P’sinan gears for another GP National Award

LINGAYEN--- Pangasinan is out to grab its second victory this year as it faces the bigger challenge of sustaining its good performance in 2009 when it won the Garantisadong Pambata National Championship Award.


As gleaned from the reports of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.said the province of Pangasinan has shown very good performance which meets the national standards of 95% in the GP indicators, particularly the Vitamin A supplementation coverage.

Gov. Espino said that from 2007 to 2009, the indicators for Vit. A coverage increased from 83% in October 2007 to 95% in October 2009. The latest GP report showed that as of April 2010, Pangasinan has maintained its 95% coverage.

Towards this end, the provincial government through the PHO has solicited the commitment of its partners in the local government units and non-government organizations in the GP implementation.

The PHO has lobbied for the support of the Association of Barangay Captains and other elected officials to the province and municipal health service providers to improve further and sustain its performance in GP Coverage as the Garantisadong Pambata Preschoolers Health Week kicks off on October 11 to 15.

In a meeting at the Capitol Resort Hotel last Tuesday, the Center for Health Development, the PHO and their different partners from both the government and non-government sectors came up with action plans to enhance and maintain the province’s good performance in GP.

Good practices in Nutrition Program Implementation and its relation to GP strategies were presented and the creation of ordinances relative to the program were tackled as a means of strengthening the province’s performance on GP.      

The Garantisadong Pambata campaign which was started in 1998 aimed to promote the universal access of child survival services for the improvement of child health in the country.

The campaign is centered on educating parents and local government units on the 10 child survival interventions for continued and sustained delivery of under-five child health services and increase the number of under-five children accessing the child survival services by 25 percent.

The GP’s theme for this year is “Ways to Save Your Child: Bring your Children 6months to 5 years old to your Nearest Health Facility for GP Services.

The 10 child survival interventions which are the focus of the celebration include skilled attendance during pregnancy, delivery and immediate post partum, care of the newborn, breastfeeding and complimentary feeding, micronutrient supplementation and deworming, immunization of children and mothers, integrated management of sick children, injury prevention and control, child spacing , proper personal hygiene and smoke-free home. (PIO)

86 fishpen units dismantled in 3 days

DAGUPAN CITY – 86 fishpen units and other aquaculture structures have been dismantled in the main rivers here after majority of the stakeholders in the city in the aquaculture practitioners’ symposium called for by Mayor Benjamin S. Lim last September 28 gave their open support to the clearing of the rivers.

The river cleanup is to be followed by the implementation of a one-year moratorium on fishpens and any fish-catching structures in local rivers.

           

Lim has been personally supervising the clearing operation since October 4 together with the City Agriculture Office. City Agriculturist Emma Molina said it was quite easy for the clearing team this time around to dismantle the fishpens because the structures have been voluntarily abandoned by the fishpen operators themselves.

Molina said the fishpen owners are now more aware of the effect of fishkills’ that made them more open to the idea of cleaning the rivers. “They already saw the benefit that they will derive if they will comply with Mayor Lim’s plan of implementing a one year moratorium.” Molina explained.

“Compared to previous years, when the fishpen owners complied because they were forced to, it’s different this time. The idea is more acceptable to them this time than in the previous administration,” she said.

She explained that the same ordinance is being implemented by Lim in clearing the rivers of fishpens and other aquaculture structures, but after the holding of the symposium called for by Mayor Lim with stakeholders in the city, the operators have become more open than before.

“The owners are more cooperative this time. In return the city is taking the cudgel of pulling out the bamboo poles which will cost the owners some P3,000 if they do it on their own.” she said.

Molina is confident that by the end of the month, her office shall have dismantled all fishpens in the city if the owners continue to be cooperative.

Molina explained that in order not to affect the price and supply of bangus in the market, the city action teams are doing it zone by zone and there are less than ten units that remain in operation. We also need to control the supply and the price of the bangus in the market.”

“The lowest price of bangus was P60 before, but this time it reached P110 wholesale. At retail it is being offered at P130 but if you can haggle, you can get it at P90,” she noted. (CIO)

Parents, mentors cold to additional school years

DAGUPAN CITY – Parents including teachers themselves appear reluctant to embrace the government’s plan to add two more years in the country’s basic education system.

Dante Pescador of the National Statistics Office, a parent, instead suggested that government should pour more resources and support to the present educational system to meet the needs of teachers and students. “Dapat dagdagan na lang ang mga kailangan ng mga schools at training ng mga teachers. Dagdag pahirap lang sa mga magulang kung dadagdagan pa ang bilang ng taon,” he said during the KBP Forum Thursday at the Philippine Information Agency.

Principal Ma. Linda Ventenilla of the Judge Jose de Venecia National High School, for her part, said that personally she felt that adding two more years would incur more expenses for government and parents as well. “Ngayong 10 years nga marami nang kakulangan sa teachers and classrooms, tapos dagdagan pa, mas malaking problema.”

She said she believed that the present number of years is sufficient already to provide quality education as long as government gives education full support. “Let’s be practical, we cannot embrace what we do not have,” she also told the media forum.

But she quickly clarified that she supports the decision of the present administration to add two more years.

Class adviser Jojill Beltran of the Dagupan City National High School agrees with Ventenilla saying it is difficult this time to implement the plan considering the needed funding. “Dagdagan na lang ang dapat ituro sa mga estudyante at magbigay din ng training para sa mga guro,” he said, adding that two more years would be taxing on students. “Ngayong four years lang eh pagod na sila, baka lalong magsasawa sila pag dinagdagan pa.”

Mediaman Edmund Abobo of Bombo Radyo-Dagupan, who is also a parent, agreed with the observations.

Merly Tibalao of the provincial information office said adding one more year in high school would prepare students to college education. (PIA Pangasinan)

Gov. Espino was not, is not and will never be a jueteng operator!

“I am not, I have never been, and I have no intention of becoming a jueteng operator. And I challenge everyone who accuses me as such to stand up here and show proof.”

               

This was emphasized by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. as he refuted allegations that he is among the operators of the illegal numbers game during the resumption of hearings by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee last October 6 in Pasay City.

               

The Governor informed the body how he continually pondered to address the issue in the most polite manner because the accusations hurled against him in an open session in the Senate, seen in full view of the entire nation and in some parts of the world, were made by a high-ranking leader of the Catholic Church.

               

This, he said, has caused so much grief and anxiety to his family, friends and his aging mother who has spent sleepless nights trying to digest the grave implications of the unfounded and baseless accusations hurled against him.

               

Gov. Espino further said he has a high regard for the Archbishop and that he believes he means well in his crusade, but he added that “he might be just being misled by overzealous informants who are unwittingly being carried away by wild rumors and malicious schemes.”

               

“I hope he can find time to sift thru the raw reports before passing on these rumors and wild speculations to this august body as if the same were gospel truth,” he said.

               

The governor said he is inclined to sympathize with the archbishop for his furor over jueteng, particularly in the Province of Pangasinan, which could be a personal frustration over Cruz’s failure to see the total eradication of this problem in his own archdiocese even at the height of his crusade.

               

Gov. Espino also asked the senators to be “more circumspect and exercise caution in releasing sensitive but unverified information that may besmirch and destroy the reputation of innocent victims.”

               

Jueteng, Gov. Espino said, is a persistent and nagging social malady that is deeply rooted in our society that has been existent before everyone in this lifetime was born.

               

The Governor said he is one with all well-meaning leaders of this country for the complete eradication of this “national disease” but they should not be harsh and not too quick to accuse each other. Instead, he said, they should agree to work together and try to find concrete and effective solutions to address the problem. (PIO)

Puto vendors to have individual electric meters

CALASIAO, Pangasinan- Some forty (40) stallholders occupying the Puto Commercial Complex here will have their own electric meters thus they will shoulder their own monthly power consumptions.

Mayor Mark Roy Q. Macanlalay explained that his administration is currently implementing cost-cutting measures, and the individual electric metering program among the Puto vendors is one way to reduce the monthly power consumptions of the municipal government.

“Since the Puto Complex was constructed during the time of former Mayor Roy T. Macanlalay, the local government has been religiously paying the monthly electric bills of every stall. However, when I assumed office in July 2010, we discovered that there are occupants who already have refrigerators, electric fans and even rice cookers inside their stalls, and obviously the municipal government can no longer subsidize their exorbitant electric bills,” Macanlalay informed.

He said the mayor’s office is helping the puto vendors to expedite the processing of their electric applications at Dagupan Electric Corporation (DECORP).  “I was informed that there are already stalls which now have their individual power,” Mayor Mark averred.

The 26-year-old bachelor mayor added that the individual metering program is no longer new in Calasiao because the municipal government has already implemented it to the stall owners in their Municipal Public Market.

“Hindi maiwasan na may mga kontra sa programa nating ito, pero naniniwala ako na mapapakiusapan din natin ang mga puto vendors na magkaroon ng kanya-kanyang metro para sila na rin ang magtitipid sa kanilang mga konsumo,” Macanlalay said.

For the past several weeks, the power service at the Puto Commercial Complex was shut off after the electric bill was not settled to the DECORP.

This third district town is famous not only to the miraculous Senor Divino Tesoro Shrine but also for its delicious puto (rice cake).

Mayor Macanlalay assured the puto vendors that the municipal government will continuously be supportive to the puto industry.

Puto stallholders will shoulder their own electric consumptions.

Philippine Councilors’ League New Photo

THE DOCTOR IS IN: San Manuel town Councilor Salvador “Dong” S. Perez Jr.  (2^nd from left, first row) is proclaimed new PCL-Pangasinan Chapter President by (L-R) DILG Provincial Director Domiciano Soriano Jr., Philippine Councilors’ League national president Ronald P. Carcellar, and PCL national Secretary General Ramon Tabor during the PCL elections held last Sept. 23, 2010 at CSI Stadia in Dagupan City. Behind Perez are the other elected PCL officers. (PHOTO BY ZARSI)

Dong Perez is new PCL president!

PANGASINAN COUNCILORS’ League newly-elected President Salvador “Dong” S.  Perez Jr. appealed to all PCL members to unite and work together so that all the programs that he envisions will all be realized.

Perez, who is a first-termer councilor from San Manuel town, garnered a convincing 269 votes while his rival, Pozorrubio Councilor Kelvin Chan got 193 votes, in a hotly-contested PCL elections held at CSI Stadia in Dagupan City last September 23.

“I appeal to all mu colleagues in the PCL to forget once-and-for-all the intensity of our concluded elections and eventually unite to promote the welfare and benefits of the PCL members in the province,” said Perez.

The young Perez is the brother of incumbent Mayor Alain Jerico Perez and son of veteran politician Vice Mayor Salvador Perez Sr.

Perez, who is also a medical doctor by profession, will serve as Ex-Officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

His major programs include: Free medical and accident insurance coverage to the members; health and burial benefits in case of death aside from PCL National assistance; massive tree planting province-wide; establishment of PCL seedling bank; seminar and trainings for capability enhancement; scholarship program; fund transparency, among others.

“I am humbled by the overwhelming support that was given to me by the councilors from different town and cities. I want to express my sincerest gratitude to all of them especially to my family and friends who worked and prayed hard for my victory. I am also thankful to our Divine Almighty for giving me this chance to be of service to my fellow councilors and the Pangasinenses,” Perez remarked.

The other officers who will join in the Perez leadership are: Vice President Rose M.  Marcella (San Fabian), Secretary General Rosalie M. Ellasus (San Jacinto), Treasurer Jocelyn S. Visaya (Tayug), Auditor Ellen F. Alipio (Binmaley), PRO Vivien G. Peria (Mapandan), Business Manager Cheryl B. Sembrano; DIRECTORS: Carolyn D. Sison (Alaminos City), Joan Jude R. Lopez (Lingayen), Dyna P. de Guzman (Urbiztondo), Jolly R. Resuello (Basista), Dr. Jose Z. Carrera (Binmaley), Levin N. Uy (Bayambang), George F. Celeste (Bolinao), Alvin O. Bravo (San Nicolas).

DILG Provincial Director Domiciano Soriano Jr. together with PCL National President Ronald P. Carcellar, PCL National Sec. Gen. Ramon Tabor, PCL National Board Sec. Maybelyn dela Cruz Fernandez and outgoing PCL Provl. Pres. Aiza C. Villacorta facilitated the oath-taking of the new PCL-Pangasinan Officers right after the elections.

Meanwhile, Mayor Jerico Perez informed that his brother will be the first PCL President and Board Member from San Manuel town.

“We are grateful because my friends including the long-time acquaintances of my father, former Mayor Badong Perez, did not leave us in this political battle,” said Mayor Jerico.

Those who served as PCL President prior to the young Perez were: Ramon Bautista (Manaoag, 1992-1995), Eddie Perez (Urdaneta City, 1995-1998 and 1998-2001), Chu Carancho (Urdaneta City, 2001-2004), Danny Uy (Binalonan, 2004-2007), and Raul Sison (Urbiztondo, 2007-2010).

“Noong una ay hesitant si Daddy na tumakbo si Dr. Dong bilang PCL President dahil magastos daw. Pero sinabi ko na ito na ang magandang pagkakataon na tumakbo sa PCL dahil marami naman kaming mga kaibigan, kamag-anak, kumare at kumpare na tutulong kay Councilor Perez. Mabuti na lang at nakumbinsi naming siya,” Mayor Jerico revealed.

Liderato ni Ben Datuin bilang Grand Knight kinilala ng KofC

TULUNG-TULONG, kayang kaya natin ito(TTKKNI).

Ito ang nagsilbing inspirasyon ng mga miyembro ng Knights of Columbus Calasiao Council 9119 kung kaya’t sa loob ng dalawang termino na pangunguna bilang Grand Knight ni dating Mayor Bernardino “Ben” Datuin ay iginawad ang dalawang pinakamataas na parangal na nagmula sa KofC Supreme Council sa New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Sa paglipat ni Datuin ng liderato bilang Grand Knight kay G. Robert Umangay noong Linggo (Sept. 26) kasabay ng 25th Year installation of Officers and Induction of Service Program Personnel for Columbian year 2010-2011, pinasalamatan niya ang lahat ng mga miyembro at opisyales ng KofC na nakipagtulungan sa kanya para matamo ang mga programa na kaniyang isinulong.

Natanggap niya ang Star Council Award noong unang termino niya (2006-2008) at sa ikalawang termino naman (2008-2010) ay ang Grand Knight Leadership Award.

Sa pamumuno ni Datuin ay unti-unting naitayo ang Chamber House ng Knights of Columbus Calasiao Council 9119 sa loob mismo ng Sts. Peter and Paul Parish.

 “Malaki din ang ating pasasalamat sa suporta nina Father Jose Carino,  Mayor Macanlalay, Mrs. Lourdes Fernandez, Mrs. Emma Bernal Castro at ganoon din kina dating District Deputy Brothers Renato Millan at Florencio Gabrillo para sa tagumpay ng KofC,” pahayag pa ni Datuin.

Si Ex-Mayor Datuin ang may ari ng Datuin Machine Works sa Calasiao na may mga sangay na rin sa Alaminos City, Baguio City, Laoag City at Tarlac City.

Likas na kay Ben Datuin ang pagtulong sa mga nangangailangan bago pa man ito maging Grand Knight sa KofC.

Dahil accredited na rin ng TESDA ang kanyang Datuin Machine Works ay nagbibigay na rin ito ng training o pagsasanay sa mga taong nais matuto ng pag-torno at iba pang trabaho sa machine shop.

Dahil sa mga trainings na naibibigay ng DMW kung kaya’t marami na rin ang nakapag-abroad dahil sa inisyatibong ito ni Ex-Mayor Datuin.

“Nasa KofC man tayo o sa pulitika ay tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang pagtulong ng pamilya Datuin dahil ibinabalik lamang natin sa mga mahihirap ang mga biyayang ibinibigay sa atin ng Poong Maykapal,” dagdag pa ni Datuin.

Bakit ‘jueteng’ lang ang pinag-iinitan ni Archbishop Cruz?

BUGALLON- Labis na ipinagtataka ni Mayor Rodrigo ‘Ric’ Orduna, pangulo ng Pangasinan Mayors’ League, kung bakit pilit na pinatitigil ni dating Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz ang sugal na jueteng samantalang marami pang uri ng sugal ang naglipana sa iba’t ibang sulok ng Pilipinas.

Ayon sa alkalde, mayroong dalawang kategorya ang sugal. Kung ang gobyerno ang tatanungin: mayroong legal at ilegal.

Kapag ang simbahan naman ang tatanungin, ang sugal ay masama at imoral, kahit ito ay legal at umaayon sa panuntunan ng pamahalaan.

“Kung totoong seryoso si Archbishop Cruz na ilayo sa imoralidad ang mga tao, ay dapat manguna siya na sugpuin ang lahat ng sugal at hindi lamang ang jueteng,” pahayag ni Orduna.

Aniya, maraming mga Pilipino ang likas na mahilig magsugal. “Ultimo score sa basketbol gaya ng “ending” ay pinagpupustahan pa. Pati nga laban ng insekto gaya ng gagamba ay malalaki ang pustahan, idagdag mo pa ang laban ni Pacquiao sa boksing,” dagdag pa ng alkalde.

May mga sugal na legal subalit hindi pa rin maiwasan na gumawa ng kahalintulad na sugal ang mga operators pero ilegal. Ang sabong ay legal pero mayroon namang “bolarit” na ilegal. Ang karera at jai alai ay legal pero mayroong mga nagbu-bookish.

Sa casino, may mga legal na card games, pero bakit may mga nagpapasugal din ng sakla, tong-its at lucky nine? Sa casino, may mga legal na slot machine, pero bakit mayroon pang mga video karera at  ameneng?

Ang PCSO ay may lotto, easy-two, at small town lottery na puro legal pero nandiyan pa rin ang jueteng?

“Ang dapat gawin ni Archbishop Cruz ay hikayatin niya ang mga tao na huwag nang magsugal, pero bakit hindi niya magawa ito at marami pa rin ang nagsusugal ng mga legal at ilegal? Hindi maganda na sisisihin pa niya ang mga pulitiko kung bakit hindi tumitigil ang sugal samantalang pagkukulang na ng simbahan kung bakit hindi sumusunod sa kanila ang mga tao,” pahayag pa ni Orduna.

Kapansin-pansin na maging si Father Ed Panlilio na naging gobernador ng Pampanga ay hindi rin nya napigilan na magsugal ang mga tao.

Ayon pa kay Mayor Orduna, ang jueteng ay lumawak sa Pilipinas noong panahon ng mga Kastila. “Hindi lang Kristyanismo ang dinala ng mga kastila kundi pati na rin ang sugal,” pahayag pa ng alkalde.

Kumpara sa ibang sugal, ang jueteng ang gustong-gusto na libangan ng mga tao.

Ayon sa ilang tumataya sa jueteng, imbes na ubusin nila ang oras sa paglalaro ng mahjong o tong its, ay nagagawa pa nila ang kanilang trabaho at hihintayin na lamang ang resulta ng nanalong numero.

“Kung ilan ang barya sa bulsa namin ay maaari na naming itaya sa jueteng imbes na buuin pa ang bente pesos kung tataya kami sa lotto at kailangan pa na pumunta kami sa palengke para tumaya,” pahayag naman ng isang mananaya sa jueteng.

Isa rin sa mga iniisip ni Mayor Orduna ay ang mga libu-libong kubradores na umaasa sa jueteng na kung ititigil ito ay wala nang alam na trabaho kung saan sila kikita para sa kanilang pamilya.

“Kung ang mga college graduates ay nahihirapan sa paghahanap ng trabaho, ito pa kayang mga kubradores na karamihan ay walang mga tinapos na edukasyon. Ang mahirap dito ay kung patitigilin ang jueteng at walang alternatibong trabaho para sa mga kubrador ay baka samantalahin sila ng mga drug lords at gawin silang mga drug pushers dahil kakapit na rin sila sa patalim,” dagdag pa ni Orduna.

Sinabi rin ng alkalde na hindi ang jueteng ang sanhi ng kahirapan ng Pilipinas gaya ng sinasabi ni Arsobispo Cruz. “Ang rason kung bakit marami pa rin ang naghihirap ay dahil walang mahanap na trabaho ang mga tao, dahil wala silang pinag-aralan, at dahil na rin sa minana na nila ang kahirapan sa buhay,” paglalahad pa ni Mayor Orduna.

PESO holds more recruitment activities for jobseekers

LINGAYEN---Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. lauded the Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) for keeping up with the province’s thrust of helping locate employment opportunities for jobseekers from Pangasinan.
Citing the relentless efforts of PESO in conducting skills training and job placement activities, the Governor said that since he took office in 2007, PESO has already placed some 3,400 job applicants for local and overseas employment.
Gov. Espino noted that recruitment activities at PESO have leveled up as it does not just cater to the recruitment of skilled workers but also of professionals.
Just recently, PESO conducted a special recruitment activity through the Hanjin Heavy Industries, Inc. which absorbed qualified engineers for its engineering staff.
The Govenor said, Hanjin, a Korean shipyard company based in Subic, Zambales, has been a consistent partner of the provincial government in providing employment opportunities not only for Pangasinenses but also for residents from nearby towns and provinces.
To date , Hanjin has already hired some 400 welders now working at its shipyard in Zambales.
Vakrangee, an Indian organization has also tied up with PESO for the recruitment and training of encoders to work on the computerization of land titles of the Land Registration Authority in Manila.
A separate activity was also conducted where over a hundred unemployed out-of-school youths and adults willing to be trained as factory workers, janitors or welders for local and overseas employment availed of a free orientation conducted by PESO at the Kalantiao Building here last September 20.
Alex Ferrer, PESO Manager said the orientation is in cooperation with Pro Work Cooperative, a private organization that provides training to unemployed individuals and, at the same time, assists clients for job placements in electronic companies.
Ferrer said this is the 2nd time for ProWork Cooperative to assist the provincial government trough PESO in training unemployed individuals in electronics.
Vic Ong, a representative of ProWork conducted an interview after the orientation.