Missing fishermen reported in Pangasinan amid typhoon Labuyo

By Venus May H. Sarmiento

PANGASINAN, Aug 12 (PIA- 12noon) – Two coastal towns reported cases of missing fishermen amid fear of the  wrath of tropical storm Labuyo.

Infanta  town police station reported that fishermen aboard two fishing boats set out to sea on August 5  and 8 with no traces of storm but  has not returned as of today.

The first boat is named Bon-Bon bearing the colors green, white and yellow and left on August 5 with nine crew members. They are boat captain Larry Evangelista and crew members Geronimo Igang, John Malicdem, Oscar Dela Cruz, Reynaldo Corpuz , a certain Pedro, Pablito Evangelista,  Arren Lauren and a certain Bong.

The second boat which set out to sea on August 8,  is named Super Boy bearing the colors yellow and blue, with engine 4D5. It had 10 crew members. They are boat captain Ramil Rosal and crewmen Ricardo Etac,  Iguan Bulig, Balong Nical, Narding Nical, Daniel Maloon, Andy Lebios, Epifanio Rosal, Dodong Rosal and Josoph Aripin.

Said boats left Brgy. Cato, Infanta on said dates but failed to return as of  today.

In Bolinao town, police operatives are on the look out  for  six fishermen who have not yet returned. They are Jose Rolly Bagor, Gerry Barrientos, Rosendo Cas, Rolly Boy Maratas and Manding Caranza.

PNP Provincial Public Relations Officer Ryan Manongdo said PNP Bolinao is conducting follow up investigation. Coordination and confirmation is also being undertaken with barangay officials, coast guards and fishermen in the area.

In eastern Pangasinan, Urdaneta City police reported that as of 10:30 am today, 50 to 60 families from Sitio Pitong Gatang in Brgy. San Vicente, Urdaneta City were evacuated at  a nearby school due to heavy rains caused by typhoon Labuyo.

Pagasa earlier raised public storm signal number 3 in Pangasinan. (VHS/PIA-1Pangasinan)

Missing fishermen reported in Pangasinan amid typhoon Labuyo

By Venus May H. Sarmiento

PANGASINAN, Aug 12 (PIA- 12noon) – Two coastal towns reported cases of missing fishermen amid fear of the  wrath of tropical storm Labuyo.

Infanta  town police station reported that fishermen aboard two fishing boats set out to sea on August 5  and 8 with no traces of storm but  has not returned as of today.

The first boat is named Bon-Bon bearing the colors green, white and yellow and left on August 5 with nine crew members. They are boat captain Larry Evangelista and crew members Geronimo Igang, John Malicdem, Oscar Dela Cruz, Reynaldo Corpuz , a certain Pedro, Pablito Evangelista,  Arren Lauren and a certain Bong.

The second boat which set out to sea on August 8,  is named Super Boy bearing the colors yellow and blue, with engine 4D5. It had 10 crew members. They are boat captain Ramil Rosal and crewmen Ricardo Etac,  Iguan Bulig, Balong Nical, Narding Nical, Daniel Maloon, Andy Lebios, Epifanio Rosal, Dodong Rosal and Josoph Aripin.

Said boats left Brgy. Cato, Infanta on said dates but failed to return as of  today.

In Bolinao town, police operatives are on the look out  for  six fishermen who have not yet returned. They are Jose Rolly Bagor, Gerry Barrientos, Rosendo Cas, Rolly Boy Maratas and Manding Caranza.

PNP Provincial Public Relations Officer Ryan Manongdo said PNP Bolinao is conducting follow up investigation. Coordination and confirmation is also being undertaken with barangay officials, coast guards and fishermen in the area.

In eastern Pangasinan, Urdaneta City police reported that as of 10:30 am today, 50 to 60 families from Sitio Pitong Gatang in Brgy. San Vicente, Urdaneta City were evacuated at  a nearby school due to heavy rains caused by typhoon Labuyo.

Pagasa earlier raised public storm signal number 3 in Pangasinan. (VHS/PIA-1Pangasinan)

Pangasinan Provincial Government Department Head visits Hundreds Islands

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (in front) and Alaminos City Mayor Arthur Celeste (right) inspect the area around Quezon Island where dismantling operations on the illegal structures built within the island was conducted last August 3 at the Hundred Islands in Alaminos City. The activity is part of the Alaminos City government's effort to restore the natural beauty of the Hundred Islands defaced by the various illegal structures where Celeste sought the help of the governor in the restoration plans. Gov. Espino said he supports Celeste's plan of restoring the beauty, cleanliness and the pristine waters of the world-famous tourist spot. With the governor and the mayor are some of the provincial government department heads composed of Tourism Operations Division chief Malou Elduayan, Provincial Information Butch M. Velasco, Executive Assistant III Modesto Operana and Special Events Coordinator Marife Acerit. (PIO Photo)

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. answers queries from the local media during one of the dismantling operations conducted by the city government at the Quezon Island in Hundred Islands,  Alaminos City last August 3. Gov. Espino was at the Quezon Island as a show of support to Mayor Celeste (left) who has asked the governor's help in the pursuit of his plan for the restoration of the Hundred Islands. Dismantling operations on illegal structures at the island which has started two weeks ago was led by Mayor Arthur Celeste. (PIO Photo)

Gov. Espino commends two PSU Culinary Enthusiasts

Lingayen --- Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. in a courtesy call held August 5 commended two Pangasinense culinary enthusiasts who won in the Healthier Rice Challenge (brown rice and other staples recipe) conducted by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unitin San Fernando City, La Union on July 12 as part of the nutrition month celebration and observance of the National Year of Rice.

The rice dish “Pinoy Paella” of Jayson Maniago, a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM) student of Pangasinan State University (PSU) Lingayen campus,earned the nod of the judges as he was declared 1^st placer. He is expected to compete in the national competition which is yet to be announced.

Charles Oliver Livara, also a BSHM student of PSU, was third best in his rice dish “curry brown rice.”

“When we were there, of course we know magagaling ang mga kalaban, but we have gained confidence after seeing that even in plating alone our entries actually stand out,” Maniago said.

          “With our exposure to various culinary cooking trainings and with the guidance of our culinary professor, we were able to make it,” Livara added.

Maniago and Livara bested the dish entries of culinary buffs and restaurant owners sent by the provincial governments of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union in the cookfest. Consequently, one entry from La Union was declared second placer.

Maniago’s Pangasinan-inspired winning rice dish which is cooked using ingredients that are readily available in the province (bangus, clams, shrimps, kangkong and squash) will soon be featured in a cookbook to be published by the Philippine Rice Research Institute based in Nueva Ecija.

The two were trained by PSUculinary arts professor Rosario Valencerina before they were sent by the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAg) in the contest.

Home Management Technologist Vilma Bustamante from OPAg said the two culinary majors were personally chosen by Valencerina after OPAg has requested PSU to represent the province in the regional cookfest.

          “Actually, we should have won the second spot, considering the plating and the palatability of our curry brown rice. Nevertheless, we are proud that Pangasinenses made it,” she added.(PIO/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca)

Pangasinan soon to have DFA Regional Consular Office

LINGAYEN—  Passports and other documents for  Filipinos bound to foreign countries will soon be processed  in Pangasinan.

This was disclosed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Regional  which said that  a Consular Office will be located at the third floor of Robinson's Pangasinan in Calasiao by the end of this year.

The closest consular office of DFA is in San Fernando, La Union but most OFWs still get their passports and other travel documents.processed in Metro-Manila.

Revealed during the August 5, 2013 Provincial Board regular session, the DFA Regional Consular Office will not cost the national government any rental fee, said Board Member Ranjit Shahani.

The Board Member also remarked that the opening of a DFA office in the province will encourage people to get passports as such are not only travel documents but are means of identification.

"In fact,passports are more effective-as a notary public- than cedula (community tax certificate)," he said.

In addition, Shahani said that Governor Amado Espino Jr. together with  Ex-President Fidel Ramos, Vice President Jejomar Binay, DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario, and Senator Grace Poe are expected to lead the inauguration of the office in December. (PIO)

GATE, MVPinkMOU for Lingayen Gulf clean up

Lingayen- - -The provincial government of Pangasinan under the stewardship of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Metro Pacific Investments Foundation, Inc. (MPIF) chaired by Manuel V. Pangilinan  for the implementation of coastal and underwater clean-up campaign for the Lingayen Gulf.Gov. Espino hailed the   project of the foundation dubbed, “Shore-it-Up: Rescue, Restore, Revive  campaign,” as he said that this will serve as a vital support to the Lingayen Gulf Rehabilitation program which is an existing scheme of the provincial government to help revive and regain the natural beauty of the Lingayen Gulf and other waterways in Pangasinan.It can be recalled that the present administration launched the rehabilitation program in 2009 that initially led to the clearing and cleaningof the Lingayen Gulf as well as the various river tributaries.The program has gainfully earned several awards and citations for its environmental and tourism impact.Ma. Luisa A. Elduayan, Tourism Division Chief, said that the highlight of the local government commitment will focus on the manpower requirement and coordinating support during activities and projects of the foundation.Activities for the Shore It Up- Lingayen Gulf Project include the following: Coordinating/Planning Meeting (August 9 and 10), Giant Clam Rearrangement at Hundred Islands in Alaminos City with diving and mangrove planting activities (August 24), and Lingayen Coastal Clean-ups and Environmental Seminar for Children (August 25).The City Government of Alaminos led by Mayor Arthur F. Celeste also signed a MOU, along with other towns and provinces in the country with MPIF.MPIF is a non-stock, non-profit corporation principally engaged in infrastructure projects in the country.Shore It Up campaign is now on its fifth year of implementation.Aside from coastal and underwater clean-up, the campaign likewise involves the conduct of environmental awareness sessions, tree planting activities, waste segregation, and installation of artificial reefs. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)

Zero casualty target in a disaster is achievable—OCD

By Venus May H. Sarmiento

DAGUPAN CITY, Jun 20  (PIA) –  A zero casualty target in any disaster is achievable in Region I, according to the Office of Civil Defense.

 But this of course can be attained if and when all local government units cooperate and  the public would give in to policies already in-placed, said Regional Director Melchito Castro of the OCD in the Ilocos.

“We always aim for zero casualty target. Kung susundin lang ng mga kababayan natin ang mga polisiya, makakamtan natin yan,” Castro said during the KBP forum held at the Philippine Information Agency office on Thursday.

It is achievable, he said, as they have done it in Region 2 where he was then assigned at the height of  super typhoon ‘Pepeng’ years ago.  Region 2 then earned accolades for zero casualty feat despite the gargantuan devastation brought by the storm, he said.  

“Kung kaya ng Region 2, kaya din ng Region 1,” (If Region 2 made it, Region I can also achieve it), he added.

Castro made the statement  in light of  a  brewing low pressure area in the Visayas which has brought occasional rain showers to Pangasinan and Region I.

He said OCD is paying extra attention to the province of Pangasinan as it is the most prone and most  affected by flooding among the four provinces in the region.

Earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard has issued a gale warning  in the Region. Thus small sea vessels are not allowed to venture out into the sea, he said.

When asked what the government would do with the three boats in Bolinao town which has set out to sea despite the warning, Castro said he is saddened that no law has been passed  to stop fishermen from venturing out into the sea despite a gale warning.

“It is sad but we cannot blame the fishermen because fishing is their only means of livelihood which is why we urge the local government  units to help provide alternative sources of income for the residents in their  respective areas,” he said.

The Office of Civil Defense, as stated in Republic Act 10121 or the Disaster Management  Act of 2012, is designated as the executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.  It thus serves as the coordinator among all member agencies during disasters. (PIA1-Pangasinan)

Pangasinan leaders declare Chan as persona non grata

Lingayen- – -Pangasinan leaders unanimously urged embattled PNP Provincial Director Marlou C. Chan to step down voluntarily as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan declared him persona non grata last June 10. Authored by SP Member Von Mark Mendoza, Provincial Resolution No. 277-2013 formally declared Chan as persona non grata as his appointment as provincial director is in contravention of the PNP laws and the Omnibus Election Code. Despite the majority plea for Chan to step down, he still clings to his post with no apparent intention to step down. It can be recalled that prior to the declaration of persona non grata, a resolution which was authored by BM Alfonso Bince, Jr., was approved. Said resolution (Provincial Resolution No. 243-2013) which was passed on June 3 was entitled, “Expressing the Sense of Concurrence and Support to the Complaint filed by Honorable Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. against PSSupt. Marlou C. Chan, docketed as Civil Case No. 19270 and Urging the Latter to Step Down as Provincial Director of the PNP Pangasinan Police Provincial Office.” BM Mendoza said that unlike past provincial directors, Chan did not give due courtesy to the provincial board by presenting himself and his plans on peace and order. Sixth district board member Alfonso Bince, Jr., on the other hand, said that what happened is the result of Chan’s lack of action.  ”It’s his (Chan’s) own fault that we have to resort to that as early as December and there was already this move for him to step down and we requested the PNP to replace him but nothing happened,” Bince noted. Bince suggested that if Chan continues to stay as provincial commander, the entire provincial officialdom will call on President Aquino via a signed manifesto to look into the matter. Another step,  the senior board member revealed,  is to stage a rally in the Provincial Capitol to press for his ouster. “We have gone too far in asking him to really consider his stubborn position. I think more important here is not the governor in person but the welfare of the people of Pangasinan in so far as peace and order situation is concerned. Imagine the governor (the chairman of the Provincial Peace and Order Council) and the PNP director are not in talking terms?” Bince lamented. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino) - See more at: http://pangalatalk.com/pangasinan-leaders-declare-chan-as-persona-non-grata/#sthash.mJ1OdQfy.dpuf

SP Urges Chan to Step Down as PNP Provincial Chief

Lingayen --- The provincial board led by Acting Vice Governor Jeremy Agerico Rosario has urged Police Senior Superintendent (PSSupt) Marlou Chan “to voluntarily step down as Police Provincial Director of Pangasinan.”

          In asking Chan to relinquish his post, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in regular session passed SP Resolution No. 1856-2013 on June 3 in support of a complaint filed by Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. before the Regional Trial Court (RTC), here.

          The complaint docketed as civil case no. 19270 sought the nullification of Chan’s designation as provincial police director.

The first hearing of the civil case handled by Acting Judge Caridad Villegas Galvez of Regional Trial Court Branch 69 was reset to June 6, Thursday, after Chan asked the court for representations from the office of the Solicitor General to attend the trial.

          The complaint stated that Chan’s designation violated relevant laws and implementing rules of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Police Commission and the Commission on Elections (ComElec).

Earlier, local leaders accused Chan of inefficiency and partisanship in support of local candidates of the Liberal Party during the recent May 13 elections.

          Author of said resolution, 6^th District Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr., said, “the overwhelming reelection of Gov. Espino who won over his opponent with more than 500,000 margin of votes is translated to Vox Populi Vox Dei (the voice of the people is the voice of God).”

          Bince added: “It is likewise the sense of SP that PSSupt. Chan must heed and respect this mandate and now peacefully and voluntarily step down as provincial director.”

          Saying that PSSupt. Chan must exercise “a bit of delicadeza,” the board member said “the voluntary step down of Chan will maintain peace and harmony between the chief executive of the province and the PNP provincial office”.

          Bince, who has served the provincial board for more than 25 years and worked with 7 Governors, manifested that, “never in the history of the provincial government that there is an irreconcilable conflict between the provincial governor and the chief of provincial police.”

He recalled that even during the martial law administration of Pres. Marcos, police and civilian authorities exercised mutual cooperation and support “in other words, their relationship was then cordial and peaceful unlike today,” Bince said.

To end the agony and animosity, he said that urging Chan to step down voluntarily is a diplomatic way of expressing courtesy while waiting for the result of the complaint.

Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued said the camp of Gov. Espino has “full trust and confidence that the case will be resolved by the court in a most judicious manner.” (PIO/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca)