OFWs build P'nan town projects

VILLASIS, Pangasinan ,Philippines  –This town is able to build major infrastructure projects through the help of its overseas Filipino workers, who participate in fund-raising activities of the municipal government such as the annual Mrs. Villasis popularity contest.

Mayor Dita Abrenica told The STAR that their municipal building, police station, street lighting, the big town gym, park, overpass, and others were built through their Mrs. Villasis search.

This year, despite the economic crunch, the town raised a record-breaking P19,865,303.60 from its annual Mrs. Villasis search.

The result speaks well of the unity, cooperation and collective effort displayed by the candidates, their supporters local and abroad, their relatives and friends as well as the townspeople, Abrenica said.

Proceeds of the town fiesta are intended for the renovation of the Villasis legislative building.

Beatriz de Vera-Olivar, who was crowned Mrs. Villasis 2012 on Jan. 21 during the coronation and balikbayan night, raised P10,049,397 for the fund.

This was followed by P6,071,061 raised by Cristina Manantan-Abenes, while third was Merlita Rayray-Magtaan with P3,114,845.

The fiesta includes the annual Talong/Pinakbet Festival featuring the town’s best produce, eggplant and other crops used in the pinakbet dish.

This year, the municipal government bought one brand new ambulance and one fire truck from proceeds of the Mrs. Villasis search.

Every year, the Abrenica couple would go overseas to scout for candidates for the Mrs. Villasis search. A local candidate supported by townsfolk also vies for the title and also contributes to the projects intended to bring progress to the town.

The Abrenica couple said transparency on how the funds raised are spent is the key to the continuing trust of their constituents both here and abroad.