CASH ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES OF ‘LANDO’ FATALITIES. Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III (standing) urges the families of the 14 fatalities of Typhoon Lando’s onslaught last October to stand firm despite their loss. Each family received financial assistance worth P10,000 as a manifestation of support from the provincial government. Coinciding with the distribution was the awarding of cash assistance amounting to P60,000to some 12 Children WithDisabilities (CWDs) who are enrolled at the Special Education (SPED) Center in Bautista town.The distribution ceremony was held last December 7 at the Crisis Intervention Center of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO). Joining BM Espino during the event were Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and PSWDO chief Emilio Samson (both seated). (PIO photo)

38TH PANGASINAN – SAN CARLOS CITY COUNCIL JAMBOREE. Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (right photo) inspires over 3,000 scouts, scouts leaders and executives (left photo) to stay active in the boy scout movement stressing that scouting remains as “the best co-curricular organization that young Pangasinenses must engage in.” Gov. Espino made this remark during the opening ceremony of the 38th Pangasinan – San Carlos City Council Jamboree which has the participation of the towns and cities in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd congressional districts. The opening of the four-day jamborette was held at the Capitol beachfront on December 10. /Photo by DManaois

Lingayen- – -Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. said the provincial board will discuss what necessary actions must be taken regarding the failure of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to consult and coordinate with the provincial government on the cutting of more than 500 trees along the Manila North Road (MNR). This developed after the DENR issued permission for the DPWH to cut the trees within 45 days. Expressing disgust, the Vice Governor said the agencies should have consulted the provincial government first as he further noted that recommended course of action will soon follow. “Dapat ikonsulta muna sa komunidad, mga tao, at sa provincial government lahat ng nangyari dito sa Pangasinan at makuha ang kabuuang sentimyento ng mga tao,” the Vice Governor said. It can be recalled that in his letter to the DPWH and DENR dated March 5, 2015, the Governor stated that the provincial government is “absolutely against the cutting of any more living and surviving trees along the MNR” as it further noted that it maintains its position that “concerned government agencies such as the DENR should exert all means to treat and rehabilitate those previously girdled tree that have a good chance of survival.” Pursuant to this, the provincial board had ratified provincial Resolution No. 269-2014 expressing their opposition “to the cutting of trees along the national roads within the province, with intent to preserve as many trees as possible with stern warning to the DPWH 3rd Pangasinan Engineering District not to cut any of the standing big trees, more or less 700..” The tree cutting went full blast after the DENR issued a permit to the DPWH last November 19. Meanwhile, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. reiterated the provincial government’s stand that “only dead and dying trees can be cut.” Expressing no objection to the cutting and removal of dead trees, on the other hand, the provincial board required the DENR to certify that the trees to be cut are already dead and beyond revival. On the part of the DPWH, Emmanuel Diaz, head of the department’s second engineering district based in Rosales town, stated: “The trees should go. We have to finish the project by the end of this year.” The condemned trees were the remaining of the previously marked 1,829 trees marked for cutting in 2013 along the 42-kilometer stretch of the MNR in the towns of Rosales, Villasis, Binalonan, Pozorrubio, Sison, and Urdaneta City. Environmentalist groups, on the other hand, specifically the running-priest Fr. Robert Reyes has condemned the tree cutting even as they continuously exerting all efforts to stop the activities. In a separate interview, Virginia Pasalo, director of the Women in Development Foundation and a known environmentalist literally cried foul on the cutting of trees as she expressed lamentation and despair to the inevitability of the killing of the trees that have been there for decades. Pasalo likewise tagged Secretary Ramon Paje as Secretary of Destruction of the Environment and Natural Resources. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

CANADIAN GROUP FETES GOV. ESPINO. Writer’s International Network (WIN) Canada founder Ashok Bhargava (right) confers the WIN Distinction Award to Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center) in an awarding rites held at the ceremonial hall of Urduja House in Lingayen last November 23.  The governor, with the support of Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand  Z. Calimlim. Jr., was given the award for his valuable contributions to the preservation of Pangasinan’s local arts and culture. /MVSadim

FMR. MMDA CHAIRMAN TOLENTINO PAYS COURTESY CALL ON GOV. ESPINO.  Former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Francis Tolentino (2^nd from left) pays a courtesy call on Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (2^nd from right) at Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDDRMO) on November 27. Tolentino was accompanied by Dagupan City Councilors Alfie Fernandez (right) and Alvin Coquioa (left) along with officers of the Pangasinan Irrigators’ Association led by Oftuciano Manalo. /Photo by MSadim

Lingayen – Stakeholders in Pangasinan have expressed support to the proposed Philippine National Police (PNP) Modernization Bill during the fourth consultative meeting conducted by the Committee on Public Order and Safety of the House of Representatives at the Sison Auditorium on November 26.

Police officers from towns and cities in the province, including PNP retirees and representatives of the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) have expressed confidence that said bill when implemented shall help upgrade the capability of the PNP on the promotion of human rights and law enforcement.

Congressman Samuel Pagdilao Jr., who presided the meeting along with committee members present during the consultation Cong. Romeo Acop, Cong. Leopoldo Bataoil and Cong. Erick Singson, said that “certain provisions which will suit the needs of the people are noted during public consultations.”

According to Cong. Pagdilao, the proposed reorganization and modernization of the PNP encompasses the comprehensive implementation of six components which include organizational development, human resource development, doctrine development, infrastructure development, equipment acquisition and financial development.

“The PNP, being the lead agency of the government tasked for the promotion of human rights and law enforcement must able to cope up with reforms to meet challenges,” he said.

Cong. Bataoil, author of the proposed PNP modernization bill, escorted Cong. Pagdilao and Cong. Acop in a courtesy call on Governor Amado T. Espino at the Capitol building held earlier.

Expressing support to the proposed PNP modernization bill, Governor Espino who was a former police officer, stressed in his message during the consultative meeting the importance of giving priority to peace and order.

“Peace and order is what makes a country moving,” Governor Espino said when he explained that the rise or downfall of leadership or economy, for example, is attributed to the peace and order situation of a place.

Meanwhile, Cong. Pagdilao lauded the Espino administration for ushering in development in Pangasinan that is reflective of ‘transformative leadership.’

“If there is anything that resembles the kind of leadership Pangasinan has today, that is ‘transformer,’ Pagdilao said, adding that Gov. Espino “has made a big difference that Pangasinenses can be proud of.”

It was learned that funds will be allocated for the provision of air support to the PNP when said bill will be approved for implementation.

A holder of 72 collegiate units may also be recruited by the PNP and shall be appointed the rank of Patrol Officer assigned to police maneuver units and police stations. Finishing a bachelor’s degree would merit promotion of a patrol officer to the next higher rank.

Lingayen- – – “Let us give respect to ourselves as public servants. We were elected by the people as their leaders. Thus, we owe to return the favor by serving them well in all honesty and dignity.”

This was stressed by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. during the turn-over ceremony of multi-purpose vehicles to the Liga ng Mga Barangay of Districts 1 and II, comprised of 18 towns and one city, on November 27 at the Capitol Plaza here.

Gov. Espino said that beyond politics, the most important thing for public servants especially those at the frontline, specifically the barangay officials, is to perform the tasks entrusted to them as he added that it is because of this that he tried his best to bring back the dignity so required from officials and workers not just at the Capitol but even to the grassroots, as well.

It can be recalled that the Federation of Liga ng mga Barangay headed by Board Member Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III submitted a resolution to the Governor in December last year requesting for the provision of service vehicles for all 47 towns and cities, with the exemption of Dagupan City, it being a chartered city in Pangasinan. The delivery of multi-purpose vehicles to other districts will be held soon, BM Espino said.

In February this year, 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.

Board Member Pogi said 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.

“Sana po magamit sa wastong paraan ang mga sasakyan dahil para po sa mga tao ng mga barangay ito,” the Governor’s son and namesake said as he added that the approval of the Liga’s request means a lot because it shows the good relationship between the provincial government and the barangay councils.

Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Calimlim said that the distribution of vehicles proves how much the provincial government and the barangay councils trust each other.

“This doesn’t only manifest ‘giving’ but trusting, as well,” the Vice Governor noted.

At least P40 million was allocated for the purchase of the multi-purpose vehicles.

The first batch of recipients include the following: Agno, Mabini, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Bolinao, Anda, Bani, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, Bugallon, Aguilar, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, Basista, and Alaminos City.

Present during the turn-over ceremony were Board Member Napoleon Fontelera, Board Member Raul Sison, Urbiztondo Mayor Martin Sison, and all council presidents of all 18 towns and city.

Fr. Francis Posadas led the blessing of the new vehicles. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Lingayen- – -Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. and six Pangasinense literary writers take centerstage after the Writer’s International Network (WIN) Canada, headed by Hindi and Vancouver-based Ashok Bhargava, recognized their valuable contributions to the preservation of Pangasinan local arts and culture.

The six awardees who received the WIN Distinction Awards on November 23 at the ceremonial hall of Urduja House include Santiago Villafania, Caroline “Ceri Naz” Nazareno, Leonarda “Amor Cico” Carrera, Sergio Bumadilla, Prescillano Bermudez, Atty. Ferdinand L. Quintos (posthumous award). Gov. Espino and Virginia Jasmin Pasalo were given Special Citations for their outstanding contribution to local arts and culture.

In a message, Bhargava lauded Gov. Espino for his invaluable support to local arts and culture through launching of several programs and projects such as Kurit Panlunggaring, a pet project of the provincial chief executive launched in 2012 that aims to provide opportunities for budding local literary artists to showcase their talents.

Praising the Governor, Bhargava disclosed that for any activity, it is always ‘the leader that matters’ as he noted that the passion of Gov. Espino to keep Pangasinan’s arts and culture alive has made all the difference. It is important for a leader to pour his/her heart out for a certain endeavor, he noted.

In addition, Bhargava commended the province by stating: “The warmth felt in Pangasinan is never experienced anywhere,” as he further added that WIN Canada chose Pangasinan as the venue of the group’s first awarding rites for local literary writers for the mere fact that literature thrives in every local writer’s heart.

Bhargava also said that he chose Pangasinan because the literary writers are as good as the others even disclosing that “Pangasinan is truly number one.”

For his part, Gov. Espino thanked Bhargava together with his wife Aida (who hails from Sta. Maria town) for recognizing Pangasinenses whose heart and soul exude with the love and passion for arts and culture.

“It is important to trace one’s roots,” Gov. Espino said as he stressed that “the new leaf of history, culture and arts of Pangasinan” is now seen through the sublime meaning of loving the province from the heart.

It can be recalled that under the present administration, several programs and projects were introduced to revive the dying Pangasinan arts and culture.

Earlier, Gov. Espino pointed out that each region in the country has a distinct cultural identity which determines the innate characteristics of an ethno-linguistic group.

He said that the province has reached its “cultural renaissance” with this generation encouraging the use of the Pangasinan language in oral discourse and the launching of Pangasinan Orthography.

Pangasinan has gained reputation as the first province in the country to have published a book in orthography.

Meanwhile, Pasalo, a known environmental and culture and arts advocate, thanked WIN Canada for giving importance to homegrown writers.

“This serves as a tribute to the province’s cause to revive local literature and an honor for local writers, as well,” she stressed on interview.

For his acceptance message, Villafania commended the Espino administration for giving importance to promotion and preservation of Pangasinan’s culture and arts.

Pangasinan literature has become vibrant because of the numerous undertakings that were launched by the Governor, he noted, further disclosing the need ‘to continue what was started.’

On the other hand, Fr. Weng Escano, delivered an impromptu poem dedicated to the excellent performance of Gov. Espino whose main objective lies not only to revive Pangasinan arts and culture but more importantly, to preserve a vital symbol of identity among Pangasinenses.

The awarding ceremony was highlighted with poetry reading by Villafania and Pasalo. (Ruby R. Bernardino)