By Paulo DS Papa An alleged mentally ill woman in Naga City may face an arson charge after a fire broke out Sunday afternoon, Nov. 2, at Palmera Village, Zone 4, Sitio Salunguigui, Barangay Cararayan. According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), through Deputy City Fire Marshal F/INSP Erwin Verzosa, about five houses made of light materials and occupied by the San Jose family were razed by the blaze. Initial investigation revealed that a certain Kristie, who is reportedl

By Ana-liza S. Macatangay Nestled at the border of Ragay Gulf, the quaint coastal town of Pasacao in the province of Albay proudly claims its bragging right of being the “summer capital of Camarines Sur” with its promising tourist destinations. Months under his new term, Pasacao Mayor Niño Tayco ensures that one of his administration’s priorities is to further boost and promote their tourism industry, setting a benchmark for others to follow. With its unspoiled beaches and fl

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- As local government units in Bicol brace for Severe Tropical Storm Tino, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allotted P184,090,500.75 worth of food and non-food items to assist families that may be affected by the weather disturbance. DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman S. Laurio said the department has prepared a total of 212,320 Family Food Packs (FFPs) and 20,353 Non-Food Items (NFIs), valued at P184,090,500.75,

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- As families hustle to clean tombs, arrange vibrant flowers, and prepare for solemn visits to their departed loved ones, a dedicated team from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Bicol (BFAR-5) gathered to pay homage to the marine mammals that have tragically met their end along the breathtaking shores of the region. Rowena Briones, spokesperson for BFAR-Bicol, unveiled the existence of a unique cetacean cemetery, a solemn restin

By Reynard Magtoto, Baretang Bikolnon LEGAZPI CITY --- Media groups called on the authorities to conduct a swift and in-depth investigation into the murder of radio broadcaster Noel Bellen Samar in Albay province. Samar, 54, was shot on the road in Guinobatan on October 20 and was declared dead the following day while being treated for four gunshot wounds in a hospital in Daraga. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) described Samar’s killing as ‘distur

By Sally Atento-Altea LEGAZPI CITY, Albay --- Albay’s economy expanded by 5.5 percent in 2024, driven mainly by strong performance in the financial, trade, and construction sectors, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). During the recent Provincial Product Accounts Dissemination Forum, PSA Albay Chief Cecil Brondial reported that the province’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew from P153.66 billion in 2023 to P162.17 billion in 2024. “As of 2024, our Provinc

By Sally Atento-Altea LEGAZPI CITY, Albay --- Farmers and residents from five upland barangays in Polangui, Albay, are now enjoying improved market access and faster, safer transportation following the completion of new farm-to-market roads funded by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The road projects benefit around 7,400 residents and 473 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), who are engaged in cultivating coconut, corn, sugarcane, and vegetables, the department has

By Arnold C. Noda, IO III – BU CPRO With his vision of a University for Humanity towards Sustainable Societies, Bicol University (BU) President Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin D. Nebres III received a distinguished excellence and humanitarian leadership recognition from the United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP) as a “Champion of Humanitarian Service and Social Responsibility.” Conferred as part of the 80th UN Anniversary Celebration, the BU President was also elected as

Angat Buhay’s focal person on mental health, Naga City Councilor Gayle Abonal-Gomez, represented the Philippines at the inaugural assembly of the Zero Suicide International Asia Alliance held in Kathmandu, Nepal. Abonal-Gomez joined mental health leaders and advocates from across Asia to share Angat Buhay’s efforts in advancing community-based mental health care through the Angat Kahimati Program in Naga City. This undertaking clearly falls under Mayor Leni Robredo’s “2028 Fi

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- Governor Noel Rosal is once again facing a tough political battle after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division ordered the cancellation of his certificate of candidacy (COC) for governor in the May 2025 midterm polls. The decision stemmed from a petition filed by Adrian Loterte in October 2024 seeking to cancel Rosal’s COC, arguing that the governor was ineligible to run for public office following his dismissal by the Offic

By Jason B. Neola FROM humble beginnings in 1926, the Naga-based funeral company stands as one of Bicol’s leading service providers — expanding its facilities, strengthening community outreach, and upholding a nearly century-old tradition of care. Funeraria Imperial (F.I.) has grown into one of the most trusted and enduring funeral service providers in the Bicol Region. As it approaches its 100th year in 2026, the family-run business continues to blend tradition with innovati

All offices of the city government will soon be displaying “No Gift Policy” posters in their entrances and public areas, following Mayor Leni Robredo’s issuance of Executive Order No. 58, which institutionalizes a comprehensive prohibition on the giving and receiving of gifts in any form. The directive mandates that the “No Gift Policy” be prominently displayed in all city offices and integrated into contracts, bid documents, and official correspondence. This move reinforces

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI City --- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) clarified on Friday that its 2nd Division's decision granting the petition to cancel the certificate of candidacy of Albay Governor Noel Rosal is not yet final and executory. Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said Rosal has five days to file a motion for reconsideration (MR) with the Comelec en banc. “The decision is not yet final and executory, may pagkakataon po si Mr. Rosal na i-elevate ang ca

By Ana-Liza Macatangay LEGAZPI CITY --- The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Bicol continues to place education at the heart of its mission by prioritizing scholarships for poor but deserving members of indigenous communities across the region. One of NCIP’s key initiatives—the Indigenous Peoples Education and Advocacy Services (IPEAS)—supports IP learners through two major programs: the Educational Assistance Program (EAP) and the Merit-Based Scholarship Prog

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) 5 (Bicol) has placed its Emergency Operation Center under “blue alert” status to ensure readiness in case of emergencies during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2. In a memorandum, RDRRMC-5 chairperson and Office of Civil Defense (OCD-5) Director Claudio Yucot said the alert will be in effect from Tuesday until Nov. 3, in observance of Unda