The city of Legazpi, under the leadership of Mayor Noel Rosal, was declared by the Department of Tourism as the top 14 major tourist destination of the Philippines for the first half of 2009. The city registered 67,264 visitors from January to June 2009 up by 10.9% from the same period in 2008 making Legazpi the 14th most visited destination in the country this year. With more tourism development projects in the pipeline and a more aggressive tourism campaign, Legazpi is expected to take a bigger share of the booming tourism industry.

Fifteen diplomats and disaster officers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam are slated to visit the province of Albay on November 20 to 22, 2009. Albay Governor Joey Salceda said the purpose of their visit is to look into the Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) and other institutions as well as evacuation centers in the province

Close to 70,000 poor families in Albay would benefit to the full implementation of “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” (4Ps), the Arroyo administration’s flagship poverty reduction program. The 4Ps is a poverty reduction strategy that provides grants top extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition, and education particularly of children aged 0-14 years old.

Legazpi City is set to host the three-day Information Technology (Infotek Exhbiti) 2009 on October 28 to 30, 2009 at the Embarcadero IT Park in the Legazpi Port Area. This year’s Infotek is expected to gather hundreds of information technology advocates and professionals from around the country.

An alumnus of the Bicol University College of Business Economics and Management (CBEM) Department of Accountancy topped the October 2009 licensure examinations for Certified Public Accountants. Ivan Rhett Villacampa Macabeo of Guinobatan, Albay got a rating of 91.71% and became the exam topnotcher together with Romelyn Manset Carpio of De La Salle University – Lipa, who also garnered a rating of 91.71%.

Six new bridges worth P212 million are to be built in the province of Albay. Funding for the six bridges have recently been approved under the French Protocol. The new bridges will be part of a road network that surround the Southern Luzon International Airport (Bicol International Airport) in Barangay Alobo, Daraga.

Bicol’s entrepreneurs across the region will showcase their products at the 13th “Orgullo kan Bikol” regional trade fair on October 22-25 at the SM Mega Mall in Mandaluyong City, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional office said on Wednesday.

The province of Albay continues to improve its disaster preparedness and risk reduction program by using an advanced software that will allow planners and development officers to prepare for and cope against all types of calamities including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and typhoons. Albay’s planners and development officers will undergo an intensive five day training on the REDAS (Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment) system.

A new coastal road and seawall project in Legazpi City was inaugurated last September 30, 2009. The Legazpi boulevard extension is a scenic 4.095 kilometer seaside road that takes advantage of the panoramic view of the azure Albay Gulf, the Kapuntukan (Sleeping Lion Hill) and the surrounding islands. The road will feature a bicylcle lane and a wide promenade with landscaping and decorative lamps perfect for jogging and strolling.

The Metro Integrated Transport Terminal (MITT) started operation on Monday giving commuters from all over Albay province the experience of a world-class transport terminal. Legazpi Mayor Noel Rosal led the formal opening of the state of the art terminal l at the corner of Tahao and Alternate roads in a simple ceremony attended by top executives of the province.

Legazpi’s colorful month-long Ibalong Festival returns this October 2009. This year’s celebration promises to be more exciting and festive than ever before. The Ibalong Festival is a feast that celebrates Bicol’s ancient history as told in the Ibalong folk-epic fragment that recounts the adventures of Bikol’s early heroes: Baltog, Handiong and Bantong.