It took a geographic information system (GIS) satellite photo tracking of the ongoing P300 million Dawel-Pantal-Lucao circumferential road project for the city government to learn, in utter surprise, that the DPWH had arbitrarily revised the originally approved plan for the infrastructure project, taking it further out than it should at much greater cost and right-of-way problems. Who authorized the revision and why it was implemented without due notice to the city is what Mayor Benjamin S. Lim wants to know, even if it reaches the court. (PStar Photo by Butch F. Uka)

By DANNY O. SAGUN

DAGUPAN City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim has scored the public works and highways department for deviating from the original plan in the construction of the Dawel-Pantal-Lucao diversion road.

An irked Lim met Thursday with DPWH regional officials in his office to relay his concern noting that some P80 million additional expenses will be incurred if the original plan is not followed.

The original plan was to link the new road to the De Venecia highway in barangay Lucao passing right beside the posh Nelars subdivision, Lim said.

He said that the road, under its present revised status will instead pass thru the back portion of the CIS city mall and link up with the Mac Arthur highway adjacent to the present police community precinct in Lucao, some 500 meters west of the De Venecia highway.

Lim showed to newsmen a satellite photo of the ongoing construction to prove his point.
“Nothing personal,” he stressed in anticipation of possible reaction about his motive in raising the issue before DPWH and the media. It is widely known that his family’s mall business, Magic, is up against a stiff competitor, the CSI chain of malls being run by former Councilor Belen Fernandez whose crown area is in barangay Lucao.

Fernandez might have had a hand in altering the original plan in view of reports that she has donated some properties traversed by the roadline. It was very possible, sources at City Hall said, that the DPWH planners accommodated her request to have the new road instead pass thru the back of her mall in Lucao, instead of at the NelArs subdivision where it would already directly link to the present De Venecia highway.

The DPWH representatives led by engineer Yolly Tangco washed their hands off the matter, telling the mayor that the regional office had not been in any way involved in the preparation of the plans.

Lim warned he might go to court if the original plan which was shorter and cheaper for government is nor pursued.

The project, divided in six work phases, costs some P400 million including the construction of two short bridges. Excluded in the funds is the construction of a long bridge. Road preparation like filling and embankment are already completed in the Dawel area and ongoing in the Pantal and Lucao portions, according to second Pangasinan engineering chief Rodolfo Dion. The road, when finished, spans about four kilometers starting from the Dawel area up to Lucao.

A study by the city government would have Phase II of the diversion road directly exiting through De Venecia highway via the DNR property, or a road length of some 800 meters, or thru NELARS’s subdivision, with a length of only 650 meters—compared to the 2,950-meter distance if the road is extended to the Bautista road to connect to De Venecia highway.

An additional P80 million will have to be released to cover in part payment of right-of-way for properties affected by the project, it was learned. In exculpating his office from the possible complications brought about by Lim’s opposition, Dion said his office’s role was only to monitor the project.

Timetable for its completion is set by late 2007, he said.

THE perennial garbage disposal problem of Dagupan City, “tamed” for the last two years or so, is once again rearing its ugly head.

The dumpsite in Tondaligan in Bonuan Boquig was temporarily closed Thursday because of the inability of the heavy equipment stationed there to move the growing trash. The place became so muddy as a result of continuous rains two day earlier, according to Reginald Ubando, who heads the waste management division.

Ubando maintained his earlier recommendation to close the dumpsite soon because of ill-effects to the environment. He admitted however that the plan could not be implemented totally due to the absence of an alternative site for garbage disposal.

The city government continues to face a problem of non-acceptance by residents of barangay Awai in San Jacinto where the city had bought several hectares of land to effect a landfill waste disposal system. Other surrounding barangays also protested the idea of hosting a waste dumpsite in that place.

Pending resolution of the issue, the city entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Dagupan water district to instead reforest the area.

But the Awai residents remain doubtful about the real intention of the city. The protesters said the move was just a ploy for the eventual setting up of the waste disposal system in their place.

As a stop-gap measure to arrest the burgeoning garbage problem, Ubando again called on the barangays to seriously take the lead in the disposal of garbage as mandated by law, noting that the volume of trash being collected is getting bigger again like in the past.

If waste segregation in the barangays is religiously followed, he said that very little waste would be left for the garbage collectors to collect and dump at the Bonuan site. He said that only about 10 percent of the total garbage is to be collected actually by his collectors if waste segregation is dutifully implemented in the barangay. (PIA/DOS)

AN official of the Department of Health said today that bogus drug testing laboratories are teeming in the four provinces of the Ilocos region with their owners continuously playing a game of cat-and mouse with authorities.

Dr. Reynaldo Jacinto, chief of the enforcement and regulations division of DOH regional office, said three drug testing laboratories had already been padlocked and another was already suspended twice for making a mockery of the law.

All of these were located near branches of the Land Transportation Office where persons applying for driver’s licenses or seeking renewal of the same, including those applying for jobs locally and abroad, flock to daily.

Jacinto refused to comment on whether the LTO had any hand in the sprouting of drug testing laboratories near their various offices in the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, including the cities and capitals.

He said that based on his evaluation, 20 more of the remaining 65 drug testing laboratories in the entire Region 1 are set to be closed beginning next year, when they will be renewing their respective licenses.

All were found to be violating certain provisions of the expanded dangerous drugs act of 2002 or Republic Act No. 9165, which tasked the DOH with the duty of accrediting drug testing centers with the standards set by the DOH.

The drug testing laboratories must follow the standards in order to ferret out those who are really using drugs, otherwise, drivers’ licenses may be issued even to persons who have dangerous drugs habit.

Padlocked by the DOH since last week were the JPG Drug Testing Laboratory and Jecart Drug Testing Laboratory, both in Burgos, Ilocos Norte and Estat Laboratory in Sinait, Ilocos Norte.

All three were found to be conducting drug testing and urine examination for applicants for drivers’ licenses without having any accreditation from the DOH.

At the JPG Drug Testing Center, Jacinto confiscated 72 drivers’ licenses, some of which already expired and others about-to-expire with respective supporting papers from the LTO, which was allegedly being fast-tracked for issuance of drug testing certificates even without the presence of the owners thereof to personally take the drug test.

Taking charge of the drug testing center was not the accredited analyst but only the urine collector.
Suspended twice was the Hashy Drug Testing Laboratory in Dagupan City after it was found by the DOH to be performing and conducting drug testing and urine examination without a registered and trained analyst who must be a medical technologist.

Jacinto said that a duly accredited drug testing center must present the result of the drug test, whether positive or negative, in computer printouts. The results in bogus testing center are usually presented manually or written in long hand by the supposed center “analysts.”

MANAOAG – The vice mayor of Manaoag, who served as town mayor for three consecutive terms or nine years passed away Tuesday after suffering a heart attack.
Vice Mayor Pedrito Garcia, 69, died on arrival at the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City past noon Tuesday where he was rushed by aides after he collapsed while at the town’s Pyramid of Asia Resort.

Still unmarried, Garcia was mayor of Manaoag from 1995 to 2004, completing the three-term limit. In his desire to continue his service to his constituents, he ran for vice mayor as an independent bet in last year’s May election and still won.

Mayor Napoleon Sales, who was vice mayor of Garcia for nine consecutive years, led his townmates in mourning the demise of Garcia.

As mayor, Garcia was the chief architect in the emergence of Manaoag as one of central Pangasinan’s fast-moving municipalities, living up to its reputation as religious capital of the province of Pangasinan.

A loyal partner of House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., congressman of the fourth district of Pangasinan, Garcia was a lawyer by profession who responded to the irresistible call for public service.

He will be succeeded by Councilor Kim Michael Amador, the youngest member of the municipal council, who topped the council race on his first political try.

Amador himself is facing an election protest filed by a defeated candidate for councilor which is still pending before the Commission of Elections.

The new vice mayor is the son of Alcide Amador, an official of the Department of Environment and National Resources in Region III and the former Dahlia de Guzman of the Philippine Tourism Authority. (PNA)

ROSALES – The Department of Public Works and Highways has ordered its district engineers in Pangasinan to look for national highways where bike lanes can be designated.

DPWH Regional Director Fidel Ginez coursed the order to the province’s four highway district engineers in line with the government’s austerity program being actively supported by his office.

He said the bike lanes along national highways could be declared exclusively for bikers and off limits to motorists to minimize accidents.

The move, he said, seeks to encourage employees and even students to ride on bicycles in going to their respective offices and schools for them to save on cash and gasoline in this period of fuel crisis.

Ginez however said full caution will be exerted by authorities, knowing that national highways in the province are where motorists usually overspeed , thus posing great risk to bikers.

National highways in the provinces are traversed by fast-moving vehicles, unlike in Metro Manila, where vehicles normally travel at a slower pace, he said.

Ginez believes however that through sound planning on present and future highways, the bike lanes can be put up soon.

Ginez did not specify when the bike lanes are projected to be operational.

By Venus May H. Sarmiento

LINGAYEN – The Pangasinan Association of Government Information Officers (PAGIO) the organization of information officers of various government agencies in the province, is set for registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In its board meeting held recently, P/Supt Ricardo Tamayo, community relations and information officer of the PNP and PAGIO president said all efforts are being done to make PAGIO a duly registered entity by next month. Duly accomplished membership forms are now complete and all requirements were already produced including the association’s seed capital.

Initiated and guided by the Philippine Information Agency-Pangasinan Information Center, two years ago, with the cooperation of the heads of government agencies, PAGIO provides a venue for members to orient other agencies on their own offices’ updated activities/projects for wider awareness and more mature interaction.

PIA InfoCenter Manager Behn Fer Hortaleza, Jr., during last week’s meeting provided insights on the rejected impeachment proceedings and how it impacts onm national development. He also asked the members to assist their respective offices in promoting energy conservation as the energy crisis is real.

Hortaleza also urged everyone to be properly informed of the basic reasons and arguments for Charter change irrespective of whether this takes the form of a constitutional convention or a constituent assembly.

Tamayo and Hortaleza finally reminded everyone not to be disturbed by what other people are doing to topple the administration. They instead urged everyone to remain vigilant and be the last people to withdraw support from duly constituted authorities.

MAPANDAN – The family of slain Vice-Mayor Adolfo Aquino has yet to see justice served more than two months after an assassin felled him with bullets.

Aquino’s widow, Eden, lamented that the police has yet to solve the case allegedly for lack of witnesses. “Sabi nila wala raw maglakas loob na magtestigo,” she said.

The National Bureau of Investigation however was able to interview some witnesses, she disclosed. Apparently, the public trusts the NBI much more than the police, she added.

The NBI is now looking for the assassin who is expected to spill the beans on the mastermind once he is caught and investigated.

She said the killer is still alive, this according to her sources, contrary to assumptions he might have been killed already to render the case unsolved like all other political killings in the province.

The suspect, she bared, enjoys the protection of a government official whom he however refused to identify.

Aquino was gunned down by a lone assassin on July 6 at past 6 pm while talking to a friend at the town hall premises. He had just come from the regular session of the sangguniang bayan and was about to go home on board his vehicle when he decided to stop and talk to his friend.

The suspect casually walked towards them and shot Aquino. He walked toward the cemetery after the incident where he lost himself from pursuing policemen.

For failure to respond immediately, the entire town police force including the police chief was sacked and the members ordered to undergo retraining.

PNP Director Arturo Lomibao personally visited Mapandan to assess the situation and formed Task Force Aquino under then provincial deputy director Edgar Basbas who has since been transferred to Dagupan as chief of police.

Supt. Jessie Cardona replaced Basbas as head of the task force No word has come out from Cardona either till now, the slain vice mayor’s wife said.

The police resumed investigation after CPP founder Jose Maria Sison in an interview over local radio disowned a claim that the NPA rebels killed Aquino for his alleged sins against the people. Sison said the rebels work by regions so that it was unlikely that Mindoro-based rebels would operate in a far province like Pangasinan.

A supposed NPA statement last month sent to and read by a radio station that supposedly owned up to the killing seemingly led police to consider the matter closed.
Aquino’s widow said she would not stop working for the solution of the case. She admitted that she and her family continue to receive threats. (DOS/PIA)

LINGAYEN – The dengue disease may now be tapering off in Pangasinan but government doctors have warned that people should not lower their guard yet as the rainy season is still here.

Dr. Edwin Murillo, provincial health officer reported that for the past two weeks, only 56 cases of dengue fever were registered province-wide, bringing the number of recorded cases since January this year to 310.

Murillo said another indication that dengue is now on the way out is the fact that the number of fatalities remained at four.

There is still a need to heed the call for people to keep their surroundings free of stagnant water, the favorite breeding ground of the day-biting aedis aegypti mosquito that causes dengue, the PHO advised. .

“The threat is always there as long as there remains stagnant water where the mosquitoes can lay their eggs,” Murillo said.

The provincial government has been extending full support to the fogging and larvicidal activities being conducted by the Provincial Health Office ever since, Murillo added.

Health officials have noted the increased level of public awareness and cooperation in the effort to eradicate the disease as a result of massive information campaign waged from the municipal down to barangay levels.

PREPARATIONS for the 2005 City Fiesta is in full swing to ensure another festive ambience for Dagupeños here and abroad.

This year’s hermano mayor Councilor Alex de Venecia, who was recently appointed by Mayor Benjamin S. Lim held a consultation meeting with various sectors last Tuesday to discuss possible highlights of the upcoming festivity.

De Venecia said that a first-ever search for Mrs. Dagupan International 2005 will be the main event of the fiesta celebration. All candidates vying for the title will be coming from abroad, he said.

The first three listed candidates are: Elvira Mitchell from La Mesa, California, Virginia Nonan from Vallejo, California and Pauline Perez also from California.

According to de Venecia, the search for Mrs. Dagupan International was organized by the city government to raise fund for its projects such as providing housing needs for the poor, revival of the Helping Hand Foundation and other similar livelihood projects. Part of the proceeds will also go to the purchase of laboratory equipment for the city health office.

Some of the initial proposed activities for the week-long city fiesta include a Battle of the Bands playing original composition of contestants about having fun in Dagupan, a river cruise, free concerts, caroling contest, swimming contest, badminton and bowling tournament, launching of Adopt-A-Barangay project, trade show, leisurely bike tour and street painting contest. (CIO/Leizel T. Cayabyab)