By Ermin Garcia Jr.   SOMETHING unusual and very out of the ordinary run of events happened at the Dagupan Sanggunian last week. The surprise unanimous approval of the 2024 Annual Investment Plan as submitted by Mayor Belen Fernandez last week was surreal. It was certainly out of sync with…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   LUCKY for the Fernandez administration. Just when it thought it had to start all over again to look for another worthy alternative to the lost Sure Global deal for the ideal waste-to-energy project, now comes Holcim with its magic wand. Holcim Philippines’ project proposal can…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   I CANNOT imagine what can be worse as a sign of blatant disrespect for the office of the vice mayor and the presiding officer by the opposition in the Sangguniang Panlungsod than for them to ignore his order, declare the session adjourned without ruling from…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   IF there’s one message being delivered by The PUNCH through our ‘Police Reports’ column by our motorcycle-riding chief correspondent Akiham Pasion, that continue to be ignored by the PNP, LGUs and LTO – it is the fact that there is an increasing number of deaths…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE continued bashing of Mayor Belen Fernandez on social media over the daily gridlock in the city is not only unfair but politically motivated to discredit her administration for the wrong reason. She should be bashed if the drainage and road elevation projects are being…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   WITH reports of more frequent earthquakes hitting many parts of the country, the Phivolcs already warned that Pangasinan towns, particularly Dagupan City and other coastline communities, will likely be hit by the ‘Big One’ . Our news report on it this week identified the three…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.     NEW Year is supposed to mark the beginning of new perspectives, new changes, new ideas and new lifestyles. I do hope all the sanggunian bayan and panlungsod across the province still share this thought, and consider it as an opportune time to introduce new ways…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE clarification made by Dagupan City Legal Officer Atty. Aurora Valle on the use of subjudice as a rule and invoked by the 7epaLiFes as a reason for junking the proposed Supplemental Budget for the Special Recognition Incentive (SRI) and gratuity pay of Dagupan City…

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   MAKING New Year resolutions used to be a serious activity for the young and the old. I remember our Grade Six teacher telling us how important it was to make New Year resolutions if we were to become better children and make our parents happy….

By Ermin Garcia Jr.   What’s the worst Christmas thought for Dagupeños? It is knowing that another protracted word war is in the offing after Dagupan’s 7 epaLiFes (aka councilors in the majority) boycotted the SP’s regular and special sessions, and particularly, after Mayor Belen Fernandez signed the memorandum of…