PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has committed the initial release of P100 million to Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. to jumpstart the development and construction of an international seaport in Sual town.

The President made the announcement to local leaders before she left Pangasinan during her visit to Binalonan last Saturday, according to Espino.

The Sual shipping port is estimated to cost around P400 million
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ESTABLISHMENT of a first-ever Seafood Processing Facility here through a U.S. 2.2 million dollar grant from the Korean government is coming soon following the signing of the Record of Discussion (ROD) regarding the project in Quezon City last week.

The $2.2 million grant was sought by then House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., congressman of the fourth district of Pangasinan, from the Speaker of the Korean Parliament sometime in 2006.
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THE much-awaited Bangus Festival in Dagupan sometime in April this year will go regional under the new city administration, according to Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chair of this year’s festival executive committee.

Fernandez said in this year’s festival slated from April 16 to May 1, the city will invite people from other parts of the region to attend the merry celebration that will again showcase the city’s premier product—bangus. Read more

VIGAN CITY—The passage of priority legislation continues even as the Senate is pursuing the investigation on the National Broadband Network controversy.

This was disclosed by Senate President Manuel Villar during a press conference last Thursday during a brief stop-over in Vigan on his way to Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

Villar said the Senate passed 21 bills since the opening of the First Regular Session of the 14th Congress, including eight of nine priority legislation identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). Read more

THE government has set as one of its top priorities the development of bio-power as an alternative source of energy in order to help reduce the country’s dependency on imported oil and oil products.

Dr. Enrie Mendoza, presidential assistant for Northern Luzon, told newsmen here that the program was endorsed by the Regional Development Council of Ilocos-Pangasinan headed by Ilocos Sur Governor Deogracias Savellano.

Mendoza said the program intends to bring about self-sufficiency on bio-ethanol, the blended mixture for petrochemicals, and the use of solar power in order to energize homes in remote villages yet to be reached by electricity.
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SAN FERNANDO CITY—The buildings and machineries of the Bauang Private Power Corporation (BPPC) in barangay Payocpoc Sur in Bauang town is now in the hands of the provincial government.

This was after a public auction held on February 1, 2008 at the provincial Capitol in San Fernando City, La Union which was won by the provincial government.

The public auction was conducted because of the failure and refusal of BPCC to pay its real property tax for its buildings and facilities from 1995 to 2007 amounting to P1.866 billion.
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BANI—This town was adjudged recently as the Most Child-Friendly Municipality in Region 1 due to its continuing efforts in helping abused children and those in conflict with law.

The award was conferred to the municipality by a multi-government panel composed of the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Health, Education, and the National Economic Development Authority.

The award was clinched by the town largely on its initiative at setting up a Child-Protection Unit (CPU) that looks after abused children and addressing their needs. Read more

THE Philippine Council of Women, Inc.-Pangasinan Chapter has launched the “Search for Outstanding Women Achievers of Pangasinan” for 2008, a project that aims to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of women in various fields of endeavor.

The announcement was made by Provincial Board Member Alice J. Pulido, PCWL-Pangasinan president, during a recent press briefing in Dagupan City.

The first of its kind to be launched in the province, the search is focused on achievers in community leadership and service, Read more

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—The Regional Development Council of the Ilocos-Pangasinan area headed by Governor Deogracias Savellano has adopted agri-industrialization and tourism as major development thrusts of the region for the next three years.

The region’s economy, according to studies made by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), including one by Ms. Irene Ubungen of the graduate studies of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), is predominantly driven by agri-fishery and forestry sector and the services sector. Read more