CITY Mayor Benjamin S. Lim has assured the public that the city government, through the city legal office, will seek all means to consider the petition filed by the Alliance of United Transport Organization (AUTOPRO) opposing the enactment of Ordinance No. 1848-2005 or the Modified Day Coding System to Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) operators and drivers.

Taking into consideration the group’s plea, Lim welcomed the possibility of initiating a revision on the city’s traffic ordinance as long as it is applicable to the present traffic condition of Dagupan.

“It’s good that AUTOPRO expressed its opposition to the ordinance for us to realize if there is a need to make necessary adjustments or amendments,” the mayor said in a radio interview.
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LIMITED budget allocation from government has always hampered efforts of schools at making quality education a reality and has led to shortages of teachers, classrooms, books and other learning facilities.

Despite such limitations, the city government of Dagupan intends to give utmost priority to education, it was stressed at an educators’ forum in the city last Tuesday and Wednesday by Brian S. Lim, newly designated chief of staff of Mayor Benjamin S. Lim.
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By SUNSHINE D. ROBLES
THE city government posted P34 million or a 10 percent increase in its total revenue for the year 2006.

Based on the “revenue pattern report” of the city treasurer’s office, the total collection for the year 2006 amounted to P373,760,930 compared with year 2005’s P340,057,372 showing an increase of P33,703,588.

City treasurer Romelita Alcantara said that the total revenue comprises 51 percent derived from the local tax revenue which amounted to P189,258,042 while 49 percent was from IRA amounting to P184,502,888.
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ALTHOUGH the administration’s coalition ticket for the coming senatorial race is yet to be formed, House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., has confidently made a fearless forecast of 10 to 2 in favor of the candidates of the administration.

In a talk to newsmen here, De Venecia based his fearless forecast on “good governance as well as the present performance of the economy” under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
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CAMP BGEN OSCAR FLORENDO, La Union – Another victim of summary execution by the communist New People’s Army was discovered in eastern Pangasinan.

Government troopers dug up skeletal remains of a policeman in a shallow grave in Mt. Baldos, barangay Maseil-seil, Umingan, near the Nueva Ecija border.

Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, told newsmen the skeletal remains were that of SPO4 Esteban Bravo, a member of the Regional Intelligence Group of the Police Regional Office 3 based in Camp Olivas, Pangasinan.
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A PANGASINAN regional trial court judge has again lived up to his new monicker of “Fastest Judge Alive” in the Bench.

In the semestral report of all cases pending in a branch as of June last year, Judge Costales, presiding Judge of Regional Trial Court, Branch 45, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan emerged without a single case pending for decisions in his sala. He has also resolved all motions submitted for resolution.

Last year, Costales was also found having no case backlog by the end of December. Costales works immediately after lunch, on Saturdays and Sunday s at home and at the bus while he is commuting from home or office, his staff said.
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By MERLY R. TIBALAO/
Provincial Information Office
LINGAYEN – The provincial government seeks to strengthen further its health care delivery program with the implementation of FOURmula 1 program.

Gov. Victor Agbayani thus urged the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to pass a resolution authorizing him to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health (DOH) to pave the way for the implementation of program.

The five-year FOURmula health program will be funded by the European Commission with counterpart funds from the DOH and the province.
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BANGUED, Abra – Abra Governor Vicente “Vicsyd” Valera criticized Thursday the establishment of numerous police checkpoints near his residence in Zone 7 this town, branding this as a harassment against him.

The checkpoints were set up by Task Force Abra headed by Senior Superintendent Eugene Martin which was sent by the Philippine National Police to maintain peace and order and prevent any violence in the province.

Seeing that there are even checkpoints leading to his house in Bangued, the capital town, Valera vowed to report and file appropriate complaint directly to the chief of the PNP and to the office of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
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