Top Revenue-Generating Municipalities in La Union Recognized

The Provincial Government of La Union led by Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III awarded Certificates of Recognition to Top Performing Municipalities for Revenue Generation on December 15, 2020. The awarding was done through video conferencing and the Certificates were given to the different Local Government Units by representatives from the Provincial Treasurer’s Office headed by Acting Provincial Treasurer Janet D. Molina on December 17-18, 2020.
The municipalities were awarded according to classes. Among the class first Municipalities, Bauang, ranked first for Real Property Tax with a 378.72% collection efficiency; Rosario ranked first for Tax on Business and Other Taxes with 120.48% collection efficiency and also ranked first for Receipts and Economic Enterprises with 124.92% Collection Efficiency; Bacnotan ranked first for Fees and Charges with 124.58% collection efficiency.
For the Municipalities classified as class two and three, San Juan ranked first for Real Property Tax with 115.25% Collection Efficiency; Bangar ranked first for Tax on Business and Other Taxes with 130.65% collection efficiency and also ranked first for Fees and Charges with 172.69% collection efficiency; and Aringay ranked first for Receipts and Economic Enterprises with 149.22% collection efficiency.
For class four and five Municipalities, Caba ranked first for Real Property Tax with 131.38% collection efficiency and also ranked first for Receipts from Economic Enterprises with 141.34% collection efficiency; Santo Tomas ranked first for Tax on Business and Other Taxes with 222.03% collection efficiency; and San Gabriel ranked first for Fees and Charges with 146.46% collection efficiency.

BM Orros, DTI Conduct Monitoring for Consumers’ Protection

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member (SPM) Jonathan Justo A. Orros together with the representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), conducted an inspection to the supermarkets of San Fernando City, La Union on December 17, 2020 to check the prices of basic commodities and observe the safety protocols including the monitoring of the implementation of CCTV ordinance as requirements by these business establishments.

The surprise inspection was to ensure that business establishments complies with the ordinance of the province especially on the mandatory wearing of face mask, face shield and the practice of social distancing including the compliance on the installation of CCTV as well as price monitoring for consumers’ protection and safety.

SPM Orros said that the surprise visit on these establishments will deter overpricing and will ensure safety measures are in place to prevent the spread of Corona Virus (CoViD-19).

He added that the initiative does not only aim to check the prices of the basic commodities but is also an appropriate time to re-activate the La Union Price Coordinating Council through a resolution in order to fast track the monitoring of prices in the locality for the benefit of the consuming public.

Consumers are enjoined to report to the DTI all retailers and suppliers selling overpriced goods by reporting them to the nearest DTI Provincial Office.

“Based on the result of the inspection so far, sumusunod naman ang mga business establishments natin especially sa SRP or the suggested retail price ng mga basic commodities natin including safety protocols which is very important para ligtas tayo sa CoViD-19,” SPM Orros explained.

Meanwhile, the DTI committed to ensure that establishments will follow the safety protocols under the Inter-Agency Task Force and will abide by the Suggested Retail Price of basic commodities.

La Union Returning OFWs Learn Financial Awareness

Provincial Public Employment Service Office Manager, Ms. Charito C. Dator and staff with the technical assistance of the Information Communications & Technology Unit representatives, spearheads the conduct of the two sessions of Financial Awareness Zoom Webinar for returning Overseas Filipino Workers on December 9 and 15, 2020 held at the 5/F LUPAC Bldg., City of San Fernando, La Union.

Entertainment as Platform of Impactful Messages in La Union, Secured 2 Aliw Awards

“Thank you very much, Aliw Awards Foundation…this will serve as an inspiration for us to make more quality shows that the people deserve and make art a platform for delivering a message – a message that is meaningful and relevant,” said Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III in his acceptance speech as he received two trophies for Aliw Awards 2020 on December 15, 2020 at Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel.
Out of six nominations, La Union secured two awards in the event including Best Festival Practices and Performance for Mutia ti La Union 2020 and Best Festival Catalyst/Organizer for Gov. Pacoy. The Best Special Events Director was also awarded to Bernard Yabut Maybituin for Mutia ti La Union 2020.
Other nominations for La Union were Best Special Events Production for Mutia ti La Union 2020; and Best Special Events Production and Best Special Events Director also for Maybituin for The La Union Vibrant Women Incorporated (LUVWI) Charity Ball 2020 Abel Iloko Fashion Show and Creative Agricultural Costume Presentation.
Both Mutia ti La Union 2020 and LUVWI Charity Ball 2020 were part of the 170th La Union Founding Anniversary which promoted widely the Agri-Tourism vision of the province around La Union and outside the province.
With the prestige that comes with the Aliw Awards in the Philippine entertainment industry, this is an opportunity for La Union to have an even wider reach for its message bringing closer the attainment of the vision to position La Union as the Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon in 2025.

LU LEAGUE OF SECRETARIES EXPEDITE REVIEW OF LOCAL ORDINANCES

To expedite the review of local ordinances, Atty. Jessamine Lynn Dale C. Garcinez, on behalf of the Provincial Legal Officer serves as the Resource Speaker to discuss common observations noted on their review of local ordinance during the regular monthly meeting of the Philippine League of Secretaries in La Union on December 11, 2020 at the Conference Room of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Provincial Capitol of La Union.

PESO-LU Spearheads Application Training for LGU PESOs

For La Union Public Employment Service Offices to be more innovative in communication engagements, Labor & Employment Officer II, Rowell B. Timoteo and Resource Speaker, Information System Analyst I Terosha I. Ballesteros of the Provincial Government of La Union – Information Communication Technology Unit, give a brief introduction about the Zoom Application Training for Local Government Unit – Public Employment Service Offices on December 11, 2020 at 2/F LUPAC Bldg, City of San Fernando, La Union.

PGLU Bags Three Digital Governance Awards

The Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) bags three awards for Provincial Level for the Digital Governance Awards (DGA) 2020 on December 11, 2020 during the awarding ceremony via Zoom and Facebook Live.
The awards received include: 2nd Place in Best in Customer Empowerment (G2C) Award for eLyUnite; 3rd Place in Best in Inter-Operability (G2G) Award for Provincial Wireless Mesh; and 3rd Place in Best in Government Internal Operations (G2I) Award for iTRACK. PGLU is also a finalist in Best in CoViD-19 Pandemic Response (G2P) for Quarantine Community Protocol Management System (QCPMS).
About 56 Local Government Units with 109 entries vied for the 15 awards given. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año congratulated all the participants for their resilience despite the present challenges as he thanked them for their innovative measures to face the new normal while embracing IT solutions.
The DGA is an annual, national search for best practices in local government units in utilizing information and communications technology (ICT) to effectively and efficiently deliver its public services directly to constituents and business stakeholders. DGA is a joint project of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines and DILG.
The Information Communications Technology Unit of PGLU shall continue to integrate technology in business processes in support to the establishment of a Stronger La Union.

PGLU Regulates Pork Meat Sale

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of La Union approved on final reading on December 10, 2020 the enactment of La Union Provincial Ordinance regulating the sale of pork meat in all flea markets or satellite markets in the Province of La Union.

Hon. Geraldine R. Ortega, Principal Author of the said Ordinance, mentioned under the Local Government Code of 1991 which mandates every Local Government Unit to regulate the preparation and sale of foodstuff such as meat for public consumption.

She also emphasized that Republic Act 7394 otherwise known as the Consumer’s Act of the Philippines requires the Department of Agriculture to provide safety and quality standards for consumer products related to agriculture to assure the protection of the public against unreasonable risks of injury and hazards to health.

BM Ortega added, that there is a need to increase the awareness of meat traders, meat market owners/administrators, meat vendors and the consuming public on the conditions for the safe handling of meat and the implementation of meat safety standards.

The said ordinance shall apply to all meat establishments where meat is slaughtered, prepared, processed, handled, packed or stored or sold. All slaughterhouses and poultry dressing plants shall ensure adequate protection.

Violators of this ordinance will be fined P5,000.00 or imprisonment of not more than six months or both in the discretion of the court.