By Paulo Papa ABOUT 27,000 residents at risk in flood-prone areas were safely evacuated by the Barangay and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (BDRRMC and CDRRMC) before and during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan. Jason Neola, public information officer at the LGU Naga, said the evacuees were rescued from their homes in various low-lying barangays and brought to safer grounds. He confirmed that by the morning after the typhoon’s passage, the evacuees had

By Ernie Delgado MASBATE CITY --- A magnitude 3.2 earthquake shook Burias as the island was being pummeled by Super Typhoon Uwan. The state earthquake monitoring bureau reported that the quake struck on Sunday evening (November 9) at a depth of approximately 28 kilometers off the southwest coast of Claveria, Masbate. The earthquake was felt mildly in Claveria, but residents panicked. Social media posts showed objects knocked off shelves. In a bulletin, the Philippine Institut

By Maida Boragay The local government of Naga has recognized the significant assistance provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the prepositioning of food packs ahead of the Super Typhoon Uwan, which hit the city over the weekend. This move was pivotal in ensuring prompt and efficient disaster response. A key feature of the city’s preparedness strategy was the strict enforcement of the DSWD policy: only evacuees would receive the food packs

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian flew to the island province of Catanduanes, one of the hardest-hit areas in Bicol, following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-Wong) over the weekend. Gatchalian led a coordination meeting with Governor Patrick Alain Azanza, Representatives Jose “Bong” Joson Teves Jr. and Leo Rodriguez, and other local chief executives to assess the typhoon’s impact

LEGAZPI CITY --- Albay Governor Noel Rosal has declared the province under a state of calamity following widespread devastation caused by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-Wong). The declaration, in addition to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s nationwide directive, allows local government units (LGUs) to access their 5% calamity funds to assist families affected by the typhoon. “The 18 LGUs can use the calamity fund, but they cannot spend it all because December

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has dismissed the disqualification case filed by former Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Sarte Salceda against Governor Noel E. Rosal, saying it was filed beyond the allowed period. In a resolution dated November 5, 2025, but released Monday, the Comelec junked Salceda’s petition (Case No. APA 25-249 [DC]) seeking to nullify Rosal’s candidacy and proclamation in the May 12, 2025 ele

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 5 (Bicol) has distributed more than PHP44 million worth of humanitarian aid across the region following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong). In an interview on Tuesday, Norman Laurio, DSWD-5 director, said that in addition to the 19,000 family food packs already prepositioned in the island province, an additional shipment of food packs has arrived

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- Residents of Catanduanes are urgently in need of construction materials to rebuild homes destroyed by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong), which battered the province with fierce winds and heavy rains over the weekend, Governor Patrick Azanza said Monday. Azanza said the prepositioned 19,000 food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development would be insufficient for almost 90,000 individuals displaced by the supe

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Labor and Employment in Bicol (DOLE-5) has started finalizing arrangements for the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. The initiative aims to assist residents of Camarines Norte and Catanduanes affected by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong). Imelda Gatinao, DOLE-5 regional director, said over PHP160 million has been allocated for emergency empl

By Ryan Mostar and Paulo DS Papa THE devastation left by Typhoon Tino in Cebu this week has drawn parallels to Typhoon Kristine, which caused severe flooding in Naga City and nearby towns in October 2024. Both storms brought torrential rains that submerged homes, displaced thousands, and exposed persistent gaps in local disaster preparedness. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recorded at least 52 confirmed deaths from Typhoon Tino, while mor

GARCHITORENA, Camarines Sur --- A barangay councilor was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by joint operatives of the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) and the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) under the supervision of Police Col Virgilio O. Olalia Jr., Provincial Director of the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office (CSPPO), on the evening of November 4, 2025 in Barangay 3, Garchitorena, Camarines Sur. The suspect, known by the alias “Do

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