SLEEPING ON THE JOB - Who says there is no jueteng in Dagupan? This unidentified jueteng collector is caught by PUNCH camera dozing off  holding his list of bets made and collected in Caranglaan district while waiting for his “associates” to arrive. - Punchphoto by Butch Uka

DELAYED ACTION - Workers from the Department of Public Works District Office have been fielded finally to clear the clogged drainage system that causes the incessant flooding in the Tapuac-Lucao road. Residents and business establishments have long complained about the clogged sewer pipes that leave swampy waters in the area over a long period.

PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL UPGRADING -  Gov. Victor Agbayani is briefed by  Provincial Engineer Divinia de Leon and Dr. Jackson Soriano, OIC provincial health officer and chief  of the provincial hospital (center), on the newly completed state-of-the-art facilities of the provincial hospital in San Carlos City, which include a well-refurbished private pay-ward, a well-furnished laboratory and a modern Intensive Critical Care Unit. The projects are part of the Hospital Upgrading Program of the provincial government. - PIO

MOTORCYCLE TRAINING - A policeman riding in his motorcycle hurdles an obstacle course in Bonuan Binloc during the last day of a two-day motorcycle course for the Motorcycle Riding Class Charlie-06 participated in by speed cops from Region I, 2, 3 and the Cordilleras sponsored by the PNP’s Traffic Management Group. - Punchphoto by Butch Uka

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MANAGEMENT TRANSFER - Gov. Victor Agbayani leads the signing of the memorandum of agreement transferring the management of a portion of the Agno River Irrigation system to the Urdaneta-Villasis Irrigators Association. The provincial government rehabilitated the NIA-owned irrigation system based on an agreement that 50 percent of the irrigation fees will go to the farmers for the maintenance and repair of the facility. Among the signatories are Urdaneta City Mayor Amadito Perez, Jr., NIA Regional Director John Celeste, Mrs. Helen Valenzuela, irrigators’ association president, and Provincial Agriculturist Jose Almendares. - PIO

HIGHWAY TREE PLANTING - Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. (right) leads the ceremonial planting of trees along the national highway in Urdaneta City fronting the city hall last Friday as part of the Green Philippine Highway Program initiated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Also in photo are Vice Mayor Chu Carancho (fourth from left) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Wendy Co (left). - Punchphoto by Butch Uka

AMONG 8 ILOCOS REGION CITIES

LINGAYEN - Move over Dagupan City, Urdaneta City is now the cream of the crop.

Based on the financial report released by the Commission on Audit for 2005, Urdaneta City is now the leading city not only in Pangasinan but in the Ilocos region in terms of net income, gross income, total assets and total equity.

The COA report showed  Urdaneta reported a net income of P132,107,000  with a gross income of  P382,699,000 and expenses amounting to  P250,582,000, considered only as the third highest among eight cities in the region.

Urdaneta, which won its cityhood only in March 1998, had the highest  total assets among all  the region’s cities totaling P810,722,000, registering total equity of  P693,166,000 with total liabilities of P117,546,000, among the lowest in the region so far.

In contrast, Dagupan the oldest city in Region 1 had the lowest net income among in the province and among eight Ilocos cities at P18,901,000, according  to the COA financial  report.

Dagupan, however, registered the second highest total income at P357,404,000 but the report showed it is also the biggest spender among all eight cities, registering total expenditure amounting to P338,503,000 in 2005.

San Carlos, another city in Pangasinan, registered the second highest net income for 2005 at P79,956 while its total income was P264,663,000, the fifth highest in the region and was able to pare down its expenses to P184,707,000, the third lowest expenses registered in the region.
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NATIVIDAD - A plan of the New People’s Army (NPA) to lay siege on the municipal hall and police station of Natividad was foiled Monday night by army soldiers and policemen.

The plan was thwarted when the police led by Sr. Insp. Bernardo Aromin, chief of police, received an intelligence report that armed men, believed to be from the NPA, were massing in sitio Simimbaan, Barangay Batchelor East.

Aromin immediately called for help from the 7lst Infantry Battalion that immediately launched an attack on the rebels before the latter could even move to the town proper. The soldiers were led by lst Lt. Terrence Cabarle,       

While no casualties were reported by either side, soldiers recovered one armalite rifle and a back-pack containing subversive documents and personal belongings.
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By Analiza Leyba

THE city of Dagupan retained only five per cent or P18,901,000  net income from its total income of P357,404,000  because of its huge expenses of P338,503,000 last year. 

     This was disclosed by City Budget Officer Ildefonso Calimlim in reaction to the published report of the Commission on Audit on the performance of local government units.

In an interview with the PUNCH before deadline, Calimlim attributed the huge expenses of the city for the year 2005 among others to the expenses incurred by Bangus Festival, chaired by Councilor Michael Fernandez, in its bid to retake its Guinness world record for the longest grill event which was broken by Turkey.
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