Pangasinan PESO wins regional award

LINGAYEN- the Pangasinan Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) was awarded by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as Top Regional Performer (1st Class Provincial Category) during the awarding rites held at the Camayan beach resort, Subic Bay, Zambales, January 24 along with the Regional PESO YEPA (Year-Ender Planning Assessment).
Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. was recognized as best provincial chief executive with his efforts in making Pangasinan as number 1 in manpower development, while Ferrer was also awarded as Best Performing PESO Manager in Region 1.
Only the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union (which consequently ended up as 1st runner-up) qualified for the regional award, Ferrer said.

‘Agriculture first’ policy to attain food sovereignty-Enrile

by Virgilio Sar. Maganes

DAGUPAN CITY- For the government to attain food sufficiency, food security and sovereignty, an agriculture first policy and drafting of food requirement plan should be adopted by the Aquino’s administration.

This was emphasized by Cagayan 1st District Rep. Jack Enrile during his press conference at Star Plaza Hotel here last January 22.

” Let’s look at the potentials of every province. A multi- pronged approach is needed. Not all provinces could be rice producing areas.or bangus producer like Pangasinan, ” Enrile said.

MAGANES: United Ilocandia

I am not writing about politics. I am not referring to United Ilocandia (UI) either as a political party or as Ilocos Region. UI is a confraternity and sorority organization which was organized in 1965. Said fraternal organization had been existing for 48 years purposely to instill the spirit of brotherhood and camaraderie among its members.

While fraternities and the like are sprouting like mushrooms in our midst, many of them have questionable existence. Some have dubious character as organizations and are more of gangs that most of the time figure in gang wars. Schools are now banning fraternities and sororities which, instead of being productive, are becoming menace in school compounds as well in the communities. These organizations have even recruited high school students who are not yet mature enough to understand the intricacies of fraternal operations.

UI donates computers to Villasis school

by Virgilio Sar. Maganes

VILLASIS – Village and school officials of Tombod here could not contain their happiness after receiving the two units computer desktops donated by the officers and members of the United Ilocandia (UI), a confraternity organization.

During the simple turn over rites at the compound of Tombod Integrated School last January 29, village head Mamerto O. Bulatao Jr. and school head Analiza S. Mones expressed their profuse thanks to the organization for selecting the school as the recipient of the computer units.

“The computers will undoubtedly help in alleviating the quality of education in our barangay,” Bulatao said.

W/Out Any Tax Hikes for 10 Years: URDANETA CITY AIMS P700M 2013 Budget

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

URDANETA CITY – Despite the absence of tax hikes in the past ten years, this burgeoning city in Region 1 this year can hit the P700 million annual appropriation, including the supplemental budget.
Mayor Amadeo Gregorio Perez IV said supplemental budget exists because of the expenses this city incurs.
“Sana walang kalamidad na makakasira kasi ng malaki (I hope there would no more calamities that can inflict damage to the city),” he stressed.
He explained that despite the absences of any tax spike in the last ten years, this city’s tax collection efficiency increases every year. He said he did not want his constituents to be surprised by any tax increase when somebody proposed it last year.
Perez said the approved annual budget of this city for this year is P637 million.
With the P700 million mark inclusive of the supplemental budget, this city would have the highest appropriation compared to the six cities in Region 1.
Cities of Dagupan and Laoag, two leading cities in Region 1, have passed already their P612 million and P575 million, respectively, annual appropriation for fiscal year 2013.
The mayor, the son of this city’s long reigning hizzoner Amadito Jr., said taxpayers here willingly pay their business taxes since he gave them up to the last week of February this year to pay.

ORTIGOZA: Police can Search vehicles without Warrant

At the height of the Atimonan, Quezon “massacre” and the gun ban ordered by the Comelec from January 13 to June 12 this year, I heard public officials whining that those policemen who flagged down the group of alleged illegal gambling juggernaut Vic Siman should have acquired a search warrant first from a judge and that mayors and their body guards should not worry to bring their long and short firearms when they travel outside their jurisdiction because policemen at check points are limited only by law to visual search their vehicle.

Abono scores rampant rice smuggling

By Mortz C. Ortigoza
ROSALES – Because of the unabated entry of smuggled rice, there is a possibility the Philippines will not import a significant portion of the staple this year, according to the chairman of the Abono Party List.
Rosendo So was reacting to the pronouncement of Agriculture Secretary Dante Delima, national rice program coordinator, that the estimated 18.03 million metric ton (MMT) harvest last year would be more than enough to supply the food requirement of the county this year.

FORUM WITH VILLAGE CHIEFS

Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim (top photo) hears and assures earnest solutions to infrastructural constraints the city faces especially frequent flooding as he addressed the village chiefs (lower photo) during the City Engineer’s Office-hosted Annual Forum/Dialogue with Barangay Chairmen at Pinkies Restaurant on January 30. (CIO Photos by Edwin Palaganas)

PESO goes full blast in international job placements

LINGAYEN- The provincial government thru the Provincial Employment and Services Office in coordination with various recruitment agencies goes full blast in its international job placement activities this February.
PESO Chief Alex Ferrer that three major job recruitment fairs are set to be held next month complementary to the call of the Espino Administration to prioritize job placements for Pangasinense workers.
Ferrer said on February 1 and 2, screening for hotel and restaurant management workers for both male and female will be conducted at PESO office located in Kalantiao building within Capitol complex bound for Dubai.

MBSL: MC Adore sale ‘a done deal’

DAGUPAN CITY – With the winning bidder AMB ALC Holdings & Management
Corporation tendering to the city its full payment to acquire the MC
Adore properties yesterday, Mayor Benjamin S. Lim declares the selling
of the prime property as “a done deal”.

Lim, in an interview, said that the prime properties’ sale was
perfected when the auction winner firm through its Chief Finance
Officer Benjamin Ramos handed out to the prime properties’ award
committee its P108,371,700 balance check yesterday morning.