Bangus (milkfish), the national fish, carries the country’s flag as far as fishery export is concerned, next to seaweeds in volume but first in value (price) in exports, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics.
However, bangus has not made it to the country’s top ten exports because the production is still low despite the massive aquaculture production, Ilocos Regional Agricultural Statistics Officer Wilma Guilllen said.
In 2005, the exported bangus totaled 289,200 metric tons valued at P17.6 billion while the exported seaweeds totaled 1,338,600 metric tons valued at P6 billion.
The United States is the major destination of bangus at 43 percent, followed by Canada (19 %), Guam (8 %), Korea (5 %), Japan (4 %), UK Great Britain (3 %), and Australia and Hawaii at two percent each. The remaining 18 percent is exported to other countries.
Guillen said Pangasinan is the top producer of bangus starting in 2003 when the aquaculture industry boomed in the province’s coastal towns. Pangasinan produced an average of 45 thousand metric tons from 2003-2005 or 16.7 percent of the total production in the country.
The other bangus producing provinces and their share during the three-year period are Bulacan (12.87%), Iloilo (7.31), Capiz (6.84), Rizal (5.87), Negros Occidental (5.63% and Quezon (5.23%).
Bangus is Ilocos Region’s One Town, One Product, but it is Pangasinan that carries that weight of production, turning out 57,837 metric tons in 2005. In 2006, the province produced 71.746 metric tons, Guillen said.
It is because of Pangasinan’s frog-leaping bangus production through aquaculture that Ilocos Region became sufficient in fishery, Guillen said. The province accounts for 76 percent of the region’s fishery products.
Aside from being the top bangus producer, Pangasinan also produces quality bangus, according to BFAR Ilocos Regional Director Nestor Domenden.
“Bonuan bangus (produced in Dagupan City) traditionally and in modern times, remains a brand of quality in taste, but Pangasinan bangus (cultured in other towns) is not far behind in quality,” Domenden said.
He noted that in Manila market, Pangasinan bangus as labeled and are marketed separately for better price. But even those produced in other provinces are labeled as such. “Pangasinan bangus should therefore carry a name that distinguishes it from those produced in other provinces,” he said.
Domenden said this can be done through a process of accreditation and certification to ensure genuineness of the Pangasinan bangus marketed and labeled as such.
Filed under Uncategorized, Fish by Yolly Sotelo Fuertes.
To stop schoolchildren from indulging in gambling like “video karera,” “cara y cruz,” and jueteng, the regional and provincial police and the Kiwanis Club launched the advocacy on culture of savings at the Dagupan West Central Elementary School in Dagupan City.
Regional Police Director Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil said the project aims to reverse the gambling of culture which is deeply embedded in the lives of Filipinos by inculcating in children a culture of savings.
He said the culture can be reversed but the help of all sectors will be needed, such as the school officials and teachers.
“A child who goes to school with P5 or P10 ‘baon’ will either spend all of for food or other school needs, or he or she will take a chance and gamble on video-karera or cara cruz. But you should remember that that P5 or P10 are five drops or 10 drops of sweat of your parents,” Bataoil told the schoolchildren.
The project “Advocacy on Culture of Savings – Antidote to Culture of Gambling” was launched during the Talakayan Sa Isyung Police (Tsip) during which 100 schoolchildren received piggy banks with some coins inside to start their savings.
The Kiwanis will return to the school to bring more piggy banks to the other schoolchildren, Susan Yadao, a Kiwanis member, said.
Ray Bangsal, Lt. Governor of Kiwanis International Division I urged the schoolchildren to walk to school or spend less on text messaging for them to save. Some of the schoolchildren were seen with mobile phones.
Most of you live very near the schools anyway, so if you will walk, you will save some money. And if you spend less on text messaging, you can save more,” he said.
Bataoil said the women and children’s desk of the town and city police were tasked to conduct lectures in elementary schools and render periodic reports to their superiors. The regional police will provide outline of lecture such as value of savings, evils of gambling and others.
“This project highlights the police’s resolve to address the problem thru demand reduction drive by focusing on lowering urge to gamble. We want to help create a generation that values savings than gambling,” Bataoil said.
He admitted that this may take a long time but “hopefully, it will make a difference” and that “it will complement our continuing operation of raids, arrests and filing of cases against those engaged in illegal gambling.”
Filed under Uncategorized by Yolly Sotelo Fuertes.
Faded photographs rekindled memories of this city’s birth and early years when it was recovering from the ravages of war and those days when beautiful ladies whose faces were untouched by cosmetic surgeries, reigned as the city muses during fiestas.
The photo and memorabilla exhibit titled “It was 60 years ago today: A Glimpse of Dagupan” was put up at the City Hall lobby by the Dagupan City Heritage Commission as a part of the city’s 60th founding anniversary on June 20. Mayor Benjamin Lim opened the exhibit on June 20.
Dagupan was born on June 20, 1947 , barely two years after World War II had ended that left it in ruins. But it was one of the first towns to be rehabilitated and its conversion into a city was a part of its rehabilitation.
A panel at the exhibit shows a photo of President Manuel Roxas and a copy of Republic Act 170 declaring the town of Dagupan into a city on June 20, 1947 and pronouncing its inauguration on January 1, 1948 . The Republic Act was authored by Speaker Eugenio Perez, the last speaker of the Commonwealth and the first of the Republic.
Read more
Filed under Uncategorized by Yolly Sotelo Fuertes.
Don’t ignore that sore throat and skin infection. They can lead to renal (kidney) disease which is the 10th leading cause of fatality in the country.
Dagupan City Health Officer Leonard Carbonell said that in the country, 7,000 persons die from chronic renal failure yearly, but the disease is not getting as much attention as heart diseases do. In the city, it is the 8th leading cause of death, he said.
June is Department of Health’s national awareness month on kidney and the theme this year is “Okay ba Kidney mo?”
As part of the project, the city health office is conducting a training workshop among health personnel about kidney, advocacy campaigns and urine screening among high risk children, diabetics and hypertensives.
In San Fernando City , the health office is likewise conducting urine screening among 500 Grades I-III pupils, according to city health officer Godofredo Rilloraza.
Carbonell explained that many people are aware that sore throat or tonsilitis (inflamation of tonsils) can lead to rheumatic heart disease, but they do not know that it can also lead to acute kidney disease especially in children.
“You have to treat this diseases so they will cause serious diseases,” he emphasized.
Carbonell said the public health sector is concerned with prevention and early detection of renal diseases and the cheapest and simplest test for this is urinalysis.
The test, which cost only about P30 to P40, should be conducted yearly even among normal children, he said.
“The amount is very minimal as compared to the physical suffering of the victim, the mental suffering of the family and the amount needed to undergo the medical procedures,” he explained.
Kidney patients have to undergo dialysis (a medical procedure that helps the body by performing the functions of failed kidneys) twice or thrice weekly.
Each procedure costing at least P2,800 and this must be continuously done for the patient to live. Patients who fail to undergo the procedure could go into coma in about two weeks as the body accumulates waste products that should be excreted, he said.
There are 5,600 patients in the country who are undergoing dialysis at present, he said.
The patients may also opt for kidney transplant but this is very expensive at P300,000 to P500,000 is needed. Even if the amount is available, the patient is lucky if there is a compatible kidney donor, Carbonell added.
He warned against the use of herbal medicines which can induce kidney disease. “Some herbal medicines have metabolites that destroy kidneys or may interact with the medicines given by doctors. It is best to consult a medical doctor before taking any herbal medicines.”
The common causes of renal disease are diabetis melllitus and hypertension. The usual symptoms are edema around the eyes and the ankle, difficult and painful urination, fever, vomiting and nausea.
The kidneys are the excretory organs of the body. Its functions are filtering toxins from the body and regulating the body’s water balance, acid base balance and blood pressure.
Filed under Uncategorized by Yolly Sotelo Fuertes.
June 7, 2007
Do you have money that you can use to earn more money?
Try investing in the stock market. This is the advise of Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. which, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry provincial office, held a stock market road show in Dagupan.
The PSE is conducting the market road show in different cities of the country to draw in people into investing in stock market. It is a part of the PSE’s intensified campaign to increase stock market awareness in the country to inform more people about the benefits of a long-term investment in securities.
Melchor Guerrero, vice president and head of the Capital Markets Development Division of the PSE, said it was "strange, almost incredible, that in this age of great leap, not even one percent of the 88 million Filipinos has had any experience in stock market investment." Read more
Filed under Uncategorized, business ops by Yolly Sotelo Fuertes.
Are children better leaders? Can they make a change at the Dagupan City Hall?
With all the oldies taking care of the government affairs, the city hall’s decision to hand over the affairs of the city to children is quite a novelty. Of course, the young officials cannot really do anything official. Their week-long stint at the city hall will merely be a leadership training for them.
We only hope that they the oldies’ bad habits won’t rub on them. Follow only the good habits, children, and you won’t go wrong.
Below is my story which I also submitted to the Pangasinan Star.
High school students comprising the Ogagaw ya Malingkor 2007 (Children Who Serve), took over the city hall today as elective officials and heads of the different departments.
The 34 high school students led by “Mayor” Frances Riel Elinzano, 14, a third year high school student of the Mother Goodse Special School Systems, Inc., took their oath before Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez today (Tuesday) during the 109th Independence Day celebration at the city plaza.
They will hold office starting in the afternoon until June 20 when the city celebrates its 60th founding anniversary.
Elinzano, regal in a terno in her “inaugural address,” outlined the program of government that her “administration” will implement. First is the purchase of a housing unit at the Bahay Kalinga project in Bonuan village for an “indigent family living in the street or under the bridge.”
She also said her co-officials will launch the Operation Old Books, or will ask the private schools to donate at least 100 old books to the public schools. Another is sports development and anti-illegal drug program among the students.
“I’m excited, but a little bit nervous. But since I am happy about what I will be doing, I think it will be easy to do it,” she told the Inquirer. “I’m sure I will learn many valuable lessons.”
The young officials are students from both the private and public schools in the city who elected from among themselves, through secret balloting, who will be mayor, vice mayor and members of the Sanguniang Panglunsod.
The children-leaders will hold office either in the morning or in the afternoon only as they will also be attending their classes.
Before their elections, they underwent a crash course on the city operations from Mayor Benjamin Lim, who advised them that in implementing laws, “we should be strict, but let us not forget to put some human touch on it. It is a way of obtaining the respect and loyalty of the constituents.”
Metro Dagupan culture and arts council president Honorata Siapno said the Ogogaw a Malingkor aims to hone the Dagupeño youth to be good leaders in the future.
“This program also enables Filipino youth to gain inspirations from their experiences in developing their skills and capabilties which they can later share with their peers,” she said.
The child city vice mayor is Noel Lamsen of the Dagupan City National High School while the city councilors are Michelle Angelica Soriano, Care de Guzman, Louise Mae Bangsal, Rochmond Batulan, Charleen Myre Mejia, Katrina Joyce Alarte, Bounteous Servito, Jeriel Ruth Lim, Rustan Maynard Tandoc, Keshma Shennedy Gascon, Donn Aficial and Danmar Kevin Brao.
Filed under Uncategorized, politics, KIDS are us by Yolly Sotelo Fuertes.
I know a place…where there’s peace and quiet, beauty and repose
It’s hidden in the valley, beside the mountain spring
And beside the spring, I know that I can dream…
–excerpts from a Girl Scouts’ ditty
Somewhere along the slopes of Mt. Balungao , hidden among towering forest trees and an all-natural and wonderful panorama, is the Balungao Hot and Cold Spring Resort.
It’s not a so-hidden place as it lures tourists both from the province and other places the best of what Mother Nature can offer. Still, it’s a perfect hideaway from the daily rigors of life and the spring waters, with its sulfur content, is said to be medicinal which can cure some physical ailments.
Mt. Balungao is an extinct volcano (we hope) in Balungao town, visible from the Rosales town highway towards Manila . From afar, it makes for a mystical view as one wonders what secrets it veils with thick canopy of trees. Up close, a secret is revealed—a natural health spa of hot and cold springs. Read more
Filed under Uncategorized, environment, tourism sites by Yolly Sotelo Fuertes.
ALAMINOS CITY – Illegal fishing seemed to have raised its ugly head again with 21 persons involved in the trade caught by the city police, public order and safety office and bantay dagat members in the past days.
The police have filed cases of violation of anti-illegal fishing laws against the illegal fishermen, according to Supt. Rogelio Danoli, city chief of police.
Mayor Hernani Braganza said the suspects are not from the city but from neighbor towns Anda and Sual.
He said 14 of the suspects were from Anda and were operating a baby trawl using fine-mesh nets at the waters off Telbang and Victoria villages when caught by patrolling police and Bantay Dagat last June 9.
Danoli said a total of 345 kilos of assorted fish worth P17,000 was confiscated from the illegal fishers, and which were donated to charitable institutions.
Three other fishermen were caught using push nets or kayakas in local dialect which also use fine mesh nets. They were fishing in a seagrass protected area, also violating the city’s fishery ordinance.
Braganza said the four suspects were caught selling illegally-caught fish in the city market, allegedly brought from Navotas, Bulacan.
“We are denying market to illegally-caught fish,” Braganza said.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the fishery personnel of the city dismantled fish traps along the navigational lane of the city and Anda.
Braganza said the fish traps’ owners, who have been operating without business permits, and are endangering persons navigating the area.
The fish traps, locally known as “pababing” also contribute to siltation in the area as they hinder water flow, he added.
The fish traps’ owners earlier complained that thieves usually beat them to the traps’ catch, and that these are empty when they come to harvest the fish.
Filed under Uncategorized, environment by Yolly Sotelo Fuertes.
Pangasinenses led by Speaker Jose de Venecia paid tribute to the late Governor Aguedo F. Agbayani, the son of a carpenter who went on to become the longest serving governor of the province.
De Venecia led on Thursday the unveiling of the Agbayani’s monument at the park named in his honor, in this capital town, together with Agbayani’s widow Teresita, his son Governor Victor Agbayani and his wife Jamie and other members of the Agbayani family..
De Venecia described Agbayani who was governor from 1971 to 1986 and from 1992-1995, as a “quintessential” leader “who was able to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in Pangasinan and who was able to develop a strong middle class society in the province.”
“He was not only a great Pangasinense, but a great Filipino who served the nation well,” the Speaker said. Read more
Filed under Uncategorized, politics by Yolly Sotelo Fuertes.
BEIJING, China - A young Filipino-American businesswoman who is an advocate for juvenile and child rights’ protection in London, California and the Philippines is eyeing a partnership with Expedia for the establishment of the Juventus Noster Foundation here to widen the coverage of her program for the protection of the young.
“Serious efforts must be made to push for the adoption of Chinese children by childless couples in the United States and other European countries,” said Juventus Noster chairperson Jo Victoria Edralin Yupangco even as she noted the substantial number of European couples who have adopted Chinese children while she was staying at the Beijing Marriot West Hotel.
She has been shuttling from London, San Francisco, Beijing and Manila for the last couple of months to finalize the acquisition of 5-star hotels in Beijing, Dalian and Guillin.
JV Edralin Yupangco is a cum laude graduate from the London School of Economics with a Masters degree in Media and Communications and a summa cum laude from Kings College London with a BA in English Language and Communication.
Early this year, J.V. Edralin Yupangco lauded the passage of the Comprehensive Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 in the Philippines whose core goal is to redirect children who commit petty crimes, such as stealing morsels of food or violating curfew hours, out of the criminal justice system, and hence, out of adult jails.
In a column article last April 18 in the Manila Standard, J.V. Edralin Yupangco said her family’s trepidation started in the summer of 2005 as a result of a CNN report on how juvenile offenders in the Philippines are detained in the same jail facilities as hardened adult criminals.
“While my mother Josephine Edralin and my sister Joana Bautista were watching television, sitting in our comfortable vineyard estate in the Napa Valley, we were confronted with profoundly poignant images of young children behind bars. Even more devastating was that the report recounted the number of minors who fall victims to pedophiles while in these prisons. It was whilst watching this shocking reality unfold on our television screen that we made a decision in both mind and heart that we had do to something to help address this deplorable situation. We felt it our duty as native-born Filipinas,” wrote Edralin Yupangco.
“The noble intentions of the Juventus Noster (Latin words meaning Our Youth) should at the very least deserve the support of well-meaning individuals and institutions if only to push for the protection of the juvenile and child rights in the Philippines and China, ” she said.
For her part, Juventus Noster president Joana Edralin Bautista expressed elation that various groups like Expedia, Inc. through its Emerging Market Global Communications Director Laura Pinones have inquired about the foundation’s activities whose goals include building facilities where children can be truly rehabilitated and kept out of adult prisons in the Philippines. “In China, it will provide young children a brighter future as adopted children of caring and willing parents from the United States and Europe,” she said.
Filed under Uncategorized, KIDS are us by Yolly Sotelo Fuertes.
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