The Pangasinan Star ONLINE

TONDALIGAN DEMOLITION. Their children up front bearing placards and linking tiny hands, Muslim informal settlers in Tondaligan form a human barricade to prevent the city government’s demolition of their houses last Wednesday morning. After a dialogue and with their leader Datu Michael Bagul intervening however, city crews were able to start demolishing (lower photo) the illegal structures to pave the way for a Tondaligan area improvement program. (PStar Photo by Butch F. Uka)

Low collection of stall rentals from new mart is main culprit

THE city government here has registered a collection shortfall of P14 million as of Oct. 31 this year, owing mainly to the low collection of stall rentals from the three-storey public market here.

City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara confirmed the shortfall but clarified that this cannot be considered deficit because the city is spending only what it has collected.

Councilor Michael Fernandez first noted the shortfall in his talk to department heads during the hearing of the proposed P350 million city budget for 2006.

He said he has verified that it is not only from the new public market that registered low collections but also from the implementation of the city’s fishery ordinance covering rivers that were converted as aquaculture areas.

A report said several stallholders, especially those from the second floor of the new market edifice, pulled out from the new public market because they were losing much since only a few buyers are coming in and buying from them.

Other stalls have to be closed down by the city for failure of stallholders to settle their rental delinquencies for several months.

Alcantara said the city avoided a deficit because it adopted belt-tightening measures that saved on cash.

“We have targeted certain amount (as collection) for 2005 but as of this time, we are seeing that we will not be able to realize the whole targeted collection,” she said.

By SUNSHINE D. ROBLES

“THE city is financially stable and we have a lot of cash in the banks.”

With this statement, City Administrator Rafael Baraan sought to dispel speculations that the city is in the grip of a budget deficit, a month a half before the end of the year..

“These speculations are products of ignorance, because they (critics) don’t understand the intricacies of city government operations,” Baraan declared.

Baraan said that the P350 million budget for 2005 was a “very optimistic, not conservative projection.”

He noted that a projection may or may not be realized, depending on internal and external factors, such as the world economy, political crisis and especially the successive oil price hikes that may favorably or adversely influence what actually happens to the city’s financial operations.

“We have a shortfall in projected revenues, but not a budget deficit,” Baraan added.
Baraan noted that the speculations may have been triggered by a drastic move of the city to limit its expense to the most important and basic activities and operational needs.

“We imposed certain measures such as limiting the purchase of office supplies to the most essential, so that we don’t spend more than what we earn,” Baraan said.

A budget official explained that a deficit will only happen when a corporation spends beyond its total revenues by yearend.

The city administrator explained further that under the circumstances, the city has no choice but to impose corrective and remedial measures in order to prevent the city from incurring a budget deficit.

He emphasized that it’s not wrong to experience a shortfall especially when there are strong external factors affecting the life and economy of the city.

What is wrong, he said, is if we realize that our projection are not going to happen, and still fail to act properly. “Then, we would face the unwanted prospect of a budget deficit,” Baraan added.

The city administrator also clarified that the emergency workers of Dagupan have been receiving their salaries. Since the EWs were not included in the budget however, they are paid out of the savings from personal services realized from unfilled positions of the city government.

He said that the number of plantilla positions will be trimmed down, and efficient emergency workers who perform better than permanent employees will have the chance to occupy permanent positions, under the city’s reorganization program.

The sangguniang panlungsod, he said, also passed a resolution to include the legislative body’s staff in the city’s reorganization program. This is intended to professionalize the ranks of the SP, and to minimize the old practice of political accommodations.

By SHEILA HORTALEZA-AQUINO

THE city government has started clearing illegal structures within the Tondaligan Park area last Wednesday, flattering some 37 squatter houses located in a Muslim community
Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) Chief Robert Erfe-Mejia and City Legal Officer Atty. Geraldine Baniqued led a dialogue with the affected families before the demolition.

A minor tension ensured in the beginning when the squatters barricaded the area but after a dialogue, the latter gave in.

Thirty-five houses were cleared on the first day and two more the next day.
Baniqued reminded the group, composed mainly of Muslim families, about their commitment made back in 2002 to leave the government-owned lot and relocate themselves.

“Three years is more than enough time and negotiations have gone this long because the city granted the plea of the group to postpone the clearing operation several times,” the legal officer explained.

The clearing activity was set in July this year but the Muslims requested postponement till after the Ramadan which ended last November 4. Baniqued pointed out that the activity was not a drive against the Muslim community but part of a program to bolster Tondaligan’s tourism potential.

“This area is considered a danger zone and unsafe to live in,” she told the group, citing its proximity to the waterline. A representative of Gabriela, a militant women’s organization, which had questioned the city government-led demolition, was present at the dialogue .

Erfe-Mejia said Datu Michael Bagul president of the Muslim Association of Dagupan has been coordinating with the city to pursue the plan for development.

The Muslims whose houses will be demolished signed individual agreements providing for their voluntarily evacuation and \dismantling of their structures in the area.

Combined forces of the Dagupan City Police Station, Dagupan City Fire Station, Public Order and Safety Office, City Engineer’s Office, POSO, Task Force Bantay Dagupan, Task Force Anti Hawking, 107th Provincial Mobile Group, Waste Management Division, City Health Office, City Information Office and the media, Philippine National Red Cross Pangasinan Chapter and the Dagupan Electric Corporation ensured the success of the clearing operation.

DAGUPAN City has the highest percentage of households and commercial establishments willing to pay for garbage collection services, a World Bank (WB) and Department of Trade and Industry survey showed.

The study was conducted by the WB and the Build-Operate Transfer Center of the DTI in six places nationwide. The survey result was released last October 24.

Based on the study, 97.40 percent of households and 92 percent of commercial establishments surveyed in Dagupan City are paying for garbage collection services.

Reginaldo Ubando, chief of the Waste Management Division, said the survey is the first study ever made by the agencies to “identify alternative collection mechanism and recommend the best possible structure for local government units imposing user charges for solid waste management activities.”

The study shows that Dagupan topped the percentage of people who are willing to pay garbage collection services. Dagupan recorded rates at 989 percent among households, and 96 percent on business establishments.

Calamba in Laguna recorded 52 percent of willing households, and 79.3% among its establishments; Cebu, 66% and 75%; Roxas, 50% and 46.2%; General Santos, 88% and 83.3%; and Panabo City, 92% and 92%.

According to Ubando only business establishments were charged garbage fees before, but now there is a need to expand it to households.

He said that the study will explore the possibility of privatizing waste management. It also aims identify the true cost of waste management and subsequently come out with a standard set of guidelines on user charges for solid waste management. (Sunshine D. Robles)

LINGAYEN – Gov. Victor Agbayani has ordered the provincial agriculture office to take steps to forewarn people to stay away from migratory birds that may be carrying the dreaded avian flu.

Provincial Administrator Virgilio Solis relayed the governor’s order to Provincial Agriculturist Jose Almendares in the midst of reports that migratory birds are now often seen in many coastal areas of Pangasinan.

Solis said the governor took note that migratory birds, one of which is the heron more commonly called by fisherfolk as “dulakak”, often flock in droves in shallow fishponds to forage for food.

The cities of Dagupan and Alaminos and the towns of Binmaley, San Fabian, Mangaldan, Lingayen, Labrador, Sual, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Agno and Dasol are teeming with fishponds.

The Department of Agriculture through Regional Director Nestor Domenden considers the fishponds as “hang-outs” of migratory birds although the Task Force Bird Flu of the government is only monitoring for now the bird sanctuary in barangay San Miguel, Bani town.

Domenden said the availability of fish food is one of the main reasons migratory birds land in Pangasinan during their trans-continent flight. The other reason, he added, is the availability of shelter areas for the winged ones which the province is also richly endowed with.

Solis said the governor asked Almendares to order all municipal agriculture officers to conduct an information drive in their areas to inform the people not to touch, hunt or eat migratory birds.

Hunting them, he said, might disturb the migratory birds and force these to mix with local birds and fowls which could lead to a much faster spread of the avian flu virus in extreme cases to human beings.

By Venus May H. Sarmiento
PIA-Pangasinan

ALAMINOS CITY – Nineteen young student leaders, artists and entrepreneurs from China received a warm reception during their visit to this western Pangasinan city Wednesday.

The All-Chinese Youth Federation is in the country from November 6-10 to take part in the observance of the 30th Anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China.

The Chinese delegation is headed by Mr. Li Haoyan, vice president of Heilongjiang Provincial Youth Federation and Mr. Zheng Zhiqiang, deputy director-International Department of All-China Youth Federation.

The group will be in Pangasinan for four days and three nights.

The city government lined-up various activities for the delegates starting with a welcome reception and ceremony at the city hall grounds led by City Mayor Hernani Braganza.
Braganza said the city will not only showcase its pride---the famous Hundred Islands National Park--- but likewise reveal the vast potentials of the city in areas of tourism, agricultures and infrastructure development, business and environmental protection.

The reception was followed by the signing of an Agreement of Mutual Cooperation and Friendship between the city government and the All China Youth Federation. This was followed by a briefing on the city profile and the Braganza Administration’s 10-point agenda.

The group also had a chance to tour the city’s economic sites like the Proton economic zone in barangay Alos which is the proposed airport site; the high value commercial crops, green house and hybrid rice plantation at the Techno Demo Farm in barangay Tangcarang; the goat commercialization program at the Bolante residence and the organic fertilizer production at the materials recovery facility in barangay Bisocol.

National Youth Commission provincial coordinator for Pangasinan Andrew Mendoza said the delegates were touched and happy with the “warm, romantic and grand welcome” that greeted them everywhere they went. The streets were filled with smiling schoolchildren waving flags of the Philippines and China.

Later, the group proceeded to enjoy the famous Hundred Islands, taking a 40-minute boat ride to the place.

The group initially preferred the kayak activities but after testing the engagingly calm water of the islands, the delegates were soon plunging into the waters for a great swim.

Now being winter in China, the group’s Hundred Islands experience here under a fairly hot sun was a welcome change of climate for them.

A few months ago, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and President Hu Jintao signed an agreement to strengthen youth affairs cooperation at Malacanan Palace. One of the key provisions of the said accord is the exchange of youth leaders, entrepreneurs to foster enduring friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation and at the same time, strengthen the economy.

Mendoza said the program started in July. The Philippine government sent its delegates to the first Filipino Chinese program where they visited three major cities Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.

In response, China sent 106 delegates to the Philippines, who were divided into seven groups to visit seven provinces namely Cebu, Davao, Panay, Capiz, Laguna, Iloilo and Pangasinan.

By Behn Fer. Hortaleza, Jr.
PIA-Pangasinan Infocenter

A novel and aggressive livelihood program launched in the town of Alcala this year is literally taking barangay San Pedro Ili here – where it is being piloted by the organizers led by the forward-thinking Vice Mayor Clemente B. Arboleda, Jr – by storm.

Seeking to improve the lot of his townmates who are mostly soil tillers planting tobacco, peanuts and other less profitable crops, Arboleda and his group, assisted by Umico, a tested private agency, are providing qualified groups of five to eight barangay residents a flat P5,000 “character loan” each under a most liberal repayment or amortization plan.

The livelihood loan comes without any collateral being asked of the borrowers.

“The only thing we ask my townmates is that they use the amount for their livelihood projects that could range from anything to anything – sari-sari store, piggery, poultry, native cake-making, dry goods retail and other backyard projects that would not normally be given funding assistance by financing institutions,” the vice mayor said.

The Arboleda family had actually started the livelihood venture on a district-wide scale based in Urdaneta City a couple of years ago.

“This year however, I convinced my father and the family to concentrate the livelihood assistance project in Alcala and I made a solemn guarantee that it will “click” in this town. The success of the pilot opening in San Pedro Ili proved me right,” the youthful, project-driven Arboleda narrated.

He said once the project comes off well in the evaluation by early next year, he would be launching it town-wide with municipal officials and barangay councils being briefed on the fundamentals and asked to participate towards making the barangays a showcase of self-employment.

Arboleda added that for the successful loan recipients who are prompt with their amortizations, computed at a mere P14 a day or P425 a month based on a “very minimal interest”, Umico could progressively lend as much as P10,000 the next time around.

Functioning quite like the government’s SEA-Kaunlaran livelihood concept, according to Arboleda, the project would draw its strength and dependability on the member-borrowers’ own influence over each other – since they will be sharing the burden of repayment as well as the fruits of their own business ventures.

“It basically works on the assumption that our people need a break – and when this is offered to them and they waste it away, they (will) have only themselves to blame later, not their neighbors, not their officials, not their government.”

He said this being in the nature of a “character loan”, the credit-worthiness of a borrower will be vouched for by pre-identified screeners.

By Venus May H. Sarmiento
PIA-Pangasinan

ALAMINOS CITY – The world-famous Hundred Islands became the final stop of 19 visiting Chinese youth leaders and entrepreneurs during their day-long tour of the city Wednesday.

This city, famous for its islands, caves, falls and pristine beaches, was selected by the National Youth Commission as among key areas to be visited during the four-day stay in Pangasinan as part of the Philippines-China Agreement on Strengthening Youth Affairs and Cooperation

City Mayor Hernani Braganza said the visit showcases anew its pride the –Hundred Islands National Park

The city government conducted a Hundred Islands familiarization tour and adventure activities at the Quezon Island for the Chinese guests such as kayaking, snorkeling, coral garden and giant clam shell underwater viewing and swimming as well as bird watching at the 10-hectare mangrove

The HINP, which was recently turned-over by the Philippine Tourism Authority to the city government through Executive Order no. 436 signed by President Arroyo, is currently undergoing major rehabilitation even as it continues to attract foreign and local tourists.

Seeking to reposition Hundred Islands in the world’s tourism map in order to benefit not just the city residents but also the province, Braganza is pursuing his masterplan for the park towards transforming it into a major tourist destination again in the country.

The mayor has likewise launched an all-out war against illegal fishing and other illegal activities that destroy the city’s natural attractions. Illegal fishing operations in the city’s territorial waters have been greatly minimized.

Local fishermen and the Eco-rescue, a divers’ and environmentalists’ group, have confirmed that indeed different marine species are back at the Hundred Islands and the corals are starting to regenerate while the city heightens its guard against intruders.

VILLASIS – Members of the acetylene gang who robbed a pawnshop here of P800,000 in jewelry by boring a hole thru its concrete wall are about to be identified, according to the police.

The Villasis police has gathered leads on the identity of at least one of the suspects in the heist of the Peeny Rose Pawnshop at Poblacion II owned by Roberto Ramos, 45.

It was the second robbery of its kind in eastern Pangasinan so far after another pawnshop was robbed in the same fashion two weeks ago in Tayug town.

In this latest robbery, the robbers leased an office site adjacent to the pawnshop. In that office space, they put in several equipment and made it appear they were renovating the same.

Without creating much noise, they bored a hole toward the pawnshop in the evening of November 5, a Saturday, till the following day Nov. 6.

Once inside the pawnshop, they used acetylene torch to open the vault and scooped out all the jewelries.

An investigator of the Villasis police said so far, they have tagged one of the suspects with the aid of several witnesses.

The police learned that the suspects earned the goodwill of the building owner by advancing their lease, prompting the latter to entrust them the key to the leased office space. The police warned business establishments to be wary of strangers renting office spaces next to them as this is one of the criminal modus operandi used in office break-ins like the recent robbery in Tayug town. (PNA)

MANAOAG – Police Regional Director Alfredo de Vera has ordered a thorough investigation into the slaying of a policeman from La Union who was shot dead by an unidentified gunman while he was visiting the tomb of a relative at the Manaoag cemetery in barangay Babasit here.

Supt. Ricardo Tamayo, police-community relations officer of the Pangasinan police office, said De Vera coursed his order through Police Deputy Police Regional Director Nicanor Carandang and then through Pangasinan Police Provincial Director Alan Purisima.

The fatality was identified as PO2 Jimmy Piador, a policeman assigned in Naguilian, La Union but who is a resident here. He suffered seven gunshot wounds in different parts of his body and died on the spot.

The gunman was among two men who were on a motorcycle that probably waited for Piador in front of the cemetery.

Police investigators theorized that the killing of Piador could be work-related although there was a report the incident might also be a possible retaliation for his alleged misbehaviors here whenever he was drunk.

Tamayo said Police Provincial Director Purisima already ordered the Manaoag police to speed up the investigation of the case so that the perpetrators can be arrested and placed behind laws. (PNA)

FOR almost 20 years now farmers belonging to the Urdaneta-Villasis Federation of Irrigators Association (UVFIA) have pleaded with the National Irrigation Administration to repair the antiquated and non-functioning irrigation system servicing their farmlands.

Helen Valenzuela, president of UVFIA, said association members could hardly pay their irrigation fees because of poor harvest as most of the land they till lack irrigation.

“Some of our old members have died without seeing the realization of their dream of having the irrigation facilities repaired,” she said.

NIA operates the Agno-Sinucalan River Irrigation System (Agno RIS) that services the almost 1,000 hectares being tilled by UVFIA farmers. Of the 1,000 hectares, only 300 hectares are irrigated because most of the irrigation canals are either too damaged or heavily silted.

Engr. Roberto Abule, chief of the Operations and Maintenance Division of NIA Region 1 office in Urdaneta City, explained that the budget for the maintenance of the four major NIA irrigation systems in the province (including the Agno-Sinucalan RIS) continues to be reduced each year mainly because of the inability of the farmers to pay water fees.

He said the amount allotted to the agency is not enough to repair the canals and other facilities.

Help found

When typhoon Feria destroyed the dam of the Agno RIS in 2001, UVFIA officers led by Valenzuela sought the help of Gov. Victor E. Agbayani who lost no time arranging for financial assistance for the immediate repair of the dam.

Because of the heavily silted irrigation canals however the Agno RIS continues to operate below capacity, depriving close to 700 farmers of precious irrigation water.

The vicious cycle of despair continued. Farmers cannot pay the amortization of their irrigation fees to the NIA and so the agency cannot rehabilitate its aging irrigation systems.

“This is a cycle that has been going on and on for many years. So we want to break that cycle,” Agbayani told newsmen here.

Noting both the predicament of the farmers and NIA, Agbayani said the provincial government is willing to repair the irrigation facilities with the Agno RIS as pilot project.

“We will do our best to help rehabilitate the irrigation systems of NIA as much as the funds of the provincial government can handle from year to year,” he said.
Jose Almendares, provincial agriculturist, said about P3 million is needed to repair the 15-km irrigation canals of the Agno RIS alone.

Agreement with NIA

Abule said his agency welcomes the formula proposed by the governor.

In Pangasinan, NIA operates the Agno-Sinucalan River Irrigation System, the San Fabian-Dumoloc RIS, Ambayaoan-Dipalo RIS, and the lower Agno RIS. The four major irrigation systems cover about 20,000 hectares. More than 4,000 hectares of the area coverage are presently not irrigated because of silted or damaged facilities.

Agbayani has initially agreed to rehabilitate the Agno-Sinucalan RIS on condition that the farmers would retain 50 percent of the agency’s collection from water fees for the maintenance of the irrigation facilities.

He said part of the program would be the training of farmers on the operation of the facilities as well as providing them with accounting and administrative know-how.
This will ensure the continuity and sustainability of the program, he said.

Under the province’s Provincial Irrigation Development Program, an additional 12,000 hectares of farmlands have been irrigated since Agbayani took over the helm of the provincial government in 1998.

By Liway M. Yparraguirre

ROSALES – This town’s 3,412.60 hectare Eco-Tourism Site is the official entry of Region 1 to the Search for New Travel Destinations in the Country.

A project of the Women In Travel or WIT (a non-government organization) and the Department of Tourism (DOT), the search was launched last July 29, 2005 during the group’s 25th anniversary.

The Search for New Travel Destinations is divided into three categories: Undiscovered (in which the Rosales Eco-Tourism Site is competing); Rural /Natural (adventure tours); and Unique in terms of culture, event (cultural, sports, religious etc.), flora and fauna.
Mayor Ricardo V. Revita said his town is honored to be chosen representative of the Ilocos region in the search.

The Rosales Eco-Tourism Site is nestled at the foot of the legendary Mount Balungao, straddling five barangays: Acop, San Angel, San Luis, Calanutan and Salvacion.
The mayor said he discovered the area when he was still a police officer. Aside from the moderately sloping and rolling terrain, it boasts of three man-made lakes earlier designed as water impounding dams to irrigate low lying rice fields.
A free flowing natural spring provides an added refreshing attraction to the side of Mount Balungao.

Pursuing an eco-tourism plan crafted in 2004, the local government established a 4-kilometer wide road, graveled for easier travel of hikers and tourists to the eco-park.
Restrooms complete the amenities within even as fruit bearing trees were planted all over to further enhance its ecological impact.

Revita said a municipal Eco-Tourism Office was also created to sustain and supervise the development of the area. Eco-tourism guards were employed (all coming from the five barangays) mainly to enforce a municipal ordinance that specifies protected areas in the site. Cutting trees is restricted while hunting and fishing are allowed only on seasons.

With all the improvements, it is fast becoming a favorite relaxation area of both local residents and their foreigner visitors.

Generally, the eco-park is ideal for picnicking or camping, horse-back riding, biking and boating, or simply communing with the environment. There is also a privately owned-firing range near the area.

Rosales town is strategically located at the crossroads to Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, not to mention its being the gateway to Isabela and to the Ilocos.

“Getting the attention and the nod of DOT-Region as the region's representative to the national search for new tourist destinations in the Philippines is an indication we are on the right track,” Revita remarked.

The objective of the search is to introduce new alternative destinations for frequent travelers and promote domestic and inbound tourism, motivate local constituents to develop their own local tourist attractions and enhance their means of livelihood as they discover and create activities that will promote and improve their localities.

The search also encourages them to preserve their historical and natural resources.

Entries for the New Destination category of the search must be those areas not yet discovered or recognized as a tourist attraction by the DOT.

The winner (Best Destination 2006) will receive cash and other incentives intended to improve and/or refurbish the place. Likewise, it will be promoted and marketed by the sponsors and partners to attract more domestic and foreign visitors.

GOVERNMENT palay procurement in Pangasinan this cropping season, from September to February, comes at the guaranteed support price of P10 per kg., still as part of the Arroyo administration’s Beat the Odds program.

Aside from the usual P10/kg palay support price, the National Food Authority in western Pangasinan is also giving additional incentives of P0.15 and P0.10/kg to farmers for drying and transporting their produce to NFA warehouses and P0.25/kg as Cooperative Development Incentive Fee for the post-harvest facility build up.

The program aims to encourage farmers and farmers’ groups to deliver their produce to the NFA while assuring them of a fair return of their investment which is a big boost to the cooperative, Provincial Manager Arturo Figueroa said.

Some 24,568 bags have been bought by NFA from farmer cooperatives of the province, so far.

Farmer organizations are likewise encouraged to sell their palay to the NFA to avail of other additional incentive like the Farmers’s Incentive Rice (FAIR) Purchase Program which gives farmer cooperatives the option to buy back from the NFA up to 25% of the rice equivalent of the palay stocks they sold to the NFA, subject to the availability of rice in warehouses.

Seven warehouses are accepting palay deliveries from accredited farmers
organizations and individual farmers located in Alaminos GID warehouse in barangay Pandayan; Managterem GID warehouse in brgy.Umangan; Kazenbar 4 warehouse in Tebeng, Dagupan and Star Genielien and Ferrer Warehouse in Lingayen

Meanwhile, the NFA branch here has assured Pangasinenses there is enough supply of rice.

Current rice inventory of the province on the macro level stands at 4,968,549 bags of rice, good to last for 470 days and includes households and commercial stocks, the NFA reported.

The agency is also ready to supply government rice to LGUs thru the Rice Loan program in the event of calamity and/or emergency. (VMHS)

SAYAN INDIO
Mario Karateka

SIKAYORAN wadtan ya manliket ya maniskopita o mamaltog na saratay manok-atap a singa saramay dolakak tan mipadparan dayon manok o ibon, itonda yolatan a bisyo.

No agyo labay ya onkamayat dia o ditad barangayyo so makapataktakot ya sakit a “bird flu”, agyola papateyen tan kakanen iratan a manok-atap ya manlalapu nid biek taew tan ondadapodia labat ed probinsiya tayo pian mangan na sira-sira ditad kapokokan tan kailogan. Mas maoges no sibuaken yo iraya ta ompan diad kataktakot o kabiglara et nasorob day sola-solar yo tan milaok irad iiwien yoran manok, pabo, pato tan ganso ditan Peligron napeketan na samay bayrus (virus) ya nayarin awit daranian manok-atap so kamanokan tayoran iiwien tan no manmamalas-malas tayoni sikatayoran totoo mismo so mansakit na “bird flu” ya sengeg na ipatey tayon magano.

Say kuay pigaran totoo et sayala imay pawit na Dios ya salot ed mundon makasalanan; lorey ka tay kuanda, singa manlapud tagey so manangikamayat na sayan ambelat a sakit, de payak tan ampuputin manok-atap. Ya ombaliw iraya ed milya-milyan distansia, piga-pigaran palpalandey tan kakiewan ya angatagey ed mundo so tekyaben da pian ondapo labat ed Pilipinas tan arom niran bansa. Aga singa impawit a salot, awa?

Say mas makapapaga ni ingen et anggan samay “anti-viral” ya tambal tatawagey Tamiflu et agni asubok a maong no talagan saya et mamaabig na say sakey a manasakit na “bird flu” o “avian flu” ta lanti diad singa anemaplon inaatey lad sayan sakit ed kaplesan diad Asya et agmet naikdan na sayan tambal.

Samay oseltamivir o Tamiflu et kabat labat ya manonaan ya pangontra ed ordinaryo o komon ya influenza (petang) Agni asali no panon kaepektibo iya ed “bird flu”.

Anggaman ontan manlolombaan laray nasyones ya mangorder na Tamiflu ed samay multinasyonal ya kompanyay tambal a Roche ed ilalora lanti a saya labat so nayarin depensara ed sayan sakit – no nasabi-sabi. Diad Pilipinas, kaermenan ya anggaponi so suplay tayod saya anggad natan ta say inorder nen Sekretaryo na Abig Laman Francisco Duque (a kabaleyan tayo) ed Roche et abeteni na onsoblay a taon insan naideliber da. Siyempre, manonaan ya makala iray baleg a bansa a singa say Estados Unidos tan diad Yuropa ta mas maimpluwensia tan mayayaman ira.

Sikatayo, legan a mana-alagar,et salien tila itay tagumbaw tan oregano ya tanaman ed kaliber-liber tan kapasolan insan tekepay masimoon ya pikasid Aman Manamalsa tan Managtambal.
Osto, Mama Kabog?

* * * * *
Pigaran kakaibad Medya so mapaga la lapud ni, nantotombokan ed loob labat na limara o anemiran agew, ya abakbaktar iray taloran managpalapag ed Pangasinan. Inggapo nen Nap Donato na Home Cable tan Sunday Punch, sinmoblay si Cuya Max ‘Tartariwa’ Mendiguarin na Sunday Punch met insan si Dominic ‘Dong’ Villafuerte.

Mankebyew laray walad Media ta singa wala konoy malas ya sinmabid sektor da.
Tepet nen Nana Eva Visperas ed teks tod si Ama Behn: “Panon tayon napatonda so onian senyales ed Medya?”

Galaw toniay malorey ya Ama Behn: Imiyembro yoran amin ed Patrima ta dia labat so kilalaban.

Balet biig so lorey, nepeg amon mangala so olopay Medya na adbayser (adviser) dan doktor o siopaman ya ekspertod abig-laman laotla saray “stress management experts” parad saray mamalangwerni o “middle age” iran miyembro tan say “geriatrician” parad saray mamatakkenla.

Nen imbebeneg kasi, oonaen so panpaseminar ed panagpaltog (gun handling) amta anggapometniray papateyen iran managpalapag dia; anggad panagtaktakot labat. Abayagmetlan tuloy imay impamatey ed si Ermin Garcia, Sr.

Siopaman so onsoblay ya mangidaulo na Medya dia, ikdantoy imano iyan suhestiyon komon. Mas praktikal – nen say satay pan-aral na pangablit na gatilyoy paltog.

Antoy kuanyodtan, Mama Bernie, Cuya Alex, Ama Rudy, Atchi Susan tan Aromnira?

THE Philippine peso, surprise, surprise, has been rallying strongly. Where it was down and almost out during the past four months or so, today it’s like a prizefighter battered and bruised but fighting back and striking back, with a vengeance.

Quite naturally, skeptics say this is all artificial and buoyed up mainly by the natural practice of overseas Filipino workers of sending those precious dollars and assorted foreign currencies at this time of the year to their families and relatives here, thus greatly shoring up the country’s dollar reserves. Maybe so, but it’s still something that brings good tidings to Filipinos because it means simply that they can buy more for their hard-earned peso than they would have some months back.

Another proferred reason for this life leap of the peso is that on Christmas season, more businessmen have to bring out their dollars in order to purchase goods from abroad to fill their outlets up for the season’s shopping mania among Pinoys. A Central Bank official said this is a health indicator for the economy because it means our dollar situation is sound – there’s selling and buying of the Almighty dollar.

Everyone hopes this momentum can be maintained; far too long have the Filipinos wallowed in misery and political bickerings they forgot they have an economy to be responsible for. Now that once again, our economic saviors, the OFWs, are bailing us out and turning the tide for our national coffers which had been in the doldrums while everyone was engaged in finger-pointing over the mess we’re in, maybe we Pinoys should seize the moment and take stock of what’s bad in our culture and cast it out with the fading old year.

Away, away, evil spirit!

AFTER ALL
Behn Fer. Hortaleza, Jr.


THERE are authorities and there are authorities.

In times that try men’s souls, there are persons who emerge to take control, keep a group or nation together and bring on a calm sense of optimism among people of diverse persuasions amid all the confusion and trouble.

In this mold fits the late Ninoy Aquino, Phivolcs Director Rolando Punongbayan, former PCGG chair Haydee Yorac and possibly now, Finance Secretary Gary Teves, he who was plucked from his ensconced post at the Land Bank of the Philippines to become the country’s Finance Secretary just when all hell seemed to break loose over in the department. And from all indications, he’s been steering the ship (DoF) well.

We’ve never met this guy personally but watching him say his piece on television about issues concerning his turf – to include a “talk show” with President GMA herself a few weeks back – with such smoothness, sincerity and humility, no frills at all -- makes one wish Mike Defensor and Luis Villafuerte take some lessons from him on the fine art of public speaking, not to mention public defending.

But perhaps, such suave, serene, even-voiced discourses come naturally for Teves; it’s in his character. Not even when he was being accused, wrongfully a year back about some misdemeanor or the other did this man lose composure in public. In fact, by his own humble appearance and soft repartees, he was already able to acquit himself before the audience without reaching the investigation point.

If there’re clear plus points for the administration in its current battle against the odds, Teves should be out front among them. He is holding a super sensitive portfolio that calls for the assuaging voice of a priest, the firm resolution of a judge and the demeanor of a doctor, clinically analyzing a delicate situation without showing any clear emotion that could be interpreted by the patient and his relatives either way – good or bad.

No wonder, in his term at the Land Bank, he carried that public institution to greater and greater heights it had become now the envy of financing institutions.

Nope, this is by no means a PR job for the man; it is completely unsolicited. In fact, he doesn’t need it; he is his own best PR man.

* * *
Lest a recent incident during a “private visit” of the President to Rosales town gets a reprise, with all its unfortunate implications, maybe it’s best for local media friends to remember that everything during such “private visits” is purely a hit or miss affair, so to speak, insofar as getting an audience or interview with the Top Lady of the Land is concerned.

Precisely, the Philippine Information Agency, which usually coordinates coverage of presidential presences, and other attached media agencies to the Office of the President don’t get alerted at all on such visits and would thus discreetly keep their distance even when present.

But where those in the President’s immediate company have preference to bring in their own media friends who tag along, by reason of, well, simply being the host at the site, some “livable or practical arrangement” can perhaps yet be made – subject to the usual security and protocol considerations.

Private media’s need or yearning for a scoop in the President’s more intimate moments with friends and relatives is of course understandable. It is their raison d’etre. It is this prime and only reality that the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) – of course in consultation with the President herself and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) -- might want to address satisfactorily, without being too abrasive about it, the next time around.
The only non-negotiable condition being that there be no cameras brought in – to protect the “privacy” of the occasion. Which is what a “private visit” is really all about, correct?

The Pen Speaks
Danny O. Sagun

EVEN at this stage, the underlying motive for the ill-conceived plan to regulate parking in the city’s main thoroughfares -- which are mostly national roads—smells, and it smells a lot. It will only fill the pockets of some individuals to the disadvantage of the city.

Imagine a 70-30 sharing scheme (even 80-20, according to Roland H), with the much-bigger bulk going to the contractor! By any language, that’s a big bonanza for the favored contractor with practically no effort at all on his part. Laway lang ang puhunan. In our dialect, ilol.

So disturbing is the idea of making quick money out of our highways that the sangguniang panlungsod, if it is not careful, could well be put in a bad light. Some observers say that the parking scheme came out because of the long absence now of jueteng, a quick money source.

We heard that when a councilor innocently mentioned a fairer sharing scheme, say 60-40 or even 50-50, his colleagues immediately and frantically hand-signaled him to desist.
Obviously, they were not thinking of the city’s welfare but of the favored contractor, whoever he may be, and perhaps, just perhaps, themselves.

The absence of a public hearing conducted for the purpose also negates such proposal. If they hold one soon, expect a lot of trouble on the part of the proponents. Better for them to forget the idea, unless they are courting political suicide.

* * *
Our recent column on the goings-on at the San Jacinto National High School received a lot of reactions with some sectors reportedly getting mad at this corner. We also heard of an effort to identify our sources and if that succeeds, the affected sectors are planning to file legal actions against us, or our sources.

Sources of news or issues just come by without us begging for such. We recall how some teachers of that school during the time of Principal Bautista approached us (perhaps to seek our help as a mediaman) and cited a litany of Bautista’s “sins.” The mood was to get rid of her because of alleged several anomalies. Bautista was forced to leave even before the last school year ended.

The poor principal came to see us at our home to air her side. We appreciated her effort to clear things with us as did Principal San Juan much earlier during her term when we had called her attention to alleged irregular transactions there. No threats of libel cases.
And we saluted the two school officials for such noble actions. They were not onion-skinned.

And who are our sources this time?

Many. Students, teachers, parents, community leaders, town officials, etc. And they are very willing to speak out.
* * *
Members of the PTCA of that high school are up in arms over the decision of the new officers to spend some P17,000 from the association’s funds for their induction recently. Such indiscriminate spending did not happen during the time of the former set of officers, we were told.

The PTCA funds come from contributions, yes from the sweat, blood and tears of the members. And their officers would just spend it in one day to satisfy their lust for food or fame? We don’t know what kind of thinking they have during this time of economic hardships. Revolting!

Aside from that money they withdrew from the bank, they also solicited some P9,000 from local stores and benevolent persons in the town. Two pigs were served aside from chickens, prompting others to remark, “Masiba ra”

Right-minded officers could not help but resign if that’s the case.

WINDOWS
Gabriel L. Cardinoza

In five days last week, three of our local media colleagues and friends passed away: Nap Donato on Nov. 5, Max Mendiguarin on Nov. 6 and Dong Villafuerte on Nov. 9.

I first met Nap in the late 80s, when he was not yet in the media and he was known more as Linis Pinoy. I was then working at the Urduja House in Lingayen when he came to my office one day to propose the holding of a seminar for the provincial government’s janitors.

He believed that as frontline personnel, janitors and other utility workers must be taught basic courtesy and how to do their jobs properly. Then Gov. Rafael Colet approved his proposal and Nap conducted what could be his first Linis Pinoy seminar in the province.

When Nap ventured into media and became one of us in the mid-90s, I’d bump into him often in press conferences and news events in the province. I had a chance to work with him in the defunct Sun.Star Pangasinan Daily when I was managing editor and he ran a column.

One weekend last year, Nap called me at home to tell me that he is working on a project that would bring the province’s best journalists together. He never discussed the project then; he just wanted my commitment to help. The project did not push through. But when he died, he did just that: gather all Pangasinan journalists during his wake.

* * * * *
On Mama Max, I first met him in the police beat when I was a radio reporter. I have heard much about him, especially his funny miscues and misadventures, when I was a student. He was then a radio icon, being the No. 1 prime time radio announcer.

When I was information officer, I had a chance to meet him up close and we would have brief conversations everytime I gave him press releases or when he came to my office. As age slowly caught up on him and his voice vanished from the airwaves, I would also see Mama Max less often.

When I saw him at Dagupena one morning, I thought he did not recognize me anymore. But to my surprise, he approached me and even called me by my first name. I guess Mama Max is one media person who will continue to live in the people’s memories, especially among us, his colleagues. His name will continue to pop out in every media conversation being the only local media personality whose popularity has always been challenged but never surpassed.

* * * * *
Two days before his death, Dong was in my office. As usual, he occupied one of the seats in front of my desk while waiting for his turn to have an audience with Councilor Vlad Mata. Over a cup of coffee, we would talk about broadcasting, music, politics and even phonetics, and I listened to him intently everytime he talked about his experience when he worked as government broadcaster.

I don’t remember now how and where I first met him because Dong is not from Pangasinan. But in the last three years, he has been a frequent visitor at the city hall.

Last Monday, when he showed up in my office, he was literally panting, something I did not notice about him in the past. He often stood up at that time to go out to probably breathe. We even had lunch together and he was very thankful about it.

Last Thursday morning, a colleague broke to me the news that Dong died. Unfortunately, as of this writing, his body remains unclaimed at the morgue of the Region 1 Medical Center.

QUICKQUOTE: When I'm trusting and being myself... everything in my life reflects this by falling into place easily, often miraculously. -- Shakti Gawain

JUDGE’S KILLERS? Elmer C. Cabiles, 34, of Natividad town (first from right) and Jornald A Vargas alias “Boyet” of Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya (middle) are presented by the police to the media as prime suspects in the killing of Regional trial Court judge Estrellita Paas . (Inset photo) The.38 cal. revolver with six live bullets and a fan knife confiscated from Vargas. (PStar Photo by Butch F. Uka)

PRICES of basic goods in Pangasinan have generally remained stable except for a P90 increase in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that now costs P510 per cylinder.

Significantly, other basic commodities like flour, which is used for bread and other pastries exhibited a decreased price even as vegetable prices remained generally steady.

As predicted by finance and power sector officials, gasoline pump prices went up almost immediately catching many motorists, who thought it would be jacked up only a day or two later, by surprise last November 1.

The provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry said it has mobilized four teams to monitor prices of basic commodities to make sure that traders do not unduly increase the prices of their goods following the implementation of the Reformed Value Added tax Law. (See related story elsewhere in this issue of The Pangasinan Star)

DTI officer Marjorie Loresco said they are keeping a tight watch on various stores and supermarkets to ensure that traders do not take undue advantage of the consuming public.
Store owners should not raise the price of their goods beyond the limit of the suggested price given to them by the manufacturers, she said, adding that traders are not also allowed to impose more than the required 10 percent VAT for these commodities.

The DTI said that consumers are complaining because the prices of almost all kinds of commodities have increased and they are blaming this to the implementation of EVAT.

Loresco explained that the P90 increase in LPG price was due to the imposition of 10 percent VAT on petroleum products, which in the past were exempted.

She is however confident that the price of LPG might decrease next week due to an expected P10 rollback in the price of oil.

THE National Bureau of Investigation urged its fellow investigators in the Philippine National Police to establish more definite proofs of guilt of the arrested suspects in the RTC Judge Estrellita Paas’ killing such as hair strand matching of the suspects with those found on the victim’s hands and at the crime scene.

The NBI, thru one of its agents, offered the suggestion even as many observers have noted that police investigators have yet to establish or mention any motive for the slaying despite the lapse of time between the arrest and grilling of the suspects – Elmer Cabiles , 34, a neighbor of the Paases in Natividad town and Jornald Vargas alias Boyet, 26, of Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya – and their presentation to the media last October 28.

Police Provincial Director Alan LM Purisima presented the suspects to PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao during the latter’s recent visit to the province to inaugurate the newly constructed grandstand at the PNP Provincial Headquarters in Lingayen.

The NBI office based in Dagupan however clarified that in offering the suggestion, it is merely guided by the best interest of the case and the wishes of the judge’s grieving family and relatives to have the real killer or killers brought to justice.

It will be recalled that the late judge’s family members had expressed their wish to PNP Chief Lomibao when he condoled with them a few days after the killing that the case be solved soonest or that the killer and the motive be established at least before the burial.
Sr. Inspector Federico Castro of the regional office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which unit joined the arresting team that brought in the suspects, said CIDG tagged Cabiles as a suspect because of his highly strange flight to barangay Sto. Domingo in Lupao, Nueva Ecija -- where he was eventually arrested – the day after the murder of the woman judge.

Saying Cabiles was the only one who knew the layout of the house as he lived just at the back of the Paas house and was a trusted man of retired Ombudsman Reinerio Paas and the late judge, Castro said Cabiles’ sudden departure and his going to Asingan to ask for P5,000 from his father purportedly for him to look for a job in Tarlac or Pampanga only to be found by authorities in a hideout in Lupao, rang alarm bells for investigators.

Preliminary investigation and tactical interrogation showed that Cabiles is a suspect in an earlier murder in the National Capital Region and had a standing warrant of arrest issued by Judge Adoracion Angeles of RTC branch 121 in Caloocan City.

In a written statement in the presence of his counsel and his immediate relatives, Cabiles tagged Vargas as the killer of Judge Paas. Vargas was arrested in barangay Capulaan, Balungao while playing with a fan knife. Frisked by the police team, a cal. 38 revolver with six live bullets was found on him.

LOCAL cable television show host and public relations consultant Napoleon Donato died of a massive heart attack at the Nazareth General Hospital in Dagupan City yesterday at around 3.00 p.m.. He was 55.

Rushed by his family to the hospital at around 8 a.m. after complaining of severe back pains and with an elevated blood pressure, Donato, according to one of his sons, had looked quite alright until he took a sudden turn for the worse after lunchtime in his hospital room.

A well known figure in private and government circles from where he got most of his clients for his pioneering company, Linis Pinoy, a janitorial service group, and for his Nap Donato Show over Home Cable television, “Nap” as he is fondly called was in the thick of preparations as organizer and chief coordinator for a grand high school reunion of the University of Pangasinan, this December before the Grim Reaper came.

He was also an active committee leader in Dagupan City’s Strategic Planning discussion sessions and conferences.

He is survived by wife Elizabeth and three sons, Nathaniel Mark, Nicko Paulo and Napoleon Donato, Jr.

A necrological service will be held at the Eternal Gardens chapel in Dagupan City tomorrow at 7 p.m. A mass will precede the cremation of his mortal remains at the Eternal Gardens crematorium on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

HOUSE Speaker Jose C. de Venecia, Jr. assured that he can weather the storm in the House of Representatives and keep his speakership.

De Venecia, president of Lakas Christian Muslim Democrat party, is allegedly facing a strong challenge from Rep. Prospero Pichay, from within hi s own party.

De Venecia however told newsmen that he is not worried a bit because Lakas has a stable coalition with other political parties, such as the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Kampi, Liberal Party, Nacionalista Party and other political parties in the House.

He said all of the members of the NPC, the second largest political party in the House, have declared their support for him.

This goes also for members of the Liberal Party, including those who opposed President Arroyo during the impeachment battle, who have reunited and now express support for de Venecia.

“I think I have an overwhelming majority,” the Speaker said.

Rep. Amado Espino, Jr., congressman of the second district of Pangasinan, and a member of the Kampi party, said “nobody can yet beat our speaker.”

“He (Speaker de Venecia) has a very, very strong hold on everybody or all of us, except for a few,” Espino declared.

BINMALEY – The head of a terrorist group arrested by the military along with several others in Zamboanga City last Tuesday was the same man who set up a terrorist training camp in Anda, Pangasinan about four years ago which was raided and neutralized by the police.

Philippine National Police Chief Director Arturo Lomibao recalled that he was still the police regional director of the Ilocos when his men arrested Hilarion Santos, alias “Ahmad Santos” with several others in Anda town in 2001.

That was the first time the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM), an extremist group of the Balik Islam movement, surfaced, Lomibao told newsmen at a news conference here recently.

“In the Philippines, the places affected by terrorism are Metro Manila and Mindanao. And Pangasinan came to the fore before when we discovered the training camp of the Rajah Solaiman movement in Anda in 2001, Lomibao said.

Santos a native of Anda who returned home after long years of absence and settled in his parents’ large estate in Anda, was tagged by Lomibao as the leader and founder of the RSM responsible for bombing sprees in various parts of the country.

He was arrested in 2001 when police raided the training camp he set up in a secluded place in Anda. High-powered firearms with several rounds of ammunitions, including claymore mines were seized by the police and military.

Santos however claimed it was a Islamic school, or madrasah that was raided by government agents.

Santos was released after posting bail but he never attended the trial of his case for illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions as he soon jumped bail and was unheard of anymore.

True to the prediction of then Police Provincial Director, Senior Supt. Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza, who spearheaded the raid on the training camp, Santos went into hiding as soon as he was released.

Lomibao revealed that Santos went to Mindanao and initially trained with the Moro Islamic Liberation Movement and finally with the Abu Sayaff Group.

He said although the RSM has only a few members, what makes the group still dangerous is its alliance with the ASG.

Confirming that the terrorist camp in Anda has now been neutralized, Lomibao assured that Pangasinan is not high on their (terrorist) level of priority”


“I could guarantee that no terrorism will happen here in Pangasinan, perhaps in the next two years,” said Lomibao, a native of Mangaldan town in Pangasinan.

Still, Lomibao called on the people to be extra-vigilant because terrorism is a fact of life and can happen anywhere, even in the United States, Spain and in United Kingdom.

MORE and more people are getting mad at the controversial food and drug regulation officer over his continued refusal to identify doctors he alleged to be involved in the sale of counterfeit drugs in Pangasinan.

Dr. Jesus Canto, chief of the Region 1 Medical Center, dared Dr. Reynaldo Jacinto to get out of the health department first before accusing government health institutions like the R1MC for patronizing counterfeit drugs while still being a part of the same institution.
“Taga DOH din siya, ‘di ba, at ang tinitira nya, kapwa taga DOH?”( He’s with DOH, isn’t he, and he’s hitting at his fellow DOH men?) he noted in a radio interview.

Jacinto was quoted tagging unnamed doctors from government hospitals as patronizing illegally-procured drugs.

Canto vehemently denied the accusation saying he will never tolerate his physicians or personnel at the medical center to get involved in the sale of fake or counterfeit medicines.

He also noted that Jacinto’s claim was a sweeping statement and a “very bad accusation” that makes every government physician a suspect.

Canto also advised the regional food and drug enforcement officer to refrain from entertaining complaints thru text messages unless these are verified. “Alam mo naman diyan, may mga professional jealousy among doctors at gustong siraan ng isa ang kalaban niya,” ( You know how it is, there’s professional jealousy in the ranks and one (would) want to destroy the other) he observed.

Board Member Dionisio Villar, who heads the sangguniang panlalawigan health committee, criticized Jacinto for failing to attend the scheduled committee hearing last Friday. Villar invited the latter to attend the hearing hoping that he (Jacinto) will be forced to identify the doctors in order to clear the names of those not involved.

He said that as health committee chair, he was duly bound to unearth the truth no matter who gets hurt and at the same time protect the integrity of government doctors who were put in a bad light by Jacinto’s expose which has remained unverified.

Villar was so dismayed by Jacinto’s non-appearance at the hearing that he revealed to the public some negative remarks about the latter. “Nagkagulo-gulo mula noong dumating siya, pati mga gamot nagkawala-wala,” he told a radio interview quoting his sources at the DOH and the Bureau of Food and Drug. He did not elaborate on what medicines or medical supplies went missing or how such happened.

Jacinto earlier said he was willing to appear in formal investigations by appropriate agencies and would reveal the names of involved persons when necessary charges have been filed against them in court.

MALACAÑANG branded as premature talks about the cutting short the term limit of President Arroyo, stressing that such would all depend on the transitory provisions of the amended Constitution to be drafted by Congress as well as the recommendations of the Consultative Commission (Con-Com).

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye emphasized in a radio interview that the proposal to shorten the term of the President will be covered by the amended Charter.

“The foremost consideration in changing the Charter is changing the form of government as well as economic reforms. Congress must amend the Constitution first before we proceed to other matters,” he said, in oblique reference to a term cut for President Arroyo.

Bunye was reacting to published reports that the President has agreed to hold elections for a new parliamentary government in 2007 once a new Constitution is ratified next year.

The report quoted an unnamed source as saying the President made the commitment to former President Fidel V. Ramos and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. during a private meeting Monday.

Bunye neither confirmed nor denied the story beyond saying it is hard to confirm a report quoting an unnamed source.

“Alam ninyo, mahirap mag-comment sa speculation. Ang sinasabi lang natin ay ano talaga ang realistic. Ano ang realistic? Ang importante ay magkaroon muna talaga ng desisyon na amyendahan (The important thing is there must be a decision to amend the Constitution),” he said.

The Press Secretary noted that while the Executive branch is amenable to Charter change and a strong move is afoot in the House of Representatives to amend the Constitution, the same cannot be said of the Senate.

In a press briefing, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita reiterated the President’s support of Charter change, saying the Chief Executive believes that Charter change is the solution to the political crisis hounding the country.

Ermita said he shared the view of Bunye that it is premature to talk about term limits when Congress has yet to decide on what features should be amended in a Charter change.

“We cannot anticipate what the different committees of the Consultative Commission would recommend as to the form of government and the transitory provision,” he said, adding that the Commission is still consulting people in the provinces.

FOR the second consecutive year, the Alaminos City slaughterhouse made it to the circle of top producers of safe and quality meat in the country today.

Known as the Don Leopoldo O. Alcedo Abattoir, the city’s slaughterhouse was finalist in the “AA” Slaughterhouse Category in the Search for Best Meat Establishment after besting its counterparts in the provincial and regional level.

Mayor Hernani A. Braganza and City Veterinarian Ronald Abarra personally received the award from Agriculture Sec. Domingo F. Panganiban last October 21 at the Bureau of Soil and Water Management in Diliman Quezon City.

The simple awarding rites highlighted the 13th Meat Safety Consciousness Week and 33rd NMIS Anniversary celebration on the theme “Pambansang Kapakanan, Pandaigdigang Pamantayan sa Bagong Batas Makakamtan”.

St. Jude Abattoir of Tagaloan, Misamis Oriental bagged the highest award. Other finalists include Roblu Meat Products (Cainta, Rizal), Rombi XM Trade (Pulilan, Bulacan), Dumaguete City Abattoir and Santiago City Abattoir (Isabela).

Braganza commended Abarra as well as the NMIS accredited meat inspectors of the city for the accomplishment.

Through his administration’s “Ocho-ocho Dev’t. Program” for the livestock sector, Braganza is extending additional funding support and assistance to the veterinary division.

“This humble feat would definitely inspire more our meat inspectors and staff to extend their share for the realization of our vision of a “Hot Meat Free City” in the next five years” Abarra, a former city councilor, said

In 2003, the city veterinary office was also adjudged as the Best Implementor of Meat Inspection Service and Good Management Practices.

With the city’s proposed construction of a cold storage facility at the abattoir compound coming soon, the slaughterhouse could further improve its services in the coming year (MAM-CIO)

ENVIRONMENTAL changes, not a terrorist evil design, probably caused the evolution of the deadly avian flu virus that now stalks countries throughout the world.

This was the medical assessment of Dr. Jesus Canto, chief of the Region 1 Medical Center here who dismissed insinuations that the avian flu might have been spread by terrorists.

Canto said he does not believe so and said the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus must have evolved naturally due to the now constantly changing environment, where viruses are constantly adapting and therefore mutating.

Canto explained that through mutation, a harmless virus can become a monster, just like the present N5N1 strain of avian flu virus that is currently threatening to cause a pandemic all over the world.

The Philippines is now among the very few Asian countries that has not registered cases of avian flu although nearby countries, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and China already have it.

Canto explained that migratory birds may be carrying the avian flu virus but the latter is not actually harmful to human beings unless it comes in contact with the local human influenza virus.

Migratory birds, among them herons and egrets, land in droves in shallow fishponds in various parts of Pangasinan this time of the year to forage for food. People have been warned to stay away from the birds.

Calling on the people to exert all efforts to stay healthy in the midst of the avian flu threat, Canto said symptoms of the disease are like those of the ordinary flu but in addition, the avian flu patient experiences difficulty of breathing.

He said in bacterial inspection caused by ordinary flu, one can hear the crackles in the patient’s chest through the stethoscope but not when he or she is afflicted with the avian flu.

Saying that cure for avian flu is now available but expensive, Canto said if the disease finally comes to our shores, the people must maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to increase bodily resistance.

He called on the people to avoid crowds, stay at home, take bed rest, drink lots of fruit juices and eat plenty of green leafy vegetables.

Canto claimed that the Department of Health is now more prepared to meet the threat of the disease than when the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) hit the country three years ago.

THOUSANDS of Muslims flocked to the Muslim mosque in Tondaligan Park here Thursday to mark their last day of fast during the month of Ramadan that started Oct. 3 this year.

They were among thousands of Muslims who settled in Dagupan since the early 70s and were given by past city administrations a permanent place to stay in the city on a portion of the Tondaligan Park near the seashore.

Datu Michael Bagul, president of the Muslim Association of Dagupan, explained that Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar, a special month for Muslims all over the world.

Inside the mosque, they spent several hours praying and studying the Quran, the Muslim version of the Christian’s Holy Bible.
Bagul said during the Fast of Ramadan, they were not allowed to eat or even drink water during daylight hours. Smoking and sexual contacts were also prohibited.

“We were only allowed to eat meal and drink water at 6 p.m. We offered prayers and a meal called iftar,” said Bagul, adding that the fast is resumed the next morning after that.
Baguil said Allah would punish those who violate the Ramadan and those who may not believe in it.

LINGAYEN – An official of the Department of Health who earlier exposed that some government doctors in Pangasinan are the top promoters of counterfeit and or fake medicines did not show up before the provincial board last Friday to substantiate his charges.

Dr. Reynaldo Jacinto, chief of the standard and regulatory office of the DOH and head of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) regional office, was invited by the board during its regular question hour so that he can name the doctors he says are involved in the sale and distribution of counterfeit and or fake medicines.

Provincial Board Member Dionisio Villar said that because of Jacinto’s “reckless statement,” all government doctors in Pangasinan have become suspects.

Villar, chair of the provincial committee on health and sanitation, invited Jacinto to attend the board’s question hour for him to clarify issues about his allegation that doctors in various government hospitals in Pangasinan are promoting or selling counterfeit and or fake medicines to their patients.

“This is a very serious accusation as far as we are concerned. We will do everything we can so that the government doctors in this kind of illegal activity would get sanction if not disciplinary action,” Villar said.

Among the hospitals mentioned by Jacinto whose doctors are into such activity are the Region I Medical Center, Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, Western Pangasinan District Hospital and Don Amadeo Perez Memorial District Hospital.

Jacinto said that under the Generic Act, doctors can only prescribe medicines to their patients but never to dispense these to them or dictate from what pharmacy they would buy the medicines.

A report said Jacinto sent text messages informing newsmen that he did not attend the question hour because he had no travel order from his superior, Dr. Eduardo Janairo, DOH regional director.

Observers said however Jacinto really avoided facing the doctors whom he accused of wrongdoing in their profession because he lacked hard evidence yet against them on the issue.

Dr. Jackson Soriano, chief of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital who was among those who waited for Jacinto to come, demanded a public apology from the latter for tarnishing the reputation of all government doctors in Pangasinan.

All government hospital chiefs in Pangasinan were at the SP Question Hour eager to confront Jacinto but were frustrated by his no-show act.

MALASIQUI – The provincial board will request the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the ambush-slaying of two persons and the wounding of four others along the highway in barangay Seselangen, Sual last Oct. 22.

Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, presiding officer of the provincial board or sangguniang panlalawigan, was informed that the NBI is ready to help investigate the case but is waiting for any party to make the request so no one will say the agency is encroaching on police work.

Lambino said if no one makes the request, the provincial board will do it to give justice to the two persons killed, one of whom was a student and son of an incumbent councilor of Alaminos City.

Killed in that incident was Allan de Guzman, 30, driver of a passenger van who was ambushed by seven hooded men armed with high-caliber weapons, and Gheorge Ringo Rivera, 18, a student on his way home to Alaminos City from Dagupan City.

“I will request myself for the NBI to step in and investigate the killing of the driver and the innocent student who, reports said, was already running away from the van but he was nevertheless shot in cold blood by the armed men,” Lambino said.

He said the ambush-slaying must be given immediate solution because the people are fast losing their trust and confidence in the capability of authorities, including the Philippine National Police.

THE vice mayor of Dagupan City was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last Monday as the newest member of the 50-man Consultative Commission that will propose revisions to the 1987 constitution.

Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez was nominated to be a member of the commission by the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines (VMLP) of which he is the current national secretary-general and chapter president of the VMLP in Pangasinan. He is also the president of the Rotary Club of Dagupan.

Fernandez was informed of his appointment in a message faxed to city hall Wednesday by Presidential Management Staff chief Ribogerto Tiglao.

“I welcome my appointment and I thank President Arroyo for the trust and confidence,” said Fernandez, son of Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez, Jr., himself a former three-term mayor of Dagupan City.

Fernandez is the only vice mayor in the 50-member Commission, composed of prominent businessmen, constitutional experts, academicians, incumbent and former local officials and newspaper columnists.

The constitutional commission was created by Executive Order 453 on Aug. 19, 2005 and tasked to propose the revision of the 1987 Constitution to make it “more responsive, relevant and competitive to inward and global changes”.

The Commission, which was given a budget of P10 million, will have to submit a report to the President by the end of this year. The executive branch would then submit a report for the scrutiny and approval of Congress.
On his second term as vice mayor of Dagupan City, Fernandez also sits as member of the national executive council of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the umbrella organization of all local government leagues in the country.

VIGAN CITY – The family of the overseas Filipino worker who was murdered and her body dismembered in Singapore has reconciled here with the family of the accused, also an OFW, who is still being held in jail in that country.

The reconciliation between the two families happened last Sunday in a meeting arranged by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson at his residence in Baluarte, Vigan where the latter also distributed financial assistance to both families.

Singson handed P100,000 financial assistance to Eddie La Puebla, 32, husband of the victim Jane La Puebla, a native of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, and another P200,000 to Edwin Aguilar, husband of the suspect, Guen Aguilar. News reports said both La Puebla and Aguilar were friends in that island-state and the crime committed was a bizarre twist.

Eddie La Puebla was accompanied to Vigan by his aunt-in-law Sally Parangan. Edwin Aguilar was accompanied by Tagudin town Mayor Roque Versoza.

According to Singson, the presence of the La Puebla and Aguilar families during the mass officiated by Bishop Ernesto Salgado showed the spirit of reconciliation has worked between them.

He expressed hope that this might soften the heart of judges of the Singaporean Court handling the case of Guen Aguilar to dispense fair justice to both the victim and the accused.

Edwin La Puebla said there is no problem between them and the family of Guen Aguilar.
La Puebla said he will use part of the amount he received from the governor to pay the balance for funeral services of his dead wife, and the rest saved as trust fund for the education of his nine-year old son, Clifford.

Edwin Aguilar thanked Singson for the financial assistance, saying that the amount will greatly contribute to efforts to save the life of Guen. (PNA)

SAYAN INDIO
Mario F. Karateka


SAYAY Senyor Sonny Villafania a kabaleyan tayon abayag metlan managbasa na Pangasinan Star, laotlad “online blogsite” tonia, et singa mangakantiyaw nid gobyerno probinsiyal, ingen ed si Gobernador Victor Agbayani , lapu konod singa biglan impakanonot labat nen Gob ya pabulaslasan so kulturan Pangasinan.

No nanonotan nen imbeneg ya isyu na Pangasinan Star walan imbalita so pangitalindeg kono na administrasyon Agbayani na sakey a grupon manaral ed Pangasinan Arts and Culture, a no iner pati say pansukisok no kapigan a talaga so bertdey o inkianak na luyag so ikday mallet ya atensiyon.

Sayan kurang nen Gob et akaani na pakawigin lima (left-handed) a panangidayew manlalapud si Mama Sonny (amtak, ogaw niyan too, onong ed si kaiba tayon Ging C) ya angikuan a abayag laya komon konon ginawa nen Gob. “Akin et natan labat?”, kuay Mister Belyapania.

Inyarom toni singa lorey (ed pakatalos ko) : “Say amtak ag makatalus na Panagsinan so Gobernador tayo.” Aysus kan ogaw, gobernador na Pangasinan, ag makatalus na Pangasinan, panon tolatan?

Andipamet, Mama Sonny. Makatalus na salita tayo si Gob. Para ke ya nagmaliw a anak nen matalisiw ed Pangasinan ya Masiken Aguedo iya no agto makatalus na Pangasinan. Anggaman binmaleg iya ed Manila, agmomet nailakod Pangasinan no akaarap si Victor Aguedo. Awey labat ed agagi toran Lowi tan Viktoria, agko amtay kawel na dila da.balet.

Nipawil kod say bersdi na luyag tayon inararo tan alenleneg, maminsani lamet ya ipurek kon samay tatawagen a “Pangasinan Day” tayodia et agto kabaliksan ya petsay impangiletneg ed Pangasinan sanen panaon nen Kastila iman. Saman a Pangasinan Day et diad tuay tua anibersaryoy bersdi labat nen datin Ispiker Eugenio Perez na San Carlos.

Kaukulan so aralem tan maseseg ya panag-aral, ya konsultaen ingen iray dagdaan iran rikords dimad Espanya, pian naamtaan no anton eksakton petsa, o anggan bulan labat, niletneg so luyag tayo nen panaoy Kastila.

Say Dagupan, singa inggapotolay onian pansukisok na “legacy” ton tatawagen. Walalan inmalagey so “ city museum” tan walalay tinolnop ya grupon man-aral tan mangitalindeg na kultura Dagupeno.

Singa kuanen Mama Sani Belyapania, “it’s about time” ya ongalaw metlad ontan a direksiyon so luyag na Pangasinan, aliwan singa natan a singa linmesa labatlan sengaw so aliling tonia ta agto amtay inkianak to.

THIS is definitely disturbing news for the now very popular online commentary medium more popularly called “blog”, short for Web Log, the current craze for those who want to say something but don’t have a newspaper or magazine to say it in. Or, if they had one, are restricted one way or the other by editorial policy or, yes, the ubiquitous legal parameters of fair comment.

A Quezon City regional trial court has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on a blog post of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) about the background and credentials of Jonathan Tiongco, the alleged audio expert presented by Environment Secretary Mike Defensor back in August, this year to question the authenticity of the “Hello Garci” recording.

The court lent its judicial shield, albeit temporarily, to Tiongco’s wife who said the PCIJ blog post was an intrusion into her private and happy 12-year marriage with her husband, Jonathan and that it was a “grave violation of my rights and those of my minor children.” RTC Presiding Judge Ralph S. Lee was however careful enough to stress that it had not yet ruled on the merits of Mrs. Tiongco’s petition but that an order removing the particular blog post or item was “the safer and more prudent recourse in order to safeguard and balance conflicting rights and interests of the parties/litigants.”

The democratic space for free speech and expression once again comes under threat and test even as the PCIJ blogsite , and all other blogspots for that matter, may well be testing the limits of free expression in cyberspace and the extent of judicial coverage insofar as the internet is concerned.

Just how does one control the Internet? This PCIJ case should be an interesting piece for “bloggers” to watch, that is, if it ever reaches the appellate court or the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, not being a respondent to the case, those who post their comment on the TRO issue against PCIJ may not be cited for contempt as they do not fall under the jurisdiction of the court’s restraining order.

You be the judge on who’s the bigger loser in this kind of cyberspace “game”: the plaintiff or the respondent.

AFTER ALL
Behn Fer. Hortaleza


LIKE leaves falling to the ground.

Two of our Pangasinan media colleagues died over the weekend-- oddly, they depart from this earth by twos lately – the voluble and energetic Napoleon Donato and the veteran and colorful Maximo T. Mendiguarin. Again, quite strangely, they died within hours of each other in the same hospital, the Nazareth General Hospital on Perez Blvd. this city.

Nap, actually a distant cousin of ours, fell victim to an apparent cardiac arrest yesterday and Cuya Max breathed his last as we go to press today, Sunday, after a long bout with prostate cancer, or so, according to some media friends. Their deaths, untimely and sudden as these were, somehow supports some observation that out here in Pangasinan, mediamen die of natural causes more than from any other causes to include “lead poisoning” or premeditated gunslaying like many of their counterparts in other provinces.

Their deaths surely diminishes humanity; Nap, because of his apparent zest for life, seemingly always on the go, mixing both his media work and business concerns with such flair nobody would have thought, lest of all us, that he (though quite like us) was in private pain from bouts with hypertension otherwise known as a “silent killer” , and Cuya Max, because of the permanent imprint he has left on vernacular broadcasting since he left his first job as a taxi driver to try his voice – and the unique style he brought to it – at radio newscasting and commentary.

Mediamen are mortals, that much is true. The younger set of newsmen and writers in the media scene today would do well to remember that always. Not to scare them about death or dying or anything but to have them ponder at least on the intangibles of the trade: a mark of true capability and skill, a dash of daring and gut feel and a name synonymous with the ideals of journalism for their children and their children’s children to take pride in long after they have gone from this world.

Nap and Cuya Max exemplified these traits in their own right and in their own ways. That their personal exploits will be remembered fondly by the media sector they served at one time is perhaps the greatest gift they may never get to feel or enjoy -- but which their relatives would probably be talking about in family chats to bring on a moist eye or two in them in the future.

Let’s all say a prayer for these two gallant men of Media.

* * * *

FOR those using the automated teller machines (ATM) of banks, this news downloaded from the internet during our browsing should be fair notice to the usually careless and trusting. We may not have heard of this organized criminal activity locally yet but in Brazil and some parts of Europe, organized crime has gotten around to virtually stealing the identification of ATM users – card number and PIN – using an equipment discreetly installed inside ATM booths.

From this gadget or equipment, the criminals, sitting in parked vehicles nearby, are able to receive wireless transmissions recording the sensitive information of an ATM user. Called by investigators as “skimmers”, the equipment is usually disguised to look like normal, harmless ATM gadget and mounted to the front of the ATM card slot. At the same time, or usually, a wireless camera is disguised to look like a leaflet holder and is mounted from a vantage point where it can view ATM PIN entries.

The criminals later go to work and practically empty your account in a very short time using the bank ATM.

Like we said, there has been no local report yet of such modus operandi… but it always pays to be extra curious about any out-of-the-usual gadget you see in your favorite ATM booth. These days, you can lose your money in a variety of ways, believe you us!

THE PEN SPEAKS
Danny O. Sagun

DOES the city government have the personality or authority to impose parking fees along the major thoroughfares in the city to include the two national roads – A.B. Fernandez Avenue and Perez Boulevard?

We ask this question in the wake of a proposal to regulate parking in these thoroughfares and eventually impose fees. We thought al along that national roads are beyond the scope or authority of the city government so that the latter can derive financial benefits as parking fees.

If we recall correctly, there was a similar move during the late 1980s and early 90s but the proposed ordinance was archived and gathered dusts at the sanggunian secretariat.

Perhaps if the national government thru the public works and highways department grants such authority, then and only then can the city regulate the use of such roads to include imposition of parking charges.

But if that is possible, where will the money go -- to the city coffers only?
* * * *
Motorists like us are always worried where we can park our vehicles particularly along A.B. Fernandez Avenue during peak periods as 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There seems to be no space available most of the time.

Where are all the vehicles coming from, anyway? Is it true that most of those parked vehicles belong to the owners of the establishments who have practically appropriated the road shoulder as their own permanent parking space? Look how they put chairs on the shoulder fronting a store, suggesting that the space is already reserved for the car of the store owner. One time, we had to call the attention of a traffic aide when the salesladies of a store refused to remove the chairs they put as barrier to others who wish to park there.

Will the charging of parking fees as proposed discourage such a practice? Maybe. But wait. The move might even encourage business establishment owners to practically “own” the spaces fronting them what with the proposal that they can bargain for a “wholesale price,” say, paying the fee monthly. Or, they could just “grease” the parking attendants who will look the other way and allow them perpetual use of such precious spaces without ay gain going to the city government.

A thorough study and deliberation by our concerned city officials is therefore a must.
In Baguio City, vehicle owners are charged parking fees along the roads surrounding the Burnham park. Dagupan may similarly charge fees for vehicles parked at the city plaza or in the sidestreets of Zamora, Galvan etc, which are city roads. With such designated parking spaces, the city can then ban parking on the shoulders of the national highways.

We will even have smoother traffic flow.

That will be the day.

WINDOWS
Gabriel L. Cardinoza

Until it took effect last Tuesday, I never realized that the impact of the Expanded Value Added Tax Law would be that immediate and sudden. That day, everything practically shifted to a higher plane, especially gas prices, which is now almost P40 a liter.

In the office the following day, everybody was cursing the E-VAT, as if it were a thief in the night that took away their most valuable possessions when they were fast asleep. But the E-VAT is here to stay, and my officemates all agreed they have no choice but to live with it.

According to a Bureau of Internal Revenue flyer, the E-VAT Law (RA 9337) simply removed the VAT exemptions of formerly exempt sectors of the economy, making “the burden of taxation now shared more equitably.”

Unfortunately, these formerly exempt transactions include medical and legal services, petroleum products, generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, among others. This explains why pump prices of oil products are now higher; the 10 percent VAT was passed on to consumers. Expect your November electricity bill to be higher when you receive it next month.

Ibon Foundation, an independent research-education-information development institution, said in a feature article that based on a study conducted by the National Statistical Coordination Board, removing VAT exemptions and zero-rate privileges on petroleum products, power generation, transmission and distribution and medical and legal fees will increase household consumption expenditures by 1.9 percent.

Using data from the 2003 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) in its computation, the NSCB found that this would increase the average expenditures of the poorest 10 percent of Filipino families by some P40, the poorest 20 percent by P61 and the poorest 30 percent by P77.

“Since these families are already in debt, any additional increase in expenses as a result of the E-VAT will force them to borrow even more.

“The poorest 10 percent of families, for example, would see their monthly debt grow from P155.25 to P195. For a family who may be eking out an uncertain and irregular livelihood in the informal economy, this amount is substantial,” the article said.

The government, however, asserts that with the implementation of the E-VAT (They’re now calling it the R-VAT as the original “expanded” VAT was the one implemented over a decade back – Ed), the ordinary Filipino will have to sacrifice at the start but will reap the rewards in the long run in the form of more jobs and livelihood facilities, better social services, more infrastructure and less debts.

“The additional revenue will address the delivery of basic services, such as building and maintaining public schools, constructing farm-to-market roads, bridges and other infrastructure, maintaining peace and order, improving hospitals and public health services,” the BIR said.
What is disturbing though is the Department of Finance’s pronouncement that it has already earmarked 100 percent of E-VAT proceeds for 2005 towards debt servicing, 70 percent in 2006, 60 percent in 2008, and 50 percent by 2010. And this may be subject to further adjustment due to the delay in E-VAT's implementation.

And with this, what would be left for the delivery of basic services?

Juan dela Cruz had argued, quite logically, we say, that the government did not actually need the E-VAT Law to meet its annual revenue targets. It just needed to improve its tax collection efficiency and eliminate graft and corruption.

ENDNOTES: Local media networks have taken an active role in social services. Last Oct. 29 and 30, ABS-CBN Dagupan conducted a Kapamilya Day and medical-dental mission at CSI The City Mall. Early on, Kapuso’s RGMA, DZSD-Super Radyo did the same at the Dagupan City People’s Astrodome. Last Nov. 5, it was Bombo Radyo’s turn when it conducted Dugong Bombo, a blood-letting activity at the CSI The City Mall, in cooperation with the Philippine National Red Cross.

QUICKQUOTE: Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. – Abraham Lincoln