As of December last year, a total of 8,495 hectares of open and denuded forest lands have been rehabilitated within the Bicol River Basin, The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said.

Eight students from the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) joined more than a hundred delegates from 21 schools and universities in the recently concluded 10th Regional Tertiary Schools Press Conference, held at Villa Mila Garden Resort, Daet, Camarines Norte.

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 29 - The Philippines through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) have recently signed an Expression of Interest, a document that formalizes reciprocal scientific, technical and educational activities on the basis of reciprocity between the two institutions.

LEGAZPI CITY - More than P2 million worth of illegal forest products were confiscated in Bikol last year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources reported. DENR authorities here said this was due to the strict campaign against illegal logging which resulted in the apprehension and confiscation of 200.109 cubic meters of forest products consisting of round logs, flitches and lumber worth about P2,226,863 and 42 conveyances and 11 chainsaws used in the illegal trade.

Legazpi City (25 January) -- Police operatives arrested 13 persons in various police checkpoints in three provinces of Bikol region for violation of the nationwide gun ban imposed b the Commission on Election (COMELEC).

DAET, Camarines Norte, Jan. 27 -- All systems go for the Palarong Bikol 2010 in this province set on Feb. 1 to 5. Department of Education (DepEd) regional director Celedonio Layon said delegations from the elementary and secondary levels from different provinces and cities across Bikol region are expected to arrive starting Wednesday.

BULACAN - Farmers representing more than 230 families have denounced an attempt by a congressman to reverse land reform in their area. Since April 2009, Rep. Luis Villafuerte, an ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and congressman of the second district of Camarines Sur, had gone up three times to Sitio Malapad na Parang, Barangay Sibul in San Miguel, Bulacan, escorted by two truckloads of military men in full battle gear. He has been going there to claim some 375 hectares of land from the farmers who had cleared and developed it in the past three decades. These farmers hold Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program or CARP (now CARPER), but Villafuerte has apparently been trying to revoke it. For the supposed benefit of a foundation with Christian and environmentalist ideals, he has been working for the exemption of the said lands from CARP coverage.

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 26- The tri-media in Albay on Tuesday urged Congress to pass the proposed measure on information freedom before it adjourns next month. This was during an advocacy forum titled "Stop Killing Journalists" held here, with Nacionalista Party spokesperson Gilbert Remulla as resource person."Time is running out and only few days are left for the both houses of Congress to pass the bill," Dondie Belason of Bombo Radyo Legazpi said.

MANILA, Jan. 21, 2010-Retired Catholic Bishop Teodoro Bacani maintains he is against Joseph's Estrada's comeback bid for the presidency, saying the country needs a new leader.

MANILA, Jan. 22, 2010- President Arroyo has no power to appoint the next chief justice of the Supreme Court, constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ, said Friday. Bernas, dean emeritus of the Ateneo Law School, said that Mrs. Arroyo will be violating the Constitution if she would insist in appointing the successor of Chief Justice Reynato Puno.