PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the local stakeholders and government officials for the momentum created that boosted the economic development of the province.

He cited the continued growth of the bangus industry reporting more than P135 million in domestic sales and almost $840,000 in export sales in 2012 alone.

“Your hard work made bangus, formerly held as a fish for the rich, now affordable for consumers,” he said during a consultation with more than 5,000 Pangasinenses from Districts 3, 4, 5 and 6 at the CSI Stadia in this city on Friday.

Provincial officials were also commended by President Aquino for the growing handicraft and tourism industries in the province.

He noted that in 2011, the handicraft industry created 157 jobs for unemployed residents that increased to 1,033 in number last year.

Tourism also boosted in Pangasinan as more than 200, 000 tourist arrivals were registered in 2011 from only 120, 000 last 2010.

Tourists’ arrivals in this province moved up to 66.57 percent which represents almost 40 percent of the total tourists’ arrivals in Region I, said Aquino.

MORE INFRASTRUCTURE

President Aquino expressed confidence that the major infrastructure projects in the province which includes the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) and the construction of the San Nicolas-Natividad-San Quintin-Umingan-Guimba Road will further boost investments in the region.

The Department of Public Works and Highways was also given a budget of P269.1 million this year to fund road construction, flood control, schools and other projects just for Dagupan City.

In support to the agriculture sector, he announced that the government has released P10 million for the completion of the Poblacion-Quinaoayanan Farm-to-Market Road Project in Bani Town.

A fund amounting to P360 million was allotted for the Macidem Small Reservoir Irrigation Project, also in Bani, that will supply water to 600 hectares of farmland in the said town.

Further, 17 irrigation projects, funded by the national government amounting to P150 million, will be given to various municipalities in the province to serve over 2,100 hectares of agricultural land here.

In social welfare, Aquino said that out of 3.85 million households in the country listed under the Conditional Cash Transfer Program, 112, 000 beneficiaries are from Pangasinan.

He encouraged them to vote for truthful and zealous public servants who will ensure the continuous progress of Pangasinan and of the entire nation.

“Bigyan naman niyo ako ng katulong at hindi ng pabigat,” said Aquino. (MCA/AM-PIA1, Pangasinan)

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