DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PNA) — Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial director Sr. Supt. Edward Carranza said former Dumaguete police chief, Supt. Crisaleo Tolentino and Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) head Insp. Janelito Marquez, were officially relieved of their posts last Friday. The two officers are under probe after a controversial alleged confrontation and misunderstanding between them and their men following the apprehension of a suspected drug pusher who Tolentino claimed was their asset but was arrested by the PAIDSOTG.

LILOAN CLEAN-UP

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) organized last Saturday, Sept. 15 cleanup of a 6.5-kilometer coastal stretch in Liloan, Cebu to mark National Coastal Clean-up Month with the theme: "Our place, our planet, our responsibility." Over 400 participants, including employees and officials of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Bureau of Customs (BoC), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) participated in the clean-up. University of San Carlos-North Campus and Cebu Technological University-Main Campus students also joined in the event. Members of the Coastal Enforcement Alliance of Region 7 including the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Police, local police officers of Liloan, Compostela and Danao also did their part in picking up garbage and waste at the coastlines.

NATIONAL ROADS

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog welcomed Congress’ approval of bills filed by Lone District Rep. Jerry P. Treñas converting 10 city roads here into national roads.  The 10 bills filed by Treñas were included in the second batch of road conversion bills approved by the Lower House for Iloilo City. The new national roads are: Mabini St.; Iznart to Rizal St.; Fuentes St.; Valeria St.; Gen. Luna to Jalandoni St.; and Quezon St. in City Proper; Arguelles St., Democracia St. and Cuartero St. in Jaro; and Loboc to La Granja road in La Paz.

STANDARDS UPGRADE

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar (PIA) — The National Statistics Office – Samar (NSO) is focused on upgrading standards of statistics as it marks National Statistics Month in October. NSO - Samar has set its calendar of activities for the 23rd National Statistics Month (NSM). The celebration aims to elicit cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics in the country. The 23rd NSM, themed “Monitoring Progress on Decent Work through Statistics: Pathway to Inclusive Growth” will have activities including a statistics quiz bee organized by NSO-Samar and the Department of Education for senior high school students Oct. 19, a data appreciation seminar also for senior high-school students Oct. 25-26 and a dissemination seminar at Waling-waling Inn, Catbalogan City by month’s end.

SHELTER PROJECT

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — Some 1,000 families from Eastern Visayas’ six provinces received assistance for home rehabilitation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) core shelter assistance project (CSAP) since its 2006 implementation to the present, according to DSWD regional director Leticia Diokno who added that about P59.03 million has been released by the department for the rehabilitation program.