By Sally A. Altea State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is working closely with the Department of Finance (DoF), state regulators and multi-lateral lending institutions in establishing a credit rating system for local government units (LGUs), including those in the Bicol region, to mainstream bond flotations as sustainable financing option for local development projects. DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel G. Herbosa said the proposed rating sys

By Rhaydz B. Barcia Under the shadow of majestic Mount Mayon, a shoal of playful dolphins were seen swimming and frolicking in Albay Gulf, mesmerizing and captivating the attention of local residents amidst the pandemic. The hundreds of frolicking friendly dolphins were seen within the waters of Barangay Buhatan, Sto. Domingo town up to the coast of Legazpi by the group of Dr. Allan Schapira, an environmentalist and retired World Health Organization physician together with th

By Rhaydz B. Barcia Some 28,585 Albayanos were already inoculated with first and second doses of Covid-19 vaccines out of 874,800 total number of eligible residents, the Department of Health in Bicol reported. Based on DOH data, at least 25,032 Albayanos were given the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and 3,553 for the second dose or a total of 28,585 out of the 874,000 population since the government conducted the vaccination across the country. Legazpi City has the highest nu

By Mar S. Arguelles THE Albay Power and Energy Corp., (APEC) on Monday, May 24, has placed on “Red Flag” some 180 villages with huge unpaid power bills and urged residents to settle their accounts or face power disconnection soon. Earlier, the Department of Energy (DOE) on May 21 directed APEC to continue supplying power to the island town of Rapu-rapu while at the same time giving a 60 days grace period for the thousands of delinquent power consumers there to work out a sett

Sexual harassment offenders in government include those who commit sexual harassment acts through text messaging or email, online, or in streets and public places, this according to the amended rules on sexual harassment recently promulgated by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). CSC Resolution No. 2100064 amends certain provisions in the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS), specifically those pertaining to the administrative proceedings for sexual

By Jason B. Neola The 2021 City Youth Officials (CYO) sitting as councilors at the Sangguniang Panlungsod has enacted an ordinance mandating the conferment of recognition to local youth artists during the annual celebration of City Youth Month from Apr. 15 to May 31 of the year. Known as Naga City Local Youth Artists Week Ordinance, the measure established the Local City Youth Artists Week (LCYAW) that shall be held on the third week of the City Youth Month celebration. The o

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay “The Covid-19 online vaccination will help encourage more vaccinees to be inoculated without compromising their safety, convenience and time,” Naga City Mayor Legacion stated during the launching of Naga City Online Vaccination recently. The online vaccination registration will also avoid one of the no-no’s during this pandemic - the overcrowding of residents, which will violate the safety protocol on social distancing. Legacion said that the city is

To date, about 5M Filipinos have already availed the anti-covid virus vaccine. The good news is, so far, no serious side effects have been suffered by those who have been inoculated. True, some complained of headaches, dizziness, momentary pain upon being vaccinated and itchiness, but these are the usual side effects experienced after being vaccinated, anti-pneumonia and anti-flu vaccines included. There seems to be no distinction in terms of efficacy of various brands of vac

Something goes wrong when Asians play the role of big benevolent brothers to other Asians. On the Japanese perspective, the World War 2 territorial conquests were a promotion of what they called an Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. It was supposed to be a unification of Asian nations for what they deem as “prosperity”, in a society which rekindles Asian cultural roots, rid free of all Western influence. Well, on a cultural standpoint, that could awaken patriotic passions. I gues

“Hi Manny, on your way to church?” My neighbor Tad sees me gesturing at my pet cat Kit Kat to stay put and wait outside my house while I take my early morning walk. “Catholic churches in NYC are now open at full capacity.” “That’s great news, Tad.” “We’re almost back to normal.” Tad lives a few houses away from me. Before this pandemic we used to meet outside St. Nick’s Church at the corner of Parsons St. and Union Turnpike after the 7 am Sunday service. This time we do a qui

The year 2021 is the Jesuits’ annus mirabilis. Rev. Arturo Sosa, the current Superior General of the Jesuits, has proclaimed 2021 an “Ignatian Year.” It begins on May 20, 2021 – the 500-year anniversary of St. Ignatius’ injury on the battlefield in Pamplona that eventually changed the course of his life – and ends on July 31, 2022, the feast of St. Ignatius. The launch of the Ignatian year, according to the Vatican, “offers a time to be renewed, become pilgrims with Ignatius,

An paninindugan asin pagtubod nin sarong estasyon nin radyo asin diyaryo nakapalaman sa editorial. Haloy nang gamit iyan kan diyaryo lokal, nasyonal asin internasyonal poon kadto sagkod ngonyan. Nababasa sa laog kan pig-aapod na opinion/editorial/(op-ed pages) na nangengenot sa mga columns sa sarong isyu. An pigtutumbok kan sarong editorial sa sarong isyu kan peryodiko iyo an pinaka-mainit na isyu kan aldaw. Pero dai nangangahulugan na an gabos na columnists masunod sa direks

The Senate session this evening turned into a hot debate between senators Manny Pacquio and Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon when Senator Pacquiao proposed the creation of a Philippine Sports Boxing and Combat Commission which according to him would protect professional boxers and those learning the ropes of boxing. According to Paguiao’s proposal, since by its very nature the antagonists are meant to harm each other, the proposed Boxing Commission may set up guid

“Ang kapayapaan ay siyang tunay na yaman.” In its efforts to continuously promote the welfare and protection of Bicol workers and foster industrial peace and harmony, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bicol through the Sectoral Unification, Capacity Building, Empowerment and Mobilization Cluster (SUCBEM) Cluster of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) conducted a two-day regional conference for peace and development (RCPD) via vide

By Mar S. Arguelles The Department of Education (DepEd) School Division of Masbate on Tuesday, May 25, has condemned the brutal killing of an elementary school principal in San Jacinto town on May 22. Nene Merioles, Masbate School Division superintendent in a press statement said it condemned the killing of James Villamor, school principal of Interior Elementary School of San Jacinto town who was gunned down in his house by still unidentified suspects. Merioles said “SDO M