RAPU-RAPU, Albay– A forest fire which raged for five days almost engulfed the forested part of the island of Batan, of the two-island municipality of Rapu-rapu of Albay province. The fire began on Friday last week but came to the knowledge of Albay public safety and civil defense offices three […]
Mention disaster preparedness and the province of Albay always comes to mind. But not all LGUs and government offices in the province “walk the walk” and “talk the talk” of the indefatigable governor Joey Sarte Salceda. In Tabaco, at least 21 sacks of rice and cartons of relief goods (noodles) […]
PILI, Camarines Sur, -– The Narangasan multi-purpose cooperative based in the town of Milagros in Masbate province recently received a rice processing facility built by the agriculture department (DA). The building with an area of 300 square meters was completed at the cost of P56 million equipped with a multi-pass […]
GENEVA — The Director-General of World Health Organization and presidents of west African nations impacted by the Ebola virus disease envisaged to launch a new joint US$ 100 million response plan as part of an intensified international campaign to bring the outbreak under control. “The scale of the Ebola outbreak, […]
LEGAZPI CITY -– Commuters traversing the Yawa bridge here better find an alternative route to avoid inconvenience. Starting Monday, August 6, a traffic rerouting affecting buses, trucks and delivery vans take effect as works on the bridge widening project starts. While the project has an allotment of P140 million approved […]
SORSOGON CITY — A village in Bacon district here may soon be erased from the map if the geo-hazard threatening it would not be acted upon, the village chief on Monday warned. Osiao barangay chairman Tito Dio said typhoon Glenda spawned massive flooding in their locality, made worse by the […]
Albay governor Joey Salceda expressed irritation on the announcement of the Albay Power Energy Corp. (APEC) that the electricity supply in the entire province will be restored in October this year yet. The announcement crossed the eyebrows of consumers in the province. Salceda said Saturday he has asked the assistance […]
The ease of usage by cellphone text messaging and the internet has finally caught up the territory previously dominated by the post office, that of sending and delivering letters. Little did many surmised before that it could lead to something economically disadvantageous to some sectors. One government agency is slowly […]
LEGAZPI CITY — While few localities in the province have their electricity supply restored much of the area taken over by Albay Power and Energy Corporation are still in the dark. It is more likely that the unenergized areas of the province will have to wait for at least two […]
SORSOGON CITY – After the storm that hit the Bicol region comes the backlash. Sorsogon provincial officials accuses the Albay leadership of allegedly seeming and deliberate exaggeration and padding on estimated disaster report on the value of devastation wrought by Typhoon Glenda. Of the six Bicol provinces, Albay claimed to […]
LEGAZPI CITY, July 21 — Residents have expressed concern over the situation in local jails after a prisoner escaped from the city district jail in Barangay Balogo, Sorsogon City on Sunday afternoon while an inmate died of ailment inside his detention cell in Masbate early Monday morning. According to the […]
LEGAZPI CITY — Two teams from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology in Manila repaired nine of the 10 monitoring stations around Mount Mayon including six of the seven similar equipments around Bulusan volcano disabled by typhoon “Glenda” on July 15. Headed by Dr. Maria Antonia V. Bornas, Phivolcs […]
Bicol region is reeling from the massive blackout, total power disruptions in all areas, while affected residents are just beginning to face the difficult task of rebuilding, again. Even with the absence of electric power in the entire region, the provincial governments in Bicol have ordered the decampment of a […]
Power in the Luzon grid will be partially restored the earliest on Saturday (July 19th) and the latest on Tuesday, next week. Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla pointed out that power restoration is also dependent on the repair of the 69 kilovolt (kV) lines, which may be fixed in two weeks […]
A total of thirty eight persons were reported dead, ten were injured and eight are still missing in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-b, 5, 7 and NCR as aftermath of Typhoon Glenda, according to the update by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. At 6:00 AM today, a […]
MANILA, July 17 — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the number of deaths rose to 20 while 505,000 people were affected in Luzon and the Visayas due to strong winds, waves and rains spawned by Typhoon “Glenda”. In its report on Wednesday evening, NDRRMC said […]
Typhoon “Glenda” is expected to exit the country this morning while another weather disturbance has been monitored east of northern Mindanao which may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) within the day, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday. PAGASA weather forecasts as of […]
Typhoon “Glenda” left behind with majority of electric cooperatives, power retailers, in the Bicol mainland and other areas powerless, as noted by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). In the NGCP’s 7:00 a.m. update Wednesday, identified these cooperatives as the Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative Inc. (ESAMELCO), Samar Electric […]
Officials of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said in a briefing that Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon in Region 5; and Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite and Rizal in Region 4, Bataan in Region 3 were all cut off from the grid as of 8:00 P.M., […]
LEGAZPI CITY — Albay’s coconut industry sustained an estimated Php 1.3 billion to typhoon ‘Glenda’, affecting 70% of 900 million trees, covering 9,415 hectares. In an early update by the information office of the Bicol branch of the Philippine Coconut Authority said that some of the damages can be recovered […]
LEGAZPI CITY, July 15 — As of 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, tropical storm “Glenda” was located at about 90 kilometers of this city and is expected to hit Legazpi City at about 4:00 p.m. The typhoon is expected to pass by Prieto Diaz in Sorsogon, then Legazpi and the First District […]
Typhoon “Glenda” has slightly intensified as it moves closer to Catarman, Samar, the state weather bureau said on Tuesday afternoon. In its 2:30 p.m. update, PAGASA said the eye of typhoon Glenda was located by Virac radar at 60 km North Northeast of Catarman, Northern Samar or 110 km East […]
Seven provinces are now under public storm signal No. 3 as typhoon “Glenda” has maintained its strength and continues to move westward towards Bicol region, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday. Public storm signal No. 3 (winds of 101-185 kilometers per hour is […]
By September 15th this year, the Pag-Ibig fund regional center will move to Naga City. The new address will be housed in an office building now undergoing rehabilitation and repainting in time for the transfer. It is in the same structure being occupied by its Naga branch at Roxas avenue. […]
Just for the fun of it, we made Ginger select randomly the team to covet the 2014 FIFA World Cup, between Germany and Argentina. She picked Argentina. But wait, during the match between Netherlands and Brazil, she picked Brazil, which we know now lost 2-0. On the match between Japan […]
LEGAZPI CITY –- The public works and highways department is almost set to start the expansion to four lanes of the Yawa bridge here at a cost of P140 million. According to public works Bicol assistant regional director Armando Estrella, the initial amount of P50 million is now ready, hoping […]
Some 353 students enrolled at the Catanduanes State University were granted scholarship amounting to P60,000 per head by the Commission on Higher Education this school year. The program on expanded student’s grants-in-aid for poverty alleviation targets indigent but deserving students from families enrolled in the 4P’s of the social welfare […]
No lesser than 3,000 estimated former victims of Marcos-era martial law rule are seen to file their compensation suits beginning Monday in Legazpi city. Presumed victims of human rights violations, the claimants will come from Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate and Albay or from all provinces that comprises the region. […]
Legazpi City — The province of Albay and this city will be able to showcase as a booming economic and tourism hubs outside Manila in the coming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in 2015, DFA Undersecretary Laura del Rosario said Thursday. Earlier, reported here that probably 10 of 63 APEC ministerial […]
Legazpi City, Albay — Still aching from the unabated electric power serrvice interruptions courtesy of Albay Power energy corporation, the residents of this city are also beset with another problem. Consumers within the service area of Legazpi City water district (LCWD) face the probability of a fresh round of rate […]
The island-province of Catanduanes has been declared under a state of calamity, not because of a recent typhoon, but due to the massive power blackouts encountred in majority of the service area of the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative. Since the start of second quarter of 2014, the province has been […]
Road to Raw Food(s), Episode 10, Video 9 Road to Raw Foods share how to grow and sprout mongo beans in six days. Growing mongo sprouts, also known as mung or moong bean or green gram or golden gram, is a fun learning process. Here, Danton shoot the videos on […]
Maraming Salamat at Pagpalain Kayo ng Diyos – Nora Aunor After the brouhaha on P-Noy’s failure to recognize how to measure an artist’s overwhelming contribution to the national identity and withheld the National Artist Award to Bicolana Superstar Nora Aunor (Nora Villamayor in real life), the diminutive actor broke her […]
LEGAZPI CITY — Members of the defunct Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) believes that the P500-million rehabilitation fund the coop received from the national government seven years ago has been misappropriated. The members who formed the group Aleco Forum has asked the Anti-Graft Division of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) […]
The Philippines is a sour loser when it comes to effective rice production in the country despite the presence of International Rice Research Institute and the Philippine Rice Research Institute both within its grasp and under its “disposal.” Can we forget how in December of 2011, one and a half […]
Watch here. President Benigno S. Aquino III is a favorite of hecklers. In less than a month, this June, he was heckled by disgruntled vocal members of the society during speaking sorties in the provinces. Protesters strike again, disrupting President Aquino’s speech, this time in Iloilo. Authorities say they will […]
Road to Raw Food(s) Episode 9. Video 8 Watch this video as Road to Raw Food shares how to make a homemade, healthy and non-animal sourced, plant-based Almond milk. Procedure and Recipe: Thoroughly wash 1/2 cup of Almond. Soak overnight. Using any blender, place the soaked 1/2 cup of almond […]
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 11,225 out of 29,188 passed the Nurse Licensure Examination given by the Board of Nursing in the cities of Manila, Bacolod, Baguio, Cabanatuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, Laoag, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga last May 2014. The successful […]
The town of Aroroy, whose coffers is supposed to be full because of its rich gold and other minerals from mine operation, will secure a loan of P45 million to finance a housing project and acquire heavy equipment. According to Mayor Enrico Capinig, the loan proceeds that will be sourced […]
One hundred fishermen from the town of Mercedes in Camarines Norte province received fishing boats worth P1,884,115.00 from the Department of Labot and Employment. The beneficiaries came mostly from the coastal barangays of Catandunganon, Mandisok and Kulasi of said town. The boats were made by a local craftsman which was […]
Fil-American businesswoman Loida Nicolas-Lewis rallies Sorsoganons to mount a “people power” movement to help resolve the woes faced by the Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative (Soreco II). Lewis who hails from Sorsogon said during a media briefing, “I am calling on my fellow Sorsoganons to do a people power for Soreco […]
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 […]
Road to Raw Food(s), Episode, 8 Video 7 In this continuing series Danton makes use of kamote top leaves (fresh organic and very green top leaves of sweet potato, also known as talbos ng kamote or ugbos nin kamote) as the main ingredient of a healthy, almost raw, and very […]
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 […]
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 […]
Nora Aunor could be 2nd national artist from Bicol The Philippine’s only cinema, theatrical actor and recording superstar of all time Nora Aunor is in the shortlist among the prospective candidates for National Artists that may find confirmation from Malacanang. This surfaced as President Benigno Aquino III has been asked […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Road to Raw Food(s) Episode 7, Video 6 Today, Fathers Day, our raw foodie shares the recipe and video on how to make a healthy organic pineapple, mango and carrot medley. Excellent refreshing treat for every member of the family as they huddle around. This production is the first using […]
Road to Raw Food(s), Episode 6, Video 5 A Fathers Day Gift: Unboxing Vitamix Professional Series 200 Watch here as Road to Raw Foods un-box a new blender, the Vitamix Professional Series 200 which is a Father’s Day gift. To all fathers, Happy Fathers Day.
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 […]
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 […]
Road to Raw Food(s), Episode 5, Video 4 On this installment of “Road To Raw Food,” join host Danton as he presents his way of making Kamote (Sweet Potato) top leaves and Mint leaves into tea powder. Plus a hint in making Pineapple crown leaves into tea powder, too. Presented […]
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 […]
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 […]
Legazpi City, Albay — Albay power blackout disrupted our lives, bigtime! On Wednesday, May 28 at about 9″00 o’clock AM the electiricity being supplied by Albay Power and Energy corporation (APEC) thru feeders 1, 2 ,3 and 4 in this city, suddenly went off. The APEC, (the company created with […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Road to Raw Food(s), Episode 4 After the usual task of cleaning newly purchased fruits (which are unbelievably still firm and hard to the touch) and amazing crisp vegetables in our futile attempt at removing or wiping out whatever harmful preservative agent sprayed on it (see related video-article here How […]
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 […]
The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan granted on Tuesday afternoon the request of former President and Pampanga congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to attend the wake of her late brother Arturo. Arroyo’s lawyer, Atty. Lawrence Arroyo, said the anti-graft court, in a two-page resolution, allowed his client to attend Macapagal’s wake daily for four […]
At the edge of the river bank, a waiting shade serves as the landing-terminal point for arriving and departing passengers. One can let time pass just by sitting on the steps or on the cement seats. I did just that and kept awed and bewildered at how huge and overwhelming the Bicol river is.
The Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin and Indonesian President Joko Widodo will attend the G20 summit in Anatalya, Turkey on November 15 to 16 but both will skip the APEC event in Manila slated for November 18 TO 19. At the G20 summit Putin will meet with International Monetary Fund […]
Masbate governor, and former 3rd district congresswoman Rizalina Seachon-Lanete was axed by the Office of the Ombudsman from her post for the anomalous utilization of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) amounting to P112.29 million between 2007 and 2009. Seachon is being detained in Bicutan, Taguig City. Also included in the […]
Pope Francis brings to Vatican vestments used in PH masses. MANILA, Jan. 21 — Not only was Pope Francis impressed of the huge attendance during his public appearances. Other than the Pope mobile, he also liked the vestments he used during the Papal Visit. There were three vestment Pope Francis […]
Watch the live stream coverage on the Philippine Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged $81 million money laundering scam which was coursed through the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Jupiter-Makati branch, PhilRem Service Corporation and other financial institutions. On an earlier hearing, the remittance company that converted most of […]
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao, March 16 -– Joint police and military operatives arrested Sunday night Ustadz Mohammad Ali Tambako and four of his men in Gen. Santos City. Tambako is allegedly the leader of the Justice for Islam Movement (JIM), a splinter group of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Tambako is […]
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 […]
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called on the Southeast Asian leaders on Saturday to confront extremist groups after a string of terror attacks killed 130 people in Paris, as well as 224 aboard a downed Russian plane. In his opening speech at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Razak said, […]
The longest Christmas Season unfolds only in the Philippines. Long before the traditional midnight mass (simbang gabi / simbang banggi) unfolds, beginning on the 16th of December, christmassy songs are already on the air. Because it is only in the Philippines that the longest Christmas Season is observed up until […]
Alas, there is more on the drawing board for the Divine Mercy parish and community. The next project will be the proposed construction of another facility to service the growing religious community around Paolbo. Yes, the parish of Divine Mercy is set to build a new pastoral center building within […]
Sometimes can only wish for a good view of the sky clear and far from the electrical post with its tangled wires. We have to sacrifice a little in exchange for some convenience or I won’t be posting this skyview.
The idle Cagsawa Museum of Daraga gets a needed boost with a P50 million allocation from the National Museum of the Philippines. The funds will be used for rehabilitation that will lead to its eventual reopening to the public as the regional branch of the institution. Once operational, the local […]
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) needs a shot in the arm as it might have its last breath after 10 months since it is fast losing blood with its fund payout larger than its members’ monthly contributions and income. This was disclosed by PhilHealth board member Eddie Dorotan, who […]
Watch Quick and Easy Pickle Radish and Carrot the simple Asian style Yes, we are sharing here the simple easy no fail method of making pickled radish and carrot that is so familiar to many. Check it out as our guest host Aida show us the process. The end product […]
Albay Governor Joey S. Salceda, concurrently Bicol Regional Development Council chairman, is proposing to give cash transfers to the internally displaced families in Samar and Leyte provinces rather than in-kind assistance. Salceda explained that cash transfer is much better than providing in-kind assistance to the surviving victims of calamities since […]
CAMP GEN. SIMEON A. OLA, Legazpi City — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has offered a reward of P50,000 for the capture of the barangay captain of Sabang in this city now hunted by authorities for alleged illegal drugs trafficking. Regional director Archie Grande identified the fugitive barangay official […]
A local electric cooperative serving one of the largest coverage areas in terms of consumers in the province of Camarines Sur gears for a whopping increase in power rate charges. The Camarines Sur II electric cooperative will arbitrarily increase its rates from P11.50 per kilowatt hour in November to P15.30/kwh […]
MANILA, Jan. 4 — The proposal to move the opening of classes from June to either August or September has gained the attention of Malacanang. On Saturday, a palace spokesperson said that the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education are now studying the proposals. Deputy presidential spokesperson […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Typhoon “Glenda” is expected to exit the country this morning while another weather disturbance has been monitored east of northern Mindanao which may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) within the day, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday. PAGASA weather forecasts as of […]
LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 26 — Ten regional and provincial officers of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and 30 resident inmates are now ready to make vinegar and nata de coco either for their families’ use or for business purposes. They learned the process in a recent skills training […]