Teenage pregnancy rising in Pangasinan

By Yolanda Sotelo

LINGAYEN – Teen-age pregnancy is on the rise in Pangasinan, with around 2,000 girls who got pregnant last year, Provincial Health Officer Anna de Guzman said.
During the 6th Buntis Congress on August 29, at least 30 of the 465 women from Binmaley town were aged 16-19. The pregnant women availed of pre-natal care services offered by the provincial health office, municipal health offices and the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynocological Society-Region I chapter.
Two of the teenagers were aged 16, both of them unable to marry yet their live-in partners because of their age.
One girl from Pototan village is already seven months pregnant, courtesy of her 26-year old boyfriend, a construction worker. The girl, who is from Cavite, finished only the elementary grades when she came to the town, where her older sister also met her husband.
The other 16-year old soon-to-be-mother who comes from Isabela met her boyfriend, a 26-year old security guard, when she worked as a household helper in Binmaley.
“Sometimes I thought I should still be studying now, or enjoying myself. But this has happened so I can’t do anything anymore,” she said. She claims to have reached third year high school.
The two girls said they were promised marriage by their live-in partners and are able to avail of pre-natal services at the municipal health office of Binmaley.

Media Man Shot, Suspension of PTCFOR Blames

A reporter asked a politician why members of a council (it can either be of the town, city or province) stayed loyal to a sitting elective chief executive.
“What’s with the official?” he posed.
The politician tried to be civil in his answer how hypocrites are these members of the legislature.
But the straight and honest answer that I’ll tell you in the vernacular: Itong mga members ng council walang loyalty ang mga ito. Just like some members of the media, ang loyalty niyan ay sa pera primera. Kung saan ang pera doon sila nag i-ingratiate sa power-that-be. Gaya rin iyan ng mga members ng Congress, kung saan ang nagbibigay ng pork barrel doon ang mga congressmen at senators nagiging loyal lamang dahil sa pera. Without it, they go against the chief executive, by impeaching him or rejecting the bill he wants to be passed.
In that meeting I told a lawmaker who was part of a group who approved the multi million of pesos loan. “Magpa-inum kayo boss alam kong marami kayong pera as your share in approving the loan”.
“Wala pa ang pera galing sa banko. Pag andiyan na text ko kayo,” he told me and some media colleague.
Ganoon lang ang kalakalan sa LGU, ginigisa sa sariling mantika ang mga kawawang gullible na voters at residente na walang kaalam-alm. Hindi lang ang mayor ang dapat kumita (up to 30% of the loan or 50% if he owns the dummy contractors for the project.) dapat kumikita rin ang mga councilors, ng tag ka-kalahating million pesos or mahigit, na nag-aaproved.

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Look what did the suspension of permit to carry firearm outside residence (PTCFOR) had done in Pangasinan?
Recently, provincial broadcaster Orlando “Orly” Navarro, 54, was treacherously shot at his back when he was entering his house in Brgy. Pantal, Dagupan City.
But Navarro survived that frustrated dastardly assassination that ensued on the wee hour of August 26 as the slug the assassin pumped ensconced one-and-a-half from his heart.
As far as I know, Orly has a 9mm pistol he carried. But with President Benigno Aquino III ordering Philippine National Police Chief Director Alan Purisima to arbitrarily suspend the PTCFOR in the gargantuan province because a mayor friend was assassinated, criminals and would be criminals in Pangasinan have been emboldened to kill not only journalist but businessmen and other professionals who have threat in their lives.
The arbitrary and unlawful suspension, protested by the lawyers group in Pangasinan, does not pass deliberation and approval at the License Revocation and Restoration Board (LRRB) as mandated by Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms & Ammunition Law) has been claiming victims.
After businessman Raja Mirchandani, 35, owner of the Maya Emporium (who was shot early this month), Orly, and the countless of defenseless victims of assassination in Pangasinan, then who will be the next victim by the unrestrained hit men in the Pangalatok Land? Thanks, but no thanks to the stupidest act done by our leaders in our country in this ballyhooed suspension of the PTCFOR.
For my thorough discussion of the suspension of PTCFOR, you can accessed my article Naivete’ of P-Noy and Purisima : PTCFOR’s Arbitrary Suspension at http://wwwmortzcortigoza.blogspot.com/2014/07/naivete-of-p-noy-and-purisima-ptcfors.html.

Fernandez leads groundbreaking for new covered court

DAGUPAN CITY – A new gymnasium costing P4.9 million will soon rise at the East Central Integrated School (ECIS) in this city following groundbreaking rites last September 3.
Mayor Belen T. Fernandez led the groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of the construction of the multi-purpose covered court project which is part of the Local Government Unit’s initiative to improve school infrastructures in the city.
When completed, the facility will benefit some 2,000 students, including residents of both Barangays Herrero-Perez and Mayombo.
The 704 -square meter covered court would provide students a venue to gather and perform various school and extra-curricular activities. Residents can also use the facility for barangay events and recreational programs.
The flooring of the gymnasium will be elevated by almost one meter just above the flood level so that it can be used even during the flood season.
Dr. Renyardo Barozo, ECIS principal, expressed his gratitude to the local government for providing the students with a modern facility that will serve as a “show window” not just for the school but also for the whole community.

CITY’S STAKEHOLDERS WELCOME DEVELOPMENT OF PANTAL AND LUCAO AS NEW GROWTH CENTERS

DAGUPAN CITY – Real property owners along the De Venecia Expressway from Pantal to Lucao expressed their support to the plan and vision of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez to develop their areas as additional growth center in a bid to expand opportunities in the city and improve the quality of life of its people.
The property owners endorsed the plan seeking to make Dagupan a very competitive city when they attended a consultation meeting at the City Museum last September 3.
Fernandez disclosed that the concept is to make Dagupan a nice place to live, work and play as the city is envisioned to become the core area in business, commerce, recreation, leisure and entertainment.
“These new growth areas will be very convenient to every Dagupeños and investors, which are in line with our vision of making our place as the emerging competitive city in terms of government, business, commerce, infrastructure and higher quality of life,” Fernandez said.
Based on the plans, Barangay Pantal will be the future commercial and business district as well as a government center where a new city hall is set to rise, while Barangay Lucao will be the future entertainment and recreation district where hotels, resorts, food and dining restaurants are proposed to be built.
Lucao will also be the location of a ferry terminal that will be constructed, where the boats servicing the city’s Island Tours will be moored and where they wait for passengers especially tourists to board.
“The Island Tour will soon be our symbolic structure which will identify Dagupan,” Fernandez said.