Pangasinan Digital ICT Congress 2011

Pangasinan- a richly blessed province yet once considered a dragon on a slumber. It has now tremendously transformed and is experiencing economic rebirth. Today, a leading premier province in the North with life and investment thriving, pulsing and full of opportunities. Yet the province is still restless and pushing boundaries ready to thrust into the wave of the future.

Going digital is the wave of the future and is considered the missing link that will fully optimized Pangasinan’s vision of economic advancement and development specially in its way of doing business in the government.

Pangasinan will never be caught groping in the dark tunnel in this ever changing landscape of digital technology, it has even raise the gear to full throttle to close the gap in achieving its vision of becoming “the best place to invest, work, live and raise a family”.

Thus the Provincial Government is staging the 1st Pangasinan Digital ICT Congress as its first step towards, stepping up the game as it recognized the impact of information technology and digitalization in our government services, industries, institutions and across all aspect of our society.

The Pangasinan Digital Life ICT Congress on Nov. 21 – 26 to be held at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center at the heart of Lingayen is envisioned to prepare Pangasinan on the many challenges, opportunities and even threats en route to full digitalization of its offices and services.

It is a 6-day event with all the literati in the information technology major players attending. An unparalled panel of experts, leaders and legends in the Digital world to share their insights, and success stories on a number of special sessions.And over 30,000 plus participants.

This information and technology fair is an initiative of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. and the social media team of the province of Pangasinan.

For information, please visit www.pangasinandigital.com.

Gov. Espino awards start-up capital to SSI

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. awarded start-up assistance worth P820,000 to various women’s groups and small-scale industries under the Livelihood Assistance Program of the Provincial Government last March 9 at the Governor’s Office inside the Capitol Building.

Gov. Espino said this now brings the total amount of loan releases facilitated by the province to P18M worth of livelihood assistance to women’s groups and corporations.

According to Ellsworth Gonzales, livelihood assistance program head of the Provincial Population Office, the goal of the program is to give assistance, like loans, as a startup capital for small-scale industries (SSI).

This augmentation measure will in turn generate additional income and employment that will give the beneficiaries of additional purchasing power for better access to basic commodities like food, clothing, shelter and education.

Gonzales also added that they are usually targeting women’s groups to translate their idle time into something productive. Farmers are also prioritized so they could avail of loans with lower interest rate instead of going to loan sharks.

The livelihood associations availed of loan amounts ranging from P60,000 to P170,000.

The credit assistance provided by the province through PPO can be availed of with 4% interest in six months. However, a rebate of 2.5% will be given to the associations in case of payments made before the due date.

The program also caters to those involved in retailing, production, trading and animal raising.

The recipients of this month’s assistance program were Payar Women’s Association, Pangasinan United Farmers MPC, Don Montano Garments Craft Association, Inc., Quintinians MPC, Saint Paschal Baylon MPC and Rangtay ti Rang-ay MPC. (PIO/Darwin Magalong)

Gov. Espino supports P’sinan athletes for IRAA 2011 meet

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has expressed his full support to Pangasinan Athletes on their journey to the upcoming Ilocos Region Athletic Association 2011 (IRAA) during an interview at the Governor’s Office last March 9.

Espino cited that he rehabilitated the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center to further enhance its facilities and serve not only as local but also as international venues, even as he noted that sports and youth development are among his top priorities as the chief executive of the province.

“We want to be number 1 as we want to compete in the national level,” Espino added even as he urged them to do their best as they will represent Pangasinan.

Espino recalled that for the past 11 years, Ilocos Norte holds the championship crown while Pangasinan contingents landed on 3^rd or 4^th slot only.

He added that Pangasinan contingents were sent to Nueva Ecija for a tune-up game as part of their intensive training.

Another tune-up games were held at NRSCC last February 19 and 20 by athletes to compete in swimming, chess and volleyball because Pangasinense athletes excel in these fields.

According to Espino, the provincial government intends to put up a year-round sports program to develop young Pangasinenses who are sports-oriented even as he added that “in this way, Pangasinan can produce the best athletes.”

Towards the end, Espino wishes all the Pangasinan athletes goodluck and be always healthy.

IRAA meet will be participated by some 14 divisions coming from Region 1 and will start on March 14 at the NRSCC. (PIO/Darwin Magalong)

Provincial Government Holds Seminar Series for 'Excellence'

In its effort to instill "culture of excellence" among the provincial employees, the provincial government thru the Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO) has started conducting series of Orientation and Values Development Seminar among its workforce.

Janet Asis, HRMDO Officer-in-Charge, said that this program is a follow-up strategy of the provincial government to attain the needed reform for a stronger and united Team Pangasinan to improve and enhance public service.

She said that after the "culture of change" that Governor Espino instituted in his first term in 2007, comes an intensified strategy to accomplish the vision and mission of the provincial government which is to make Pangasinan the best place to invest, work, live and raise a family and to transform it as the "number one province" in the country.

Asis said the Governor has included among his priority thrusts the improvement of the province's human infrastructure aspect.

"This is because Governor Espino believes that the most important asset of an organization is its human resource and he wants to instill professionalism and personal growth among employees," she disclosed.

The seminar that started last month has covered all employees of the 14 provincial government-owned hospitals in the province which totaled to 1,324 employees.

The last two scheduled seminars will be for other government employees from the various offices slated on February 22 to 23 at the Sison Auditorium.

Topics for the whole-day seminar are divided into four modules:

module 1- provincial government as an organizational structure, its mission and vision, development thrusts, HRMDO (functions, services, plans and accomplishments;

module 2- norms and conduct of public officials and employees, statutory benefits (rewards and incentives), administrative proceedings;

module 3-PMES OPES, service excellence award;

module 4- five-S program, ISO (international standard organization).

At the end of the seminar, each employee, according to Asis, is expected to come up with his or her personal visioning primarily to direct his or her values as an employee and enhance it into an "improved public service" which is what the present administration wants to achieve.

"We are already done with our team building, the initial step that Gov. Espino directed us to do so that we all experience that sense of belongingness that we need as one family," Asis said as she added that in the second term of the Governor, "professionalizing the service" is his utmost concern primarily to strengthen the backbone of development in the province.

At present, the provincial government has a total of 3,276 employees which include permanent, casuals and job orders.

PHO Promotes Iodized Salt for Brain Power

The Pangasinan Provincial Health Office urges all mothers to be healthy and wise by giving their children brain power through the use of iodized salt.

This advisory which includes pregnant women and lactating mothers was made as part of the health department’s information campaign in line with the celebration of the Goiter Awareness Week (GAW) on January 23 to 29.

Provincial Health Officer Anna De Guzman said the weeklong celebration includes an intensified information campaign for the promotion of the salt iodization program and the “Patak sa Asin sa Market & Warehouses” program where the rural health units in the province conduct household and market salt testing.

The activity also coincides with the celebration’s theme “ Iwas Goiter ni Mommy, Lusog Isip ni Baby,” De Guzman said.

The health department’s campaign aims to inform mothers that iodine deficiency disorders pose a serious problem especially to pregnant women.

De Guzman said pregnant women who become afflicted with goiter due to lack of iodine may have miscarriages or give birth to abnormal babies. They may even become retarded, have low IQ, deaf and mute, short, and worst, may even result to the death of the child.

To avoid such problems to happen, the provincial health officer advises mothers to use iodized salt everyday as salt prevents iron deficiency.

De Guzman also urged the mothers to serve their families with iodine-rich foods like salt water fish, seaweed and other seafoods.

Meanwhile, de Guzman bared that all district hospitals and rural health units in the province will start the 1st Quarter Patak sa Asin sa Market & Warehouses on January 24 which will last up to January 28 for the promotion of salt iodization.

PBB Party 2010 Side Events

One manager from SM City Rosales told me that PBB Party 2010 is a huge, full-packed, fun-filled activity rolled in one. That is why they will participate.

Yeah, sure that manager was right all along. We wanted the event to be an enjoyable weekend for everyone. From kids to students, to teachers, members of the academe, the folks from the villages, the visitors and sponsors, the Pangasinenses.

We are highly promoting the BLOGGING SEMINARS for everyone who wanted to make money on the side. Irregardless of age. Blogging seems to be the easiest and most convenient income-generating activity of this era with almost very little capital.

The blogging seminar will be staged and facilitated by well-acknowledged bloggers from Pangasinan like Randy Ventayen, Dilson Decano, Mark Joseph Fernandez, and yours truly.

We will make sure that all attendees will become members of our exclusive blogging network that will definitely make money for its members while still enjoying the multifarious benefits of their individual blogs.

We will also have DTI seminars entitled "how to put up your own business with minimal capital" and "putting your business online".

The PBB party 2010 is a win-win event, there's nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Bring all your barkadas and loved ones!

-VANGIE D. PADILLA

Pangasinan's Biggest BBQ Party 2010

Hurray!

The Biggest BBQ Party in Pangasinan will be held on October 16-17, 2010 at the Mandapat Dome iin San Carlos City, Pangasinan.

We are inviting restaurateurs, grill owners and pit masters to join the search for Best Barbecue 2010 title.

Event highlights include:

Baby Back Ribs Cook-off (Restaurants)
The search for the Best Lechon Manok/Liempo
Rib-Eating Contest
Mayor Julier Resuello Cooking Demo
Inter school Flairtending Competition, Food carving, Ice Sculpture, Pulutan Cook-off, Speed stacking
Beer-Drinking Contest
Kids Hour' (storytelling, face painting, magic show)
Food Blogging Seminar Basics

Schools from various places in Pangasinan are encouraged to join and attend this exciting and delicious event that will only happen this October in this booming city.

Thousands of Pangasinenses are expected to flock the said event and fall in line as they get to taste barbecue preparations from the restaurateurs/ pit masters.

Ticket are available at the venue, at the participating restaurants and schools.

For those who want to avoid the long lines, FAST PASS and GROUPIE tickets for groups of two to ten(10) are also available.

Text or call 0926.3022.132/ 0933.943.8988 or (075)541.5399