Suspected counterfeit drug dealer-courier Ramchand Dimalanta Dayaldas of Lubao, Pampanga stares glumly from behind bars awaiting the filing of charges for violation of RA 8203 (counterfeit medicine) and RA 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act). Dayaldas’ case is unbailable, authorities said. Some of the medicines found by food and drugs officials and the National Bureau of Investigation agents (right photo) were labeled Alprazolan BP 250, said to be a tranquilizer like valium. (PStar Photo by Butch F. Uka)

AN Indian national and his driver, arrested here by the National Bureau of Investigation last August 20, remained in detention after it was determined that the regulated and prohibited drugs seized from them weighed more than 400 grams.

This was disclosed by Dr. Reynaldo Jacinto, chief of the Standards and Regulations Division of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), who helped the NBI file the corresponding complaints against suspects Ramchand Dayaldas, 46, of Concepcion, Lubao, Pampanga; and his driver, Reynaldo Lozano, 41, of Guagua, Pampamga.

Among other charges, they are facing violation of Republic Act 9165 or the anti-drug law, aside from several counts for violations of Republic Act 8203 relative to sale and distribution of counterfeit medicines before the regional trial court here.

Seized from the two were 84 kinds of counterfeit medicines valued at from P2.5 to P3 million which were said to have originated from the United States, Canada, China, India, Thailand and Pakistan.

Among the items seized were ampules of valium, a restricted and regulated drug used as tranquilizer, which can be bought from accredited drug stores only with yellow prescriptions issued by physicians.

Also seized were tablets, ampules, capsules, vials and liquid medicines which are either antibiotics, anti-hypertensive and tranquilizer medicines, all imported and unregistered with the BFAD and apparently smuggled into the country.

Lawyer Jose Doloiras, NBI chief in Pangasinan, said the suspects were arrested while they were delivering counterfeit medicine to still unnamed doctors in Dagupan City who are possibly among 10 physicians listed in a supposed “blue book” seized last Aug. 5 from Glenda Verzosa, 30; and Alma Domingo, 28, suspected couriers of counterfeit medicines.

It was from the two women apparently that authorities learned of the date and time of the next delivery of counterfeit medicines so NBI agents were put on alert.

Both Verzosa and Domingo are now out on bail of P60,000 and P30,000, respectively.
At least 10 doctors from Pangasinan and two from La Union whose names were listed in the supposed “blue book” are now also under surveillance for possible involvement in the distribution and sale of counterfeit medicines.

DAGUPAN City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim is ready to face any political backlash that may result from his earlier call for President Arroyo to resign but is hopeful of the full support of the House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. who he said would not abandon his own city.

Lim said he was not discounting a possible reprisal from Malacanang for his active participation in the call for Arroyo’s resignation and that may come thru withholding of funds for the city’s projects or worse, filing of charges as what befell Cavite Gov. Ireneo Maliksi, who was ordered suspended by the Ombudsman for alleged irregularities as charged by his own vice-governor.

The mayor said he was not wavering in his stand and he was even proud to have taken that position against all odds before his family, friends and Dagupenos.

He expressed hopes De Venecia will still be there working for the continued release of funds and assistance to the city for various projects, pending or in the pipeline. “Di naman tayo pababayaan ni Speaker,” he optimistically remarked.

On the unrealized bangus processing plant in Bonuan, Lim said he had enough waiting for the fund counterpart from the agriculture department. He said he was given a runaround by the department when he did several follow-ups of the money that would come from the agency.

The President during her early term promised to help the city realize that project thru a counterpart fund from the DA. “Nagsawa na rin ako sa kapa-followup, pinaiikot-ikot tayo,” he said. He clarified however that he was not blaming the President for the long delay.

But he did not totally abandon the project. He said he was counting on the private sector to invest on it, saying that he had on-going talks with possible investors.

The local executive has been traveling abroad more frequently in recent weeks, going to the U.S. and China apparently to woo investors.

SAN JACINTO — Is the reforestation project here of the water district of Dagupan City just a ploy to attain the real objective of putting up a garbage disposal system long rejected by the local residents?

Environmentalist Nick Melecio brushed off this fear of residents of barangay Awai and surrounding areas saying the proposed landfill disposal system has to undergo a process that should be strictly followed.

While the project is undergoing the process, he said that planting trees in the area now will bring benefits in the long run both to Awai and the city.

The Dagupan City Water District (DCWD) recently entered into a memorandum of agreement with the city to plant trees at the idle land to form a watershed.

The district has been scouting for sources of water for its long-term supply from outside areas because of depleting supply as well as sea water intrusion into the present wells located in the city. Possible areas being considered are this town, San Fabian, Manaoag, Pozorrubio and even San Manuel where the San Roque dam is located.

The reforestation project also got the nod of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under the Adopt a Barangay Reforestation program, Melecio said.

Similar reforestation projects have been successful in the hilly and mountain areas of central-western Pangasinan like the one undertaken by Mayor Benjamin S. Lim and the tree seedling project of second district Congressman Amado T. Espino.

On the landfill waste disposal system, Melecio said that several studies or surveys on geology, hydrology, habitation, topography etc. are involved in the process before the project is implemented. The most important requirement, he said, is the acceptance of the people to be affected or social acceptability. .

After technical studies are made, the city will determine the best use for the area, whether for landfill or as a forest resort as later proposed.

SOME 20,500 cubic meters of silt have been removed from the Pantal River through the IMS Model 5012 Versi-Dredge over a short period of time.

The City Engineer’s Office (CEO) started dredging Pantal River last July 21 using the US-made dredging machine, which could dredge 66 cu.m of silt per hour.

It works on a two-shift schedule daily from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

“The dredging operation gives dual benefits to the city. While the rivers are deepened, the public schools are also provided filling materials out of the dredged silt,” Rosario said.

The dredged silt is temporarily deposited at an empty fishpond in Pantal.

Seeking to fasttrack dredging of city rivers, the CEO said water master classic dredgers will soon arrive from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“With the number of rivers we have, we really need all the additional dredging machines that we can get,” Rosario stressed.

She noted that Pantal river alone has to be dredged until December to attain its standard depth as the river is now very shallow. Seven river courses traverse Dagupan City namely Magueragday-Anolid, Bayaoas, Patogcawen, Calmay, Dawel, Pantal and Tanap. The total area of the city’s coastal waters is 639.75 hectares.

Rosario said the water master dredgers from the DPWH could be utilized in dredging rivers and large bodies of water such as the Lingayen Gulf, while the Versi-Dredge is especially made for river dredging.

According to Rosario, one of the water masters would be used to deepen the coast of Lingayen Gulf outside the mouth of Pantal river, while the other water master is planned to initially dredge Calmay river.

Rosario was optimistic the city rivers would be fully-dredged in about two years time with the simultaneous dredging operation. It will take four to five years before the rivers are totally deepened, if a single equipment operates.

The city engineer noted that the level of standard depth of these rivers also still has to be maintained after the dredging operations, in order to be effective as flood control measure.

The modern dredging machine which cost U.S. $636,000 was exclusively manufactured by the Innovative Material Systems (IMS), a division of Liquid Waste Technology (LWT), LLC. It was delivered to the city last July 12. (Sunshine D. Robles)

DENGUE cases in Pangasinan have risen to 431, including three deaths, as of Aug. 25 this year, according to a report released by the Provincial Health Team of the Department of Health based in Dagupan City.

Dr. Jose Soriano, PHT team leader, said of three deaths recorded so far, two were from Dagupan City and one from Sison town. Soriano however called on the people not to panic because the situation is well under control.

The report showed Dagupan City topped in the number of dengue cases, accounting for 72, followed by Calasiao, 42; Binalonan and Sison, 41; Mangaldan, 37; Dasol, 26; Sta. Barbara, 18; Laoac, 16; and Agno, 14.

The towns of Malasiqui and Bugallon have 10 cases each ; Bolinao and Mangatarem, eight each; Binmaley and Villasis, seven each; Bautista and Bayambang,.six each.

There were also five cases each in Lingayen, Manaoag, Mapandan and San Manuel; four each in San Fabian and San Jacinto; three each from Alaminos City, Asingan, Bani, Infanta, Labrador, Pozorrubio, Sual and Urdaneta City.

Two cases each were reported in Anda, Balungao and Sto. Tomas and one each in Basista, Burgos, Mabini and San Carlos City.

Soriano said the number of dengue cases is much less than the 1,000 cases all over Pangasinan last year although the disease is expected to still peak up till September before it starts to taper off by October.

He said that fogging operations, as well as the initiation of cleanliness drive that would make communities safer from dengue are the responsibilities of local government units.

The DOH will only extend its help to these LGUs in the fight against dengue when requested, Soriano said, adding that it is still too far to call these cases as an indication of outbreak.

CALASIAO – Some local officials do not seem to give a hoot to Malacanang’s order for government agencies to observe austerity measures as they pursue their respective junkets justified as “study tours.”

Three sanggunian members from Calasiao reportedly went to Davao City along with some councilors from San Jacinto to attend an executive forum. Three Binmaley councilors traveled to Bohol for unclear reasons

On the other hand, the municipal treasurer of Sta. Barbara, Juanita Fernandez, reportedly traveled to Thailand to attend a seminar, a move that angered barangay officials because it allegedly caused delay in the release of their funds, it was learned.

President Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered government offices to strictly adopt austerity measures because of the prevailing economic problems caused by the unrelenting rise in the prices of oil in the world market.

Crude oil price in the international market has gone up to $67 per barrel in the past few days.

Meanwhile, the department of interior and local government said it was up to the local government unit concerned if it would allow some of its personnel to go on what is described as Lakbay Aral.

Officer-in-charge Romulo Prangan said that LGUs have to weigh factors like availability of funds and the subject matter of the seminar itself or the objective of the travel. “Lalo na ngayon meron nang pinalabas ang Malacanang tungkol sa pagtitipid,” he noted.

Citing a directive from the regional office, he said that the decision rests on the LGUs whether to allow their personnel to attend seminars far from their workplaces like Cebu or Davao.

It will be recalled that criticisms rained on some Binmaley councilors a few months ago when they went to the tourist destination Boracay. The aldermen justified their junket saying they went there to take a look at the thriving tourism business there which could be done in their own town too.

The people of Binmaley however have yet to see the fruit of their expensive travel as the town’s beach area has practically remained in the same state without any visible sign of improvement.

CITY hall teams will fan out to the barangays for a survey of structures and real properties in order to establish a database for city hall’s coming implementation of the Geographical Information System (GIS).

Management Consultant Emmanuel Bamba and City Assesor Jose Sanchez formed the groups that will conduct the inventory of real properties in the barangays, including improvements.

“All data which will be gathered by the teams will be encoded in the computer. The information will then be incorporated with the Dagupan City satellite photo,” Bamba said.

The GIS is part of the city government’s effort at establishing an eGovernment Dagupan City.

Sanchez said the activity will also update the records of the City Assessors Office on real properties. The evaluation starts next week, he said.

The four teams are composed of: (Team A) Engr. Camilo Cayabyab, Engr. Melchor Guiang and Arch. Aquilino Pastoral; (Team B) Engr. Charlie Gocheng, Arch. Jose Jesus Torio, and Salvador Ugaban; (Team C) Leonardo Bagtas, Alfred Flores and Arnold Nicanor Gomez; and (Team D) Hector Roque Narciso, Marlo Quinto and Ariel Villamil. (Sunshine D. Robles)

THE country’s most trusted news organization, GMA News and Public Affairs, brought its biggest names and its award-winning programs to Dagupan yesterday for a grand public service fair aptly billed, “Serbisyong Totoo Day in Dagupan.”

Pillars of Serbisyong Totoo – Jessica Soho, Arnold Clavio and Vicky Morales – together with other popular hosts of top rating GMA News and Public Affairs programs like Oscar Orbos and Winnie Monsod, met their Kapusong Dagupeño from 9 am to 6 pm at the Dagupan Astrodome.

At the public service fair, free medical consultation and bone density tests were made available through the shows Emergency and At Your Service. Imbestigador, with its Sumbungan ng Bayan booth provided assistance to troubled local residents, while Wish Ko Lang! fair participants had the chance to personally drop their letters in the Send-in Your Wish drop box.

Pinoy Abroad organized a job fair for overseas job seekers. A docufest featuring I-Witness’ and Reporter’s Notebook’s most compelling documentaries and stories, was also presented.

Other free offerings incuded: story telling, puppet shows and a magic show – at the Art Angel/Lovely Day Booth; food giveaways at the Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho booth; free drinks – at the Debate booth; free haircuts and manicures at the Kay Susan Tayo booth; Mini challenges and prizes at the Extra Challenge booth; A Karaoke Singing Contest and prizes at the Unang Hirit booth and news quizzes and free giveaways at the 24 Oras & Saksi Booth.

DOUBLE TREAT IN DAGUPAN: KAPUSO AND KAPAMILYA. Popular TV reporter Macky Pulido of GMA –7’s Reporter’s Notebook, exchanges notes with Pangasinan mediamen (left panel photo) in yesterday’s press conference at the Dagupan Astrodome. Daughter of Board member Alice Pulido and Anda Mayor Nestor Pulido, the Pangasinense lady reporter was with the rest of GMA7 top staff and stars in the network’s weekend grand extravaganza in Dagupan. Almost at the same time, ABS-CBN talents Arnel Ignacio, Bayani Agbayani and other TV hosts (right photo) were holding court at the Star Plaza before launching their own television network’s entertainment extravaganza at CSI The City Mall. (PStar Photo by Butch F. Uka)