By Keren Anne V. Bernadas The rehabilitation of Bicol River, the country’s eight largest waterway straddling three provinces in Bicol, will start Mar. 23 in Camaligan, Camarines Sur to prevent severe flooding in the region’s mainland provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte during rainy season and every time a strong typhoon hits Bicol. The dredging of the 94-kilometer river will take place as a result of the collaboration of the Department of Public Works and H

By Keren Anne V. Bernadas The commissioner for Education of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) has raised the alarm over the impending national crisis of teenage pregnancy in the country. PCW Commissioner Cristita C. Triunfante vowed to continue raising awareness on the dangers of rising cases of teenage pregnancy. The teenage pregnancy rate in the Philippines was 10 percent in 2008, down to 9 percent in 2017. Live births by teenage mothers (aged 10-19) in 2016 totalle

As a revolutionary anniversary in the Philippines, March 29 is usually associated with the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban Sa Hapon (1942) or the New People’s Army (1969). Just as revolutionary is the 120th anniversary on March 29 when national hero Jose Rizal finished writing his second great novel El Filibusterismo in 1891. This and his first great novel Noli me Tangere in 1886 are said to be “Two Novels That Made a Revolution,” the Philippine Revolution of 1896. In this photo, the

By Mar S. Arguelles The Department of Health (DOH) has urged the public to be more vigilant and strictly practice public health standards after it recorded a slight increase in Covid-19 cases in the region. The DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) recorded that a 14 percent rise in Covid-19 cases for the period Mar. 14 to 20, 2021 with 117 cases as compared to the March 7-13 with 103 reported cases. The RESU said that there is a possibility of a continu

By Cet Dematera The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned tourists this coming Holy Week to avoid prolonged stay at the slope of Mt. Mayon as the volcano is still under alert level one or abnormal. Paul Alanis, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, said they are not stopping economic activities around Mayon, for as long as people always take the necessary precaution should its abnormal condition worsen. “While Phivolcs is allowing them to visit t

By Rhaydz B. Barcia The century-old provincial jail in Sorsogon province has been converted into a modern museum, which now houses indigenous artifacts, educational, scientific, and cultural documents donated by notable Sorsoganons in the 21st century with significant contributions in the country’s history. The museum includes 10 galleries and a 875-square meter open-air amphitheater located at the capitol compound where the century-old building, formerly a provincial jail,

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan A manhunt is underway against members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who are the perpetrators behind the attack in Labo, Camarines Norte that killed five police officers and injured two others on Friday, Mar. 19. Philippine National Police (PNP) Officer-in-Charge, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Saturday, Mar. 20, said he has ordered the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A (Calabarzon) and 5 (Bicol) to go after the perpetrators of the ambush. “Ambushes

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay Army troopers killed a leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) during an encounter in Barangay Laganac, Balatan, Camarines Sur at around 6:45 PM on Saturday, Mar. 20, an Army report said. Capt. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) spokesperson, said Carlito Perit, who was also using aliases such as Ruth, Reyal and Remar, was killed in a gunfight with the joint elements of the 902nd Infantry Brigade and Philippine National Police (PNP). Perit

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay Dubbed as the gift of life, a pint of blood can make a difference, from making someone improve his health to saving his life In line with this,the Consuelo Chito Madrigal Foundation (CCMF)-Bicol will conduct a Blood Donation Drive on Saturday, Mar. 27 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Metropolitan Naga Cathedral grounds in Naga City. Joining the CCMF-Bicol is the Bicol Medical Center (BMC) Blood Bank and Transfusion Services team. The activity endeavor

By Jason B. Neola AT least seven teams were organized by the Naga City government by virtue of an executive order to complement the manpower requirement of the newly created Naga City Covid-19 Vaccination Operation Center (NCCVOC), which was established to ensure the successful execution of the vaccination roll-out in this city. Mayor Nelson Legacion said the issuance of Executive Order 2021-004 is in support to the national government’s campaign against the disease consideri

By Paulo DS. Papa THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Bicol has introduced and urged Bicolanos to try the white oyster mushrooms as a delicious and nutritious alternative for meat while the shortage in pork products and high prices of beef and chicken continue to prevail in the market. Peter Oliver, DA’s regional focal person on mushroom cultivation in Bicol, said that the white oyster mushroom, locally known as “pamaypay” is nutritious and a rich source of protein. MEAT

By Paulo DS. Papa THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Bicol will be deploying sentinel pigs in selected areas in Naga City and the towns of Magarao, Bombon and Calabanga, Camarines Sur to test and check if the African Swine Fever (ASF) in these areas has finally been eradicated. To recall, hogs in these towns and Naga city were the first in the province infected by ASF. Emily Bordado, DA Bicol spokesperson, said that that preparations for the deployment of sentinel pigs ar

By Rosalita B. Manlangit THE Covid-19 vaccination roll out has already started in Camarines Norte with 320 Health Care Workers (HCW) inoculated as of Friday, Mar. 19, the Department of Health (DOH) Bicol said. The Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital (CNPH) and Leon D. Hernandez Memorial Hospital (LHMH) have vaccinated 200 and 120 health care workers, respectively, since Mar. 17 following the arrival of Astra Zeneca vaccines in the province. VACCINATION. Camarines Norte Prov

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Camarines Sur has provided a variety of agricultural inputs such as rice seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides to 13 members of the Caranan Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (CFARBA) in Quitang, Pasacao, and 18 members of the Lirag Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (LARFBCO) in Lirag, Bula, Camarines Sur. The CFARBA received P325,000.00 worth of agricultural inputs, while LARFBCO got P450,000.00 of

Of all the by products of the coconut tree “gota” (coconut milk) is the most precious. As of this time a kilo of coconut milk already costs not less than eighty pesos. By a strange strike of fate Gota Beach of Caramoan, Camarines Sur has also become the most attractive come upon of the peninsula. For this reason the locals of the town in particular and of the province in general are entitled to partake at least a reasonable share from the income generated out of the popular t