The Pangasinan Hub

Nachos and coffee at Kaffa Avenue.

Assada Center A.B. Fernandez Ave. Dagupan City and CBMall, McArthur Hway, Urdaneta City

The Pangasinan Hub

DAGUPAN CITY, This city may have its own college or university soon as earlier done by two other cities in Pangasinan.

Mayor Benjamin S. Lim bared this plan during a media forum where he hailed the partnership between the Alaminos City government and the Pangasinan State University that gave birth to the new PSU-campus in Alaminos as a “novel cause that deserves to be equaled.”

Lim issued the statement in defense of Braganza who was accused along with the PSU management of allegedly operating illegally the PSU Alaminos campus.“Tama si Mayor Nani, every leader must develop one’s city or locality, so why should we blame him for trying to provide affordable education to the youth.”

He bared that his administration was also considering putting up a city-owned school. “Dagupan City may soon consider the establishment of our own state college or university, just like what Urdaneta and Alaminos did. Thank you, Mayor Nani, for encouraging me to do the same,” he said during the Meet the Press forum of the Pangasinan Tri-Media Association last week where Braganza was also guest.

He acknowledged Braganza’s effort to provide quality and affordable college education to hundreds of poor Alaminos’ youths.

Earlier, Ruben Morante, president of the Philippine Accountancy and Science School (PASS) based in Alaminos told the media that he would sue Mayor Braganza and the PSU management for allegedly harassing him, operating the campus without necessary permit from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and for committing anomalies in the remittance of profit.

Citing the local government code, Braganza maintained that the city government was allowed to put up its own college or university like what Urdaneta did with its own Urdaneta City University (UCU).

Braganza also said that the Constitution also provides that “education is a right not a privilege.”

“As mayor of Alaminos, I will see to it that this provision of the Constitution that says that it is the right of every Filipino citizen to have quality education is made a reality,” he said.

Braganza accused Morante of “extortion.” He revealed that the latter came to his office proposing to include PASS College in a multilateral agreement for the operation of PSU-Alaminos to make it legal.

“For obvious reasons, Morante would just want to partake of the 10 million pesos worth of scholarship grants we are providing to our poor but deserving children going to college. We will sue him definitely for maligning not me but the city of Alaminos,” he said.

Source

DAGUPAN CITY, May 12 (PIA) --- Two Pangasinan mayors have bared their plans to establish a ferry system that will provide water transportation between the province and La Union.

The system is intended to shorten travel time between major cities and municipalities in Region I along the Lingayen Gulf, with possible ports in here and in Alaminos, and in Agoo town and San Fernando City in La Union.

Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza said the ferry system will facilitate economic development in his city as it will encourage more tourists and investors to visit his place especially the famous Hundred Islands.

Alaminos City is practically isolated due to distance, preventing potential visitors have to travel circuitous routes to reach the place.

“I hope Alaminos, and the province as well, will open it for commercial traffic. That will hopefully become a reality if we can put up major infrastructures. It is the only way that Alaminos can attain economic development and to help the province.” he said during the Meet the Press forum of the Pangasinan Tri-Media Association (PATRIMA) Wednesday at the Jollibee in Lucao.

“Once completed it will draw more investments for the province and create more opportunities for the people,” he added.

Braganza cited the cities of Cebu and Davao as example of cities which have reached substantial economic progress by having basic infrastructures.

He explained that “this is the main reason why we asked the national government to build the first commercial airport in the city of Alaminos.”

Braganza complimented, Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim “for having the same vision.”

Lim presented to the media the design of a catamaran that will be used as the main ferrying seacraft. “The two-hulled water vehicle can seat 102 passengers, four medium-sized vehicles and six tons of cargoes,” he said.

Lim noted that the Manaoag Shrine is the only easily-accessed place in Pangasinan. Other tourist destinations in the province will be more accessible once the ferry system is completed, he said.

He said that a port will be constructed near the historic Franklin Bridge in barangay Pantal tor the purpose. He disclosed that he, Braganza and San Fernando Mayor Pablo Ortega will meet soon to discuss the plan.

Lim also discussed his idea of the possible construction of a west-bound highway connecting to the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX). “Ang dapat pag-usapan ng ating provincial government, congressmen ay kung paano iku-connect ‘yong TPLEX to the west,” he said.

Lim sees the TPLEX as progenitor of economic development in areas traversed by it. “We have to catch up with the development,” he said.

On the ferry system, Braganza said, “I promise my constituents that this dream will come true before the end of my term.”

Source

DAGUPAN CITY, May 10 (PIA) --- Operation of the idle P100-million fish processing plant in Bonuan Binloc is better left in the hands of the city government rather than let a government agency run it, Mayor Benjamin S. Lim stressed during a media forum Tuesday.

Lim said the Korean-funded processing plant which is being operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is now practically a white elephant.

The mayor said that for practical reasons, it is the city government which should run the facility.

It will be recalled that the former city council passed a resolution placing the facility under BFAR because the city allegedly had no expertise in running it. Interestingly, the sanggunian passed the measure before Lim took over, prompting observers to point to petty politics as the reason behind it.

Lim said that Dr. Westley Rosario, head of the BFAR research center which manages the plant, admitted to him that his office does not have the capability to operate it as desired.

He revealed that he had sought the help of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., in connection with the possible transfer of the facility to the city. De Venecia was instrumental in bringing the Koreans here build the facility for free.

The mayor also bared during the Meet the Press forum of the Pangasinan Tri-Media Association (Patrima) that he had also asked the former House leader for his help in reviving the plan to put up a sanitary landfill in barangay Awai in San Jacinto town.

Lim originally brought up the idea during his earlier term but was met by protests from residents in that barangay and nearby areas.

He said, it was really necessary to put up the garbage facility there so that finally the city can comply with the law. The city has been operating an open dumpsite in violation of the solid waste management act. The same is true for all other towns and cities, except Urdaneta City, which last month opened its P200-million engineered sanitary landfill.

Obviously, the mayor sought out De Venecia so that he can pursue his programs and projects considering the present fragile relationship between him and the legislative under Vice-Mayor Belen T. Fernandez because of their opposing stand on policies and issues.

Source

LINGAYEN -- Much talk about lately in Pangasinan is the numbers game jai-alai, with betting stations already being operated in at least 35 towns and cities.

Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte, chief of the Pangasinan police, said they cannot stop jai-alai operations as they are legal with business permits issued by the mayors.
However, Ricaforte stressed that they would not tolerate any illegal gambling activities in the province using jai-alai as front such as "bookies."

It was gathered that jai-alai betting stations being operated by Meridien in the province are located in Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Manaoag, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, San Fabian, San Carlos City, Malasiqui, Mapandan, Dasol, Agno, Infanta, Burgos, and Sta. Maria.

Also in San Manuel, Sual, Natividad, San Nicolas, Binmaley, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, Basista, Laoac, Bolinao, Rosales, Dagupan City, Urdaneta City, Aguilar, San Quintin, Tayug, and Bautista.

Several arrests have been made by the police against persons who are diverting some bets collected for jai-alai to guerilla jueteng, an illegal numbers game.

Source

MANILA, Philippines -- Pangasinan celebrates the bounty of the sea as it holds the annual Pista’y Dayat Festival, regarded as the province’s “mother of all festivals”, from April 23 to May 3.

Events include beachfront concerts, beach games, boxing bouts, cycling race, a youth camp, tourism and trade expo, and the Panagarte La! art exhibit which showcases local and visiting visual artists.

Organizers will also hold traditional Pinoy games, such as patintero, tumbang preso, luksong baka, sipa, dinoron, baldo (luksong lubid), paluan ng palayok, dinagi and kadang-kadang.

Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. said that this year’s theme, “Luyag Ko, Dayew Ko,” (My Province, My Honor) will focus on environmental nurture, sports development, and revival of Pangasinense culture and art.

Some 100 colorful boats will take part in the Banca Parada fluvial parade on May 1 to showcase the improvements made on Agno River and its tributaries under Espino’s watch. Agno is the largest Philippine river in terms of water discharge draining around 6.6 cubic kilometers of fresh water into the Lingayen Gulf, or almost 70% of its total fresh water input.

Talented locals will compete in Takayan na Dayew today, April 28, a vocal solo competition.

ABS-CBN Happy Yipee Yehey hosts Randy Santiago, John Estrada, Toni Gonzaga and Mariel Rodriguez will motor around Dagupan City, Binmaley and Lingayen on April 29 before holding the game show on April 30 at the Lingayen beachfront.

Moreover, there will also be the Limgas na Pangasinan, the province’s biggest beauty and brains search on April 30 which will select Pangasinan’s ambassadors of goodwill.

May 1 is a fun-filled day with the Sayawan ed Aplaya (Street Dancing), the grand finals of Konsyerto sa Gulpo featuring rock bands Cueshe and Drivers as guest performers. Beach crowds will be entertained in a Kapuso Night with Rhian Ramos and other big of GMA TV Network stars.

The weeklong merry-making ends on May 3 with the Asin ed Asinan Cultural Show at the newly-restored Sison Auditorium, reputedly north Luzon’s best cultural center.

Most of the activities will be held at the Provincial Capitol beach front in Lingayen Gulf, one of the country’s richest bodies of water. It is also the site of the historic landing of Allied Forces led by Gen. Douglas McArthur to liberate the country for Japan.

Source

DAGUPAN CITY – A mango, bamboo, and bangus (milkfish) festival and two beauty contests will open on Monday in Pangasinan province.

A Mango-Bamboo Festival will be formally opened with Vice President Jejomar Binay as guest of honor and speaker in San Carlos City.

The celebration will start with a Thanksgiving Holy Mass in honor of the city’s patron saint Domingo de Guzman, to be followed by a grand parade.

A beauty contest that will determine the next Miss San Carlos City will be held later that same evening at the Arenas-Resuello auditorium.

On Tuesday, the city will try to make the world's biggest mango pie. To be participated in by 86 barangays and other government and non-government groups, the event plans to create a 100-square-meter mango pie that by the 86 barangays and other government and non-government groups.

In Lingayen, the province’s annual Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival) celebration will commence on Monday with the opening of the Tourism and Trade Expo dubbed as “Panagarte La! Art Exhibit.” This will be held at the newly opened Pangasinan Training and Development Center located at the back of the Sison Auditorium and Regional Trial Court at the Capitol Compound.

At 11 a.m., the nineteen Pangasinense beuties vying for the title Limgas na Pangasinan 2011 will be formally presented to the media at the Capitol Resort Hotel. The Limgas na Pangasinan is one of the highlights of the Pista’y Dayat.

Meanwhile, the events scheduled on Monday in Dagupan City’s Bangus Festival are the Drum and Lyre competition at nine in the morning, Bangus ed Karosa (float parade) at two in the afternoon, and the much-awaited unveiling of the new seal of the city.

In the evening, a Bikini Open which will be held at the city plaza.

The new Dagupan City seal will be unveiled in a simple program at the Museo na Dagupan by Mayor Benjamin Lim and the member of the city council led by Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez.

The new seal was designed by Dr. Carmelo John Vidal of barangay Poblacion Oeste. He is the director of the Center for Intregrated Extension Services and National Service Training Program Unit of the University of Luzon (UL) as well as director of the Philippine Red Cross-Pangasinan chapter.

Lim issued last year Executive Order No. 41, series of 2010, creating the ad hoc committee tasked to study, initiate, and supervise the redisigning and registration of the official corporate seal of the city. An offshoot of the proposal is the launch of the competition.

Accordingly, the idea of creating a new seal came about after creation of a new seal after Lim’s attention was was called by Chad Buala, head of the research, publications, and heraldry division of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

That the 62-year old city seal has not been registered at the NHCP.

Thus, Lim deemed it necessary to register this at the NHCP. The redesigned seal is expected "to reflect present realities as well as the true historical, economic, and cultural values of our city.”

Source

Dagupan City regains PRISAA crown

Posted on November 7, 2010 - Filed Under News, Sports | Leave a Comment

THE contingent of Dagupan City harvested the most number of medals in the PRISAA Regional Meet held in Laoag City, last October 27-30 with 81 gold, 48 silver and 25 bronze medals.

Dagupan’s total of 154 medals bested the 151 gained by San Carlos City Division, which has been leading the PRISAA games for the past two years.

San Carlos has 77 gold, 45 silver, and 29 bronze.

Powered by about 120 athletes from the University of Luzon out of a 180 total, the Dagupan City Division bagged medals in all the eleven sports events it participated in.

Meanwhile, the San Carlos City Division, mostly represented by athletes from the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation, won in four events and dominated in athletics.

The 2010 PRISAA sporting event was participated in by some 800 athletes, coaches and officials representing six (6) provincial and city divisions/chapters.

The gold medalists in the various team and individual events will represent PRISAA Region I in the PRISAA National Games, renamed as National Collegiate Games (NC Games), slated on February 20-26, 2011 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

The 2011 NC Games will be participated in by 17 regional delegations from around the Philippines.

The events will include basketball, men and women; sepak takraw, men; football, men; baseball, men; softball, women; volleyball, men and women chess, men and women; dance sports, men/women; badminton, men and women; table tennis, men and women, lawn tennis, men and

RICAFORTE TO KAPITANS
LINGAYEN— No way you are going to keep the shotguns.
This was the gist of message of the police provincial command to the more than 1,300 barangay chairmen of Pangasinan have been given until Monday, October 4, to turn over their issued shotguns to their respective police stations in compliance with the gun ban currently in effect for the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Superintendent Harris Fama, deputy police provincial director for operations, said that while full compliance is being awaited, Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte, police provincial director already directed all chiefs of police to collect the shotguns from individual barangay captains from their homes.
Fama said kapitans have been slow in complying with the order.
To date, only the barangay chairmen of Bautista and Binalonan towns have voluntarily turned over their shotguns to their respective police stations.
“Either they submit their shotguns or the police will collect these from them,” said Fama, noting the hesitancy of some barangay chairmen to bring their issued shotguns to the police station for fear that they might be apprehended at checkpoints and charged for violating the gun ban.
These shotguns were issued by the provincial government to the kapitans through the Police Provincial Office.
Barangay kapitans in the province who did not receive a shotgun include those in Dagupan, being an independent-component city and is not under the provincial government, and 25 of the 39 in Alaminos City who declined at the suggestion of Mayor Hernani Braganza citing that these weapons are not necessary given the good peace and order situation in the city.

ARRESTS

Meanwhile, Fama announced that as of September 30, six persons have been arrested in Pangasinan for violating the gun ban.
Two of the suspects were arrested for intimidating other persons with their guns, three others were nabbed with bladed weapons, and another for possessing a toy gun replica which is among those being banned to be carried outside of residence during the official election period from September 25 to November 10.
Fama also said all police stations have been directed to conduct checkpoints, both scheduled and unscheduled, to be manned by uniformed policemen, headed by an officer.—LM

GOOD TO BE IN WATCHLIST, SAYS FAMA

IT’S not a bad thing to be in the watchlist of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police.
This was the clarification made by Supt. Harris Fama, Pangasinan police deputy director for operations, following complaints made by some local government officials whose towns or cities have been included in the list of places to watch during the campaign period and on election day for the October 26 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
“Huwag bigyan ng masamang kahulugan ang paglalagay ng isang lugar sa Comelec-PNP watchlist,” Fama said
“Hindi porque nasa watchlist na ang isang bayan ay ibig sabihin magulo na,” he added.
Fama told the concerned mayors to look at the brighter side of the situation, which is there will be increased support from the police force.
Included in the watchlist are the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos, and the towns of Urbiztondo, Bayambang, Sta. Maria, Tayug, Natividad and San Quintin.
Among those who complained about being in the list include Dagupan Mayor Benjamin Lim and Rodrigo Rafael of Natividad.

CHALLENGE

Fama said being on the watchlist should also be treated as a challenge by the mayor and the local police chief to prove that their area is indeed peaceful and orderly.
“Patunayan nila na talagang tahimik sa kanilang lugar. Next election mawawala na sila sa listahan,” he said.
Fama explained that the listing was drawn after a thorough evaluation by a panel using reports from police stations on previous incidents, tension felt in the area and political rivalry.
Provincial Elections Officer Reddy Balarbar earlier said the two cities and six towns have been tagged as areas of concern in this election due to perceived intense rivalry among candidates.

DAGUPAN

In Dagupan, City Comelec officer, Atty. Remarque Ravanzo said he welcomes the inclusion of the city under the watchlist citing the same reason as Fama’s.
“I have nothing against it dahil ang mangyayari mas lalong mababantayan natin ang peace and order dito sa Dagupan. We will be having augmentation of our police force,” Ravanzo said.
For his part, the city’s police chief, Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr., said a dialogue and peace agreement signing will be organized.
“The Comelec and the PNP will schedule a dialogue with all the possible candidates to explain some important election rules and regulations and come up with the signing of a peace covenant,” Caramat said.
He also assured Dagupenos that the PNP will enforce the full force of the law regardless of the personalities that may be involved in any election related violence.

Source

Rep. De Venecia seeks Expanded Crop Insurance Program

DAGUPAN CITY, July 28 (PNA) -- Rep. Gina de Venecia (4th District, Pangasinan) is set to file a bill seeking the expansion of the Crop Insurance Program to help farmers recover from crop their losses due to the frequent onslaught of calamities, like typhoons, floods and even drought.

A neophyte in Congress, Rep. De Venecia said this will help not only farmers but also fishermen all over the country to bounce back after being set back by the calamities, at which time they are usually left with nothing but despair and frustration.

Noting that the Fourth District of Pangasinan, comprising of Dagupan City, Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto and Manaoag, is visited yearly by destructive floods, De Venecia said her proposed bill seeking the expansion of the Crop Insurance Program is timely and merits consideration.

"As in the last flood, I saw with my own eyes how corn from San Jacinto were submerged and given up for lost because of the flood and milkfish and prawns in Dagupan washed away to the Lingayen Gulf by rampaging flood waters," she said.

Thus the need for an expanded crop insurance program so farmers can easily get back on their feet and repair their farms and fishponds so they can continue to produce food for the country, said the wife of former seven-time Speaker of the House of Representatives, Jose de Venecia Jr.

After the flood, one can just imagine how the farmers and their families can fend for themselves as they are left with practically nothing in their pockets and therefore face uncertain future, Rep. De Venecia said.

If the proposed bill become a law, farmers planting rice, corn and vegetables, and those raising livestock and fish will be given ample protection from going bankrupt if their crops are destroyed by the calamity or even pest and diseases.

She said under the program, the fund that will be used to rehabilitate damage farmlands and fish ponds will directly come from the government through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.

The present Philippine Crop Insurance Program, said De Venecia, provides only limited coverage to the country's enduring farmers and fishermen, thus the need for its expansion.

Mrs. De Venecia said the proposed bill is an attempt on her part to fulfill her campaign promise to the people of the Fourth District of Pangasinan that livelihood of the people will be one of her priorities.

Livelihood, she said, is part of her agenda which she outlined to the people in the campaign. Her other programs include, health care, education, values formation and environment.

At the same time, Rep. De Venecia vowed to extend her utmost support to the programs of President Benigno Aquino III for good governance, create a graft-free society and snatch the people away from the shackles of poverty and ignorance. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=290613

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Dagupan named most competitive among RP's emergent cities

The PUNCH July 25, 2010

DAGUPAN City has topped the Philippine Cities Competitive Ranking Project for 2009.

Former City Information Office Ryan Ravanzo, who served under the previous administration of Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., told The PUNCH that Dagupan bested the cities of Angeles, Butuan, Cotabato, Lucena, Naga, Legaspi, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Ormoc, Iligan, Tagum, and San Fernando in La Union, Surigao, Tuguegarao, Tacloban and Santiago.

Ravanzo said Fernandez gave the final validation interview before evaluators from the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center last June 28, two days before Fernandez stepped down from office.—LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archiv...ergent-cities/

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Dagupan fish industry gets needed boost

July 24, 2010

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan – The local agriculture office here distributed over 600,000 bangus fingerlings to hundreds of fisherfolk in two barangays of the city sorely affected by recent fish kills.

The fingerlings were distributed among over 55 fishpond owners in Barangays Salapingeo and Lomboy whose supposed bangus produce were ravaged by the recent fish kill.

The huge volume of bangus fry given to the fish pond owners is part of the commitment of the city government and the local agriculture office to help breathe life back into local fish ponds.

The local government will also distribute more bangus fry to more fisherfolk in the city in the coming days in order to revive the vibrance of the fishing industry which is the major source of livelihood of thousands of individuals considering that it is a coastal area.

Dagupan City is known for being the major source of the so-called Bonoan bangus which is widely sold in most parts of Northern and Central Luzon. (Dexter A. See)

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/268626...s-needed-boost

EMB confirms CDO vs. firm still valid

888 DAGUPAN PROPERTIES CHECKED

THE Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is again poised to enforce its cease and desist order (CDO) that it issued against a company after it was reported that the latter has again resumed reclamation activities at a portion of the Calmay River along the Jose R. De Venecia Expressway Extension.

The CDO was issued on January 15, 2009 against 888 Dagupan Properties Inc., registered under the name of one William Chua and represented by a certain Catherine Barmachea.

“It is a defiance of a lawful order,” decried EMB Director Joel Salvador when he appeared before the city council of Dagupan on July 12 to enlighten the body on the continuing backfilling operations.

In an interview with the media later, Salvador said his office will seek the company’s immediate compliance to the CDO but failed to state categorically what other legal action would be taken for the company’s continued defiance.

The reclamation activities stopped after the CDO was initially served but were resumed earlier this year. It was again stopped after then City Legal Officer George Mejia conducted an ocular inspection on the site. Work again resumed on June 29 and has since been continuing with the delivery and filling in of gravel and sand.

Salvador also pointed out that that the company has yet to comply with the imposed penalty of P50,000 for its initial violation.

It was Salvador himself who personally served the CDO, along with the legal officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with the assistance of the Dagupan City Government then led by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr.

Answering questions from Councilor Karlos Liberato Reyna IV, chairman on the committee on environment , Salvador admitted his agency issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to the corporation for backfilling a portion of its property for land development but not for a reclamation project.

Salvador maintained that the project of the corporation falls under the definition of reclamation because “a portion of that property is submerged by water”.

Under DENR Administrative Order No. 2007-20 as amended, 888 Dagupan Properties Inc. or any private entity is not qualified to reclaim a property that is submerged by water, Salvador said.

LGU POWER

He added that only the government or an authorized agency and perhaps the local government unit can undertake reclamation or apply for reclamation, never a private individual.

Salvador clarified that if the project is not classified under reclamation, meaning the land was not submerged by water or that it is a fishpond, his office can allow backfilling but even this is subject to strict guidelines to ensure the protection of the environment.

He also clarified that if the EMB issues ECC to backfilling projects for land development, the local government is not precluded from holding applications for development permit if it sees it is contrary to existing drainage or development plans of a particular locality.

Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Belen Fernandez expressed fear that if the reclamation operation is not stopped, it could set a dangerous precedent and embolden others to reclaim portions of the Calmay River or other rivers.

Asked if the corporation can be ordered to re-haul the big volume of sand and gravel it backfilled in the area, Salvador admitted they have had no experience yet on such a case, but said they will study the matter in coordination with the city

“We issued the ECC for backfilling purposes not for reclamation, thus baka pupuwedeng ganoon ang mangyari that the sand and gravel can be hauled back,” Salvador said.

OTHER ECCs

At the same time, Salvador clarified that the ECCs his office issued to other property owners on Jose de Venecia Expressway Extension were in order as these were private properties and that the proponents for land developments followed the environmental measures recommended by his office to abate destruction of the environment.

Some of these titled properties, he said, were fishponds that were not submerged by water but just the same left the local government to determine on what to do with the other fishponds whose owners may also seek ECC for land development.

Councilor Jesus Canto asked the EMB to furnish the city with a list of applicants for ECC on both sides of the Jose R. De Venecia Expressway Extension for its proper guidance.—LM

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archiv...m-still-valid/

Lim asks DENR to stop reclamation

CITY MAYOR Benjamin Lim called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) last week to put a stop to the unauthorized reclamation and backfilling activities on a portion of the Calmay River along the Jose de Venecia expressway.

Lim said his administration will not tolerate any move that makes a mockery of his rallying cry that “our city is our shared responsibility” as he pointed out his campaign platform of good governance, environment-friendly and flood-free Dagupan.

Lim also vehemently denied that the erring company, 888 Dagupan Projects Inc.is operating under his protection as the activities resumed a day before the Lim administration took over.

The company, led by a William Chua of Mangaldan is reportedly behind the reclamation.

“Even if Mr. Chua is known to me personally, I would not hesitate to crack the whip on him for violating an ordinance enacted during my incumbency, prohibiting the filling up of fishponds in the area,” he explained.

The company was issued a cease and desist order by the DENR Environmental Management Bureau Regional on January 15, 2009 for its failure to comply with the provisions of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued to the firm.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod has determined in its inquiry into the matter that, indeed, the company is defying the cease and desist order issued by the DENR.

DENR-EMB Director Joel G. Salvador explained that under DENR Administrative Order No. 2009-07, no reclamation activity can be done by any individual because only the concerned government agencies are empowered to do it.

“Mr. Chua’s company is supposed to do backfilling in his supposed lot, but instead resorted to reclamation, which is unlawful,” he said.

Lim has also asked Salvador for a listing of all property owners using the necessary ECCs from the DENR as basis in pursuing their illegal reclamation projects.

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archiv...p-reclamation/

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DAGUPAN CITY, March 31 (PNA) — A city councilor here, who is a certified diving instructor, confirmed that there are many diving sites in Pangasinan, particularly along the province’s western part.

Dagupan City Councilor Karlos Liberato Reyna IV, president of the Tiblong Diving Association, said divers could explore the underwater sites in Burgos, Anda, Surip in Bani; Bolinao and the Hundred Islands off Alaminos City.

Unfortunately, according to Reyna, Dagupan is not a diving site, because the beach is of black sand and does not have any rock corals, which are what the divers really explore.

When candidates for Miss Earth visited the Hundred Islands late last year, Councilor Reyna was invited by Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza to guide the Miss Earth beauties on how to scuba dive.

”Since most of the Miss Earth candidates wanted to learn how to scuba dive, I taught them only the basics of diving just to showcase to them the underwater beauty of the Hundred Islands”, said Reyna is the grandson of former Dagupan City Mayor Liberato Reyna Sr., once a be-medalled swimmer of the University of Sto. Tomas.

Tiblong Diving Association, said Reyna, was organized not only to promote diving and tourism in Pangasinan, but also to support the campaign for environmental awareness on the need to protect underwater resources.

Legal officer and co-founder of Tiblong is Lawyer Jose Netu Tamayo, also a councilor of Dagupan City, who is an army reservist with the rank of captain. (PNA)

Source

DAGUPAN CITY, Jan. 6 (PNA)—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Public Highways (DPWH) are on a collision course over the construction of a new highway leading to Zambales from Pangasinan.

The DPWH is accusing the DENR of blocking the project but the latter insists that it is only doing its duties to protect the environment and has deployed its forest rangers in the area to prevent any earth-moving activity and the cutting of trees

Romeo Nalupa, community environment and natural resources officer based in Dagupan City appealed to the DPWH and the alleged contractor of the project, Marcial Punzal, to first comply with all the requirements before proceeding with the work.

“Actually, we have advised the DPWH and the alleged contractor to stop any earth-moving (activities) and cutting of trees within the proposed road until such time that the corresponding Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Special Land Use with Tree Cutting Permit are issued or approved by the DENR”, Nalupa said

If only they followed our instruction to stop any earth-moving activities and the cutting of trees, everything should have been in order, Nalupa stressed.

Nalupa specifically asked the DPWH and the contractor to refrain from doing anything on the project until the approval by the DENR of the ECC and the required permit

He said the DENR had done its part and conducted inventory on the trees to be affected, numbering around 200, but was caught flat-footed when the DPWH, through the contractor, began constructing the more than 30-meter wide road and already cut trees.

The trees include timber trees like lauaan, tanguili and other tree species.

He said the DPWH should stop the project until such time that all the requirements and authorization are properly approved by the DENR, stressing that there is no need to hurry.

“My men are there (watching the project) but they could not stay there 24 hours a day because the place is quite far,” he said.

The new highway is being carved on parts of public domain, following the alignment of an old mountain trail previously taken by trucks of timber concessionaires, located in the border areas of Pangasinan and Zambales.

Sloping operations on the proposed road were done early last year by the district highway engineering offices of both Pangasinan and Zambales.

The new road will commence from Aguilar, then to Mangatarem, Pangasinan before reaching the border of Zambales.

When completed, it will be the second highway that will link Pangasinan and Zambales after the existing Infanta (Pangasinan)-Narciso (Zambales) road. (PNA)

By Leonardo V. Micua

DAGUPAN CITY, Jan. 5 (PNA) — The city’s number one product, bangus (milkfish) is now recovering after it absorbed wholesale devastation from the havoc of super typhoon “Cosme” in May last year.

This was disclosed by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., who is himself one of the major producers of bangus in the city.

He said many of the bangus producers who have lost millions of pesos when typhoon “Cosme” unleashed powerful winds that destroyed fish pens have recovered a few months later.

Aside from this, many of the fishponds also overflowed their banks and let loose millions of pesos worth of bangus, Fernandez added.

In order to continue their production, local fishpond and pen owners had to source out their fingerlings elsewhere, even as far as Sarangani province.

The typhoon also exacted damages on bangus breeding stations in western Pangasinan from where bangus producers were normally sourcing out their fry and fingerlings.

Those who were able to immediately re-stock their fishponds after the typhoons were lucky because bangus was priced higher during the last holidays, Fernandez said.

After the typhoon, fishpond raisers had to start the cycle of production from fry to fingerlings and then to mature ones, he added.

Dagupan is where all bangus producers in Pangasinan are bringing their products for wholesale in the city’s fish market before these are shipped to various points in Luzon. (PNA)
FFC/LVM/rma

Motorcade held in Dagupan to drumbeat "Oplan: Iwas Paputok"

DAGUPAN CITY, Dec. 31 (PNA) — A motorcade was held in Dagupan on Tuesday, a day before New Year’s eve, to exhort the people to avoid exploding firecrackers when they welcome 2009.

Spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Dagupan East (RCDE), led by its incoming president Mario Lim, the activity was in support of the “Oplan: Iwas Paputok” launched both by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Former Dagupan City Councilor Alex de Venecia, RCDE spokesman, said the motorcade called on the people of Dagupan and Pangasinan to adopt the motto “Safety First” by not exploding firecrackers anymore to prevent injuries on New Year.

The motorcade was participated in by personnel from the police, Region 1 Medical Center, Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and the media.

De Venecia said their call for people not to explode firecracker is non-political and is being made with great respect to human lives that might be hurt or lost as a result of pyrotechnics.

“We call on people to practice safety first through the Rotary way,” said de Venecia as he anticipated lesser firecracker explosion this year.

For his part, Lim said the motorcade was so successful based on the number of people and civic clubs that participated.

Other rotarians who joined the motorcade called on Dagupan to adopt what they are doing in Davao City which is implementing zero firecracker explosion every New Year’s Day.

They said that if fire cracker explosion cannot really be avoided, there should be a designated firecracker zone in every barangay. (PNA)

By Venus May H. Sarmiento

Dagupan City (June 27) -- This city needs a three million peso budget for the repair of toppled streetlights when typhoon Cosme invaded Dagupan a month ago.

City officials as well as residents have noted that lights at the downtown area and at the two main bridges- Perez and Quintos-- during night time are quite dim as most electric posts and electrical connections were destroyed by the strong winds.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez expressed alarmed that a dim Dagupan could invite more 'akyat-bahay gangs' and more cases of theft and robbery.

"It is sad that streetlights in the downtown area and even in some barangays were destroyed. We have to act immediately to prevent crimes especially theft." Fernandez said.

Fernandez added that the city cannot just take this for granted considering a dozen or more typhoons are expected within the coming months.

City Engineer Virginia Rosario said her office has requested for an initial P600,000 for the repair of the lights, including some decorative lights.

Another cause of concern are the open manholes whose lid were either blown away during the typhoon or were stolen.

Rosario said of the 32 destroyed manholes, 14 have been repaired. More work on these entails a budget of P36,000, she added.

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines -- Four whale sharks known as “butanding” have been seen frolicking on the beach near the Tondaligan Park in the village of Boquig here.

Residents said they saw the butanding, also known locally as “supok,” early Tuesday and immediately reported the sighting to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Westly Rosario, BFAR Research Center chief, said the sharks (Rhincodon typus) could be the same as those that stayed for more than a month at the Lingayen Gulf in 2001.

Rosario said one of the sea creatures has a cut on its fin, similar to that on a whale shark sighted at the gulf seven years ago.

He said residents are guarding the large, slow-moving, filter feeding fish from poachers.

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Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Monday, May 16, 2011

DAGUPAN CITY, This city may have its own college or university soon as earlier done by two other cities in Pangasinan.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Monday, April 25, 2011

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Friday, October 8, 2010

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Friday, July 23, 2010

Monday, March 30, 2009

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Monday, January 5, 2009

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Motorcade held in Dagupan to drumbeat "Oplan: Iwas Paputok"

Friday, June 27, 2008

Tuesday, June 24, 2008