LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The health reform program for Pangasinan visualized by Governor Ramon V. Guico III is expected to be bolstered with international collaborations.
This developed after Pangasinan contingents composed of various department officials and medical experts of the provincial government led by Provincial Administrator Melicio F. Patague II conferred with officers and administrators of the Stanford Hospital during a two-day official visit that started on November 7 in California, USA.
“We are dreaming of international collaboration for the improvement of the healthcare system in the province,” PA Patague said.
The meeting, organized by the United Pangasinanes in America, is part of the province’s benchmarking activities, which included educational discussions with the Urban Planning Council of Daly City, California.
Under Gov. Guico’s stewardship, the province’s health program was improved not just in terms of hospital facilities and equipment but with the technical know-how of the province’s healthcare providers.
Recently, the provincial government launched the GUICOnsulta project with an initial fund of P300 million.
Governor Guico is committed to fulfilling his goal of enrolling the whole Pangasinan population and make the province a haven for the healthiest populace.
As an added assistance, the provincial government has started granting cash incentives to residents who will avail of the program.
“Wala ng dahilan para hindi tayo magpa-check up for the preventive health care program of the province dahil dalhin niyo lang po sila sa mga ospital natin at sa mga barangay health station o mga RHU ng mga munisipyo at siyudad, bibigyan po namin sila ng pangkain at ng kanilang pamasahe. Hindi na po dahilan na hindi kami pwedeng magpa-check up dahil wala akong pamasahe at wala kaming pangkain,”
Lingayen, Pangasinan—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan has approved the 7.1 billion budget of the province for 2025.
Governor Ramon V. Guico III expressed deep appreciation to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino as well as the department heads for their all-out support.
“Let me just highlight that this annual budget, aside from being the first time that we have reached this amount, is mostly the result of the professional management of our provincial government,” Governor Guico said.
The approved 2025 Annual Budget amounting to PhP 7,100,312,215.00 showed a significant increase compared to the P5,729,765,891.00 budget of 2024 with a remarkable difference of P1,370,546,324.00.
The Provincial Board, in its regular session on October 28, approved the 2025 Annual Budget under Appropriation Ordinance No. 5-2024, an ordinance enacting the general fund annual budget for the operation of the provincial government of Pangasinan from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
Based on the comparative data report, the National Tax Allocation(NTA) of P4,969,145,891.00 in 2024, rose to P5,899,987,215.00 for 2025.
As to other sources, the record shows that from P760,620,000.00 in 2024, it increased to P1,200,325,000.00 for 2025.
Meanwhile, the summary of appropriations includes Personal Services (features Implementation of the Salary Standardization Law VI (SSL of 2024), Anniversary Bonus and Medical Allowance); Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses; Capital Outlay and Special Purpose Appropriation (the full provisions of budgetary requirements pursuant to Section 324 of the Local Government Code), to wit: 5% LDRRMF amounting to 350,015,611.00; 20% Development Fund amounting to P1,179,997,443.00; and Other SPA in the amount of P1,283,306,831.00.
The total of which represents 39.62% of the total proposed budget, which will go directly to the priority development or results-oriented programs, projects, or activities embodied in the Annual Investment Program for CY 2025.
The annual budget likewise includes estimated expenditures by sector as follows: general services: P2,680,755,275.00 (37.75%); social services: P3,032,256,191.00 (42.71%); Economic Services: P1,387,300,749.00 (19.54%) for a total of P 7,100,312,215.00.
It has been the thrust of Gov. Guico and his administration to increase the revenue of the province.
Attuned to said thrust, Gov. Ramon V. Guico III said during the Budget Hearing on October 24 that the people of Pangasinan deserve no less than the best that such an impactful P7.1 billion was allocated for CY 2025 and further cited that this is the first time in the history of Pangasinan that such a budget has been proposed for the annual operation of the province.
“When we assumed office, the thrust of Gov. Guico and this administration was to increase the revenue not solely to be dependent on the National Tax Allocation (NTA) but more so, working our best to improve collections, proposed so many economic enterprises, efficiency in management, and, at the same time, empowering in the employees because we believe that for us to achieve all of these, we need the participation of each and every Pangasinense, every employee of the provincial Capitol, and that of our hospital system. Even the lowly employees play a big and crucial part in achieving all of these,” the governor added.
Earlier, the province’s Chief Executive also disclosed that part of the said approved budget will be for the establishment of a gnome center, the historic ‘first’ for Pangasinan, construction of an additional school building for Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC), construction and acquisition of new hospitals and more dialysis centers, and other infrastructure facilities.
Also, an increased budget for the corporate farming project as well as for the salt production project is taken onto priority in addition to the increased budget for PPC scholarship and the expansion of the healthcare system, notably the GUICOnsulta or the Government Unified Incentives for Medical Consultation, among others.
Gov. Guico also stated that his administration is investing heavily in the healthcare system in his firm belief that health is important and should be given focus.
Currently, the launch of a preventive healthcare system targets about two million of the population to enroll in PhilHealth’s Konsulta program through the GUICOnsulta of the province to address healthcare issues hounding Pangasinan and the entire country.
“This is an evidence that we are on the right track. Whatever commitment or promises that we have proposed tour provincemates, hindi po ito pangakong napapako. Ito po ay pangako that is tangible, concrete, and very achievable,” the governor said. (Chona C. Bugayong/Photo: JP de Vera)
