LGU-IATFs take over war vs. COVID-19 By Ermin Garcia Jr.   IT’S been only three days since the General Community Quarantine was announced and we are already seeing a number of residents leaving their homes without their face masks, residents congregating by the road.  I saw this along Pantal Road…

Discrimination vs. senior citizens By Ermin Garcia Jr.   Last week, a 74-year-old lady, who lives alone in Mangaldan was dumbfounded at the prospect of dying from hunger because a supermarket refused to allow her to enter and buy her food items, and market officials would not allow her to…

Are doctors in politics with the left? By Ermin Garcia Jr.   LAST week, a statement titled “Second Opinion” circulated on social media supposedly crafted by a group of doctors and health workers. At first glance, the article appears to be genuinely concerned with the plight of the medical sector…

Barangay, critical front line in COVD-19 war By Ermin Garcia Jr.   LAST week, we echoed the alarm raised by the provincial government about indications of local/community transmission of COVID-19 in the province. The province was reported for the first time that coronavirus infection was no longer coming from residents…

Community transmission more alarming By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE suspicion that we are beginning to see indications of community transmission of COVID-19 should alarm everyone. It was easier then to foretell who could be the virus transmitter: all persons entering Pangasinan, with travel story to and from Metro Manila,…

Community transmission imminent By Ermin Garcia Jr.   I’M afraid our provincial government may not see anytime soon the day when it can confidently proclaim that it has defeated COVID-19, or flattened the curve at the very least. Pangasinenses, no doubt, are aware that the provincial government is doing everything…

Your Sunday PUNCH at 64! By Ermin Garcia Jr.   GUYS, your Sunday PUNCH, the only surviving senior citizen in the field of community journalism in Region 1, is again a year older at 64! And still Pangasinan’s News Leader! To those not familiar with the long history of The…

Finally, a community project in Dagupan? By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE Brian Lim administration is finally set to initiate its first community project in the city since it took over from the Belen Fernandez administration last year. For what? Make a guess but allow me to help with some…

No SC discounts, please! By Ermin Garcia Jr.   TWO weeks ago, our entrepreneur-friend Howard Cham who owns several restaurants in Dagupan City, posted a timely and urgent appeal to senior citizens. “AN APPEAL TO OUR SENIORs & PWDs: Sir/Madam, we have been affected by this lockdown for several months…

Police social, physical distancing violations By Ermin Garcia Jr.   NOW that the Inter-Agency Task Force already decided that Pangasinan qualifies for Modified General Community Quarantine, being able to manage the contagion of COVID-19, we are seeing some redundancy if not some disconnect in supporting the objectives and purpose of…