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PDC-EXECOM APPROVES UPDATED PGLU STRATEGIC MAP. The Provincial Development Council-Executive Committee (PDC-ExeCom) chaired by Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III convenes via ZOOM on January 18, 2021 and approves the Updated Strategic Map of the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU), which aims to establish La Union as a secure, self-sufficient, and sustainable province.
During the said meeting, Gov. Pacoy highlighted the key improvements in the province’s Strategic Map, which include the updating of the scorecard objectives of the following Strategic Focus of the Province: Financial Stability – Ensure Efficient Financial Strategic Focus of the Province; Governance Partnerships – Explore and Reinforce Governance Partnership; Health – Enhanced Integrated Health Service Delivery; and Tourism and Investment – Spur Sustainable Tourism Development, and inclusion of Environment as one of its Strategic Focus, which aims to foster ecological integrity, and clean and healthy environment to achieve Environmentally Responsible La Union.
“I invite everyone from this great province we call home, as well as our dear governance partners to move forward together and united in our strategy to establish a stronger La Union, a province worth living in,” the governor said.

Being ranked 1st in Region 1 and 13th nationwide, the Province of La Union was recognized during the Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index (CMCI) Recognition Ceremony on January 18, 2021where La Union delegation virtually received it at EM Royale, San Juan La Union to observe health protocols.

In his message, Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III said, “Governance is constant where no one is allowed to settle. In the public sector, the only comfort zone is and should be, the peoples’ comfort. Beyond all these therefore, there is more work that we can do and we have to do.”

Provincial rankings are based on population and income weighted average of the overall scores of cities and municipalities of the component local government units of a province.

This year, La Union jumped to 13th place from 14th spot in 2019 after achieving an overall average score of 40.0963 nationally. A total of 77 out of 81 provinces qualified for provincial ranking.

On behalf of the Province of La Union, the Most Competitive Province in Region 1 award was received by the Local Economic Enterprise and Investment Promotions Unit (LEEIPU) headed by Ms. Charito C. Dator.

CMCI measures the competitiveness ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities based on data-driven assessment tools on dynamism, relevance, resiliency, and responsiveness to the needs of its stakeholders and constituents. The CMCI is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities awarded by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The award is a proof of the commitment of the Provincial Government of La Union to deliver relevant public service amidst the pandemic to ensure continuous economic growth creating a #StrongerLaUnion, a province worth living in.

Naguilian District Hospital (NDH) staff shares victory with four CoViD-19 patients who were discharged on January 6 and 12, 2021.

A 31 year old male firefighter from Bacnotan, La Union was admitted in the hospital on December 23, 2020 and was discharged on January 6, 2021.

Three patients from the City of San Fernando, a 40 and 41 year old female frontliners and an 87 year old female admitted on December 29, 2020, were discharged on January 12, 2021.

All patients were given token and were reminded of health protocols.

The Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the Information and Communications Technology Unit (ICTU) developed an in-house and web-based application called NAPANAM Contact Tracer. The system is a centralized CoViD-19 tracking system that uses QR code to monitor the places visited and contact listings of an individual developed for the Province of La Union.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Resolution No. 1122-2020 enjoining public and private establishments in the Province of La Union to adopt and use the NAPANAM QR code as part of the contact tracing operations in the continuous effort of the Provincial Government of La Union to fight the CoViD-19 pandemic.

On November 13, 2020, the ICTU introduced and oriented the Local Government Units’ designated focal persons via video conferencing. In addition, the ICTU created two teams to conduct on-site trainings of the NAPANAM to their assigned focal person, contact tracers and verifiers. From November 18 to December 3, 2020 the teams performed end-user registrations, responded to inquiries and collected suggestions. In total, 36 NAPANAM focal person, 37 contact tracers and 37 verifiers registered out of the 170 total participants. As of January 5, 2021, there are 17,954 verified NAPANAM Users.

The term NAPANAM is an Ilocano term which means “Where have you been?” The system will provide up-to-date reports and statistics especially for individual; QR Scanning Point and Vehicle Modules were completed on September 2020. NAPANAM has four phases and the first phase is the deployment of the said system to government offices and employees. The Provincial Government of La Union abides to the Data Privacy Act of 2012 to ensure safe and secure information.

NAPANAM Contact Tracer System is an initiative of PGLU in accordance to Department of Health Memorandum 2020-0068 and 2020-0072 Interim Guidelines on Contact Tracing for confirmed 2019 Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019nCoV ARD) Cases as well as Joint Memorandum Circular No. 024 Series of 2020 Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Labor and Employment Supplemental Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of CoViD-19.

Online registration for NAPANAM is still ongoing, residents of La Union may register through this link: napanam.launion.gov.ph.

The Province of La Union’s Ten Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers (BHW) for the year 2020 were recognized by Provincial Government of La Union on December 17 and 21-22, 2020, through a mobile awarding ceremony.
In recognition of their invaluable contribution in the province’s community health and nutrition development initiatives amidst the pandemic, the awardees were conferred with certificates and cash prizes amounting to P10,000 each.
To adhere to the minimum public health standards, the PGLU through the Provincial Health Office facilitated the conferment through a mobile awarding ceremony.
The awardees in Bacnotan, Agoo, and Santo Tomas were honored in their respective municipal halls, while the rest were in their own barangays duly witnessed by their local chief executives. The simple awarding rites were attended by few participants who strictly observed physical distancing, wearing of face masks, and other health protocols.
In Bacnotan, Mayor Francisco Angelito L. Fontanilla led the recognition for their town’s outstanding BHW Sonia Lumancas and BNS Maribel Vega. In his message, he thanked the awardees in their passionate service to promote health and nutrition in their respective communities, which comes in crucial as the world faces an ongoing health crisis.
Completing the outstanding BHW are: Bella Rolluda (San Fernando City); Erlinda Cabanban (San Juan); Christine Agsaoay (San Gabriel); Joy Oliva (Santol); Tessie Nelmida (Luna); Carmencita Libao (Sudipen); Merlie Florendo (Naguilian); Valerie Estoesta (Agoo); and Erlinda Orille (Santo Tomas).
The outstanding BNS, meanwhile, are: Lorna Bautista (Balaoan); Aurelia Aguilar (Luna); Dominga Viernes (Bangar); Warlyn Ballesil (Bauang); Elizabeth Rabe (Aringay); Elsa Estacio (Tubao); Mary Grace Dungan (Agoo); Suzeta Dacalano (Santo Tomas); and Rubeliva Marquez (Rosario).
The recognition is held annually by the PGLU by virtue of Ordinance No. 155-2018 for the BNS, and Ordinance No. 172-2019 for the BHWs.
Through the leadership of Gov. Pacoy, the PGLU remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold health and nutrition in the communities, as integral to building a Stronger La Union, a province worth living in.

On behalf of Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III, EnP. Annalyn Rosario-Valdez, Supervising Environmental Management Specialist of the Office of the Provincial Governor – Environment and Natural Resources Unit (OPG-ENRU) represented the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) during the blessing and inauguration of LGU-Pugo Sanitary Landfill Facility located at Brgy. Maoasoas Norte, Pugo, La Union on December 21, 2020.

“The inauguration of this sanitary landfill is a testament that even in the midst of pandemic, the local government continues to uphold its commitment to preserve the integrity of the environment. Through this facility, we ensure sustainability of our efforts on solid waste management, which all the more should be a priority in environmental governance,” Gov. Pacoy said in his message.

The blessing and inauguration of the sanitary landfill facility was led by Mayor Priscilla M. Martin, Vice Mayor Jose B. Basallo, and all of the department heads, Sangguniang Bayan Members and barangay officials of Local Government Unit-Pugo. Provincial Engineer Ressie A. Estrella also attended the inauguration activity.

The sanitary landfill facility of LGU-Pugo has an area of three hectares equipped with garbage trucks and equipment such as shredders and materials recovery facility as well as solid waste management support facilities. The PGLU provided assistance in the establishment of the sanitary landfill support facilities. LGU-Pugo was granted with garbage truck and multi-purpose vehicle as their prize for winning the Search for the Cleanest, Safest, and Greenest CY 2018 of the PGLU.

The Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through Local Economic Enterprise and Investment Promotions Unit (LEEIPU) supports the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Hub Website Launching on December 18, 2020 at CSI The City Mall, exactly a year after the opening of the OTOP-Hub La Union physical store in Bacnotan, La Union.

OTOP Hub is a flagship access market to promote local products with the aim to establish a market access to cater OTOP-preneurs in the province. Department of Trade and Industry La Union Provincial Director Merlie D. Membrere said that this online platform is an effort to meet the needs of consumers and their competitive and innovative behavior. Initially, 20 MSMEs were featured in the website.

In her inspirational message, Regional Director Grace Falgui-Baluyan mentioned that, “The journey of investment in our online presence became a reality. We take note that even without pandemic, this should be happening, the pandemic helped us grow. This OTOP-Hub Website is self-sustaining to provide more assistance and interventions to our MSMEs.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III said in his video message, “As we move towards crisis recovery and transformation, jumpstarting local economy is symbolic of our reinvigorated hope for a promising future.”