WHO WILL BRING HOME THE CROWN? Twenty-four (24) equally lovely and witty young ladies representing the different towns and city in the province will vie for the most-coveted crown of Limgas na Pangasinan 2016 on April 30. Prior to the main pageant and coronation night, the candidates will showcase their individual talents on April 21 at the Sison Auditorium. This year’s official Limgas na Pangasinan candidates are as follows:  Kristal Joy S. Larrobis (Manaoag), Kathlyn Joy P. Managan (San Quintin), Diana Rose S. Untalan (Sta. Barbara), Joane C. Ancheta (Aguilar), Lovely Lamptey (Rosales), Ma. Benigna De Guzman (Alaminos City), Karissa Anne A. Lopez (Alcala), Keesha Maye H. Abad (San Jacinto), Deneille Joie N. Magno (Bayambang), Diana Jean N. Cayabyab (Malasiqui), Jackie Lou V. Taboy (Sual), Roschelle Ciencia (Tayug), Tristan Khyle Torio (Bolinao), Reyshallen H. Rivera (Umingan), Vanessa R. Valle (Lingayen), Christelle Ivony A. Laguerta (Mapandan), Nikki Pinpino (Sto. Tomas), Ma. Fransel S. Galla (Lingayen), Vanessa F. Baraquio (Basista), Christine Joy Picardal (Sison), Riza B. Diego (Bayambang), Jill Trixia Jacinto (Malasiqui), Perla M. Peabody (Villasis), and Hannah Quezon (Bugallon). (Photo by Meinard V. Sadim/rrb)

P’SINAN HERITAGE CENTER OPENS. Bengson-Yuson House, the oldest residential unit in Lingayen, Pangasinan, was formally inaugurated as the Pangasinan Heritage Center that will lodge the Pangasinan Historical and Cultural Commission and the Center for Pangasinan Studies during opening rites held as part of the 436^th Agew na Pangasinan celebration on April 5, 2016. Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (2^nd from left) led the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the edifice and is joined by former congressman Antonio E. Bengson III (left), on behalf of the property’s donee Bengson clan, Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. (3rd from left) and University of the Philippines Vice Pres. for Public Affairs Prospero De Vera (right). Not in the photo is Second District Representative Leopoldo Bataoil, who also graced the event. /Photo by MVSadim

Lingayen – University of the Philippines (UP) President Alfredo Pascual commended the administration of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) for nurturing the solid foundation for re-discovering Pangasinan history, arts and culture by marking April 5, 1580 as the founding date of the province.

Thus said by UP Vice President for Public Affairs Prospero De Vera, III, who delivered Dr. Pascual’s speech as guest of honor and speaker during the commemorative program of the 436^th founding anniversary of Pangasinan (Agew na Pangasinan) held at the Sison Auditorium on April 5.

In 2010, Pangasinenses commemorated the 430^th Agew na Pangasinan which featured an array of activities to spread awareness on Pangasinan culture, language and artistry enrichment and preservation; and local industries and natural resources as tourist destinations.

“It took the leadership of a student of history – Governor Espino – to recognize the importance of marking that milestone in this province’s history and it is an effort truly worthy of praise,” Dr. Pascual said.

Elated over the warm reception of Pangasinenses to the cultural renaissance of Pangasinan promoted by his administration, Governor Espino bared the developing programs and activities his administration have launched and institutionalized to celebrate the spirit of Pangasinan for cultural reawakening.

The various programs and activities implemented for cultural revival, according to Espino, are outcomes of laying a solid foundation for our province’s rebirth.

“As for me, it is my genuine love for our people and our province that inspired me to promote the culture of excellence, professionalism and hard work within the provincial government and to pursue well-defined goals for Pangasinan,” Gov. Espino said.

Citing Pangasinan’s historic role and importance to the country was deeply rooted, Pascual noted that Agew na Pangasinan is a reflection of the province’s rich history and how it developed over the centuries to become what it is today.

Pascual likewise lauded the partnership between UP and provincial government for the establishment of the Center for Pangasinan Studies (CPS) which was inaugurated at the Bengson-Yuson ancestral house, here, also as part of the 2016 Agew na Pangasinan.

Technical assistance will be provided by UP professors from Pangasinan to the CPS which developed as a consortium of five local-based higher education institutions (HEIs) — University of Luzon (UL), Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU), Virgin Milagrosa University Foundation (VMUF), Colegio De Dagupan (CDD) and University of Pangasinan (UPang) Phinma. A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was sealed between the provincial government, UP and the five local universities during the commemorative program.

“The CPS will ignite a stronger sense of pride among Pangasinenses that will reinvigorate their commitment to Pangasinan even greater than it already is,” Pascual said.

PLGP EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH ZFF AND DOH OFFICIALS. The Zuelling Family Foundation led by its president, Prof. Ernesto Garilao (3^rd from right), and Department of Health (DOH) officials led by regional director Myrna Cabotaje (2^nd from right) discuss with Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. (2^nd from left) and Provincial Health Officer II Anna Ma. Teresa De Guzman (extreme left) about the status of the Provincial Leadership and Governance Program (PLGP) enrolment of the province. About 40 health leaders of the local government unit (LGU) Pangasinan are expected to complete the ZFF-DOH PLGP training course, which prepared them to become responsive in public health delivery and hospital services, this April or May. /Photo by MVSadim

Lingayen – Among the 81 provinces in the Philippines, Pangasinan was chosen by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as pilot province for its Integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) which is designed to improve further the disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in the region.

The JICA-funded GIS project which covers municipalities of Lingayen and Binmaley and Dagupan City was launched at the Urduja House, here, on March 31 which was attended by top executives from JICA – Philippines and partner project implementers Informatrix, PhilNITS and CTI Engineering International along with Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and local chief executives and representatives from pilot areas in the province.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) chief Rhodyn Lochinvar Oro stressed that the implementation of the Integrated GIS project in Pangasinan will boost the disaster management capability of the province as information relative to disaster mitigation and response, and recovery can be easily shared among concerned local government units (LGUs).

“With this technology, now at hand, and through the active leadership of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., we can face monitored disasters better,” Oro said.

It was learned that GIS will help pinpoint the areas considered prone to disaster, including critical infrastructure and where to find safe evacuation areas.

Meanwhile, JICA – Philippines senior representative Takahiro Morita informed the LGU beneficiaries that the Integrated GIS will help improve information sharing for DRMM activities to attain zero casualty on the ground at the peak of a disaster.

To jumpstart the project implementation, JICA’s local partner PhilNITS is tasked to design and implement the GIS using the Geo Cloud software of Informatix.

PhilNITS President Ma. Corazon Akol said the GIS project will be operational by October this year. However, a 10-month period will be consumed for the preparation and testing of the GIS hardware and software components and for the training of system operators before the Integrated GIS becomes fully-operational.

On behalf of Governor Espino, Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. thanked JICA and its partners for selecting Pangasinan as pilot area of the Integrated GIS.

VG Calimlim noted that the advancement of disaster management through the employment of modern technology is a bold move of the Espino administration to level up DRMM activities to mitigate the effects of disasters in Pangasinan.

LGU – Pangasinan being a recipient of ‘Gawad Kalasag’ regional award in recognition to its exceptional disaster management capability is expected to further boost its DRRM with the installation of Integrated GIS products.

LINGAYEN – The province of Pangasinan is up for another breakthrough if it successfully passes the strict scrutiny of the evaluators following the conduct of the evaluation and assessment of the Regional Assessment Team from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

Pending results which will be announced later, the assessment held on March 31 at the Capitol Resort here was headed by DILG Officer-in-Charge Provincial Director Roger Daquioag.

The SGLG, conferred by the DILG, is the highest award given to local government units which is a proof of an LGU’s excellent performance.

The evaluation and assessment was based on the three core areas including Financial Administration, Disaster Preparedness and social Protection and three essential areas enumerated as Peace and Order, Business Friendliness and Competetiveness and Environmental area where Pangasinan passed all criteria required of an LGU to become a passer for the SGLG.

Provincial Planning and Development Officer Benita Pizarro said that in 2011 to 2012, Pangasinan received the Seal of Good Housekeeping from the DILG.

In 2015, it was cited as among the 15 percent of the total number of LGUs    in the country to receive the Seal of Good Local Governance for meeting the criteria set by DILG.

Pizarro expressed hope that for 2016, the province continues to sustain and meet the criteria set by the DILG to qualify anew as awardee or passer for the SGLG.  /ADV

Lingayen – About 40 health leaders of the provincial government will soon finish a training course on health leadership offered by the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) and the Department of Health (DOH), making Pangasinan as the first local government unit (LGU) in Northern and Central Luzon to finish said program.

The enrolment of the provincial government to the Provincial Leadership and Governance Program (PLGP) of ZFF – DOH forms part of the continuing efforts of the provincial administration led by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. to further scale up the health sector in the province through enhancing the capability of health leaders to become more responsive in public health delivery and hospital services.

PLGP enrolees from the province include: key officials and program managers of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), chiefs of hospitals and representatives from offices of the provincial government who are responsibe to plan, manage human resource and to implement sound fiscal administration. The PLGP enrolees which also include representatives from the PhilHealth are expected to graduate by April or May, this year.

In an executive session, Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. met with ZTT president Ernesto Garilao and DOH representatives led by regional director Myrna Cabotaje at the Urduja House, here, last March 22 where Provincial Health Officer Anna Maria Teresa De Guzman presented the activities undertaken by the PLGP enrolees to fulfil the requirements of said program.

            The PGLP, according to Dr. De Guzman, was designed for one and a half year (1 1/2) enrolment to be completed, but the provincial government may be able to finish it in 12 months or as soon as final requirements will be accomplished.

De Guzman added that the series of discussion and practicum which include coaching and monitoring in modules 1 and 2 of the PLGP empower health leaders to become ‘bridging leaders’ to look into the welfare of the community, especially the poor.

Coaching and mentoring to the provincial government hospitals were done by the ZFF and DOH representatives on the progress of implementation of different interventions.

The hospital scorecard which has six building blocks – leadership and governance, information, service delivery, human resources, medicines and technology and financing was also introduced to measure the compliance of a hospital in certain indicators under each component.

Meanwhile, ZFF President Ernesto Garilao, lauded the provincial government for its health care delivery system, but pointed out “the need to revitalize further health care delivery in hospitals through change of mindset of health service providers.”

“If you fix Pangasinan, you fix the whole regional performance in terms of health care promotion,” Garilao said as he noted that Pangasinan constitutes half of the region’s population which implies that there are more people needing health care attention.

Under the Espino administration, the health sector received tremendous support in terms of budget as evidenced by an increase of 26 percent from 275 million in 2007 to 712 million in 2014, surpassing the prescribed budget of DOH.

It is also under the Espino leadership that ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certifications were awarded to the province – the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (May 2014); and the PHO, which is the first and only health office of a provincial LGU in the entire country that became ISO-certified (January 2014).

Lingayen – The culminating program of Pasyar Pangasinan heritage tour held on March 20 at the Sison Auditorium which was participated in by almost 600 townsfolk from Villasis town became an opportunity for provincial leaders to convey their gratitude for the unwavering support of Pangasinenses to all programs of the present provincial administration which are anchored to further boost progress and development in Pangasinan.

Speaking before the elders who hail from Bacag, Caramutan, Puelay and Barangobong villages in Villasis, including some Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. bared that his administration since 2007 has maximized all its capabilities to address poverty to uplift the economic conditions of Pangasinenses as embedded in Pangasinan’s vision: “The best place to invest, work, live and raise a family.”

“This is why it is necessary for us to select leaders who shall continue what we have started to further spur progress and development in our province,” Gov. Espino said.

Under the Espino administration, the implementation of various programs for health care and agriculture had been complemented by the constant upgrading and construction of infrastructures and other support facilities in community and district hospitals and in agricultural field stations owned and managed by the local government unit (LGU) of Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr., noted the personal touch of the Espino administration in extending services to Pangasinenses as he regarded this as something that defines a true “Pamilyang Pangasinan.”

The gathering of Villasis elders became more festive when VG Calimlim sang his version of “Ikaw Na Nga.”

BM Espino, on the other hand, asked Umingan elders to continue serving the community by engaging in all affairs that affect the welfare of their constituents, particularly the youth.

“Huwag sana kayong magsawa na magbigay ng payo sa mga kabataan nang magabayan nyo sila,” he added.

Villasis Vice Mayor Paz Rafanan; town councillors Domingo Rafanan, Sheryl Tan and Judith Morden; Executive Assistant IV Ramon Morden and Dennis Uy, son of outgoing 5^th district Board Member Danilo Uy, were also present to signify support during the said activity.

DARLING OF THE PRESS.  Bayambang lovely and witty lass Denielle Joi N. Magno emerges as this year’s Limgas na Pangasinan ‘Darling of the Press.’ Held last March 19 at the Urduja Reception Hall, members of the media got the chance to meet and converse with the 24 ladies representing various towns and city of Pangasinan who are vying for the most-coveted 2016 Limgas na Pangasinan crown. The 22-year-old morena beauty impressed the members of the press after she eloquently answered the question from the media about her role in helping raise awareness on climate change/global warming. A graduate of Mass Communications, the Bayambang maiden is currently employed as flight attendant of an airline company. (Photo by Meinard V. Sadim/rrb)

LINGAYEN- – -The provincial government distributed anew some 3,000 bags of certified seeds to farmers from different parts of the province who were affected by Typhoon “Lando” that devastated the province in October last year.

The distribution held at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in Sta. Barbara on March 21, is the third batch of distribution activity which was led by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. with the assistance of Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President and Board Member Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III.

To date, about 40,000 farmers affected by Typhoon “Lando” were already served and have received assistance from the provincial government.

Giving utmost priority to the agriculture sector, Gov. Espino disclosed that the provincial government fully supports all programs and projects that could benefit all farmers as he added that Pangasinan will remain an agricultural province in the next four to five decades more.

In stating this, the Governor said the government should focus on the improvement of agricultural technology to be able to provide better yield and production for the lowly farmers.

“Kung pagagandahin natin ito at gagawin nating industriya, pagandahin natin ang teknolohiya, suportahan ang inputs, at pati patubig dapat libre na lang,” the Governor said as he added that other farming nations have lower cost of inputs unlike in the Philippines.

Aside from seeds subsidy, other agricultural support given by the present administration involves distribution of water pump and engine sets to various Small Water Irrigation Systems (SWISA) groups and farmers’ organizations. The project is part of the El Nino mitigating measures.

Last month, 100 water pump and engine sets were awarded to SWISA groups and farmers’ organizations and 600 more units will be given to the group of certified seeds recipients, as well.

Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. disclosed that the partnership between the provincial government and the agricultural sector manifest a strong bond that will ensure continued agricultural development for Pangasinan.

On the other hand, BM Pogi commended the farming sector for continuously providing food for every household.

In addition, the Governor’s son and namesake urged the farmers to continue seeking for new innovations as farming continues to be one of the main sources of income for most Pangasinenses.

“Pagandahin po natin ang pagtatanim,” BM Espino said as he added that agriculture remains as one of the topmost priorities of the provincial government.

The third batch of certified palay seeds that were distributed will be planted by farmers during the early main cropping season of 2016. (Ruby R. Bernardino)