AGRICULTURE CENSUS

NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) — To establish an inventory of agricultural and fishery resources in this province to be used mainly by plans and policymakers, National Statistics Office (NSO)-Biliran statistics officer Rose Marie Lumbre said the NSO will conduct the 2012 Census on Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF) from February until April this year. The 2012 CAF, she said, is a large-scale nationwide government undertaking aimed to collect and compile basic information on the agricultural and fisheries sectors. She added that over the years, the CAF has always been the source of a comprehensive statistics in agriculture and fisheries used by the general public, government, business,industries and by research and academic institutions.

P.H.O. FACILITY

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. (PNA) — Negros Occidental province will inaugurate here today its R18.9-million blood center which will be managed by the Provincial Health Office (PHO). Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr. will lead the inauguration which will be graced by Health Secretary Enrique T.Ona Jr. The facility, which is on a two-hectare lot in Barangay 39, Bacolod City, will meet blood requirements and other laboratory services of residents here. The center is the first of its kind in the country.

HOT FISH

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PNA) — The Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission reported that in 2012, it confiscated a total of 3,768 kilos of illegal fish worth R294,920, or 14 percent more than in 2011. Bantay Dagat Commission Director Ranulfo Sebusa said the confiscated fish were distributed to different charitable institutions in Cebu City. He also said the commission continues to operate despite a “zero budget” for the second consecutive year. Despite this setback, Sebusa said they have received donations from “good Samaritans” and non-government organizations. They also received R975,000 from the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and a R500,000 appropriation from the mayor’s office.

BOHOLANA SHINES

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) — A young teacher, cast as Bohol’s official entry to the 4th National Theater Festival (NTF) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, was hailed among the best featured musical actress and stars in the theater circuit in 2012. Geraldine Pancho, a young Boholana from Maribojoc who performed chilling chants from Bohol 1700: Duha ka Alimpo sa Habagat, the province’s official entry to the 2012 NTF, was recognized as among the Best Featured Actress (Honorably Mention) in Musicals, 2012.

JOBS FAIR

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — The Tacloban city government is hosting a Mega Jobs Fair January 14 at the Baluyan Convention Center to facilitate the employment, either local or overseas, of its job-seeking constituents. Featuring professional and skilled-work job openings, the Jobs Fair will be participated by about 20 overseas recruitment agencies and more than 10 local employment agencies and will be spearheaded by the city government’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO). Local establishments which have signed up to look for recruits are Bayan Telecommunications, McDonalds, Hotel Angelo, Chevrolet Tacloban, LBC Express—Visayas Inc., and Gaisano Central.