Espino rushes 200 pumps to affected farmers affected by El Nino

LINGAYEN–Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. initially turned over some 200 water pumps to the Irrigators Association of the province as last Friday as the provincial government’s emergency assistance to El Niño affected farmers.

Gov. Espino said the initial delivery is part of the 500 water pumps purchased by the provincial government intended for use of the various irrigators’ associations in Pangasinan to save the crops already planted.

The 200 water pumps will be distributed to farmers in Central and Eastern Pangasinan planted to corn.

The water pumps with a 5-horsepower engine capacity were turned over to Oftociano Manalo, president of Pangasinan Federation of Irrigators Association, Inc.

Gov. Espino said the new pumps should help farmers who cannot afford to own a water pump particularly those whose lands were damaged by the recent typhoons that hit the province last year.

All the members of the association have equal access to the portable water pump units that can service about 3 to 5 hectares of land.

In thanking the governor, Manalo said “maganda po na natugunan na kaagad ng mahal na Gobernador ang aming mga pangangailangan at malaking tulong po ito sa amin.”

The prompt delivery of water pumps is part of the provincial government’s emergency plans to cushion the effect of the phenomenon on the marginalized farmers.  
Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya said that the water pumps are to be shared by member-farmers.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. (left) and Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico accompany President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (center) back to the presidential helicopter after the inauguration of the Aeronautical Highway in Binalonan, Pangasinan last February 19. In her speech, the President lauded Gov. Espino and Mayor Guico for the infrastructure projects they implemented that helped make Pangasinan a transport hub in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle. (PIO Photo by Bob Sison)

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Governor urges mango producers to go global

LINGAYEN–The biggest gathering of stakeholders in the country’s mango industry took place at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Gymnasium with the Province of Pangasinan as their host for their three-day 12th National Mango Congress starting February 24.

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., as guest of honor and speaker, expressed elation over the selection of Pangasinan as venue for this year’s congress highlighting the province’s ranking as the top mango producer in the country despite the consecutive typhoons that battered the province.

Pangasinan contributes 40% to the national mango production and accounts for 84% of the regional mango production, boosting its position as the food basket of Region 1.

While Gov. Espino claimed the country as the sixth leading mango producers and its carabao mango variety as the best in the world, it is in fact exporting only six percent of its total mango production.

He noted that 90 percent of the very limited market share goes out as fresh mangoes, and pointed out the big potential for the industry’s growth in exporting fresh and processed mangoes in the world market.

“Obviously, we need to work harder and be more aggressive to establish a stronger foothold in the global export market by finding effective ways and means to capture a bigger slice of that potential foreign market,” he said.

He also urged the producers to improve on their production systems in order to more competitive as he espoused greater inter-provincial cooperation to reach optimum supply levels for mango processing.

Rene Rafael Espino, National Program Coordinator of High Value Commercial Crops Program, representing Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap encouraged mango industry players to build a sustainable and globally competitive mango industry capable of addressing the demands of the domestic and world markets.

Gov. Espino is joined by Tourism and Operations Division Chief Malou Elduyan and Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya (partly hidden) in appreciating the mango tree seedlings displayed at the exhibit.

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Pangasinan is home of healthiest Filipinos

Lingayen–The Espino administration did it again!

Pangasinan was adjudged the best province in the country besting 56 other provinces and 30 cities nationwide for having the largest universal coverage in PhilHealth sponsorship.

At the recent awards ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) marking the 15th anniversary of the PhilHealth, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., was given a special citation and acknowledgment for this feat underscoring what PhilHealth officials say that the attainment of Universal Coverage is the most important achievement.

The Governor beamed with pride on receiving the award describing the citation as an acknowledgement that Pangasinan can now be called as the “home of the healthiest Filipinos.”

Gov. Espino noted that from the original enrollment level of only 26,000 indigent families in 2007, the province with its 228,552 enrollees last year, overtook the province of Bukidnon and emerged on top of all provinces in 2008.

The intensified distribution of health cards were conducted starting January this year and continues to this day.

“It is our dream that the head of a poor family in Pangasinan will no longer fear for himself, or any member of his family, getting sick, fully confident of getting the best and adequate medical care in our provincial hospitals through PhilHealth insurance,” he added.

PhilHealth members are entitled to a wide range of benefits, which the Governor said, provides a big relief to the marginalized sector of the society.

The indigent sector in Pangasinan today have access the upgraded services and facilities of all 14 government-owned hospitals including air-conditioning in all wards, stand-by generating sets, better diagnostic capabilities, re-conditioned and new ambulance units, clean surroundings and courteous and efficient hospital staff.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. raises the plaque of appreciation awarded to him by the officers of the Barangay Health Workers association of the second district last February 22.  The second district BHWs, with 1,738 members, thanked the Governor for the release of P500 financial assistance last December 2009. Joining the Governor are Board Members Von Mark Mendoza, Amadeo Espino, Raul Sison, Niki “Boy” Reyes, Bugallon Mayor Rodrigo Orduña and Mapandan Mayor Ferdinand Calimlim

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