Mar S. Arguelles

Legazpi City (5 April) -- Albay Gov. Joey Salceda was dismayed over the decision of the organizers of Binibining Pilipinas Universe replacing Ms. Venus Raj, this year's Miss Binibining Pilipinas Universe, with a second rank winner.

Salceda said he would ask the organizers why Miss Diane Samar Necio, the 1st runner up, did not automatically take the place of Raj.

LEGAZPI CITY, March 4  --The Albay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) has shifted its disaster strategy from response to risk reduction following the lowering of the alert level in Mayon Volcano from two to one.

The risk reduction strategy centers on the full relocation of households still living in the 6- kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ).

NAGA CITY, Feb. 10 - Three Philippine Army soldiers in Bikol were recipients of the Globe Telecommunications education grants in a recently held Philippine Army 9th Infantry Division Service Awards ceremonies held at Camp Elias Angeles, Pili, Camarines Sur.

The awardees were First Lieutenant Wilbert Basquiñas, Private First Class Rene Belga, and CAFGU Active Auxiliary Mark Apollo Perias of the 9th Infantry Division.

Each received P20,000 education grant from Globe to support the education of their dependents.

PILI, Camarines Sur, Feb. 4 - The strength of the communist movement operating in Camarines Sur was cut down following the surrender of two ranking New People's Army rebels to Philippine Army (PA), the Army Bikol spokesman said on Thursday.

Those who surrendered were identified as Jolito Caneso, 33, his brother Benjamin, 34, all native of Bula town in Camarines Sur.

Army Maj. Harold Cabunoc, 9ID Spokesman, said that two rebels surrendered to the 42nd Infantry Battalion, PA based in Nabua, Camarines Sur, on Wednesday morning.

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur, Jan. 22  - Unidentified armed men shot dead on Thursday a village chieftain of San Jacinto town in Masbate, a Philippine Army official said on Friday.

Killed was Danny Amor, village chief of Barangay Bartolabac in San Jacinto, Masbate.

Army Maj. Harold Cabunoc, 9th Infantry Division spokesman, said the incident took place around 8 p.m. on Thursday.

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 5 - As Mt. Mayon's seismic activity is gearing up towards normalcy, disaster authorities here are continuing to enforce the "No man's land" rule in designated danger zones surrounding the volcano.

Albay Governor and Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) chairman Joey Salceda directed the Philippine Army (PA) to strictly enforce the ban on any human activity in the permanent danger zone (PDZ).

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 7 - Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi called on the PNP to conduct a more intensified campaign against loose firearms proliferating in the Bikol provinces.

Baylon urged the PNP to undertake an aggressive campaign against loose firearms in the region specifically in Masbate province where undocumented guns and high powered firearms reportedly exist in every household.

Bishop Baylon, who has been the Bishop of Masbate for 10 years, said as part of his evangelization program, he has been advocating making Masbate a gunless province.

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 11 -- At least 29 volcanic earthquakes jolted Mayon Volcano on Friday, the highest recorded seismic event this week indicating that the volcano's abnormality is still up, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Scientists are continuously observing Mayon volcano's fluctuating seismic precursors such as quakes, gas emission and ground deformation these are indication that the volcano's seismic activity may possibly lead to an explosive eruption.

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 3  - Albay's political arena would be a derby among three dominant political parties belonging to the administration's Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, Nacionalista and the Liberal parties as 42 candidates would slug it out in various high stake provincial posts, the Commission on Election (Comelec) provincial office told the Philippines News Agency, Thursday.