Lingayen officials press for citihood

By Mar T. Supnad

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan- Local officials here headed by Mayor Ernesto “Jonas” C. Castaneda, Jr. are pushing conversion of this capital town into a component city, noting its improving economic development the town has gained for the past several years.

Castaneda said Lingayen is now more than qualified to its citihood bid and can now comply with the requirement to become a component city.

Started from a poor 4th class municipality in 1992, Lingayen has gradually become an economic tiger since Castaneda become the town’s municipal mayor after initiating successfully a number of economic programs aimed at uplifting the living conditions of the people here, livelihood for the poor-farmers and fishermen, among others.

“Lampas na kami sa requirements na magiging Component city ang Lingayen dahil gumanda ang pangkabuhayan ng mga tao dito at umangat ang aming ekonominiya,” said Castaneda.

Castaneda ran unopposed in the May 2007 elections, breaking the political record in this huge capital town since this was the first time that a mayoral candidate was not contested.

Castaneda cited the pouring in of various investments opportunities, the rising of a number of hotels, restaurants, the arrivals of tourists-foreign and local- and the sprawling of various infrastructures in and around the town as the concrete proof that Lingayen can now be qualified to become a city.

With the support of Governor Amado Espino, Mayor Castaneda expressed optimism that more developments will be occurred here, saying “Gov. Espino is bent really on making this town as a premiere city in the coming days.”

The soft-spoken mayor has also cited the peaceful environment of the town as he lauded the police leadership under Supt. Harris Fama for their efforts in maintaining peace and order in the capital town which is one of the most peaceful towns in the country.-Mar T Supnad