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LINGAYEN, Pangasinan: The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), headed by Annabel T. Roque, spearheaded the conduct of training on Camp Coordination and Camp Management—Internally Displaced Persons Protection Training of Trainers held at the Provincial Training and Development Center 2 (PTDC 2), Capitol Complex, Lingayen.

In collaboration with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 1, the activity was aimed at training some 75 participants belonging to the Disaster Response and expanding the pool of experts in the province. The five-day activity will run from March 4 to 8 at the Provincial Training and Development Center 2 (PTDC 2).

Following the five-day training, said undertaking was likewise aimed at enhancing capacities and preparedness to respond to displacement as certified camp coordination and management trainers.

Part of the training was a simulation or functional exercise specifically focused on the familiarization of reporting tools, referral systems, and action planning.

By immersing participants in realistic scenarios on the ground, simulation training is vital to equipping them with the necessary skills and confidence to excel in their respective roles.

Participants were representative LGUs from the six districts of Pangasinan with the highest number of affected individuals during the disaster, namely: Mabini, Agno, Bani, San Carlos City, San Manuel, Mangatarem, and San Fabian.

Other participating agencies include the Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine National Police (PNP), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Pangasinan Reformation Center, Civil Society Organizations and Youth Organizations, PDRRMO, Provincial Engineering Office, General Services Office, PSWDO, Provincial Health Office, and Provincial Governor’s Office. (Chona C. Bugayong, Omar Cruz, Joey Olimpo, and PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN— “We will be the lamp that lights the path to learning.”

This is the motto inscribed on the Lotte Scholarship Foundation’s (LSF) official website.

Its official website further states that LSF “selects outstanding foreign students who strive diligently to learn amidst difficult circumstances, provides biannual scholarships, and also supports scholarships for elementary, middle, and high school students who show excellent talent and scholastic performance.”

This time, LSF carried its lamp in the province of Pangasinan.

“Lotte Foundation has been providing 3.8 billion to foster global talents. Now we want to support the Filipino students,” Chang Haesun, Chairwoman of the LOTTE Scholarship Foundation, said in her speech.

On March 8, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between LSF and four educational institutions in the province was signed.

Forging partnerships with the established Korean foundation were Binalatongan Community College (BCC), Pangasinan State University (PSU), the University of Eastern Pangasinan (UEP), and the newly-established Pangasinan Polytechnic College, which is the first college run-by a provincial government in the entire Region 1.

Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino said the generosity of the Lotte Foundation is a testament to the power of collaboration and philanthropy in paving the way for educational excellence.

LSF was established in 1983 by the founder and honorary chairman of Lotte Group, Shin Kyuk Ho, in Seoul, South Korea.

Named the Lotte Shin Kyuk-ho Scholarship (Outstanding Talent Scholarship in Southeast Asia), the project aims to provide a scholarship fund of USD 450 per semester to qualified recipients for the school year 2024. Covered recipients are those enrolled in the four schools.

Expressing gratitude to the foundation, Governor Ramon V. Guico III further set his sights on soliciting more organizations and foundations to extend their generosity through the provision of scholarships to Pangasinense youth, notably those whose families are from lower income brackets, or the 4Ps.

“We believe in the power of education as a great equalizer. Once you are equipped with the knowledge, the attitude, and the understanding, we feel and know that our youth and all Pangasinenses and Filipinos could have the opportunity to alleviate themselves from poverty and the miseries of society,” Governor Guico said.

It can be recalled that the present administration, under the leadership of Gov. Guico, recently established the PPC to provide free education to poor and deserving students.

Signing the MOU with the foundation are the following college presidents: Dr. Macrina V. Cajala (BCC); Dr. Elbert M. Galas (PSU); Dr. Evelyn Abalos-Tomboc (UEP); and Dr. Raymundo D. Rovillos (PPC). ( Ruby R. Bernardino, Photo by Joey Olimpo /PIMRO)

The Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC) Interim Governing Board convened and approved, on its first meeting, the curricula of the four (4) academic programs that will be initially offered to its first batch of enrollees.

The PPC will offer Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness, Bachelor of Multimedia Arts, Bachelor of Special Needs Education, and Bachelor of Public Administration major in Local Governance.

The PPC Interim Governing Board likewise approved the designation of the Board Secretary, Director of the PPC-CCenter for Lifelong Learning (CELL), Program Chairpersons, and the NSTP Coordinator.

Also discussed during the meeting were the faculty, student, and research manuals under which the college shall operate.

Attendees of the said meeting were Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino, PPC President Raymundo D. Rovillos, Regional Director Teresita A. Tabaog, DOST Region I, Provincial Administrator Melicio F. Patague II, and Agricultural Center Chief II Marvin G. Quilates, Department of Agriculture, Regional Office 1 representative.

With barely more than a month after the MOU signing with the colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), the PPC, along with three (3) other chosen local colleges and universities, are again set to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Lotte Scholarship Foundation of South Korea on March 8 at the Provincial Training and Development Center 1 (PTDC 1).

The collaboration is envisioned as a significant step towards enhancing educational opportunities and cultural exchange.

The PPC Center for Lifelong Learning (CELL) stands as a landmark project of the Guico administration that gives meaning to the province’s vision to make ‘Pangasinan a premier province of great opportunities, sustained socio-economic growth, and a place where one can experience life at its best.’

Photo courtesy of Pangasinan Polytechnic College
(Chona C. Bugayong/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in its regular session on March 4 approved a resolution giving authority to Governor Ramon V. Guico III to execute a Deed of Donation in favor of some farmers/fisherfolk associations and cooperatives as beneficiaries of the identified projects funded under the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP).

Identified as beneficiaries with their corresponding projects are as follows: Tugui Grande Fresh Produce Farmers Association in Bani (Salad Tomato Contract Farming and Support Service Facility Enterprise); Integrated Small Fishpond Owners and Lessees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ISFOL-MPC), Binmaley (Production and Marketing of Processed Bangus Enterprise); Urdaneta City Organic Farming Rice Corn Vegetable Growers Association (Fresh Tomato Consolodation and Trading Enterprise); Alcala Onion Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperatives (Yellow Granex Production Consolidation and Trading Enterprise); and, Bolo Bongalon Magsaysay Dulig San Gonzalo Agrarian Reform Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BOMADUC ARC-MPC).

As stated in the resolution authored by SP Member Nicholi Jan Louie Q. Sison, the donations to the five farmers/fisherfolk associations/cooperatives by the Provincial Government of Pangasinan (PGP) could directly benefit the beneficiaries by way of increasing their rural incomes and enhancing farm and fishery productivity.

“The Provincial Government of Pangasinan has been constantly championing the farmers and fisherfolks’ associations of the province through its participation in the implementation of the projects funded under the Philippine Development Program of the Department of Agriculture,” the resolution cited.

PRDP is designed as an Adaptable Loan Program (ALP) jointly funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), the national government, and the Local Government Unit (LGU) beneficiaries.

As such, “the provincial government intends to donate or provide building structures, agricultural vehicles and equipment, and other necessary facilities that will improve their production and raise incomes,” the resolution stated.

PRDP is a poverty-reduction and agri-fisheries development program of the agriculture department in partnership with LGUs that intends to strengthen the agriculture sector through the establishment of needed rural infrastructure and other livelihood community projects. (Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)

Photo: Joey Olimpo/PIMRO

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—A total amount of P55.4 million will be granted by Senator Bong Go to the province of Pangasinan for the implementation of the 2024 Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program.

Through the Department of Health (DOH), the funds will be released to the 14 government hospitals in Pangasinan.

Prior to the downloading of funds to the province, Gov. Ramon Guico III will sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DOH Center for Health Development-1 (CHD 1), led by Dr. Paula Paz M. Sydiongco.

Hence, a resolution was crafted by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Shiela Marie F. Baniqued and approved on March 4 during the regular session of the provincial board, giving authority to the governor for the said purpose.

The 14 government health facilities in Pangasinan will receive funds amounting to P3,960,000.00 each. The hospitals are as follows: Asingan Community Hospital, Bayambang District Hospital, Bolinao Community Hospital, Dasol Community Hospital, Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital, Lingayen District Hospital, Manaoag Community Hospital, Mangatarem District Hospital, Mapandan Community Hospital, Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, Pozorrubio Community Hospital, Umingan Community Hospital, Urdaneta District Hospital, and Western Pangasinan District Hospital.

Earlier, Gov. Guico expressed his gratitude to Sen. Go for his support to the province, especially the sick and less-privileged Pangasinenses.

MAIP, now called MAIFIP, is a program implemented by the health department to provide financial support to indigent and poor patients seeking medical examination, consultation, treatment, and rehabilitation and those confined in government hospitals.

Last year, the provincial government received huge funds that amounted to about P384 million from some senators and congressmen for the implementation of the program in the province. This is on top of the funds downloaded by the DOH for the year 2023 to the 14 government-run hospitals. (Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Annabel T. Roque bared various activities that have been lined up in the observance of the Provincial Women’s Month celebration during the regular flag raising on March 4, here.

The celebration features key activities that acknowledge the vital contributions of women, embrace everyone, and exclude no one towards the common quest for freedom in all forms of discrimination, providing equal opportunity for all.

It also stresses the importance of a harmonized network towards gender equality.

The PSWDO in partnership with the Pangasinan Public Employment and Services Office will conduct skills and livelihood training for the grassroots women, solo parents, and women OFWs; medical check-ups for mothers in collaboration with the Provincial Health Office; advocacy campaigns on laws on women and children; and seminar on Gender and Development (GAD) planning and budgeting among others.

Meanwhile, the PSWDO along with the learning service providers of DSWD Field Office I and Central Office will likewise conduct Camp Management and Camp Coordination Training with DRRM Council and representatives of each district from March 4 to 8.

The staff of the Reformation Center in Burgos will also conduct disaster preparedness programs aimed at providing safe spaces for women and children at the evacuation centers.

The PSWDO in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will conduct the Provincial IT Challenge for youth with disabilities on March 6.

The undertaking is through the leadership and initiatives of Gov Ramon V. Guico III, Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG Lambino and BM Chinky Tababa, Committee Chair on Women, Children, PWDs, Elderly, Family and Social Welfare along with the provincial gender focal point system of the different implementing departments on Gender and Development (GAD) and the inter-agency committees on women and children.

‘Sana po patuloy nating suportahan ang programa on gender mainstreaming  at higit po sa lahat, patuloy po nating pangalagaan at protektahan ang kapakanan at igalang ang karapatan at kakayahan  ng bawat kababaihan,’ PSWDO Roque said.

(Chona C. Bugayong/Omar Cruz PIMRO)

Lingayen, Pangasinan—The Provincial Veterinary Office will continue to conduct various activities in line with Rabies Awareness Month this March.

Dr. Arcely G. Robeniol, Provincial Veterinarian, said these include free vaccination and protection against rabies, vitamin administration, consultation, and information education campaigns, among others.

Dr. Robeniol invited the public to bring their pets and avail of the aforementioned free services as follows: March 1—in San Jacinto; March 5-Covered Gymnasium in San Manuel; March 6—SM Urdaneta; March 7—Farmers Training Center in Laoac; March 11—Covered Plaza in Tayug; March 13—Arenas Gymnasium in Malasiqui; March 14—Sports Complex in Pozorrubio; March 15—Municipal Plaza in Bugallon; March 19—Event Center in San Quintin; March 20—Municipal Auditorium in Villasis; March 21—Brgy. Paldit in Sison; March 22 in Agno; and March 26 in San Carlos City.

‘Naniniwala po tayo na itong mga aktibidad o programang ito ay makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan para maging maingat, maging responsableng amo o tagapangalaga na ating aso upang maiwasan ang rabies upang sa ganoon ay wala ng mamatay o mawawalan ng mga mahal natin sa buhay,’ Dr. Robeniol said.

The provincial government, through the Provincial Veterinary Office, had envisioned promoting responsible pet ownership and increased awareness of animal care towards a healthy community for rabies-free Pangasinan.

(Chona C. Bugayong/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The Provincial Government of Pangasinan (PGP) is keen on advancing and expanding client-centered care and sustainable services for tuberculosis (Access TB) projects in Pangasinan.

The project will be implemented in six hospitals namely: Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, Urdaneta District Hospital, Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital, Western Pangasinan District Hospital, and Bayambang District Hospital.

Said six hospitals will serve as implementing partners of the Department of Health to effectively and efficiently deliver quality clinical and laboratory services, TB care, and treatment among tuberculosis patients covered by Global Fund Project. All hospitals are currently operating as Satellite Treatment Centers and Rapid TB Diagnostic Laboratories (RTDL) for Drug Resistant Tuberculosis patients in the province.

As stated in a provincial resolution authored by SP Member Shiela Marie F. Baniqued and approved on March 4, “PBSP is the current Global Fund recipient that supervises the management of funding and implementation of the ACCESS TB Project or Advancing Client-centered Care and Expanding Sustainable Services for TB Project (the Global Fund Project) in the country, and it has been awarded a new grant for the implementation of the project from 2024 to 2026.”

Hence, implementation of the project will be made possible with the help of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Inc. (PBSP), one of the largest corporate-led social development foundations in the country that operates nationwide on various health programs.

To implement the project, Governor Ramon V. Guico III will enter into and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the PBSP Executive Director Elvin Ivan Y. Uy.

(Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Governor Ramon V. Guico will enter into and sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Schools Division Office 1 Pangasinan for the implementation of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) program for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL).

On March 4, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved a resolution to help provide opportunities for PDLs through the provision of a jail-based education program facilitated by the Pangasinan Provincial Jail (PPJ) in partnership with SDO1 Pangasinan.

ALS is a parallel learning system in the Philippines that provides a practical option to the existing formal education. Those who cannot access formal education in schools can benefit from ALS as an alternative or substitute.

Authored by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino, the resolution stated that “the Provincial Government of Pangasinan has been determined in defining its role in continually and responsibly implementing policies, programs, and projects aimed towards promoting the well-being of the people such as the provision of educational opportunities for PDL who did not finish elementary and junior high school.”

As reported by the PPJ, there are 19 and 32 non-completers of elementary and junior high school PDL, male and female combined, who are willing to undergo the program.

“The Provincial Jail of Pangasinan is not limited to securing the safety of PDL and helping them have a second chance in life but more importantly in supporting them to become productive members of society,” the resolution cited.

“Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.”

It was stipulated in the MOA that ALS teachers of Lingayen 1 and III districts will conduct learning sessions for PDL every Wednesday at the PPJ social hall.

Also, the ALS teachers shall assess the PDL learners’ performance through the ALS Accreditation and Equivalency Test and Presentation Portfolio Assessment (PPA).

(Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)

Lingayen, Pangasinan— The provincial government of Pangasinan’s success in managing quarry operations in the province has caught the attention of the Provincial Sand and Gravel Task Force (PSAG TF) of Leyte.

In fact, PSAG TF visited Pangasinan for their two-day benchmarking activity held February 26–27.

Atty. Jose Raymund A. Acol, Overall Supervising Team Leader, PSAG TF—Province of Leyte, said that they chose to benchmark Pangasinan following the province’s impressive sand and gravel implementation, operation, management, and monitoring, among others.

Their benchmarking visit was to learn, examine best practices, and possibly replicate them in the province of Leyte.

“We are here to learn from your processes and other policy reforms,” Atty. Acol added.

Apart from this, he stated that he was more than impressed by the political will of the governor, vice governor, and provincial board, the innovations, and the policy reforms because they reflect the real intention and determination of the leaders for real change.

“With this benchmarking, we hope that we can learn many things and convince the members of the Provincial Board of Leyte to adopt what the Provincial Board of the Province of Pangasinan has adopted. The governor is very impressed by the increase in collection from 12 Million to 200 million through technological innovations and policy reforms. He said to me, go ahead. Go to Pangasinan and study, learn, and implement it in the Province of Leyte,” Acol further said.

In his message, VG Mark Ronald DG Lambino shared the start of a semi-success story of how the province increased its revenue collection and how the monitoring system was modernized.

“We already initiated several benchmarking activities on how to improve the monitoring, collection, and even, if necessary, operations of the sites here in the province,” the vice governor said.

He cited having benchmarked Pampanga and found it to be one of the best models for revenue generation in terms of the extraction of natural resources.

“So itong pong ginawa naming change here in the province is a combination of several systems. A lot of systems were implemented, and at the same time, a lot of national policies were also applied. It is not just one system, not just one policy, not just one direction, but a series of actions na plinano pong mabuti at iniimplement po ng mabuti,” VG Lambino disclosed.

Discussed during the activity were the best practices for management and monitoring of sand and gravel operations, the best practices in the collection fees by the Provincial Treasury Office (PTO), and benchmarking of best practices, including strategies and systems for effective revenue collection from sand and gravel/quarry operations in the province.

Meanwhile, the Leyte delegates were welcomed at the Provincial Capitol by Vivian U. Oamil, Officer-in-Charge, PG-ENRO.

They were likewise toured to the Office of the Governor, Session Hall, and Office of the Vice Governor, and proceeded to the Ceremonial Hall of the Urduja House, where they were welcomed by some department heads led by Provincial Administrator Melicio Patague II.

The provincial administrator bared some of the province’s gigantic programs and projects under the leadership of Gov. Ramon V. Guico III such as the Solar Salt Farm at Barangay Zaragosa, Bolinao, Pangasinan, Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX), and Pangasinan Polytechnic College, among others.

Ending their benchmarking activity in Pangasinan was the site visit at the North Star Aggregates and the San Hai Crushing Plant in Sison, Pangasinan, on February 27.

(Chona C. Bugayong, Omar Cruz, Jairus Sibayan/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Pangasinan placed 7th among the 82 provinces in the country in terms of share to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

As released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on February 19, Pangasinan’s share to the national GDP at Constant 2018 Prices amounted to P352.93 billion or 1.8 percent.

The PSA report, titled “2022 Economic Performance of the Provinces in the Philippines,” disclosed that Laguna topped the list with P990.69 billion share; followed by Cavite, P731.39 billion; Batangas, P615.81 billion; Bulacan, P604.71 billion; Pampanga, P525.65 billion; Cebu, P388.11 billion. Trailing behind Pangasinan are the provinces of Rizal, P340.63 billion; Nueva Ecija, P298.57 billion; and Bataan, P256.89 billion.

Based on the PSA report, all 82 provinces had a combined share of about 56.1 percent to the country’s GDP in 2022.

In addition to this, the PSA, for the first time released the results of the Provincial Product Accounts or the PPA of the 16 pilot regions outside the National Capital Region (NCR). Aside from the 82 provinces, 17 Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs) from November to December 2023 were included.

Results showed that Aklan recorded the fastest growth of 22.5%. Nueva Vizcaya, Davao Oriental, and Sorsogon recorded 13.1 %, 12.3%, and 12.2%, respectively.

PPA is a mechanism to compile the GDP at the subnational level using a production approach and other economic accounts at the subregional level.

According to PSA, PPA shows how provinces improve, what are the growth drivers, productive sectors, where to invest, and indicators whether targets are met.

(Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Governor Ramon V. Guico III will enter into and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) for the implementation of the nursing skills training program in the province.

In the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on February 26, a resolution was sponsored by SP Member Shiela Marie F. Baniqued to facilitate the purpose.

The Nursing Skills Training Program is a learning program offered by ITRMC. It is composed of various nursing program specializations such as PeriOperative Nursing Skills Training, Maternal Health Skills Training, Pediatric Nursing Skills Training, Neonatal Nursing Competency Enhancement, Basic Emergency and Trauma Nursing Skills, Basic Critical Care Nursing, and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Nursing.

As stated in the resolution, the Nursing Skills Training Program that is offered by ITRMC to the Province of Pangasinan aims to equip and enhance the knowledge and clinical skills of the nurses in the province.

“The Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, in partnership with the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, will join efforts in conducting the said notable program,” the resolution stated.

Said program will run from 2023 to 2025, as stipulated in the MOA. Each program of training will be conducted over a period of two months. (Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)