THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IN ACTION
Gov. Espino’s latest legacy:
Declaration of Pangasinan’s official founding day
LINGAYEN—Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. signed Provincial Ordinance No. 143-2010, declaring and citing April 5, 1580 as the official founding day of Pangasinan, during the Provincial Board’s regular session last February 15.
After almost a year of exhaustive study and research, the Research and Study Committee recommended the declaration of April 5, 1580 as the official founding day of the province to commemorate two historic events in the province’s history: April 5 to celebrate the day Pangasinan became an encomienda and 1580 to mark the year it became a province.
“I am the happiest guy today because it is in my term as governor that this historical event took place,” Governor Espino said as he likened the event to finding the long-lost birth or baptismal certificate of a person.
It will be recalled that Governor Espino issued Executive Order No. 24-2009 last year, creating the committee composed of historians, researches, members of the academe and media, representatives of different historical associations and government departments of the province, to establish the chartering of Pangasinan.
The ordinance laid the premise that the identification of the founding day or the beginning of existence of every local government unit “is an important undertaking in the enrichment of its cultural and historical heritage.”
It added that the determination of the founding day and the yearly celebration in the province has long been a cherished dream of Pangasinan leaders, historians, researchers, academicians, educators and other sectors of the society.
Lawyer Gonzalo T. Duque, Chairman of the committee, said that “irrespective of political affiliation, we are now united with the thought that we now know the real Agew na Pangasinan” even as he thanked the governor for his full confidence in the committee’s capabilities.
Duque was also handpicked by the governor to head the organizing committee that will plan the celebration of the province’s 430th anniversary.
Meanwhile, Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas said that it’s a great honor and privilege on the part of the 6th Sangguniang Panlalawigan to be part in the passing of the historical and memorable ordinance.
“Kumpleto na po ang pagkatao ng ating lalawigan kasi alam na natin kung kailan sya ipinanganak,” she said.
6th District Board Member and Committee Vice-Chairman Alfonso Bince said that it is the first time that a leader of the province had the courage and the vision to determine the founding day of the province.
The provincial board presented a parchment of the approved ordinance to the Governor as members of the Research and Study Committee stood witness to the occasion. LM
Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. signs the ordinance declaring April 5, 1580 as the official founding day of Pangasinan last February 15 as members of provincial board, headed by Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (3rd from right, 1strow), and the special committee headed by Atty. Gonzalo T. Duque watch the historic event unfold. At the signing were Board Members Von Mark Mendoza, Angel Baniqued, Danilo Dizon, Jeremy Agerico Rosario, Alfonso Bince and 5th Dist. Cong. Mark Cojuanco. (Photo by Wesley Fernandez)
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Capitol’s help to victims of Typhoon Pepeng continues
The Espino administration, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Philippines, recently distributed Shelter Repair Kits anew, this time to 256 families in Lingayen.
Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. led the provincial government in providing assistance and delivery of basic services to 256 families of Sitio Aplaya in Barangay Pangapisan Norte in Lingayen last February 17.
The one-day program was a combination of shelter repair kit distribution, medical mission, relief distribution and food for work and feeding program.
Governor Espino explained that the delay in delivering the program to help the residents of Sitio Aplaya was due to higher priorities given communities worst hit by the recent super typhoon.
He, however, assured them that all projects, i.e., construction of a covered court and asphalting of roads, etc., intended for their community remain committed.
He also thanked the Habitat for Humanity for its speedy response to assist the Provincial Government in its recovery and rehabilitation efforts in the province.
Meanwhile, Habitat’s Government Partnership Relations Officer Gladys Ledina, lauded the Governor for giving their organization a chance to share with the provincial government the opportunity to serve the typhoon-stricken Pangasinenses and help them go back to their normal lives.
So far, 393 shelter repair kits have already been presented to families in the towns of Rosales, Villasis, Bayambang and Sison and the City of Urdaneta .
Habitat for Humanity Philippines has extended assistance worth P2.71 Million to the four municipalities and city and allotted another P2.471 Million to the towns of Lingayen and Bautista.
Provincial Housing Officer Alvin Bigay said the repair kit worth P7,000, includes six roof sheets, four flexi-boards, various sizes of coco lumber, nails and hand tools such as handsaw, hammer and screw driver.
Barangay Councilor Rolden Ramones said that their community is fortunate for having been chosen as one of the beneficiaries.
Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. leads the distribution of shelter repair kits to 256 families in Lingayen whose houses were damaged by typhoon ‘Pepeng’. The distribution of the kits is a partnership project of the provincial government with the Habitat for Humanity Philippines.
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Gov. Espino expands scholarship program with P3.3 million financial assistance
Lingayen–Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has provided some 500 students from the eight component campuses of the Pangasinan State University P3.3million worth of financial assistance through the Capitol’s scholarship program.
The scholarship program has expanded its beneficiaries to 500 slots for school year 2009-2010 from its original number of 100 slots in 2002.
The recipients along with their families thanked the Governor for the P6,000 cash assistance as they commended the provincial chief executive for launching the expanded program.
Teary-eyed, Arlene Bermudez, a mother of one of the scholars, said, “laking pasasalamat namin sa ganitong program ni Governor. Natutulungan ako nito dahil talagang hirap kami sa pera. Hindi ko mapag-aral ang anak ko kung walang ganitong tulong.”
Leodivina More, fish vendor and mother of PSU Infanta scholar Israel More, said “Sana dire-deretso itong programa ni Governor hanggang nakaupo siya. Dahil sa tulong niya, may magandang kinabukasan ng naghihintay sa anak ko at may pag-asa na kaming makaahon sa kahirapan.”
The increase in slots, according to the Governor, manifests the administration’s support to the poor but deserving students of the state university that he considered his second home.
The program seeks to strengthen the quality education in the province by developing and harnessing the talents and skills of the students. Poverty, he said, should not be a hindrance in attaining a dream. “When I was your age, I had my resolve, I had focus and I had the heart to follow and pursue my dreams,” he told the students.
Maribeth A. Ramos, one of the scholars now on her 3rd year studying Computer Science course at PSU Lingayen, said she could not have reached her present year level in college were it not for the financial assistance that she has been receiving from the governor since 2007.
“Malaking tulong po sa aming pamilya ito. Siyam po kaming magkakapatid at pang-anim ako, tricycle driver ang tatay ko at housekeeper lang ang nanay ko. Nag-aaral po akong mabuti para matulungan ko ang pamilya ko pagka-graduate ko. Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Governor kasi binigyan n’ya kami ng pag-asa sa pamamagitan po ng programang ito,” she said.
The Governor has since committed to pursue various projects for the Pangasinense youth’s advancement.
Liga ng mga Barangay President Amadeo Espino, who joined the Governor during the distribution of financial assistance, said that opportunity knocks only once and challenged the recipients grab the opportunity given them and strive for the best.
“In order to succeed in life, one must possess discipline and ambition. Dapat mangarap kayo na makaalis sa kahirapan at mangarap kayo na makamtan n’yo ang tagumpay ,” he said. LM
A scholar of the provincial government at the Pangasinan State University is applauded by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. and other government officials after receiving her financial assistance during a recognition program attended by 500 scholars and their parents. With the Governor are Dr. Eusebio F. Miclat, Jr., Board Member Amadeo T. Espino, Jr., Linda Fernandez and a PSU official. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)
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