Victoria N. Carrera
31 July 2005

While corruption is rampant in the Philippines like any other big and powerful countries, I still believe that we still have so many good things that are happening in our country. Sometimes we tend to be negative when good news comes; it is our immediate reaction to be doubtful and I respect the opinion of the other posters. Anyway, opinions are neither right nor wrong. During my eight years in the University of Pangasinan formerly Dagupan Colleges when I was still in High School under the leadership of Dr. Blas F. Rayos, I witnessed some U-Pang Board Passers who made it to the top ten. The entire school community of course celebrated. This is not the only first time that U-Pang and other Universities in Dagupan have made it to the top 10. It just happened that No.1 spot is from U-Pang. Let’s give credit to the students who worked hard. When good thing happens you can’t help but share it with everyone. Like any of us, we can’t help but be happy when our relatives get on the limelight because of good news. I don’t really know the Duques personally but I stand by the capability of most U-Pang products. It is not because I am one of them but I see them all over as successful professionals both in our homeland and abroad.

On another note: Let us not put blame on the school who trained us. Actually after college, we only retain very little percentage of what we learned the rest is up to the individual. Our success in our profession depends on how we make of ourselves out of it. I know for a fact that so many of the students who are taking nursing are not academically fit for the course. They choose nursing because it is the bridge to go abroad; it is what their relatives or parents who are abroad tell them. Sometimes they are given no choice because the chances of going overseas when you graduate from nursing is greater and sometimes they struggle academically because the passion is not there. Oh one more thing, if some does not succeed in their chosen profession, it is not because of the University where they came from, but maybe there is a need to upgrade their skills. There is no educational institute that guarantees success to all its graduates. After graduation the educational institute releases everyone to the outside world and your chance to get a good job related to your education depends on how confident you are, how you market yourself, and how fast you climb the ladder.

BANCA TAXI - Paddled boats seem to be the only transportation available in Barangay Talibaew, Calasiao when flood spawned by heavy rains dumped by typhoon “Glenda” inundated the town anew last Wednesday. It was the second flood to hit the town, the first was during heavy rains spawned by typhoon ‘Florita’. ( Punchphoto by Butch Uka)

DAGUPAN CITY—Dagupan City and most towns in central and eastern Pangasinan were spared from disastrous floods this time, thanks to the completed construction of flood dams in Sison and Mangaldan.

And no one was more elated by the report than Speaker Jose de Venecia who secured the funding for the construction of the two flood dams.

Speaking over a local radio station, Friday, de Venecia happily said the flood control dams in Sison and Mangaldan held on despite heavy rains spawned by typhoons “Florita” and “Glenda”.

He said the flood control dam in Sison prevented the floodwaters of the Bued River from spilling over to northern and central Pangasinan while the flood control dike in

Mangaldan prevented the water from the Cayanga River from spilling over to Mangaldan and Dagupan City.
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NEW PMS BUILDING - House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. leads in the cutting of the inaugural ribbon for the newly renovated two-story Pangasinan Medical Society (PMS) which was damaged by the 1990 earthquake. With De Venecia are City Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, Dr. Nene Villaflor, Dr. Francisco de Guzman and Dr. Marlon Rebosa, incumbent PMS president. De Venecia helped fund the building’s renovation.

EARTHQUAKE DRILL- Two students are being given first aid by health workers after they fainted during the conduct of earthquake drill by students of the Dagupan City National High School last week. The drill was in compliance with a memorandum of the National Disaster Coordinating Council. –Punchphoto by Butch Uka

GREEN PHILIPPINES - Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes and DENR Regional Executive Director Victor Ancheta share a light moment before the start of a press conference in Urdaneta City for the launching of the Green Philippines Program. Punchphoto by Butch Uka.

Hiring to be based on qualifications

The cash-strapped Dagupan City government appears bent on pushing through with its planned reorganization that will result in the lay-off of some 500 employees.

This was indicated by City Administrator Rafael Baraan when he appeared before the committee on reorganization in the Sangguniang Panlungsod headed by Councilor Teofilo Guadiz III.

Baraan said the plan is to declare 500 of the 646 permanent positions in the city government vacant, to be filled up by qualified applicants who will pass the screening process.     . 

He defended the reorganization, saying this is meant to improve the delivery of services of the city government and to make its employees more responsive and efficient as the right people would be put at the right place.

Baraan’s statement caused apprehension among department heads for employees who may lose their jobs once the reorganization is implemented.
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But hospitals teem with dengue patients

PRIVATE and government hospitals in Dagupan are now crowded with patients suspected to be  suffering from dengue but the Provincial Health Office still insists that there is no outbreak of dengue in Pangasinan. 

Acting Provincial Health Officer Jackson Soriano refuted the declaration made by Dr. George Calugay, representative of the Department of Health in Pangasinan, that there is already an outbreak of dengue in the province.

A report before deadline showed that the patients are packing Region I Medical Center, the Villaflor Memorial Medical Center as well as other hospitals in the city.

Calugay based his confirmation on the reported 211 cases of dengue, including one death, which was registered in Pangasinan from January to July this year.
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THE head of the city’s budget office expressed serious doubts that the planned reorganization of the city government can be implemented this year.

City Budget Officer Ildelfonso Calimlim told the PUNCH that to date, the city has only P50 million left in the city coffer allocated for other purposes and not for reorganization.

The P50 million, programmed for the City’s Development Fund to finance  planned projects of the city this year, is apparently all that is left to date out of the P357 million budget approved by the city council with still five months more to go before the year ends.

Calimlim said that even assuming that the P50 million cash on hand can be spent for the reorganization, it’s not enough to cover the costs of retirement estimated at P120 million.

Calimlim said the estimate was provided by the mayor’s executive assistant Ely Bamba, chair of the committee on restructuring.
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