Hundreds of sari-sari store and restaurant owners, operators, and suppliers of catering services trooped to the first ever Sari-Sari Store and Livelihood Fair at the CSI Jimmy L. Fernandez Center in Dagupan City that opened Friday, for a chance to interact with each other. 

The three-day event, highlighted by exhibits of products popularly sold at sari-sari stores, the local convenience store commonly found just about anywhere around the country, was opened with prominent government officials and entertainment personalities  in attendance.

      Mrs. Gina de Venecia, wife of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., Dagupan City Mayor Al Fernandez, former San Fernando City, Agoo, LU Mayor Maryjane Ortega and San Carlos City Vice Mayor Joseres Resuello led the formal opening.
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LINGAYEN–”No convincing evidence.”

These were the words of Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez, provincial police director, in response to reports by the Pangasinan Muslim Association that policemen are involved in the illegal drugs trade, specifically on “case fixing”.

Nonetheless, Nerez vowed to continue to investigate the matter and said he would take the necessary action if proven true.

“Of course we will never tolerate them if we find the report true. We will take appropriate actions against them,” Nerez told The PUNCH.
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At least 44 people here were confined at the Malasiqui District Hospital or treated at the Talospatang Health Center for food poisoning after attending a birthday party where the food served was apparently already spoiled.

The father of the one-year old birthday celebrator, Val Queñano, apologized for what happened, saying they did not know that the food they served was no longer good for consumption.

Most of the victims were children.
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UMINGAN–For the second time, the centuries-old bell of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church here has been stolen by still unidentified culprits.

The 1,200-kilogram bell, dated back to 1876, was carted away years ago but eventually recovered in Mangaldan town following a lead given by a concerned citizen.

The bell was stolen again September 23 when the parish priest and his staff left the church to attend the wake of a policeman, according to PO3 Manuel Silvania, an investigator of the police station here.
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SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union–The Region 1 office of the Department of Health (DOH) is set to embark on an extensive immunization campaign against measles, targeting some 500,000 children between nine months to five years old.

Clarita Lewis of the DOH’s Expanded Program on Immunization in the region said health workers will be taking a more aggressive stance by adopting a door-to-door campaign.

Through this approach, mothers will no longer have an excuse not to have their children immunized, she added.

The program is part of the DOH’s “Knock out Tigdas (Measles)” project.
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OVERSEAS Dagupeños are being encouraged to come home for the duration of the city fiesta on December 16 to 30 which coincides with the yuletide season, under the revived ‘Pawil Dagupan’ program.

Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, chair of the city council’s committee on tourism, said the homecoming of overseas Dagupenos will add glitter to the 15-day fiesta, which will start with the holding of the traditional ‘Misa de Gallo’ in all churches within the city on December 16.

The fiesta proper will be ushered in by a trade fair that will open on December 1, said Tamayo who was designated this year’s hermano mayor or chairman of the executive committee of this year’s fiesta.
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Pangasinan will be a major player in the development of the Ilocos Region as the agriculture-business capital of the Philippines by 2010, said an official of the National Economic Development (NEDA).

Medardo Panlilio, chief of Plan and Policy Formulation of NEDA Region 1, called on provincial officials to draw plans that will maximize the potentials of agricultural products from the province in order to achieve the 2010 vision.

He urged the local government officials here to team up with the private sector, including those outside the region, for the development and promotion of products, particularly under the one-town-one-product program.
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ALTERNATIVE TO EXPENSIVE FEEDS

BINMALEY–Bangus are good for growing tilapia. Bangus bones, that is.

A study made by a group from the College of Fisheries here of the  Pangasinan State University (PSU) showed  that  tilapia fed with a mixture of 75% formulated diet and 20%-25%  bangus bones and spines has a comparably better survival and growth rate.

The study, undertaken jointly by Dan Clark Rosario, May Ann Catabay and Efren Soy with Dr. Rosie Abalos as adviser, won first prize in the PSU Research and Development Symposium this year.
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THE Villaflor Memorial Doctors Hospital is expanding and has acquired more modern equipment to provide patients with even better medical services.

This was announced by Dr. Vivencio Villaflor Jr., managing director of VMDH on September 27, coinciding with the hospital’s 26th anniversary.

Villaflor said the hospital transferred to its present location in Mayombo, Dagupan City 26 years ago on September 27 from a small clinic and hospital on Arellano Street that operated from 1968 to 1981.
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TO protect the interest of consumers who regularly buy at the Centromart public market at Zamora Street, one 25-kilogram weighing scale was installed by the management, with the official sanction of the Department of Trade & Industry, represented by Marjury Loresco and Maria Anna Espinoza and the Dagupan City Mayor’s Office, represented by Executive Assistant Dr. Edwin Aguirre, who also did the honors at the ceremonial ribbon-cutting last September 28.
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