CARRERA MACHINES 

CEBU CITY, Cebu – The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) recently destroyed 214 video carrera and moli-moli machines worth some P2.14 million confiscated in anti-illegal gambling raids in the city this year. CCPO Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe, who led the burning and destroying of the machines, said the activity was in compliance to the recent order of DILG Secretary Mar Roxas to eradicate all forms of illegal gambling. He said the CCPO is serious about intensifying its campaign against illegal gambling and will continue the operation. Buenafe also said he has ordered all station commanders to double efforts in putting a stop to all illegal activities. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr. )

BUSINESS CENSUS

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) – The National Statistics Office (NSO) announced it will again conduct this year an industry-based census to gather statistical information about the operations of business establishments in the country. NSO Western Visayas Regional Director Norman Julag-ay said the 2012 Census of Philippine Business and Industry (CPBI) information will include trends in economic activities, employment and compensation, revenue and expense, assets and capital expenditures of establishments, among others. It will cover establishments engaged in economic activities as defined under the 1994 Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC).

MANGROVE REFORESTATION

SAGAY CITY, Negros Occidental (PIA) – The Rotary Club of Bacolod North and Tahoe-Incline Nevada of the United States of America recently held a mangrove reforestation activity in Barangay Tabanao, Sagay City in Negros Occidental. The activity was aimed at implementing sustainable ways protecting communities against rising sea levels and diversify the economic base through community outreach education and the restoration of coastal mangrove ecosystems. The project was in coordination with the Sagay City government and the Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology. Sagay City straddles a good portion of Negros Island’s northernmost tip.

PRAWN FESTIVAL

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) – A number of technical studies on production and marketing of shrimps and scientific posters comprise the official entries for the first International Freshwater Ulang Congress and Festival slated January 10-11, at the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU)-Bontoc Campus. These were outputs of researchers from Misamis Oriental in Mindanao, Northern Samar, from Vietnam, and from the host province, Bontoc and Sogod, based on information faxed from SLSU-Bontoc to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

PROJECT LAUNCH

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA6) – The Antique Federation of Non-government Organizations (AFON) recently  launched a European Union-supported three-year project, “Strengthening Social Accountability Mechanisms in Local Governance” here. Romeo Baldevia Executive Director of AFON executive director Romeo Baldevia said the project hopes to strengthen partnership among government agencies, local governments, civil society organizations (CSOs) and the community in general in the implementation of poverty-reduction programs and improve capacities of LGUs in service delivery.