Bicol police chiefs sacked undergo refresher course
Bicol police chiefs sacked undergo refresher course

LEGAZPI CITY, June 23 (PNA) -– So, what has been done on the city and municipal police chiefs removed from their respective posts earlier reported here: PNP Bicol sacks police chiefs? The 22 chiefs of police sacked last week from their posts after failing the target policy output being implemented […]

Friendship Bridge proposal will link Catanduanes with Bicol mainland
Friendship Bridge proposal will link Catanduanes with Bicol mainland

The Maqueda channel separates the island of Catanduanes from Bicol mainland province of Camarines Sur in its nearest opposite points at approxiamtely 10.8 kilometers. And provincial governor Araceli Wong hopes that one day that great divide will become part of the past. The solution is a proposed bridge, linking Barangay […]

PRC release passers, top ten of June 2014 Architect Licensure Exams
PRC release passers, top ten of June 2014 Architect Licensure Exams

The Professional Regulations commission has released the result of the June 2014 licensure examinations for architecture. A total of 1,100 examinees passed. Below are the successful examinees who garnered the top ten (10) highest places in the June 2014 Architect Licensure Examination are the following: 1 RODRICK PAUL VELASCO MENDOZA […]

Tourist arrivals in Legazpi city hit .5M in 2013
Tourist arrivals in Legazpi city hit .5M in 2013

LEGAZPI CITY – This Bicol city hosted last year more than half a million tourists, an increase of 32.27 percent from the previous year’s number of arrivals. As recorded by the Bicol regional office of the Department of Tourism, the total arrivals of both domestic and foreign tourists here for […]

Partido towns eyed as food production hub of Bicol
Partido towns eyed as food production hub of Bicol

Ten towns comprising the fourth congressional district of Camarines Sur, also known as Partido area, is being eyed as future food production hub that could serve the entire Bicol region. Government regional offices led by the Department of Agriculture are working for a convergence initiative by agencies with functions involving […]

Gov. Villafuerte bats for an Express tollway in Camarines Sur
Gov. Villafuerte bats for an Express tollway in Camarines Sur

A proposed 15.2 kilometer road project traversing communities in the municipalities of San Fernando, Minalabac and Pili is being eyed by governor Miguel Luis Villafuerte as a possible priority public-private partnership (PPP) project in the province of Camarines Sur. Envisioned as the Camarines Sur Express Tollway project, the new road […]

PNP Bicol sacks 28 police chiefs
PNP Bicol sacks 28 police chiefs

LEGAZPI CITY, June 14 (PNA) — Chief Supt. Victor P. Deona, Bicol Regional Police Office director, sacked 28 chiefs of police and an intelligence officer in Bicol after they failed to pass the performance target set for them. Deona announced in a press conference Friday that the officers removed from […]

Move to boycott Albay power operator San Miguel Energy gains ground
Move to boycott Albay power operator San Miguel Energy gains ground

Gov. Joey Salceda joins move to boycott payment to APEC LEGAZPI CITY, -– A boycott move against the San Miguel Energy Corp. (SMEC) is gaining ground as its newly acquired controversial Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco), now named Albay Power and Energy Corp. (APEC), has yet to deliver its much-vaunted stable […]

BIG NO to development of resorts in Calaguas islands – DENR
BIG NO to development of resorts in Calaguas islands – DENR

LEGAZPI CITY -– The regional office for Bicol of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) based here is discouraging the development of resorts in Camarines Norte’s Calaguas Islands to preserve its serenity, natural beauty and exotic ecosystem. Gilbert Gonzales, DENR regional executive director, on Thursday warned resort developers […]

President Aquino led 116th PH independence day celebration in Naga City
President Aquino led 116th PH independence day celebration in Naga City

Naga City — This premier Bicol city shares the limelight nationwide during the celebration of the 116th Philippine Independence day anniversary. President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday, graced the celebration. He delivered an Independence Day speech and acknowledged the 15 Bicol martyrs during the Philippine Revolution. The president raised the […]

Bitano Massacre was a grave insult to every Albayano
Bitano Massacre was a grave insult to every Albayano

Albay governor Joey Salceda just called the power blackout that inconvenienced constituents for eight days and eight nights as “Bitano Massacre”. Adding that the hapless occurrence which highlighted the seervice of the Albay Power and Energy Corporation, a creation of the San Miguel Enenergy Corporation, may have made residents firmer […]

No salary increase for public school teachers this year – Malacanang
No salary increase for public school teachers this year – Malacanang

MANILA – As the first day of classes opens nationwide, public school teachers are greeted with the announcement by Malacanang that their desired salary increase will have to wait until next year. Reposting here newsbrief from The Bulletin Today Presidential spokesperson Herminio Coloma, Jr. explained that a raise could not […]

Albay blackout: Blame it on the transformer
Albay blackout: Blame it on the transformer

The blackout being suffered by Legazpi City, Manito town and some areas of Sto. Domingo town started on Wednesday morning after the 35-year-old 20-MVA transformer of the Bitano sub-station conked out. Imported during the Martial Law years, (during the implementation of establishing electric cooperatives in the country) in 1979, it […]

Albay power blackout enters sixth day
Albay power blackout enters sixth day

LEGAZPI CITY, — Power blackout in Legazpi City and parts of Albay entered its sixth day on Monday after the 35-year-old 20-MVA transformer in the Bitano sub-station here, covering four feeders, totally collapsed on Wednesday morning and is now beyond repair. The problem in power supply lack came a few […]

ALECO: A call for legal assistance
ALECO: A call for legal assistance

A CALL FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE by Oliver O. Olaybal All Albay lawyers are requested to provide legal assistance to their fellow member-consumers in Aleco. Aleco needs your help. A group of unelected individuals have subcontracted the franchise operations of Aleco without the consent of Aleco member-consumers, and without the approval […]

Albay Power Energy Corporation plunges Legazpi City, other towns in darkness
Albay Power Energy Corporation plunges Legazpi City, other towns in darkness

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, June 1, 2014 — For four days now, the entire city of Legazpi including the towns of Sto. Domingo and Manito, are still plunged into total darkness by the Albay Power Energy Corporation. According to reports a 20-MVA power transformer of a sub-station of the electric service […]

CamSur wraps up weeklong revival of Kaogma Festival
CamSur wraps up weeklong revival of Kaogma Festival

PILI, Camarines Sur — After two years absence, the Kaogma (Happy) Festival of this province reopened Saturday, May 24th, in the capitol complex to a fiesta theme complete with free rides, rock-band concerts, pageants, boxing and variety shows with television and movie stars. An excited Gov. Miguel Luis Villafuerte, announced […]

Belated report confirms Tilapia fishkill in Bato Lake
Belated report confirms Tilapia fishkill in Bato Lake

BATO, CamSur — A belated report on Tilapia fishkill in Lake Bato of Camarines Sur was recently confirmed by the municipal agriculture office here. The downpour of rain after long sunny days has brought about fishkill in 70 percent of the fish cages of “tilapia” in the lake. This report […]

DOST launches “science for safer communities” in Naga City
DOST launches “science for safer communities” in Naga City

NAGA CITY — For communities to achieve disaster resiliency, understanding of hazards and their resultant risks is a must, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo stressed on Monday. Montejo was the keynote speaker during the launch of the “Science for Safer Communities” campaign in Bicol held at […]

UNWTO chief in PHL for international meets and recovery initiatives
UNWTO chief in PHL for international meets and recovery initiatives

MANILA, May 17 — The Department of Tourism on Thursday welcomed United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General Taleb Rifai who arrived in Manila. Secretary General Rifai’s visit will start off with a dinner meeting in Manila with select Cabinet members of the Aquino administration, businessmen, and officials of […]

Albay plays host to 3 meets; will cost the government P18-M
Albay plays host to 3 meets; will cost the government P18-M

LEGAZPI CITY — Secretary General Taleb Rifai of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNTWO) will arrive on Saturday to preside over the 26th Joint meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia. Rifai, a Jordanian national, will also preside […]

3 Bicol provinces set to formalize tourism alliance
3 Bicol provinces set to formalize tourism alliance

A new grouping of Bicol provinces into a local tourism industry development alliance is finally taking shape. The new group, which will be referred to as “Triple C,” include the provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes. It will comprise a tourism development area. The two sub-tourism areas under […]

Echinopsis cactus surprise summer bloom
Echinopsis cactus surprise summer bloom

Echinopsis cactus surprise summer bloom. This angiosperm in the family of Cactodeae, specifically in the genus Echinopsis, was first nortured starting with just one tiny “bulb”. Easy to grow with no special care, and handling involved, the plant needs less watering, and grows better alternately under the sun, and under […]

May Flower Field
May Flower Field

An array of flowers in a wide field up for picking or just to appreciate. Our “May Flower Field” slideswhow presentation in high definition. Or view the slideshow on YouTube channel on this link: May Flower Field.

Vatican up for beatification of Pope Paul VI  soon
Vatican up for beatification of Pope Paul VI soon

It might spin interest to many readers that the Holy See is up to readying the beatification of another pope of the modern times. The Vatican is now looking into beatifying Pope Paul VI, which could be as early as October during the Synod of Bishops on the Family. He […]

Non-criminology graduates dominate recruits in police force – Napolcom Bicol
Non-criminology graduates dominate recruits in police force – Napolcom Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY — Data obtained from the National Police Commission Bicol office here revealed that composition of the younger generation of policemen in the region is dominated by graduates coming from the fields of study in nursing, education, commerce and business administration. Of the police recruitment and training classes for […]

Poor Bicolanos get unsafe drinking water from ground wells- DSWD
Poor Bicolanos get unsafe drinking water from ground wells- DSWD

LEGAZPI CITY — Official government data revealed that there are 187,673 Bicolano households which do not have access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, according to the Department of Social Welfare. The provinces of Masbate, Camarines Sur and Albay posted the highest incidences of households with no access to […]

Rapu-rapu mine left behind jobless and farmless residents
Rapu-rapu mine left behind jobless and farmless residents

RAPU-RAPU, Albay -– What happens now that the mining operations of a giant multi-national industrial firm in the mineral-depleted barangay of Pagcolbon, on which most villagers were made dependent on for their livelihood for years, have terminated? How about their lands within the 180-hectare site which were turned barren by […]

Albayanos pay homage to Pope John Paul II’s relics in Cathedral
Albayanos pay homage to Pope John Paul II’s relics in Cathedral

LEGAZPI CITY, April 27 — A big crowd of parishioners of the Saint Gregory the Great Parish here is expected to gather at the Albay Cathedral to join the procession at 3:00 p.m. Sunday and the Pontifical Mass led by Bishop Joey “Bong” Baylon at 4:00 p.m. for the canonization […]

Watch the Canonization of John XXIII and John Paul II
Watch the Canonization of John XXIII and John Paul II

Watch the Canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II. On the Second Easter Sunday Pope Francis presides over the Holy Mass for the Canonization of the Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II, St. Peter’s Square. Scheduled for Apr 27, 2014

Watch the Holy Father preside over the Easter Mass 2014
Watch the Holy Father preside over the Easter Mass 2014

Watch the Holy Father, Pope Francis, presides over the Holy Mass of Easter Day, St. Peter’s Square, Vatican city, on April 20, 2014. Sunday, 4:15 P.M. This is a live streaming feed direct from the Vatican, in Rome.

Watch The Holy Father presides over the Easter Vigil
Watch The Holy Father presides over the Easter Vigil

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, presides over the Easter Vigil 2014 at St. Peter’s Basilica, April 19. VATICAN, April 19, 2014 (CNA/EWTN News).- In his homily for the Easter Vigil Pope Francis encouraged those present to remember the moment they first felt the love of God, saying that Jesus’ resurrection […]

44 Bicol students get science scholarship for S/Y 2014-2015
44 Bicol students get science scholarship for S/Y 2014-2015

LEGAZPI CITY — Forty-four Bicol students qualified for the science education merit scholarship program of the science and technology department for school year 2014-2015. DOST-SEI qualifiers consists of 28 high school graduates and 16 sophomore college students this current school year. The high school qualifiers will get assistance with any […]

Upswing trend in Bicol tourism noted
Upswing trend in Bicol tourism noted

LEGAZPI CITY, April 4 -– Bicol tourism made a noticeable upswing trend in 2013 as some 3.2 million visitors arrived in the past year with an estimated P1.9 billion revenue earned on tourist-related activities. Maria Ong-Ravanilla, regional tourism director, said of the 3.2 million tourist arrivals, 2.5 million were domestic […]

Proposed regional fishport facilities to rise in Calabanga
Proposed regional fishport facilities to rise in Calabanga

The Bureau of Fishiries will provide P6-M for the rehabilitation of San Miguel bay and P20-M for the proposed regional fishport infrastructure that will be located in Calabanga town of Camarines Sur. The fishport will include an ice plant and fish storage facilities. This vague details was shared by the […]

Citizens Crime Watch says PNR uses soft wood on train ties
Citizens Crime Watch says PNR uses soft wood on train ties

LEGAZPI CITY — The Citizens Crime Watch Bicol chapter will file before the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday a complaint against Philippine National Railways officials on the procurement of allegedly sub-standard wooden railroad ties for the repair and maintenance of the rail line in the Bicol region. The complaint […]

Bicolanas win Ms. Philippines Supranational 2014, Ms. Philippines International 2014
Bicolanas win Ms. Philippines Supranational 2014, Ms. Philippines International 2014

Yveth Santiago of Daraga Albay a Bicol University accountancy graduate and a CPA is the newest Bb Pilipinas Supranational winner. Bb. Pilipinas International winner Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti is a “Bicolana” though residing abroad, her mother hails from Daraga, Albay. While favorite candidate Mary Jean Lastimosa was crowned Sunday night […]

CANORECO management taken over by NEA
CANORECO management taken over by NEA

DAET, Camarines Norte – The National Electrification Administration has taken over the management operations of the Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative when it designated Engr. Wilfredo Bucsit as project supervisor beginning last March 10th up until a new general manager is hired. Bucsit officially reported to the Canoreco office while officer-in-charge […]

Salceda chides PNR for use of special train not in Bicol route
Salceda chides PNR for use of special train not in Bicol route

LEGAZPI CITY –- Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has announced he is filing charges against the Philippine National Railways for using the premium tourist train not in the Bicol-Manila route where its acquisition was intended. The PNR utilizes the trains on Tutuban-Laguna run instead of the Bicol route where it is […]

Bicolano police cadet tops PNPA graduating class of 2014
Bicolano police cadet tops PNPA graduating class of 2014

VIRAC, Catanduanes, March 20 – The topnotcher of this year’s graduating class of the Philippine National Police Academy is Police Cadet Glenn Tabo Santelices, 25, from the town of San Andres of Catanduanes province. Before entering the academy, Santelices attended Claret seminary in Quezon City and finished Philosophy as cum […]

Seven PMA cadets graduating with Siklab Diwa class hails from Albay
Seven PMA cadets graduating with Siklab Diwa class hails from Albay

As the Philippine Military Academy conduct its ceremonial graduation exercises at the Borromeo Field today honoring the “Siklab Diwa” class of 2014, many Bicolanos and more so with Albay folks stand proud. Seven of the graduates hail from the province including the class valedictorian Cadet First Class Jheorge Llona. The […]

Bicol city celebrate, honors Naga river
Bicol city celebrate, honors Naga river

NAGA CITY — The officialdom of the city government here is leading a non-traditional festivity that bestows respect and honor not to an individual citizen or group. The honoree is the city’s Naga river. Today, and every second Saturday of March every year, has been proclaimed Naga River Day. The […]

Education department need 31,335 new teachers nationwide
Education department need 31,335 new teachers nationwide

MANILA, March 6 — The Department of Education needed to fill posts for 31,335 teachers nationwide, with all positions most ideally filled out by April 1, 2014, in time for the opening of classes. Requirements for each region include Region 1 – 1,029; Region 2 – 727; Region 3 – […]

DENR Bicol to provide mangrove propagules for Sorsogon towns
DENR Bicol to provide mangrove propagules for Sorsogon towns

LEGAZPI CITY — The regional office here of the environment and natural resources department has made a commitment of providing mangrove propagules for the towns of Donsol, Pilar, Casiguran, Magallanes and Sorsogon city. Learning from the sad experience of the Visayas regions that were badly ravaged by the storm surge, […]

Campaign raise P200-K for skater; Martinez may visit Albay
Campaign raise P200-K for skater; Martinez may visit Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, March 2 — The fund raising drive launched in Albay province for Olympic figure skater Michael Christian Martinez collected P200,348 and $1.25 in totals. Governor Joey Salceda personally turned over the money to Martinez and his mother as contribution to the expenses of the athlete in the (recently […]

Albay Power Energy Corporation rise from the ashes of ALECO
Albay Power Energy Corporation rise from the ashes of ALECO

LEGAZPI CITY — Starting the first week of March, Albay Electric Cooperative, now renamed as Albay Power Energy Corporation (APEC), will be under the management of San Miguel Electricity Corporation. Newly installed general manager Alan Marchan said after the audit on management, technical and operations last January, SMC fully take […]

Watch Vatican Consistory for creation of 19 new Cardinals
Watch Vatican Consistory for creation of 19 new Cardinals

VATICAN CITY, ROME — Watch here the Consistory for the creation of 19 new Cardinals, February 22, 2014. The names of the new cardinals were previously announced by Pope Francis during the Angelus of 12th January. The 19 new cardinals of the Catholic church received their red hat and ring, […]

Catanduanes province soon to be mining-free zone
Catanduanes province soon to be mining-free zone

There is a silver lining on the quest of the people of Catanduanes to eventually stop any possibility of mining activity in the island. The lower house of representatives recently approved a bill declaring the province a mining-free zone. House Bill 670 was passed on final reading as endorsed for […]

Legazpi City mayor secures whale shark feeding ground
Legazpi City mayor secures whale shark feeding ground

LEGAZPI CITY -– A proactive Mayor Noel E. Rosal here early this week ordered the city’s Integrated Coastal Resource Management Unit to fully secure the coastal water channel where whale sharks currently inhabit. “We want Poliqui Bay conserved by way of protecting it from illegal fishing activities, water pollution and […]

Metro “Carmageddon” starts at 10:00 PM, Manila time
Metro “Carmageddon” starts at 10:00 PM, Manila time

Manila, Feb. 17 — If you are living, working, will be in the vicinity of Metro Manila beginning today, take a read of this. The start of monstrous metro Manila traffic jams of epic proportion will unfold Monday, tonight at 10:00 local time. It is the “Carmageddon” brought to commuters […]

Migratory whale sharks make rare visit off Legazpi shoreline
Migratory whale sharks make rare visit off Legazpi shoreline

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb 17 — Hundreds of residents of this city hoping to catch a fleeting glimpse of rare visitors flock to the shoreline. For the third time, whale sharks, locally known as butanding, have reappeared in the waters off this city. The presence of these gentle sea giants, six […]

Mayon Rest House took a decade before restoration
Mayon Rest House took a decade before restoration

It is really a big deal that Albay’s view deck zone and rest house was finally restored. Yet, there is the unanswered question on how come it was left being a white elephant for over a decade which concerned local government officials and, or, agencies did nothing. For over ten […]

Business boom in Pili, what about the hazardous waste
Business boom in Pili, what about the hazardous waste

Business boom in Pili, but what about the hazardous waste products? The pronouncements of Pili mayor Alexis San Luis on the arrival of new business ventures relocating to the provincial capital of Camarines Sur should be a source of envy to local chief executives of other municipalities. Pili is in […]

CamSur earns another Seal of Good Housekeeping
CamSur earns another Seal of Good Housekeeping

The province of Camarines Sur is a recipient of the Seal of Good Housekeeping for the year 2012 from the Department of Interior and Local Government. The first time the provincial local government unit received the award was for the year 2011. The recognition was more like a positive approval […]

DOLE thinks goat can improve life of marginalized farmers
DOLE thinks goat can improve life of marginalized farmers

Can a (pair) couple of goats improve life of a poverty-stricken family of a farmer? This is the purpose of the Department of Labor Bicol regional office in Legazpi with its implementation of the P2-million goat dispersal program. DOLE hopes to reverse the plight of itinerant, seasonal sugar cane plantation […]

Bicol University to open a new medical school
Bicol University to open a new medical school

Legazpi City — The Bicol University will open next school year a medical school in its main campus in this city, according to Gov. Joey Salceda. Its (prospective) medical students will use the facilities of the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH). Meanwhile, the BRTTH also based in the […]

Comelec to rule soon on disqualification case VS. Robredo
Comelec to rule soon on disqualification case VS. Robredo

Consider politics as a never ending episode like the local serial telenovela. For now in Camarines Sur, two personalities and their supporters will get to learn the real score, even after the winners of the past 2013 local elections were proclaimed, specifically for the seat in the most populous third […]

Albay mark the 1814 Mayon fury in Cagsawa Dos Siglos
Albay mark the 1814 Mayon fury in Cagsawa Dos Siglos

DARAGA, Albay, Feb. 2 — Albay folks commemorate the day when the almost perfect cone-shaped Mayon volcano burst its fiery temper, hurling superheated ash, sand and molten rocks that buried alive countless villagers who sought sanctuary inside the Cagsawa church in February 1, 1814. After 200 years, Albayanos pay tribute […]

FDA warns of scam on alkaline, oxygenated water machines
FDA warns of scam on alkaline, oxygenated water machines

MANILA, Feb. 1 — Do not fall prey to obvious water scammers. As more stalls sell equipment or devices claiming to convert tap or bottled water into “alkaline” or “oxygenated” water continue to mushroom, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautioned consumers from the possibility of false claims. A standard […]

80,693 take licensure exam for teachers on  Jan 26
80,693 take licensure exam for teachers on Jan 26

Manila, Jan. 26 — A total of 80,693 examinees will be taking the board licensure examination for professional teachers today in 15 testing centers nationwide. The Professional Regulation Commission announced that the bulk of LET examinees will come from the National Capital Region with an estimated 18,055 examinees, followed by […]

World Bank to finance Legazpi dump sites with P12-M grant
World Bank to finance Legazpi dump sites with P12-M grant

LEGAZPI CITY — The city government of Legazpi will soon receive a P12M grant from the World Bank to finance the closure and rehabilitation of an old dump site and the operation of an adjacent landfill in Banquerohan, here. Mayor Noel Rosal said on Monday a WB supervision team and […]

Albay readies for arrival of first batch of Xiamen tourists
Albay readies for arrival of first batch of Xiamen tourists

LEGAZPI CITY, — Albay opens its international gateway through this city on January 30th. On this day, about 156 Chinese tourists will visit the Bicol province during the initial direct flight from Xiamen, China. The Chinese nationals are expected to stay for a five-day tour. The domestic airport here has […]

Early registration seen to curb school drop-outs
Early registration seen to curb school drop-outs

The education department in Bicol open its doors in the region for the conduct of early registration in all public elementary and secondary schools starting January 25th. The exercise is a simultaneous endeavor that will commence in all school districts nationwide. The newest scheme is aimed at gathering base information […]

“Agaton” strand thousands of passengers and vehicles in Matnog
“Agaton” strand thousands of passengers and vehicles in Matnog

LEGAZPI CITY — About 7,500 passengers and 445 vehicles composed of 251 trucks, 128 buses and 66 cars have been stranded at the Matnog port in Sorsogon, the Office of Civil Defense said Friday. The number of stranded passengers at the Matnog port surged due to shortage of ferry boats […]