Rice, please!

It could not have happened at a worse time.

The reported withdrawal of funding support by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) from the proposed P2.5 billion irrigation component of the San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam project comes as a major blow in light of the pressing and thorny rice crisis.

The irrigation component, which involves a re-regulating pond that will divert used water from the dam into the fields, can serve at least 70,000 hectares of land not just in eastern and central Pangasinan, but also in the neighboring provinces of Nueva Ecija and Tarlac. That would translate to tons of additional rice supply, perhaps more than enough for local demand.
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BLACK PROPAGANDA BLAMED

China funding eyed instead

URDANETA CITY—It’s goodbye finally to the proposed P2.5 billion re-regulating pond below the San Roque Multi-Purpose Project in San Manuel after the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) had a change of heart.

National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Regional Director John Celeste confirmed that JBIC withdrew its funding support for the project earlier set to be implemented by NIA.

Celeste said JBIC’s decision was largely a result of the black propaganda waged in Japan and through the internet by original oppositors to the dam who sought the withdrawal of the loan due to the unsolved slaying of farmer- leader Jose Doton, president of the Tignay Dagiti Mannalon a Mangwayawaya ti Agno (TIMMAWA) about two years ago.
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Open sesame!

This was the call made last week by members of the Dagupan City council who, like the rest of the citizenry in the city, have become excited yet anxious over the continued delay in the opening of the Dawel-Pantal-Lucao Road to the vehicular traffic.

Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, in a privilege speech, sought an explanation from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) why the new road has not yet been opened despite the completion of the bridge-road project.
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THIS year’s Bangus Festival scored the highest in visitor arrivals and boosted revenues of big and small business establishments in the city.

Dagupan Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, who chaired the executive committee for the celebration, said the business sector reported brisk sales and increased revenues for the duration of the festival period.

Most establishments cooperated and offered discounts to make the ‘Great Dagupan Day Sale’ a truly shoppers’ holiday.
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Senator Rodolfo Biazon, who visited Umingan town on May 2, said he is initiating a Senate inquiry on the delay of the construction of the irrigation component of the San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam.

“I’m going to ask irrigators why San Roque Dam has not delivered the irrigation component,” Biazon said.

The irrigation component, he said, is a crucial factor in seeking to increase rice production in the province by providing water to 83,000 hectares of farmlands.
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POZORRUBIO—The University of Luzon is opening a new campus here in June, offering the usual regular college courses and DepEd’s pet project of a ladderized education.

UL officials said evening and weekend classes for graduate and post-graduate courses may also be introduced later.

The Samson-Reyna clan, majority stockholders of the university, had already made their mark in the history of this town when, in an unprecedented move, UL Vice-President for Academic Affairs, and also Director of the Mother Goose Special School System, Inc. Mrs. Aurora Samson-Reyna opened a campus in June last year, the first that is not located within a city.
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UL IN POZORRUBIO—(Upper photo) Dr. Azucena Elegado, dean of the University of Luzon Graduate Studies, consults with Pozorrubio educators and parents regarding the planned 2008 courses and subject offerings of UL Pozorrubio Extension, which will open in the town in June. Other participants present in the consultative meeting were (Lower photo) Dr. Rolando Amansec, DepEd District Supervisor Pozorrubio II, Webmaster Gin Quezada and the town’s elementary and high school principals.

LINGAYEN–The fiesta fever is on.

So how about one for celebrating bagoong and bucayo?

A festival revolution continues to catch fire in Pangasinan after the very successful staging of the Dagupan Bangus Festival and the Puto Festival in Calasiao.

Refusing to be left out, capital town Lingayen is now planning to hold its ‘Bagoong and Bucayo Festival’ during its fiesta celebration in January next year.
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A revolution is on in Urdaneta City.

A “green revolution”, that is.

Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. said the city’s Tulungan sa Purok project, a spin-off from the Green Revolution project introduced by former First Lady Imelda Marcos in the 1970s, encourages people to plant vegetables and fruit trees in their own backyard to enable residents to cope with the impact of rising prices of rice and other food products.
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MALASIQUI–Two new bridges seen to spur economic activities in this town are set for construction.

Third District Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas last week led the groundbreaking ceremonies for Pamaranum Bridge and Ican-Bogtong Bridge, costing P18 million and P22 million, respectively.

Arenas said the two bridges and their corresponding road components will provide easier access between several remote barangays and the town’s center.
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