MANILA – The Board of Investments registered P368.9 billion investments for 2011, up by 22 percent from the P302 billion the previous year.

Last year's investment number was also 35 percent higher in terms of number of projects approved. The figure also reflects economic optimism earlier expressed by Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo towards a better year in 2012, noting that the country has moved forward from the global incidents and its challenges in 2011. Investment commitments breached the year’s target with a total of 332 projects compared to 246 in 2010.

These projects are expected to boost employment opportunities by 67,211 jobs once operational, almost double last year’s 36,751 jobs.

‘Fast craft bookings full
until tomorrow’

All the 23 schedules of six fast crafts plying the Bacolod-Iloilo route are fully-booked since yesterday until tomorrow after the holiday break, Frank Carbon, manager of Weesam Express, said yesterday.

Carbon said all six sea vessels had a total average of 3,500 to 4,000 passengers during the holidays compared to regular days and lean seasons, with only 1,500 to 2,000 passengers.

He assured all travelers of their safety saying they only book passengers based on the seating capacity of the fast crafts.

More ‘hot meat’ seized
during New Year’s eve

Members of Task Force Botagoy of the Bacolod City government confiscated and destroyed 68 kilos of suspected “hot meat” on New Year’s Eve, bringing the amount of seized uncertified meat to 539.2 kilos for 2011, Rex Juplo, OIC-city veterinary officer, said.

Juplo identified the meat vendor as Maximo Libradilla of Capitol Heights, Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City. He said they caught Libradilla on board his tricycle loaded with hot meat in Purok Sabes, Brgy. Villamonte.

Libradilla violated City Ordinance No. 459 that disallows the distribution and sale of meat not butchered and processed at the new slaughterhouse, Juplo said.