Lingayen- – -“Let us not elect wrong leaders.” Thus said Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. as he urged the latest batch of visitors from Urdaneta City, San Carlos City and Alcala town to reflect on what and who is best for Pangasinan.
In his brief message before the three groups of visitors—Senior Citizens Association of Brgy. Perez and Bry. Payapa, in San Carlos City; Senior Citizens Association of Brgy. Bayaoas and Brgy. Dilan, Urdaneta City and Cooperative and Farers Association of Alcala, the Governor urged them to focus their attention on what was already achieved rather than on promises of people who wants to rule the province for personal motive.
The three groups were provided with a Capitol Heritage Tour by the provincial government on January 20 as requested by their respective leaders and were treated with side trips at the Manaoag Shrine, provincial government facilities and bagoong factory, as well.
For the groups’ willingness to conduct a heritage tour, the Governor thanked them as he said that what is seen at the Capitol is an exact measurement of how much the present leadership cares for the 2.78 million Pangasinenses (as of 2010 statistics).
As he mentioned about leaving the Capitol in a few months to proceed to another venture of public service, Gov. Espino made an appeal for everyone everyone to assess the transformation that made the province one of the country’s premier provinces to date.
“Walang ibang tutulong sa atin kundi kapwa natin Pangasinense,” he stressed as he stated that it is this notion that he opted to instill ‘continuity of service’ in another capacity mentioning his son and namesake Liga ng mga Barangay president and Board Member Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III as the one who can keep the momentum of change going for Pangasinan.
For his part, BM Pogi disclosed that to “continue the phase of development,” Pangasinenses should brace themselves for a unified stand. “Itayo po natin ang bandera ng Pangasinan. Pangasinense ako, Pangasinense din po kayo. Taga-Pangasinan ako, taga-Pangasinan din po kayo,” he said.
Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Jr., who provided the visitors an entertainment via his rendition of “Ikaw Na Nga” song, cited that given another opportunity, his future role is to be a transitional leader who will serve as back-up official for the incoming Governor.
Meanwhile, Ret. Col. Eduardo Tamondong, Barangay Captain of Brgy. Sapinit, commended the present administration for everything it has done in pursuit of development.
“To see is to believe. We now see the genuine progress of Pangasinan. The difference between Pangasinan then and now is very obvious, “Tamondong said as he added that it is only right to embrace and opt for continuity of leadership.
Melecio Macaraeg, Pres. of Cooperative and Farmers Association of Alcala, has the best words for the present leadership. He pointed out that under the Espino administration “good governance and transparent leadership” is seen.
“Maraming magagandang proyekto ang nagawa at kitang-kita ang pagbabago ng Pangasinan,” Macaraeg stated. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

LINGAYEN – The provincial government distributed 4, 100 more bags of certified palay seeds to farmers who were affected by Typhoon Lando that devastated the province in October last year as part of the province’s rehabilitation effort for farmers to recover from their losses and boost their production.
The distribution held at the Provincial Agriculture Office in Sta. Barabara on January 19 which was led by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. along with Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, Jr. benefitted some 4, 000 farmers from the various irrigators associations in the province.
Among the recipients of the latest distribution include farmers from the Agno River Irrigation System (Agno RIS), Agno-Sinocalan RIS, Lower Agno RIS, Agno-Dipalo RIS, San Fabian RIS and the Pangasinan Federation of Irrigators Association.
Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya said the activity was a continuation of the distribution conducted in November, 2015 where the province gave earlier beneficiaries farm inputs which included 15, 584 bags of certified inbred palay seeds, 15, 051 bags of hybrid palay seeds and assorted vegetable seeds, mungbean seeds and onion seeds.
The farmer recipients are those who will plant palay during the second and third cropping for the year 2016 whose farms are located in fully irrigated palay areas being served by the National Irrigation System whom the province closely coordinates with to assure the availability of irrigation water in the project areas, acting assistant provincial agriculturist Nestor Batalla said.
Gov. Espino has urged the farmers to strive harder and learn new and modern technologies to improve their farming skills in order to increase their yield reiterating that Pangasinan remains to be an agricultural province in the next 40 to 50 years.
He said that the province has made various moves to improve agriculture citing as example the re-regulating pond project (Phase II) of the Sn. Roque Multi-Purpose Dam inaugurated last year expressing hope that this will bolster the produce of farmers.
He also stressed the need for the government to subsidize the inputs of farmers as this will provide more opportunity to boost their production as he cited the high cost of farm inputs in the country.
“Nararamdaman naming mga liders kung ano ang inyong nararamdaman, gusto kong ipaabot sa bawat isa sa ating mga kababayan na ang farmers ay ang backbone ng society na kahit halos hindi kumikita ay pinagpapatuloy pa rin ang kanilang pagsasaka,” the governor said.
The governor told the farmers that he will seek the help of Vice Governor Calimlim and BM Pogi to facilitate at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan a supplemental budget of P10 million to fund the request for water pumps to mitigate the ill effects of the El Nino phenomenon expected to affect the country.
Rest assured, “nakalaan kaming tumulong sa inyo”  the governor said as he disclosed that the province is set to construct 183 shallow tube wells in the next two months and work on the repair of 32 communal irrigation systems also to address the effects of El Nino.

Lingayen- – -The provincial government through the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) has completed a total of 263 roadlines covering 467.171 kilometers of provincial, barangay and municipal roads and bridges under the present administration’s infrastructure projects implemented for the year 2015.

Based on report prepared by the PEO, the infrastructure projects included asphalting, concreting, routinary maintenance work, asphalt repair, and regravelling.

The PEO report also stated that for 2015, a total of P172,159,082.52 was allocated for the provincial projects while the amount of P123,958, 567.99 and P7,595,913.35, respectively were channeled to barangay and municipal projects.

Implemented projects include maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of some 48 bridges throughout the province.

Other infrastructure projects were likewise undertaken such as flood control projects; improvement of agricultural facilities; construction, improvement, repair of school facilities and classroom buildings.

In addition, the PEO also included public utilities and water resources development projects.

Some 43 units of artesian/deep well were constructed while 83 units of water system, pipelines, motorpump and handpump were installed.

Thirty-seven (37) sewerage systems were maintained and improved while 204 units of water sewerage system (well source, motorpump, pipelines) were repaired and rehabilitated.

Meanwhile, the PEO included in its report that as of December 31, 2015 that there are on-going projects involving 21 provincial and barangay roadlines, eight (8) provincial bridges undergoing maintenance and repair, and three (3) barangay bridges are currently under construction. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Lingayen- – -The provincial government under the stewardship of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. is set to award six (6) units of brand new Toyota Hi-Ace GL Grandia ambulance to six government hospitals right after the regular flag-raising ceremony on Monday, January 18, at the Capitol grounds.

The six recipients include the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, Western Pangasinan District Hospital, Bayambang District Hospital, Lingayen District Hospital, Bolinao Community Hospital and Pozorrubio Community Hospital.

The other district and community hospitals will receive their new units of ambulance before the month ends, according to Gov. Espino in his speech during the distribution of 29 multi-purpose vehicles to Liga ng mga Barangay.

The provision of new ambulances to provincial government-run hospitals is part of the present administration’s thrust to provide quality and affordable healthcare for the less-privileged sector of society.

Gov. Espino earlier took pride in the upgrading of diagnostic capability of all 14 government-owned hospitals which are now equipped with automated laboratory diagnostic equipment, digital x-ray, hemodialysis machines, with PPH being provided with CT scan and gas sterilizer apart from other modern equipment.

The governor also cited that the implementation of Point-of-Care program has proven to be a vital component of the present administration’s goal to make Pangasinan as ‘home of the healthiest Filipinos.’

Point-of-Care, in cooperation with the PhilHealth, is a program which automatically enrolls indigent patients confined in any of the 14 public hospitals operated by the provincial government to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

An amount of P60 million has been allocated this year by the provincial government for the health insurance of indigent families. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Lingayen – With no record of Malaria cases for five consecutive years, Pangasinan expects the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the province as “Malaria-Free.”

            According to Provincial Health Officer II Anna Maria Teresa De Guzman, participation of local government units (LGUs) and increased awareness of people in communities for the sustainable implementation of programs and strategies to eradicate Malaria had significantly contributed in attaining Pangasinan’s zero Malaria status in five years from 2011 to 2015.

            Dr. De Guzman noted that Malaria-free Pangasinan is virtually attained as reflected in reports gathered by the Malaria Control Program team of the Provincial Health Office (PHO).

A certification which shall be issued by WHO and Department of Health (DOH) officials who will validate malaria situation in Pangasinan this first quarter of 2016 will be the basis for the declaration of a malaria-free Pangasinan.

Malaria remains a public health concern in the Philippines being ranked as 9^th major cause of diseases nationwide, threatening the lives of about 12 million Filipinos with a rough estimate of 110 people getting sick of malaria every day, a DOH report stated. An anopheles mosquito has been identified as malaria-carrier.

            Dr. De Guzman, however, assured that despite no single indigenous malaria case was monitored, malaria surveillance teams continue to monitor endemic or high-risk areas which include 28 barangays in towns of Agno, Bani, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini, Mangatarem, San Nicolas, Sison and Sual.

An indigenous malaria case implies that malaria was acquired through mosquito-borne local transmission.

Provincial Malaria Coordinator Eugenio Carlos Paragas noted that strategies shifting from control to total eradication of Malaria have been adopted in high-risk areas where education and information campaigns (EICs) on Malaria prevention which include distribution of mosquito nets and clearing of surroundings have been regularly conducted.

Paragas added that fogging have been jointly-conducted by LGUs on their border operations in mountainous areas within the territorial jurisdictions.

Owing to the support of LGUs for the sustainable implementation of malaria control programs, De Guzman said that municipal and city LGUs had already passed local ordinances which appropriate funding for malaria control programs in their respective communities.

“There is really a big change with the practices of people living in areas endemic of malaria, particularly on their increased awareness for malaria prevention,” she added.

Lingayen – Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. led the whole officialdom of Pangasinan in paying tribute to Pangasinense World War II (WW-II) veterans during the 71^st Lingayen Gulf Landings anniversary and 9^th Pangasinan Veterans’ Day celebration held on January 9 at the Veterans’ Memorial Park here.

            The commemoration which gathered together surviving Pangasinense WW-II veterans and their spouses along with their sons and daughters was made solemn with the wreath-laying rites led by Gov. Espino, top officials of the Philippine National Defense and Philippine Army; and executives of the Australian Embassy to the Philippines, and Returned Services League of Australia.

            Owing to the vital roles played by Filipino war veterans from Pangasinan to liberate the country from Japanese invaders, Governor Espino stressed in his speech that “it is fitting to honor Pangasinense war veterans who sacrificed a lot and had suffered physical deformities and psychological impairment which still affect them up to now.

Governor Espino likewise exhorted Pangasinenses to value the freedom that we enjoy today by expressing love and care for the country and for the province in pursuing progress and welfare for the people through genuine public service and also to combat corruption, degradation of the environment, poverty, crime and illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Administrator Ernesto G. Carolina who served as guest of honor and speaker for the commemoration, expressed appreciation and gratitude to the present provincial administration for the partnership in honouring and memorializing the heroic deeds of WW-II veterans.

Lingayen, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Carolina said, played a vital role in Philippine and WW-II history, noting that Lingayen Gulf Landings of the Allied Forces served as prelude to the Battle of Manila and its subsequent liberations.

“Lingayen became the ideal place for the take off of Philippine liberation, and today under the present provincial administration, was even more improved,” he added.

Calling Pangasinan as “Philippine cradle of heroes” considering the large number of WW-II veterans in the province which implies that Pangasinan has the most number

of heroes across the country, the PVAO administrator lauded the bravery of Pangasinenses that prevail over disasters that hit the province.

Also present during the activity were: Col. David B. Diciano of Philippine Army; National Defense Undersecretary Jesus Millan; Lt. Col. Bruce Murray, Defense Attache of Australian Embassy to the Philippines; Atty. James Curtis-Smith, President of Returned and Services League of Australia and Captain Brad White of Royal Australian Navy.

An exhibit featuring the miniature collection of the fleet of Lingayen Gulf Landings was also opened for public-viewing.

Medical mission for WW-II veterans also followed right after the commemoration program.

1^ST BATCH OF LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE BENEFICIARIES FOR 2016. Governor Amado T. Espino (GATE), Jr. along with Board Members Danilo Uy, Generoso Tulagan and Amado “Pogi” Espino, III, Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President, flash the Pangasinan number one sign with the 1st batch beneficiaries of the Livelihood Assistance Program of the provincial government for 2016 which include 16 associations and cooperatives, four micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and one group engaged in goat production. Governor Espino awarded Php3 million worth of cheques to the beneficiaries during a distribution ceremony held on January 13 at the Ceremonial Hall of Urduja House in Lingayen. Also in the photo were: Ellsworth Gonzales, officer-in-charge of Provincial Population Office (PPO) and Luzviminda Muego, former Provincial Population Officer and consultant to the Governor. /Photo GDMoran

LINGAYEN – Representatives from each of the OFW Family Associations of the province attended a pre-membership and organization seminar in preparation for the formation of the first-ever cooperative for the overseas workers and their families.

Spearheaded by the Pangasinan Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO), the seminar was held at the Pangasinan PESO building here last January 12 in coordination with the Cooperative Development Authority.

PESO Manager Alex Ferrer said the participants consisted of officers and ordinary members of the association willing to become incorporators who will pioneer the establishment of a cooperative among themselves.

The participants are expected to vote their interim officers after undergoing the pre-membership and organization seminar.

Ferrer said the project seeks to provide livelihood assistance to the association members to help them uplift their economic condition and quality of life so that they can already go home and live with their families instead of sacrificing too much away from their loved ones to provide their needs.

Ferrer said the cooperative will benefit initially the families of the overseas workers and their families. It will initially start as a credit cooperative which is later projected to expand to other projects that will benefit not only its members but also other people in the community.

Last year, OFW Family Associations were formed in all 47 cities and municipalities of the province with the Federation of OFW Family Associations as the umbrella organization.

Meanwhile, another project set to be implemented is the Bigasang –Bayani project where Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. approved the accreditation of the federation as co-partner in applying grant with the Department of Labor and Employment where DOLE will shoulder 80 percent of the grant and the province shoulders the remaining 20%.

A memorandum of agreement will be signed with the OF/W associations and they will be given a rice-retail store called the Bigasang-Bayani.

If the cooperative becomes successful, it will be linked sooner to the Bigasang-Bayani project where the produce of the cooperative will be supplied to the rice retail stores which will later put up extension outlets to the barangays that will create a chain reaction because as the project expands, more and more people will be benefitted as the project is seen to create livelihood employment and generate income for the families.

Lingayen- – -Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. led the turnover of 29 multi-purpose vehicles to all city and municipal Liga ng mga Barangay presidents of the 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th districts of Pangasinan held on January 13 at the Capitol grounds.

The turnover of the barangay vehicles is the second series of distribution following the initial batch of 18 vehicles distributed for the 1^st and 2^nd districts on November 27 last year.

During the event, the Governor urged all barangay officials to uphold “self-respect” and “respect for others” at all times and never resort or give in to dirty politics (hinting on the current situation of politicking in the province).

Recalling an incident when he was ambushed as a young military officer and left for dead by the rebels, he said that he was saved by the barangay officials in Quirino province. Since then the Governor said he has a special bond with the officials from the grassroots.

“I owe a lot to the barangay officials,” Gov. Espino said as he added that the provincial government knows exactly what the grassroots officials are going through. “We share the burden of what you feel every day,” he continued.

In addition to this, the Governor appealed to the barangay council heads to become more sensitive to the needs of their constituents.

He cited that aside from using the vehicles during times of emergencies particularly disasters, it can also be utilized to transport all pregnant women to rural health units (RHUs) or government hospitals for their pre-natal check-up.

For those needing cesarian section, they can be scheduled in any of the six district hospitals or at the provincial hospital for free.

Speaking on behalf of the federation, Liga ng mga Barangay federation president and BM Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III thanked the provincial government for all support accorded to the federation through provision of programs and projects to include the distribution of service vehicles for all 44 towns and 3 cities, which exclude Dagupan City being a chartered city, in Pangasinan.

It can be recalled that BM Espino submitted a resolution to the Governor in December 2014 requesting for the provision of service vehicles.

In February 2015, the provincial board headed by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. has authorized the Governor to purchase the new multi-purpose vehicles to provide transport services to rural folks.

As stated by BM Espino, the provision of the vehicles will ensure the delivery of basic services and provide adequate means of transportation to the people in the urban areas and in the countryside especially in times of emergencies and calamities.

“These will serve as the vehicle for all,” the Governor’s son and namesake said further stressing that everyone in the barangay must have an equal access to it whenever the need arises.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Calimlim urged the barangay officials to continue serving their constituents with great pride as he said that the provincial government vows to extend its full support to the federation and the people at the grassroots, as well.

Calimlim likewise expressed optimism that the federation will remain united as ever and work under ‘One Team Pangasinan’ in pursuit of genuine progress.

Before the formal turnover, the vehicles were blessed by Rev. Fr. Ryan Tomelden. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

9^TH P’SINAN VETERANS’ DAY MEDICAL MISSION.  Surviving World War II (WW-II) veterans in Pangasinan along with their sons, daughters and kins avail of free-of-charge consultation, medicine and other medical services during the 71^st Lingayen Gulf Landings anniversary and 9^th Pangasinan Veterans’ Day celebration held on January 9 at the Veterans’ Memorial Park in Lingayen. The medical mission sponsored by the provincial government conducted in front of the Sison Auditorium followed right after the commemorative program. /Photo by MVSadim