Umingan Held Youth Leadership Summit

A Youth Leadership Summit dubbed Umingan Youth Forum ’09 was held last October 23-25, 2009 at the Umingan Central Elementary School. With the theme "Youth of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow", the YLS is a three-day live-in training program organized and conducted by the 71^st Infantry (Kaibigan) Battalion of the Philippine Army under Col Melquiades Feliciano INF (GSC). It was attended by a total of 88 youth coming from high school and college levels including out of school youths. The YLS (Youth Leadership Summit) is specially designed towards enhancing leadership and interrelations skills, and advocacy for patriotism and moral uprightness of youth leaders. Specifically, it hopes to develop God-fearing, morally upright, disciplined and socially responsible youth leaders who promote peace and development with a great sense of patriotism; and to protect the youth against exploitation of unlawful organizations that destroy democracy and the duly constituted government. The training modules include activities that help the participants develop teamwork and camaraderie; keep the youth aware of deceptive and manipulative recruitment of illegal and subversive organizations; introduce to the youth their roles and responsibilities in nation-building; and prepare them in to be able to help mold the future of their own communities. The YLS was made possible through the coordination of 71^st Infantry (Kaibigan) Battalion of the Philippine Army, 7^th Civil Military Operations Battalion, Philippine National Police, Department of Education and the Local Government of Umingan.

Telecoms Sans Frontieres, Using Technology for Disaster Relief

When a calamity, war, or pandemic strikes, the Telecoms San Frontieres team springs into action. Through satellite uplinks, they provide free three-minute calls for people desperate to reach family to let them know about their conditions. Telecoms San Frontieres, (meaning Telecommunications Without Borders), is a relief organization based in southern France with more than a decade of experience in setting up emergency communications facilities in war or disaster zones. A telecommunication booth was set up at the Municipal Building Grounds last October 19, 2009 offering the said three-minute call (both domestic and international calls) to anyone and everyone. Oisin Walton, team leader of the Telecoms San Frontieres unit sent here said volunteers like him go to disaster zones to carry out their organizations mission and to provide some sort of relief to the community using technology. In the onset of the devastation of Super Typhoon Pepeng, land line telecommunication was brought down to a halt for more than a week (October 9-19, 2009) and the efforts of Telecoms Sans Frontieres were very timely to provide telecommunication to our constituents.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Sagip Tulong (Medical Mission) Complete Success!

A medical mission for our municipality dubbed PGMA Sagip Tulong was conducted last October 17, 2009 through the efforts of our President Gloria M. Arroyo with close coordination with the Philippine Army, Medical Volunteers from Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation, Rural Health Units of Umingan and the Local Government Unit of Umingan. The medical mission, which was a continuation of relief operations following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Pepeng, provided free health checkups, consultations and medicines. The whole event, lasting almost half a day, was a total success wherein a total of one thousand seven hundred two (1,702) people were accommodated.

Relief Poured in for Distressed Uminganians

Super Typhoon Pepeng dampened the whole of the town but it didn’t dampen the many hearts of those who are willing to help our distressed Uminganians. Relief poured in to the town during and after the two-day ordeal brought by “Pepeng”. There was also a continuous rescue and evacuation efforts done by our Local Government in cooperation to the Provincial and National Disaster Coordinating Council. As initial aid to our devastated town mates, the Local Government purchased an assortment of rice grains, canned goods packed noodles which were repacked by volunteer employees and distributed by barangays. Days following the onslaught of Pepeng, relief continued to pour in. Among those who are in the Government that extended help were the Abono Partylist (packed lunch), Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (packed relief goods), Gen. Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr. (packed relief goods), Department of Social Welfare and Development Central Office (packed relief goods), Presidential Management Staff of Malacañang (packed relief goods), Senator Manny B. Villar (packed relief goods), Mayor Jejomar C. Binay (packed relief goods), the Local Government of Lupao, Nueva Ecija (relief goods and evacuation area) and the 71st IB of the Philippine Army(packed relief goods). Hand in hand with the Government, different Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), namely ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya (clothing & sanitation kit), Philippine National Red Cross, 143 Pangasinan Chapter (packed relief goods) and Private Organizations namely SMART Telecommunications (packed relief goods), Manila North Tollways Corporation (packed relief goods) Philippine Long Distance Telecommunications (packed relief goods) Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (water filtration unit) have also extended help to our town. Kind spirited individuals also made contributions to augment the relief operations to our town and among them were Bert & Lydia Infante (P 2,000 cash), Eleno Corpuz (P10,000 cash), Sisters from St. Dominican Church, Capas, Tarlac (clothing and packed relief goods) and the volunteer municipal employees who help to repack and distribute relief goods and have also helped in rescue and evacuation efforts.

Umingan Devastated by Super Typhoon Pepeng

Super Typoon Pepeng (international name Parma) has wrecked havoc to most part of Pangasinan and our municipality is unfortunately among the towns affected. Pepeng’s heavy rains stressed and later on destroyed portions of the dike along the Banila River which caused flooding in barangays near the dike. Continuous rains made almost all water channels, especially canals, to swell and overflow which further flooded barangays that are nowhere near the Banila River including the town proper. The floods destroyed roads and road shoulders, eroded bridge foundations and approaches, destroyed numerous houses and properties, isolated some barangays, damaged large amounts of soon to be harvested crops and ultimately caused four casualties. All in all, the ordeal affected an approximately eight thousand six hundred ninety nine (8,699) families in forty five barangays (listed below are the barangays affected with corresponding number of affected households). There were no electricity and telephone lines were likely disabled for more than a week still due to the rampage of Super Typhoon Pepeng.

List of Affected Barangays and Number of Households

· Alo-o (100)	· Diaz (120)	· La Paz (243)
· Lauren (100)	· San Juan (150)	· Decreto (100)
· Bantug (150)	· Maseil-seil (140)	· Poblacion East (463)
· Evangelista (185)	· Pangangaan (89)	· Nancalabasaan (446)
· Cabatuan (210)	· Lubong (140)	· Poblacion West (582)
· Calitlitan (192)	· Labuan (163)	· Don Montano (580)
· Abot Molina (231)	· Cabaruan (146)	· Sinabaan (200)
· Casilan (100)	· Sta. Maria (150)	· Buenavista (220)
· Mantacdang (100)	· Don Justo Abalos (80)	· San Leon (107)
· Tanggal-sawang (79)	· Amaronan (184)	· Flores (328)
· Del Rosario (70)	· San Pablo (190)	· Barat (110)
· Papallasen (353)	· Gonzales (350)	· Caurdanetaan (348)
· Annam (100)	· Carosalesan (157)	· Cabalitian (261)
· Cabangaran (115)	· Diket (120)	· Esperanza (80)
· Carayungan Sur (100)	· Pemienta (160)	· Cadiz (87)