BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – To complement the number of public school teachers in the entire region, Department of Education (DepEd)–Caraga Administrative Officer Raul Orozco said hiring of eligible teachers is one of the priority concerns of the department.

During an interview with a local radio station here, Orozco said teachers who are eligible or have passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) have the opportunity to be hired and be assigned to different areas in Caraga region.

“We have to be meticulous in hiring teachers and one way of doing that is to see to it that those who will be hired are LET holders,” Orozco said.

Private Help

ALABEL, Sarangani, Philippines (PIA) – The Department of Public Works and Highways urged the private sector to help the government in the monitoring public works projects as part of the transparency program of the Aquino Administration.

This was the call of DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson during the recent meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC)- Infrastructure Committee chairpersons held in Manila, according to RDC XII Infrastructure Committee chairman Alfredo Bronx Hebrona who was one of the participants. Hebrona said Singson urged the partici-pants to aim for better coordination and project implementation of the 2012-2016 infrastructure programs.

Plaza Renovation

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (PNA) – In an effort to preserve this city's culture, the local government of Cotabato has started renovations of one of the city's remaining historic architectures — the Rizal Park, or known as the Cotabato City plaza.

Situated in the heart of the city, the park has been closed for public since Friday after the renovations have commenced. Lawyer Cynthia Guiani Sayadi, city administrator, led the groundbreaking activity in front of the plaza stage, Friday that signaled the renovation works.

Sayadi said the Phase-1 includes the demolition of the old city plaza to make way for the construction of the new building. Sayadi said the project costs about P3.2 million and is expected to be completed by February.

Blind Curve

DIPOLOG CITY, Philippines – A motorcycle-riding fireman reporting to work from his village residence was killed while his unidentified back-rider was seriously injured when his two-wheel vehicle was bumped by another motorcyclist early Friday morning on the highway of barangay Sulangon in nearby Dapltan City.

A police report received at Camp Hamac here said the fatality, Senior Fire Officer (SFO) I Rogelio B. Mondarte, 45, was negotiating a sharp blind curve when he collided with an oncoming motorcycle driven by a certain Ernesto Balintidos. (Tony Pe. Rimando)

Faulty Wiring

PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines – Fire, believed caused by faulty wiring, razed the house of a local businessman killing him and three of his five daughters Friday evening in Barangay San Pedro here.

City Fire Inspector Michael Morales identified the fatalities as businessman Hanbali B. Haji, 58, and daughters Darwina, 22, a nursing graduate; Babylin, 20, a nursing student, and Sherwihana, a high school senior.

Morales said Haji’s wife Ayang, 56, and daughters Dizemona, 13, and Andrea, 9, suffered serious burn injuries and were taken to the Pagadian City Medical Center. (Tony Pe. Rimando)