Pangasinan: The provincial government of Pangasinan is set to focus on healthcare, education, and other social services anew this 2026. The bulk of its PHP8.3 billion budget this year is allocated to social services such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and related activities.
According to Pangasinan Information and Media Relations Office (PIMRO), the NTA is projected to rise from over PHP5.89 billion in 2025 to PHP6.67 billion in 2026, based on the comparative data report. Social services received over PHP3.9 billion, PHP2.9 billion for Public Services, and PHP1.5 billion for Economic Services, based on the 2026 Annual Investment Program's priority projects.
Vice Governor Mark Lambino noted in a recent interview that a significant part of the budget increase was due to a higher national tax allocation and increased income generated locally, especially from economic enterprises. Funding is also allocated for infrastructure development, including upgrades and the addition of hospitals such as the Umingan Supercommunity Hospital and Alcala Community Hospital.
Governor Ramon Guico III emphasized the importance of healthcare as an equalizer in society, highlighting the need to prioritize it. He stated, 'When it comes to health, we're all equal. No one is richer or more powerful. When it comes to our bodies, we're all the same. Sickness chooses no one.'
Guico added that 20 percent of the annual budget is allocated primarily for healthcare. He mentioned that other income, such as hospital collections and reimbursements from Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth), is treated as revenue for the hospital, serving as a working budget for manpower, equipment, medicines, and supplies.
The provincial government aims to enroll two million people under PhilHealth's Yaman ng Kalusugan Program, which offers free consultations, essential diagnostics, and annual medicines to encourage prevention and early detection. The Umingan Supercommunity Hospital is set to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, and the government plans to add 10 more hospitals to the 14 already operated by the provincial government.
In education, the provincial government is expanding the facilities of the Pangasinan Polytechnic College with hopes of obtaining accreditation from the Commission on Higher Education as a university. A new campus is planned for Umingan town, and there are efforts to establish another in Bugallon.
Meanwhile, the provincial government has initiated a 10-year river rehabilitation and flood mitigation project, beginning with the desilting of major river systems in December last year. This initiative, in collaboration with national agencies and local governments, will adhere to environmental laws with strict monitoring to prevent over-dredging. The project also includes inland dredging, solid waste management, riverbank tree planting, and support for local clean-up drives. A new flood management department will be established to oversee long-term efforts.
