JUAN-NESS (oneness)

     BOLINAO, PANGASINAN has many attractions to explore with its fascinating past, intriguing present and exciting future, It is also known by having several resorts, Caves and preserved mangrove places. There are RESORTS after RESORTS, CAVES after CAVES that’s why bunch of business men are continually raising up, today especially foreigners. They had chosen BOLINAO because it has the natural beauty of the nature. No need more efforts to beautify it a lot. They want to showcase it all over the country. Some of Filipino employees there in BOLINAO said that Foreigners have the strategic mind when it comes to business that we don’t have. They just know how to handle it in a professional way. Business is business for them. you just have to embrace it.

     Several mangrove trees are everywhere. Its extensive coral reefs, sea grass and estuarine areas provide an ideal ecosystem where diverse marine species can dwell and propagate. This, consequently, becomes a major source for locals who rely on fishing for livelihood. To further protect and develop this natural habitat, the provincial government of Pangasinan has put up the Bolinao Provincial Mangrove Information Center and Nursery (BPMICN) as part of its coastal reforestation campaign. The project aims to provide mangrove seedlings in the entire province which has a long coastline ideal for fish spawning. Today, the nursery has become another showpiece to visitors of Bolinao aside from its prized beaches and historical attractions – a testament to the provincial government’s resolve to make Pangasinan a haven of marine ecosystem. Mangroves have had to physically adapt their leaves, their roots and their reproductive methods in order to survive in a harsh, dynamic environment of soft, low oxygen soils and varying salinity. ASIDE from serving as natural habitat and breeding grounds for fish, mangroves also act as natural barriers during storm surges. The provincial government had also encouraged community participation in the reforestation activity to raise their awareness on the need to protect the environment. Mangroves seedlings are grown at the provincial mangrove information center and nursery in Barangay (village) Arnedo in Bolinao town. Recipients of seedlings included local governments, schools, barangay councils, church groups, fishermen and farmers associations in the towns of Bolinao, Bani, Infanta, Anda, Dasol, Agno, Sual, Mangaldan, San Fabian and Lingayen and the cities of Alaminos and Dagupan. Seedlings planted include bakawan, bungalon, nipa and pagatpat.

     Ellsworth Gonzales, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Population Office said the latest recipients of the livelihood assistance include the Germinal Women’s Association in Bolinao. The Germinal Women’s Association and the Nagkaisa MPC, with 28 and 71 beneficiaries respectively, each received a livelihood loan of P150, 000 for their fish and commodity trading and farm inputs business. The first batch recipients for this year received their checks from Gov. Espino last January 16 where 13 women’s groups and two micro, small and medium enterprises(MSMEs) benefitted from the regular livelihood program of the provincial government. To date, a total of P38.9 million in livelihood loans has been released by the province under the watch of Gov. Espino since 2008 to beneficiaries most of whom are women’s groups which seeks to help them earn an income to augment their family’s needs. Belen Caasi, president of the Germinal Women’s Association who has been a regular beneficiary of the program since 2008 said she is very glad and thankful to the provincial government for coming up with programs that helps women like her.

     “Nagpapasalamat ako sa programang ito ni Gob. Espino dahil malaking tulong ito sa pamilya namin. Masaya din ako at ako ay nakakatulong sa aking asawa sa pagbibigay ng mga pangangailangan ng buong pamilya,” Caasi said. Jeany Villamonte, another member of the women’s association and also a regular beneficiary, said the livelihood assistance program of the provincial government has long been part of her family’s life as her business which she funds from the livelihood loan has gone a long way to help meet the needs of her family by augmenting some of their necessities.