By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- A Chinese national who owns commercial establishments in Legazpi City, namely, Yashano Mall and Hong Enterprises, was arrested on Monday, February 2, for alleged fraud, falsification of public documents, and violations of Philippine immigration laws. Police Lt. Col. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5), said the suspect, identified only by his alias “Jong,” was apprehended by joint operatives of the

By Rhaydz B. Barcia DARAGA, Albay --- Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon on Sunday said construction firms Sunwest, Inc. and Hi-Tone Construction have been blacklisted, resulting in the termination of their government projects nationwide, as he inspected the long-stalled flyover project in Barangay Malabog, Daraga town. Dizon said several projects in Albay province were left unfinished following issues linked to flood control projects, including the 700-meter via

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay LEGAZPI CITY --- A series of surrenders by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) was recorded in Bicol throughout January, signaling increasing support for the government’s localized peace initiatives. Two former members of the communist terrorist group voluntarily surrendered to the Local Peace Engagement Team (LPET) in Libmanan, Camarines Sur. Libmanan Mayor Edelson Marfil welcomed the surrenderees, together with the Department of the Interior an

By Jake Adam M. Badong Naga City, Philippines --- The Ateneo de Naga University campus came alive with wonder, music, and youthful energy as it welcomed thousands of students, educators, and visitors during MARAHUYO: Ateneo Open House 2026, held from January 28 to 30, 2026. Organized by the Ateneo Student Ambassadors (ASA), the three-day event carried the theme “Enchanted by the Ateneo Experience” that offered participants an immersive glimpse into Atenean life, culture, and

By Jake Adam M. Badong Naga City, Philippines --- The Ateneo de Naga University campus welcomed the first light of 2026 with energy, excitement, and more than 1,500 eager feet pounding the pavement for One Big Run 2026. Organized by the Ateneo Student Ambassadors (ASA) in partnership with the University Student Recruitment Office (USRO), the fun run marked the first major running event of the year in Naga City that drew students, alumni, and fitness enthusiasts from across th

By Rhaydz B. Barcia Daraga, Albay --- The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) has declared five significant heritage sites in Albay province as National Cultural Treasures (NCTs), underscoring the province’s rich historical, cultural, and scientific legacy. The newly recognized NCTs are the Cagsawa Ruins, Budiao Ruins, and the Our Lady of the Gates of Daraga Church, all located in the municipality of Daraga; the St. John the Baptist Church in Tabaco City; and the Mataas

Helen Keller Intl Philippines in collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) launched the project, ‘Barangay First 1,000 Days: Cultivating Resilience Through Community Gardens,” which aims to support the health and nutrition of more than 60,000 mothers and infants in over 100 barangays across three sites in the country. Kicking off in Naga City, the project is also launching in February in the Provinces of Isabela and Negros Occidental. These proj

A civil case for injunction was filed to stop the construction of the Enrile family owned-Nagaland Development Corporation’s new 2-storey commercial building that would block the front or main street view on Peñafrancia Avenue in barangay San Francisco of Naga City’s only two remaining Spanish-era civil building ruins which were declared as Important Cultural Properties (ICPs) by the City Government of Naga (CGN). The latter is however also impleaded as a defendant along wit

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- Tired and disillusioned, six members of the communist guerrilla movement, including a pregnant woman from the provinces of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, laid down their arms to return to mainstream society and the fold of the law. Army Major Frank Roldan, spokesperson of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said Karen Ombao, alias Lyka, a seven-month-pregnant medical officer of Squad 1, Platoon 2, KLG1, SRC2 of the Bicol Regional Party C

The Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (MNCCI) successfully conducted its First Quarter General Membership Assembly and the induction of a new set of officers for the calendar year 2026. The event took place on January 30,2026, starting at 5:00 PM at the 2nd Level, Villa Caceres Hotel Ballroom, Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City, with 163 participants in attendance, all dressed in business attire. The assembly commenced with the acknowledgment of guests and participan

By Paolo DS. Papa THE city government of Naga is unable to process the reclassification of the nine-hectare agricultural land in Barangay Pacol acquired by Eternal Gardens for the development of another private cemetery. The developer reportedly began dumping activities in the irrigated rice field sometime in 2024, even before securing land reclassification, which is required prior to any land conversion and must first be approved by the local government. City Councilor Frank

By Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- Mayon Volcano continues to rumble, with no sign of slowing down after more than three weeks of effusive eruptions, a government volcanologist said on Thursday. However, there are also no signs that the eruption will get worse soon, according to Paul Karson Alanis, the resident volcanologist at the Ligñon Hill Mayon Observatory Station. “As of now, the volcano’s behavior is not escalating except for the lava flow continuing to lengthen,” Alani

By Benilda Recebido SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon --- Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon praised the highway in Sorsogon on Sunday, referring to it as the best segment of the Maharlika Highway. Dizon inspected the Maharlika Highway by riding a bus along the 101-kilometer stretch from the boundary of Albay to the southernmost town of Matnog, Sorsogon. He compared this stretch to other segments of the highway and concluded that Sorsogon has the best portion. “Maayos ang

By Rosalita Manlangit DAET, Camarines Norte --- A total of 4,537 professionals benefited from the mobile registration service conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) at SM City Daet in Camarines Norte from January 26 to 28. “The mobile registration is one of the major programs of the PRC, aimed at bringing our services closer to the public,” said Jerome Bañes, PRC chief professional regulation officer for the Bicol region. Bañes said that the initiative help

By Edna Bagadiong VIRAC, Catanduanes ---The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) began distributing thousands of SIM cards with free internet access to students in remote areas of Catanduanes on Monday. According to the DICT office in Catanduanes, a total of 1,134 SIM cards were provided to students in public schools located in the towns of Bato and San Miguel. This includes the San Miguel Central School, Libjo Elementary School, Sibacungan Elementar