Bukidnon Benchmarks Pangasinan

Lingayen- - -Pangasinan has become a favorite venue for the Lakbay Aral (Study Tour) of different provinces in the country over the past three years.

This is proven by the influx of visiting delegations that chooses the province for their scheduled study tour.

Yesterday, July 19, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. led the provincial government in welcoming the department heads of the Bukidnon provincial government as the group sought an audience with the Governor.

Fe Retuertas, Bukidnon Provincial Budget Officer, said that they chose Pangasinan over other provinces in the country mainly because of the numerous achievements it has attained in such a short span of time.

“We heard so much about the success stories of Pangasinan provincial government and we are eager to learn the techniques and strategies that the Gov. Espino applied so that our province can duplicate it,” Retuertas noted.

Gov. Espino recounted every detail of hard toil and serious efforts of changing the mindset of every Pangasinense from non-participation to no nonsense cooperation between leaders and the people which resulted to major accomplishments over the past five years of his tenure.

“I am the first governor who holds office in this room (referring to the refurbished Governor’s office at the Capitol). Before my term, this is a stockroom of records of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan where papers have piled up,” he said.

Amazed by the sight of the elegant Capitol building which the group said is “the most beautiful and the cleanest Capitol that they have seen,” the Bukidnon officials extended their stay for almost two hours to enjoy the scenery of the beachfront located at the back of the Capitol Resort Hotel.

Aside from the Capitol building, the visitors were treated with a tour at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City, the historic Sison Auditorium and the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center and their common impressions were: “Nakakalula.  Nakakainggit.  It is awesome.  Saludo kamo sa galing at sipag ng inyong Governor!”

“We would like to set Pangasinan as benchmark of development in our province, “said Dr. Janet Mercandera, Hospital Administrator of Bukidnon Provincial Hospital-Maramag, as she added that they were deeply amazed by the loads of programs and projects of Pangasinan provincial government especially on hospital management, agricultural productivity, revenue generation and personnel management.