Author: pixelpgsnadmin

Lingayen, Pangasinan – Pangasinan Polytechnic College, the first college fully owned and run by a provincial government in the Ilocos region, will open on February 14.

Governor Ramon V. Guico III announced the good news during the regular flag-raising ceremony on Monday, January 29.

The governor expressed gratitude to the team members who were part of the establishment and the inception of PPC. He said the province is keen on pushing for quality and accessible education for Pangasinenses.

Offering free college education and vocational courses to qualified students in the province of Pangasinan, the establishment of PPC signifies the fulfillment of the current administration’s commitment to provide and secure a brighter future for Pangasinense youth.

The establishment of PPC was supported by Provincial Ordinance No. 300-2023, passed by the provincial board on June 26, 2023, and amended through Provincial Ordinance No. 314-2024, based on consultations and standards set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on January 22 of this year.

Gov. Guico stated that aside from academics and athletics, the value of spirituality should be given importance.

“I believe, as one of the rulers of the province and as a person, we should also give much weight to spiritual development,” he said.

It can be recalled that in his first year as provincial chief executive, the governor felt optimistic that with the institutionalization of local universities and colleges, or LUCs, many LGU-sponsored education institutions would succeed from their beginnings, just like what happened to the University of Eastern Pangasinan, which made Binalonan the “hub of education” in eastern Pangasinan.

“The Pangasinan Polytechnic University is not a business-as-usual transition. It is a mind-altering aspiration that will soon be translated into reality,” Gov.Guico earlier said.

Qualified students of PPC will receive a full scholarship, covering tuition and miscellaneous fees, provided they adhere to the terms of the contract.

Under the governor’s direction, three campuses will be established in the towns of Lingayen, San Carlos City, and in the eastern part of the province.

Dr. Raymundo Rovillos, former chancellor of the University of the Philippines Baguio, was named the inaugural president of the PPC, the first college fully owned and run by a provincial government in the Ilocos region.

(Ruby R. Bernardino & Chona C. Bugayong/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Pangasinan disclosed that cases of influenza virus, dengue fever, typhoid fever, and acute gastroenteritis covering the period from January 1 to 22, 2024, are lower compared to the same period in 2023.

Based on the report from various inter-local health zones (ILHZs) in the province, current typhoid cases decreased by 60%. The towns of Bayambang, Malasiqui, Pozorrubio, and Sta. Maria incurred one case each during the first 22 days of January 2024, while there were 10 reported cases last year covering the same period.

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi that is usually spread through contaminated food or water.

Surveillance data on influenza showed that cases last January 1–22, 2023, totaled 177, while 145 cases were reported during the same period in 2024. This shows a decline of 18%. Current data likewise discloses that Alaminos City has the highest number of cases with 29, followed by Lingayen Town with 17, and Binmaley with 10.

Influenza, also known as flu, is a contagious respiratory ailment caused by influenza viruses that can cause mild to severe illness and, at times, can lead to death if not treated.

An update on dengue recorded that 72 were afflicted from January 1–22, 2024, while 83 were recorded in the same period in 2023, thus translating to a 13% decrease. However, a single death was recorded involving an 11-year-old child from Binmaley town on January 9.

Dengue is a tropical disease caused by a virus caused by mosquitoes. The virus can cause fever, headaches, rashes, and pain throughout the body.

On acute gastroenteritis cases, the PHO noted a decrease of 23%. From January 1 to January 22, 2024, data showed 373 cases, while a total of 486 were reported in the same period in 2023. Included in the PHO current watchlist are the following: San Carlos City with 25 cases; Calasiao with 23; Lingayen with 20; Mangaldan with 17; Bolinao with 15; Bayambang with 14; and Dasol with 13.

Acute gastroenteritis is a disease that occurs when food or water is contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms such as Clostridium perfringens, Vibrio cholera, and E. coli. coli) or their toxins are consumed. Symptoms of the disease include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

The PHO warns the public to guard against illnesses by drinking enough water or fruit juices and by practicing proper hygiene, which includes regular hand washing.

(Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), in its regular session on January 22, approved an ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance Prescribing the Daily Wage Rate of Newly-Hired Job Orders and Individual Contract of Service Workers in the Provincial Government of Pangasinan.”

Authored by SP Member Jerry Agerico B. Rosario, the ordinance stated that “Section 12 (3), Chapter 3, Title 1 (A), Book of the Administrative Code of 1987 provides that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall promulgate policies, standards, and guidelines for the Civil service and adopt plans and programs to promote economical, efficient, and effective personnel administration in the government.”

Furthermore, the ordinance disclosed that CSC Resolution No. 020709 provides guidelines regarding the hiring of contract of services and job orders entered by all branches, subdivisions, instrumentalities, and agencies of the government, including government-owned and controlled corporations with original charters.

“CSC-COA-DBM Joint Circular No. 01, S.2017, Subject: Rules and Regulations Governing Contract of Service and Job Order Workers in the Government; and COA-DBM Joint Circular No. 2, s.2020, Subject: Updated Rules and Regulations Governing Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) Workers in the Government provide the rules and regulations pertaining to the engagement and the payment of the services of COS and JO workers in the government,” the ordinance cited.

Hence, the daily wage rate for newly-hired job orders and Individual Contract of Service Employees under three different categories is as follows: support (encoder, utility worker, driver, etc.): PhP 590.91; skilled: PhP 800.62; and professional: PhP 850.15.

As defined in the ordinance, skilled workers are those whose function requires special skill, knowledge, or ability performed by an individual with a certificate issued by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Workers whose function falls under Support, on the other hand, include janitorial workers, security guards, data encoders, equipment and ground maintenance, and other services that support the day-to-day operation of the agency, hospital, office, or department.

Professional workers are those whose functions fall within the normal scope of duties and services performed by a professionally qualified individual properly registered in terms of the defined scope of practice of a professional regulatory law that governs such a profession.

Ms. Janet C. Asis, Human Resource Management Officer, said that the prescribed wage rate for the skilled worker is equivalent to that of a salary grade 3 employee, while the professional worker has the same rate as that with a salary grade 4.

Based on the ordinance, which takes effect upon its approval, the HRMO shall be responsible in determining the category of the JO and COS workers based on their job descriptions. (Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—A US-based non-profit organization is set to grant the Provincial Government of Pangasinan (PGP) PhP3.3 million, or US $58,121 worth of fishery paraphernalia.

Winrock International, which is based in Arkansas, USA, is implementing the ‘Building Safe Agriculture Food Enterprises (B-SAFE)’ funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under its Food for Progress Program.

An in-kind grant agreement shall serve as the legal instrument for the implementation of the project. Hence, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), in its regular session on January 22, approved a resolution authorizing Governor Ramon V. Guico III to sign, receive, and implement the in-kind donation. Aaron Sundsmo, Winrock International’s Associate Vice President of Agriculture, Resilience, and Water, will likewise sign

“The program aims to help the Philippines increase agricultural productivity by improving the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) in the production and management of supply chains and expanding the trade of agricultural and food products,” the resolution authored by SP Member Nicholi Jan Louie Q. Sison stated.

Fishery paraphernalia will include 40 sets of seine nets (kalokor), 10 units of chest freezers, and various fish processing kits.

“The Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAgO), will be the lead agency in the implementation of the project with the objectives to further enhance harvest, production, and processing techniques and to strengthen the capacity of milkfish processors on food safety compliance for processing bangus to promote value-added,” the resolution stated. (Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)

Hosted by the Office of the Provincial Secretariat, 4th District Board Member Jerry Agerico Rosario has centered his value on excellence during the province’s regular flag-raising on January 22.

With this, BM Rosario urged employees to strive to be better workers and better leaders, despite the criticisms.

“We should educate ourselves; we should treat ourselves to become better at serving other people, especially us who are working in government. We get a lot of special privileges, and that comes with greater responsibilities,” he added.

In line with this, BM Rosario further said that as workers in the provincial government, employees are in a special position to be an influence to others. He further identified the qualities that contribute on how to become an influence to others, which include integrity, excellence, optimism, and placing one’s self in the place of other people.

By integrity, he said this is an act of doing what is right even when no one is looking, while optimism is being able to see positive things that may happen despite the negative events.

He also talked about putting oneself in the place of other people or thinking of the interests of others instead of their own.

In this context, Gov. Ramon V. Guico III and his team lead the province by example toward the path of attaining the vision and mission of the province.
Recalling his statement in the past, the governor said that we cannot go that far unless we do our task according to our best Filipino values.
“The provincial government may have the most impressive programs and projects, but unless we act at the right time, participate in earnest, work as a team, and do our task according to our best Filipino values, we will not go far, ” he said.

In support of the statement of the governor, leaders, as well as department heads, shared their respective value-focus to inspire provincial government workers.

(Chona C. Bugayong / PIMRO)

Lingayen, Pangasinan – Gov. Ramon V. Guico III, Vice Gov. Mark Ronald DG Lambino, 2nd District BM Philip Theodore Cruz, 2nd District BM Haidee Pacheco, and 2nd District Cong. Mark Cojuangco, represented by his Executive Assistant Dang A. Manaois, spearheaded the financial distribution to some 3,615 Civilian Volunteer Organizations (CVOs) in the 2nd District.

The distribution was undertaken in three separate venues, namely the Narciso Ramos Sports Civic Center (NRSCC), Provincial Training and Development Center (PTDC) 1, and PTDC II, on January 19.

The financial assistance provided for the frontliners is in recognition and appreciation of their vital contributions and services in maintaining peace and order in the community.

‘Bagama’t hindi ganun kalaki ang ating matatanggap, ito po ay simbolo at pasasalamat na rin ng ating lalawigan ng Pangasinan sa inyong serbisyo. Alam kong mababa ang honorarium at naisip natin na kahit papaano ay makatulong sa inyo,’ the governor said.

The second district of Pangasinan comprises the towns of Binmaley, Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Urbiztondo, Basista, Aguilar, and Mangatarem, respectively.

Showing their support for the province’s activities were Basista Mayor Jolly Resuello, Urbiztondo Mayor Modesto Operania, Mangatarem Councilor Harley Paragas, and Mangatarem Liga President Richard Palisoc.

(Chona C. Bugayong, Omar Cruz/PIMRO)

Umingan, Pangasinan—A P200 million worth state-of-the-art hospital will soon rise in Barangay Gonzales, Umingan, Pangasinan, following the time capsule laying and groundbreaking ceremony held on January 18.

Gov. Ramon V. Guico III and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, headed by Vice Gov. Mark Ronald DG Lambino, spearheaded the undertaking, with Umingan as the host LGU.

“This is just the start of our envisioned township/community project. Let’s claim it ,na accomplishment na natin ito,” the governor said.

The construction of Umingan Community Hospital, which will have a 55-bed capacity, is a component of the township project on a 4.5-hectare lot owned by the provincial government.

Apart from the hospital, Gov. Guico likewise looks forward to the construction of a transport terminal, a commercial area, a daycare center, a park, a social hall, and probably a housing component.

It will be a five-year program to modernize all 14 hospitals in the province; however, the governor is hopeful that it will be expedited.

“Narito na ang matagal na nating pangarap, 30 years ago na ang ating pagamutan, pero ngayon lamang natin makikita na matutupad na ang pangarap na mas maayos na hospital,” Dr. Tracy Lou Bitoy, Chief of Hospital-Umingan Community Hospital, said in her speech.

The provincial government-owned hospitals in the towns of Tayug, Lingayen, and Urdaneta City have also been considered a priority for modernization, considering their poor condition.

The Guico administration has placed health among its priority programs.

In line with this, Gov. Guico asked Provincial Administrator Melicio Patague II to assess all of the employees of the hospital and make thorough evaluations.

“Kawawa naman yong iba diyan. 30 years na, J.O. pa rin. Ang prinsipyo namin, nag-devote tayo ng buhay natin sa hospital, hindi man lang natikman maging casual o permanente. Yong deserving, we give them the opportunity to be permanent and part of the provincial organization,” he said.

The governor, together with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, is keen on laying down more gigantic programs beneficial to the province.

As reported by the governor, the groundbreaking of the Pangasinan Link Expressway is expected to be realized in March.

The Guico administration also sets its focus on other areas of concern, to wit:

Adopt a river project: SP has given the governor the authority to sign a MOA for all the rivers in Pangasinan. Said project is the best way to mitigate and address problems of flooding without cost to the province or the LGUs.

Housing program—one of the programs that the governor would highly recommend primarily to provide security and peace of mind.

Salt farm: after being taken over by the province, some 175,000 kilos of salt have already been harvested.

(Chona C. Bugayong,  Photos by Joey Olimpo/PIMRO)

Lingayen,Pangasinan—The Provincial Government of Pangasinan (PGP) will enter into terms of partnership with the Department of Health (DOH)-Center for Health Development 1, for the management and implementation of the Local Investment Plan for Health (LIPH) through the 2024 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) of the province.

LIPH is a medium-term public investment plan for health of local government units (LGUs) with a three-year strategic time frame that governs the health operations of the locality and health sector activities and guides how health system outcomes will be achieved with specific LGU, the DOH, and stakeholder actions.

As stated in a resolution sponsored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Shiela Marie F. Baniqued which was approved on January 15, “RA 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act of 2019 mandates the implementation of a health reform program in order to ensure that every Filipino is guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services and is protected against financial risks.”

In addition, the resolution stipulated that the LIPH shall serve as a key instrument to forge the partnership between the DOH and the Province of  Pangasinan to carry out the objectives of the Universal Health Act in the implementation and consolidation of support for health reforms in the province through the Annual Operational Plan (AOP).

The AOP, as cited in the resolution, is the “yearly operational translation of the Local Investment Plan for Health of the province, which details the programs, plans, and activities (PPAs) and system interventions that are to be implemented in a particular year.”

“Whereas, the LIPH/AOP guarantees the implementation of programs, projects, and activities in the Province of Pangasinan, together with its component LGUs, toward achieving a more responsive health system and equitable health care financing,” the resolution stated.

Through the 2023-2025 LIPH of the province, it shall receive financial and non-financial allocation support from the health department for the implementation of its approved AOP for the year 2024.

The Terms of Partnership will serve as the legal instrument for the implementation of the program between PGP and the DOH. (Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), during its regular session on January 15, has approved a resolution authorizing Governor Ramon V. Guico III to enter into and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the University of the Philippines (UP)-Baguio relative to the secondment of Dr. Raymundo D. Rovillos as President of the Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC).

Authored by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino, the resolution stated that the PPC needs the services of a highly competent and technically proficient person who will serve as a consultant and interim president.

Hence, “Dr. Raymundo D. Rovillos, a professor at the Department of History and Philosophy, College of Social Sciences of the University of the Philippines Baguio, has been identified to qualify for the position at the PPC.”

Furthermore, the resolution cited that “Dr. Rovillos is willing to be seconded to the PPC for the period from February 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025, and hereby accepts and agrees to perform the duties as President as stipulated in the terms of the secondment.”

The PPC is a public, non-sectarian, non-partisan technical-vocational, and higher educational institution operating primarily under the subsidy of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan.

As stated in a letter sent earlier by Gov. Guico to Prof. Corazon Abansi, Chancellor of UP-Baguio, the former cited that the province is currently vigorously carrying out programs and projects that are deemed pivotal toward the realization of the present administration’s strategic initiatives in various areas such as social and economic development, public policy and governance, infrastructure, culture, heritage, and education.

The establishment of the PPC, the governor said in the letter, aims to prepare the youth for immediate employment in the province’s immediate communities and beyond.
“We are now in the process of developing academic programs in three areas/fields: agricultural entrepreneurship, sustainable local governance and program/project management, and creativity and design,” Gov. Guico stated in the letter.

(Ruby R. Bernardino, Photo by Joey Olimpo/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The Provincial Government of Pangasinan will implement the Barangay First 1,000 Days (BF1KD) and Early Childhood Care Development (ECCD) activities and programs in five towns of the province.

Also known as “Improving Access to Essential 1,000 Day Interventions and Quality Early Childhood Care Services in Disadvantaged Communities,” the project is jointly funded by Helen Keller International and The Church of Jesus Christ—The Latter Days Saint Charities.

Helen Keller International is a US-based non-governmental organization with an office in Malate, Manila, that is dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty.

With this, a resolution was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in its regular session on January 15. Said resolution, which is authored by SP Member Rosary Gracia P. Perez-Tababa, is intended to authorize Governor Ramon V. Guico III to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Helen Keller International for the implementation of the project in the towns of Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangatarem, Mangaldan, and San Fabian.

“The project is in pursuance to Republic Act 11148, known as the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag Nanay Act,” which is an Act Scaling Up the National and Local Health Nutrition and Nutrition Programs through a Strengthened Integrated Strategy for Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health, and Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days of Life, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes,” the resolution said.

As such, the resolution disclosed that the provincial government of Pangasinan has agreed to share resources with Helen Keller International in the implementation of the BF1KD and ECCD interventions in the five municipalities.

In the MOU signing, country representative Maria Fatima Dolly R. Rearion will represent Helen Keller International.

(Ruby R. Bernardino/ Joey Olimpo PIMRO)

Lingayen, Pangasinan—Vice Governor  Mark Ronald DG Lambino highlighted the importance of integrity during the regular flag-raising ceremony on January 15.

Relative to the value-focused on integrity, Lilibeth Z. Salazar and Maria Virginia D. Delos Santos, both from the Provincial Assessment Office, were commended by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for their outstanding efforts and dedication following their recent discoveries and reporting of the fake Electronic Certificate Authorizing Registrations, or ECAR.

“Several thousand pesos should have been forgone if they had not noticed the fake ECAR,” the letter of commendation stated.

According to the BIR’s official website, “the Electronic Certificate Authorizing Registration (eCAR) is an attestation by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner (or his duly authorized representative) which confirms that the taxes incurred in the transfer of real and personal properties have already been paid.”

“Thus, integrity is doing what is right, what is proper, what is just, and what is fair to everyone concerned.”

Following this earlier statement, the vice governor added that integrity is the most simple yet very fragile trait of an employee, which can only be strengthened through the cooperation and support of every employee.

The vice governor likewise assured that the present administration values every employee for all their work and sacrifices.

“This administration, the leadership sees everything in the value that you provide for the Capitol. Lahat po ng ginagawa niyo ay binibigyang halaga po ng administrasyon na ito,” VG Lambino said.

He further stated that everything that has been done in the past 18 months to achieve the goals and directions set by the governor can be attributed to the efforts and initiative of Gov. Ramon V. Guico III and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members, with the cooperation of every employee.

VG Lambino urged the Capitol employees to help each other, carry each other’s hand, support the organization, and support the province of Pangasinan, as there are tons more things to do in the province.

“Kung wala po kayo, wala pong itegridad ang bawat isang empleyado dito sa ating lalawigan, hindi po natin ma-attain yong ating mga gusto para sa ating kababayan, at yon po ay ang pinaka magandang buhay para sa mga Pangasinense,” Lambino said.

(Chona C. Bugayong/ Jairus Sibayan, PIMRO)

Police Brigadier General Lou Frias Evangelista received a Plaque Resolution from the members of the Pangasinan Provincial Board led by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino on January 15 during the conduct of the regular session.

Said resolution expressed the province’s commendation for PBGen Evangelista’s installation as the new director of Police Regional Office 1 (Ilocos). A native of Binmaley town and member of the PNPA Sandigan Class 1994, he replaced PBGen John C. Chua, who was reassigned to Area Police Command-Visayas.

Provincial Resolution No. 1095-2023 was authored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Member Haidee S. Pacheco and co-authored by SP Members Philip Theodore E. Cruz and Vici M. Ventanilla.

(Ruby R. Bernardino/Pangasinan Information and Media Relations Office | Photo by Joey F. Olimpo)