Reg. 3 Econ. Dwarfs Reg. 1 with P60.8-B. Tax

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – Based on the tax target given by the national government, the taxes to be collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue in central Luzon are almost three times bigger than by their counterpart in Ilocos Region.

BIR Revenue Region No. 4 Director lawyer Emmanuel S. Ferrer, Jr. told Northern Watch Newspaper that his office is mandated by the tax agency’s central office in Quezon City to collect P60.8 billion for this year.

Central Luzon is becoming a preferred hub for industrial park development in the country. This is according to leading diversified professional services and investment management firm Colliers (NASDAQ and TSX: CIGI), that attributes this to improving infrastructure connectivity and the rise of new industrial spaces in the region, brought on by the development of more integrated communities. Moneysense.com

“P60.8 billion. For last year P51 billion,” the Director told this writer during the sideline of the tax campaign kick-off rally of Revenue District Office No. 21A held at the Activity Center of Marquee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Ilocos Region

The BIR in central Luzon oversees Revenue District Office No. 1 in Ilocos Norte, RDO No. 2 in Ilocos Sur, RDO No. 3 in La Union, RDO No. 4 in central Pangasinan, RDO No. 5 in western Pangasinan, and RDO No. 6 in eastern Pangasinan.

RDO No. 4 Chief Lope N. Tubera said that Revenue Regional Office No. 1 was ordered to collect P23. 7 billion while his office – that oversees two cities and fourteen towns’ central Pangasinan was tasked to rack up P5.391 billion for 2024.

Central Luzon

If RDO No. 4 is the premier tax office in the six RDOs Ilocos Region, RDO-21A under Charmaine C. dela Torre is the flagship office of central Luzon because it is mandated to collect P14.4 -billion this year. RDO-21A covers the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat and the towns of Magalang, Porac, and Arayat.

The population of the six provinces (Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales) of the Revenue Regional Office No. 4 as coined by the BIR for central Luzon was 7, 985, 037 (PSA 2020) while the demography of the four provinces (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan) Revenue Regional Office No. 1 was 5,301,139 (PSA 2020).

 Region-3

A growth region in the Philippines, according to the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) that contributes significantly to the national economy, Central Luzon is home to a number of industrial estates and economic zones with efficient water, power and telecommunication facilities; port facilities; road networks that create synergy between and among the economic and tourism points of Subic, Clark and the seven provinces; and, a strategic location that offers accessibility for the movement of people, goods and service from the North to Manila.

A distinct advantage in consideration of the Asia-Pacific Rim, Central Luzon’s highly strategic location was enough for the United States Government to locate their biggest naval and air military facilities outside the US mainland. The former Subic Naval Base and Clark Air Base facilities which were turned over to the Philippine government in 1991, now two of the country’s premier economic zones.

Central Luzon combines the advantages of an international airport, a seaport, industrial and agricultural areas, tourism and leisure sites, support services, and major thoroughfares. The complementation of each of these elements enhances the strengths of the region as an investment destination.

Ilocos Region

Although the economy in the southern portion of the region, especially Pangasinan, is anchored on agro-industrial and service industry, the economy in the northern portion of the region is anchored in the agricultural sector. The economy in Pangasinan is driven by agro-industrial businesses, such as milkfish (bangus) cultivation and processing, livestock raising, fish paste processing (bagoong), salt production, and others. At the same time the importance of trading, financial services, and educational services in the economy cannot be denied. Income in the Ilocos provinces or northern portion mostly come from cultivating rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, and fruits; raising livestock such as pigs, chicken, goats, and carabaos (water buffalos).

The distribution of the economic activity in the region may be seen from the collection of tax revenue of the national government. The bulk of the collections come from Pangasinan, which posted 61% of the total.

The service and light manufacturing industries are concentrated in the cities. Dagupan City is mostly driven by its local entrepreneurs, which have started to expand its network up to the national level. San Fernando City in La Union also has an active shipping port and Laoag City in Ilocos Norte has an international airport.

The tourism industry, driven by local airlines and land transportation firms in the area like Victory Liner, Five Stars, Solid North, Farinas Transit Company and Partas, focuses on the coastal beaches and on eco-tourism. There are fine sands stretching western Pangasinan, along Bauang and premium beach resorts in San Juan all in La Union and the rest of the region. Opportunities to engage in other water sports and activities abound. Eco-tourism takes advantage of the marine and forest resources in the Ilocos Region and displays the natural beauty of the place.

The region is also rich in crafts, with renowned blanket-weaving and pottery. The Ilocanos’ burnay pottery is well known for its dark colored clay.

Bankruptcy of this Political Family

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

A kin mulls to be elected for a lawmaking seat of a first class town in the next year’s election. I told him to prepare two to three million pesos for day to day expenses  and for the purchase of votes from the voters in the eve of election if he wants to win the derby.

Photo credit: Groww

Was my advice dissolute or immoral since the Right of Suffrage is revered by people in a democratic society like the Philippines?

The solemnity of an election is only a platitude espoused by experts on the annotations of political science books,the Constitution, and jurisprudences.

In reality, one needs a lots of money be it in a presidential, senatorial, congressional and local elections despite they run against the limitation on the campaign expenses mandated by the Omnibus Election Code in the rambunctious country's Philippines.

One needs a lot of doughs for a regular television advertisement on the national elections that run up to a billion of pesos for a one year to six months’ preparation but one needs to buy the vote –from P50 to P,1000 – directly to each of the mostly ignorant masa to win an electoral seat that gives a pittance based on the monthly remuneration for a three years’ term of a politico.

Elective positions are preoccupations entered by the people who have monies to burn. I smirked seeing those candidates, for example in the top village post, mortgaging a property for a million of pesos or selling their house and lot so they can buy votes just to win a post that gives a P15,000 monthly pay for a two or three years’ term.

These candidates mired themselves with debts just to massage their ego as the most respected leader in their barangay when they get elected. Imagine, there is an adjective of “Honorable” appended before their rank and name. I found this practice and goal insane!

Almost everybody pays obeisance to the “Kapitan” and “Kagawad” in the barrio.

Ito iyong mga kulang sa accomplishment sa buhay at diyan na nagsusugal sa pagiging pulitiko kahit na malubog sila sa utang dahil kailangan nila ng prestige or respeto.

***

One example of this inanity was a former mayor and his father who borrowed tens of millions of pesos just to win the 2019 mayorship election. Debtors were freaking out because even during the mayor’s failed reelection in the 2022 poll they couldn't pay their debts they used to buy votes in the 2019 contest. When their governor friend lost the last election, their burgeoning construction business with the provincial government disappeared in thin air that aggravated their fluidity to pay their debts to angry creditors.

Worse, even their cars have been sold if not pulled out by the car dealers because of their failure to pay the monthly amortization.

Both father and son swore that they would no longer dip their fingers on the acrimonious, expensive, and dirty world of politics.

They become insolvent if not a pauper.

How about you dear readers, do you know folks like those above?

P’nan Town Nixes Classes Every Time Sun Hits Danger Level

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan - When the heat index reaches the danger degree Celsius, the mayor here ordered that classes from the elementary to high school in public and privates school be suspended.

Photo courtesy: Inventiva

A report Thursday, for example, from the Department of Science & Technology (DOST)-PAG-ASA that the heat index would reach 46° prompted Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno to suspend the classes to protect the students.

The action of Parayno was not new because in April 3, 2024 she signed Executive Order No. 2024-019 that instructs the suspension of all face-to-face schoolings in pre-school to high school levels in both public and private schools under the local government here.

DOST-PAG-ASA said that the 46° is under the classification “danger” to humans that would cause cramps, exhaustion, or stroke to those who expose themselves  under the blistering sun.

To those school officials who would continue the direct mode of classes, it is up for them, according to the Mayor, because they have been authorized by the Department of Education (DepEd) based on DepEd Order No. 037 Series of 2022. The order is about the g𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 c𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 s𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 c𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 w𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 s𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 e𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 n𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 d𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, p𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 o𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 / p𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 i𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 c𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴.

Parayno, however, said that the parents, guardians and the students should coordinate with the school officials to know the mode of learning the children are going to undertake.

Mayor Parayno cautioned her constituents to protect their health and safety under the sizzling heat felt not only in the Philippines but in the other regions of the world.

Earlier, the mayor advice the people here to drink enough water, stay at shaded area, avoid exposing themselves to the merciless sun, wear comfortable dress, use protection from the sun like umbrella, hat and sunglasses. (With reports from Mangaldan PIO)

Batang Celeste Aagawan ng Trono si Sual Mayor

 

 MATAPOS TALUNIN NI MAYOR SI EX-CONG. CELESTE SA BATTLE ROYAL

Ni Mortz C. Ortigoza

SUAL, Pangasinan – Nagparehistro dito kamakailan lang si dating Pangasinan Board Member Arthur Celeste, Jr. para agawin ang trono ng nakaupong mayor ng pinakamayamang bayan sa buong Pangasinan.

Former Pangasinan Board Member Arthur Celeste,Jr (left) and burgeoning town mayor Liseldo "Dong" Calugay.

Tinalo noong May 9, 2022 sa isang magarbo at maingay na mayorship election dito ni two-term mayor Liseldo ”Dong” Calugay ang tiyuhin ni Celeste na si dating Pangasinan 1^st Disrict Cong. Jesus “Boying” Celeste.

Si Celeste ay pinalitan bilang pinuno ng Philippines Councilors League - Pangasinan Chapter (PCL-PC) ni Carolyn Dizon-Sison kung saan awtomatiko siyang naging ex-oficio na miyembro ng provincial board matapos maghain ng resignation letter sa opisina ni Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino si Celeste sa pagiging Board Member ng Pangasinan 1^st District.

Nanalo si Celeste sa PCL–PC election kontra kay Councilor Antonio Perez ng San Manuel, Pangasinan noong September 9, 2022 kung saan siya ang naging pinuno ng 47 na mga bayan at mga siyudad sa lalawigan na may mga PCL chapters.

Bago magpa rehistro dito, nagbitaw muna si Celeste bilang elected city councilor ng Alaminos City dahil iyan ay naaayon sa batas bago ang isang Filipino ay maging kandidato sa alin mang elective public pusisyon sa ibang bayan.

Former Pangasinan Board Member Arthur Celeste, Jr. (extreme right photo), Sual Vice Mayor JC Arcinue (2nd from right) and Celeste's namesake and father Pangasinan 1st District Cong. Celeste (extreme left photo). Photo taken after the young Celeste filed recently his voter registration at the 19 villages' Sual town. Photo credit: Board Member Apple Bacay 

Ayon sa Local Government Code of the Philippines ang isang “elective local official must be… a registered voter in the… town…; a resident therein for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election… (Section 39)”. 

Ang batang wannabe mayor na kandidato dito ay anak ni Pangasinan 1^st District Cong. Arthur Celeste, Sr.

Ang namumuong labanan dito ay nakikita uli ng mga political experts na isang battle royal matapos gapiin ni Mayor Calugay si dating Congressman Boying Celeste sa isang magarbo, maingay at magastos na election noong May 9, 2022 kahit na daang milyong pesos ang bumaha dito sa projects at social services  galing sa pondo ni Congressman Noli Celeste.

Nakakuha si Calugay ng API ng 14,735 boto habang si dating congressman Celeste ng Nationalista Party ay merong 12, 125 na boto.

Matapos manalo na vice mayor ng matandang Celeste si incumbent Vice Mayor JC Arcinue, siya ay pinagpapalagay ng diyaryong ito na maging tandem uli ng batang Celeste sa susunod na taong election noong makita siyang kasama si Arthur Jr. noong nag file ito nag voter registration dito.

Tittle -Tattle: Estrella vs. Vice Guv Lambino

By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

The critics of Pangasinan Governor Monmon Guico and Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino –dubbed as the vaunted Aguila in the 2022 Election – fail to sow intrigue on the photo of come backing congressional wannabe Manay Gina de Venecia of the Pangasinan 4^th District where the De Venecia’s matriarch posed for a photo op with Guico, outgoing 4^th District Cong. Toff de Venecia, and Albert Romero Estrella.

Albert Romero Estrella (extreme left photo) and Pangasinan Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino (extreme right photo). Estrella is the scion of Department of Agrarian Reform Sec. Conrad Estrella.

Estrella represented his father Department of Agrarian Reform Sec. Conrad Estrella during the Farmers' Night at a fiesta in Manaoag, Pangasinan.

Some media men at the Capitol suspected that the young Estrella – who has a male twin – was doing a stomp and soiree to countless of places in the huge province for his vice gubernatorial bid.

A high official doused water to the perception of the Capitol friendly reporters that the boy zeroes to unseat the vice governor at his perch in the capital town’s Lingayen.

Albert is ubiquitous nowadays because he is going to replace his uncle – Cong. Eskimo Estrella - as the first nominee of the Abono Partylist while his twin’s Gilbert will be challenging Pangasinan 6^th District Marlyn Primicias-Agabas. This after the latter was rumored to undermine the bid of the Estrellas in the district to have another congressional apportionment so their kin could run unopposed for Congress.

I wrote on my blog then: “The cause of the riff, my source who asked on conditioned of anonymity, started when Estrella’s younger brod Cong. Robert Raymund “Eskimo” Estrella, who is the lone Representative of Abono Partylist, passed a bill in the House of Representatives to transform Pangasinan six congressional districts to eight. (MY QUESTION: Why file a bill for an eight- district when we could have up to 12 districts based on our more than three million populations by using the Constitutional barometer of not least than 250, 000 population for creating a congressional district?).  My source said that Cong. Estrella’s bill carved out the towns of Asingan, Balungao and Rosales and Sta. Maria – both the bailiwick of the Estrellas - all from the old 6^th District for the new 7^th District that includes too the towns of Villasis and Sto. Tomas of the 5^th District. My mole told me that the actuation of Estrella – whose brother – DAR Sec. Conrad - and him have shaky alliance with 6^th District Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas – offended the camp of the latter. Agabas’ hubby – a former congressman – is the incumbent Tayug Mayor Tyrone Agabas. “Since she is a Deputy Majority Leader of the 19^th Congress, she could torpedo the bill in the committee level before it goes to the plenary for votation,” my source – an avid reader of this column - told me when I pooh-poohed how can a lone congresswoman frustrates a bill for the welfare of the folks in Pangasinan when the 315 members of the House of Representatives resort to the popular votes and not her to catapult the bill into a law (of course with the collaboration of the Senate and the final signature of the President to make it a real law - as what our Prof taught us in Political Science)”

COJUANGCO AND VG LAMBINO’S BROUHAHA

When I crossed path with Vice Governor Lambino last Monday at the Capitol, he reacted to the two sentences of my front page news article in the vernacular titled: Si VG Lambino na ang Gustong Makalaban ni Urdaneta Mayor that saw print on our April 21-27 issue of the Northern Watch Newspaper where I am the Editor-in-Chief.

THE VAUNTED members of the Aguila that destroyed the political machinery of the Espino family in Pangasinan. From left to right: Pangasinan 1st District Rep. Art Celeste, Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Mark Cojuangco, Pangasinan Governor Monmon Guico, and Billionaire Businessman Cezar Quiambao. 

  I wrote: “Noong mag krus ang landas ni Lambino at Cojuangco kamakailan sa Bagoong Festival sa Lingayen, sinabihan ng huli ang una na hahanapan niya ng kalaban sa pagiging bise gobernador si Lambino”.

“Itong pangyayari ay ayon sa insider ng diyaryong ito sa Lingayen na nagsabi na masama pa rin ang loob ni Cojuangco matapos magpatawag noong September 2023 si Lambino sa mga miyembro ng provincial board para imbestigahan ang illegal na P75 million na seawall sa Lingayen na panukala ni Cojuangco na gawin ng Department of Public Works & Highway”.

The young two-term vice governor told me that he met with the solon and was told what I wrote above. He disagreed however that Cojuangco was still smarting on what he did and his lawmakers on the seawall.

“A few days later I met him and everything was fine as if nothing happens,” he told me.

As what the overused phrase said: All well that ends well!

So If Lambino and Cojuanco are chummy again so with Governor Guico and the mestizo 2^nd District congressman – the son of the man behind the success of the mammoth conglomerate’s San Miguel Corporation.

In a post at Facebook by Cojuangco dated April 19, Governor Guico was seen in a jovial moment with the solon, Pangasinan 1^st District Rep. Art Celeste, and Billionaire Businessman Cezar Quiambao where they dined at a posh restaurant in Imperial Manila, probably, and stood, held their fingers, and raised their hands to project to all and sundry their unity.

Cojuangco captioned it: “Ayon sa mga bali-balita na gawa ng mga Marites at Tolits, nabuwag na raw ang TEAM AGUILA. Ako raw at si Gov. Ramon Mon-Mon Guico III ay hindi na nag-uusap at may samaan ng loob, at tumiwalag na raw ako sa Team AGuiLa. Wala na pong paliguy-ligoy pa, kayo na ang humusga! Sabi nga nila, a picture paints a thousand words. Kaya heto na po ang picture namin na kuha ngayong gabi Paki-share na lang sa mga Marites at Tolits, mga ka-distrito!

I quipped by writing at my Facebook Account after sharing the photos of the meeting of those four powerful men of Pangasinan:

“Ayaw niyo kasi maniwala sa mga blogs ko na walang kalaban sa pagka Gob si Monmon Guico sa 2025 election. Heto, buongbuo ang apat na orig ng Aguila!” after Governor Guico showed me text messages from Cojuangco, Cong. Toff de Venecia, and Manay Gina de Venecia who greet him on his natal day.

The quadrumvirate of Guico, Cojuangco, Quiambao, and Celeste collaborated in the 2022 Election to destroy big time the political machinery of their archrival the perennial ruling Espino family – composed of former Governor Amado, his son and namesake the former Guv, and his congressman son’s Jumel -  in the national and provincial politics.

With Guico and Lambino cozying up with Cojuangco, their critics and bashers have lost topics to sow intrigue.

Paano iyan walang kalaban na formidable sa governorship and vice governorship sa 2025 election ang dalawa, another three years kayong insecure na naman niyan mga kritiko at sour grapes?

Money Fight: Garcia should Duke-Out with Pacquiao, Spence

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

The series of punishment dealt by Lightweight Division’s pug Ryan Garcia on Devin Miles Haney - his adversary last weekend – was scintillating.

NEW FACE of boxing American Ryan Garcia (left photo and clockwise), explosive Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and the still dangerous American Errol Spence. 

While glued excitedly on Round 1 (where Ryan powerful left hook wobbled Haney), I reminisced the mauling of Manny Pacquiao of the then favorite to win Antonio Marco Barrera on their first meeting when I saw Garcia did the same to Haney in Round 7.  I recalled, too, how the hard hitting Nicaraguan Ricardo Mayorga with his street brawl style kept knocking down the technical – just like Haney – World Boxing Association World Welterweight and Welterweight’s World Boxing Council Champ’s American Vernon Forrest when Garcia felled his opponent twice in Rounds 10 and 11.

My take on Haney: When your opponent is a knocked out artist, you don’t fight him tit-for-tat. The only guy who did it was Sugar Ray Leonard against Roberto Duran on their first hard fought back and forth take- no- prisoner battle. What made Leonard different to Haney, the former had a chin, powerful hand speed, and fast footwork.

POST FIGHT PRESSER

In the post press conference called by the camp of Garcia, Golden Boy Promotion Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Oscar dela Hoya told the members of the press that Ryan is the face now of boxing.

“Ryan is calling all the shots now – that is the fact! If he (opponent) wants to fight at 147, he wants to fight at a catch weight, guess what?  If anybody wants to make money, if anybody wants to make more money they have to fight Ryan. Guest what? He calls all the shots, that’s it!”

Ryan Garcia emerged victorious over American compatriot Devin Haney in a high-stakes match held in New York. The taller and powerful champ strategic implementation of his left hook proved instrumental, leading to his opponenet's staggering knockdowns in the seventh, 10th, and 11th rounds.

DANGEROUS ON THAT EXCESS WEIGHTS

Garcia exceeded by 3.3 pounds the maximum limit of 140 pounds of the Lightweight Division that made him heavier and powerful in the fight night against the beleaguered Haney whose victims were George Kambosos, Jr (twice) and Vasyl Lomachenko (controversial win).

“Garcia would be dangerous despite the technicality of Haney because of that excess weight a day before the fight night,” I told my two grown up boxing aficionado sons a day before the rumble at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City.

Boxing experts and renowned combat sports players opined in the post-fight that the native of Los California should be fighting at 147 pounds (Welterweight) and not to return to the lower weights like when he looked gaunt where Tank Davis knocked him down to the dais big time in Round 2 and knocked him out through a kidney punch on Round 7 on their April 22, 2023 outing.

Garcia mulled to fight the towering Sebastian Fundora - the champion of the WBO and WBC 154 Super Welterweight Division.

 Garcia however should evaluate thoroughly whom to fight next as based on Dela Hoya’s logic for profit.

 Garcia was declared on that breathtaking fight by the ref as the majority (two judges) winners at 114-110 and 115-109 while the other judge gave that controversial draw of 112-112.

HIGH PAYING FIGHT

Garcia camp should call out legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao or Errol Spence – who could enhance the PPV - instead of a rematch with Haney and a duke out with Teofimo Lopez – the present WBO Super Lightweight champ.

On the last outing of Spence versus Terrence Crawford at Welterweight, the event gross $55 million and a gate revenue of more than $20 million while Pacquiao versus Keith Thurman at Welterweight sold $37.5 million in PPV.

The Tank versus Garcia fight in April 22, 2023 at Las Vegas, Nevada earned 1.2 million PPVs at $84.99 and approximately $22.8 million from ticket sales or a total revenue of $124.9 million.

Garcia can earn more than $50 million on his latest match. According to thesporters.com, he stands to earn $30 million not to mention $12 million he won at the casino when he bet $2 million for himself. The American – whom many thought became a nut job - was the underdog on this Haney fight. The ballyhooed fight is expected to earn one million PPV sales.

(Send comments to totomortz@yahoo.com)

FRIENDS

Come backing Pangasinan 4th District congressional wannabe Gina de Venecia (standing) and her son Rep. Toff de Venecia (extreme right) cozy up with Pangasinan Governor Monmon Guico (extreme left) and Albert Romero Estrella (center) who represents his father Department of Agrarian Reform Sec. Conrad Estrella during the Farmers' Night at a fiesta in Manaoag, Pangasinan. Photo credit: Manay Gina de Venecia