By ORPHEUS M. VELASCO

RICH in cultural heritage, agricultural lands, marine life, trade and commerce, beautiful beaches, islands and caves, gastronomic food products, musical talents, spiritual wonders, exciting festivals and hardworking and talented people – Pangasinan has been doing a Rip Van Winkle for many years, relegating the province as simply one of the 81 provinces in the country. Time was when Pangasinan was at par with Cebu, both surging to economic boom.

But as Cebu zooms ahead, Pangasinan slowed down, gasped for breath, and faltered from the race track of progress. In the meantime, other provinces like Davao, Batangas, Tarlac, Palawan and many others sprinted. Pangasinan then seemingly “eats the dust.”

The ascendancy of Governor Amado Espino and Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas has ushered in a new hope that Pangasinan is back on track, running again with passion and zest to somehow retake the lead.

Since the two officials started at Urduja House and the Capitol in Lingayen, high energy has filled the halls and periphery of the provincial government.

As the provincial chief executive, Espino started running the affairs of the province by putting the house in order. A former be-medalled military official, Espino puts paramount importance to discipline, tardiness, precision and efficiency.

Now that the Capitol is on stream, Espino is losing no time as if there is no tomorrow. In tandem with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by lawyer Marlyn Primicias, her running mate in the recently-held May elections, Espino is set to negotiate with qualified entities to set up an airport with commercial flights and a seaport.

These two flagship programs of Espino are actually long overdue. No province will attain a rapid economic growth without developing easy access from investors and tourists. Land travel is not enough for fast transport of products. Espino and Primicias hit the head of the nail as they are now venturing into building a landing and take-off sites for commercial planes and shipping lines.

Surely, it will take time to build these two major projects. But great leaders are passionate visionaries, seeing both the short term and the long term. With a land, sea and air transport system in place, progress in Pangasinan will inevitably take a breakneck speed.

Why not?