By Gonzalo Duque

 

THE Sanggunian Panlungsod has passed a resolution expressing its profound gratitude to outgoing Mayor Brian Lim, commending him for his “sterling leadership  and competent management” of the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a positive move of the august body.  Recognizing the mayor’s awesome and responsible efforts in addressing  the pandemic is a legacy of his administration.

So, l join the councilors in congratulating him for this outstanding feat – accomplishing his mission in the daunting  task of containing  COVID in our city.

My only reservation about Brian was his refusal to operate the Dagupan City Diagnostic Center especially at the height of the pandemic. It is equipped with state-of the-arts x-ray machines that could have served patients with pulmonary problems at no costs. Sayang!

Instead, patients were referred by the CHO to a private hospital where they had to pay more than P300 for chest  x-ray alone when it could have been for free at the Diagnostic Center.

So, in deference to the Sangunian’s commendation of Mayor Brian, I will suspend for another time a discussion on why there are now the JCI and Bangus Jaycees, when there was only one. I will write about this lengthily at the right time so that Jaycee ideals, especially in the areas of integrity, honesty and the rule of law, can be pursued with commitment. After all, Jaycee is a development leadership organization.

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I would also like to thank our Sunday PUNCH editor Ermin Garcia Jr for writing a nice editorial about my brother, Health Secretary T. Duque III who, along with others, is set to exit from the cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte.  I know what Ermin wrote there came from his heart. He doesn’t need to pull Pingcoy’s legs nor mine.

As the outgoing Health Secretary, Pingcoy was honored with a Presidential Medal of Merit  and the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Lapulapu personally awarded by President Duterte in Malacanang in recognition of his outstanding work in the fight against COVID-19. The second award was for his contributions in nation-building. He’s the first Pangasinense to receive these prestigious awards from no less than the President.

Our family was deeply honored when President Duterte asked Pingcoy to join his cabinet during his entire term as President.

And, despite all the bashings from politicians of different party colors, some even had him investigated for alleged irregularities that were baseless, Pingcoy always had PRRD’s back.

Among those who demonized him in the mainstream and social media were presidential candidates, congressmen and senators who have since vanished in political oblivion after losing in the last elections. 

Pingcoy definitely would not have survived lahat ng bato na ibinato sa kanya were it not for the full trust and confidence of President  Duterte in him. 

In fact, guston -gusto na ni Pingcoy mag-resign because his work was taking its toll on his health. But President Duterte, always prevailed upon him and asked him to finish his work and save the nation from the pandemic. 

Today, we are the envy of many countries because our COVID cases never saw a major surge unlike in China, South Korea, Australia. UK and the United States. 

Congrats to you Brod Pingcoy. You made our family proud. 

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I had a talk with Dr. Westly Rosario, retired chief of the National Integrated Fisheries and Technology Development Center about the bangus industry in Dagupan. I wish incoming Mayor Belen Fernandez will hire him as a consultant because Westly has vast experiences that will hasten not only the development of our aquaculture industry but the training of local fishery technicians.

We discussed many problems (in aquaculture) at his own Bread House on JDV Highway, and he offered a lot of viable solutions to these problems. With Westly’s help, Mayor Belen can fast track many projects in mind for the benefit of the marginal fishermen, without sacrificing the environment.

To date, illegal fish pens and illegal sized cages are crowding our rivers resulting in water pollution that spawns fish kills. Westly can make our dying rivers productive without polluting the water.

Like Westly, we have so many talents in Dagupan but don’t have his expertise and experience. Another talent is Rex Catubig. He should be tapped by Belen to spearhead in the protection of arts and culture in the city like what he’s doing with other Jayceekens but on a limited basis

We would like to congratulate Gov. Monmon Guico and Vice Governor Mark Lambino as well as my Mayor Belen Fernandez and Vice Mayor Bryan Kua. May they always bear in mind that team work and hard work will work.

 

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