Whining Politician deprives of "Pork"

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 It is an eye-sore and deplorable to see palay being dried at the stretch of the shoulders of the national highway near the municipal hall of Villasis, Pangasinan Many commuters to and from Manila surely wonder about the silence of the local government unit on this matter.
This is not good for your administration Mayor Ditas Abrenica. Is your nonchalance on this “anarchy” in your streets happening because election is already around the corner and those farmers who solar dry there are voters?
***
 A provincial board member of Pangasinan told me that every quarter each of them receives P875 thousand or P3,500,000 a year discretionary fund. “Kulang pa nga iyan, dapat dagdagan ni Gob, kasi ubos kaagad sa solicitations and projects like mono block chairs that I give to the baranggays in my district,” he said. But a source at the Capitol told me this Board Member will not win the election next year. “Kung hindi nagpapakita sa mga kapitan niya, he kept promising them about financial aid or project. Iyong iba daw na kapitan niya iyong ibibigay dapat niya hindi daw makakabayad sa pabalik balik nila sa bahay niya”.
Another member of the board does not know that his colleagues have already been back biting him. A board member has warned a colleague not to lend hundred thousands of pesos to him because he is a delinquent borrower.
***
Vice Mayor Cesar M. Manzano of Alaminos City whined in the press that his mayor Hernani Braganza did not give him his two million pesos social discretionary fund (spell: pork barrel) for fiscal year 2012.
A mayor of a town in Central Pangasinan agreed with Braganza: “Kahit ako rin hindi ko siya bibigyan, e threat siya sa akin! (If I am the mayor there I’ll do what Braganza has done, he (Manzano) is a threat!)” Manzano runs for the mayoralty in the next year’s poll against Braganza’s son Lean.
Urdaneta City Mayor Bobom Perez told me at his office lately even during the mayoralty reigned of his father (Amadito now “Ambassador” to Taiwan) they did not give anything beyond the salary and office expenses (staff salary, electricity, etc) of the city’s vice mayor and councilors.
Binalonan young Mayor Mon Mon Guico told me that even Renato ”Butsoy” Legazpi challenged him for the mayoralty and assailed him whenever he barnstorms the boondocks, he still gives his P1.3 million “pork” every year to him. Mon-Mon, a pilot and a crossed of actors Dingdong Dantes and Piolo Pascual, laughed off on the allegation by the camp of Butsoy that he is “Gandang lalaki mahirap hagilapin (a hunk that his constituents could hardly locate).
“I was always here in my office”.
 Former Mayors Roy Macanlalay and Lito Zaplan of Calasiao and Sta Barbara told me they regularly give the pork of their vice mayor. Roy qualified however that even though he knew former Vice Mayor Ferdie Galang (my classmate) has moist eyes for the hizzoner’s post against his son Mark Roy (present mayor) he still gave his yearly discretionary funds of almost two million pesos. “What for, he was not even a threat to us”.
Zaplan has no problem with his vice mayor Ray Santos. But told me he still gives the “pork” worth P400 thousand a year to each of the pro-Rey Velasco (a former mayor there who challenged Zaplan in the next year’s election) opposition councilors.
***
Oh, when I met Board Member Bosyong Humilde (1st District, Pangasinan) I asked him if his candidacy, and that of Lean Braganza for mayor in Alaminos City will divide both of their votes from their supporters. He told me if that is the case, then the same could be applied to former congressman Art Celeste and Vice Mayor Manzano who both gun for the same post next year’s poll.
“Their votes would be divided, too”. In 2010 poll, Celeste and Manzano ran for the first and second top posts in the city. But only Manzano made it.
 ***
 I just learned that two of my media colleague Mel Jovillanos (media ward of former Minister Blas Ople and Marcos Minister Kit Tatad and Edwin Bautista (Gezz, my debonair award winning ward when he was under my tutelage in political science subject in a university) run for the vice mayoralty and councillorship, respectively of Pozzurubio town.
Inggat lang kayo Edwin and Mel sabi ni Atong Remogat, baka gawing isyu din sa inyo ang isyu kay Mayor Mon Mon Guico na “Magandang lalaki, mahirap hagilapin”. Atong’s political opponents used that dreaded issue that was responsible for his defeat when he ran for the Barangay chairmanship in 2010 poll.
 If Atong had won that poll he would be running under the slate of Mayor Zaplan as councilor. (You can read my selected intriguing but thought-provoking columns at http://mortzortigoza.blogspot.com. You can send comments too at totomortz@yahoo.com).

Pangasinan receives DILG’s Gawad Pamana ng Lahi

 

The province of Pangasinan led by Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. received the regional award for Gawad Pamana ng Lahi (GPL), considered the ‘mother of governance awards’, from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) during the agency’s rites for Araw ng Parangal on October 30 at the Vigan City Convention Center, Ilocos Sur.
DILG Region 1 Director Corazon Guray hailed the awardees as “mga bagong bayani ng ating bayan,”’ even as she stressed that “The three local government units being awarded with GPL exemplify excellent performances in the Department’s Local Governance Performance Management System’s (LGPMS’s) Administrative, Social, Economic and Environmental Governance and Valuing Fundamentals of Good Governance, and the 2012 Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) – Silver Level”.
The GPL, “a total concept” award conferred to a Province, City or Municipality implemented by the DILG in partnership with other stakeholders gives due recognition to the efforts and contributions of local governments in the advancement of local governance.
DILG Assistant Regional Director Julie Daquioag who described the award as ‘the mother of governance awards’ said that awardees have set high standards in local governance with their innovative approaches undertaken in rendering services to the people.
As the province just recently was announced top contender for the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU) – national level, second runner-up in the national Pearl award in recognition of the best tourism practices and over-all champion in the Batang Pinoy – Northern Luzon Leg, Governor Espino was elated, saying: “This award (referring to the GPL) conferred to the province is for the Pangasinenses who are filled with hope for the betterment of Pangasinan”.
“We see the importance of civil society groups because they serve as partners for local governance serving in various capacities,” Dir. Guray stressed as she expressed hopes that by 2013 the Millenium Development Goals will be realized.
Provincial Planning and Development Officer (PPDO) Benita Pizzaro delivered the précis of the ‘Ilog Ko, Bilayen Tan Aroen Ko’, the GPL entry for innovative project. An audio-visual production on the advocacy produced by the Provincial Information Office was presented later.
The province of Pangasinan, Vigan City (Ilocos Sur), and Municipality of San Nicolas (Ilocos Norte) are the 2012 GPL Region 1 Champions and the nominees of the region in the first-ever national GPL.
The innovations in local governance in the past three years propelled them to surpass the other 126 LGUs of the region.
Dir. Guray reported that the three nominees of region 1 for the national GPL are in the shortlist and of top four contenders in their respective categories. The national winners will be announced in mid-November.
Joining Espino in receiving the award were Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim Jr., Board Members Von Mark Mendoza, Raul Sison, Jeremy Agerico Rosario and Mojamito Libunao, Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan, PPDO Pizzaro and Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco.
Other LGUs hailed as runners-up were: Province category – Ilocos Norte (1st Runner-Up), La Union (2nd Runner-Up); City category – Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (1st Runner-Up), City of San Fernando, La Union (2nd Runner-Up); and Municipality category – Tagudin, Ilocos Sur (1st Runner-Up), Agoo, La Union (2nd Runner-Up). (PIO)

Dagupan deeds registry moves to new office

DAGUPAN CITY – Upgraded services for its clientele will follow the transfer of Registry of Deeds to its new office. Officially launched for business at its recently-constructed edifice beside the Sangguniang Panlungsod building at the City Hall Complex last October 30, the local deeds registry is all set for full-digitization of land title records and in unveiling the online land registration system (LARES), said deeds registrar Atty. Rufino Moreno Jr. Moreno said to make way for the modernization of the registry’s service, Registry of Deeds requested for a new location conducive for the improvements. The request was granted by the City Mayor’s Office through a usufructuary agreement or common ownership with the City Government as mandated by a local council’s resolution. The national government agency has abandoned its former location at the ground floor of the City Hall Complex’s east wing building. Sporting a bank-like setup with the clients transacting through windows, the new local deeds registry office, Rufino said, will “enable all transactions to be transparent as it will lessen the contact as well as familiarity of patrons with the personnel.” He also announced that over 93,000 deeds had already been digitized by the agency for easy archiving and retrieval. Moreno also bared that by Nov. 5, the LARES will be up for operational testing. “These changes were planned to level up with the global standards [of titles registration] and improve the service to our people, making it more transparent, efficient and secured,” the deeds registrar asserted. Cutting the ribbon signifying the formal opening of the office for business were City Administrator Vlad Mata, on Mayor Benjamin S. Lim’s behalf, and Councilor Jesus Canto while the Msgr. Rafael Magno of St. John Metropolitan Cathedral, who also officiated the inaugural mass, blessed the edifice. (CIO)

Romero unloads “Millions” in Mangaldan

Mayor Romero (blue barong) signs another project

The last term mayor of this burgeoning town in Central Pangasinan has chalked up multi-million of pesos of donations and pledges for projects this year to buttress his municipality from national officials. Mayor Herminio Romero bared that Senator Pia Cayetano gave him P1 million for the construction of the newly painted community infirmary, the new comfort rooms for the disabled, and a ramp for them to use at the Mangaldan Youth Development Center (MYDC).
He said he has to intercede for Representative Gina de Venecia (4th District, Pangasinan) for farm-to-market road, and the P1.5 million constructions of a new wooden flooring of the MYDC. Senator Chiz Escudero, Romero said, gave half-a-million pesos to him while Senator Loren Legarda shelled out three hundred thousand pesos for corn plant production to level up the output of farmers here. Senator Manny Villar, the outgoing mayor cited, through the intervention of his wife Cynthia who runs for the Senate, pledged three hundred thousand pesos from his Priority Development Assistance Fund known as pork barrel for this town.
Romero said the office of the president of the Philippines through the intercession of Rep. de Venecia, pledged more funds for the concreting of the earth dikes here and the ten million pesos drainage in the public market. He said he asked too for funds by requesting directly to Cristino Naguit Jr, chairman of the Philippine Gaming & Amusement Corporation, so he can expedite the construction of the first phase of the multi-million pesos multiple story public market that is already 80 percent completed.
 He said the edifice would probably be the biggest modern public market in the province of Pangasinan after its second phase will be finished next year. “Kung hindi ka hihingi hindi malalaman ang problema mo,” Romero quipped in relations to the series of “mannas” from the national government that he just poured in this progressive municipality in Central Pangasinan. Romero, a stalwart of the Nationalista Party, vies for a seat in the provincial board in the next year’s poll.

2 malunggay processing plants in 4th District - Manay Gina

Malungay leaves

Rep. Gina de Venecia  (Extreme Right) donated a motor bike at the police in Dagupan City

Pangasinan congresswoman Gina de Venecia, who has earlier filed House Bill 6462 to name malunggay the national vegetable, is also in the process of putting up -- not one but two-- moringa processing plants in her home-district in Pangasinan. “Last week, we have already inspected the sites for the malunggay plantations that will be put up in San Fabian and in Barangay Awai, San Jacinto”, said Rep. De Venecia,who represents the four-town and one city strong 4th Congressional District, who has allotted an initial amount of 25 million pesos for the establishment of malunggay processing plants in the said towns. “Through these projects, we hope to turn what was known as a backyard tree as a source of a profitable trade that can enable us to tap into the 6.9 billion- dollar world-health industry.” According to De Venecia, “Malunggay is now being manufactured and sold in powder form, tablets and capsules as health supplement. It is likewise used in fortifying beauty products, hair shampoos, sauces, juices, milk, bread, instant noodles, tea, and even ice cream, as what the Manaoag Cooperative in my congressional district has been doing.” To ensure that the uses and propagation of malunggay will be promoted periodically, De Venecia is also seeking for the declaration of the month of November of every year as the “national malunggay month.” Malunggay consumption, to solve 3 main vitamin-deficiency problems in Ph Rep. De Venecia further stated that malunggay consumption will address the three main vitamin deficiency problems identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in developing countries, like the Philippines. According to WHO, the three vitamin deficiency problems in developing nations are: Iron deficiency that reduces resistance to infections; Iodine deficiency that leads to various degree of mental retardation, and; Vitamin A deficiency that promotes loss of immunity. “These three vital nutrients are all found in malunggay, as it has four times more beta-carotene than carrots, and three times more iron than spinach. In addition, it’s also an excellent source of naturally occurring iodine that our body requires for proper functioning,” said De Venecia. Malunggay was named by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as the “Most Nutritious Plant on the Face of the Earth.” It also claimed that malunggay is helpful in curing about 300 diseases, including cancer, diabetes, infertility and HIV-AIDS.

NPC bets in Manaoag

Mayoralty bet Ming Rosario filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) with the COMELEC on October 3, as Manaoag election Officer German Balolong looked on.

The entire 3-M Team under the NPC sealing their straight winnability. Left to Right are: Jun Dizon, Bert Calachan, Juan Tuvera, Paran Ching, vice-mayoralty candidate Domy Ching, Goverenor Espino, Jr., Cojuangco, Ming Rosario, Vice Gov. Calimlim, Lotlot Tanauan, Maricon Sison, Pedro Palaganas, and Doods Rosario. The oath taking event was held on October 5 at the Sison.

Provincial Senior Board Member Jeremy Agerico "Ming" B. Rosario (right) is sworn in as Manaoag town's official candidate for mayor under the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) by former 5th District Representative Mark Cojuangco (2nd from Right) NPC provincial chairman. Witnessing the event are Governor Amadot T. Espino, Jr. (2nd from Left) and Vice Governor Ferdie Z. Calimlim, both re-electionist also under the NPC Party

Coloma before Pangasinan Rotarians, writers Oct.30

Herminio “Sonny” B. Coloma Jr

DAGUPAN CITY – Presidential Communications Operations Officer Herminio “Sonny” B. Coloma Jr., will address the Rotary District 3790 Area II meeting at the Stadia Convention Hall here on Tuesday, October 30 at 7:00 in the evening. Assistant Gov. Alfredo T. Caguioa, a former regional manager of the Development Bank of the Philippines, said Secretary Coloma, a former Rotary District governor in Metro Manila himself, is expected to define the role of civic volunteerism in the government’s campaign for honest governance. Host Rotary Club of Downtown Dagupan President Tony Manuel rallied the attendance from the Rotary Club of Dagupan healed by Jorge Perreras, Dagupan East (Ernie Llanillo) Central Pangasinan (Melody Padilla); Uptown Dagupan (Belen Montesa) and Metro Dagupan (Bing Van Tooren).
 Participating Rotary Clubs in Pangasinan are Lingayen, Lingayen Gulf, San Fabian, Sta. Barbara, Binmaley, Malasiqui, Mangaldan, Calasiao, San Carlos City and Urdaneta City. Meanwhile, Lyceum Northwestern University president Gonzalo Duque announced that before his date with Rotarians, Secretary Coloma will guest at the Media in Action forum of the Pangasinan Press Club at 4 p.m., also at the Stadia. Duque was charter president of the Rotary Club of Uptown Dagupan. Coloma, a former columnist of Business World and president, Asian Institute of Management, is expected to administer the oath also at the Stadia of the newly formed PEN (Poets, Essayists and Novelists) Pangasinan chapter led by Sonny Villafania, Cesar Carpio, Jun Velasco, Al Mendoza, Norma Llongoren.