By RHAYDZ BARCIA MALILIPOT, Albay --- After seven long months in a tent city, joy and relief filled the faces of Mayon Volcano evacuees as they finally packed their belongings and headed home Thursday following the lowering of the volcano’s alert level from 3 to 2. Among those eager to return to a normal life were siblings Adelina “Deling” Bilolo-Francisco, 83, and Domingo Bilolo, 69, residents of Barangay Calbayog in this town, who had endured the longest evacuation of their

By Jason B. Neola A trade fair that seeks to promote local entrepreneurship while highlighting the role of faith in community development will be held in Naga City from September 10 to 21, 2026. The 2026 Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair (BFGTF) will be held at Robinsons Naga under the theme “Ina: Nurturing a Growing Church.” Organized by the Caritas-Caceres (Naga), Inc., the BFGTF aims to provide a venue for local producers, entrepreneurs, farmers, artisans and other commun

By Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- After spending seven months in evacuation centers, about 4,800 residents of Albay who had to leave their villages near the danger zone of the Philippines’ most active volcano were finally able to return home on Thursday, August 6. Their return followed the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (Phivolcs) decision on August 5 to lower the alert status of Mayon Volcano from Level 3 (indicating an increased tendency towards hazard

By: Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled underground detonation of a World War II explosive in Albay on Saturday, a local government reported, after it was discovered south of the erupting Mayon Volcano. Nearly 30 operatives from the Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit (RECU) cordoned off the site in the town of Camalig, where the 500-kilogram aircraft bomb was first discovered on July 21. Residents of Camalig heard th

By Jordan Domingo BULA, Camarines Sur --- A 40-year-old butcher was arrested after allegedly selling suspected shabu to an undercover police officer during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Inuyonan, Bula, Camarines Sur, Tuesday evening, August 11. Police identified the suspect as alias “Jojo Badiola,” 40, married and a resident of Bula. Personnel of the Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit of the Bula Municipal Police Station, led by Police Capt. Junel S.B. Cea, in coordination wi

By Bobby Q. Labalan SORSOGON CITY --- Two Bicol provinces figured prominently in the malnutrition list of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) for 2025, the agency’s report published in its website revealed. Masbate continuously leads the statistics, ranking highest both at the regional and national levels for wasting children with a 4.49 percent prevalence, matching its 2024 placement. Camarines Sur followed in second place at 1.83 percent, with Sorsogon and Catanduanes clos

NAGA CITY --- A powerful coalition of local civil society groups is stepping up to lead the public conversation on Naga City’s political and economic future. The Naga City People’s Council (NCPC), the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), and the Center for Research, Learning, and Development of the Naga College Foundation, Inc. (CRLD-NCF) will launch “Paghuron” on August 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM. The highly anticipated public debate will take place at the Tanghala

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol Region (DSWD-5) will provide relief assistance to families affected by flooding caused by tropical cyclone Maymay and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) in three regions. In a phone interview, Claudio Villareal, DSWD-5 Disaster Response and Management Division chief, said the non-food items provided are part of the agency’s ongoing inter-field office augmentation efforts. DSWD-5

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The city government is strengthening barangay-level efforts to prevent dengue amid the rainy season by mobilizing barangay health workers (BHWs) to monitor household water storage and urge residents to eliminate stagnant water and keep water containers properly covered. In a phone interview, Mayor Hisham Ismail said dry conditions have prompted residents to store water in drums and other containers, some of which are left uncovered and are p

IRIGA CITY, Camarines Sur --- A former police officer listed as a high-value individual (HVI) was arrested after authorities seized around 80 grams of suspected shabu during the implementation of a search warrant in Iriga City on Tuesday afternoon, August 11. Police identified the suspect as alias “Jorams,” 43, married and a resident of Iriga City. He was reportedly a former member of the Philippine National Police who was dismissed from the service for absence without offici

By Ryan Mostar BOMBON, Camarines Sur --- What began as an effort to help repair a local church has grown into a sporting event that brought 137 runners to Bombon while putting the town’s landmarks, local businesses, artists and food in the spotlight. The inaugural Kampanaryo Ultramarathon, held Sunday, Aug. 9, featured 50K and 25K categories and raised ₱23,400 for the repair of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish. Of the amount, ₱20,000 came from the race, supplemented by

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- Parts of Albay will experience power interruptions on Wednesday and Thursday due to a scheduled maintenance of the Albay Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Aleco) and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). In an advisory, Aleco said an emergency power interruption is scheduled for Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in portions of Daraga, Jovellar, Guinobatan, and all areas in Camalig. The interruption will affect areas served by the

By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- A total of 5,354 public-school teachers and school heads in Bicol have advanced in their careers under the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System, marking a major step toward faster promotion and better retention of educators in the region. Education Secretary Sonny Angara led the mass oath-taking ceremony for the newly promoted and reclassified teachers and school heads at the Camarines Sur Freedom Sports

By Manuel T. Ugalde LEGAZPI CITY --- Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Secretary Joey Salceda is pushing for the condonation of nearly P7 billion in debts incurred by the Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco), saying debt relief should come first before a new solution is pursued to rehabilitate the troubled power cooperative serving about 250,000 consumers in the province. The proposal came amid continuing efforts by Albay leaders and lawmakers to find a lasting solution t

By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- For seven months eruption of Mayon Volcano, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol spent over P328 million to sustain the needs and ensure the safety of the displaced families, Norman S. Laurio, DSWD regional director in Bicol, said. A total of ₱324,453,325.56 worth of assistance was provided to the affected families, of which ₱ 310,869,340.14 from DSWD; ₱ 2,303,828.83 from local government units (LGUs); ₱ 983,904.00 fr