LUCENA CITY, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Quezon 4th District Engineering Office announces the total rehabilitation and repair construction of Manila South Road (MSR) portion of barangay Palsabangon-Binahaan-Malicboy road in Pagbilao town starting this week of January.

It was learned yesterday from Quezon 4th DEO district engineer Jose Almero told Manila Bulletin that the project will cost P250 million and the funds will come from Post "Ondoy" and "Pedring" Short-term Infrastructure Project (POPSIP) of the central office of DPWH starting from kilometer posts 142 to 161 with 16 kilometers long with exemption portion on both lanes including flood control drainage. (Danny Estacio)

Job Fair

ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines — Hundreds of job applicants are optimistic that the recent job fair organized by the local government here over the weekend will produce additional employment for the city’s jobless and underemployed residents.

This came as City Mayor Danilo Leyble through the office of Public Employment Services Office continue to invite and encourage private companies based in this city to provide more jobs starting this year of the water dragon.

Recently, more than 300 job applicants have been screened and interviewed by SM Department Store in Masinag alone during the job fair.

Dozens of jobless applicants also lined up and submitted themselves for initial interview and screening for overseas employment by the YHMD International Manpower Services. (Nel B. Andrade)

University Cited

MANILA, Philippines — The Angeles University Foundation (AUF) based in Angeles City, Pampanga recently received an award for being one of the 30 most outstanding Confucius Institutes in the world.

The Confucius Institute at Angeles University Foundation (CI-AUF) here received the said award in recognition of its efforts in promoting and developing the teaching of Chinese language and culture.

AUF President Joseph Emmanuel Angeles, who received the citation in Beijing last December, said the CI strengthens bilateral relations and spearheads joint projects with local Chinese. It also showcases contemporary Chinese popular art and media. (Franco G. Regala)

Balanga Program

BALANGA CITY, Philippines — As the City’s Barangay week, a flagship program, enters its 5th successful year, Mayor Joet S. Garcia and the City council are bent on further boosting the said program in their bid to serve more the public.

At the same time, Mayor Garcia also lauded the Barangay Captains here for their full support in launching the program which is actually the brainchild of the mayor to bring the government closer to the people in the barangay level. (Mar T. Supnad)

Olongapo Awarded

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines — Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Araceli San Jose announced that the city government received a P25 million check last January 10 from DILG as monetary reward for the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) that Olongapo earned in 2011.

The funds came from the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) which is a financial incentive given to qualified local government units to fund various development projects. Olongapo and Angeles City are the 2 cities in Region III that receives the incentives.

“Olongapo City earned the SGH due to its strict compliance to the Full Disclosure Policy or FDP,” said City Budget Officer Marey Beth Marzan. (Jonas Reyes)