Last Week's News

It’s business as usual at Urdaneta City Hall

| Headlines | No Comments
PARAYNOS: ONLY COMELEC RULE APPLIES MORE than a month after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) served the one-year suspension order to Mayor Julio Parayno III and his cousin, Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno, on January 7, the two city officials continue to occupy their respective posts and…

The podcast culture is spreading

| Out of the fire | No Comments
By Gonzalo Duque   I observed that Mayor Belen Fernandez and former Councilor Chito Samson have started their respective podcasts.   That’s good. The more, the merrier.   And they can make use of their podcasts as a vehicle to expound on their programs and accomplishments.   Anyways, anyone can…

‘Son vs. stranger‘ in Urdaneta

| Random Thoughts | No Comments
By Leonardo Micua   ON hearing a report that circulated in the capitol that no less than DILG Director Jonathan Lausen Jr. advised Mayor Julio Parayno III to comply with his suspension, DWIZ Station Manager Orly Navarro and I rushed to Urdaneta City Wednesday afternoon to confirm the information. We…

Full moon and madness

| G Spot | No Comments
By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   LAST Thursday morning at 3:23 a.m., my niece Jam sent me a message, “Yung moon may rainbow”, accompanied by a photo. I went out to see it, but it was a bright moon with no rainbow. At 10:16 p.m. on the same day, Jam sent…

The rise of the zombies

| Andromeda's Vortex | No Comments
By Farah G. Decano   WHEN individuals lack sleep, they usually develop black rings around their eyes, sport dishevelled hair, wear unkempt clothes and are likely to be in a catatonic state. They chant unintelligible words and convey incoherent messages. They seem to be lost in their own meanderings and…

Championing the arts

| Newsy News | No Comments
By Eva C. Visperas   FEBRUARY is not only the month of love, but also a celebration of the arts. Pangasinan is alive with creativity as the country marks National Arts Month, with local artists proudly showcasing their works at the Wanderer art exhibit, which opened on February 11 at Cups and…

Porcine redemption

| Entre'acte, Punch Gallery | No Comments
By Rex Catubig   BE it holiday or fiesta season, birthday or anniversary, or whatever important occasion, glorious food takes center stage in the celebrations. The lowly pig is undeniably the king of the festive table. Ham, which is a throwback to our Chinese, Spanish, and American culinary heritage, may…

Two lost causes in two cities

| Editorial, Punch Gallery | No Comments
THE two key cities in Pangasinan, Dagupan and Urdaneta, today share what could be said to be ‘lost causes’. In Dagupan City, the opposition in the Sangguniang Panlungsod finally restored its status as the ‘majority’ after it lost the status to the five-member minority when three of its members were…

Pro, contra endorsement of VP Sara impeachment

| Punchline | No Comments
By Ermin Garcia Jr.   NOW that the question of whether Vice President Sara Duterte will be impeached or not has been resolved with the submission of the fourth impeachment complaint to the Senate, the table is now turned on the congressmen on how they voted. First, it should be…

UNITY WALK FOR 2025 ELECTIONS

| Top Stories | No Comments
UNITY WALK FOR 2025 ELECTIONS – Comelec’s Pangasinan Provincial Supervisor Atty Ericson Oganiza leads the Unity Walk before the signing of the Solidarity Pact for 2025 National Local Election in Lingayen, attended by local political candidates in the province and officials of the AFP, PCG, Dep Ed, BFP, RD, PRO1,PD, PPCRV,…

DBM says Dagupan’s 2025 budget meets ‘substantial compliance’

| Top Stories | No Comments
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the review of Dagupan’s P1.6 billion 2025 budget “reveals substantial compliance with Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991) and its implementing rules and regulations and other applicable laws, rules and regulations,” except for two items. Luz de Guzman, chief of…

DBM OKs 3 Dagupan supplemental budgets

| Top Stories | No Comments
THREE supplemental budgets passed and approved last year by the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod under the control of minority councilors were declared by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as substantially compliant with the Local Government Code and other applicable rules and regulations. Supplemental Budget (SP) Numbers 5, 6 and 7…

Dagupan abuzz with P2.2B infra projects

| Top Stories | No Comments
SOME P2.2 billion worth of infrastructure projects, covered by local funds, are being rolled out in Dagupan City, according to Mayor Belen Fernandez. Speaking on Wednesday over IFM Radio Dagupan hosted by Mark Espinoza, the mayor said these projects include those funded by Supplemental Budget No. 2-2024 with P557 million,…

PEACE PACT IN DAGUPAN CITY

| Top Stories | No Comments
PEACE PACT IN DAGUPAN CITY -- The two mayoralty candidates, Mayor Belen Fernandez (left) and Councilor Celia-Chua-Lim (right) sign the posted covenant during the peace pact arranged by the Comelec. The same occasion was held in all cities and towns in Pangasinan. (Punchphoto by Willie Lomibao)

Dagupan bets sign peace covenant

| Top Stories | No Comments
ASPIRANTS in Dagupan City vying for the local positions of mayor, vice mayor and councilor, signed a peace covenant early Friday morning, February 7, at the Dagupan City Plaza during a ceremony presided by City Elections Officer Michael Franks Sarmiento. A total of 27 candidates signed the covenant for peaceful, honest…

Province-wide election peace covenant signed

| Top Stories | No Comments
CANDIDATES the police, and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) officials gathered on February 7 at the Magilas Hall in Camp Antonio Sison in Lingayen for a peace covenant signing ceremony. It seeks to foster unity and cooperation among law enforcement, electoral bodies, and political candidates in Pangasinan in upholding peace during…

Opposition councilors take back majority role

| Top Stories | No Comments
UPDATE AT THE DAGUPAN SANGGUNIAN THE stalemate at the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) was finally resolved last week after the opposition councilors finally passed a resolution by a vote of 7-3 on the use of the set of Internal Rules for Procedures they promulgated under Resolution No. 7922-2022, as amended,…

PCG drives away Chinese vessels from Pangasinan coast

| Top Stories | No Comments
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) immediately deployed two sea vessels and an aircraft to intercept two Chinese ships spotted in the waters off Bolinao in Pangasinan within the country's defined exclusive economic zone (EEZ) last weekend. Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said their two 44-meter…

Tobuan solar water system goes on full operation

| Inside News, Punch Gallery | No Comments
A new solar water system in Barangay Tobuan, Labrador town that will provide safe and clean water to residents was inaugurated last January 25 led by Representative Mark Cojuangco, Labrador Mayor Ernesto Acain, and other local officials. Cojuangco said this is the first in a program that aims to ensure…

MBTF bent on closing Bonuan dumpsite this year

| Inside News | No Comments
DAGUPAN Mayor Belen Fernandez said it is only a matter of time before the more than 60-year-old dumpsite in Bonuan will finally be closed as hauling of excess garbage that have piled up there to the Urdaneta Sanitary Landfill is continuing. Speaking at the city’s plaza during a flag-raising ceremony…