Ibalong, the sixty stanzas the remain of a full-length folk epic that is today little known even in Kabikolan itself, was presumably jotted down in its complete Bicol narrative by Fray Bernardino de Melendreras (1815-1867), a Franciscan missionary in Ginobatan, Albay, from a minstrel referred to in the epic as Kadungung and who could be the same wandering bard described years later by another Franciscan, Fray Jose Castaño (b. 1854), as “Homero de Ibalon.”

A P920-million road project will soon be implemented linking the coastal towns of Libon and Pioduran in the west coast side of Albay, a top provincial official said on Monday. Albay Governor Joey Salceda said he has secured the funding for the Albay West Coast Road project involving the construction of a 46-kilometer road network from the municipalities of Libon to Pioduran.

The Albay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) on Wednesday said that disaster preparedness action plan is now in place and ready for implementation in the event Mayon volcano’s exhibits possible signs of an eruption. Albay Governor Joey Salceda, PDCC chairman, said disaster operating scenarios have been drawn up and ready for execution in times the volcano’s abnormal behavior turns worst.

In celebration of the 2nd anniversary of the National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation (NCCCA). The Albay CIRCA (Center for Initiatives and Researche on Climate Adaptation) is holding the first ever Albay Eco Challenge. The event is designed to increase awareness on climate change and other important environmental issues.

In December 2001, Landco Pacific Corporation opened Landco Business Park in Legazpi. The masterplanned business park is envisioned to be the city’s premier central business district. Centrally located in the Legazpi Port District, Landco Business Park is easily accessible to all major thoroughfares, as well as the integrated terminal and the Legazpi Public Market.

The provincial government of Albay and Pfizer, a multi pharma company, have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the full implementation of “Kalusugan Para sa Mamamayan” (KASAMA) of Albay. Albay governor Joey Salceda explained during the MOA signing held here, Thursday, that KASAMA program goal is in line with the government’s thrust to expand access of Filipinos to quality health care.

The Aquinas University of Legazpi (AUL) has implemented a project dubbed “Urban Agriculture through the High-Value Commercial Crops Techno-Demo Farm” within its expansive campus here. The project features 60-square-meter greenhouse where vegetables highly sensitive to rain and changes in temperature like broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower and honeydew melon are being propagated.

With the church maintaining its strong opposition for any form of gambling, the city government opted to stop the potential of casino operation despite initial popular support from the business community and the public. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. applied for a casino operation on a 24-hour basis at the soon-to-operate P1 billion commercial complex known as Embarcadero.

Legazpi City — Local government units (LGUs) all over the country look up to Albay as model in the implementation of disaster management and control measures, it was reported here. Many of these LGUs are sending their technical personnel to Albay to study its disaster-management programs and activities. Some local government officials said they are studying Albay’s disaster-preparedness and risk-reduction measures after it was cited by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

The province of Albay, headed by Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda, received the Gawad Kalasag Award for Best Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council from the NDCC (National Disaster Coordinating Council) in an awarding ceremony held at the Malacañang Palace last August 12, 2009. Meanwhile, the city of Legazpi also bagged the Gawad Kalasag Award for the Indpendent/Component city category along with the cities of Dagupan, Bayawan and Tagum.