Month: July 2023

Lingayen, Pangasinan- The provincial government through the Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) has intensified its relief and rescue operation efforts after Typhoon Egay lashed Pangasinan.

This developed after Gov. Ramon V. Guico III through Acting Governor Mark Ronald DG Lambino, issued directives on July 25 to concerned agencies to provide needed assistance to municipalities affected by Egay to ensure the safety of the public.
In his message during the regular flag raising ceremony on July 31, PDRRMO Chief Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro hailed the various line agencies especially the First Responders for working alongside with them.

Oro said that they are closely monitoring the Pantal-Sinocalan which has affected some 52,000 families in Sta. Barbara, 82,000 in Calasiao and 90,000 in Dagupan City respectively.

As of press time, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) already distributed a total of 7,030 food packs while the province distributed a total of 2,825 food packs and 550 hygiene kits in different municipalities of the province.

Moreover, the provincial government likewise provided assistance to nearby provinces particularly Ilocos Norte by sending its Search and Rescue Team composed of eight 😎 personnel from PDRRMO WASAR Team and two (2) AFP to help its residents.

The Search and Rescue team brought with them two (2) rubber boats and 150 hygiene kits among others.

Meanwhile, the province recently received P15 Million pesos from Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr as government assistance to Pangasinan.

Vice Gov. Lambino attended the ceremonial turnover of cheque and situation briefing on typhoon Egay in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

PDRRMO continue to issue public advisories, informations and updates.

(Chona C. Bugayong / Pangasinan PIO)

The Health and Wellness Club(HWC) in partnership with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO)spearheaded the 49th Nutrition Month celebration on July 28 at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center 1 (PTDC 1), Lingayen.

The event is anchored on the theme: “HEALTHY DIET gawing affordable FOR ALL.”

Aimed to engage consumers to support improvement in levels of diet quality towards sustainable health, this year’s nutrition month celebration also geared to generate participation of stakeholders at various levels on actions towards enabling access to affordable sustainable diets and call support for the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023 to 2028 as the framework for action to improve nutrition security.

Despite typhoon Egay, the provincial government through the HWC continue to provide essential health services.

“Sa panahong ito ay kailangan natin ang tamang nutrisyon dahil nagbabadya ang mga sakit lalong-lalo na ngayong tag-ulan,” Internal Auditor IV Louie F. Ocampo said.

In line with the Nutrition Month celebration, Ocampo took the opportunity to invite and encourage employees in all offices and hospitals through their respective focal persons to make every Thursday as ‘vegetable eating day.’

“Isipin natin na ang Huwebes ay araw ng gulay at magbigay tayo ng pagpupugay sa pagkain ng gulay para sa ikakalakas natin,” Ocampo further added.

Topics on healthy lifestyle for hypertensive and diabetic individuals were discussed.

Ligene T. Neri, Registered Nutritionist Dietician (PHO); Bea Freda L. Ramos, Nurse I, Healthy Lifestyle for Hypertensive and Diabetic Patient (PHO) and Roxanne C. Aquino, Nutritionist/Dietician of the Mangatarem District Hospital were among the Resource Speakers.

Zumba highlighted the activity.

In closing, Human Resource Management and Development Officer Janette C. Asis thanked the attendees. (Chona C. Bugayong/Pangasinan PIO)

To achieve a ‘safe and secure public order and emergency first response in the province,’ the Pangasinan provincial board in its regular session on July 24, approved a resolution for the integration of Pangasinan 911 and One Response Command Center.

Said project is supported by a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to be signed by Governor Ramon V. Guico III and among the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-Philippine Army, Philippine National Police-Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, Bureau of Fire Protection Provincial Office.

Authored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Member Vici Ventanilla, the resolution disclosed that the previous passage of Provincial Resolution No. 189-2023 established the Pangasinan Safety and Emergency Response, Command, Control and Communications (PASER C3) Center as the province’s “emergency 911 hotline center” is designed to ensure public safety and security, maintain public order and respond promptly to emergency situations in the province.

As such, the PASER C3 expanded its service to the community through the 1Response Command Center (1RCC) team composed of Pangasinan Hospital Management Service Office (PHMSO), Provincial Health Office (PHO), Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), Provincial Agriculture Office (PAgO) and Provincial Government-Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO).

To fully implement its mandate, the resolution stated “the Provincial Government of Pangasinan deemed it necessary to establish strategical checkpoints and to create 1st Responder Team” composed of multi-sectoral offices as identified.

The MOA to be signed and entered to is in harmony with the laws, rules and regulations mandated in Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan.

(Ruby R. Bernardino/Pangasinan PIO)

To address the flood risk in Pangasinan, Governor Ramon V. Guico III is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation, Incorporated (CDPFI) for the implementation of the ‘Scaling Across Integrated Risk Management at National and Local Levels (SAIL) Project.”

This developed after the provincial board led by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino approved in its regular session on July 24 a resolution binding the partnership of the provincial government and the CDPFI.

As stated in the approved resolution, the CDPFI has chosen the province as the strategic starting point to introduce the ridge-to-reef approach in disaster risk reduction and management.

“Using the ridge-to-reef approach and landscape-wide/river basin modelling, the project will put focus on comprehensive and integrated risk governance through conservation, sustainable management, and restoration of natural ecosystems to increase the resilience of the Agno River Basin communities against the impacts of climate change and natural hazards common and affecting the localities,” the resolution said.

The municipalities of Alcala, Bautista, Bugallon, Lingayen, Mangatarem, Rosales, Urbiztondo, and San Carlos City are the main partners of the provincial government and the CDPFI in the implementation of the SAIL project.

“It is more important than ever for the province to invest in disaster risk reduction management like the SAIL project in order to have a safe, resilient and developed communities,” the resolution which was authored by Board Member Vici Ventanilla stated.

The Agno River which has one of the largest river basins in the country, runs across a catchment area of 5,952 square kilometers within the province. The lower basin runs through several flood prone municipalities including San Manuel, San Nicolas, Tayug, Asingan, Sta. Maria, Rosales, Villasis, Sto Tomas, Alcala, Bautista, Bayambang, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, part of San Carlos City, Aguilar, Bugallon, Lingayen , and Labrador.

Schedule of activities for the implementation of the project is from October 2022 to September 2025.

(Ruby R. Bernardino/Pangasinan PIO)

Lingayen, Pangasinan–Governor Ramon V. Guico III inducted on July 14 the new set of officers of the Health and Wellness Club composed of provincial government employees.

This year’s composition of the inducted officers was led by Sonia Yao as President and was joined by Jemma O. Fernandez and Joenard E. Manuel – Vice President; Melanie C. Fernandez – Secretary; Eduardo “EJ” L. Sorio – Treasurer; Jennifer Lamsen- Auditor; Leilani C. Torio – P.R.O; Jennifer C. Melendez – Business Manager; Jerome U. Joves – Immediate Past President; and the Council of Advisers Janette C. Asis,Human Resource Management and Development Officer (HRMDO); Louie F. Ocampo, Internal Auditor; and Janet S. De Vera (PPDO).

Gov. Guico urged the club officers to take the lead by setting good examples in promoting healthy lifestyle in their respective offices. “Ako, ang gusto ko malusog ang workforce natin. Let’s go healthy for the next several years so we can all be productive,” the governor said.

Part of the promotion of healthy lifestyle among employees are various activities conducted regularly such as free medical consultation/check-ups, beauty healthcare, zumba among others.

Others who also took their Oath of Office were the Chairpersons of the different committees, Jovelyn Nazarita and Maria Catalina Judy C. Martin – Social Works and Outreach Program; Madonna C. Mendoza – Partners & Exhibitors; Romeo Montemayor, Jr. -Physical Activities/Sports; Karen Ler Tandoc – Ways & Means; May Roly Clarise Tadeo – Medical and Physical Check-up; Joan Paulyn Patron – Beauty Care and Wellness; Evelyn Jimenez – Health Education; Helen Grace Ramirez – Social Program and Activities; Louie F. Ocampo, Jesusa Lagota, Alberto Escano Jr., Francis Soriano, Emmanuel Cruz Jr and Winda Tamondon – Administrative and Support.

Meanwhile, Human Resource Management Development Officer Janette Asis disclosed that the newly-elected officers will continuously implement and improve the services of the club.

Joining the governor in the oathtaking rites were Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG Lambino, Provincial Administrator Milecio Patague II and Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Baby Ruth Torre. (Chona C. Bugayong/Pangasinan PIO)

Lingayen, Pangasinan-The provincial government of Pangasinan through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist conducted the KADIWA ng Pangulo (KNP) on July 17 at the Capitol Compound in Lingayen with some 43 participating exhibitors.

This is in support to the simultaneous conduct of KNP in 81 provinces and 16 cities nationwide.

Despite the unfavorable weather condition, employees and consumers trooped in to avail of various agri-fishery products which were sold at a cheaper price. This includes the NFA rice priced at P25.00/kilo limited, however, to three kilos per consumer.

Bernie G. Trinidad, Market Specialist II of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Regional Field Office I expressed gratitude to the provincial government headed by Gov. Ramon V. Guico III for supporting the advocacy, programs, projects and activities of the Department of Agriculture for the betterment of the Agriculture sector and fisherfolks.

The KNP is part of the Marcos administration’s campaign on food security which serves as a market linkage facilitation that enable farmers to sell directly to consumers in an aim to make agri-fishery products accessible at affordable prices.

“We have invited the NFA upang ang kanilang murang bigas ay maihatid sa ating mga consumers for today,” Trinidad said.

Said activity was held in collaboration with different agencies like the DSWD, DTI, DOLE and DILG.

(Chona C. Bugayong / Pangasinan PIO).

LINGAYEN–The Provincial Government of Pangasinan extended the temporary total ban in the entry to the province of live swine and poultry products from all cities and municipalities declared under red zone from July 1 to September 30.

Said extension of temporary total ban were officially declared through two separate Executive Orders (EOs)– EO No. 0058 and EO No. 0059 which were signed by Governor Ramon V. Guico III on June 23.

Recent data of the Bureau of Animal Industry showed that there were reported cases of African Swine Flu (ASF) in the province, specifically, in the towns of Anda and Bolinao and in Alaminos City.

This prompted the provincial government to immediately address the issue by extending the temporary total ban for three months of live swine/pigs, pork and by-products.

Along with this, an order extended the temporary total ban on the entry of all ducks, quails, spent hens (culled), hatching eggs, pigeons, gamefowls, ready to lay pullet (RTL), and the restrictions on the movement of other poultry birds and by-products from the provinces of “ Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, Sultan Kudarat, Benguet, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Isabela, Quezon, Kalinga, Aurora, Ilocos Norte, Capiz and Batangas” was issued.

This measure, the EO said, will prevent the entry of the Avian influenza virus after reported cases in some nearby provinces were confirmed.

Under Section 1 of both EOs, it was disclosed that various necessary documentary requirements should be presented in the Animal Quarantine Checkpoints located in strategic areas in the province. This includes veterinary health certificate, BAI shipping permit, animal welfare registration certificate, certificate of disease-free status, handler’s license certificate of registration, transport carrier registration certificate, certificate of acceptance, among others.

It was also stated in both of the EOs that “all transhipments going to Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Abra, and Benget shall take the TPLEX Urdaneta Exit.”

“The State is mandated to protect and promote the right to health of the people under Article 2, Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, and LGUs are empowered to exercise necessary, appropriate and incidental powers for its efficient governance in promotion of general welfare, as provided by Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991,” the EO disclosed.

(Ruby R. Bernardino/Pangasinan PIO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN — To equip and enhance the knowledge and clinical skills of nurses in government hospitals, the provincial government will forge alliance with the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITMRC) for the implementation of Nursing Skills Training Program (NSTP) in the province.The partnership will be tied up by a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to be signed by Governor Ramon V. Guico III, Dr. Eduardo M. Badua III who heads the ITRMC, and Dr. Genevieve S. Rivera of the Bolinao Community Hospital which is the partner hospital.

Authored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Member Shiela Marie F. Baniqued which was approved during the regular session of the provincial board on July 10, the resolution noted that the training program will be conducted from June 2023 to December 2025.

As disclosed in the resolution, NSTP is a training program offered by the ITRMC to the province of Pangasinan which is comprised of various nursing specializations such as maternal skills training program, pediatric nursing skills training program, neonatal nursing competency enhancement program, and basic emergency and trauma nursing skills enhancement program.

Participants will be evaluated, monitored and supervised based on their performances.

The training program is free of charge.

(Ruby R. Bernardino/Pangasinan PIO)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — More Pangasinan babies may now go through hearing screening after the Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos Region donated newborn hearing screening machines to five Pangasinan government-run community hospitals.

The donation was part of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program for the prevention, early diagnosis, and intervention of hearing loss among infants and newborns, according to the DOH.

The Pangasinan government health facilities given the machines were the community hospitals in the towns of Bolinao, Umingan, Dasol, Manaoag, and Pozorrubio.

Similar machines were also donated to the Piddig District Hospital, and Doña Josefa Edralin Marcos District Hospital, both in Ilocos Norte province; and Ilocos Sur province’s district hospitals in the towns of Narvacan, Cervantes, and Salcedo.

The hearing screening devices are worth ₱412,500 each, including its handheld unit, cradle, carrying bag, probe cord, and thermal printer.

Dr. Dalvie Casilang, chief of the Pangasinan hospital management system office, said that the newborn hearing screening machines “mean so much and could spell a huge difference” in the lives of people who may have been born with hearing concerns.

“Through early detection, lives could change,” Casilang said.

Newborn hearing screening is a test to tell if a baby might have hearing loss.

“In Pangasinan, our commitment to improve the services in our hospitals does not end with passively waiting for donations. We have been proactive in identifying ways on how we can improve the availability of medical machines and equipment in our hospitals,” Casilang said.

“Gradually, we will expand the services available in our hospitals to better take care of our fellow Pangasinenses,” he added.

DOH Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco said that it was important for all infants to have hearing screening especially during their early development, because it can affect their ability to communicate effectively.

“Hearing is necessary in the speech development and mental growth of a child,” said Sydiongco.

DOH Assistant Regional Director Rodolfo Antonio Albornoz said that with newborn hearing screening units set up in various public health facilities in the region, it will now be possible to have a regional newborn hearing registry.

“This is to enable us to know how many infants have been screened, detected and treated. And from these data we can determine the number of newborns affected by hearing loss and we can provide them the immediate intervention and treatment,” Albornoz said.

Cyrus Jed Ramos, regional coordinator for newborn screening, said that a total of 16,884 infants had been screened from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.

“We are encouraging mothers of newborns to submit your child to hearing screening test to ensure their health and safety,” Ramos said.

(PangasinanPIO)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Bed capacity of the Lingayen District Hospital (LDH) will soon be increased from 40 to 100.

This developed after the Pangasinan Provincial Board or Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in its regular session on July 3, approved a resolution endorsing to the Department of Health (DOH) the application for a license to an increase of bed capacity of the LDH.

LDH is one of the 14 hospitals operated by the Provincial Government of Pangasinan. Along with the Mangatarem District Hospital, said health facility caters to patients from the different municipalities and other areas from nearby localities of the 2nd district of the province.

“Due to the improvement and rehabilitation work done in the hospital, it has recorded a significant increase in the number of patients who preferred to come to the hospital thereby its authorized bed occupancy has been exceeded,” the resolution authored by SP Members Shiela Marie F. Baniqued, Philip Theodore E. Cruz and Atty. Haidee S. Pacheco partly stated.

Quality and accessible health program is one of the main thrusts of the present administration to include improvement of the 14 government-operated hospitals.

“In line with the main thrusts of the present administration to have a mass-based health care program to accommodate all people especially the less fortunate sector of society, there is a need to support the plan of the Lingayen District Hospital to provide a sufficient and higher level of medical and health services to its patients by increasing its bed capacity from 40 to 100,” the resolution said. (Ruby R. Bernardino/Pangasinan PIO)