LINGAYEN - Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. outlined complete with an audio-visual presentation efforts of the provincial government to transform the people and its facilities in order to be able to accomplish its mission: “To make Pangasinan the best place to invest, visit, live, work and raise a family.

In his briefing to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during its regular session last March 10, the governor, through a message read for him by provincial administrator Rafael Baraan, formally announced his 10 major development thrusts.

These are Safe and peaceful neighborhood, quality and affordable health care, adequate and high quality education, increased agricultural productivity, better jobs and income opportunities, youth and sports development, tourism development, affordable and socialized housing, mega infrastructure projects and Pangasinan Special Eco-Tourism Zone.

Nursing a hoarse voice, Espino only made a brief remarks on his briefing then passed the microphone over to Baraan who took over in the powerpoint presentation.

The briefing showed that the first eight development thrusts are based on the immediate priorities outlined by the governor in his first State of the Province Address last January 24.

According to the presentation, two important components (mega infrastructure projects and Pangasinan special economic zone) were added “to stimulate the sustained economic progress of the province.”

Under the mega infra projects are the establishment of an international seaport in Sual and the upgrading and renovation of Lingayen airport. If realized, these two projects will set off the influx of tourists and investors in Pangasinan and transform the province into a center of economic activity in Northern Luzon.

Espino recalled that President Arroyo ordered the release of P100 million as initial fund for the international seaport. A seven-man technical team from the Philippine Ports Authority had just conducted the topographic and hydrographic surveys of the Sual Bay to determine best location for the seaport.

Alongside the establishment of a seaport, the governor said, is the upgrading and renovation of Lingayen Airport as a commercial airport.

On the Special Eco-tourism Zone project, the province has started its clearing operations and civil works on the proposed 186-hectare eco-tourism site sprawling over four barangays in Lingayen, namely: barangays Sabangan, Estanza, Malimpuec and Capandanan.

He said that Pangasinan is among the few provinces with no special economic zone.

Complete with pictures flashed on a big screen, the provincial administrator presented snap shots of the present state of the provincial government, showing vivid photos of the past, the work in progress and recent photos of completed projects.

Among the infrastructure plans and projects that were shown were the provincial capitol building and all other buildings within the complex, the Lingayen Resort Hotel, the 10 agriculture demo farms of the office of the provincial agriculturist and provincial veterinarian, the 14 hospitals under the provincial health office, roads at far-flung areas and other properties of the provincial government.

Concluding the presentation, the governor said “today is a time for us to believe in what we can do as change agents.”

He noted that as long as the province stays together as a team with a burning desire to succeed and to remain intensely focused and give only the best effort for the people, the provincial government will become the best in many things.

He cited several areas where the province can be number one: The best provincial capitol in the country, the best provincial and district hospitals that will become the standard of excellence in Pangasinan, the best agricultural demo farms and the best agricultural and veterinary technicians, the best tourist destinations, the best airport and seaport in Northern Luzon and the best public servants in Pangasinan. (PIO)