SUBIC BAY, Zambales — The food industry here is increasing as more and more restaurants, cafes and fast food are popping up inside the Subic Bay Freeport. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Armie Llamas said the increase in the number of restaurants signifies investor-confidence in the Freeport’s potential as a tourism hub. “With the setting up of restaurants such as Sumosam, TGIFridays and the likes only means that entrepreneurs who invest heavily in the food industry believes that Subic will likely generate income,” Llamas said. Recently, Japanese-fusion resto Sumosam opened its 12th branch inside the Harbor Point in Subic Bay Freeport. Owner Marvin Agustin was on hand during the opening.  (Jonas Reyes)

MANGROVE DAY

CALAUAG, Quezon — Volunteers and local officials went out on Saturday to plant two million mangroves prop gules in one day in different parts of the province which celebrated “Mangrove Day.” Former Quezon Representative Aleta Suarez and Calauag Municipal Mayor Luisito Visorde joined the synchronized tree-planting in the coastline of Lamon Bay in Barangay Kinamaligan, here. Planting two million mangroves trees in one day dubbed as Quezon’s 2-in-1 Project was initiated by Quezon Governor David C. Suarez and spearheaded by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO). (Danny Estacio)

REGION 4-A NOW SAFER THAN EVER

CAMP GEN. VICENTE LIM, Laguna — The crime rate in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) has reportedly decreased compared to the volume in previously years, a police official reported yesterday. The crime volume decreased by 20.91 percent compared to the same period of last year while index crime is down to 35.17 percent. Chief Superintendent James Melad, Police Regional Office (PPO) 4-A director, said this is the result of the various anti-crime programs initiated to different Police Provincial Offices (PPOs) in the region. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

DISASTER-READY

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — To further raise the city’s standards for disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation, village chiefs together with their council members convened in a four-day seminar at the Maharajah Hotel to analyze hazards, prepare plans, identify needs and have an overall awareness for calamities. The seminar-workshop, dubbed “Enhancing the Local Government Unit on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation”, was spearheaded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the support of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). (Franco G. Regala)

UNIFIED SURVEY DONE IN LIMAY

LIMAY, Bataan — To further serve the public, the Municipality of Limay led by Mayor Ver Roque has launched the “Limay unified survey.” The first of its kind, said survey was aimed at knowing how the present administration could do more to its constituents particularly in providing their needs  in housing,  skills, education and in putting in order the solid waste. Aside from these, Roque wants to know what the needed employment is in the barangays for the possible job generation by multi-national companies in the town. (Mar T. Supnad)