FMR. ENERGY SEC. PETILLA VISITS GATE.  Former Energy Secretary Jericho “Icot” Petilla (right) paid a courtesy call on Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center) on January 26 at the Urduja House in Lingayen. Petilla, who served as Leyte Governor for three terms before he joined President Aquino’s cabinet as Energy Secretary, expressed his admiration to the Espino leadership as he laid down his platforms of governance once elected as Senator comes May 2016 elections. Provincial Sports Director Modesto Operania (left), concurrent CENPELCO President, accompanies the former energy secretary. /Photo by DManaois

TURN-OVER OF FARM MACHINERIES AND EQUIPMENT. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (8^th from left), Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (9^th from right), DA – OIC Regional Director Valentino Perdido (4^th from right) and Umingan Mayor Eldred Tumbocon (8^th from right), flash the Pangasinan number one sign along with recipient farmers’ groups of farm machineries and equipment. The turn-over ceremony was held right after the Pangasinan farmers’ forum held at Umingan Municipal Auditorium on January 26. Others in the photo are: Sangguniang Bayan members of Umingan, OIC – Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya (3^rd from right) and Assistant Prov’l Agriculturist Nestor Batalla (extreme right). /MVSadim

PANGASINAN FARMERS’ FORUM IN UMINGAN. Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (right photo) exhorts about 3,000 farmers from various farming communities in Pangasinan (left photo) during the Pangasinan Farmers’ Forum at the Umingan Municipal Auditorium on January 26, stressing that infrastructure projects, particularly farm-to-market roads, implemented by his administration mostly in Umingan and other towns in the sixth district contribute to the increase of agricultural productivity of Pangasinan farmers. The farmers’ forum was also attended by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, DA – OIC Regional Director Valentino Perdido, Umingan Mayor Eldred Tumbocon, Balungao Mayor Philip Peralta, OIC – Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya and Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Nestor Batalla. /Photo by MVSadim

CAPITOL HERITAGE TOUR. 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 Farmers Association of Alcala are assisted by Capitol tour guides as they went around the Capitol building on January 20. Totaling around 500, the three groups also visited the Urduja House and Sison Auditorium as part of their Capitol Heritage Tour sponsored by the provincial government upon the request of their respective leaders. They were also treated with trips to the Manaoag Shrine, bagoong factory and provincial government facilities outside the Capitol Complex. The Capitol Heritage Tour is a pet project of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. that aims to boost local tourism among Pangasinenses which is anchored on instituting ‘love’ for the province. (Photo by DesManaois)

LINGAYEN – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has authorized Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. to enter into a memorandum of agreement with irrigation project beneficiaries for the implementation of communal irrigation system (CIS), pump irrigation system (PIS) and  the installation of shallow tube well irrigation projects (STWIP) in the Province of Pangasinan.
The approval of Provincial Resolution No.1758-2016 during the regular session held on January 18 is in line with the irrigation development program of Pangasinan to generate additional irrigated areas.
Resolution author Board Member Antonio F. Sison said the MOA will serve as a vehicle for collaboration efforts between the provincial government and irrigators association project beneficiaries to promote and develop the sustainability  of irrigation developments of the province.
This also aims to intensify agricultural productivity of our farmers and mitigate the projected long dry spell due to the El Nino phenomenon, Sison added.
The 1st District Representative said that the provincial government’s major concern under its development thrust is to bring basic services and assistance at the grass roots level to effect positive socio-economic change on the lives of farmers and fisherfolks.
Meanwhile, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan also moved for the approval of a resolution seeking to invite the governor into a special session on February 10 for his last State of the Province Address.
The SP likewise moved for the holding of a special session for the said activity.  /ADVillanueva

CAPITOL POST’S 2015 NEWSMAKERS RECOGNIZED. Capitol Post Publisher Mita Sison – Duque (6th from left) and editor-in-chief Jun Velasco (7th from right) savor a light moment with the honorees of Capitol Post’s Top Newsmakers Awards during the 2nd year anniversary celebration of the publication held on January 21 at the President Hotel in Lingayen. Former House Speaker Jose De Venecia (4th from right), who also served as guest of honor and speaker during the awarding rites, led the honorees that also include: Governor Espino and Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Amado “Pogi” Espino, III whose awards were received by Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco (2nd from right); Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez (5th from right); Harvent School Founder-Director Margarita Hamada (6th from right; Philippine Fish Producers’ Association President Eduardo Maramba (3rd from right); Confederation of Ilocanos International Chairman Julius Magno (3rd from left) and two-time Tour of Luzon champion Jesus Garcia (4th from left). Other personalities in the photo were: representatives who received awards on their behalf of other honorees, and veteran media practitioner Ruel Camba (extreme right) /Photo by DManaois

HEIs UNITE TO SET UP CENTER FOR PANGASINAN STUDIES. Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (right) exhorts top officials and research experts from various higher education institutions (HEIs) in Pangasinan and some provincial government department heads (left photo) that all projects undertaken by his administration are anchored on developing “a strong sense of pride and dignity as Pangasinenses, especially the younger generation” during the opening program of the special workshop for the establishment of Center for Pangasinan Studies (CPS) held on January 20 at the Capitol Resort Hotel in Lingayen. Said seminar organized by the provincial government and the University of the Philippines (UP) was attended by UP – VP for Public Affairs Prospero De Vera; UP Baguio Chancellor Raymundo Rovillos, I Love Pangasinan Movement Convenor Perla Legazpi, Mr. Rafael Howard Baraan, Samahang Pang-Kasaysayan (SAMPAKA) ng Bulacan President Jimmy Veneracion and other executives from the following HEIs: University of Luzon (UL), Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU), University of Pangasinan (UPang) Phinma; Colegio De Dagupan (CDD) and Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation (VMUF). /Photos by GMoran and DManaois

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)