite son of the city),” according to political kibitzer Pido Montoya and his friends in Calasiao’s town about this possible battle royal between the famous Senator and the well-entrenched Congresswoman.

***

Whenever she dropped by in Pangasinan for a whistle stop in her senatorial bids and presidential campaign, she met the siblings of her father and kin from Barangay Kawayan Quiling here at a famous restaurant in this city.

It is not common to see a senator of the Republic running for the membership of the House of Representatives after his or her consecutive two terms or 12 years’ limit in the upper chamber.

Former Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Loren Legarda, Ralph Recto, Pia Cayetano and Allan Cayetano ran and won too their congressional seats in the past.

It needs only for Senator Poe to be registered voter and a resident for at least one year in the 3rd Congressional District – the most populated among the six congressional districts in Pangasinan – if she wants to be elected for the lower chamber.

1st Film Fest in P’ sinan under the Guico Admin

 LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—To establish Pangasinan as a preeminent creative hub of the country, the Provincial Government of Pangasinan (PGP) will hold the first-ever film festival in Pangasinan.

Dubbed ‘PangaSINE Film Festival 2024,’ the activity will serve as one of the highlights of Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival) this year.

As an initial step, Governor Ramon V. Guico III will sign a contract agreement with Mr. Narciso N. Santos, Jr., for the conduct of the activity.

A resolution was authored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Marinor B. de Guzman and approved by the august body on March 12.

“For this year’s celebration of the Pista’y Dayat, Mr. Narciso N. Santos, Jr., shall be the strategic partner of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan in the presentation of PangaSINE 2024: Official Film Festival of the Province of Pangasinan, with its festival theme: “Pangasinan Through the Lens of the Pangasinense,” the resolution partly stated.

Film-making workshops will be held primarily to encourage creativity through filmmaking, discover and nurture Pangasinenses to have the talent and skill in filmmaking, and produce meaningful and quality films that are exclusively made in Pangasinan.

Based on the project proposal presented by Pangasinan Information and Media Relations Officer Dhobie P. de Guzman, the event hopes to “source, curate, and exhibit 10 outstanding short films by homegrown filmmakers; conduct short courses (for students or individuals) in story writing, screen/scriptwriting, producing, directing, cinematography/principal photography, sound editing and design, film/video editing, and film appreciation.”

There are four essential elements the festival hopes to see. These are as follows: 1) narratives from the past that greatly influenced the present-day Pangasinense; 2) the vibrant and ever-changing culture of Pangasinan today; 3) storytelling techniques that fuse the traditional and modern; 4) the hopes, dreams, triumphs, and challenges of the modern Pangasinense, particularly of the youth.

(Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)

More Poor Students to Attend Free College

AFTER GUICO COLLABORATES WITH SOKOR

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -  Through the initiative of the Pangasinan governor, more students from the marginalized sector will be attending free college education in the big province because of the scholarship given by the philanthropic South Korean organization.

“We believe in the power of education as a great equalizer. Once you are equipped with the knowledge, the attitude, and the understanding, we feel and know that our youth and all Pangasinenses and Filipinos could have the opportunity to alleviate themselves from poverty and the miseries of society,” declared by Governor Ramon V. Guico III during the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Lotte Shin Kyuk-ho Scholarship (Outstanding Talent Scholarship in Southeast Asia) of the South Korea based Lotte Group and the presidents of the four government owned colleges and university in Pangasinan.

MOA. Lotte Scholarship Foundation Chairwoman Chang Haesun (extreme left) and Pangasinan Polytechnic College President Raymundo Rovillos signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the two institutions for the free college education of selected poor students in Pangasinan while Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III, Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino, Board Member Vici Ventanilla look. The forging of agreement among the presidents of  the four government colleges and university in the province ensued on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Pangasinan Police Provincial Official) 

The Korean project aimed to provide a scholarship fund of USD $450 per semester to each of the qualified recipients for this school year in these tertiary institutions.

The forging of agreement between the four college presidents and the Lotte Scholarship Foundation (LSF) Chair Haesun Chang have been witnessed also by Vice Governor Mark Lambino, Board Member Vici Ventanilla and other luminaries.

These presidents were Dr. Macrina V. Cajala of the Binalatongan Community College in San Carlos City; Dr. Elbert M. Galas of the Pangasinan State University; Dr. Evelyn Abalos-Tomboc (University of Eastern Pangasinan in Binalonan; and Dr. Raymundo D. Rovillos of the Pangasinan Polytechnic College in Lingayen. 

“Lotte Foundation was established 43 years ago and has been  providing 3.8 billion to foster global talents. Now we want to support the Filipino students,” Chang said in her speech at the PPC.

“We will be the lamp that lights the path to learning,” said by the motto inscribed on the LSF official website.

It elaborated that it “selects outstanding foreign students who strive diligently to learn amidst difficult circumstances, provides biannual scholarships, and also supports scholarships for elementary, middle, and high school students who show excellent talent and scholastic performance.”

Under the MOA, each of the 80 scholars in Pangasinan will receive US$450 (P24,975) per semester for their preferred courses until they graduate.

It will be the tertiary institution that will select the scholars based on their respective internal guidance. The college will then report to the LSF on the operations and expenses they incurred.

“Rest assured that we shall carefully select students who will dedicate themselves to their studies despite challenging circumstances,” PPC First President Rovillos told LSF Chairwoman Chang.

The people of Pangasinan saw the formal opening of the PPC’s Center for Lifelong Learning (CeLL) and the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) held on February 14 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Complex here.

PPC, a landmark project under the administration of Gov. Guico, serves as his gift to the poor but deserving students in Pangasinan for a free education.

Expressing gratitude to the LSF, Guico sets his sights on soliciting more organizations and foundations to extend their altruism for the scholarships of the youth in Pangasinan notably those whose families hailed from lower income brackets of the society.