Friday, January 23, 2009

Pangasinan CIDG bags best police operation team for the year 2008 nationwide.

The Pangasinan Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was cited as the best police operation team for the year 2008 nationwide.
The awarding rites was led by CIDG Chief Supt. Raul L. Castaneda last January 19, 2009 at Camp Crame in Quezon City in time for the 56th anniversary of the CIDG.
CIDG Pangasinan Police Chief Inspector Rizalino C. Prado reported that the provincial office notched the award for its remarkable accomplishments for 2008 to include the apprehension of 109 most wanted persons in Pangasinan, the confiscation of 40 loose firearms, among others.
The provincial government thru Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan congratulated the law enforcers for doing a good job in maintaining peace and order around the province thus making Pangasinan as a safe place to live in.
This, he said, is what Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. hopes to achieve in line with his program thrust of providing safe and peaceful neighborhood throughout the province.
Based on the record of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Office, the crime solution efficiency rate of the province for 2008 at 91% as compared to the year 2007’s rate at 89% was higher by 2%.
This means that for a province which is composed of 44 municipalities, four cities and 1,364 barangays , the figure is an indication of a stable peace and order situation for its 2.6 million populace.
With a safer environment, Pangasinan becomes attractive for investment and tourism aside from providing sense of comfort and security to local residents. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Crowning of Limgas ya Kawayangan. Pangasinan’s first lady Mdm. Prescilla I. Espino (left), Pangasinan Ms. Liberation 1995 titlist Dr. Maricris Realubin Ubalde, (middle), and Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez (right) crown the first Limgas ya Kawayangan ed Pangasinan in the person of B.S. Tourism student Eimee Flor Romero (seated) from Dagupan City. The pageant was part of the Agew ya Kawayangan ed Pangasinan where the contestants were all granddaughters of World War II veteran soldiers and guerilla fighters. (PIO Photo by Emilio R. Mari)
Leading the New Lingayen Gulf War. Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. addresses a crowd of World War II veteran soldiers and guerilla fighters, employees and guests during the commemoration of the 64th Anniversary of Lingayen Gulf Landings at the newly-refurbished Veterans Park last January 9, 2008. The Governor said in his welcome address that he is waging another kind of war – not against foreign invaders, but against the aggressors and abusers of Lingayen Gulf through the revival of Save the Lingayen Gulf (SLING) movement that expanded its target areas with the inclusion of the rivers in Pangasinan. (PIO Photo by Villamor F. Sison)
Memories of war years. Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (right) views the memories of the war years in Pangasinan with new photos and paintings donated by the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) to the provincial government of Pangasinan during the commemoration of the 64th Anniversary of Lingayen Gulf Landings last July 9, 2009 at the Veterans Memorial Park in Capitol compound. Captured in 12 panels are vintage photographs of World War II from various locations in Pangasinan, pre-war Capitol building, maps and paintings. Joining the Governor are (starting from left) Vice-Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, Capitol Sports Consultant Modesto Operaña (partly hidden) National Historical Institute Deputy Director Emelita Almosara, PVB President Ricardo Balbido, Jr. and PNP Provincial Director Percival Barba. (PIO Photo by Villamor F. Sison)

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (right) hands over the token of appreciation to former Dagupan City Mayor and 4th District Congressman Benjamin S. Lim, who represented former President Fidel V. Ramos as guest speaker, during the 64th Anniversary of Lingayen Gulf Landings celebration on January 9, 2009 at the Veterans Park in Capitol compound in Lingayen. Looking on is Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (left). (PIO Photo by Villamor F. Sison)

Candidate No. 13 Eimee Flor Romero (middle) flashes her most beautiful smile after being adjudged the first Limgas ya Kawayangan ed Pangasinan 2009 during the pageant night held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) last January 5. Securing the 1st Runner-up spot is candidate number 12 Braphine Sheen Palisoc (right) of Urbiztondo, Pangasinan while 2nd Runner-up goes to candidate number 11 Ily Chua (left) of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan. The top three lovely candidates share the same height of 5 feet and seven inches tall. (PIO Photo by Emilio R. Mari)
Princess Urduja. To keep the unique and diverse culture of Filipinos fresh in the memory of the youth, Pangasinan provincial government presented a cultural show featuring folk dances reflecting the people’s heroism and love of country during the “Cultural Night of Filipino Poems, Songs and Dances” in observance of the Agew ya Kawayangan ed Pangasinan (Freedom Day in Pangasinan) and commemoration of the 64th anniversary of Lingayen Gulf Landings at the Capitol plaza inside the Capitol compound in Lingayen last January 8, 2008. Photo shows the cultural dancers of Caboloan Performing Arts Guild from Pangasinan State University showing the heroism of Princess Urduja. (PIO Photo by Emilio R. Mari)


Gov. Espino redefines battle at Lingayen Gulf

Lingayen- - The province has revived the Save the Lingayen Gulf (SLING) Movement during the celebration of the 64th Lingayen Gulf Landings in a bid to drum up the environmental awareness campaign through its program dubbed: “Save Lingayen Gulf…Save Our Rivers.”

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. launched the SLING way back in 1993 during his stint as Police Provincial Director of Pangasinan

The governor has redefined the battle at Lingayen Gulf from liberating the country from foreign invaders into waging a war against environmental abuse and degradation.

Fuelling the SLING movement’s rebirth is the on-going evaluation of 14 coastal municipalities for the province’s annual search for the Cleanest Coastal City/Municipality which started Last January 5.

The search is in line with the governors’ bid to put in place a sustainable clean-up activity that calls for the concerted efforts and active participation of various community organizations in coastal local government units to address environmental concerns such as pollution and degradation among others.

Fourteen coastal LGUs will vie for the much coveted title with handsome prizes at stake in the form of Coastal Resource Management (CRM) related projects worth P300,000.00; P200,000.00 and P100,000.00 respectively. Special recognitions will also be given to towns or cities which will best excel in areas relative to CRM best practices.

The program is basically aimed at creating awareness and make coastal residents realize that the worsening environmental problems contributes to global warming which would result to climate change that adversely affect the people, their source of livelihood and development efforts due to human neglect.

It will be recalled that in May 2008, a covenant between the governor and all coastal town mayors was signed to institutionalize the Linis Dayat program adding more teeth to it.

This year’ search committee comprising of representatives from various line agencies such as the DENR-CENRO, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Provincial Information Office, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, Provincial Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Council has started to conduct the two sets of on-site and ocular evaluations to assess the sustainability of coastal resource management programs and implementations among the competing LGUs.

Adopted criteria for the search includes physical conditions of shorelines and existing support systems such as budgetary support for coastal clean-up drive and solid waste management, legislative support, enforcement and monitoring mechanisms and community mobilization of people’s involvement.

As collected in the interviews done by the search committee, the local and barangay officials have joined hands to fully equip the coastal residents with proper information and education on the importance of environmental protection and preservation through seminars and house to house visitations.

Local officials pointed out that with the people’s active involvement and discipline in beautifying and maintaining cleanliness along the coastal areas, their beaches has now transformed into prime tourist come-ons. (PIO/Chona C. Bugayong)

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

History comes alive at the Capitol

LINGAYEN --- History comes alive in songs, dances, poems and plays during the Cultural Night presentation at the Capitol Plaza here last January 8 as part of the commemoration of the 64th Anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf Landings.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. urged hundreds of youth to keep the unique and diverse culture and tradition of Filipinos fresh in their consciousness that can make them proud of their heritage.

“Nakaligtaan natin kung ano ang dapat na kagawian ng isang Pilipino. Hindi na natin alam kung sino tayo. (“We have forgotten our customs and traditions as Filipinos. Now, we don’t even know our identity,”) the Governor said.

He reminisced: “Nung ako ay teenager, nahirang ang ating bansa bilang isa sa pinakamagaling sa Asya. Kaya dapat magandang balikan natin at ituro sa mga sumusunod sa atin nang sa ganun ay bumalik ang Golden Ages na sinasabi natin na nakamtan na natin noon bago tayo napunta sa Dark Ages na sinasabi natin.” (When I was still a teenager, our country was heralded as the best in Asia. That’s why let us share the past to the youth and hope for the return of the “golden ages” which we had experienced before until we plunged in today’s “dark ages.”

The Governor also encouraged the students to be an active partner in protecting and preserving the natural resources where some of it bore historic significance such as the Lingayen Gulf where Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur landed during the World War II.

“Sana ang okasyon na ito ay matutunan ng bawat isa sa atin na pangalagaan ang ating mga kalikasan nang sa ganun ay merong mamana ang mga kabataan na sumusunod sa atin at mga anak ng mga anak ng mga anak natin. Ang okasyong ito ay para sa mga kabataan na malaman nila ang kahalagahan ng Lingayen Gulf especially sa istorya ng ating kalayaan at ng ating bansa dahil 64 years na ang nakaraan,” (“I hope this occasion will awaken our senses to protect our environment that we ought to pass to our children and our children’s children. This event aims to educate the youth on the historic significance of Lingayen Gulf especially on the story of our country’s liberation which happened 64 years ago,”) the Governor recounted.

With the laudable rendition of Pangasinan folk songs, musical drama and poems by the students of different schools in Pangasinan, the magnificent Capitol building that served as backdrop set the mood of the past depicting the heroism and love of country of Filipinos. (PIO/Ninia F. Nicolas)

Limgas ya Kawayangan ed Pangasinan 2009 winner

LINGAYEN --- Eimee Flor Romero made her grandfather proud, a war veteran during World War II, for winning the Limgas ya Kawayangan ed Pangasinan 2009 in a glittering pageant night last January 5 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) gym.

Romero, 17 years old and a B.S. Tourism student from the University of Luzon, impressed the judges with her wit as she answered the question on how has the life of her veteran grandparent affected her as a person.

She said that her grandfather made her feel so blessed and that she was proud to be a granddaughter of a war veteran who fought gallantly in pursuit of freedom during World War II.

“And as a proud youth and a proud Pangasinense, it is my obligation to share and pass this information to all the future generations,” Romero said with grace and candor which drew cheers and applause from the audience.

Standing tall at 5 feet, 7 inches, Romero walked on stage gracefully and elegantly with her indigenous long gown which won her the Best in Filipiniana Attire.

The first runner-up spot went to Braphine Sheen Palisoc, 17 year old and BS Nursing student of Pangasinan State University (PSU)-Bayambang.

Ily Chua of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, 18 year old and BS Nursing student bagged the second runner-up. Chua was also awarded the Best in Swimsuit attire.

The special award for Darling of the Press went to 18 year old, BS Legal Management student from San Beda College, Ghada Bongcawil, who captured the attention of the media practitioners with her charm, sweet smile and intelligence during the press presentation on January 5 at the Capitol Resort Hotel in Lingayen.

The Limgas na Kawayangan ed Pangasinan 2009 is a new approach of the provincial government in reliving and honoring the heroism of the war veterans through their 13 granddaughters who competed for the coveted title.

Romero was crowned by Pangasinan’s first lady Mdm. Prescilla I. Espino; Dr. Maricris Realubin Ubalde, Pangasinan Ms. Liberation 1995 and Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez during the grand coronation night at Capitol Plaza last January 9. (PIO/Ninia F. Nicolas)

Friday, January 16, 2009

Disaster Preparedness Seminar Held

In response to the pressing need to prepare and heighten awareness on the devastating effects natural and man-made disasters, the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) staged the One-Day Disaster Risk Management Seminar attended by all city and municipal civil defense deputized coordinators (CDCCs) in Pangasinan last December 16, 2008 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Gym.

The seminar was supported and co-sponsored by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region I.

PDCC Executive Officer and Provincial Civil Defense Deputized Coordinator Paterno Orduña, in his welcome message said, “civil defense was organized primarily in preparation for the advancement of measures necessary for the protection of lives and property.”

He compared the times when it entailed a lot of time to organize a response to disasters as in the case of the 1990 earthquake when it took days to form a taskforce. “But today, he added, we are more prepared.”

Col. Orduña cited the devastation of Typhoon Cosme where the PDCC was able to immediately set up a tactical operations center even before the typhoon battered the province. “The first response is to set up a center to direct operations,” he said.

“Unforeseen events without organized civil defense, hindi makakayanan, Col. Orduña elaborated. It is sad to note, however, that we only remember civil defense or the disaster coordinating council in the months of June and July when rains and typhoons are frequent. In a country like us where natural disasters such as earthquake and typhoons are inevitable and with the proliferation of groups with different beliefs who use violence to deliver their political message, disaster management should be the responsibility and concern of each and one of us.

On a higher note, Col. Orduña commended Governor Amado T. Espino’s projects and programs that are not only for the welfare of Pangasinense but also in preparation for any eventuality. The upgrading of our provincial, district and community hospitals can be considered as a preparation to mass-casualty scenario where at least we have somewhere to go to that are more ready, better equipped and more responsive.

He also praised the governor’s plans of providing handheld radios to barangay captains next year that will be linked up to police stations, hospitals and the operations center of the PDDC that will facilitate fast and better communication for situations requiring quick response.

In addition, two new ambulance units will also be provided to each of our government hospitals in the province that will be at their disposal in cases of emergency. All of these, he said, are for the overall preparation of the province to calamities and disasters.

PS/Supt. Percival Barba’s inspirational message, delivered by P/Supt David Rapisoro, Jr., centered on disaster management as being a national issue. He said that it is indeed very encouraging that though we were down many times in the past because of natural calamities that occurred in the country, we did not go helpless but instead, shown the true identity of what is a Filipino that is for being always ready to lend a hand for everyone in need.

“Disasters affect everyone—the poor, the children, old men and women who have less capability. The socio-economic and environmental impacts of disasters lead to loss of lives, environmental degradation, disruption of communities, and urban migration,” he said.

The following are the resource speakers and their topics: Engr. Gregorio de Vera of PAG-ASA, Understanding Hydrologic Hazards, Warning and Forecasting; Aireen Fuclan of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Office, Earthquake Hazards, Understanding Tsunami Alert Warning and Requirements for Attachments in Claiming Financial Assistance from NDCC; Imelda Acosta of OCD, The Current Philippine Disaster Management System, Civil Defense Deputization Program and Establishment of Emergency Operation Center; Alicia Bang-oa, Calamity Fund Management; and Maricel Caleja, Incident Reporting on Human Casualties, Damaged Houses and Services.

Among those who attended the seminar were city and municipal civil defense deputized coordinators, police officers and mayors Roberto Martinez of Infanta and Ernesto Acain of Labrador.(PIO/Rafael Manuel)

Best LGU in Region I

Lingayen- - - The province of Pangasinan was declared as the Best Local Government Unit in the entire region under the Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (RPMES) for its Millennium Development Goals besting three other provinces in Region I.

The award which was conferred by the Regional Development Council (RDC) after a thorough evaluation and validation conducted by an inter-agency technical working group committee to the province only this December. The award was aimed at recognizing government entities that have exemplified outstanding implementation of key programs and projects.

The awarding ceremony was conducted during the 4th quarter meeting of the RDC on December 18 at the Diego Silang Hall in San Fernando City with Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan representing the governor.

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. earlier thanked the regional validators for the citation as he disclosed that the award is merely the fruit of labor of the entire province that can be proven by the accomplishments of the provincial government following his one year of tenure. This, he added, will serve as an added inspiration for him to further boost the province into greater heights.

The ten-point development thrust of the provincial government, he said, is geared towards the transformation of the province into a Corridor of Growth in North Luzon that will benefit the 2.6 million Pangasinenses. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)

Governor Espino says sorry for non- appearance to social functions

“Politics is never indeed an easy task without the support and understanding of our wives,” Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. said during the joint Christmas celebration of the First Ladies’ League of Pangasinan and the Pangasinan Municipal Mayors’ League.

Gov. Espino also took the opportunity to apologize and explain why he was not able to entertain some invitations of other mayors on various social occasions in their respective municipalities due to the volume of work that required his immediate attention.

He also pointed out that he was working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to fulfill his vision to make Pangasinan as the premium province in the country.

Nevertheless, he assured the mayors of his regular visits and consultation this coming year 2009.

Though there are still much work to be done, Gov. Espino noted that in a span of 17 months, the province has already successfully set some benchmarks leading to economic success.

The governor also enumerated his projects that include finding ways on learning new techniques primarily on farming to regain the status of Pangasinan as one of biggest producers of agricultural products. He also pointed out the simultaneous upgrading and renovation of other buildings inside the provincial capitol complex, school buildings, the 14 government-owned hospitals and seven agricultural stations.

Gov. Espino urged all mayors to face the challenges of the coming year through unity and support in pursuing the standard of excellence for all the ongoing projects and programs of the provincial government to attain an overall transformation.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ramon Guico Jr., President of the Philippine Mayors League, also graced the event and persuaded some 27 mayors in attendance to support the programs of the Espino administration wherein they play a bigger role in bringing back the progress of our province.

Pangasinan Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, first district BM Alice Pulido and PNP Provincial Director PS/Supt Percival Barba likewise attended the occasion to express their support to Espino’s administration and the mayors league. (PIO/Janice Doria)

PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES GET P10,000 EXTRA CASH GIFT

Lingayen- - - If you happen to see smiling faces of provincial government employees, it is because they have received an extra cash gift of P10,000 on December 16 which was derived from the province’s own fund .

Provincial Budget Officer Hilaria J. Claveria stressed that under Republic Act 8481, government employees are entitled to receive their 13th month pay plus P5,000 worth of cash gift.

So, if you add up the P5,000 cash gift and the P10,000 additional cash gift, each employee of the provincial government received a total cash gift of P15,000 this year.

She disclosed that the amount of P27.9 million was appropriated in the annual budget to cover the extra cash gifts of some three thousand employees both regular and casual. This, however, did not include the contractual workers.

It will be recalled that the provincial government has released the mid-year bonus in June this year, the first time ever in the provincial government, wherein half of the 13th month pay or the equivalent of their monthly rate plus P2,500 representing half of the traditional P5,000 cash gift were given. The balance of the 13th month pay and traditional cash gift were given on the first week of December.

Last July, the provincial employees were also provided with a ten percent increase in their monthly salary as part of the benefits that the provincial government has envisioned to provide for human infrastructure being part of their development thrust.

Last year, under the Espino administration, the provincial government had also increased the salary of the employees by 10 percent.

For the 2009 budget, big bulk will be allotted for personal services which will cover salaries, clothing allowance, insurances, mid-year and year-end bonuses, cash gifts and other benefits of the employees. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)