Lingayen – Now on its fourth year, the Lingayen District hospital (LDH) sets another leg of its advocacy drive against cigarette smoking, alcohol, drug abuse and teenage pregnancy to be participated in by select public school communities and facilities in Pangasinan’s Second District towns from Sept. 20-October 20.

Dr. John Ferrer, resident dentist and public health coordinator at LDH, said that the campaign is in line with the Family and Youth Development Program of Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III, which seeks to empower the next generation of Pangasinenses against the societal problems.

Aside from the four core topics, also to be discussed in the program are: leptospirosis and dengue prevention, climate change mitigation and how-to’s of avoiding hyper-tension, diabetes mellitus and venereal disease.

Also to be presented is the “Pangasinan Go 4 Health”, which comprises: Go Sigla, for more physical activity; Go Sustansya, for proper nutrition; third, Go Smoke-Free and; Go Slow sa Tagay.

The advocacy campaign is set to take place in 11 venues, 9 of which are public schools and two are public facilities.

Among the schools to be visited are: Malawa Integrated School in Lingayen, Sept. 22; Labrador National High School, Sept. 27; Polong National High School in Bugallon, Sept. 29; Salumague National High School in Bugallon, October 4; Tampac Integrated School in Aguilar, October 6; Mangatarem National High School, Oct. 11; Urbiztondo Catholic School, Oct. 13; Binmaley School of Fisheries, Oct. 18 and; Pangasinan School of Arts and Trade, Oct. 20.

The team will also bring the program to the Provincial Jail and Management Penology on Sept. 20 and LDH on Sept. 28, both events focusing on the welfare of prisoners and commercial sex workers respectively.

LDH teams up with the Provincial Government of Pangasinan particularly the Provincial Governor’s Office, Provincial Health Office and the Provincial Information Office together with the Department of Education and Pangasinan Provincial Police Office to make this event possible.

For the past three years, this collaborative advocacy campaign has already served thousands of Pangasinenses in 60 public school and facilities.

Lingayen – The Provincial Government of Pangasinan together with the Pangasinan Visitors Bureau (PVB) mounts the Pangasinan Tourism Youth Conference on September 27, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sison Auditorium here.

Headlining the event are talks from country’s leading personalities on Travel Blogging, Event Organizing, Entrepreneurship in Tourism and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Participants will also hear from speakers of the Department of Tourism, the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office and sponsor Northern Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB).

Other highlights of the conference are the creation of PVB Youth Sector Group (PVBYSG) and election of its officers and an invitation to participate in the Region 1 Tourism Convention’s Governor’s Night at the same venue, 7 p.m.

To take part in the event, one must be an officer or a member of a recognized school Tourism or Hotel & Restaurant Management association, group or club or at least a student duly enrolled in any tourism or hospitality-related course securing his or her dean’s endorsement.

Student leaders should pre-register using the conference’s official Registration Form signed by the school dean or equivalent representative on or before Sept. 23.

A registration fee of Php 300 must be paid on the conference proper, which already includes PVBYSG membership, PVB and and sponsors’ conference kit freebies and certificate.

Lunch, dinner and morning and afternoon snacks will be served during the event and free accommodation will be made available at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Dormitory on Sept. 27.

A maximum of three slots is allotted to every school; however, upon withdrawal or non-participation of invited schools, the secretariat may accept additional participants from other interested universities on a first-come, first-served basis.

Interested participants may send filled up registration form through fax or email to the PVB Secretariat located at 1^st Floor Malong Bldg., Capitol Complex, Lingayen Pangasinan or at pangasinan_tourism@yahoo.com. They could also call or text 0995-967-6804 or 0999-883-9740.

Helming the event is PVB, an NPVB-affiliated, private sector-led, non-stock group of tourism-related stakeholders established to promote local tourist destinations in the province through different activities.

Lingayen – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) rallies behind former Pangasinan Governor and now 5^th district Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr., Board Member Raul Sison and former Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan who were tagged as alleged subjects in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) ‘drug matrix’ released by President Rodrigo Duterte at the wee hours of August 25.

The SP convened a special session to pass Provincial Resolutions Nos. 114, 115 and 116 – 2016 to express full faith, trust and confidence in the integrity and competence of prominent sons of Pangasinan, Cong. Espino, Jr., BM Sison and former PA Baraan who were allegedly involved in the ‘drug matrix’ which includes former Justice Secretary now Senator Leila de Lima.

Maintaining its full-support to Gov. Espino, the SP underscored that during his nine years of good governance as provincial chief executive, “There is no iota of doubt that he had been involved in such an illegal drug trade operation inside and even outside the political jurisdiction of the province.”

            “The SP is of firm belief that any insinuation of Rep. Espino’s involvement to the NBP drug matrix would not at all affect his integrity as former governor of Pangasinan and his competence in the performance of his duties and responsibilities as 5^th district representative,” Provincial Resolution No. 114-2016 states.

Evident with Espino’s relentless war against illegal drugs, he authored the monumental piece of legislation – Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 when he was a congressman a decade ago.

Saddened by the alleged involvement of one colleague to the drug trade, the SP puts on record that the august body has been a witness to the political career of BM Sison who has not been tainted with any controversy.

Sison joined the provincial board first as representative of the Pangasinan Councilors’ League and now he is completing his third and last term as second district board member.

SP members have also expressed full trust and confidence to former PA Baraan who served under the terms of the former governor, attesting that the former provincial official performed his job in good faith and not in any manner of self-service.

“The 6^th to 8^th SP including the present 9^th have found an ally with the former provincial administrator for he has been cooperative, approachable and of great assistance to its legislative works, endeavors and concerns,” Provincial Resolution No. 116-2016 reads.

Rep. Espino denied yesterday, August 25 noon his alleged involvement in the NBP drug matrix.

In a press conference held in Dagupan City, Rep. Espino said he has never been associated with Sen. de Lima as he stressed that the former Justice Secretary was instrumental in pursuing the investigation of a fabricated murder case against him at the height of the campaign period for 2013 mid-term elections.

Espino said the drug issues hurled at him disregards the fact that he devoted his military and police service and his career as a politician being a former congressman and governor in seriously pushing for the eradication of illegal drugs.

Pangasinan, under Espino’s term saw the full-activation of the provincial anti-drug abuse council in cooperation with the police force and eventually the municipal/city anti-drug abuse council and the barangay anti-drug abuse council.

Lingayen – World-renowned Italian-Iranian film artist Antonio Gellini visited the province of Pangasinan on August 23 to 27 to see the beautiful tourism attractions and historical sites of the province where participants of the Olympia awards he is considering to hold in the Philippines could visit and enjoy as part of their rest and recreation.

Escorted by Pangasinan Brotherhood – United States of America (PB-USA) president Jun Caringal and Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce Southeast corridor President Felix Lopez, Dr. Gellini was welcomed to the capitol building on August 23 by some department heads led by Sangguniang Panlalawigan secretary Verna Nava-Perez, on behalf of Governor Amado I. Espino, III.

Gellini, founder of the World Film Institute, The Family Film Awards on the CBS TV Network, Olympic Arts Institute and the Olympia awards, in a briefing held at the governor’s office told the provincial government department heads that he is travelling with his companions to search for places that could possibly serve as the host venue of the 2017 Olympia awards.

Part of Gellini’s travel to Pangasinan included trips to the Hundred Islands in Alaminos City, Lingayen airport, Sual seaport and other tourism attractions in Bolinao, Binmaley, Laoac and Urdaneta City.

Citing Pangasinan as a beautiful place to host an international gathering of artists, Gellini stressed that the opportunity of hosting the Olympia awards would help spur tourism and the economic aspect of a place.

The Olympia awards, much like the Olympic Games, is held every four years. It is composed of a pool of 250 artists and a panel of notable entertainment experts and film critics who will choose the top three choices in all 15 contest categories.

“In these changing times where the creation of visual images throughout the world can be shared through powerful media that cut across all boundaries, I believe that filmmakers have an important responsibility because what we can do can affect the entire world,” said Gellini who expounded his view on the role of an artist in the world today.

Gellini said that through visual stories that take viewers on an adventure, the humanity can eliminate the barriers of race, age, gender and religion.

Meanwhile, PB – USA president Caringal, bared that the visit of Gellini to Pangasinan would see prospects for investment and tourism promotions; and trade cooperation.

Lopez, on the other hand, said he encouraged his friend, Gellini, to visit Pangasinan, believing that the vast natural wonders of Pangasinan would captivate the attention of the international artist and urge him to bring his Olympia awards to the Philippines to highlight Pangasinan as a premiere tourism destination.

Notable winners of the Olympia awards include Tom Hanks (outstanding actor, feature film), Sandra Bullock (outstanding actress, feature film) and Ron Howard (outstanding director, feature film).

Other distinctions given during Olympia awards are related in the fields of music, dance, film, theatre, painting, sculpture and literature.

Chief Administrative Office Irmina Francisco, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Benita Pizarro and Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Malou Elduayan were also present in welcoming the international icon.

INT’L FILM ARTIST VISITS CAPITOL. Pangasinan Brotherhood – United States of America (PB-USA) president Jun Caringal (4^th from left) explains to some department heads and employees of the Capitol the purpose of visit to Pangasinan of world renowned Italian-Iranian film artist Antonio Gellini (5^th from left) which is anchored on investment and tourism promotion and trade cooperation. Gellini toured several top tourism attractions and historical sites of the province, including the famous Hundred Islands National Park, where participants of the Olympia awards he is considering to hold in the Philippines could visit and enjoy. Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce Southeast corridor President Felix Lopez escorted Gellini in visiting his home province. /Photo by RPGutierrezIII/MGNO

Lingayen – Governor Amado I. Espino, III sought support from schools divisions of the Department of Education (DepEd) in the province to expand further the cultural and sports programs being implemented by the provincial administration.  Governor Espino said that aside from sustaining the various cultural programs initiated by his predecessor, former governor and now 5^th district Representative Amado T. Espino, Jr., he wants to cultivate Pangasinan’s pool of talented youth in the performing arts and sports. “Expanding our cultural and sports programs will basically benefit our talented school children who have potential to join the province’s cultural arm or the elite circle of athletes of Team Pangasinan,”Governor Espino told DepEd – Pangasinan I executives during their courtesy call on him last August 22 at the Urduja House. While particular details for the tie-up with DepEd in cultural programs of the province is being ironed out, the provincial chief executive hinted on the possible inclusion of the best and competitive elementary and secondary students to the Dangoan Pangasinan, a cultural dance troupe composed of provincial government employees that was launched under his predecessor’s administration. To strengthen further the sports development thrust of the province, Gov. Espino has openly stated that he wants to pursue his father’s dream of building a provincial sports academy that shall accommodate the in-house training of best athletes from various towns and cities in the province. The sports academy, according to the governor, is on top of other sports activities sustained by the provincial government which benefit the young sports talents, to include the staging of the series of chess clinics and tournaments of the Pangasinan Chess Festival; Pabosking ed Gulpo, triathlon and beach volleybelle competition during Pistay Dayat, to name a few. The same message was also relayed by the governor when DepEd officials of other schools divisions in the province to include Pangasinan II which covers the elementary, secondary and integrated schools from 4th to 6th districts.  Meanwhile, DepEd Pangasinan I Schools Division Superintendent Ma. Celia Fernandez said that the cultural and sports programs of Governor ‘Pogi’ would benefit the DepEd’s Special Program for the Arts (SPA) being implemented in the junior high school; and the Arts and Design and Sports track for senior high school of the K-12 curriculum.  “Malaki ang magiging tulong nito sa mga mag-aaral natin para mas mahasa pa ang kani-kanilang mga kahusayan,” Dr. Fernandez said.  The province under the administration of Gov. Pogi will sustain the all-out support to the athletes of all DepEd schools divisions in the province, particularly Pangasinan I and Pangasinan II, on their trainings and preparations for the Region 1 Athletic Association (R1AA) Meet and Palarong Pambansa, aside from hosting various sports trainings and seminars.  The provincial administration has also formed ‘Team Pangasinan’ to serve as the official delegation of the province to the Batang Pinoy, a grassroots sports development program of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

PD Lee at SP. Recently installed Officer-in-Charge P/Sr. Supt. Ronald Oliver Lee answers queries of some members of the provincial board during the regular session held last August 15 regarding the peace and order situation of the province and the agency’s head-on campaign against illegal drugs. Expressing full confidence over the leadership of Lee, the members of the board, who were present that day, came up unanimously with a resolution endorsing his appointment to PNP Chief Police Director Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and PNP-Region 1 director Gregorio Pimentel for the former’s permanent designation as Philippine National Police director in Pangasinan. (Photo by Jun D. Moran/rrb)

Lingayen – The onslaught of monsoon rains  that started on Friday, August 12, and tapered off last Wednesday, August 17, served as a baptism of fire to Pangasinan Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III, just before his 50^th day as the provincial chief executive. Despite having a bout with flu, Governor Espino, on Sunday, August 14, still managed to map out plans with rescue teams, emergency health response units, engineering brigades, police force and other frontline groups of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) at the Tactical Operations Center located within the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC). Gov. Espino, who also serves as the chairman of the PDRRMC,  then issued the marching order to PDRRMC attached agencies to work in unison to ensure safety of Pangasinense  and attain zero casualty in the province while the Southwest Monsoon affected various province in Luzon. On the same day, Governor Espino issued a public advisory to suspend all classes in all levels. The following day, after meeting with various sectors during the governor’s callers day at Urduja House, the governor declared another all-level class suspension. On August 16, the provincial chief executive declared localized suspension of classes as he also denounced the fake public advisory that circulated on the internet announcing another suspension of classes in all levels.

“The unscrupulous post by heartless individuals was meant to deceive the public by digitally manipulating my public advisory,” the governor said.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Chief Rhodyn Lochinvar Oro said that disaster prevention and response in the province now has leveled up further and even became more resilient with the resounding commitment of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (LDRRMOs).

Oro said rescue boats and dump trucks have been prepositioned in the towns of San Fabian, Bani, Dasol, Mangatarem and Mabini for possible disaster quick response in areas at high risk of flash floods, landslides and typhoon surges. Dump trucks were also positioned in strategic areas to respond in emergency cases when needed.

The PDRRMO chief deployed rescue teams with the support of the 3^rd Mechanized Phil. Army in the municipalities of Mangatarem and Bani to conduct pre-evacuation.

PDRRMC and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) staff conducted relief operations to aid evacuees in Calasiao, Aguilar, Bugallon and Mangatarem, who were transferred to safe places due to persistent flooding in their ares of abode.

A dump truck from the provincial engineer’s office was also deployed for evacuation of families in Lingayen.

Meanwhile, dump trucks have been prepositioned and redied at the PDRRMC Tactical Operations Center located within the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen. Staff from the Provincial Health Office Emergency Response Team (PHERT) also provided medical assistance to evacuees for days in Calasiao.  Fisherfolks have been advised not to venture out to the sea and beach goers wereinformed of the “No Swimming Policy”, a measure implemented to avoid drowning incidents.  A report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) at 3pm (August 18) stated that about 12,580 families or 62,366 persons from several barangays of Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Infanta, Aguilar, Urbiztondo and Mangatarem were affected by habagat. As of August 18, about 34 families or 116 persons have been evacuated in Calasiao, Bugallon, Lingayen and Mangatarem; most of them were returning to their homes as flood waters subsided. Latest update on the water level at San Roque dam is at 242.95 meters above sea level (masl) or 37.05masl way below the reservoir’s 280masl spilling level. OMV/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca

Lingayen – The Armed Forces of the Philippines vows all-out support to the Provincial Government of Pangasinan’s anti-drug abuse campaign.

Col. Milfredo Meligrito, the highest ranking Armed Forces of the Philippines officer in Pangasinan, stated as he disclosed details of meeting with Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III last August 8 at the Urduja House, Capitol Compound here.

“The Philippine Army would be very happy to partner with the provincial government in helping the wayward to get back on the right track,” he said.

The 702^nd Brigade Commander has pledged to lend the Camp Lt. Tito Abat, the 1st Regional Community Defense Group headquarters located in Manaoag, as the province’s rehab/boot camp’s facility where the youth drug dependents will be housed for group therapy and renewal.

“This is in accordance with the directive of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to use military camps for drug rehabilitation program. Basically the provincial government will use our military facility and our personnel… We can request for the division army to send the needed doctors and nurses for the camp,” he said.

To cater to more patients, the provincial government is planning to build more facilities in the camp, in addition to the immediately available building for its drug treatment program can accommodate up to 200 youth surrenderees, said Col. Meligrito.

Col. Meligrito, who just assumed position four months ago, lauded Pangasinan for being “very peaceful and a progressive province.”

Governor Espino, in a separate interview after the meeting with Meligrito, confirmed that the Provincial Government of Pangasinan pushes for a series of rehab/boot camp as its “new avenue” in rehabilitating youth drug surrenderees who are still considered “moderate” drug users

The anti-drug abuse treatment effort will roll out by early September, programmed to run 3-4 days for every single batch composed of 120-150 drug users.

“In just six weeks since the call of President Duterte or drug dependents to submit themselves to the law has started, we already have 9,000 drug surrenderees in Pangasinan alone. So we thought of how we could help them better, especially the youth who want to start over their lives or to study again,” he said.

To ease holistic transition of a patient from narcotics addiction to an improved life, Gov. Espino said that the medical treatment will include physical fitness exercises, community development clinics and religious and psychological counseling sessions as provided by a collaboration among allied government agencies.

On the other hand, the provincial chief executive admitted that members of the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council are still studying the appropriate intervention for higher levels of addiction.

He also said that mandatory random drug testing for provincial officials and employees will commence during the staging of the rehab/boot camp for youth drug dependents.

Earlier, Pangasinan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Col. Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro, said that the memorandum of agreement is currently underway to formalize cooperation between the Philippine Army and the provincial government for the rehab/boot camp program.

Lingayen – Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III vowed to continue the various exemplary programs and projects set by the past provincial administration even as he bared that a more intensified project implementation to cover more areas and beneficiaries starting 2017 will be undertaken during his term.

In the Provincial Development Council (PDC) meeting held on August 10 at the Sison Auditorium , the governor thanked all local government unit (LGU) chief executives for signifying their cooperation with, and support to, his administration.

Acknowledging the presence of the different town mayors, he stated his intention of reaching out to all mayors of the various towns and cities of the province for the implementation of all programs and projects included in the Annual Investment Plan (AIP) for 2017.

Among the programs and projects that Gov. Pogi mentioned as his priority activities are focused on intensified sports program, effective solutions on illegal drugs, urban greening and proper waste disposal.

Stressing the four activities that are closest to his heart, Gov. Pogi appealed to all mayors to incorporate in their plans an intensified sports program and effective solutions on the illegal drugs problem.

As a sport enthusiast, the governor urged all LGUs to appoint sports focal person per city and municipality who will coordinate with the provincial government the various activities which will focus on the active involvement of the younger generation.

With regards to his administration’s plan for the thousands of self-confessed drug users who recently surrendered to the authorities, the provincial chief executive stated his plans and initial actions taken with the officers of Camp Tito Abat in Manaoag town to set up a sort of rehab/boot camp that will accommodate the young drug users.

Assistance from the LGU, he said, will be sought by the provincial government to facilitate the rehabilitation of the thousands of surrenderees.

On urban greening proposal, the provincial government is keen on allotting funds with the help of the LGUs for the purchase of possible idle lands which will be planted with trees and be declared as protected areas in the long run, he added.

For the growing problem on garbage disposal, Gov. Pogi revealed his plan to discuss with all town and city mayors the possible establishment of three garbage sites in eastern, central and western Pangasinan.

As stated by the governor, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) assured that there are available funds for the project. However, possible sites must first be identified.

Furthermore, he said that together with Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr., separate meeting will be held with the town and city mayors and the DILG provincial director for the realization of the mentioned proposal.

During the PDC meeting, the 2017 Provincial AIP which contained the various 10 development thrusts of the provincial government was presented by Provincial Planning and Development Chief and PDC secretary Benita Pizarro which was immediately approved for endorsement to the provincial board.

The meeting was also highlighted by the presentation of the major development plans of LGUs particularly Sta. Barbara, Villasis, Natividad, Bautista, Aguilar, Mangaldan, Laoac, Binalonan and Urbiztondo.

Mayors present during the meeting include: Ramon Guico III (Binalonan), Amadeo Espino (Bautista), Marvin Martinez (Infanta), Danilo Uy (Sison), Nonato Abrenica (Villasis), Rodrigo Rafael (Natividad), Silverio Alarcio (Alcala), Alberto Guiang (Burgos), Simplicio Rosario (Binmaley), Joseph Arman Bauzon (Calasiao), Dominador Arenas (Labrador), Rebecca Saldivar (San Nicolas), Roberto Arcinue (Sual), Artemio Chan (Pozorrubio), Heidee Chua (Asingan), Manuelito de Leon (Basista), Cesar Quiambao (Bayambang), Gerald Glenn Tambaoan (Mapandan) and Cecil Tiu (San Quintin). (Ruby R. Bernardino)