Bicol Mail Official

28/07/2026

Casureco II liwat mapalangkaw tarifa nin kuryente sa Agosto '26

An Camarines Sur II Electric Cooperative (Casureco II), Inc. na dating may pinakababang tarifa sa mga cooperativa nin electricidad nagkunfirmar na liwat naman sinda mapatong nin tarifa nin maabot sa on peso sa sunod na bulan nin Agosto 2026.

Alagad piglinaw kan Casureco II sa paagi kan saindang opisyal na parataram, Rinner Bucay bako lang sinda an apektado envez an gabos na mga cooperativa huli kan paglangkaw kan generation charge kan mga power suppliers.

Sa ngunian an presenting power rate sa residential – P12.5913kWh; sa low voltage – P11.7098kWh; asin sa high voltage – P10.3715kWh. An presenting tarifang ini ciertong malangkaw sa sunod na bulan alagad dai pa sinda makatao nin exactong cantidad mientras na maagi sa proceso kan Energy Regulatory Board (ERC).

Kabale sa tinutokdong dahilan iyo an liwat naman na paglangkaw kan presyo sa productong petrolyo sa mercado internasyonal sa tahaw kan liwat naman nangyayaring krisis sa Middle East. Naglalangkaw man an cantidad na binabakal kan mga cooperativa sa Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

An paglangkaw kan tarifa sa kuryente nagpoon kan Mayo, Hunyo, Hulyo sagcod sa Agosto.

Sinabi kan Casureco II na sa premirong semana kan sunod na bulan maanunciar sinda kun pera an dugang na tarifa sa kuryente.

28/07/2026

JUSTICE FOR LEIZEL: Teacher's slay suspect faces robbery, homicide
By Paulo DS Papa

Police have filed separate charges of robbery and homicide against the suspect in the killing of Leizel Permale, 28, a grade school teacher at Ateneo de Naga University, as investigators continue to determine whether additional charges may be filed.

Permale was found dead inside her residence at Deca Homes Vistanza in Barangay Pacol at around 6:30 p.m. on July 18 after her partner, identified only as Alfonso, discovered her lifeless body.

Initial investigation by the Naga City Police Office showed that the victim's lower garments had been disturbed, while several personal belongings were missing from the house, prompting investigators to pursue robbery as a primary motive.

Police said closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage led to the identification of the suspect, known only by the alias "Jason," 30, who was arrested the following day in Barangay San Cirilo, Pasacao, Camarines Sur during a hot pursuit operation.

Recovered from the suspect were a laptop computer, a mobile phone, and an ATM card, all of which were positively identified by the victim's partner as belonging to Permale.

PLTCOL Elmer Azurez Jr., chief of the City Community Affairs and Development Unit, said the complaint for robbery and homicide was formally filed before the Naga City Prosecutor's Office on Monday evening.

Earlier, Acting City Director PCOL Rizaldy Caballero said investigators had completed nearly all documentary and evidentiary requirements needed to support the filing of the criminal complaints.

Authorities, however, have yet to file a r**e charge, saying medical and forensic examinations have not yet established sufficient evidence to support such a complaint. Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

The suspect refused to give any statement or be interviewed following his arrest.

Barangay Pacol Punong Barangay Ruben Limbo said the suspect was not a resident of the village but had been working at a motorcycle repair shop located a few blocks from the victim's residence.

While acknowledging that the incident had affected the image of the community, Limbo assured residents that the barangay remains safe through sustained police visibility and barangay law enforcement patrols.

(Image: Digital rendering only; not an actual photo.)

28/07/2026

World War II bomb found during digging
By Rhaydz Barcia

LEGAZPI CITY --- A potentially catastrophic disaster was narrowly averted after workers excavating a road near a World War II Japanese tunnel in Camalig, Albay accidentally unearthed a live 1,000-pound aircraft bomb, prompting an emergency response from bomb disposal experts.

The unexploded ordnance was discovered Tuesday, July 21, in Purok 5, Sitio Sogong, Barangay Ilaod, while a backhoe was opening a road in the mountainous area believed to have served as a Japanese military defensive position during World War II.

Police Major Mark Moses Dave, officer-in-charge of the Regional Explosives and Canine Unit (RECU), confirmed that the bomb remains active despite having lain buried underground for more than eight decades.

Police Senior Master Sergeant Reynold Miraflor of the Albay Provincial Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit (APECU) identified the device as an aircraft bomb dropped during the war.

He warned that the explosive could still detonate if its warhead were struck.

“Fortunately, the backhoe did not hit the warhead. Otherwise, the explosion could have caused extensive destruction in the area,” Miraflor said.

Authorities immediately sealed off the site as members of the APECU carefully recovered the unexploded bomb in a delicate operation completed without incident.

The bomb was later transported to Camp Simeon Ola, where it will be turned over to the Regional Explosives and Canine Unit for proper disposal.

Barangay Captain Edsel Garcia said workers immediately halted the excavation and alerted authorities after the backhoe exposed the massive bomb.

The incident prompted local officials to renew their warning to residents, especially those engaged in excavation and construction work, to never touch or attempt to move suspected wartime explosives.

Instead, they urged the public to keep a safe distance from the object and immediately report it to police or Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel, who are trained to safely recover and dispose of unexploded ordnance.

Although more than 80 years have passed since World War II, authorities said dangerous wartime explosives continue to surface in areas that once served as battlefields or military installations, posing a serious threat to communities whenever they are accidentally uncovered.

(Image: Digital rendering only; not an actual photo.)

25/07/2026

Sorsogon’s coastal waters remain safe from red tide
By Bennie Recebido

With reports from the Bicol Mail Reportorial Team

SORSOGON CITY --- The coastal waters of Sorsogon province remain free from harmful red tide toxins, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Bicol Region.

Although Shellfish Bulletin No. 16, Series of 2026 was issued on June 27, the advisory remains in effect because BFAR releases shellfish bulletins every two weeks unless monitoring results require an earlier update. BFAR Bicol Public Information Officer Rowena Bricia-Briones furnished the advisory to the Bicol Mail during presswork on Wednesday, July 6 and confirmed that the June 27 bulletin remains the latest official advisory until a new one is issued.

The bulletin declared all monitored coastal waters in Bicol negative for red tide toxin.

Areas found negative for the toxin include the coastal waters of Milagros and Mandaon in Masbate, Sorsogon Bay, and Juag Lagoon in Matnog, Sorsogon.

BFAR Bicol said shellfish collected from these areas are safe for human consumption. The agency also announced that the gathering, harvesting, transport, and sale of shellfish from the identified waters are permitted.

BFAR regularly conducts red tide monitoring in coastal areas to protect public health and the fisheries industry from harmful algal blooms that may contaminate shellfish with toxins hazardous to humans.

Recent shellfish samples collected from Sorsogon Bay and Juag Lagoon showed that all types of shellfish, as well as alamang (shrimp fry) and other seafood from these areas, are safe for consumption, provided they are fresh and properly cleaned.

Red tide occurs when microscopic algae multiply rapidly due to favorable environmental conditions, including warm sea temperatures and nutrient-rich agricultural runoff. Shellfish feeding on these algae can accumulate toxins that are dangerous to humans.

The continued red tide-free status provides significant economic relief to aquaculture farmers and helps ensure a steady supply of safe seafood in public markets.

It also safeguards two of Sorsogon's most important marine ecosystems. Sorsogon Bay, which spans several local government units including Juban, Casiguran, Castilla, and Sorsogon City, serves as the province’s primary aquaculture area.

According to BFAR, the bay is abundant in native bivalves such as oysters (talaba), mussels (tahong), and various clam species, including halaan and tuway.

Juag Lagoon, a protected marine sanctuary in the municipality of Matnog, is home to diverse marine life, including rare fish species and lobsters, while also supporting the area's eco-tourism industry.

With the waters declared safe, local fishers can continue harvesting, transporting, and selling their products without regulatory restrictions. Seafood vendors have likewise reported stable market prices, avoiding the decline in consumer confidence that often accompanies red tide warnings.

The favorable monitoring results are particularly significant for Barangay Pamurayan, whose economy depends heavily on its mussel farming industry in Sorsogon Bay.

The advisory assures tourists and regular buyers that Pamurayan’s seafood products remain safe, sustaining consumer confidence, especially following the barangay's annual Tahong Festival, which showcases its thriving mussel industry.

According to Punong Barangay Arles Janaban, Pamurayan has about 1,900 residents, including approximately 200 aquaculture producers organized under the local fisherfolk association.

“The entire Barangay Pamurayan, especially our mussel farmers, is deeply grateful that Sorsogon Bay remains safe and clean from red tide. Thanks to this good news from BFAR, our residents can continue harvesting and earning without worrying about their health or livelihood,” Janaban said.

While Sorsogon’s waters remain free of red tide, BFAR continues to advise consumers to observe proper food safety practices by purchasing seafood only from authorized vendors, selecting products that are visibly fresh, and washing them thoroughly before cooking.

BFAR records show that the last time Sorsogon Bay tested positive for toxic red tide was in October 2022. (PIA)

25/07/2026

Dipuntong Gobernador, Alcalde Bulaong pinagibohan monumento

Libmanan, Camarines Sur --- Bilang pagtaong onra kan lokal na gobierno kan banwaan na ini maheheling sa retrato an rebulto ni Dipuntong Gobernador asin Alcalde Jose ‘‘Nonoy’’ Bulaong.

Sa FB page ni Alcalde Son Marfil, katuyohan kan pagpatugdok kan saiyang monumento ini maserbing simbulo kan saiyang dedikasyon, serbisyo asin mga kontribusyon sa banwaan nin Libmanan asin provincia nin Camarines Sur na naging gobernador.

Pinasalamatan kan jefe ejecutivo si Art Cantos na naging katuwang nganing marealisar an proyekto.

Sinabi pa sa FB page an proyektong ini komo pagpreserbar sa mga naging lider na nagtaong kasaysayan, paggalang sa mga nagserbi, asin pagpadagos sa progreso kan Libmanan.

Salado an manlaen-laen na mga sektor kan Libmanan sa liderato ni Alcalde Marfil sa pagtaong respeto sa naging lider kan banwaan asin provincia nganing dai malingawan kan jovenes.

25/07/2026

USANT puts people first, strengthens employee welfare, academic excellence
By Jason B. Neola

IRIGA CITY --- As it prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary in February 2027, the University of Saint Anthony (USANT) is reaffirming its commitment to placing the welfare of its students, faculty members, and employees at the center of its development strategy.

USANT President Atty. Emmanuel “Mickey” Ortega said the university’s “people-first philosophy” has enabled the institution to provide quality yet affordable private education while investing heavily in the well-being and professional growth of its workforce.

Among the university’s major infrastructure projects is the Santiago D. Ortega Jr. Memorial Library, a modern four-story academic facility scheduled to open next year. The new library is expected to accommodate more than 1,000 students, faculty members, and staff at any given time, providing dedicated spaces for learning, research, collaboration, and innovation.

Ortega emphasized that outstanding teachers and competent employees are key to producing successful graduates.

“If teachers and employees are well taken care of, they are able to bring out the best in their students,” he said.

The university’s investment in its personnel has coincided with impressive academic results.

USANT posted a 100-percent passing rate in several licensure examinations, including Nursing, Accountancy, Criminology, Elementary Education, Architecture, and Librarianship. Engineering and Secondary Education graduates likewise registered a 90-percent passing rate, significantly exceeding national averages in several examinations.

As a non-profit educational institution, USANT reinvests its earnings into faculty salaries, campus improvements, scholarships, and academic programs instead of distributing profits to shareholders.

One of Ortega's first initiatives upon assuming the university presidency in 2022 was increasing employee salaries.

Last November, the university’s board of trustees approved a salary adjustment that raised the minimum five-day weekly salary of its lowest-paid employees—including janitors and carpenters—to P12,000 higher than Iriga City’s prevailing minimum wage equivalent of P9,570.

Today, USANT has grown into the largest private employer in the Rinconada-speaking region of Camarines Sur, employing 771 personnel, an 81-percent increase from three years ago.

The university also continues to invest heavily in employee development.

This year alone, employees completed nearly 19,000 hours of training, averaging 24.64 hours per employee, supported by a training budget of P6.39 million. Training covered digital literacy, artificial intelligence, mental health awareness, and international benchmarking activities in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Japan.

Career advancement is likewise encouraged within the institution.

Between 2023 and 2025, 262 employees—equivalent to 33.98 percent of the workforce—received promotions, while nearly half of executive positions were filled internally.

USANT also provides flexible work arrangements, extended Christmas breaks, summer allowances, sports activities, personal loans for laptop purchases, and low-interest loans for medical emergencies to help employees maintain work-life balance.

The university demons-trated its commitment to employee welfare during Tropical Storm Kristine, extending cash assistance, early release of 13th-month pay, salary continuity during class suspensions, relief goods, tuition assistance for affected students, and trauma counseling for employees and learners.

USANT likewise supports employees' families through its scholarship program, “Serbisyo Niyo, Kinabukasan ng Anak Niyo,” which grants up to 100-percent tuition assistance to qualified children of employees.

This school year, 123 children of employees are benefiting from scholarships and tuition discounts, up from 68 beneficiaries in the previous academic year.

Beyond campus, USANT continues its community outreach through its “Alay sa Kapwa: A Chance to Change Lives” program, which reached about 750 families last year with approximately P855, 000 in Christmas assistance.

According to Ortega, investing in employees ultimately benefits students.

“When we invest in the children of our staff, we build stronger families and better schools. Care is not a cost; it's a strategy,” he said.

Looking ahead, Ortega said the university intends to sustain its gains by producing more national board examination topnotchers, strengthening on-the-job training programs, and improving graduate employability while continuing to prioritize the welfare of its academic community.

24/07/2026

IHAPOT KI ATTORNEY
Atty. Paolo Tolentino

Atty., ano po pwede gibuhon saimo o sa sasakyan mo kapag nasa checkpoint?

-----

Sa ordinaryong checkpoint, puwedeng parahon an motorista, (kotse man ini o motor), hilingon an driver's license, OR/CR, asin iba pang dokumento. Pero plain view inspection sana an pwedeng gibuhon kan mga pulis, kun sain an mga nahihiling sana na bagay an puwedeng tanawon. Dae ka pwede pababaon sa awto, kapkapan ka o pabuksan an bag, glove compartment, trunk, o topbox kan motor.

Pero may mga exception sa batas na ini. Halimbawa, kun nagtao ka nin boluntaryong pahintulot (consent), kun may malinaw na probable cause na may krimen na nagaganap, o kun hayag na nakikita an kontrabando o ilegal na bagay, puwedeng magibo nin search saimo o sa sasakyan mo maski mayo nin warrant.

An pinakamahalaga: magin kalmado, magalang, asin aramon an saimong mga karapatan. An checkpoint para yan sa seguridad kan publiko, pero dapat man igalang an konstitusyonal na karapatan laban sa unreasonable searches and seizures.

An simbag na ini para sana sa pankagabsan na impormasyon asin dai dapat ituring na legal advice para sa partikular na kaso.

Kung may mga kahaputan, mag email sa [email protected].

24/07/2026

Mayon gas levels peak explosion risk rises
By Michael B. Jaucian

LIGAO CITY --- A record surge in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from Mayon Volcano has heightened the possibility of a more explosive eruption, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned on Saturday.

Mayon emitted an average of 13,128 metric tons of volcanic SO₂ per day on July 11, based on campaign ultraviolet spectrometry measurements conducted by Phivolcs.

The agency said the emission rate was the highest recorded from the volcano in the past 26 years and was only slightly below the levels observed during Mayon's explosive eruption in 2000.

Mayon remains under Alert Level 3 and has been in a state of continuous eruption for 187 days.

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LATE BREAKER

A short-lived lava fountaining was observed at the summit crater of Mayon Volcano on Monday afternoon, July 13. The lava fountaining, recorded from 3:25 p.m. to 3:27 p.m., was captured on video by the Quick Response Team of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and the Mayon Volcano Observatory.

Phivolcs said Mayon has now been exhibiting effusive eruptive activity for the 189th consecutive day, producing incandescent lava flows, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), locally known as uson, and rockfalls.

Earlier in the day, between 6:31 a.m. and 6:46 a.m., the volcano generated another pyroclastic density current.

Alert Level 3 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano, and entry into the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is still prohibited.

Mayon continues to emit pyroclastic density current.

Mayon, one of the country’s most active volcanoes, has been in sustained eruptive activity for months already, with monitoring continuing around the clock for any signs of changes in its behavior.

Over the weekend, Phivolcs warned that the record surge in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from Mayon Volcano has raised the possibility of a more explosive eruption. Kurt Dela Peña/Inquirer

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Mayor Daniel Jose “Nookie” Bombales said residents experienced thin ashfall Saturday afternoon as strong winds and rains associated with the enhanced southwest monsoon and Typhoon Inday affected the area.

The local government and police distributed face masks to residents in affected communities on Friday night.

Bombales urged residents to wear face masks when going outdoors and to keep windows and doors closed whenever possible.

In its Saturday bulletin, Phivolcs reported 10 volcanic earthquakes, 241 rockfall events, and six pyroclastic density current signals.

The agency also observed continuing lava flows that extended about 3.8 kilometers along the Basud Gully, 3.2 kilometers along the Bonga Gully, and 2.1 kilometers along the Mi-isi Gully.

Phivolcs said the spike in SO₂ emissions coincided with intensified volcanic activity, including 97 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes associated with volcanic degassing, minor Strombolian activity at the summit crater, and 304 rockfall events caused by the collapse of newly emplaced lava flows as of 8 p.m. Saturday.

Despite the increased activity, the agency said monitoring data showed only slight inflation of the volcanic edifice and a modest increase in overall seismic energy, conditions still consistent with the effusive eruption that has characterized Mayon since the onset of its 2026 unrest.

However, Phivolcs warned that the exceptionally high SO₂ emissions could indicate a shift in eruptive behavior and may “even lead to an explosive eruption.”

Such an event, the agency said, could generate larger and farther-reaching pyroclastic density currents on all sectors of the volcano, hurl ballistic rock fragments from the summit crater, and produce more widespread ashfall. The impacts, it added, could be worsened by prevailing adverse weather conditions. (With reports from Ma. April Mier-Manjares - )

18/07/2026

09/07/2026