The number of corruption-related cases in Drochia has decreased, the districts’ deputy commissioner for personnel and education, Major Valeriu Lisnic said during the TV program “The Press to the Press” broadcast by Drochia TV, Info-Prim Neo reports. Nine legal cases were opened in 2008, two out of which over passive corruption, said Lisnic. According to him, the secretary of Baroncea village council asked 1,500 lei from a person for issuing a certificate for collecting apples. Another corruption case was discovered in January. The narcologist asked 1,000 lei from a person for issuing a certificate showing that the given person is not under the supervision of the medical institution. According to the mayor of Drochia town Grigore Melnic, concerted effort is made to reduce corruption in the local administration. Drochia is one of the five towns that during November 2008 - April 2009 are participating in the UNDP Moldova’s Transparency and Anti-corruption Strategies at Local Level Program. Seventeen sectors exposed to corruption were identified during the activities carried out as part of the project. Among these are: issuing of urbanism certificates and construction authorizations, issuing of activity licenses, sale of the property belonging to the mayor’s office, public works. In order to fight corruption, officials of the local public administration commit themselves to be more transparent in their work and to organize awareness raising campaigns with the help of the local press. “The Press to the Press” programs are produced at the local TV channels in Moldova as part of a project supported by the Strengthening Civil Society Monitoring Capacity in Moldova Program carried out by the Academy for Educational Development with the technical assistance of the International Research and Exchanges Board. The program is financed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation and managed by the United State Agency for International Development as part of the Threshold Country Program for Moldova.