Tigsik ko an mga nagsasarig sa Diyos na tutuo, Na dawa ano pa man umabot na linog o bagyo. Bulaos an pagtubod na sinda man protektado, Ta dai sinda pababayaan kaya an isip trangkilo. Tigsik ko pa ining manlae-laen na sanang sugal, Na sa ngunyan kontrobersyal ta sige nang iriwal, Ta nadadaog na daa kan mga ilegal an mga legal, Kaya an mga bangkero biyo na daang nag-aarual. Tigsik ko kun an mga pobre iyo an minahirilang, Minatirios pagparapila sa pampublikong ospital . Ta kadak

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol reported that the Bicol Region suffered over P1.2 billion damages on infrastructure and agriculture due to Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-Wong). Based on the OCD report, Uwan left P1, 133,789,000 damages on infrastructure and P138, 405,586.40 on agriculture or a total of P1, 272,194,586.40. The OCD also reported that 18,005 houses were totally damaged, 142,472 partially damaged or a t

By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY — The United States government, through the US Embassy in the Philippines, has extended an additional $1.5 million in emergency assistance to support disaster response efforts following the devastation caused by Super Typhoons Tino (international name Kalmaegi) and Uwan (international name Fung-wong) across the Visayas, Southern Luzon, and Central Luzon over the weekend. US Ambassador to the Philippines Mary Kay Carlson announced the new aid pack

By Manuel T. Ugalde PUBLIC Works Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon has extended his condolences to the family of Engineer Larry Reyes of Sorsogon, who was found dead in an apparent suicide while an extensive investigation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) continues to uncover anomalies in flood-control projects nationwide. “Hihingi na lang po tayo ng privacy para sa pamilya dahil personal po kasi ‘yung sirkumstansya sa pagpakamatay ni Engineer Larry Reyes

By Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to provide an alternative transportation option for the thousands of commuters affected by the suspension of railway operations in the Bicol region, which began on Nov. 10. In an advisory, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) said that Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez instructed the LTFRB to deploy additional

THE Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) – Naga City chapter has offered its services to audit buildings and facilities owned by the city government and private companies to ensure their structural integrity in preparation for possible future earthquakes. Mayor Leni Robredo said the PICE-Naga has been linked with the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) to coordinate the schedule and technical requirements for the inspections, which are expected to begin late this month or

By Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- Two villages in Catanduanes, cut off from the rest of the province, finally received relief goods delivered by a military helicopter on Sunday, a week after Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-Wong) devastated the area. Barangay Almojuela in Viga became unreachable due to landslides that blocked the road leading to the village. As of Sunday, the road was still filled with soil and debris from fallen trees, according to officials involved in the road-cle

THE Imperial Family Association (IFA) of Bicol is set to hold one of the region’s largest and most anticipated clan reunions on December 7, 2025, at the Sundaze Events Hall in Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City. Members of the prominent Imperial clan from across Bicol—including Albay and Camarines Sur, and the other cities and provinces and beyond —are expected to gather for what family organizers describe as the “homecoming of one of the biggest unified families in Bicol.” The Im

By Paulo DS Papa CAMARINES Sur 4th District Rep. Arnie Fuentebella has appealed to local chief executives and barangay officials in the Partido area to ensure that politics does not influence the distribution of government aid for residents affected by Super Typhoon Uwan. Partido suffered severe devastation from the typhoon, recording four fatalities — three in Garchitorena and one in Tinambac. Fuentebella said initial reports show both partially and totally damaged houses ac

NAGA CITY — Aninag Incorporated has earned the backing of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–PENRO as it pushes forward with its Narra Nation campaign, an ambitious effort to plant 1 million narra trees across Camarines Sur. Dr. Boying Llorin of Aninag presented the program to OIC PENR Officer Herleo Pavericio, technical head Minda Rivero, and PENRO foresters. Representatives from the Red Cross Camarines Sur Chapter, the Camarines Sur Medical Society, and Ani

THE call to oust President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the middle of a wide-ranging corruption probe places the nation at crossroads. On one hand, the accusations surrounding the alleged P25 billion pocketed from congressional insertions are too serious to ignore or dismiss. On the other, the timing and nature of these ouster calls risk being weaponized—either to derail the very investigation meant to uncover the truth, or to push the country toward unnecessary destabilization. M

I know, I wrote that we shouldn’t be complaining, but wait for the linemen to clear the cables for the power stations to turn on the power. But why did it take so long? In cases of many areas, why is it taking so long? What’s all the delay? In many places, there are very few to no severed electric cables or toppled posts. Then, why couldn’t they turn their lights on yet? Why are we still in post-typhoon heat and darkness. What puzzles me even more is that despite many

Pasaen ang gabos? Asin tano man nanggad? Pilosopical na hahaputon sa kolumn agrikultural sa panahon nin undas. Ini ang panahon nin paghorop-horop kan satong temporal na kamugtakan sa ibabaw kan daga. Sa sarong pagtiripon kan sarong semana kung saen nagtao ako nin lecture manungod sa prinsipyo kan organic agriculture, nagtao ako nin pambukas na hapot, anong boot sabihon kan tataramon na “organic”? Kadaklan sa mga nag-atendir kadto mga maestro asin maestra, si sarong maestra n

Bicol has become the country’s test case for climate resilience. Year after year, it absorbs some of the Philippines’ strongest typhoons, floods, and coastal erosion—plus a big share of corruption scandals—revealing both the strength of its communities and the fragility of traditional governance. If the region is to transition to a truly blue-green future, climate governance and anti-corruption reforms must move in lockstep. Accountability is not an option; it is the foundati

Last September 20, Mga Daso: Stories of Martial Law in Bikol was launched at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani auditorium in Quezon City by the University of the Philippines Press. The authors – Soliman Santos Jr, Paz Verdades-Santos, and Greg S. Castilla – are respected writers who write with clarity and unwavering conviction when it comes to social justice issues. As I wrote in my previous column in Bicol Mail, “The book, which took more than two years to complete, offers a select