AWARDING OF PROSTHETIC DEVICES.

A prosthetic technician (left photo, left) fits the custom-made artificial limb to one of the recipients (left photo, right) of prosthesis for Pangasinan Persons with Disability (PWD) awarded by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in partnership with the provincial government of Pangasinan through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and PBF Prosthetics and Brace Center last August 13 at the PSWDO in Lingayen. Right photo shows a beaming PWD as he receives his wheelchair from the donors. Facilitating the awarding of assistive devices is Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Emil Samson. /GDMoran

OPENING OF PRESIDENT HOTEL BREAKFAST CLUB. Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. reiterates his call among members of the media to practice their profession in a highly dignified manner during the inauguration of the President Hotel Breakfast Club in Lingayen last August 13. The Governor decried the relentless attacks and malicious defamation aired over one radio station owned by a politician prompting him to file libel cases against four mediamen to defend and protect his honor and dignity. /MVSadim

GATE AT PRESIDENT HOTEL. Governor Amado T. Espino (right photo, 2^nd from right) answers a question posed by one of the members of the Muslim community (left photo) during the launching of The President Hotel Breakfast Club in Lingayen last August 13. Joining the Governor at the right photo are (from right): Lingayen Vice Mayor Nepthalie Pasilliao, Veteran Journalist Jun Velasco and Capitol Post Publisher Mita Duque. /MVSadim

Motorpool Repair Bay Bldg. Inaugurated. Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (left photo, right) and Provincial Engineer Antonietta De Los Santos (left photo, left) lead the ceremonial cutting of ribbon during the inauguration and blessing of the fully rehabilitated Motorpool Repair Bay 1 building (right photo) of the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) inside the Motorpool compound, Capitol Complex in Lingayen last August 7. Joining the Governor in right photo is former Provincial Engineer Victor Punay (second from left; right photo). /Photos by MVSadim

City and Municipal Librarians undergo Integrated Library System Training. Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III (4^th from right) flashes the number one sign with various city and municipal librarians during the culmination of the two-day KOHA Integrated Library System Training at the Provincial Library last August 13. Joining BM Espino is Provincial Librarian Lolita delos Santos (3^rd from right). Photo by: MVSadim

Lingayen- – -Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. urged the media practitioners in Pangasinan to practice their profession in a highly dignified manner which is worthy of their occupation that revolves in a “culture of honesty, truth, and respect for the good names of others.”

In the first-ever forum conducted by The President Hotel Breakfast Club on August 13 at the President Hotel here, the governor was asked to address the alleged ‘unprofessional stunts’ of some local media practitioners in the province.

In response, the governor disclosed that in his 40 years in public service, this is the first time he has addressed the issue as he added that while there is a thing called freedom of the press there is also that freedom given to anyone to fight for his or her rights especially if it concerns one’s reputation.

It can be recalled that the governor has filed libel cases against four radio commentators for destroying his good reputation by spreading malicious accusations against him and his family.

“I am not curtailing the freedom of the press,” Gov. Espino said (referring to the cases he filed) as he added that even if there is freedom, an individual must also know the boundaries and limits of that freedom.

During the forum, the governor disclosed details on how he transformed Pangasinan in barely eight years, from mediocrity and obscurity into a destination of choice and multi-awarded LGU.
Although Gov. Espino did not give specific answer when asked about his personal plans for 2016, he stressed that the direction charted by his administration is best continued by a leader who is a true-blooded Pangasinense.

“Definitely my son, Board Member Pogi will run for governor,” he said as he further disclosed that the younger Espino will have Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Jr. as his running-mate in the upcoming polls.

In addition, Gov. Espino said everything will be done for the love of the province and not for personal reason or for power.

Asked if it is true that he will run as congressman in the fifth congressional district and not in the third or fourth districts, Gov. Espino insinuated that he might take into consideration the clamor for him to serve the fifth congressional district.

Further, he stated that whatever could benefit the candidacy of his son, Board Member Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III and the people of Pangasinan will definitely be his priority.

Meanwhile, the President Hotel Breakfast Club, as explained by veteran journalist Jun Velasco, president of Pangasinan Association of Columnist Editors (PACE), is a forum where the media and civil society can exchange views affecting Pangasinan and possibly craft policy directions for the province as well. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

LINGAYEN – At least 50 displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from various parts of the province received skills training in Culinary and Techno Production on livelihood on August 5 at the Provincial Employment Service Office here.

Dolly Camacho, Program Coordinator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 1 said the training project which was conducted in coordination with the provincial government through its Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO), is one of the components of the OWWA livelihood assistance program called OWWA “Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay.”

The program is a livelihood assistance project aimed at helping the displaced overseas workers find livelihood and earn income for their families.

The displaced workers include those who have been victimized by illegal recruiters, those found having violated some provisions in their employment contract and those affected by the tension in war-torn countries.

Camacho said the trainings they provide to the displaced workers is a social preparation for them to be ready to engage in livelihood projects of their choice.

Meanwhile, a group of nurses also availed of an orientation seminar which targets registered nurses bound for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Rene Armzed Cantuba, Operations Manager of the Noor Al Amal Home Health Care Center in Dubai said the seminar aims to provide information and advice to nurses who plan to work in UAE.

Cantuba said they are here not to directly recruit the nurses, instead, they are here to guide them on the processing methods like how they should go about in processing their license and documents.

The healthcare center manager said the assistance they provide to nurses aspiring to work overseas is given for free.

As this developed, Cantuba disclosed that they have proposed to the provincial government the establishment of a training center which, when approved, will become a rehabilitation center at the same time, that will benefit all nurses in the province as they will have the chance of having a training for free before they work overseas.

Lingayen- – -Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. led the distribution of livelihood assistance checks amounting to P1,555,000.00 to some 13 women’s groups and farmers’ associations from various parts of Pangasinan on August 7.

The distribution covers the fourth batch of recipients of the regular assistance program launched by the Espino administration in 2008. It was initially designed to focus on transforming Pangasinense housewives into productive members of society.

The project which is implemented through the Provincial Population Office (PPO) and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) later on expanded its scope to include the farmers’ associations and groups of overseas workers.

Type of projects varies from commodity trading, buy and sell, farm inputs, goat production and re-lending.

This, according to the governor, is intended to make every Pangasinense households obtain additional income aside from their regular income.

The governor previously stressed that the program was launched to make every Pangasinense family become self-sufficient and productive as possible by engaging in livelihood activities.

The latest beneficiaries are as follows: Nibaliw Sur KALIPI Women’s Association (Bautista), Amamperez Women’s Association (Villasis), Flores Multi-Purpose Cooperative (San Manuel), San Pablo Women’s Association (Binalonan), Caoayan Farmers Irrigators Association (Sual), Great David Farmers Irrigators Association (Mangaldan), San Pascual Women’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. (Burgos), Bantog Samahang Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Asingan), Sta. Maria Mango Growers and Handlers Association (Sta. Maria), BLP Farmers and Irrigators Association, Inc. (Lingayen), Rural Improvement Club of Gueguesangen, Sta. Barbara (Sta. Barbara), Bisbisocol KALIPI Association (San Fabian), and Lobong Credit Cooperative (San Jacinto).

At present, the provincial government has released a total amount of P55,047,650.00 since its launching in 2008 covering 39 batches of recipients.

Two more livelihood checks releases will be conducted this year, according to the PPO. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Lingayen – Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. inaugurated on August 7 the Motorpool Repair Bay 1 building of the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) located at the Motorpool compound within the Capitol Complex, here.

Governor Espino was assisted by Provincial Engineer Antonietta De Los Santos, former PEO Chief Victor Punay and some department heads of the provincial government during the inauguration and blessing of the fully-rehabilitated facility.

De Los Santos said the P9.9M-worth Repair Bay building houses the electrical unit section, battery shop, spare parts issuance and withdrawal section, survey section and the main administrative services office of the motorpool.

A drainage canal surrounding the building — that was then prone to flooding – was also built, she added.

In related news, the P1.6M-worth building for the Materials Testing and Quality Control Division of PEO, located at the back of the motorpool repair bay 1, is almost complete.

Ground-breaking for the construction of the newly-inaugurated building was held last April 28.

With these two buildings, operations of the PEO are expected to further level up as personnel assigned in the area will have a more orderly, conducive and spacious working environment to execute their tasks, the provincial engineer stressed.

/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca

Dangal ng Bawat Mamamayan ang Kanyang Malinis na Reputasyon
(Ang opisyal na pahayag ni Gobernador Amado T. Espino, Jr.
sa pagsasampa ng kasong libelo sa ilang komentarista)

Ang walang tigil na pagtuligsa at paninira sa radyo sa aking administrasyon at pagkatao ng ilang komentarista ay lubhang nagiging madumi, malaswa at pawang kasinungalingan, ay hindi dapat paniwalaan o pag-aksayahan ng pansin ng responsable, matino at disenteng mamamayan.

Maliwanag na ang paninirang puri ay gawa-gawa lamang ng mga bayarang mamamahayag na sumusunod sa utos ng mga tao o grupo sa pulitika na naniniwalang ang tanging paraan lamang upang sila’y magtagumpay sa susunod na eleksyon ay durugin ang pangalan, reputasyon at mga kabutihang nagawa nitong mga nagdaang taon ng kasalukuyang pamumuno ng inyong lingkod, na sa dalawang nagdaang eleksyon ay ibinoto at pinagkatiwalaan ng mga botante ng may mahigit na 550,000 na kalamangang boto, mga matinding tagumpay na hindi napantayan ninuman ng mga tumakbong gobernador sa kasaysayan ng ating lalawigan.

Bilang isang namumuno at naging lingkod ng bayan sa iba’t-ibang posisyon na aking ginampanan sa loob ng mahigit na 45 na taon, ay marami nang pagtatalo-talo at karahasan ang aking napagdaanan, kung kaya’t hindi na bago sa akin ang mga sigalot na dulot ng pulitika.

Ngunit sa loob ng mahabang panahong ako’y nanungkulan, naging sensitibo ako sa pulso ng bayan, sa mga puna at hinaing ng bayan at mamamayang aking pinaglilingkuran ng buong puso na ilang beses kong muntik ng ikinamatay, at nitong magsi-siyam na taong nakalipas, nakapagdulot ng mga tagumpay na ating sama-samang nakamit na ikinabuti ng kalagayan ng ating mahal na lalawigan–kung kaya’t hindi ko maiwasang itanong: Dapat ba ang karumal-dumal na pagsira sa aking katauhan, ang mga kasinungalingang nilubid ng maruming pulitika? Dapat ko rin ba itong tiisin at ipagdusa bilang isang lingkod-bayan? Lalo na’t ang paninirang ito ay mula sa mga tao na nagmamagaling na mahal daw nila ang ating bayan?

Aking inuulit, hindi ko papayagang sirain ng maruming pulitika ang ating pagkakaisa at mga naitayong pondasyon para sa kapakanan ng bayan. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit kamakailan lamang ako’y umapela sa ating mga kasamahan sa media na maging propesyonal at disente sa pagbibigay ng komentaryo sa kani-kanilang programa.

Ngunit ako’y tao ring nasasaktan sa walang habas na paninirang-puri at mga baluktot na katuwiran. At ang napakasakit ay ang mga kasinungalingang ito ay labis nang iniinda ng aking mga mahal sa buhay, kasamahan at mga kaibigan, lalo na ng mga may kapansanan sa kanila.

Ito ang nagbugso sa akin na magsampa ng mga kasong libelo laban sa ilang komentarista sa ating lalawigan na naaayon sa ating batas at mga prinsipyo ng disenteng lipunan – ang ipagtanggol ang reputasyon at pangalan ng aking pamilya sa mga nais maglugmok sa malinis nating liderato at pagkakaisang ating pinagsikapang makamit, at iparating sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga naniwala at sumuporta sa mga adhikaing ating ipinaglaban, ang kabuktutang ginagawa ng ating mga katunggali sa larangan ng pulitika.

Ang magandang reputasyon at malinis na pangalan ng aking pamilya na mulat sapol ay aking inalagaan at inaruga, ang siyang natatangi at nag-iisang kayamanan na aking ipamamana sa aking mga anak at sa mga magiging anak nila. Ito, uulitin ko, ang nagtulak sa akin upang magsampa ng kasong libelo sa ilang mamamahayag. Patuloy kong iingatan at pahahalagahan ang malinis na reputasyon kasabay ng pagbibigay ko ng tapat na serbisyo sa ating pinakamamahal na bayan.