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LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The second edition of the PangaSINE Film Festival is on, and organizers are calling on all Filipino filmmakers to submit their entries for both narrative and documentary.

With the theme, “Our Hopes and Dreams Across the Regions,” the film festival this year is open to all Filipino filmmakers. Interested filmmakers can now submit their entries.

Entries must not exceed 15 minutes and could have dialogues in any language.

Entries must also have English subtitles if the dialogue is not in English. Films should be original and not in violation of any copyright.

From the entries, organizers will shortlist only 10 films, and selected filmmakers will be required to provide a high-resolution copy of their film, trailer, poster, and other pertinent requirements.

The filmmakers of the 10 shortlisted films will be notified on March 28 via email.

The PangaSINE is a brainchild of Pangasinan First Lady Maan Tuazon Guico and was officially launched on April 6, 2024.

A culture and arts project that aimed to transform the province into a film hub, the PangaSINE Film Festival also features filmmaking workshops that will help enrich local talents.

More than 100 filmmakers from the various towns of the province joined the three-day workshop last year.

Prominent personalities from the film industry, like National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik as well as Baby Ruth Villarama, Edward Delos Santos Cabagnot, Moira Lang, Zig Dulay, Richard Dico Cawed, Jay Halili, and Jonathan Q. Hee, were guests during the maiden staging.

‘Sine by the Sea’,  an exhibition of films by Pangasinense filmmakers was held at the Capitol Beachfront, culminating last year’s edition.

(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN An executive of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. or PhilHealth, commended the province’s GUICONSULTA (Government Unified Incentives for Medical Consultations) and urged other provinces to emulate it.

PhilHealth Vice President for Region 1 Dennis B. Adre said in an interview recently that GUICONSULTA is a commendable program that other provinces should replicate and make it as a model project.

“We have been coordinating with our head office to study and evaluate the Pangasinan Business Model and probably adopt and turn it into a policy,” Adre said.

Adre said that Philhealth has been trying to influence policy with actual good practice.

“What we see in Pangasinan, we hope, will be replicated by all the other provinces,” he said adding that Pangasinan is the first to provide counterpart services.

The GUICONSULTA, a legacy project of Gov. Ramon V. Guico III, was launched in 2024 and aimed to initially enroll at least two milion Pangasinenses.

“The intention is to seek out the 3.2 million population of Pangasinan, get them enrolled into Konsulta and get them to avail of the free services of PhilHealth-accredited facilities, “ Adre stated.

He added that the province’s GUICONSULTA is indeed a welcome development for PhilHealth as it complements the latter’s program by helping them promote the availment of actual services by the members.

Konsulta is an outpatient program of the PhilHealth which started in 2020.

“In Pangasinan, we have started negotiating with the province to engage as a whole provincial health network. But we started out by accrediting individual rural health units of the 48 municipalities. Now, they’re organized as one provincial health network,” he said.

Moreover, Adre said that the capitation worth P1,700 is being paid to the partner accredited facilities to include the 14 hospitals operated by the provincial government for actual services or outpatient services rendered.

The Philhealth VP said the P1,700 capitation goes to the members’ laboratory fees. It is also used for maintenance medicines of the members to include antibiotics, anti-diabetes, and hypertension medicines which is in contrary to what detractors claimed about reimbursements
“In the case of Pangasinan, they have come up with an 80-20 sharing scheme which is provided for in a memorandum of agreement signed by and among the 48 municipalities and cities,” he said.

He added that 80 percent is being held in trust by the province in a special health fund as contained in a resolution. On the other hand, the 20 percent goes directly to the LGUs.

In lauding the scheme, Adre said : “What’s striking about the plans of what we call the Pangasinan Business Model is the intention to invest in infrastructure among others.

They intend to invest it into an Apex Hospital. And they intend to upgrade the existing facilities the province to meet the needs of all our members.”

As to the P300 being given by the provincial government to enrollees, Adre said it did not come from PhilHealth but from the coffers of the province.

“As of now PhilHealth has not been able to pay for that purpose. Our engagement with them as one whole provincial health network, we have not been able to give even a peso,” he stated.

GUICONSULTA was launched by the province as a counterpart service to Philhealth’s Konsulta program.

Expensive diagnostic procedures like mammogram, for example, is included in the free services along with other laboratory services.

(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Twenty-one candidates for the Limgas na Pangasinan 2025 were presented to the media to determine who among them will be the Darling of the Press last Sunday at the Sison Auditorium here that will actually and officially start the quest.

Local media personalities were able to interview the candidates in the question-and-answer portion and voted on who will be this year’s darling of the press.

The candidates were joined by their respective mayor and tourism officer or representative.

Pageant executive chair, Pangasinan First Lady Maan Tuazon Guico, encouraged the ladies to give their best shot and represent the province with utmost honor and pride.

“Limgas holds a special place in my heart. We have continued to provide Pangasinense women with the opportunity to empower themselves in government units and in our province. In fact, our winners are the official representatives of our province to various national beauty pageants showcasing the talent and pride of Pangasinan,” Mrs. Guico said.

Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino, who delivered the welcome message, was joined by his wife, Atty. Melanie Lambino.

“Limgas is not just a presentation of beauty, not just about brains, but also the capacity of a woman to represent the beauty and strength as well as the capacity of the province of Pangasinan,” the vice governor stated.

The 21 Limgas na Pangasinan candidates are: 1) Reign Joy C. Lim (Bayambang); 2) Kayzee Chasta P. Brillo (Umingan); 3) Leinahtan L. Sarmiento (San Carlos City); 4) Kyla S. De Leon (Basista); 5) Xyza Nicole S. Aguilar (Mangaldan); 6) Louise Anne A. Vergara (San Manuel); 7) Cheska T. Donato (Bugallon); 8) Grace Jineah C. Lumague (Pozorrubio); 9) Clarisse C. Borbe (Alcala); 10) Liannah Jermayne L. Mangosong (Asingan); 11) Felicity C. Mamplata (Lingayen); 12) Krysha R. Villanues (Binalonan); 13) Marianne Jinnah F. Nandin (Balungao); 14) Chelsea Mae M. Oranza (Malasiqui); 15) Alannis Sophia Melarne F. Hiidge (Sual); 16) Ma Julianne Vernice F. Nandin (Rosales); 17) Venus B. Sawaysaway (Dasol); 18) Freda V. Rosario (Labrador); 19) Angelica Joy B. Flores (Sta. Barbara); 20) Claire Arwen V. Cacal (Calasiao); 21) Rosemarie O. Ernang.

The top three winners will automatically represent Pangasinan in national beauty tilts.

Preliminary competition will be held on April 13, while the much-awaited Grand Coronation Night will be on April 25.

Last year’s winners were also present during the press presentation.

(Ruby F. Rayat/Krizzia Mamaril PIMRO)

LINGAYEN PANGASINAN – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has commended the province for its comprehensive climate resilience strategies and integrated approach to environmental sustainability as well as disaster preparedness and risk reduction.

Amazed with the commitment of the provincial government and the 44 municipalities, CCC executive director Robert A. E. Borje said that “Pangasinan’s commitment to disaster risk preparedness is commendable, as reflected in its 100 percent Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) submission.”

“When we talk about hazards, exposure, vulnerability and capacity, we must see them not just as challenges but as part of a strategic game plan, an investment in community resilience,” he said.

The CCC earlier visited the province where all 44 municipalities submitted their LCCAP, which was a manifestation that the province seriously takes into consideration all matters concerning environmental protection and risk management. Borje and his staff were later toured around Pangasinan including the mangrove park in Alaminos City.

There, Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) head Ret. Col. Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro presented the province’s key initiatives including Project PARAAN which is a risk assessment survey that evaluates community vulnerability to natural hazards.

The Green Canopy program, a legacy project of Gov. Ramon Guico III was also presented.
Panel discussion was conducted in which topics include the province’s upcoming plan to establish the Estanza Native Tree Nursery and Project Kasilyas.

Known as a strategist and extensive planner, Gov. Guico has vowed to heighten the province’s environment and climate change mitigating programs.

With the support of local leaders along with other national line agencies, Gov. Guico expressed optimism that Pangasinan will eventually become disaster prepared.

“No stone is left unturned in our disaster risk reduction management. Like many other provinces in the Philippines, Pangasinan is often hit by harsh realities of typhoons, floods and earthquakes. The Provincial Administration has taken significant efforts to make sure that we are prepared to protect our people from natural and even man-made disasters,” Gov. Guico earlier said. (Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has cited the province along with 42 of its 44 municipalities and four cities as good financial housekeepers for the year 2024.

The DILG’ Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH), formerly the Seal of Good Housekeeping, recognized the province for its compliance of the local government unit (LGU) with accounting and auditing standards, rules and regulations to include obtaining either an Unqualified or Qualified Commission on Audit (COA) Opinion for the immediately preceding year.

Full compliance with the Full Disclosure Policy on local budget and finances, bids, and public offerings are also included.

The GFH showcases the commitment of LGUs to financial transparency, accountability, and sound public fund management.

“This recognition highlights the dedication of these LGUs in ensuring that government resources are effectively utilized for the benefit of their communities. The achievement underscores the importance of adhering to financial best practices in local governance,” the DILG said.

Gov. Ramon Guico III in receiving the recognition said: “We are grateful to the DILG for awarding the Province of Pangasinan with the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping, along with 42 of our 44 municipalities and 4 cities. Transparency, integrity and accountability in financial management is the hallmark of excellence in local governance.”

He added: ” They are indispensable litmus tests. This is proven in tangible results. The high performance of the Provincial Government in multiplying its revenues outside of the National Tax Allocation like in quarrying taxes and real estate and other property taxes, to name just a few, demonstrates that unprecedented growth can be achieved with genuine concern, first – rate competence, and creative commitment.”

He also thanked provincial officials led by Vice Gov. Mark Lambino as well as executives and employees.

The municipalities that passed are Agno, Aguilar, Alcala, Anda, Asingan, Balungao, Bani, Basista, Bautista, Bayambang, Binalonan, Bolinao, Bugallon, Burgos, Calasiao, Dasol, Infanta, Labrador, Laoac, Lingayen, Mabini, Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Mangatarem, Mapandan, Natividad, Pozorrubio, Rosales, San Fabian, San Jacinto, San Manuel, San Nicolas, San Quintin, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Sison, Sual, Tayug, Urbiztondo and Villasis.

DILG I further said that 126 out of the region’s 129 LGUs successfully passed the GFH 2024 certification.

(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN – Governor Ramon V. Guico III recently led the groundbreaking of a hemodialysis center in the Bayambang District Hospital (BDH), the third such facility in the province.

The said facility is the third of after the one in Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) in Bolingit, San Carlos City and the Western Pangasinan District Hospital (WPDH) in Alaminos City, which opened just recently.

The local government is also eyeing a fourth such facility at the Lingayen District Hospital compound.
Gov. Guico has earlier said that all district hospitals will each have a hemodialysis center.

“The Bayambang District Hospital is one of the more blessed hospitals because you are situated in (a) very progressive town (like) Bayambang and this hospital is blessed with (a) large space,” the governor said in a mix of Filipino and English.

He further vowed that more development projects will be implemented to modernize all the 14 government-run hospitals in Pangasinan.

After the groundbreaking, the governor led the blessing of hospital equipment that include 32-slice CT-scan, ultrasound machine, stationary and portable X-ray machines.

“What we have here is a testament to the commitment of this administration to further improve and better the lives of everyone,” Vice Gov. Mark Ronald DG. Lambino who came with the governor said.

Meanwhile, BDH Chief Tracy Lou T. Bitoy thanked the present administration for prioritizing health program and for giving importance to the sick and poor Pangasinenses whose only hope is to rely on the government for free medical services.

“It is both an honor and a privilege to welcome you all to this momentous event. This is a significant milestone dito sa ating ospital,” Dr. Bitoy said.

Present during the ceremonies were Team AGuiLa members led by former Bayambang Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, First District Congressman Arthur F. Celeste, ABONO Partylist Representative Robery Raymund “Eskimo” M. Estrella, Third District Board Members Shiela F. Baniqued and Vici C. Ventanilla.

(Ruby F. Rayat, Photos by JP De Vera/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN – This province is ready to start the second phase of construction of the Umingan Super Community Hospital in time for its completion and start of operation in the last quarter of 2025.

Governor Ramon V. Guico III made the announcement after a site ocular inspection last March 2, that Phase 1 of the project has been completed.

“The fit-out, the air-conditioning, ceiling, painting, the floor works, the doors, basically, the building is finished,” he said.

He added that after completing Phase 2, the provincial government will be proposing a Phase 3 for the fit-out of equipment.

Gov. Guico said equipment for the super community hospital will include two elevators, diagnostic equipment, and other facilities to be used in the hospital.

“Our target is to make the hospital functional in 2025,” he declared.

The provincial government is spending P200 million for the hospital, much bigger than other community hospitals, which made Gov. Guico say that the facility will serve as a model for the next community hospitals in the province.

One of Gov, Guico’s goals in running for governor is to modernize all government-operated hospitals in Pangasinan – construct the structures, improve the facilities and install state-of-the-art equipment.

The 55-bed capacity super hospital situated in a four-hectare property with a Level 1 accreditation will be equipped with modern equipment like CT (computed tomography) scan, X-ray, and diagnostic devices.

The construction of the facility is the first township project of the present administration.

Gov. Guico said that a transport terminal, a commercial area with modern stalls and a social hall will be constructed nearby.

Once operational, the hospital will greatly help the sick less-fortunate residents of the 6th congressional district of Pangasinan and those from nearby localities.

The existing community hospital near the municipal hall in Brgy. Poblacion, in Umingan is a 15-bed capacity facility that caters to only about 50 patients. (Ruby F. Rayat/Krizia Mamaril PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN – Governor Ramon V. Guico III will continuously care for persons with disability (PWDs) in Pangasinan by seeking generous partners to provide needed support for them.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) head Annabel Roque, said some 125 PWDs – 73 in 2023 and 52 last year- were given prosthesis by the Kapampangan Development Foundation, Inc. (KDFI), while more than PhP5 million worth of resource mobilization project was allotted in two years.

The provincial government provides technical assistance and referral to PWDs requesting prosthesis through the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office of the PSWDO.

To further help the PWDs, Gov. Guico late last year opened the country’s first Prosthesis and Orthosis Center and Mobile Clinic at the Lingayen District Hospital (LDH) here.

Prior to the unveiling of Gov. Guico’s legacy project, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between the province and Physicians for Peace Philippines in November last year.

“Congratulations to LDH, the province of Pangasinan, and of course Physicians for Peace Philippines for this landmark project. It’s going to be the first mobile prosthetics and orthotics facility in the whole Philippines,” Gov. Guico said during the unveiling ceremony.

The project was realized through the initiative of the governor’s mother,. Arlyn Grace Guico, a doctor.

(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN – -Barely one year old and the Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC), the first-ever tertiary institution run by the provincial government, is continuously gaining international partnerships.

The PPC strengthened its international tie-up with the Globarx Philippines to reinforce education, internship programs and job placements for its students in Japan when it signed a memorandum of agreement with the firm through its founder and CEO, Kenta Morinaga.
Globarx Philippines, in its Facebook page says it is to “support foreign professionals who want to find a job or switch careers in Japan.”

In signing the MOA, PPC President Prof. Raymundo D. Rovillos said the partnership focuses on industry-academia programs to include Japan-government-funded donation courses which are offered through PPC in partnership with Japanese government agencies and companies.

Rovillos, formerly the University of the Philippines Baguio chancellor, said those initiatives are basically aimed to equip PPC students with pivotal technical skills and help them explore career opportunities with Japanese firms, both in the Philippines and Japan.

Aside from specializing in recruiting foreign talent, Globarx also supports employment of international students, provides online Japanese language training, and offers consulting services related to foreign recruitment as well.

Earlier, PPC had gathered support from international foundations such as the Lotte Scholarship Foundation which awarded scholarships to some 80 Pangasinense students including 20 PPC scholars.

PPC has likewise strengthened international collaboration by participating in the 2024 Indigeneity and Landscape Analysis Workshop held in Taiwan last December. The event was organized by National Chengchi University (NCCU) in collaboration with the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency and the Nanzhuang Saisiat PalaSan Cooperative.

Said workshop was participated in by delegates from higher education institutions (HEIs) and organizations in the Philippines and international instittutions such as the Hongkong Polytechnic University, the Toyama University (Japan), and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States.

It is also set to sign a MOA with NCCU to strengthen the partnership.
The PPC is more than just a campaign promise, but a legacy project of Governor Ramon V. Guico III intended to fulfill the dream of every poor Pangasinense family to have at least one college graduate/professional in their household (Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO, Photo PPC)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN – Gov. Ramon V. Guico III led provincial officials here Thursday in the groundbreaking ceremony to start construction of two iconic projects- within the Capitol Complex.

Gov Guico, Vice Governor Mark Lambino, some members of the provincial board, and department heads officially now look forward to the start of construction of the 1,500-seater Convention Center and the 11-storey Government Center and Tower.

“We have to give credit to the people who also played a big role in making all of these happen. To our department heads and employees of our Provincial Capitol, thank you very much,” he said with FADZ Construction, Inc. President and CEO Nathaniel Mariano as witness.

The two projects are part of the Capitol Redevelopment Project, a legacy project of the Guico administration aimed to spur economic and tourism development in Pangasinan.

With the battle cry ‘Pangasinan, Ang Galing!, Guico added: ‘We are laying the foundation and planting the seeds for the near future and for the far future. So, I think this administration will make it smart as the builder of the excellent and new Pangasinan. That’s what we want to happen.”

“When Team FADZ designed this building (Government Center/Tower), we started with the conventional foundation. Then, as we progressed, when we conducted soil testing and soil analysis, we realized that we need to change the design…the so-called spread footing or mat footing. But the structural engineers said they consulted a lot because we have to ensure the integrity and the safety of the structure,” said Gov. Guico, who wants to see Pangasinan “starting from Lingayen, the Singapore of the North.”

The provincial government in 2023 entered into a P6 billion Omnibus term loan from the Land Bank Philippines to fund priority development projects.

Of said amount,  PhP4.3 billion was earmarked for projects within the Capitol grounds.

Some PhP1.8 billion of which is earmarked for the construction of the government center that will house provincial government and national government agencies offices.

Another  PhP500 million has been allocated for additional improvements at the Provincial Capitol Complex. The province will also establish a PhP500 million corporate center to house businesses and commercial spaces aimed to stimulate local economic activity.

Gov. Guico said that  PhP758 million will be utilized for health projects and other big-ticket undertakings for the province. The remaining PhP700 million will be used for land acquisition and construction of other support facilities.

With the redevelopment of the Capitol Complex, the governor assured that the historic Capitol building will remain untouched and will remain as Pangasinan’s main heritage site. (Ruby F. Rayat/Photo by Gian Carlo Milanes/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN — The provincial government on Thursday paved the way of bringing in sustainable tourism projects with the groundbreaking and signing of a memorandum of agreement for the construction of the Pangasinan Tourism Rest Area at the Capitol grounds here with the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

Gov. Ramon V. Guico III, DoT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, and TIEZA Assistant Chief Operations Officer Gregory A. Oller signed the MOA after the groundbreaking ceremony of the tourism facility that will serve as a convergence point where foreign and local visitors could get information on tourism sites, attractions, how to get to those places and accommodations in Pangasinan.

Gov. Guico, in thanking the DOT and the TIEZA for the project, said that the province has already lined up several game-changing tourism projects for Pangasinan.

Gov. Guico said tourism projects are on deck, including the ongoing redevelopment of the Capitol Complex, which includes a more than 200-meter reflective pool and interactive fountain located at the back of the Capitol building.

“This will also complement the projects of our honorable congressman Mark Cojuangco, him prioritizing flooding, accessibility, and issues in this area. And the Capitol is making plans that will boost the tourism and make it more convenient for our visitors to visit the Capitol Complex,” Gov. Guico said.

Gov. Guico said that other projects in the Capitol area are the construction of the 11-storey provincial capitol plaza that will house local and national government offices, a 300-room hotel, and a convention center that had already started (Phase 1); the establishment of ferry boat rides from the Limahong Channel here to the Hundred Islands in Alaminos City; and improved parking in the vicinity of the Minor Basilica of Manaoag, which is visited by around five to eight million pilgrims annually, among others.

The MOA states that TIEZA will fund the construction, the DOT will monitor and evaluate the project, and it will turn over the same to the province once construction is finished (Ruby F. Rayat, JP De Vera/PIMRO).