VEGETABLE SEEDLINGS DISTRIBUTION. Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (2nd from left) and ABONO Partylist Chairman Rosendo So (4th from right), assisted by DEPED officials from Pangasinan Division I, distribute vegetable seedlings to the school officials of Paitan Elementary School in Sual highlighting the launching of the provincewide Search for Outstanding Gulayan and Maisan sa Eskwelehan Project on September 19. (PIO Photo by Emil Mari)

Series of shotgun distribution concludes with 99% total recipients

The series of distribution of shotguns concluded on a high note last Friday (September 19, 2008) at the Pangasinan PNP Target Range with about 99 percent of the total number of barangay chairpersons received their long arms intended to maintain peace and order in their respective communities.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, who just arrived few days ago from official travel from the United States, led the culminating activity of Pump Shotgun Markmanship and Familiarization Training, together with First District Representative Arthur Celeste, Board Members Tyrone Agabas, Von Mark Mendoza, Liberato Villegas, Jeremy Rosario, Amadeo Espino, Raul Sison, and Mayors Jonas Castaneda (Lingayen), Ernesto Acain (Labrador), and Domingo Doctor (Burgos).

The last batch of recipients came from the towns of Alaminos, Sual and Bani.

Gov. Espino said that it took them more than a year to study the shotgun program before it was implemented.

“Pwede naman natin bilhin agad yan dahil nag-set aside na kami ng budget na P30M, pero sa akin tinimbang muna namin yan, pinag-aralan at dumaan sa maraming consultations,” Gov. Espino said.

In his remarks, First District Cong. Arthur Celeste pointed out that the shotguns given to the barangay captains should be handled with great responsibility. He urged them to use it only to maintain peace and order in their area.

For his part, Board Member Agabas said that the barangay captains in his district were very happy to receive their shotguns which will serve as their shield against the intruders at night.

“Masaya ako ngayong araw na ito because this is a realization of so many dreams of the commitment na masasabi kong partly undertook during the election in the 6th District when we were campaigning together with the good Governor,” said 6th District Board Member Tyrone Agabas during the Pump Shotgun Markmanship, Familiarization Training and Turn-over Ceremony held at Pangansinan Provincial Police Office (PPPO) on September 19, 2008.

“What is being armed here is not specifically the punong barangay. What is being armed here is peace and security. How can we effectively uplift economic lives of our people if there’s no sense of security. That is the number one primordial agenda of the Governor, “ BM Agabas stressed.

Gov. Espino also said that after the shotgun, he will also equip every barangay with communication radios.

“Kung papayag ulit ang mga board members natin at kung may pondo tayo, ang susunod na kasama diyan ay mga radio para sa lahat ng barangays,” Gov. Espino announced.

“Ang purpose niyan ay magtu-tulungan kayong mga barangay at matutulungan kayo agad ng mga kapulisan natin. Pati mga ambulansiya at ospital natin matawagan niyo sila para kunin ang mga pasyente sa barangay niyo,” the Governor explained.

In the meantime, Mayor Doctor also expressed his support to the shotgun program. He belied reports that he was against shotgun distribution. “My statements were taken out of context by the media,” he told the governor. (PIO/Ninia F. Nicolas)

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (2nd from left), and First District Cong. Arthur Celeste (left) lead the ceremonial turn-over of shotguns to barangay captains from Sual (3rd from left), Alaminos (2nd from left) and Bani (right) during the culminating ceremony on Pump Shotgun Markmanship & Familiarization Training at the Pangasinan Provincial Police firing range on September 19. The governor who just arrived few days ago from official business trip in the United States concluded the shotgun distribution with 99% total recipients among all barangay heads in the entire province. (PIO Photo by Emilio R. Mari)

The Civil Service Commission Lingayen Field Office is calling on all provincial government employees to join the Quiz Bee contest in line with the 108th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary this September.

Slated on September 23 at the Pangasinan State University Audio-Visual Room in Lingayen, the Quiz Bee will measure the employees’ knowledge on personnel administration and/or human resource management from various government agencies in the province.

The competition is open to team category composed of two government employees. They will be challenged on topics about civil service laws, rules, policies, regulations and programs of the Commission with the following type of questions: filling in the blanks, multiple choice and true or false. The mechanics will be revealed before the quiz proper.

Prizes also await the three winners. First prize will receive a trophy and P3,000; second prize, trophy and P2,000 and third prize, trophy and P1,000.

Every government agency who wanted to participate should submit two names of their employees at CSC Lingayen Field Office on or before September 22, 2008. (PIO/Ninia F. Nicolas)

PHO trains 1,500 midwives to reduce

LINGAYEN— The provincial health office has been conducting a series of orientation-workshop for more than 1,500 midwives in a bid to organize a network of Women’s Health and Safe Motherhood (WHSM) team in all barangays.

The organization of WSHM in every barangay is envisioned to deliver quality women’s health and “saf `ehood-motherhood” services with midwives as key leaders to prevent maternal deaths in the province of Pangasinan.

The 2007 health statistics shows that the province has 20 maternal deaths per 1,000 live births.

The leading causes of maternal deaths that can be prevented when given a proper maternal health care include ectopic pregnancy, obstructed labor, hypertension due to eclampsia, convulsion, infection and post-partum hemorrhage.

Dr. Jackson Soriano, PHO officer-in-charge, said the WSHM team will be the frontliners of the province in the health service delivery system in the barangay as far as maternal health care is concerned.

“Midwives play a pivotal role in the formation of a proactive WSHM team to safeguard the health of our pregnant women, thus prevent maternal deaths in your jurisdiction ,” he said.

For her part, Dr. Cielo Almoite, family health care cluster head, pointed out that the goal of having an WHSM team in every barangay is “to ensure the safety of pregnant women from her first trimester period up to her post-partum delivery.

“These are considered as high-risk period for pregnant women that needs to be monitored by the WHSM team,” she stressed.

The composition of WSHM team includes the barangay health worker, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) as members together with municipal health officer and public health nurse as team’s supervisor and assistant supervisor respectively.

Eleonor Maramba, PHO’s maternal health care coordinator, has explained to the midwives the various mechanisms in the provision of improving the women’s health and safe motherhood.

These include the coming up with a masterlist of pregnant women and assisting them to accomplish birth plan for they could easily monitor their regular monthly check-up to the health center. (Merly R. Tibalao/PIO)

Gov. Espino commends prov’l gov’t employees

LINGAYEN--- Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr, who just arrived last Saturday from the United States, commended the provincial government officials and employees during a “welcome back party” prepared for him by the provincial officials last Tuesday at the Capitol Resort Hotel.

“I salute you all guys for doing a job well done,” he said. Gov. Espino likewise expressed his gratitude to Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias Agabas who was acting as Governor for almost three weeks and to all provincial department heads for “efficiently managing the affairs of the province.”

He thanked all employees “for giving their best efforts for the province of Pangasinan. “I am very much proud of you and I missed you all,” he said.

For his trip, Espino has proudly noted his accomplishments during his US official trip together with Mayor Ernesto Castaneda of Lingayen where they both convinced the “kabaleyans” to visit to Pangasinan again and see for themselves the transformation of the Capitol and Lingayen.

“Expect more balikbayans coming in as early as November,” Espino said as he stressed that their visit to US is “not to beg” but to bring pride for Pangasinan.

“I don’t believe that Pangasinenses are mendicants, and I won’t allow them to feel they are beggars as long as I am the Governor,” Giving them relief goods for just one meal would only give them a feeling of a “beggar” in their own province.

In her speech to welcome the governor, Vice Gov. Agabas, likewise, thanked Gov. Espino for giving her the “trust and confidence.” to manage the province for the second time around.

“Accepting the job as acting Governor for even a very short period of time gave me mixed emotions. And this is elation and apprehension. Elation because the governor believes in my ability, and apprehension because I might not be able to fill in his big shoes as a hardworking governor as he is. And now, with Gov. Espino around, it’s time for him to take the driver’s seat,” said Agabas.

Members of the provincial board who also welcomed back Gov. Espino include BMs Alfonso Bince, Von Mark Mendoza, Angel Baniqued, Nestor “Nicky Boy” Reyes, Raul Sison, Amadeo Espino and Alicia Pulido.

Former Dagupan City Mayor Benjie Lim, who was also present during the affair, pointed out that “the province is very much lucky to have Gov. Espino.”

Likewise, the province’s First Lady Prescilla Espino said she was “very happy” that her husband has arrived “safe and sound” even as she noted the efforts of the provincial department heads for doing their respective jobs even the governor is not around.(Merly R. Tibalao/PIO)

Province holds 3-day health summit

LINGAYEN--- Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., together with Ambassadors Kristie Ann Kenney of the United States and Alistair Macdonald of the European Commission (EC) will lead the first-ever Provincial Health Summit on September 25 to 27 at the Oxford Hotel in Clarkfield, Pampanga.

The three-day activity will have the participation of 250 delegates coming from various chief executives and municipal health officers of local government units (LGUs), and leaders in the health sector.

The summit aims to further improve the health of every Pangasinense especially the marginalized sectors through a collective support and commitment from the local chief executives as well as health stakeholders.

The in-house activity will be facilitated by the provincial health office headed by Dr. Jackson Soriano in coordination with the Health Governance (HealthGov) team, a group tapped by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on its various development programs in the country.

The holding of the summit is an offshoot of the three-day rationalization plan activity which was held last July with MHOs, chief of hospitals, local health coordinators, local health workers and PHO as key major players.

Rationalization health plan, according to Dr. Soriano, is the optimization of the current local health system to be able to deliver the full range of health services in the most effective and efficient manner.

Conceptualized by Gov. Espino himself, the summit will serve as a venue to build concerted efforts and commitments among local chief executives for a better delivery of health services to their constituents.

In achieving these objectives, Dr. Soriano said, the activity shall include consultations, open forums and plenary sessions among the LGUs and other concerned local health coordinators to come up with a concrete health action plans for the wellness of every Pangasinense. (Merly R. Tibalao/PIO)

HEALTH SUMMIT PREPARATION. Dr. Jackson Soriano, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Health Office, meets his staff in preparation for the holding of the first-ever Pangasinan Health Summit on September 25-27. The three-day summit, which will be spearheaded by Gov. Amado T. Espino,Jr. and with special participation of Ambassadors Kristie Ann Kenney and Alistair Macdonald (European Commission), will be participated in by various local chief executives, municipal health officers, local health coordinators, and chiefs of district hospitals. (Photo by Emil Mari/PIO)

Health officials contain incidence of cholera

The provincial government, in tandem with the DOH-CHD Region I and the different LGUs in Pangasinan, has practically contained the incidence of cholera in the province with the activation of Quick Response Task Force Against Acute Gastroenteritis, Provincial Administrator Rafael F. Baraan said on Wednesday (September 10).

In a media briefing at the Capitol, Baraan said that out of 6,350 cases of acute gastroenteritis from January to September 8, some 57 cases of cholera in Pangasinan were recorded for the same period.

No new cholera cases have been registered since September 4.

“Everything is now under control,” he said, even as he stressed that the task force, which is composed of the regional office of DOH and the Prov’l Health Office, conducted an intensive campaign to equip the people against acute gastroenteritis in coordination with barangay health workers and rural health units (RHUs) personnel through surveillance and speedy reporting of cases to the task force. The Task Force has been distributing hyposols and oresols in the different RHUs, and has conducted chlorination activities in drinking water supply sources around the province.

Hyposol is a solution that treats impurities in water, while oresol is an oral rehydration powder solution.

The provincial government has already issued health advisories to the LGUs and households to practice proper personal hygiene and to take extra care in handling their food.

What is important is “the sustained surveillance system and the quick response mechanisms are in place,” Baraan also said. He said that since the full operation of the quick response task force, no new cases of cholera has been reported.

Provincial Health Officer Jackson Soriano for his part said that the number of reported cases of waterborne diseases is “no cause for alarm” as they have already provided water storage, chlorine and has conducted mass chlorination of water sources and information dissemination through community assembly.

For people afflicted with the disease, Soriano advised them to inform the nearest health center, isolate the person and must use oresol for rehydration because dehydration can be fatal.

In areas where oresol cannot be immediately available, Dr. Soriano said that households can use home-made rehydration formula by combining one teaspoon of salt and four teaspoons of sugar and mixed with one liter of purified or chlorinated water.

Dr. Soriano clarified that Cholera is one form of acute gastroenteritis. He said that based on records, there are a total of 6,350 recorded cases of gastroenteritis covering the period from January 1 to September 8, 2008. Out of this number, 57 have been confirmed positive of cholera.

From the 57 reported with cholera cases, three towns have high incidence, namely: Bayambang with 16 recorded cases, Aguilar with 15 and Bolinao, 11. The towns of San Carlos, Mangatarem, Sta. Barbara, Anda, Calasiao, Sual, San Fabian and Agno have one case each, while Alaminos City and Bani have two cases and Dagupan City has three.

Based on the record of the Department of Health, there were 476 cases of cholera in 2004. For all acute gastroenteritis diseases, there were 10,199 cases reported in the same year.

A health official said that both 2004 and 2008 have high incidence of water-borne diseases due to similar pattern of frequent typhoons and monsoon rains. (PIO/Chona C. Bugayong)

6th District Brgy. Heads Join Markmanship Training Despite Stormy Weather

The towns of Asingan, San Manuel, Sta. Maria and Rosales were the last batch of recipients to complete the shotgun distribution of the provincial government in the 6th district of Pangasinan held at PNP Camp Narciso Rueca Ramos, Tayug last September 10.

Despite the stormy weather, the barangay captains were in their jolly self as they were undergoing the usual Pump Shotgun Markmanship and Familiarization Training.

The barangay chairpersons particularly women although a little nervous, bravely and without hesitation took turns in firing their shotgun during the actual firing test to avail of the firearms which, according to them, was a long awaited desire.

Her first time to hold and fire a gun, Barangay Captain Emelita Bergantiños, of San Angel, Rosales said that shotguns given to them are better than the traditional “batuta” which in no way can fight criminal elements using deadly weapons.

During the activity, some barangay captains granted interviews and expressed their gratitude and unwavering support to the governor for all his worthy projects specifically in maintaining peace and order because “ it is a vital component for development and progress.”

Likewise, the barangay captains lauded the shotgun distribution program of the provincial government and are already looking forward to the distribution of radios by the province which is also a big help in fighting and eradicating criminality through fast communication.

‘Ito ay isang napakagandang programa ng ating mahal na gobernador. Ang pagbibigay ng shotgun ay napakalaking tulong para sa amin upang mapanatiling mapayapa ang aming barangay. Ang mga nagnanais na manggulo ngayon ay magdadalawang isip dahil alam nilang may sandata na kami na panglaban sa kanila’, Gem Salvador Sapigao, Asingan ABC President disclosed.

His statements were supported by Barangay Captains Danilo Sabater, ABC San Manuel; Romulo Tagalicud, barangay Captain of San Pedro, Rosales; Noel Agpawa, Barangay Captain of San Patricio, Sta. Maria and Jasmin Gamboa, Barangay Captain of Carmen East, Rosales.

Asked what crimes are usually committed in their barangays, they have one common answers like cattle rustling, stealing of laptop and farm machineries, ‘akyat bahay’ and even dog napping to name a few.

Acting Vice Governor Tyrone Agabas who was also present said that the shotgun distribution is a realization of the governor’s dream to provide the barangay captains with firearms to help attain peace and order in the province.

Chairpersons for the second to fifth districts have already received their respective shotguns.According to BM Amadeo Espino, the distribution of shotgun in the first district is scheduled sometime next week. (PIO/Chona C. Bugayong)

MARKMANSHIP TRAINING IN TAYUG. Barangay Captains from the towns of Asingan, San Manuel, Sta. Maria and Rosales take turns in firing their firearms during the Pump Shotgun Markmanship and Familiarization Training at PNP Camp Narciso Rueca Ramos in Tayug, Pangasinan last September 10. The four above-mentioned municipalities are the last batch of recipients to complete the shotgun distribution in the 6th district of Pangasinan. (PIO/Photo by Emilio R. Mari)

BSP launches membership campaign

LINGAYEN --- Over 40 delegates from different scout councils in Region I have participated in the Regional Scout Committee meeting which was hosted recently by the province of Pangasinan at the Capitol Resort Hotel.

Executive Assistant Ramon Morden, speaking on behalf of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., who is the chairman of the Ilocos Scout Committee, welcomed the delegates even as he assured them of the full support of the provincial government in encouraging more youth to join in the scout association.

Giving report update on the present status of membership of the BSP in the entire region, Florendo Atinyao, regional scout director, revealed a decrease of scout membership from 175,423 in year 1990 to 108,623 as of July this year.

Records showed that the province of Pangasinan, having a huge number of scout members in Region I since the organization of BSP in the province in 1949, has only 45,000 scout members as of July this year compared to more than 85,000 members way back in 1990.

Tinyao said the decrease of scout membership which affected not only scout councils of Region I but also all councils in the country, has been attributed to the scrapping of BSP and GSP in the curriculum as part of the extra-curriculum activities of young students in public schools both elementary and high school.

To overcome this problem, he said, the BSP has launched a program dubbed: “Neighboring Scouting Program.”

The program, he added, aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of the youth at the grassroot level and instill in them the values of discipline, patriotism, courage and self-reliance.

“To the LGUs especially to the SK officials, help us build and organize a neighborhood scouting in all barangays and at the same time implement youth activities in the localities,” Tinyao said.

Meanwhile, Corporate Director Danilo dela Cruz of the Asset Management Corporation of the BSP national office handed over a check amounting to P250,000 as donation to the Pangasinan-San Carlos City council.

Vivencio Vinluan, council scout executive, said the amount will be used for the construction of BSP provincial office in Maramba boulevard, Lingayen as well as to buy office supplies and equipment.

It can be recalled that their office was gutted by fire last June 4, three weeks after Typhoon Cosme wrought havoc to Pangasinan.

After the meeting, the BSP delegates coming from Manila, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Urdaneta City and Dagupan City were toured around the Capitol complex. (PIO/Merly Tibalao)

PCL Week features Alma Moreno and the Pig on the race track. Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (right), PCL President Raul Sison (2nd from left) and Board Member Tyrone Agabas (left) welcome Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Secretary-General and Paranaque Councilor Alma Moreno during the well-attended Pangasinan Councilors League (PCL) Week at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) last September 6. The celebration with “Marlang ya Kanonotan, Aliguas Pangasinan” as this year’s theme, was highlighted by various parlor games. Right photo shows some councilors while chasing the elusive native pig. The winner takes home the pig with P1,500 cash prize. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)

NRSCC: Permanent Home of MILO Little Olympics-Luzon. Elementary pupils from Bauang North Central School in La Union garbed in colorful costume join other 5,000 young athletes from Regions I, II, III and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) during the opening parade of the 11th MILO Little Olympics at the Narciso Ramos Sports Complex and Civic Center (NRSCC), chosen as the permanent home of Milo Olympics-Luzon. The big sporting event gathered about 10,000 spectators during its colorful inauguration. Sports tourism at NRSCC is one of the major development thrusts of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (PIO photo by Bob Sison)

DINNER FOR MILO. MILO Sports Executive Pat Goc-Ong (2nd from left) receives the plaque of appreciation handed over to him by Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (3rd from left) during the dinner reception prepared by the provincial government for MILO officials last September 11 at the Capitol Resort Hotel. The 11th MILO Little Olympics-Luzon is set on September 12, 13, 14 & 20 at the Narciso Ramos Sports Center (NRSCC). Looking on are MILO Sports Organizer–Luzon Tess Bernardino (left), SP Secretary Atty. Verna Nava-Perez (right), Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine U. Baniqued (2nd from right), Board Members Von Mark Mendoza (3rd from right) and Danny Uy (middle). (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)

MILO Olympics offers Media photofest

The 11th MILO Little Olympics committee is also calling on all local and national media practitioners as well as their Publishers or Editors to join the MEDIA Photo Contest.

Each photo should be accompanied with news article published in a newspaper.

The photographer and the publisher/editor who will take the 1st placer will receive P5,000 each, 2nd placer, P3,000 and 3rd placer P2,000.

Five consolation prizes of Nestle gift packs will also be given to the photographer and the editor.

Entries should be submitted on or before September 18, 2008.

Entry form is available at the Provincial Information Office.

The annual MILO Little Olympics is set on September 12, 13, 14 and 20, 2008 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen.

Other events will be held at the following venues: CSI Mall and CSI Stadia in Lucao – table tennis, gymnastics, taekwondo, badminton; Pangasinan Provincial Police Office (PPPO) – football and President Hotel in Lingayen – chess. (PIO/Ninia F. Nicolas)

Shotgun Distribution is 80% complete

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., has further strengthened the peace and order program of his administration through the provincewide shotgun distribution in order to realize his vision for Pangasinan the place to invest, work, live and raise a family.

At present, the provincial government is 80% complete with the shotgun distribution as barangay captains from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th districts have already been issued firearms.

Last September 4, the provincial government distributed shotguns to the barangay captains from the municipalities of Sto. Tomas, Villasis, Bautista and Alcala held at Sto. Tomas farm of Undersecretary Antonio Villar, Jr., Chief of Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group.

The distribution was part of a series of the provincewide shotgun distribution program of the provincial government as a deterrent to crime.

Police Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Isagani Nerez, who was present during the distribution, said that it is a prudent move of the governor to arm the barangay chairpersons to become more effective partners of the provincial government.

During the turnover, the Provincial Board, the Provincial Police Force and the barangay chairperson expressed their full support to the program citing that said activity is beneficial and a big boost in the anti-crime campaign in an effort to maintain peace & order and harmony within the different communities in Pangasinan which are vital components for development and progress.

Provincial Board Member Amadeo Espino likewise bared that more than 99% of the province’s barangay captains requested for the shotguns.

As pre-requisite to the “No training, no actual firing, no shotgun” policy, all barangay captains who acquired the shotguns had undergone proper gun handling lecture and actual firing training conducted by the PNP Provincial Police.
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Known as primary force multipliers, Nerez expressed his gratitude to the barangay officials as their presence is very advantageous to the police visibility and response capability, Nerez said.

On the other hand, BM Alfonso Bince reiterated his call on the media to support the program and to join in the crusade for peace and order in the province.

Likewise, Rafael Baraan, Provincial Administrator said that the distribution is a preventive mechanism in attaining a peaceful province. (PIO/Chona C. Bugayong)

PROPER HANDLING OF SHOTGUN. Lingayen PNP OIC-Chief of Police P/Supt. Harris R. Fama conducts lecture on the proper handling of shotgun before barangay captains from Mapandan, Sta. Barbara and Calasiao last August 28 at the firing range of the Provincial Police Office. Similar training is being conducted in Camp Abat, Manaoag, in the Bayambang firing range and in Gen. Soriano’s firing range in Malasiqui. (PIO Photo by Bob F. Sison)

A range master positions Barangay Captain Susan Carlos of Pob.East, Alcala, Pangasinan as she displays her shooting skills during the actual test firing held in Sto. Tomas town. The activity is part of the “No training, no actual firing, no shotgun” policy of the provincial government on the shotgun distribution program aimed at maintaining peace and order. (PIO/Photo by Emilio R. Mari)

Some 250 fourth year students of Christ the King College in San Fernando, La Union take a look at the symbolical seal of the province of Pangasinan engraved at the lobby of the provincial Capitol ground floor during their recent educational tour last week. Shiela Fernandez (center), one of the province’s trained tour guides, accompanied the group around the Capitol complex. (Photo by (Emil Mari/PIO)

Story writing Contest on Statistics highlights National Statistics Month

A cash prize of P10,000 and a plaque is at stake for the story-writing contest dubbed as “My Statistics and Me” as part of the nationwide celebration of the 19th National Statistics Month (NSM) this October.

The Steering Committee of provincial government created by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. through Executive Order No. 0040-2008 is calling on all Pangasinenses here and abroad to submit their entries that centered on this year’s theme “Statistics: Key to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development.”

“The search is on for stories that share inspiring ideas on how entrepreneurs benefit from using statistics to succeed in business,” National Statistics Month 2008 Co-Chairman Dante L. Pescador said during the 2008 NSM Provincial Steering Committee meeting last August 29 at the Alexis Garden Restaurant in Lingayen.

According to the 19th NSM Sub-Committee on Programs and Awards and the Sub-Committee on Publicity and Advocacy and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), included in the guidelines are: A contestant may be an entrepreneur, or somebody who knows the story of a successful entrepreneur. The story must be written in either English or Filipino within 1,000 to 1,500 words. It must not be previously published in print or online.

The Sub-Committee added that since this contest aims to encourage the sharing of ideas on the use of statistics in growing a business, more emphasis will be given on the content of the story, rather than on writing style.

The criteria for judging are: 80% for content; 10% for form and 10% for reader-friendliness.”
Entries should be submitted in MS Word format, double-spaced, not later than September 10, 2008 to: NSM STORY-WRITING CONTEST c/o Mrs. Norma L. Untalan, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, Capitol Bldg., Lingayen, Pangasinan or c/o Anne L. Sevilla, Chair, NSM Story-Writing Contest Committee and Caretaker, Trade and Industry Information Center (TIIC), 4F Industry and Investments Bldg., 385 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City.

Entries may also be emailed to tiic@dti.gov.ph not later than the said date.

Awarding of prizes to the winner will be held during the NSM opening ceremonies on October 3, 2008 at the SM Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

The winner will also be notified through the media, and on the DTI and NSCB websites.

On the other hand, the provincial government led by the Provincial Planning and Development Office is upbeat in preparing various and exciting activities as they vie again for the for the Best NSM Province and LGU activity. It can be recalled that the provincial government of Pangasinan bagged the award last 2006. (PIO/Ninia F. Nicolas)