Farmers use bio-organic fertilizer for higher yield

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

More farmers in Mindanao and Visayas are now encouraged to use  the locally produced bio-organic fertilizer Durabloom on corn, sugarcane, banana, rice and fruit  trees, as local suppliers attest to its effectiveness.

For instance, farmer-farm input supplier Ric Allado of Malinao, Banisilan, Bukidnon takes pride in telling corn and sugarcane farmers that Durabloom has been responsible in increasing his yields and farm income.  Marites Garay of Don Carlos town likewise tells her buyers about the positive results of Durabloom application (10 bags a hectare) to one of her farms that used to yield very poorly.
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I was right

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

PREDICTING the final outcome of any sporting competition is petrifying, and the hardest thing to do for any sports writer. Only few do it because their name is at stake. That’s what world reknown sports columnist Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times once said in his article. You are hugely gambling your reputation. If you blunder, that could pave the way for your readers to disfavor you.

But  that’s what I did. I made a fearless forecast on the outcome of the Padyak Pinoy, the country’s only annual multi-stage bicycle road racing.
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Ronaldo Castanaga
3 June 2007

Kudos to the New Governor-Elect A. Espino Jr. I think Gov. Espino is well prepared for the challenges as governor.

First off, he’ll set up a task force of technocrats to fuel an economic takeoff for the premier province. Right now there’s a broiling differences between the engineer’s office and Dagupan City Council regarding a building permit to allow Metrobuilder to complete the Magsaysay Park project.

A council resolution was already established to allow the builder to proceed and a permit is just too tiny to derail the project. Or is it the handiwork of a dancing purist to stop it? The project is of high importance to the province as a way to create jobs and a tourist attraction. We need greening in the province.

Where I reside at Brgy Bimmonton at the foot of Mt. Paldingan, Binalonan is denuded by too much illegal kaingin and charcoal making.

Gov Espino should direct the Forestry District to stop illegal cutting of trees. Trees prevent soil erosion and keep the water table in check. In some parts of the province such as north of Artacho going towards the rice plains of Pozorrubio are totally dependent upon rain for irrigation.

Suggest that the new governor will spearhead the construction of a concrete hump dam design at the tail end of the Balangabang River by Kennon Rd. This hump dam design allows passage of timbers, tree branches and debris during flash floods.

This design is very popular in South Korea and Japan where the section is triangular rounded at the top. The idea is to bring the water level high enough to permit gravity flow to makeshift trenches to rice paddies.

Next, cut out the bad practices of payroll padding in the provincial board to pay off services of political supporters. In this era of global markets, let’s develop our mango industry by encouraging farmers to put up mango orchards. China and New Zealand expressed delights in our very sweet San Carlos variety mangoes.

Good luck Governor Espino, Jr.

Jeremias Andrade Carrera
3 June 2007

JDV being assured of the speakership presented to GMA, the 12-point agenda contained in the so-called “Declaration of Unity for Reform and Development”. I hope that in one of those agenda, the badly needed reforms to stop corruption and appropriate penalties are included.

I doubt however that this administration including JDV and the majority of the members of congress had that in mind. The 12-point agenda is very broad and looks good on paper and I hope it is not “BOLA-BOLA” as usual.

Ronaldo Castanaga
2 June 2007

The Magsaysay Park is of high importance to the people of Pangasinan at large. It creates jobs and generates income to the province.

Suggest the Gov-elect will step in, get involve setting up a task force to iron out the differences between the provincial engineer’s office, the city council and other parties. If the problem is only a building permit that’s lacking, that’s just too tiny, almost irrelevant, to delay the project. A resolution was already established to allow the outgoing Mayor Lim to award the project to MetroState as the winning bidder and he did.

The direction is completed, MetroState complied and started the project and will finish it on time and within budget. What’s wrong with that? United we stand, we can build more to better the lives of our Kabaleyans.

(Editor’s Note: Dagupan is a chartered city and is not under the jurisdiction of the provincial government).

Jeremias Andrade Carrera
2 June 2007

Mr. Oriel:

Your statements or arguments are full of HOLES. You keep on insulting the readers’ intelligence with your argument especially when you stated “Because of the excellent systems being used in Canada, those kinds of problems you patiently enumerated are not encountered”.

Mr. Oriel, you must be joking. I just Google “Canada’s corruption” and there are plenty of corruption, one of which involved the Public Works Ministry. So please stop insulting us.

You think that the SOP on the Pork Barrel projects will stop once your so-called excellent system is in place? That is pure BS.

I think with unicameral, the check and balances will disappear and because there is no prosecution because of corrupt mentality, the situation will worsen even more. Where did you get the idea that the same corrupt politicians and officials will behave just because a better system and control is in place?

You dream a lot Mr. Oriel and your argument are unrealistic. I admire your tenacity to prove your point, but I do not admire your inaccuracy or unfounded statements.

Back to school

By Marifi Jara

IT’S June. The rains are here. And soon students will be going back to class. Tomorrow, in fact, for most schools.

And the scene won’t be too pretty in many public elementary, secondary, and even tertiary schools all over the country, including here in Pangasinan. And it’s not so much because of the wet weather.

Students will be cramped in classrooms and there would be too many of them for every teacher.

The ideal ratio of about 25-30 students per teacher is an illusion for many a school run by the government.
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Lessons Unlearned

By Emmanuelle

Do not be a glutton; eat only what is enough to relieve your hunger. Chew your food well. There is always time for everything, everyone; all it takes is proper time management; patience, too. Love your neighbor as you love yourself; better still, love them as much as God loves you. Look back in time from where you came; if you don’t, your destination may be a little harder to reach. Do not demand or expect from others what you can’t from yourself. Vote right; do not waste that one precious voice. Though sometimes, the people are justifiably matched with the leaders they deserve. Forgive and forget; you have not forgiven when you have not forgotten. At this point, imagine Yul Bryner waving his royal fingers in time with his Etcetera, Etcetera in The King and I. Nobody really can do the gesture more grandly or meaningfully.
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AFTER DEFENDING PROJECT

Baraan charges CE withheld build permit

After submitting an unsigned report defending the planned construction of a tourism structure at the Magsaysay Park, Councilor Teofilo Guadiz III has made a surprise turnaround and said the project is “illegal by itself”.

Guadiz prepared the committee report supporting the project but now refuses to sign it which has kept Sangguniang Panglungsod action pending for sometime now.
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IT ain’t over till it’s over.

This appears to be the case with Congresswoman-elect Rachel Arenas of the Third District, a political neophyte, who is poised to face another political battle after her two losing rivals filed separate protest cases against her victory before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).

But Arenas doesn’t seem perturbed saying she is prepared to face the new challenge even as she begins to focus on her new duties as a congress-woman.
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