UNCOLLECTED garbage is now piling up in the city one week after Dagupan’s overflowing open dumpsite in barangay Bonuan Boquig was finally closed.

Closure of the dumpsite was in accordance with the provision of Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act, said City Waste Management Officer Reginaldo Ubando as he appeared before the city council.

The act banned open dumpsites in all cities and municipalities in the country since the early part of this year.

Before the closure of the dumpsite, the city had already passed on the duty of collecting solid wastes to village officials who were allowed to charge P30 monthly from every household and to put up their own compost pits.

Ubando acknowledged that not all barangays however can provide themselves with compost pits where they will safely dispose solid wastes collected by them from the households.

For lack of compost pits in their area, some barangays are now actually burning their solid wastes – an act that is also prohibited by the Clean Air Act.

Ubando said without a dumpsite to put residual wastes in, the city is really in a very difficult situation, so everybody has to minimize waste generation and accumulation.

He said they can do this by segregating bio-degradable wastes and to be pushed to the compost pit.

To date, no alternative dumpsite appears in sight yet as the city’s plan to build a sanitary landfill on a 30-hectare lot it bought barangay Awai, San Jacinto is meeting tough opposition from residents there

SUPERVISION and monitoring of drug testing centers is no longer in the hands of the Land Transportation Office but with the Department of Health, the LTO chief of Dagupan City said Friday.

Patricio Urmaza was reacting to allegations that his office has been in connivance with unscrupulous drug testing centers for the issuance of test results that did not pass proper screening and actual testing.

Reports said that even drug users could obtain passing test results for a fee. It was also alleged that testing centers do not actually conduct screening of urine samples but still issue results so they can save on the materials they use to gain more profit.

Urmaza strongly denied the allegations saying he could not see any reason why LTO should connive with the testing centers.

“We are only interested in the result of the drug test for the issuance or non-issuance of driver’s license,” he said, adding that it was the health department which supervises and monitors the operations of the drug testing centers.

Ray Jacinto of the Bureau of Food and Drugs regional office was quoted in a radio interview as blaming the LTO for the presence of unscrupulous testing centers or tolerating their operations.

LINGAYEN – The Philippine Grains Standardization Program (PGSP) Task Force of NFA Western Pangasinan headed by Manager Arturo V. Figueroa was awarded as the Outstanding PGSP Task Force during the celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the NFA last Sept. 26, at the regional office in La Union.

The Grecon Dagupan in Malimgas Market Dagupan City also won the PGSP Model Market.

The criteria set by the Regional PGSP Committee put points for the display of rice boxes, weighing scale, price tags, signboard, license certificate, packaging and labeling, merchandizing techniques and innovations, among others.

A certificate of appreciation was also awarded to Pangasinan for achieving the third lowest registered weight variances from the dispersal of imported rice, which generated a savings of P516,720.00 for the Agency. Likewise, four warehouse supervisors of the branch received a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of their efforts in observing the Ten Fundamental Standards of Stock Quality Management and Good Warehousekeeping.

Figueroa thanked the NFA employees and the concerned retailers for their cooperation and continuous support in the implementation of the different programs.

ALAMINOS CITY – After taking over the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) last Thursday, the city governments here faces a big challenge in reviving the dying coral reefs in the waters surrounding the resort.

City Mayor Hernani Braganza revealed that since two months ago, the corals were found looking pale and sickly, especially those located in the water around the Marcos Island in the Hundred Islands group.

This was confirmed by various groups of scuba divers who described the corals as whitish or suspected to have been affected by a marine phenomenon called “bleaching.”

“We still don’t know what ails the corals but the different groups that we talked to are due to submit their reports,” said Braganza.

Restoring the corals to their old natural state is one of the projects mulled by the city government for the HINP.

Concerned about the fate of the corals in which schools of fish take shelter and breed, Braganza talked with three different groups that may extend help in restoring the lost vitality of the coral reefs in the Islands.
First to be invited to help in this venture is a non-government organization based in Batangas called Eco-Rescue, which is into scuba diving and is also involved in environmental protection.

Also tapped is the Tanggol Kalikasan which is also concerned with the preservation and protection of the underwater corals.

The city government is now planning to commission a group that offered to conduct a rapid evaluation and assessment of wildlife above water and below water.

The wildlife include a big bird called “duroko,” whose wing span measures from four to five feet, migratory birds, bats, monkeys and the local wild ducks that grow and breed in forested areas of the Hundred Islands.

THE biggest government hospital in Pangasinan is badly affected by brain drain as at least four of its nurses are resigning and leaving for greener pastures abroad monthly.

This was learned from Dr. Jesus Canto, chief of the Region 1 Medical Center, who said had he not adopted a continuing recruiting program for new nurses, the hospital would not have enough medical personnel to attend to a growing number of patients now.

The new nurses are coming by different universities and colleges in Pangasinan, namely the University of Pangasinan, Lyceum-Northwestern University, University of Luzon, Colegio de Dagupan, Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation and other nursing schools.

Canto said the brain drain hurts the hospital a lot but said he can not do anything as the nurses are leaving for career advancement and for bigger pay.

Canto cited one doctor and his dentist wife, both of R1MC, who took up nursing. When they passed the board, they both applied and were admitted as nurses in the United States where they are now earning at least 40 U.S. dollars per hour.

Admitting that the nurses they are recruiting to fill the vacant positions created by brain drain will only stay for a while, just enough time for them to gain some experience, Canto sought a bigger take-home pay for the country’s medical workers, to slow down brain drain.

“We can not put a stop to brain drain if medical workers are only earning little sustenance pay from our hospitals to keep their body and soul together,” said Canto who sought better wages for doctors, nurses, midwives and dentists.

He admitted that he adopted a lenient attitude toward fellow doctors who may want to practice their profession “after office hours” because he understands their economic plight.

This situation is also true in various other hospitals, public and private, throughout the country, which are now badly suffering because of the continuing migration of nurses to the United States, United Kingdom and even in the Middle East.

There is a fear that health care in the Philippines will deteriorate badly in a few years because of the departure of the country’s medical professionals for higher paying jobs abroad.

SAYAN INDIO
Mario F. Karateka

ANGGAMAN dakel so mangibabaga tan dakel so mapaga ya ompan ipaakseb kono nen Presidente GMA so “martial law” o ley militar ed bansa diad arap na ag ontondan pamabalaw ed oley to, singa agakni manisian gaween na anak nen Cong Dadong so ontan, tan ipawil to itayon amin a Pilipinos ed andeket tan andiay wayang ya punto na istoryay Pilipinas a singa nen kaksilay rehimen nen Perdinan Markos.

No gaween nen Nana Gloria itan, ya iter toy poder ed saray militar pian manoley ed bilay tan kiwas-sibil tayo, amtaton as italikepkep odino akmonen na Pilipino itan. Anengneng lay agaw nen ipaakseb nen Markos so Proklamasyon 1081; anggaman diad gapo dakel so inmoonor ed takot dan nakulong o naerel, ag abayag pinmapaway laray boses na onsusunggay ed ley-militar.

Agtila nepeg istoryaen diay apalabas ta sikatayoran henerasyon amta tayon maong anggad natan so dinalan tayo nen nan “martial law” diad bansa.

Lalon pepepetan o kakapotan mo, lalon marlang so panpilalek ya makaokbar ed impantaker mod kawayangan na totoo.

Diad sakey dapag met, kaukulan na Gobyerno lanti ya pareenen so bansa pian naipasompal so saray proyekto tan programa parad pankaabigay amin. Panon met lantin makakurang so gobyerno o administrasyon no puro sangga, sapo, dukot, iwas so gagaween tola ed arap na mantotombokan a tirada na kalaban ed say saya? No paolianan to met tan ag mandepensa, ompan bigla labatlan nabat-tog. Say “self-preservation” et natural itan ya reaksiyon ed antokaman a pinalsa, ayep man o too.

Saksakey labat so nepeg ya ipurek ed saray mano-oley no manbilang walan tuay plano mangipaakseb na “emergency rule” a tatawagen: Ikday pankanawnawa nin siansia ya maka-ebat iray akusado ed suston kurang na hustisya, walay abogado ra, walay piyansa, walay kapenegan da ni ya arapen tan ebatan so manga-akusa (indibidwal man o Estado mismo) ed sikara. No nakal itan ya “basic” odino sankaimportantean ya parte na demokrasya, anggapoy dudan ley na diktadorya la so mana-ari tan mambilang labat na panaon so ontan a oley antis ya satan et labanan tan ipolisay na ombaley.

Ta anggan say militar ya nayarin agamilen na sakey ya administrasyon ed pangontrol tod kiwas na totoo et nasabisabin sikato mismo so nakonsensiya ed nagagawa tan sikatola mismo so onikban tan onlaban.

No agawad impansampot na panaon nen Marcos, nagawa itan anggan anton panaon.

TODAY’S inauguration of the Dialysis Center at the Region 1 Medical Center brings a message of hope for renal disease sufferers in Pangaasinan and throughout the Ilocos region.

It is a credit to all those who made this health care facility possible, among them no less than our top politicians themselves and philantrophists refusing to be identified, that money, effort and time has been put to good use for the benefit of humanity. In today’s Philippine setting where political wranglings, economic malfeasance and misplaced social priorities seem to be the order of the day, such an event as the extension of vital services for the poor and the needy tugs at the heart of even the most jaded observer.

For kidney ailment or renal impairments practically drain a victim’s or his family’s financial resources, given the prohibitive cost of transplants, or even just the regular cleansing of the victim’s blood thru dialysis, to prolong the life of a sufferer. As the street lingo goes, it is a crime to get sick today – bawal magkasakit. The upward cost of medicines and medical services today makes death a sweet surcease for the destitute who ever contracts a serious ailment like kidney disorder. Tragic, but true.

Into this dreadful picture comes the news of the Dialysis Center being installed in a public hospital here, a first ever event in Pangasinan history. The marginalized sector will certainly find the announced rate of P2,500 per treatment with the dialysis machine at Region 1 Medical Center a most welcome news. Where a similar treatment in private hospitals would easily cost from P10,000 to P12,000 per session, the affordable price in the public dialysis center should bring a great sense of relief, figuratively and literally, for kidney disease victims in these parts. It means they can stretch their budget or resources that much further than they would if availing of the same dialysis in private health institutions.

Enlightened and resourceful hospital management are what the country’s public health sector needs today. Combined with an equally compassionate and capable political leadership, such may be considered one of the greatest gifts ever to a generally disillusioned population – and a credit to the One Above’s blessed creations on earth.

AFTER ALL
Behn Fer. Hortaleza, Jr.

SOMETHING struck us while we were with representatives of member-agencies of Consumernet-Pangasinan last week in Sual town for the Consumer Month Information Caravan. There are just too many things, we realized, that government people can – and must – share with ordinary folk by way of helpful insights and information in order for the latter to improve their lives and livelihood.

And if that sounds like people empowerment, it is.

The problem is, the information does not really “cascade” to its proper, rightful users because there is no regular interaction or face-to-face meetings between the two, except when there are scheduled assemblies or “infocaravans” as the one we conducted last October 5. Incidentally, the Consumernet infocaravan was held simultaneously in six places in Pangasinan that day for maximum effect.

Of course, each local executive or, for that matter, any town or city official, may be calling for meetings with barangays every now and then which is well and good, although from personal observation, we find such exercises as being done primordially, more often than not, for political exposure. It is still in the various government offices and units where hard data and step-by-step procedures can be fully obtained by anyone interested. Nothing, we dare say, beats an “expert” or one who’s duly trained on a subject matter – say, agriculture, food and drugs, taxes, employment – imparting the message convincingly to a mass audience, enough to empower them on what to do about a particular concern or problem.

Using media channels such as print, broadcast and television may have its own built-in pluses, true, particularly on immediacy and audience reach. But these and similar media including the internet, are basically impersonal and given to misinterpretation by a reader, listener or browser who, in the first place, might not even have the means to avail of such channels of information, however widespread and affordable these may now be.

It is still the interpersonal approach that works best, where “faceless people” who may have started out curiously in attending a fora or had simply been dragged by a friend to a village assembly “for the fun of it”, actually end up unconsciously absorbing all sorts of useful information to guide them in dealing with complexities in some government-related transactions or situations.

Take soil analysis, for instance.

For many years, farmers out there may still be automatically relying on bags and bags of fertilizers to maximize their crop yield, spending so much sometimes for the commodity and yet getting less-than-satisfactory harvest. A caring government agricultural technician could well save him much expenses and trouble by advising him to have his farm soil analyzed first at the provincial agriculturist office soil laboratory. That way, he will know exactly the kind of nutrients that his soil lacks and thus would only need to be buying a specific and appropriate type of fertilizer to fill the lacking nutrient. No hit-and-miss type of fertilizer application.

In China, which we had the chance to visit officially more than a decade back, village assemblies are regularly conducted with modestly-dressed government technicians spearheading the gatherings and disseminating a mix agenda of political orientation with timely production tips. And the villagers drop what they are doing to attend and listen.

For all its authoritarian atmosphere, China’s success today in the political and economic front is really not hard to duplicate.

All it takes is the discipline to attend, share, listen and learn with and from others.

The Pen Speaks
By Danny O. Sagun

FOR quite a time now this corner has not written anything about our small town of San Jacinto except for bits of news we wrote from time to time about that controversial garbage disposal project of Dagupan City in barangay Awai. The two top officials appear to work harmoniously yet so that nothing controversial comes out during sanggunian sessions in sharp contrast to the time of the previous set of officials. In neighboring Mangaldan, the vice-mayor has already begun taking a dig at his mayor for an alleged anomaly.

We were told that our national high school there which used to get acclamations and awards for the good performance of the situation itself and its students in various competitions and contests in the past, despite its being new and relatively small compared to its neighbors, has degenerated into an institution that is practically nothing and unheard of.

The faculty is as divided as it was when Principal Bautista was still around. The group of teachers who sided with her during her reign and thus reaped benefits for it are on the “opposition” side during the present term of Principal Calugay.

Detractors of Bautista succeeded in their bid to kick her out before the previous school year ended. They claimed she was running the school like her fiefdom (she was the boss alright and she enjoyed being so) and her administration was linked to several alleged irregularities. When patron and backer Superintendent Laoag retired, she could not do anything but pack her things.

Enter Calugay. It was the opposite situation obtaining in the school nowadays, our informers told us. Gone were the strict implementation of campus rules and policies. Officemate Briny wonders why her sons who used to rise early and rush to school before 7:30 am are still in bed by 7 am and no not worry about being late. On our part, observed the same thing with our youngest.

Teachers were said to now loosely comply with the dress code. The school grounds are being littered not only with trash but also young smoker-students. Vendors have also invaded the school premises turning the place into an instant market.

The former principal left with ghosts of alleged irregularities haunting her. Her successor is not that clean too, our sources swore to us. While he had extra ceiling fans and lights disconnected [classrooms originally have two fans and two light bulbs) apparently to save on bills, a ref full of frozen foods inside his office is said to be on for 24 hours. Many in fact wonder what the school official is doing with such frozen foods. Are the goods for sale?

Bautista’s critics opposed her dictatorial and macho-like tendencies. Now the exact opposite is in place.

What a pity! How long that school and its students would bear such kind of administrators lording over that small school is anybody’s guess.

One may not have the best of both worlds, true, but is a better world (school administration) too much to ask for?

Windows
By Gabriel L. Cardinoza

THE last time I visited Congressman Gener Tulagan’s farm in Rosales town was in 2003. From where we parked our ride, we had to walk then on a muddy earth dike surrounding a freshwater fishpond to reach Kaaron Gener’s bahay kubo, strategically built in the middle of the farm.

Last week, I had a chance to visit the farm again when I covered President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s low-key visit to the town to hear mass at the grotto. To my surprise, the surroundings have changed a lot that I thought I was in a resort.

From the highway, there is now an access road wide enough for light vehicles to travel on. Inside the farm, there is now a wide parking space where visitors can safely leave their vehicles. On the way to the bahay kubo are one-room bamboo cottages that may be used by guests staying overnight. Then, there is a covered function hall, where indoor games and small seminars may be held. Beside it is a screened structure that looks like a restaurant. To top it all, there is now a swimming pool.

I never had a chance to go to the bahay kubo again. But from a distance, I could see that it has more amenities than before. After all, it is where Kaaron Gener and wife spend the night whenever they are in town.

What makes the place attractive is its very rustic setting. It has tall acacia trees and vegetable gardens, aside from the hito, tilapia and dalag ponds that dominate the scenery. It must be truly refreshing and relaxing to spend a weekend there, away from the hustle and bustle of urban living. No wonder, the congressman worked very hard for its development. It is here where he must have been recharging the past many days after his tension-filled sessions in Congress.

From what I gathered during a short conversation with Kaaron Gener, he built the farm with the technical support primarily of the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. These agencies helped develop his farm into a model farm to serve as the province’s show window on how technology and proper farming methods can enhance agricultural and fisheries productivity.

As everybody knows by know, Gener is a farmer’s son and he himself grew up helping his parents in the rice fields of Talang in San Carlos City. Thru this model farm, he wanted to show Pangasinenses a sample that farming not only helps in the food sufficiency program of the government but it can be a good source of income, too.

We will not be surprised if in the coming days, farmers, government officials and even politicians, will frequent Kaaron Gener’s farm to see for themselves what can be replicated in their own places. During her visit, President Arroyo herself expressed admiration of the place. She was especially attracted to the papaya plants bearing several fruits and even had her photo taken beside one those plants.

And who else would be a better endorser of the resort than the President?

ENDNOTES: A fake anti-biotic was discovered in a hospital run by the provincial government. This isn’t the first time. We just hope no one at the Urduja made a lot of money out of it. . . A friend, Mary Ann Tamayo, who is now working in Baltimore, Maryland, celebrated her birthday last week. Happy birthday, Mary Ann. She used to work with the defunct Helping Foundation in the city until she was “pirated” by Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez to work in his office to jumpstart the computerization of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Because she was so good with computers, she was noticed and eventually hired by the One Stop Business Center of the city government. How did she found her way to the land of milk and honey? Talent, determination and luck. I’m so proud of you, Mary Ann.

QUICK QUOTE: He who knows enough is enough will always have enough. — Lao-tzu

(You can reach Gabriel L. Cardinoza at windows@digitelone.com)