LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Gov. Ramon V. Guico III said that Barangay Malico, a picturesque tourist spot in the town of San Nicolas, belongs to Pangasinan, not Nueva Vizcaya.
Guico vowed to allocate P200 million to develop the area.
A VIEW of Barangay Malico, San Nicolas, Pangasinan. (Photo via Liezle Basa-Inigo)
“Huwag ninyong kukunin ang Malico sa Pangasinan (Do not take away Malico from Pangasinan). Malico is Pangasinan, not Nueva Vizcaya. Despite the territorial dispute, we have to insist that it is ours. Bilang ama ng Pangasinan, kayo po dito sa Malico, kahit 1,364 ang barangay sa probinsiya, hindi naman kayo naiiba sa ibang barangay dahil special kayo (You are not different from the 1,364 barangays in Pangasinan because you are special). Pangasinan will never leave Malico,” he said.
Guico welcomed development projects that will be implemented by the province of Nueva Vizcaya in Malico.
He said these projects are expected to improve the lives of the people of Malico, one of the five tourism focus areas in the province.
He vowed to bring provincial government programs to Malico, which include infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Vice Gov. Mark Ronald Lambino assured the support of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through a resolution for all the projects of San Nicolas for Malico.