Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay A. Moya turns over the 31 units of portable water pumps to Lower Agno River Irrigation System (LARIS) Federation of Irrigator’s Association President Romeo Lilagan, Sr. last March 18 at Brgy. Carmay East in Rosales. On instruction of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., the Office of the Provincial Agriculture has already distributed 190 units of water pumps as of March 18 benefitting 21,022 farmer members in the Eastern, Central and Western Pangasinan. (OPAG Photo)
The fisheries section staff from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist conduct mangrove planting activity last March 18 along the shoreline area of the Bolinao Fish Farm in Bolinao as part of the reforestation activities under the sustainable coastal resource management and development program of the provincial government. The Bolinao Fish Farm underwent massive upgrading under the administration of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. where mangrove seedling propagation has been one of its primary functions, aside from serving as the province’s Mangrove Information Center. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)
Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (4th from left) grants P63,000 worth of check to the officers and members of MADILAP Irrigators Association of Brgy. Esmeralda, Balungao last March 17 at the Urduja House, Capitol Compound in Lingayen. Witnessing the awarding is Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay A. Moya ((2nd from right). (Photo by Cecil “Bong” Laure)
About 1,500 barangay captains and councilors (left photo) in the entire Pangasinan give Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (right photo) a resounding applause for the notable programs and projects implemented in the barangays such as the distribution of handheld radios, wireless phones, shotguns, PhilHealth cards to indigent families and road improvements among others. The Governor was the guest of honor and speaker during the Liga ng mga Barangay convention at the Oxford Hotel in Clark, Pampanga last March 15. (Photo by Cecil “Bong” Laure)
Provincial Administrator Rafael F. Baraan (2nd from right) receives the plaque of appreciation for Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. from DOH Center for Health Regional Officer-in-Charge Valeriano Lopez, Jr. The award is in recognition of the Governor’s effort in leading government workers in promoting a healthy lifestyle by quitting the smoking habit. The province supports the Healthy Lifestyle Revolution campaign of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Regional Office launched last March 16 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center to promote and protect the health and well-being of provincial employees and the general public doing transaction with the government. Witnessing the awarding are representatives from DOH Center for Health Regional Office and Provincial Health Officer-in-Charge Ferdinand Totaan. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)
Provincial Health Officer-in-Charge Ferdinand Totaan (left) leads other chiefs of hospitals, department heads, health workers, provincial employees and members of Philippine National Police in a morning exercise during the launching of Healthy Lifestyle Revolution (HL REVO) campaign last March 16 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen. The activity, spearheaded by the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Regional Office and the provincial government, stresses the anti-smoking campaign, regular physical activity and weight control to combat the increasing prevalence of lifestyle related diseases. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)
Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (right) checks one of the 200 water pumps that are turned over to Pangasinan irrigators thru Pangasinan Federation of Irrigators Association, Inc. President Oftociano Manalo (2nd from right) to help farmers mitigate the effect of El Niño phenomenon. The initial delivery is part of the 500 water pumps purchased by the provincial government. The remaining 300 water pumps are set for delivery soon. Witnessing the turnover are (from left): Executive Officer Ramon M. Morden and Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay A. Moya. (Photo by Cecil “Bong” Laure)
The Espino administration, thru its Food Security Program, has been relentless in increasing fish production thru aquaculture in ponds and fish cages and fish stock enhancement through the dispersal of tilapia fingerlings in communal bodies of water across the province.
Last March 3 and 4, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) dispersed 40,000 tilapia fingerlings in various communal bodies of water in Mangatarem and another 30,000 in Alcala.
“Maganda itong proyekto ng provincial government dahil wala na talaga kaming nahuhuling isda. Tama ang ginawa nila na magpakawala ng isda para pagdating ng araw ay meron kaming mahuhuli,” Celso Duran, a fisherfolk from Barangay Torre Primero of Mangatarem, said.
On instruction of Gov. Espino, the Provincial Government has developed a tilapia hatchery with a total area of about 7,600 sq. meter in Barangay San Gonzalo, San Quintin and upgraded the 1,840 sq. meter existing tilapia hatchery in Barangay Libsong, Lingayen.
The development of the San Quintin Provincial Freshwater Fish Hatchery was completed on the second quarter of 2008 but its operation started later that year.
All the tilapia fingerlings that were dispersed were sourced out from these facilities.
According to Zenaida Ugaban, Supervising Aqua-culturist of OPAG, these hatcheries provided access to fisherfarmers of Pangasinan in procuring good quality tilapia fingerlings, unlike before when they have to get fingerlings from Tarlac or Nueva Ecija.
At present, the broodstock being used are Improved GET-EXCEL (Genetically Enhanced Tilapia-Excellent) and BEST (Brackish Water Enhanced Saline Tilapia).
These are the latest strain of tilapia breeders that have been developed and improved by fishery research institutions and found to produce offspring with better growth performance.
From July to December 2009, the two hatcheries produced 1,405,000 fingerlings, of which 1,402,189 were dispersed.
In particular, about 533,000 fingerlings were dispersed in 110 sites of communal waters and around 516,769 were provided to 276 fisherfarmers for aquaculture projects in freshwater fishponds and fish cages.
The fingerling dispersal project enhances fish population in communal bodies of water increasing fish catch of sustenance fisherfolks, thus, increasing their income and addressing malnutrition problem in their locality. (PIO/Rafael Manuel)
The provincial government, thru Supervising Aquaculturist Zenaida Ugaban (3rd from left of left photo), turns over some 40,000 tilapia fingerlings to Mangatarem Municipal Administrator Joel Cruz (3rd from right of left photo) last March 3 as part of the Food Security Program under the Espino administration. The other 30,000 fingerlings were distributed to the town of Alcala. Right photo shows Mangatarem Fishery Coordinator Jesus Albuerro and Provincial Agriculture staff dispersing tilapia fingerlings to various communal bodies of water in Mangatarem. Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has made agriculture as one of his major development thrusts. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)
LINGAYEN --- Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has distributed another 2,000 PhilHealth cards in 58 barangays of Umingan, Pangasinan last March 3.
Gov. Espino said the distribution of PhilHealth cards is part of the province’s development thrusts of providing health services mainly to the poor populace of Pangasinan even as he stressed that “we will not stop until all indigent families in our province are enrolled in PhilHealth, regardless of their political color or party affiliation.”
He also noted that from the original enrollment level of only 26,000 indigent families in 2007, a big leap has occurred when the province overtook the province of Bukidnon and emerged on top of all provinces with 220,000 indigent families enrolled in PhilHealth insurance in 2009.
Pangasinan was adjudged the best province in the country besting 56 other provinces and 30 cities nationwide for having the largest universal coverage in PhilHealth sponsorship.
PhilHealth members are entitled to a wide range of benefits which the Governor said, is a big relief to the marginalized sector of the society who can now easily get access to quality health care services.
Aside from health insurance, the indigent sector in Pangasinan can also avail of the upgraded services and facilities of all 14 government-owned hospitals which have undergone continuing physical rehabilitation and are now equipped with air conditioning in all wards, stand-by generating sets, better diagnostic capabilities, re-conditioned and new ambulance units, clean surroundings and efficient hospital staff.
Gov. Espino received a national award from Philippine Health Insurance with the province’s phenomenal performance in PhilHealth sponsorship last February 12 held at the PICC. (PIO/Darwin Magalong)
PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Rey B. Aquino (left) awards the plaque of recognition to Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center) during the PhilHealth 15th Anniversary celebration held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City last February 12. Pangasinan was given special citation for being number one in PhilHealth universal coverage besting 56 other provinces and 30 cities nationwide. Witnessing the awarding is DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero (right). (Photo by Wesley Fernandez)
Lingayen- - - The province thru the Provincial Employment Service Office has joined forces with the Commission of Filipinos Abroad, Overseas Workers Welfare Association and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to raise the awareness of Pangasinenses on issues concerning labor and employment.
According to Cherry Joy Veniles, CFO Community Service Officer, said that their office caters preferably to Filipino immigrants or permanent residents abroad, Filipino spouses and other partners of foreign nationals leaving the country, descendants of Filipino overseas workers and Exchange Visitor program participants.
Pangasinan, she said, was chosen as among the sites for the information campaign drive because it has active leaders headed by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.
Alex F. Ferrer, PESO chief, pledged a commitment on behalf of the province to work closely with the three national agencies to safeguard the welfare of Pangasinense overseas workers and protect them against illegal recruiters and human traffickers.
“Maging maingat sana ang lahat sa pag-apply abroad at sana ugaliin nilang makipag-ugnayan sa aming tanggapan o sa alinman sa tatlong lead agencies natin sa labor and employment para makasiguro na legal ang lahat ng transaksyon na papasukan nila,” Ferrer said.
Nonette Vergara, Chief of POEA Regional Center for
Vergara said that advocacy program for PNP personnel and for grassroots leaders are underway to fully establish strong partnership to combat illegal job recruitments and human trafficking nationwide.
The POEA, Vergara cited, is responsible for optimizing the benefits of the country’s overseas employment program tasked to monitor and supervise all recruitment agencies in the country.
For the complete list of recruitment and manning agencies that send Filipino workers abroad, the public is advised to log on to http://poea.gov.ph/cgi-bin/agSearch.asp.
For other inquiries concerning labor and employment, visit the following websites, www.cfo.gov.ph and owwalaunion@yahoo.com. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)
World War II veteran Eugenio Barboza, 68 years old from Malasiqui, was so happy to receive quality medical attention and free medicines from specialists last March 4 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Gymnasium.
“Napakagandang proyekto ito ni Governor Amado Espino. Malaking tulong ito para sa aming mahihirap at may edad na,” he said as he left the gymnasium clutching the free medicines he got after his consultation.
Barboza is but one of the thousands who availed of the three-day free medical and surgical missions scattered into three venues in the province, spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Pasay Manila International Airport (MIA) and the Makati Medical Center Group in cooperation with the Provincial Government.
Danny Paragas, past president of RC MIA and over-all chairman of the mission, said they have chosen Pangasinan to be this year’s recipient of the undertaking because it is one of the most devastated places after the onslaught of typhoons Pepeng and Ondoy.
Paragas was glad to note the positive response they got from the local government leaders, especially Gov. Espino, and the community as also one of the reasons that enticed them to bring the project in the province.
The medical mission was held at the NRSCC while the cataract surgery and pterygium excision were conducted at the Lingayen District Hospital.
Meanwhile, operations of cases requiring major and minor surgeries were made at the Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City.
A similar medical mission by German Interplast was also held at the PPH from February 21 to March 5 which had a team of German doctors, anesthesiologist and nurses operate on patients with cleft palate and hair lip.
Dr. Philip Cruz of UP-PGH and the team leader of the medical mission at the NRSCC in Lingayen said they expect to render consultations to children and adults at 1,500 or more cases a day.
As usual, he said, majority or about 60% of total cases are pedia-related, while the rest are for adults.
For children, they usually treat allergies and infections while hypertension, high blood, arthritis and diabetes were the common sickness among adults.
They gave away vitamins, antibiotics, anti-allergy and anti-hypertensive medicines, among others, after the consultation.
“We give everything for free to indigent patients who cannot afford any amount for surgery,” Dr. Victor Gisbert of Makati Med Group and head of the surgical mission in San Carlos City said.
Major and minor surgeries for cases of goiter, parotid mass, thyroglossal duct cyst, hernia inguinal, hydrocoele, cholecystolitiasis, hemorrhoids, breast mass, cleft lip, myoma, ovarian mass/cyst and circumcision were done at the PPH.
The team expects to do 100 major surgeries and 300 minor for three days.
A large influx of patients with cataract and pterygium went to Lingayen District Hospital hoping to avail of the free medical services. Over 200 patients were already screened for possible operation.
Dr. Zagala Meriales, Eye Surgeon from MMC, said they aim for about 50 cataract surgeries but pterygium excision has no limit for as long as the team is here and they have medical supplies. She also said that they will provide post-operative care medicines for the patients.
Meanwhile, Raul Urgello of Phillipine War Veterans Foundation bared that their group will give away two wheelchairs. (PIO/Rafael Manuel)
Thousands of Pangasinenses receive free health care services during the three-day medical and surgical mission offered by the Rotary Club of Pasay MIA and Makati Medical Center group held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (left photo), Lingayen District Hospital (center photo) and Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (right photo) from March 4 to 6. Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. lauded the project that complements the health thrust of the province which puts health care as one of his top priorities. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)
As part of strengthening the quality of education in Pangasinan, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (right of left photo) stresses the importance of building classrooms that is safe and conducive to learning for children during the inauguration and blessing of newly-constructed seven classrooms in Maticmatic Elementary School, Sta. Barabara last March 1. Schools officials and Sta. Barbara Mayor Reynaldo Velasco (2nd from left of left photo) thanked the Governor for funding the school building. Also shown in photo are (from left) Parent Teachers Association President Dr. Rizabel Silan and Maticmatic Elementary School Principal Yolanda Lopez. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)
Lingayen- - -Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has awarded a total of P1.9 million livelihood checks today, March 5, to some 15 small and medium enterprises in the Pangasinan thru the province’s Livelihood Assistance Program.
Lingayen- - -Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has awarded a total of P1.9 million livelihood checks today, March 5, to some 15 small and medium enterprises in the Pangasinan thru the province’s Livelihood Assistance Program.
Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center) and other Pangasinan officials thank President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (3rd from left) for the construction of four-lane Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) which is seen to spur economic development in Regions 1, 2, 3 and the Cordillera Autonomous Region. The President led the groundbreaking ceremony of the 88-kilometer newest expressway held at Tumana West, Rosales last March 1. Also shown in photo are Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr., sixth district Representative Conrado Estrella III, Rosales Mayor Ricardo Revita and Department of Public Works and Highways officials. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)
Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. leads the inauguration of newly constructed school buildings in Carot National High School (CNH) (left photo) and Macandocandong Elementary School (MES) (right photo) in the town of Anda last February 23. The classrooms were funded by the provincial government in cooperation with ABONO Partylist and DepEd Pangasinan I. Joining the Governor are Carot Barangay Chairman Geronimo T. Aseo, CNH Principal Dr. Ludivina A. Fronda, MES District Supervisor Thelma A. de Castro and MES Officer-in-Charge Anastacio C. Corpuz. (Photo by Cecil “Bong” Laure)LINGAYEN--- Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. initially turned over some 200 water pumps today to the Irrigators Association of the province as a form of emergency assistance to El Niño affected farmers.
Gov. Espino said the initial delivery is part of the 500 water pumps purchased by the provincial government intended for use of the various Irrigators associations in Pangasinan to save the crops already planted.
The 200 water pumps will be distributed to farmers in Central and Eastern Pangasinan who were given priority to save their lands planted with corn.
The water pumps with a 5-horsepower engine capacity were turned over to Oftociano Manalo, President of Pangasinan Federation of Irrigators Association, Inc., who said that the pumps are of great help to the farmers especially to those at the tail end areas. Manalo is concurrently president of Region I Federation of Irrigators Association.
Gov. Espino said these will help farmers who cannot afford to own a water pump especially those whose lands were damaged by the recent typhoons that hit the province last year.
He said all the members of the association can access the portable water pump units which can service about 3 to 5 hectares of land.
Manalo expressed gratitude to the Governor even as he quoted “maganda po na natugunan na kaagad ng mahal na Gobernador ang aming mga pangangailangan at malaking tulong po ito sa amin.”
Gov. Espino said the delivery of water pumps is part of the provincial government”s immediate plans to cushion the effect of the phenomenon and further assist the marginalized farmers from production loss.
Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya said that the water pumps can be shared by farmers as these are very handy and efficient. (PIO/Angie D. Villanueva)
Lingayen- - -Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has reconstituted the province’s Multi-Sectoral Task Force on El Nino to prepare a plan of action to mitigate the impact of the phenomenon on agriculture, environment, economy and human health.
Gov. Espino said that an immediate plan of action must be implemented to cushion the effect of the phenomenon and further assist the marginalized farmers from production loss thru effective solutions.
Chaired by Dalisay Moya, OIC Provincial Agriculture’s Office and co-chaired by Col Paterno Orduna, the multi-sectoral task force will identify, monitor and evaluate all areas within the irrigated lands that are traditionally not served with irrigation water during long dry spells.
According to Moya, the group is also tasked to identify all livestock such as hogs and poultry and inland fishery areas that are most likely affected by El Nino.
“We will also identify and assess all areas that were delayed in planting especially those areas that may have to plant in October in the case of corn and rainfed rice, and in November, in the case of irrigated rice,” Moya said.
She further disclosed that they will conduct briefings and massive information dissemination related to El Nino for mitigation and adaptation measures to community sectors.
“We need to educate our farmers, the fisher-folks and other agricultural stakeholders by providing them information about practical tips regarding this phenomenon. They must be ready for any eventuality to sustain productivity,” Moya added.
El Nino is a periodic ocean-warming and atmospheric disturbance characterized by deficient rainfall and prolonged drought in some areas, while heavy rains, storms or hurricane in other areas of the globe resulting to innumerable damages to crops, livestock, properties and even human lives in all areas simultaneously.
Based on the daily monitoring report of the OPAg, there are 246 affected barangays in the province covering an area of 105.5 hectares. Out of this, affected area, a total of 83.5 hectares was already harvested with low productivity.
Members of the task force include Benita Pizarro, PPDO; Dr. Benedicto Perez, OPVET; Engr. Helsy Bermudez, Provincial Irrigation Engineer, NIA; Leduina Co, PENRO-DENR; Ramon Cuaresma, Provincial Manager, NFA Western Pangasinan; Nicanor Rosario, Provincial Manager, NFA Eastern Pangasinan; Orpheus M. Velasco, PIO; Dr. Ferdinand Totaan, OIC-PHO; Oftociano Manalo, President, Federation of Irrigator’s Association; and, Claudio Ofrancia, PAFC Chairman. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)
LINGAYEN--- The biggest gathering of Philippine mango industry stakeholders took place at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Gymnasium here as the Province of Pangasinan hosted the three-day 12th National Mango Congress starting February 24.
Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., the guest of honor and speaker, expressed elation on the choosing of Pangasinan for this year’s congress which highlighted the province’s leading position as the top mango producer in the country despite the consecutive typhoons that battered the province.
Pangasinan contributes 40% to the national mango production and accounts for 84% of the regional mango production, boosting its position as the food basket of Region 1.
While Gov. Espino claimed the country as the sixth leading mango producer and its carabao mango variety as the best in the world, it is in fact exporting only six percent of its total mango production.
It is also a sad reality that 90 percent of the very limited market share goes out as fresh mangoes, thus, Gov. Espino cited the big potential for the industry’s growth in exporting fresh and processed mangoes in the world market.
“Obviously, we need to work harder to establish a stronger foothold in the global export market, and to find aggressive but effective ways and means to capture a bigger slice of that potential foreign market,” he said.
He also advocated for improvement in production efficiencies thru the principle of economies of scale to become competitive even as he espoused greater inter-provincial cooperation to reach optimum supply levels for mango processing.
Gov. Espino urged the participants to formulate a more relevant and cohesive national effort to develop and promote the Philippine mango industry.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap, represented by by Rene Rafael Espino, National Program Coordinator of High Value Commercial Crops Program, encouraged mango industry players to build a stable, sustainable and globally competitive mango industry that is capable of addressing the demands of the domestic and world markets.
The provincial government feted the participants to a night of fellowship with officials and employees and cultural presentations during the first day of the congress at the Capitol Plaza which afforded them of a personal look at the best capitol building in the country today.
As a sideshow, a trade fair and exhibit of various mango products and farm inputs was also opened to the participants and visitors.
Day one and two were devoted to lectures and presentations about the recent developments in the mango industry such as new technologies and various facets of mango farming.
On the last day, the participants were treated to a guided tour onboard the provincial tourist buses of various destinations in Western and Eastern Pangasinan such as visit to the Shrine of Manaoag and San Roque Dam, island hopping in Hundred Islands, Alaminos and tour of tropical fruits processing area in the province. (PIO/Rafael Manuel and Darwin Magalong)
Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (left) cuts the ceremonial ribbon to formally open the 12th National Mango Congress trade fairs and exhibit at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen last February 24. Joining the Governor are National Program Coordinator for GMA-High Value Commercial Crops Program of the Department of Agriculture Dr. Rene Rafael C. Espino (right) and Philippine Mango Industry Foundation, Inc. President Virginia dela Fuente (center) and members of mango congress executive committee. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)
Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (left) tours National Program Coordinator for GMA-High Value Commercial Crops Program Dr. Rene Rafael C. Espino (center) and Philippine Mango Industry Foundation, Inc. President Virginia dela Fuente (right) around the trade fair and exhibit area of the 12th National Mango Congress at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen last February 24. The exhibit showcased various display of goods and services related to mango industry, and other native products of Pangasinan. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)
Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (left) and Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico and accompany President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (center) back to the presidential helicopter after the inauguration of the Aeronautical Highway in Binalonan, Pangasinan last February 19. In her speech, the President lauded Gov. Espino and Mayor Guico for the infrastructure projects they have put up together making Pangasinan a transport hub in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)
Lingayen- - -Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has directed all local chief executives in Pangasinan to strictly enforce COMELEC Resolution No. 8758, which governs the publication, broadcast, or posting of political advertisements or propaganda materials.
This developed after the provincial COMELEC headed by Atty. Reddy Balarbar requested the Governor to enjoin all local chief executives throughout the province to observe fair election practices in order to ensure the holding of free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections.
Balarbar said Resolution 8758 provides for the establishment of common poster areas in public places and allows the posting of lawful campaign materials in “private places provided it has the consent of the owner thereof.”
The resolution, he said further prohibits the posting of campaign materials in public places outside the designated common poster areas such as streets, bridges, public structures or buildings, trees, electric posts or wires, schools, shrines, main thoroughfares and the like.
During the Special Talakayan sa Kapitolyo on February 24, Balarbar said that under the law, the local government units are deputized to strictly implement the resolution which means that the LGUs are authorized to prevent, tear down or remove all illegally posted campaign propaganda materials without any partiality.
He cited that since the campaign period for the national candidates has started last February 9, the COMELEC observed that many campaign materials are posted or hanged outside the designated common poster areas serving as eyesore to the public.
The launching of the COMELEC project dubbed Operation Baklas, he said, can help instill discipline among the electoral candidates as well as their supporters.
“This time, the COMELEC will strictly and seriously implement this,” he disclosed as he said that violation of the said resolution can even lead to the disqualification of the concerned candidate.
The COMELEC provincial officer likewise said his office has sought the assistance of the local government units due to lack of manpower to put things in order pertaining to the posting of campaign materials.
“Mas maganda kasi kung sama-sama at tulong-tulong ang mga tao para mailagay sa kaayusan ang darating na eleksyon at mapaganda ang kapaligiran ,” Balarbar said as he added that they will designate common posting areas in every locality.
As a general rule, Balarbar said there will be one common posting area for every barangay but if there are areas where people converged, then additional areas will be allowed.
Common poster areas include the plaza, public market and even residential houses if the owner gives their consent.
Under the Operation Baklas, a composite team was organized to assist the LGUs. The DENR will take charge on all illegally placed campaign materials posted on trees while DPWH will look after illegally posted materials along major thoroughfares.
Electric cooperatives, on the other hand, will take charge of all illegally posted campaign paraphernalia placed on electric posts. Each team will be accompanied by two PNP personnel during their rounds.
At the start of the local campaign period on March 26, all illegally posted materials will be removed including advertisement posters or streamers of any candidate, which, according to Balarbar, indirectly solicit votes.
Allowed size of campaign poster is 2 ft. x 3 ft.(PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)
