Author: Martie Gonzales

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The Provincial Government of Pangasinan officially started the 2024 Pista’y Dayat festivities with the formal opening of the Pangasinan Agri-Tourism and Trade Expo at the Capitol Plaza last April 12, 2024.

Hon. Governor Ramon V. Guico III expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the MSMEs and LGUs who participated in the expo, as well as the offices and other institutions that planned, supported, and made this year’s expo possible. Governor Guico likewise shared his ambition for the province as a must-visit tourism destination and center for massive events that will cater even international visitors.

While this year’s Pangasinan Tourism and Trade Expo is located at the Capitol Plaza, visitors from all around are treated to a new view and environment, with the historical Capitol Building prominently in the background of the festivities.

/MCDG-U

Photos: KFC & RSR

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The Department of Tourism (DOT) Central Office and the DOT Region 1 Office, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, LGU Lingayen, and LGU Bayambang, brought the Philippine Experience Program (PEP) in the province last March 20-21, 2024. PEP is the DOT’s flagship project led by Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco which aims to promote tourism products focused on the country’s Filipino essence and identity.

DOT Secretary Frasco, along with other DOT officials, arrived in the capital town of Lingayen and first set foot at the historical Capitol Building where they were greeted by members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and provincial government officials.

Hon. Governor Ramon V. Guico III, Hon. Mayor Leopoldo N. Bataoil, and Mr. Francis Lord Salosagcul (representative of Hon. Mayor Mary Clare Judith Phyllis J. Quiambao), joined the delegation at the Banáan Pangasinan Provincial Museum where they were given a complete tour around its eleven galleries.

“I am in full appreciation of the journey that Pangasinan has taken, that has left an imprint in history… Under the leadership of your visionary governor, Pangasinan’s direction is forward, always forward, and we’re here to manifest our full support for your plans for your province,” Secretary Frasco said in a speech at the Banáan Pangasinan Provincial Museum. She likewise extended her personal gratitude to Governor Guico’s father, Hon. Congressman Ramon N. Guico Jr., who made it possible for the DOT head to be confirmed in the Commission of Appointments.

Secretary Frasco expressed her excitement in returning to inaugurate a tourist rest area set to be established in the province possibly later in the year.

Meanwhile, the second day of the PEP tour began with a festive and lively performance by Lingayen’s Bagoong Festival Street Dancers as they welcomed diplomatic corps, regional directors, travel and tour operators, media and influencers, cultural workers, and tourism officers of various LGUs at the Capitol Plaza. At the Sison Auditorium, they were also treated to demos featuring buri weaving and buri bag painting by weavers from Santiago Island, Bolinao, as well as a cooking demo by student-chefs from Señor Tesoro College School of Culinary Arts. Local MSMEs like Freshious, Inc./Pan de Mya Bakery/AmBagelCo, UPLokal, and Cacao Growers were present to showcase local products, alongside Lingayen cuisine in a taway-taway booth set up by the Lingayen Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office. The guests were entertained by performances by Aniwëng na Cuerdas Rondalla and KORO Universidad de Dagupan as well. This was followed by a tour at the Banáan Pangasinan Provincial Museum before the delegates departed for Bayambang for another tour at the St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park.

/MCDG-U

Photos: RSR & KFC

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The Provincial Government of Pangasinan commemorated the 79th Lingayen Gulf Landings Anniversary and 17th Pangasinan Veterans Day at the Veterans Memorial Park in Lingaye, Pangasinan last January 9, 2024.

The program formally started with a thanksgiving mass presided over by Archbishop Fidelis Layog, followed by the wreath laying ceremony with WWII veteran Mr. Hospicio Mallari, Commander Emma McDonald-Kerr (Defense Attaché of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines representing Her Excellency Ms. Hae Kyong Y), Captain Noel Corpus (Naval Attaché of the Embassy of the United States of America representing Her Excellency Ms. MaryKay L. Carlson), Major  PCOL Jeff Fanged (Provincial Director of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office), MGEN Romeo Alamillo, Governor Ramon V. Guico III, and USEC Reynaldo Mapagu (Administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office representing Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr.).

“Patriotism is the driver and the life blood of any nation. Our veterans is the most important example of patriotism. As we hear their stories, their sacrifices, going to war, they have volunteered themselves. They have experienced so many experiences that nobody, none of us, have ever experienced. Again, my sincerest thanks and most honorable salute to the most honorable veterans of the province of Pangasinan. Sa inyo po at sa inyo pong pamilya, maraming maraming salamat sa inyong sakripisyo (To you and to your families, thank you so much for your sacrifice). We will not be enjoying the freedom that we have today if it were not for the sacrifices and patriotism of our dear veterans,” Governor Guico expressed in his speech as he faced the 37 Pangasinan veterans who were present at the event.

Governor Guico also shared the provincial government’s plan to construct a reflective pool leading to the beachfront and the establishment of a Veterans Plaza in the area, in time for the 80th Lingayen Gulf Landings Anniversary and 18th Pangasinan Veterans Day in 2025. Governor Guico likewise emphasized the importance of documenting the lives and stories of the remaining Pangasinan veterans during World War II, stating that by doing so, the province will be assisting in the preservation of one of Pangasinan’s most remarkable contributions in the history of the Philippines. In this way, current and future generations of Pangasinan will embrace, manifest, and champion the patriotism that the province’s veterans have demonstrated throughout their lives.

“As we express our profound gratitude for the service and sacrifice rendered by the veterans of World War II to whom we owe a perpetual debt of gratitude, may their stories of heroic deeds and selfless sacrifices persevere to inspire us citizens and most especially the youth, to become the partner heroes of their generation,” USEC Mapagu said as he conveyed Secretary Teodoro’s message to the audience.

In his speech, USEC Mapagu also shared the inauguration and opening of the Veterans Ward at the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City on January 10, 2024, which is an initiative of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office to as they bring the said office’s medical program closer to veterans, particularly those who live far from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

The commemorative program also included the showing of a short film chronicling stories from some of the WWII veterans of Pangasinan entitled, “Pamana: Passing the Torch of Bravery and Patriotism to the Nation’s Future Defenders.” A performance from renowned talents Ms. Stefanie Quintin-Avila and Mr. Adrik Cristobal  was also staged during the event in an artful presentation of appreciation of the veterans.

/MCDG-U

Photos: RSR & KFC

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through the Center for Pangasinan Studies (CPS), held the 2023 International Conference on Pangasinan and Bulosan Studies (ICPBS) with the theme, “Expanding the Frontiers of Knowledge on Pangasinan” last November 27 to 29, 2023 at the Sison Auditorium, Lingayen, Pangasinan and at the Ramon J. Guico, Sr. Sports and Civic Center, Binalonan, Pangasinan.

With 145 accepted abstract submissions and over 500 participants from different higher education institutions (HEIs) in Pangasinan and alongside various organizations and agencies all over the country, the event focused on five (5) plenary presentations: Internationalization on Higher Education, Contextualizing Pangasinan Studies, Health Service Delivery at the Time of the Pandemic and Post-COVID Reflections, Carlos Bulosan, and Lessons from Carlos Bulosan: Anti-Asian Racism is a Global Relation. The conference also featured a total of 32 panel sessions, each focusing on various topics and themes such as Environment, Healthcare, Artisanal Industries, Education-Teaching and Learning, Economics, Local History and Heritage, Pandemic and the “New Normal,” Human-Environment Interactions, Technology, Local Products, Readings and Teachings of Carlos Bulosan, among others.

The conference aimed to cultivate dialogue and linkage in promoting interest and heightened awareness about the province of Pangasinan and its people; convene stakeholders, advocates, practitioners, scholars, and researchers engaged in the multi- and interdisciplinary study of development, arts and culture, literature and language, history, education, tourism, trade, governance, health, and business economics of Pangasinan from its past and in contemporary perspectives; strengthen practitioners, stakeholders, and scholars’ collaboration with partner institutions in the region, and enhance academic exchanges with other international academic, development, and non-governmental institutions and to bring these closer to the Pangasinan locale and the global community in general. Further, it was also held in commemoration of the 110th birth anniversary of Carlos Bulosan, a son of Binalonan, Pangasinan. The conference provided a venue for the dissemination of knowledge on Bulosan’s life and works as a global literary and social movement icon.

Related to this, Executive Order No. 0137 was issued, “Creating the Executive Committee and Technical Working Group for the 2023 International Conference on Pangasinan and Bulosan Studies.”

Atty. Ronn Dale Castillo, Executive Assistant welcomed the participants while Dr. Perla E. Legaspi, CPS Executive Director and Convenor of the ICPBS 2023, presented the conference overview.

“… There are three gifts that young people can find when reading any work from Bulosan: one is the gift of literacy; two is the gift of historical memory; and three is the gift of rootedness, and these three gifts are intertwined and interconnected in the work of Carlos Bulosan…” Dr. Jeffrey Cabusao said while delivering his keynote speech.

The conference’s 5 plenary presentations were discussed as follows: Internationalization on Higher Education by CHED Regional Director Dr. Christine N. Ferrer; Contextualizing Pangasinan Studies by Dr. Ma. Crisanta Nelmida-Flores; Health Service Delivery at the Time of the Pandemic and Post-COVID Reflections by Dr. Francisco T. Duque III; Carlos Bulosan and Binalonan by Veronica Sison; and Lessons from Carlos Bulosan: Anti-Asian Racism is a Global Relation by Dr. Michael Joseph Viola.

“There are two reasons why we are here in Binalonan now. I’d like to believe not only because this is the birthplace of the great Carlos Bulosan but I also believe it’s more because it’s in this place where the promise of a better future of the entire Pangasinan, in fact of the entire province, of the entire country can be seen,” Dr. Raymundo Rovillos, co-convenor, stated in his closing remarks.

/JBT

Photos: RSR & KFC

BAGUIO CITY, Benguet—The Provincial Government of Pangasinan, represented by its Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), joined the 2nd North Luzon Travel Expo (NLTE) held at CAP Convention Center, Camp John Hay, Baguio City last November 25-27, 2023.

The NLTE is an activity led by the Department of Tourism Regional Offices 1, 2, 3, and CAR in collaboration with the Association of Travel and Tours Management in the Cordilleras (ATTIC), Inc. Through business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) sessions, the expo became a venue for tourism players from all over North Luzon to showcase their respective tourism products and services, ultimately intensifying and increasing each province’s marketing and promotions campaigns.

The PTCAO was joined by its MSMEs partners from PhilExport as they showcased the best of Pangasinan’s products such as healthy chips and treats, favorite bottled and packed delicacies, handwoven crafts and accessories, and many more.

/CCB

Photos: RSR

PANGASINAN—The Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) extended support and assistance to the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the conduct of a Farm Tourism Product Audit in selected farm sites in Pangasinan last October 17-20, 2023. 

DOT undertook a thorough audit of Pangasinan’s agriculture tourism destinations that have received DOT accreditation. This program was a part of ongoing efforts to make sure accredited agricultural tourism facilities fulfilled and upheld the high criteria established by the department.

The conduct of the audit aims to assess the location, services, activities, and establishments of the identified farm tourism camps; consult stakeholders in developing farm tourism in their respective areas, and discuss issues and concerns and identify peripheral activities for inclusion in tourism circuits within Pangasinan and in the region. 

The activity was led by the Department of Tourism Central Team composed of Ms. Ayra N. Ngitit, Tourism Operations Officer II; Ms. Dawn Sheila S. Monter; and Mr. Samuel Luis Dacuma, Tourism Operations Officer II of the Regional Monitoring Services.

DOT Region I was represented by Mr. Reynaldo Gesmundo (Regional Farm Tourism Focal Person), whereas the PTCAO Team was represented by Mr. Edward N. Muego (Regional Farm Tourism Focal Person) and Ms. Edrea-Ann Fernandez; the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Pangasinan was represented by Mr. Juanito Reyes, Jr. and Mr. Jo Agonoy; the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office (DA-RFO I) was represented by Mr. Virgilio Macaraeg, Mr. Juanito Malazo Jr. APCO, and Mr. Marvin G. Quilates. Representatives from Local Government Units (LGUs) served as subject matter experts during the farm tourism product audit with farm tourism operators and stakeholders and provided technical assistance during the assessment of farm tourism sites.

The selected farm tourism camps were: RISATI/Reotutar’s Farm Resort, Villasis; Greentop Organix Farm Agribusiness Skills Training and Assessment Center, San Fabian; Roheim Farm and Wellness Resort, San Fabian; R.Rebs Integrated Eco-Farm, Natividad; Maria’s Luntiang Bukid Agricultural Learning Center, Natividad; Our Farm Republic Integrated Organic Farms, Mangatarem; and Teraoka Integrated Farm, Mangatarem.

The insights gained from this audit will serve as a foundation for further improvements, ensuring that farm tourism sites continue to offer exceptional experiences to tourists in Pangasinan.

/EAF

Photos: TPPDD

PANGASINAN—The Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 1, in collaboration with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and with the assistance of the Pangasinan Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), officially launched the Philippine Motorcycle Tourism (PMT) Pangasinan Adventure Ride last October 24, 2023. The project aims to present the province of Pangasinan as a premier motorcycle tourism destination, highlighting its iconic and picturesque tourist attractions and other tourism offerings particularly in the towns of Bayambang, Calasiao, Lingayen, and the city of Alaminos for its launching.

The DOT Region 1, headed by Regional Director Joseph Francisco “Jeff” R. Ortega, has focused promotions on the region’s provinces by way of ‘appreciating the journey’ or simply enjoying the process of travelling. Last 2021, the regional office launched its Bike Tourism project which focused on cyclists and promoting destinations with safe and scenic bike trails around the region, which also promotes a healthy lifestyle and a fun way to engage in the sport of cycling. Through Motorcycle Tourism and Bike Tourism, tourists get a first-hand ‘feel’ of the destinations they are travelling to or visiting, which adds to their overall experience.

More than 400 riders participated during the PMT launching, with celebrity riders Jet Lee, Yanna, Laraaa, Rides with Danyela, RoxanneVentures, Zara Moto, MotoKonek, IndayRider, All About Wheels Manila, Jan Sy Photo+Blogs, Boss G, and more, as well as local riders and motorcycle enthusiasts. Their route allowed them to see the 50.23 meter bamboo statue of St. Vincent Ferrer at the famous prayer park; the Municipal Plaza of Calasiao where they were able to taste the town’s famous puto Calasiao from the Calasiao Puto Producers and Vendors Association; a drive by the See Pangasinan marker, Limahong Tourism Center along the baywalk, and the architectural heritage treasure that is the Capitol Building in Lingayen; and the Bued Mangrove Park and the Alaminos City Gymnasium where the culmination program took place. Regional Director Ortega arrived at the program to personally thank the participants and personnel who worked on the project. He also met with Alaminos City Hon. Mayor Arth Bryan C. Celeste and Hon. Vice Mayor Jan Marionne “Ion” R. Fontelera at the scene.

While there are indeed many motorcycle vloggers and enthusiasts who enjoy promoting destinations during their travels, the PMT likewise became an avenue where participating riders witnessed and showcased the safety and convenience of travelling around Pangasinan with its secure and paved roads.

/MCDG-U

Photos: RSR & KFC

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan—The Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), in partnership with the City Government of Urdaneta through its Urdaneta City Tourism Office, conducted the Magnayon: Pangasinan Tourism Frontliner Training in culmination of the 2023 Pangasinan Tourism Month celebration this September at the CB Mall last September 29, 2023.

The conduct of the activity was particularly aligned with this year’s World Tourism Day theme, “Tourism and Green Investments” which underscores the significance of not only allocating resources toward sustainable and environmental-friendly tourism practices, but to also invest in tourism stakeholders who would uphold responsible, efficient, and effective tourism operations in the industry through thorough and proper preparation and training.

PTCAO Chief Maria Luisa Amor-Elduayan was joined by Urdaneta City Municipal Administrator Engr. Randy Parayno, Councilor and Committee Chairman on Tourism Aurelio Agsalud Sr., Economic Affairs Consultant Gary Beltran IV, and Urdaneta City Tourism Officer Evelyn Delos Trino.

More than fifty (50) owners and personnel of local accommodation establishments (hotels, resorts, mabuhay accommodations), local tour operators and travel agencies, and tour guides supported and participated in the activity which focused on establishing the importance of tourism frontliners through proper training particularly with regard to client management, generating customer satisfaction, and proper handling of data or census and its appropriate analysis and organization.

PTCAO Chief Elduayan, along with PTCAO staff Ms. Monika Labaupa and Ms. Genesis Solis, discussed training topics such as a comprehensive orientation of the Pangasinan tourism industry, roles of tourism frontliners, tourist reception, basic guiding, and basic statistics to encourage and equip tourism stakeholders, as well as raise awareness regarding the national tourism standards set by the Department of Tourism.

/MCDG-U

Photos: RSR

NATIVIDAD, Pangasinan—The Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), together with volunteers from the PTCAO volunteerism program called Kampo Kalangwëran, joined the Provincial Population Cooperative & Livelihood Development Office (PPCLDO) and the local government unit of Natividad as they participated in the Pangasinan Green Canopy Tree Growing Activity last September 23, 2023 as part of this year’s Pangasinan Tourism Month celebration.

The activity took place at the Sky Plaza where the participants had to climb around 287 steps to reach the top of the mountain where a statue of Christ the Redeemer stands. With seedlings of endangered and fruit bearing trees in hand, the participants started planting a little ways away from the statue in the forested part of the area. The group was joined by Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Maria Luisa Amor-Elduayan, Natividad mayor Hon. Rosita Rafael, Natividad PNP Chief Jonathan Ramos, outgoing Natividad Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) leader Angelica Keen Malaca, and accompanying guests from the local PNP, LGU staff and scholars, and SK members.

According to PTCAO Chief Elduayan, with the Green Canopy Project, the different departments of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan are designated with a certain LGU where they can lead the Green Canopy Project of the provincial government. The PTCAO, in particular, chose Natividad for this project to inspire continuity as it was the venue for the launching of the Tongtóngan: The Governor’s See Pangasinan Listening Tour during the Pangasinan Tourism Month celebration last year. The project also coincides with the town’s Puno Initiative Program which aims to have five thousand seedlings strategically planted all over the Natividad landscape.

An extension of this activity included tours to two of Natividad’s known farm tourism sites namely R.Rebs Integrated Eco Farm and Maria’s Luntiang Bukid. Both farms are accredited by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) as learning sites for agriculture as well. This part of the activity helped especially the majority of PTCAO staff to learn more about the tourism offerings and educational farm know-hows from Pangasinan’s eastern frontiers.

/MCDG-U

Photos: KFC & JCT

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—In continuation of the 2023 Pangasinan Tourism Month celebration this September, the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through its Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), held the Tongtóngan: See Pangasinan Tourism Conference with the Department of Tourism for Local Tourism Establishments last September 20, 2023 at the Sison Auditorium. This conference ultimately stood as a venue for the province of Pangasinan and the Department of Tourism Region 1 (DOT-R1) to present their tourism agenda and to capacitate tourism players from both government and private sectors about the national accreditation standards. In addition, representatives from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) were also invited to provide an extensive background on their specific fields and how they could provide assistance to local tourism enterprises.

Hon. Vice Governor Mark Ronald DG. Lambino represented Hon. Governor Ramon V. Guico III at the conference, sharing the provincial government’s plans to improve and develop better infrastructure within the province such as the construction of the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) which aims to reduce travel time from eastern Pangasinan to the province’s central and western areas, as well as to better manage traffic during summer when vacationers usually flock to the province.

“We are here… also as customers and clients who rely on your capacity as tourism officers, as stakeholders in the tourism industry. Let us know what is needed. Let us know what needs to be done. Let us know what needs to be improved on,” Vice Governor Lambino said in his speech during the event, further explaining that the provincial government would need the expertise of tourism stakeholders in order to plan more and better programs for the local tourism industry. Vice Governor Lambino also reiterated Governor Guico’s stance on tourism which he acknowledged as one of the major driving forces of the economy.

Present at the event were Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Maria Luisa Amor-Elduayan with guest speakers Ms. Catherine E. Sta. Clara from TIEZA, Engr. Lee Ann Elisterio and Ms. Jo Ann G. Tomeldan from the MARINA regional office, and Ms. Marie Nelna Lantano and Mr. Alex Lazaro from the DOT-R1. Tourism stakeholders from all over Pangasinan took part in the conference where they learned more about TIEZA’s incentives program for tourism stakeholders and MARINA’s policies and requirements in acquiring recreational boat certificates and recreational boat safety certificates. DOT also lectured on the introduction to the updated progressive accreditation system (PAS) and tourism enterprise standards.

These lectures are all imperative to the overall development, improvement, and enhancement of local tourism enterprises and capacity-building of the tourism workforce especially after the repercussions done by the pandemic.

/MCDG-U

Photos: RSR

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—In celebration of this year’s Pangasinan Tourism Month, the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through its Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), held another session of Tongtóngan: The Governor’s See Pangasinan Listening Tour where Hon. Governor Ramon V. Guico III led the induction of the newly elected officers of the Pangasinan Tourism Officers Association (PTOA) and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office (PPO) for the creation and activation of a Tourist Police Unit in the province last September 15, 2023 at the Ceremonial Hall in the Urduja House, Capitol Complex.

Governor Guico was joined by Hon. Board Member Marinor De Guzman (Chairperson for Committee on Tourism, Foreign Affairs and Migrant Workers Concerns), PTCAO Chief Maria Luisa Amor-Elduayan, Pangasinan PPO Director PCOL Jeff Fanged, and PTOA President and Dasol Tourism Officer Guendoline Bustamante. Local chiefs of police, tourism officers, and other representatives were also present at the event.

In her message, PTOA President Bustamante asserted the PTOA’s active support in all tourism-related programs and activities of the provincial government including but not limited to the likes of Agew na Pangasinan, Pista’y Dayat, Limgas na Pangasinan, Pangasinan Tourism Month, Green Canopy Project through the Kampo Kalangwëran volunteer program, and other related environment projects as well as heritage preservation and cultural education program through farm tours and museum visits. PTOA President Bustamante likewise affirmed the association’s support and active partnership with the Pangasinan, Ang Ganda Mo! promotional series directed by the Regional News Group and other possible partnerships with government agencies and non-government organizations. Database generation, capacity development of tourism officers, tourism orientation for newly designated tourism officers, and lobbying for the creation of plantilla items for tourism officers to ensure continuity of work were also specified by PTOA President Bustamante as the association’s priorities.

Meanwhile, Pangasinan PPO Director PCOL Fanged extended his utmost gratitude to Governor Guico and the provincial government for the formal activation of the province’s Tourist Police Unit after seven years since its original proposal. In turn, PCOL Fanged assured the provincial government and its constituents that the Tourist Police Unit will endeavor to uphold its responsibilities in safeguarding tourists in the province and its tourism communities.

In response to the participants’ spirited and united support to the provincial government’s tourism aspirations, Governor Guico shared with the participants’ the administration’s plans to construct an airport in Bolinao which is timely to the proposed plan of a construction of an international airport in Alaminos City. Governor Guico also shared plans of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan in signing a joint venture agreement with San Miguel Corporation for the Phase 1 of the proposed Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) from the town of Binalonan to Lingayen, while Phase 2 is proposed to link Lingayen all the way to Alaminos City to ease traffic especially during summer when vacationers usually flock to coastal tourist destinations in western Pangasinan.

Governor Guico briefly broached the topic of the construction of a seawall along the Lingayen Baywalk, highlighting the importance of letting nature take its course instead of putting up unnecessary man-made structures especially those without fundamental planning and proper consultation. He underscored the prioritization of the implementation of safety policies and practices at tourist destinations as well. Relative to the improvement of tourism establishments, Governor Guico advised PTOA members to come up with standards that are fair in comparison to the services rendered by local accommodation establishments. In line with his advocacy for cultural heritage preservation, the governor advised LGUs without tourist attractions like islands, beaches, waterfalls, and the likes to consider pursuing cultural mapping in order to establish cornerstone exhibits/museums to promote their respective town or city history and culture. Plans to further develop the town of Lingayen, being the capital of the province, through thorough urban planning were also emphasized.

The event was concluded with a Banáan Pangasinan Provincial Museum tour for PTOA members.

/MCDG-U

Photos: KFC & RSR