Time was when Dagupan was called the Queen City of the North — the economic, government and educational center in Region I.

                Not anymore, City Mayor Benjamin Lim admitted. The city has been dislodged from its position and at present, there are other equally progressive growth centers in the region and even in the Pangasinan province.

                The city government has also gotten the flak after it landed among one of the local government units with the lowest net income in 2005, as reported by the Commission on Audit.

                During the consultative workshop on the Public Governance System (PGS) on Friday, Lim pointed out the reasons why Dagupan was displaced from its position as a premier city.  

"It is because Dagupan is a convergence point, a veritable melting pot, he said. " Dagupan came from the Pangasinan word "pandaragupan" which means meeting place.

                He explained,  "This diversity in culture and belief may have taken its toll on the community's sense of purpose. Instead of being united and competing with other growth centers in the region, we have grown fiercely and inwardly competitive (and have) developed the tendency to outdo each other."

                Dagupan has been recently initiated into the group of less than 20 Dream Cities in the country which have adopted the PGS of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia. The PGS is a program on good governance and responsible citizenship, with the local officials working with the residents to attain common visions and goals for their cities.

                Robert Kuan, former owner of the Chow King and chair of Board of Trustees of the St. Luke's Medical Center, pointed out how Dagupan has deteriorated through the years. "You can't consider yourself a queen city with the (lack of infrastructures), the chaos the traffic, the crisscrossing of tricycles"

                Kuan, who spoke on strategic and entrepreneurial approach on management and development of enterprises during the consultative workshop, told the government and private sector leaders "not to think of (your) self interests but of the best interest of the city.".

                City Administrator Rafael Baraan challenged the leaders of the various sectors to share in the development of the city. "It is not the monopoly, nor the sole responsibility, of the city government (but) a collective effort, a community affair."

                "If we don't plan well, if we don't move fast, if we don't put our acts together, we might become a ghost city inhabited only by the remnants, and the vague memory, of its glorious past," he said.

He noted that while the city residents compete with each other, growth centers sprouted around. At present, Dagupan is facing stiff competition from its neighboring cities in the province like Urdaneta, San Carlos and Alaminos.           

                "People from other towns in Pangasinan no longer feel the need to shop, or to avail themselves of services in Dagupan. They can get these same goods and services right where they are, or in other cities nearby," Baraan said

                He likewise cited the city's size as another limiting factor to the city's growth. Dagupan is only 37.23 square kilometers, "easily dwarfed by Alaminos ( 164.26 sq.km.), San Carlos (169.03 sq.km.) and Urdaneta (100.26 sq.km).

                "Larger cities are allocated bigger Internal Revenue Allotment share proportionate to their land area, despite lesser population density. This gives the larger cities more financial resources at their disposal to provide basic services and to pursuer more programs and projects," Baraan said.

                He pointed out the "underutilized resources and facilities and the many potentials within the city that remain untapped" such as the three universities and reputable schools, public and private hospitals and medical facilities in the province, hotels and restaurants, better shopping centers, beach, and old business leaders and private sector capital "just waiting for the right opportunity."

To attain the dream to recapture its throne as the northern Luzon's center of trade of commerce, the city has prepared a "road map" or a ten-point agenda which Lim said the city forged during strategic planning sessions in 2001 and 2004.

                The ten-point agenda are the following: A vibrant and prosperous Dagupan City; improved traffic; better garbage disposal; poverty alleviation anchored on more business opportunities, more livelihood and more jobs, effective flood control; more homes for the poor; accessible health care and social services; no to drugs, yes to youth and sports program; quality education, technology, business and other services; and coastal resources protection and management. 

                The city likewise plans to enhance revenue generation to qualify as a first class city, complete and fully operate the bangus processing plant, make the city the center for academic excellence, consolidate and coordinate medical services and facilities of all hospitals to serve all on northern Luzon, make the city as the regional government center, and redevelop Tondaligan Park as a world-class tourist destination.