IN 2025, our community faced calamities of a different kind. Dagupan City and the province of Pangasinan were battered by a series of devastating typhoons that unleashed deadly floods. Lives were risked, livelihoods destroyed, and the poor—once again—were pushed deeper into hardship. The damage appeared incalculable, but amid the devastation,…

AS we celebrate the joy and quiet wonder of the Yuletide season, The Sunday Punch extends its heartfelt wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to its readers, partners, and the communities we serve. Christmas comes each year wrapped in familiar settings—lights, songs, greetings, and gatherings—but beneath…

RiISING electricity costs in the Philippines have become a heavy burden for millions, stifling economic growth and discouraging foreign investment that could create jobs and drive essential development. In light of this challenge, the government is considering nuclear power as a potential solution, particularly with a proposed facility in Labrador….

THE claim regarding a nonexistent flood control project in Barangay Sto. Tomas, San Jacinto, Pangasinan, has been refuted by the barangay council itself. In a definitive statement, the council passed Resolution No. 12, Series of 2025, clarifying that there is no ghost flood control project in their jurisdiction, contrary to…

RECENT reports indicating that the country’s intelligence community is investigating claims of foreign funding for past anti-government protests versus corruption have reignited widespread concerns regarding foreign interference in Philippine politics. Many observers interpret this inquiry as a reaffirmation of long-held suspicions that external forces are seeking to manipulate domestic affairs,…

WHILE political will is essential in shaping national policy, it is ultimately the scientists—not politicians—who must determine where nuclear power plants can be safely built. Such decisions require rigorous, unbiased, comprehensive scientific analysis, and above all caution. Recent reports claim that, at the initiative of 2nd District Rep. Mark Cojuangco,…

THE series of natural calamities that have struck our nation—the latest being Super Typhoon Uwan (International name: Fung Wong)—has once again tested the resilience of the Filipino spirit. For millions of ordinary citizens, especially those still struggling to rise from poverty, these disasters have deepened their hardships and despair. In…

AN act of brazen defiance unfolded recently on one of Dagupan’s streets when an affluent city resident displayed arrogance and blatant disrespect for law and order. The incident involved the owner of a white SUV who, after being issued a traffic citation ticket by the Public Order and Safety Office…

AS the cool amihan winds begin to blow from the Arctic region, a rise in influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) is expected — not only in Region 1 but across the entire country. Public health facilities nationwide are now ramping up their preparations to accommodate a possible surge in patients seeking medical…

IT comes as no surprise that the Discaya couple, Curlee and Sarah, has finally decided to stop cooperating with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in its probe into anomalous flood control projects. The Commission, chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes, cannot compel the couple to speak up…