WITH CONSTITUENTS over the weekend, House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia, Jr., hands over a P250,000 check to Imam Kabsaran Capia, president of Christian-Muslim Progressive Multi-purpose Cooperative of Dagupan for the group’s business venture. De Venecia has lately been visiting his district every week. (PStar Photos by Butch F. Uka)

URDANETA CITY– Members of the city police here underwent a surprise drug test Wednesday and Thursday even as combined elements of drug enforcement agencies arrested some 15 suspected drug personalities in simultaneous raids in this city and neighbor Binalonan town.

The unannounced drug test came in the wake of reports that some policemen were either pushers or protectors or users themselves.

As is true in other metropolis, this commercially-growing city has had its share of problem on illegal drugs.

Combined elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, PNP special operations group, regional mobile group, and the Dagupan SWAT team, swooped down last Thursday on suspected drug dens in the city, at the cattle market site in the poblacion area, and in barangays Camantiles and Nancayasan of this city.

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By DANNY O. SAGUN
PIA- Pangasinan Infocenter

MARKET forces determine the value of price of the Philippine peso against currencies of foreign countries.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) stressed this Monday, adding that it allows the peso to seek its own level and only intervenes when there are big fluctuations, up or down, in the foreign exchange rate.

BSP Dagupan branch head Virgilio Tiongson said the country follows a “floating exchange rate system” where there is no set value for the peso compared with other currencies.

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PRESIDENT Arroyo said recently that lower budget deficit and increased revenue collection will further boosts investor confidence in the country.

At a roundtable discussion recently n Malacañang, the President announced that the budget deficit for January was down to P15.4 billion or P4.5 billion lower than the projection of P20.9 billion for the month.

“Aside from the bullish stock market and the strong peso, there is another good reason investor confidence in the country would increase: our budget deficit for January was at P15.4 billion, which is lower than the target of P20.9 billion,” the President said.

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DAGUPAN City police operatives recently arrested two barangay officials here right after coming from the Muslim area in Tondaligan Park from where they reportedly bought methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

The suspects were identified as Alfonso ‘Bong’ Legaspi, treasurer of Barangay Bonuan Gueset; and Carlos Saysonm, councilman of Barangay IV, from whom one sachet of alleged shabu was seized.

The police said the two were aboard Sayson’s car when arrested.

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LINGAYEN – Some places in western Pangasinan are possible risk areas for landslides in case La Niña strikes this year, according to an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Celso Salazar, community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) in the western part of the province, said these risk areas are located in the mountains of Sual, Alaminos, Mabini, Bolinao, Dasol and Infanta that are prone to collapse in case of prolonged heavy rains.

“So long as the places are high, they are risk areas and prone to landslides,” he said, pointing out that the danger is greater in western Pangasinan than in other places of the provinces because of the presence of many highlands owned by private individuals.

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DRUG test for all city officials?

Why not, says Mayor Benjamin Lim, who welcomed suggestions for all officials to undergo mandatory drug test to make sure they are not drug dependents.

Lim was reacting to the report about the arrest last week of two barangay officials by members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of the local police for illegal possession of illegal drugs shortly after they came from a Muslim center here, suspected of being a liar of illegal drugs.

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LINGAYEN — Philippine National Police chief Arturo Lomibao ordered the PNP anti-illegal gambling task force deactivated Thursday in the wake of an extortion complaint filed against its members.

Lomibao, who graced the opening of the third Gov. Victor Agbayani Shootfest Cup, acted swiftly in response to a complaint filed by San Manuel Mayor Salvador Perez himself.

Peryahan operator Melandreno Castro complained to the mayor and the town police that he was extorted of P35,000 by task force operatives SPO1 Samson Dumlao, SPO1 Artemio Pajemola, SPO1 Parlito Reyes, and civilian agent Dante Abat.

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MRS. Gina de Venecia, wife of Speaker Joe de Venecia is bringing her crusade to help grieving mothers to the fourth district of Pangasinan.

She will meet with all mothers who are orphaned by their children in an untimely manner at her Bonuan residence in Dagupan City on April 1 for the launching of INA (Inang Naulila Sa Anak) Foundation in her home district.

Ina Foundation is an organization that she co-founded with Ms. Ali Sotto to provide psychosocial support to bereaved mothers through programs aimed at helping them move “from a place of numbing grief to a place of hope.”

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FORMER Pangasinan Gov. Oscar Orbos called globalization both a threat and a challenge for the Filipinos for them to improve their products so that these can be competitive in the world market.

Orbos addressed the convention of the Evangelical Business People and Entrepreneurs for Social Transformation (eBest) at the Dagupan People’s Astrodome last Monday.

The convention spearheaded by Rev. Mario Tomboc, had for its theme: Philippine Economic Challenges and Potential Impact of Globalization.

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