By Jordan Domingo LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Education (DepEd) is preparing to roll out a School Digital Safety Campaign in Bicol and other parts of the country as it moves to address safety risks faced by students not only inside school campuses but also in the digital spaces where they study, communicate and socialize. The initiative comes amid heightened concern over school safety following recent campus violence, including the case involving Banga National High Sc

By Jason B. Neola MAYOR Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo has explained the origin and timeline of the P500-million national government funding for the rehabilitation and retrofitting of the Jesse M. Robredo (JMR) Coliseum, saying the project was pursued because the facility has become the city’s largest evacuation center. In a Facebook post on Monday, September 21, Robredo said the coliseum was constructed in 2009 and opened in 2010 as a venue for major events, conventions, sports

By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- The Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Legazpi City has dismissed the criminal case against former Legazpi City Mayor Carmen Geraldine Barrameda-Rosal over an alleged violation of Section 261(v)(2) of the Omnibus Election Code. In a 20-page decision penned by Presiding Judge Arnel P. Cezar and dated July 23, 2026, the court granted Rosal’s motion for reconsideration and reversed its earlier resolution dated May 14, 2026, which had denied her mo

By Paulo DS Papa “All I have said has factual bases. In short, true.” This was the statement given to the media by Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Nelson Legacion weeks ago, before Gov. LRay Villafuerte announced that he had filed disbarment and cyber libel cases against the legislator. Legacion, who represents the province’s third congressional district, is known for his interventions in issues outside his jurisdiction in the name of public service, including the years-long

By Jason B. Neola VIRAC, Catanduanes --- The Municipal Trial Court (MTC) of Virac has dismissed Criminal Case No. 7174 against former Catanduanes governor Joseph “Boboy” Cua. The case stemmed from allegations of violations of the National Building Code of the Philippines under Presidential Decree No. 1096. In his official statement following the dismissal, Cua said he was pleased with the court’s decision and maintained that he had faced the allegations from the beginning. Cu

By Jordan Domingo OCAMPO, Camarines Sur --- Police arrested a 27-year-old man listed as the province’s No. 7 most wanted person during a manhunt operation in Barangay Hanawan, Ocampo, Camarines Sur, at about 3:35 p.m. on September 20. The suspect, identified only as alias “Cris,” a single forklift operator and resident of Ocampo, was arrested by personnel of the Ocampo Municipal Police Station (MPS) by virtue of a warrant of arrest for statutory rape by sexual assault. Police

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- At least 1,848 poor and near-poor households in Daraga, Albay, each received PHP2,000 in financial assistance on Monday under the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Bicol’s (DSWD-5) Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program. The payout at the Daraga covered court marked the release of the second tranche of the July-to-December assistance, following the first tranche distributed in July. The U

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Bicol (BJMP-5) has intensified dengue prevention efforts through cleanup drives and mosquito-control activities in jail facilities and nearby communities across the region. In a media release on Tuesday, the agency said personnel of the BJMP-Bicol, led by Regional Director Jail Senior Supt. Jose Gemelo Taol, joined local officials and residents in clearing waste, debris, and other potential mosqu

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has so far disbursed PHP24.14 million in assistance to 2,539 dengue patients and families of individuals who died from the disease in the region this year. In a report on Tuesday, DSWD-Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio said the assistance was provided through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, primarily through the Crisis Intervention Sect

By Benilda Recebido SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon --- Access to the internet and essential online services has become more accessible for people in Sorsogon, following the launch of the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP) by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in the Bicol region. The program was introduced on September 14 during the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” service caravan held at the Sorsogon Convention Center. FPI

MEXICO City --- Bikolano poet and filmmaker Kristian Sendon Cordero delivered a poetic meditation on the devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia and its relationship to his poetics at the former house of Mexican poet and Nobel laureate Octavio Paz in Mexico City on September 17. The reading brought Bikolano literary and religious memory into conversation with one of Mexico’s most important literary spaces, creating a meeting of places, traditions, and artistic practices. For Cord

SORSOGON --- Photography, poetry and environmental advocacy will come together in “LAKAT-LENTE nan RAWIT-DAWIT SA BAYBAYON: Photowalk x Poetry Reading at Gubat Bay,” happening on October 3, 2026, in Gubat, Sorsogon, as part of Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photowalk and Design Week Philippines, in partnership with the DTI Design Center of the Philippines. Organized by the Kurit-Lagting Art Collective in partnership with the Save Gubat Bay Movement (SGBM), a community movement compo

DAET, Camarines Norte --- More than 6,000 beneficiaries received government aid and services during the Handog ng Pangulo caravan at the University of Camarines Norte on Sept. 14, celebrating President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s birthday. “On behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., I extend his heartfelt greetings and gratitude to all of you. Although the past few months have been challenging due to rising fuel prices, heavy rainfall, and flooding, we Filipinos alway

QUEZON CITY --- The Social Security System (SSS) honored nearly 4,000 pensioners at its annual Pensioners’ Day celebration on 11 September 2026, held in 19 selected venues nationwide as part of the pension fund’s 69th anniversary. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph M. de Claro said the event recognizes pensioners’ years of hard work and contributions to the Philippine economy. “We institutionalized this activity as an expression of gratitude to them for t

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The city government here will begin disbursing cash incentives to teachers and employees via GCash, replacing traditional cash payouts and reducing the need for beneficiaries to queue. After Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, Legazpi City Mayor Hisham Ismail said in an interview that the initiative is part of the city government’s digital transformation program to improve public services. The digital payout system will cover teachers, city go