BAYAMBANG, PANGASINAN—The proponent of the P250-million sanitary landfill project here has started site preparation work for the facility after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources granted the project its environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
Abelardo Palad Jr., president of the Waste Integrated Network Systems (Wins) Inc., said his company is now clearing the 33-hectare site in Barangay Dusoc here of “all possible disturbances” that may hamper its construction.
The project consists initially of three cells (an excavated area where garbage will be compacted), a leachate (liquid produced from decomposing wastes) treatment plant, a material recovery facility, a composting plant, an administration building, a motor pool, a weigh bridge, a wash bay, a generator house and guard houses.
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URDANETA Vice Mayor Charizzma Salud Carancho and her father, Pangasinan Fifth District Board Member Emmanuel Carancho, will exchange positions in the upcoming May elections.
The elder Carancho is in his third and last term as board member and is eyeing his daughter’s current position, while the vice mayor will attempt to go back to the Provincial Board (PB) where she was once a member as sectoral representative. The younger Carancho served as president of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL)-Pangasinan chapter from 2001 to 2004.
Political observers said Chu is “a shoo-in to one of the two seats for regular board members.”
Emmanuel is confident his daughter will make it as “they have done their best to serve their constituents.”
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GOVERNOR Victor Agbayani urged Wednesday the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office in coordination with the municipal social welfare offices of the affected coastal towns to complete the socio/economic documentation of the families of survivors, casualties and the missing.
The documentation is needed by the provincial government to determine appropriate relief and livelihood assistance to the victims of the sea disaster and their families.
Task Force Infanta headed by Lt. Colonel Gregory Cayetano of the Philippine Army, which spearhead the relief and rescue operations for the affected fishermen, has already terminated its work last December 27 after the safe return and recovery of 202 persons.
Some 55 more of the original missing fishermen are unaccounted for.
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A GERMAN national, now a long-time resident of Dagupan, is lending his hand in promoting the Philippines in his own country, hoping to entice German and European investors and tourists.
The good thing is Professor Manfred Ollik of Kassel City in Germany is doing this for free, just for his love of the Philippines, which he now calls his second home.
Ollik is a Knight Commander of Rizal in Germany, who now lives in Bonuan Gueset Centro in Dagupan. He said he has an endearing love for the Philippines and will do everything he can to improve its image in Germany and Europe.
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After years of neglect, Dagupan’s most treasured heritage site – the Home Economics building at the West Central Elementary School – will soon be restored to its old glory.
The building was used as headquarters by American Gen. Douglas MacArthur after he landed in Pangasinan with Allied Forces on Jan. 9, 1945, to eventually liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation during World War II.
Now its wooden beams are termite-eaten, and the building itself has sunk several inches into ground because of the July 1990 earthquake. Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim said the need to restore the building has become urgent and necessary. “This is an important heritage site so we are making sure that this is protected,” he said.
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DAGUPAN CITY — The United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) turned over disaster preparedness equipment to the eight barangays here that are recipients of the agency’s Project Promise.
The turnover of bancas and first aid supplies and equipment that include tents, life vests, transistor radio, megaphones, hard hats and flashlights to Barangays Bacayao Norte, Bacayao Sur, Lasip Chico, Mangin, Tebeng, Salisays, Lasip Grande, and Pogo Grande was held on Monday after a thanksgiving mass officiated by Rev. Father Rojohn Ramirez.
Mayor Benjamin Lim and Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez helped USAid communications specialist Kevin Donahue in turning over the items to the recipients.
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DAGUPAN CITY — They belong to the opposite sides of the political fence. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz is a vocal critic of the Arroyo administration, while Speaker Jose de Venecia is a staunch ally of President Arroyo.
But they don’t let their differing political beliefs destroy their personal relationship. In fact, even if Cruz led rallies here against the administration, the most recent one against Charter change, whose main architect was, incidentally, De Venecia, the two have exchanged pleasantries without pretense.
For a time, however, these two leaders had not been communicating with each other, especially at the height of the Cha-cha debate. Until they met and talked lengthily the other day, thanks to De Venecia’s wife, Gina, who had arranged the meeting that lasted for more than one hour.
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DAGUPAN CITY – A showdown between Speaker Jose De Venecia and Mayor Benjamin Lim in the congressional race here remains a big possibility after the name of Lim’s son, Bryan, floated here as the likely mayoralty candidate in the May elections.
But Lim said he is still in the process of consultations and he will make his announcement at the proper time.
“I have been getting encouragement from many of our local leaders in the district, mostly [from those] outside Dagupan, telling me that there has to be an alternative candidate in the district,” Lim said.
This city and the towns of Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto and Manaoag belong to Pangasinan’s fourth district where De Venecia has been congressman for two consecutive terms since 2001.
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A MANGALDAN policeman was shot and injured by two unidentified men Monday morning in the town.
The victim was identified as Fernando Dotong, 36, a warrant officer of the Mangaldan police. He was rushed to the Dagupan Medical Centrum (DMC).
Mangaldan Police Chief Lloyd Millan said the incident took place at 8 a.m. Monday along a national highway in Barangay Salay.
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DAGUPAN City – Project PROMISE distributed various gadgets yesterday to eight pilot barangays here to enhance their disaster readiness capability.
“The provision of pilot devices will empower our barangays and equip them for any eventuality caused by hydro-meteorological hazards,” Mayor Benjamin Lim told People’s Journal.
Kevin Donahue, a USAID representative, and Lorna Victoria, vice president of the Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP), turned over the gadgets.
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