European Community to help Pangasinan strengthen its Public Finance Management

LINGAYEN--- The European Community represented by Michel Ligthart recently met with the budget and finance officers of the province to find ways on how to help Pangasinan strengthen further its Local Government Units Public Finance Management.

Ligthart , a consultant of the European Community, said the EC intends to give some technical assistance on the strengthening of LGU PFM since Pangasinan is a recipient of a grant from the EC under the Health Sector Policy Support Program (HSPSP) of the Department of Health.

Atty. Janet Abuel, Regional Director of the Department of Budget Management said Pangasinan received a grant of some 4 million euro from the EC for training purposes for the LGU PFM as a support to the health sector.

As a requirement, there is a need to strengthen the LGU PFM on the usage of funds, planning and disbursement.

The EC is concerned with the strengthening program of the provice on how to uplift the health sector because Pangasinan will serve as a representative of all the provinces in the country.

The group visited only two provinces, Pangasinan and Cavite and the EC have chosen Pangasinan as the pilot province for the implementation of the various programs of the health sector under the HSPSP.

Abuel noted that the EC was impressed with the performance of the LGU PFM even as they have realized that the LGUPFM can function well even without the grant so the EC wanted to extend the assistance to other programs not related to health.

Towards this end, the European Community is now planning to give an independent funding for the strengthening program.

Meanwhile, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr, said this is a welcome development to the health program of Pangasinan.

Being one of his priority programs, the province has embarked on various health care programs one of which is the enrollment of indigent families to Philhealth to enable the poor Pangasinense avail of medical services.

This is the first time in the history of Pangasinan that the province has taken steps for a universal enrollment of all indigent heads of families.

In two and a half years, phenomenal results were achieved because Pangasinan has become number one in Philhealth universal coverage besting Cebu and Bukidnon who used to be number one.

From a total of 27,000 enrolees in July 2007, we now have a total number of 260,000 indigent Pangasinenses covered by health insurance.

The 14 hospitals in the province have also undergone various stages of improvement and upgrading and established a dialysis center with 12 dialysis machines.

Aside from hospital and curative health care, the provincial government has also pursued an aggressive public health program and strengthened its capability for disease prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles and practices in our communities. (PIO/Angeline D. Villanueva)

Lingayen beach entices Korean broadcast-journalists

Lingayen beach entices Korean broadcast-journalists. A Korean broadcast-journalist named Mi Kee Park, (stooping) enjoys the water at the beach along Brgy. Estanza in Lingayen as she poses with a Pangasinense family for a souvenir photo. Park and her news team from Money Television Network (MTN) Seoul, South Korea conducted a five-day documentation on the various investment and tourism sites in Pangasinan. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)

Korean TV network interviews Gov. Espino on investments in Pangasinan

Korean TV network interviews Gov. Espino on investments in Pangasinan. The Money Television Network (MTN) of Seoul, South Korea conducts an interview with Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (seated right) regarding the investment projects of Koreans. The MTN news team led by Korean Broadcast-Journalist Mi Kee Park (seated left) was in Pangasinan from June 26 to June 30 to document Pangasinan as an investment and tourism hub to be aired on nationwide cable TV in Korea. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)

Gov. Espino takes oath for 2nd Term

Gov. Espino takes oath for 2nd Term. Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center) takes his oath of office for his second term as Governor of Pangasinan before Executive Judge Giorgina Hidalgo (left) of Lingayen Regional Trial Court last June 28 at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen. Gov. Espino was reelected after he scored a landslide victory over his opponents. Witnessing the oath taking are the first family led by Mdm. Priscilla I. Espino (beside the Governor) and members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)

Governor’s Inaugural Address. Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center of upper photo) expresses his thanks to Pangasinenses for the overwhelming support that gave him a new mandate as governor of the province during the Inaugural Ceremony at the Sison Auditorium last June 28. He said the landslide victory is a clear signal that the people affirmed his efforts to continue the changes and reforms that he instituted when he assumed the province’s highest position in 2007. Looking on are (from left of upper photo) First Lady Mdm. Priscilla I. Espino, Board Member Amadeo Espino, Vice-Governor-elect Ferdinand Z. Calimlim and thousands of spectators (lower photo) composed of the members and relatives of the first family; elected provincial, municipal and barangay officials; heads of national agencies; business executives; NGO leaders; foreign investors; provincial employees and the media. (PIO photo by Bob Sison and Bong Laure)

Espino-Calimlim and Prov’l Board Members sworn in: Guv vows to continue Progress and Development of Pangasinan

Espino-Calimlim and Prov’l Board Members sworn in:
Guv vows to continue Progress and Development of Pangasinan

LINGAYEN--- Governor Amado T., Espino, Jr., banking on an overwhelming fresh mandate, batted for continuous development and progress for Pangasinan on his second term, during his inaugural address last June 28 at the Sison Auditorium here.

The Governor, the Vice Governor and Provincial Board Members took oath before Executive Judge Georgina Hidalgo of Lingayen Regional Trial Court, witnessed by members of their families, newly-elected local officials, heads of national agencies, foreign delegates, provincial officials and employees, and the media.

Governor Espino sought the greater unity and help of the different sectors of the local society, of the province’s cities and municipalities, of both the public and the private sector, and the industry to continue the massive development programs and projects of his administration.

Even as he called for a united front towards greater progress, Governor Espino was not remiss on espousing the delivery of basic services to Pangasinenses such as the provision of clean and potable water, decent homes, nutritious food, proper disposal of garbage and decent comfort rooms.

The people, the Governor said, should have access to basic services they need and officials should provide the leadership in achieving this goal, especially now that we live in the age of information technology where vast information and knowledge are at a click of a finger.

An environmentalist, the Governor advocated for continuous upland and coastal reforestation. He also called for the massive cleaning and desiltation of the province’s rivers and coasts to prevent floods. These waterways, he said, can even serve as highways for people and products.
Governor Espino bared that three groups of Korean investors are planning to put up electric car manufacturing plant, retirement village, medical center, socialized housing, business process outsourcing, mining, port operations and other big projects.

Governor Espino thanked the multitude who supported him in the last elections and said the unprecedented victory is an affirmation that the people of Pangasinan wanted him to continue the programs and projects he started on his first term and as a proof of their clamor for real change.

“Ang pagbabago ay likas na katunggali ng tao, at ang tao ay likas na katunggali ng Pagbabago”, he said as he speak for a change in delivering services to the people . Though the road for change is not easy, the Governor said, his administration was able to accomplish much in a short time.

Counting as one of his administration’s foremost achievements, the Governor said they were able to change the work attitude of the provincial government workforce that now deliver better and quality public services and consider their job as a sacred task and contract between the people.

In a right way of using public funds, the governor added, the Capitol Building and its surroundings were transformed into world-class destination that gets the nod and admiration of local residents, tourists and visitors, and “balikbayans.”

The Governor also cited the massive renovation and upgrading of all the 14 province-owned hospitals in the entire province, which he said now brings better and quality medical services to the people, especially the poor.

Pangasinan, according to him, is number one in the Philippines in terms of PhilHealth sponsorship program with more than 267,000 indigents enrolled, national champion in “Garantisadong Pambata” nutrition and child survival and number one in tourist arrivals in the region.

Governor Espino also bared the strides the province was able to make in peace and order, health, education, agriculture, housing, sports and youth development, tourism, infrastructure and environment care and protection.

Despite these gains, the governor emphasized that Pangasinan should never stop achieving with all the natural and built-in resources it is endowed with. To this end, he called for a stronger push to achieve his administration’s 10-point agenda. He also vouched to achieve greater progress and development with the establishment of Sual Seaport and Lingayen Eco- Tourism Zone which will attract a steady influx of investors and provide continuous job opportunities.

Outgoing Vice Governor and newly elected 6th district Congresswoman Marilyn Primicias-Agabas said that, “I am very much lucky and thankful to be part of Governor Espino’s first term. I’m sure na kung nagawa niya nung first term mas marami pa tayong mae-expect na magagawa niya.”

Incoming 2nd district Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil, said, “I would like to congratulate our beloved Governor Espino and Vice Governor Calimlim for this momentous occasion, one of the historic moments in our province of Pangasinan, and I join them and all the Pangasinenses in our aspiration for the delivery of quality governance.”

Lingayen Mayor Jonas Castañeda, led newly-elected local executives in greeting the governor, and said “ito ay isa sa pinakaimportanteng araw ng ating lalawigan, dahil nandito lahat ang mga elected Provincial officials, especially the overwhelming mandate given to our re-elected governor.”

Jung Kang Hee , CEO and President of JJGPK Co. Ltd of Korea and Winchun Lim, Chairman of MIDO Construction led the two Korean groups that attended the event and pledged their support to Governor Espino’s administration. They said that they will invest in big projects in the next three years that will provide thousands of jobs to Pangasinenses. (PIO/ Rafael Manuel III and Darwin Magalong)

Energy Producers congratulate Gov. Espino

Energy Producers congratulate Gov. Espino. The executives and officials of National Power Corp. (NPC), San Roque Power Corp. (SRPC) and Team Energy Sual congratulate Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center of left photo) for his phenomenal victory in the recent gubernatorial race last May 10 during a courtesy call last June 24 at the Capitol Resort Hotel in Lingayen. Shown in left photo are: (clockwise, bottom left) Team Energy VP Saturo Harada, Team Energy Pres. Federico Puno, SRPC Pres. and CEO Ryukichi Kawaguchi, SRPC EVP Naoto Tago, Gov. Espino, Team Energy Sual VP Ruben H. Licerio (hidden), SRPC VP Tommy Valdez (hidden) , Provincial Administrator Rafael F. Baraan, SRPC VP Suguru Tzuzaki and OIC IPPCM NLO NPC Cynthia S. Arnaldo. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)