02 November 2005
PHOTO: No grave so hidden or insignificant
NO GRAVE SO HIDDEN OR INSIGNIFICANT. Tomorrow’s observance of All Souls Day at the cemeteries finds the same familiar scene of relatives looking for their departed ones’ graves even in the most remote or concealed of sites. A mother and her son do the candle-lighting ritual of devotion for their dead amid thick vines and foliage in this scene taken at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Dagupan. (PStar Photo by Butch F. Uka)
In less than a month: NBI solves slay of local doctor
THE National Bureau of Investigation added another feather to its cap in the province of Pangasinan when it solved the daring ambush-slay of a doctor in Calasiao town in the morning of Sept. 20 after arresting the hitman, his look-out and the person who contracted them for the job in one fell swoop.
Lawyer Jose Doloiras, agent-in-charge of the NBI in Dagupan City Wednesday announced the solution of the murder of Dr. Cerdan Lopez, 49, who was shot and killed in front of his wife, Dr. Amy Lopez, while the two were aboard a black Ford Escape SUV that stopped at a traffic intersection in Calasiao town.
The slaying of Lopez, who served at one time with the Region I Medical Center, was one of the more high-profile cases in Pangasinan ever handled by the NBI. It was solved in less than a month with the help of some witnesses who volunteered valuable information.
Lopez died while being operated on at the Villaflor Hospital but before he expired he was able to identify his in-laws as the probable masterminds before doctors who operated on him for several bullet wounds in different parts of his body.
The big break was scored by NBI agents when they arrested Renato Diaz, alias “Edu” of barangay Lucao, Dagupan City who had an alias warrant of arrest for frustrated murder before the sala of Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Emma Torio of Branch 41 in Dagupan City last Oct. 15.
Diaz confessed that he acted as look-out along with one Hendrix Fernandez when Lopez was shot dead by their companion Christopher Gemino, 23, of barangay Bagong Pag-asa, San Jacinto. The latter is now also in NBI custody after surrendering voluntarily.
At his NBI detention cell, Gemino said he was recruited by Diaz for the job. He said he did not know the victim but could not refuse the job offered by Diaz as he feared for his life.
Named by Diaz as the one who contacted him for the job was a certain Joselito Gajo, alias “Joey”, a member of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) in Dagupan City, who was also arrested, but who had volunteered to turn state witness.
Doloiras said it was Gajo who Dr. Cirilo Galvez, Jr. had contacted to find hired killers who will eliminate the victim, his brother-in-law. Galvez’ co-masterminds were his father, Cirilo Galvez, Sr. and his own daughter Chiarina Galvez, whom the former sent to hand over the contract money of P50,000 to Gajo in front of the Philippine National Bank in Lingayen.
The plan to kill Lopez was hatched in May this year but it was only on Sept. 20 that the same was executed when he and his wife were spotted at the Pangasinan Regency Hotel in Calasiao. He was shot in his car as he slowed down near the Chowking highway intersection after coming out from the hotel with his wife.
Of the P50,000 given to Gajo, an initial P15,000 was given to Diaz for his surveillance and mobilization expenses and the balance of P35,000 was handed after the execution of the job.
The NBI said that after the killing, Gajo, Geminiano, Fernandez and Diaz met at the residence of Diaz in Lucao, where they boastfully narrated how they killed Lopez. Gemino said as the hit man, he was given a share of P12,000.
Doloiras told newsmen that they were able to establish that the killing stemmed more from family problem, which could either be a land dispute or family relationship but added it is the victim’s wife, Dr. Amy Lopez, who can really say what was behind the crime.
Lawyer Jose Doloiras, agent-in-charge of the NBI in Dagupan City Wednesday announced the solution of the murder of Dr. Cerdan Lopez, 49, who was shot and killed in front of his wife, Dr. Amy Lopez, while the two were aboard a black Ford Escape SUV that stopped at a traffic intersection in Calasiao town.
The slaying of Lopez, who served at one time with the Region I Medical Center, was one of the more high-profile cases in Pangasinan ever handled by the NBI. It was solved in less than a month with the help of some witnesses who volunteered valuable information.
Lopez died while being operated on at the Villaflor Hospital but before he expired he was able to identify his in-laws as the probable masterminds before doctors who operated on him for several bullet wounds in different parts of his body.
The big break was scored by NBI agents when they arrested Renato Diaz, alias “Edu” of barangay Lucao, Dagupan City who had an alias warrant of arrest for frustrated murder before the sala of Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Emma Torio of Branch 41 in Dagupan City last Oct. 15.
Diaz confessed that he acted as look-out along with one Hendrix Fernandez when Lopez was shot dead by their companion Christopher Gemino, 23, of barangay Bagong Pag-asa, San Jacinto. The latter is now also in NBI custody after surrendering voluntarily.
At his NBI detention cell, Gemino said he was recruited by Diaz for the job. He said he did not know the victim but could not refuse the job offered by Diaz as he feared for his life.
Named by Diaz as the one who contacted him for the job was a certain Joselito Gajo, alias “Joey”, a member of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) in Dagupan City, who was also arrested, but who had volunteered to turn state witness.
Doloiras said it was Gajo who Dr. Cirilo Galvez, Jr. had contacted to find hired killers who will eliminate the victim, his brother-in-law. Galvez’ co-masterminds were his father, Cirilo Galvez, Sr. and his own daughter Chiarina Galvez, whom the former sent to hand over the contract money of P50,000 to Gajo in front of the Philippine National Bank in Lingayen.
The plan to kill Lopez was hatched in May this year but it was only on Sept. 20 that the same was executed when he and his wife were spotted at the Pangasinan Regency Hotel in Calasiao. He was shot in his car as he slowed down near the Chowking highway intersection after coming out from the hotel with his wife.
Of the P50,000 given to Gajo, an initial P15,000 was given to Diaz for his surveillance and mobilization expenses and the balance of P35,000 was handed after the execution of the job.
The NBI said that after the killing, Gajo, Geminiano, Fernandez and Diaz met at the residence of Diaz in Lucao, where they boastfully narrated how they killed Lopez. Gemino said as the hit man, he was given a share of P12,000.
Doloiras told newsmen that they were able to establish that the killing stemmed more from family problem, which could either be a land dispute or family relationship but added it is the victim’s wife, Dr. Amy Lopez, who can really say what was behind the crime.
…as PNP nabs suspect in lady judge’s killing
NATIVIDAD – The police believe the brutal slaying of Pasay City Regional Trial Court Judge Estrellita Paas inside their home here on Sep. 23 this year had been solved with the arrest of one of the suspects in Sto. Domingo, Lupao, Nueva Ecija.
The suspect was identified as Elmer Cabeles, of barangay Carusucan, Asingan, but residing with his wife, Aida, at their residence in barangay Poblacion West here. Cabeles was arrested in his hideout by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headed by Chief Inspector Ronald Gayo and of the Natividad Police headed by chief of police Senior Inspector Bernardo Aromin.
Sick and downed by malaria, the suspect was brought by CIDG agents to a hospital in Urdaneta City under guard.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation in Dagupan said it is happy that the police already found one of the suspects in the slaying of the judge.
The NBI was tapped by the family of the victim to join the police in investigating the case.
Lawyer Jose Doloiras, agent-in-charge of the NBI in Dagupan, said before the reported arrest of the suspect in Lupao, Nueva Ecija, they had invited the husband of the victim, retired Ombudsman Reinerio Paas to take polygraph test in order to clear all doubts about the slaying.
He said the retired Ombudsman agreed to take the test in order to help in the investigation of the case.
Investigation showed that on the day after Judge Paas was found hog-tied and bathing in a pool of her blood in their bathroom, Cabeles left for Asingan where he reportedly asked P5,000 from his father for him to go and look for job in either Mabalacat, Pampanga or Tarlac.
Policemen looked for him in Mabalacat and Tarlac but did not find him there. His wife Aida told the police later that her husband was actually in Lupao, Nueva Ecija.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao flew in to Natividad during the wake of the lady judge to order a speedy investigation of the case.
The police said several more persons involved in the slaying of the lady judge are still being hunted.
The suspect was identified as Elmer Cabeles, of barangay Carusucan, Asingan, but residing with his wife, Aida, at their residence in barangay Poblacion West here. Cabeles was arrested in his hideout by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headed by Chief Inspector Ronald Gayo and of the Natividad Police headed by chief of police Senior Inspector Bernardo Aromin.
Sick and downed by malaria, the suspect was brought by CIDG agents to a hospital in Urdaneta City under guard.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation in Dagupan said it is happy that the police already found one of the suspects in the slaying of the judge.
The NBI was tapped by the family of the victim to join the police in investigating the case.
Lawyer Jose Doloiras, agent-in-charge of the NBI in Dagupan, said before the reported arrest of the suspect in Lupao, Nueva Ecija, they had invited the husband of the victim, retired Ombudsman Reinerio Paas to take polygraph test in order to clear all doubts about the slaying.
He said the retired Ombudsman agreed to take the test in order to help in the investigation of the case.
Investigation showed that on the day after Judge Paas was found hog-tied and bathing in a pool of her blood in their bathroom, Cabeles left for Asingan where he reportedly asked P5,000 from his father for him to go and look for job in either Mabalacat, Pampanga or Tarlac.
Policemen looked for him in Mabalacat and Tarlac but did not find him there. His wife Aida told the police later that her husband was actually in Lupao, Nueva Ecija.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao flew in to Natividad during the wake of the lady judge to order a speedy investigation of the case.
The police said several more persons involved in the slaying of the lady judge are still being hunted.
BSL, DPWH in cordial talks over altered diversion road plan
CITY Mayor Benjamin S. Lim is still hoping against hope that the original plan for the construction of the Dawel-Pantal-Lucao diversion road can be pursued even as he solicited the commitment of the Department of Public Works and Highways to complete the project as early as possible.
“We should consider the urgency of the project. We must accomplish something in less than six months as much as possible, and let us commit ourselves to do this,” Lim said.
Lim, together with other city executives, met with DPWH Regional Director Fidel Ginez and other DPWH officials to reiterate the city government’s findings and recommendations for a direct linkup of the Phase II of the diversion road to the De Venecia Highway and for both parties to come up with a win-win solution over the proposal last Wednesday.
Lim said the city government is already undertaking initial action by identifying the parcels of land to be affected by the original road alignment.
“We have talked with some of the affected land owners. What we need to do is come up with estimates and present it to Speaker Jose de Venecia,” he declared, adding that an initial funding for the acquisition of road right-of-way would be enough to indicate DPWH commitment to the project.
The mayor disclosed that the management of Nelar’s Subdivision, which is one of the proposed exit points of the diversion road to the De Venecia highway, is more than willing to cooperate.
The city government last month discovered that the ongoing construction of the Dawel-Pantal-Lucao diversion or circumferential road had gone beyond the proposed road alignment and urged the DPWH to follow the original plan.
Ginez, for his part, explained that he was not aware of the agreement between the city government and project engineer Yolly Tangco on the road alignment indicating Phase II of the diversion road construction. He pointed out that he took over the project only early in 2004 and had not been party to the original proposal.
Ginez assured however that the proposed road alignment of the city government will be forwarded to the Bureau of Design (BOD) of DPWH for review and approval of that body.
Ginez suggested the creation of a team composed of representatives from the city government, DPWH, and BOD to survey the areas that will be traversed, and review the road design.
“We will then present the project proposal to the Speaker for funding,” Ginez declared.
Tangco suggested that two schemes will be forwarded to BOD, and let the latter decide which of the schemes would be more feasible to implement. She said the DPWH will again sit down with the city government for the final design.
During the talks, executive assistant Teddy Villamil of the mayor’s office presented the updated comparative study between the proposals of the city government and DPWH. (Sunshine D. Robles)
“We should consider the urgency of the project. We must accomplish something in less than six months as much as possible, and let us commit ourselves to do this,” Lim said.
Lim, together with other city executives, met with DPWH Regional Director Fidel Ginez and other DPWH officials to reiterate the city government’s findings and recommendations for a direct linkup of the Phase II of the diversion road to the De Venecia Highway and for both parties to come up with a win-win solution over the proposal last Wednesday.
Lim said the city government is already undertaking initial action by identifying the parcels of land to be affected by the original road alignment.
“We have talked with some of the affected land owners. What we need to do is come up with estimates and present it to Speaker Jose de Venecia,” he declared, adding that an initial funding for the acquisition of road right-of-way would be enough to indicate DPWH commitment to the project.
The mayor disclosed that the management of Nelar’s Subdivision, which is one of the proposed exit points of the diversion road to the De Venecia highway, is more than willing to cooperate.
The city government last month discovered that the ongoing construction of the Dawel-Pantal-Lucao diversion or circumferential road had gone beyond the proposed road alignment and urged the DPWH to follow the original plan.
Ginez, for his part, explained that he was not aware of the agreement between the city government and project engineer Yolly Tangco on the road alignment indicating Phase II of the diversion road construction. He pointed out that he took over the project only early in 2004 and had not been party to the original proposal.
Ginez assured however that the proposed road alignment of the city government will be forwarded to the Bureau of Design (BOD) of DPWH for review and approval of that body.
Ginez suggested the creation of a team composed of representatives from the city government, DPWH, and BOD to survey the areas that will be traversed, and review the road design.
“We will then present the project proposal to the Speaker for funding,” Ginez declared.
Tangco suggested that two schemes will be forwarded to BOD, and let the latter decide which of the schemes would be more feasible to implement. She said the DPWH will again sit down with the city government for the final design.
During the talks, executive assistant Teddy Villamil of the mayor’s office presented the updated comparative study between the proposals of the city government and DPWH. (Sunshine D. Robles)
2 found dead & rotting inside stolen tanker
BINALONAN – The body of a driver and his helper were found already rotting inside the compartment of a hijacked 10-wheeler gasoline tanker parked along the road shoulder facing north in barangay Sumabnit here Monday afternoon.
Police Chief Senior Inspector Roberto Manuel identified the fatalities as Romy Simplicio and Rudy Baldemor, driver and helper, respectively of the gasoline tanker with Plate No. 559 owned by couple Noni and Norma Salvejo of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya.
Manuel said both victims had bullet wounds in their heads and might have been shot dead somewhere else in the absence of bullet fragments, including empty shells, inside the front seat of the gasoline tanker.
Initial investigation conducted by the police here in coordination with the Nueva Vizcaya police office showed that the tanker left Bambang to fetch gasoline from Bataan last Oct. 22 and was expected to return home the following day.
The police theorized the gasoline tanker might have been hijacked on its way back from Bataan by unidentified men somewhere in Caranglan, Nueva Vizcaya and emptied of its content, an estimated P1.050 million worth of gasoline.
The owners of the vehicle told the police that their last contact with the two was through a text message from Simplicio that they were already at barangay Digdig in Caranglan, Nueva Ecija, on their way back to Bambang, after taking their dinner at barangay Sicsican in Talavera, Nueva Ecija.
They never reached Bambang as the vehicle they were riding may have been hijacked from there and driven to the north, stopping at the shoulder of the road in barangay Sumabnit, Binalonan, from where it was abandoned.
SPO1 Victorino Baybayan of the Binalonan police said a certain Jose Rodriguez called up the police after he smelled foul order emanating from the tanker which may have been abandoned along the road shoulder possibly the day before. When they forcibly opened it, they found the body of Simplicio and Baldemor inside the compartment of the tanker at the back of the driver’s seat. The tanker was emptied of its gasoline cargo.
A citizen, Noel Fiesta, 19, told the police that the same gasoline tanker overtook his vehicle at 5 a.m. of Oct. 23 and saw it stopping in front of Nestle warehouse along the highway in barangay Sumabnit, where two persons whom he presumed to be the driver and helper alighted. (PNA)
Police Chief Senior Inspector Roberto Manuel identified the fatalities as Romy Simplicio and Rudy Baldemor, driver and helper, respectively of the gasoline tanker with Plate No. 559 owned by couple Noni and Norma Salvejo of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya.
Manuel said both victims had bullet wounds in their heads and might have been shot dead somewhere else in the absence of bullet fragments, including empty shells, inside the front seat of the gasoline tanker.
Initial investigation conducted by the police here in coordination with the Nueva Vizcaya police office showed that the tanker left Bambang to fetch gasoline from Bataan last Oct. 22 and was expected to return home the following day.
The police theorized the gasoline tanker might have been hijacked on its way back from Bataan by unidentified men somewhere in Caranglan, Nueva Vizcaya and emptied of its content, an estimated P1.050 million worth of gasoline.
The owners of the vehicle told the police that their last contact with the two was through a text message from Simplicio that they were already at barangay Digdig in Caranglan, Nueva Ecija, on their way back to Bambang, after taking their dinner at barangay Sicsican in Talavera, Nueva Ecija.
They never reached Bambang as the vehicle they were riding may have been hijacked from there and driven to the north, stopping at the shoulder of the road in barangay Sumabnit, Binalonan, from where it was abandoned.
SPO1 Victorino Baybayan of the Binalonan police said a certain Jose Rodriguez called up the police after he smelled foul order emanating from the tanker which may have been abandoned along the road shoulder possibly the day before. When they forcibly opened it, they found the body of Simplicio and Baldemor inside the compartment of the tanker at the back of the driver’s seat. The tanker was emptied of its gasoline cargo.
A citizen, Noel Fiesta, 19, told the police that the same gasoline tanker overtook his vehicle at 5 a.m. of Oct. 23 and saw it stopping in front of Nestle warehouse along the highway in barangay Sumabnit, where two persons whom he presumed to be the driver and helper alighted. (PNA)
P10 T cash gift now ready for prov’l workers
LINGAYEN – If you see smiling faces of provincial employees nowadays, that’s because funds for their 13th month pay and cash gift of P10,000 have been assured and ready for release by the first week of December.
Provincial Budget Officer Hilaria J. Claveria said the province has set aside P69.68 million to cover payment of the 13th month pay and bonuses which has been deposited in the bank.
She said the province’s employees used to receive P3,000 cash gift but Gov. Victor E. Agbayani directed that an additional P5,000 cash be given starting last year. The amount of P23,413,105.01 was appropriated in the annual budget for the 13th month pay. Claveria said the governor then submitted three supplemental budgets which the Sangguniang Panlalawigan subsequently approved to cover the cash-gifts.
The first supplemental budget amounted to P20,325,784; the second totaled P8,948,050 and the third amounted to P17,000.000 or a total of P69,686,969.01.
Earlier this year, the provincial employees received extra benefits in terms of partial monetization of their leave credits.
Agbayani earlier submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the proposed annual budget for fiscal year 2006 amounting to P1,084,333,320.00 or P83.70 million higher than this year’s budget.
Claveria said the proposed 2006 budget included the additional cash gift and benefits for employees.
Next year’s budget will be derived from P49.23 million projected tax revenues and P1.03 billion from general income accounts.
The amount of P474,486,545.00 is allocated for personal services which will cover salaries and wages, clothing allowances, insurances, year-end bonus, cash gifts and other benefits of the employees. (Jennifer P. Domantay/PIO)
Provincial Budget Officer Hilaria J. Claveria said the province has set aside P69.68 million to cover payment of the 13th month pay and bonuses which has been deposited in the bank.
She said the province’s employees used to receive P3,000 cash gift but Gov. Victor E. Agbayani directed that an additional P5,000 cash be given starting last year. The amount of P23,413,105.01 was appropriated in the annual budget for the 13th month pay. Claveria said the governor then submitted three supplemental budgets which the Sangguniang Panlalawigan subsequently approved to cover the cash-gifts.
The first supplemental budget amounted to P20,325,784; the second totaled P8,948,050 and the third amounted to P17,000.000 or a total of P69,686,969.01.
Earlier this year, the provincial employees received extra benefits in terms of partial monetization of their leave credits.
Agbayani earlier submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the proposed annual budget for fiscal year 2006 amounting to P1,084,333,320.00 or P83.70 million higher than this year’s budget.
Claveria said the proposed 2006 budget included the additional cash gift and benefits for employees.
Next year’s budget will be derived from P49.23 million projected tax revenues and P1.03 billion from general income accounts.
The amount of P474,486,545.00 is allocated for personal services which will cover salaries and wages, clothing allowances, insurances, year-end bonus, cash gifts and other benefits of the employees. (Jennifer P. Domantay/PIO)
New city fire chief sworn in
THE Dagupan City Fire Station (DCFS) has a new fire marshal.Chief Inspector Manuel M. Manuel assumed the post last Monday, replacing Senior Inspector Jesus Orpilla during a formal turnover ceremony at the DCFS.
Orpilla was designated chief operations officer at the Provincial Fire Marshal Office based in Mangaldan.
Manuel was chief supply officer of the Bureau of Fire Protection headquarters before his posting in Dagupan.
City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim who witnessed the station turnover expressed support to Manuel as he challenged him to perform better than his predecessor.
“A fireman’s job is not only to protect people and property from accidents but also to properly implement fire safety measures through strict and thorough inspection of establishments and residence,” Lim declared while adding the one of the common causes of fire incidents is the overloading of electrical connections.
According to the mayor, the submission of complete electrical plan and inspection is a requirement among businesses and homes in more developed countries.
Lim cited his observation during a visit to Milpitas City in California where firefighters responded to a fire call in less than one minute.
“A change in leadership means a need to strive for excellence that is why it is your responsibility to respond immediately during fire situations and do not reason out that the lack of water or lack of gasoline delays your response,” he stressed.
Lim added Dagupan City is fortunate because volunteer fire brigades have been helping regular firemen since 20 years ago.He noted that firemen do not only serve in their area of jurisdiction but are called on to respond anywhere in the Philippines.
Most wanted man in Pangasinan falls
LINGAYEN --The long arm of the law finally caught up with one of the most wanted men in Pangasinan who was arrested in faraway barangay Pinatubo, Sarangani in Davao del Sur.
Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested 22-year old .Mark Lester Supangan of Alaminos City for 34 counts of rape based on an alias warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 51 in Alaminos where he is also facing a carnapping with homicide charge.
Supangan was presented to Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao when he was in Lingayen Friday as guest speaker during the inauguration of a newly constructed grandstand at the PNP Provincial Office here.
Also presented to Lomibao were Elmer Cabiles, 36, andJornald Vargas, alias "Boyet", 26, who were arrested by teams from the Natividad and Balungao police, and CIDG agents led by Chief Inspector Ronald Gayo in connection with the brutal slaying of Pasig City Regional Trial Court Judge Estrellita Paas in her home in Natividad on Sept. 23 this year.
Police Provincial Director Alan Purisima said Supangan carries a P400,000 on his head with the amount going to the person who furnished information that led to the arrest of the suspect.
A CIDG team dispatched by CIDG Provincial chief Paterno Orduña with the assistance of the Sarangani police arrested Supangan in his place of employment where he was working as a computer repairman.Supangan fled to Sarangani when he was charged with several counts of rape based on the complaint filed by a girl he said he eloped with when he was yet 17 years old. The girl was only 15 years old at that time.
In an interview, Supangan denied he raped the girl he was deeply in love with, saying the girl went with him voluntarily. He learned that the girl married later with another man. He admitted that he too had a family in Sarangani.
He said he was repairing a computer when two policemen arrived and told him the town mayor wanted to see him as he wanted him to repair a computer in his office. He left his work and when he stepped out from their shop, there were other policemen who surrounded and arrested him.
Supangan denied using an alias in Sarangani to conceal his identity. (PNA)
Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested 22-year old .Mark Lester Supangan of Alaminos City for 34 counts of rape based on an alias warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 51 in Alaminos where he is also facing a carnapping with homicide charge.
Supangan was presented to Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao when he was in Lingayen Friday as guest speaker during the inauguration of a newly constructed grandstand at the PNP Provincial Office here.
Also presented to Lomibao were Elmer Cabiles, 36, andJornald Vargas, alias "Boyet", 26, who were arrested by teams from the Natividad and Balungao police, and CIDG agents led by Chief Inspector Ronald Gayo in connection with the brutal slaying of Pasig City Regional Trial Court Judge Estrellita Paas in her home in Natividad on Sept. 23 this year.
Police Provincial Director Alan Purisima said Supangan carries a P400,000 on his head with the amount going to the person who furnished information that led to the arrest of the suspect.
A CIDG team dispatched by CIDG Provincial chief Paterno Orduña with the assistance of the Sarangani police arrested Supangan in his place of employment where he was working as a computer repairman.Supangan fled to Sarangani when he was charged with several counts of rape based on the complaint filed by a girl he said he eloped with when he was yet 17 years old. The girl was only 15 years old at that time.
In an interview, Supangan denied he raped the girl he was deeply in love with, saying the girl went with him voluntarily. He learned that the girl married later with another man. He admitted that he too had a family in Sarangani.
He said he was repairing a computer when two policemen arrived and told him the town mayor wanted to see him as he wanted him to repair a computer in his office. He left his work and when he stepped out from their shop, there were other policemen who surrounded and arrested him.
Supangan denied using an alias in Sarangani to conceal his identity. (PNA)
Push promotion of Pangasinan culture
LINGAYEN – The provincial government will pursue more programs and projects to promote tourism, culture and arts in the province.
In a meeting held Thursday at the Urduja House with officers and members of the reconstituted Provincial Culture and Arts Council, Gov. Victor E. Agbayani stressed the need to formulate vision and mission in which tourism, culture and arts complement each other.
This, he said, is the best way to preserve Pangasinan’s tangible and intangible heritage and make Pangasinenses better understand themselves towards promoting a distinct and true Pangasinan identity.
The provincial chief executive urged the council to first concentrate on three matters namely; creation of tasks forces that will take charge of the survey, Pista’y Dayat and the proposed establishment of a Provincial Museum originally proposed at the Casa Real here or in the present Sangguniang Bayan Hall.
The survey will serve as a form of research on past artists, musicians, literature, dances among others not commonly known by many while the proposed Provincial Museum will serve as a gallery where Pangasinan work of art and heritage can be displayed.
The provincial government is currently undertaking actual research thru the internet in coordination with the government of Spain on the exact date of the founding of Pangasinan.
In a meeting held Thursday at the Urduja House with officers and members of the reconstituted Provincial Culture and Arts Council, Gov. Victor E. Agbayani stressed the need to formulate vision and mission in which tourism, culture and arts complement each other.
This, he said, is the best way to preserve Pangasinan’s tangible and intangible heritage and make Pangasinenses better understand themselves towards promoting a distinct and true Pangasinan identity.
The provincial chief executive urged the council to first concentrate on three matters namely; creation of tasks forces that will take charge of the survey, Pista’y Dayat and the proposed establishment of a Provincial Museum originally proposed at the Casa Real here or in the present Sangguniang Bayan Hall.
The survey will serve as a form of research on past artists, musicians, literature, dances among others not commonly known by many while the proposed Provincial Museum will serve as a gallery where Pangasinan work of art and heritage can be displayed.
The provincial government is currently undertaking actual research thru the internet in coordination with the government of Spain on the exact date of the founding of Pangasinan.
Basbas ready for Undas
THE Dagupan City Police Station (DCPS) is all set to ensure peace and order and smooth traffic flow during the observance of All Saints Day on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Police Supt. Edgar O. Basbas, chief of police, presented the security plan dubbed Oplan Kaluluwa 2005 during the department heads weekly meeting early last week.
Basbas stressed that the DCPS will strictly implement the ban on gambling and bringing of alcoholic drinks inside cemeteries. A similar strict monitoring and ban will be imposed against the carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons in cemetery areas.
He said maximum police visibility and presence will be the order of the day thru the establishment of police assistance centers and motorists assistance centers, deployment of mobile patrols and the regular police beat system with two cops pounding the beat on the sidewalks in the business centers at any given time.
The public assistance centers will be set up in the six cemeteries of the city: Eternal Gardens, Roman Catholic Cemetery, Independent Cemetery, Chinese cemetery, Bonuan cemetery and Mt. Zion cemetery.
Motorists can seek help at the Police Community Precincts (PCPs) in A. B. Fernandez Avenue, Mayombo, Arellano, Bolosan, Lucao, Bonuan and Malued.
In coordination with the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), Basbas said a traffic rerouting scheme will be implemented for the convenience of motorists and the riding public.
Among volunteer groups that will augment the forces of the DCPS are Deltacom, Spectrum , Police Hotline Aksyon ng Bayan, Inc. (PHABI), BRADI, Riders Association of Dagupan Inc. (RADI), Department of Interior and Local Government Action Kabayan and Guardian. (Sunshine D. Robles)
Police Supt. Edgar O. Basbas, chief of police, presented the security plan dubbed Oplan Kaluluwa 2005 during the department heads weekly meeting early last week.
Basbas stressed that the DCPS will strictly implement the ban on gambling and bringing of alcoholic drinks inside cemeteries. A similar strict monitoring and ban will be imposed against the carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons in cemetery areas.
He said maximum police visibility and presence will be the order of the day thru the establishment of police assistance centers and motorists assistance centers, deployment of mobile patrols and the regular police beat system with two cops pounding the beat on the sidewalks in the business centers at any given time.
The public assistance centers will be set up in the six cemeteries of the city: Eternal Gardens, Roman Catholic Cemetery, Independent Cemetery, Chinese cemetery, Bonuan cemetery and Mt. Zion cemetery.
Motorists can seek help at the Police Community Precincts (PCPs) in A. B. Fernandez Avenue, Mayombo, Arellano, Bolosan, Lucao, Bonuan and Malued.
In coordination with the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), Basbas said a traffic rerouting scheme will be implemented for the convenience of motorists and the riding public.
Among volunteer groups that will augment the forces of the DCPS are Deltacom, Spectrum , Police Hotline Aksyon ng Bayan, Inc. (PHABI), BRADI, Riders Association of Dagupan Inc. (RADI), Department of Interior and Local Government Action Kabayan and Guardian. (Sunshine D. Robles)
Hospital waste handling discussed in workshop
HOSPITAL wastes management officers in Dagupan City enhanced their knowledge on the disposal of hazardous wastes during a seminar workshop conducted by the City
Health Office last Tuesday at the sangguniang panlungsod session hall.
Center for Health Development Sanitary Engineer Ashley Antonio lectured on the principles and strategies of waste minimization; color coding scheme on waste segregation; importance of waste segregation; requirements for packaging of wastes; storage containers; collection and transport; consignment note and treatment technologies, among others.
“Waste segregation is vital because of its public health significance; facilitation of waste recovery and recycling; minimization of wastes that need disinfections; and increase on productivity and cost savings.” Antonio stressed.
She added that hospitals must follow a color-coded scheme in the disposal of wastes thus: black for non-infectious dry waste; green, non-infectious wet waste; yellow, infectious and pathological waste; yellow with black band, chemical waste and waste with heavy metal; red for sharps and pressurized containers; and orange for radioactive waste.
The city health office which coordinated the event said it is important to improve the waste management policy of hospitals, medical clinics and health care facilities “because hospital wastes can cause the outbreak of communicable diseases and it is dangerous if it finds its way into the river system based on a report of the World Health Organization,”
For many years now, some big hospitals in Dagupan have been suspected as somehow disposing medical facility wastes along with ordinary garbage or thru some other means as none of them have visible waste disposal machines or facilities, not even incinerators.
Republic Act 6969 or the Toxic Substance and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act Hazardous Waste Registration was discussed by Zenaida Cortez of the EMB of the DENR.
“In the past, many hospitals simply dumped all waste steams together, from reception area trash to operating room waste, and burned them in incinerators,” according to Cortez.
Incineration however has been found to be the leading source of highly toxic dioxin; furans, mercury, lead and other dangerous air pollutants that have serious adverse consequences on worker safety, public health and environment.
Recent developments, according to Cortez, have moved policymakers and sectors of society to push for the banning of incineration because it is not considered an option for proper waste disposal.
The EMB resource speaker also explained the environmental regulations governing hospitals namely the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 or Republic Act 8749; Classification of Human Wastes based on R.A. 6969; Waste Generators; and the Clean Water Act of 2004 or R.A. 9275. (Sheila H. Aquino)
Health Office last Tuesday at the sangguniang panlungsod session hall.
Center for Health Development Sanitary Engineer Ashley Antonio lectured on the principles and strategies of waste minimization; color coding scheme on waste segregation; importance of waste segregation; requirements for packaging of wastes; storage containers; collection and transport; consignment note and treatment technologies, among others.
“Waste segregation is vital because of its public health significance; facilitation of waste recovery and recycling; minimization of wastes that need disinfections; and increase on productivity and cost savings.” Antonio stressed.
She added that hospitals must follow a color-coded scheme in the disposal of wastes thus: black for non-infectious dry waste; green, non-infectious wet waste; yellow, infectious and pathological waste; yellow with black band, chemical waste and waste with heavy metal; red for sharps and pressurized containers; and orange for radioactive waste.
The city health office which coordinated the event said it is important to improve the waste management policy of hospitals, medical clinics and health care facilities “because hospital wastes can cause the outbreak of communicable diseases and it is dangerous if it finds its way into the river system based on a report of the World Health Organization,”
For many years now, some big hospitals in Dagupan have been suspected as somehow disposing medical facility wastes along with ordinary garbage or thru some other means as none of them have visible waste disposal machines or facilities, not even incinerators.
Republic Act 6969 or the Toxic Substance and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act Hazardous Waste Registration was discussed by Zenaida Cortez of the EMB of the DENR.
“In the past, many hospitals simply dumped all waste steams together, from reception area trash to operating room waste, and burned them in incinerators,” according to Cortez.
Incineration however has been found to be the leading source of highly toxic dioxin; furans, mercury, lead and other dangerous air pollutants that have serious adverse consequences on worker safety, public health and environment.
Recent developments, according to Cortez, have moved policymakers and sectors of society to push for the banning of incineration because it is not considered an option for proper waste disposal.
The EMB resource speaker also explained the environmental regulations governing hospitals namely the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 or Republic Act 8749; Classification of Human Wastes based on R.A. 6969; Waste Generators; and the Clean Water Act of 2004 or R.A. 9275. (Sheila H. Aquino)
Kansas-based med mission wraps up 66 free surgeries
INDIGENT Dagupeños and Pangasinenses expressed gratitude to the members of Medical Missions Foundation based in Kansas City, USA for the free medical consultation and surgical operation conducted by the visiting group from October 24 to 27 at the Region I Medical Center.
The Medical Missions Foundation headed by Dr. Bong Tumanut conducted surgeries on tumor, surgery on breast, head/neck, and skin; general surgery on gall bladder and hernias; gynecologic surgery on uterine and ovarian tumors; cataracts; strabismus; cleft lips; cleft palates; and thyroid surgery.
A total of 66 patients benefited from major operations, 20 from minor operations and 20 from cataract operations. The City Health Office handled the post surgery follow up of the patients.
The foundation brought its own facilities, supplies and medicines and also provided the patients’ blood examination, chest X-ray, ECG, and free antibiotics.
This is the second time the Medical Missions Foundation, whose members are trained in the United States, conducted such a medical mission in Dagupan City in coordination with RIMC, City Health Office and Lion’s Club International based in Kansas.
Local medical practitioners of Dagupan and Pangasinan, and surgeons of the RIMC also took part in the medical activity.
The Medical Missions Foundation headed by Dr. Bong Tumanut conducted surgeries on tumor, surgery on breast, head/neck, and skin; general surgery on gall bladder and hernias; gynecologic surgery on uterine and ovarian tumors; cataracts; strabismus; cleft lips; cleft palates; and thyroid surgery.
A total of 66 patients benefited from major operations, 20 from minor operations and 20 from cataract operations. The City Health Office handled the post surgery follow up of the patients.
The foundation brought its own facilities, supplies and medicines and also provided the patients’ blood examination, chest X-ray, ECG, and free antibiotics.
This is the second time the Medical Missions Foundation, whose members are trained in the United States, conducted such a medical mission in Dagupan City in coordination with RIMC, City Health Office and Lion’s Club International based in Kansas.
Local medical practitioners of Dagupan and Pangasinan, and surgeons of the RIMC also took part in the medical activity.
Gov’t doc: Don’t hunt, hurt migratory birds
A GOVERNMENT doctor here has called on the public not to disturb or harm migratory birds dropping by their areas as these may force them to mingle with local fowls thus infecting the latter with the reported avian flu virus.
The call was made by Dr. Jesus Canto, chief of the government-owned Region 1 Medical Center in the face of reports that migratory birds swarm in shallow fishponds in the province of Pangasinan in order to eat fish, especially at this time of the year.
The birds include flocks of herons and egrets that forage for food in the form of left-over fish in fishponds just after harvest not only in Dagupan but also in the towns of Binmaley, Lingayen, Sual, Alaminos, Anda, Bolinao and Bani.
“If these birds are the ones coming from Vietnam, China, Thailand and other countries where avian flu had been reported , the best thing for us to do is to stop hunting and eating them,” Canto said.
He said disturbing the birds as they land and look for food might force them to move more inland and in communities where they may come in contact with local birds and fowls, increasing the possibility of infection and contamination.
The Provincial Health Office and rural health units have been urged to contact local government units in places which these migratory birds are known to frequent seasonally so that they can alert their citizens not to harm these birds, he added.
Canto assured however that there is nothing to worry yet because the H5NI virus being carried by the migratory birds has not yet been fully proven to be harmful to humans at this stage.
This only becomes harmful, he added, when the H5NI virus comes in contact with the local influenza virus, in which case it could mutate to become a virus that is harmful to human.
Canto admitted that this early, the R1MC is already making preparation for the possible onslaught of the avian flu in the Philippines on a worst case scenario.
He revealed that they are making initial coordination with the Contagious Disease
Control Center in Chicago U.S.A., including the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) here in the country to seek information on where they can buy prophylaxis or medicines with which to treat avian flu.
He said he was informed that they had developed a vaccine in the U.S. but this is costly and may not be available on quick notice.
The call was made by Dr. Jesus Canto, chief of the government-owned Region 1 Medical Center in the face of reports that migratory birds swarm in shallow fishponds in the province of Pangasinan in order to eat fish, especially at this time of the year.
The birds include flocks of herons and egrets that forage for food in the form of left-over fish in fishponds just after harvest not only in Dagupan but also in the towns of Binmaley, Lingayen, Sual, Alaminos, Anda, Bolinao and Bani.
“If these birds are the ones coming from Vietnam, China, Thailand and other countries where avian flu had been reported , the best thing for us to do is to stop hunting and eating them,” Canto said.
He said disturbing the birds as they land and look for food might force them to move more inland and in communities where they may come in contact with local birds and fowls, increasing the possibility of infection and contamination.
The Provincial Health Office and rural health units have been urged to contact local government units in places which these migratory birds are known to frequent seasonally so that they can alert their citizens not to harm these birds, he added.
Canto assured however that there is nothing to worry yet because the H5NI virus being carried by the migratory birds has not yet been fully proven to be harmful to humans at this stage.
This only becomes harmful, he added, when the H5NI virus comes in contact with the local influenza virus, in which case it could mutate to become a virus that is harmful to human.
Canto admitted that this early, the R1MC is already making preparation for the possible onslaught of the avian flu in the Philippines on a worst case scenario.
He revealed that they are making initial coordination with the Contagious Disease
Control Center in Chicago U.S.A., including the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) here in the country to seek information on where they can buy prophylaxis or medicines with which to treat avian flu.
He said he was informed that they had developed a vaccine in the U.S. but this is costly and may not be available on quick notice.
BSL starts interview of 18 final aspirants
CITY Mayor Benjamin S. Lim is now screening the qualified candidates for the U.S. study exchange program that starts sometime in May 2006.
The City Schools Division has submitted 18 qualified students from various schools in the city who are individually interviewed by the mayor. Twelve of the eighteen will officially become student exchange scholars to the US, Lim said.
After the interview of each qualified student, the mayor and the city’s student exchange coordinating committee, in consultation with the City Schools Division, will deliberate on the official list of students for the study exchange.
The qualified high school students are from Mother Goose Special School System Inc. (3), Dominican School (3), St. Albert the Great School (3), Pangasinan Universal Institute (3), La Salette School (3), University of Pangasinan (1), St. John’s Cathedral School (1) and Dagupan City National High School (1).
Lim stressed that the program will allow the students to experience the public/private educational system of Milpitas.
The criteria set by the city’s Student Exchange Coordinating Committee require that the candidates must be at least 14 years old, must have a general weighted average of 85 percent or above (30%); demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities (20%); has excellent oral and written communication skills in English (20%); has demonstrated good manners and right conduct (20%); and actively taken part in extra-curricular activities (10%). (Sunshine D. Robles)
The City Schools Division has submitted 18 qualified students from various schools in the city who are individually interviewed by the mayor. Twelve of the eighteen will officially become student exchange scholars to the US, Lim said.
After the interview of each qualified student, the mayor and the city’s student exchange coordinating committee, in consultation with the City Schools Division, will deliberate on the official list of students for the study exchange.
The qualified high school students are from Mother Goose Special School System Inc. (3), Dominican School (3), St. Albert the Great School (3), Pangasinan Universal Institute (3), La Salette School (3), University of Pangasinan (1), St. John’s Cathedral School (1) and Dagupan City National High School (1).
Lim stressed that the program will allow the students to experience the public/private educational system of Milpitas.
The criteria set by the city’s Student Exchange Coordinating Committee require that the candidates must be at least 14 years old, must have a general weighted average of 85 percent or above (30%); demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities (20%); has excellent oral and written communication skills in English (20%); has demonstrated good manners and right conduct (20%); and actively taken part in extra-curricular activities (10%). (Sunshine D. Robles)
De Venecia on snap poll: ‘No way, Jose!’
BINMALEY-- House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. personally dismissed the snap election being called by members of the opposition who wanted President Arroyo to resign from office as a "non-issue".
Speaking to newsmen shortly after inaugurating the newly constructed municipal building of Binmaley, de Venecia said there will be no snap election as the same is not authorized under the Constitution.
"It is not authorized by law and if there will be a snap election, Congress must approve a billauthorizing the holding of a snap election and providing funds for the conduct of the same," he said.
He estimated the huge expenses in holding such political exercise at from three to five billion pesos which the country at this time of economic crisis can not afford to produce.
Calling the call of the opposition not only unconstitutional but also "non-issue", de Veneciaappealed to the opposition to stop demanding snap election because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro are not resigning from their posts."Let us not confuse anymore the Filipino people with statements that have no chance ofreaching first base," de Venecia begged the opposition.
In the case of President Arroyo, de Venecia said, she agreed that she will honor whatever constitutional provisions that will be included in the transitory provision regarding tenure of office of officials and provided that the same will be approved by the Filipino people.
At the same time, de Venecia laughed off the rumor that former President Fidel V. Ramos is involved in a conspiracy to mount a coup against President Arroyo.
Dismissing the rumor as another attempt to sow political intrigue by the opposition, deVenecia said he knows former President Ramos as one of the closest advisers of President Arroyo.
Ramos is the emeritus chairman of the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats, the ruling PhilippineParty while the chairman is President Arroyo herself. De Venecia is the party president.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after inaugurating the newly constructed municipal building of Binmaley, de Venecia said there will be no snap election as the same is not authorized under the Constitution.
"It is not authorized by law and if there will be a snap election, Congress must approve a billauthorizing the holding of a snap election and providing funds for the conduct of the same," he said.
He estimated the huge expenses in holding such political exercise at from three to five billion pesos which the country at this time of economic crisis can not afford to produce.
Calling the call of the opposition not only unconstitutional but also "non-issue", de Veneciaappealed to the opposition to stop demanding snap election because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro are not resigning from their posts."Let us not confuse anymore the Filipino people with statements that have no chance ofreaching first base," de Venecia begged the opposition.
In the case of President Arroyo, de Venecia said, she agreed that she will honor whatever constitutional provisions that will be included in the transitory provision regarding tenure of office of officials and provided that the same will be approved by the Filipino people.
At the same time, de Venecia laughed off the rumor that former President Fidel V. Ramos is involved in a conspiracy to mount a coup against President Arroyo.
Dismissing the rumor as another attempt to sow political intrigue by the opposition, deVenecia said he knows former President Ramos as one of the closest advisers of President Arroyo.
Ramos is the emeritus chairman of the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats, the ruling PhilippineParty while the chairman is President Arroyo herself. De Venecia is the party president.
NBI asked to probe Pangasinan ambush
LINGAYEN – The live-in partner of the driver of a passenger van who was killed in an ambush last October 22 in barangay Seselangen, Sual, along with one of his passengers,, has asked the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the killing.
Now confined at the Pangasinan Provincial Jail, Nena Bautista, once tagged as “shabu queen” of Alaminos City, has sought justice for the slaying of Allan de Guzman, 30, her live-in-partner for five years, till she was arrested last year.
Also killed in that incident was Gheorge Gringo Rivera, 18, a student, of Poblacion, Alaminos, son of a city councilor of Alaminos.
Wounded were Elizabeth Caaya, 60; Jell Abarra, 28; Ricky Catabay, 17, and Lilibeth dela Cruz. Three other passengers of the van were unscathed.
Bautista said she applied for a court order allowing her to go home to Alaminos City to see her dead live-in partner and to preside over his burial. In their five-year union, they did not have a child.
She said she will talk to the father of Rivera to persuade him to support her request for the NBI to investigate the incident to pave the way for the arrest of the perpetrators, including the mastermind.
The ambushers were seven hooded men armed with high-caliber firearms who were riding on two vans without plate numbers. The van was proceeding to Alaminos from Dagupan City when the gunmen opened fire.
The police initially said it was de Guzman who was really the target of the ambushers based on the trajectory of the bullets. A background check on him showed that he was involved in illegal drugs.
Bautista denied this, saying that if that were true, he should have had a lot of money but claimed he was always penniless every time he visits her at the Pangasinan Provincial Jail.
The police tagged de Guzman as the number one drug personality in Alaminos today.
He said the widow of the victim cooperated with the NBI all the way for the solution of the case even if her own close relatives would later turn out to be involved.
Mrs. Lopez’ family members had been tagged suspects from the start based on the entries in the prescription pad found by investigators in the victim’s car where he wrote that his father-in-law threatened to kill him on several occasions.
The widow corroborated this saying that his brother and father nurtured ill motives against her husband and wanted to see him dead. (PNA)
Now confined at the Pangasinan Provincial Jail, Nena Bautista, once tagged as “shabu queen” of Alaminos City, has sought justice for the slaying of Allan de Guzman, 30, her live-in-partner for five years, till she was arrested last year.
Also killed in that incident was Gheorge Gringo Rivera, 18, a student, of Poblacion, Alaminos, son of a city councilor of Alaminos.
Wounded were Elizabeth Caaya, 60; Jell Abarra, 28; Ricky Catabay, 17, and Lilibeth dela Cruz. Three other passengers of the van were unscathed.
Bautista said she applied for a court order allowing her to go home to Alaminos City to see her dead live-in partner and to preside over his burial. In their five-year union, they did not have a child.
She said she will talk to the father of Rivera to persuade him to support her request for the NBI to investigate the incident to pave the way for the arrest of the perpetrators, including the mastermind.
The ambushers were seven hooded men armed with high-caliber firearms who were riding on two vans without plate numbers. The van was proceeding to Alaminos from Dagupan City when the gunmen opened fire.
The police initially said it was de Guzman who was really the target of the ambushers based on the trajectory of the bullets. A background check on him showed that he was involved in illegal drugs.
Bautista denied this, saying that if that were true, he should have had a lot of money but claimed he was always penniless every time he visits her at the Pangasinan Provincial Jail.
The police tagged de Guzman as the number one drug personality in Alaminos today.
He said the widow of the victim cooperated with the NBI all the way for the solution of the case even if her own close relatives would later turn out to be involved.
Mrs. Lopez’ family members had been tagged suspects from the start based on the entries in the prescription pad found by investigators in the victim’s car where he wrote that his father-in-law threatened to kill him on several occasions.
The widow corroborated this saying that his brother and father nurtured ill motives against her husband and wanted to see him dead. (PNA)
AND NOW, FOR THE GOOD NEWS…
(Pangasinan Star, your favorite newspaper believes in spreading sunshine in rather gloomy landscapes. To do that in its pages, all it took our editors and staff was to lift headlines of the “good news” from major newspapers and other periodicals to come up with these “rays of the sun” for all to read – and hopefully bring on a smile with their cup of coffee.)
Parents urged to have babies checked for metabolic disorder
The Department of Health has again called on parents to submit their newborn infants to newborn screening to detect any congenital metabolic disorder that they might have.
Palace nixes snap presidential polls
President Arroyo rejected a resurrected opposition call for her to resign and call snap elections, warning that this would turn the country into a “banana republic.”
US cites Philippines’ antiterrorist role in region
The United States government said the Philippines, despite being branded as the largest training ground for the Jemaah Islamiyah in the region, will have a significant role to play
JDV: Cha-cha over by January
The Cha-cha initiative will be completed and a new Constitution ready by early next year, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said.
‘RP migration system consistent with global standards’
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said that the country’s migration system is consistent with the principles set out by the Global Commission on International Migration.
Bunye: ‘Media czar’ a mere media term
Press Secretary and presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye corrected a newspaper report that he will soon be appointed as media czar.
RP becoming call center hub of Asia
Philippines is indeed becoming the call center hub of Asia despite the current political noise, with another outsourcing firm, WinSource Solutions Inc. entering the mainstream, joining close to a hundred firms operating in the country.
Mirant plans 3rd power plants in RP
Coal-fired power plant operator Mirant Philippines plans to put a third power plant, which the company has yet to detail but Mirant Phils. president Ed Harris said would be the best in operations.
Morgan Stanley says RP economics remain sound
The political crisis would have resulted in an economic disaster if not for the soundness of the country’s fundamentals, leading US investment bank Morgan Stanley said in a report.
Cheap medicine drive gets P229-M boost
The government’s campaign to make costly medicines more affordable to Filipinos is getting a P229-million funding boost.
Pangasinan ‘kingmaker’ back in govt
Antonio Villar, a staunch political supporter of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who quit as assistant transportation secretary weeks ago, is back in the government service.
OIC set to tackle RP observer seat
The Organization of Islamic Conference has formally included the Philippines’ application for observer status in its agenda during their 33rd session in Baku, Azerbaijan in June next year, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Churchmen warn Catholic laity vs historical movie on Luther
The Catholic Church warned the faithful not to believe the movie “Luther” as it can be misleading because it may perpetuate misunderstandings on some Church doctrines, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines announced.
RP’s skilled workers is world’s 2nd largest
The Philippines had the second largest stock of skilled migrant workers abroad as of 2000, according to a report released by the World Bank.
ERC to settle power supply contract
The Energy Regulatory Commission has decided to intervene to resolve the transition supply contract now between National Power Corp. and Manila Electric Co.
USAID pushes sale of Napocor assets
The US Agency for International Development is pushing the government to hasten the privatization of the power sector to improve the country’s investment climate.
MMDA suspends ticketing system
Although the Metro Manila Development Authority suspended a controversial traffic citation system on orders of Malacañang Palace, at least 400 public transport drivers and operators stormed the MMDA office in Makati City and demanded the resignation of Chairman Bayani Fernando.
Air Force LA Times story
Philippine Air Force officials blamed foreign journalists for concocting stories to discredit the Armed Forces following a report from the Los Angeles Times of an alleged military takeover by five Air Force officers.
Rollback may lessen VAT effects on oil, Senate told
A rollback in the prices of petroleum products looms as the government imposes the Expanded Value Added Tax Law on Nov. 1, Energy Undersecretary Peter Abaya said.
BSP sees $600m direct investments in 2005
Foreign direct investments into the country are expected to reach $600 million this year, lower than the original forecast of $1 billion but higher than the $100 million reported in 2004, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said.
Food firm eyes 25% sales growth
Processed food manufacturer Mekeni Food Corp. is eyeing a 25 percent increase in sales to P500 million in 2005 from P400 million last year.
Outsourcing in the Philippines to balloon by 2008
American clients’ demand for outsourcing in the Philippines is seen to increased to 60% by 2008, the Department of Foreign Affairs said, as it urged Philippine Information Technology companies to further promote the local IT industry.
Parents urged to have babies checked for metabolic disorder
The Department of Health has again called on parents to submit their newborn infants to newborn screening to detect any congenital metabolic disorder that they might have.
Palace nixes snap presidential polls
President Arroyo rejected a resurrected opposition call for her to resign and call snap elections, warning that this would turn the country into a “banana republic.”
US cites Philippines’ antiterrorist role in region
The United States government said the Philippines, despite being branded as the largest training ground for the Jemaah Islamiyah in the region, will have a significant role to play
JDV: Cha-cha over by January
The Cha-cha initiative will be completed and a new Constitution ready by early next year, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said.
‘RP migration system consistent with global standards’
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said that the country’s migration system is consistent with the principles set out by the Global Commission on International Migration.
Bunye: ‘Media czar’ a mere media term
Press Secretary and presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye corrected a newspaper report that he will soon be appointed as media czar.
RP becoming call center hub of Asia
Philippines is indeed becoming the call center hub of Asia despite the current political noise, with another outsourcing firm, WinSource Solutions Inc. entering the mainstream, joining close to a hundred firms operating in the country.
Mirant plans 3rd power plants in RP
Coal-fired power plant operator Mirant Philippines plans to put a third power plant, which the company has yet to detail but Mirant Phils. president Ed Harris said would be the best in operations.
Morgan Stanley says RP economics remain sound
The political crisis would have resulted in an economic disaster if not for the soundness of the country’s fundamentals, leading US investment bank Morgan Stanley said in a report.
Cheap medicine drive gets P229-M boost
The government’s campaign to make costly medicines more affordable to Filipinos is getting a P229-million funding boost.
Pangasinan ‘kingmaker’ back in govt
Antonio Villar, a staunch political supporter of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who quit as assistant transportation secretary weeks ago, is back in the government service.
OIC set to tackle RP observer seat
The Organization of Islamic Conference has formally included the Philippines’ application for observer status in its agenda during their 33rd session in Baku, Azerbaijan in June next year, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Churchmen warn Catholic laity vs historical movie on Luther
The Catholic Church warned the faithful not to believe the movie “Luther” as it can be misleading because it may perpetuate misunderstandings on some Church doctrines, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines announced.
RP’s skilled workers is world’s 2nd largest
The Philippines had the second largest stock of skilled migrant workers abroad as of 2000, according to a report released by the World Bank.
ERC to settle power supply contract
The Energy Regulatory Commission has decided to intervene to resolve the transition supply contract now between National Power Corp. and Manila Electric Co.
USAID pushes sale of Napocor assets
The US Agency for International Development is pushing the government to hasten the privatization of the power sector to improve the country’s investment climate.
MMDA suspends ticketing system
Although the Metro Manila Development Authority suspended a controversial traffic citation system on orders of Malacañang Palace, at least 400 public transport drivers and operators stormed the MMDA office in Makati City and demanded the resignation of Chairman Bayani Fernando.
Air Force LA Times story
Philippine Air Force officials blamed foreign journalists for concocting stories to discredit the Armed Forces following a report from the Los Angeles Times of an alleged military takeover by five Air Force officers.
Rollback may lessen VAT effects on oil, Senate told
A rollback in the prices of petroleum products looms as the government imposes the Expanded Value Added Tax Law on Nov. 1, Energy Undersecretary Peter Abaya said.
BSP sees $600m direct investments in 2005
Foreign direct investments into the country are expected to reach $600 million this year, lower than the original forecast of $1 billion but higher than the $100 million reported in 2004, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said.
Food firm eyes 25% sales growth
Processed food manufacturer Mekeni Food Corp. is eyeing a 25 percent increase in sales to P500 million in 2005 from P400 million last year.
Outsourcing in the Philippines to balloon by 2008
American clients’ demand for outsourcing in the Philippines is seen to increased to 60% by 2008, the Department of Foreign Affairs said, as it urged Philippine Information Technology companies to further promote the local IT industry.
FEATURE: Go into processing, bangus producers urged
LINGAYEN – Milkfish producers of Pangasinan were challenged to go into processing to produce products that can be exported abroad and earn the needed dollar exchange for the country.
The challenge was made by Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim when he spoke recently before the provincial board which is currently determining the actual state of the province’s milkfish industry.
Lim said processing is what milkfish producers should look into for them to earn enough cash “because deboned and marinated milkfish are much in demand among Filipinos abroad.”
Despite some financial difficulties, the Dagupan mayor is seeking the establishment of a multi-million peso fish processing plant in Dagupan to produce the kind of milkfish that is much-sought after in the United States, Middle East and in other places where there are Filipinos.
The project got snagged as Dagupan is still awaiting the additional P40 million promised by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the project when she guested at the 1st National Bangus Congress held here two years ago. With recent political developments particularly on the impeachment issue, the hoped-for funding however appears to have hit a snag.
Lim assured that thru proper, modern processing, the milkfish produced in Pangasinan, particularly Dagupan City, can be marketed “with distinction.”
Pangasinan officials are planning to brand the milkfish produced in the province to distinguish them from the products coming from other parts of the country, like Saranggani, Iloilo, Samar, Leyte and Sulu.
Lim claimed that the milkfish produced in Dagupan is the tastiest among all the milkfish produced in the entire country, adding that the milkfish produced in the western part of the province are now catching up fast in point of taste.
“When you bring bangus to the market, they all look alike. They can be called Bangus Dagupan when in fact they are not,” he said, adding that this is the reason why local milkfish should be branded.
The challenge was made by Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim when he spoke recently before the provincial board which is currently determining the actual state of the province’s milkfish industry.
Lim said processing is what milkfish producers should look into for them to earn enough cash “because deboned and marinated milkfish are much in demand among Filipinos abroad.”
Despite some financial difficulties, the Dagupan mayor is seeking the establishment of a multi-million peso fish processing plant in Dagupan to produce the kind of milkfish that is much-sought after in the United States, Middle East and in other places where there are Filipinos.
The project got snagged as Dagupan is still awaiting the additional P40 million promised by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the project when she guested at the 1st National Bangus Congress held here two years ago. With recent political developments particularly on the impeachment issue, the hoped-for funding however appears to have hit a snag.
Lim assured that thru proper, modern processing, the milkfish produced in Pangasinan, particularly Dagupan City, can be marketed “with distinction.”
Pangasinan officials are planning to brand the milkfish produced in the province to distinguish them from the products coming from other parts of the country, like Saranggani, Iloilo, Samar, Leyte and Sulu.
Lim claimed that the milkfish produced in Dagupan is the tastiest among all the milkfish produced in the entire country, adding that the milkfish produced in the western part of the province are now catching up fast in point of taste.
“When you bring bangus to the market, they all look alike. They can be called Bangus Dagupan when in fact they are not,” he said, adding that this is the reason why local milkfish should be branded.
FEATURE: Fry shortage
LINGAYEN – Limited supply of fry produced locally has been tagged as the weakest point of the centuries-old milkfish industry in Pangasinan, according to provincial government officials.
Provincial Agriculturist Jose Almendares said only 10 million fry are being produced locally annually against the high demand of 100 million fry by milkfish producers in 16 coastal towns and two cities of Pangasinan.
The 10 million fry is produced alone by the Dagupan-based National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC), a research facility of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Almendares said they found out however that the fry being produced by NIFTDC have low survival rate yet compared with the fry being taken from the wild elsewhere in various parts of the country.
In order to sustain the milkfish industry in Pangasinan, the province is sourcing out its additional stocks of fry from adjacent Zambales, Ilocos Norte and as far south as Mindanao.
Since the turn of the century, the milkfish industry in Pangasinan depended mainly from fry being taken by concessionaires from the natural breeding ground of ‘sabalo’ in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.
The remaining needs for fry by local producers are being supplied thru importation of this commodity from Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and even Hawaii in the United States, Almendares said.
Through a program supported by House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., congressman of the fourth district of Pangasinan, production of milkfish fry in the NIFTDC through the breeding of ‘sabalo’ in captivity, was started two years ago.
It was de Venecia, through his Countrywide Development Program who helped fund the country’s National Research and Breeding Center for Milkfish at the NIFTDC that initially produces 10 million fry.
Dr. Westly Rosario, NIFTDC chief, said that the program envisioned the setting up of satellite bangus hatcheries in various parts of the country where the eggs produced by the national research and breeding center would be channeled to be grown before their dissemination to the farmers.
Rosario is optimistic that in 10 years, not only Pangasinan but the entire Philippines will soon be sufficient in milkfish fry, and the country need not import the commodity from abroad anymore.
Almendares told the provincial board that there are 12,000 hectares of fishpens and 182 hectares for fish pens and cages in the province of Pangasinan that need regular supply of fry.
Statistics in 2004 alone showed that milkfish production from fishponds was pegged at 25,800 metric tons. This was dwarfed by the milkfish production from pens and cages at 222,000 metric tons.
Dagupan City, which earlier self-declared as the ‘bangus capital of the world’, produces 25 percent of the total milkfish production in the province. The average harvest per hectare in fishponds is two tons while the average harvest per hectare in pens and cages is 200 times more. (PNA)
Provincial Agriculturist Jose Almendares said only 10 million fry are being produced locally annually against the high demand of 100 million fry by milkfish producers in 16 coastal towns and two cities of Pangasinan.
The 10 million fry is produced alone by the Dagupan-based National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC), a research facility of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Almendares said they found out however that the fry being produced by NIFTDC have low survival rate yet compared with the fry being taken from the wild elsewhere in various parts of the country.
In order to sustain the milkfish industry in Pangasinan, the province is sourcing out its additional stocks of fry from adjacent Zambales, Ilocos Norte and as far south as Mindanao.
Since the turn of the century, the milkfish industry in Pangasinan depended mainly from fry being taken by concessionaires from the natural breeding ground of ‘sabalo’ in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.
The remaining needs for fry by local producers are being supplied thru importation of this commodity from Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and even Hawaii in the United States, Almendares said.
Through a program supported by House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., congressman of the fourth district of Pangasinan, production of milkfish fry in the NIFTDC through the breeding of ‘sabalo’ in captivity, was started two years ago.
It was de Venecia, through his Countrywide Development Program who helped fund the country’s National Research and Breeding Center for Milkfish at the NIFTDC that initially produces 10 million fry.
Dr. Westly Rosario, NIFTDC chief, said that the program envisioned the setting up of satellite bangus hatcheries in various parts of the country where the eggs produced by the national research and breeding center would be channeled to be grown before their dissemination to the farmers.
Rosario is optimistic that in 10 years, not only Pangasinan but the entire Philippines will soon be sufficient in milkfish fry, and the country need not import the commodity from abroad anymore.
Almendares told the provincial board that there are 12,000 hectares of fishpens and 182 hectares for fish pens and cages in the province of Pangasinan that need regular supply of fry.
Statistics in 2004 alone showed that milkfish production from fishponds was pegged at 25,800 metric tons. This was dwarfed by the milkfish production from pens and cages at 222,000 metric tons.
Dagupan City, which earlier self-declared as the ‘bangus capital of the world’, produces 25 percent of the total milkfish production in the province. The average harvest per hectare in fishponds is two tons while the average harvest per hectare in pens and cages is 200 times more. (PNA)
OPINYON: Palinewan
SAYAN INDIO
Mario F. Karateka
SALAMAT ta akapantalosan metla amo irayay Deparsmin op Pablik Werks and Haywis (DPWH) dadauloan nen Inhinyero Pidel Hinis diad Rehiyon Unio (Ilokos) tan si natan beteranolad politika a Meyor Bendyi Saplan Lim na Dagupan (anggaman saya manonad amin et sakey a negosyante). Nen imbeneg a simba labat et akapantoyaw laraya tan bulos ya imbesngaw nen BSL so liknaan tod si Indyiner Hines – a samay dalan ya gagaweendadtan ed bandad Lucao ya onsuldong komon ed De Benesya Haywey pian nakompleto so tatawagen nen Ispiker Dyo ya “circumferential road” na Dagupan et agto amo natotonton so onaan ya paknaan o disenyo.
No nanonotan nankompleyn si meyor ta singa isasabidametla amo kono so konstruksiyon na dalan dimad paonlad CSI The Siti Mol ya kayarian nen karibal tod bisnis a Bilin Pirnandis. No onman so nagawa, sankanengneng ya nabenepisyoan a baleg so CSI ta magmaliw iman a dalan ya duga-rugad olsoran na CSI.
Kuay BSL, aliwan satan balet so rason na isusunggay tod gagaween na DPWH no agsay ta lapud mas babaleg a pondo so kaukulan na gobyerno no parokeyen so walan likoan na dalan dimad ombutaw ed bandadmani na Lucao imbes a dimad bandad NelArs subdivision la ya bandadia labat ed wangalan o “intersection” mismo na de Venecia
Haywi. Baleg met iman a puntos nen BSL ingen ta mas melag so kaoren na gobyernon pondo.
Ompapaway manayan anggaman singa paonlalad CSI a tua imay dalan, agmetni talagan pinal ya diman so laento. Inikdan nen Hines si meyor na tsansan nakonsiderametni so kerew to. Walan gaween kono so sananey nin pan-aral na disenyo tan saya et isumiti lamet dimad DPWH Sentral, say Byuru op Disayn da, pian diman desiyonan no antoy mas magmaong parad gobyerno.
En pirnis ed si Indyiner Hinis, agto manaya amta itay agawan paknaan da di Inhinyera Tangco (na DPWH) met tan si BSL nipaaakar ed samay mas antiktikey ya pangisuldongan na dalan ed NelArs. Kakapanegna to kono na proyekto sanen mantapos so 2004 tan agto amta iman a talusan, anggad saya natan labat nen nginmikngik si Meyor Lim.
Komon ta ols wil dat ens wil lad sayan tsapter … tan napaspasan la so proyekto.
Ta ni maatap lay panaoy politikadia. Ompan nasorani itan so pondo to no alimbawan namaniobra si inadaron JDV tan sakey a Petsay so naikday ponget ed Kamara.
Aleg pa komon. Talimokor tayon amin, kaibaratay aso tan pusa yoradtan!
Labay tayoy Petsay… no satan et ipising labat. Antoy kuanmod satan Mama Rudi Istrada?
Mario F. Karateka
SALAMAT ta akapantalosan metla amo irayay Deparsmin op Pablik Werks and Haywis (DPWH) dadauloan nen Inhinyero Pidel Hinis diad Rehiyon Unio (Ilokos) tan si natan beteranolad politika a Meyor Bendyi Saplan Lim na Dagupan (anggaman saya manonad amin et sakey a negosyante). Nen imbeneg a simba labat et akapantoyaw laraya tan bulos ya imbesngaw nen BSL so liknaan tod si Indyiner Hines – a samay dalan ya gagaweendadtan ed bandad Lucao ya onsuldong komon ed De Benesya Haywey pian nakompleto so tatawagen nen Ispiker Dyo ya “circumferential road” na Dagupan et agto amo natotonton so onaan ya paknaan o disenyo.
No nanonotan nankompleyn si meyor ta singa isasabidametla amo kono so konstruksiyon na dalan dimad paonlad CSI The Siti Mol ya kayarian nen karibal tod bisnis a Bilin Pirnandis. No onman so nagawa, sankanengneng ya nabenepisyoan a baleg so CSI ta magmaliw iman a dalan ya duga-rugad olsoran na CSI.
Kuay BSL, aliwan satan balet so rason na isusunggay tod gagaween na DPWH no agsay ta lapud mas babaleg a pondo so kaukulan na gobyerno no parokeyen so walan likoan na dalan dimad ombutaw ed bandadmani na Lucao imbes a dimad bandad NelArs subdivision la ya bandadia labat ed wangalan o “intersection” mismo na de Venecia
Haywi. Baleg met iman a puntos nen BSL ingen ta mas melag so kaoren na gobyernon pondo.
Ompapaway manayan anggaman singa paonlalad CSI a tua imay dalan, agmetni talagan pinal ya diman so laento. Inikdan nen Hines si meyor na tsansan nakonsiderametni so kerew to. Walan gaween kono so sananey nin pan-aral na disenyo tan saya et isumiti lamet dimad DPWH Sentral, say Byuru op Disayn da, pian diman desiyonan no antoy mas magmaong parad gobyerno.
En pirnis ed si Indyiner Hinis, agto manaya amta itay agawan paknaan da di Inhinyera Tangco (na DPWH) met tan si BSL nipaaakar ed samay mas antiktikey ya pangisuldongan na dalan ed NelArs. Kakapanegna to kono na proyekto sanen mantapos so 2004 tan agto amta iman a talusan, anggad saya natan labat nen nginmikngik si Meyor Lim.
Komon ta ols wil dat ens wil lad sayan tsapter … tan napaspasan la so proyekto.
Ta ni maatap lay panaoy politikadia. Ompan nasorani itan so pondo to no alimbawan namaniobra si inadaron JDV tan sakey a Petsay so naikday ponget ed Kamara.
Aleg pa komon. Talimokor tayon amin, kaibaratay aso tan pusa yoradtan!
Labay tayoy Petsay… no satan et ipising labat. Antoy kuanmod satan Mama Rudi Istrada?
EDITORIAL: Diluting the ‘evidence’
OTHER than the controversy of the “unidentified doctors” in the current counterfeit drugs inquiry at the sangguniang panlalawigan, what should likewise concern, and more urgently so, our provincial authorities is that case of “undilutable” or non-dissolving vials of antibiotics in government pharmacies purchased out of provincial government funds.
The first time around, and again the Bureau of Food and Drugs figured in it too, it was at the Urdaneta Doctors Hospital where a government lady doctor found that some antibiotics could not be dissolved or diluted when these were about to be administered to a patient. The medicine came from the supplies delivered by a pharmaceutical company contracted by the provincial government thru its procurement unit.
Just recently, a similar discovery was reported by another government hospital in western Pangasinan on yet another drug that was among those delivered by a contractor-pharmaceutical company. We can only hope a more thorough investigation will be conducted as this could not but raise alarm bells about the quality of drugs the provincial government is getting from its contractors. One swallow may not a summer make but two could mean…avian flu is around the corner.
Levity aside, Provincial Administrator Boy Solis and the Urduja House supply officers may just need to take another look at the procurement safeguards for medicines in government hospitals or even check that these are being stocked or stored according to their sensitivity requirements. In that first episode of a “non-diluting” antibiotic in Urdaneta, BFAD investigators had all but absolved the contractor-pharmaceutical company of blame and ascribed the “phenomenon” instead to improper ventilation at the pharmacy counter of the hospital. BFAD had claimed that when it tested the remaining vials in a suitable environment, that is, aboard an airconditioned vehicle, as news reports put it, the product diluted. Ergo, the contractor-drug manufacturer and distributor are blameless.
As quick as it seems to be in putting government doctors under suspicion for dealing with counterfeit drug personalities, BFAD seems most often quite ready to believe the best in “other” pharmaceutical entities and give the later its seal of “good housekeeping.”
Do we see the provincial government that is, the Urduja House, nodding in agreement at the BFAD predisposition?
The first time around, and again the Bureau of Food and Drugs figured in it too, it was at the Urdaneta Doctors Hospital where a government lady doctor found that some antibiotics could not be dissolved or diluted when these were about to be administered to a patient. The medicine came from the supplies delivered by a pharmaceutical company contracted by the provincial government thru its procurement unit.
Just recently, a similar discovery was reported by another government hospital in western Pangasinan on yet another drug that was among those delivered by a contractor-pharmaceutical company. We can only hope a more thorough investigation will be conducted as this could not but raise alarm bells about the quality of drugs the provincial government is getting from its contractors. One swallow may not a summer make but two could mean…avian flu is around the corner.
Levity aside, Provincial Administrator Boy Solis and the Urduja House supply officers may just need to take another look at the procurement safeguards for medicines in government hospitals or even check that these are being stocked or stored according to their sensitivity requirements. In that first episode of a “non-diluting” antibiotic in Urdaneta, BFAD investigators had all but absolved the contractor-pharmaceutical company of blame and ascribed the “phenomenon” instead to improper ventilation at the pharmacy counter of the hospital. BFAD had claimed that when it tested the remaining vials in a suitable environment, that is, aboard an airconditioned vehicle, as news reports put it, the product diluted. Ergo, the contractor-drug manufacturer and distributor are blameless.
As quick as it seems to be in putting government doctors under suspicion for dealing with counterfeit drug personalities, BFAD seems most often quite ready to believe the best in “other” pharmaceutical entities and give the later its seal of “good housekeeping.”
Do we see the provincial government that is, the Urduja House, nodding in agreement at the BFAD predisposition?
OPINION: BFAD stirs tempest; while avian flu still hardly stirs one here
AFTER ALLBehn Fer. Hortaleza, Jr.
WE can hardly blame Drs. Jackson Soriano and Jess Canto, top directors of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital and the Region 1 Medical Center, respectively for bearing down hard on one of their own, Dr. Reynaldo Jacinto, standards and regulations division chief of the Bureau of Food and Drugs regional office, a bureau under the same Department of Health they all work in
Soriano and Canto were visibly dismayed by the absence of Jacinto during the committee hearing called by the sangguniang panlalawigan committee on health late last week to learn firsthand from the BFAD official just who are the “government doctors” he had linked in his media pronouncements as being in cahoots with suppliers of counterfeit drugs. It would have been their chance, along with the provincial board members now itching to put Jacinto on the burner too over the same pronouncements, to either confirm or dismiss outright Jacinto’s rather unfair allegations.
Whether it was arthritis or something else that kept the BFAD man away, the fact is with his absence, he had only managed to bolster the angry claims of “government doctors” represented by Soriano, Canto and the other chiefs of hospitals from the eastern, central and western part of the province that he was only really talking thru his hat.
Frankly though, we have the sneaking suspicion that even the hospital directors know, within themselves, there could be a grain – or whole grains – of truth in Jacinto’s controversial statements. If only the BFAD would be more forthright, they’d know better how to deal with their “erring” fellow docs and perhaps finally erase the cloud of doubt hanging above their heads after Jacinto’s verbal caper. No doubt Jacinto had seen that “list “captured from some arrested counterfeit drugs couriers earlier and holds the names in there right inside his head.
His would be an easier mental burden to bear if he would only – even in just an executive session with the provincial officials – bare the names in confidence to make things easy for everyone including himself. As an irked Board Member John Agerico Rosario blurted out when it was clear Jacinto wasn’t going to show up, the sangguniang panlalawigan committees won’t take the “BFAD snub” lying down.
Your move, Doc Rey!
* * * * *
We are challenging the gallant congressmen of Pangasinan to move as one in the face of the threat of a worldwide avian flu and put money where the health and welfare of their constituents are by funding the acquisition of vital equipment and buildup of emergency facilities in our local medical institutions. Foremost, and we believe it is still possible, should be the construction of negative pressure rooms in Pangasinan hospitals where those afflicted by the deadly disease can be possibly held to contain its spread.
We read in the papers many provinces already taking stock of their resources to handle the coming pandemic, not only thru the acquisition of anti-viral medicines and improvement of facilities but also the identification and designation of other areas where the sick can be taken when hospitals are overfilled in a worst-case scenario.
Everyone should take the cue from Health Secretary Pingcoy Duque himself who said it is not a matter of “if” but “when” the avian flu hits us in the Philippines.
Write your congressmen by mail or by –email, or by any means of contact available to ask them to part with a precious million each at their disposal for medical facility buildup now – instead of their usual road, bridges, computers, reading centers and basketball courts predilection for spending. What use are all these, pray tell, if people who should be enjoying or using these, are falling down like flies on a flystick paper?
We are not alarming people; we are simply forewarning them. Better to look like a fool now, than being tragically sorry later.
OPINION: Sickening facts on getting sick
The Pen SpeaksDanny O. Sagun
TWO sensational killings in Pangasinan appear to have been solved this week with the identification and arrest of suspects. We commend our law enforcers for doing their job in the solution of the killing of lady Judge Paas from Natividad and Dr. Cerdan Lopez of Calasiao. The judge was murdered right in her home while the doctor was killed while maneuvering his Honda CRV out of a hotel in that town with his wife.
What’s amusing in these developments however is the penchant for grabbing credit by our enforcers, be they policemen or NBI personnel.
PNP Chief Art Lomibao personally came to town last Friday to present to media the suspects in the killing of the judge. The local PNP together with an organic body, the CIDG, claimed credit for the feat. Left in the cold was the NBI which surely worked hard too for the solution of the case. Good thing for the NBI it was able to solve the Lopez killing—bagging even a well-known operative of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) who acted as the “contact” for the hired killer, which itself was as sensational an issue as the solution of the case. Are some faces red?
It is a fact though that people trust the NBI more than the police in the handling of cases. Even trivial ones are brought to the attention of that agency. That’s a consolation for the hardworking agents at the local NBI office and their chief Joe Doloiras and his men Dave Alunan, Philip Pecache and Ges Gallang, whom we have worked with in our various information campaigns.
* * * * *
A holder of a PhilHealth ID should not assume he is free of the hassle once he is hospitalized. He can only get as much, literally only a discount of, say, 20 percent or even less of his hospital bill particularly if he chooses a private hospital.
Have you heard of so-called hold-up hospitals? We don’t need to elaborate.
Our experience show that government-run hospitals, for their ordinary wards, charge what PhilHealth gives as medicare benefits, say P400 for ward in a tertiary hospital. It may be true also with laboratory fees and professional (doctor’s) fees. What the patient/beneficiary will have to worry about is his medicines which are most of the time unavailable at the pharmacy so he will have to buy from outside drugstores. If he has no money, the hospital could not do anything. His Philhealth ID is practically nothing in that situation. We repeat. Your ID is not a guarantee of a hassle-free hospitalization.
Overall though, a Philhealth ID holder, pays much less for his admission and confinement in a government hospital than if he were confined in the private ones. Only that, in the former, you have to bear with congested rooms/ wards, indifferent personnel to include nurses and doctors, and other inconveniences. That is why some prefer private medical institutions.
It is very sad to note however that charges by private hospitals are almost beyond reach of ordinary mortals like us. An ordinary ward in a secondary private hospital costs P450 to P600 per day, and Philhealth could only shoulder P300. Special rooms with aircon cost P1,000 to P1,500 a day. Medicines from their pharmacy cost pretty much higher compared to outside drugstores.
And professional fees? Here lies the big difference. The attending physician charges P2,250 to P3,000 for a three-day-confinement aside from his daily visitation fee of P750 to P1,000 per day. No wonder you will have to shell out some P20,000 for just a minimum confinement of three days in a private hospital—and in the ward at that. Philhealth can only answer for some P4,000. So where to get the balance to settle your bills? Scrape for it in the bottom of your resources, that’s where.
There must be some regulations on the operation of our medical institutions, public and private. The main concern is to deliver service not only to earn profit.
OPINION: Waste segregation as a habit
WINDOWS
Gabriel L. Cardinoza
The city’s garbage and how to properly dispose it continues to be the center of discussion in the city hall these past few days. It took center stage after piles of garbage had remained uncollected in many areas in the city, catching the attention of no less than Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. during one of his visits here.
From what we’ve heard, the discussions are still in the finger-pointing stage – who did what and that and who’s to blame for this and that. The city’s waste management division (WMD), which has absorbed much of the blows for the mess, had maintained that it was no longer its job to collect the garbage. It’s now the barangays’, said WMD chief Reggie Ubando, citing RA 9003, which is perhaps today’s most quoted law of the land.
But the barangays, in quick defense, are blaming their residents for not cooperating. Under the law, households should segregate their garbage, sell the recyclables to a material recovery facility and take the rest to a compost pit. Reggie’s WMD will just collect the so-called residuals, or materials which cannot be recycled or composted. That’s that.
By now, there is no doubt that almost every household in the barangays is already aware of its duty to segregate after more than two years now of massive information dissemination campaign conducted by city hall. But whether most of these households know how to segregate or not is another story.
Well, a team of highly-paid city hall waste management consultants have done a series of seminars on segregation in every nook and cranny of the city in the last two years. Whether its lectures have sunk into the people’s consciousness can only be gauged by the city’s present state of the garbage.
What’s also beginning to complicate the situation are the malicious rumors that Reggie’s WMD will soon be abolished and the city’s waste management will be outsourced to a private company. These wild talks have demoralized WMD personnel.
Added to all these are the conflicts in the barangays about the garbage fees – that these are exorbitant and that there are no proper accounting of the collections, in many instances.
We have nowhere else to go but segregate. And we have yet to see a barangay in the city strictly enforcing segregation at source. We have yet to see a barangay patiently teaching its residents how and what to segregate – not on a single seminar but on a daily basis. Each barangay has to have its own team of volunteers to do this. The Sangguniang Kabataan can be tapped for this project.
We have to remember that we are breaking a bad habit. Making segregation as a habit is the challenge. With patience and determination, we can achieve this and we won’t have to even talk about garbage anymore in the future.
ENDNOTES: Dagupan City Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez has just been appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as member of the Consultative Commission to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution. He is the only vice mayor in the 50-member commission, which is composed of academicians, newspaper columnists, former and incumbent national officials, mayors and governors and constitutionalists. Congratulations, vice mayor!
QUICKQUOTE: Become the change you want to see - those are words I live by. -- Oprah Winfrey.
