LEGAZPI CITY, June 2 - Prices of agricultural products especially vegetables in Bikol region have remained stable despite the El Niño, according to the Bureau of Agriculture and Statistics (BAS). "Farmers in the region were able to cope with the effect of El Niño and the supplies of vegetables have been sustained since January this year," Cathy Subido, BAS chief said.

LEGAZPI CITY, June 3 --- The tourism industry in Bikol posted a positive growth rate generating some P365 million in revenues during the 1st quarter of this year. The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Bikol reported that the first three months of this year, it posted a 593,241 tourist arrivals with 13 percent growth rate compared to the 524,544 tourist arrivals during the same period last year.

Camp Elias Angeles, Pili, Camarines Sur (1 June) -- Family members of the soldiers who were killed and wounded in an ambush staged by NPA rebels in Camarines Sur have received cash assistance amounting to P1.45 million from Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her visit in 9ID Army headquarters today. Five soldiers were killed while four were wounded in a series of ambuscades staged by the NPA rebels in Presentacion town, Camarines Sur last Saturday, May 29.

LEGAZPI CITY --- Foundations, religious and charitable organizations operating hospitals, and educational institutions are at risk losing their tax exemption privileges once they are found to have violated or abused the rights and privileges given them by the state. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Bikol, in its recent tax audit study found out that some religious and charitable institutions are using their tax exemption privilege in defrauding the government of hundreds of millions of pesos in tax revenues.

Naga City (5 June) - The Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU) celebrates its Platinum or 70thfounding year today in a series of activities centered on the theme "Richly Blessed, Richly Giving." Known for the quality education it provides for secondary and tertiary levels, AdNU marks its 70 years of being a Jesuit, Filipino, and Catholic University in Bikol.

MANILA, June 2 - Ako Bicol Political Party (AKB) filed a petition for the immediate dismissal of the disqualification case lodged against the party before the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Atty. George Irwin Garcia, legal counsel of AKB, said the petition for the cancellation of registration of AKB should be dismissed by the poll body immediately and push for the proclamation of Ako Bicol who topped the May 10 elections for party-lists.

From the time of the campaign period until present, militant group BAYAN-Bikol had been persistently vocal about AKO BIKOL (AKB) for being a "dummy" party-list group of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. BAYAN-Bikol, in fact, had filed with the Comelec a disqualification case against the AKB on the bases that the latter's nominees, Christopher and Elizaldy Co, do not really belong to any marginalized sector being actually wealthy contractors; and for being linked with the outgoing Arroyo Administration.

LEGAZPI CITY (26 May) -- FOUR ENGINEERS and a driver, part of a six-man inspection team from the Quality Control Division of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central office were reported to have been robbed by armed men at a local hotel in downtown Naga City, with some P 246,000 worth of electronic equipment, cell phones, personal belongings and cash were carted away by the suspects.

MADRID, Spain, May 27, 2010--The official song for World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid was recently selected. The song, composed by Father Enrique Castro, with lyrics by Auxiliary Bishop Cesar Franco of Madrid, will debut on November 9 on the feast of Our Lady of Almudena at the Cathedral of Madrid.

ROME, May 27, 2010-- Bishops of southern African nations are trying to bring global attention to the problem of human trafficking in their region. The prelates, collaborating with the group Planet Waves, organized a meeting last week on the phenomenon, which affects an unknown number of people. Four episcopal conferences were represented at the meeting: Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.