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LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Some 300 farmers gathered on November 18 at Barangay Asin East in Malasiqui town, for the Provincial Corporate Farming: Rice Production Field Day and Launching of the Palay Procurement Project. The event, organized by the Provincial Government through the Office of the Provincial Agriculture Office, aims to boost rice production in the province and increase farmers’ yield and income.

Governor Ramon V. Guico III, who spearheaded the initiative, reiterated his commitment to support local farmers by purchasing their palay. This project is part of the Provincial Corporate Farming Program, an innovative program of the present administration, has made significant strides in expanding the agricultural productivity of local farmers since its introduction in the last quarter of 2022.

Since its launch, the project now covers 1,272.47 hectares or more from the initial area of about 418 hectares, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist earlier reported, with notable increases in corn and palay production. In 2024, corn production rose by 18.88% to 32.56%, while palay harvest increased by 13.59% during the dry cropping season of 2023-2024.

Earlier, Governor Guico announced the expansion of the province’s corporate farming program, aiming to include more farmers. Participating farmers are provided with free seedlings and farm machinery, promoting consolidation of farms and resources under a corporate farming model. He emphasizes that corporate farming leads to higher yields and lower production costs, making agriculture a lucrative and sustainable economic enterprise.

The Palay Procurement Project will provide farmers with a stable market for their produce, ensuring a fair price and increased income. This initiative is expected to benefit approximately 1,448 individual farmer members from 54 farmer cooperative associations across the province.

As a support, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on October 13, 2025, has approved Provincial Resolution No. 859-2925, authorizing the governor to ink a partnership with the National Food Authority for the implementation of Palay Procurement Project, utilizing the Corporate Farming Rice Processing System and its service components as marketing support to the Provincial Corporate Farming Program of the province.

(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The Pangasinan provincial government, led by Governor Ramon V. Guico III, is working tirelessly to respond to the devastation wrought by Typhoon Uwan, which battered the province last week.

Governor Guico reported that over 8,290 families, approximately 27,216 individuals, were evacuated and given temporary shelter in various evacuation centers.

In a recent interview, Governor Guico emphasized the importance of collective efforts in driving the province’s development, particularly in rebuilding communities after a calamity.

During the visit of some cabinet secretaries under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration in the province on November 17, the governor briefed the dignitaries on the current situation, highlighting the province’s efforts to address the needs of those affected by the typhoon.

According to Governor Guico, approximately 345,673 families or 1,173,199 individuals have been affected by Typhoon Uwan. The provincial government, he said, is working closely with the national government to provide immediate assistance to affected families.

Relief and Assistance

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released over P15.609 million in emergency cash transfers to affected residents in Pangasinan and La Union. On November 17, the DSWD granted P13.757 million to 2,613 residents with partially damaged houses. Family food packs and non-food items were also given.

Infrastructure Repair

The provincial government is assessing damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is working double time to clear debris and restore access to affected areas.

Zero Casualty

Earlier, Governor Guico pointed out that Pangasinan’s zero casualty count is attributed to effective early warning systems and residents’ obedience to the call of the local government units, with the Pangasinan PDRRMO taking the lead in partnership with several line agencies.

National Support

President Marcos Jr. has directed all government agencies to provide aid and rehabilitation efforts.

(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC) recently hosted a two-day Storywriting Workshop: Screenwriting for Multimedia Platforms, on November 6-7 at the Sison Auditorium here.

In partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the workshop aimed to enhance the skills of aspiring storytellers, multimedia arts students, creative professionals, and content creators in crafting compelling stories. Participants were treated to a special screening of films exploring themes of struggle, family, and discovery, including the coming-of-age comedy “Blooming” by Ronnie Ramos.

Renowned filmmaker and screenwriter Aloy Adlawan, who also serves as Creative Director of GMA Network, shared his expertise, providing crucial skills in pitching stories and nurturing the region’s creative talent. The workshop was part of the Film and Video Production for Multimedia Platform Series, a micro-credential course.

PPC President Dr. Raymundo D. Rovillos expressed his commitment to academic excellence and program quality, emphasizing the institution’s role in uplifting Pangasinan’s education system. The PPC, a brainchild project of Governor Ramon V. Guico III, has been providing free and quality education to Pangasinense youth, aligning its curricula with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) standards.

The workshop was a significant step towards fostering a community of storytellers and creatives in Pangasinan, aligning with Governor Guico III’s vision of providing quality education to the province’s younger generation.

The event highlighted the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the PPC and the FDCP, led by Dr. Rovillos and FDCP Technical Consultant for Academic Linkages Seymour Sanchez. They were joined by FDCP Project Development Officer Korina Dela Cruz, Community Affairs Officer IV Atty. Kandace Lorraine Palagud who represented the governor, and Assoc. Prof. Christopher Gozum, PPC Bachelor of Multimedia Arts Program chair and PPC Film Society adviser.

(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO, photos courtesy of PPC)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—More than 6,000 individuals from barangays Poblacion and Sabangan in Binmaley town who were affected by Typhoon Uwan, have received assistance from the National Government as of November 17.

According to reports, floodwaters in Brgy. Sabangan, reached significant depths, as high as waist to head level, at the height of Typhoon Uwan, with accounts from residents indicating that some areas were completely submerged.

The assistance includes conditional cash transfers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), sanitary kits, oral hygiene kits, and water containers from the Department of Health (DOH), and food supplies from the Office of the President and the Guicosina of the Provincial Government.

In addition to the hot meals provided by the Guicosina, free medical check-ups and medicines were given by the Pangasinan Provincial Health Office and Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC).

On the other hand, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Pangasinan Public Employment Service Office (PESO) conducted profiling for the Tulong sa Pag-unlad ng Ating Kababayan (TUPAD) Program.

Governor Ramon V. Guico III joined Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., in visiting the area to inspect the rehabilitation efforts for the typhoon-affected residents. The delegation included Department of Agrarian Reform Sec. Conrado Estrella III, Department of Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Sec. Jose Ramon Aliling, Binmaley Mayor Pedro Merrera III, and other local officials.

The visit aimed to assess the needs of the residents and ensure that immediate assistance from the government is extended.

(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO, photos by JP De Vera & Ervin Alcantara)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The Pangasinan Provincial Jail (PPJ) lead by Provincial Warden Lovell U. Dalisay, bagged five major awards from the 2nd National Convention of the Provincial Jail Wardens’ Association of the Philippines held in Mati City, Davao Oriental, on November 13.

A testament to the PPJ’s commitment to excellence, the awards won include the following: Outstanding Provincial Warden (Lovell Dalisay); Outstanding Provincial Jail; Best in Rehabilitation Program; Outstanding Employee Award in Permanent Category (Antonino V. Ocampo); Outstanding Employee Award in Casual Employee (Jessabelle Cuntapay).

Highlighting the province’s dedication under the stewardship of Governor Ramon V. Guico III, PPJ’s recognition is a motivation and inspiration for its workforkce to strive for better in pursuit for excellence in public service.

Governor Guico’s initiatives, such as innovations of the PPJ, drive its employees to work harder in achieving the ‘Pangasinan, Ang Galing!’ goal of the provincial government.

The PPJ has three main divisions, namely the Administrative Services, Custodial Services, and Rehabilitation Services.

(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO, photo courtesy of PPJ)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—A new three-storey laboratory facility and the upgrading of laboratory services from Level II to Level III at the Western Pangasinan District Hospital (WPDH) will soon be established.

This is in line with the thrusts of the provincial government, under the stewardship of Governor Ramon V. Guico III, to strengthen mass-based health care programs in Pangasinan.

To push the project forward, the provincial board approved on September 10 a resolution endorsing to the Department of Health (DOH) the issuance of a Permit to Construct (PTC).

“This project will serve as a great step to further enhance the delivery of health care services to the patients under the catchment area of the said hospital, in line with its vision to provide quality, promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care that is available, accessible and affordable,” the resolution authored by Board Member Jerry Agerico B. Rosario, stated.

Currently, WPDH which is located in Alaminos City, operates as a Level 1 hospital with an authorized bed capacity of 75.

However, the resolution disclosed that the hospital’s actual implementing capacity has reached 234 due to high patient demand, frequently exceeding its authorized limit. This underscores the urgent need for more comprehensive and advanced health care services.

“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan strongly supports the Western Pangasinan District Hospital in its efforts to imrpove its facilities and services as prescribed by the Department of Health,” the resolution futher stated.

Meanwhile, other facilities established under the present administration include a hemodialysis center equipped with 15 dialysis machines, which began operations in January this year.

It can be recalled that the establishment of dialysis centers in all district and community hospitals in Pangasinan is part of the provincial government’s hospital modernization program under Governor Guico. Plans for the creation of other specialty hospitals such as Heart Center, Kidney Center and Cancer Insitute are likewise in the offing.

(Ruby F. Rayat, photo by Ervin Alcantara/PIMRO)

Pangasinan is embarking on a bold transformation of its health care system, driven by Governor Ramon V. Guico III’s steadfast commitment to building more hospitals and fortifying a seamless provincial health network.

During the Universal Health Care (UHC) Stakeholders Strategic Planning and Implementation held on September 1, Governor Guico reaffirmed his commitment to expanding hospital infrastructure and interlinking health facilities through advanced digital systems.

The provincial government plans to fast-track this push using public-private partnership (PPP) modalities, aiming for faster and more sustainable infrastructure development. “Sa atin sa Pangasinan, gawin na natin kung anong magagawa natin. Let’s build more hospitals. That is the framework that we’ll have to follow in the long term because that is the mandate of the Universal Health Care law,” Governor Guico emphasized.

Under the governor’s leadership, Pangasinan has upgraded all 14 provincial government hospitals, outfitting them with MRI units, CT scans, X-ray and ultrasound machines, dialysis stations, and enhanced laboratory facilities. Hemodialysis centers were also added in several key district hospitals.

In fact, projects such as the Umingan Super Community Hospital, with a 55-bed capacity and a Php200-million allocation, and the Alcala Community Hospital, a four-story, 50-bed facility, are cornerstones of Governor Guico’s plan to have 20 hospitals operating under the provincial government.

The governor highlighted the strengthening of a unified system linking all provincial hospitals as well. Through a Unified Database Ecosystem and the introduction of Electronic Medical Records (EMR), the province aims to enhance data sharing and streamline patient information for seamless referrals and improved service delivery. By leveraging technology, Pangasinan is setting the standard for an integrated healthcare delivery system in the country.

The governor also shared some health initiatives, including the procurement of mammogram machines, establishment of a prosthesis center, and the province’s commitment to shoulder animal bite treatment costs in hospitals.

The discussion further included the enhanced PhilHealth YAKAP (formerly Konsulta Benefit Package), which provides primary care services, health risk screenings, laboratory diagnostics, and medicines. “By supporting the programs of our Governor, we can leave a legacy, yung pinakamagandang healthcare not only for our province but in the entire Philippines,” said 4th District Board Member and Chairman on Committee on Health Hon. Jerry Agerico Rosario.

The event was participated in by some representatives of PhilHealth, Department of Health, Provincial Health Office, chiefs of hospitals, city and municipal health officers, department heads, and other key stakeholders.

(Danna Laureano, Photo by Ervin Alcantara | PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Pangasinense hearing-impaired athletes Jamela Gonzales Prestoza and Edwin Vilanueva Advincula brought pride to the province after bagging bronze medals in the 2nd ASEAN Deaf Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Prestoza who hails from Pozorrubio, Pangasinan won bronze medals in the Women’s Singles and Women’s Double Table Tennis while Advincula, a native of Binalonan town, secured bronze medals in the Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles Table Tennis events.

To honor their achievement, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), during its regular session on September 1, passed two separate resolutions which were authored by SP Member Nicholi Jan Louie Q. Sison.

The 2nd ASEAN Deaf Games, organized by ASEAN Deaf Sports Federation (ADSF), was held from August 20 to 26, 2025.

As cited in the resolutions, the victories of the two athletes “underscore the talent and resilience of Filipino athletes on the international stage, while highlighting the importance of inclusivity and recognition for athletes with disabilities who contribute greatly to sports and society.”

The resolutions also emphasized that this breakthrough was made possible through the steadfast support of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, under the leadership of Governor Ramon V. Guico III, whose intiatives continue to empower Pangasinense athletes to excel and shine in both national and international competitions.

Both Prestoza and Advincula, who also serve as coach and mentor, vowed to inspire and train aspiring athletes, particularly those from Pangasinan to become future champions.

(Ruby F. Rayat | PIMRO)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The Provincial Government of Pangasinan, in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd), has recently launched the ‘Bakuna Eskwela’ program in nine selected schools in the towns of San Fabian, San Jacinto, Sual, Anda and Agno.

A school-based immunization program of the national government, Bakuna Eskwela aims to provide free vaccines against prevenatble diseases to school-aged children.

Under the program, Grade 1 students were vaccinated against measles, rubella, diphtheria, and tetanus as part of the strengthened Healthy Learning Institution Program, which aims to promote hygiene, nutrition, and mental health among learners.

Aside from the vaccination drive, students in the nine selected schools in Pangasinan received school supplies, first aid kits, and participated in a feeding program.

The provincial government, under the stewardship of Governor Ramon V, Guico III, reaffirmed its commitment to improving health services across Pangasinan being one of its priority thrusts.

(Ruby F. Rayat, JP De Vera with report from Danna Laureano/PIMRO)

Lingayen, Pangasinan—The construction of a state-of-the-art Hemodialysis Center at Bayambang District Hospital is now in full swing, marking a significant step forward in the province’s efforts to strengthen healthcare services.

The project, spearheaded by the provincial government under the stewardship of Governor Ramon V. Guico III, is designed to provide accessible and high-quality dialysis treatment not only to Bayambang residents but also to those from nearby municipalities.

Once completed, the facility is expected to ease the burden of patients who currently have to travel long distances for treatment, offering them a more convenient option closer to home. Governor Guico earlier emphasized that the center will not only improve healthcare access but also provide much-needed relief and support to families affected by kidney-related illnesses.

The Hemodialysis Center is seen as a major milestone in Pangasinan’s ongoing commitment to advancing public health and ensuring that essential medical services are within reach of every Pangasinense. Governor Guico is determined to establish hemodialysis centers in all district hospitals operated by the provincial government.

(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO, with report and photo from Bayambang District Hospital)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN — Aligned with the provincial government’s long-term vision for sustainable disaster resilience, Governor Ramon V. Guico III is leading a comprehensive initiative to address the province’s recurring flooding through large-scale river desiltation and waterway rehabilitation.

Speaking in a press conference, Governor Guico stressed the urgency of implementing bold and science-based solutions that go beyond temporary relief.

“We have to make a bold move kung ano ba talaga yung long-term solutions on how to solve this flooding problem. Kailangan province-wide ito or kung hindi man, region-wide. Kasi ang nakikita namin pinaka-reason are the heavily silted rivers,” the governor said.

Under the framework of DENR Administrative Order No. 2020-07 (DAO 7), the provincial government is set to implement river desiltation projects at no cost to the province, with private partners covering operational expenses while ensuring strict compliance with environmental regulations.

Governor Guico underscored that the initiative is not limited to river rehabilitation. The long-term plan also includes reconstruction of drainage systems, establishment of pumping stations, construction of retention ponds, and improved flow protection systems to safeguard communities.

The governor is also working with Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for the passage of an ordinance that will establish a specialized inter-agency task force dedicated solely to flood mitigation and river system rehabilitation.

“I’m very confident that maka-form tayo ng isang department or unit specifically to address the flooding sa probinsya. A big portion of whatever income of the province will be used for that,” he added.

Governor Guico likewise called on Pangasinan’s congressional representatives to extend their legislative and funding support to ensure that the province’s long-term flood management program is fully realized. “We can’t afford to be like this. Wala tayong magagawa sa climate change at I think it will become worse in the years to come, so kailangan yung decision is now, kung anong gagawin natin for the long term,” he emphasized.

The Provincial Government of Pangasinan is confident that through strategic partnerships, inter-agency collaboration, and legislative support, the river desiltation and flood mitigation program will help protect lives, property, and the local economy from the impacts of flooding in the years to come.

(Danna Laureano/PIMRO, photos by Gian Carlo Millanes)

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN— A 7-year-old Filipino golf prodigy from Binalonan Pangasinan made history after bagging the 2025 US Kids Golf World Championship held from July 31 to August 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA.

Mikell Zachary “Zach” Guico emerged as world champion in the Boys 7-Year-Old Division and outplayed more than 100 young golfers from different countries. Clinching the title with an impressive three-round total of 104 strokes, he considered this victory his biggest career breakthrough so far.

Dubbed as “Pinoy Golf Prodigy,” Zach has shown remarkable dedication and discipline even at a young age. According to his parents, Kerri Ong-Guico and Ramon Michael V. Guico V, Zach was inspired to pursue golf after watching the sports documentary series “The Short Game.” Since then, he has remained determined to become a world champion.

“I do drills before the tournament, and I just pray and just believe in God,” Zach said when asked about his preparations.

The youngest son in the family, Zach is the nephew of Governor Ramon “Mon-Mon” V. Guico III and grandson of 5th District Representative Ramon “Monching” Guico Jr.

At present, Zach continues his rigorous training as he prepares for the upcoming US Kids World Championship in the 8-Year-Old Boys Division. His ultimate dream is to become a professional golfer and one day play in the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA).

(Ruby F. Rayat, JP De Vera with report from Joana Tacason/PIMRO)