Province’s hospitals have 2 ambulances each

LINGAYEN–Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. turned over 15 brand-new ambulances to the province’s community hospitals and to the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council last April 12, after the regular flag raising ceremony at the Capitol grandstand here.

The 15 units of ambulance were acquired as part of the provincial government’s thrust to upgrade services and facilities of all hospitals in Pangasinan to better serve the poor and needy Pangasinenses.

“This is done to augment the needs of our hospitals,” Espino said as he added that all the district and community hospitals in the province have already at least two ambulances each.

“I think we are the only province in the country that has done this,” he said.

The governor also said that the upgraded facilities and services will help ensure that all mothers who are giving birth will be brought to the government hospitals for safe delivery of their child.

Blessing and turnover of the brand- new ambulances was held after the flag raising ceremony along with the blessing of the newly renovated Provincial information Office and Management Information Office.

Since three years ago, Pangasinenses have been enjoying the health benefits that have been instituted by the administration of Espino.

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has also been re-organized to engage more actively in disease prevention and health promotion.

Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Rafael F. Baraan said during the regular Lingguhang Talakayan sa Kapitolyo that the governor is exerting all efforts to improve the delivery of basic services, especially to provide the marginalized sector of society an easy access to health and medication.

Dr. Ferdinand Totaan, officer-in-charge of the PHO, said the aggressive information campaign on public health care has enhanced the level of awareness of Pangasinenses, especially those from the grassroots regarding the different services that they can avail of from the government hospitals.

Thus, he disclosed, the number of mothers now giving birth in accredited medical facilities, instead of giving birth at home has drastically increased since 2007.

In PhilHealth enrollment, Espino said there are over 267,000 indigent Pangasinenses who are now enrolled and the provincial government is continuously enrolling more in line with the national government’s thrust of attaining universal enrolment in the country.

Pangasinan was recently awarded as the number one province in the country for having the most number of PhilHealth enrollment.

More programs on health are underway to fully attain the vision set by Espino to transform the province as the home of the” healthiest Filipinos.”

NEW AMBULANCES FOR PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS–Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (upper photo) leads the province’s chiefs of hospitals and department heads in prayer during the turnover and blessing of 15 units of ambulances officiated by Father Fernan Estrada of Binmaley Parish after the regular flag raising ceremony at the Capitol Plaza last April 12.  The provincial government entered into a cost-sharing scheme with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) arranged by the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines for the new fleet of ambulance units to be distributed to the 14 provincial government-owned hospitals in Pangasinan and to the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council.  The PCSO shouldered 60 percent of the total cost while the province covered the 40 percent.  The PCSO can only donate at least two to three ambulances for every province or city but the province persistently pushed to provide one ambulance unit per hospital in its effort to improve the quality of health care in Pangasinan. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)

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Gov. Espino cites achievements in face-off

“Gusto kong magpatuloy para hindi natin maibigay ulit ang pamamahala sa probinsiyang ito sa mga taong nakalimot kung paano gawin ang tama, that’s why our province deteriorated at lahat nasira.”

This was stressed by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. as he and his running mate, vice gubernatorial candidate Mayor Ferdie Calimlim, faced off with their opponents during a forum dubbed “Isang Tanong…Halalan 2010” staged by GMA7 Regional Network at the Audio-Visual Room of the University of Pangasinan College of Nursing last April 15.

The tandem answered each question head-on and peppered their replies with concrete achievements of their leadership, thus, eliciting approval and the louder cheer from the audience composed mostly of young students.

Espino said if given the chance, his administration will continue its programs and projects in infrastructure and healthcare.

He said that his achievements in infrastructure surpassed that of the past administration’s three terms combined. He also cited the massive renovation and upgrading of all the province-owned health and agricultural and aquatic facilities.

All of these, he said, led to the increase of bed capacity and occupancy of all hospitals in the province and to the efficient transfer of technology to farmers and fisher folks.

Espino also cited the drastic improvement in providing health insurance to indigent families, which under his administration reached a universal coverage now totaling more than 260,000 from a mere 26,000.

He also cited the increase in the number of provincial scholars now reaching almost a thousand from only 300.

With the growing confidence of investors to do business in the province, Espino said he wants to continue his administration’s programs and projects, especially the construction of Sual International Seaport and the Eco-tourism Zone which are now both underway.

Regarding the beautification of the Capitol, Espino said it was his administration that undertook the renovation project. He also clarified that he is the only governor in recent times who actually holds office at the Capitol Building since it used to be relegated as a warehouse for documents of the Sangguinang Panlalawigan.

CAPITOL ISSUE

Comparing the project to the previous administration’s initiatives which cost P46 Million, Espino said, “Gumastos kami diyan ng kulang sa P46 Million, ngayon fully air-conditioned, kumpleto lahat ng gamit, pati Session Hall, …first class…world class…pinakamaganda sa buong kapuluan pero ang ginastos, mas mura kaysa sa sinasabi nilang pina-repair nila three years ago bago ako umupo.”

Espino also debunked the claim that he is a “nevernor” by saying that he is a 24/7 governor. He said that he lives and sleeps at the Urduja House, which is the official residence of the governor.

He belittled the past administration’s practice of letting the people queue, once a week, for petty requests such as bags of cement or medicines, which he said, can now be availed at the hospitals and the engineering office.

“Ang trabaho ng gobernador ay pamahalaan ang buong probinsiya, hindi ang mag-abot ka dun at dumukot ka sa bulsa mo. Hindi gawain ng mahusay na gobernador yan,” he said.

On programs for the youth, Espino said his administration undertook many projects such as the holding of regular sports events at the refurbished Narciso Ramos Complex and providing scholarship programs. He also said that young people can now opt to work because of the employment programs of the Provincial Government, or continue their studies by pursuing technical and vocational courses.

On the issue of illegal gambling and jueteng, Espino said that he did not allow the operation of small town lottery in the province, approved then by the provincial board, at the onset of his tenure since it is a form of “legalized jueteng.”

Espino also said the operation of jueteng in Pangasinan, if there is any, is composed of guerilla operations and there is no big-time gambling lord in the province. His administration, he said, fully supports local executives who do not want jueteng operation in their locality.

“I think we are on the right track regarding the fight against social ills in the province,” he said.

Espino also stressed that proliferation of prostitution, especially around the Capitol area and in the major cities of the province, prevalent during the previous administration has been curbed under his leadership, if not totally eliminated.

Espino also cited the gains of the provincial government in its aggressive campaign against illegal drugs.

CALIMLIM

Meanwhile, Calimlim said he aspires to be the voice of good governance in the provincial government.

He also noted that the call of the time is to have a young and energetic leader in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, which the vice governor chairs.

Calimlim is banking on his able leadership of Mapandan for nine years and transforming the once obscure town into a model and benchmark of progress, cleanliness and excellent health programs.

He also aims to address poverty in the province, through legislation of livelihood and jobs-generation resolutions in the provincial board.

He also advocates for a comprehensive masterplan and close coordination with local executives for a more suitable flood control measures.

The tandem of Espino-Calimlim also objected to the putting up of a casino in the province, saying that the time is not ripe for establishing such an amenity and said the people of Pangasinan will have to be the ones to ultimately decide whether to allow such a project.

On the question fielded by their rivals as to whom are they supporting for president and vice president, both said that they are partymen and believe in the capacity of the ruling Lakas-CMD-Kampi’s Gibo-Edu tandem as the best for the country.

On the other hand, Congressman Victor Agbayani and former Vice Governor Oscar Lambino failed to satisfy the question of Espino and Calimlim to name and locate all province-owned hospitals and agricultural facilities, having been in the provincial government for nine years.

In an interview after the forum, Espino said, “Importanteng alam mo kung saan ang mga hospitals at agricultural facilities kung talagang mahal mo ang mga mahihirap at mga magsasaka. As a good hands-on manager, as the governor dapat alam mo. Parating sinasabi para sa mahirap, puro motherhood at general statements. Kesyo nakakausap mo ang mahihirap. That is not the point. Makausap mo for five minutes, maso-solve mo ba ang mga problema nila? Ako nga, araw-araw kong nakakausap ang mga mahihirap. Kung maysakit siya at kailangan ng gamot, ipadala mo sa ospital.”

SUMMER JOBS–Hundreds of Pangasinenses troop to the Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) at the Capitol Compound in Lingayen last April 12 to apply for job openings for high school and vocational course graduates, and college undergraduates.  PESO Chief Alex Ferrer said the company VAKRANGEE e-SOLUTIONS, Inc. is currently hiring data encoders who will be deployed in the town of Bayambang for the Land Title Computerization Project of LARTES-LRA. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)

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