Lingayen – “Task Force Kalikasan” was launched by Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. in an aim to ease the impending flood crisis brought about by the typhoons that are expected to hit the province in these wet months. To further support the new scheme, Pangasinan Board Members, Mayors, National and Local Government office heads, and Non-Government Organization leaders convened at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen on August 24, 2010 to sign the “Provincewide Joint Cleanup Drive of Rivers and Waterways” campaign.

The province of Pangasinan is generally peaceful and the municipality of Sison is also considered to be one of its safest towns. However, it is the conviction of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., being a retired military general, that it is best to be ready at all times than not at all.

During his first term, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. aims to reduce, if not to totally eliminate, the criminal acts in his area of influence, particularly in those few places where killings and cattle rustling are reported to be prevalent. The provincial government of Pangasinan thus decreed to issue and delegate total ownership of long-barreled shotguns to each barangay in the province.

The Department of Education extends its outreach to far-flung places through the new Alternative Learning System (ALS) program that is intended to eradicate illiteracy in the country. The aim is to help the underprivileged out-of-school youth (OSY) and the senior citizens another chance to attain education.

Sison Mayor Mina Joy C. Pangasinan giving encouragements to the 40 ALS enrollees in Dungon. In the background (L-R) Dr. Eliza O. Rosino, Dr. Belinda Barrozo and the PTA President

Pangasinan Fifth District Representative Kimi S. Cojuangco made her jurisdiction tour debut at the newly opened TESDA Training Center in Sison, Pangasinan on August 5, 2010 after a long and busy stay in Manila attending various orientations and protocols.

Rep. Kimi Cojuangco giving encouragements to the trainees during the welcome ceremony held at the Yellow Nipa Hut in Sison

At the height of typhoon “Domeng” when extreme northern provinces were battered, radio stations erroneously broadcasted that the proposed market site in Sison was flooded. This news was heard on air by some residents and caused concern prompting an immediate inspection to verify the report. The radio broadcast was proven to be an exaggeration as inspectors found only a small accumulation of rainwater and what was apparent was already gradually flowing to the creek nearby. The ‘flood’ at the site receded within a few hours. While the media can be a great tool for spreading news during calamities, the tendency for sensationalism can become rampant as in this case.

Thru the partnership of the Local Government of Sison and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA –LMMSAT), the orientation of the community based trainings on Food & Beverage Services NC II, Massage Therapy NC II, and Housekeeping NC II already started at the Yellow Nipa Hut in Barangay Paldit, Sison, Pangasinan on July 28, 2010.

Figure 1 MAYOR MINA JOY C. PANGASINAN WELCOMING THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE TESDA OPENING AT THE YELLOW NIPA HUT IN SISON

The ADOPT A SCHOOL PROGRAM encouraged by the Department of Education has reached the hearts of many constituents of Sison. In a simple ceremony, Sison Mayor, Hon. Mina Joy C. Pangasinan, partnered by Mr. Juanito Illana, Jr. inaugurated the new single room school library building in Cauringan Elementary School, Cauringan, Sison Pangasinan on July 21, 2010. The building is a donation from the Illana family.

Figure 1 MR. JUANITO ILLANA, JR. SHARING A SHORT MESSAGE

A joint manhunt performed by the Sison PNP led by PCI Rodolfo D. Castro and agents from the Provincial Intelligence Branch, Pangasinan Provincial Office, led to the arrest of persons with standing arrest warrants residing in Sison.

As per an order issued by the Pozorrubio Circuit Trial Court, the Sison police arrested theft suspects, Roberto Esquelon of Sitio Crusher, Barangay Labayug, and Joey De Vera of Sitio Gorgordion, Barangay Bila, in their residence on July 19, 2010. The bail for their temporary liberty is fixed at P10,000.00 each.

Former Pangasinan 5th District Representative, Mr. Mark O. Cojuangco, was extremely infuriated over the faulty construction of a 7.7 million pesos worth of irrigation canal during his surprise inspection in Amagbagan on July 6, 2010. New mayor, Hon. Mina Joy C. Pangasinan, and the project engineers went with the former Congressman in his 2 kilometers walk along the irrigation canal that is intended to benefit the farmers of barangay Amagbagan, Camangaan, and Tara-tara. The funding for the project was extracted from the 120 million pesos tobacco excise tax that Mr. Cojuangco labored to release from the national government during his incumbency.

NLAC Shots Back at 60%

“There’s a time for everything…A time to sleep and a time to wake up …” After two consecutive years of failed attempts to land passer, Northern Luzon Adventist College has finally awakened from its sleep with 3 new Certified Public Accountants, as can be seen in the Professional Regulation Commissions list of successful examinees released May 25, 2010.

July 13, 2010 - Alert status is raised to warn all constituents on the danger that is imminent because of the expected arrival of typhoon Basyang as announced by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA). Municipal office heads, the police, barangay captains, fire department chief, school officials, and others that comprise the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council (MDCC) now called the Municipal Risk Reduction and Management Council (MRRMC) were called for an emergency meeting by Mayor Mina Joy C. Pangasinan in her office to do immediate disaster preparedness plans.

A flux in the stability of the Job Order employees in Sison was already felt even during the administration of the previous mayor, now 5th District Representative Kimi S. Cojuangco. The meager source of funding for either the retention or permanence of the Job Order employees caused reasons for the on and off suspensions of their work operations.

After her oath of office and taking on the responsibility, new Sison Mayor Mina Joy C. Pangasinan issued immediate order to retain all JOs to another two months, exceeding President Aquino’s directive of a one month extension, to give ample time for remedies of possible retention.

Pol. Chief Inspector Rodolfo Castro, Jr. of the municipality of Sison was chosen one of the seven best uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police during the rank inspection conducted by Senior Officers before the start of the conference held in Camp Crame, Quezon City on April 7, 2010 participated by at least one thousand five hundred police chiefs from the Cordillera Region, Regions I, II, III, IVA, IVB, V, and the National Capital. He bested the entire Region 1 and given the award of one laptop computer for his personal use

SISON POLICE CHIEF, PCI RODOLFO CASTRO, JR.

06-29-2010 - “I am a full-blooded NLACian!”, the new Sison mayor said in her first public appearance at the Northern Luzon Adventist College (NLAC), Artacho, Sison, Pangasinan after her inaugural and oath-taking ceremony that was held at the Yellow Nipa hut in barangay Paldit, Sison, Pangasinan on June 28, 2010.

Mayor Mina Joy C. Pangasinan delivering her speech at NLAC during the SC Induction

As soon as the elected officials particularly the newcomers assumed seats, a revamp of almost all the cabinet members, coterminous positions, and non-CESO (Career Executive Service Officials), was the major concern and the initial agenda. This did not spare the many police chiefs assigned in the cities and municipalities nationwide. But the outstanding performance of Police Chief Inspector Rodolfo D. Castro, Jr. compelled the new Sison mayor, Hon. Mina Joy C. Pangasinan, to retain him in his post as the town’s PNP Chief.