Author: Bryan Abueva

Governor Amado I. Espino III, along with the Department Heads of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, led the launching of the Pamanang Yaman, Produktong Pangasinan on October 9 at the Capitol Plaza, Lingayen.

Pamanang Yaman, which aims to help micro, small and medium entrepreneurs bounce back from the economic loss due to COVID-19 Pandemic, is now intergrated to Abig Pangasinan Recovery Program of the Provincial Government.

In his speech, the Provincial chief executive encouraged Pangasinenses to support local businesses in the province: “Support local, support our producers in the province. Ito po ay para sa ating mga kababayan, ito po ay para sa ating lahat. Sa ating disiplina at pagkakaisa, malalampasan natin ito.”

Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) Chief Ma. Luisa A. Elduayan explained that the Pamanang Yaman, Produktong Pangasinan will address the needs of local entrepreneurs in Pangasinan.

“Ang programang Pamanang Yaman, Produktong Pangasinan ay tumutugon sa ating mga negosyante, sa ating mga help micro, small and medium entrepreneurs na gumagawa ng mga pinagmamalaki nating produkto ng Pangasinan. Isa ito sa mga sektong na lubhang naapektuhan sa pandemic na ito,” said PTCAO Chief Elduayan.

Governor Espino added, “Iikot ang pera dito at magkakaroon na ng hanap buhay ang ating mga kababayan.”

The rolling store will also introduce native products of the different towns and cities across the province.

 “Ipinaparating ng mga negosyante ang pasasalamat nila dahil may siguradong kita sila sa pag-uumpisa ng ganitong programa. Magiging mabilis ang bentahan nito dahil dadalhin ito sa iba’t-ibang bayan,” said PTCAO Chief Elduayan.

“Naisipan nating gumawa ng programa na itong mga produktong ito ay ma-introduce sa buong probinsya. May mga gumawa ng mga produktong ito na native sa Probinsya ng Pangasinan na naitigil at ngayon na hinahanap natin sila, sila ay natutuwa dahil sila ay nabigyan ng pagkakataong ma-introduce ang kanilang mga produkto,” said Gov. Espino pointing out that this activity will increase the income of local entrepreneurs in the province and stir up economic activities.

Some of the featured products during the launching include: dried sea food products like danggit and dilis; local condiments like patis, alamang and bagoong; puto; preserved food products like tuyo and tinapa gourmet; banana and camote chips and chicharon; and woven products like, rattan baskets, bags and walis tambo.

“Hindi pa ito kompleto kaya may meeting ang mga tourism officers kung ano ang mga maidadagdag dyan. Ni-launch natin ngayon at hindi pa 100% perfect dahil may mga idadagdag tayo,” added Gov. Espino.

Moreover, Governor Espino said, “Binibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon na kahit papaano ay magkakaroon ng kita ang mga kababayan natin.”

As a part of the Abig Pangasinan, the Provincial Government will bring the Pamanang Yaman, Produktong Pangasinan to different cities and towns across the province. The next schedule of the Pamanang Yaman, Produktong Pangasinan will be on October 12 in Urdaneta City.

/Paula Jhea Sison – PIO (Photos by Ivana Ferrer and Meinard Sadim)

The Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through its Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, conducted the Tourism Stakeholders’ Consultation Meeting and Planning Workshop last October 9, 2020 as part of a series of pre-launching activities relative to the opening of tourism in Pangasinan to the rest of Region 1 and Baguio City. This pre-launching project is in collaboration between and among the LGUs in the province that are ready and willing to restart tourism in their areas, as well as the different Provincial Government departments, national agencies and tourism stakeholders who will play vital roles in the first phase of this initiative.

Present were First District Provincial Board Member and Committee Chairman for Tourism, Culture and Arts Hon. Orange Humilde-Versoza via Google Meet to deliver her welcome remarks, followed by Department of Tourism Region 1 Director Francisco Joseph “Jeff” Ortega from the same platform. By way of introduction, a presentation regarding the Ridge and Reef Travel Corridor Plan between Baguio City and the provinces of Region 1 was discussed by Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Maria Luisa Elduayan. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Anna De Guzman also provided updates about the current status of Pangasinan with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic and their recommendations for the health and safety protocols to be adopted in relation to the Ridge and Reef Travel Corridor Plan while PNP representative PLTCOL Bernett Nabunat reported on the border control status of the province.

Tourism Officers from cities and towns with priority destinations and representatives from the invited tourism associations also provided concise updates regarding their respective LGUs’ and associations’ status in the industry. The Pangasinan Tourism Reopening Guidelines were also discussed among the participants in order to come to a collective agreement or for further discussion and clarifications.

/MCDG

The Province of Pangasinan delegation, headed by Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Maria Luisa A. Elduayan, threw in their full support to the launching of the “Ridge and Reef Baguio City – Region 1 Travel Corridor” in Baguio City last September 22, 2020. 

Governor Amado I. Espino III delivered his words of support through a video message during the launching program, led by the Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc, and La Union Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega. Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson also delivered his message of support thru a video.

The day’s activities also featured the official launching of the Baguio City Visitor Information and Travel App (VIS.I.T.A) as well as a mini travel and trade fair showcasing samples of Region 1’s products and destinations. 

The Pangasinan delegation were also joined by the members of the Pangasinan Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agencies (PTOTA) and LGU Bolinao Tourism Officer Ms. Mary De Guzman.

In line with the 2020 Pangasinan Tourism Month celebration, the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, thru the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office will be hosting a video making contest entitled, “Stay Safe in Pangasinan”. With this year’s theme, “Tourism: Building Peace! Fostering Knowledge!” the contest aims to gather entries from the province’s LGUs and accommodation establishments that showcase their best practices in implementing the safety protocols and public health activities that ensure the safety of tourism establishments’ workforce and travelers as the world shifts to the New Normal.

Participants may submit entries according to two categories, with Category A consisting of sub-categories mainly: Beaches and Islands, Pilgrimage, Industry, History and Heritage, Farm and Eco-Tourism. Category B focuses on entries from accommodation establishments that have secured either a Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO) or a Provisional Certificate of Authority to Operate (PCAO).

The deadline of submission is on September 24 (Thursday) at 5:00 PM. Winners from both categories will receive a cash prize of Php 10,000, a trophy, and a 1-year FREE promotion in the Pangasinan Tourism website and social media accounts. The final results will be announced on September 30, during the PTCAO Patalisiwan Quiz Bee via FB Live.

Last September 3, 2020, the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed its full support for the Ridge and Reef Corridor Plan between Baguio City and the four provinces of Region 1.

The mayor of Baguio City and the four governors of Region 1 signed an exploratory Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote tourism and stability amidst the COVID-19 pandemic within Baguio City, La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur (BLUPISIN). Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat attended the meeting shortly after speaking at the 111th Baguio City Day celebration and signed the exploratory MOU as one of the witnesses.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of mirco, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region were affected. In order to jumpstart domestic tourism and support the local businesses within their respective provinces, local and provincial leaders agreed on the implementation of the Ridge and Reef Corridor Plan to create a strategic travel bubble between the provinces of Region 1 and Baguio City. With BLUPISIN sharing similar health and safety protocols according to their shared Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) status, the Ridge and Reef Corridor Plan aims to put seamless travel between provinces into practice and likewise instill economic recovery and stability in the regional tourism industry.

Present at the said meeting with Secretary Romulo-Puyat were: Pangasinan Gov. Amado I. Espino III, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc, Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson, La Union Provincial Information and Tourism Officer Adamor Dagang (representing Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III), and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operations Officer Maria Antonette Velasco Allones, Intramuros Administrator Atty. Guiller Asido, DOT- Region I regional director Joseph Francisco Ortega, who also represented La Union Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega and DOT-CAR officer-in-charge Jovy Ganonga also witnessed the signing of the MOU.