By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- With several infrastructure projects in Albay left unfinished by Sunwest Inc., a construction firm linked to Ako Bicol founder and resigned House representative Elizaldy S. Co, missionary priests of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) have urged Albay officials and concerned government agencies to take immediate action on the abandoned works, which they say have caused serious flooding and hardship in the island communitie

By Rhaydz Barcia DEL GALLEGO, Camarines Sur — Regional Development Council (RDC) Chair and Albay Governor Noel E. Rosal said the full rehabilitation of the Andaya and Maharlika highways will significantly boost tourism and economic activity in the Bicol Region, describing the road network as the backbone that links Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Rosal said around 70 to 80 percent of cargo and a large volume of motorists traveling to and from the National Capital Region, Northe

By Manuel T. Ugalde LEGAZPI CITY — Albay provincial and local executives are facing criticism for allegedly ignoring a decades-old law that prohibits human habitation within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano, commonly referred to as the “no man’s land.” The issue resurfaced following the ongoing Mayon unrest since early January, which once again triggered the evacuation of thousands of residents living inside the six-kilometer PDZ—an area that, by

By Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- Government agencies concerned are on standby and prepared to respond as needed, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) said Friday as the Philippines’ most active volcano showed more signs of a possible hazardous eruption. “The Regional Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell (RIACC), which was activated on January 7, 2026, remains operational to support inter-agency coordination for Mayon Volcano operations,” RDRRMC Chai

NEWLYWEDS. Jude and Mia Diokno pose with close friends at the altar of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Shrine following their wedding ceremony, celebrating love, faith, and friendship. Love, they say, has no timetable—and for Jude Altamarino Diokno, love arrived not only at the right time, but in its most meaningful form. At 65, Jude—an elected city councilor and a highly successful businessman—finally fulfilled what he calls the single most important wish of his life: marrying

Jubilant over the decision of the 18 member-municipalities of the Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC) to designate the Naga City General Hospital (NCGH) as their primary healthcare service provider, Mayor Leni Robredo announced that the city government will sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) today (Jan. 13) with the first three local government units. Under the pact, the participating LGUs formally designate NCGH as a referral facility for their constituents requiring med

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan MANILA --- Police units in the Bicol Region have been ordered to strictly monitor and prevent residents from re-entering the danger zone around Mayon Volcano amid its increased unrest. In a statement on Wednesday, the PNP said it is currently coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in the area to ensure that all safety protocols are strictly followed. “Our personnel in Albay are in constant coordination with the local government units on m

Naga City --- The Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (MNCCI) is set to kick off the year with its First Quarter General Membership Assembly and the induction of a new set of officers for 2026. This important event will take place on January 30, 2026, at the Villa Caceres Hotel Ball Room, Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City, with registration starting at 4:00 PM. This year’s assembly promises to be a significant gathering for all MNCCI members, including past presidents

By Benilda Recebido SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon --- The Department of Agriculture (DA), in collaboration with the local government, is set to inaugurate a Kadiwa store in the port town of Pilar, Sorsogon. Scheduled to launch early this year, this farm-to-consumer outlet is a result of the partnership between the DA and the municipal government of Pilar, aimed at accelerating the program’s expansion. “The program aims to improve the distribution system of agricultural products by

By Sally Atento-Altea LEGAZPI CITY --- Students in the remote municipality of Jovellar in Albay acquired practical life skills and social awareness during learning sessions held as part of the iServe Information and Service Caravan organized by the Philippine Information Agency’s Albay Information Center. In addition to providing frontline services, the caravan included discussions focused on youth, featuring speakers from various government agencies. They addressed important

POLICE intelligence operatives seized more than P1 million worth of suspected shabu and a firearm from a high-value individual (HVI) during the implementation of a search warrant in the town of Minalabac, Camarines Sur on Tuesday evening, January 20, 2026. The Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office (CSPPO), under the directive of Provincial Director PCOL Virgilio O. Olalia Jr., led the operation together with personnel of the Minalabac Muni

By Paulo DS Papa Police authorities in the city remain on heightened alert following several incidents from December up to the present, a few days after a series of heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Ada. Police Capt. Daisy Angeles, spokesperson of the Naga City Police Office, said the current police alert status across the Bicol Region has not yet been lifted. She emphasized that due to the continuing volcanic activity of Mayon Volcano in Albay, the Police Regional Office

By Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- He came, he saw, he hit the roof. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon expressed frustration after inspecting a section of the Maharlika Highway in Quezon on Friday, January 16. “It seems like many tried to rush the repairs here. We don’t want patchy work,” he told reporters during a short break from his inspection, pointing out potholes on the highway, some of which had been poorly repaired with sand and asphalt. “If they did it thinking I wou

By Rosalita Manlangit DAET, Camarines Norte --- Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the district jail of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Labo were provided with free medical check-ups, laboratory tests, and medicines by the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of the town. The medical procedures included taking vital signs, initial interviews, and laboratory examinations, such as random blood sugar, uric acid, and cholesterol tests. The medical care also forms part of the

By Jason B. Neola BISHOP Louie Occiano of the Diocese of Virac has called for unity, calm leadership, and a return to the true spirit of public service amid the intensifying conflicts and disputes among some local leaders in the province. In a statement posted on his Facebook page, the bishop expressed concern over the impact of political infighting on public peace and the people’s trust. “When a happy island is no longer happy because of politics, something precious has been