“PANGASINAN, ONE OF 25 POOREST…”

LINGAYEN—Vice President Leni Robredo has received another round of scathing remarks not from President Rodrigo Duterte but from the provincial government this time.

In defense of the province’s status against Robredo’s claim that Pangasinan was “one among the 20 poorest provinces” in the country in her speech before an international forum in London, Gov. Amado Espino III said it was “malicious and irresponsible” on her part to make a false claim about the province.

“The Vice President should have checked her data carefully before branding provinces like Pangasinan as among the poorest,” Espino said.

Fourth District Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario, echoing the sentiments of the governor, also refuted Robredo’s claim in a privilege speech on April 16 during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Rosario described her statement as “totally irresponsible and uncalled for.”

He said the false assertion of the vice president at the forum hosted by the London School of Economics and Political Science “saddens everyone coming as it did from the second highest official of the land”.

“I personally refute the allegation of the Vice President that Pangasinan is one of the top 20 poorest provinces in the country,” he said and cited the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2015 naming the province of Pangasinan as one of the top 25 richest and progressive provinces in the country.

“Pangasinan is already in its golden era,” he said. “As a common sentiment, the Vice President should have checked her data carefully before branding provinces such as Pangasinan as among the poorest,” Rosario added.

He said the poverty incidence in Pangasinan in 2015 was 11.2 percent compared to the national average of 16.5 percent.

He added the decline in poverty level was significantly noted in 2015 when Pangasinan registered a sharp decline from 21.8 percent in 2006 to an 11.2 percent in 2015, or 49 percent drop.

Rosario also cited the dramatic decline in the number of poor families from 2006 to 2015 by almost 50 percent.

In response, the provincial board unanimously adopted a resolution expressing its disappointment and surprise at the same time reiterating the facts and arguments presented by Rosario refuting Ms. Robredo’s claim.

He said Pangasinan holds the distinction of being the best implementer of the government’s Poverty Reduction Program which is being sustained under the Espino administration in the region including numerous awards presented to Pangasinan by national agencies, particularly the Seal of Local Government awards in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

“Such accomplishments truly speak for itself,” Rosario said.

“It’s high time that we invite the Vice President to visit Pangasinan. We will be joining her to go around Pangasinan for her to see for herself how beautiful and progressive Pangasinan is,” Rosario intoned.

For his part, Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr, presiding officer, said they join Rosario “in the same comment, the same insight, and the same outburst” against Robredo’s statement. (Eva Visperas)  

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