Espino bares unfinished plans
SOPA 2016
LINGAYEN— “Sa kabila ng maraming pagbabago, at magandang takbo ng buhay sa Pangasinan, marami pa rin ang naiwan na dapat gawin, o mga bagay na dapat bigyan ng panibago at mas masusing pansin.”
This was how outgoing Gov. Amado Espino Jr. assessed his three-term administration in his last State of the Province Address (SOPA) on February 10, 2016 held at the Capitol Plaza.
Mr. Espino, said while his administration could have accomplished more if dirty politics had not gotten in the way, among these were the ecotourism zone in Lingayen, shipyard and oil refinery in Sual, and commercial seaport project also in Sual.
“Matagal nang andyan sa ating sariling bakuran ang Sual at San Roque Power Plants na nagsu-supply sa power requirements ng mga industriya sa ibang lalawigan sa Luzon. Sana magkaroon na rin tayo ng ng kahit isa man lang na malaking industrial concern na magtatatag ng negosyo dito sa Pangasinan,” he said.
On the plan to put up a commercial airport in the province, Mr. Espino said negotiations with the management of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have been going on since 2010, and the province has already purchased the five-hectare land to expand the runway of the Lingayen Airport as the provincial government’s counterpart.
He said the last communication with CAAP talked about the plan to build a 3C-compliant Lingayen Airport from year 2016 to 2019.
He added the potential of the province in growing high value tropical crops as one of plans to establish more major agro-industrial zones, citing the experience of the corn seeds processing plant PRASSAD, an India-based company, in Rosales which buys yields of Eastern and Central Pangasinan corn growers.
Mr. Espino is confident that the ‘next’ Espino administration, will continue the good programs on health, livelihood, and peace and order.
“Aalis ako sa tungkuling ito na magaan ang kalooban. Magaan ang aking kalooban dahil iiwanan ko sa susunod na Gobernador ang isang lalawigan ng Pangasinan na mas maganda, mas maayos, mas maunlad, mas marangal, ngayon tinitingala na sa buong bansa,” he remarked.
Pangasinan is now the best performing province in Region 1 and fourth best performing province in the entire Philippines.
Mr. Espino thanked the Capitol employees and the citizenry for their support in his about nine-year leadership which led to what he dubbed, “mas maunlad, mas marangal na Pangasinan.”
Under his watch, Pangasinan has been cited by regional and national organizations for “outstanding performance” in different areas of governance, most recent of which was the National Hall of Fame Best Provincial Employment Services Office in 2015.
Among these were 2015 Best National Hall of Fame Best Employment Service Office, first class province category; Most Outstanding Provincial Accounting Office in 2008 and 2013-14, Most Outstanding Provincial Assessor’s Office in 2008; Region 1 Most Outstanding Provincial Treasurer in 2011; National Champion, Garantisadong Pambata, 2009; National Champion, DSWD National Pagasa Youth Summit, 2011; and yearly awardee for Best Tourism Practices since 2012.
In his almost 40-minute report, the Governor talked about the gains in tourism with only 141,928 tourist arrival in 2008 to 6.4 million in 2015, in health with enhanced facilities and ISO-certified system, in education with thousand of scholars, in livelihood and employment, and in agriculture, and in history and culture.
Former 5th District Rep. Mark Cojuangco, in the gubernatorial race with the governor’s son, Amado III, was in the audience.
“Ngayon, marami ang namamangha, marami ang natutuwa, marami ang nagkakaroon ng panibagong pag-asa at inspirasyon, kasama dyan ang maraming bisitang dumarating araw-araw galing sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa Pilipinas, at pati na rin sa ibang bansa,” Espino noted.
The SOPA was attended by thousands of people including the whole Sangguniang Panlalawigan, local government unit officials and employees, staff of different private and public organizations, teachers and students, among others. (Johanne
Macob)
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