Balitang Bicolandia (also known as GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia; transl.Bicolandia News) was 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 served as the final anchor of the newscast.
Overview
The newscast covered 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 marked 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. Before 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 reaired for national viewers under GTV's late-night block "Regional TV Strip" every week every Friday at 11:50 PM, replacing the RTV Morning Programs (from February 1 to July 23, 2021).
In late July, Katherine Henry left the newscast for health reasons and also ran for politics and was elected as the City Councilor of Iriga, Camarines Sur, leaving Palino and Cruzat as the remaining anchors. Cruzat became the solo anchor of the program several months later. 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 would be having his final appearance as program anchor, leaving Delovieres as the solo anchor.[8] With that, she became the first female solo anchor in a GMA RTV newscast in the present day.
On August 30, 2024, Balitang Bicolandia and GMA Batangas' Balitang Southern Tagalog ceased live news production. The reason for axing of the programs mentioned was the cost-cutting measures of GMA Regional TV.[9][10]
It was also the 4th news program to be aired in the Bicol region, after TV Patrol Naga/Bicol, TV Patrol Legazpi, and Baretang Bikol/24 Oras Bikol. Its rival is One Media TV48 Naga's Newsbreak.
