By Mavic Conde Everytime a climate disaster renders a place uninhabitable, immediate relocation of residents becomes a priority. But is it the ultimate solution? For youth climate advocates from the region, it isn’t. According to Bicol University Science Alliance Club (BU-SAC), “Rolly should be a wake-up call that we’ve had enough and a reminder for us to do better.” Hence, the group calls for the national government to declare a climate emergency, as what scientists, environ

By Cet Dematera Thousands of workers in the Bicol region displaced due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and the three strong typhoons that recently hit the region, continue to receive even during the Christmas season the government cash assistance being given by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Johana Vi Gasga, DOLE Bicol spokesperson, said more than 3,500 beneficiaries received the P5,000 cash aid/worker under the DOLE’s Covid-19 Adjustment Measure Progr

Sunset as viewed from the slopes of Mt. Isarog, in Bgy. Carolina, Naga City. ENGR. JORDAN R. CHAVEZ III

By Cet Dematera The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Bicol has reiterated its reminder to the public not to eat shell fishes gathered from the Sorsogon Bay and the sea of Milagros, Masbate as the red tide alert remains hoisted over these bodies of water. Nonie Enolva, BFAR Bicol spokesperson, has issued the reminder during the Christmas season. in Enolva said that in BFAR’s latest bulletin dated Dec. 14, Sorsogon Bay and Milgros town in Masbate are still in

By Mar S. Arguelles LEGAZPI CITY --- Two minors were hurt on Sunday (Dec. 27) night when four gunmen riding in two motorcycles fired at the gate of the Zandra’s Beach Resort in Barangay Canvañes, Batuan town, in Masbate province, a police report said. Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said wounded were a 14-year-old girl of Barangay Danao and a nine-year-old boy, son of the resort’s caretaker. The minors were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital f

Residents of San Pablo, Baracay, Albay line up to get Media Noche food packs and free kitchen utensils donated by Filminera Resources Corporation. At least 400 families, including 110 families of Indigenous people (IP) who are settled in the isolated community and 47 with totally damaged houses affected by typhoons Rolly and Ulysses, received the food packs and kitchen wares. Filminera gave P700,000 worth of relief goods in their first phase of donations; the second phase of

By Paulo DS. Papa NAGA CITY--- Some 365 stray dogs mostly “asong pinoy” or “aspin” impounded this year by the City Veterinary Office (CVO) at the Naga City Nursery in Barangay Carolina here were put to sleep, Naga’s CVO chief said. Dr. Junios Elad, Jr., said that for 2020 the CVO caught and impounded total of 591 stray dogs from the city’s 27 villages in connection with its anti-rabies drive. This year’s total canine haul of 591 stray dogs is lower than the 1,000 dogs captu

By Rhaydz B. Barcia Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., said the AFP’s modernization has been neglected by the House of Representatives for 25 years as the leftist groups blocked it so as not to defeat the communist movement. Parlade, who arrived in Legazpi City aboard the Philippine Air Force (PAF) brand-new Black Hawk helicopter together with Col. Llewillyn S. Banaag, wing commander of the Tactical Operation Group (TOG) Southern Luzon. “Th

By Jason B. Neola NAGA CITY --- An ordinance mandating the city government to establish an LGBTQ+ service desk was enacted by Sangguniang Panlungsod on Dec. 22 to provide frontline services to clients who are lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and queer+. The ordinance authored by City Councilor Joselito S.A. Del Rosario was enacted based on the declared policy of the city government as provided for in City Ordinance No. 2019-024, otherwise known as the “Anti-SOGIE Disc

Indeed the tragic incidents that hit the country in 2020 have put the nation’s resiliency into a severe test. Most telling is the corona virus pandemic the adverse effects of which continue to haunt us for almost a year already. As if civil strife, unsolved crimes, terrorism, recession, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, endless drug menace, African Swine Fever and bird flu were not enough, three major weather disturbances took place in succession before the end of the year, wh

Whereas, the year 2020 is ending; Whereas, the year 2021 is about to begin; Whereas, there has been a considerable number of failures which have been committed in the year 2020 as attested by persistent increase of Covid-19 cases which has ravaged economic conditions and other facets of previously considered normal social exercises, Whereas, the incoming year 2021 presents itself with opportunities to correct previous mistakes and improve present practices; Whereas, it

2020 Vision Year. Yan an deklarasyon ko kan sarong taon 2020 na maguiguin malinaw an satong pagheling. Alagad iba an nangyari. Mala ta dahil sa lockdown kan Covid 19 huli ta dai ako nakapa-doktor sa mata, dai ako nakabakal kan eye drops, nagpula si sakong walang mata nabuta. Grabe si paglaom na magaya-gaya an naka-aguing taon pero biglang nagkanos dahil sa virus. Ako ngani kan bulan na Abril bakasyon kuta na sa Canada sa birthday kan sakong maku-apong kambal. Kaya lang pag-lo

Same time last year, the fortune tellers were vociferous. Diviners – those who could see the future of the universe through humble tea leaves were all over the place, gaining more prominence than all the Old Testament prophets. And they were as loud as those old men ranting forever about the sins of the world. But the most opportunity fell on the feng hsui experts – they who could tell when the placement of the door is auspicious and what kind of windows would bring in wealth

We are featuring comments generated by the editorial, columns and news stories published in this paper. We encourage our readers to submit their comments about the contents of this paper at bicolmail.net or through the Facebook accounts of our writers. On “ Righ t to Choose ” (Published on December 24, 2020): • Marilou Falcon –“Ewan ko lang ha? Pero wala naman tayong alam sa mga vaccines na yan. So how would we know kung alin ang pipiliin natin? Ang dapat talagang pumili ay y

By Gracia Dorotea N. Rubio When the pandemic Covid-19 struck, the issue of whether school continues or not became highly debatable. Online classes, if offered, will surely deprive the teaching-learning process of the affordances of face-to-face instruction. If academic freeze is declared, on the other hand, the students will be totally deprived of school-based education, and the teachers and other personnel may consequently lose their job. Now, online classes have been goin