Espino rallies mayors to hasten economic development
LINGAYEN–Governor Amado Espino, Jr. has asked the province’s mayors to step up efforts for economic development in Pangasinan.
The mayors, led by newly-elected Pangasinan Mayors League President Rodrigo Orduña of Bugallon on a courtesy call, were told by the governor to “use their limited resources sensibly and reasonably”.
Espino said the province is lagging far behind in terms of economic progress as he cited the achievements of South Korea and Taiwan, two countries he visited recently which he noted were less developed than the Philippines several decades ago.
“Nahihiya ako sa kinalalagyan natin ngayon,” he said.
Espino said the mayors, as leaders of the province’s towns and cities, must initiate and implement reforms.
“Let us have the political will to do things for a change. Totohanin natin ang trabaho natin sa nalalabing panahon ng ating termino,” he said.
Espino promised to facilitate a tour for the mayors to South Korea and Taiwan so that they can see for themselves how development is being undertaken in these two countries and bring back ideas for projects in agriculture, fishery and tourism.
RIVERS, FIESTAS
At the same time, Espino reiterated his call for support for the ongoing river clean-up program around the province, which he said is a “test of leadership”.
“We want the people to know that their leaders are not only for the entrepreneurs who have invested in fish pens and cages,” he said.
The mayors, along with regional and other provincial leaders, signed a covenant on August 25 in support of the clean-up program, which is intended to clear the province’s rivers of illegal structures and trash.
Last week, Task Force Kalikasan, which is undertaking the clean-up program, reported that some illegal fish pens and cages that have been torn down are being reconstructed by the owners of these structures who believe that they are “sacred cows”.
The governor promptly ordered the demolition again of the fish pens and cages of “sacred cows”.
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