DAGUPAN CITY – The city’s Public Employment Service Office was recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the region as the Best Performing PESO under the city category.

The recognition was received by PESO Manager Jocelyn Z. Siapno during the 2017 Regional PESO Congress and Year-End Performance and Assessment held at Savannah Hotel Resort in Angeles City, Pampanga on February 26-28.

The city was given the recognition for its successful implementation of the Special Program for the Employment of Students.

For 2017, the city under the program was able to employ 322 students in the city during the summer and Christmas vacation.

Under the Government Internship Program (GIP), at least 167 were employed by the city and 16 of them are still working in the city government and are detailed in different departments and offices.

The PESO office was also commended for its performance in the implementation of JobStart Philippines 2017 where 169 graduated from JobStart life skills training.

The city was one of only two cities in the region chosen as JobStart implementers.

Dagupan PESO has conducted 100 recruitment activities and was able to assist 3,248 jobseekers based on registrants during job fairs, special recruitment activities and local recruitment activities.

For jobs solicited, the office was able to provide 50, 996 on the same year.

Among the top 10 jobs solicited were sales representative, merchandiser, brand ambassador, mobile promoters, service crew, bundlers, ham seller bagger, cashier and call center agents.

Aside from providing an avenue for jobseekers to find employment, the office also attended to resolving and giving assistance to OFWs in distress abroad.

From 2014 to February 19, 2018 the office was able to resolve 113 cases out of 129, 59 of which led to repatriation of workers and the rest were either assisted to look for another employer, among others.

Mayor Belen T. Fernandez was also given recognition by DOLE for her commendable support to the program. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 3, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY— “The Solar Ko, Linisan ko”  program was formally launched in Dagupan  on Monday (March 3) with all the 31- barangays in the city participating.

Led by Environment and Pollution Control Officer Reynaldo Esguerra, the citywide cleanliness campaign exhorts  all Dagupenos to be proactive in maintaining a clean environment not just in their respective barangays, but in the entire city.

With “Solar Ko, Linisan Ko” in full effect all over the city, barangay residents and officials swept their streets, cut and uprooted  grass that could potentially burn and ignite a grassfire, and segregated the wastes that  they collected from their respective barangays.

Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez personally visited several barangays such as Lucao, Malued, Pogo Chico, Pantal, Mamalingling, Bolosan and  Salisay, early Saturday morning to set an example for the residents by participating in the program’s activities.

The city’s youth also shared their active support and participation for the LGU’s cleanup initiative.

Malued Elementary School students assisting their teachers in cleaning their campus. (CIO photo by Arriz Fruelda)

Justin Jay M. Soquilla, a Boy Scout and Grade 6 student of Malued Elementary School, expressed hope that more students and children would participate in cleaning their schools and areas as it would also help nature and the environment, adding: “Ang paglilinis at ang mga skills na kailangan dito  ay maibibigay din natin sa mga future generations.”

The Dagupenos’ involvement in the program is the key in achieving the Mayor’s vision for a clean and safe city and the local government is reminding the people to do the right thing for the betterment of the city.

Corollary to this, Rogelio Cayabyab, a tanod from Barangay Mamalingling, said that working cohesively and as a family helped contribute to the peace and order in their community.

He also expressed his support to the cleanup drive, saying that cleaning their surroundings also helps prevent the people from contracting viral infections such as dengue, with mosquitoes thriving and breeding in stagnant and unclean environments.

Grass cutting and uprooting in Barangay Mamalingling (CIO photo by Arriz Fruelda)

Aside from the “Solar Ko, Linisan Ko” program,  misting operation was also conducted by the City Health Office and the repainting of the gutter along Galvan St. was undertaken  by the City Planning and Development Office.

Mayor Belen Fernandez assists the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) in repainting the gutter along Galvan St. (CIO photo by Arriz Fruelda)

In ensuring the cleanliness of the city, Dagupan LGU  recently acquired 10  new color-coded trucks that will help promote segregation in the city, with green for biodegradable wastes, blue for recyclable wastes, yellow for residual wastes and red for special or toxic wastes such as light bulbs and batteries.

 The LGU also organized several groups and organizations tasked to oversee the waste management in the city,  such as the Barangay Ecological Management Team, Basura Patrol and City Restoration Upkeep Enhancement (CRUE) Task Force.

The local government also partnered with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to conduct a citywide grass cutting activity on March 5, to help lessen the risk and cases of grassfires in the city. (Marie Verdelle Jenica M. De Vera/CIO/Mar. 5, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – The city of Dagupan, in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), conducted a five-day creative expression workshop dubbed as “Batang Sining” for pupils in Grades 4 to 7 at CSI Stadia on March 5-10.

The workshop also involved teachers in the elementary who are teaching the arts as a feeder school for Special Program of the Arts at the Dagupan City National High School (DCNHS).

“Batang Sining” aims to discover, explore, experience the wealth of creativity in the arts and create an environment of peace, transforming lives, and nurture a new generation of artists and audiences.

The five-day workshop involves storytelling, puppetry, theater skills, art-making and book-making, visual arts, poetry writing, music and dance.

Each of the 250 pupils and 39 teachers were grouped according to their fields of interest and underwent exclusive classes in creative writing at Abong na Alumni, visual arts at Senior Citizen Recreational Center, theater arts at Abong na Alumni, music at the city museum, dance at CSI Big Atrium and storytelling at Senior Citizen Recreational Center.

Renowned artists who are experts in children’s arts and education served as resource persons in the likes of Luis P. Gatmaitan, a noted author of more than 50 books for children which had been translated to different languages and published in Japan, Indonesia and Thailand. Some of these titles were mounted into musical plays, opera, theater production, e-books, animation and apps.

The other was Jerelyn Develos, a champion storyteller in Filipino category in the 2006 “Salaysayan” Competition of the Philippine Board on Books for Young People. She is also a theater and film actress and conducted various workshops in storytelling, book writing, acting and theater arts.

Mary Louise Macanaya-Alcantara, a soprano, music-educator, choral conductor and writer also graced the workshop. She is an alumna of the Phil Madrigal Singers and graduated cum laude at the University of the Philippines College of Music.

Four other known artists made their respective presentations. These are:

Joshua Tayco, a full time actor and is currently a scholar of Tanghalang Pilipino’s Actors Company. He is also an Arts Educator working closely with CCP’s Arts Education Department.

Ronie R. Mirabuena, a Philippine High School for the Arts graduate and is currently the Officer-in-Charge of the Audience Development Division of Arts Education Department and Artistic Programmer for dance at the CCP.

Salvador J. Ching, a multi-awarded visual, installation and performance artist. He represented the Philippines in the International Art Exhibition in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan, and New York, U.S.A.

Lino Matalang Jr., a video director for stage and international documentaries, and former faculty member of Mass Communications at the Cagayan State University in Tuguegarao, and Ian Darwin Wong, the newest member of the CCP Audience Development Division of the Arts Education Department of CCP.

The “Batang Sining” is the first in the city under the auspices of the Culture and Arts office of the city with Mayor Belen T. Fernandez as honorary chairman, Dr. Lorna G. Bugayong as honorary vice-chairman, Councilor Jeslito Seen as executive chairman, Widmark F. Balmores as project director and with Zenaida L. Sinlao, Robert Aliguin Jr., Sheryl Villacorta and Maribel S. Diolazo as consultants. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 6, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – The city of Dagupan, in partnership with Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Dagupan, intends to enlist the active participation of the youth in this year’s fire prevention month.

The activities lined up in this year’s commemoration include those that cater to the youth.

Last Monday, 36 elementary and secondary school students competed in the drawing, poster-making, and essay-writing contests hosted by BFP with the theme, “Ligtas na Pilipinas ang Ating Hangad, Pag-iingat sa Sunog sa Sarili Ipatupad”.

The winners for the drawing contest were Raecy Ricanor, Cielo Kline Balolong, and Isaac Jonathan Magno. In the poster-making contest, the winners were John Carlo Escosio owned the winning piece, with Elijah Duran coming in second and Von Mark Ander, third. Meanwhile, Jerome Barambilla, Francine Mae Gonzales, and John Kenneth Capua wrote the top three winning essays.

Their works were forwarded to the regional BFP for further judging.

The BFP will also hold the Junior Fireman from March 12 to 16, where the youth will undergo firefighting training and activities.

“We want our children to experience what the firemen are doing, and for them to know their responsibilities. We want them to learn to keep themselves safe,” Mayor Belen Fernandez said. The mayor also bared plans for the establishment of a fire safety council, which will involve the youth in preventing fires.

“The youth can help promote our advocacy in staying safe. Even at a young age, they can help grown-ups in preventing fires,” she added. (Zarena Amado/CIO)

DAGUPAN CITY – A fire tanker, a fire truck of 9,000-liter water capacity and a rescue truck purchased by the city of Dagupan have arrived to augment the existing firefighting equipment of the city.

The new trucks were delivered on Wednesday (March 7) to the city. All these are now at the city plaza.

These put to 11 the number of fire trucks now operating in the city which include three from the city government,  two from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), four from Panda, one from Star Plaza and one from CSI.

The new rescue truck is fully equipped with tools and rescue equipment. It is also equipped with electronic ladder, a pulley capable to lift a weight of 2.9 tons, and an integrated lighting to make rescue operations easy even at nighttime.

Mayor Belen T. Fernandez disclosed that the newly acquired fire and rescue trucks will be of great help in saving lives and properties in the city.

“When we purchased our first fire truck, we know that kulang pa ito para makabawas sa pangangailangan natin ng fire truck so I made a commitment to add more fire trucks in our city at ito na nga yon,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez promised to set aside more than P2 million from the city’s budget this year for the purchase of another new fire truck for the BFP.

“We don’t have to be champion only in sports but also to be a champ as a clean and safe city,” said Fernandez.

The city recently launched a city-wide grass cutting day campaign dubbed as “Solar Ko, Linisan Ko” as a way to combat grass fires in support of the fire prevention month this March.

Fire Chief Inspector Georgian Pascua and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Ronald De Guzman are both thankful to the support of Fernandez on disaster management and rescue operations here saying that “mas magiging madali ang fire suppression and rescue operations natin with these new equipment” said De Guzman.

De Guzman said the fire trucks can also be used to ration water in the barangays when the need arises. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 7, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), in partnership with the city of Dagupan, conducted the first-ever Junior Fire Olympics in the city on March 8 at the CSI helipad, participated in by students from seven secondary schools.

Fire Chief Inspector Georgian Pascua, BFP’s OIC Fire Marshal, disclosed that the activity was aimed at involving students not just in the observance of the fire prevention month but also to become fire safety advocates in their respective schools and communities.

“This is not the first activity that we intend to do in the city involving the youth. We have more of this until the practice becomes a habit to them,” said Pascua.

Mayor Belen T. Fernandez fully supported the program and even provided junior fireman suits to the participants.

“This is a very important activity for our youth. We do not just educate them but we also empower them and train them to become responsive. Civil duty starts even when we are still young and there’s no better time than today to train them,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez expressed hope that the students who participated in the program will become mentors in their own school to teach other youth on how to prevent fire.

“We have started training our youth on how to become bulilit entrepreneurs, bulilit POSO and now bulilit firemen,” said Fernandez.

The seven secondary schools that participated in the activity were the Dagupan City National High School, Salapingao National High School, Judge Jose De Venecia Sr. Technical-Vocational Secondary School, Federico N. Ceralde Integrated School, Carael National High School, Bonuan Boquig National High School and East Central Integrated School.

The students competed in hose-throwing, bucket relay, flammable liquid fire extinguishment and hose-on-shoulder relay applying what they learned from personnel of the BFP. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 8, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY –  “Araw ng Buntis” was held in Dagupan City on March 9 at CSI Stadia as part of the celebration of the Women’s Month on the theme “Kaagapay ni Buntis sa Panahon ng Kalamidad at Krisis”.

The one-day activity focused among others on Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness with the giving of free breast examination and visual inspection for non- pregnant women with acetic acid for cervical cancer screening.

In partnership with the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) – Region 1 and the Pangasinan Medical Society (PMS), the city government through the City Health Office headed by Dr. Ophelia Ticsay-Rivera likewise conducted free pre-natal check up, ultrasound for indicated cases, urinalysis, blood-test – hematocrit and hemoglobin for the pregnant women.

The participants were also taught on disaster preparedness by City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Ronald De Guzman; and listened to lectures on how to deal on different crisis by city social worker Ma. Trisha Dela Cruz; how to take care of themselves while in their pregnancy period by Dr. Hilda Bernardino of the Federation of Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (FPOGS); the different sickness and cure by city health officer, Dr. Rivera; and breast and cervical cancer by Dr. Macrina A. De Guzman of FPOGS.

Through the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Office under Leah Aquino, pregnant mothers who are not yet enrolled with PhilHealth were issued their PhilHealth MDRs and Philhealth cards.

Mayor Belen T. Fernandez directed Aquino to allot a Philhealth card each to every pregnant mothers present.

Mayor Fernandez told all pregnant mothers how important they are to her because they are the mothers of their children and that they were the ones taking care of these children.

“We cannot take it for granted to lose and much more your children. That’s why it is important that you listened to the lectures well especially on how to deal with and act in times of calamities and crisis, which can save you and your children,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez informed the pregnant mothers that very soon, the city will be opening its Diagnostic Center which will benefit mostly the mothers.

Women government employees also availed of the free breast examination.

As part of the celebration, the CSWD also conducted orientation and training for Day Care teachers and members of the city’s Quick Response Team especially on Children Relief and Protection Act held at the women’s center in Poblacion Oeste.

Invited lecturers were staff of the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 1. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 9, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – The local government of Dagupan and its City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, in partnership with the Bureau of Fire Protection, DepEd Dagupan, Philippine Red Cross and Panda Fire Volunteer, conducted a five-day Kiddie and Junior Fire Marshal playhouse for elementary pupils from Grades 3 to 5 at the City Plaza on March 12-16.

The activity, the first ever in the entire region, was attended by at least 300 pupils from different schools in the city. The students were grouped into batches for the five-day activity.

Each group went through eight stages in the entire activity, starting with the pupils crawling into a makeshift tunnel maze which simulated building entrapment scenarios that would require one to crawl out of constricted areas with zero visibility.

The CDRRMO instructed the students on how to wear their Personal Protective Equipment properly. Their PPEs or bunker gear comes complete with the coat, pants, helmet and clear goggles.

The students crawled underneath a spider web obstacle course shortly thereafter, and were taught on how to properly tie basic search and rescue knots such as overhand and figure-eight knots.

After going through the tire obstacle run, the pupils were trained on how to perform the Basic Life Support first aid care by members of the Philippine Red Cross Emergency Response Unit. The students learned how to perform proper cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

The children were then allowed to pass through another makeshift maze, this time simulating a burning house. The students relied on reading the fire safety posters and oral instructions in the maze to find their way out. This taught the children to know their exit routes and encourage their families to prepare family escape plans.

After the set of exercises, each student was taught how to properly handle and use a fire extinguisher. They were made to experience using the fire hose in one of the newly-acquired fire trucks of the city.

According to BFP Fire Chief Inspector Georgian Pascua, the activity aims to inculcate fire safety into the minds of the youth as well as increase their awareness, saying: “Gusto natin habang bata pa, makasanayan at maging habit na nila ito.”

He also stressed on the importance of holding such activities and urged  all sectors within the city to participate in other programs that would help secure their safety and decrease the chances of fire-related disasters and casualties.  “Masisigurado natin na ligtas ang Dagupan sa anumang sakuna.” added Pascua.

Other activities that the local government and the BFP have lined up for the celebration of the Fire Prevention Month include “Bombero sa Paaralan” wherein the Junior Firemen will be teaching what they have learned to their fellow youth as well as the upcoming Fire Safety Summit which will be held on March 27. (Verdelle De Vera/CIO/March 12, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – The city of Dagupan has declared more than 17 sites and structures as Dagupan’s Important Cultural Property and Built Heritage in accordance with the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.

These sites and structures are considered as built heritage, historical shrines, historical landmarks, historical monuments or movable cultural property.

Among these sites and structure are the Philippine National Railway (PNR) Station, jackstones in Bonuan Tondaligan, lighthouse in Bonuan Gueset, the stage at the city plaza, the water tower behind the city hall, Vicar Hotel and the former Alimango restaurant in Arellano, the Sanctuario de San Juan, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John, the MacArthur landing marker, Home Economics building at West Central 1 Elementary School, remnants of Franklin Bridge, Rizal  Monument at the city plaza, the city plaza, the head train in front of the city museum, the  Sanitary Bakery and the center of the city hall, Nahirang Lake in Malued, marriage contract of Henry Kipping and Leonor Rivera, landmark of Edades residence in Bolosan, Joe Datuin, the artist, Methodist  church  and others.

An ordinance proposed by City Councilor Jeslito “Jigs” Seen, chairman of the Arts, Culture and Heritage committee, on Tuesday (March 13) sought to  declare these structures and sites as parts of the Important Cultural Properties of Dagupan City.

The ordinance defined cultural property as products of human creativity by which a people and a nation reveal their identity, including architecture and sites of human activity like churches, mosques and other places and worships, schools) and natural history specimens and sites, whether public or privately owned, movable or immovable, and tangible or intangible.

Built heritage refers to architectural and engineering structures, such as but not limited to bridges, government buildings, ancestral houses, places of worship, traditional dwellings, military installations, train stations, light houses, small ports, city and streetscapes, educational technological and industrial complexes, and their settings and landscapes with notable historical and cultural significance.

Historical landmarks refer to sites or structures that are associated with events or achievements significant to Philippine History as declared by the National Historical Commission.

Historical monuments, on the other hand, refer to structures that honor illustrious persons or commemorate events of historical value as declared by the National Historical Commission.

The consideration of the proposed structures and sites was duly approved by the Dagupan Heritage Culture and Arts Office.

With the enactment of an ordinance these cultural sites and structures will enjoy the state’s protection, preservation and promotion. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 13, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – Personnel  of the local government attended a two-day Earthquake and Landslide Search and Rescue Orientation Course (ELSAROC) given by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on March 13 and 14 that prepared   them for the “Big One”.

Those who underwent the course were from the City Health Office, City Risk Reduction and Management Office, Bureau of Fire Protection-Dagupan and the Dagupan Police.

The first day of the seminar tackled search and rescue operations within collapsed structures as well as extrication and care for victims.

The second day  taught the participants on practical simulation and rescue operations exercises like hailing, lifting, and victim extrication and stabilization, among others.

The MMDA condensed the eight-day course in just two days to speed up information dissemination in places that may be affected by the  “Big One”.

“We shortened the course in 2005 so we can cascade quickly to communities in Manila and other provinces,” Luther Casuera, head  of the Rescue Battalion Headquarters and Disaster Preparedness Training Center of the MMDA,  said.

“Everything that the responder needs to know is taught on the first day, and the rest of the days are spent for practical exercises,”he said.

Dr. Maria Rosarita Siasoco of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines Cares (PHAPCares) recalled that  Dagupan was one of the most devastated cities during the July 1990 Luzon Earthquake, as she seeks to inform the younger generation on the effects of the devastation that occurred before their birth.

The former Department of Health official and MMDA head also plans to host a flood and water rescue orientation course in Dagupan in the coming months.

“We often bring the earthquake simulator so the children will get a feel of what the different intensities are like,” Siasoco said. “We really wanted to bring it (simulator) here but it was too bulky. We are requesting MMDA to bring it next time when we return for the flood and water rescue course.” (Zarena Amado/CIO)

DAGUPAN CITY – The month-long 2018 Dagupan Bangus Festival is all set beginning this April with Councilor Marcelino D.S. Fernandez as this year’s executive chairman.

This year’s festival,  dubbed as “The Happiest Fish Fest for You and Your Family!”, will be filled with lots of fun and sports activities that will involve  the family,  which include the main events,  the Bangusan Kalutan ed Dalan Street Party, Bangus Rodeo, Gilon-gilon Ed Baley, Festivals of the North, and Bangusine.

The festival will have its soft opening on March 23 when the city will hold a Women’s March at the De Venecia Road, ending up at the bridge where a short program will be held preparatory to the ceremonial lighting of the Pantal Bridge.

“Fun,fun,fun ed Tondaligan” on April 1-5 will formally open the activities where an open fly kite competition and “Galaw na Ogogaw”  are among the  activities lined up at  Tondaligan Blue Beach.

The sports week of the festival will be held from April 6 to 8, where people can watch the clash of the champions in the Beach Volleyball Republic National Championship near the Mayor’s Pavilion in Tondaligan Blue Beach, Chess Age Group and Open Championships at Edades Hall, and swimming competition at the city poolside.

Kids and their families can also join the BVR Sandroots with Alyssa Valdez.

Tondaligan Blue Beach will also host four”Sabado  Nights” for the four consecutive Saturdays of April.

Different vintage cars will be featured at the city plaza during the Bangus Festival Car Show from April 7-9 while Color Manila Glitter Run will be on April 8 at the De Venecia Road.

Visitors will also have a chance to shop at the Bangus Festival Trade Fair along Galvan and Zamora Streets from April 10 to June 10.

Bangus Rodeo, one of the major events of the Bangus Festival, will be held on April 12 in front of the city museum.

Windsurfers will then compete for the right to bring home the Windsurfing Cup on April 13 to 15 at the Tondaligan Blue Beach.

Families and friends will also have a chance to be with their favorite stars in the “3 Stars 1 Heart” Concert featuring Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Christian Bautista and Julie Anne San Jose on April 14 at CSI Stadia.

Man’s best friends will also take the stage in the Gilon-gilon Dog Show at CSI Atrium in Lucao.

Gilon-gilon ed Baley, a major event of the festival, will be on April 20, where all the 31 barangays will be competing in the street dance for the right to represent the city in the Festivals of the North on April 27, where other festivals from nearby towns and provinces will be up against each other for the trophy.

On April 21 there will be a Mega Job Fair at the CSI Atrium at 9:00 in the morning. The selection and the crowning of the Ms.Tizang Bangus at the Dagupan City Plaza will be held in the afternoon of that day.

Bangusine will be on April 25 at the City Plaza. Families will be competing with their homemade recipes in cooking bangus.

On April 28, dancers will be given a chance to showcase their talents at the city plaza in the Dance Philippines with the holding of the Mayor Belen Bangus Festival 2^nd Edition.

The Bangusan Street Party on April 30 along the De Venecia Road extension will feature different bands like Bamboo,  Parokya ni Edgar, Sponge Cola, Silent Sanctuary, Moira, Ex Battalion with Team Jolai, December Avenue, IV of Spades, Ben and Ben and many more.

The scheduled activities are still subject to change without prior notice. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 15, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – The crowd-drawing Bangusan Street Party of the Bangus Festival over the years has become a venue for picnic or reunion for visitors, friends and families as they grill together and feast on the  world tastiest ‘bangus’  freshly harvested from the fishponds.

The Bangusan Street Party, the Bangus Festival’s major culminating event, has been drawing crowds of at least 700,000 every year for the last three years now with families, friends and visitors enjoying the experience of grilling the fish over smoldering embers of charcoal.

On top of this, they can also enjoy the live performances of well-known bands in the country that are scattered around the venue of the event

For this year’s Bangusan Street Party on April 30 along the De Venecia road extension, the city expects several famous guests like Senators Cynthia Villar and Sonny Angara, 4^th District of Pangasinan Representative Christopher De Venecia, Representative Karlo Nograles of Davao and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos to lead the ceremonial lighting that will signal the start of grilling of over 20,000 pieces of bangus along De Venecia road extension.

Families, friends and visitors will also be entertained by well-known bands in the country when they perform live on stage. These include Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar, Sponge Cola, Silent Sanctuary, Moira, Ex Battalion with Team Jolai, December Avenue, IV of Spades, Ben and Ben and many more.

Dagupan bangus is most preferred by bangus lovers as it has a distinctive taste as compared to the milkfish coming from Western Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan and even  Laguna de Bay.

Accordingly, the sweet taste of the Dagupan bangus may have been partly influenced by the clayish soil condition in Bonuan fishponds and rivers.

Director Westly Rosario, chief of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) in Dagupan and executive director of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), attested that the clayish soil of Dagupan fishponds was found to be low on phosphorous but high in calcium, which element is contributing in a large measure to the growth of bones of the bangus being raised in captivity.

As to the water, the type existing in Dagupan is brackish or  a mixture of fresh water from the upland draining into the Dagupan river and salty water from the Lingayen Gulf which occurs during every high tide.

This makes the water in Dagupan truly unique than in the other bangus-producing areas of Pangasinan.

This is also aside from the fact that there are seven rivers crisscrossing the city whose water empties into the Lingayen Gulf.

It is generally believed that the mixture of fresh water and salty water to form into brackish water are the ones that makes the  Bonuan bangus tastes better that  won the  acclaim as the tastiest bangus in the world. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 16, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – At least 625 pregnant women joined this year’s “Araw ng Buntis” at CSI Stadia on March 9 as part of the observance of the Women’s Month.

With the theme “Kaagapay ni Buntis sa Panahon ng Kalamidad at Krisis, the one-day activity focused on giving free pre-natal checkups, ultrasound, blood typing, urinalysis, and free laboratory test on hematocrit and hemoglobin to pregnant women.

The pregnant women were also given tetanus toxoid vaccine and PhilHealth MDR and ID’s.

On the other hand, non-pregnant women were given free biopsy and visual inspection with acetic acid.

The City Health Office recorded that 472 women availed of  pre-natal checkup; 42 on   ultrasound; 363 on free laboratory test; 136, blood typing; 411,  urinalysis; seven were given vaccine; 162 were given PhilHealth MDRs and IDs while 81 were newly-registered; 112 underwent visual inspection with acetic acid; and four for biopsy.

‘Araw ng Buntis’ was a joint undertaking of the City Health Office and the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) – Region 1 and the Pangasinan Medical Society (PMS).

Aside from the free services, the participants were also taught on disaster preparedness by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Ronald De Guzman; and listened to lectures on how to deal with different crisis by city social worker Ma. Trisha Dela Cruz; how to take care of themselves while in their pregnancy period by Dr. Hilda Bernardino of the Federation of Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (FPOGS); the different sickness and cure by city health officer, Dr. Rivera; and breast and cervical cancer by Dr. Macrina A. De Guzman of FPOGS. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 16, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – This city is closely watching the public markets following the implementation of the Revised Market Code directed especially against unscrupulous weighing scales.

To guide and protect the buying public against malpractices of vendors, Mayor Belen T. Fernandez has instituted the ‘Tamang Timbang, Presyo, Sukli’ campaign in the city’s public markets like the Malimgas Public Market and the  Makong Market.

The campaign also serves as a reminder to the vendors for them to remain honest and be true to their customers and protect the city against unscrupulous practices.

Under the Market Code of the city, violators are penalized.

First offenders will be meted P200.00 as penalty; P500.00 for the second offense; and a 72 hour community service for third offenders.

The city is also maintaining weighing scales in strategic areas of the Malimgas Public Market and Makong Market.

Two of these are in the Makong area while is one is located at the entrance of the Malimgas Public Market.

The Task Force Anti-Littering has confiscated at least 30 weighing scales in its continuing campaign against cheating vendors.

For complaints, the public is encouraged to send text messages for their concerns at 0943-203-5396 stating the number of the stall, name of the vendor concerned and name of market. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 16, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – The Dagupan City Police Station belied reports of kidnapping incidents in the city especially among students and pupils in public schools.

In a radio interview, Police Senior Superintendent Jandale I. Sulit assured the public that no such incident took place in the city contrary to what has been circulated in the social media.

“We are keeping a serious watch on our schools in our city as requested by our city mayor and I can assure everyone that we are maintaining police visibility in these areas to secure our kids’ safety,” said Sulit.

While Sulit admits that the reported incidents in some areas are very alarming, he maintained that the city police has never been remiss in keeping with their mandate of protecting and keeping every citizen safe against any crimes.

“We are regularly conducting “Oplan Sita” in our city as initiated by our regional office. That is why you often see our police cars in the streets with blinkers and siren from time to time in line with the region’s “Project Ariwawa,” said Sulit.

The police are now verifying the details of reported suspicious vehicles, which have been reportedly plying the city streets with no plate numbers.

“We received information from Barangay Malued that allegedly there are vehicles identified as dark Altis and white hi-ace van both with no plate numbers, which have been causing fear in the area. We are now investigating this matter owing to the fact that we are strictly implementing in our city the ‘No Plate, No Travel policy,” said Sulit.

Sulit said that police patrollers have in their possession a laptop, which will help them identify suspicious individuals riding on vehicles with no plate.

It was circulated that two or three students in Bolosan have been allegedly  kidnapped and another one was almost kidnapped in front of the Medical Centrum when men armed with hand guns accosted from a vehicle and approached  a waiting student in front of the hospital.

Sulit, however, debunked the truthfulness of the incidents and assured everyone that “wala pong nangyaring pangingidnap ng bata sa buong Dagupan,” he said.

In case of emergency, anyone can always call BELEN 16911. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 16, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – The local government of Dagupan through the City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) – Women’s Center conducted a basic self-defense and first aid training for women at the Dagupan City People’s Astrodome on March 20.

The training-seminar was held in conjunction with the National Women’s Month Celebration this March, with at least 90 women comprising of LGU employees and barangay officials attending.

The one-day training included hands-on exercises and lectures from PNP Dagupan and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO).

Led by Social Welfare Assistant Trizia Dela Cruz, the activity was geared at empowering women who are considered to be vulnerable in society by teaching them how to protect themselves against the harassment that they are exposed in their everyday life.

Police Senior Inspector Maria Theresa Meimban, chief of the PNP Dagupan – Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD), Police Community Relations (PCR) and Family Juvenile Gender and Development (FJGAD), led the basic self-defense training for the women.

The PNP demonstrated on how to disarm a gun-wielding attacker as well as on how to escape a chokehold and sexual assault and rape situations, with volunteers personally engaging in the simulated situations.

Meimban stressed the importance of women learning and on how to defend themselves as they are  perceived to be weak and defenseless, saying: “Kailangan nating ipagtanggol ang mga sarili natin.”

She also added that teaching women on how to protect themselves would also help stop the prevalence of abuse and lower the cases of domestic violence.

Women’s rights and RA 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 were also discussed during the training.

Women’s Center House Parent Gladys Gonzales, one of the volunteers who learned how to escape a chokehold, thanked the local government’s focus on women’s protection and welfare.

She considers the activity as an opportunity for battered wives and women to learn self-defense tactics which they could apply if they are attacked.

Meanwhile, the CDRRMO demonstrated first aid techniques and emergency responses such as the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to prepare the women in emergency life-saving scenarios.

According to Administrative Officer David Chua of CDRRMO Research and Planning, health emergencies due to hypertension are common in every community that is why mothers and women must learn to prepare for situations that may require first aid response.

“First aid is pang-unang lunas. Dapat nilang malaman on how to do it properly,” added Chua.

Facilitators expressed hope that those who attended the training will be able to share what they learned to their fellow women in their barangays.

In line with the city’s focus on women’s welfare, Social Welfare Assistant April Cueno urged all women seeking protection from all forms of abuse to visit the Dagupan City Women’s Center.

“Any time of the day, pwede nilang bisitahin ang aming office.” said Cueno. (Verdelle De Vera/CIO/Mar. 22, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – More than seven hundred indigent families from barangays Bolosan, Salisay, and Tebeng received PhilHealth cards from the local government on Wednesday.

It was the first day of the barangay-to-barangay distribution of PhilHealth cards by the City Health Office (CHO) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

The distribution will continue till some 12,000 indigent families in 31 barangays are all given their respective cards.

Cardholders are entitled to avail of the benefits of the No Balance Billing (NBB) policy of PhilHealth, which provides the recipients either free or discounted health services from accredited government hospitals and selected private health facilities.

“The government paid for their premiums, so the families can avail of the benefits,” Dr. Ophelia Rivera, the city health officer, said.

According to PhilHealth Circular No. 0003 s. 2014, among the other illnesses covered by the NBB include leptospirosis, Tuberculosis directly observed treatment, short-course (TB-DOTS), animal bites, and avian influenza.

The policy, which may cover room, food, medicine, supplies, and professional fees of doctors, further requires health facilities to provide beneficiaries “quality and complete services”.

Mayor Belen Fernandez joined the CHO and CSWDO in distributing the PhilHealth cards.

The mayor reminded beneficiaries of the free health services that the local government is offering other services such as the coming University of Santo Tomas (UST) Medical Mission from  April 21 to 22 and the soon-to-open Diagnostic Center in the CHO compound in Herrero-Perez.

“We will offer free ultra-sound, ECG, and x-ray in our Diagnostic Center,” Fernandez said. “It is very important for you to take care of your health.” (Zarena Amado/CIO)

DAGUPAN CITY – As 2018 has been declared by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez as the Year of the Family, this year’s Bangus Festival 2018’s “Fun, fun, fun ed Tondaligan” will be a family sports fest.

This was disclosed by Tourism Officer Sharon Maramba who said that the sports fest will consist of games of yesteryears like the famous palo sebo (bamboo climbing), guyuran (tug of war) and lumbaan ed sako (sack race).

Dubbed as “Fun, fun, fun ed Tondaligan: Family Sports Fest”, families are being invited to join the games at the Tondaligan Beach on April 3 at seven o-clock in the morning.

Maramba said cash prizes will be awarded to families that will win the games.

For the tug of war, the winners will get P2,500 each while non-winners will receive a consolation prize of P1,000 each.

There will be three games where three winners will be declared.

For the sack race, the winners will receive P2,500 each and non-winners will get a consolation prize of P1,000 each.

For this particular race, there will be four games where winners will be declared.

In the palo sebo, only teens will be allowed to climb the bamboo greased with oil for the right to win a cash prize of P2,500 and a consolation prize of P1,500 each  for non-winners.

These games will all be played along the shoreline of the Tondaligan Beach. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 21, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – Mayor Belen T. Fernandez called on public school teachers anew not to inflict physical punishment on school children if they misbehaves in class, reiterating that there is a law against child bullying and child abuse.

This after learning that one male teacher from a public school in the city inflicted the bruises in the legs of six pupils in his class.

Fernandez held a meeting with the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) of Pantal Elementary School on March 21 so they can help the city protect the rights of the children against child-bullying and child abuse where she admonished parents and teachers never to inflict physical punishment on children if they misbehave.

Mayor Fernandez, along with the city’s Women Center staff composed of a lawyer and a psychologist,  visited Pantal Elementary School and held a dialogue with the parents and the teachers after it circulated in the social media that a male teacher of the school was responsible of a child’s bruises in his legs.

Fernandez later found out that the erring teacher also inflicted physical punishment on five other children of the school.

“Children are very close to my heart. They are my family. They are like my own. This is why I organized an anti-bullying hotline and a team from our City Social Welfare to handle bullying cases against children. When we launched a strong campaign on this, we experienced opposition from no less than an official of DepEd. But we held on with our campaign because as the city mayor it is my duty to look after the welfare of the children,” said Fernandez

Mayor Fernandez reminded everyone that the city does not tolerate incidents such as this.

“I admonish our teachers to exercise more patience in dealing with our children. I would like to solicit the active participation of our PTA that nothing of this kind will happen again in our city. This is why we hired the services of lawyers and a licensed psychologist to assist the victims of bullying and maltreatment in our city,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez disclosed that at the start of the year, the city has initiated several programs aimed at empowering the children in the city in several activities like training them as junior firefighters, little POSO officers and in teaching them how to be entrepreneurs and save money for their future.

“Soon, we will also launch our junior health officer who will serve as health advocates in their schools and to their fellow pupils and students,” said Fernandez.

For the last three consecutive years, the city has been recognized as the region’s Child-Friendly City and was finalist for three consecutive years in the national selection for the Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities in the country because of its initiated programs and projects advancing the rights and privileges of the children in the city. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 21, 2018)

DAGUPAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is all set to start the construction of a one kilometer boardwalk with bicycle lane in Bonuan Tondaligan after the Holy Week.

This after engineers from the 2^nd Pangasinan Engineering District along with Mayor Belen T. Fernandez and the City Engineering office headed by City Engineer Virginia Rosario made a final on-site inspection in the area on March 21.

Congressman Christopher De Venecia, in collaboration with Mayor Belen T. Fernandez and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), secured P75 million from the national government for the realization of the project.

The one-kilometer boardwalk will start from where the giant “jackstones” are located and  the soon to be constructed MacArthur Park, which will feature a replica of the landing of MacArthur in the shores of Bonuan Blue Beach along with his staff officers, among others.

The redevelopment of Tondaligan is one of the pet projects of Mayor Fernandez in partnership with De Venecia. Both share the same vision on the need to boost the city’s tourism industry as a way to prime up the city’s economy and create jobs for the unemployed.

The more than a hundred sheds operating before in the seashore have already been demolished by the city and several infrastructure projects are now being undertaken to make the Bonuan Blue Beach a family-oriented beach.

Among the ongoing projects in the beach are the construction of a Children’s Park and two new comfort rooms and shower buildings.

The MacArthur Park will also start construction by the second quarter of the year.

Aside from these infrastructure projects, the city has also introduced several water sports activities in the area like beach volleyball, windsurfing, among others, for beachgoers to enjoy.

Part of the P75 million budget will also go to the construction of another boardwalk at the De Venecia Highway near the planned new government center. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/March 21, 2018)