Freedom from poverty and tyranny
TRUE INDEPENDENCE
LINGAYEN– The provincial government of Pangasinan, along with other provincial government agencies, celebrated the 115th Philippine Independence Day with emphasis on the goal of freeing the people from poverty.
“Independence as we define it is our continuing struggle against poverty,” said Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan as he cited the government’s thrust on further reducing the poverty rate of the province and make all Pangasinenses ‘self-reliant’.
“Here in the province of Pangasinan, we are happy to say that we all made the impossible, possible, under the administration of our ‘ama’, Governor Amado Espino Jr.,” added Acting Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. as he encouraged everyone to continue working “further and harder.”
Based on National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) data, Pangasinan has significantly dropped its poverty incidence rate from 26.5 percent in 2006 to 17 percent in 2012.
The event’s keynote speaker, Assistant Secretary Lila Ramos Shahani, head of Communications Group-Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster at the Office of the President and daughter of former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, lauded the province for the sharp poverty incidence rate drop of 9.5 percent.
“Gov. Amado Espino did a remarkable job and no one can question that,” she said.
On the other hand, she added, that despite the Philippines being “the fastest growing economy in Asia”, poverty reduction remains minimal as the NCSB reports that from year 2006 to 2012, the country as a whole — unlike Pangasinan — registered only a 1.1 percent improvement in the poverty incidence rate.
Still, Shahani assured that the national government continues to fight poverty with the Aquino administration allocating an unprecedented 34 percent of the total national budget to social services alone.
Celebrated two days earlier at the Capitol Plaza on June 10, 2013, the province’s observance of the 115th Independence Day coincided with the weekly flag raising ceremony of Capitol employees.
DAGUPAN
In Dagupan City, the celebration on June 12 itself started at 7:30 a.m. with the ceremonial laying of wreath at the monuments of heroes Dr. Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio.
Participants – which included city and national government officials, police, private sector groups and students from public and private schools – sang the national anthem as Mayor-elect Belen Fernandez, currently the acting city mayor, and Schools Division Superintendent Gloria Torres raised the Philippine flag.
The participants recited the Panunumpa sa Watawat ng Pilipinas led by Dr. Danilo Sison, assistant schools division superintendent of Department of Education-Dagupan City, then followed by the singing of the Dagupan City hymn as the city’s flag was hoisted by Fernandez and Councilor Maybelyn Fernandez, currently the acting vice mayor.
It was followed by the releasing of balloons as a symbol of celebration and remembering.
In her speech, Acting Mayor Fernandez called on Dagupeños to “march forward to progress” as “no colonizing power can prevent the development of the country…or in today’s political life, no abusive government officials can forever keep the people uneducated and ignorant.”
Meanwhile, Secretary Antonio Villar, chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board, the keynote speaker, told the Philippine National Police to continue their fight against illegal drugs to ensure a better future for the youth.
Students of the Dagupan City National High School later gave various performances on stage.–Johanne R. Macob with report from PIA-Pangasinan/AMM
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