Groundwork begins for Sual port in Pangasinan

ROSALES, PANGASINAN – Ground work has started for the Sual Port Development Project in Pangasinan's first district after it purchased a lot that is now being used as a road for its heavy equipment.

Right-of-way issues heading to the project site were settled by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Sual Mayor John Rodney Arcinue said.

Father, son die in firefight

A FATHER and son suspects died while three others were injured in a police operation, responding to a report about an alleged indiscriminate firing, in Barangay Lebeg, Laoac town, Pangasinan.

Authorities identified the fatalities as Rodrigo Ellazar, Jr. and his son Gener Eleazar, both residing at the Ellazar compound, Barangay Lebeg.

City called for early passage of 2012 budget

DAGUPAN City Mayor Benjamin Lim called on the City Council to start preparing for next year’s budget.

It can be remembered that the 2011 budget was only approved last March and was lower than the 2010 budget.

Dagupan marks 64th cityhood

DAGUPAN City is celebrating its 64th Agew na Dagupan or cityhood today, June 20.

The municipality of Dagupan became city by virtue of Republic Act 170 (An Act Creating the City of Dagupan) authored by then House Speaker Eugenio Perez and signed into law on June 20, 1947 by then President Manuel Roxas.

4 suspects face robbery, homicide charges

BINMALEY, Pangasinan -- Four suspects accused of stealing more than half a million pesos from a construction supply store and killing one of its workers have been charged with robbery and homicide.

The suspects were identified as Ronel Fernandez of Canaoalan, Binmaley; Hermie Paris, alyas Ambong, of Barangay Tebag West, Sta. Barbara town; and two John Does.

Youth told: Be proud of the Philippines

DAGUPAN CITY -- The city's archbishop exhorted the youth to be proud of the Philippines as it celebrates the 150th birthday anniversary of National Hero Jose Rizal.

"Please be proud of the Philippines," Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said in a message during Rizal's commemoration.

State university prexy re-appointed

LINGAYEN -- Dr. Victoriano Estira was re-appointed as president of the Pangasinan State University (PSU), with 8-2 vote of the Board of Regents.

"The board has already given their verdict. My appointment paper has been signed, time to move on and focus our attention to the needs of our students and to our programs and medium term plans," Estira said Tuesday afternoon.

Dagupan to mark 64th charter

DAGUPAN City will celebrate its 64th Agew na Dagupan (Dagupan Day) on June 20 with the theme "Aliguas na Baley, Eebatan na Balang Sinansakey."

The weeklong celebration started on June 12, coinciding with the observance of the 115th Philippine Independence Day.

Guv wants 'no fishpen policy' implemented

LINGAYEN – Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr. recommends the immediate implementation of the “No Fishpen Policy” in raising bangus and other fishes.

Espino announced his recommendation during the consultation dialogue with aquaculture stakeholders recently.

26 missing fishermen rescued

PANGASINAN (Updated 4:14 p.m.) -- A top official of the national disaster council on Friday said the 26 missing fishermen off Pangasinan were already rescued.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC) Executive Director Benito Ramos said the Philippine Coast Guard plane spotted the 26 fishermen.

26 fishermen missing off Pangasinan

PANGASINAN (Updated 9:57 a.m.) -- The national disaster council on Friday said 26 fishermen went missing after venturing into the Spratly’s area.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the fishing boat F/B 3MS WOF owned by Leo Caranay may have encountered stormy seas on Thursday afternoon.

'Boodle fight' held to prove Dagupan bangus is safe

DAGUPAN CITY -- The City Government held Tuesday a "boodle fight", with grilled bangus (milkfish) as the main menu, to show to the public that bangus harvested at the city's fishponds is safe to eat.

Boodle fight is a military style of eating wherein everyone, regardless of rank or social status, eats at the same time with bare hands to show unity.

Reduction of fish cages sought

BOLINAO, Pangasinan -- First district Representative Jesus Celeste called for a drastic reduction of the number of fish cages and pens along the Caquipotan Channel, a body of water separating the island towns of Anda and Bolinao, to finally put an end to the recurrent fish kill in the area.

Celeste, a former three-term mayor of Bolinao, made the call following a massive fish kill along the Caquipotan Channel, which is teeming with some 200 fish cages used in the intensive production of milkfish (bangus).

Rewards await those who report river polluters

LINGAYEN -- Bad news awaits people who continue to throw garbage or trash at the province's rivers, while good news awaits those who show concern by reporting these violators to the police.

Recall election in the offing in Bani town

DAGUPAN CITY – Due to issues concerning a P70-million loan of the Municipal Government, the mayor and the vice mayor of Bani town are trading election recall threats.

A recall signature drive was launched last week by Mayor Marcelo Navarro Jr. against his political nemesis Vice Mayor Filipina Rivera and Municipal Councilors Cothera Gwen Yamamoto, Tamerlane Olores, Rosalinda Acenas and Ruben Ampler.

Fish kill damage reaches P44M in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN – The Provincial Agriculture Office here said at least P44.7 million have been lost due to the recent fish kill in the province of Pangasinan.

Provincial Agriculture Officer Dalisay Moya said the figures translate to 496 metric tons of dead bangus recorded as of June 2.

Monitor fishery industry, agriculturist told

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – As directed by La Union Governor Manuel Ortega, Provincial Agriculturist Imelda Sannadan has been closely monitoring the fishery industry in the province.

She was also tasked to make recommendation as to how the Provincial Government can help local fish farmers sustain their production amid the various threats.

3 Pangasinan villages in state of calamity due to fishkill

DAGUPAN CITY – Three villages in Anda town have been placed under a state of calamity due to the recent massive fish kill.

The Municipal Council on Wednesday passed the resolution declaring the calamity state in Anda Mayor Aldrin Cerdan immediately signed it.

Ballot boxes en route to Manila for Pangasinan poll protest

DAGUPAN CITY -- Six trucks containing 199 priority ballot boxes retrieved from 32 towns and two cities in Pangasinan province are en route to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) central office warehouse in Manila, as of Friday.

Trucks carrying the ballot boxes are being escorted by three police vehicles manned by 10 policemen each. The ballot boxes were retrieved from the custody of the treasurers’ offices of the said localities after the Comelec Second Division ordered the Pangasinan Provincial Elections Office to do so.

Dagupan City tightens checks against entry of fish stocks

DAGUPAN CITY – The city's Agriculture Office and its police announced that they are closely monitoring the entry of bangus stocks at the Magsaysay Fish Market, a major fish trading center of the province.

The announcement was made on Wednesday after the fishkill incident last Sunday in nearby Caquipotan chanel in Anda and barangay Culang, Bolinao.

Electoral protest vs guv gets poll body's nod

DAGUPAN CITY – The Commission on Election approved the electoral protest filed last year by losing gubernatorial candidate Victor Aguedo Agbayani against Governor Amado Espino Jr.

“Agbayani has all the right to file an electoral protest for not having won the gubernatorial race, but this move is just a waste of time,” Espino said.

City pays tribute to Bangus festival supporters

DAGUPAN CITY – The City Government departments, government agencies and all non-government organizations, which have contributed to the success of the Bangus Festival in April were given tribute by the City Government recently.

The occasion was led by Mayor Benjie Lim and Bangus Festival 2011 chairmen Alex Siapno and Beep Beep Tan.

Health caravan gives free medical care to Pangasinan residents

LINGAYEN -- About 1,500 indigent parents and children aged zero to five years old received free medical care Tuesday as the Department of Health (DOH) held its Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan (LBK) health caravan at the Pangasinan Development and Training Center.

Recipients included walk-in patients and from 400 indigent families tapped by the Provincial Health Office from Lingayen, Bugallon, Binmaley, and Labrador.

Fuel subsidy cards distributed in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY – Hundreds of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) plying different routes in the province of Pangasinan are now holders of the national government’s Pantawid Pasada cards.

Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. of the Department of Energy (DOE) led the distribution of the fuel subsidy cards to the recipients on Wednesday.

Ilocos Norte athlete sets new javelin record

LINGAYEN – An athlete from Ilocos Region set a new record in the javelin throw, a track and fields event, at the recent Palarong Pambansa 2011 held in Zamboanga del Norte.

Stephanie Cimatu of the Ilocos Norte Schools Division broke the old record with her 41.27-meter distance record, which is equivalent to a gold medal, Nelson Ladia, in-charge of the athletics record of Region 1 during the Palarong Pambansa, said.

Birth registration for poor kids free in Ilocos Norte

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Region 1 Field Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched free birth registration program in Ilocos Norte dubbed as “Isulong ang Karapatan ng Bata, Magpatala.”

Dagupan City agencies meet to prepare for Bebeng's effects

DAGUPAN CITY – City departments that deal with disaster preparedness and rescue operations met on Monday, a day earlier than scheduled, to avert and/or mitigate the effects of typhoon Bebeng and another storm that was expected to enter the country.

101-year-old mom in Rosales honored

THE SM City Rosales management on Saturday paid tribute to the oldest mother in Rosales, Pangasinan.

SM honored 101-year-old Lucresia Tiletile-Tamin, who is still strong at her age, with family and friends led by her eldest son Arcadio.

Pangasinan lawmaker, 3 others safe after road accident

DAGUPAN CITY – Pangasinan Representative Leopoldo Bataoil and his three companions are safe after figuring in a road accident in Bugallon, Pangasinan Thursday morning.

Bataoil and his companions were onboard a Nissan Escapade van coming from a village fiesta where he was the guest of honor and speaker when their vehicle was hit by a Dagupan Bus Line passenger bus that overtook another vehicle.

Police on jai-alai in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN -- Much talk about lately in Pangasinan is the numbers game jai-alai, with betting stations already being operated in at least 35 towns and cities.

Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte, chief of the Pangasinan police, said they cannot stop jai-alai operations as they are legal with business permits issued by the mayors.