LINGAYEN—The work ethic and culture at the provincial capitol here is about to change.

Pangasinan’s new governor, Amado Espino Jr., wasted no time in introducing new “house rules” for provincial government employees during his first Monday Flag Raising ceremony in front of the Capitol Building here.

Espino took his oath of office and delivered his inaugural address in an elaborate ceremony in front of the provincial Capitol Saturday. He was the second provincial governor to do so after 35 years when the late Governor Aguedo Agbayani did the same in 1972.

Initially, he has prescribed that all visitors will be discouraged from wearing t-shirts, rubber shoes, and slippers when transacting business with any provincial government office in the capitol, and but specifically banned employees from wearing these when reporting for work. He also banned smoking inside the offices.

Notably, he requires the use of the Pangasinan dialect among employees and when transacting business with the public. He said the official provincial language must be used in the capitol.

“Everybody here should know how to speak Pangasinan. The Ilocano-speaking employees should start learning Pangasinan,” he said.

He said he prefers cultural dances for entertainment during special and official occasions, a tradition he has set during his incumbency as congressman twice in the Second District of Pangasinan, and prohibited the dancing of the popular and commercial “Itaktak Mo” or “Boom Tarat-tarat” during government sponsored programs.

“I know my job as governor and I know what to expect from you, too,” Espino told the provincial government employees.

He said he wants his rules strictly observed and he warned that he will be particularly about the wearing of uniforms Mondays to Thursdays. On “dress-down Fridays”, employees may wear only collared t-shirts but absolutely no slippers and rubber shoes can be worn.

“You must always look presentable,” he said Monday.

Under the previous administration of Governor Victor Agbayani, employees were allowed to report to office in any manner despite the uniforms provided by the provincial government.

“Everybody must give respect to the position he holds,” he said.

Espino also emphasized cleanliness, especially inside toilets, even as he warned cigarette smokers about smoking inside the offices.

“There will be no sacred cows,” he said to underscore his policy that there will be no exceptions and exemptions for anyone in his administration.

He also directed employees detailed to other offices to return to their mother units because “we must know who they are and where they are working”. This move is expected to uncover the so-called “ghost employees”.

He noted that there are more than 1,000 casual employees in the provincial government and he will conduct an audit on their individual status and performance, at same time, he pledged to deliver the promised benefits to the employees.

The new governor vowed earlier in his inaugural address that he will be a “visible” and a “listening” governor who will “bring the Capitol to the people to whom it rightly belongs”.–EVA

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