CEBU CITY — Due to strong social commitment and hard work, the Department of Agrarian Reform Office in Region 7  recently announced that it was able to exceed its mandated target of 1,311 resolution cases by resolving 2,284 cases for the year 2012 under the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board. Lawyer Rosalio T. Kintanar, Regional Agrarian Reform Adjudicator reported that they were able to dispose 495 cases in the regional level while 959 cases where handled in Bohol, 331 cases in Cebu, 456 cases in Negros Oriental and 43 cases in Siquijor. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

C.A.F. CENSUS

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Occidental (PIA) — The National Statistics Office (NSO) Negros Oriental is now ready with its 818 enumerators and 360 team supervisors to conduct the survey for the Census of Agriculture and Fishery (CAF). NSO Negros Oriental statistician officer, Ariel Fortuito said the survey will start on February 25 and end on April 13 in 557 barangays in the province. Fortuito met the different agencies involved to gather the commitment of farmer associations to support the census. Conducted every ten years, the CAF is a large-scale government undertaking that inventories the country’s agricultural and fishery resources. (PIA)

PEANUT GRASS TO STOP EROSION

BAYBAY CITY, Leyte — A pioneering practice in bioengineering in this part of Eastern Visayas is the use of “peanut grass” for slope erosion protection and beautification by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 5th Leyte Engineering District (5th LED) office, based in this city. Fifth LED District Engineer Lut B. Baclea-an said they have been planting peanut grass for slope protection along the highways in his jurisdiction started in 2009. Now, seven kilometers of slopes on the stretch of Daang Maharlika in Barangay Lourdes, Abuyog, Leyte to Barangay Hilosig, Baybay, Leyte have it. (Jack C. Gadaingan)

TAX DISCOUNTS

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar — The Borongan City Treasurer's Office (CTO) announced recently the offering of discounts to taxpayers who will pay their real property taxes earlier than the set deadline. According to Mr. Emmanuel D. Balondo, City Assistant Treasurer, the discount is 20% for real property taxes if payment is made on or before the due dates which is from January 1 to March 31, 2013. He added that the 20% discount is applicable only if the taxpayers have consecutively settled their 2011 and 2012 real property tax. (PIA)

ANTIQUE SENDS 8 TO PHILSCI

SAN JOSE, Antique — Eight students from Antique are among the 1,1434 successful examinees who passed the qualifying exam of the Philippine Science High School for school year 2013-2014. This year saw the most number of passers in the province compared to the last five years, Eleazar Moscoco of the Department of Science and Technology. Antique SPED Center in San Jose has the highest number of passers with five Grade 6 pupils. They are William Harry Diana, Eugene Ruflo Orteza, Christel Joyce Occeña, Mika Monique Grantoza and Prince G. Sampuego. Other passers are Kishia Carmela C. Bungay from St. Anthony’s College, LG Jesse Macadangdang of Dao Central School and Mcxell S. Nunag of Hamtic Central School. (PIA)