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Frontliners in various hospitals and checkpoints in the Province of La Union receive simple treats from the Provincial Government of La Union in a surprise visit in their posts on August 17, 2020.
Gov. Pacoy commends the frontline workers as he reiterated that they should remain firm and resolute in the implementation of protocols while the province continues to battle against COVID-19.
La Union is now under Modified General Community Quarantine, but PGLU ensures strict implementation of local action as a part of the continuing COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

In his visit in the Province of La Union, Usec. Claire Dennis S. Mapa of the National Statistician and Civil Registrar General met with Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III through a video conference on August 25, 2020 to discuss their upcoming programs in the province.
Usec. Mapa conducted a field inspection in the province in preparation for the 2020 Census of Population and Housing which will commence on September 1, 2020 and the National ID Registration which will start on October 12, 2020.
The undersecretary informed the Governor that the National ID Registration will cover around 130,000 households in La Union which is more than 50% of the total households in the province which is part of the pilot batch.
Gov. Pacoy was assured of the observance of the minimum health standards in the conduct of census by their field personnel. He said that face masks and face shields will be worn and physical distancing will be strictly observed.
“We need to learn to co-exist with the virus, at the same time, tuloy parin ang trabaho natin,” said Gov. Pacoy as he mentioned that the Provincial Government of La Union will provide the requested storage space facility and transportation requirements in carrying out the program. He also said that resolutions to support the endeavors are on the way.
Usec. Mapa expressed his gratitude for the support from Office of the Provincial Governor and the Local Chief Executives in La Union in the conduct of the projects.
“We are partners Usec., and we believe in convergence and collaboration among agencies of the government whether regional, national or local,” said Gov. Pacoy in anticipation of the success of the programs.

To promote environmental sustainability, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) conducted “Project ECHO (Ecobricking Challenge at Home is On!)” at the Department of Justice – Parole and Probation Office on August 24, 2020 through the Office of the Provincial Governor – Environment and Natural Resources Unit (OPG-ENRU).
Project ECHO was created to encourage the residents to stay at home and make ecobrick-ready bottles during the quarantine period in a bid to combat CoViD-19 at the same time keeping the community plastic litter-free. With the success of the project, it was brought to the Department of Justice – Parole and Probation Office for livelihood of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) while they serve their sentence.
A total of 100 parolees and probationers from the first district of La Union benefited in the said project. During the ecobrick-exchange activity, Chief Probation and Parole Officer Bernaditha Cacho; Senior Probation and Parole Officer Constancia Agoot; Senior Probation and Parole Officer Krista Charisma Oenesa; Senior Probation and Parole Officer Jennifer Villafranca; Probation and Parole Officer II Sayra Valdez; and Administrative Aide IV Raul Pilipina presented the ecobrick-ready bottles of their clients to OPG-ENRU.
According to Senior Probation and Parole Officer Agoot, clients were very delighted to receive bags of rice in exchange of the ecobrick-ready bottles they made. Each client took about two weeks to make one ecobrick-ready bottle out of their own household wastes. A total of 232 kgs of rice were given to the participants exchanged from 115 ecobrick-ready bottles.
This project initiated by the OPG-ENRU is part of the solid waste management strategic initiative of the office under the incentivized waste diversion program called “Basura para sa Bigas” wherein ecobricks are collected from individuals and then exchanged to bags of rice.
The PGLU recognizes the contributions of Persons Deprived of Liberty in preserving the environment in the province. With these kinds of programs, the PGLU looks forward in bringing better quality of life for the people.

Through the help of the Department of Health (DOH), the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) ensures the sufficient supply of materials that aid our healthcare workers and frontliners in the continuing fight against COVID-19.
The PGLU has received from DOH a total of 9,000 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) on August 19, 2020.
Each PPE set includes cover-all, surgical gown, shoe cover, Kn95 mask, medical gloves, head cover, face shield, and apron.
The PPE sets shall be distributed to the hospitals administered by the PGLU, namely the La Union Medical Center and the five district hospitals in Balaoan, Bacnotan, Naguilian, Caba and Rosario.
The PGLU is committed in providing the needs of healthcare workers and frontliners as it recognizes that the virus remains to be a serious threat in the community. Every kaprobinsiaan is still reminded to strictly observe the ‘public health standards’ to contribute in building a #StrongerLaUnion.

With the aim to ensure readiness of La Union in the opening of classes, the 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) invited officials of the Commission on Higher Education, Region I and Department of Education on August 18, 2020 to brief the lawmakers on the status of their preparation for the opening of classes.
CHED-RO1 OIC-Regional Director Dr. Rogelio T. Galera, Jr. and Schools Division Superintendent of La Union Schools Division Office Atty. Donato D. Balderas, Jr., served as Resource Speakers during the 60th Regular Session held at the SP Session Hall, Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union.
Dir. Galera explained the flexible learning initiatives, projects and trainings of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the region particularly in the Province of La Union under the new arrangement while Atty. Balderas presented the different strategies that will be implemented by DepEd Schools for the current school year.
To ensure good internet connectivity in the province, La Union Provincial Officer Mr. Hipolito Palaganas of the Department of Information and Communications Technology also presented the plans and programs of the said agency to enhance internet connectivity in the province which includes the Free Wi-Fi for All Program in partnership with the Telecommunications and Local Government Units.
Also present during the session were representatives of the major internet providers in the province, PLDT and Converge, who offered their respective proposals and services to the education department to ensure fast and reliable internet connections in schools and communities that will aid them in their implementation of distance learning programs.
The SP through Vice Gov. Mario Eduardo C. Ortega assured its full support in performing the education arm’s mandates of giving quality and accessible education for all in the new normal through legislation.
As the Provincial Government of La Union ensures the harmonious working relationship of different agencies to improve the quality of education in the province, we also call for each kaprobinsiaan’s help in building a Stronger La Union.

SWEET SENDOFF. It is challenging to find moments to celebrate in these difficult times but Naguilian District Hospital Public Relations Communications Committee (NDH PRCC) led by OIC-Chief of Hospital Dr. Michelle D. Arellano together with the hospital staff on duty send home a total of nine CoViD-19 recoveries on August 16 and 18, 2020 after receiving their second negative RT-PCR test results.

The first batch of recoveries were seven residents from Disso-or Bauang, La Union confined in NDH care since August 1, 2020 while the second batch were two members of the Philippine Army who were in admitted since August 3, 2020.

NDH sends them off with cheers and applauses and gave them congratulatory tokens as Dr. Michelle D. Arellano reminded them to follow the minimum health standards.

May these small wins serve as inspiration to each kaprobinsiaan to follow all the protocols set to fight CoViD-19 and to build a #StrongerLaUnion.

Despite the CoViD-19 pandemic, the Province of La Union perseveres in its Transformative Governance journey. Thus, with the aim to establish a Stronger La Union, Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III convenes his Cabinet Members, together with their Seconds-in-Command, Unit Heads and Administrative Officers, through a video conference meeting today, August 14, 2020, as the second part of the Pre-State of the Province Address (Pre-SOPA) Dialogue Series.
Gov. Pacoy presented the updated strategy, “Stronger La Union: Provincial Strategy on Response, Recovery, and Local Economic Development (LED)” to the body. With the recent developments in CoViD-19 and the new normal, the vision of the province to be The Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025 also needed to cope through the integration of crisis response and recovery. This is to enable LED in the long term via our enabler industries, Agriculture and Tourism.
After which, Gov. Pacoy directed the department and unit heads to meet with their teams to further discuss the strategy, and agree on their alignment and program proposals for 2021. He also reiterates the need to strengthen sectoral capabilities to ensure resource mobilization efficiency and achievement of optimal results in programs and commitments.
Other matters discussed in the meeting were the presentation of the current status of CoViD-19 in the Province and the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) CoViD-19 Operations and Initiatives. Moreover, Provincial Administrator Agnes Grace A. Cargamento proposed a sectoral strengthening to adopt with the new strategy which the Governor gave his approval.
The Cabinet Members gave their commitment to become enablers in their own departments to make PGLU an organization that creates a Province worth living in. “Adversities should not divide us but should make our bond stronger because more than ever, our people need us now,” said Gov. Pacoy.
As the PGLU does its part in advocating for improved quality of life for the people, we need all Kaprobinsiaan to join us in building a #StrongerLaUnion.