LINGAYEN – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan took pride in the success achieved by a young Pangasinense after winning in the ASEAN chess championship in Singapore held from June 8 to 17.

In a provincial resolution passed on June 29, the SP commended Samantha Glo C. Revita, a 15-year-old chess prodigy from Rosales, Pangasinan who represented the country in the 16^th ASEAN Age Group Chess Championship.

The resolution authored by Board Member Ranjit R. Shahani and co-authored by Board Member Alfonso Bince said Revita has amply demonstrated her mettle in the game of wits and patience during the competition and succeeded in bringing home the gold medal and another three silver medals from the international competition.

Shahani and Bince said that by garnering multiple medals in the recent ASEAN chess championship, the young lass has again brought national and international acclaim for Pangasinan.

The resolution authors further noted that Revita’s display of a high level of performance and excellence in chess is worthy of emulation among other youths and sports enthusiasts in the province.

Revita who has already made her mark in local and international chess leagues by winning gold, silver and bronze medals in age group chess competitions in the past years deserves the commendation of the officials and leaders of Pangasinan.

At the age of 13, Revita was already a woman FIDE Master. Holding the distinction of being the first woman FIDE Master of Pangasinan, Revita is a product of the Governor Amado T. Espino Jr.’s chess tournaments and chess clinics launched several years ago to provide full support to homegrown athletes who possess special agility on the board game.

Since 2009, the Espino administration has launched a pro-active program for sports particularly in the game of chess. The provincial government launched the chess development program to bolster the ability of Pangasinense chess

players, especially the youth, where Revita has been a regular participant of the chess clinics conducted by the province. /ADVillanueva

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Emilio Samson hands over the financial assistance to Vilinda Salvio, wife of Bramwell Salvio, the lone casualty during the onslaught of tornado at Barangay Inirangan in Bayambang last June 13. With Samson is Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) Lochinvar Oro. /GDMoran

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (seated, center) together with (seated, from left) Pangasinan OFW Family Federation (POFFED), Inc. President Esmeraldo P. Agustin, Sr., Alaminos Senior Labor and Employment Officer Rhoda Dingle, Licensing and Regulation Office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Director Robert Larga, Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) Manager Alex Ferrer, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 1 Head Gerardo Rimorin, National Reintegration Center for OFWs Regional Coordinator Ethel Saliendra and some of the officers and members of POFFED flash the number one sign during the induction ceremonies of POFFED on June 25 at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center in Lingayen. The event was attended by over 400 POFFED members from all over the province. /MVSadim

Province congratulates SEA Games gold medalist

LINGAYEN — The provincial government commended a 21-year-old Pangasinense who bagged the gold medal in the recently concluded 28^th Southeast Asian Games, one of the largest and most prestigious multi-sports events in Southeast Asia, which was held in Singapore last June 5- 16.

The Pangasinan’s pride Marella Vania T. Salamat who hails from Sitio Salingcaoet in Poblacion, Bugallon town received the commendation through Provincial Resolution No. 1387-2015approved during the Sangguniang Panlalawigan regular session last Monday, June 22.

Salamat who is a dentistry student of the University of the East, outplayed other contenders in the Women’s 30-kilometer Cycling Category Individual Trial by registering 44 minutes and 46.38 seconds.

“The sterling performance of Marella Vania T. Salamat in sports cycling competition at an early age will serve as an inspiration and model to the youth of the province,” second district BM Nestor D. Reyes, author of the resolution, said.

Reyes added that “Salamat deserves the commendation not only from the officials and leaders of this great Province but also of the entire citizenry as well.”

The gold medalist is the daughter of Engr. Rod and Dr. Marivic Salamat. (Merly Ramos)

Pangasinan gov’t holds rehab efforts in tornado-hit villages in Bayambang

Lingayen – The provincial government extended its rehabilitation assistance on June 23 in the form of construction materials for houses destroyed by a tornado that hit 17 villages of Bayambang town last June 13.

Ret. Col. Lochinvar Oro, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) said that the assistance was based on the post-disaster assessment received from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bayambang.

Apart from assisting in the rehabilitation of damaged houses, the provincial government, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), also extended financial support to the family of Bramwell Salvio, 33, of barangay Inirangan, the lone casualty.

Vilinda Salvio, 25, wife of Bramwell, received the financial aid on June 24.
Her husband was electrocuted when he touched a live wire from an electric post toppled by the tornado.

At least 127 families or 382 persons were displaced by the tornado, that also left five others injured, all of whom were also electrocuted.

Meanwhile, Lerma Padagas, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer, noted that validation and assessment of the areas affected were done early morning of June 14, Sunday, on instruction of Bayambang Mayor Ricardo Camacho.

Augmentation of relief assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DWSD) Region 1 and DSWD provincial office with 700 family packs were received by the displaced residents while Bayambang LGU was waiting for resolutions from affected barangays asking that they be placed under the state of calamity.

“Relief funds can’t be released to aid the victims, unless a municipality has been declared under state of calamity,” Padagas said, as she pointed out that initial relief assistance were outsourced from the DSWD.

The GMA Kapuso Foundation, she added, has also distributed family packs for 88 affected families.

Padagas said request for financial assistance intended for the repair of partially and totally damaged houses and even for those injured have also been prepared for submission to the DSWD.

Col. Oro, who personally checked on the extent of damages from the twister, assured that the provincial government will help Bayambang LGU in its rehabilitation efforts for the damaged houses, particularly on the provision of construction materials.

Few days after the onslaught of the tornado, residents have slowly recovered. “Unti-unti na silang nakakabangon at naikabit na nila yung mga yero na na-washed out ng tornado,” Oro said.

Affected barangays were: Ambayat 1^st, Ambayat 2^nd, Amancosiling Sur, Buayaen, Darawey, Dusoc, Bical Sur, Pangdel, Sancagulis, Inanlorenza, Manambong Sur, Inirangan, San Vicente, Carungay, Managos, Manambong Norte and Pantol.   /Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca

PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

June 25, 2015

Lingayen, Pangasinan

Prov’l employees receive PEI bonus

LINGAYEN — More than 3,000 provincial employees including casual and contractual workers have received their Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) bonus pursuant to Executive Order No. 181 dated May 15, 2015 from the Office of the President.

This came following the passage of Supplemental Investment Program No. 3 for CY 2015 as provided for in Provincial Resolution No. 1404-2015 passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in its regular session last Monday June 22.

In this resolution, some P24.5 million were allocated for this incentive from the P46,735,500 approved Supplemental Budget No. 3 endorsed to the SP by the Provincial Development Council Execom through Resolution No. 06-15 chaired by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.

Provincial Budget Officer Hilaria J. Claveria told board members that the permanent employees are set to receive this week the one-half of their monthly salary. The province has yet to look for other sources for the payment of remaining half in December.

Likewise, the casual and job order employees including consultants will be receiving P5,000 incentive bonus.

According to Claveria, the fund was sourced out from the reversion of current appropriations from savings on Personal Services and unappropriated surplus.

On top of the PEI, the provincial employees have already received their mid-year 13^th month pay last May.

The employees thanked the provincial government for allocating budget for the productivity incentive bonus which according to them was “very timely and very helpful during this enrolment period.”

Meanwhile, Provincial Accountant Arturo Soriano belied reports that the payment of PEI to the employees came from the excise tax.

“Magagamit lang ang excise tax sa mga programa para sa tobacco-producing municipalities katulad ng farm-to-market roads, solar drying facilities. Ito ay para sa ating mga farmers lamang. Kaya walang katotohanan na kumuha ang probinsya sa excise tax para may ibayad sa incentive bonus ng mga empleyado.” Soriano said.

Also included in Supplemental Budget No. 3 are the augmentation fund of the operational expenses of some provincial offices, public affairs fund, cultural preservation and incentive awards, and drugs and medicines for hospitals. (Merly Ramos)