Fearless Maki

By Brando Cortez

ANDA, Pangasinan-A multi awarded broadcast journalist who served the people by reporting on social issues, is taking on another field in an effort to make concrete step in help the poorest of the poor.

Maria Judea “Maki” Pulido said she was interested in the congressional seat of the first district of Pangasinan to pursue its development and also to make a stand on national issues.

“Hindi lang po boses ng taga-district one ang magiging role ko sa congress,” Pulido said. “Panahaon na rin para marinig ang boses ng distrito sa mga isyus na pambansang interes ang nakasalalay.”

Velasco hands-off on demolition of houses

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

SANTA BARBARA – The mayor of this town took a hands-off policy on the dramatic and acrimonious clash between the demolition team and the squatters of Barangay Tebag here.

Mayor Rey Velasco said he could not prevent the demolition team composed of dozens of police using a fire truck and a pay loader which backed up land owner Humberto Solis.

He said there was already a court order favoring Solis as owner of the n a disputed 11 hectares of land that that saw litigation for 30 years.

EDITORIAL: Increase the budget not the tuition

Graduation exercises abound this March and April and policy makers should consider how to temper increases in tuition and other school fees.

The angry faces and clenched fists of protests of students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines against the proposed hike in their tuition fees is one that is usually seen during school openings.

The students are angry and many of them may have to quit school if it pushes through.

The students threw armchairs, tables and papers down to the ground floor and set these on fire.

ANG MASO: Lokal media minaliit na naman!

By Brando Cortez

GRADUATION NA NAMAN! Kaliwa’t kanan ang pagbati ng kung sino-sinong mga kandidato ang iyong makikita sa mga tarpaulin na nakasabit sa kung saan saan.

Manong Jun Esperon, maganda po ang inyong panawagan na “Isang college graduate sa bawat pamilya” sa district 6.

Ayon sa statistics…apat (4) lang sa bawat sampu (10) na pumapasok ng grade one ang nakakarating ng college.

Una, binabati ko lahat ng mga estudyanteng hindi kasali sa “Top Ten” ng graduating class dahil nakatapos kayo kahit hindi “top ten.” Mabuhay kayo!

JDV: Postpone barangay elections

By Yolanda Sotelo

DAGUPAN CITY – Former Speaker Jose de Venecia proposed the postponement of the barangay elections this October to October 2011 and use the money to fight drought in all barangays in the country.

But to do this, the Congress has to convene and include “one small line” in the law saying the elections should be held in 2011 instead of 2010, the Pangasinan representative told reporters here on Sunday.

“We don’t need 10 days to debate that,” de Venecia said, asking Congress to convene to pass a law changing the barangay election date.

Provincial officials and employees get anniversary bonus

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — All qualified officials and employees of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan will each receive P3,000 as payment of anniversary bonus.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Appropriation Ordinance No. 1-2010, which included, among others, appropriation for the payment of the employee’s anniversary bonus.

The anniversary bonus is pursuant to Local Budget Circular No. 65, dated March 3, 1997, which prescribed the rules and regulations on the grant of anniversary bonus in local government units, and Provincial Ordinance No. 143-2010, dated February 15.

BIR monitors candidates’ expenses to raise taxes

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Amid the tax-eroding measures of the government, a top official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue called on candidates in the May 10, 2010 national and local polls to submit the names of donors for their election expenses for taxation purposes.

Ma. Bernadette B. Mangaoang, assistant revenue district officer in Eastern Pangasinan , said that her office assiduously monitor politicians and the contributions from their supporters to get a five percent donor tax from the materials and cash donations.

She said with tax-eroding measures that disabled the tax office in attaining its tax collection goals, BIR is aggressively implementing tax measures like Oplan Rest & Peace, Judicial Notices, and Revenue Memorandum Order 190.

Perspectives: Only 42% of the voters can vote on May 10!

I thought the mass- producing degree in college is nursing. Susmariosep, I was wrong! Whenever I go to press conferences of presidential, senatorial, and congressional candidates, there are sea of “journalists” who are restlessly waiting for something from politicians.

“Bakit mga pare, ganito na ba karami ang pino-produce ng Bachelor of Arts in Journalism?” I asked recently the legitimate media men at Lis Land in Urdaneta City .

Of course, I was jesting. Most of these “journalists” were hao-shiao or fake! These folks could not even write the correct spelling of “journalism” on a piece of paper. But they have the gall to bring their wives, children, mistresses, paramours, and friends for them to have a piece of the action, too.