By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- Mayon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3 or relatively high unrest, without the need to raise the alert status to Level 4 (intense unrest), as Albay disaster officials continue to enforce safety protocols and maintain heightened preparedness in communities surrounding the volcano. Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) chief Bobby Cristobal said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has not

By Jordan Domingo BULA, Camarines Sur --- Police are preparing criminal charges against a 66-year-old farmer who allegedly threatened another farm hand with an improvised firearm during a birthday gathering in Barangay La Victoria, Bula. According to the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office, the incident happened at around 8:30 p.m. on July 19. The victim, a 69-year-old farmer identified only as “Pay Ino,” told police that the suspect, alias “Pay Jess,” pointed a locally ma

By Jordan Domingo CAMARINES SUR --- Police arrested a farm caretaker in Nabua for alleged theft after stolen personal belongings were recovered from his backpack, while illegal drugs were also seized from his possession during the lawful arrest, authorities said. According to the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office (CSPPO), the incident occurred at around 3:15 p.m. on July 19 in Barangay Malawag, Nabua. The victim, identified only by the alias “Zacky,” 65, reported that h

By Sally A. Altea LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) --- Farmers and residents in the northern and northwestern towns of Albay now have faster and safer access to markets following the completion of three farm-to-market road (FMR) projects by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The newly completed roads in the towns of Polangui, Libon, and Oas are expected to reduce travel time and hauling costs while improving the transport of agricultural products and access to essential servic

By Rosalita Manlangit DAET, Camarines Norte (PIA) --- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) provided cash assistance to 2,527 fisherfolk in Camarines Norte in response to inflation caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Funded by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP), each fisherfolk received P2,325 between July 8 and July 17 across nine coastal towns of the province. “Over P6.2 million has been

By Keren Anne Bernadas The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Thursday that it has ordered the closure of Cander Visa Consultancy Services, Inc. in this city due to its suspected involvement in illegal recruitment activities. This marks the first closure order issued by the DMW against a business in the Bicol region. DMW Assistant Secretary for Adjudication Services and Regional Operations Jerome Alcantara led the implementation of the closure order after the ag

By Keren Anne Bernadas LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) --- For Teresa Quintana, a mother of three grade school pupils at Balinad Elementary School in Daraga, Albay, one of the greatest challenges in supporting her children’s education has always been limited internet access. Whenever school assignments or projects require online research, her family struggles because they cannot afford a regular internet connection, while the mobile signals in their community remain weak and unreli

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- More than 13,000 senior citizens in this city will receive 10 kilos of rice each starting in August under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) Rice Subsidy Program, the local chief executive said on Monday. In an interview, Mayor Hisham Ismail said the assistance forms part of the initial allocation from the national government under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. "Under the i

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has started distributing financial assistance under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program, providing PHP2,000 each to more than 8,000 poor and near-poor households in the region. In an interview, DSWD-Bicol chief administrative officer Michael Jerome Bellena said the UPLIFT program is part of the whole-of-government response of the

By Michael B. Jaucian LIGAO CITY --- A record surge in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from Mayon Volcano has heightened the possibility of a more explosive eruption, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned on Saturday. Mayon emitted an average of 13,128 metric tons of volcanic SO₂ per day on July 11, based on campaign ultraviolet spectrometry measurements conducted by Phivolcs. The agency said the emission rate was the highest recorded from th

By Paulo DS. Papa FORMER Naga City mayor and now Camarines Sur’s 3rd district representative Nelson Legacion has maintained that the construction of the Naga City General Hospital's Outpatient Department (OPD) building complied with existing laws and regulations. Earlier, Mayor Leni Robredo disclosed that the construction of the hospital's OPD building had been completed without a soil test report, quoting the statement made by an engineer who was among those who inspected th

By Jason B. Neola IRIGA CITY --- As it prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary in February 2027, the University of Saint Anthony (USANT) is reaffirming its commitment to placing the welfare of its students, faculty members, and employees at the center of its development strategy. USANT President Atty. Emmanuel “Mickey” Ortega said the university’s “people-first philosophy” has enabled the institution to provide quality yet affordable private education while investing heavi

Calaguas Islands, Vinzons, Camarines Norte — July 5, 2026. The recently concluded Dream Swim Calaguas 2026 brought together athletes, local communities, and eco-tourism advocates in a vibrant showcase of endurance and sustainable tourism. Held on July 4–5, the event featured 3KM and 6KM open-water swim categories, drawing participants from across the Philippines to the pristine waters of Calaguas Island. Strengthening Sports Tourism The competition highlighted Calaguas as a p

MINALABAC, Camarines Sur --- A 49-year-old man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after he allegedly attempted to attack his own daughter with a digging bar in Barangay Sagrada Familia, Minalabac, police said. Police identified the suspect only by the alias “Jim,” a widower and jobless resident of Minalabac. He is now under police custody and is facing an attempted parricide complaint. The victim, identified only as “Ange,” 21, a college student, escaped unharmed during the incid

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- Mayor Hisham Ismail on Tuesday outlined a development roadmap focused on infrastructure, public services, economic growth and good governance as the city advances its vision of becoming a Smart City and a Highly Urbanized City (HUC). In his first State of the City Address (SOCA), Ismail highlighted the city government's accomplishments from July 2025 to June 2026 and outlined priority programs to improve the delivery of public services, sust