The low-cost housing program for City Hall employees is near realization.
Mayor Benjamin S. Lim is very optimistic that the low-cost housing program for the city hall employees will be implemented sooner in cooperation with the Pag-IBIG fund.
“We are continuously coming up with programs by which we can improve the lives of our employees, and this low-cost housing is just one of them,” Mayor Lim said.
The housing program will be located in a 10-hectare lot at Talibaew, Calasiao, which was purchased by the city government in 1994.
According to city planning and development coordinator Romeo Rosario, an embankment activity in the five-hectare portion of the lot was already done, while a road within the subdivision is also being prepared.
Rosario said that unlike other housing programs, the housing units which will be built here will not be uniform.      
“The city hall employees have the discretion as to the house size and design of their choice depending on their capacity to amortize,” Rosario said.
Rosario said that the 10-hectare lot can accommodate 500 units at 100 sq.m. each.
The city government employees held an assembly on February 2 at Pinkies restaurant to discuss the housing program with representatives from Pag-IBIG.   
During the activity, Mayor Lim’s chief of staff Brian Lim ensured that the Pag-IBIG is ready to fund the project after all documents needed are submitted.
Aside from the housing program, the soft loan for city government employees was also discussed.
City administrator Rafael Baraan said that the city government allocated P4million seed money for the undertaking, while a private individual provided P3million for the same.
Baraan said that the mayor wants to implement the soft loan program come February 12. (Sunshine D. Robles)

Two barangays in the city have started to benefit from their respective community gardens as part of the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and zero-waste programs of the city government.
The community garden of Barangays Herrero-Perez and Pogo Chico, which are located near their respective MRFs, contain variety of vegetables which include eggplant, tomato, bitter ground (ampalaya), string beans, squash, pepper and papaya, among others.
City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim encourages the establishment of nursery gardens in the barangays where the composted materials can be used.  
According to agriculture technologist Teresita Pascua, personnel of the city agriculture office visits the community gardens once a week to ensure that the nurseries are being maintained.
Pascua said residents of the barangays are allowed to gather some of the vegetables for household consumption.
“The barangay can also sell the harvested vegetables, and the income shall go to a community fund,” Pascua said even as she emphasized that another goal of the program is for the barangays to generate income.
Pascua pointed out that Malued and Mayombo have also set up their respective community gardens and other barangays will follow in succeeding weeks. CAO provides for the seeds of vegetables being cultivated in the nurseries.   
In line with the undertaking, an Urban Vegetable Production seminar was staged recently which was attended by representatives from Herrero-Perz, Mayombo, Barangay I, Barangay 2&3, Barangay 4, Pogo Chico, Tapuac, Mangin, Tebeng and Lucao. (Sunshine D. Robles)

Brian S. Lim, Mayor Benjamin Lim’s newly designated chief of staff, served as one of the main speakers during the first-ever Dagupan City Educator’s Congress on January 30 to 31 at the People’s Astrodome. 
 

With the theme “Making school-based management work,” Lim recognized the significant role of educators in nation building as he underscored the importance of quality education for Dagupeños to ensure the city’s competitiveness in the future.
 

He stressed that having a limited budget allocation from the government prevents schools from making quality education a reality as it is attributed to shortages of teachers, classrooms, books and other learning facilities.
 

However, on behalf of the mayor, he assured that the city government will give utmost priority to education.
 

“Let me assure you that the city government is behind you in this endeavor. We are constantly seeking ways to increase our income for us to be able to increase our special education fund (SEF),” the younger Lim said.
 

Few years ago, the SEF amounts to only P14 million. Now it has increased to P28 million.
 

He added that the present administration is now initiating the construction of a modern public library building that will likely be situated at the West Central Elementary School compound.
 

In closing, Lim urged the teachers to continue with their profession despite limitations and budgetary constraints.
 

“Nothing is more noble than investing on the future of our country by teaching and educating our children,” he declared.
 

The event, organized by DepEd-Dagupan, under city schools division superintendent Aurora Domingo, gathered some 1,200 participants composed of public teachers, school heads, supervisors, Parents-Teachers Community Association officers and non-governmental organizations. (CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab)

Mayor Benjamin Lim has assured Dagupan constituencies that the city government will fast-track the construction of a modern public library complex to address the limitations of the city’s present public library.

“In response to the clamor of our people and in line with my administration’s support on education, we will aggressively pursue this modern library complex project before my term of office ends,” the mayor said.

Lim bared that the library complex, composed of a three-storey public library, a civic center and a children’s museum and library, will most likely be situated along AB Fernandez West where the old teacher’s memorial building and Philippine National Red Cross office were formerly located.
In a related development, it was learned from city librarian Rufina Meneses that the aforesaid structures have already been demolished to pave the way for a more spacious public library.
“If I’m not mistaken, the new library will be five times bigger than the present one,” Lim stressed.
City planning and development officer Romeo Rosario said that, except for the library building, the other structures will be approximately of the same size with the city museum building.
Aside from equipping the library with thousands of reading materials and computer, the mayor added that he plans to set up computer softwares in the library’s multimedia room where anybody can have a free speech training on foreign languages.
He said that this will benefit those who are interested in working abroad like in Italy, Japan, Spain, among others.
To carry out the task, Lim has created the Dagupan City library management committee composed of executives from the culture and education sector.
It was learned that Brian Lim, the mayor’s chief of staff, has recently joined the committee and spearheaded a one-day library tour in Manila on January 26 to make sure that the construction of the library will conform with the current designs and technological trends.
He is scheduled to meet with the committee on Thursday (Feb. 1) to conduct another dialogue and consultation. 
Moreover, Meneses said that the city library welcomes book donations, be it local or international. (CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab)

A series of seminar on leadership and project management for barangay youth leaders was staged on February 3, 4, 10 and 11 at the city museum.
 

The first two days of the series had been held previously on January 27 and 28 in the same venue.
 

The seminar was a joint project of the JCI Dagupan Bangus Jaycees, the city mayor’s office and the Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan,
 

The seminar, dubbed, “Be Better,” is aimed at equipping the SK officers and potential youth leaders in the community with the basic knowledge and necessary skills imperative to successful project implementation and to create a positive change in themselves and their communities.
 

“We are going to impart to our youth leaders what is the true meaning of leadership and the qualities of good leaders,” tourism OIC Dea Que underscored.
 

Some 80 youth leaders from the city’s barangays participated in the seminar.    
 

Que pointed out that through the seminar, the youth leaders in the city will be able to learn how to manage and plan the implementation of particular projects.   
 

Speakers included Bangus Jaycees president Ricky Castillo and Bangus Jaycees past presidents Manny Yao, Dea Que and Beep-Beep Tan.
 

“The speakers also shared their experience as leaders at the same time imparted their wisdom on how to become better leaders of today and tomorrow,” she added.   (Sunshine D. Robles)

The city government posted P34million or a 10 percent increase in its total revenue for calendar year 2006.

Based on the revenue pattern report of the city treasurer’s office, the total collection for the year 2006 amounted to P373,760,930 compared with year 2005’s P340, 057,372 showing an increase of P33,703,588.

City treasurer Romelita Alcantara said that from the total revenue, 51 percent was from the local tax revenue which amounted to P189,258,042 while 49 percent was from the Internal Revenue Allotment  which amounted to P184,502,888.
The total collection from real property taxes for the year 2006 was P27,434,264 which was 16.05 percent higher than the collection of P23,639,340 in the year 2005.

“Collection from business tax recorded a 9.08% increase with an amount of P92,148,209 compared with year 2005’s P84,476,674,” Alcantara explained.

A total amount of P9,354,889 was collected from miscellaneous taxes which was 5.83% higher than year 2005’s collection of P8,839,641.

Fees and charges collection amounted to P18,807,284 which was 48.12% higher than the collection of P12,697,325 in year 2005.

Because of the high increase in the collection of fees and charges, Alcantara was commended by the Department of Finance.

Collection from public markets slightly decreased from P30,923,267 to P27,959, 138, while slaughterhouse fees increased by 15.07% from the amount of 413,470 in 2005 to P475,770 in 2006.

Collection from other non-tax revenues recorded an increase of 3.54% from P8, 937, 771 to P9,253,724.

Income from fishery rentals went up by 31.21% which amounted to P2,701,647 compared with P2,074,859 in 2005.

Collection from fees classified as “others” reached P1,123,114 showing an increase of 308.05% as compared with P275,238 in 2005. Others include: interest income, lease of properties, fines and penalties and other business income. (Sunshine D. Robles)

Mayor Benjamin S. Lim assured on January 25 that that the city government, through the city legal office, is seeking all means to consider the petition filed by the Alliance of United Transport Organization (AUTOPRO) opposing the enactment of Ordinance No. 1848-2005 or the Modified Day Coding System to Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) operators and drivers. 

Taking into consideration the group’s plea, Mayor Lim welcomed the possibility of initiating a revision on the city’s traffic ordinance as long as it is applicable with the present traffic condition of Dagupan. 

“It’s good that AUTOPRO expressed its opposition in the ordinance for us to realize if there is a need to make necessary adjustments or amendments,” the mayor said in a radio interview. 

City legal officer Geraldine Baniqued stressed that the city government simply prioritized the general interest over the private interest or individual concerns of any particular sector when it approved the ordinance two years ago. 

“When it was passed, the members of the council did not choose to discriminate any transport group but simply listened to the voice of the majority,” she said. 

She noted that the passage of the ordinance was made in accordance with all the legal requirements and due process was religiously observed as all concerned sectors were invited and attended the series of public hearing and consultations. 

“The making of this ordinance was not done overnight. It took lots of experimentation and consultation to get the best solution in decongesting traffic in the city,” Baniqued said. 

Prior to its implementation, Baniqued said that the traffic ordinance even created some adverse and negative reactions from the affected sectors but were properly addressed and considered, eventually drawing support from the transport groups. 

She said that the traffic ordinance was enacted as it is undeniable that the number of vehicles plying the streets of Dagupan continue to increase. 

Records of the public order and safety office bared that there are approximately 3,900 PUJs, 600 buses and 3,600 tricycles granted franchise by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to enter the city excluding the aircon vans which have not yet been granted franchise and other colorum vehicles. (CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab) 

Project PROMISE provided seed money to the eight pilot barangays for alternative livelihood in case of hydro-meteorological disasters during a turnover ceremony on January 24 at the CMO conference room.
 

On January 8, PROMISE had distributed disaster preparedness gadgets to the same barangays.  
 

Mayor Lim’s chief of staff Mark Brian Lim, Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) project coordinator Mayfourth Luneta, disaster risk management consultant Mariz Palencia and PROMISE-Dagupan focal person and city agriculturist Emma Molina, led the turnover of checks to the punong barangays and representatives of the pilot barangays.
 
On behalf of Mayor Lim, the younger Lim extended the gratitude of the city government to the barangay officials for the implementation of project PROMISE in Dagupan, noting that the project really helped the involved communities in the city.
 

“This project is such a noble undertaking that we seek the continuous support and cooperation of concerned barangay officials and residents,” Lim said.
 

“The provision of an alternative livelihood fund is also one way of increasing the capacity and decreasing the vulnerability of the pilot barangays,” Luneta pointed out.      
 

Luneta explained that the amount for the alternative livelihood fund varies in each barangay depending on the purchase request of gadgets by the pilot barangays.
 

Bacayao Sur received P6,400 to buy tri-bikes for public transportation during flood. Bacayao Norte will set up a rice retailing business with a seed money of P11,560 while Mangin will put in place a Botika sa Barangay with a funding of P12,500.
 

Salisay, Tebeng, Pogo Grande, Lasip Grande and Lasip Chico, on the other hand, will establish a buy-and-sell business of recyclable materials. Salisay received a seed money of P12,500, P8,790 for Lasip Grande, P8,200 for Lasip Chico, P7,750 for Tebeng, and P6,815 for Pogo Grande.     
                                          
Other members of the PROMISE technical working group were also present during the turnover.
 

Project PROMISE or Program for Hydro-Meteorological Disaster Mitigation in Secondary Cities in Asia (PROMISE) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). (Sunshine D. Robles)

Mayor Benjamin Lim today (Jan.24) turned over three units of communal comfort rooms worth P781, 305.75 to the residents of barangay Pugaro. 

During the turnover ceremony, Lim was accompanied by his son Brian and barangay captain Ador Bancod. 

Each unit of the comfort room was equipped with six toilet bowls with flush, a lavatory and tiled flooring. 

“We really prioritized the construction of non-smelling comfort rooms in barangay Pugaro because I always hear complaints about unnecessary odor brought by improper human waste disposal,” Lim stressed. 

“I thank the city government for continuously providing improvements in our barangay by making us the recipients of these newly-built CRs,” the punong barangay said. 

The project, which was completed on September 25, 2006, is in response with the barangay’s request facilitated by the City Engineer’s Office headed by Virginia Rosario. 

The event was also witnessed by barangay kagawads, barangay tanods, health workers and Pugaro residents. (CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab)

Mayor Benjamin Lim on January 16 shared the pride and jubilation of the Dagupan team for winning the overall championship during the staging of the 17^th Regional Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Games held in Urdaneta City on December 12 to 16.

The team, composed of 132 athletes from various colleges and universities, stood proudly on top of the field with a total of 94 gold medals.
 

San Carlos City and La Union were a distant second with 41 medals, while Laoag City settled in the third place with 11 medals. 
 

Based on the medal tally, the city bagged all gold medals in athletics (50), table tennis (8), taekwondo (7), lawn tennis (7), basketball (5) and chess (1).
 

Mayor Lim said that the emergence of Dagupan as the overall champion in the regional meet is the first step in the city’s bid to clinch the top spot during the national PRISAA games slated on the second week of April in Iloilo City.
 

“Dagupan is a home to promising young athletes, who, once given full support can bring honor to the country,” Lim said even as he encouraged the athletes to continue honing their talents and skills by participating in various sporting events.
 

“With the promise to do better, our athletes’ chances at participating in national or even international games are bigger,” he added.
 

“The training of our athletes were paid off,” said Arthur Tangco, PRISAA Dagupan president.
The event was participated in by 533 athletes from the different cities and municipalities in the region.(CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab)