Trivia: Municipal Slaughterhouse

At alam din ba ninyo na ang Municipal Slaughterhouse ng LGU ay itinayo noong 1999? Ito ay upang magkaroon ng maayos na katayan ng baboy at malalaking hayop tulad ng baka ng naaayon sa RA 9296 o "The Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines."

Nang maupo ang Team Quiambao-Sabangan, tinutukan ang pag-upgrade ng pasilidad. At noong 2019, matapos ang malawakang renovation at expansion, ginanap ang inagurasyon ng isang makabagong Slaughterhouse ng Bayambang. Kabilang sa mga ginawang pagbabago ay ang pagbili ng mga makabagong makinarya upang mabawasan ang manual na pagkatay. Sa ganitong paraan, makakasiguro ang mga mamimili na malinis at ligtas ang kanilang binibiling karne sa merkado.

Noong nakaraang taon, nakapagpatayo din sa pasilidad ng isang malaking water tank na kayang maka-puno ng 7,000 na litro ng tubig. Ang tubig sa tangke ay dumadaan sa chlorination tuwing ika-tatlong buwan upang mapanatili ang kalinisan. Sa ngayon ay isang project proposal na may titulong "Development and Rehabilitation of the Municipal Slaughterhouse" ang isinumite ng kasalukuyang Municipal Slaughterhouse head upang lalong maging maayos ang bahay-katayan ng munisipyo. Kabilang sa mga naka-linyang proyekto para sa taong kasalukuyan ay ang konstruksyon ng Sewerage System, renovation ng Hog Holding Pens at re-painting ng Steel Structures ng Water Tank. Ginagawa ang lahat ng pagbabagong ito upang sa lalong madaling panahon ay maka-pasa ang ating bahay-katayan bilang isang "Double A Standard Slaughterhouse." 

Trivia: ESWMO

 

Alam ba ninyo na ang Solid Waste Management Office ay unang binuo noong taong 2016 sa bisa ng Executive Order No. 13, at naunang itinalaga si G. Rogelio dela Peña bilang Focal Person nito.

Ang Materials Recovery Facility naman nito ay nagsisilbing transfer station ng mga nakolektang basura bago ang mga ito ay ilagak sa isang sanitary landfill. Ito ay upang magkaroon ng maayos na central processing facility ng mga nakokolektang basura ang bayan ng Bayambang na naayon sa RA 9003 o Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Ang Ecological Solid Waste Management Office naman ay itinatag ni Mayor Cezar Quiambao noong taong 2016 upang mas lalong matutukan pa ang pagkolekta at pamamalaha ng basura.

Isa sa pinakamahalagang mandato sa ESWMO ay ang pag-eenforce ng waste segregation ayon sa batas at ang no segregation-no collection policy na nagsusulong sa lahat na maging responsable sa disposal ng sariling basura.

 

U.S. Army Signal Corps Photographs

Message of the Mayor - Municipal Nutrition Action Plan CY 2022

 

Message of the Mayor

Municipal Nutrition Action Plan CY 2022

 

In 1966, Bayambang was the chosen site of the pioneering Applied Nutrition Project by the UNESCO at the then Pangasinan Normal School (now Pangasinan State University-Bayambang Campus). This means our town is no stranger to serious institutional nutrition studies. This also means it is always a great burden on our conscience if there is even just a few Bayambangueño children who are malnourished, because we know that we had scientific studies at our own disposal right in our neighborhood.

 

We might call it idealistic, but it is this illustrious historical background and reputation of being a pilot town that we must keep in mind when it comes to nutrition (or any aspect at all of community development). That is why this updated Local Nutrition Action Plan for Calendar Year 2022 is of utmost necessity, in keeping with our being a model town with a high pioneering spirit among its founders, movers, and shakers.

 

With Bayambang being a home of innovation, we take pride in what we have achieved so far, but we will not rest until we reach the ideal of eliminating malnutrition in our beloved town by 2028, as stated in our antipoverty bible, Bayambang Poverty Reduction Plan 2018-2028.

 

I, therefore, thank each and every member of the Municipal Nutrition Council for taking part in this plan, for owning it with a high sense of responsibility and as a matter of pride, in keeping with our forebears’ lofty aims and achievements as spearheads and trailblazers in applied nutrition.

 

 

Looking for the Folk Song, "Say Pusok so Mannangnangis," Reportedly a Bayambang Original

Looking for the Folk Song, "Say Pusok so Mannangnangis," Reportedly a Bayambang Original

A reference available online states that at least one folk song, titled "Pusok so Mannangnangis" (My Heart is Crying) most probably originated from Bayambang because it was most popular in this town. So, of course, I searched far and wide, only to find it nowhere. It can't even be Googled.

So I asked Jonas Bravo of Lingayen if he as any tape recording of this song, or a song title that is suspiciously close in its subject, "Pusok so Sinugatan Mo," and he said he would try.

After checking his archives or records, he found a version sung by Rosie Evangelista with the title "Pusong Mannangnangis."  I replied, "Bingo, this must be the one!"

So I studied the lyric:

PUSOK SO SINUGATAN MO

Pusok so sinugatan mo
Samal ed impangulam ed siak
O inaro
Maermen ak
Ed saray palikdom
Agko natepelan

No kumon agmoak la nilingo
Ed matam iran maoy-oyamo
Agko kasalanan so isian ko
No bilbilang ditad
Mabli ya diking mo

No labay mo ya nakabatan
Panangarok ya angga ed punpunan
Nia'y pusok ya mantalaran
Sugat mo inaro
Peram lay linawam

However, the description of the online source apparently refers to a different song: "'Say Pusok So Mannangnangis' (My Heart Cries) is [a] soul-stirring song of despair.... The lover complains of the way his beloved treats him. He writes her but she drops him “only a few lines” folded in a tiny piece of paper. He longs for her and he asks the wind to blow so that he may waft his “longing” to her who is an “extension” of his life.

Anyway, "Pusok so Sinugatan Mo" is equally soul-stirring, even though its pace its unusually slow to the impatiently modern ear.

This song is also interpreted by a male singer, Bobby Gutierrez, and his rendition is available on YouTube.

Meanwhile, the search is still on. I hope someone could find the supposed Bayambang original, for it is another source of pride from our rich and storied cultural heritage.

(Thanks, Jonas Bravo, for sharing your precious recording.)

Reference: https://nlpdl.nlp.gov.ph/CC01/NLP00VM052mcd/v1/v39.pdf

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=297802109087006&rdid=TOfvuqjs3CSyausj

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I5lg2jrPjg

Memories of Estacion

Memories of Estacion

 

The Bayambang Railroad Station -- simply called Estacion by locals -- holds a special place in the memory of Bayambangueños who lived through the experience of availing its service during its years of operation by the Philippine National Railways or PNR.

 

This is because, back then, the Estacion was the platform to the most modern means of transport available: the train. It was the place where travelers converged before stepping off into any of the several coaches bound together for various towns up north all the way to Damortis, La Union, and down south all the way to Tutuban, Manila.

 

Bayambang Railroad Station was a place filled with the hustle and bustle of life. Ambulant vendors of every kind of food hawked their wares on weary passengers: cold water, tuge, boiled saba, boiled corn on the cob, balut penoy, chicharon baboy, kropek (fish crackers), boiled peanuts, adobong mani, hard-boiled chicken eggs, quail eggs... Those coming from Manila often brought home pop rice as abet (pasalubong or gift) and a particular mamon loaf that came in two varieties and was heavy on the stomach instead of the fluffy kind. Because of the demand, every vendor did brisk business.

 

According to Estacion resident Dr. Leticia Ursua, a jukebox could be heard at the Estacion playing music all day, as if to counteract all that noise of commerce, on top of the railway station sounds.

 

Another resident, Gloria de Vera-Valenzuela, recounted how she attempted to sell cold water as a very young girl. Emboldened by the idea of earning fast money, she laughingly recalled how she even tried to beg, imitating the few beggars in the vicinity. Her father learned about her exploits in no time, she said, and she earned some well-deserved spanking at the end of the day.

 

A corner served as a holding area for cocheros and their carretelas, offering a ready taxi ride to arriving passengers. There was a livelihood opportunity that could be exploited to the hilt in every square foot of Estacion, or so it seemed.

 

Passengers on the platform kept an eye on their belongings while waiting for the next train. Women wrapped their heads in pandong (veil) as protection from the wind that was sure to whip them in transit.

A train arrived on schedule with the familiar heavy "chug-chug-chug" sound and an ear-piercing hooting. A railway employee raised a flag to signify the new train's arrival. It was a moment when everyone was on their toes, the children clutching the hands of their elders tight lest they got lost in the fray between passengers getting off and going in.

 

Inside the train, warning signs were everywhere cautioning passengers not to bring any part of their body outside the window because the risk of being decapitated while the train was whizzing by was real. Soon the conductor arrived with the tickets. Passengers would tell him their destination, and the conductor started to punch holes in the ticket indicating the amount to be paid. Little pieces of polka-dot paper rained on the passengers as they retrieved their wallets tucked somewhere in their clothes. (My grandmother hid hers inside her brassiere.)

 

At the end of the train was the bagon or coach for commercial purposes, carrying goods bound for other towns such as native kakanin like patupat and goods from other towns to be sold in Bayambang. More than just a passenger train, the train thus served as a great interchange of regional products among traders and retailers. Railways served as a little entrepot and a nexus of cultural exchange.

 

The parade of towns serving as pit stops up and down the railway line was of particular interest, each stop a curious study of each town's character. ...Moncada, Paniqui, Gerona... ...Capas, Bamban, Mabalacat. ... Blumentritt... There were picturesque towns and there were seemingly drab towns. There were storied ones, and there were understated ones. Some towns had sizeable crowds, while some towns seemed to have none. Some towns smelled of some stench associated with bagoong or some other funky or fetid source. From certain towns wafted the wonderful aroma of tobacco or some other produce.

 

When bus companies started plying their routes in the 1970s, the Estacion started to lose its place in the economic life of the town. When an especially strong typhoon washed out one of PNR's bridges along Agno River, it effectively put an end to the vibrant life in Estacion.

 

Looking back, the Estacion in Bayambang, however, is not just any other train station, for it has an added veneer of historical significance. Bayambang station comprised of two portions, the Bayambang side and Bautista side. The Bautista side of the Bayambang station (Bautista was still a sitio of Bayambang when the railway was constructed) is where the lyrics to the Philippine national anthem was composed by poet Rafael Palma sometime in September 1899, as one account goes.

 

It is also where the last issue of the revolutionary government newspaper at the time, "La Independencia," was published using the printing press hidden inside one of the coaches of PNR. In fact, according to a book by historian Ricardo Jose, the revolutionaries buried said printing press near the railroad station (we are not sure where exactly) as they scampered in all directions while the American Army was in hot pursuit.

LGU Bayambang Awards 2024

January

PESO-Bayambang Receives Special Citation

Noong January 7, nakatanggap ng Special Citation ang Public Employment Services Office (PESO)-Bayambang sa ilalim ni OIC PESO Manager, Dr. Rafael L. Saygo, mula sa Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office I para sa "timely and complete submission of PESO Statistical and Performance Reporting System Reports for CY 2021." Ang parangal ay iginawad sa Clark City, Pampanga.

Performance Award, Tinanggap ng MADAC

Noong January 25, Iginawad ni Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Royolita Rosario kay Mayor Cezar Quiambao, Vice Mayor Raul Sabangan at sa buong Sangguniang Bayan, at sa mga myembro ng Bayambang Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council na sina Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Paz Vallo, PNP-Bayambang Chief, PLt.Col. Jim Helario, at Municipal Administrator, Atty. Raymundo Bautista, Jr., ang pananda ng National Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Award matapos makatanggap ng 100 functionality points ang bayan ng Bayambang sa 2019 at 2020 ADAC Performance Audit. Ang pagkilalang ito ay nagsisilbing kongkretong ebidensya ng patuloy na paglaban ng administrasyong Quiambao-Sabangan sa ilegal na droga upang mapanatili ang kaayusan sa bayan.

ESWMO, Kinilala sa 6th Ecological Solid Waste Management Summit

Kinilala ang Ecological Solid Waste Management Office at LGU Bayambang sa ginanap na 6th Ecological Solid Waste Management Summit ng DENR-Environmental Management Bureau Region I noong January 26 sa Kabaleyan Cove Resort, San Carlos City, Pangasinan. Ang unang pagkilala ay ukol sa pagkakaapruba ng 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan nito. Ang ikalawang pagkilala ay ang pagiging isa sa mga modelo ng implementasyon ng waste diversion activities.

Bayambang, Good Financial Housekeeping Passer Muli

Muling napabilang ang bayan ng Bayambang sa mga pasado sa Good Financial Housekeeping audit ng DILG para sa taong 2023. Kabilang sa criteria ng pagiging GFH passer ang favorable opinion mula sa Commission on Audit at compliance ng LGU sa Full Disclosure Policy ng pamahalaan.

Mayor Niña, Pang-Apat sa Top Performing Mayors ng Pangasinan, Ayon sa Survey

Ayon sa report ng isang independent survey ng Hypothesis Philippines, si Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao ay ika-apat sa mga Top Performing Mayors ng Pangasinan noong Disyembre 2023. Ito ay base sa sagot ng 10,000 respondents na piniling tanungin at random upang alamin ang job performance ng mga mayor ng Pangasinan.

February 

Bayambang MNAO, Pormal nang Pinarangalan ng NNC

Pormal nang pinarangalan si Bayambang Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Venus Bueno bilang isa sa top 10 MNAOs nationwide para sa taong 2023, sa ginanap na awarding ceremony ng National Nutrition Council noong February 12 sa Manila Hotel. Nagpapasalamat si Ms. Bueno sa inspirasyon at suporta nina Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao at Vice Mayor IC Sabangan, at ng buong Team Quiambao-Sabangan.

RHU II, Top Performing Newborn Screening Facility

Ang Rural Health Unit II ng Bayambang ay pinarangalan ng Newborn Screening Center ng Northern Luzon noong February 5, 2024, bilang isa sa mga top performing newborn screening facilities ng Rehiyon Uno sa Primary Care - Government Category. Ito ay base sa naitalang Unsatisfactory Rate na 0.00 sa 2nd quarter ng taong 2023.

 

March

ESWMO, Kinilala ng GSO Lingayen

Sa 1st Quarter Meeting ng Provincial Solid Waste Management Board na dinaluhan ni MENRO Joseph Anthony Quinto bilang Resource Speaker, binigyang pagkilala ng General Services Office (GSO) ng LGU-Lingayen ang LGU-Bayambang partikular na ang ESWMO dahil sa mabisang implementasyon nito ng iba’t ibang programa at istratehiya sa pagpapanatili ng kalinisan sa bayan.

Kasabay din nito ay pormal nang nanumpa si Quinto bilang bagong talagang Pangasinan Environment and Natural Resources Officers (PAENRO) Association President.

 PESO-Bayambang, Umani ng 3 Parangal

Ang PESO-Bayambang, sa ilalim ni SLEO Gernalyn Santos, ay nakatanggap ng tatlong parangal, sa ginanap na DOLE Region 1 PESO Year-End Performance Assessment (YEPA) noong March 11-13, sa Alaminos City. Ang tatlong Special Citations ay:

 - Top Performing PESO in Career Development Support Program

-  Timely Submission of Monthly Reports

- at Institutionalization of Barangay Employment Service Offices o BESO

 

May 

RHU I, Top Performing Newborn Screening Facility

Ang RHU I ay kinilala ng Newborn Screening Center - Northern Luzon bilang isa sa mga top-performing newborn screening facilities out of 18 newborn screening facilities na kanilang iniscreen sa buong Rehiyon Uno, at ang pasilidad ay may satisfactory rating.

LGU-Bayambang, Ginawaran ng PhALGA ng Excellence Award

Ang LGU-Bayambang, sa pamamagitan ng Municipal Accounting Office, ay nakatanggap ng Excellence Award mula sa PhALGA o Philippine Association of Local Government Accountants noong May 15 sa John Hay Trade and Cultural Center, Baguio City, bilang parte ng 19th Annual National Conference ng grupo. Ang pagkilalang ito ay para sa mga LGU na may Unmodified o Unqualified Audit Opinion base sa 2022 COA Annual Audit Report ng Commission on Audit.
 

Josephine Frias Cabrido-Leysa: A Catalyst for Positive Change in Government Service

 

Josephine Frias Cabrido-Leysa

 

A Woman of Innovation, A Catalyst for Positive Change in Government Service

 

Josephine Frias Cabrido-Leysa is a daughter of Anastacia Junio Frias from Brgy. Tanolong, Bayambang.

Leysa is passionate advocate of positive peace, fueled by a burning desire to serve her community. Starting her journey as a Local Government Operations Officer (LGOO), she embarked on a path of relentless dedication and unwavering commitment. With each step forward, she discovered a new depth to her purpose, a new dimension to her service.

Rising through the ranks, she ascended to the position of DILG South Cotabato’s Provincial Director, where her leadership shone brightly, illuminating the path for others to follow. Her journey didn't end there; it was only the beginning. With determination as her compass, she journeyed further, becoming the Assistant Regional Director for DILG Region XII, where her impact resonated far and wide.

In a twist of fate, she found herself at the DILG Central Office, serving as the Head Executive Assistant to distinguished leaders like Secretary Ismael D. Sueno, OIC-Secretary Catalino S. Cuy, and former Secretary Eduardo M. Año, now the National Security Adviser. Her tenure in this role was marked by her unwavering dedication and exceptional competence, guided by making excellence a way of life.

On January 15, 2019, she assumed the role of Regional Director for DILG Region XII, a new chapter to unravel. Armed with her passion for innovation and her commitment to excellence, she set out to transform the region, leaving an indelible mark on its landscape.

Throughout her journey, she has earned the distinguished title of a "Woman of Innovation." Her trailblazing spirit has birthed transformative ideas that have propelled Region XII into the spotlight, garnering international recognition. Her reputation as a luminary in inventive leadership extends beyond borders, inspiring change and progress wherever her influence reaches. To name a few, here are the ideas that were intentionally made to reality:

The Governance Exemplars for Meaningful Services (GEMS) for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), a program that not only recognizes but celebrates the commitment of outstanding young individuals to meaningful youth engagement and governance excellence. Through GEMS for SK, DILG Region XII has created a platform for these leaders to shine, inspiring others with their passion and drive.

  The Gender and Development (GAD) Seal Program, a pioneering initiative now replicated nationwide. It is a system and tool that goes beyond assessment; it is a recognition program for NGAs and LGUs that have gone above and beyond in promoting gender equality and empowerment.

As part of intensifying its implementation, Leyes spearheaded the formulation of Region XII’s 2024-2030 Agenda for Gender and Development or GADgenda. Subsequently, a Regional GAD Summit was successfully conducted, the first in the region. 

Her significant contribution to championing Gender Equality and Women Empowerment has not gone unnoticed. Recognized by the Philippine Commission on Women with the Gawad AlaGAD Award, she stands as an Outstanding GAD Champion, an inspiration for all those working towards a more equitable and empowered society.

With its noise that rippled across the nation, the program became one of the Top 9 finalists in the Development Academy of the Philippines’ (DAP) Government Best Practice Recognition (GPBR) 2023. The GPBR is an initiative of the DAP to promote, showcase, and share knowledge on outstanding and innovative practices demonstrated by the public sector organizations. 

   The CSO Academy of SOCCSKSARGEN, a groundbreaking initiative, materializes the belief in the power of civil society organizations (CSOs) in nation-building. Presented during the 2023 OGP Summit in Tallinn, Estonia, this academy recognizes the indispensable roles of CSOs and aims to sharpen their capacities. By empowering accredited CSOs in Region XII and neighboring regions, it paves the way for more meaningful representation and participation in local governance, enriching the fabric of our democracy. 

  The Drug-Free Workplace Seal Program (DFW-SP) is not just an assessment tool; it is a symbol of commitment to combating drug use and abuse. As it is being considered for national implementation, it signifies a step towards a safer, healthier workplace. By recognizing NGAs and LGUs for their compliance with regulations and laws, the DFW-SP fosters a culture of accountability and responsibility.

    Her research study on Master in Crisis and Disaster Risk Management (MCDRM) has been instrumental in enhancing disaster preparedness. Serving as the backbone of the Local Government Academy’s Operation Listo: Disaster Preparedness Manual for Earthquakes, her work has made a significant contribution to ensuring the safety and resilience of communities in the face of disasters.

Her study was also noticed by the Regional and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (R/NDRRMC) and gained support by the councils through its adoption and nationwide implementation.

With its significant contribution, Leysa was once again recognized by the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) as one of their Outstanding Alumna and was also awarded the Best Presenter during the 2023 PPSC Research Forum.

Her relentless pursuit of excellence and unwavering commitment to innovation have set her apart as a true leader in her field. Through her dedication, she has not only earned the title of DILG’s Best Regional Director but has also been honored with the prestigious Tatag ng Agila Award during the 2022 Gabi na Parangal of Capacity Development Awards for Catalysts of Excellence (CapDev ACE).

Emphasizing the need for continual improvement, the team of DILG Region XII, headed by Leysa embarked on a journey to assess its organizational performance through the Philippine Quality Awards (PQA) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The PQA is implemented in partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the Philippine Society for Quality. The PQA is considered the highest level of national recognition for exemplary organizational performance, and is equivalent to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) in the United States and the National Quality Awards recognized nationwide.

After the eight month-long assessments, consultations, validations and series of interviews, the DILG Region XII, with Leysa as lead, successfully hurdled the rigorous PQA phases. On March 20, 2024, Leysa is scheduled to receive the award for PQA Level 1 Category, awaiting for the final venue from the organizers.

Her tireless efforts and groundbreaking initiatives have not only transformed the landscape of governance but have also inspired a new generation of leaders. As a result, she was appointed as the new DILG Assistant Secretary for Human Resource and Development. On January 10, 2024, she formally took oath, witnessed by DILG top executives and Regional Directors.

In just about a month after she assumed office at the DILG Central, but she is now rocking the nation with her bright ideas and worth recognizing innovation. On March 4, 2024, the DILG and TESDA launched a new collaboration, entitled “DILG-BOOST” or “DILG  Building Opportunities and Overall Advancement for Personnel through Skill Training of TESDA” Project. The project will provide opportunities for livelihood training programs to empower DILG personnel to acquire practical skills, for them to find supplemental sources of income to enable holistic growth.

In every role she undertakes, Leysa inspires those around her to reach greater heights. Her story is not just one of personal success but a testament to the power of passion, innovation, and unwavering commitment to serving the Filipino people.