(Filed by 104.7 IFM Dagupan News)

75 teachers excluded from BEIs due to candidacy of kin

SEVENTY-FIVE public school teachers were removed from the list of members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) in Dagupan after it was found out that they have relatives who have filed certificates of candidacy for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on October 30.

Dagupan City Elections Officer Michael Franks Sarmiento revealed that the disqualification came after filing of certificates of candidacy by BSKE aspirants.

Dagupan requires a total of 1,161 BEIs who will be on duty during the BSKE. This is especially crucial as the counting of the voting results will be done manually. Sarmiento stated that his office continues to hire public school teachers as members of BEIs.

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NFA Pangasinan assures adequate rice supply

THE National Food Authority (NFA) assures Pangasinan residents of ample rice supply in  months ahead, thanks to the upcoming palay harvest set to begin in early October and continue through February. Projections indicate a harvest of 16 million bags for the first cropping season and over 12 million bags for the second cropping, totaling approximately 28 million bags for the entire crop year.

According to the International Rice Research Institute, Pangasinan posts a high rice yield of 4.43 metric tons per hectare, but with high production cost of P13.92 per kilo, which are commonly shouldered by farmers.

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Local transport operators seek fare increases

DESPITE P7 increase in diesel fuel prices, various transport groups’ petitions for a fare increase remain pending before the LTFRB. Transport organizations are seeking a P2 minimum fare increase to cope with soaring fuel costs and ensure they can provide for their families.

LTFRB Region 1 maintains there can be no fare increase, but the operators can expect benefits from a petition filed by Metro Manila jeepney drivers and operators.

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Road projects push jeepney to stretched routes

THE transportation sector is protesting being forced to navigate longer one-way routes in Dagupan City because of ongoing road and drainage construction by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). This extended travel necessitates additional fare charges to compensate for increased fuel consumption.

They also contend with competition from ‘colorum’ jeepneys operating alongside legitimate franchise holders.

Jeepney drivers are hesitant to raise fares unilaterally, fearing the loss of operating licenses and hefty fines from the LTFRB.

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Onion, garlic prices dip slightly in Dagupan markets

THE price of onions in Dagupan’s public markets saw a P10 drop from P150 per kilo the previous week to P120 to P130 per kilo last week. Sellers attribute this decline to reduced prices at the Urdaneta City Bagsakan Market, the source of lowland and highland vegetables for Dagupan City.

But due to financial constraints, buyers are opting to purchase onions and garlic in smaller quantities rather than by the kilo.

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DCWD-Pamana response to water discoloration: ‘It’s safe’

DAGUPAN City Water District-Pamana Water is conducting flushing operations on its pipelines in Barangay Malued after customers’ complained of getting discolored water from their faucets, and raising concerns about its safety for drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing clothes and dishes.

Residents are urged to refrain from drinking the discolored water during the flushing process. DCWD-Pamana, assured customers the discolored water is safe for consumption.

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Temperature Rises in Dagupan partly due to Construction and Slow Traffic

AFTER several days of rainfall, temperatures in Dagupan City have started to rise again, reaching 39 degrees Celsius. This increase is attributed to smoke emissions from vehicles and ongoing road construction by the DPWH, causing traffic congestion.

Despite road elevations and drainage system expansion, traffic continues to be a challenge in the city.

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Road clearing operations set to resume

ROAD clearing operations on major highways, initially initiated before the pandemic, are scheduled to resume shortly. A coordinating conference involving various agencies, such as the police, DPWH, and PNP Highway Patrol Group, discussed the need for these operations in response to worsening traffic along Pangasinan highways.

Chiefs of police in municipalities along the Manila North Road attended the conference, emphasizing the necessity of resuming road clearing activities initiated in LGUs before the pandemic.

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Anticipated surge in palay harvest to impact rice rises

CENTRAL and Northern Luzon are set to harvest around three million metric tons of palay from key rice-producing regions like Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Ilocos Sur in September and October.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr issued Executive Order No. 39, which imposes a price cap of P41 per kilo for regularly-milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice.

However, as the fresh palay harvest approaches at the end of September, there is a possibility that E.O. 19 issued by President Marcos may be lifted, and will affect farmers’ selling prices.

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