“What greater honor is there but to be of service to the very city where we were born and raised.” Mayor Benjamin S. Lim February 14, 2011 “State of the City Address.”
By: Ernie Martinez
It was June 20, 1947, 64 years ago today, when Dagupan was declared a city. Authored by the late Speaker Eugenio Perez, it was signed into law by then President Manuel Roxas on June 20, 1947.
Mayor Benjamin S. Lim, former congressman 4th District of Pangasinan, and 2-term elected Mayor of the city (2001-2007) was given a new mandate as Dagupan’s local chief executive on May 2010.
Others who served as mayor of Dagupan city:
Angel B. Fernandez (1948-1963)
Teofilo P. Guadiz (1954-1959)
Gaudencio Siapno (1957-1958) served in acting capacity when Guadiz ran for congressman.
Liberato U. Reyna (1960-63, 1963-67, 1988-91)
Cipriano Manaois (1968-1986)
Felipe C. Siapno (Jan. 25-Feb.2, 1987, Jan 24, 1988)
Rosalyn A. de Venecia (Dec. 2, 1987 to Jan 24, 1988)
Alipio “Al” Fernandez (May 11, 1992-2001, 2007-2010)
Benjamin S. Lim (2001-2007, May 2010-present)
PERSPECTIVE
Dagupan is probably the only city in the Philippines that to some extent owes its fame today, to a fish called Bangus.
Sometime in 2001, Mayor Lim during his first term
conceived an idea to develop the full potential of the bangus industry in the
city. He conceptualized the celebration of the first Dagupan Bangus Festival.
As programmed in its marketing concept, he called Dagupan, “Bangus City”.
With colorful and joyful activities never before experience in the city,
it attracted a phenomenal crowd never before seen in any one gathering in
Pangasinan. The rest is history, as the Bangus Festival worked its way every
year to attain the distinction and honor it enjoys today.
Dagupan has the distinction as the first city
created in Pangasinan. Located in the north central part of Pangasinan. It has
31 Barangay of around 150,000 inhabitants that balloon to some 500,000 during
regular days bolstered by transients doing business, and students who commute
daily to its schools and universities. It has an area of 44.47 sq. km. spread
over more than 40,000 hectares. With its four principal rivers and miles-long
sand beaches, Dagupan is an ideal business and trading as well as a residential
center. No wonder many businessmen and professionals are actually in a race to
acquire choice real estate in and around the city.
Economic Potential
Dagupan boast of a thriving Retail and wholesale
trading that comprises the bulk of business activities in the city. Shopping
malls complimented by a high concentration of 47 banks and 44 financial
institutions; educational facilities, schools and universities, hospitals and
government health units, equip with the latest state of the art facilities that
are found only in highly urbanized cities, are well established in the city.
The newly constructed Metro
Plaza commercial
buildings in front of City Hall will further add color and energy to the
economic face of the city. Just a step away at the backside is the Magsaysay
fish market, the 24-hour hub of fish trading in Pangasinan.
River Cruise – Tourist Attraction
Tourism in Dagupan has huge potential with its
sun-drenched, miles-long sea coast popularly known as Tondaligan beach, 4
kilometers north of the city. Dagupan has extensive rivers that crisscross the
city and now being developed to attract tourism with its “River Cruise”. A
wondrous journey that will give people the chance to explore the areas quaint
rivers that for decades remained out of reach, until now. The river cruise has
such bright promise as a clean, serene, and romantic experience as the glides
out quietly feeling the spirit of long lost pageantry. The river cruise
debuted months ago with a free ride along swamplands and fish farms, courtesy
of the socially conscious Lim administration, happily inviting people the
opportunity to be in harmony with nature.
Media
With the presence of world-class information and
telecommunications services, the media is well established in the city. GMA 7
and ABS-CBN have their own broadcast studious in Dagupan. Telephone companies
are highly accessible with PLDT and Digitel having their own buildings in the
city. One reality is that the city has perhaps the greatest number of community
newspapers and media practitioners in the whole region. For the last ten years a
tsunami of local newspapers and broadcast journalists has descended upon the
city. The reason is that enterprising journalists put out their own paper, and
become publisher themselves. Today, there are 17 local newspapers in the city
and radio broadcasting stations.
The city has rich religious heritage. Traditionally, Dagupan is predominantly Catholic and Aglipayan. Today, there are more than 30 active very diverse religious groups competing for the minds and hearts of Dagupeños. All of them are bible-based and have one common theme on their basic tenets. Religious landmarks in the city are the century’s Old Catholic Church that was restored after the July 1990 devastating earthquake. The imposing St. John’s Cathedral, the biggest most modern Catholic Church in Pangasinan is the center of Catholic religious activities in the city. There is also an old Aglipayan Church near the Malimgas Market which was rebuilt several times in the past after being raised by fire.
The Transformation
Dagupan has the ambience of a provincial city
until its rapid transformation 10 years ago. People were overwhelmed by the
remarkable changes during that period. And today, you will find a city of
people who takes pride enjoying the amenities of modern living. A clean and
bright city with a much improved traffic; a beautiful landscape and manicured
sidewalks, a world class children and senior citizen public park, a modern
facility of a one-stop-shop, and an air-conditioned public market.
Performance tells the story
If there is one man who can be credited for
transforming the physical and economic landscape of Dagupan, it is Mayor Lim.
During his first two terms he was elected on a platform of urgent change and
reforms. The people were intent on demanding immediate action on the long
prevailing problems of traffic, garbage, pollution, government bureaucracy and
other crucial issues that have long been neglected. He was the first city mayor
to get something done and achieved stunting results in such a short time.
Some
of the city’s transformation were very high risk politically that put him under
scrutiny by his critics. But despite criticisms, he remained unfazed. To him,
nothing beats good work, honest intentions and strong-willed leadership. The
new mandate given to him by the people, demonstrate his solid reputation as one
of the best loved and most successful mayor of the city.
A symbol, a Wish
Believe it or not, Pangasinan’s liveliest, most
creative Bangus City is a symbol of the people and city
officials’ resolve to make Dagupan a better place. When asked what Mayor Lim
would wish for the city during its foundation anniversary, he said, “Our
ultimate wish is to establish the reputation as a city of excellence, decency,
discipline and good taste. A city whose people, including visitors, behave
properly. Obey the rules, and respect the law, and be conscious of the rights
and convenience of others.”
Now, if you are wondering where on earth you’ve heard this statement before---
you are probably right! You heard it first, several years ago from Mayor Lim
himself, when he delivered his state of the city address on his 2nd term,
January 27, 2003. His passionate determination to make that “wish” come
true permeates his mind every day, as the demand for its reality had become
increasingly greater today.
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