LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III has been conferred with “Honoris Causa” Doctor in Public Administration by US-based International Academy for Leadership and Management (IALM) during the AIE College’ 13^th Joint Commencement Exercises on April 20 at the CSI Stadia in Dagupan City.

Honoris Causa is a title granted to an individual of high moral qualities in recognition of the individual’s outstanding and notable contribution in his/her field of expertise.

Bishop Hernando C. Bruce, IALM Coordinator and Incoming Commissioner of Values Formation, said the provincial chief executive possessed unquestionable integrity, remarkable and exemplary leadership as public servant which made him worthy of such title and award.

Bruce added that the exemplary leadership award was made possible through the recommendation of Dr. Aveleo Fuentes, AIE College Chairman.

Prior to the conferment of Honorary Degree, Gov. Espino was also presented with Dangalang Bayan Award from the Alliance of Chaplains for Transformation of Society (ACTS) and Philippine Christian College based in Dasmarinas Cavite for his outstanding performance as a public servant.

Unaware of the conferment, Gov. Espino thanked the institution for the honor accorded to him. He likewise urged all the graduates to carve their destiny and their lives not only for themselves but for their family and community, as well.

He emphasized that although each graduate envisions a better future, they should never forget to look back and acknowledge those who helped them in their journey.

The awarding rite was witnessed by 2^nd District Representative Leopoldo N. Bataoil and over 500 graduates of AIE College along with their parents/guardians. (Krystle Mae Reamon/RRB)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan- – -The 437^th Agew na Pangasinan celebration on April 5 will be marked with various activities that will highlight the province’s rich and colorful history.

Pangasinan’s founding anniversary will start with a thanksgiving mass at 8 AM to be held at the Sison Auditorium.

After the mass, a commemorative program will be held where Gov. Amado I. Espino III together with Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and members of the board will award prizes for this year’s winners of Kurit Panlunggaring Literary Contest.

The commemorative program’s guest of honor and speaker will be Ms. Rebecca Bustamante-Mills, President of Chalre Associates who is also an ASNA awardee.

Immediately after the program, the governor will open the Pangasinan Trade and Tourism Expo at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PTDC). Various local products will be on display until the Pistay Dayat celebration.

Street-dancing in Parada na Luyag will make the event festive with the performances of contingents from different towns and cities in Pangasinan, enlivening the province’s history, festivals and culture.

A live concert dubbed Konsyerto ed Kapitolyo will feature the performances of Mitoy and the Draybers Band along with some local talents to include Banda ni Pogi, Renz Ruther Robosa, Arah May Robosa, John Paul Dimaculangan, among others.

Meanwhile, April 5 has been declared as a special non-working public holiday in Pangasinan by President Rodrigo R. Duterte through Acting Executive Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra who signed Proclamation No. 179 on his behalf.

Earlier, a measure to institutionalize the holiday was made by former governor now 5^th district Congressman Amado T. Espino, Jr. and 2^nd district Congressman Leopoldo N. Bataoil.

House Bill No. 2794 entitled “An Act Declaring April 5 of Every Year as the Pangasinan Day and A Special Non-Working Public Holiday in the Province of Pangasinan,” will soon be a law.

Correspondingly, the Pangasinan provincial board approved Provincial Resolution No. 603-2017 on its regular session on March 20 endorsing the passage of the bill filed by the two congressmen. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Left: Cagers from the local government unit of San Carlos City (in yellow jersey) and Sual (in black) jump for ball possession at the start of the 1^st Governor’s Cup Unity Games on March 16 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) gymnasium. At right photo women employees from LGU Sta. Barbara (in yellow) storm rival team Sual (in white) at the opening minutes of the volleyball game. The Unity Games, a brainchild of Gov. Amado I. Espino III, features two sporting events—basketball for men and volleyball for women. It aims to unite all LGU officials and employees in Pangasinan as it geared to enhance sports and tourism thrusts of the province. (Photo by MVSadim / Regine B. De Guzman/RRB)

Lingayen – The provincial government of Pangasinan on March 10 led the inauguration of a P3.4-M building it constructed as headquarters of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Region 1.

          Executive Assistant IV Ramon Morden, who represented Governor Amado I. Espino, III during the inauguration of said building, which is located at the Maramba boulevard corner Sto Nino St., bared that the provincial administration sustains its full-support to the undertakings of the BSP.

          The reassuring support of Governor ‘Pogi’ Espino, Morden said, manifests his recognition of the pivotal role of BSP in nation building, particularly in shaping well-rounded personality of the youth. 

          “The provincial administration recognizes the role of BSP in instilling in the minds of the youth proper norms, conduct and the values they need as they grow old,” he added.

          Unveiling of the BSP regional headquarters building and ceremonial turn-over of office key was led by Morden, along with BSP executives  — Asst. Secretary General Rogelio Villa, Jr.; Regional Vice Chairman, DepEd Schools Division of Pangasinan 1 Superintendent Ma. Celia Fernandez, Regional Scout Director Imelda Samson and other scout executives in the region.

          Morden pointed out that during the nine-year stint as governor of now 5^th district Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr., who also serves as the BSP regional chairman, the scouting movement is given priority as avenue to enhance the leadership skills and camaraderie among the scouts.

          It can be recalled that the provincial government under the elder Espino built two edifices which serve as headquarters of BSP Pangasinan and Girl Scouts of the Philippines – Pangasinan Council, respectively.

          Blessing of the regional BSP headquarters officiated by Rev. Fr. Hernan Caronongan of Epiphany of Our Lord Parish – Lingayen was held prior to the inauguration rites.

DARLING OF THE PRESS. Anie Uson, Labrador town’s bet for this year’s Limgas na Pangasinan, was chosen by members of the media as “Darling of the Press” during the press presentation held on March 6 at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center. The 19-year-old witty and charming lady is a B.S. Architecture student of St. Louis University in Baguio City. She will vie for the much-coveted title along with the other 24 lovely ladies during Limgas Pageant Night on April 30. (Photo by Meinard Sadim/RRB)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan- – -National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Marcelino P. Escalada, Jr. commended the Pangasinan provincial government for its implementation of housing program specifically the 2^nd phase of the Maniboc socialized housing for employees/teachers and Aplaya West Resettlement Project which is intended to shelter the ‘poorest of the poor.’

Escalada, who visited the two housing sites located at Barangay Maniboc and Sitio Aplaya in Barangay Pangapisan Norte of Lingayen town on February 24, said the projects are concrete manifestation of how the national government and the local government units (LGUs) are cooperating.

The housing general manager said that the NHA is doing its best to redirect its thrust and focus by capacitating all LGUs. Thus, he stressed that the project is an obvious manifestation of empowerment and cooperation of the provincial government.

“If we are able to replicate this project, we will be able to address problems on illegal settlers,” Escalada said as he specifically pertained to the resettlement project.

In lauding the provincial government Escalada also commended the housing designs noting that it meets certain standards like gender-sensitivity, flexibility and comfort of the design. “Hindi lang siya bahay but it is a home where people can live and children can participate,” he said.

Land clearing and development for the housing project which consists of 317 units started last year during the term of former Governor now 5^th district representative Amado T. Espino, Jr. Physical accomplishment to date is about 70 percent.

Meanwhile, PHUDCC officer-in-charge Angelito Pedeglorio said the project is intended as resettlement site to accommodate families living along danger zones like the Agno River bank.

As such, he said the project cost is over P12 million of which the NHA will shoulder more than P9.3 million while the province’s fund share amounted to P3.4 million.

Meanwhile, the provincial government under the stewardship of Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III has started its clearing of site operations two weeks ago for the 2^nd Phase Villa Maniboc socialized housing. Target date of land development completion is 180 days.  (Ruby R. Bernardino)

HOUSING & RESETTLEMENT PROJECTS.  Provincial Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (PHUDCC) Officer-in-Charge Angelito Pedeglorio (left) briefs National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Marcelino P. Escalada, Jr. (right) regarding the project specifications of the Aplaya West Resettlement Project of the Pangasinan provincial government during the latter’s site visit on February 24. The project, which is situated in Barangay Pangapisan Norte, Lingayen, intends to shelter the ‘poorest of the poor’ families who are residing at danger zone areas like the Agno River bank. Mr. Escalada also visited the 2^nd phase of the Villa Maniboc socialized housing. Also on photo is Provincial Information Officer Orpheus M. Velasco (2^nd from left). (Photo by Meinard Sadim/RRB)

Lingayen – Health leaders of Sorsogon province led by their Provincial Health Officer Edgar F. Garcia, Jr. expressed intent to replicate the best practices in health leadership of the provincial government of Pangasinan.

In their visit to Pangasinan on February 1, the visiting delegation was received by Governor Amado I. Espino, III and several officials of the province who attested the drastic development that Pangasinan realized under the watch of former provincial chief executive and now 5th district Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr.

Governor Espino, who met the Sorsogon delegation at the Urduja House bared that the Pangasinan provincial government has allocated 30 percent of its provincial budget for hospital operations, construction and maintenance of hospital facilities, procurement of state-of-the-art hospital equipment and the implementation of various health programs.

Expressing gratitude for warm reception of the province of Pangasinan, Dr. Garcia said that their study tour was meant for the health leaders of Sorsogon Provincial Health Office and representatives of their Association of Municipal/City Health Officers (AM/CHOP) to learn best practices in health leadership that they can adopt in their respective places.

Touring at the Provincial Health Office of Pangasinan, the Sorsogon health team inquired on the preparations done and requirements complied by the health office to gain its ISO 9001 certification.

In particular, the “lakbay aral” of the Sorsogon delegation delved on learning Pangasinan’s excellent implementation of its Point of Care program, Public – Private Partnership scheme in securing medical equipment and diagnostic machines for public hospitals and the service delivery network of the province.

Provincial Health Officer Anna Maria Teresa De Guzman expounded that the province has been recognized for its well-coordinated service delivery network which is highly need in emergency cases.

The Sorsogon health team on February 2 also visited the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in Bolingit, San Carlos City, Bayambang District Hospital and the Rural Health Unit managed by the Local Government Unit of Alcala, named as Pangasinan’s best municipal LGU on health programs implementation for 2016.