STA. BARBARA—The future is not looking sweet for the bocayo industry.

Makers of this coconut candy, which used to be among the top livelihood products in the province, are slowly closing shop with only 40% of the original number now believed to be in operation.

Eleazar Parohinog, provincial coconut development manager of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), told The PUNCH that the bocayo industry’s decline is due to lack of raw materials and high price of coconuts following the popularity of coconut juice. Read more

STA. BARBARA–A plague is threatening the province’s coconut trees, dubbed as the “tree of life”.

Coconut leaf beetle (Brontispa longissima), a pest that can readily kill precious coconut trees, has infected more than 1,000 hectares of coconut tree plantations in Urdaneta City, Labrador and Sual, according to the Philippine Coconut Authority’s (PCA) provincial office here.

Eleazar Parohinog, PCA’s provincial coconut development manager, told The PUNCH that they are now preparing means to address the problem.

PCA officials will soon meet with coconut tree owners this week to teach them counter measures to control further spread of the pest.
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Dagupan City’s police chief, Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, and Janet Albano, a secondary school teacher in Calasiao have been cited as the regional awardees for the 2007 Dangal ng Bayan Award.

The two will be honored on Monday by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) at the regional office in La Union.

The Dangal ng Bayan Award is given annually in recognition of dedicated civil service.

Borromeo, who was regional director of the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) of the Philippine National Police in Region 1 from the third quarter of 2006 to June 2007, was recognized for his efforts to encourage his troop to go the extra mile by not just maintaining peace and order but by engaging in community-related projects.
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A BOOK on legal writing, titled “Legal Writing”, by Judge Alicia G. Decano (ret.) DCL, is now available in the market.

The book, intended for first year law students and lawyers, is designed to inculcate in them the importance of legal writing. It starts with a revisit of English, Grammar, Rhetoric and Composition Writing, followed by the study and analysis of legal writing proper.
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James Rickard, manager of the carving school at Te Puia, formerly known as the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua, is a very experienced and skilled carver with a deep knowledge of the art form within the Maori cultural heritage and context.

A visiting New Zealand Maori carver, he will hold two-days seminar workshops in Baguio City on Thursday, 27 September at the Baguio Country Club from 2:00 - 4:00 PM and on Friday, 28 September from 2:00 - 4:00 PM at Victor Otaisa Community Arts Space (VOCAS), Top floor, La Azutea, 108 Session Road, Baguio City.
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MAYOR AL’S CUP

AS expected, defending champion University of Luzon (UL) Golden Tigers and 2005 titlist University of Pangasinan (UPang) Webczars subdued their respective opponents in the semi-final round and will face off in the championship games of the Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. Cup basketball tournament.

The Golden Tigers and the Webczars will play in a best-of-three title showdown at the Dagupan People’s Astrodome starting October 1.
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COASTAL CLEAN-UP— Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. reiterates his administration’s support for the preservation of coastal water during the observance program on the occasion of the 22nd International Coastal Clean-Up Day last September 15. – (CIO PHOTO by Mel Zulueta)

AIRPORT—Mayor Hernani Braganza uses a laser pointer to show local media one of the probable sites for the planned Alaminos Airport verified to be viable by officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications. – (Punchphoto by CSR)

WATER QUALITY–Dagupan City Administrator Alvin Fernandez directs City Agriculturist Emma Molina to closely monitor the water quality along the river system on September 17 after a mild fishkill in the city was reported. Shown at the background is the new water quality monitoring board placed at the Magsaysay Fish Market. (Photo by CIO)

RECOVERED STOLEN JEWELRY–Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, Dagupan City police chief, inspects the items recovered from Norma Rodriguez, the suspect who allegedly stole P1 million worth of jewelry from the residence of former Councilor Teofilo Guadiz III where she was employed as a house help.