By Leonardo Micua

 

WHILE Pangasinan sizzles with a heat index of 42 to 46 degrees celsius, among the highest if not the highest in the entire country, it is not good to hear that most, if not all, of the provincial board members, plus some department heads and special assistants are on a holiday in the United States, to cool themselves in winter weather, for a month or two.

Who would not suspect there was something behind this trip of this big number of public officials from Pangasinan when in fact, like a thief in the night, they sneaked into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport unnoticed, keeping their trip a secret among capitol confidants.

If they really had any good intention (and official mission) in going to the United States, they should have gladly announced it even just on social media through the Public Information Office. But no, it was still “less talk, less mistake” for the provincial officials.

My Filipino-American friend and fellow journalist, Leonie Galvez, still spewing fire in his many years of stint in Los Angeles, California, treated me to a breakfast in one of the coziest places in Dagupan and, did not mince words when he said that trip by Pangasinan officials was pure and simple was covered by people’s money.

That’s a big waste of money, said Leonie, adding that if the province of Pangasinan really  wanted to touch-base with their kababayan in the West Coast, one or two or three ranking public officials can do the job, not an entourage.

With their big number (I heard five BMs brought along their respective espouses), many heads in San Francisco turned upon seeing this big number of Pangasinan public officials in their land at one time.

From what they saw, many would have thought that the Pangasinan BMs and other officials already transported their whole offices and some resources to America.

We would not have known their U.S. trip, had we not noted that there were no posts by the SP, indicating they have not been holding sessions for some time. Perhaps, many thought this batch of board members was simply lazy to discharge their duties, but no, they are on  a distant land, spending the money of the Pangasinan people.

To our surprise, nobody among the employees in the Sanggunian admitted to knowing who made the trip. It could be that they were sworn into secrecy not to name names, or face consequences.

We noticed Vice Governor Mark Lambino during the Limgas na Dayat presentation. It must be only him that is holding the fort in the Sanggunian.

But we know that just by his lonesome, he cannot convene a Sanggunian and pass resolutions.

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Relative to that U.S. trip by a big delegation of Pangasinan officials and non-officials, who would not think that their junket is a compliment, courtesy of Governor Mon-Mon Guico to the BMs and other officials for the easy passage of a resolution authorizing him to negotiate a whooping P6 billion loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines that will bankroll some of his mega projects.

Perhaps somebody bankrolled their hefty pocket and shopping money as a reward  for passing the resolution without resistance. 

The last appearance of the BMs was at the Sison Auditorium when Guico delivered his State of the Province Address. Next, they had a benchmarking trip to Iloilo and we don’t know if they went straight to the NAIA for the U.S. trip. That was the last that was heard of them from here.

As the BMs have not long been in session for a long time, perhaps they pretended to be holding sessions by zoom from their own hotel rooms in the U.S. to make it appear that they were somewhere in the Philippines, working.

But technical problems may have developed because no such Zoom session happened till now.

Truth was eventually out, after Special Assistant to the Governor Von Mark Mendoza had his selfie before the famous Golden Bridge in San Francisco.; So there, Pangasinenses finally know of the Board members’ “secret” trip.

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