NEWS BRIEFS

CORALS STORED AS EVIDENCE

THE more than P3-million worth of corals seized in Lapu-Lapu City by the Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force are being stored in a government office as the court will be using the items as evidence.

The corals are kept inside the former compound of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Guadalupe, Cebu City. The lot is owned by the Proivnce of Cebu. Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia detailed guards to secure the items.

Jeoffrey Merencillo of the Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force told Cebu Daily News they are building sheds for this purpose.

This year, the task force seized more than three tons of corals in separate operations.

Most of the corals were seized in barangay Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu City.

Some of the corals will be distributed to public schools in Cebu province to be used in science laboratories.

But they have to wait for the court cases to be wrapped up before the articles can be disposed.

Ocean Care’s technical expert Mario Marababol earlier identified 12 species of corals in the seized cargo.

One popular specie is the blue corals that produces a syrup used as an ingredient in making “bubble tea,” a drink popular in Southeast Asian countries.
Other corals were being used as decor and accessories.

The task force also plans to return some of the corals in the sea to serve as habitats for fish and other living organisms.

The harvesting of corals is prohibited because “all corals are considered critically endangered.”

Marababol said coral reefs, which are breeding grounds of fish, should be protected because they are “the basic life support of the ecosystem” of the sea. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

STUDENT BAN ON INTERNET CAFES

EDUCATION officials called on the Mandaue City government to enforce an ordinance banning students from staying in Internet outlets during class hours.

Students cutting classes to go to Internet cafes has become a perennial problem, said Benjamin Tiongson, Department of Education (DepEd) division administrative officer in Mandaue City.

He said some students even go swimming still dressed in their uniforms.

To address this problem, Tiongson said schools in Mandaue City prohibit students from leaving the campus during recess and lunch time.

He said school gates are closed right after the flag ceremony until 4 p.m. to keep students inside the school.

Mandaue City Administrator James Abadia said a memorandum will be issued reminding schools to enforce the ordinance on Internet cafes.

Internet cafes found operating without a permit will be issued a cease-and-desist order pending their compliance to requirements.

They will be meted sanctions if they admit minors during class hours. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos