D1
SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017
Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
LGUs
Local Gov’t Units
mslocalgov@gmail.com
AN OFFERING FOR LARGEST FRESHWATER LAKE IN PH By Raul M. Francia
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PAL GIVES BACK. Philippine Airlines recently held a tree-planting activity in the town of Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, as part of its 76th anniversary this month. Different types of fruit-bearing trees were planted by 50 volunteer-employees as part of the airline’s environmental advocacy program. Main photo shows local farmers and employee-volunteers with PAL officials led by Chairman Dr. Lucio C. Tan. Inset shows a volunteer planting a guyabano tree sapling.
‘KALANGUYA’NURSE AIDS TRIBAL FOLK S By Ben Moses Ebreo
TA. FE, Nueva Vizcaya—Being a nurse has brought Leticia Puguon to international conventions abroad, but she is never remiss in visiting her fellow tribal Ikalahan folk in this upland town and bringing free medical services to them.
In fact, regular visits to the upland barangay of Imugan and its neighboring villages to help treat the Ikalahan and other residents there is no longer a challenge for Puguon, 62, who also holds a Ph.D. It was her vocation, Puguon said, to serve her fellow villagers, considered a sub-tribe of the Igorot, living primarily in northeastern Pangasinan, western Nueva Vizcaya, and western Ifugao. It was a vow she started after earning her nursing degree and entering government service. Puguon, who holds a Nurse IV position and is the administrative officer of the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital in Bambang town, rose from the care of a poor family in Barangay Imugan, which she treasured as a motivation to advance in her profession. “This has served as a challenge for me. Our life then was difficult, but because of the help of our fellow villagers who inspired me and pushed me on to study, I did it,” she said. Puguon studied in Imugan Elementary School, earned her high school diploma at Kiangan Academy in Kiangan, Ifugao, and got her college degrees at Union Christian College, the Lorma School of Nursing in San Fernando City, La Union, and Nueva Ecija Colleges in Cabanatuan City. The absence of health workers in their barangay, especially during her
Leticia Puguon, administrative officer of the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital
childhood days, prompted her to take up the nursing profession. Guided by the religious teachings of the Reverend Pastor Delbert Rice, a United Church of Christ in the Philippines missionary during her childhood, Puguon grew up nurturing Christian values along with her cultural beliefs and traditions as a native Kalanguya (an alternate name for the Ikalahan). Rice also assisted her in acquiring scholarship grants from benefactors abroad. In return, Puguon continued to provide medical services in Sta. Fe for free, bringing in doctors, fellow nurses, and free medicines for villagers who needed medical attention and treatment.
She helped implement the Community-Based Health Program, a primary health care approach that started in 1984 in Barangay Imugan. Puguon was the provincial coordinator for the Expanded Program on Immunization and Control of Diarrheal Diseases while doing primary health care activities. In 1989, Puguon also organized the Federation of Barangay Health Workers of Nueva Vizcaya, which she is still an adviser. “For our fellow indigenous people who are aspiring to progress in their profession, we should be proud of our culture and show to our fellow IPs that we can become cultural models in our communities,” said Puguon. To that end, she obtained a Master of Science in Nursing, major in mother and child nursing, at St. Paul University in Tuguegarao City, and finished her Doctor of Philosophy degree at the Nueva Vizcaya State University. She said the improving health and nutritional status of residents in the upland villages have inspired her to move on with her vocation, “to serve with genuine spirit and action.” “When I started my profession and service, we did not mind our low salary. First and foremost, for us it’s to serve our fellow IPs [indigenous peoples], and this has given us satisfaction and inspiration,” Puguon said.
IT WAS a festival like no other. The faith, tradition, love, warmth, trait, beauty, excellence, brain, talent, skill, craftsmanship, food, harvest, product, the people, their resilience and their joy. These are the province’s showcase. They are the bests and pride of its cities and municipalities. And the weeklong fun, competition, entertainment, sharing of love and laughter, festivities, celebration and thanksgiving was in grateful appreciation of the bounty of nature—the soil, forests, the air and the country’s largest freshwater lake and the third biggest in Southeast Asia – Laguna de Bay. Dubbed Handog ng Laguna sa Lawa ng Pag-Asa, the Ani ng Laguna (AniLag) festival was also meant to raise public awareness on the need to protect and preserve the lake, the province’s excellent water resource that is already woven into the fabric of its people’s way of life. Aside from fishery, aquaculture and recreation, Laguna Lake is a vital component of the Kalayaan hydroelectric power plant that supplies electricity to the Luzon grid. And in the face of worsening vehicular traffic, the 950-square kilometer lake can provide additional routes and alternative means of transportation between Metro Manila and the surrounding towns of Rizal province and Laguna. Due to its importance to Lagunenses’ life and livelihood, especially those residing along the coastal areas, special focus is being given and extra efforts being put in jointly by the government and the private sector to preserve the lake and shore up its ability to provide for the basic needs of the people in the Laguna de Bay region. Sadly, however, these efforts have been prompted by alarming damages to Laguna de Bay by rapid industrialization and population growth. Unhampered abuses and excessive activities in the lake are threatening its potentials as vital water resource. And so, the thanksgiving. “Very festive! It was an atmosphere of joy throughout the week,” is how Frandy Nodado, a college instructor from the town of Famy, described the week-long AniLag held at the provincial capitol grounds in Sta. Cruz last week. He adds: “Ipinakita po dito ang init, pagmamahal, galling at pagkakaisa ng ating mga kalalawigan” “Lahat ng sector po ay mayroong representation sa pang-aakit hindi lamang sa buong lalawigan, kundi sa buong bansa at sa buong mundo upang bisitahan at makilala ng lubusan ang ating lalawigan,” says the 33-year old 2014 awardee of the Gawad San Luis Namumukod-Tanging Kabataan ng Laguna. Featured no less are the mouthwatering kinulob na itik of Victoria, the sweet and juicy pineapple of Calauan, the marshmallow-like puto Biñan, the sought-after buko pie of Los Baños, the fine uraro of Liliw, and the incomparably luscious kesong puti of Sta. Cruz. These are only some of the delightful and sumptuous come-ons for both local and foreign tourists to embark on a journey to the virgin and enchanting beauty of the province. Turn to D2
BIÑAN MARKS HOSPITAL’S 13TH YEAR By Roy Tomandao
Biñan Mayor Arman Dimaguila speaks at the 13th anniversary of the Biñan Hospital (inset). Roy Tomandao
BIÑAN, Laguna—Mayor Arman Dimaguila led city officials on Friday in celebrating the 13th anniversary of Biñan Hospital, which now boasts better medical services and state-of-the-art equipment. “Within seven months of assuming my post as mayor, I am proud to announce that we have transformed our public hospital, thanks to the unity of our local government officials together with our Lone District Rep. Lenlen Alonte Naguiat and hospital head Dr. George Alora,” Dimaguila said.
“We will continue to improve the services of the hospital, which was built in 2004,” the mayor added. “We will provide additional beds, undertake the expansion of the emergency room, and construct a new building for the out-patient department.” The hospital, located in Canlalay district, has seen an increasing number of patients arriving from Biñan’s neighboring towns as well as from this city. City residents, especially poor families, are entitled to free services at the hospital, a practice that has earned high praise from the national govern-
ment, Dimaguila stressed. “The people of Binan deserve a better hospital,” the mayor said. Biñan Hospital also recently received a “green banner” from the National Nutrition Council for its services to the city’s 24 barangays. Studies are under way to transfer the city’s Hall of Justice to a lot adjacent to the hospital to facilitate its expansion, which Dimaguila admitted would require additional funds. Still, he said: “In the city of Biñan, the government and its people can always be counted on.”