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LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), led by Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino, signified their full support for the Rice Industry Development Program of the province.

In the regular session of the provincial board on January 8, a resolution was authored by SP Member Nicholi Jan Louie Q. Sison to strongly endorse Governor Ramon V. Guico’s letter request for the Philippine Center for Post-Harvest Development and Mechanization (PHILMECH) to allocate funds for the provision of various farm machinery and post-harvest facilities.

“Agriculture is the primary industry of the Province of Pangasinan, its agriculture sector is important for inclusive growth and is a key driver of the province’s economy, particularly in the rural areas where farming families live,” the resolution stated, further disclosing that “to achieve sustainable food production, it is imperative to continuously address pressing challenges and constraints that may impact the productivity, profitability, and welfare of farmers.”

Gov. Guico implemented the Pangasinan Corporate Farming Project to address major concerns of the agriculture sector in the province, as it aims to increase farmers’ yield and income, reduce production costs, and alleviate the province’s economy through shared efforts of both public and private partnerships.

The program likewise aimed to make farming a “profitable and sustainable economic enterprise in line with the national government’s food sufficiency thrust under the Masagana Program for Agriculture,” the resolution stated.

As noted in the resolution, PHILMECH, an agency attached to the agriculture department, is mandated to implement projects geared towards agriculture modernization through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

RCEF can be utilized to improve the productivity and competitiveness of local farmers through the provision of farm machinery and equipment, rice seed development, propagation and promotion, expanded rice credit assistance, and rice extension services.

“Research shows that the use of farm machinery and cost-efficient technologies will greatly reduce the cost of rice production and that post-harvest losses are minimized through the use of appropriate post-harvest technologies,” the resolution said. (Ruby R. Bernardino/Pangasinan Information and Media Relations Office)

Lingayen, Pangasinan – The provincial government, in partnership with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, honored the bravery, patriotism, and selfless sacrifices of the World War II veterans on the commemoration of the 79th Lingayen Gulf Landing Anniversary and the 17th Pangasinan Veterans Day celebration held on January 9 at the Veterans Memorial Park here.

To date, there are 37 Pangasinan living veterans; the oldest is Valentin Untalan, 107 years old.

Gov. Ramon V. Guico III urged the public to treat the celebration as a treasure of Pangasinan and the whole country, as he called for the preservation and promotion of history for the next generation.

“Patriotism is something very important in our country, and it should be the responsibility of all leaders and all nations to promote patriotism—the driver and lifeblood of any nation. Our veterans are the most important example of patriotism. We will not be enjoying the freedom that we have today if not for the sacrifices and patriotism of our dear veterans,” the governor said.

In his message, Gov. Guico III called on the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) and all department heads to make the upcoming 80th celebration grander. He also disclosed that there might be a change of venue for the celebration because it is in time for the massive redevelopment of the Capitol Complex, which includes the building of a reflective pool at the back center of the Capitol building, and on the north side of the development near the beach is a Veterans Plaza with fountains and monuments in honor of the sacrifices of the Filipino veterans.
The governor hopes that said project will serve as a reminder to us Pangasinenses and Filipinos of what happened in the Lingayen Gulf during the world war.

“It would be a celebration of victory for our nation and allied forces that is worth preserving and sharing with the next generation,” he further stated.

On the part of the province, the Veterans Park and the Reflective Pool will all be made in honor of the nation’s and the province’s history and the participation of many of our provincemates in the victory of the World War.

Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Mark Ronald DG Lambino said that he was deeply touched at the sight of the veterans who attended the ceremony with enthusiasm comparable to that of the young soldier rising in defense of our country.

“May this day rekindle among us the commitment to rededicate ourselves to the service of our country so that we can all continue to enjoy our hard-earned freedom,” VG Lambino said.

When a short documentary film titled Pamana started to play, tears started to fall.

With this, the governor ordered the production of a documentary film about the lives of the remaining veterans, for the very reason that only they knew every detail of their experience during the war, which could not be found even in books.

Sec. of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., represented by USEC Reynaldo B. Mapagu, Administrator, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office; and PBGen Benjamin Acorda Jr. Chief, Philippine National Police; MGen Romeo Alamillo, President, Veterans Federation of the Philippines; Capt. Noel Corpus, US Naval Attache, US Embassy; Capt. Emma McDonald Kerr Ran, Defense Attache, Australian Embassy; Atty. Federico Manalo, Program Director, Philippine Veterans Bank, and other guests, including national, provincial, and local government officials and leaders, as well as Pangasinense veterans and their respective families, graced the event. (Chona C. Bugayong PIMRO)

Lingayen, Pangasinan—Gov. Ramon V. Guico III said that 2024 promises to be a busy and exciting year for Pangasinan as major projects aligned with the province’s vision will be implemented this year.

Looking back at the province’s significant milestones in the past years, the governor said that the first salt harvest in December last year proved to be worth mentioning.

The governor also stated that there is yet another gigantic project to be implemented in partnership with some private sectors. Said project will address flooding problems at the Capitol, Lingayen, Binmaley, and hopefully even in the City of Dagupan, at zero expense to the province.

“I think we will be designing an agreement on that sooner than we expect. Of course, it’s a combination of some engineering and planning on our part,” the governor said.

Moreover, Gov. Guico thanked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for approving resolutions, ordinances, and authorizations that were given to him.

Guico shared that, unknown to many, his administration was still working while many were already having their Christmas Party, as there was still a lot of work needing to be done before the end of 2023.

In his message, the governor further added that Provincial Administrator Melicio Patague II and Provincial Health Officer Ana de Guzman spearheaded the conduct of interviews on January 2 to fill up a lot of needed positions, expertise, and specializations at the provincial hospitals.

The governor believes that out of the more than six thousand employees who were there for the longest time, they have the potential to help and become an asset to the provincial organization.
‘Time is of the essence,’ the governor said as he urged everyone to work harder and be more motivated. (Chona C. Bugayong/PIMRO)

Lingayen, Pangasinan—The Province of Pangasinan will enter into a partnership with the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) for a license to incorporate Voice of America’s (VOA) original web content from the VOA News Website into the provincial government’s online media services.

It has been one of the visions of Governor Ramon V. Guico’s administration to strengthen various programs and projects on information and media relations in the province.

To realize the partnership, a resolution sponsored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Napoleon C. Fontelera, Jr., was approved on January 8 during the regular session of the provincial board.

“It is the objective of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan to reach a wider audience and disseminate information to the public as fast and accurately as possible by using modern technology,” the resolution partly stated.

In a letter addressed to Gov. Guico on January 3 by the USAGM, it was disclosed that the latter agreed to grant a “non-exclusive royalty-free license” to the provincial government’s online media services to rebroadcast VOA audio, video, and text programs available on the Internet.

“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan expresses its support for this program in order to provide the people with trusted and objective news, information, and cultural programming through the Internet, mobile and social media, radio, and television,” the resolution further disclosed.

USAGMA provided programming to be transmitted from Mondays to Fridays, which includes the following: Climate Change; VOA Connect; The Inside Story; Border Crossing; Documentaries; and Connect America: Environment, Arts, and Culture.

VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content in various languages that are distributed to affiliate stations around the world. It was established in 1942, and the VOA charter (Public Laws 94-350 and 103-415) was signed into law in 1976 by US President Gerald Ford. (Ruby R. Bernardino/Pangasinan Information and Media Relations Office)

Lingayen, Pangasinan — It’s all systems go for the celebration of the 79th anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf Landings and the 17th Pangasinan Veterans Day on January 9.

To commemorate the bravery and sacrifices of Pangasinan guerillas during World War II, the provincial government, spearheaded by Governor Ramon V. Guico III, is preparing a memorable event for the veterans, soldiers, and freedom fighters who risked their lives for the liberation of Luzon Island.

The following activities, which will be conducted at the Veterans Park along Capitol Complex, will serve as highlights of the event: Thanksgiving Mass, 7 AM; Wreath Laying Ceremonies, 8:15 AM; Commemorative Program, 8:45 AM.

USec Reynaldo Mapagu, Administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, will be the guest of honor and speaker.

After the commemorative program, a medical mission will follow in front of the Sison Auditorium.

At 6:00 PM, a film showing dubbed Sine Pasipiko, a series of war movies, will take place at Capitol Beach Park.

Also, the provincial government will award financial assistance to war veterans as a token of their gallantry and heroic deeds.

There are 37 Pangasinan living veterans to date. (Ruby R. Bernardino/Pangasinan Information and Media Relations Office)

 

The Pangasinan Provincial Government made major strides in 2023 by implementing massive projects in a range of development-related areas.

Since assuming office, Gov. Ramon V. Guico III and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, led by Vice Gov. Mark Ronald DG. Lambino, have laid out lofty goals that are aligned with the province’s vision and mission.

The governor’s unwavering advocacy for sustainable development was accomplished in a short amount of time because of his creative leadership.

One such example of a dream-come-true project is the P34 billion Pangasinan Link Expressway project.

The signing of the PLEX Joint Venture and Toll Concession Agreements between Pangasinan Gov. Guico and San Miguel Corporation CEO President Mr. Ramon S. Ang yielded positive results in terms of economy, livelihood opportunities, business, and connectivity to boost the province’s tourism industry.

The ground-breaking ceremony and the laying of the time capsule for the Reflecting Pool and Interactive Fountain Project at the Provincial Capitol in November are another manifestation that 2023 is the Golden Age of Infrastructure for Pangasinan. The project is expected to spur economic growth and development. It is one of the major projects to take place at the heart of the Provincial Capitol Complex.

Moreover, funds amounting to P312,764,548.51 for Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients and Financially-Incapacitated Patients (MAIP) have eased the burden of individuals needing medical assistance, owing to the generosity of national and local officials, which were made possible through the resourcefulness of the governor and his father, 5th District Representative Ramon “Monching” Guico, Jr. Said amount was the biggest ever downloaded to the province since the program was launched in 2021.

Data on revenue collection showed a sharp increase in revenue collection, notably in quarry collection, which reached 309.20% in the first quarter of 2023. This contributed the biggest share to the province’s revenue collection. Said achievement is attributed to the strict implementation and monitoring of collectibles.

The revival of Pangasinan’s salt industry, which is expected to produce 15,000 metric tons of salt, is another outstanding accomplishment. Recently, the project marked its historic ceremonial harvest at the salt hub in Barangay Zaragoza, Bolinao.

‘The province has regained the management of the salt farm, which is attached to the identity of Pangasinan—a place where salt is made. Andiyan na ang identity natin. Hindi mo mabayaran ito, hindi matutumbasan ng anumang halaga, because this is who we are as Pangasinenses, the governor said.

Gov. Guico introduced ‘Corporate Farming’ as one of its signature projects to transform the agriculture sector as a partner in Pangasinan’s food security.

Further, the governor is set to enter into and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the development of a mixed-use integrated infrastructure for housing and sustainable communities in the province under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pamilyang Pilipino (4PH) Program.

Within the next five years, Governor Guico hopes to see the construction of 20,000 new homes in the province.

Likewise, the province pushed for the construction of a Reformation Center/Balay Silangan for drug users in Burgos town that served as a more holistic approach to the province’s war against drugs.

Pangasinan has established one response command center and its own 911 emergency hotline in order to effectively handle emergency situations.

Another gigantic project that is expected to take off in 2024 is the Pangasinan Bangus Breeding and Hatchery Facilities, a World Bank-assisted project worth P238 million.

Relative to this, the province has launched the construction of three units of provincial warehouses with multi-purpose drying envisioned to reduce post-harvest losses.

Advocacy for environmental protection and preservation is one priority project to be reckoned with by the Guico administration. Hence, the Pangasinan Green Canopy Project was launched.

As of December 18, Pangasinan’s Green Canopy Project, which aims to grow 1 million trees, has recorded a total of 150,000 seedlings planted by different offices, departments, hospital personnel, volunteers, and local leaders.

These and other priority programs for the general welfare in areas of education, shelter, employment, peace and order, and cultural affairs showed a great impact on the province’s relentless efforts and initiative in its commitment to good governance and for the welfare of more than 3.3 million Pangasinenses.

2024 will be an exciting and more challenging year, the governor stated. This year will see the realization of big-impact projects, which are long-term commitments made for Pangasinan’s future rather than just campaign promises. (Chona C. Bugayong/ PIMRO)

Lingayen, Pangasinan – Pangasinan outshines competitors from the different provinces of Region 1 in the recently concluded Regional Skills Competition (RSC) held at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center 1 (PTDC 1) on December 19.
The province bagged six (6) golds, while two (2) golds were garnered by Ilocos Norte in the different trade areas, respectively.
Winners from the Pangasinan who will advance to the Philippine National Skills Competition include Joana Lyca Mae C. Obra of the Maxima Technical and Skills Training Institute Inc. (Beauty Therapy); Mark Carlo V. Laroco – Technical and Skills Training Institute Inc. (Cooking); Timoteo B. Galima, Jr. – Provincial Center-Urdaneta (Electrical Installations); Jerald G. Mercado – Maxima Technical and Skills Training Institute Inc. (Hairdressing); Yori Angela O. Tabucol – Maxima Technical and Skills Training Institute Inc.(Restaurant Service); Rolly M. Danoli -Provincial Training Center, ; Pangasinan ( Welding) while the two (2) competitors from Ilocos Norte were Jerico S. Raquiza (Fashiopn Technology and Rhenier L. Miguel – Ilocos Norte (Graphic Design Technology).
Winners were chosen to best represent Region 1 in the National Skills Competition.
Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo N. Bataoil, who graced the culmination rites, said that the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is one of the closest institutions in his heart because he is aware that the growth of the country is dependent on the kind and quality of skills that it will render for the country.
“I believe that the knowledge that we learn in the different institutions, colleges, and universities should be coupled with these particular outstanding skills that our country needs most,” Bataoil added.
Moreover, Bataoil cited that TESDA should be expanded because said institution is the answer to the country’s development.
“Today, with you and us together, we will be able to make our country great again,” he said.

Ruth E. Dayawen, La Union Provincial Director, was among the TESDA dignitaries present during the event.

Highlighting the culmination rites were the awarding of winners, the flags and banner retreat by RD Joel M. Pilotin, and an AVP on the CY 2023 RSC.
The two-day RSC ran from December 18 to 19.

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