PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE
Capitol Bldg., Lingayen, Pangasinan
December 5, 2008


PHOTO RELEASE

Team Building of Capitol Workforce. Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. (left) urge the provincial employees to remain faithful and dedicated to their respective job during the Lakbay Aral held at Patar Elementary School in Bolinao, Pangasinan last December 2, 2008. Right photo shows the employees holding lighted candles to conclude the team building activities aimed at building strong camaraderie among the employees along Patar beach. (PIO Photo by Villamor F. Sison)

Gov. gets high rating from political giants

LINGAYEN --- Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group Chief Antonio “Bebot” Villar, Jr. praised Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. for his simultaneous implementation of projects aimed at improving the economy of Pangasinan that would deserve to be called premier province.

In his recent visit, Undersecretary Villar, along with other businessmen, were surprised to see the transformation happening at the Capitol compound in Lingayen.

They were awed at Gov. Espino’s dedication in turning the Capitol, the seat of governance, into a premier tourist destination marked by elegant buildings and courteous and efficient employees.

According to Villar, the impressive projects and effective local governance under the Espino administration gives him a “sense of pride” being a native of Sto. Tomas, Pangasinan.

“Ibig sabihin nito ay kung talagang nasa puso mo ang paglilingkod, makakayang gawin ang ninanais na pagbabago,” Villar said.

He added that in his long service as mayor of Sto. Tomas, Pangasinan, it is only under the Espino administration that he saw such remarkable accomplishments in just a short span of time, noting that no past governors had done such things.

In the meantime, Villar appealed to Espino’s critics to instead cooperate with the provincial government in reviving the once vibrant economy of Pangasinan.

He warned the detractors to stop from hurling destructive criticism if it will not bring anything good for the province.

Villar urged them to look at Gov. Espino’s programs as a whole which is designed to bring our province to unprecedented success instead of magnifying his small shortcomings.

"Walang perpektong tao o administrasyon subalit kung lahat ay magsasama- sama para sa ikagaganda ng serbisyo ay mapapadali ang anumang mabigat na trabaho sa administrasyon ni Gobernador Espino," Villar said.

In a recent media forum, Urdaneta City Mayor Amadeo Perez also hailed Gov. Espino giving him a high rating of 95 percent.

“Overall, the governor is doing a good job in Pangasinan. Saludo kami sa nagagawa niya sa buong Pangasinan lalo na sa Urdaneta City, Mayor Perez said.

“Dito sa Urdaneta ipinapaayos niya sa pamamagitan ng pondo ng provincial government ang mga irrigation facilities at mga dilapidated roads. Limang libong mga mahihirap ang binigyan ng provincial government ng PhilHealth benefits at pinapagawa rin ang district hospital dito. Ngayon lang nangyari sa termino ni Espino bilang gobernador ang mga ito kung saan napakalaking bagay ang nagagawa sa ating lalawigan lalo na sa mga kababayan nating mahihirap, Perez continued.

Meanwhile, League of Municipalities of the Philippines National President, Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico, Jr. defended Gov. Espino on the issue about jueteng.

“The jueteng problem is none of Gov. Espino’s fault. Hindi kasalanan ng gobernador ang problema sa jueteng dahil nasa taong bayan nakasalalay kung mapapahinto ‘yan. Kung magkakaisa ang mga tao upang labanan ang jueteng at hindi na sila tataya, mapapatigil natin ito, Guico stressed. (PIO/Ninia F. Nicolas)

Balikbayan rates Capitol Transformation by 1,500%

“W-O-W! It was awesome.”

These were the observations of the balikbayan alumni to Capitol complex during the “Balikbayan Night” hosted by the provincial government last November 30, 2008 as part of the Pangasinan National High School (PNHS) centennial celebration.

In his speech, Gov. Espino stressed that he is not “trying to change everything in the province. We have just defined the job that we will do.”

The balikbayans, coming from as far as Canada, Australia, Europe and USA, were awed with the great transformation of the Capitol complex during their special tour tendered to them by the province.

“The expression I have observed from my fellow balikbayans to capitol was W-O-W. It was true. It was awesome. If I were to rate the improvement of the capitol compound, I gave 1,500 percent,” Mr. Mario Panoringan, founder of local and international PNHS Association, said.

Mr. Panoringan also mentioned that during their flight to the Philippines, they come across the Phillipine Airlines magazine called Mabuhay that featured and described the Lingayen Gulf all the way to Bolinao as the most beautiful coastline in the Philippines.

“Sicatayo so sangkabale-balean na coastal lines in the entire Philippines, but why is it that Boracay has invaded the tourism industry? Why is it that even Subic Bay has gone ahead of Pangasinan?” Panoringan said.

Panoringan promised to promote the province of Pangasinan thru the Fil-Am Star newspaper based in San Francisco, California where he was the president and publisher.

The balikbayans, who called themselves ambassadors of the province, expressed their full support to the leadership of Gov. Espino and vowed to promote the province in other country as their way of giving back the good things that the province has done to them. (PIO/NInia F. Nicolas)

PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE
Capitol Bldg., Lingayen, Pangasinan
December 5, 2008

PHOTO RELEASE

Thumbs up for Capitol Transformation. The balikbayan alumni of Pangasinan National High School (PNHS), with Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center) show thumbs up sign to express their support in promoting the tourism of Pangasinan in other country during the “Balikbayan Night” hosted by the provincial government in observance of their school’s centennial celebration. The balikbayan coming from as far as Canada, Australia, Europe and USA were awed with the transformation happening inside the Capitol compound. (PIO Photo by Emilio R. Mari)

USAID backs Capitol’s Public Health Drive

LINGAYEN----The province in coordination with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has finalized the Provincial Strategic Communication Plans (SCP) for 2009 which will reinforce the public health programs of the province.

In a two-day SCP close-out meeting held last week at Richmonde Hotel in Manila, the HealthPRO team led by Gerard Suanes assisted the provincial health office (PHO) through its program coordinators in finetuning the consolidated output on health promotions for maternal and neo-natal health care (MNHC), child health care (CH), avian flu and tuberculosis (TB) and family planning & HIV/AIDS.

The meeting was an offshoot of the three-day strategic communication planning seminar-workshop held in September at the Capitol Resort Hotel with all coordinators in inter-local health zones in the province playing a big role in setting up an effective communication strategy for the success implementation and sustainability of these key health programs in their respective locality.

Led by PHO officer-in-charge Dr. Jackson D. Soriano, the program coordinators has come up with a final SCP 2009 targeting the local chief executives and local health board to become the major supporters of these programs.

The SCP 2009 outlines several BCC activities which include the use of interpersonal communication approach (IPC) to all LCEs, Sangguniang Bayans, local health board wherein expected outcome would be the passage of ordinances and budget allocation for a sustainable health programs in their locality.

In achieving these goals, the province has formed a SCP mentoring team tasked to assist the PHO and the municipal health offices in implementing health promotion and provide communication initiatives on FP, MNCHN, TB and HIV/AIDS programs.

The mentoring team is tasked to develop an effective communication tools using tri-media approach (radio, TV and print) to raise mass awareness on health programs. It is also tasked to provide communication skills needs among health personnel and providers at the provincial and municipal level.

The SCP mentoring team will be headed by Orpheus Velasco, provincial information officer with co-chair Lita Duque from the Pangasinan Federation of Non-Government Organizations (PFNGOs). (Merly R. Tibalao/PIO)

LINGAYEN --- Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. visited the wounded policemen to personally extend financial assistance and check their health condition at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) in San Carlos City last November 29, 2008.

The Governor extended financial aid worth P10,000 each to the four policemen who were transferred from Region I Medical Center (R1MC) to PPH, while the two other policemen confined at the R1MC also received the same amount.

Likewise, he assured the families of victims that the provincial government is going to shoulder all medical and hospitalization expenses not covered by their health insurance.

“Sasagutin ng provincial government lahat ng mga expenses nila na hindi covered ng kanilang health insurance,” Gov. Espino said even as he commended their “good work” for fighting it out with the armed men.

To perk them up, he related his encounters with the rebels where he sustained 11 gunshot wounds, was in comatose for 16 days and hospitalized for 15 months when he was still in the military service.

The six policemen were injured after exchanging gunfire with armed men who barged and burned the busses of Victory Liner Bus Co. inside their terminal compound in Avenida St., Lingayen last November 27, 2008. (PIO/Ninia F. Nicolas)

PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE
Capitol Bldg., Lingayen, Pangasinan
December 4, 2008

PHOTO RELEASE

Financial Aid to wounded cops. Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. hands over financial assistance worth P10,000 each to four wounded policemen who were transferred from Region I Medical Center (R1MC) in Dagupan City to the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City last November 29, 2008. The financial aid was also extended to their two comrades still confined at the R1MC. The six PNP Lingayen policemen were injured after they clashed with armed men who torched five buses of Victory Liner Bus Co. parked inside the bus company’s terminal in Avenida Street, Lingayen last November 27. Gov. Espino told the policemen that the provincial government will shoulder all their hospital bills not covered by their PhilHealth insurance. (PIO Photo by Emilio R. Mari)

PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE
Capitol Bldg., Lingayen, Pangasinan
November 28, 2008

PHOTO RELEASE

BOOK DONATION. Former President Fidel Valdez Ramos (3rd from left) donates a volume of books depicting his career in politics and the military, including his personal life, to the provincial library. Witnessing the turn-over are: (from left to right) Mario Panoringan, president and publisher of a San Francisco, California-based FilAm Star newspaper, Provincial Chief Librarian Evangeline Paragas, Assistant Librarian Lolita delos Santos, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. and Provincial Administrator Raffy Baraan. (PIO Photo by Villamor F. Sison)

PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE
Capitol Bldg., Lingayen, Pangasinan
November 28, 2008

PHOTO RELEASE

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (right) inspects the ruins of the five buses of Victory Liner Bus Co. burned by armed men inside the bus terminal in Lingayen. Six policemen were shot and wounded while, a bus conductor suffered second degree burn last November 27, 2008. In his statement, Gov. Espino condemned the attack and burning and vowed to pin down those responsible for the outrageous crime. With the Governor are Victory Liner Dagupan Terminal Master Alejandro Sebastian (middle) and Lingayen Mayor Jonas Castañeda (left).
(PIO Photo by Villamor F. Sison)

PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE
Capitol Bldg., Lingayen, Pangasinan
November 28, 2008

PHOTO RELEASE

MEETING THE PRESS. Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center) clarifies some points raised by Arch. Oscar V. Cruz in a media forum. In a statement, read by Provincial Administrator Raffy Baraan (left), said it was unfair for the church leader to rate the governor’s performance on some issues, when in a short span of one and seven months, there were significant physical improvements and cultural transformation that have taken place such as the simultaneous renovation and upgrading of 14 government hospitals and seven agricultural stations to name a few. PNP Provincial Director Percival Barba (right) is also present in the presscon. (Photo by Villamor F. Sison)

PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE
Capitol Bldg., Lingayen, Pangasinan
November 28, 2008

PHOTO RELEASE

The participants of the indigenous game palo sebo climb the oily bamboo poles in a race to the top and bring down the prize last November 7, 2008 at the the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC). Romulo Perez of the Financiers team was the first to reach the flag at the top of the pole. (PIO Photo by Villamor F. Sison)

Baraan refutes Bishop’s claim; cites gains in ATE's 17 months in office

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- No past governor can probably match the kind of passion, the zeal and the hard work that Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has exerted to accomplish landmark infrastructures and introduce cultural transformation within one year and seven months.

This was stressed by Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan during a press conference at the government-owned Capitol Resort Hotel to refute a published story that the governor was failing in his works in local governance.

The Espino administration, despite the inherited problems that apparently had caused the province’s growth rate to nosedive during the past five years, was able to embark on a multi-layered development agenda that dramatically reversed the situation, Baraan said.

Before Espino assumed the governorship, the province was reeling from a 27.6 percent poverty incidence rate, the highest in the Ilocos region, which was further snagged by a dismal unemployment rate of 13 percent “there being no industries and no job opportunities,” the provincial administrator pointed out.

“I had served two previous administrations, but it’s only now that the provincial leadership is instituting reforms never before imagined,” Baraan, a graduate in B.S. Economics at the University of Sto. Tomas and the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), said.

Baraan was provincial development and planning officer under Gov. Aguedo Agbayani and served as executive director of the Pangasinan Provincial Devclopment Foundation, Inc. (PPDFI) during the term of Gov. Rafael Colet.

In just 19 months, the Espino administration transformed the sprawling 13-hectare provincial capitol complex into an alluring tourism facility, featuring elegant narra-paneled air-conditioned offices, a vast expanse of manicured crawling green lawns, litter-free road pavements and bricks-layered boardwalks and well-kept beachfront..

As a priority undertaking, Baraan said the governor renovated the buildings to clusterize inter-related functionaries, thus making business transactions with the public clientele more systematic and convenient.

The capitol building, he said, has been cited as the “best capitol building in the country.”

To professionalize services, the governor also set up a policy on order, discipline and ethics among provincial employees, requiring them to be in proper attire and uniform.

Considered perennial problems during the past decades, the new provincial leadership mounted campaigns to flush out insurgent elements, cattle rustlers and other organized crime syndicates engaged in robbery-holdups and burglary.

Big-time jueteng operators who have been siphoning out of the province millions in bets, have also been neutralized, leaving behind local “guerilla players” taking the risk of raids and arrests, the provincial official noted, even as he expressed hopes these groups will soon be dismantled with the cooperation of the various mayors in whose towns the illegal numbers game is played.

Baraan said the provincial government renovated dilapidated hospitals and decrepit agricultural facilities to make them fully serviceable to the public.

Under Espino’s leadership, Pangasinan has been adjudged a “model in good governance in the country” by a joint technical team for health services of the European Commission (EC) and the Department of Health (DOH) owing to the radical overhaul and rehabilitation of the 14 provincial government hospitals.

With the governor’s “universal enrolment” thrust in Philhealth that now covers more than 126,000 heads of indigent families or a total of 630,000 beneficiaries, Pangasinan is now the country’s top Philhealth card provider and was ranked second nationwide in the implementation of the Fourmula One for Health program..

Meanwhile, Pangasinan Police Director, Sr. Supt. Percival Barba reported that crime incidents have gone down by 25 percent, compared to last year’s record following the issuance of shotguns to the barangay captains.
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While Baraan lamented that “it is very unfortunate that Archbishop Cruz doesn’t seem to appreciate the efforts of the governor,” he, however, asked the church leader “to be fair and not to wantonly destroy the name and reputation of well-meaning and hard-working public servants.” (PIO/Chona C. Bugayong)

PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE
Capitol Bldg., Lingayen, Pangasinan
November 2, 2008

PHOTO RELEASE

Tug-of-war champions. Exhausting all their strength and will power, the Warriors team (yellow uniform) reigned supreme in the tug-of-war championship game, an indigenous game of the first-ever Anguan Tan Ehersisyo Ed Kapitolyo (ATEK), a month long provincial government sportsfest for employees. (PIO Photo by Villamor F. Sison)