DUE TO SUMMER FESTIVALS

Hotels, resorts overcrowded

LINGAYEN - Thanks to festivals, Pangasinan is finally earning its share of improved domestic tourism in the region.

Department of Tourism Regional Director Martin Valera considers each day from April   to May in Region 1 as a holiday because of the festivals in many towns and cities.

The Ilocos region is now bursting at the seams with big number of tourists flocking to its various beaches and tourist spots from Pangasinan to Ilocos Norte.

Valera, interviewed by newsmen when he graced the ‘Pista’y Dayat’ (Sea Festival) in Lingayen organized by the provincial government under Gov. Victor Agbayani, said there are festivals practically everywhere in the region. Read more

More than half a million participants, spectators and tourists are expected to join the grandest merriment on the occasion of the renowned “Kalutan ed Dagupan” slated at 4:30 p.m. today.

Councilor Nicanor Aquino, Bangus Festival 2006 executive chairman, said that the Kalutan ed Dagupan-Bangus sa Lansangan this year is a grand reunion of past festival participants, to again celebrate the Guinness world record title of the city for “longest barbecue”.

“We will not set a new record as our latest longest barbecue edition of 2005 has yet to be confirmed by GWR. But the kalutan this year will be the grandest barbecue party,” he clarified.

Twelve concert stages have been constructed to genres of music that will suit the taste of the spectators. The stages will feature various popular bands which include: Francis Magalona and Imago, stage 1: Pinoy Big Brother celebrity edition housemates Roxanne Barcelo, Aleck Bovick and Gretchen Malalad, stage 2: Brownman Revival, hemp republic and Raggae Mistress, stage 3: Moonstarr 88, stage 5: Hale band, stage 6: Francyssjenn theater and arts group, stage 11 and 12. Read more

By Eva C. Visperas

DAGUPAN City Mayor Benjamin Lim is mad and furious at The Sunday Punch.

Last Tuesday, the mayor called and berated a senior writer of the PUNCH on the latter’s mobile phone to make known his displeasure over two of PUNCH’s  stories published last issue. 

He branded the stories “Only small party set for Bangus Fest” (in connection with this year’s Kalutan ed Dagupan) and “High coliform found in city’s river system” with the kicker “Bangus industry threatened” as malicious.

Lim said he and his fellow officials behind the committee working on the Bangus Festival believe that the PUNCH was “belittling our efforts” despite an array of activities prepared for this year’s celebration that even expanded to towns in Pangasinan fourth district. Read more

BOOST TO PISTA’Y DAYAT

The beaches in the province may not be as popular as Boracay but these are certainly one of the safest and cleanest in the region.

Take it from Dr. Westly Rosario, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) chief in Dagupan City.

He validated this claim after his office had determined that water samples taken for fecal coliform tests in different sites showed “passing rate”.

Recent laboratory test results on coliform level in Binmaley and Lingayen beaches were only 43 most probable numbers (MPN) per 100 grams, which means that the water there is very good for swimming. The test was conducted on April 3. Read more

THE most wanted man in Pangasinan was arrested Monday by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Dagupan City at his hideout in sitio Cabuan, barangay Tamayo, San Carlos City.

The suspect, Rodel de Guzman, alias “Itiw” and “Edwin” was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for murder issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Hermogenes Fernandez of San Carlos City.

 De Guzman was injured in the head the night before when he figured in a scuffle with residents of barangay Tamayo, at which incident the residents were able to identify the wanted man.   Read more

LINGAYEN - The ban against shellfish from Anda and Bolinao remains.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) announced that it has not lifted its advisory against gathering and consuming shellfish including tahong (mussels) and talaba (oysters) from the two western towns following numerous inquiries from consumers.

The shellfish from these two towns were earlier found positive for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP).

BFAR Regional Director Nestor Domenden said the situation has not improved citing tests that the level of toxins has not lowered within the regulatory limit. Read more