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Current Human Events & Stories

PNP Bicol sacks 6 police chiefs due erroneous crime stat reports

The Philippine National Police Bicol regional office sacked the chiefs of police of six local government units in the region because of erroneous reports on crime statistics in the respective areas of responsibility. Insp. Malou Calubaquib, PNP Bicol regional spokesperson, identified the sacked police as Supt. Lorenzo Trajano of Daraga […]

Ako Bicol Party List Representatives are Not Marginalized but Multi-Millionaires

Do you know that the party list Ako Bicol (AKB) representatives purporting to represent a marginalized group are multi-millionaires? AKB Representative Christopher Co has a net worth of P87.5 million and the 36th among the millionaires sitting in the Philippine’s 15th congress. The second AKB rep, Rodel Batocabe, has P29.2 […]

License of 3 Recruiters Gets Axed For Misrepresentation

The windfall volume and value of dollar remittances from Ex-Pats and overseas Filipino workers coursed through banking and monetary institutions that help float the Philippine economy is of paramount importance both to the beneficiaries and to the government. OFWs nonetheless deserve not only respect and adulation but active, instead of […]

2.5M Domestic Helpers Get Protection from RA 10361

An estimated 2.5 million domestic workers around the country will now get PhilHealth coverage, thanks to the signing into law of Republic Act number 10361. The new law specifically aims to protect the welfare of all domestic workers. It defines the labor rights as well as standardizes wage and entitle […]

Albay Receives Today Robredo’s Pamana Award

Albay province gets recognition for its innovations and excellence in local governance with the 2012 Gawad Pamana ng Lahi from the Department of Interior and Local Government. The award is the penultimate seal of good housekeeping given only to local government units with consistent showing over a consecutive three-year period. […]

DSWD Remind EPals Leave 4Ps Alone

Sorsogon city, Sorsogon – Department of Social Welfare and Development regional public affairs office chief for Bicol Agnes Mayor divulged that some local politicians in the province have been causing confusions among beneficiaries of the 4Ps. She cautioned some have been causing confusions among beneficiaries of the 4Ps by spreading […]

Comelec Disqualifies Party-List Ako Bicol in the May 2013 Election

The Commission on Elections today announced the disqualification of party-list Ako Bicol from participating in the coming May 2013 mid-term election. It must be recalled during the 2010 general election, the Bicol party-list received about 1.5 million votes enough for three seats of their nominees in the House of Representatives. […]

New Trick on Creation of Nueva Camarines Known

There’s a new twist in town. The move to split the province of Camarines Sur into two may move forward under a new trick. The twist is here: reports said that the group belonging to those opposing the division have agreed to convert the Partido area or the 4rth congressional […]

West Philippine Sea, Kalayaan, Scarborough, Miangas, Sabah, Etc.

Can’t wait to see the “actual” new map of the Philippines that reflects the West Philippine Sea, the previous name of which “was” South China Sea. We learned earlier that Philippine President Benigno Aquino III signed administrative order (AO) number 29 officially renaming that portion of the sea west of […]

Denial or Whatever, Are We Really Independent?

On July 4, 1946, the Bicol High School led the celebration of independence day in Calabanga. One of the highlight of the occasion was a parade around the town with adorned floats of young maidens and men of the locality, many of whom were students of the distinguished school. It […]

10 Bicol Light Stations Not Operating Despite Over Supply of Spare Parts

Special Report Calabanga, CamSur, September 20, 2011- A total of ten light house stations in the six provinces of Region V (five) covered by the Bicol Coast Guard District are not operating, according to the agency’s web site. This is in the heels of a finding disclosed by the Philippine […]

Drug Mules Execution Highlights Crisis of PH Labor Export Policy

No Filipino goes out of the country with a death wish. When the 122 others on death row and more than 7,000 in jails abroad left, they were full of hopes and dreams to provide a better future for their families. Fifteen million overseas Filipino workers left the country to seek greener pastures abroad in the absence of jobs, livelihood and decent living conditions in the country.

Government Urged to Probe Military Torture Training

A torture video was uploaded in a popular video-sharing site showing some Philippine military men beating young and new trainees. The torture video was, accordingly, submitted by the beaten soldiers, to express their dismay over the extremely cruel exercises of the Philippine Military.

Is Ph Ready Yet for the Earthquake?

In 2004 a Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study was commissioned on the probable scenarios of earthquake impact in Metro Manila. It disclosed that a big inland earthquake of 7.2 magnitude could happen in the area as an offshoot of the movement of the West Valley Fault.

Neglect of PH Government on OCWs Seen

After nine years of neglect under former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, expectations among overseas Filipino workers were high when the Aquino administration was installed.

Bonot and a Beach Memoire

It was one of those summer and Holy week scheduled vacations when we packed our bags for a short respite from the pressures of office work and daily commute from Antipolo to Makati. Days we looked up to as the only opportune time we connect with relatives in the province.

Human Rights Day 2010, Morong 43 and Diplomacy

In the past few weeks, we featured five build-up guest posts with specific reference to prevailing human rights atmosphere in the PH. What a good “coincidence” that as the Philippines, and other nations of the world, observe today, December 10th International Human Rights day, president Benigno S. Aquino III has ordered the department of justice (DOJ) to withdraw the charges against the Morong 43.

Cases of EJKs, Other Rights Violations Under Aquino Piling Up

After Justice Secretary Leila de Lima submitted her review on the case of the Morong 43, the legal team of Malacanang also reviewed de Lima’s review and forwarded recommendations to the President. Aquino already said twice that he would let the courts decide on the case of the health workers.

Sorsogon NPA’s Declare Unilateral Ceasefire

The threat of eruption of Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon and its possible challenges to the surrounding populace has one immediate positive effect, if we can qualify it as one. The provincial unit of the rebel movement in the province has made known their declaration of a unilateral suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) in areas near the volcano.

PH Not RP is Philippines ISO Country Code

We are bound in some specific ways with generally accepted standards and norms in our daily lives. So with government and industry transactions and liaisons are done in standards that will facilitate and ease the orderly and non-confusing conduct of business.

The Bicol Farmer and Double Talk on Rice

In time of domestic rice shortages, to whom the Philippine government rely more often than not. Or at least, for the immediate past year? No, not the Filipino farmer, are you kidding me!

Barangay Election Postponed in Bicol Towns

Just thinking aloud, why is the Comelec shipping election paraphernalia a few days before the actual election, or midnight before election to be exact? So that it always comes to a frustrating situation where these materials either arrive late or never at all on actual election day.

All Systems Go for Barangay Elections on Monday

All candidates for barangay position rests today as the campaign period ended Saturday midnight. The waiting game will be over as voters write their verdict in ballots tomorrow. One fact we are sure, there will be more non-winning candidates than winners.

Waiting for Superman on Stormy Weather

Extraordinary times like this we wish to ourselves that some extra able super guy (Superman??) would come, rescue not only young ladies in distress but the public as well. But for our country there should be many.

Daraga Town Leads in Bicol 2003 Income

Positioned in rank #1 is Albay province’s premiere town of Daraga with annual income of P108,615,847. Daet, the capital town of Camarines Norte earned P79,165,000 and ranked 2nd. Another town of Camarines Norte, Labo, had annual earnings of P78,378,000 and ranked 3rd. Big town Libmanan of Camarines Sur with earnings of P71,331,958 was ranked 4rth.

The Season to Prepare and be Proactive

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reminded us these weather systems are expected to affect the nation from October until December, more of the tail end of a cold front, inter-tropical convergence zone, easterly wave, ridge of high pressure area, the easterlies, and more tropical cyclones.

Albay Fights Back with Inter-Generation Class Suit

The province of Albay is in a tight bind caused by the pending threat of electric supply disconnection by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Albay electric cooperative (Aleco) due to unpaid and outstanding power bill debts.

Albay Under Threat of Electric Service Disconnection

The province of Albay and the Albay Electric Cooperative braces for a bleak week with the looming disconnect action that dangles from the National Power Grid Corporation of the Philippines. This is due to Aleco’s falure to pay the PHP982M outstanding electric bill with the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation.

The Glutenous Politics on Rice

To many who eat always with rice as part of the regular meal, the knowledge that the country is awash in supply of the commodity is one good news.

San Miguel Iron Ore Deposit Up for Grabs

With the looming prospect of the San Miguel bay to exploratory mining for iron ore deposit, we surmised the immediate areas that maybe opened. Here we conceptualized that prospective zone of one kilometer from the shore and three kilometers outward. The same area runs in conflict with municipal ordinance that […]

Doppler System Soon to Rise in Bicol

Our folks would always tell us that experience is a good teacher. I beg to disagree in some instances when the subject is like weather, weather forecasting and disaster preparedness in our country. Either people don’t seem to learn or have short and protracted memory.

Election Marred with Malfunctioning Machines

Majority of the fifty million registered voters trooped to Philippine polling precints as early as six in the morning Monday in the nationwide exercise of electing a new set of government officials from the president down to municipal town councils.

High Poverty Incidence Prevails in Rural Areas

The great divide between the poor and the rich in the country is nowhere more clear than when one goes to the rural areas. In the seaside village of Sabang, more than many nipa houses abound and inhospitable for people to live in. Dilapidated. Frail. Not safe for human habitation. Inadequate.

A Building Only in Barangay San Pablo

San Pablo is a small village of Calabanga town, one of the few that comprises its poblacion or urban center. Actually, it is just a one-street affair with both sides cramped with residential structures of varying designs defined by the financial well-being of the residents.

What's Recommended

Doppler System Soon to Rise in Bicol

Our folks would always tell us that experience is a good teacher. I beg to disagree in some instances when the subject is like weather, weather forecasting and disaster preparedness in our country. Either people don’t seem to learn or have short and protracted memory.

NDRRMC updates: Yolanda death toll rise to 3,631 dead, 12,487 injured and 1,179 missing

Here is the official tally update on the death count, injuries, damages and destruction brough about by the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda. According to the official report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, a total of 1,962,898 families or 9,073,804 persons were affected in 9,303 barangays in […]

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 […]

UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon calls for unity of int’l community in reconstruction

TACLOBAN CITY — United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called for unity of the international community in the bid to reconstruct the areas battered by super typhoon Yolanda. Saddened by the magnitude of destruction wrought by the super typhoon, the highest UN official said the international community will […]

Neglect of PH Government on OCWs Seen

After nine years of neglect under former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, expectations among overseas Filipino workers were high when the Aquino administration was installed.

DOLE employees to get P10k anniversary bonus

MANILA, Dec. 9 — Employees of the Department of Labor are poised to receive P10,000 bonus with official announcement from the President Benigno Aquino III on Monday as the agency marked its 80th anniversary. Aquino made the announcement as he lauded the department and Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz for a job […]

President Benigno S. Aquino III declares state of national calamity

Last Friday, Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ ravaged a large part of the Visayas region. It was one of the strongest typhoons in this country’s history, if not the world’s. “We thank the experts from PAGASA, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Phivolcs, and DOST, who gathered together and gave us the right, detailed, […]

Bicol DSWD relief assistance update: 60,307 families in Eastern Samar given top priority

Good News here. Eleven municipalities and one city in Eastern Samar with a total of 60,307 dislocated families after the devastation brought by “Yolanda” have been given top priority for relief assistance by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Bicol regional office. “Operation for relief assistance continues to reach […]

Catanduanes experiences massive electric power blackout

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 […]

DSWD Remind EPals Leave 4Ps Alone

Sorsogon city, Sorsogon – Department of Social Welfare and Development regional public affairs office chief for Bicol Agnes Mayor divulged that some local politicians in the province have been causing confusions among beneficiaries of the 4Ps. She cautioned some have been causing confusions among beneficiaries of the 4Ps by spreading […]

San Miguel Iron Ore Deposit Up for Grabs

With the looming prospect of the San Miguel bay to exploratory mining for iron ore deposit, we surmised the immediate areas that maybe opened. Here we conceptualized that prospective zone of one kilometer from the shore and three kilometers outward. The same area runs in conflict with municipal ordinance that […]

Pag-Ibig fund regional office transfers to Naga City

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. […]

Masbate farmers coop acquire rice processing center

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 […]

Bicol NIA has new regional chief effective September

NAGA CITY -– The Bicol regional office, here, of the National Irrigation Administration has a new chief, part of the reorganization instituted by the current board of directors. Engineer Vicente Vicmudo was named the new regional manager replacing engineer William Ragodon, who has been reassigned to Region 4A or the […]

Cases of EJKs, Other Rights Violations Under Aquino Piling Up

After Justice Secretary Leila de Lima submitted her review on the case of the Morong 43, the legal team of Malacanang also reviewed de Lima’s review and forwarded recommendations to the President. Aquino already said twice that he would let the courts decide on the case of the health workers.

What's Throwback

High Poverty Incidence Prevails in Rural Areas

The great divide between the poor and the rich in the country is nowhere more clear than when one goes to the rural areas. In the seaside village of Sabang, more than many nipa houses abound and inhospitable for people to live in. Dilapidated. Frail. Not safe for human habitation. Inadequate.

Albay Receives Today Robredo’s Pamana Award

Albay province gets recognition for its innovations and excellence in local governance with the 2012 Gawad Pamana ng Lahi from the Department of Interior and Local Government. The award is the penultimate seal of good housekeeping given only to local government units with consistent showing over a consecutive three-year period. […]

No new tax imposition this year – Malacanang

MANILA — There will be no new tax imposition this year. This assurance came from Malacanang reassuring the public that there will be no new tax policy to be imposed by the government in 2014. A palace deputy presidential spokesperson instead said the Aquino administration will continue to focus on […]

Bicol NIA has new regional chief effective September

NAGA CITY -– The Bicol regional office, here, of the National Irrigation Administration has a new chief, part of the reorganization instituted by the current board of directors. Engineer Vicente Vicmudo was named the new regional manager replacing engineer William Ragodon, who has been reassigned to Region 4A or the […]

All Systems Go for Barangay Elections on Monday

All candidates for barangay position rests today as the campaign period ended Saturday midnight. The waiting game will be over as voters write their verdict in ballots tomorrow. One fact we are sure, there will be more non-winning candidates than winners.

Lower House agree to focus on legislative duties after SC PDAF decision

House members agreed Thursday to move forward and focus on enacting vital legislative measures and exercising its oversight functions for the benefit of the people. The “consensus” seem to emerge following the Supreme Court decision that the Priority Development Assistance Fund system was unconstitutional, Rep. Rodolfo Albano III (1st District, […]

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 […]

Government Urged to Probe Military Torture Training

A torture video was uploaded in a popular video-sharing site showing some Philippine military men beating young and new trainees. The torture video was, accordingly, submitted by the beaten soldiers, to express their dismay over the extremely cruel exercises of the Philippine Military.

Gypped: 250,000 Aleco consumers face electric power rate increase

LEGAZPI CITY — Unknown to the 250,000 power consumers in Albay, the National Electric Administration has filed for a power rate increase in anticipation of the final takeover of the San Miguel Corp. of the operation of its recently acquired bankrupt electric cooperative of the province, according to documents obtained […]