CPS 1^st LECTURE DELVES ON FEDERALISM.  Governor Amado ‘Pogi’ Espino, III (3^rd from right) flashes the Pangasinan number one sign along with other provincial officials, Center for Pangasinan Studies (CPS) Executive Director Perla Legazpi (extreme right) and University of the Philippines Vice President for Public Affairs Prospero De Vera, III (4^th from right) during the inaugural lecture of CPS that delved on ‘Federalism’ held at the Sison Auditorium on July 29. Assisting the governor in recognizing De Vera as guest of honor and speaker of the said lecture are: Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. (2^nd from right) and Board Members (from left to right) Jeremy Agerico Rosario, Chinky Perez-Tababa, Jinky Zaplan, Noel Bince and Nestor Reyes.  /Photo by RPGutierrez/MGNO

Lingayen – The Province of Pangasinan turned over to the Sta. Barbara municipal government and beneficiary-residents sets of equipment that will propel the town’s bid to modernize business permit and license processing and rural farming last August 3 at the town’s new municipal hall.

Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III led the ceremonial turnover of the agricultural equipment and computer hardware and software to Sta. Barbara Mayor Carlito Zaplan.

He said that this initiative is his way of continuing the commitment of his father Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr. to support countryside development, urging recipients to take with utmost care the use of the said equipment so it could benefit more townspeople and farmers.

Zaplan, in turn, thanked the provincial government for granting these aids that will mobilize the town’s agricultural and economic growth.

Both set of equipment were procured by the provincial government through the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) program of the national government, allowing local government units to devise proposals and submit to the provincial government and national agencies for processing and funding.

Raymundo Quinto, president of the town’s Bureau of Agricultural Research Community-based Participatory Action Research, received the farming equipment composed of a combine harvester, mini-tractor and 10 water pumps on behalf of the organization.

Quinto said that their organization had already scheduled turns for use of the machines and pumps among members in Barangays Leet and Maticmatic in the municipality though non-members could also avail the service.

A total of 13 desktop/laptop computers plus their peripheries and an Electronic Business Processing Permit & Licensing System software were given to the municipality to jumpstart its One-Stop Business Center, courtesy of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Witnessing the turnover were:  DTI-Pangasinan director Peter Mangabat, Department of Agriculture-BUB focal point officer Marlene Manipon, Provincial Planning and Development Officer Benita Pizarro, Provincial Accountant Arturo Soriano and Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco.

Lingayen- – –“Ngayon ang umpisa ng magandang buhay (Today is the start of a better life).”

This was stated by Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III in his speech during the Alternative Learning System (ALS) graduation ceremony held on July 26 at the Sison Auditorium as he stressed that acceptance of failure must have been the reason why the ALS graduates decided to give education another try.

Stating the importance of education, the Governor urged the ALS graduates to keep reaching for their goals as he advised them never to commit the same mistake twice.

He noted that while most of them married young and some opted to help their parents by delaying education and chose to work early to help provide for their family, education, he said is still one of the biggest factors toward success.

The 732 graduates passed the 2015 accreditation and equivalency test from a total of 1,050 takers which was held last April.

Based from the records of the Schools Division Office I, there were 484 ALS test passers in 2013 and 714 in 2014.

ALS is a parallel learning system in the Philippines that provides a practical option to the existing formal instruction. It includes both the non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills.

In addition, the system is an alternate or substitute to those who do not have access to formal education in schools to include the inmates in the BJMP.

Gov. Pogi assured the full support of the provincial government in all programs and projects that are intended to improve the lives of Pangasinense youth especially on education.

The graduation rites was attended by Dr. Alma Ruby C. Torio, Department of Education Regional Director; Dr. Carmina Gutierrez, Chief of Curriculum Implementation Division; Dr. Teodora V. Nabor, OIC- Asst. Schools Division Superintendent; Marilu N. Cardenas, Asst. Schools Division Superintendent; and Dr. Angeline S. Casipit, Chief, School Governance and Operations Division. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Lingayen – Disaster management-useful technology GeoCloud Integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) is all set for its pilot run in the country on November 9 in partnership with the Province of Pangasinan and three other local government units within the province.

The project steering committee bared this on its first meeting last July 26 at the Pangasinan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Operations Center here.

In the verification survey conference among team members, project team leader Noriaki Ishibashi from the Geocloud developer, Informatix Incorporated, said that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded project is hitting target dates leading to the 10-month formal run with full-blown operation following afterwards.

“I am confident that this would be a success with the active participation of the local government units (LGU) involved especially the provincial government,” he said.

Ishibashi noted that Pangasinan, among other provinces in the country, is the most ideal model to run the technology owing to its being disaster-prone balanced by its cooperative, skilled personnel and administration, under Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III, who play crucial part in the continuity of the project.

Through the Japanese Geocloud system, LGUs can access, utilize and disseminate crucial data resulting in a more comprehensive disaster risk reduction and management in all of its phases – preparedness, response and rehabilitation.

Aside from the provincial government, the coastal city and towns of Dagupan, Lingayen and Binmaley have also been chosen as recipients of this first-of-its-kind Integrated GIS venture in the country.

JICA-local partner Philippine National Information Technology Standards Foundation (PhilNITS), which provides technical assistance in rendering outputs using the GeoCloud tools, is set to complete map arrangement by August and installation of hardware and software in the four LGUs this September.

A three-part training is also scheduled for the respective LGUs’ Integrated GIS personnel in handling the system: the first part, this October 3-14; and the third part, June 14-18 next year. The second part will take place in Japan this November for a study of three cities there where the use of Integrated GIS have long been established.

Separate workshops on data summarization and disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), both using the system, are set on February 12 and on May 15, respectively.

Comprising the steering committee are: Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services, Office of Civil Defense-Region 1, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Information and Communications Technology, PhilNITS, CTI Engineering International Corporation, Ltd., the LGUs of Dagupan City, Binmaley, Lingayen and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, with Col. Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro sitting as the deputy project leader.

Lingayen- – -Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III urged all local government units (LGUs) to come up with their new proposals and action plans to effectively conduct quicker disaster response.

The new governor said he welcomes all ideas from the grassroots and different sectors of society to transform Pangasinan as the country’s number one province in terms of disaster preparedness.

During the induction rites of the Pangasinan Disaster Risk Reduction Management Federation (PDRRMF) officers on July 21 at the PDRRMO building here, Gov. Pogi expressed his full support to the group which he dubbed as lead players in saving people’s lives during times of calamities.

He noted that each town/city in the province should implement plans depending on their urgency of need, further stating that each site has specific problems to be resolved.

The PDRRMF induction of officers is among the highlights of the three-day Basic Incident Command System (ICS) Course held from July 19 to 21 which is aimed at equipping council and member agencies with the knowledge on standard, on-scene, all-hazard incident management fundamental to a well-organized, functional disaster risk reduction and management.

Formed in June 2015, the new set of PDRRMF officers are as follows: President: Col. Rhodyn Luchinvar O. Oro (Ret.), Executive Vice President: Mylene O Manalastas (CDRRMO Alaminos), VP by District: Joy P. Fernandez (1^st), Amado John Jefferson O. Espino (2^nd),  Freddie D. Villacorta (3^rd), Ronaldo R. De Guzman (4^th), Aries B. Aquino (5^th), Ret. Maj. Juanito Dela Cruz (6^th), Secretary: Josephine R. Desierto (LGU-Bautista), Treasurer: Jean Repato, Auditors: Raymun T. Santos and Dean Loremore B. Carranza, PRO: Ramon C. Caldez.  (Ruby R. Bernardino)

INSPECTION OF CASA REAL PHASE 2 RESTORATION.  Governor Amado ‘Pogi’ Espino, III (extreme left) and 2^nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil (2^nd from left) brief National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Executive Director Ludovico Badoy (2^nd from right) regarding the ongoing phase 2 restoration works of the Casa Real during the inspection and monitoring of the NHCP in said building on July 20. Also present in the photo are: Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Malou Elduayan (extreme right) and Mark Villarin (3^rd from left) of Red Root Artist Cooperative, In-Charge for the curatorial design for the phase 3 of restoration./Photo by JOrdonez/MGNO   

Lingayen- – -Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III has appealed to all provincial government employees to show love for the environment by participating in the regular conduct of coastal clean-up drive every Friday at exactly 4 o’clock in the afternoon starting July 22.

The governor stressed the importance of making cleanliness a regular habit and to encourage others specifically the younger generation to develop the attitude of spending time to practice proper sanitation and hygiene.

In the launching of the provincial government’s observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month last July 11 at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center, Gov. Pogi disclosed that during his term as mayor of Bautista town, he initiated the 4 o’clock habit among the municipal employees which was later on participated by students.

The activity, he said, will not only serve as a regular commitment among employees but bonding time, as well, further stating that tree planting activities will likewise be included to maximize the effort of protecting the environment.

As such, Gov. Pogi encouraged all employees to invite other sectors specifically the students to join the clean-up drive.

He likewise, asked all department heads to air their suggestions to level up the conduct of the provincial government’s 4 o’clock habit. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Lingayen – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), in its first regular session held in the session hall at the Capitol building, here, on July 11 has confirmed the re-appointment of two co-terminus Provincial Government Department Heads (PGHDs).

Atty. Geraldine U. Baniqued was reinstated as Provincial Legal Officer (PLO) while Orpheus M. Velasco was re-appointed as Provincial Information Officer (PIO).

The two chiefs of offices were earlier reappointed by the provincial chief executive with the concurrence of the majority of all members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, as stipulated in section 463, par. (d) of Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the local government code of 1991.

Witnessing the confirmation of appointments were several PGDHs of the provincial government.

           “The SP finds the appointment meritorious after careful examination, scrutiny and review of the qualifications, records and experiences of the recommendees,” SP resolutions no. 9 and 10 – 2016 reads.

Atty. Baniqued, who started as PLO in 1998, expressed gratitude for the trust and confidence on her by the provincial governor, stressing that as the chief of the legal office, she shall continue to handle cases on dismissal of erring employees to “inspire all employees of the provincial government to do better their duties and fulfill the tasks assigned to them.”

She bared that the highlight of her accomplishments as legal office chief includes all revenue cases of the province have been successfully handled in cognizance with the efforts of the provincial treasury office to boost further revenue collection.

Velasco, on the other hand, was appointed PIO in 2008 during the first term of former Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.

Velasco reported to the august body that he maximizes social media as a tool for a wide-ranging dissemination of information on the programs and projects of the provincial government, and the national concerns which include weather updates.

As of date, the official facebook fanpage of the province, which is linked to the official website of the provincial government has already reached 253, 282 likes, the highest among all facebook fanpage maintained by local government units in the whole country.

The wide lineage of the facebook fanpage of the province is attested by the social media tracker of the University of the Philippines – Diliman, the PIO chief said.

Lingayen – The 9th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) led by its presiding officer, third-termer Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. vowed support to the new provincial administration led by Governor Amado ‘Pogi’ Espino, III in aid of provincial legislation.

Vice Gov. Calimlim, on behalf of the SP members, assured support to Gov. Pogi’s leadership in his inaugural address during the first session of the 9^th SP held at the session hall at the Capitol building, here, on July 11.

Gov. Pogi Espino, a former member of the SP being the Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President, attended the first session of the 9^th SP to show support to his former colleagues and new SP members.

As highlight of the 1^st SP session, the internal rules of procedure of the 9^th SP for the period 2016-2019 were approved to jumpstart the provincial board’s transactions during sessions and committee hearings pursuant to the provision of section 50 of the local government code of 1991.

Members of the provincial board, who won in the May 9 local elections are: Napoleon Fontelera, Jr. and Antonio Sison (1^st district); Raul Sison and Nestor Reyes (2^nd dist.); Angel Baniqued, Jr. and Generoso Tulagan, Jr. (3^rd dist.); Jeremy Agerico Rosario and Liberato Villegas (4^th dist.); Rosary Chinky Perez-Tababa and Clemente Arboleda, Jr. (5^th dist.) and Salvador Perez, Jr. and Noel Bince (6^th dist).

Other SP members are: Sheila Marie Perez-Galicia, Provincial Federation President of Pangasinan Councilors League; and Jeane Jinky Zaplan, Interim Provincial Federation President of Liga ng mga Barangay.

Officers of the 19 SP standing committees have also been approved, following the election of officers previously held.

Board members elected as committee chairpersons include: Reyes (committee on rules, privileges and ethics); Bince (committee on laws and ordinances); Bince (committee on good government and accountability of public officers, justice and human rights); Baniqued (committee on appropriations, economic affairs and ways and means); Villegas (committee on agriculture and agrarian reform); Salvador Perez (committee on cooperative, small business and entrepreneurship development); Villegas (committee on environment, natural resources and energy); Rosario (committee on education); Perez-Tababa (committee on youth and sports); Zaplan (committee on barangay, rural development, public order and safety); Arboleda (committee on housing and land utilization); Vice Gov. Calimlim (committee on tourism, arts and culture); Reyes (committee on foreign affairs and OFW concerns); Raul Sison (committee on children, women, senior citizens, family affairs and social welfare); Fontelera (committee on infrastructure, public services and utilities); Tulagan (committee on human resources and development, labor and employment concerns); Rosario (committee on health); Perez-Galicia (committee on inter-local government and people’s and non-governmental organizations relations); and Antonio Sison (committee on information and communication technology).