File photo from https://www.facebook.com/HouseofRepsPH MANILA – The House Committee on Population and Family Relations on Tuesday endorsed for plenary approval a bill reinstituting absolute divorce as an alternative mode for the dissolution of marriage in the Philippines. During its virtual hearing, the committee unanimously approved the unnumbered substitute bill that would allow absolute divorce in the country. In his sponsorship remarks, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the bill seeks to reinstate absolute divorce because it was already practiced during the pre-Spanish times, the Amer ..read more

SIGNUP. Parents enroll their children for Academic Year 2021-2022 in Antique on Monday (Aug. 16, 2021). Classes using the blended learning system will begin on Sept. 13, 2021. (Photo courtesy of DepEd Antique) MANILA—The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday reported that 4,777,942 learners are enrolled in public schools nationwide for Academic Year 2021-2022 two days after enrollment began. The DepEd’s Learner Information System Quick Counts logged 220,615 learners enrolled since Monday and 4,557,327 during the early registration as of June 2. In a Viber message to reporters, Deped ..read more

MANILA--President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the release of the World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit (WTDIB), according to the Department of Education (DepEd). Public school teachers will receive PHP1,000 each under the PHP910-million fund. Introduced during the administration of Secretary Leonor Briones, the grant of WTDIB recognizes the vital role of educators in addressing the challenges of the pandemic, especially in ensuring the continuity of learning, the DepEd said in a statement. “With the ongoing preparations for School Year 2021-2022, we are grateful to our 900,000-strong tea ..read more

The Pili Research and Development (R&D) Center under the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) continues to yield concrete results through science and technology interventions. This resulted in the improved production of Bicol’s “Tree of Hope.”  The Pili Research and Development (R&D) Center under the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) continues to yield concrete results through science and technology interventions. This resulted in the improved produ ..read more

With one of the world’s longest quarantines, Filipinos are already experiencing “protocol fatigue,” which makes them more lenient about hygiene habits and puts them at risk of infection. Procter & Gamble’s Safeguard is stepping in to remind and reinforce the importance of proper handwashing through the SAFEWash movement. With the current increase in cases in the country, the brand is even more committed to becoming a force for good for all Filipinos who are put at risk every day. SAFEWash Program Extends Help Nationwide To help protect Filipinos from the threats of germs and illnesses ..read more

From now on, Mt. Mayon will be known not only for its perfect cone shape and eruptive past but for its soils that host bacteria that has potential antibiotic and anticancer properties. Researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) have identified a specific bacterial species from the soils of Mt. Mayon that has shown potential antibiotic and anti-colorectal cancer activities. This specific bacterial isolate identified as Streptomyces sp. A1-08 has shown antibiotic activity against numerous potentially pathogenic microorganisms and anti-colorectal cancer potential. It ..read more

LEGAZPI CITY—Provincial governments in Bicol have agreed to set up tighter border control measures for fear that the highly transmissible and more virulent Delta variant of the coronavirus disease might slip through. This was confirmed by Bicol Pandemic Task Force on Tuesday, through Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Anthony Nuyda, who also chairs the Bicol Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (BIATF). Nuyda said all provincial boundaries, airports, and seaports especially in the region's border with Quezon provin ..read more

LEGAZPI CITY -- The Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol has called on local government units (LGU) in the region to implement tighter border control measures to prevent the entry and spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), especially the more transmissible Delta variant. In an interview on Sunday, Dr. Ferchito Avelino, DOH assistant regional director, said “the best and (most) effective way to prevent the spread of the Delta variant is to have stricter health control measures in all borders from the provinces, towns, cities down to the villages”. He said the DOH has recommended the renew ..read more

MANILA—The Bicol International Airport (BIA) is closer to reality than ever, with its overall accomplishment rate is at 89%, as of 28 July 2021. A news release from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) states that Secretary Art Tugade is poised to deliver on his pledge to land on the gateway’s runway as his symbolic act of his relentless pursuit to fast-track the completion of this long-delayed aviation project. Said airport will be operational before the year ends, and is expected to accommodate an estimated volume of 2 million passengers annually, according to the same news release ..read more

LEGAZPI CITY—Eleven cases of the Alpha (B.1.1.7) COVID variant and 22 cases of the Beta (B.1.351) variant have been recorded in the Bicol region. Said cases were locally-transmitted, the Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development (DOH Bicol CHD) announced this week. According to its advisory, Albay has eight (8) cases of the Beta Variants; Camarines Norte has one (1) case of the Beta Variant; Camarines Sur, including Naga City, has nine cases of the (9) Alpha and 12 cases of the Beta Variants; Masbate has one case of the (1) Alpha Variant and Sorsogon has one case of the (1) A ..read more