STA. BARBARA - The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) took over the Rural Bank of Sta. Barbara (Pangasinan), Inc. on November 19 following the bank’s closure by the Monetary Board (MB).

Closure of the seven-unit rural bank was by virtue of MB Resolution No. 1285 dated November 16, 2007.

Sometime last month, depositors were seen queuing up in front of the bank trying to withdrew their deposits soon after they learned that the bank was facing financial problems. Read more

DESPITE a supposed inclusion of funds in the 2008 budget of the Department of Transportation and Communication for the proposed international airport in Alaminos City, other mayors of Pangasinan appear ready to lobby for the airport to be established somewhere else like in Sta. Barbara.

The move was formalized last week by the Pangasinan Mayors League (PML) led by Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico, Jr. which presented a manifesto to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressing preference for Sta. Barbara as site. Read more

A CITY councilor here dashed hope for the reduction of monthly rentals of stall owners at the city’s Malimgas Public Market, saying such a reduction is prohibited by the Local Government Code.

Councilor Jesus Canto, chairman of the committee on market and slaughterhouse of the city council, said under the Local Government Code, stall rental reduction can only be made after five years starting 2005. Read more

HOUSE Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. has urged the Philippine National Police to complete the investigation into the bombing at the south wing lobby of the House of Representatives on November 13.

In that incident, Basilan Congressman Wahah Akbar and three others were killed while 11 other persons, including other solons, were injured.

Calling a local radio station here from Manila on Monday morning, De Venecia said although the PNP announced that the case was already solved, they must complete the investigation in order to satisfy all concerned. Read more

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The number of licensed real estate projects in Region 1 posted a remarkable 14% annual growth rate for the past seven years, from 2000 to 2007.

This was disclosed by Regional Director Teresita Valdez-Galacgac of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), speaking during a recent Real Estate Developers Conference at Hotel Mikka here.

Galacgac said this was based on records of subdivision projects, condominiums and memorial parks licensed by HLURB in Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Read more

SAN FABIAN – All municipalities in Pangasinan are now beset with the common problem on how to effectively manage their increasing solid wastes.

This was disclosed by Acting Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas based on initial consultation with towns and city mayors in Pangasinan.

LGUs had been given by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources up to February 2006 to close their insanitary open dumpsite yet not even one of them has complied with it as they cannot on their own build their sanitary landfill. Read more

AN out-of-school youth was killed when he and a companion were fired upon in a suspected fraternity war that broke out in Dagupan City Monday night.

The fatality was identified as Albert Arenas, a minor, of sitio Aliguas in Dagupan City, who was aboard a motorcycle along with a friend, Kevin Patric Pesarillo, 17, when shot by the suspect twice.

The victim suffered one gun shot wound at the back and died on arrival at the Region I Medical Center. Read more

VILLASIS – A woman was killed and her live-in partner was wounded in a gun attack at their house Tuesday night in sitio Piaz, Villasis.

Mila Ordono, 48, died on the spot. Wounded was her live-in partner, identified as Elmer Orpiano, 30, farmer, who was wounded in the right arm and his forehead grazed by a bullet.

The suspects were shot with hand guns and long firearms. Land dispute was tagged as motive of the gun attack. Read more

VILLASIS – A woman tagged of involvement in a series of estafa cases was shot dead in her home in barangay Tombod here on Tuesday, according to the police.

The fatality was identified as Pacita Mallari, 46, who was shot in different parts of her body by two motorcycle-riding men who knocked at her home at about 11 p.m.

When Mallari opened the door, she was shot by the suspects who were wearing bonnets to conceal their identifies. Read more

LINGAYEN – Typhoon “Mina”, which was expected to hit northern Luzon in the weekend has forced the cancellation of ABS-CBN’S noontime show “Wowowee” scheduled in the Lingayen Beach last Saturday.

The cancellation was relayed by the Provincial Information Office per advice of ABS-CBN on Thursday.

Thousands of “Wowowee” fans from Pangasinan were disappointed but understood the show and cast’s fears due to the coming natural calamity. Read more