By Venus May H. Sarmiento

THE province of Pangasinan is the biggest recipient of Internal Revenue Allotment of all the provinces in the country.

The provincial IRA for 2008, is a whooping P1.36 billion or P1, 362,971,958.00. A little higher than the P1.2 billion allocation in 2007. Next is Cebu with P1.33 billion. Negros Occidental comes third with P1.26 billion

Other provinces in the billionaires’ row include Bulacan, Quezon, Isabela, Palawan Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Iloilo and Leyte.

Although Pangasinan tops the IRA funding, Governor Amado Espino said, the province’s development was slow and many opportunities have been left unopened.

The Governor is exerting all efforts to establish an airport and a seaport in the province and other facilities that could help Pangasinenses. Espino is also keen on focusing on agriculture, health, education, peace and order, infrastructure and others.

Pangasinan is one of the largest provinces in Northern Luzon with an area of 5,369.18 sq.kms and registers 2.4 million population.(PIA)