Cleaning 111-year old Pangasinan

t’s the 111th founding anniversary of Pangasinan on November 13, the first under Governor Amado Espino Jr., a new leadership in the province following a long line of Agbayani administration.

But the governor, who convincingly won in the May election, won’t be home for the celebration.

He’ll be busy in the United States wooing Pangasinenses based there to visit their hometown, and better yet, invest in the province to spur economic development and open employment opportunities.

Somehow it is but fitting for Espino to be doing that instead of heading ceremonial activities here to mark the province’s anniversary day. After all, judging from the first 100-days report of the governor, he does not seem to feel that there is much to celebrate in Pangasinan at this point.

For the most part, he laments how the province, given its vast natural resources and tourism sites, has been unable to fully maximize its potentials.

It is good that he is not stopping at mere grumbling. So far, indications point to his serious intent to address the problems he has outlined.

When the governor gets back, one major issue that he needs to tackle immediately is the solid waste management program of the province.

His authority, as chief of the entire province, is crucial in sorting out the garbage problem in every town and city and in effect, the whole of Pangasinan.

He, along with the environment experts of the province, needs to sit down with the local government executives to jointly identify options and solutions.

If they ever hope to attract investors into Pangasinan – whether the big, medium or small businessmen – and institute a long-term and sustainable economic development, they should never overlook the importance of a judicious waste management in the overall scheme of things.

The mess that is starting to build up, for starters in Dagupan which is the busiest business district in the province, needs to be cleaned up, literally.