Lingayen – Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. was unanimously re-elected as Regional Chairman of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) to continue his stint in advancing the causes of the organization, which he believes is “the best organization an individual must engage in.”

The election for BSP regional officers formed part of the Regional Scout Committee Meeting held on February 11 at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Conference Hall located within the Narciso Ramos Sports Complex and Civic Center, here.

Under Gov. Espino, BSP Region 1 membership continues to rise annually among the ten scouting regions in the country, ranking second even with a minimal increase of 695 (151,644  – 2015; and 150,949 – 2014).

“Our performance is a symbol of our continuing effort of consolidating gains for the past years of commitment and dedication to make the scouting program better for more young people,” Gov. Espino stated in the letter included in the 2015 Regional Operations Report.

Gov. Espino stressed the need to further improve the figures (membership) for it plays an important role in determining whether the programs  delivered to young people are relevant and still effective in providing opportunities for character development and acquisition of skills to serve their fellowmen.

He likewise lauded the support of local government units, particularly for the sponsorship of membership fees of scouts, participation to scouting activities and organization of more community-based scouting units.

BSP Region 1 also expresses gratitude to parents and guardians of scouts for the continued support to the scouting movement being a catalyst to improve the lives of its members through the programs and trainings it offers.

With her installation as regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd), Dr. Alma Ruby Torio, who traces roots in Pangasinan, was welcomed as the new regional scout commissioner.

In support to the scouting movement, the provincial government is set to host the 60^th Annual Council Meeting of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines on February 17-19.

Lingayen- – -The present administration’s lofty goal in making Pangasinan as the home of healthiest Filipinos got another boost with the completion of its ambulance network upgrade for all the 14 provincial government-operated hospitals.

From only one rickety ambulance unit per community hospital in 2007, community hospitals now have an average of three ambulances while the district hospitals have four each.

“This is just one of the projects of the whole health thrust package envisioned by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. to provide quality health care to Pangasinenses,” said Dr. Anna Maria Teresa De Guzman, Provincial Health Office chief, as she disclosed that even with only one unit per hospital, these ambulances of the 14 hospitals in the previous administration were not capable to transport patients outside Pangasinan during emergency cases.

While the buildings of the 14 hospitals were being renovated during the first term of Governor Espino, the ambulance units were also upgraded, Dr. De Guzman said noting that the old units were reconditioned in 2008, while the first set of 14 brand new ambulance were purchased in 2009 through the 60-40 scheme with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and a donation of another brand new unit from the European Commission was made in 2010.

In his third and last term as the provincial chief executive, Gov. Espino has facilitated the purchase of another set of 14 brand new ambulances.

An initial distribution of six ambulances took place last January 18 with the following hospitals as recipients: Western Pangasinan District Hospital (WPDH), Bayambang District Hospital (BDH), Lingayen District Hospital (LDH), Bolinao Community Hospital (BCH) and Pozorrubio Community Hospital (PCH) and Dasol Community Hospital (DCH).

On February 1, the second batch of eight brand new Toyota Hi Ace GL Grandia ambulances, on the other hand, were turned-over to the remaining eight provincial government-operated hospitals to include the following: Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital, Urdaneta District Hospital, Mangatarem District Hospital, Mapandan Community Hospital, Manaoag Community Hospital, Asingan Community Hospital and Umingan Community Hospital.

“This is a big achievement for the present administration’s goal to provide quality and affordable health care services for the sick and poor Pangasinenses,” Dr. De Guzman said as she added that the option for a better brand of ambulance is due to several factors such as durability, capacity size, comfort and easier maintenance.

On previous interview, the PHO chief stressed that with the newly-purchased ambulances, the provincial government plans to install each unit of various medical equipment such as cardiac monitors which are more convenient considering the size of the new ambulances.

The ambulances, De Guzman said, can be utilized for free in transporting patients within the province. Patients that needs to be transported outside the province are requested to shoulder the gasoline expenses except for special cases like if the government-operated hospital cannot handle the case because it doesn’t have the necessary equipment and needs immediate transfer to private facilities and several others.

Earlier, Provincial Accountant Arturo Soriano disclosed that around P13 million were allocated for the purchase of the first six ambulances while the second batch of eight units of the same brand have amounted to about P17.6 million.

Joining the Governor in awarding the second batch of ambulances were Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr., Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay president Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III, and Board Member Danilo Uy.

Rev. Fr. Dexter Carino, Director of St. Columban’s College, officiated the blessing of the vehicles. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Lingayen- – A total of 5,529 Pangasinenses have availed of the free medical-dental mission which was conducted by Valdez Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Pangasinan Provincial Health Office in the towns of Bayambang and Alcala on February 2 and 3, respectively.

According to the Provincial Health Office (PHO) headed by Dr. Anna Maria Teresa De Guzman, some 1,694 individuals were provided with free medical and dental check-ups/ tooth extractions in Bayambang town while 3,835 were treated in the municipality of Alcala.

PHO stated that among the services offered during the two-day outreach activity include medical and dental consultation, minor surgery, laboratory glaucoma screening among others. Patients were also provided with free haircut, massage and eyeglasses.

The outreach program was conducted following the five-day medical-dental mission of the Association of Pangasinense in America Foundation, Inc. (APAFI) held last January 18 to 22.

Earlier, Dr. De Guzman commended all charitable institutions that lend their helping hands to the province through giving donations of medicine and all sorts of basic household needs and day care stuffs like toothbrushes, towels, slippers, vitamins and food supplements for children.

This, according to her, supports the provincial government’s goal to provide quality and affordable health care for the poor and sick Pangasinenses.

Meanwhile, another group which is the Philippine Medical Mission Foundation of Michigan, USA is set to conduct its medical-dental mission to include minor surgeries this time. This will be held from February 8 to 12 at the Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital (EPDH) to cover the entire 6^th district of the province.

Based on PHO report, there are around 35 to 45 foreign missions conducted by different groups in coordination with the provincial government over the past eight years.

The PHO chief also urged other institutions to also share their resources to the province as medical, dental and minor surgical missions can redound to benefit the less-advantaged people in Pangasinan.

De Guzman previously explained that charitable missions which are held in collaboration with the provincial government feature a partnership scheme of resources and manpower. Resources or medicines to be provided by the involved foundations or organizations while manpower specifically health team which composed of doctors, dentists and nurses come from the pool of professionals and well-trained medical practitioners of the various provincial government-run hospitals.

It can be recalled that the administration of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has given utmost priority to the health program in its goal to transform Pangasinan as the ‘home of the healthiest Filipinos.’ (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Lingayen- – -The Pangasinan-Police Provincial Office (PPO) headed by its new Officer-in-Charge P/SSupt. Edgar Allan Omas Okubo made an assurance that the province will have a peaceful and orderly conduct of elections on May 9.

This was affirmed by the new PNP OIC after Pangasinan was named as the number one election hot spot in the country.

Okubo, who assumed office as OIC of the Pangasinan police on January 8, replacing P/SSupt. Rolie Saltat, who was OIC of the Pangasinan Police for six months.

During the question hour of the provincial board’s regular session on February 1, Okubo outlined his plans and programs for peace and order especially during the upcoming national polls.

Okubo said that although Pangasinan was included as one of the election hot spots, it does not mean that the May polls will be chaotic.

As initial step, Okubo said the PNP will assess all problems, increase checkpoints every day and conduct search warrants when necessary. These, according to him, are part of the PNP’s ‘advance security preparations.’

When asked why Pangasinan was named as number one hot spot throughout the country, the new police OIC simply said that the list of election-watchlist areas (EWAs) were determined by the PNP based on some parameters.

Among the parameters enumerated by the PNP OIC are as follows: if an area should have a history of intense partisan political rivalry, if there have been incidents in the past that are politically-motivated and election-related, presence of threat groups or private army groups of influential politicians, and proliferation of firearms in a certain town, municipality or city.

Okubo said some 20 areas in Pangasinan are listed as hot spots but did not reveal which particular town/city are included. He reported that 21 high powered firearms were voluntarily surrendered in Rosales town.

Meanwhile, Board Member Alfonso Bince asked the new PNP OIC how he will guarantee a peaceful and safe election in the local level. The latter said, his principle goes with his mandate as a uniformed man. “The police is the community, and the community is the police,” he stressed.

In terms of vote-buying, Okubo said he intends to conduct a strategy called ‘one-time, big-time checkpoint’ to monitor occurrence of such incidence.

Expressing support to the new PNP caretaker, the provincial board headed by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. welcomed Okubo as he said that the province will expect a lot from him especially because the national polls is just three months away. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

AWARDING OF SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO 1^ST BATCH OF PROV’L SCHOLARS.  Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. addresses the first batch of provincial scholars enrolled at the Pangasinan State University (PSU) who received scholarship grants from the provincial government during the distribution program held on January 30 at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen. About 776 provincial scholars from PSU campuses in Sta. Maria (150), Asingan (150), Urdaneta City (250) and San Carlos City (226) each received scholarship grants amounting P10,000 for the academic year 2015-2016 (P5,000 per semester). Distribution for the second batch of grantees (1,000 provincial scholars) from PSU campuses in Bayambang (300), Infanta (75), Binmaley (75), Alaminos City (150) and Lingayen (400) is set on February 6 at the Sison Auditorium. /Photo MVSadim

Lingayen – The local government unit (LGU) of Sta. Barbara has forged partnership with the provincial government for the implementation of Php5.76 million worth of Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) projects funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Agriculture (DA) for said town.

BUB projects that will be implemented in Sta. Barbara include: Streamlining Business Permit and Licensing System – Phase 1 and Phase 2 (Php2-M) funded by the DTI; and Infrastructure Support Projects (Php3-M) and Irrigation Projects (Php767,850) funded by the DA.

To jumpstart the project implementation, DTI Regional Director Florante Leal and DTI Provincial Director Peter Mangabat turned over a cheque to Mayor Carlito S. Zaplan and Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. Cheques from the DA were also presented by Provincial Treasurer Malou Utanes during the turn-over rites held at the Ceremonial Hall in Urduja House on February 2.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the implementing partners for BUB projects was executed earlier.

DTI Reg’l Dir. Leal said that funding of said projects has been approved and made available, but the projects can’t be implemented due to failure of said LGU to comply a certain requirement on the Good Financial Housekeeping program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Dir. Leal, however, noted that Zaplan administration inherited deficiencies of the previous town administration as reflected in audit findings.

A joint memorandum circular states that: “if an LGU is ineligible to implement a project, concerned national government agency or the provincial government may implement the project.”

It was learned that about 60 – 70 percent of the total Php60 million BUB fund allocated to DTI for BUB projects has been implemented in Pangasinan since the start of BUB implementation last year.

Expressing gratitude to the provincial government, Sta. Barbara Mayor Zaplan noted that a resolution from the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) has properly endorsed the provincial government as implementing partner for BUB projects.

Under the BUB scheme, LGUs are given discretion to identify projects in the grassroots through the LPRAT.

Lingayen – The present provincial administration continues to touch the lives of young Pangasinenses as Governor Amado T. Espino (GATE), Jr. led the awarding of Php17.76-M scholarship grants to 1,776 provincial scholars enrolled at the Pangasinan State University (PSU) for the academic year 2015-2016.

During the awarding program to the first batch of scholarship grantees held on January 30 at the Sison Auditorium, Governor Espino        exhorted PSU students to actively engage in the over-all efforts to spur full-growth and development in Pangasinan as he asked them to give deeper emphasis to “the pride, honor and glory of being a Pangasinense.”

“I always emphasize that not because you study in a state university, you are not entitled to things enjoyed by those enrolled in elite universities,” Gov. Espino, who is also a product of state-run institutions, told the provincial scholars, and said that all individuals have the capacity to attain better economic conditions through education which he firmly believes as “the greatest equalizer in life.”

The provincial chief executive, however, deplored the intrusion of any form of politicking in a public university, stating such as among the basis of some complaints he received from people who are concerned with the welfare of PSU students.

About 776 provincial scholars from PSU campuses in Sta. Maria (150), Asingan (150), Urdaneta City (250) and San Carlos City (226) who comprise the first batch each received Php10,000 scholarship grant (Php5,000 per semester).

Distribution of scholarship grants to the second batch of grantees from PSU campuses in Bayambang (300), Infanta (75), Binmaley (75), Alaminos City (150) and Lingayen (400) totalling to 1,000 students is scheduled on February 6 at the Sison Auditorium.

Meanwhile, Dr. Erlinda Fernandez, former Chief Administrative Officer of the province and Governor’s Consultant on the Provincial Scholarship Program, noted that since 2007, a total of 1,219 provincial scholarship grantees have graduated from their respective courses in PSU; the latest addition of which is 371 provincial scholars who finished their bachelor’s degrees last year.

Fernandez said that 526 new grantees from PSU have been added to last year’s 1,250.

Paul Andrew Roa, a faculty member of PSU Urdaneta City who finished his college schooling with the support of the provincial government, admitted that the scholarship grant helped him a lot to finish his studies, considering the limited financial condition of his family.

“Nagta-trabaho ako ngayon sa isang pampublikong pamantasan at ito ang aking pamamaraan “to give back” bilang isang scholar ng bayan,” Roa said.

As of latest update, the Espino administration supports a total of 2,528 scholars composed of: 1,776 provincial scholars, 290 technical-vocational scholars, Provincial Scholarship Fund Board grantees – 386 highly-competitive college students, 59 National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) scholars and 17 Federation of Pangasinan Muslim Association (FPMA).

TURNOVER OF 8 BRAND NEW AMBULANCES (2ND BATCH). Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.  (center) along with Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. (9th from right), Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay president Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III (beside governor), and Board Member Danilo Uy (beside vice governor) turns over eight brand new units of ambulances to the chiefs of provincial government-owned hospitals who are holding the symbolic keys, namely: Dr. Julian Rose, Umingan Community Hospital; Dr. Franklin Sable, Mapandan Community Hospital; Dr. Don Doria, Manaoag Community Hospital; Dr. Ferdinand Totaan, Asingan Community Hospital; Dr. Edgardo Espinosa, Mangatarem Community Hospital; Dr. Ma. Vivian Villar-Espino, Urdaneta District Hospital; Dr. David Gurion, Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital; and Dr. Policarpio Manuel, Pangasinan Provincial Hospital. The turnover ceremony is also attended by Dr. Anna Maria Teresa S. De Guzman, Provincial Health Officer, and the other chiefs of hospital of the other six community and district hospitals of the province who earlier received the same Toyota Hi-Ace GL Grandia ambulances. (Photo by DesManaois)

OATHTAKING OF NEW SAN CARLOS CITY COUNCILOR. Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center) swears in Julita Ynzon (2nd from left) as the new city councilor of San Carlos at the Urduja House, Capitol Complex in Lingayen last January 27.  Ynzon replaced her husband, Mienrado Ynzon, Sr., who was stabbed to death inside his car in Brgy. Baldog last December 2015.  Witnessing the oathtaking are Ynzon’s  children.  /MVSadim