Where are the CCTV cameras? By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE provincial board should already call for an audit on the level of compliance to the provincial ordinance requiring business establishments to install CCTV cameras in their premises. Here’s why. Going by the experiences of cities of Metro Manila, the…

F&S’ credibility issues By Ermin Garcia Jr.   IT certainly looks like Guv Spines and his son Pogi, as president of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB), have a lot of work on their hands to convince barangay officials that they are dead serious about their “all-out” anti-illegal drive in…

Proving me wrong By Ermin Garcia Jr.   IF noble motives and plans among the councilors don’t miscarry, there finally appears a chance that the impasse on the 2015 annual budget of the Dagupan City will be resolved, soon. Like this week, I am told. My sources confirmed that the…

Tragedy waiting to happen By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE latest edition of the Pogo Grande High Noon Blast last Thursday, January 1, has sent a lot of chills down the spines of many. While no one was hurt, the explosions were simply too loud and too strong for anyone’s…

Holiday mood on hold By Ermin Garcia Jr.   LAST week my holiday mood was rudely interrupted by two totally unexpected news stories on my table: 1) The Dagupan City councilors deliberately shelved the proposed 2015 budget for the city and reportedly have no intention of passing it until Mayor…

Endless Adversities By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE news about the enforcement of the order of the Ombudsman to dismiss Provincial Administrator Raffy Baraan and Pangasinan Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Officer Alvin Bigay, is perplexing as it is confusing. I received a confirmation that the two actually complied with…

Going to war By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THOUSANDS of families in Pangasinan stand to be directly benefitted by the pledge and commitment of Guv Spines, in particular, to engage drug lords, syndicates and pushers in a total war before his final term as governor ends in 2016. That should…

Ombudsman is showing the way By Ermin Garcia Jr.   I realize that this is already hardly the time of the season to continue talking about corruption, for we are supposed to be celebrating with everyone, from the naïve and clueless, to the wily and corrupt. But before I finally…

Pangasinan’s Duterte? By Ermin Garcia Jr.   THE decision of the Liga ng mga Barangay provincial federation to convene a summit on the war vs. illegal drugs under the leadership of Board Member Amado Espino III, is definitely a move in the right direction. Pangasinan remains high on the list…

My kind of Smart City By Ermin Garcia Jr.   DAGUPAN Mayor Belen Fernandez wants to see the city emerge or evolve into a “Smart City” by 2016. I have not heard her speak in public functions lately where she perhaps expounded on her “Smart City” vision so I cannot…