Guam Gives First Crack to Pangasinan Workers for Billion-Dollar Project

Gov. Espino leading delegates of elected officials of Pangasinan for the signing of sister agreement between Pangasinan and Guam.

LINGAYEN --- Guam’s billion-dollar project needs Pangasinan workers.

            This developed following the signing of a “Sister City” agreement between Guam  and the province of Pangasinan in a ceremony held at the Guam Legislature last September 24.

Authored by Guam Senators Rory J. Respicio, Judith P. Guthertz and Thomas C. Ada, the passing of Resolution No. 299-31 (COR) will foster economic interaction between the two communities from different countries.

Sen. Guthertz said that skilled workers in Pangasinan will be given priority as part of the manpower of the relocation project of US military-based from Japan to Guam, an island territory of the United States of America.

“They also have well-trained workforce that will be very much able to infuse in our island, skills that will be needed for the future particularly in the build-up,” Guthertz told the members of 31^st Guam Legislature during its regular session.

The billion-dollar project will need quality skilled workers such as carpenters, masons, welders, tile setters, pipe fitters, brick layers, scaffolding erectors, heavy equipment operators, steel men and the like.

 “The province of Pangasinan produces goods and promises to export all over the world and Guam should be a beneficiary of their exports.  They have products that they produce that are useful here in our construction industry.  They have products that they produce that are usable in our home design industry,” Guthertz added.

Guthertz expressed elation over the passing of the resolution defined as “long-term partnership between the two communities from different countries” which materialized after almost a year of deliberation.

“Sen. Respicio and I have waited for almost a year for this to happen,” Guthertz said.

The sisterhood ties declared the “establishment of a “Sister City” relationship between the Province of Pangasinan in the Republic of the Philippines, and Guam, in order to encourage the further growth of friendship, camaraderie and commerce for the benefit of the people of both regions.”

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. led the Pangasinan delegation to Guam for the official tie-up of the two neighbours in the Western Pacific Ocean.

He welcomed the development with optimism as Pangasinan and Guam share common influences both political and cultural.

“We do have a mutual feeling of being at home here in your midst not only because there are a good majority of people from Pangasinan who are now living here but also because we share the common history and culture,” Gov. Espino said.

Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo on the other hand, lauded the contribution of Pangasinan immigrants to Guam.

“Just most recently if anyone is to see the impact of the Pangasinan domain and community in this island there are too much to mention in a little close to two years that I’ve been a governor of Guam. I see the support of Pangasinan community in building a better island in the community,” Gov. Calvo said.  

The signatories in the resolution are Consul General of the Philippines Bayani Mangibin; Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio, Pangasinan Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo, Pangasinan Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and Major Vic Rivo, President of the Federation of Pangasinanses on Guam. 

It was witnessed by Pangasinan SP Secretary Verna Nava-Perez, Pangasinan First Lady Priscilla Espino, Board Members Salvador Perez, Angel Baniqued, Jeremy Rosario, Generoso Tulagan, Von Mark Mendoza, Alfonso Bince, Amadeo Espino and Danilo Uy.