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.

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.

MANILA, June 1 (PNA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) have signed a agreement wherein all three government agencies will work together in identifying sites in the Bikol region that are geologically hazardous.

DSWD Acting Secretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco and DENR Secretary Horacio C. Ramos formally inked the agreement last Monday at the DENR office in Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

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.

Naga City ---- Our Lady of Peñafrancia Pilgrimage Foundation and the Tercentenary Cultural Committee, together with  People, Events, Promotion and Styles (PEPS UP), launched the first ever exhibit showcasing Our Lady of Peñafrancia's miraculous capes, adoringly called manto by its devotees.

The event took place at SM City Naga and was personally graced by His Excellency, Most Rev. Leonardo Z. Legazpi O.P. DD.

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.

During the 1st Quarter the DOT said 80 percent (454,016) of the tourist arrivals were locals while only 20 percent or 139,225 were foreign nationals.

One innovation introduced in the Kaogma celebrations this year that added color and excitement to the revelry was the downhill bike competition held at the slope of Mt. Isarog last May 29 to 30.

The race tested the skills, agility and fortitude of the participants in maneuvering the risky and perilous turns, drops, banks and bumps of the mountain trails at Consocep, in Ocampo, Camarines Sur developed by experts to cater to the demands and discipline of the new extreme sport introduced in CamSur by Gov. LRay Villafuerte.