LPRAT Planning Workshop Held at SVV

LPRAT Planning Workshop Held

The Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) held a one-day planning workshop facilitated by National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) regional officials last Friday, December 9, 2016, at Saint Vincent Village.

LPRAT is a special body created by government to “directly address the needs of poor constituencies and marginalized sectors” of society. It is chaired by the local chief executive and having as members civil society organizations, government representatives, and other stakeholders.

Several department heads of the LGU and the leaders of various sectors involved in the work of poverty reduction attended the planning workshop.

Municipal Administrator Atty. Rodelynn Rajini A. Sagarino presented the objectives of the workshop, underscoring the importance of the LPRAT in addressing the poverty problem in Bayambang, particularly malnutrition.

Municipal Planning Development Office (MPDO) OIC Ma-lene S. Torio explained that the day's facilitators would help the LPRAT forge a Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan, in line with LPRAT’s mandate to create it through a participative process.

The first session was devoted to a “situational analysis” of the poverty incidence in Bayambang, with LPRA Officer Luz B. Cayabyab of MPDO presenting and discussing detailed figures that shed light on the current poverty situation in the different barangays.

Melanie C. Untalasco, Supervising Economic Development Specialist of the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Division of NEDA's Regional Office I (NRO I), explained that diagnosing poverty and the process of addressing it are "multidimensional." "LPRAT uses a resource-based and needs-based approach to determine who and where the poor are."

Irenea B. Ubungen, Chief of Plan and Policy Formulation Division of NRO I, next gave a walk-through of the definition of terms used in analyzing poverty, such as “poverty incidence” and “poverty threshold.”

This talk was followed by a Social Welfare and Development Indicator (SWDI) Analysis by Geralyn Rivera of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Rivera said the SWDI Analysis is used to determine which people are qualified as 4Ps beneficiaries.

Caroline M. Castro, Chief of the Project Development, Investment Programming and Budgeting Division of NRO I, oriented the participants on how to fill out the template for the Priority Programs and Projects for 2017-2019. This tool will be used by LPRAT members in crafting the LPR Action Plan for the next two years.

The planning workshop proved to be most informative and insightful. The lively exchange of ideas opened the eyes of participants in further comprehending a complex, long-standing social problem. (Bayambang PIO/Media Affairs Office)

LGU Creates a Municipal Council for Culture and the Arts

LGU Creates a Municipal Council for Culture and the Arts

The Municipal Hall has been working to create a Municipal Council for Culture and the Arts through a series of brainstorming meetings that started September 8, 2016. The Council is meant to be a policy-making body composed of retired professors, school teachers, school officials, and municipal officers invited to take part voluntarily in setting the direction the town will take with regard to activities meant to promote or enhance its cultural heritage, including artistic pursuits.

Among those invited from the private sector were retired Pangasinan State University professors Januario Cuchapin, Dr. Clarita Jimenez, and Dr. Annie Manalang, Bayambang National High School Principal Mary Ann Payomo, District 1 Supervisor Candra Penoliar, PSU professors Ramil Dacal and Rosabella Mendez, Municipal Librarian Leonarda Allado, Library, Museum and Tourism Consultant Gloria Valenzuela, events consultants Ayen Garcia and Jaime Siybauco, and Hermano and Hermana Mayor Cesar and Judith Ramos.

The meeting was moderated by Levin Uy and Councilor Mylvin Junio in his capacity as Chairman on Education, Culture and the Arts, together with Municipal Administrator Raj Sagarino, aided by Municipal Planning Development Coordinator Ma-lene S. Torio as Secretary.

Two topics discussed at length were the formulation of an executive order defining terms and delineating tasks and the election of executive director and other officers.

Among the activities proposed for the year-round culture and arts activities are the commemoration of the town’s becoming the country’s fifth capital, binasuan dance festival, language festival (Agew na Tawir), animated Christmas display and bazaar, most decorated house contest (also for Christmas), Laro ng Lahi, street-dancing on town fiesta with freshwater catch as theme, etc. (PIO/Media Affairs)

Municipal Employees in Clean-up Drive

Hundreds of employees gamely changed to white uniforms Saturday morning (Sept. 17, 2016) in support of Mayor CTQ’s push for waste segregation and proper solid waste management and in time for National Clean-up Day.

Armed with trash bags, sacks, broomsticks and dustpans, they went around the Poblacion areas sweeping, raking, plucking and collecting discarded objects lying around.

Before the employees from various departments were sent out to their respective assignments, however, Solid Waste Management Office chief Rogelio dela Peña briefed everyone at the Municipal Covered Court.

“This is the day you will prove for yourself that most Filipinos are hard-headed when it comes to following the law on waste segregation and solid waste management.” Dela Peña reminded everyone of the existence of a law on solid waste management, Republic Act 9003.

In behalf of Mayor CTQ, Vice-Mayor Raul Sabangan encouraged everyone by saying that the day’s activity would encourage volunteerism among the citizenry in support of the aim towards proper disposal of solid waste. “In one tourism seminar I had attended,” he said, “I realized that we have no beach and we have no mountain in Bayambang to offer tourists. But I have also realized that there is no need. As long as our town is clean, Bayambang can be the best town in which to invest and live.”

In a touching gesture, members of the local senior citizens organization also made their presence felt by joining the clean-up drive, unmindful of the humid weather.

Their unspoken message, of course, rang loud: “No excuses – everyone must get involved in the clean-up drive.”

Drug Surrenderers Complete Reflexology Course

Thirty drug ‘surrenderers’ from Manambong Sur receive applause during the completion rites in September 15, 2016 for the reflexology course they took under a TESDA-certified trainer. The livelihood project was an initiative of the Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation Inc., and the graduation rites were held at the KKBFI Center in Brgy. Amanperez.

Inspiring messages and greetings were extended to the surrenderers by KKSBFI Managing Director Levin N. Uy, Bayambang Police Chief Cirilo Acosta Jr., Rotary Club of Bayambang Secretary Gloria Valenzuela, and Mayor CTQ through Municipal Administrator Atty. Raj Sagarino.

In his message, Levin Uy said that our past mistakes cannot be undone, but the good news is we can write a new chapter in our life in order to have a happy ending. He then related the success story of one ex-surrenderer who now earns P150-200 per client as a TESDA-certified reflexologist. You can even use your skill to find work abroad, he said.

PSupt. Acosta took the opportunity to inform everyone that “there are 525 surrenderers as of today.” “I am proud of you because you have chosen the right path. I hope you continue on with that choice.”

“We have only four months left to make every barangay to be drug-free. The PNP cannot do it alone. We need your cooperation, the LGU…” he said.

For her part, Atty. Sagarino told this batch of graduates that they were lucky to have an NGO like KKSBFI and commended how a Drug Council created by the LGU is holistic in that it is community-based and works at the grassroots level in helping turn the surrenderers into productive members of society.

In their testimonies, the drug surrenderers were profuse in expressing their gratitude to the heads of all organizations involved in the project, and in particular to their resident trainor and assessor, Ms. Cristina G. Reyes of TESDA who is also an entrepreneur. Reyes herself was overcome with joy as she presented the graduates and confirmed their completion of the course through the awarding of certificates.

An intermission number by the Pak Ganern Boys followed. Dancing to Bruno Mars’ “So High,” they injected the afternoon event with a good dose of fun and laughter.

In her closing message, Rotary Club Secretary Gloria Valenzuela inspired the graduates to continue seeking the path to improvement not just for himself but also their respective families. 

MDRRMC Ocular of San Gabriel 2nd Flooding

Training on the Formulation of Local Revenue Code

A training on the Formulation of Local Revenue Code was conducted by Erlito R. Pardo for Local Government Academy on _____________.

This event, attended by all municipal officials and employees, was held at the San Vicente Village residence of Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao. 

Typhoon Lando Victims Receive Donated GI Sheets

Padaga oversees GI sheets distribution

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) held on August 19 the distribution of GI roof sheets to 265 households affected by Typhoon Lando. MSWD Head Lerma D. Padagas, RSW, oversaw at the municipal covered court the turnover of the materials to 125 families with totally damaged houses and 140 families with partially damaged houses from a total of 45 affected barangays. The housing materials, numbering 2,385 GI sheets, were given out by the provincial government through the Pangasinan Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Office (PHUDCO).

Typhoon Lando wreaked havoc on the town and other parts of the country in October 17-19, 2015. 

Below is the breakdown of numbers.

Summary of Families Affected by Typhoon Lando

        Barangay                    Total            Partial

Alinggan	0	7
Amancosiling Sur	0	2
Ambayat 2nd	1	0
Asin	1	0
Bacnono	7	1
Balaybuaya	7	1
Bani	0	2
Beleng	0	3
Bical Norte	0	10
Bical Sur	2	0
Bongato East	10	0
Buayaen	0	2
Buenlag 1st	1	2
Buenlag 2nd	0	1
Cadre Site	0	1
Carungay	0	5
Caturay	2	0
Darawey	1	0
Duera	2	0
Hermoza	2	7
Idong	13	2
Inanlorenza	2	3
Inirangan	16	10
Langiran	0	4
M.H. Del Pilar	0	1
Maigpa	2	0
Managos	1	6
Mangayao	1	0
Nalsian Norte	9	10
Pangdel	0	5
Paragos	0	3
Poblacion Sur	0	15
Reynado	9	5
San Gabriel 2nd	1	1
San Libo	9	0
San Vicente	7	0
Sangcagulis	2	6
Sapang	0	10
Tambac	2	0
Tampog	1	0
Tanolong	6	2
Telbang	2	6
Tococ East	1	4
Warding	4	3
Wawa	1	0

TOTAL                               125               140