PANGASINAN NOW NUMBER 1 IN REGION

LINGAYEN–A “period of historic transition” was how Governor Amado Espino Jr. described 2010 for Pangasinan.

In his State-of-the-Province Address (SOPA) delivered February 7 at the Capitol Plaza, Espino underscored the economic and cultural gains of the province last year even as he rallied government officials, workers and all Pangasinenses to carry on with the concept of “shared responsibility” as one of the basic guideposts in governance to ensure better public service.

The governor, who won his second three-year term in elections last year, also reported that negotiations have been finalized with a group of Korean investors that will undertake the construction of the Pangasinan Aqua City project on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme.

AGEW NA PANGASINAN

In his 47-minute report, delivered before some 7,000 people who applauded him 35 times, Espino also highlighted the province’s first celebration last year of the “Agew na Pangasinan” after establishing April 5, 1580 as the province’s founding date.

“With determined efforts, we succeeded in establishing our historical roots and identity after 430 long years,” he said.

The celebration, he continued, served as a “rallying event for thousands of Pangasinenses”. Espino hailed the Research and Study Committee, headed by former Vice Gov. Gonzalo Duque, president of the Lyceum Northwestern University, for its invaluable work in determining the province’s founding date.

To continue the pursuit of preserving and enriching the province’s cultural heritage, the Pangasinan Historical and Cultural Commission was also created last year with Duque appointed as chairman of the special body.

ECONOMIC GAINS

This industrial and tourism complex, to be developed by Home Ship Vehicle Amphi Port Company of South Korea, he pointed out, will have berthing facilities for amphibious planes, beach front residences, a golf course, an export processing area, fish farm and a monorail transport system.

It will also have a solar-and-wind power generating equipment to serve as an independent power source for the entire facility.

In other infrastructure accomplishments, he said the 200-million modern rice processing center in Sta. Barbara, funded by a grant from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has been completed and is expected to start operation within the next few weeks.

The rice facility is expected to process and produce premium grade rice at a rate of 2.5 metric tons per hour.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Meanwhile, the governor also listed achievements in improving social services and the various awards that stand as a testimony to the province’s successes.

All the 14 provincial government’s hospital facilities have been rehabilitated and a dialysis center with 14 dialysis stations was constructed and opened to the public.

Pangasinan also currently ranks first in the country in terms of Philippine Health Insurance universal coverage.

Among the province’s awards are: Best Project Implementer in Coastal Resources Management, Best Poverty-Reduction Program Implementer, Best Regional Development Agenda Implementer, Best LGU Millennium Development Goals Project Implementer, Hall of Fame Awardee in the celebration of National Statistics Month, Regional Overall Champion for DSWD Youth Encampment, and Top PESO Regional Performer.

“We could not have gone this far, we could not have excelled in the various fields of endeavor where we are now the acknowledged leader in Region 1, without your constant support and active participation in our various development program,” the governor told his audience.

Espino rallied Pangasinenses continue working together so that “Pangasinan will soon become the best place to invest, work, live and raise a family and eventually emerge as the number one province in the country.”–LM

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