By Benilda Recebido SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon --- The provincial government of Sorsogon has dispatched humanitarian assistance to areas heavily affected by ashfall from the Mayon Volcano in Albay. The initiative, called “Tabang kan Sorsoganon” (Help from Sorsogon), delivered 5,000 family food packs to Guinobatan on Monday, which has been identified as one of the hardest-hit towns. On Tuesday, an additional 1,000 food packs were sent to Camalig town and were directly distributed

By Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to add 500,000 new beneficiaries to its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) this year. Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian announced this development on Thursday, noting that some 1.4 million beneficiaries have exited the program since President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. took office. Gatchalian said the beneficiaries who have graduated from receiving government ass

By Benilda Recebido SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon --- For Jerone Bitancur, a tricycle driver in the town of Castilla, the daily grind has recently become more challenging. With rising fuel prices and stagnant fare rates, the money he brings home at the end of a long shift has dwindled to almost nothing. “The high price of fuel is a heavy burden,” Bitancur said, speaking in Filipino. “Fewer people are riding these days, but our expenses keep increasing. When gas prices rise, everyth

By Marlon Atun LEGAZPI CITY --- The ongoing eruption at Mayon Volcano is creating a lot of unstable volcanic materials, raising concerns about sudden and dangerous flows known as pyroclastic density currents (PDCs). This has led the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to issue new warnings. Since the eruption began, more than 61 million cubic meters of fresh volcanic material have piled up on Mayon’s slopes, according to Paul Karson Alanis, senior sc

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- Neighboring provinces have extended assistance to residents affected by massive ashfall from Mayon Volcano, which hit the municipalities of Guinobatan and Camalig in Albay province. Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) chief Oscar Robert Cristobal on Tuesday said that assistance from national and regional government agencies has also been arriving to address the widespread impact of the ashfall. “The Department of Soc

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- A Chinese national who owns commercial establishments in Legazpi City, namely, Yashano Mall and Hong Enterprises, was arrested on Monday, February 2, for alleged fraud, falsification of public documents, and violations of Philippine immigration laws. Police Lt. Col. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5), said the suspect, identified only by his alias “Jong,” was apprehended by joint operatives of the

By Rhaydz B. Barcia DARAGA, Albay --- Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon on Sunday said construction firms Sunwest, Inc. and Hi-Tone Construction have been blacklisted, resulting in the termination of their government projects nationwide, as he inspected the long-stalled flyover project in Barangay Malabog, Daraga town. Dizon said several projects in Albay province were left unfinished following issues linked to flood control projects, including the 700-meter via

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay LEGAZPI CITY --- A series of surrenders by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) was recorded in Bicol throughout January, signaling increasing support for the government’s localized peace initiatives. Two former members of the communist terrorist group voluntarily surrendered to the Local Peace Engagement Team (LPET) in Libmanan, Camarines Sur. Libmanan Mayor Edelson Marfil welcomed the surrenderees, together with the Department of the Interior an

By Jake Adam M. Badong Naga City, Philippines --- The Ateneo de Naga University campus came alive with wonder, music, and youthful energy as it welcomed thousands of students, educators, and visitors during MARAHUYO: Ateneo Open House 2026, held from January 28 to 30, 2026. Organized by the Ateneo Student Ambassadors (ASA), the three-day event carried the theme “Enchanted by the Ateneo Experience” that offered participants an immersive glimpse into Atenean life, culture, and

By Jake Adam M. Badong Naga City, Philippines --- The Ateneo de Naga University campus welcomed the first light of 2026 with energy, excitement, and more than 1,500 eager feet pounding the pavement for One Big Run 2026. Organized by the Ateneo Student Ambassadors (ASA) in partnership with the University Student Recruitment Office (USRO), the fun run marked the first major running event of the year in Naga City that drew students, alumni, and fitness enthusiasts from across th

By Rhaydz B. Barcia Daraga, Albay --- The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) has declared five significant heritage sites in Albay province as National Cultural Treasures (NCTs), underscoring the province’s rich historical, cultural, and scientific legacy. The newly recognized NCTs are the Cagsawa Ruins, Budiao Ruins, and the Our Lady of the Gates of Daraga Church, all located in the municipality of Daraga; the St. John the Baptist Church in Tabaco City; and the Mataas

Helen Keller Intl Philippines in collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) launched the project, ‘Barangay First 1,000 Days: Cultivating Resilience Through Community Gardens,” which aims to support the health and nutrition of more than 60,000 mothers and infants in over 100 barangays across three sites in the country. Kicking off in Naga City, the project is also launching in February in the Provinces of Isabela and Negros Occidental. These proj

A civil case for injunction was filed to stop the construction of the Enrile family owned-Nagaland Development Corporation’s new 2-storey commercial building that would block the front or main street view on Peñafrancia Avenue in barangay San Francisco of Naga City’s only two remaining Spanish-era civil building ruins which were declared as Important Cultural Properties (ICPs) by the City Government of Naga (CGN). The latter is however also impleaded as a defendant along wit

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- Tired and disillusioned, six members of the communist guerrilla movement, including a pregnant woman from the provinces of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, laid down their arms to return to mainstream society and the fold of the law. Army Major Frank Roldan, spokesperson of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said Karen Ombao, alias Lyka, a seven-month-pregnant medical officer of Squad 1, Platoon 2, KLG1, SRC2 of the Bicol Regional Party C

The Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (MNCCI) successfully conducted its First Quarter General Membership Assembly and the induction of a new set of officers for the calendar year 2026. The event took place on January 30,2026, starting at 5:00 PM at the 2nd Level, Villa Caceres Hotel Ballroom, Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City, with 163 participants in attendance, all dressed in business attire. The assembly commenced with the acknowledgment of guests and participan