LINGAYEN—Apology accepted, but now promote Pangasinan.

This was the message of a calm Gov. Amado Espino Jr. to ABS-CBN Network, home of the program Bandila, that reported an erroneous and sensationalized news of a supposed mysterious disease spreading in the province.

Speaking during the opening program of the Employees Family Day last February 28 at the Provincial Training and Development Center here, Espino said he is glad about the public apology made by the program but “the damage has been done”.

“But we are happy they apologized which means their report was indeed wrong,” Espino said in Filipino.

He then asked the media, “especially ABS-CBN”, to promote the province’s tourism destinations.

Provincial Information Officer Butch Velasco said the governor suggested that if the television station is really sincere in its apology, it may lend a hand in rebuilding the province’s image also through Bandila.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. also said, “In the spirit of goodwill, hinihiling natin na ang ABS-CBN ay gumawa rin ng effort para maka-recover ang lalawigan ng Pangasinan.”
Calimlim said that the provincial board will no longer pursue the resolution requesting the network to apologize, but wants the broadcast company to do more.

“We just don’t say sorry. We must repair the damage. Bring back the good things that were lost by us because of that false report,” said Calimlim, whose statement to the media was relayed by Velasco.

Velasco, for his part, said it is crucial to win back the confidence of tourists, especially with various festivals slated in the province this summer, like the Pistay Dayat in Lingayen and the Bangus Festival in Dagupan.

PROMOTION

The governor also asked the more than 3,000 provincial government employees present during the event to inform their families around the world on the real state of Pangasinan: safe from any contagious disease and one of the most progressive provinces in the Philippines.
“Wala nang sisihan, tapos na ‘yon. Ikampanya na lang natin ang Pangasinan na bumalik ulit sa kinalalagyan niya o humigit pa,” Espino said.
Meanwhile, 3rd District Rep. Rose Marie Arenas appealed for sobriety as the truth had come out and the television station has apologized.

“Please don’t panic. Pangasinan remains a top tourism and pilgrimage destinations,” Arenas said.

Arenas admitted that she herself had a group of 20 visitors who were supposed to visit Pangasinan, particularly the pilgrimage town of Manaoag, but only eight were willing to pursue the trip after hearing the news.

“I would like to reiterate that Pangasinan is a safe, healthy and happy place.  We are also one of the great spiritual destinations for millions of pilgrims because we are home to Our Lady of Manaoag,” Arenas said.

Espino said that he, along with Provincial Health Officer Dr. Anna Ma. Theresa De Guzman, will personally check on the conditions of the two patients from Sta. Barbara and Villasis, the subjects of the report, who have leprosy and psoriasis.
De Guzman added that their monthly “Kilatis Kutis” program is still ongoing in the different municipalities to prevent skin diseases.—with reports from LVM, Johanne R. Macob and Tita Roces

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