Pangasinan reaps awards, citations for various projects

Lingayen, Philippines – With still two more months to go, the year 2013 has already been a fruitful year for Pangasinan in terms of awards, citations and commendations, showing that the province is well on its way to become a top achiever.

To date, Pangasinan has bagged 13 national awards, ranging from outstanding performances in rice and corn production, fishery conservation, employment generation, accuracy of financial reports, micro-financing, to best practices against syndicates of informal settlers, and tourism promotion.

The provincial government received the TOFARM 2012 (The Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines) national award from the Junior Chamber Philippines Inc. and Universal Harvester Inc. in recognition of its “Ilog Ko, Bilayen Tan Aroen Ko” project last January.

Other awards in agriculture conferred by the Department of Agriculture included: Rice Achiever’s Award on March 15 during the second Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasig City; Gawad Pagkilala award for fishery conservation given by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources during the Gabi ng Parangal sa mga Kabalikat sa Pangisdaan held in Quezon City on Oct. 18; and the 2013 National Quality Corn Achievers on Oct. 23 during the ninth Philippine National Corn Congress in Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay City.

Gov. Amado Espino Jr.’s aggressive manpower development program was chosen by the Department of Labor and Employment as 2012’s National Best Public Employment Services Office (first class provincial category) on Sept. 23.

The province also bagged the Most Outstanding Local Government Unit award in support to the Credit Surety Fund from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in July, while the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital’s Dialysis Training Center was named the country’s third best in nephrology nursing in January.

For fiscal management, provincial accountant Arturo Soriano received the Outstanding Accounting Office award from the Commission on Audit on Oct. 14 in Bacolod City.

The Provincial Accounting Office also received a certificate of recognition in the search for government offices with innovations and best practices in internal auditing awarded by the Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines Inc. on Oct. 9 in Aklan.

Another national award was received by the Provincial Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council for Best Practices Against Professional Squatters and Squatting Syndicates given by the National Housing Authority on Oct. 25 during the Housing Fair celebration at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Tourism development in the province was also recognized in the Pearl Awards. The Provincial Tourism Operations Division received the citation last Oct. 4 at the Oriental Hotel in Legazpi City, Albay.

The citations included two Best Tourism Events in the arts and culture category-provincial level for “Balitok a Tawir,” first runner-up, and “Agew na Pangasinan,” second runner-up; and another second runner-up for Best Tourism Practices for the province’s Tourism Month celebration.

Espino said his administration has set its sights on enriching the lives of Pangasinenses through development programs all geared toward transforming the province as the best place to work, live in, invest, and raise a family.

He said the awards came as a “reward for a job well done” focused on genuine public service.