Online newsletter for the citizens of Sagunto, Sison, Pangasinan, Philippines
Warm greetings to all fellow Sisonians!
I am content being your mayor but my husband, your congressman, already reached his term limit allowed by law to serve in the 5th District of Pangasinan and there is so much yet to be done. Our town, Sison, and the whole 5th District deserve a leader who will continue safeguarding the interest of my husband’s constituents. This prompted all the mayors of the entire 5th District to convene to choose me to fill in the position that my husband will be vacating. I was very reluctant to take the challenge because I have fallen in love with the town of Sison. However, when the congressman said that I would not be able to serve our town, Sison, if another Congressman takes over and could not care less for our town, this prompted me to accept the challenge and, God willing, win as representative of the 5th District.
It has always been my dream to see Sison take off as a prime agricultural town whose citizens enjoy basic services delivered by their Local Government Unit. This is the main reason why I took the challenge of vying for a seat in congress. It is not a desertion but rather a choice to deliver the district’s share of the national government coffers, thus, benefiting all Sisonians. If given the chance, aside from my task to make laws for the land, I am committed to make sure that 100% of the Countryside Development Fund will be delivered to you in terms of projects and assistance. As your representative, I will advocate the needs of the youth, improve the welfare of women, and provide assistance to the farmers.
The youth of Sison have some catching up to do and one way we can accomplish that is to provide them with quality education and the resources to attain it. I have been a strong proponent of raising the quality of teachers for our children and providing them with facilities that are conducive to learning. As we speak, the process to hire more effective teachers for our school children is underway as U.P. Diliman has again been endeavored to screen new teacher applicants to make sure that we hire only the most qualified and capable teachers for our children. Many of the schools in Sison already were provided with computers and internet access at the start of my office as mayor. This initiative will continue on a wider scale to include the whole 5th District if you honor me to represent you. I believe that providing this technology to our children, with appropriate guidance from competent teachers, will open up their world much more so than traditional teaching methods have been able to do.
Another underserved population in our district are the women. Women in the 5th District can gain much needed self esteem and confidence by giving them the means to earn a living independently. I believe the women of Pangasinan, the Philippines for that matter, are capable of so much more given the opportunity. I plan to encourage projects that will foster education and livelihood for the women of the 5th district.
The 5th District, Sison among them, has great potential to be a force in terms of agriculture. I will expand on the work I started here in Sison by encouraging education of farmers in new technologies and agricultural processes, improve irrigation facilities and provide reliable sources for irrigation, construction of farm to market roads, and instigate a systematic storage and distribution system for harvests in order to capitalize on the best market values. Agricultural initiatives to provide seeds, fertilizers and to procure agricultural equipment will also be facilitated.
I loved the time I spent as Sison’s mayor and as much as we have accomplished during my term, there is still much to be done. We must continue what I have started and further initiate new projects to benefit Sison. I feel it is my responsibility to make sure that Sison does not fall back to its old ways and to ensure that it continues to be managed with firm and capable hands. I am compelled, if I am to represent the 5th district, to endorse someone who will continue to care for the good of our townmates. To this end, I endorse Clr. Atty. Mina Joy Pangasinan to be the next mayor of Sison because I believe she is a person with high intellectual capacity. She possesses a heart that is full of compassion, and youthfulness to bear the burden of a public servant. Above all things, she is trustworthy – an attribute that convinced me of her competence to bring all Sisonians into the thresholds of a developed municipality.
If you, as constituents of Sison, would like to continue the progress of the last couple of years, I strongly urge you to choose the team that has proven to work well together. The mayoralty is not a dictatorship and your mayor is only as good as the team he or she has to work with. All the amazing accomplishments of the past two years would not have been possible without the support of the councilors, kagawads, barangay captains who worked alongside me. Vote to guarantee continuity, efficiency and prosperity for our beloved town, Sison!
So this fight is not mine nor Atty. Mina Pangasinan’s fight alone. It is our fight! You have to think of your future, think of your children who will eventually be the recipients of this endeavor. Let us all join hands and work for the betterment of Sison, the 5th District, and ultimately our country.
Kimi S. Cojuangco
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My Dear friend and Mayor,
Fears and wariness abounded!) and will question your motives. I have since learned that you are a woman of your word, a woman of integrity and a breath of fresh air. You have energized and improved Sison. I believe that once elected as the 5th District Congresswoman you will do the same for the entire region of Pangasinan.
Though it saddens me to see you leave the mayoral position (especially after all the positive changes you’ve initiated in Sison), I can join and support you in your vision for the larger picture in the future of Pangasinan. Many people may not see nor understand the reasons behind your decision (as I when you first ran for Mayor, do you remember?
I want to personally and publicly thank you for the service done during your term as Sison’s Mayor. You made me proud to be a Sisonian! I wish you good luck and best wishes for a successful run for the 5th District.
Ophelia Pasibe-Glasser
Dear Mayor,
May we take this opportunity to pose a few questions that many Sisonians would like to clarify:
1. Is Sison entitled to collect tax from NCC? If yes, what is the rightful tax due to Sison? WHat have they done to collect this? How much have been collected?
2. Can they post the balance sheet and cash flow of the townin a public place for everyone to see?
3. Are they aware of any environmental threat to Sison? If so, what are these and what have been done?
I tried to post these in the Sison website however can’t seem to go through. Thank you Jeanette for giving us a chance. Look forward to your reply.
Thank you,
Jun Aquino
Hello Jun!
Mayor Kimi’s open letter is a true picture of her objectives, the work she does, and what she goes through.
Your queries have always been the issue that pop up only during political season for decades. They’ve been answered faithfully but those who made the queries in the past seem to have a one track mind. They were determined only to hurl those questions but were deaf to listen. For some reason, they have used these issues as a means to advance their causes, which is evidently a political maneuver.
But I invite you and everyone who may have the same or related queries to visit the office of the Mun. Planning & Devt. Office, Engineering Office, or the Mun. Accountant and Treasury Office to confirm these allegations. These offices are sure to be the best source of infos.
MARAMING SALAMAT PO FOR YOUR CONCERN
Walter,
“[DELETED EXPLETIVE] hindi naman ikaw ang tinatanong tapos ikaw ang sumasagot,” the issue being asked is not just personal but concerns the collective inquiries at Sisonians Group.
My question is who gave you the right to answer in behalf of your master? Your unsolicited advice is a manifestation of one track mindedness just to divert and cover up your boss and you are not helping her on this!
The question is about NOW! Not the past [DELETED WORD]!
Thanks Walter,
I guess not all were informed of the answers to these questions. May we ask your help to present the answers here. I think these are not confidential information as you claim that it was answered before.
1.
2.
3.
By the way, may I know your last name?
Kind regards,
Jun Aquino
People, let’s invite more discussions in this forum where more diverse opinions are likely to pop up–that is, whether you like it or not. This is truly interesting!
Hello Jun!
I know I have been civil in answering your queries and even suggested a better source of certified infos. But there seem to be someone who simply cannot take things in a light mode. I’d rather not stoop to levels I may not be good at.
Jun, I respectfully insist that you contact
Re. Question 1: Ms. Marcelina Manangan, Mun. Assessor,
Question 2: Ms. Janet Gutierrez, Mun. Accountant,
Question 3: Ms. Gloria Pugal, Mun. Planning and Dev’t. Officer and Engr. Paquito Balajadia, Mun. Engineer.
I would rather that you get your answers from official sources than me so that you can be assured of their accuracy rather than simply taking my word for it.
Best regards,
Walter
Oh good! We appreciate everyone’s self-control and understanding. Remember that there are lots of us reading who could be enlightened or annoyed by whatever you share in the forum. We would like to request everyone too to always observe the spirit of friendship and complacency, no matter what we believe or side with.
Thanks, Walter for your answer directing us to those authority of the matters mentioned. However, we’d also want some related information or answer too, not just from you, but also from those concerned who can really give a clearer, honest picture of our town and its abilities/capabilities/incapabilities. May we request therefore that some people in the know/control be nicer to give us a bit of figures? Is that too much? (Hehehe). Give us some idea about the current state of our major economic entities in Sison.
Baka lang naman po may sumagot sa aming mungkahi dahil kami po, excited din malaman ang sagot sa mga katanungang ito. Mahirap kasi pag nasa overseas ka, hazy ang picture and information about our town. Controversial nga po talaga ang issue na yan, kasi kahit nung college days namin sa Manila, alam din ng mga professors and NCC case ( ngiii). Pero kailan po kaya magiging comfortable ang feeling ng bawat inquirer at informer on this “tax” matter? We are now in the space age…and who knows, we could be nearing the peak of Global warming soon. (Ngii, nanonood kasi ng apocalyse and 2012…).
Can we all be sincere and open once and for all for the good of our town and our people? Be honest and open. Truth will free us and save our people from further suffering.
Q1 has always been controversial, and that is what we keep checking too if answers are now readily supplied at our Sison website. If NCC doesn’t earn much and therefore can’t provide enough taxes for the town, it’s about time the citizens help produce better-earning business for the good of all, right? The problem is, we people do not share much of what we can do to help. Maybe it’s really true that NCC has weakened. Probably, the national government has been draining the tax bucket much, that there’s very little left for the poor municipality. Is there any truth to this? Too much taxes given to the national coffers, and very little to the town? Why don’t we encourage then our people to patronize our product more, in exchange for higher tax allotment for our town to transform into better services? People, we can’t just sit and expect for graces to come. We all should do our part, be a part in environment protection: if they are having hard time planting trees around, send your students, take your own buckets to help. How many young people can lend a hand if they ask them to help in tree planting and speed up the recovery of the place? Help our businesses around us, so that they can help us in return. As a start, let us see how they are suffering from losses so that we can help them better…show us the books. (Hehehe…Let’s discuss these issues in a more educated and friendly tone. Wala pong magagalit sana…walang personalan. There’s no more time left for fights and useless arguments. Let’s all be honest now so that we can help each other).
To Hon. Mayor Kimi Cojuangco;
With all due respect, your official endorsement of Mina Pangasinan for Mayor shall be more meaningful to the voters should there be a position letter posted here from her simply stating her political platform that may or may not address certain issues cited by the other inquiries. Hopefully, you may be able to facilitate this request for all of us. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Leopoldo R. Barrit
Note: Request all candidates for office concerned post Statements for the intelligent consumption of our town electorate.
Ms. Mina Joy Pangasinan has a facebook account. Maybe we could invite her in this blog or at Sisonians. Thank you.
Walter,
Again, I appreciate the information. Moving forward, can I trouble you to share any email add they may have? I’m also based overseas and would like to pose these questions directly. I think you would agree that these questions are important and our exchanges would help enlighten our fellow Sisonians.
Kailian!
I apologize for everyone on my double entry. Nagloko yung computer ko kaya na post yung comment twice. Makisuyo na lang po sana kung sinong may contact kila, Ms. Marcelina Manangan, Mun. Assessor, Ms. Janet Gutierrez, Mun. Accountant and Ms. Gloria Pugal, Mun. Planning and Dev’t. Officer and Engr. Paquito Balajadia, Mun. Engineer, baka pwede paki tanong na lang po. Maraming salamat po!
Follow up comments by emz makes me feel like we’re home. This is wonderful power of technology.
Miss Jeneatte,
Any official reply from the Mayor?
Thanks!
Hi JUN, don’t worry about the duplicate comment. I only published one of them, the one with more details.
I have not heard back from the mayor yet, but I will follow up if she doesn’t reply in the next day or two.
EMZ, thanks for always providing well thought out input. While the issue of taxes is important, I am really curious to find out what measures are being taken (if any) to lessen the environmental impact of the NCC plant on Sison and the surrounding areas. I think this is another issue with no easy solution because it is obviously a business that is integral in Sison’s economy. Even if you remove NCC tomorrow, the damage is already done, and who’s to stop anyone else to come and exploit this resource if NCC is gone? I am sure there are many enterprising people out there just waiting to take over. I think this is one area (NCC impact on environment) that Mayor Kimi, for all her good intentions, has not really tackled as vigorously as her other projects (at least not that I’ve heard – she may have addressed the issue already and I just did not hear about it).
On the other hand, I can understand how this issue could also be a delicate balancing act for her.
an environmental issues cannot be solve with in a short span of time it is a long term development plan if the people concern are all cooperating and have a concern for the coming generation… if the nATURE will act am very sorry for it. hoping for the DIVINE INTERVENTION.
Magandang Friday po sa lahat ng mga taga Sison!
Hello po Mr Jun Aguino. I see you are so concerned about your hometown. I reget that it has not been answered until now. Hope everyone just do the best that they can to help improve the place. I could see that the place is so much affected already by the fumes of the factory. The nearby rice fields could no longer produce rice like before esp in Sapid area. Even the vegetables being planted could hardly bear fruits not only due to the limited supply of water ( as it has been all trapped by NCC by making NOT a small dam but more than big enough not to allow a sprinkle of water to leak from the dam especially during dry season) but more so due to the inevitable dust that fumes more heavily during the night (?). If the aim is to really increase the productivity of our agricultural lands around Sison area, then the one telling her genuine concern should do something about it by urging those in charge to do their part. Am I right?
Hello po Mr Jun Aguino. I see you are so concerned about your hometown. I reget that it has not been answered until now. Hope everyone just do the best that they can to help improve the place. I could see that the place is so much affected already by the fumes of the factory. The nearby rice fields could no longer produce rice like before esp in Sapid area. Even the vegetables being planted could hardly bear fruits not only due to the limited supply of water ( as it has been all trapped by NCC by making NOT a small dam but more than big enough not to allow a sprinkle of water to leak from the dam especially during dry season) but more so due to the inevitable dust that fumes more heavily during the night (?). If the aim is to really increase the productivity of our agricultural lands around Sison area, then the one telling her genuine concern should do something about it by urging those in charge to do their part. Am I right?
Hello po Mr Jun Aguino. I see you are so concerned about your hometown. I reget that it has not been answered until now. Hope everyone just do the best that they can to help improve the place. I could see that the place is so much affected already by the fumes of the factory. The nearby rice fields could no longer produce rice like before esp in Sapid area. Even the vegetables being planted could hardly bear fruits not only due to the limited supply of water ( as it has been all trapped by NCC by making NOT a small dam but more than big enough not to allow a sprinkle of water to leak from the dam especially during dry season) but more so due to the inevitable dust that fumes more heavily during the night (?). If the aim is to really increase the productivity of our agricultural lands around Sison area, then the one telling her genuine concern should do something about it by urging those in charge to do their part. Am I right?