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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)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Starting schoolyear 2023-2024, the provincial government will open the doors of its own college to the first batch of students from the different parts of the province.

This was after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) unanimously passed on Monday, June 26, an ordinance that established the Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC).

This will be the first college fully-owned and run by a provincial government in the Ilocos Region.

The University of Eastern Pangasinan in Binalonan town, Urdaneta City University in Urdaneta City, Binalatongan College in San Carlos City, and Bayambang Polytechnic College in Bayambang town are run by thier own local government units.

“After 10 months of consultation with experts from the different public and private universities, Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)  and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), we finally have the Pangasinan Polytechnic College,” said Vice Gov. Mark Ronad Lambino.

Lambino said that the establishment of the PPC was in keeping with Gov. Ramon Guico 3rd’s commitment to provide accessible education for Pangasinan residents.

“This college will be designed to make sure that it will be accessible to all Pangasinenses who are in need of tertiary education. But unlike most colleges and universities, we will be employing a ladderized system, where there will be certificate and diploma courses, and even vocational programs,” Lambino said.

To do this, he said, TESDA programs will be incorporated into PPC course offerings so that after one year or two years, a student can already look for a job and help his or her family.

“And because it’s a ladderized system, every year you will gain credit from what you finished. This will help those who have limited time or resources to go to school because they are already working, and they wanted to go back to school,” Lambino said.

Lambino said that PPC’s first campus will initially be at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here, where there are rooms that can be retrofitted and converted into classrooms.

“But the direction of our governor is to have two or three campuses. One in Lingayen, another one in central Pangasinan, probably San Carlos City, and another one in the eastern part of the province,” Lambino said.

He said that PPC students will be full scholars, enjoying free tuition and miscellaneous fees, “for as long as they abide with their contracts, academics-wise, behavior-wise.”

Lambino also clarified that the creation of the PPC will not compete with the state-run Pangasinan State University and the private universities in the province.

“The purpose is to bridge the gap of the need for education in the province. We are not here to be a competitor. They have their own programs, they have they own platforms, they have their own visions and missions. The PPC will also have its own direction,” Lambino said.

Under the ordinance, PPC will be run by a Governing Board headed by the governor as chair, with the college president as vice chair.

Other members of the board will be the presidents of the faculty association, supreme student council, and alumni association, the SP education committee chair, and representatives from the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, business and industry sector, professional sector, CHEd, National Economic Development Authority, TESDA, and Department of Education. (PangasinanPIO)

The Pangasinan Provincial board or Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved in its regular session on June 19, a resolution which authorized Governor Ramon V. Guico III to enter and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of  health (DOH) for the implementation of ‘Espesyalista Para Sa Bayan (EPSB) program.

As authored by SP Member Shiela Marie F. Baniqued, the resolution stated that “the EPSB program is anchored on RA No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act of 2019 which states that the DOH shall deploy health workforce to augment human resource needs in public health systems.”

“The MOA pertains to the nomination for two representatives from Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) and Umingan Community Hospital (UCH) to become members of the Special Personnel Selection Board,” the resolution partly disclosed.

The EPSB program refers to the program that deploys specialty board-certified physicians in priority hospitals for the purpose of improving access and availability of quality specialty health services in the province.

“DOH Administrative Order No. 2022-0016 provides for the Policy Framework and Implementing Guidelines of the EPSB Program under the National Health Workforce Support System (NHWSS),” the resolution further stated.

It can be remembered that quality health care services is one of the priority programs of the present administration through preventive and promotive health services. (Pangasinan PIO)

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) led by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino during its regular session on June 19, commended three Pangasinenses for their feats in the field of education and sports.

Authored by SP Member Nicholi Jan Louie Sison, a resolution commending Hazel Ronlee G. Salazar of  Urdaneta City,  was passed for successfully landing on the 8th spot during the May 2023 Nursing Licensure Examination.

Bagging 90% rating, Salazar was a former STEM student and alumnus of Urdaneta City National High School and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the Urdaneta City University. She is the daughter of Mr. Ronnie Salazar and Mrs. Lorlee Salazar.

Along with Salazar, another successful examinee of the nursing licensure examination who bagged the 9th place with a rating of 89.80%, was lauded through an approved resolution authored by SP Members Marinor de Guzman and Jerry Agerico B. Rosario.

Sheena del Rosario Rocacorba who hails from San Fabian town, was an honor student and finished her degree in Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-College of Community Health and Allied Medical Sciences in Agoo, La Union, as Cum Laude.

Meanwhile, a Pangasinense athlete with special needs in the person of Jerome Doria Fernandez was also cited for his achievement in sports.

Fernandez notched three bronze medals in men’s 100-meter T46, 400-meter T46 and 200-meter T46 track and field events in the 12th ASEAN Para Games held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last June 3 to 9, 2023.

ASEAN Para Games is a biennial multi-sport event held after every Southeast Asian Games involving athletes with disabilities from the current 11 Southeast Asia countries under the regulation of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) with the supervision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Asian Paralympic Committee.

A native of Binmaley town, Fernandez was commended through an approved resolution authored by SP Member Philip Theodore E. Cruz. (Pangasinan PIO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—To further strengthen the integrated efforts in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the nutrition program for the province, the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) recently conducted  its second regular consultative meeting under the present administration.

The meeting served as a venue in providing updates and strategies as well as feedbacking of nutrition program concerns from each member agency.

During the meeting, Dra. Cielo E. Almoite,  MPH Provincial Health Officer, who represented Dra. Ana Maria Teresa S. De Guzman, Provincial Health Officer II  said the activity is focused on the past and upcoming activities for the remaining six (6) months of the year primarily the nutrition evaluation on the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation Protocol (MELLPI Pro) for the selected municipalities, the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) and  other issues and concerns.

MELLPI Pro  is the updated monitoring and evaluation framework and system for assessment of initiatives including policy and legislation for the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition at the local level.

It can be recalled that Governor Ramon V. Guico III has set his sights in giving priority to the health and wellness of the people by providing quality health services to include proper nutrition especially of the children.

Meanwhile, Dr. Almoite stressed the vital role of the council in achieving the goals of the provincial government as she further stated that PNC plays pivotal role in registering a win for the 2022 evaluation.

“Napakalaki ang role na ginampanan ng mga members ng ating PNC noong tayo ay ene-valuate ng RNET. Naniniwala naman ako na since very functional naman po yong ating PNC ay naniniwala naman po kami na muli po natin makukuha yong panalo for 2022 na performance po natin,”she said.

In addition, Dr. Almoite said  that one of the major activities this July is the Nutrition Month celebration which is anchored on the theme: “HEALTHY DIET gawing affordable FOR ALL.”

Other reports presented by Nutrition Program Manager Analiza S. Miranda include the vision of the nutrition program :“Pangasinan-Home of well-nourished and healthiest Pangasinense” and its mission “To guarantee an effective, accessible, affordable and adequate quality nutrition and health care to all levels of the society particularly the marginalized through an effective partnership with local government and other stakeholders.”  (PangasinanPIO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—A satellite field office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Regional Welfare Office 1 (OWWA-RWO 1) will be established within the Capitol Complex, here.

This was formalized by an approved resolution on June 19 authored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Member Marinor B. de Guzman.

Earlier, OWWA which is under the supervision of the Department of Migrant Workers requested the provincial government for a possible vacant office or unit  where the western Pangasinan satellite office be housed.

Upon the approval of Governor Ramon V. Guico III, an office was identified which was formerly utilized by the Office of Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) as its satellite.

In some of the talks of Gov. Guico, he said that the provincial government acknowledges the vital role of the local government unit in providing extension and on-site research services and facilities to include those that provide social and welfare programs and services to OFWs, social assistance, education and training, cultural services, financial management, reintegration, and entrepreneurial development services in the province.

Hence, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed by Gov. Guico, on behalf of the province, and OWWA OIC- Regional Director Gerardo C. Rimorin to formalize the undertaking.

“It is to the best interest of the Province of Pangasinan, in coordination with the OWWA, to find ways to protect the rights and promote the welfare of OFWs in Pangasinan in recognition of their valuable contribution in the continued stability of the Philippine economy,” the resolution stated.

(Pangasinan PIO)