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

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) - Bicol has recorded low dissolved oxygen levels in the surface and middle portions of Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur after a fish kill occurred in these waters. The BFAR-Bicol Fisheries Protection and Sustainable Services Division (FPSSD) Fisheries Integrated Laboratory Section conducted a water quality assessment and validation on Aug. 10, two days after the fish kill was first reported in I

By Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- Ferry trips in the Bicol region and other parts of Luzon and the Visayas were canceled on Tuesday, Aug. 11, due to the effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat, according to maritime authorities. In an advisory issued at 12 noon, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) reported canceled trips at ports in Masbate, Mindoro, Batangas, Palawan, Panay-Guimaras and Western Leyte-Biliran. The agency clarified that it does not directly cancel voyages

By JORDAN DOMINGO LEGAZPI CITY — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has maintained Mayon Volcano in Albay under Alert Level 3 despite a noticeable decline in volcanic activity, while Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon has recorded a sharp surge in seismic activity, prompting authorities to renew calls for heightened public vigilance across the Bicol Region. Dr. Paul Karson Alanis, senior science research specialist of Phivolcs, said Mayon has shown a d

By Manly M. Ugalde TABACO CITY, Albay — Four barangay kagawads of Barangay San Roque in this city have been suspended for one month without pay after repeatedly failing to attend the mandatory Monday flag-raising ceremony. One of the suspended officials, a female barangay kagawad, reportedly failed to attend the weekly flag ceremony for six months. According to reports, the three other suspended kagawads followed the same practice in Barangay San Roque, which is located near