SANS ANY CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION

No notice to proceed, no building permit

HAS Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim authorized the start of the construction of the controversial P84-million tourism park development project at the former Magsaysay Commercial Complex in violation of the terms provided for by the city council?

Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, also the Sangguniang Panlungsod presiding officer, said the construction of the project inside the former Magsaysay Complex has obviously already commenced as several heavy equipment and manpower have been deployed there either by the project proponent or the city government.

Fernandez  told newsmen that on Wednesday he saw construction activities inside the fenced area in full blast and on Thursday morning, he saw the arrival of several truck loads of steel bars ostensibly to be used for the project. “The delivery even caused heavy traffic along A.B. Fernandez Avenue momentarily,” he pointed out.
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THE final line-up of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats in Dagupan City is expected to be formally announced at 7:00 p.m. today in a meeting set by party leaders at the Inn Asia on Jose R. de Venecia Highway.

Dr. Mac Arthur Samson, president of the University of Luzon and likely campaign manager of the team, issued the invitation for the meeting but declined to confirm that it will be the party’s proclamation rally.

Expected to lead the party ticket are Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez and business magnate Belen Fernandez, president and general manager of the retail giant CSI Group of Companies, as mayor and vice mayor respectively.

Samson, together with Dr. Jesus Canto, who is set to retire as director of Region 1 Medical Center, and Dr. Rodolfo Aquino informed former Councilor Fernandez about the Sunday evening meeting.
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SAN CARLOS CITY— Mayor Julian Resuello vowed to sign a peace covenant soon with all the local candidates for the May elections even as he protested the inclusion of the city in the list of “areas of immediate concern” (AIC) by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the  Philippine  National Police (PNP).

The city was also placed under Comelec control in 2004 as elections here have historically been marred by intense political rivalries, but Resuello said they have now moved forward and the city is already experiencing a hard-earned economic progress.

The mayor said being placed under Comelec control has a bad connotation and could send wrong signals to investors.

“We’ve been inviting investors to our city and if they read that it would be placed under Comelec control, they might not come to us anymore,” he said.
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ONCE a powerful police general, he now regards himself the underdog in his first political fight. “It’ll be a “David versus Goliath” match.”

This was how Arturo Lomibao, who has just resigned from his post as head of the National Irrigation Administration, described his impending contest with House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. for the 4th district congressional seat in the May election.

Lomibao, who hails from Mangaldan, confirmed Saturday that he is “99.99 percent sure of running for congressman” and shelved his earlier plan to join the gubernatorial race “for practical reasons”.

He pointed out that the gubernatorial race is too crowded with pro-administration candidates.

“My fear is that because many are aspiring for the gubernatorial position, the opposition bet might win,” he said.
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LINGAYEN—Minds keep a‘changing.

After the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats’ arbitration committee voted to endorse last week the nomination of the party’s provincial chairman, Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, for the governor, the party decided to declare the race for the top post in Pangasinan as a free zone.

The camp of Dr. Jamie Agbayani, wife of Governor Victor Agbayani, is naturally exuberant about the latest decision.

“It’s good news for Mrs. Agbayani”, said Ruel Camba, the provincial information officer of Governor Agbayani.

“We have the advantage (under a free zone),” he added.

Aside from Lambino and Agbayani, also in the race is Rep. Amado Espino Jr. of the 3rd district of Pangasinan.
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Ms. Ric
18 Mar 2007

 

Mr. Duque,

Twelve years of primary-secondary education here in the United States isn’t what it seems. If I remember correctly, when I went to grammar school in Manaoag in the seventies, I went to school from 8:00-4:00 with an hour break for lunch and recess in the morning and afternoon. I’m not sure exactly how many days we were in school for the whole school year, but it seemed forever.

Public education in California is 180 days in a year with 300 minutes a day without the breaks. Most schools have 10-11 weeks of summer vacation. It’s too long of a break, if you ask me. We spend at least six weeks doing nothing but review what the kids forgot over the summer.

Supposedly, primary grades (1-5) are designed to develop the basics in a self-contained classroom. Middle school (6-8) grade was created because of the need for transition. When pre-teen are not quite independent enough to be on their own and are not developmentally ready for secondary challenges. High school (9-12) is designed to literally train our teens to be successful in college or as a young adult entering a workforce by 18 years of age.

The original design of our public school system here was working fine. It produced some of the greatest minds this country ever knew. Then politicians started tinkering with it and claimed that time is changing and we must compete. For the longest time Japan was used as model to taunt school officials, teachers, and students alike. We kept changing policies and kept shoving new standards for our kids. We became a nation of labels and differentiated instructions. Every child was identified, labeled and shoved in a classroom to meet new challenges immaterial to whether the child is actually developmentally ready. Gone were the days when kindergarten was half academics and half fun. Believe it or not, pre-algebra concepts are being explored as early as first grade.

In our haste to be competitive in this modern time of ours, we’ve forgotten that our kids need nurturing not just in their mind, but their body and character, as well.

ALAMINOS–It’s never over-crowded at the top. Former Governor Oscar Orbos may yet join the fray in the fight for governorship of Pangasinan.

This possibility surfaced amidst the bitter in-fighting among three administration bets - Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino (Lakas), Dr. Jamie Agbayani (Lakas) and Second District Rep. Amado T. Espino Jr. (Kampi).

A group calling itself PADER, short for Pangasinan Advocacy for Democratic and  Electoral Reforms, has mobilized a provincial network of young professionals, businessmen, students, farmers and members of the clergy and other religious sectors to convince Orbos to run for governor anew.
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ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION–This recent photo of the cleared Magsaysay Park shows the presence of construction materials and a backhoe indicating that the construction of the P84 million tourism park development project has started. However, nobody is certain if it is MetroState Realty Corporation, the supposed winning bidder, or another contractor operating inside the area since the construction does not have authority from either the city council, the Special Bids and Awards Committee and the city engineers office. The city mayor’s office is mum about the activities inside the fenced area. – (Punchphoto by Jayson Soriano)

FIRST PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS—House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and Tapuac Barangay Chairman Jake Reyes (right) cut the ceremonial ribbon last Friday to officially open the overpass to pedestrians, mainly students, in the area. The overpass, funded by De Venecia’s Priority Development Assistance Fund, is located along the national highway in barangay Tapuac fronting the Dagupan City National High School. Joining them are Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, Councilors Alex de Venecia and Danilo Torio. (Punchphoto by Ray Zambrano)

CALIMLIM HOME—The $1.2-M, five-bedroom English Tudor home where Drs. Jefferson and Elnora Calimlim in suburban Brookfield, Wisconsin harbored a maid, Filipina Irma Martinez, for 19 years. — Photo by Manny Zambrano