LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—In only two years, Governor Ramon V. Guico III has set new grounds for Pangasinan’s progress and development through various big-ticket projects considered his administration’s ‘landmarks’.
Eliminating deeply entrenched bureaucratic processes, the governor instituted major reforms in different projects, notably on health, agriculture, infrastructure, education, social services, skills and employment, environment, youth and sports, tourism, and culture.
Quality Healthcare for Poor and Sick Pangasinenses
Governor Guico is determined to bring the province’s ‘Preventive Health Care Program’ to the grassroots level.
Bolstered by the recent approval of the Government Unified Incentives for Medical Consultations (GUICONSULTA) Program ordinance by the provincial board, he personally campaigned for preventive healthcare thrust in various villages in Pangasinan, the most recent of which were in Barangays Cacandongan, Ketegan, Palisoc, Poblacion East, Cabuaan, Nibaliw Norte, and Nibaliw Sur in Bautista town.
Through GUICONSULTA, the provincial government will soon grant cash incentives to residents enrolled in the program.
“Wala ng dahilan para hindi tayo magpa-check up for the preventive health care program of the province dahil dalhin niyo lang po sila sa mga ospital natin at sa mga barangay health station o mga RHU ng mga munisipyo at siyudad, bibigyan po namin sila ng pangkain at ng kanilang pamasahe. Hindi na po dahilan na hindi kami pwedeng magpa-check up dahil wala akong pamasahe at wala kaming pangkain,” Gov. Guico said.
Putting an emphasis on quality healthcare for the more than 3.3 million Pangasinenses, Gov. Guico envisioned a major turnaround for the 14 government hospitals in the province.
The groundbreaking of the modern community hospitals in Tayug and Umingan, costing P300 million, and the additional three-storey building of Lingayen District Hospital are some of the manifestations of the present administration’s goal to transform all community and district hospitals into hospitals of choice.
In 2023, a gargantuan amount of P495,401,375.65 million for the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) was downloaded to all government-run hospitals. The record showed that a total of 182,679 patients benefited from the said fund.
Aside from the construction of additional facilities, the provincial government also purchased numerous state-of-the-art equipment, including 21 ultrasound machines, six computed tomography (CT) scan machines, 19 X-ray machines, and one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A total of 471 additional medical staff, deployed in different health facilities, were also hired. Plans are underway for the establishment of hemodialysis centers in all district hospitals.
To cater to the grassroots, medical missions were conducted by the Provincial Health Office (PHO). A total of 11,806 individuals were given free medical services and maintenance medicine.
A visionary leader, Gov. Guico, is determined to establish a gnome center in the province. If realized, this will be the third in the entire country.
Free Quality Education for the Youth through PPC
Considering education as a ‘great equalizer,’ the governor replicated what he has done in Binalonan, his hometown, through the establishment of the Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC).
“A lot of families cannot afford to send their kids to college. Education is one of the requirements for many of us to land a job. So we give them that privilege. It’s a great equalizer. Pag nakapag-aral ka, meron ka ng advantage for you to land a job,” he earlier said.
With the opening of the PPC, some 700 students are assured of a brighter future after graduation.
It can be recalled that in August this year, PPC officially opened and offered four courses such as Bachelor of Multimedia Arts, Bachelor of Science in Agri-Business, Bachelor of Public Administration Major in Local Governance, and Bachelor of Special Needs Education. All courses are responsive to the needs of the province.
Boosting Productivity, Enhancing Connectivity through Infrastructure Development
First-ever in the annals of Pangasinan history, the establishment of the P34 billion Pangasinan Link Expressway plays a pivotal role in the province’s enhanced productivity and connectivity.
A major infrastructure project, PLEX will re-invent the transportation landscape as it prioritizes accessibility of motorists/commuters to major localities, magnifying business and livelihood opportunities.
Aside from this herculean project, in the province under the stewardship of the governor, 154 infrastructure projects amounting to around P729 million were accomplished. These include the construction of multi-purpose buildings (covered courts/barangay halls), farm-to-market roads, improvement of roads and bridges, and provision of solar street lights, among others.
Provision of Social Services to the Grassroots
Bringing the government services closer to the grassroots, the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) together with the First Spouses League of Pangasinan (FSLP) headed by First Lady Maan Tuazon-Guico, regularly conducts social services for fire victims and other calamities in various parts of the province.
Based on a report, a total of 80,440 individuals have availed of different social services, while 260,800 were served under the Guicosina Bantay Kalusugan Feeding Outreach Program.
Meanwhile, Lingap ed Barangay and Kumustahan 2024: The Governor’s Visit were launched to give residents of the 1,333 villages in Pangasinan the opportunity to rub elbows with the governor and other provincial leaders personally.
Skills Training and Employability for Out-of-School Youth and Unemployed
A game changer, Gov. Guico, who was then the town mayor of Binalonan, established the first economic zone in the province. According to him, he hopes to establish more economic zones in his term as the provincial chief executive.
Hence, various activities and projects involving employability and skill training for Pangasinenses were established and are continuously held.
In the first seven months of 2024, some 3,210 jobseekers were employed through various job fairs conducted by the Pangasinan Public Employment and Services Office (PESO). A total of 1,342 individuals, on the other hand, benefited from the community-based skills training and employability enhancement programs, which are conducted regularly.
“We believe in the empowerment of Pangasinenses. If we want to alleviate poverty, we must create job opportunities and equip our people for gainful employment,” the governor stated in his past State of the Province Address.
Corporate Farming
Another landmark of excellence can be gauged in the province’s performance in agriculture.
Commitment to farmers has been the battlecry of Governor Ramon V. Guico’s administration to transform the agriculture sector as a partner towards Pangasinan’s food security.
Gov. Guico, and local leaders, planned and strategized various initiatives to enhance agriculture sector competitiveness through medium- and long-term projects and programs.
The corporate farming program, a flagship program of the Guico administration, was introduced in the latter part of 2022, primarily to enhance Pangasinan’s food production and transform farming into a profitable economic enterprise.
Under the corporate farming program, major projects include rice, corn, and high-value crop production.
Utilizing the “convergence approach or strategy,” program partners, which include private entities, were tapped to collectively address the gaps in the food value chain through farm consolidation leading to corporate farming.
In 2023, rice farmers in Pangasinan produced 1,388,063.84 metric tons from 267,946.14 hectares, with an average productivity yield of 5.18 tons per hectare.
Hence, Pangasinan reached a sufficiency level of 209% in 2023, a huge increase in palay production compared to 2022.
In 2023, seven sites with 154.55 hectares produced 773 metric tons of palay. This translated to more savings in farm inputs.
Significant Firsts, Remarkable Breakthroughs
Under the tenure of Gov. Guico, three pivotal historic breakthroughs were realized: the revitalization of the salt and dairy farm industries through the Pangasinan Salt Center in Zaragoza, Bolinao, and Laoac Dairy Farm; and the establishment of the Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum.
In his first month of tenure in 2022, the governor along with key officials in the provincial government planned for the acquisition of the second largest salt farm in the country. At present, the Pangasinan Salt Center has started producing salt again. Based on record, the salt farm has produced 6,143.91 metric tons of solar salt from January to May 26, 2024, and 150 metric tons of rock salt from May 28 to June 22, 2024.
Another one to reckon with is the operation of the Pangasinan Laoac Dairy Farm, which now has 286 heads of dairy livestock from the original population of 107 heads, with 199 heads of dairy carabaos and 87 dairy cattle. Said project has an average daily milk production of 80-85 liters. From January to June 2024, the farm was able to generate a total sales of P1,799,105.00.
For the first time in its history, the province is now running its own provincial museum. Giving importance to the diverse culture and arts, Gov. Guico commended the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) for putting its best foot forward in operating the Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum. Housed in the historic Casa Real at the heart of Lingayen town, the museum serves as a repository of pivotal memorabilia of Pangasinan’s past. It also serves as a venue for various cultural and arts events in the province.
Another first is the redevelopment of the Capitol Complex, which is a well-planned project in consultation with the best urban planners in the country.
Aside from upgrading its aesthetics, the realization of the project will eventually transform the entire Capitol Complex into one of the province’s ‘destination of choice’ for Pangasinense families and tourists, both local and international visitors.
The project involves the establishment of not just the reflecting pool and interactive fountain but also the construction of a drainage system that could address the perennial problem of flooding in the area long before the term of Gov. Guico. Roads will be widened, putting an end to traffic congestion. Wider parking spaces will also be placed.
For its appealing visuals, the reflecting pool will be similar to that of The Mansion in Baguio City and the Taj Mahal in India, while the interactive fountain will have the same features as the dancing fountain in Vigan, City, Ilocos Sur.
Environmental Advocacy
An advocate of a green planet, Gov. Guico fully supports various environmental projects of the national government, notably the National Greening Program.
Launched in 2023, Pangasinan’s Green Canopy Project, which has already planted more than 300,000 native and fruit-bearing trees, is a confirmation of his love for the environment.
Spearheaded by the Provincial Population Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (PPCLDO), the project is a multi-sectoral approach to promote co-ownership in protecting and rehabilitating the environment, raising community awareness and education in planting trees, mobilizing stakeholders, and soliciting community participation as well.
Human Infrastructure Development
Considered the precious gems of the provincial government, the present administration has embarked on various projects to ensure the wellness of more than 6,000 employees. This includes the regular conduct of skills and development capability and skills enhancement training under the care of the Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO).
In commendation of their hard work, Gov. Guico has approved the promotion of some 187 employees assigned to different offices/hospitals.
This includes the promotion of permanent employees to higher positions and the promotion of casual employees to permanent positions. Some of the casual employees have been with the provincial government for almost four decades, serving past six governors before the incumbent.
The Governor Pangasinan Needs
Achieving all these in the past 30 months of his tenure, the governor disclosed he wants to embark on more programs and projects that will leave lasting effects on the people, with no stone unturned for the more than 3.3 million populace.
Setting his sights on creating a brighter future for the province, Gov. Guico is determined to become the leader Pangasinan needs and the rightful one Pangasinenses truly deserve.
“You have to select a leader who can bring this province to greater heights,” Governor Guico said in his speech, which drew thunderous applause from the crowd. (Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO)
