Balitang Bicolandia (also known as GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia; transl.Bicolandia News) is a Philippine television news broadcasting show broadcast by GMA Bicol. Originally anchored by Katherine Henry, Jessie Cruzat and Rhayne Palino, it premiered on February 1, 2021.[1] Kate Delovieres currently serves as an anchor.
Overview
The newscast covers the most significant news and features in the Bicol Region through the network's news teams from Naga City and news stringers across the region. It also marks the return of GMA Bicol as an originating station, almost six years after it was closed down due to mass layoffs and financial difficulties brought about by streamlining of GMA Regional TV's operations, thus resulting in the Southern Luzon stations broadcasting the entire national programming lineup from GMA Channel 7 Manila. Prior to the newscast's launch, GMA Regional TV already had its news team reporting and anchors for the national GMA Regional TV Weekend News (later Regional TV Weekend News now Regional TV News), as well as in other local news programs of the network.[2][3][4]
Balitang Bicolandia was also re-aired for national viewers under GTV's late-night block "Regional TV Strip" on a weekly basis every Friday night at 11:50 PM, replacing the RTV Morning Programs (from February 1 to July 23, 2021).
In late July, Katherine Henry left the newscast due to health reasons and also running for politics and was elected as the City Councilor of Iriga City, Camarines Sur, leaving Palino and Cruzat as the remaining anchors. Cruzat became the solo anchor of the program several months after. Co-anchor and former ABS-CBN correspondent Kate Delovieres replaced both Henry and Palino, joining Cruzat in the anchor team.[6]
During Eleksyon 2022 Special Coverage, Balitang Bicolandia Early Edition had a soft launch from May 9–10.[7]
On August 1, 2023, Cruzat announced that he will be having his final appearance as anchor of the program, leaving Delovieres as the solo anchor of the program.[8]
