INTRODUCTION

General Assumptions/Principles Underlying the Plan

The Bicol Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP) provides the framework and
defines the scope of development planning for the whole region.

The first edition RPFP 1990-2020, was formulated with the assistance of the NLUC
through the organization and conduct of a capability building program of the RLUC V
Core Team in 1989 to 1991. In 1993, the RLUC Technical Working Groups met
again in a national on-the-job training workshop as part of the Technical Assistance
to Physical Planning Project (TAPP) sponsored by NEDA and the Australian
International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB). Subsequent activities led to
the Refinement of the RPFP. In 2002, with the completion of the National
Framework for Physical Planning (NFPP) and the enactment of laws, which impact
on land using activities, the National Land Use Committee called for the RLUC-TWGs
for a workshop on the Updating of the RPFPs, thus this document.

The RPFP serves as guide to decisions on how land and natural resources may be
put to the most beneficial use for the people. It indicates how resources may be
managed and conserved for the benefit of present and future generations. It is
designed to show the desired direction and amount of growth of the region as a
whole and its sub-regional areas over a plan period of 30 years. It deems to
promote the direction and amount of growth that represents a balance between the
need for the region to fulfill its functional role in the national economy and the need
to ensure sustainable utilization of physical resources. Thus, it takes into account
and seeks to contribute to the attainment of national development goals and targets.

It seeks to guide public and private investment to achieve an efficient settlement

pattern providing better access by the region’s population to basic services. It seeks
a rational mix of land uses that promotes both productivity and environmental
integrity.

In various analyses conducted especially those requiring maps, thematic maps of

1: 250,000 scale in digital form were used. The basemap used came from the
National Mapping Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA). All thematic maps
were subjected to corrections to conform with the NAMRIA base map. In the
absence of an updated land resource evaluation survey at all level, the output of the
1988 Land Resource Evaluation Project was still used. Other major thematic maps
used were from official sources, i.e. Strategic Agriculture and Fishery Development
Zone (SAFDZ) map from the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM), the
Protected Area Map from the DENR-Protected Area, Wildlife and Coastal Zone
(PAWCZ) Sector, the Geohazard and Mineral Maps from the Mine and Geosciences
Bureau, the Ancestral Domain Map from the National Commission for Indigenous
People (NCIP).

It should be noted that the RPFP is indicative in nature and does not intent to
usurp the zoning powers of local government units.
General Goals and Objectives

The Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP) for Bicol is a 30-year (2000-2030)
development plan designed to show the desired direction and intensity of the
region’s growth. It embodies a set of policies and graphic translations of the desired
spatial arrangement of land-using activities in the region. Its major function, in
general, is to guide decisions on resource use specially land resource base.
Specifically, the RPFP aims to: (1) effect a rational distribution of the regional
population; (2) ensure access by the population to economic opportunity and social
services; (3) guide public and private investments to achieve optimum and
sustained use of natural and man-made resources; (4) safeguard and protect the
integrity of the physical environment. The RPFP seeks to promote a balance
between regional economic development and sustainable natural resources
utilization and conservation. Once operational, it will guide the formulation of the
next Medium Term Bicol Regional Development Plan. In summary, the goals will be
translated into their physical or spatial dimensions. It would shape future
development by guiding, directing and controlling development.

Organization and Parts

This document consists of four major parts. Chapter 1 presents an introduction

to the nature of the RPFP, its definition and characteristics and general objectives.
It discusses the principles underlying the plan and the assumptions used in related
analyses to set the plan in its proper context. It also presents the plan formulation
process undertaken in the region.

Chapter 2 is an assessment of the first edition of the Regional Physical

Framework Plan, which was formulated in 1989 and refined in 1993. It discusses
the extent to which the RPFP goals and objectives as well as the spatial strategies
have been implemented or achieved.

Chapter 3 (Planning Environment) gives the factual and analytical bases of the
RPFP. A comprehensive characterization of the region and sub-regional areas and
sectors precedes the analyses. The succeeding sections present various analyses and
studies conducted on the region’s population, urbanization and settlement pattern,
regional economy and employment, land use, transportation and other infrastructure
and utilities. The Chapter discusses the results with the aid of matrices, maps and
other relevant figures.

Chapter 4 discusses the framework plan or the solution design. This Chapter
begins with the statement on the region’s goal and specific objectives that the Plan
addresses. The subsequent discussions further translate these into the spatial
strategy proposed for the region. This part likewise details the proposed land use
plan or the physical framework itself. A separate section details the Individual
components of the framework (production land use, environmental rehabilitation and
protection plan, settlements plan and infrastructure plan). Each section presents the
related land use scenario by year 2020 vis-à-vis the present land use. A discussion
of each component likewise presents the general and specific proposals on land use
policy.

Chapter 5 sets the proposed plan implementation scheme while Chapter 6

integrates the RPFP with existing plans and planning processes both horizontally and
vertically. Likewise, the Chapter presents the plan’s temporal aspect or its three
major phases of plan implementation. Chapter 6, inclusive of the implementation
scheme, is a discussion of the proposed monitoring and evaluation system. The
implementation support activities i.e. plan information, capability building and
research in Chapter 7 wraps up the Plan.

RPFP ASSESSMENT

The succeeding discussion presents the developments in the region relative to the
accomplishment of goals, objectives, the spatial development framework and
sectoral policies and strategies as enunciated in the first edition of the RPFP.

Assessment of Goals

The goal is to achieve a sustainable land use mix thereby effecting

a. a rational distribution of the population;
b. poverty reduction;
c. a more equitable sharing of the fruits of development among sub-
regional areas and among men and women; and
d. attainment of environmental integrity

Generally, indicators that would have clearly shown the degree of fulfillment of
these goals were not complete. First, was the absence of an existing land use map
that would have shown changes in landuse over time. Second, there was
uncertainty on which set of indicators to use in assessing whether population
distribution was rational or not.

On poverty reduction, the incidence of poor families decreased from 46.9 to 46.0
percent or about 40 thousand less poor families. Incidence of poor families among
provinces saw increases in Camarines Norte, Catanduanes and Masbate. In terms of
magnitude, Camarines Norte was the only province that had more than 4 thousand
additional poor families. There is a need, therefore, to prioritize those areas in
program/project implementation for them to catch up in socio-economic
development.

Environmental integrity remained threatened as indicated by the deteriorating

state of our forests. Unsustainable land use is evident especially in areas falling
under slopes 18 percent and above but are planted with coconut.
Assessment of Objectives

In terms of objectives, the following general assessment indicated that still much
has to be done to fully attain them:

• Gini coefficients slightly increased in the region from 0.4370 to 0.4467;

and in Cam. Norte, Cam. Sur and Catanduanes, these showed a very
slight widening in the gap between the rich and the poor.
• Employment rate in 2000 of 91.6 percent was very much lower than
that in 1990 (96.6 percent). There were 100 thousand more
unemployed persons during the period.
• Additional facilities/ services, i.e. upgraded roads, opening of the
Quirino Highway, electricity to unserved barangays, additional
telephone lines, access to the internet, were provided by government
and private sector across the region. But there are many areas with
no or inadequate social and economic services, facilities and
opportunities.
• The agriculture sector did not grow as much as needed to encourage
an industry cum agricultural mix economy. The Agriculture, Fishery,
and Forestry (AFF) sector’s contribution shows a downward trend, from
44 percent in 1985 to 33 percent in 2001. Industry share, specifically
manufacturing, was almost stagnant at 1.4 percent. In fact, its share
was reduced from 1.47 in 1990 to 1.44 percent in 2000. Reduction in
AFF contribution was largely absorbed by the services sector.
• Self-sufficiency in basic commodities, especially rice was not met as
indicated by a 74 percent rice sufficiency level.
• The rational use of the region’s natural and man-made resources need
to be further promoted to provide greater family income. Many
agricultural lands are un/underutilized and most mineral resources
remain untapped.

Assessment of Spatial Strategies

There are a number of development gains and shortcomings in the

implementation of the region’s tandem spatial strategy of integrated area
development (IAD) approach coupled with the urban functions in rural
development (UFRD) approach, to wit:

Protection Land Use

Protection land use policies and strategies were partially implemented

• Delineation of classified forestlands was completed in Catanduanes but
only partially in Albay, specifically in Rapu-Rapu and Bacacay.
• Reforestation in permanent forestlands were mostly carried out in
lower elevation areas since one of the criteria in site selection is
accessibility. The deteriorating status of Bicol’s forest cover could
result to aggravation of drought, flood, erosion and landslide and
 increased emission of carbon dioxide. A long-term effect could be the
reduction in water supply for domestic use and irrigation purposes.
• Integrated Social Forestry Program, aimed at developing classified
forestlands that are utilized for agricultural purposes and suitable for
agroforestry, was not implemented in some 26,841 hectares. But
23,117 hectares were developed for agroforestry.
• Though settlements are not allowed in identified environmentally-
critical areas, about 1,400 families continue to live within the
permanent danger zone and another 6,000 families live in high risk
zones of Mayon Volcano.
• Though an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required for all
proposed road sections traversing classified forestlands, portions of
Maharlika Highway traversing the Bicol National Park and of
Catanduanes Circumferential Road that traverse a forest area, were
not assessed in terms of their environmental impact.
Mining

• The decision of the Supreme Court, reversing the decision on the

unconstitutionality of the Philippine Mining Law (Republic Act No.
7942), strongly emphasized the full protection of the environment and
the provision of a sturdy umbrella of social and economic returns for
host communities, especially the indigenous people. In effect, the MGB
was tasked to monitor the compliance of mining companies to the “
Adopt A Mountain Project”, which calls for the adoption and
establishment of mining forests within specified mining areas. The
assessment was done at the regional level. Mining companies that
complied included the following: (1) United Paragon Mining
Corporation; (2) Ibalong Resources and Development Corporation; (3)
Johnson Gold Mining Corporation; (4) Filminera Resources Corporation.
The Bicol region has a total mining forest of 67.60 hectares.
• The issuance of permits on sand and gravel extraction was devolved to
the LGUs and Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board was organized to
monitor the activity. Hence, the Local Government Units (LGU) have
the responsibility of identifying areas suitable for sand and gravel
extraction and limiting the issuance of permits, considering the impact
assessment of the area.
• The policies on Critical Ecosystems for Rehabilitation (coral reefs,
mangrove, wetlands, rivers, lowland forests) were not fully
implemented, specifically for mangrove areas, due to conflict of policies
between DENR and BFAR. The BFAR policy is to expand the fishing
area thereby reducing the area for mangroves. Conversely, the DENR
policy is to disallow fishpond development within mangroves declared
as reservations.
 Watersheds and Critical Watersheds

• There were eleven (11) proclaimed watershed areas in Bicol, of whom

nine (9) had approved management plans. However, only eight (8) of
such management plans were implemented. In the management plans
developed by the DENR, boundaries of proclaimed watersheds were
defined on the ground. Watersheds should be well managed and
protected in order to regulate water resource in the area. Denuded
areas of existing proclaimed watersheds should be immediately
reforested.

Protected Areas

• The identification of proclaimed protected areas was done by the

DENR–PAWD. Lack of funds, however, was a constraint to the full
implementation of the policies. Also, insufficient funds were allocated
for the patrolling activities. Resettlement of the settlers in protected
areas was done by the DENR but this was not sustained due to lack of
livelihood opportunities in the resettlement site.

Pasture/Grazing Lands

• The Bicol Region had a total of 50 Forest Land Grazing Management

Agreements covering a total area of 13,221 hectares. Only 215.05
hectares had improved forage i.e Napier, Guinea grass, star grass,
stylo, centrusena, alabang X, Para grass and carabao grass. Based on
the reports on annual grazing submitted by the leaseholders, total area
planted with forest trees was 285.35 hectares. It should be noted that
not all leaseholders have reports. Low quality of forage grass, due to
inadequate water supply for forage livestock, was also reported.

Production Land Use

Generally, production policies and strategies (p/s) for agriculture, were partially
implemented. A number of policies and strategies were assessed to have
encountered implementation constraints, to wit:

• Intensification of rice production promoted self -sufficiency but it

aggravated pest infestation.
• In the case of open-pit mined areas, reforestation was difficult since
most mining operations experienced temporary shut down due to high
production cost and low market price. Given good market conditions,
mine operations may resume.
• “Pasture and grazing areas shall be maintained with sufficient and high
yielding varieties of forage grasses and legumes to improve soil water
absorption capacity, minimize soil compaction and erosion and increase
soil nutrients. Insufficient forage covers of existing pasture and
grazing lands particularly in Masbate shall be supplemented with trees
 or such other vegetative cover as may be deemed necessary.
Proposed and existing pastures shall undergo EIA and shall be
managed under the policy of equitable access to natural resources.”
These were not implemented due to the high costs to the investor.
• There were 26 identified industrial sites distributed throughout the
region but these had no on-site development and locators yet.

Settlements

• The provinces/integrated area development units (IADs), as individual

management units, underwent activities leading to the formulation of
their respective Provincial Physical Framework Plans (PPFPs). The
provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Masbate and Sorsogon had their
Provincial Physical Framework Plans (PPFPs) approved by the Housing
and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).
• Among the provinces, Masbate had a Provincial Environment Code.
These documents served as bases for preparing and approving
development proposals at the provincial and regional levels.
• Sub-integrated area development (SIAD) units, which have been
functional were: the Partido Development Administration (PDA) and
the Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC). These, however, did
not have the same composition as provided in the RPFP since these
were both created due to political considerations.
• Four of the identified growth centers of SIADs became cities, namely:
Ligao, Tabaco, Masbate and Sorsogon. One possible result of this is
the increased propensity for converting prime agricultural lands into
other purposes as a result of urban expansion.
• Population growth and density increased in Ligao City due to improved
road access to barangays.
• Sorsogon City was formed with the merging of the Municipalities of
Sorsogon and Bacon in Sorsogon Province.
• The municipality of Mercedes, Camarines Norte was designated as the
Regional Center for Fisheries and was provided with improved road
access to encourage its growth. Despite these, there were no new
investments, i.e. cold storage and processing facilities. Population
growth rate decreased due largely to outmigration.
• Increase in population density was experienced in Pilar, Sorsogon as a
result of an improved Pilar Port and the opening of the Pilar-Masbate
sea transport route.
• The RPFP identified Bagong Silang as an emerging town. However, its
growth was restrained by the opening of the Quirino Highway.
Instead, the Camarines Norte PPFP identified Tulay na Lupa as the
emerging town. Measures to mitigate the threat of encroachment in
protected areas in Labo are being undertaken.
• Pioduran, which was identified as a SIAD center, has improved its
wholesale trading activities. It serves the neighboring areas of Burias,
Claveria and Donsol. This contributes to the strengthening of intra-
regional linkage, between Pioduran and Burias Island and the Bicol
 mainland with the province of Masbate, thereby improving access to
basic needs and services for people in these areas.
• Improvements in the availability of basic and other services in other
settlements, especially in the SIAD center improved their access to
basic services, increased employment opportunities and enhanced
economic activities. These were brought about by the implementation
of various infrastructure projects. As a consequence, growth and
development are encouraged outside the nearly congested urban
centers.
• One area identified for urban expansion, San Fernando-Milaor, was
developed. This is an area where the lands currently utilized are
perennially inundated and have less capacity for agricultural
production. Other areas identified, i.e. Pamplona, Libmanan and
Calabanga, still have lands suitable for residential purposes and other
uses so that no major conversion was undertaken therein.
• On urban centers whose growth were discouraged, it was noted that:
 Tiwi, which is mostly a reservation area, was provided with
additional access road through the Sangay-Tiwi road. This,
coupled with lower charges for power rate in the area, were pull
factors for more settlers.
 Illegal logging activities continued to occur in proclaimed
reservation areas, thus, threatening the quality of the
environment that supports the production of power.
 The High Value Commercial Crop Center, a project of the
Province of Albay, is situated within the Mayon Volcano danger
zone. Historical data indicated that the site of the center has not
been affected by lava flow.
 A total of 794 families with about 4 thousand persons are
settled within the 6 kilometer radius of the permanent danger
zone (PDZ) of Mt. Mayon.
 Settlers are present in Mt. Iriga and rampant illegal logging
occurs in Mt. Bulusan, both identified as active volcanoes.
 Settlers in barangays along Sorsogon Bay, which lie within
historical tsunami areas, have come back.
 Protection of prime agricultural lands has been weakly
monitored. This is aggravated by a provision in the Local
Government Code that allows local government units to re-
classify 15 percent of prime agricultural lands. The absence of a
comprehensive land use plan for many LGUs provides no basis
for re-classification of primelands. As a result, there has been
an observed reduction in prime agricultural lands, especially
those located in urban centers and those along the national
highway.
Infrastructure

• The infrastructure spatial policies and strategies were mostly partially

implemented. The spatial policies, particularly on land using activities
of the DENR and DA, were pursued by the implementing agencies (i.e.,
preparing EIS and securing Enivronmental Compliance Certificate).
These activities considered the protection of identified areas and
followed the standards set by the National Building Code.
• Some other policies on sustainable development were not followed.
There were LGUs that implemented their projects without any
approved PPFP and CLUP, which should have delineated the
appropriate land using activities. Still, some LGUs implemented projects
without first securing the required ECCs. In some other cases, building
permits, which should have safeguarded the distribution of land use in
the urban areas as defined in the land use-zoning ordinance, were not
secured.

DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES
Physical and Environmental Constraints

The region has a number of physical and environmental constraints, which can be
perceived as development challenges, to wit:

• The geo-physical resources of the region, the forest and agriculture

ecosystems in particular, are intermittently distributed throughout space. This
arrangement provides wider access of Bicolanos to the resource-base, if
utilized wisely can provide ample income to families dependent on it. Forest
resources, if well utilized and protected as needed, can provide a good life
support system. The intermittent nature of these resources requires a land
use scheme that will promote judicious use of these resources.
• Geographically, the Region has a mainland (Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,
Albay and Sorsogon) and two (2) island provinces (Catanduanes and
Masbate). Other islands are part of municipalities comprising the mainland
provinces. Thus, Bicol is teeming with a diversity of resources which can be
utilized for agriculture, fishery, industry and tourism.
• Bicol lies along the volcanic belt. It lies near the center of the Philippine Fault
Zone and has flood prone areas. (please see Chapter 3 on environmental
constraints)

Policy and Legal Constraints

RA 8371 “ The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997”. This is an Act to

recognize, protect and promote the rights of indigenous cultural
communities/indigenous people, creating a National Commission on Indigenous
People, establishing implementing mechanism, and to appropriate funds for other
purposes. Under this Act, the State shall take recognition and the promotion of all
rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/Ips
enumerated within the framework of the Constitution. The state shall also institute
and establish the needed mechanism of enforcing and guaranteeing the realization
of these rights, taking into consideration their customs, tradition, values, beliefs and
their rights to their ancestral domain.

RA 7586 “National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992”. This

is an Act providing for the establishment and management of National Integrated
Protected Areas System, defining its scope and coverage and for other purposes.
Under this Act, a National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) which shall
encompass outstanding remarkable areas and biologically important lands that are
habitats of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, biographic zones and
related ecosystems, whether terrestrials, wetland or marine, all of which shall be
designated as “protected areas”.

RA 7942 “An Act Instituting a New System of Mineral Resources

Exploration, Development, Utilization and Conservation” otherwise known
as the “Philippine Mining Act of 1995”. This Act provides that all mineral
resources in public and private lands within the territory and exclusive economic
zone of the Republic of the Philippines are owned by the State. It shall be the
responsibility of the State to promote their rational exploration, development,
utilization and conservation through the combined efforts of government and the
private sector to be able to enhance national growth in a way that effectively
safeguards the environment and protect the rights of affected communities.

RA 6657 “An Act Instituting a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program

to Promote Social Justice and Industrialization, Providing the Mechanism
for its Implementation and for Other Purposes” otherwise known as
“Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988”. Under this Act, the state
should pursue a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to promote social justice
and to move the nation towards sound rural development and industrialization, and
the establishment of owner cultivators of economic-size farms as the basis of the
Philippine Agriculture. It is aimed to achieve a more equitable distribution and
ownership of land with due regard to the rights of landowners to just compensation
and to the ecological needs of the nation. Also, to provide farmers and farm
workers the opportunity to enhance their dignity and improve their qualify of lives
through greater productivity of agricultural lands.

RA 8435 “An Act Prescribing Urgent Related Measures to Modernize the

Agriculture and Fisheries Sectors of the Country in Order to Enhance their
Profitability, and Prepare said Sectors for the Challenges of Globalization
through an Adequate, Focused and Rational Delivery of necessary support
services, Appropriating Funds therefore and for Other Purposes” otherwise
known as “Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997”. It is a
policy of the state to enable those in the agriculture and fisheries sectors to
participate and share in the fruits of development and growth in a manner that
utilizes the nation’s resources in the most efficient and sustainable way by
establishing a more equitable access to assets, income, basic and support services
and infrastructure. The state shall also promote food security, including sufficiency
for staple food particularly rice and white corn. The production of rice and white
corn shall be optimized.

RA 8550 “An Act Providing for the Development, Management and

Conservation of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Integrating all Laws
Pertinent Thereto and for Other Purposes” or otherwise known as “The
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998”. The state shall ensure that the objectives
of the fishery sub-sector are attained; and these are: 1) conservation, protection and
sustained management of the country’s fishery and aquatic resources; 2) poverty
alleviation and provision of supplementary livelihood among municipal fisherfolks; 3)
improvement of productivity of aquaculture within ecological limits; 4) optimal
utilization of off-shore and deep-sea resources; and 5) upgrading of post-harvest
technology.

RA 9003 “An Act Providing for an Ecological Waste Management

Program, Creating the Necessary Institutional Mechanisms and
Incentives, Declaring Certain Acts Prohibited and Providing Penalties,
Appropriating Funds Therefore, and for Other Purposes” otherwise known
as “Ecological Waste Management Act of 2000”. Under this Act, it is a
declared policy of the state to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological
solid waste management program to ensure the protection of public health and
environment utilizing environmentally–sound methods that maximize the use of
valuable resources and encourages resources conservation and recovery.

RA 7279 “An Act Providing for a Comprehensive and Continuing Urban

Development and Housing Program, establish the Mechanism for
Implementation, and For Other Purposes” otherwise known as “Urban
Development and Housing Act of 1992”. It shall be the policy of the state to
undertake a comprehensive and continuing Urban Development and Housing
Program, in cooperation with the private sector. Specifically, this program aims to:
1) uplift the conditions of the underprivileged and homeless citizens in Urban areas
and in resettlement areas by making available to them decent housing at affordable
cost, basic services and employment opportunities; 2) provide for the rational use
and development of urban land in order to bring about the following: a) equitable
utilization of residential lands in urban and urbanizable areas with particular
attention to the needs and requirements of the underprivileged and homeless
citizens and not merely on the basis of market forces; b) optimize the use and
productivity of land and urban resources; c) to develop urban areas conducive to
commercial and industrial activities which can generate more economic
opportunities to the people; d) to reduce urban dysfunctions, particularly those that
adversely affect health, safety and ecology; and e) to have access to land and
housing by the underprivileged and homeless citizens.
 Other major objectives are: a) adopt workable policies to regulate and direct
urban growth and expansion towards a dispersed urban net and more balanced
urban-rural interdependence; b) provide for an equitable land tenure system that
shall guarantee security of tenure to program beneficiaries but shall respect the
rights of small property owners and ensure the payment of just compensation; c)
encourage the more effective people’s participation in the urban development
process; and d) improve the capability of local government units in undertaking
urban development and housing programs and projects.

PD 1586 : Environmental Impact Statement System. Provides the

establishment and institutionalization of a system whereby the exigencies of socio-
economic undertakings can be reconciled with the requirements of environmental
quality. It also caused for the declaration of certain projects, undertakings or areas
in the country as environmentally critical. For this purpose, the proper land and
water use pattern for the areas of said critical projects shall be prepared.

RA 7638 Department of Energy Act of 1992. which provides that the State
shall ensure continuous, adequate and economic supply of energy to achieve self-
reliance in the country’s energy requirements. It also provides for the integrated
and intensive exploration, production, management and development of the
country’s indigenous energy resources, and through the judicious conservation,
renewal and efficient utilization of energy to keep pace with the country’s growth
and economic development and taking into consideration the active participation of
the private sector in the various areas of energy resource development.

RA 7916: The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 provides that the State
shall actively encourage, promote, induce and accelerate a sound and balanced
industrial, economic and social development of the country to be able to generate
jobs especially those in the rural areas, increase their productivity and their
individual and family income. Also, to improve the level and quality of their living
conditions through the establishment of special economic zones in suitable strategic
locations in the country and through measures that shall effectively attract legitimate
and productive foreign investments.

RA 7881: An Act Amending Certain Provisions of RA 6657 Entitled “An

Act Instituting a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to Promote
Social Justice and Industrialization, Providing the Mechanism for its
Implementation and for Other Purposes. This amends Sec 2 of RA 6657 which
are exempted from the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program: a) lands actually,
directly and exclusively used for parks, wildlife, forest reserves, reforestation, fish
sanctuaries and breeding grounds, watersheds and mangroves; b) private lands
actually, directly and exclusively used for prawn farms and fishponds; c) lands
actually, directly and exclusively used and found to be necessary for national
defense, school sites and campuses, including experimental farm stations operated
by public or private schools for educational purposes, seeds and seedling research
and pilot production center, church sites and convents, mosque sites and Islamic
centers, communal burial grounds and cemeteries, penal colonies and penal farms
actually worked by the inmates, government and private already developed.

Development Administration

Land using activities at the regional level are regulated and implemented by
several line agencies, most of whom are members of the Regional Land Use
Committee (RLUC), in collaboration with local government units.

Based on record regarding the presence of physical plans at the local government
level:

• Four of the six provinces had approved Provincial Physical Framework Plans
before 2002. These provinces include Albay, Camarines Norte, Masbate and
Sorsogon.
• Only about 50% of all cities and municipalities have comprehensive land use
plans.

These imply that at least 50 percent of local government units (LGUs) are guided
by a land use plan in the identification and implementation of development
proposals. LGUs that do not have approved land use plans run a higher risk of
implementing unsustainable land using activities. Thus, compromising long-term
benefits, i.e., higher family incomes and sustainable development of investment
potentials, that would have been accrued from the rational use of physical
resources. The state of the environment, that will provide a healthy life support
system and continuous supply of resources, as also put at a risk of fast degradation.

All provinces, however, have organized Land Use Committees, which are tasked to
review city/municipal comprehensive land use plans for Sanggunian approval.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Physical Characteristics

• Location and Political Subdivisions. Bicol is the fifth administrative

region under the Integrated Reorganization Plan (IRP), which was
implemented through Presidential Decree No. 1 in 1972. Generally
located at the midsection of the country or at the southern tip of
Luzon, Bicol lies within coordinates 122 to 124.5 degrees longitude and
12 to 14.5 degrees latitude as shown in Figure 3.01. It is bounded
northwest by Quezon Province, east by the open seas of the Pacific,
southeast by Samar Sea and southwest by Sibuyan Sea.
• The region is composed of four mainland provinces and two island
provinces. It has a total of seven (7) cities and 107 municipalities
subdivided into 3,471 barangays. Politically, 14 congressional districts
subdivide the region (Figure 3.02).
Figure 3.01 Location of Bicol
Figure 3.02 Administrative Map
Land Area

The region’s land area of about 1.8 million hectares is roughly 6.04 percent of the
country’s 30 million hectares (Table 3.01). Around 69 percent or two-thirds of the
region’s land area is part of mainland Luzon while the rest is the combined land area
of the island provinces of Masbate and Catanduanes.

Table 3.01 Land Area by Province (In hectares), Region V: CY 2001

Province Total Area Percent of Percent of

(Hectares) Regional Total National Total
Bicol Region 1,813,039 100.00 6.04
Albay 256,577 14.00 0.86
Camarines Norte 232,007 13.00 0.78
Camarines Sur 548,160 30.00 1.78
Catanduanes 149,216 8.00 0.51
Masbate 415,178 23.00 1.37
Sorsogon 211,901 12.00 0.72

Source: Land M anagem ent Bureau

Camarines Sur has the largest land area with 548,60 hectares or 30 percent of the
regional area while Catanduanes has the smallest with 149,216 hectares or 9
percent.

As to municipal areas, Labo in Camarines Norte has the largest municipal land
area of 58,936 hectares followed by Milagros in Masbate with 56,530 hectares. In
contrast, Camaligan and Gainza both of Camarines Sur, have the smallest land areas
of 468 and 1,475 hectares respectively. Among the seven cities in the region,
Sorsogon City is the largest with 27,611 hectares followed by Ligao City (24,675
hectares) and Masbate City with 18,800 hectares.

Topography

The region’s topography may be generally described as ranging from slightly

undulating to rolling and from hilly to mountainous. Bicol is endowed with numerous
mountains and volcanoes. The most famous, Mt. Mayon in Albay, has the highest
elevation at 2,462 meters above sea level. Other volcanoes and mountains
dominating the countryside and their corresponding elevations include: Mt. Malinao
(1,548 meters), Mt. Masaraga (337 meters) and Mt. Catburawan (473 meters) in
Albay; Mt. Isarog (1,966 meters) and Mt. Iriga (1,143 meters) in Camarines Sur; and
Bulusan Volcano (1,560 meters) in Sorsogon.

In Camarines Norte, a rolling to rugged terrain surrounds the plains of Labo,

Talisay, Vinzons and Daet. This rugged topography stretches from Mt. Labo to the
Camarines Norte-Camarines Sur boundary and thence to a rolling strip along the
western coast of Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon. The rugged landforms of
Eastern Bicol, Cordillera in the northeast extending from Calinigan Mountain
(Caramoan Peninsula) to Mt. Mayon, on the other hand, separates the plains of
Lagonoy, San Jose, Goa, Tigaon and Sangay from Bicol Plains. The Bicol Plains, a
main physiographic feature in the region, is a wide depression that trends
northwesterly from the western slopes of Mt. Mayon and stretches across the central
part of Camarines Sur. Three lakes--Buhi, Baao and Bato—are located within this
valley.

Small patches of plains that are utilized for lowland farming intermittently break
the rolling terrain in the western coasts of Albay and Sorsogon. In Sorsogon, the
most noted physiographic feature is the fertile Irosin-Juban Valley, which is
surrounded by rough terrains of Bulusan Volcano in the southeast and Mts. Juban
and Batuan in the southwest. This valley is also noted as schistosomiasis and
filiariasis outbreak areas. Such water and mosquito-borne diseases pose a big threat
to public health in the area.

In the islands of Masbate, the relief conditions are almost similar in all three
islands (Ticao, Burias and Masbate). The terrain ranges from slightly undulating to
rolling and from hilly to mountainous. In each island, rugged topography is
concentrated on the north and gradually gives way to hills and rolling areas in the
south, southeast and southwest. The highest point in the province is the conical
peak of 700 meters above sea level located in Masbate, Island.

A rugged topography in its central core generally characterizes the island of

Catanduanes. Along its coastal regions, narrow strip of plains are found. A narrow
depression both in the northern and southern cores.breaks the rough terrain of the
island in its midsection.

Coastal Area

The region’s coastal area is deeply embayed. This is characterized by the

presence of numerous bays and gulfs. These are: the Ragay Gulf, San Miguel Bay
and Lagonoy Gulf outlining the coasts of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; Albay
Gulf and Sorsogon Bay in Albay and Sorsogon. In addition, the region is endowed
with natural harbors, which serve as refuge for ships during heights of weather
disturbances in the vicinity.

Volcanoes, Faults and Earthquake Zones

The distribution of faults, volcanic and earthquake belts in the region is shown in
Figure 3.03. A parallelism between the Bicol Volcanic Belt, the Philippine Fault Zone
and the deep Philippine trench can be noticed.

The Bicol Volcanic Belt or Chain spans a total of 240 kilometers from Camarines
Norte in the north down to Sorsogon in the south. A total of sixteen volcanoes
approximately 24 kilometers apart, lie along the 200 kilometer chain which runs
parallel to and west of the Philippine Trench.
 There are three active volcanoes, which have erupted within the past 600 years)
and their last recorded eruptions are: Mt. Mayon (2001); Mt. Bulusan (1988) and
Mt. Iriga (1628). (Table 3.02).
Figure 3.03
Volcanoes, Earthquake Fault and Tsunami Prone Area
 Table 3.02. Main Features of Principal Volcanoes, Bicol Region
Feature Mt. Iriga Mt. Mayon Mt. Bulusan
Location Camarines Sur Albay Sorsogon
Latitude 13 degrees 27.4 N 13 degrees 15.4 N 12 degrees 46.2 N
Longitude 123 degrees 27.4 E 123 degrees 41.1 E 124 degrees 03.0 E
Height 1143 meters asl 2462 meters asl 1552 meters asl
Type Strato-Volcano Strato-Volcano Strato-Volcano
Main Rock Type Basaltic Andesite Andesite Andesite
Remarks Active Active Active

Source: P hiVolcs

Most famous among the active volcanoes is the majestic Mt.Mayon with its near
perfect symmetry, fiery outbursts and destructive mudflows. It consists of deposits
formed basically by four major volcanic activities: airfall disposition, pyroclastric
flows, rain triggered debris flows and lava flows.

Mt. Iriga, with a peak of 1,143 meters above sea level, is likewise, of the
stratovolcano type. The main historical event for Mt. Iriga was a large volume
debris avalanche in 1628 AD, which dammed the Barit River and created Lake Buhi
presently known as the habitat of the smallest edible fish in the world, the
sinarapan.

Bulusan Volcano, located near the central part of Sorsogon province, peaks at
1,550 meters above sea level. Its last eruption was in 1988.

Associated with non-active volcanoes are geothermal fields. Tapped for power
generation, these fields operate geothermal power plants in Tiwi and Bacon-Manito
area in Albay and Sorsogon, respectively, for a combined Total Generating Capacity
of 512.574 MW and 317.67 MW dependable capacity. Sources of geothermal power
are Mt. Malinao in Albay and Pocdol Volcano in Sorsogon.

In addition to its location along the volcanic belt, the region lies near the center of
the Philippine Fault Zone (PFZ), which is a major earthquake generator in the
Philippine Archipelago (Figure 3.03). The zone, about 1,300 kilometers long, is
characterized by a bundle of parallel to sub parallel active faults confined with a
narrow zone trending north-northwest and south-southwest. It is characteristic of an
active fault, like the PFZ, to generate potentially destructive tremors since those are
shallow-seated or occur near the earth’s surface (less than 80 kilometers deep).

Another major source of earthquake in the region is the Philippine trench. A

trench is defined as a long, narrow and generally steep-sided very deep depression
in the ocean floor. The axis of a trench marks the position of a subduction zone,
where old oceanic lithospheric plates begin their descent into the earth’s interior.

A study conducted by Efren A. Uy and Benito T. Punsalan published in 1987

indicated that the Bicol Region is prone to earthquakes of Intensity V from the
above-cited source zones.
Climate and Weather Disturbances

Based on the Modified Corona’s climate classification system, three climate types
occur over the Bicol Region, as shown in Figure 3.04. Type II is experienced over
the eastern coasts of the region directly facing the Pacific Seas including the island
of Catanduanes and the whole of Camarines Norte. These areas are characterized
by the absence of dry season with a very pronounced maximum rain period
generally in the months of December and January. There is not a single dry month
in these areas. A dry month is defined as a month with less than 50 mm of rainfall.
A month with more than 100 mm can still be considered as dry if it is preceded by
three or more very dry months.

A Type III climate is characterized by not very pronounced maximum rain period,
with a short dry season occurring either in winter or spring. Places under this type
include the western coast of Mainland Bicol along Burias Pass, Burias Island and
Mainland Masbate. The rest of the region, i.e. the western part extending from
Camarines Sur to the southwestern tip of Sorsogon belong to Type IV climate.
Rainfall in these areas is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year with
exception of the occurrences of tropical cyclones in the vicinity, which can cause
rainfall abnormalities.

Rainfall

Recent studies conducted by the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical Sciences

Administration (PAGASA) showed that majority of the average rainfall in the country
is due to the occurrence of tropical cyclones in the vicinity. The southwest and
northeast monsoons each contribute 7 percent while the remaining 39 percent is
attributed to the combined effects of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone,
shearlines, easterly waves and other rainfall-causing weather patterns. The average
annual rainfall in the region ranges from 1,900 to 3,500 millimeters.

Wind Velocity/Directions

The highest normal wind speed observed is 4 meters per second which passes the
region northeasterly. This occurs especially in the months of October to April when
northeast monsoon is dominant air stream over the country.

Temperature

The hottest months are May and June while the coldest months are January and
February. Higher temperatures are observed in the island provinces particularly in
Masbate.

Humidity

The annual average humidity is about 82 percent, almost equal to the country’s
average relative humidity.
Figure 3.04 Climate and Weather Disturbances Map
Inland Waters, Rivers and Lakes

The region’s inland waters consist of an intricate network of rivers, streams and
lakes. This network serves as the natural drainage system especially in the mainland
provinces. The Bicol River is the largest river in the region and is considered as the
main drainage way for the 3,771 hectares major basin area of the Bicol Plains. It
originates from streams in the southern and western parts of Camarines Sur and
from the southwestern slopes of Mt. Isarog. It meanders generally on a northwest
direction from Lake Bato and joins Sipocot River at a point around seven kilometers
from its mouth before discharging to San Miguel Bay, Sipocot River which is a
principal tributary of the Bicol River orginates from the northern part of the province
and trends southeasterly until it joins the Bicol River.

In Camarines Norte, drainage is provided by two minor rivers: Labo and Basud.
Both rivers drain areas of 913 and 270 hectares, respectively, towards the Philippine
Sea. For Sorsogon, a network of seven (7) minor rivers consist the province’s
natural drainage system. These rivers and their corresponding catchment or
drainage areas are:

River Catchments/Drainage Area (hectares)

Donsol 3960
Ogod 122
Putiao 188
Banuang Duan 46
Fabrica 56
Matnog 63
Cadacan 197

The narrowness and topography of the two island provinces, contribute largely
to the occurrence of numerous short minor rivers that serve as the drainage
channels for ten basin areas in Masbate and three for Catanduanes.

Lakes consist another vital inland water resource for the region, environmentally
and economically. There are numerous lakes, but most have small volume water
impounding capacities. The more important freshwater ponds in the region are:
Lakes Bato, Baao and Buhi in the Bicol Plains and Bulusan and Aguingay in
Sorsogon.

Lake Buhi is located at the eastern side of Mt. Iriga about 105 meters above sea
level and is surrounded by hills more than 300 meters high. It is well known for the
smallest edible fish called tabios or sinarapan. The lake is believed to have been
formed during Mt. Iriga’s large volume avalanche in 1628 AD, which dammed Barit
River. Located at the southwestern boundary of Camarines Sur and Albay is Lake
Bato. This serves as the discharge area for numerous small rivers and streams from
a large portion of Albay’s third congressional district. The lake has an outlet
waterway that runs from its northern shore towards Balatan finally discharging to
Burias Pass. The waterway is joined by another outlet channel from Lake Baao,
which is located north of Bato Lake.

Bulusan Lake, on the southeastern side of Bulusan Volcano, is 635 meters above
sea level. The lake occupies the depression between two lava flow lobes abutting a
hill on the southeast slope of the volcano. With a depth of 33 meters, the lake
covers an area of 16.5 hectares and has a circumference of 2,000 meters. The
intermittent Lake Aguingay is situated at a higher elevation about 1,100 meters
above sea level. This lake appears and disappears depending on the weather
condition and even expands to three times the area of Bulusan Lake during extreme
rainfall depths.

Slope

Slope greatly affects the use and management of the land. It determines to a
large extent the appropriate use and the optimum management practices to be
adopted to prevent and/or minimize its rapid degradation.

About 56 percent of the region’s total land area is nearly level to moderately
sloping lands (0-18 percent). These are mostly the alluvial plains, mountain
footslopes, floodplains and valleys. The remaining 44 percent are mostly hilly and
mountainous (above 18 percent slope) which includes the ranges of hills on the
western and eastern section and some mountain peaks on the central part of the
region (Figure 3.05).

Table 3.03 Slope Classification by Province, Bicol Region

SLOPE CLASSIFICATION (in Percent)
Total 50 and
Province 0-8 8-18 18-30 30-50
Area above
Has % Has % Has % Has % Has %
Albay 256,577 66,710 26 59,013 23 30,789 12 74,407 29 25,658 10
Cam.Norte 232,007 124,621 54 55,694 24 21,143 9 15,579 7 14,970 6
Cam. Sur 548,160 246,672 45 82,224 15 137,040 25 71,261 13 10,963 2
Catanduanes 149,216 16,414 11 5,968 4 73,116 49 43,273 29 10,445 7
Masbate 415,178 166,071 40 87,187 21 91,339 22 45,670 11 24,911 6
Sorsogon 211,901 67,808 32 38,142 18 57,213 27 38,142 18 10,595 5
TOTAL 1,813,039 688,296 38 328,228 18 410,640 23 288,332 16 97,542 5

Source: Land Resources Evaluation P roject, Region V, 1987, Land M anagem ent B ureau

Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Masbate have more level to gently sloping
lands than hilly to mountainous areas (Table 3.03). This physical characteristic is
one major contributory factor to Camarines Sur’s achieved status as the region’s rice
granary. The suitability of this level to gently sloping areas for wetland farming is
considerably high. In the case of Camarines Norte and Masbate, though they have
higher percentages of level lands compared to the other slope categories, both
provinces have not exhibited marked rice production figures due mainly to the
limiting role of water in rice farming. Either they lack irrigation facilities or their
water supply is so minimal that it cannot sustain submerged farming practices.
Thus, other uses for this level to gently sloping lands have been found, i.e.
pineapple production for Camarines Norte and livestock farming for Masbate.

Figure 3.05 Slope Map

 In contrast, the provinces of Albay, Catanduanes and Sorsogon have more sloping
lands than level areas. This could be the main reason why abaca and coconut have
become the principal crops grown in these provinces. These crops are more or less
suitable for the above terrain provided some other factors are present.

LAND USE

Based on the latest existing land use data from the Local Resources Evaluation
Project in 1988 (Figure 3.06), more than half of the total land area is utilized for
agriculture and other development activities while 9 percent which have potentials
for agricultural use are underutilized. The province, which has the largest expansion
area is Masbate with 52,600 hectares while Sorsogon has the least areas available
for agricultural expansion (Table 3.04). Thus, said provinces have more
underdeveloped lands.

Table 3.04 Land Use Opportunity by Province, Bicol Region: 1988

AGRICULTURE FORESTRY OTHERS

Total Wetlands,
Rehabi- Preser-
Province Area Active Expansion Rivers,
litation vation
(has.) Lakes
Has. % Has. % Has. % Has. % Has. % Has. %
Albay 256,577 141,200 55.30 19,794 7.80 49,317 19.30 30,291 11.87 2,927 1.15 11,728 4.59

Cam. Norte 232,007 124,797 59.10 24,773 11.70 14,794 7.00 33,750 15.98 7,683 3.64 5,452 2.58

Cam. Sur 548,160 275,559 52.30 85,964 16.30 56,747 10.80 78,800 14.96 14,123 2.68 15,489 2.94

Catanduanes 149,216 44,078 29.20 11,415 7.60 43,755 29.00 46,949 31.06 2,588 1.71 2,363 1.56

Masbate 415,178 271,450 67.10 52,599 13.00 57,601 14.20 1,447 0.36 17,225 4.26 4,447 1.10

Sorsogon 211,901 142,535 66.60 9,828 4.10 29,740 9.50 31,700 14.80 7,219 3.37 3,122 1.46

TOTAL 1,813,039 999,619 56.70 203,373 11.50 242,954 13.80 222,937 12.64 51,765 2.94 42,601 2.42

Source: Land Resource Evaluation Project, Department of Agriculture. There is no available data for land use opportunity for
Camarines Norte, thus, the difference in land area with previous tables

Land Classification

Majority (69.3 percent) of Bicol’s land area is classified as alienable and disposable
(Table 3.05 and Figure 3.07). Camarines Sur accounts for the largest share (28
percent) followed by Masbate with 24 percent share.
Figure 3.06 Land Use Map
Figure 3.07 Land Classification Map
 Table 3.05 Status of Land Classification, Bicol Region: 1992-1998

Land Classification Percent

1998
(I n Hectares) to Total
Total Land Area (Bicol Region) 1,813,039 100.00
Certified Alienable & Disposable 1,256,436 69.30
Unclassified Forest Land 30,822 1.70
Classified Forest Lands 525,781 29.00
Established Forest Reserve 72,522 4.00
Established Timber Lands 424,252 23.40
National Parks, GRBS & Wild Life Area 25,927 1.43
Civil Reservation 73 .004
Fishpond 3,082 0.17

Source: Regional Socio Economic Trends, Bicol Region: CY 1999 , recomputed using
data on land area from the DENR

Production Land Use

The existing area for production land use in the Bicol Region consists of
agricultural lands, mineral lands, production forests and eco-tourism sites. The
region has identified some industrial sites but there are no on-site developments and
locators yet.

As of 1988, the area devoted to agricultural production covered 895,055 hectares.

This represented 51 percent of the total land area of the region. Its breakdown by
landform showed that 62 percent are in the lowlands and 38 percent are in the
uplands. The 1991 census of agriculture indicated Bicol’s total farm area at 936,174
hectares. This represented a 4.6 percent increase over the 1988 data. The
average farm size, however, decreased from 4.13 hectares in 1971 to 2.48 hectares
in 1991.

The growing population and expanding trade and commerce pressured the
conversion of agricultural lands into other uses. Within 15 years (from 1989 to
2003), a total of 1,358.8 hectares of agricultural lands were officially converted to
other uses. Of the total, almost half (47 percent) was located in Camarines Sur.
Albay followed this with 36 percent. The two provinces accounted for more than
four-fifths of the total converted lands. In terms of their alternative uses, almost 70
percent of the agricultural lands were turned into residential areas. These were
mostly subdivisions found within lowlands abutting urban centers. Industrial land
conversion accounted for 12 percent although proponents still have to realize its full
utilization. Agro-industrial conversion reached 5.7 percent.

Agricultural Lands

The region’s croplands consist of areas devoted to rice, corn, coconut, abaca,
sugarcane and other crop commodities. These are located within alienable and
disposable lands and public lands regardless of tenure status. Within the croplands
there are 179,692 hectares of prime lands devoted to rice production. Some
116,064 hectares of those prime lands are fully irrigated while 63,628 hectares are
non-irrigated. The irrigated rice lands are found within the Bicol River Basin area in
the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur. These areas, however, are subjected to
yearly flooding and siltation as calamities regularly occur. The Irosin-Juban valley in
the Sorsogon province is another area where big tracts of rice land can be found.

Palay production increased at an annual average of 2.3 percent for the last eight
years. Such good production is associated with the prevalence of favorable weather
condition in the region; when calamities strike, production goes down (as in 1998
when a drought and a strong typhoon visited the region).

Among the provinces, Camarines Sur remains as the region’s rice granary,
accounting for more than half of the region’s palay production. In terms of area
harvested, the last eight years saw an annual decline of 1.4 percent. From a high
305,140 hectares in 1996, this declined to 277,136 hectares in 2003. Among the
provinces, Albay had the highest rate of decline at 4.5 percent per year. The
average yield of palay increased by 4.07 percent per year or from 2.14 metric tons
per hectare in 1996 to 2.75 metric tons per hectare in 2003. Camarines Sur and
Albay realized high palay average yields. However, the region’s average yield for
palay was still low when compared to the national average yield of 3.37 metric tons
per hectare.

The volume of corn production declined at an average of 5 percent annually for

the last eight years. The 1996 production of 101,482 metric tons went down to
66,361 metric tons in 2003. Albay experienced the most rapid decline at 8.6 percent
per year. In 1996, Albay was the leading corn producer of the region, accounting
for 41 percent of the total regional production. In 2003, Albay slid to third position,
contributing only 25 percent of the region’s total corn production. Except for the
province of Masbate, all Bicol provinces experienced a decline in corn production.

The area harvested for corn, likewise, declined at an average rate of 4.6 percent
(from 120,140 hectares in 1996 to 81,762 hectares in 2003). Albay and
Catanduanes recorded the most rapid drops in area harvested. The leading corn
producing province was Masbate, with 60 percent of the total regional area for the
year 2003. The regional average yield of corn for the last eight years ranged from
0.74 to 0.86 metric tons per hectare. This fared badly with the national average
yield of 1.62 to 1.92 metric tons. While the regional average yield remained
constant, the national average yield increased. Among the provinces, Camarines Sur
had the highest average harvest of 1.48 metric tons per hectare.

Coconut production increased by an average of 15.6 percent per year, from

758,750 metric tons in 1997 to 1,232,615 metric tons in 2001. Masbate and
Camarines Sur remained as the leading coconut producing provinces of the region.
Camarines Sur registered the highest annual increase in production at 51.2 percent.
 In terms of area harvested, the period 1997 to 2001 posted a decline of 1.9
percent every year. Except for those of Camarines Sur and Masbate, the area
harvested for coconut among all other Bicol provinces shrunk with Camarines Norte
having a declining rate of 5.4 percent every year. Except for Catanduanes, however,
all Bicol provinces increased their average yields of coconut. Camarines Sur
registered the highest increase in average production at 47.7 percent. Masbate
attained the highest average yield at 4.91 metric tons in 2001. Coconut is highly
susceptible to strong winds, hence, its average output is totally affected by the
occurrence of typhoons.

The region’s abaca hectarage during the said period declined by 0.01 percent per
year, which was greatly felt in Catanduanes that experienced the highest rate of
decline at 3.13 percent per year. The average yield of abaca increased by 5.35
percent per hectare per year compared to the national average yield of 800
kilograms per hectare. Bicol’s average yield was very low at 300 to 350 kilograms
per hectare per year.

Abaca production had fluctuated from 1997 to 2001, although it registered a 0.3
percent increase per year. Catanduanes led the abaca producing provinces,
accounting for more than half of the total regional production. Sorsogon was a far
second with 20 percent of the total. Camarines Sur and Catanduanes also boosted
their abaca production while Albay, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon experienced
waning outputs.

Area harvested for abaca declined by an average of 2.2 percent per year. The
downtrend was experienced by all provinces, except Camarines Sur. Albay had the
highest rate of decline at 8.2 percent per year. The average yield of abaca
increased by 2.4 percent per hectare per year. Compared to the national average,
Bicol’s yield was very low at 0.41 to 0.53 metric tons per hectare.

The province of Camarines Sur had the only commercial growing area for
sugarcane in the Bicol region. From 1997 to 2001, its sugarcane production
increased by 4.1 percent per year (or from 216,587 metric tons in 1997 to 252,235
metric tons in 2001).

Area harvested for sugarcane also increased by 2.2 percent per year. As of 2001,
total area harvested for sugarcane was 6,913 hectares. The average yield of
sugarcane per hectare increased by 0.5 percent or from 34.12 metric tons in 1997 to
36.49 metric tons per hectare in 2001. Compared to the national average yield,
Bicol’s average was only 57 of the national figure.

The volume of mango production grew by 14.1 percent or from 887 metric tons in
1996 to 1,170 metric tons in 2002. Camarines Norte registered the bulk of the
increase with an annual growth rate of 144.5 percent; likewise for Sorsogon, albeit
with 2.6 percent. All other Bicol provinces experienced drops in their mango yield.

Area harvested for mango increased by 24.8 percent per year. The greatest
increase in area harvested was in Camarines Norte at 717 percent. Albay,
Catanduanes and Masbate did not experience a change in their mango production
areas. Average yield of mango declined by 4.3 percent per year. All Bicol provinces
had declining average yields of mango with Camarines Sur having the highest at
15.3 percent decline every year.

Banana production experienced a 35.5 percent annual growth rate from 1996 to
2002. Except for Catanduanes, all Bicol provinces had increasing banana
production. Albay had the highest growth rate at 101 percent followed by Sorsogon
with 98 percent. Since banana production is highly susceptible to strong winds, its
1998 yield went down to around 25,500 metric tons due to a strong typhoon that hit
Bicol.

In terms of area harvested, the region registered an 11.6 percent average

increase per year. The highest increase was registered in Albay province with 58.6
percent. Camarines Sur had the highest area harvested for banana at 9,539
hectares in 2002. This represents almost half of the total area harvested for banana
in 2002. Average yield of banana for Bicol is 3.44 metric tons. This is approximately
one-fourth of the national average yield of 13.23 metric tons per hectare. Except for
Catanduanes, all Bicol provinces attained increases in annual average yield. The
highest average yield was registered in Albay at 12.61 metric tons per hectare.

Pineapple production increased by an average of 5.5 percent per year from 1996
to 2002. Its bulk came from the province of Camarines Norte, which accounted for
94 percent of the regional production. Except for Catanduanes, all other Bicol
provinces had increasing trends in pineapple production.

The overall area harvested for pineapple decreased by 0.5 percent per year.
Sorsogon had the largest average of 12.6 percent increase in area harvested for
pineapple while Camarines Sur had only 1.1 percent average. The average yield of
pineapple increased by 6.2 percent per annum. The highest average yield was in
Camarines Norte at 26.77 metric tons per hectare in 2002.

The volume of calamansi production had been decreasing by an average of 9.2

percent per year from 1996 to 2002. Among the provinces, only Sorsogon
registered an annual average increase in production of 6.7 percent. Camarines
Norte, a leading calamansi-producing province in 1996 (with 2,228 mt), slumped in
2002 as it dipped to only 221 metric tons, roughly 10 percent of its 1996 production
level.

In contrast to the decline in the volume of production, the area harvested for
calamansi increased by 1.6 percent per year. Sorsogon had the highest increase at
6.7 percent per annum while that for Camarines Sur increased by 0.6 percent. The
average yield of calamansi per area harvested declined by 9.9 percent per year.
Camarines Norte registered the most drastic drop from 27.17 metric tons per
hectare in 1996 to 2.8 metric tons per hectare in 2002. In contrast, the national
aveage yield of calamansi increased by 16 percent per annum.
 Camote production from 1996 to 2002 declined by an average of 6.1 percent per
year or from 169,877 metric tons in 1996 to 107,237 metric tons in 2002.
Camarines Sur was the leading camote producing province despite the 8.6 percent
annual reduction in its volume output (from 117,352 metric tons in 1996 to 56,832
metric tons in 2002).

The area harvested for camote decreased by 4.7 percent per year from 1996 to
2002. Only the province of Albay increased its area harvested for camote with a 3.6
percent growth rate. The average yield per hectare declined by two percent per
year. Masbate and Sorsogon had increased average yields while the rest of the
provinces experienced diminished harvests.

Cassava production declined by an average of 5.1 percent during the period 1996
to 2002 (from 224,951 metric tons in 1996 to 156, 521 metric tons in 2002).
Masbate and Sorsogon had increased cassava production, although their shares of
the regional production were minimal. Camarines Sur remained as the leading
cassava producing province, accounting for more than 80 percent of the regional
output.

Area harvested to cassava increased by an average of 1.2 percent per year. The
province of Camarines Sur increased its area harvested by an average of 3.2 percent
per year. In 1996 the average yield of cassava was 7.69 metric tons per hectare.
This went down to five metric tons per hectare in 2002.

Cabbage production form 1996 to 2002 declined by an average of 11.3 percent

per year (from 2,188 metric tons in 1996 to 699 metric tons in 2002). Albay,
Camarines Sur and Sorsogon were the cabbage producing provinces of the region.
Albay produced 1,746 metric tons in 1996 but this went down to 311 metric tons
in 2002.

Area harvested to cabbage declined by 11 percent per year (from 270 hectares in
1996 to only 91 hectares in 2002). Albay, which used to have 207 hectares devoted
to cabbage production had only 33 hectares as of 2002. Average yield of cabbage
declined by 0.9 percent per year.

The volume of eggplant production in 1996 was 5,942 metric tons but this went
down to 5,255 metric tons in 2002. The average annual decrease was 1.9 percent.
Albay, the leading eggplant producing province, yielded 3,701 metric tons in 1996.
This declined to 2,414 metric tons in 2002 for a 5.8 percent annual decrease.

Area harvested to eggplant decreased from 1,204 hectares in 1996 to 1,169

hectares in 2002. In Albay, the decrease was 4.3 percent per year while in
Camarines Sur it increased by 2.6 percent per year. The average yield of eggplant
went down by 1.5 percent per year. From 4.94 metric tons per hectare in 1996 this
dropped to 4.5 metric tons per hectare in 2002.

Garlic is grown in the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur. The volume of garlic
production dropped sharply from 397 metric tons in 1996 to only 13 metric tons in
2002. In 1996, Camarines Sur produced 360 metric tons but this dropped to nine
metric tons in 2002. Area harvested also decreased from 102 hectares in 1996 to 5
hectares in 2002. Average yield also decreased from 3.89 metric tons per hectare in
1996 to only 2.6 metric tons per hectare in 2002.

Pili production improved by an average of 15.6 percent per annum or from 2,156
metric tons in 1998 to 3,833 metric tons in 2003. Among Bicol’s provinces, Sorsogon
and Albay were the leading pili producing provinces. Catanduanes and Camarines
Norte had minimal pili production, while Masbate had negligible yield.

Area planted to pili increased by an average of 7 percent per year. Sorsogon had
the highest increase in area planted (from 716 hectares in 1998 to 1,133 hectares in
2003). The number of pili-bearing trees increased from 66,567 in 1998 to 98,390 in
2003.

Coffee production from 1997 to 2001 declined by an average of 11.5 percent per
year (from 1,534 metric tons in 1997 to 830 metric tons in 2001). Among the
provinces, only Sorsogon had an increased volume of production at 46.2 percent per
year. Camarines Norte had declined most in production at 23.3 percent per year.

Area harvested for coffee likewise declined by 1.5 percent per year, the most rapid
having been registered in Albay at 8.1 percent. In 1997, the total area harvested for
coffee was 3,390 hectares, by 2001 this was reduced to 3,189 hectares. Average
yield declined by 10.6 percent per annum (from 450 kilograms per hectare in 1997
to 260 kilograms per hectare in 2001). Among the provinces, only Sorsogon
registered an increase in average yield (from 200 kilograms per hectare in 1997 to
590 kilograms per hectare in 2001).

Livestock and poultry production areas refer to lands where animals and poultry
are raised. Pasture lands, most of which were located in the province of Masbate,
dominated the areas devoted to livestock raising in the region (as of 1988 there
were 109,355 hectares in Bicol). Most of the livestock produced in the region,
however, came from small farms. Animals were raised in coconut lands as pasture
areas. Hog raising was also of the backyard type with few commercial growers.
Similarly poultry production is with a handful of commercial egg producers located
mostly in Baao, Camarines Sur and Ligao City in Albay.

Inland fishing areas of the region consisted of lakes, rivers, streams and creeks.
These areas occupied 4,419 hectares, where freshwater fishes like bangus, tilapia
and carp were grown. The region’s lakes are mostly located in Camarines Sur, where
Bato, Baao and Buhi lakes are found. Tilapia growing in fish cages is dominant in
these lakes. Estuarine areas are also present in the region. These are devoted to
fishponds where bangus and prawns are produced. As of 1988, there were 10,279
hectares of fishponds in the Bicol Region.
Mineral Lands

Of the region’s 1.76 million hectares land area, approximately 33.8 percent
(595,708.56 hectares) were covered with mineral production sharing agreements
(MPSAs), financial and technical assistance agreements (FTAAs), exploration permits
(EPs), industrial permits (IPs), and mining lease contracts (MLCs). These are located
mostly in the provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Masbate. Approved
mining rights which are mineral lands cover 3,306.52 hectares.

Mining activities in the region can be divided into two areas, the non-metallic and
metallic sectors. The non-metallic sector is relatively stable. This is due to the
availability of processing plants within the country. The metallic sector always
experiences fluctuation in prices and its price is dictated by the world demand for
metals. Not unless our country will have its own processing and manufacturing
plants will the metal prices be stable locally.

Approximately 95 percent of the region had been geologically mapped in a scale of

150,000 wherein potential mineral occurrences had been identified. These known
minerals are point locations. Geo-hazard mapping is an on-going activity of the
Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau.

Bicol is rich in human and natural resources and is blessed with the world-famous
Mayon volcano, six natural parks, 11 forest reserves, 19 waterfalls, 203 caves, six
lakes, a number of hot and cold springs, 14 dormant volcanoes and two active
volcanoes. In addition, there are long stretches of fine back, white and cream
beaches along coastlines of coastal municipalities for beach lovers and snorkeling.

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AREAS

The industry sector plays a vital role in production land use. By providing
livelihood and employment opportunities for the people, it generates investments
that help reduce the incidence of poverty and thus, help steer the region toward
sustainable growth.

Since the early seventies, the government has recognized countryside

development as a major strategy to accelerate regional development. Several
programs were adopted to disperse and re-channel development activities outside
the Metropolis. Limited investments in the countryside, however, held back the
industrial dispersal programs and policies of the government. The priority given by
the national government on infrastructure development in Metro Manila proved
inconsistent with the objectives of the industrial dispersal policy, i.e., to decongest
Metro Manila and encourage industries to locate outside the metropolis.
Consequently, industries continued to locate in the metropolis and its suburbs,
leaving the countryside untapped.

The government’s countryside development strategies included the following: (1)

the development of Regional Growth Centers (RGC) popularly known as Regional
Agro Industrial Centers (RAICs); (2) the establishment of growth networks and
corridors to strengthen linkages among provinces and regions; and (3) the
enactment of RA 7916 or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 as amended by RA
8748 and of RA 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act. The identified
growth centers were envisioned as development hubs of the underdeveloped
regions.

Consistent with those strategies, Region V identified during the late 1980’s the City
of Legazpi as the site for the Bicol Regional Industrial Center (BRIC). The presence
of major infrastructure facilities critical for an industrial center, like the seaport and
airport, were the primary factors for assigning the location to Legazpi City.
Barangay Lamba, Legazpi City was identified as the site for the BRIC. A feasibility
study conducted under the supervision of the Regional Development Council (RDC) V
revealed that developing the area would not be financially viable due to high
investment requirements. The RDC V through Resolution No. 13 Series of 1993
approved the transfer of the site by the City Government of Legazpi to Bgy.
Homapon, where the conversion of a 57 hectare agricultural land was approved and
a road network was constructed. The offsite road project was funded under the
Social Development Fund of the President (P7.125M) and DPWH Fund (P5.0M).

Seven years after, the BRAIC site remains a barren land. The landowner had not
initiated any onsite development because no investor was willing to locate in the
area. Its Conversion Order signed on September 26, 1996 stipulated that “the
development of the area should proceed at the rate of five hectares per year, not to
exceed a total of five years from the issuance of this Order.” It further stated that
“any violation of the terms and conditions shall be ground for the recall or
cancellation of this Order.” The decision of the PARO on this matter is still being
awaited.

A corridor-type strategy deemed to accelerate agri-industrial development in infra-

ready areas, thus requiring less government investments, was conceived by the RDC
V in 1993. The project, dubbed as the Legazpi-Iriga-Naga Growth Corridor (LINGC)
covered the four cities of Legazpi, Ligao, Iriga and Naga, and selected municipalities
in Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte (Table 3.06 and Figure 3.08). Later
on, it included Daet, Camarines Norte and was renamed as the Legazpi-Iriga-Naga-
Daet Growth Corridor (LINDGC).
 Table 3.06. Coverage of the Legazpi-Iriga-Naga-Daet Growth Corridor (LINDGC)
by Province, Region V

Province City/Municipality
Albay Legazpi City
Ligao City
Municipality of Daraga
Municipality of Camalig
Municipality of Guinobatan
Municipality of Oas
Municipality of Polangui
Camarines Sur Iriga City
Naga City
Municipality of Bato
Mu nicipality of Nabua
Municipality of Baao
Municipality of Bula
Municipality of Pili
Camarines Norte Municipality of Daet

The completion of the LINDGC master plan in January 1999 could pave the way to
the rapid development and emergence of several business centers along the growth
corridor. The implementation of some government projects identified in the master
plan is on going, such as: Pantao Port, Legazpi Port, Legazpi Airport, Bicol River
Basin-related projects (i.e., the River Basin and Watershed Management Program)
and several solid waste management projects of the LINDGC-member local
government units.
Figure 3.08 Legazpi-Iriga-Naga-Daet Growth Corridor Map
 The enactment of the Special Economic Zone Act in 1995 paved the way to the
identification of several ecozones in the region. Five areas were initially recognized
in Bicol as ecozones, namely: the cities of Naga and Iriga in the Province of
Camarines Sur; Legazpi and Tabaco in the Province of Albay; and Sorsogon in the
Province of Sorsogon (Figure 3). In addition, some LGUs also considered other
areas in their municipalities as sites for special economic zones (Figure 3.09). This
was consistent with the PEZA Law, which stipulated that “other areas may be
identified as ecozones although they do not meet the criteria set for ecozone
establishments provided that the said area shall be developed only through local
government and/or private sector initiative without any financial exposure on the
part of the national government, and that the area can be easily secured to curtail
smuggling.”

Table 3.07 presents the list of proclaimed and PEZA Board’s approved special
economic zones in the Bicol Region. Notably, only the Legazpi City Special Economic
Zone and the Global Industrial Maritimes Complex in Jose Panganiban, Camarines
Norte had Presidential Proclamation issued by President Fidel V. Ramos on June 9,
1998 (Presidential Proclamation No. 1249) and by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
on December 2, 2003 (Presidential Proclamation No. 508), respectively. As in the
BRAIC, there were no locators in Legazpi Ecozone despite some groundworks
undertaken onsite by the City Government of Legazpi. The other proposed ecozones
in the region already have their PEZA Board Resolutions, however, they have yet to
meet other requirements to qualify for a proclamation by the President of the
Philippines. (Table 3.08).

Table 3.07. List of Special Economic Zones in Region V

ECOZONE/ ESTIMATED
AREA PREFERRED
PROVINCE LOCATION/ PROJECT
(in ha.) INDUSTRIES
DEVELOPER COST
Albay Legazpi City Special 33.13 PhP206 M Food processing and
Economic Zone beverage, light metals
Sitio Caridad, industry, electronics and
Banquerohan, Legazpi appliance manufacturing,
City furniture and fixtures,
City Government of garments, textiles and
Legazpi wearables, ceramics & non-
metallic minerals
processing, organic
chemicals, gifts, toys and
housewares
Tiwi Ecozone 31.30 PhP98.774 M Electronics/computer
Bagumbayan, Tiwi peripherals, garments,
Tiwi Ecozone ready-to-wear apparels and
Corporation wood-based products
Rapu-Rapu Economic 41.39 $23.0 M Minerals
Zone
Rapu-Rapu
Rapu-rapu Minerals,
Inc.

Camarines Norte Global 30.00 PhP46.28 M Agri-business and

Industrial/Maritime electronics industries as
Complex well as manufacturers of
Larap, Jose military
 Panganiban supplies/armaments
Camarines Sur Bicol Industrial Park 100.00 PhP620 M Food processing, wood
Sitio Banasi, San Jose, products, ceramics, textiles,
Bula wearing apparels,
FPI Industrial Park, electronics-computers
Inc.
Isarog Heights Special 124.32 PhP799.26 M Food processing/
Economic Zone manufacturing
Cadlan, Pili
Manubay Agro-
Industrial and
Development Corp.
Naga Agro-Industrial 105.00 PhP515.91 M Light to medium non-
Center polluting industries like
Pacol. Naga City electronics, electrical, agro-
Pacol Industrial based industries, food
Development Corp. manufacturing, wood
products, ceramics, textiles
Sta. Rita Industrial 219.00 PhP1.3518 B Manufacturers of IT and IT-
Park related products such as
San Jose & Sagurong, computer motherboards,
Pili telephone sets, CD-ROM
Sta. Rita Ecozone units, electronic equipment
Corporation and peripherals

Source: Philippine Econom ic Zone Authority

Figure 3.09 Special Economic Zones Map
 Table 3.08. Proposed Industrial Centers in Bicol Region by Province (in ha)

Province RAIC PICs PIEs TOTAL

Albay 57 57
Camarines Norte 30 30
Camarines Sur 614.32 614.32
Catanduanes 70 70
Masbate 100 100
Sorsogon 400 400
TOTAL 57 1,214.32 1,271.32

Source: Departm ent of Trade and I ndustry R egion V

Bicol Region still has few large industries. DTI data indicated that there are only
eight large industries and these are mostly located in the province of Albay. Four
are coco-based industries, namely: Cosay Coco Products, Cosay Coco Oil Mills,
Legazpi Oil Company, Inc. and Globe Coco Manufacturing, Inc.; two are abaca-based
(Alindeco and Isarog Pulp and Paper; and two are mineral-based, in the island of
Rapu-Rapu, Albay and Camalig, Albay (Table 3.09 and Figure 3.10 - Map of large
industries by type).

On the other hand, Bicol Region has 27,256 micro, small and medium enterprises
(MSMEs) that account for 99.93% of the total 27,732 establishments of the region in
year 2002 and around 3.3% of the total SMEs nationwide. Among its provinces,
Camarines Sur registered the highest number with 8,250 (31%) followed by Albay –
6,452 (24%), Masbate – 3,743 (14%), Sorsogon – 3693 (14%), Catanduanes –
2,894 (11%) and Camarines Norte, having the least number with 2,414 (9%).
Figure 3.11 shows SME dispersion by province in 2002.

Table 3.09 Inventory of Large Industries in Bicol Region

as of December 2004

Province/ Name Specific Location (Bgy.,

Product Lines
of Company Mun./City, Province)
Albay
Albay Agro-Industrial Balading, Malinao, Albay Pulp and Paper
Development Coprl. (ALINDECO) Products
Cosay Coco Products Bigaa, Legazpi City Coco Products
Globe coco Mfg. Inc. Lidong, Sto. Domingo, Albay Coco Products
Goodfound Cement Corp. Palanog, Camalig, Albay Cement
Isarog Pulp and Paper Co. Kilikao, Daraga, Albay Pulp and Paper
Products
Legazpi Oil Company Inc. Arimbay, Legazpi City Coco oil, copra cake
Rapu-Rapu Processing, Inc Rapu-Rapu Island, Rapu-Rapu, Metallic mineral
Albay products
Camarines Sur
Co Say Oil Mill San Roque, Pili, Camarines Sur Various coco oil based
products such as
soaps & cooking oil
Figure 3.10 Large Industries Map
Figure 3.11 SME Dispersion Map
 In terms of Business Sector, services has the highest share of 91%.

Table 3.10 Number of SME Establishments by Sector Bicol Region, 2002

SECTOR NUMBER PERCENT SHARE (%)

Agriculture 879 3.17
Industry 1,607 5.8
Service 25,230 91.03
TOTAL 27,716 100.00

Source: Departm ent of Trade and I ndustry R egion V

By business activity, Wholesale and Retail Trade had the most number with 16,723
or 60.34 percent, far second was Community, Social and Personal Services with
3,423 (12.35%) and the least was in Agriculture, Hunting and Fishing with 2.23
percent.

Table 3.11 Number of SME Establishments by Business Activity

Bicol Region, 2002

PERCENT
BUSINESS ACTIVITY NUMBER
SHARE (%)
Agriculture, Fishery & Forestry 619 2.23
Agriculture, Hunting & Fishing 56 0.20
Fishing 204 0.74
Mining & Quarrying 56 0.20
Manufacturing 1,052 3.80
Electricity, Gas & Water 78 0.28
Construction 414 1.49
Other Manufacturing NEC 7 0.03
Wholesale & Retail Trade 16,723 60.34
Hotel & Restaurant 1,055 3.81
Transportation, Communication & Storage 1,947 7.02
Finance, Intermediation 728 2.63
Real Estate, Renting & Business Activities 675 2.44
Education 103 0.37
Health & Social Work 139 0.50
Other Services, NEC 437 1.58
Other Community, Social & Personal Service Activities 3,423 12.35
TOTAL 27,716 100.00

Source: Departm ent of Trade and I ndustry R egion V

Problems that inhibit SMEs from expanding are: the high cost of financing or
interest rate, stringent collateral requirements by financing institutions, inadequate
or inefficient infrastructure support system that contribute to high cost of doing
business in the region, limited market, poor product design and packaging, lack of
access to market information and poor forward and backward linkages among and
between production sectors.

For the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, the region
houses six companies engaged in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), located in
the two cities of the region, namely: Legazpi City (4) and Naga City (2). These
companies are operating in line with data conversion, medical transcription, web
design, digital animation and maintenance services for US companies. The
combined employment of these companies totals to 1,102, with data conversion as
the highest employer. Almost all companies started operation in 2003, except for
one (1) company which started in 1999.

Supporting the ICT sector are Bayantel & Digitel, the main telecommunication
providers & Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the region with bandwidth ranging
from 56kbps to 1 mbps. Both companies can deliver T3 connection (US standards –
48mbps) or a combination of E-1 connections (European Standards currently used in
the Philippines). All provinces have ISPs with Camarines Sur having the most
number of ISPs (8). There are four (4) companies that cater to Plain Old Telephone
(POTS), using non-digital copper wiring. There are at least 46 schools and training
institutions which offer ICT-related disciplines ranging from short-term courses to
bachelor’s degree in computer science and majority of these are located in the
provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES

Transportation
The transport sub-sector provides the vital link between people, products and
services. The transportation network in the region is a complex system that
integrates the four modes of transportation, namely: road, rail, air and water. The
complexity of the system is attributed to the geographical location of the component
provinces (Figure 3.12).

Roads

The road density in the region increased from 0.50 km/sq.km. in 1989 to 0.62
km./sq.km. in 2000 (please refer to Figure 3.13). Among the region’s six provinces,
only Masbate remained poorly served by road network, while the other provinces
had road densities of more than 0.60 km/sq. km, with Camarines Sur having the
highest.
Figure 3.12 Existing Transport Infrastructure (National)
 The 0.12 km. per sq. km. increase in road density in the region meant an additional
2,254.23 kilometers of constructed/improved roads. Passable year-round, those
roads significantly increased and improved the accessibility and mobility of goods
and services. Barangay roads, comprising 58% of the region’s total road density,
remained as the dominant track for road transport.

The road improvements, which included critical roads and bridges throughout the
region, were undertaken through major foreign-assisted projects. These included the
following: (1) Construction of Quirino Highway in Camarines Sur; (2) Rehabilitation
of Maharlika Highway (Calauag-Sta.Elena, Sta.Elena-Labo, Labo-Daet, and Daet-
Sipocot sections); (3) Masbate Rural Road Network Development Projects (Packages
1 and 2); (4) ADB-funded Mobo-Cataingan Road in Masbate; (4) road component of
Sorsogon IAD Project, and Farm to Market Road Development from the DAR and DA.
The cumulative road network is shown in Table 3.12.

Table 3.12. Existing Road Length, By Classification and

Surface Type of National Road, Bicol Region: as of CY 2002

Road Length (In Kms.) By Surface Type of National

Land Total Category Road Road
Province/
Area Road Density
City Con- Gravel/ Total
(Sq.Km.) (Kms.) National Prov'l Mun./City Brgy. (km/sq.km.) Asphalt
crete Earth (km.)
Albay 2,552.6 17,24.8 399.70 420.30 205.90 698.90 0.70 238.00 67.20 94.50 399.70
Cam. Norte 2,071.6 13,94.7 200.30 146.60 119.60 928.10 0.70 41.50 136.60 22.30 200.30
Cam. Sur 5,266.8 41,25.7 659.40 771.60 448.80 2,245.90 0.80 272.10 110.30 277.00 659.40
Catanduanes 1,511.6 9,60.1 315.10 156.20 58.20 430.60 0.60 63.70 7.30 244.10 315.10
Masbate 4,047.7 9,87.6 381.00 74.30 91.40 441.00 0.20 93.20 98.10 189.70 381.00
Sorsogon 2,141.4 16,42.9 307.70 228.30 127.30 979.60 0.80 249.80 31.40 26.50 307.70
Total 17,591.7 108,35.8 2,263.20 1,797.30 1,051.20 5,724.10 0.60 958.20 450.80 854.10 2263.20
Percentage - - 20.90 16.60 9.70 52.80 - 42.30 19.90 37.70 100.00
(%)

Source: DP W H, P PDOs/ CPDOs

 By classification, the CY 2000 road network of 10,835.79 kilometers comprised of
2,263.17 kms national roads (20.89%), 1,797.28 kms provincial roads (16.59%),
1,051.21 kms municipal/city roads (9.70%), and 5,724.13 kms barangay roads
(52.83%). Please see Figure 3.13.

Due to insufficient inventory of local roads, information on their surface pavement

type was not available. With regard to national roads, however, some 854
kilometers of their 2,263.17 kms, remained unpaved. Most of those unpaved road
sections were in Camarines Sur, particularly in the Caramoan Peninsula, as well as in
the island-provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate.

The 2,254.33 kilometer increase in road length over the 11-year period indicated
an average increment of 205 kilometers per year, The increase was disaggregated
as follows: Barangay roads, 1,865.45 kilometers (21.38%); National roads, 281.17
kilometers (3.22%); Municipality/City roads with 264.86 kilometers (3.04%). On the
other hand, the provincial road component was shortened by 298.68 kilometers
(3.24%), which indicated that some of the road sections were converted to National
Road to facilitate funding for their maintenance and implementation by the DPWH.
The Barangay road inventory, on the other hand, increased as a result of the farm to
market roads development implemented by DAR and DA.

Motor Vehicle Registration

On motor vehicle registration, the number of vehicles registered as of CY 2000

totaled 96,001 (Figure 3.15). Motorcycles/Tricycles accounted for more than half of
the total. This was attributed to the availability of brands that sold at cheaper prices
in the local motorcycle market. By province, Albay and Camarines Sur had the
highest number of motor vehicles registered at 29,896 and 33,164, respectively.
From CY 1997 to CY 2000, motor vehicle ownership in the region increased by an
average rate of 5.83% annually. Compared to other regions, Bicol accounted for
2.23% of the total number of registered motor vehicles nationwide. The National
Capital Region was highest at 38.16%.
 The railway development and rehabilitation in the region consisted of three major
components: 1) the 224 kilometer Mainline South (MLS) from Lucena City to Naga
City, 2) 100 kilometers from Naga City to Legaspi City, and 3) study for the Sorsogon
Railway Extension project from Camalig, Albay to Matnog, Sorsogon. These
components were recommended in the previous RPFP for improvement and
development.

The first two railway sections were rehabilitated within the planning period, the
former in CY 1995 and the latter in CY 1999. They included the refurbishing of the
rolling stocks. The supplementary feasibility study for the Sorsogon Railway
Extension project was completed and was already approved/endorsed by the RDC V
for financing through the Official Development Assistance.

Notwithstanding the rehabilitation of the PNR MLS, the nagging issues and
concerns of the railway transport system centered on the poor condition of the
railroad tracks and rolling stocks that often resulted to train derailments and longer
travel time as compared to buses covering the same route. The most recent PNR
accident was in 2004, which brought about deaths and injuries to train passengers
thus forcing the management to indefinitely suspend the PNR operations along the
Manila to Legazpi City route. A major reason for the continued deterioration of the
PNR MLS is its lack of maintenance.

A current effort to address the woes of the railway system is a Feasibility Study on
the rehabilitation of the MLS, which includes the Sorsogon Railway Extension Project.
The project was approved and endorsed by the RDC V and is subject for approval by
the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC). The proposed project will provide the
linkage with the North Rail project that is currently on-going.

Railways

The railway development and rehabilitation in the region consisted of three major
components: 1) the 224 kilometer Mainline South (MLS) from Lucena City to Naga
City, 2) 100 kilometers from Naga City to Legaspi City, and 3) study for the Sorsogon
Railway Extension project from Camalig, Albay to Matnog, Sorsogon. These
components were recommended in the previous RPFP for improvement and
development.

The first two railway sections were rehabilitated within the planning period, the
former in CY 1995 and the latter in CY 1999. They included the refurbishing of the
rolling stocks. The supplementary feasibility study for the Sorsogon Railway
Extension project was completed and was already approved/endorsed by the RDC V
for financing through the Official Development Assistance.

Notwithstanding the rehabilitation of the PNR MLS, the nagging issues and
concerns of the railway transport system centered on the poor condition of the
railroad tracks and rolling stocks that often resulted to train derailments and longer
travel time as compared to buses covering the same route. The most recent PNR
accident was in 2004, which brought about deaths and injuries to train passengers
thus forcing the management to indefinitely suspend the PNR operations along the
Manila to Legazpi City route. A major reason for the continued deterioration of the
PNR MLS is its lack of maintenance.

A current effort to address the woes of the railway system is a Feasibility Study on
the rehabilitation of the MLS, which includes the Sorsogon Railway Extension Project.
The project was approved and endorsed by the RDC V and is subject for approval by
the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC). The proposed project will provide the
linkage with the North Rail project that is currently on-going.

Airport

The region maintains and operates eight (8) functional airports Figure 3.12.
Except for the airports in Bulan and Bacon, in Sorsogon province and that in Daet,
Camarines Norte, all other airports in the region cater to commercial flight services.
Annex 3.1 shows the region’s airport features and statistics.

Legazpi Airport is the only trunk-line airport in the region. It has landing facilities
that can accommodate medium-sized aircraft like the Boeing 737 jets. The Legazpi
Airport has navigational constraints, however, that frequently cause cancellation of
flights during bad weather. Several airline companies serve the region such as the
Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, Asian Spirit, Laoag Airlines, and Aboitiz
Forwarders.

Because of navigational constraints and upon validation of the Feasibility Study

conducted by JICA, the existing Legazpi City Airport was recommended for
relocation to Barangay Alobo, Daraga, Albay. The Master Plan Study for the New
Legazpi Airport was completed by the DOTC-ATO. Its implementation is being
proposed for ODA financing.

Two other airports in the region, Pili Airport in Camarines Sur and the Masbate
Airport, need major upgrading and capital investment requirements. The former
needs to have its runway reoriented for safer aircraft operation, while the latter
airport needs to be relocated to avoid a permanent obstruction along its approach.
The preparation of Feasibility Studies by the DOTC-ATO, addressed at the airports’
improvement, is therefore in order. Similarly, the two other feeder airports in
Sorsogon need a study to determine whether to maintain or discontinue their
operations.

Ports

The region has 70 existing ports (Table 3.13) classified into 4 categories, namely:
1) National Ports, managed and operated by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), 2)
Local Ports, operated by LGU, DOTC-PMO, 3) Fish Ports, operated by either the LGU
or BFAR under the DA, and (4) Private ports. The details of the respective port
facilities are presented in Annex 3.2.

Table 3.13 Existing ports in the region, Classification and Number

CLASSIFICATION OF PORTS NUMBER

National or Terminal Ports (PPA operated) 9
Local Ports 5
Municipal Ports 36
Barangay Ports 6
Fish Ports 7
Private Ports 13
Total 70

As of CY 2004, there were 9 National Ports. The Base Port is Legaspi City Port,
being the site of the Regional Operations of the PPA. The rest are terminal ports, of
which the Tabaco City Terminal Port, owing to its strategic location and facilities, is
also classified as an International Port. Except for Legaspi City and Jose Panganiban
Ports, the rest have RORO ramp facilities. Generally, the physical condition of the
national ports in the region needs further improvement and upgrading. Some of the
national ports lack basic facilities such as passenger terminals, warehouses, berthing
facilities, and others to accommodate more and larger vessels. The construction of
the Pantao Port in Libon Albay is on-going.

In terms of foreign trade, Tabaco Port takes a major role being the main port of
entry in the region. In CY 2000, the port recorded eleven (11) foreign ship calls with
gross registered tonnage (GRT) of 63.090 metric tons of handled cargoes, down by
50% compared to the CY 1999 GRT of 129,770 metric tons.

There are 38 local ports, implemented by the LGU with assistance from the DOTC-
PMO Ports. These include 32 municipal ports and six Barangay Ports. The Fish
Ports, operated either by LGU or BFAR under the DA, consist of Municipal and
Barangay Fish Ports. At present, there are eight (8) fishing ports, seven of which are
municipal fishing ports and one is a barangay fishing port located in Legaspi City.
Water Resources

Some 30 river basins provide an estimated annual runoff of 12,804 MCM of

surface water across the region. (Please refer to Annex 3.3 and Figure 3.14). Such
abundant yield provides the resource for the development of water supply, irrigation,
fisheries, hydro-thermal and other uses, like recreation. The infrastructure elements
of water resource development include the facilities for water supply, irrigation, and
flood control and drainage.

Groundwater, the other major water resource, has an estimated storage of 22,449
MCM regionwide. Its distribution by province is presented in Table 4.3. Of the
regions major river basins, the Bicol River Basin contributes the highest estimated
storage while Masbate Island Basin contributes the least.

Table 3.14 Distribution of Groundwater by Province in the Bicol Region

Groundwater
50-Yr
Estimated Estimated Recommended
Mining
Basin Provinces/s Storage Inflow Estimate Withdrawal
(MC) MCM/year Safe Yield
MCM / year
MCM / year
Bicol River Cam. Norte, Cam. 11496 2074 2074 2304
Basins Sur, Catanduanes
& Albay
Albay-Sorsogon Albay & Sorsogon 9150 779 779 962
Masbate Island Masbate 1803 531 531 567
Basins
Total for 22449 3384 3384 3833
Region V

In terms of water usage, as of December 1999, the water rights granted by NWRB
was 96.40 %, which was equivalent to 94,905.74 liters per second (lps). The
irrigation sector was granted the highest, accounting for 94.02 percent of the total
grant while the least was for industrial use. (Table 3.15).
Table 3.15 Water Rights Usage-Wise, Bicol Region: as of December 1999
Water Use/Source Liters/Seconds Percentage
Municipal 2,876.82 2.92
Ground Water 2259.00
Surface Water 617.82
Industrial 616.82 0.63
Ground Water 37.60
Surface Water 578.85
Irrigation 92563.34 94.02
Ground Water 1226.45
Surface Water 92336.89
Other Uses 2393.73 2.43
Ground Water 21.55
Surface Water 2372.18
Total 98450.34 100.00
Ground Water 3544.60 3.60
Surface Water 94905.74 96.40

Source: NWRB
Water Supply

The water supply system in the region includes public and privately-owned water
sources for domestic and commercial uses. The public water supply systems are
categorized into three service levels, namely: Levels I, II, and III.

Despite having a large water resource potential, Bicol’s total households that were
provided with potable water supply was still low at 66.11 percent (Table 3.16). As of
2002, the province of Camarines Sur had the highest household coverage (80.24
percent) while the least served provinces were Camarines Norte (49.88 percent) and
Masbate (50.77 percent).

Table 3.16 Household Served by Water Supply, By Province, Bicol Region: CY 2002

Level I Level II Level III Total

Number
2002 No. of % of No. of % of No. of % of No. of % of
Province/Region of
Pop'n HH HH HH HH HH HH HH HH
Household
Served served Served served Served served Served served
Albay 1,133,413 21,674 55,329 25.52 18,173 8.32 54,496 25.14 127,998 59.05
Cam Norte 469,680 91,706 5,660 6.17 17,576 19.17 22,504 24.54 45,740 49.88
Cam Sur 1,610,976 299,174 148,587 49.67 35,742 11.95 55,735 18.63 240,064 80.24
Catanduanes 221,903 42,270 6,337 14.99 14,638 34.63 7,454 17.64 28,430 67.26
Masbate 734,569 144,145 46,375 32.17 21,742 15.08 5,071 3.52 73,188 50.77
Sorsogon 679,851 130,796 30,246 23.12 34,874 26.66 30,852 23.59 95,972 73.38
Region 4,850,392 924,854 292,534 31.63 142,745 15.43 176,112 19.04 611,392 66.11

Sources of Data: PPDO's, MPDO's.LWUA, DILG

Level I

An average of 31.63 percent of the total households was served. Among the six
provinces, Camarines Sur had the highest coverage (49.67 percent).

Level II

An average of 15.43 percent of the total households was served. The province of
Catanduanes had the highest service coverage (34.63 percent), mostly sourced from
springs. Almost all of the region’s municipalities/cities had this type of water facility.

Level III

An average of 19.04 percent of the region’s total households was served. The
province of Albay had the highest systems coverage (25.14 percent), while Masbate
had the lowest (3.52 percent). There were 39 operational water districts
strategically located in the urban areas of the region (Annex 3..4).
Irrigation

Cognizant of the importance of irrigation in achieving food security and sustainable

agricultural development, the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of
1997 accorded highest priority to irrigation-related endeavors. Still, the potential
benefits from irrigation development in the region has not been fully harnessed. As
of 2002, the level of irrigation development remained at only half of the estimated
potential irrigable areas of 239,660 hectares. Only 118,541 hectares were irrigated
(Table 3.17).

Table 3.17 Status of Irrigation Development, Bicol Region: as of December 2002

Estimated National Communal Private Remaining

Total Irrigation Irrigation Irrigation Potential
Total Irrigation
Irrigable System System System Area to
Province/Region Dev't.
Area (NIS) (CIS) ** (PIS) *** be Deve-
(%)
(in hss.) loped
* No. Area No. Area No. Area No. Area (Has)
Albay 54,620 4 1,946 102 10,643 249 11,584 355 24,173 44.26 30,447
Cam Norte 22,590 2 2,910 66 4,177 3 182 71 7,269 32.18 15,321
Cam Sur 123,700 6 14,690 203 40,759 120 13,653 329 69,102 55.86 54,598
Catanduanes 3,770 - - 74 2,288 - - 74 2,288 60.69 1,482
Masbate 19,880 - - 105 3,743 47 1,027 152 4,770 23.99 15,110
Sorsogon 15,100 2 950 119 6,951 88 3,038 209 10,939 72.44 4,161
Region 239,660 14 20,496 669 68,561 507 29,484 1190 118,541 49.46 121,119

* Estimated Total Irrigable Area (ETIA) is based on the 3 slope criteria

** Includes CY 2002 newly developed areas
*** Data of Private Irrigation Systems are based on CY 1998 inventory

About 58% of the estimated irrigable area had communal irrigation systems; 17%
had national irrigation systems; and the rest had private irrigation systems. The
province of Camarines Sur shared the highest irrigated area (58.21%), more than
the combined irrigated areas of the five (5) other provinces. Figure 3.16 shows the
location of these irrigated areas.
Figure 3.16 Location of Irrigated Areas
 The poor performance of the irrigation sector was due to a host of interrelated
technical, hydrologic, socio-economic, institutional, environmental and political
issues. Essentially, such issues must be properly addressed if the benefits from
irrigation development will have to be optimized. In 1989, there were 113,337
hectares of total service area irrigated as compared to 118,541 hectares irrigated in
2002. This meant an increase of just 5,204 hectares or 4.6%.

Flood Control and Drainage

Flood control, drainage and shore protection mitigate the loss of lives and
properties within settlement areas and productive agricultural lands from the threats
of typhoon-induced floods and tidal surges.

In 1989, some 1,778.365 kilometers of Flood Control and Drainage structures

were constructed. From 1990 to 2003, the mitigation intervention was minimal with
only 4.5 kms of flood control and drainage structures erected and a meager 2.3 kms
of similar structures rehabilitated. (Annex 3.5). New constructions, however, were
done in all the provinces, except Sorsogon. Rehabilitation works such as repair, river
dredging, clearing of floodways and other similar activities were also undertaken in
the provinces of Albay and Camarines Norte.

On shore protection and seawalls, some 27.731 kilometers were constructed in

1989. From 1989 to 2003, only 500 linear meters were constructed in the provinces
of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Masbate.

Financial constraints tended to limit the government’s interventions along this sub-
sector. This was reflected in the design of structures (e.g. a low 1:5 year return
period) such that the focus was more on flood mitigation rather than on flood
control. Also, some structures were poorly constructed resulting to inefficient and
ineffective response to the calamity in flood-prone areas. Thus, the need to
strengthen disaster preparedness, response and rehabilitation in threatened areas
with priority on the formulation of an integrated flood control program by all
concerned sectors.

Power/Energy

The energy sector in the region involves power generation, transmission, and
electrification.

Power Generation

IIn 1989, there were only 15 generating units in the region with a total capacity of
335.4 MW. These improved to 46 generating units in 2000 with an aggregate
generating capacity of 512.574 MW (Table 3.18). Due to the temporary shutdown of
some units in the Tiwi geothermal for rehabilitation, however, the dependable
energy was down to only 317.67 MW (61.98 percent).
 The list of existing power generation in the region is shown in Annex 3.6 while the
location of the power sources are shown in Figure 3.17.
Figure 3.17 Existing Power Generation Sources
 Table 3.18 Existing Power Generation, by Source, Bicol Region

Total
No. of % to Total Dependable % to total
Power Generating
Generating Generating Energy Generating
Sources Capacity
Units Capacity (MW) Capacity
(MW)
1. Geothermal 8 480.000 93.64 285.5 59.48
2.
7 5.510 1.07 5.1 93.00
Hydrothermal
3. Diesel Power
31 27.064 5.29 27.1 100.00
Plant
Total 46 512.574 100.00 317.67 61.97

Energy resource development, during the period under review, included the
exploration and production of local energy sources, such as coal, geothermal,
hydrothermal, and other renewable energy.

Coal Development

While coal deposit was identified in the island of Rapu-Rapu, this primary energy
source has yet to be developed.

Geothermal Energy Development

Exploration and establishment of geothermal power plants were conducted in

Albay and Sorsogon provinces, as follows: (a) Completion of the BacMan II – Unit II
(Cawayan), which started operation in 1994; (b) On- going Establishment of BacMan
II - Unit II (Bogtong); (c) On-going establishment of BacMan Binary, (d) Initial
exploration of Mt. Labo and Bulusan Geothermal Power Plant to establish the extent
of the reserve, and (e) evaluation of the feasibility study on the BacMan III, also
known as Tanawon. The available geothermal resources for development as
proposed by the DOE are listed in Table 3.19.
3.19 Potential Geothermal Resources for Development in the Bicol Region
Installed Year of
Name Location
Capacity (MW) Commissioning
1. Tanawon 40.0 2007 Sorsogon
2. Manito/Manito Lowlands 20.0 2008 Albay
3. Manito/Kayabon 40.0 2008 Albay
4. Rangas 40.0 2010 Sorsogon

Source: Department of Energy

Hydrothermal Development

The potential sites for hydrothermal development in the region are indicated in
Annex 3.7. Of these, four potential sites were identified by the DOE for hydropower
generation. (Table 3.20).
 Table 3.20 Potential sites for Hydropower development in the Bicol Region
Year of
Classifi- Installed
Name Commis- Location
cation Capacity(MW)
sioning
Kapilihan MHP Mini-Hydro 3.0 2005 Virac, Catanduanes
Colasi MHP Mini-Hydro 1.0 2007 Camarines Norte
Dugui MHP Mini-Hydro 4.0 2008 Virac, Catanduanes
Hitoma MHP Mini-Hydro 3.0 2011 Caramoran,
Catanduanes

Source: Department of Energy

Other Renewable Energy

Efforts were directed toward developing other renewable energy sources for
Bicol’s remote areas. Based on the DOE Renewal Energy Framework Plan, potential
sites of ocean development for power generation in Bicol are the Camarines
provinces, Batan Island in Albay, and Catanduanes. Wind resource for power
generation can also be availed in the provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate (Table
3.21). Solar panels have also been installed for missionary electrification in remote
areas.

Table 3.21 Potential sites for Wind Power Development in the Bicol Region

Installed Year of
Name Location
Capacity (MW) Commissioning
PHESI 3.4 2007 Catanduanes
PHESI 4.25 2009 Masbate
Source: Department of Energy

Power Transmission

As of CY 2002, the length of transmission lines (T/L) in the Bicol mainland totaled
1,709.17 Circuit Kilometers (CKM), distributed as follows: (1) 34.5 KV T/L,
connecting the Barit Hydro Plant I Buhi to the Luzon Grid, 0.7% of the total T/L
length; ( 2) 69 KV T/L, 24.1%; (3) 230 KV T/L, 51.7%; and (4) +/-350 KV
T/L, 23.5%. (Table 3.22).
Table 3.22 Existing Power Transmission Lines in the Bicol Region: 2002
Length
Province 34.5 KV 69 KV 230 KV +/-350 Total
KV
Albay - 103.31 180.99 146.15 430.45
Sorsogon - 113.48 42.46 170.04 325.98
Camarines Sur 11.12 157.94 512.33 85.02 766.41
Camarines Norte 38.27 148.06 186.33
Total 11.12 413 883.84 401.21 1,709.17
Percent 0.70 24.16 51.71 23.47 100.00
Source: National Power Corporation
Electrification

The assessment of the sub-sector follows:

Rural Electrification

As of June 2004, the region attained 100 percent energization of its municipalities
or 91.56% of the total barangays. In actual figures, only 293 barangays out of
3,471 remained to be energized. Most of those areas are located in Masbate. In
terms of viable areas covered by the Electric Cooperatives, some 3,417 (98.44%) of
the total barangays are potential. Out of those potential barangays, 93.01% or
3,178 barangays have been energized or a total of 239 barangays have yet to be
energized by the electric cooperatives (Figure 3.18).

Figure 3.18 Energized Barangays

Power Distribution

Distribution is similar to transmission, except that the former uses only lower
voltage lines that distribute electricity to the end users for residential, commercial
and industrial uses. From the transmission level, a total capacity of 235.97 MVA
substations (Annex 3.8) are currently installed in strategic locations in each of the
provinces of the Bicol Peninsula. These substations serve as the primary channels
that bring down the voltage level, so that power could be transmitted safely over
densely populated areas. For distribution to the utilities and industry users, they use
the 69 KV transmission lines. However, the substations’ installed capacity of
188.776 MVA (installed capacity = plant factor x substation capacity) is not enough
to support the energy demand of 140.63 MW. It is below the normal reserve or
twice the demand equivalent to 281.262 MW. Among the Electric Cooperatives
(EC’s) substations, only SORECO II is capable of supporting its maximum load
demand while MASELCO substation is under-rated.
From the substations, the electric energy is further trimmed down to a lower level
before its distribution to the end users. The EC’s operate at a voltage of 13.2/7.62
KV line to ground system. As of December 2001, the region had a total of
7,338.11circuit kilometers of distribution lines, the breakdown by EC is shown in
Table 3.23.

Table 3.23 Existing Distribution Lines by Electric Cooperatives in the BicolRegion

as of 2001

Electric Double Three Vee Single Open

Total
Cooperatives Circuit Phase Phase Phase Secondary
Albay - 347.36 40.25 478.45 221.45 1087.51
ALECO - 347.36 40.25 478.45 221.45 1,087.51
Camarines Norte 1.30 431.79 147.63 346.77 228.15 1,154.34
CANORECO 1.30 431.79 147.63 346.77 228.15 1,154.34
Camarines Sur 13.48 707.02 230.90 1255.43 464.11 2,657.46
CASURECO I - 247.09 40.39 314.78 171.02 773.28
CASURECO II 4.05 164.22 77.38 350.11 181.10 776.86
CASURECO III 3.00 140.27 42.17 364.14 19.03 568.61
CASURECO IV 6.43 155.44 70.96 226.40 92.96 552.19
Catanduanes 4.84 208.29 29.53 133.83 163.14 539.63
FICELCO 4.84 208.29 29.53 133.83 163.14 539.63
Masbate 3.55 299.52 0.84 69.16 12.86 382.38
MASELCO 3.55 278.12 - 41.09 0.17 322.93
TISELCO - 21.40 0.84 28.07 12.69 63.00
Sorsogon 2.47 307.49 168.18 657.67 362.65 1,498.46
SORECO I - 183.59 71.09 264.09 125.63 644.40
SORECO II 2.47 123.90 97.09 393.58 237.02 854.06
TOTAL 25.64 2,301.47 617.33 2,941.31 1,452.36 7,338.11

Source: NEA Regional Office V

Systems Loss

The operational efficiency of the ECs is mainly determined from the system losses
caused by both the technical and non-technical factors. As of CY 2001, the average
system loss of the ECs was 20.89 percent, higher by 0.81 percent than that of the
CY 2002 level (Table 3.24). The loss remains more than five percentage points
higher than the maximum allowable loss of 15 percent but is lower than 5
percentage points from the penalty system loss of 25 percent.

Among the ECs, only FICELCO met the standard posting of a low system loss of
11.78 percent, down by one percentage-point from the CY 2000 level. SORECO
recorded the highest system loss of 27.33 percent. Although it went down by 0.41
percent from the CY 2000 level, still it was higher than the penalty systems loss. The
other ECs posted system losses of between 17 to 25 percent. ALECO was already
within the penalty limits. The Comparative System Loss By Electric Cooperative for
CY 2000 and 2001 are shown in Table 3.24.
Table 3.24 Comparison of System Loss by EC, 2000 and 2001
Systems
Electric CY 2000 CY 2001
LossReduction/
Cooperative (In Percent) (In Percent)
Increase
REGION V 20.08 20.89 0.81
ALECO 21.19 24.89 3.70
CANORECO 20.74 20.90 0.16
CASURECO I 16.22 21.14 4.92
CASURECO II 16.00 17.56 1.56
CASURECO III 24.34 23.80 -0.54
CASURECO IV 20.35 21.93 1.58
FICELCO 12.83 11.78 -1.05
MASELCO 21.45 21.68 0.23
TISELCO 21.92 17.51 -4.41
SORECO I 19.69 21.29 1.60
SORECO II 27.74 27.33 -0.41

Source: NEA V

Power Rates

The comparative power rate by electric cooperatives is shown in Table 3.25. At

the regional level, the rate increased from P 3.35 KWH from 1991 to P 5.47 KWH in
2000.
 Table 3.25 Power Rates By Electric Cooperative,
Bicol Region:1991-2000 (P/KWH)
ELECTRIC
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
COOPERATIVE
Region V 3.35 3.70 3.89 4.03 3.98 4.27 4.62 4.95 3.98 5.47
ALECO 3.01 3.26 3.26 3.56 3.66 4.29 4.11 4.56 3.50 5.47
CANORECO 2.82 3.05 3.44 3.24 3.38 3.80 3.88 4.48 3.36 5.17
CASURECO I 2.84 3.04 3.52 3.99 3.96 4.57 4.61 5.19 4.20 6.72
CASURECO II 2.89 3.18 3.24 3.48 3.45 4.36 4.20 4.60 3.38 4.78
CASURECO III 3.32 3.55 3.99 4.44 4.15 4.22 5.16 5.53 4.15 5.84
CASURECO IV 3.48 3.72 3.95 4.27 4.45 4.45 5.28 5.72 4.35 5.66
FICELCO 4.07 4.65 4.92 4.81 4.86 4.86 4.87 4.84 4.93 6.22
MASELCO 4.23 4.57 4.81 3.59 3.82 3.82 3.95 4.08 4.12 4.35
SORECO I 3.51 3.71 4.00 4.02 4.00 4.00 4.65 5.25 4.01 4.01
SORECO II 3.36 4.37 3.90 4.22 4.24 4.22 5.02 - 4.48 -
TISELCO - - - 5.27 - - 5.20 5.18 3.58 -

Source: NEA V

The high power rates in the region can be attributed to the following factors: a)
the cost of electricity generated and purchased; b) the nature of the market served;
and c) the efficiency of the cooperatives.

On the cost of electricity, NPC sold power at a uniform rate based on a “One Grid
One Price” policy. As of August 2002, its wholesale price in the Luzon Grid was
pegged at P 1.6032/KWH for Utilities Group (i.e. ECs in the region, except SORECO
I, had a rate of P 1.785/KWH since it is within the category of Small Utility Group of
the NPC) and P 1.4238/KWH for Non-Utilities Group (i.e. GCC). In spite of this, the
average power cost among the ECs still varied from MASELCO’s P 3.45 to FICELCO’s
P 3.76 per KWH.

The 1990 MANTECH study on the rationalization of power rates in the Bicol Region
showed that the discrepancy in power rates was a function of the service area
served by the ECs considering the distribution expenses per KWH sold and the load
factors and the presence or absence of large commercial and industrial consumers.
While the efficiency of ECs was also a factor contributing to the selling rate, it was
determined by their financial performance and operational efficiency.

Financial Performance

As of December 2001, all electric cooperatives in the region incurred losses in

their operation. For the whole region, the deficit of the cooperatives amounted to P
332 million pesos. The losses incurred by most of the cooperatives were attributed
to the operating cost, depreciation cost, and interest on loans. The net margin and
collection efficiency by electric cooperative is shown in Table 3.26.
 Table 3.26 Net Margin and Collection Efficiency of Electric Cooperatives
in the Bicol Region : as of December 2001
Collection
Electric Net Margin
% Efficiency,
Cooperatives P' 000
%
ALECO -96,984 -10 92
CANORECO -47,402 -15 90
CASURECO I -14,201 -7 96
CASURECO II -21,919 -3 91
CASURECO III -38,962 -15 86
CASURECO IV -8,633 -7 92
FICELCO -21,266 -18 98
MASELCO -23,939 -18 90
TISELCO -2,693 -10 72
SORECO I -16,486 -12 91
SORECO II -2,693 -37 89
Regional Total -332,452 -10 91

Source: NEA V

Collection Efficiency

As of December 2001, the average collection efficiency of the EC’s rated 91%
(Table 3.26). FICELCO had the highest collection efficiency of 98% while TISELCO
(island cooperative of Masbate) had a low 72%.

Communication
The communication services sector facilitates the socio-economic processes. It
provides accessible and affordable information infrastructure and services. In
consonance with the national vision, the region has established a regulatory
environment conducive to the sustainable growth and development of the
information infrastructure and services. It promotes and sustains the environment
that fosters a healthy relationship among stakeholders particularly between the
service providers and the consumers. The region’s communications facilities cover
telephone, broadcast, postal and telegraph services. The telecommunication
providers in the country are presented in Annex 3.9 while the inventory of
telecommunications facilities in the region are shown in Annex 3.10.

Telephone Services

The Telecommunications network covers the following services: 1) Local Exchange

Carrier Service, 2) Inter-Exchange Carrier, 3) International Gateway Facility, 4)
Radio Mobile, 5) Radio paging Service, 6) Value-Added Service, and 7) Satellite
Operators Service. The nation’s telecommunication industry structure is shown in
Table 3.27.
 Table 3.27 National Telecommunications Industry Structure 1999-2002
Telecom Service* 1999 2000 2001 2002
Local Exchange Carrier Service 76 77 74 74
Inter-Exchange Carrier 12 12 14 14
International Gateway Facility 11 11 11 11
Radio Mobile
Cellular Mobile Telephone System
5 5 7 7
(CMTS)
Public Trunk Repeater Services 10 10 11 11
Radio Paging Service 15 15 11 11
Value-Added Service
With Networks 26 30 31 32
Coastal 12 12 12 13
Broadband 10 18 19 19
Without Networks 106 156 186 156
Satellite Operators 18 18 19 19

*
Details are presented in the ntc.gov.ph website

The region’s Local Exchange Carrier Service showed that in 2002, Bicol had 12
service providers (Table 3.28), which covered a total of 135,422 installed capacity
and 66,701 subscribed lines or 2.75 telephone density and 1.36 subscribed
telephone density. The situation was a drastic improvement compared to 1989
when there were only seven service providers and a telephone density of 0.037.

Table 3.28 Regional Component of the Telecommunication Industry CY 2002

Telecom Service 2002*
Local Exchange Carrier Service 12
Inter-Exchange Carrier 6
International Gateway Facility 5
Radio Mobile
Cellular Mobile Telephone System (CMTS) 3
Public Trunk Repeater Services 1
Radio Paging Service 1
Value-Added Service -
With Networks -
Coastal -
Broadband -
Without Networks -
Satellite Operators 5

*
Details are presented in the ntc.gov.ph website

The other components of telecommunication services consisted of: a) Inter-

Exchange Carrier Operations served by six (6) operators, b) International Gateway
Facility served by five (5) operators, c) Radio Mobile served by 3 Cellular Mobile
Telephone System and one (1) Public Trunk Repeater Services, d) Radio Paging
Service served by Smart Communication Incorporated, and e) Satellite Operators
served by five (5) service providers. These services offered the rural areas in the
Bicol Region the accessibility through domestic and international Cellular Mobile
Telephone System (CMTS). Cellular phone users can now place calls to the remotest
parts of the region. Smart and Globe compete as the dominant CMTS providers in
the region.

In terms of capacity/telephones lines, total connections, and telephone density by

province in 1994 and 1998, Albay ranked first and Masbate, last. (Table 3.29).
Table 3.29 Capacity, Total Connections and Telephone Density, 1994 and 1998
Capacity/
Total Telephone
Region/ Telephones Rank
Connections Density
Province Lines
1994 1998 1994 1998 1994 1998 1994 1998
Region 26927 107660 15819 51122 0.619 2.352 - -
Albay 6651 44213 5429 18598 0.655 4.150 2 1
Cam Norte 1955 8647 1063 3666 0.445 1.820 3 3
Cam Sur 15471 49015 7973 23738 1.073 3.200 1 2
Catanduanes 200 820 137 570 0.095 0.382 6 5
Masbate 2000 2000 643 1998 0.297 0.296 4 6
Sorsogon 650 2965 574 2552 0.111 0.482 5 4

There were fourteen (14) telephone service players in the region, consisting of 13
private operators and one government-operated (TELOF) (Annex 3.10.). With the
liberalization of the telecommunications industry, the telephone density increased
from 0.037 in 1989 to 2.75 per 1000 population in 2002. The accessibility and
availability of telephone lines also increased from a density of 2.35 lines per 1,000
population to 2.39. That corresponded to 111,354 lines and 57,797 connections. The
details are presented in Table 3.30.
Table 3.30 Telephone Density, 1999
Indicator CY 1999 CY 1998 % Increase
Exchange 69 67 2.99
Capacity/Lines 111,354 107660 3.43
Connections 57797 51122 13.06
Telephone Density 2.39 2.35 1.70

Broadcast and CATV Industries

The Nationwide broadcast stations and CATV network as of December 2003

comprised of 2,647 providers. The Region V component represents 9.33% of the
total or 247 providers. The regional distribution of those facilities is shown in Table
3.31.
 Table 3.31 Regional Distribution of Broadcast Stations and CATV Networks
TV TV Pay Total
Region AM FM TV CATV LMDS MMDS *
Relay X’lator TV
NCR 31 35 23 0 0 1 69 3 1 153
CAR 10 18 5 4 7 0 24 0 0 68
I 34 36 8 3 2 0 122 0 0 205
II 16 33 9 0 4 0 80 0 1 143
III 15 25 5 1 8 0 158 0 0 212
IV 32 66 22 3 4 1 289 0 1 418
V 33 60 26 2 8 0 118 0 0 247
VI 35 63 21 3 2 0 95 0 1 220
VII 27 46 19 1 6 0 82 0 1 182
VIII 23 26 8 7 0 0 98 0 0 162
IX 21 38 18 0 8 0 55 0 0 140
X 35 52 25 1 7 0 68 0 1 189
XI 38 70 25 1 1 0 56 0 2 193
XII 11 20 6 0 1 0 35 0 0 73
ARM 8 5 5 0 0 0 24 0 0 42
Total 369 583 225 26 58 2 1,373 3 8 2,647

Source: www,ntc.gov.ph

Postal Facilities and Services

From 1989 to 2002, the total number of postal facilities in the region considerably
reduced by 10%, from a total of 174 to 156 postal offices and stations (Table 3.32).

Table 3.32 Inventory of Postal Facilities, Bicol Region

1989 Inventory 2002 Inventory

Province District Regular Extension Private
Post Postal
Total Post Post Postal Total
Offices Stations
office Office Stations
Albay 24 16 40 I 19 12 6 37
Cam Norte 13 3 16 II 19 9 4 32
Cam Sur 47 2 49 III 26 10 8 44
Catanduanes 11 8 19 IV 26 13 4 43
Masbate 13 2 15 - - - - -
Sorsogon 28 - 28 - - - - -
Total 136 38 174 90 44 22 156
Percentage
(%) 78.00 24.00 100.00 58.00 28.00 14.00 100.00

The reduction was the initial step made to keep the Postal Corporation
operationally viable as a result of tough competition from the CMTS. Further, Bicol’s
Philpost operational area was clustered into four districts. Their respective covered
areas are shown in Table 3.33.
 Table 3.33 Coverage Area of Philpost, Bicol Region
District II (10) District III District IV
District I (9)
Albay “B” & (10)Camarines (8)Masbate &
Albay “A” &
Camarines Sur Sur “A” & Sorsogon
Catanduanes
“B” Camarines Norte
1. Legaspi City 1. Iriga City 1. Naga City 1. Masbate City
2. Tabaco City 2. Pili 2. Canaman 2. Aroroy
3. Malinao, Albay 3. San Jose 3. Camaligan 3. Cataingan
4. Bacacay, Albay 4. Goa 4. Libmanan 4. Sorsogon City
(Old)
5. Tiwi, Albay 5 Ocampo 5. San Fernando 5. Sorsogon City
(new)
6. Baras, 6. Caramoan 6. Siruma 6. Gubat
Catanduanes
7. Sn Andres, 7. Buhi 7. Buhi 7. Bulan
Catanduanes
8. Gigmoto, 8. Tigaon 8. Daet 8. Magallanes
Catanduanes
9. Virac, 9. Lagonoy 9. Basud -
Catanduanes
- 10. Pio Duran, Paracale -
Albay

Postal operations in the late 90’s covered mainly mail volumes posted/delivered
and money orders issued/ paid. The current postal operations cover various postal
activities to make the Corporation viable with some considerable decrease in its
revenue-generating products and services (Annex 3.11). Remarkably, Philpost V
increased its 2002 revenue over that of 2001 through intensive marketing of postal
products and services that were not affected by the advancement in communications
technology. These involved postal products and services such as: 1) Postal IDs, 2)
Philatelic Stamps, 3) COD Commissions, 4) 3rd class mails, 5) M-BAGS, 6)
Presentation to Customs Fees, 7) Postage Charge Account, 8) Metered Machine
Stamps. Despite stiff competition from the CMTS, the corporation increased its
revenues by 0.17% in 2002. It also attained 89.61% of the target revenues.
However, the total revenue generated was only one-third of the total current
operating expenditures of the Corporation. Philpost V needs to concentrate more on
income generating activities and to trim down its organizational structure to the
desired level of viability.

Facilities and Services

In 1989, the TELOF under the Department of Transportation and Communication

(DOTC), operated a total of 146 telecommunication facilities, broken down as
follows : 1) 6 units Teletype, 2) 67 units landline, 3) 64 units Radio HF/CW, and 4)
9 units Radio VHF. These constituted a service ratio of .037 per 1000 population,
which was very low.

The TELOF operations and services covered four areas: 1) Telegraph services, 2)
Telegraphic transfer, 3) Social telegram, and 4) telephone services (Annex 3.12). In
2001, TELOF operated a total of 122 telegraph stations but these decreased to 113
telegraph stations in 2002. The reduction was caused by the entry of the cellular
phone industry, whose carriers (Globe and Smart) installed cells sites in different
areas in the region. On the other hand, the telegraphic transfer stations also went
down from 59 to 58 telegraphic stations. The three TELOF telephone exchanges
(Ligao, Ragay, and Canaman/Camaligan) increased their switching capacity from 844
in 2001 to 992 in 2002. Their total number of subscribers, however, slightly
diminished from 582 to 551 for the period 2001-2002. The decrease was attributed
to the transfer of subscribers to private telephone companies and to the extensive
use of CMTS.

During the period 2001 to 2002, TELOF operations showed that its volume of
activities handled decreased, except for the relayed messages which increased by
about 41.86%. Nevertheless, its total revenue increased by 16.86%.

Social Infrastructure
Social infrastructure provides the facilities for education, health, other public
buildings and solid waste management facilities. The efficient provision of such
facilities, contributes to the region’s economic development, that is, the level of
service to the people especially in the rural areas of the region.

Schools

The schools in the region fall within the category of any of the following four (4)
educational levels: Pre-Elementary, Elementary, Secondary, and Tertiary. As of
2002, there were 4,259 schools in the region distributed as shown in the Table 3.34.

Table 3.34 Number of Schools By Level, By Province Province/City, Bicol Region: As of 2002
LEVEL
Pre-Elementary Elementary Secondary Tertiary
No.
Province/ Private Total
Sch. %
City Attach Purely Pri- Exten Pri- Pub- Pri- Sch.
Dist Public Public Total Public Total Total
to Pre- Total Vate sions vate lic Vate
Elem School
Albay 26 1 28 24 52 531 39 570 62 30 26 118 15 11 26 766 18.00
Cam. Norte 14 66 11 30 41 249 11 260 36 11 14 61 4 10 14 376 8.80
Cam. Sur 38 45 30 6 36 837 55 892 121 30 44 195 16 9 25 1148 27.00
Catanduanes 20 - - - - 226 - 226 34 4 1 39 2 2 4 269 6.30
Masbate 28 47 4 8 12 605 13 618 68 6 23 97 2 8 10 737 17.30
Sorsogon 20 - 3 8 11 440 7 447 59 12 14 85 5 14 19 562 13.20
Iriga City 3 1 10 3 13 39 14 53 7 1 4 12 - 6 6 84 2.00
Legaspi City 4 - 11 9 20 40 13 53 2 6 7 15 1 12 13 101 2.40
Naga City 3 9 17 16 33 23 24 47 7 1 8 16 2 13 15 111 2.60
Sorsogon
4 9 7 6 13 65 8 73 11 - 8 19 - - - 105 2.50
City
Total 160 178 121 110 231 3055 184 3239 407 101 149 657 47 85 132 4259 100.00
% - - - - 5.40 - - 76.10 - - - 15.43 - - 3.10 100.00 -

Source: DepED V, CHED V

Pre - Elementary School

There were 231 pre-elementary schools in the region, representing 5.4% of the
total, of which 77% are public pre-elementary schools and 33% are privately
operated. The spatial distribution of the Pre-Elementary and Elementary Schools is
shown in Figure 3.19.

Elementary Schools

There were 3,239 elementary schools in the region, representing 76.1 % of the
total. Majority were Public elementary schools (94%), while only 6% were private
elementary schools. Also refer to Figure 3.19.

Secondary Schools

There were 657 secondary schools in the region, representing 15.43% of the total
schools in the region. Of this total, 77% or 508 schools were public and 33% were
private.

Tertiary School

The tertiary schools represented 3.10% or 132 schools in the region. These were
dominantly private (64% or 85 schools), and only 36% were public. Among the 6
provinces, Albay and Camarines Sur shared the highest number with 26 and 25
tertiary schools, respectively, while Catanduanes had the least with only four (4)
tertiary schools. Of the 47 public tertiary schools, 9 were State Universities and
Colleges (SUCs) encompassing a total of 32 campuses. The profile of these SUCs
and Campuses are presented in Annex 3.13 and the locations of these are presented
in Figure 3.20.

Classrooms

The classrooms for consideration are the public elementary and secondary
schools.

Elementary School Classrooms

As of CY 2000, there were 27,240 classrooms in the region. The status of

provision of elementary school classrooms is as follows; a) 14,167 (52%) were
repairable and usable, b) 3,141 needed immediate replacement, c) 9,932 were in
good condition, and d) 2,818 classrooms were still needed to meet the enrollment
requirements (Annex 3. 14).

Secondary Schools Classrooms

As of CY 2000, there were 6,160 secondary classrooms in the region. The status of
provision of secondary school classrooms is as follows; a) 1,788 classrooms (29%)
were repairable, b) 542 classrooms needed immediate repair, c) 3,839 classrooms
were in good condition, d) 1,712 classrooms were still needed to meet the
enrollment requirements (Annex 3.15).
Health Facilities

The health facilities in the region are served by both government and private
entities. Currently, there are 136 hospitals in the region, of which 85 hospitals are
operated by private institution and 51 hospitals are operated by the government.
These include 137 Municipal Health Centers (MHCs), and 1,045 Barangay Health
Stations (BHS). The details are shown in Table 3.35.

Figure 3.20 Location of Tertiary (Government) Schools

 Table 3.35 Summary of Health Facilities by Province/City, Bicol Region: As of December 2002
Other
No. of Hospital Health
No. Facilities
of No.
Province/ Pop. Government Private Grand
Muni- of
City 2000 Com- Total No.
cipa- Brgy Reg'l/ Mun./ No. of
lity Dist. munity/ Ter- Secon- Pri- of
Prov'l City Total Total MHCS
Hos. Medi- tiary dary mary BHS
Hos. Hos.
care
Albay 15 548 1,091,810 - 5 1 - 6 - 3 13 16 22 17 161
Cam.
12 282 422,273 1 1 1 1 4 1 3 5 9 13 16 94
Norte*
Cam. Sur 35 1,000 1,594,149 2 3 5 3 13 - 2 7 9 22 48 288
Cat' nes 11 315 215,356 1 4 2 - 7 - 1 2 3 10 11 58
Masbate 20 520 636,225 1 3 4 1 9 - 3 9 12 21 21 186
Sorsogon 14 505 515,857 1 4 2 2 9 - 2 5 7 16 16 173
Sub-total 107 3,170 4,475,670 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Legaspi
- 70 157,010 1 - - - 1 4 2 - 6 7 - 23
City
Ligao City - 55 90,603 - 1- - - 1 - - 2 2 3 - -
Tabaco
- 47 107,166 - 1 - - 1 - 2 3 5 6 6 -
City
Iriga City - 36 137,810 - - - - - - 3 - 3 3 - 11
Naga City - 27 70,087 - - - - - 3 1 - 4 4 - 24
Masbate
- 30 71,441 - - - - - - 2 5 7 7 - -
City
Sorsogon
- 36 134,678 - - - - - - 2 - 2 2 2 27
City
Sub-total - 301 768,795 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Total 107 3,471 5,244,465 7 22 15 7 51 8 26 51 85 136 137 1,045
Source: DOH
* Includes the additional barangays from Quezon Province

Generally, the provision of health facilities in the region remains inadequate

particularly at the barangay level where basic health care is most needed. Of the
total barangays in the region, only 30% are served with Barangay Health Stations
(BHS). At the municipal level, municipal health centers are in place. On the other
hand, the bed occupancy rate in public hospitals is high, which indicates inadequate
bed capacity, e.g., the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) had a
bed occupancy rate of 118%. Likewise, medical equipment, facilities and medical
manpower are inadequate.

Building Facilities

The building facilities in the region are classified into National, Provincial, City, and
Municipal buildings. An inventory conducted in 2002 showed that the region had a
total of 470 buildings whose distribution is as follows:
 Table 3.36 Inventory of Government Buildings by Province and City,
Bicol Region: As of December 2002
Number Number of Government Buildings
Number of Population
Province/City of
Municipalities 2000 National Provincial City Municipal Total
Barangays
Albay 15 548 1091810 26 18 - 44 88
Cam Norte 12 282 422273 11 51 - 28 90
Cam Sur 35 1000 1594149 - 29 - 35 64
Catanduanes 11 315 215356 25 17 - 11 53
Masbate 20 520 636225 - 1 - 20 21
Sorsogon 14 505 515857 - 53 - 14 67
Sub-total 107 3170 4475670 62 169 - 152 383
Legaspi City - 70 157010 - - 15 - 15
Ligao City - 55 90603 - - 1 - 1
Tabaco City - 47 107166 - - 14 - 14
Iriga City - 36 137810 - - 1 - 1
Naga City - 27 70087 - - 1 - 1
Masbate City - 30 71441 - - 1 - 1
Sorsogon City - 36 134678 - - 1 - 1
Sub-total - 301 768795 - - 34 - 34
Total 107 3471 5244465 62 169 34 152 417
Source: PPDO, LGUs
1. Entry for every Provincial and Municipal Building was assumed to have one bldg.
2. No data was submitted for Masbate and Camarines Sur

Solid Waste Management Facilities

The open dumping method of solid waste disposal practiced by some LGUs had
resulted into adverse environmental impact, which led to the passage of DENR
Administrative Order 98-49 and 98-50 advocating for the adoption of the sanitary
landfill method. The directive also required LGUs to upgrade their existing open
dumpsites. Based on the ratio of 2.60 hectares per 100,000 persons (adopted by the
Presidential Task Force on Waste Management to project the land requirement), the
region will need 145 hectares by year 2010, 162 hectares by 2020, and 177 hectares
by 2030. The summary of land area requirement by province is reflected in Table
3.37.
 Table 3.37 Summary of Land Area Required for Solid Waste Management
by Province, Bicol Region

Population Land Area (Has.) *

Province/City
2000 2010 2020 2030 2000 2010 2020 2030
Albay 1,094,154 1,303,434 1,552,744 1,849,740 28.45 33.89 40.37 48.09
Camarines
459,573 504,840 554,567 609,191 11.95 13.13 14.42 15.84
Norte
Camarines Sur 1,556,057 1,845,982 2,189,926 2,591,954 40.46 48.00 56.94 67.39
Catanduanes 215,840 246,363 281,179 320,929 5.61 6.41 7.31 8.34
Masbate 709,707 840,732 995,347 1,179,817 18.45 21.86 25.88 30.68
Sorsogon 652,773 799,080 978,179 1,197,420 16.97 20.78 25.43 31.13
Total 4,688,104 5,540,431 6,551,942 7,749,051 121.89 144.05 170.35 201.48
Source: Computation
Assumption: 2.6 Has. Per 100,000 population

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (PROTECTION LAND USE)

National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)

Republic Act (RA) No. 7586, issued in June 1992, addressed the problems of
environmental degradation and advocated for biological diversity conservation,
protected area management and sustainable development. Under the National
Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), protected areas were classified into
eight categories, namely: (1) Strict Nature Reserve, (2) Natural Park, (3) Natural
Monument, (4) Wildlife Sanctuary, (5) Protected Landscape and Seascape, (6)
Resource Reserve; (7) Natural Biotic Area; and (8) other categories as established
by law, conventions or international agreements.

As of CY 2003, the DENR has proclaimed seventeen (17) protected areas in Bicol
covering some 60,485.62 hectares (Table 3.37 and Figure 3.21). Fourteen (14) of
such areas have organized their Protected Area Management Boards (PAMBs) to
ensure the effective implementation of their Protected Area Plans.

Of Bicol’s 17 Protected Areas, four (4) were proclaimed as Natural Parks while two
(2) others were proposed as Natural Monuments and Protected Landscapes and
seascapes, as follows:

• Bicol Natural Park, under Proclamation No. 431 dated December 29, 2000,
within the municipalities of Lupi and Sipocot, in Camarines Sur as well as of
Basud and San Lorenzo Ruiz in Camarines Norte, covering an area of 5,201
hectares;
• Mt. Isarog Natural Park, under Proclamation No. 214 issued on June 20, 2002,
covering the municipalities of Pili, Ocampo, Tigaon, Goa, Calabanga,
Tinambac in the province of Camarines Sur and Naga City, with a total area of
10,112.35 hectares;
• Mayon Volcano Natural Park, under Proclamation No. 413 issued on Nov. 21,
2000, covering the municipalities of Bacacay, Malilipot Sto. Domingo, Daraga,
 Camalig, Guinobatan, and the cities of Tabaco, Legazpi and Ligao, with a total
area of 5,458.55 hectares;
• Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, under Proclamation No. 421 issued on
November 27, 2000, covering the municipalities of Bulusan, Irosin, Juban,
Barcelona, and Casiguran, with a total area of 3,673.29 hectares;
• Libmanan Caves National Park located in Libmanan, Camarines Sur, covering
an area of 19.40 hectares, whose proposed Proclamation was submitted to
the DENR Central Office;
• Caramoan National Park in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, covering an area of
347 hectares, whose proposed proclamation was also submitted to the DENR
Central Office.

Figure 3.21 National Integrated Protected Areas (NIPAs)

Table 3.38 Protected Areas , Area Coverage, Location, and Status, Bicol Region: CY 2003

No. of
Name of Protected Area Area Coverage Area (Has.) Status
Dwellers

Natural Park

Bicol Natural Park Lupi, Sipocot, Cam. 5,201 Proc. No. 431, Dec. 29, 26
Sur & Basud, San 2000
Lorenzo Ruiz, Cam.
Norte

Submitted to CO (Prop.
Caramoan National Park Caramoan Cam. Sur
347 Proc.) 115

Mt. Isarog Natural Park Pili, Ocampo, 10,112.35 Proc. No. 214, June 20, -
TIgaon, Goa, Naga 2002
City, Calabanga,
Tinambac , Cam.
Sur

Libmanan Caves National Libmanan Cam. Sur 19.40 Submitted to Central Office -
Park

Mayon Volcano Natural Tabaco, Bacacay, 5,458.55 Proc. No. 413, Nov. 21, -
Park Maliilipot, Sto. 2000
Domingo, Legaspi
City, Daraga,
Camalig,
Guinobatan, Ligao,
Albay

Bulusan Volcano Natural Bulusan, Irosin, 3,673.29 Proc. No. 421, Nov. 27, -
Park Juban, Barcelona, 2000
Casiguran

Mangrove Areas

Bongsanglay Natural Park Batuan Masbate 169.00 Proc. No. 319, May 31, 12
2000

Watershed Areas

Juban-Magallanes WFR Juban, Magallanes, 1,032.00 Submitted to CO (Prop. 29

Sorsogon Proc.)

Catanduanes WFR Baras, Bagamanoc, 26,010.00 Submitted to CO (Prop. 344 (accdg.

Caramoran, Proc.) To LGU)
Gigmoto, Pandan, 0 (accdg.
Panganiban, San To DENR
Miguel, San Andres, data)
Viga, Virac

Mt. Masaraga WFR Tabaco, Ligao, Oas, 810.00 Submitted to CO (Prop. -

Polangui, Albay Proc.)
 Tugbo WFR Mobo, Masbate 248.95 Submitted to CO (Prop. -
Proc.)

Matang-Tubig WFR Monreal , Masbate 1,305.00 Submitted to CO (Prop. 13

Proc.)

Natural Biotic Area

Lagonoy Natural Biotic Lagony Cam. Sur 444.80 Proc. No. 297, April 24, 58
Area 2000

Abasig-Matogdon-Mananap San Vicente, San 5,420.12 Proc. No. 318, May 31, 48
Natural Biotic area Lorenzo Ruiz, Labo, 2000
Cam. Norte

Protected Landscape

Malabungot Protected Garchitorena Cam. 120.62 Proc. No. 288, April 23, 2
Landscape Sur 2000

Wildlife Sanctuary

Naro Island Wildlife Cawayan, Masbate 109.98 Proc. No. 317, May 31, -
Sanctuary 2000

Chico Island Wildlife Cawayan Masbate 7.77 Proc. No. 272, April 23, -
Sanctuary 200

Biodiversity Conservation Priority areas were identified in the Bicol region under
the Philippine Conservation Priorities shown below (Table 38A).

Table 3.38A Biodiversity Conservation Priority Areas in Bicol Region

Conservation Priority Within

Estimated Area Location Region
Priority Areas Level Biodiversity
Corridors
Terrestial

Ragay Gulf Very High 19,492.04 Cam. Sur & Quezon V

-

Cam. Sur, Cam.

Mt. Labo Very High 74,637.39 V & IV Bicol Corridor
Norte & Quezon

Caramoan Extremely
28,896.06 Camarines Sur V Bicol Corridor
Peninsula High Critical

Catanduanes Island Very High 63,607.37 Catanduanes V

Mt. Isarog National Extremely

20,882.42 Camarines Sur V Bicol Corridor
Park High Urgent

Lake Nabua Very High 7,414.69 Camarines Sur V

-
 Lake Buhi, Lake
Extremely
Manapao / Lake 29,076 Albay & Cam. Sur V Bicol Corridor
High Critical
Katugday

Extremely
Lake Bato 10,500.90 Albay & Cam. Sur V -
High Urgent

Insufficient
Bacon–Manito 20,794.85 Sorsogon & Albay V -
Data

Mt. Bulusan
Very High 19,053.15 Sorsogon V -
National Park

Marine
Ticao- San Extremely 325,362.38 Albay, Sorsogon, VIII & V -
Bernardino Strait- High 377,474.37 Masbate &
Lagonoy Gulf Northern Samar

Mt. Villion-Mapili Very High 18,009.75 Masbate V -

Mobo-Uson Very High 9,164.63 Masbate V -

Daraga-Placer- Very High 8,103.94 Masbate V -

Malatugon

EHu – Extremely High Urgent – are areas that require the most urgent attention
because they are at immediate risk of losing a high percentage of their biodiversity.
Failure to initiate appropriate conservation interventions soonest could lead to
significant loss of biodiversity in these areas.

EHc -- Extremely High Critical – areas fit one of these two types: (1) either they
have extremely high biodiversity importance (EHP) with very high socio-economic
pressure, or (2) they have very high biodiversity importance (EHB) but with
extremely high economic pressure.

VH – Very High - priority areas that either have extremely high biological
importance (EHB) but with a lesser degree of socio-economic pressure (HP/MP) or
have very high biological importance (VHB) but with very high or socio-economic
pressures (VHP/HP).

The Bicol region has 11 Proclaimed Watershed Forest Reserve (WFR) areas shown
in Table 3.39.
 Table 3.39 Major Proclaimed Forest Reserve Areas, Bicol Region: 1998

Total Area
Name of Watershed Proc. Date. Proc. No.
Covered

Bicol Region 37,734

Mt. Masaraga Watershed Forest

810 10/27/92 84
Reserve

Capalonga Watershed Forest Reserve 762 11/25/66 128

Dahican Watershed Forest Reserve 43 06/23/33 43

Abasig-Matogdon Forest Reserve 5,545 11/18/91 837

Jose Panganiban Watershed Forest

1,160 01/09/98 1151
Reserve

Lagonoy Watershed Forest Reserve 470 09/26/32 500

Catanduanes Watershed Forest Reserve 26,010 06/23/87 123

Matang-Tubig Watershed Forest Reserve 1,305 05/02/94 368

Tugbo Waterhed Forest Reserve 247 05/02/94 369

Diwata Watershed Forest Reserve 350 05/02/94 370

Magallanes & Juban Watershed Forest

1,032 11/23/92 108
Reserve

Source: R egional Socio Econom ic Trends, B icol R egion: CY 1999

Some NIPAS component areas overlapped with the conservation priority areas as
identified under the Philippine Conservation Priority areas e.g.; Caramoan National
Park, Lagonoy Biotic area, Abasig-Matogdon, Mananap Natural Biotic Area,
Catanduanes Watershed Forest Reserves, Mt. Isarog Natural Park, Tiwi National
Park, and Bulusan Volcano National Park. There is a need to assess the NIPAS and
redefine boundaries to ensure that protected areas contain the appropriate biological
important areas.

Non-NIPAS Areas

Non-NIPAS areas are those that have outstanding physical and aesthetic features,
anthropological significance and biological diversity but have not been included in
the NIPAS and need to be protected for the same reasons of NIPAS areas.
 These include the following:

• Wetlands (coastal & freshwater), which are in the form of lakes, swamps,
marshes and river systems and which were created by tectonic, geologic and
hydrological processes. They may or may not contain water permanently.
• Lakes, which are temporary features on the earth’s surface. Shallow lakes are
likely to degenerate and disappear rapidly due to pollution and siltation.

There are three (3) lakes in the Bicol Region: Bato, Baao-Bula and Buhi, all in the
province of Camarines Sur, with a combined surface area of 6,000 hectares. These
lakes are home to 10 identified freshwater fish species that include the endangered
tabios or sinarapan (acclaimed as the smallest fish in the world), freshwater prawn
and freshwater clam. Lake Buhi, formed due to large volume of debris avalanche or
mega landslides, has shallow depths and very irregular outline. About 5,800
fishermen are currently dependent on the Basin’s lake system for livelihood.

Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur is considered as a wetland critical to Biodiversity. It

has the following resident species: Resident Bird: Common Bittem, Wandering
Whistling duck, White-collared Kingfisher; and Endemic Birds: Philippine Mallard,
Stay Breasted Rail (Tikling), White-eared Brown Fruit Dove, Van Hasselts Sunbird,
Banded Rail. Fish species found in the Lake include Sinarapan, Tilapia, Carpa, Perch,
and Mirapina.

Rivers offer a very wide range of resources both at the national and community
levels. They serve as the main conducts of the fish movement to and from coastal
areas. The migratory fish are the most resources of inland waters in rivers and lakes.
Rivers also serve as sources of hydroelectric power, water, waterway transportation
and as venues for recreational and cultural events such as the fluvial parades and
water sport activities.

The Bicol River, located in the mainland Bicol, straddles across three (3) provinces
from the northern tip of Mt. Labo, Basud Camarines Norte to Camarines Sur (which
accounts for three-fourth of the Basin) and to Albay (at the southern part, which
approximately accounts for nearly a third of the Basin).

The Bicol River commences at the outlet of Lake Bato and follows a meandering
course to the sea at San Miguel Bay. The three (3) main tributaries of the Quinale
river; Nasisi, Cabilogan and Ogsong River carry most of the sediments from Mt.
Mayon. Some 1,000,000 metric tons of materials are deposited in the lake annually
and become a threat to the fishing industry and inhabitants around the lake.
Downstream of Lake Bato, the Bicol river flows in a confined but meandering
channel past Sto. Domingo and opens up some four (4) kms. downstream into the
lake Baao area. During wet season, these areas expand into a shallow lake which
fluctuates in size according to rainfall conditions. The inundation is amplified by the
contracting of the valley downstream where the Pawili River runs together with the
Bicol River. The Pawili River brings down large volumes of suspended materials
during floods that cause the riverbed to aggravate downstream. The downstream
left bank has an extensive flood plain between Baliwag Nuevo and the Libmanan
River flows which is subject to deep inundation, particularly when the floods coincide
with high tide or typhoons cause tidal surges in San Miguel Bay. This event causes
deep flooding in Naga City and other towns and habitation in the floodplain area.
The last 60 kilometers of the Bicol River are characterized by increasingly large river
meanders as the river approach the tidal estuary. However, the three (3) short cut
channels between the meanders built in 1988 had considerably shortened the river
reach to the sea.
• Important Bird areas. Diamante, Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon was identified as
important bird areas with the following species: White-collared Kingfisher,
Philippine Mallard, Swifter, Sunbird. Similarly, Balumbon island, Prieto Diaz,
Sorsogon was also identified, with the following species: White-Collared
Kingfisher, Waders, Egret, Sunbird, Swallow, Sandpiper, Rails, Tems
Whimbel/Sand snipes.
• Second growth forests (>50% slopes and >1000m elevation). Based on
LANDSAT survey, the Bicol region has a total of 530,301 forestland with
Camarines Sur having the biggest forestland of 164,203 hectares followed by
Masbate with 144,743 hectares. The smallest forestland (31,116 hectares) is
in the province of Sorsogon. Of the total forestland, 33.6 percent are within
the protection forests with 100,424 hectares forest cover consisting of 48,298
has. closed canopy, 54,710 has. open canopy, 6,698 has. Mangrove, and 718
hectares forest plantations.
• Mangroves are defined in PD 705 as a type of forest occurring in tidal flats
along the seacoast extending along the streams where the water is brackish.
As of 1999, the Bicol region had a total of 6,698 hectares of mangrove forest.
Mangroves serve as nursery and feeding areas that support coastal fisheries
and as a buffer for coastal settlements that minimizes damages in times of
typhoons and strong waves.

Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs)

Environmentally Critical Areas are areas prone to natural hazards (weather,

hydrologic, and geologic).

Bicol’s environmentally-critical areas include areas that are subject to seismic

hazards, prolonged flooding, tsunamis, volcanic eruption fallouts, and severe
erosion. (Figure 3.22).

Flooding

The area mostly flooded is the Bicol River Basin in the provinces of Albay and
Camarines Sur. It has a drainage area of about 3,156 square kilometers, of which
some 2,000 sq. km. are agricultural, and the rest are forests, wetlands, rivers and
lakes.

The Quinale riverbed of the River Basin area ebbs and flows with the material
erupted from the Mt. Mayon that flood events had washed into the river system.
Sand quarrying, a common practice along the river, probably ameliorates the
situation with some 100,000 sq. m. of sand taken annually. The increasing
backwater effect of the lake during floods also causes the upstream bed level to rise.
Settlements, as well as livelihood, are threatened by extensive flooding and
inundation.

The low lying areas in the Bicol River Basin are generally associated with deep and
prolonged flooding, which destroys rice and other crops. Recent urbanization and
other human activities have accelerated flooding and caused permanent loss of
prime agricultural lands. The pattern of land use conversion for housing and other
urban uses fragments irrigated ricelands and causes more areas to become more
prone to flooding. Sedimentation and soil erosion likewise aggravate flooding in the
entire basin areas including the rapid changes in the brackish water and morphology
of the estuaries and riparian landscapes of the Bicol River.

Volcanic Hazards

The Bicol region has two active volcanoes: Mt. Mayon and Mt. Bulusan. Two other
volcanoes in the region are inactive, namely, Mt. Isarog and Mt. Iriga.

Materials ejected during eruptions pose danger to people, infrastructures,

farmlands, properties at the base and midslope of the volcano. The most common
hazards are lava flows and base surges. Other dangers are earthquake, tsunamis
and seiche and edifice failure.

Because of its height, steep slopes and very deep gullies, Mayon volcano is
potentially susceptible to creating an avalanche. It could be triggered by
earthquakes, eruptions, intense rainfall and magma intrusion. A famous avalanche
occurred in 1868 when Mt. Iriga erupted. It covered about 70 sq. km. (reaching 11
km. from the old summit), dammed the Barit River, and created Lake Buhi.

Erosion

Erosion is a destructive geologic process that wears down land masses and
ultimately lowers their surfaces as close as possible to base level – the extension of
sea level inland. With time, mountain ranges are destined to become hilly lands and
then as rolling plains through river erosion. Rivers erode by down cutting
streambeds, scouring banks, transporting detached soil, mineral and rock fragments
and depositing these detached fragments on floodplains, lakebeds and seabeds.
Ultimately, everything washes down into the sea.

The Bicol region has a total of 664,776 hectares affected by erosion, of which
511,197 were classified as moderate erosion and 153,579 hectares were severe
erosion.
Figure 3.22 Environmental Critical Areas
 Table 3.40 Erosion Classification and Areas Affected: Bicol Region
Erosion Class
Total Area
Region Area (Ha.) % Share
Affected
Moderate Severe

Region V 1,763,249 511,197 153,579 664,776 37.70

Philippines 30,004,802 8,478,513 5,080,979 13,559,492 45.19

Others

Geothermal Reservations

The Bicol Region has three (3) Geothermal Reservation areas: (1) Tiwi
Geothermal Reservation in Albay–Proclamation No. 739 dated February 1982; (2)
Bacon-Manito Geothermal Reservation in Albay– Proclamation No. 2036 – A dated
November 11, 1980; and (3) Barit River-Lake Buhi Forest Reservation in Camarines
Sur– Proclamation No. 573 dated June 26, 1969.

Proclamation No. 2036 prohibited all logging activities within the reservation area
and all permits and revoked all previously issued licenses for logging operations in
the area. Further, Proclamation No. 573 declared that the improvement and
development of pertinent portions of the watershed shall be undertaken as specific
or cooperative projects by the Bureau of Forestry, with the cooperation of the
Reforestation Administration, National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority, National
Irrigation Administration, Bureau of Public Works, National Power Corporation and
Bureau of Soils.

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE AND ECONOMIC TRENDS

Population Profile and Projections

Size and Distribution and Growth Rates

Bicol region’s population of 3.9 million shared 6.44 percent of the Philippine’s total
in 1990. Camarines Sur province accounted for one-third of the region’s overall
population or 33 percent (Table 3.41). The region’s population distribution among all
other Bicol provinces was maintained through CY 2000.
Table 3.41 Population Distribution and Rank, by Province and Municipality, Bicol Region
2000, 1990, 1980, 1970
Region/Province/ 2000 1990 1980 1970
Municipality Distribution Rank Distribution Rank Distribution Rank Distribution Rank
Bicol Region 4674855 - 3910001 - 3476982 - 2966881 -
Camarines Sur 33.19 1 33.40 1 31.62 1 31.97 1
Albay 23.34 2 23.11 2 23.27 2 22.72 2
Masbate 15.14 3 15.33 3 16.81 3 16.61 3
Sorsogon 13.92 4 13.37 4 14.40 4 14.39 4
Camarines Norte 9.82 5 10.00 5 8.86 5 8.84 5
Catanduanes 4.61 6 4.78 6 5.04 6 5.47 6
Source: National Statistics Office (NSO)

The region’s CY 2000 population reached 4.67 million. This was 6.11 percent of
the country’s total and 7th in rank among the 16 regions of the country. Among
provinces, Albay and Sorsogon increased their respective shares while those of the
rest of the provinces decreased, albeit maintaining their 1990 ranking. In terms of
land area, the region ranked 9th with 17,632.5 square kilometers or 5.88% of the
country’s land area.

Distributed among municipalities/cities, Legazpi City’s population ranked first for

four consecutive census periods (1970 – 2000) as its growth rate also steadily
increased. Naga City, Tabaco and Daraga consistently maintained their 2nd, 3rd and
4th positions, respectively. The municipality of Sorsogon exhibited very fast and
high incremental growth. From rank 13th in 1970, it rose to 5th in the 2000 Census
of Population. The opening of ports in the province led to the development of
business and tourism sites in the area. Subsequently, its growth resulted to the
merging of the municipalities of Sorsogon and Bacon and to the eventual conversion
of Sorsogon into a city in the year 2000.

The population sizes and growth rates of the region for census years 1970, 1980,
1990 and 2000 by province and municipalities are presented in Annex 3.16. In
1970, Camarines Sur was the only province with close to a million population. Albay,
which was next in rank, reached the 1970 population level of Camarines Sur only 20
years later. Masbate and Sorsogon were in the same level every census year from
1970 to 1980. It is noteworthy that distribution and growth of the 1970 population
were towards areas that were sparsely populated but agriculturally rich and/or
endowed with fishery resources. The island province of Catanduanes and its
municipalities have exhibited very low population growth from 1970 to 1980.

In 1980, the pattern was towards urbanization. This was due to the pull of newly-
installed infrastructures, particularly roads, and the sporadic growth of trade in
strategically situated municipalities that have better economic opportunities. The
1990 growth originated from the strong attraction of employment opportunities in
established urban centers, which have become a source of growth of adjacent
municipalities. This situation was highly evident in Naga and Legazpi areas, whose
surrounding municipalities exhibited high growth rates. Unmistakably, the spill-over
effects of development permeated those initial high growth areas.

Looking at the growth rates, all of the five provinces registered positive increases
except for the province of Camarines Norte. Most evident were those for the
provinces of Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon, all of whom registered more than
50% increments in the 1980-1990 and 1990-2000 periods. The positive increase in
the growth rate of Catanduanes was attributed to the improved sea transport
facilities for ferrying people and cargo to and from the port of Tabaco. The opening
of the port of San Andres and the rehabilitation of Virac Port likewise provided better
access to goods and services in the province.
Population Density

With the country’s total land area of 300,000 square kilometers and total
population of 76 million in 2000, the crude density index of the Philippines was
estimated at 255 persons per square kilometers, more than twice that of the 1970
level of 122 persons per square kilometer.

During the year 2000, the population density of the region reached 265 persons
per square kilometer. This was 10 points more than the national figure of 255. In
terms of its share to the total population, the region’s 4,674,855 accounted for 6.11
percent. The region had an increasing growth rate as seen from the 1970, 1980,
1990 & 2000 data.

Population density levels in all the provinces grew as all the provinces became
increasingly populated over time (Table 3.42 and Figures 3.22A – 3.22B). The most
densely settled province was Albay, whose 427 persons per square kilometer was
way above the region’s density of 265 persons per square kilometer. Sorsogon
followed with a density level of 304 persons per square kilometer and Camarines
Sur, with a density level of 295 persons per square kilometer. On the other hand,
the provinces of Camarines Norte, Masbate, and Catanduanes had density levels
lower than the region’s level at 203, 175 and 142 persons per square kilometer,
respectively.

In 1970, about half of the 114 municipalities/cities of the region had densities
ranging from 100 to 199 persons per square kilometer (Annex 3.17). The other
half fell under the 300-699 classification. No municipality was classified under the
700-999 density class while only one city reached the 1000-above density level. In
1980, the municipality of Camaligan showed a very rapid growth by attaining a
density level of 845, second to Naga City. Its growth was attributed to the spillover
effect of the development in Naga City, being so proximate to the area. Other
municipalities whose growths were also traced to the development in Naga City were
Canaman and Milaor. Conversely, Iriga City decelerated from its second most
populous ranking in 1970 down to the 10th rank in 1980. This was due to the high
out-migration behavior of its population and/or the rapid increases in the population
of the other municipalities owing to the developments taking place in their localities.
Another municipality that decelerated during the decade was Presentacion, also in
Camarines Sur, from rank 18 in 1970 to rank 78 in 1980.

In 1990, the municipality of Camaligan attained a density level of 1,476 persons

per square kilometer. After several census periods, it was the only municipality that
reached the 1000-above density level, excluding Naga City. Legazpi also grew
substantially during this period as more people relocated to the city following its
proclamation as the administrative seat of the region.

The municipality of Canaman and the city of Legazpi reached the 1000-above
density level in the 2000 census with 1,122 and 1022 persons per sq. kilometer,
respectively. This brought 4 municipalities/cities into the 1000-above density
position. Seven municipalities/cities joined the 700-999 density level while only nine
municipalities remained below the 100 density class. The municipality of Gigmoto in
Catanduanes consistently ranked last among the 107 municipalities with a density
range of only between 25-38 persons per square kilometers during the four-censal
periods.
Table 3.42 Population Density, by Municipality, by Province Bicol Region
2000, 1990, 1980 and 1970
Total 2000 1990 1980 1970
Land
Municipality Pop'n Pop'n Pop'n Pop'n
Area Rank Rank Rank Rank
(in has.) Density Density Density Density

Albay 255,260 427 1 354 1 317 1 264 1

Camarines Norte 211,250 203 4 185 4 146 4 124 4
Camarines Sur 526,682 295 3 248 2 209 3 180 3
Catanduanes 151,151 142 6 124 6 116 6 107 6
Masbate 404,771 175 5 148 5 144 5 122 5
Sorsogon 214,140 304 2 244 3 234 3 199 3
Figure 3.22 A Population Density Map CY 1990
Figure 3.22 B Population Density Map CY 2000
 Based on the population survey conducted by the National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in 2003, there are a total of 43,118 indigenous peoples
(IPs) residing in different areas/barangays in the Bicol Region (Table 3.43). These
occupy a total land area of 74,000 hectares, with Camarines Sur having the greatest
number of land area proclaimed as ancestral domain. In terms of provincial
location, Camarines Sur has the largest number of IPs, while among municipalities,
Donsol in Sorsogon has the largest number with 5,572 IPs.
Table 3.43. No. of Indigenous Peoples, by Province, Municipality
as of August 2003
Ancestral
Province/Municipality
Domain No. of HH Male Female Total
(areas)
(Has.)
Albay 3,092.21 1032 2919 2883 5802
Rapu-Rapu (5) - 226 673 645 1318
Tiwi (4) - 172 472 467 939
Bacacay (1) - 44 119 124 243
Polangui (16) - 556 1547 1560 3107
Tabaco (1) - 34 108 87 195
Camarines Norte 7,166.45 774 1526 1944 3470
Basud (2) - 45 79 96 175
Labo (9) - 312 681 861 1542
Jose Panganiban (3) - 131 270 298 568
Paracale (4) - 154 264 317 581
Sta. Elena (1) - 22 42 68 110
Capalonga (2) - 69 126 219 345
Vinzons (1) - 26 46 58 104
San Lorenzo Ruiz (1) - 15 18 27 45
Camarines Sur 33,039.65 4342 10874 10832 21706
Iriga City (16) - 984 2223 2196 4419
Baao (5) - 173 445 478 923
Bula (2) - 45 101 104 205
Buhi (19) - 1017 2398 2579 4977
Balatan (1) - 19 41 51 92
Ragay (1) - 42 125 75 200
Goa (7) - 386 696 655 1351
Ocampo (12) - 753 2176 2218 4394
Sagnay (12) - 662 1863 1866 3729
Tigaon (6) - 207 619 470 1089
Lupi (1) - 33 103 94 197
Pili (2) - 21 84 46 130
Presenatcion (1) - - - - -

Source: National Com m ission on I ndigenous P eople (NCI P )

URBANIZATION AND SETTLEMENT PATTERN

The National Statistics Office was consistent in its definition of urban areas
Census of Population and Housing. As defined, urban areas consist of the following:
 • In their entirety, all cities and municipalities having a population
of at least 1,000 persons per square kilometer;
• Poblaciones or central districts of municipalities which have a
population density of at least 500 persons per square kilometer;
• Poblaciones or central districts (not included in 1 and 2)
regardless of the population size, which have the following:

 Street pattern, i.e., network of street in either parallel or

right- angle orientation;
 At least six establishments (commercial, manufacturing,
recreational and/or personal services); and
 At least three of the following:

1. a town hall, church or chapel with religious

services at least once a month;
2. a public plaza, park or cemetery;
3. a market place or building where trading activities
are carried on at least once a week; and
4. a public building like school, hospital, puericulture and
health center or library

Barangays having at least 1,000 inhabitants which meet the conditions set forth in
above, and where the operation of the inhabitants is predominantly non-farming or
fishing.

Urban areas are classified based on population density, the presence of facilities
and utilities that cater to the socio-economic needs of the population, and on the
predominance of secondary and/or tertiary economic activities.

Urban and Rural Distribution of Population

The distribution of municipalities in the Bicol Region with urban agglomerations
during the census years 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 is presented in Table 3.44. In
1970, only 58 out of the 114 municipalities, or barely 51 percent were with urban
conglomerations. This number increased to 111 municipalities in 1980 and remained
static until 1990, with only 4 municipalities in Camarines Sur province having an
entirely rural population (Bombon, Gainza, Presentacion, and Sangay). In 2000,
only two municipalities in the region remained in the entirely rural category: Jovellar
in Albay and Presentation in Camarines Sur. During the current census year, 4
cities/municipalities qualified in the entirely urban category, namely: the cities of
Naga and Legazpi; and the municipalities of Camaligan in Camarines Sur and Daet
in Camarines Norte.
 Table 3.44 Number of Municipalities with Urban Agglomerations, by
Province 1948 - 2000
No. of 1970 1980 1990 2000
Province
Municipalities No. % No. % No. % No. %
Bicol Region 115 58 51 111 96 111 96 113 98
Albay 18 11 61 18 100 18 100 17 94
Camarines
12 5 42 12 100 12 100 12 100
Norte
Camarines
37 17 46 33 89 33 89 36 97
Sur
Catanduanes 11 2 18 11 100 11 100 11 100
Masbate 21 12 57 21 100 21 100 21 100
Sorsogon 16 11 69 16 100 16 100 16 100

In terms of urban population, only 19 percent of the region’s population in 1970

were considered urban. This increased progressively to almost 21 percent in 1980
and to 27 percent in 1990 with average intercensal annual growth rates of 2.70 and
3.42 percent, respectively. (Table 3.45). Provincewise, Camarines Norte had the
highest percentage of urban population relative to its total population (1990) at
32.59 percent, followed by Albay with 27.72 percent and Camarines Sur, 27.50
percent. Based on historical trend, Camarines Norte had the highest percentage of
urban population in the region in 1970 at 26 percent followed by Sorsogon and
Camarines Sur at 24.57 and 21.27 percent, respectively. Albay’s urban population at
13.70 percent was the lowest among the six provinces of the region. However, its
fast rate of economic and social growth coupled by its high tempo of urbanization
enabled Albay to emerge as the second most urbanized province in 1990. In 2000,
Camarines Norte remained as the most urbanized province with 34.97 percent of its
total population classified as urban. Albay ranked second with 31.14 percent,
followed by Camarines Sur with 29.88 percent of its total population having urban
agglomeration.

Urban Concentration of Population

The percent share of the urban population of each of the municipalities to the total
urban population of the region was estimated and is presented in Annex 3.18. The
list of municipalities considered as areas with high urban concentration during the
twenty-year period is likewise exhibited in Figures 3.23A - 3.23B.

Both tables and figures reveal that some urban places decreased tremendously
their share of urban population relative to the region. Through the years,
poblaciones or central districts of advanced barangays of rural municipalities
developed to qualify to the status of urban areas. Since 1970, numerous entirely
rural areas developed into urban agglomerations at impressive tempo and figured
prominently ten and twenty years later as they surpassed erstwhile leading urban
municipalities/areas.
 Within each province, the concentration of the urban population can easily be
detected. Logically and not surprisingly, all the cities and/or capital towns showed
the highest urban concentration of their respective provincial population. Their
prominence can be closely associated to the functions or roles they play vis-à-vis the
other municipalities. Such centers served as service points and seat of the provincial
government, thus, enjoying the bulk of the flow of capital funds for developmental
projects.

Evidently, only 32 municipalities had at least 1 percent share in urban

agglomeration in 1970. Throughout the 30-year census period, only 6
municipalities/cities figured consistently at the top among the 32 areas of
concentration of urban population. These were Naga City, Legazpi City, Daet, Iriga
City, and Tabaco. Unlike their contemporaries, however, Legazpi City and Tabaco,
both in Albay, had been increasing their share progressively while Naga City, Daet
and Iriga City were on the reverse trend.

Together with the impressive urban growth manifested by Legazpi City and
Tabaco, Daraga emerged to occupy the seventh spot in 1980. It retained its rank in
1990 by increasing further its share to 2.40 percent. Significantly, this development
pinpointed to the socio-economic progress in Albay.

While most of the “old” places decreased their urban share during the 25-year
intercensal period, five municipalities that were classified as rural in 1970 overtook
32 other municipalities in the rankings. In contrast, five municipalities which had
higher than one percent urban share were eliminated from the list as they failed to
register a share of one percent and above during the next two decades.

Noteworthy, four of the five municipalities with new urban districts shared the
same qualities and resource potentials and were strategically located. They served
as service points or jumping boards for other municipalities. These municipalities
were Mercedes and Paracale in Camarines Norte, Pasacao in Camarines Sur and
Pioduran in Albay. Except for Paracale, all were coastal towns and fishlanding areas
equipped with good ports. Pasacao and Pioduran both face the China Sea. Pasacao,
having a national port, served as a transit point of people from San Pascual in Burias
Island, Masbate, as well as those from the coastal barangays along Bondoc
Peninsula and from the barangays of railroad municipalities of Camarines Sur. The
port played a significant role in the water transport system towards the National
Capital Region and other northern parts of Luzon. Pioduran, aside from serving as a
transit point of the population of Claveria, Burias Island, is a fish and livestock
landing port. Equipped with an ice plant, the town abounds with fish dealers who
transport their goods straight to Navotas and Manila. Likewise for Mercedes in
Camarines Norte. On the other hand, Paracale was historically a gold mining town
since pre-war years. These situations indicated clearly that the presence of
economic opportunities and utilities/facilities in the said areas tended to attract
population and promote fast urbanization.

The phenomenon of new urban districts seemingly occurred when prominent

settlement centers of the Spanish era and pre-war years, such as Camalig,
Guinobatan and Libon in Albay; Labo and Vinzons in Camarines Norte; Tigaon and
Nabua in Camarines Sur, failed to expand economic activities and job opportunities
for their swelling population. People would rather be attracted to areas with
potentials for exploitation and where their economic needs can be easily met and
satisfied. Frontier areas such as Pasacao, Pioduran and Mercedes predictably
became magnets/absorbers of the venturesome segment of the region’s population.
FIgure 3.23A Urbanity Index CY 1990
Figure 3.23B Urbanity Index CY 2000
 Census year 2000 saw the emergence of municipalities with new urban
agglomerations. Surprisingly, those municipalities were at the bottom of the 1970-
1990 urban listing but were able to gain more than one percent urban population in
2000. One was the municipality of Donsol, Sorsogon, which ranked 69th in 1990 but
was elevated to 12th in 2000. Its economic development was attributed to a
booming tourism industry sparked by the rare presence of whale sharks locally
known as butanding in Donsol Bay. Another municipality that rapidly urbanized was
San Lorenzo Ruiz in Camarines Norte. Being adjacent to Daet, some people from
the capital town chose to relocate to San Lorenzo Ruiz for their residential area. The
site also attracted people from other neighboring municipalities and eventually
stirred up the sprouting of subdivisions and housing projects in the area. San
Lorenzo Ruiz ranked 90th in 1990 but advanced to 15th in 2000. Three
municipalities in Camarines Sur were not in the 1990 list but were now categorized
as big shareholders in the region’s urban population. These included Calabanga,
Camaligan and Canaman. The growth of the municipality of Calabanga from 31st in
1990 to 10th place in 2000, was attributed to the operation of the Tamban Port and
the rehabilitation/concreting of corresponding access roads. Being very proximate to
Naga City, the municipalities of Camaligan and Canaman enjoyed the fruits of
development in the city. In fact, Camaligan is now categorized as a 100 percent
urban municipality. In the province of Masbate, the municipality of Aroroy was
classified in the top one percent. From rank 66th in 1990, Aroroy now ranks 19th.
A mining boom in the early part of the 90s has led to its progress.

For the past 30 years, Naga City led the list of urbanized cities in the region but
was overtaken by Legazpi City in year 2000. The two cities have been growing
inversely. Legazpi City has increased its share in the region’s urban population,
which is now the biggest share as per the 2000 census.

Centrality of Functions and Hierarchy of Settlements

An analysis of central places was performed by subjecting the 114 cities /

municipalities of the Bicol Region to a manual scalogram technique of analysis
(Annex 3.20) introduced by Rondinelli and Ruddle _a / in their book Urbanization and
Rural Development.
Among the many uses of the scalogram in regional planning is the categorization
of settlements of the region into levels of functional complexity and the
determination of the types of diversity of services and facility located in central
places at various levels of hierarchy. In so doing, it identifies the gaps in terms of
absence of the necessary utilities in a particular but strategically significant area
which can be addressed to by the infrastructure support in the next twenty five
years.

For greater practicality and use, the scalogram in this RPFP document included not
only the common items but also the items that were most likely not present in all
municipalities and those that has greater effect on the people’s movement over
geographical locations or space. The RLUC-Technical Working Group identified 100
functions (institutions and services) and each city/municipality in the six provinces of
the region were asked to identify which among the functions are present in their
respective locality.

Limitations of this analysis, however, are many. Worth mentioning is that the
number and size of facilities and utilities present were not given, nor the quality of
the services catered. Second, the specific settlements within the municipality where
the specific function is located are likewise not pinpointed which may give rise to
doubts on the effectivity of the function and their potential linkages.

By scaling the resulting centrality indices, the 114 cities / municipalities were
categorized into six levels. The first level, with centrality indices ranging from 283.5
to 335.8 is composed of highly-urbanized areas (cities and capital towns), namely:
Sorsogon City, Legaspi City, Daet, Daraga and Pili. These areas possessed the most
number of functions and the presence of functions that are rare in the region. For
example, in the case of Pili, the presence of an airport and a mental hospital gave
the municipality a high centrality index. The second level, with centrality indices
ranging from 232 to 283.4 is composed of the following: Virac, Naga City and
Masbate City. In the case of Naga City, what pulled down its centrality index was the
absence of a port and airport, two functions which, because of their rarity usually
give high weighted score. The third level, with centrality indices ranging from 178.7
to 231, is composed of the following: Iriga City, Tabaco City and Camalig. Camalig, a
third class municipality, was categorized under the third level due to the presence of
the cement factory, the only cement factory in the region. The fourth level, with
centrality indices ranging from 126.3 to 178.6, is composed of Labo, Libmanan, Goa,
Ligao City, Guinobatan and Bulan. The fifth level, with centrality indices ranging from
73.9 to 126.2, is composed of 26 municipalities (Figure 3.24)

And the last level, with centrality indices ranging from 21.4 to 73.8 is composed of
71 municipalities. These are areas with a scarcity of facilities and utilities and highly
dependent on urbanized areas for their socio-economic needs and services.
Figure 3.24 Centrality Index
REGIONAL ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT SITUATION

Regional Economy

Bicol’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) increased from P19.365 billion in
1985 to P27.629 billion in 2001 (at constant 1985 prices). During the sixteen-year
period, however, GRDP growth rates fluctuated, posting an average of only 2.3
percent and marred by two (2) periods of contraction the first in 1987 when GRDP
growth plummeted to negative 3.2 percent, and the second in 1998 when GRDP
growth dropped to negative 1.6 percent.

The unsustained performance of the regional economy may be traced to certain

events that affected the country in general and/or the region in particular. These
events, whether natural (calamities and weather disturbances), political, or external
(Asian currency crisis) affected the three (3) major production sectors in the
economy, namely, Agriculture, Fishery, and Forestry (AFF), Industry, and Services.

In 1987, the nation was beset by political instability as the newly installed Aquino
administration was rocked by successive coup attempts. In the region, it was also
the year that Typhoon Sisang devastated agricultural crops and properties, and
destroyed power and communications utilities. As a result, the region experienced a
power outage that lasted for about one-and-a-half months. The damages brought
about by the typhoon caused the agriculture and industry sectors to plunge, pulling
down GRDP growth to negative 3.2 percent, despite the relatively strong
performance of the services sector (Figure 3.25 and Table 3.45).
 Table 3.45. GRDP Growth Rates, by Sector, Bicol Region, 1985-2001 (At Constant 1985 Prices)
Year
Sector
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Ave.
GRDP 0.9 (3.2) 6.3 4.7 3.1 0.2 0.8 2.4 3.0 1.9 4.7 5.7 (1.6) 1.6 1.5 4.5 2.3
AFF (2.9) (2.8) 5.5 2.2 (0.9) 2.7 (2.7) 1.0 2.4 (0.7) 2.8 6.0 (10.1) 3.9 (4.1) 7.4 0.6
Industry 6.8 (14.8) 7.8 9.3 10.3 (4.2) 7.8 2.2 1.0 5.7 6.4 6.8 0.8 (3.0) 6.1 3.5 3.3
Services 2.3 2.8 6.5 5.1 3.7 0.0 0.9 3.8 4.5 2.4 5.5 5.0 4.7 2.1 3.8 3.0 3.5

From a negative 3.2 percent in 1987, GRDP growth peaked to 6.3 percent in 1988
when the political turmoil settled down and prospects for the economy were
optimistic, resulting to the robust performances of all the three sectors
simultaneously. National policies on agrarian reform, countryside development, and
economic zones development perked up the economy, both at the national and
regional levels.

Beginning in 1989, however, growth rates decelerated, sliding down to 0.2 percent
in 1991. This was the period when the country faced a power crisis that proved
detrimental to nationwide economic growth and pulled down the growth of the
region’s industry and services sectors despite the relatively strong performance of
the agriculture sector.

From 1992 to 1997, GRDP growth again accelerated, dipping only once in 1995
and peaking at 5.7 percent in 1997. The liberalization policies of the Ramos
Administration resulted to the fast growth of the services sector during this period,
particularly the transport/communication/storage, finance, government and private
services, and trade subsectors. The decelerated growth of the GRDP in 1995 was
due to the negative growth of the agriculture sector brought about by Typhoon
Rosing that hit the region.

The year 1997 was the year of the Asian currency crisis, which drastically affected
regional, as well as national economic growth. Aside from this, the El Niño
phenomenon and two typhoons (Monang and Naning) also hit the region towards
the latter part of the year. All these resulted to a year of negative GRDP growth in
1998, with agriculture as the most affected sector, hitting negative 10.1 percent.
The industry sector grew by only 0.6 percent while the services sector decelerated
slightly to 4.7 percent.

The period from 1999 to 2001 was a period of recovery for the region as the
GRDP posted positive, though fluctuating, growth rates. The negative growth in the
agriculture sector in 2000 due to strong and prolonged monsoon rains, caused the
slight deceleration of the GRDP growth in 2000 despite the strong performances of
the industry and services sectors.

The preceding discussion shows the vulnerability of the regional economy,

particularly the agriculture and industry sectors, to natural, political, and external
disturbances. The services sector, on the other hand showed resiliency and
managed to prop up the economy during critical periods.
 In terms of sectoral contribution to GRDP, the Agriculture, Fishery, and Forestry
(AFF) sector’s contribution shows a downward trend, from 43.87 percent in 1985 to
33.32 percent in 2001. The decrease in the contribution of the AFF sector was
absorbed in a large part by the services sector, the contribution of which increased
from 36.81 percent in 1985 to 44.67 percent in 2001. Only a small part from the
AFF sector’s contribution went to the industry sector, which increased slightly from
19.32 percent in 1985 to 22.01 percent in 2001, indicating that the regional
economy is still far from being industry-driven.

Table 3.46 shows the average growth and the average contribution of
each subsector to GRDP for the period 1985-2001. Contributing an average of
more than two thirds or 37.6 percent to GRDP is agriculture and fishery, indicating
that this subsector remains to be the predominant economic activity in the region.
On the other hand, its average growth rate for the same period is the lowest among
the subsectors at 1.1 percent, on account of the fact that this subsector is most
susceptible to climatic and weather disturbances.

Among the industry subsectors, the electricity/gas/water and mining/quarrying

show great potential in leading overall industry growth, as shown in their relatively
high average growth rates and average percent contribution to GRDP.

In the services sector, the wholesale/retail trade,

transport/communication/storage, private and government services all manifest
positive prospects in terms of growth and contribution to GRDP. The ownership of
dwellings/real estate subsector, while contributing the second highest average at
10.9 percent, posted the second lowest average growth rate of only 1.3 percent.

Table 3.46 Average Growth and Average Percent Contribution to GRDP

by Subsector, Bicol Region, 1985-2001 (At Constant 1985 Prices)

Ave. Contribution
Subsector Ave. Growth (%)
(%)
Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry 0.6 38.3
Agriculture and Fishery 1.1 37.6
Forestry 7.3 0.1
Industry 3.3 20.6
Mining and Quarrying 8.2 3.8
Manufacturing 2.4 1.4
Construction 3.1 7.1
Electricity, Gas, Water 3.8 8.2
Services 3.6 41.1
Transport, Storage, Communication 4.8 4.7
Wholesale/Retail Trade 4.7 10.4
Finance 2.6 1.2
Dwellings/Real Estate 1.3 10.9
Private Services 4.6 7.8
Government Services 4.7 6.6

Source: N SCB
 Employment and Mix-and-Share Analysis

Employment

The succeeding discussion endeavors to give an analysis of the employment

situation in the region for the past sixteen years, that is, from 1985 to 2000. The
tables and figures present a data series on labor force and employment that shows
the distinct behavior of the different employment indicators as well as the
employment trends in major industry groups in the region.

Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR)

In the data series presented below, the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) was
highest in 1989 at 70.0 percent and lowest in 1990 at 67.0 percent. On all the rest
of the years LFPR ranged from 67.2 to 69.9 percent. (Table 3.47).
Table 3.47 Labor Force and Employment, Region V: 1985 - 2000
Labor Force Employment
Working Labor
Participation Unemployment
Year Age Force Employed Rate Unemployed
Rate Rate (%)
Population ('000) ('000) (%) ('000)
(%)
1985 2248 69.9 1571 1469 93.5 102 6.5
1986 2294 67.3 1543 1427 92.5 116 7.5
1987 2347 69.4 1629 1538 94.4 91 5.6
1988 2417 69.4 1677 1583 94.4 95 5.7
1989 2489 70.0 1703 1636 93.9 67 6.2
1990 2562 67.0 1716 1657 96.6 59 3.6
1991 2635 68.3 1800 1694 94.1 105 5.8
1992 2719 69.1 1877 1773 94.5 104 5.5
1993 2803 68.5 1921 1819 94.7 101 5.3
1994 2882 69.5 2001 1916 95.8 85 4.2
1995 2961 68.9 2039 1905 93.4 134 6.6
1996 3038 69.3 2104 1967 93.5 137 6.5
1997 3116 67.2 2095 1977 94.4 118 5.6
1998 3196 68.5 2191 1986 90.7 205 9.6
1999 2745 66.8 1837 1676 91.2 161 8.8
2000 2820 67.2 1896 1737 91.6 159 8.4

Sources: Com pendium of P hilippine Social Statistics, NSCB 1990 and P hilippine
Statistical Y earbook 1986-2001, NSO

Employment and Unemployment Rates

Employment rate in the region has always been high compared to other regions
and higher even than the national average. Employment rate was highest in 1990 at
96.6 percent. It is noteworthy that employment rate was higher during the period
1992 to 1994, which corresponds to one of those periods when the region’s
economic growth was accelerating (Figure 3.26).
 The number of unemployed and the Unemployment Rate was at its lowest in
1990. Contrary to that in 1998, when the number of unemployed as well as the
unemployment rate hit the highest mark at 205 persons and 9.6 percent,
respectively. Relatedly, economic growth dipped to a negative 1.6 percent. This
was a repercussion of the Asian Financial Crisis experienced in 1997.

The employment situation seem to set a three to four-year period pattern from
1991 to 2000. The employment rate was on an upward movement from 1991 to
1994, that is, from 94.1 to 95.8 percent, but made a dip in 1995 to 93.4 only to
increase again in the next three years.

The employment situation was erratic from 1985 to 1990. This behavior could be
attributed to the combined effects of crisis due to changes in the national leadership
and the typhoons that hit the country during this period. Figure 3.26 illustrates this
pattern.

Sectoral Employment

Employment distribution in Region V remains to be heavily concentrated in the

Agriculture sector as it absorbs the most number of jobs in the region. Although the
Agriculture sector maintains the status of being the number one job provider, its
percent share to employment is decreasing. This movement is more pronounced in
the years 1995 to 1997 and abruptly again in 1999 to 2000. (Table 3.48 and Figure
3.27).

The performance of the services sector, on the other hand, has been slowly
picking up, steadily increasing in number and its percent share to total employment
is getting bigger.

The industry sector has more or less remained unvarying in number and its
percent share has always been the least among the sectors.

The biggest shift noticeable in employment is in 1999 where the share in

employment of the services sector was at its highest at 46.78 percent.
 In 1993 and 1994, the Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry (AFF) sector was at its
peak in terms of number of employed with 1014 and 1069 thousand workers,
respectively. There are two notable declines in employment in this sector and these
are in 1994 to 1995 and 1999 to 2000.
Table 3.48 Employment and Percent Distribution By Sector
Region V: 1991-2000
Total Agriculture Industry Services
Employed
Year
Persons('000 Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
workers)
1985 1469 943 60.00 204 13.00 124 27.00
1986 1427 867 56.93 391 25.67 266 17.47
1987 1538 859 55.85 373 24.25 307 19.96
1988 1583 885 55.91 404 25.52 294 18.57
1989 1636 878 53.77 406 24.86 349 21.37
1990 1657 916 55.45 271 16.40 340 20.58
1991 1694 921 54.36 243 14.34 530 31.29
1992 1773 968 54.46 276 15.57 527 29.72
1993 1819 1014 55.74 219 12.04 573 31.50
1994 1916 1069 55.79 215 11.22 632 32.99
1995 1905 985 51.71 251 13.18 668 35.07
1996 1967 989 50.28 271 13.78 708 36.00
1997 1977 963 48.71 272 13.76 642 32.47
1998 1986 980 49.34 254 12.79 651 32.79
1999 1676 953 56.86 255 15.21 794 46.78
2000 1737 815 46.92 234 13.47 687 39.55
2001 1875 875 46.67 250 13.33 749 39.95
2002 1831 858 46.86 224 12.23 749 40.91
Source: 1985-1990 P hilippine Statistical Yearbook, NSO
1991-200 R egional Statistics and Em ploym ent Trends, NSCB
N ote : Details m ay not add up to totals due to rounding.

During these same years (1993 & 1994), the Industry sector had the least number
of employed persons with 219 and 215. The employment in this sector is pretty
much the same in number all throughout the 16-year period except in 1988 and
1989.

At any point in time, the services sector, has been increasing in number except in
1988 and from 1996 to 1997, then again in 1999 to 2000 where it experienced a
decline in employment.

The trend lines shown below in Figure 3.27 clearly illustrate the upward and the
downward movement of each major industry group. Despite the downward trend
from 1985 to 1987, the AFF sector gave a very encouraging performance from 1989
through1994. But this has not been sustained as thereafter it continued to decline.

Countering the performance of the AFF sector, the industry sector started low in
1985 to increase substantially in 1986 until 1989. But it dropped considerably in
1990 and continued on a downward trend until 1994. Since then the sector has
been exhibiting an almost passive behavior, though from 1986 to 1989 it had
employed more than it ever had in any given year in the series.

The services sector steadily increases, although at some points it retracts. It can
be noted that the decrease in employment in agriculture, although not
proportionally, has a counter effect in employment in the services sector.
 Table 3.49 Distribution of Gainful Workers by Industry Group
Philippines and Bicol Region 1985 and 2000
Employment Employment
(In '000 Workers) Change
Philippines Number Percent
1985 2000
(2) - (1) (3) / (1)
(1) (2)
(3) (4)
Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry 9698 10401 703 7.20
Mining and Quarrying 128 106 -22 -17.2
Manufacturing 1922 2792 870 45.3
Electricity, Gas and Water 73 116 43 58.9
Construction 689 1430 741 107.5
Wholesale/Retail Trade 2611 4587 1976 75.7
Transportation/Storage/Communication 931 2028 1097 117.8
Financing,Insurance,Real Estate &
342 678 336 98.2
Bus.Services
Community/Social and Personal Services 3408 5636 2228 65.4
Others - 4 4 -
Total 19801 27778 7977 40.3
Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry 924 815 -109 -11.8
Mining and Quarrying 3 9 6 200.0
Manufacturing 165 146 -19 -3.6
Electricity, Gas and Water 3 8 5 166.7
Construction 28 71 43 153.6
Wholesale/Retail Trade 171 288 117 68.4
Transportation/Storage/Communication 49 82 33 67.3
Financing,Insurance,Real Estate &
11 15 4 36.4
Bus.Services
Community/Social and Personal Services 179 302 123 68.7
Others - - -1 -
Total 1534 1736 202 13.2

Mix-and-Share Analysis at the Regional Level

Employment Change

Table 3.50 presents an analysis of the employment structure of the region

between 1991 and 2000. It compares changes in employment distribution by
sector for Region V and the Philippines.

While national employment grew by 40.3 percent, employment in the region also
grew, albeit modestly, by 13.2 percent. All sectors, except AFF and Manufacturing,
exhibited positive growth compared to the national where all sectors recorded
increases in employment, except in Mining and Quarrying.

Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry (AFF) employment in the region declined by 11.8
percent while the national figure grew by 7.20 percent. Manufacturing also declined
by 3.6 percent while the country grew by 45.3 percent. Interestingly, employment in
several sectors like Mining and Quarrying, Electricity, Gas and Water, Construction
and Community/Social and Personal Services had growth increases more than the
Philippines.

National Growth Effect on Employment in the Region

Table 3.50 National Growth Effect on Employment in Bicol Region: 1985-2000

National
Net
Growth
Actual Regional
Total Effect
Regional Change
Employment 1991-
Employment to be
Sector in Bicol 2000
Growth Accounted
1985 N = (1) x
(R) for(3) -
(1) NGR
(3) (2)
(.403)
(4)
(2)
Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry 924 372.37 -109 482.37
Mining/Quarrying 3 1.21 6 4.79
Manufacturing 165 66.50 -19 -85.50
Electricity/Gas and Water 3 1.21 5 3.79
Construction 28 11.28 43 31.72
Wholesale/Retail Trade 171 68.91 117 48.09
Transportation/Storage/Communication 49 19.75 33 13.25
Finance and Housing 11 4.43 4 -0.43
Community/Social and Personal
179 72.14 123 50.86
Services
Others - - -1 -1.00
Total 1534 618.20 202 -416.20

The preceding table (Table 3.49) attempts to answer the question on how much
would employment in the region grown if it each sector had expanded as much as
the national growth.

As observed in the data, had employment in each sector in the region grown at
the same rate as the national, the total employment of the region would have
increased by 618,200 jobs while in reality it increased only by 202,000. Employment
in the agriculture sector would have grown by 372,370 jobs and manufacturing
would have 66,500 jobs more instead of the negative 109,000 jobs in the AFF and
the negative 19,000 for manufacturing.

Wholesale/Retail Trade, on the other hand, gained 117,000 jobs and

Community/Social and Personal Services with 123,000 additional jobs which were
greater than the national which was able to grow only an additional 68,910 and
72,140 jobs for Wholesale/Retail Trade and Community/Social and Personal Services,
respectively.

Mining and Quarrying, Electricity Gas and Water, Construction and

Transportation/Storage/ Communication, too, were able to generate more jobs than
the national.
 The shortfall of 416,200 jobs in the region may be brought about mainly by the
immense discrepancy in the AFF and by poor economy due to slow economic activity
and various other reasons like calamities and national crisis brought about by the
change in the administration that somehow affected the region’s performance.

Table 3.51 Industry Effect on Employment in the Bicol Region: 1985-2000

Percent Deviation:
Distribution of Industry
Industry
Employment Growth Regional
Mix
1985 in Rate Employment
Sector M = (3)
Minus 1991
x (4)
Philippines Bicol National (4)
(5)
(1) (2) Growth
Rate(3)
Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry 49 60.2 7.2 - 40.3 924 -30584.4
= -33.1
Mining/Quarrying 0.6 0.20 -17.2 - 3 -172.5
40.3 = -
57.5
Manufacturing 0.7 10.8 45.3 - 40.3 165 825.0
= 5.0
Electricity,Gas and Water 0.4 0.2 58.9 - 40.3 3 55.8
= 18.6
Construction 3.5 1.8 107.5 - 28 1881.6
40.3 =
67.2
Wholesale and Retail Trade 13.2 11.1 75.7 - 40.3 171 6053.4
= 35.4
Transporation/Storage/Communication 4.7 3.2 117.8 - 49 3797.5
40.3 =
77.5
Finance and Housing 1.7 1.7 98.2 - 40.3 11 636.9
= 57.9
Community/Social & Personal Services 17.2 11.7 65.4 - 40.3 179 4492.9
= 25.1
Others - 0.1 - - -
Total 100.0 100.0 - - -
13013.8

Industry Mix in the Region

Calculation of the industry mix effect (Table 3.51) is done to determine to what
extent the deviation of the growth of employment in the region is compared to the
national. In this case, it can be attributed to very big margin between the
Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry (AFF) sector with the rest of the sectors.

By way of analysis, it can be noted that the negative industry mix in the region
offset the national growth effect by 13,013,800 jobs. Employment was distributed
very heavily on the AFF which pulled down the growth of the region. The high
proportion of workers in the agriculture sector coupled with that of the
mining/quarrying sector cannot offset the low proportion of workers in the other
sectors. Neither can the positive growth rate in other sectors like wholesale and
retail trade, transportation/storage/communication, community/social and personal
services, and the rest of the sectors that performed positively, counteract the effect
of the comparatively slow growth of the agriculture sector.

The percentage of experienced or gainful workers in Agriculture in the region at

60.2 is higher than the national that is 49, but employment in the national grew by
7.20 percent, the decline in the region is -11.8 percent.

Regional Share Effect of the Components of Employment Change in the

Region

Table 3.52 Employment and Components of Employment Change in Bicol Region,

1985-2000 (Thousands of Persons Employed)

Employment Regional
by Regional National Industry
Shares
Industry in Employment Growth Mix
Effect
Sector Bicol Change ( R Effect Effect
S=R-N-
)1985-2000 N M
1985 2000 M
(3) (4) (5)
(1) (2) (6)
Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry 924 815 -109 372.37 -30584.4 30103.0
Mining/Quarrying 3 9 6 1.21 -172.5 177.3
Manufacturing 165 146 -19 66.5 825.0 -910.5
Electricity, Gas and Water 3 8 5 1.21 55.8 -52.0
Construction 28 71 43 11.28 1881.6 -1849.9
Wholesale/Retail Trade 171 288 -143 68.91 6053.4 -6265.3
Transportation/Storage/Communication 49 82 33 19.75 3797.5 -3784.3
Finance and Housing 11 15 4 4.43 636.9 -637.3
Community/Social/Personal Services 179 302 123 72.14 4492.9 -4442.0
Others - - - - - -
Total 1534 1736 202 618.2 13013.8 12597.6

Table 3.52 provides an indication of the effects of national employment growth,

industry mix and regional shares on various industries in Bicol and on regional
employment.

If the Agriculture sector grew the same rate as the national an additional 481,370
jobs would have been realized. As it is, the region has to account for 372,370
million jobs deficit.

For the regional economy, the negative 13,013,800 net impact of the regional
industry mix is extremely greater than the positive national growth effect of 618,200
jobs.

The Location Quotient

The location quotient computed by occupation, by major industry and by sector

groupings leaves no doubt that Bicol is, by and large, a predominantly agricultural
region.
 Based on Table 3.53, a huge concentration of employment is in the Farmers,
Fishermen, Miners and Related Workers Occupation Group. In the location quotient
analysis, it can be said that the region may be exporting goods and services to other
regions as far as this occupation group is concerned. While in the rest of the group
categories, the region may be wanting and could need help from other regions to
satisfy local needs.

Table 3.54 affirms that among the three major industry groups, the region
specializes in agriculture, fishery and forestry with the industries more concentrated
on agriculture and fishery.

There are categories, however, in other industry groups where the region also
specializes in. For instance in the Industry sector, there are the mining and
quarrying and the electricity, gas and water sector groupings. And in the Services
sector, there is the wholesale and retail trade. Since the region exhibits potential in
these sectors, it has to be given more opportunity to develop. (Table 3.55).
Table 3.53 Location Quotient, By Occupation Group, Region V, CY 2000

Experienced Workers by Occupation Group Location Quotient

Professional, Technical, Managerial and Administrative 0.90
Farmers, Fishermen, Miners and Related Workers 15.67
Craftsmen, Production Process Workers and Laborers 0.83
Services, Commercial and Related Workers 0.81
Industries Not Adequately Defined 5.03

Table 3.54 Location Quotient, By Major Industry Group, Region V, CY 2000

Major Industry Group Location Quotient

Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry 1.27
Industry 0.94
Services 0.77

Table 3.55 Sectoral Location Quotient, Region V, CY 2000

Sector Groupings Location Quotient

Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry 1.27
Mining and Quarrying 1.25
Manufacturing 0.80
Electricity, Gas and Water 1.25
Construction 0.80
Wholesale and Retail Trade 1.00
Transportation and Communication 0.71
Finance/Insurance 0.45
Community/ Social/Personal Services 0.90
Industries Not Adequately Defined -
THE REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN
Vision, Roles and Goals

Vision

In the next thirty (30) years, Bicol Region is envisioned to be

one R egion achieving accelerated econom ic grow th and equitable social

developm ent and rational distribution of population am ong sub-regional
areas through sound m anagem ent of natural resources.
Goals and Objectives

To help achieve this vision, land use and physical planning at the regional and
sub-regional levels shall focus on the attainment of this goal:

Rational use and allocation of land and physical resources. This goal can
be achieved if production lands, i.e. agriculture, mineral-rich, industry and tourism
areas, are used according to the land use suitability. It will also mean keeping
protection lands in their right state to be able to provide an effective life support
system to Bicolanos. Infrastructure support facilities will be placed in strategic areas
that will promote economic and social development while not compromising
environmental health.

Corollary to the above goal, the following objectives shall be pursued:

a. To attain environmental stability and ecological integrity.
b. To attain sustainable use of protected agricultural areas.
c. To provide efficient and effective infrastructure facilities and utilities for
economic integration and for an equitable access and delivery of services.

Roles of Bicol Region

Geothermal Energy Producer. The Bicol Region, having three dead volcanoes
and power generating plants with aggregate generating capacity of 512.574 MW,
shall continue providing ample amount of electricity to the Luzon Grid for distribution
to the island group. Other potential sources of geothermal energy shall be
explored.

Agri-Industrial Center. The agriculture resource-base of the Bicol Region is

potent for the development of agri-based industries. Non-traditional products from
traditional commodities, i.e. coconut, abaca and pili shall be developed through
science and technology. Likewise, non-traditional crops, of high commercial value
will be developed into agri-industries.

Food Basket of Luzon. With the improved climatic condition in the Region
coupled with large areas for agricultural expansion, production of food crops will be
intensified to get a larger market share of the needs in Luzon regions. Food
commodities include: rice, vegetables, rootcrops, fruits, fishery products, pork,
chicken and beef.

Mineral-Based Production Center. Mineral-based activities in Bicol shall cover

exploration, extraction and value adding activities that will lead to the development
of vertically and horizontally integrated mineral-based industries.

Ecotourism Destination. The presence of unique and diverse wildlife in Bicol

makes it a primary destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

South Luzon’s Gateway to the Visayas and the Pacific. Bicol’s strategic
location at the southern tip of Luzon, makes it south Luzon’s gateway to the
Visayas. The presence of Legazpi and Tabaco Ports, both catering to international
vessels, bring Luzon close to having trade and tourism relations with other countries
in the Pacific.

Spatial Development Strategies

Bicol shall continue to adopt its spatial strategy utilizing the integrated area
development approach coupled with the urban functions for rural development
(UFRD) approach to regional development and constraints.

The IAD approach aims to

a. accelerate growth in depressed and lagging areas;
b. increase local government units’ and peoples’ participation in planning,
implementation and monitoring of plans and programs; and
c. distribute equitably the developmental gains among people and areas.

The UFRD approach to regional planning recognizes the need to increase the
access of rural population to basic services and facilities, and the need to specifically
locate investments to create an integrated regional settlements system in order to:

a. strengthen markets for agricultural goods and other rural resources;

b. widely distribute services such as health, education, technical inputs for
agricultural production and other socio-economic amenities;
c. create new rural employment opportunities; and
d. decrease the rate and alter the pattern of rural to urban migration.

The combination of these two approaches gives rise to an effective spatial

integration of the rural and urban areas

Planning Units

In this strategy, a network of sub-regional planning and programming units

dividing the region into smaller and more manageable units was identified. At the
sub-regional level, a province is an IAD unit. Each IAD has sub-integrated area
development (SIAD) units that are clusters of municipalities grouped according to
homogeneity of physical resources, economic activities, proximity and accessibility to
each other, and concentration of services and facilities (Figure 4.01)

Network of Settlements

A network of settlements shall be developed with Metro Naga and Metro Legazpi
as the primary growth areas; the capital towns as secondary growth centers; and
SIAD centers as tertiary growth centers (Figure 4.2).

The various services required of an expanding population in the less urbanized and
rural municipalities will be catered by the more urbanized and identified secondary
centers and or tertiary centers backed up, if necessary, by the primary
industrial/service centers of Metro Legazpi and Metro Naga.

The two island provinces and the two sub-islands of Masbate will continue to strive
to be self-sufficient in basic social services due to its increasing population while
maximizing the use of their agriculture, mineral and tourism resource bases. The
respective secondary and tertiary growth centers shall be developed to serve as an
efficient market and/or marketing intermediary.

Development Drivers

The region’s development drivers are related to the roles of Bicol, namely:
geothermal power generation; intensified agricultural production, especially for food
and raw materials for industry; mineral extraction and processing; and ecotourism.
Trade shall also be a development driver as profitability, that will redound to greater
family income, shall be determined by the marketing system.
Figure 4.01 Settlement Map (IAD/SIAD Hierarchy)
 Figure 4.02 Settlement Map
(Growth Centers cum Built-Up Areas)
 The way we manage ecological balance and biodiversity shall have a great impact
on the state of the life support system of the Bicolanos as well as the state of
ecotourism in the Region.
Transportation and digital communication infrastructure shall play a major role in
making these effective development drivers that will ultimately lead to poverty
reduction. Physical and digital infrastructure support shall be strategically located to
effect:
• economic integration of production (agriculture, mineral and industrial
areas) with consumption areas;
• greater access to basic social services especially by rural areas, the
island provinces and the islands of Masbate, and of other
municipalities with island barangays;
• greater accessibility of ecotourism destinations and
• integration of Bicol Region with the rest of the country through
intermodal transportation

Intra-regional Economic Integration

Intra-regional economic integration shall be achieved through the improvement in

physical access and access to information in all areas.

Physical access shall be improved through an intermodal transport network among

cities and municipalities that will:
• Reduce cash and non-cash hauling/transport cost of farmers/fisherfolks
in bringing their produce/catch to trading centers;
• Reduce cash and non-cash hauling/transport cost of middlemen in the
performance of their assembling function;
• Facilitate access of rural population to basic social services, i.e. schools
and hospitals

Information related to marketing, basic social services, employment, government

services and requirements and the like shall be made available by allowing digital
infrastructure to cover the whole region. Partnership with the private sector,
especially the telecommunication service providers need to be forged in establishing
landline telecommunication lines in the rural areas.

Interregional Economic Integration

The Bicol Region shall have interregional economic relations with most of the
regions in Luzon and some regions in Visayas and Mindanao. Major areas of
interregional relations are agriculture, agri-industry, trade and tourism.

Transportation and information infrastructure shall play a critical role in making

effective and efficient interregional linkages in these areas. Intemodal transportation
shall be improved. Regular routes along the Philippine nautical highway shall include
the Bicol Region. The following shall be the major transport strategies:
 • Provision of roll-on roll-off facilities in ports in strategic locations to
transport a greater amount of goods in and out of these areas;
• Improvement of land transport infrastructure which connect production
areas to these ports;
• Upgrading of the rail transport system that will extend to Matnog,
Sorsogon. Feasibility of extending it to other parts of mainland Bicol,
i.e. Camarines Norte, shall be studied;
• Upgrading of airports and work for increased air traffic to and from
Bicol airports

The Plan Components

Protection Land Use

Scenario by Year 2030. By the year 2030, the Bicol region shall have at least
attained a 40:60 ratio of forest cover to alienable and disposable lands. Its forest
cover shall have been rehabilitated and restored to its original condition, protecting
the region from the effects of drought, flood, erosion and landslide. Further, its
forest cover shall have served as a source of clean water for domestic and industrial
purposes. Figure 4.03 presents the Proposed Protection Land Use Map.

All of Bicol’s 17 proclaimed protected areas will have organized their respective
Protected Area Management Boards (PAMBs) in their fully functional roles and
ensuring that the Protected Area Plans are effectively implemented. Existing
mangrove forest reservation covers shall have increased and endemic flora and
fauna shall have been protected and rehabilitated,

The three protected areas under the responsibility of the National Power
Corporation (NPC) that are critical for power generation shall have non-contributory
directly and indirectly to environmental degradation.

Environmental Impact Assessments of all proposed road sections traversing

classified forestlands shall have been fully imposed by the DENR as a pre-requisite
for the approval of such projects. Existing roads and other infrastructure facilities
and utilities within classified forestlands shall have also been assessed as to their
environmental impact.
Figure 4.03 Composite Protection Land Use Map
 Mining operations in the forestlands shall have been strictly regulated and
conducted with due regard to protection, development and utilization of other
surface resources. Mining laws, rules and regulations of the DENR shall have
governed the location, prospecting, exploration, utilization or exploitation of mineral
resources in forest reservations.

Local Government Units (LGU) instead of the DENR shall have maintained its
responsibility of identifying areas suitable for sand and gravel extraction and limiting
issuance of permits considering impact assessment of the area.

Watersheds shall have been well-managed and protected. Denuded areas of

existing proclaimed watersheds shall have been immediately reforested.

Policies and Strategies

Policies and strategies shall address major issues and concerns on Protection Land
Use such as:
• non-demarcation of boundaries of protection areas;
• resolution of conflicts within protection areas;
• disaster mitigation, use of resources and its impact to protection areas;
• information, education and communication (IEC) campaign

Policies supporting international covenants and agreements such as the Rio Earth
Summit and the implementation of the key Multilateral Environmental Agreements
(MEAs) shall be considered. Policies and strategies shall be supportive of the
following areas of concern:

 forest and biodiversity resources management;

 coastal and marine resources management;
 mineral resources management;
 environmental management;
 land management; and,
 water resources management.

Forest and Biodiversity Resources Management

• Proclaimed natural parks, national parks, natural biotic areas,

protected landscapes and seascapes and bird sanctuaries,
wilderness areas, marine parks and other areas to be identified,
such as marine parks, seashores parks and other areas with
outstanding biodiversity shall be subjected to the Integrated
Protected Areas System.
• The DENR shall define boundaries of proclaimed natural parks,
game refuge, natural park, protected landscape natural biotic
area and bird sanctuaries and other areas to be identified under
the Integrated Protected Areas Systems. Protected Areas shall
not be subject to any human activity such as hunting or fishing
or any activity of commercial nature.
• Implementation of massive information, education and
communication (IEC) campaign on the protection and
rehabilitation of biodiversity in the region through coordination
and networking with stakeholders such as the academe,
government institutions, agencies, religious groups and non-
government organization/people’s organization and private
sectors and media.
• Delineation of boundaries of all classified forestlands with their
boundaries marked clearly on the ground with concrete
monuments at interval of more than 250 meters or any other
visible and practicable signs in accordance with existing land
survey standards to ensure non-encroachment into forest lands.
Likewise, boundaries of ancestral domains shall be delineated
and demarcated.
• Development of protected areas that have potential for eco-
tourism.
• The Bicol Natural Park shall be reverted back to forest, since it
serves as watershed of the surrounding agricultural areas
particularly Libmanan-Cabusao area. Logging within the area
shall be strictly prohibited.
• Aside from existing proclaimed watersheds, some other areas of
the region such as Mt. Masaraga in Albay, and three other areas
in Camarines Norte will be recommended to be proclaimed as
such. The DENR shall initiate moves for the proclamation of
such areas.
• Settlement within protected areas will be strictly prohibited.
Relocation and ejection of informal settlers and dismantling of
any infrastructure introduced therein shall be immediately
undertaken. Relocation and ejection of informal settlers shall be
spearheaded by the DENR in coordination with the DAR, DPWH,
DSWD , other line agencies, local government units and non-
government organizations.
• In resolving land use conflicts within protected areas, between
NIPAS and NON-NIPAS, the NIPAS shall prevail. Management
schemes outlined in the NIPAS Act shall be given priority.
• Classified forestlands with slopes 50 percent-above and areas
with elevation of 1,000 meters above sea level shall be
considered as permanent forests. All areas falling under these
categories shall be permanently covered with forest vegetation.
All existing forest covers in these areas shall be enriched and
maintained by the DENR. All areas falling under the same
categories but without existing forest covers shall be subjected
to immediate reforestation or afforestation as the case may be
and will be placed under the management of the DENR.
• Protected areas with qualified tenured migrants shall be issued
Protected Area Community Based Resource Management
Agreements (PACBARMA’s).
 • Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADCT) for identified
CADC areas shall be issued to ensure protection of the area
from settlements encroachment. Ancestral Domain shall be
delineated and demarcated and tenurial instruments will be
issued.
• Denuded areas classified as forestlands and which are presently
utilized for agricultural purposes shall be subjected to a detailed
inventory and assessment by the DENR in coordination with DA
and concerned LGUs. All areas certified by the DA to be suitable
for agricultural use shall be subjected to agro forestry and
rainforestation and may be leased through stewardship
contracts while those remaining and found not suitable shall be
subjected to reforestation activities.

Coastal and Marine Resources Management

 Mangrove forests and swamplands bordering numerous

inlands that protect the shorelines from the destructive force of
the sea during high winds and typhoons shall be properly
demarcated on the ground by the DENR. These areas shall at all
times be maintained and protected as mangrove covered areas.

 Mangrove forests covered by Proclamations of reservation

shall likewise be defined with boundaries, particularly those
proclaimed under Proclamation No. 2151 and 2152.

 Strips of mangrove or swamplands of at least 20 meters

wide facing lakes shall be properly demarcated and should be
maintained with forest. These areas should not be disposed and
alienated and at all times shall not be clear cutting operations.

 In storm surge and typhoon prone provinces in the region

like Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Albay, river bank
protection is increased to fifty meters in both sides of the river
and mangrove belt in these areas facing seas, oceans, lakes and
other bodies of water are increased to one hundred meters.

 Mangrove areas which are already developed for fishpond

purposes shall be strictly inventoried and should be subjected to
environmental impact assessment.

 Fishponds which are located within reserved mangrove

forests and are not productive shall cease to operate and revert
back the area to the BFAR whether covered by fishpond lease or
not, not utilized, developed or have been abandoned for five
years shall be reverted back to mangrove forest category.
  No fishpond development shall operate whether it falls
within mangroves suitable for fishpond development or alienable
and disposable areas unless it has undergone environmental
impact assessment and are found to be ecologically sound.

 As a national policy, fishpond developments are not allowed

within mangroves declared as reservations.

Mineral Resources Management

• Mining operations in the forestlands shall be strictly regulated

and conducted with due regard to protection, development and
utilization of other surface resources.
• Location, prospecting, exploration, utilization or exploitation of
mineral resources in forest reservations shall be governed by
mining laws, rules and regulations of RA 7940, the Mining Act.
• Sand and gravel extraction within the banks of rivers shall be
strictly regulated by the DENR. Critical conditions of river banks
due to excessive extraction should be stopped.
• The DENR shall carefully identify areas suitable for sand and
gravel extraction and limit issuance of permits considering
impact assessment of the area.

Environmental Management

• Environmental Impact Assessments of all proposed road

sections, road right of way and telecommunication facilities
traversing classified forestlands shall be submitted to the DENR
for review and approval as a pre-requisite for approving the
project.
• Existing roads and other infrastructure facilities and utilities
within classified forestlands shall likewise be assessed as to their
impact on the environment.
• All road sections and infrastructures found to be contributory to
environmental degradation shall be permanently closed.
• Settlements shall not be allowed within identified
environmentally critical areas (areas with slopes greater than or
equal to 50 percent and with elevations of 1,000 meters or more
above sea level).
• Road constructions within classified forestlands, other than
those critical areas, shall only be allowed if found to be non-
contributory directly and indirectly to environmental
degradation.
• Prior to construction of infrastructure facilities, hazard maps
prepared by the PHILVOCS and PAG ASA shall be referred to in
determining the vulnerability of an area to natural hazards.
Geologic, hydrologic and engineering evaluations shall be
conducted subject to established standards. Identification of
 hazard prone areas shall be given priority by concerned
agencies.
• LGUs shall initiate ground marking and putting up of warning
signs and proper risk information in areas that are prone to
environmental hazards such as severe flooding, erosion,
landslides, and known fault lines.

Land Management

• Pasture and grazing land areas shall be maintained with

sufficient and high yielding varieties of forage grasses and
legumes to improve soil water absorption capacity, minimize soil
compaction and erosion and increase soil nutrient.
• Insufficient forage covers of existing pasture and grazing lands
particularly in Masbate shall be supplemented with trees or such
other vegetative cover as may be deemed necessary. Proposed
and existing pastures shall undergo Environmental Impact
Assessments and shall be managed under the policy of equitable
access to natural resources.
• Cancelled pasture permits and leases shall be placed under
appropriate and sustainable development and management.
• Any forest land 50 percent or over in slope shall not be utilized
for pasture purposes. Areas falling under such category may be
allowed only if certified by the DA as to soil suitability and by
the DENR as to slope and topography. At least ten percent of
forest cover of all pasture and grazing areas shall be
maintained.
Water Resources Management

• Boundaries of proclaimed watersheds in the region shall be well-

defined on the ground by the DENR. Watersheds shall be well-
managed and protected in order to regulate water in the area.
Denuded areas of existing proclaimed watersheds shall be
immediately reforested.
• Integrated Water Resources Management shall be adopted in
watershed areas to improve the water supply, quality, and
forest cover of watersheds. A River Basin management
approach shall be adopted in the Bicol River Basin area.

Major Programs and Projects

To attain environmental stability and ecological integrity, the following programs

and projects should be implemented.

• Full Implementation of NIPAS

• Improvement of wildlife habitat through reforestation, captive
breeding, establishment of sanctuaries
 • Full implementation of Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) in all
Protected Areas
• Full implementation of Fishery Laws
• Boundary delineation of forest lands in all provinces, except
Catanduanes
• Implementation of CBFM program – PACBARMA issuances to qualified
tenured migrants
• Operationalization of PAMBs
• Development of Eco-tourism sites and establishment of facilities
supportive to ecotourism
• Assessment and detailed reconnaissance in detailed phase
• Detailed Geohazard mapping for local planning and disaster
management
• Conduct of advocacy of protection of environment at all levels.
• Information, Education Campaign (IEC) activities through Dalaw-Tao
program, lectures symposium and production of IEC materials.

Production Land Use Plan

The overriding concern of the production land use plan is to provide adequate and
accessible space for sustainable food crops production, industrial crops production
for agri-processing, forest and mineral extraction, industry and eco-tourism.

Scenario by Year 2030

Agricultural lands for all uses will have totaled 1,149,944 hectares by the year
2030. This will represent 64.45 percent of the total regional land area. Rice will
have been grown within 192,432 hectares of fully irrigated and flood protected
lands. A total of 30,019 hectares of corn lands will have been preserved and
maintained. More than half or 630,570 hectares of the total agricultural lands will
have been developed as multicropped coconut areas. Abaca will have been
maintained within 24,794 hectares in Sorsogon and in the island province of
Catanduanes. Sugarcane areas in Camarines Sur and portions of Albay will have
totaled to 3,135 hectares. Other areas will have been planted with important crops
e.g; 386 hectares for banana and 604 hectares for pineapple. Diversified crops will
have utilized a total area of 11,087 hectares. Agroforestry areas with pili as the
dominant crop will have occupied 114,583 hectares. Improved pastures planted to
fast growing grasses and legumes and constituting 111,899 hectares will have been
found in Masbate. Fishpond areas will have totaled to 3,814 hectares. (Figure 4.04)

With all the necessary support infrastructure and other logistic facilities and
services in place, it is envisioned that by the end of the planning period, all the
approved economic zones in the region are fully operational and the projects under
the Regional Growth Center Program (specifically the Bicol Regional Agri-Industrial
Center (BRAIC), the Legazpi-Irirga-Naga-Daet Growth Corridor and Provincial
Industrial Centers) are all implemented. The region will have a vibrant SME sector
that is deemed to provide a strong domestic supply base (manufacturing and
services) for globally-competitive.
Figure 4.04 Proposed Production Land Use Map
 • Those areas with slopes of 18 to 30 percent and presently vegetated
with grasses, shrubs, second growth forest, fruit trees and abaca have
to be maintained as agroforest areas. New cropping systems and crop
combinations will be introduced in those areas. The following crops
are recommended: abaca, bamboo, pili, other fruit bearing trees and
fast growing hardwoods.
• In areas with 8 to 18 percent slope, crops requiring minimal cultivation
will be encouraged. Diversified field crops are recommended for
intercropping. Soil control measures like terracing, buffer strip
cropping, contour tillage and other variations of the sloping agricultural
land technology will be introduced.
• For production lands with slopes of 0 to 8 percent, intensive crop
production will be encouraged. Those areas are mostly planted to rice,
corn and coconut. Intensive farming systems will require the
development and introduction of new farming systems that will
preserve land fertility and maintain productivity.

The identified prime agricultural lands have to be protected from conversion to

other land uses. These prime lands, which are fully-irrigated are mostly planted to
rice. Considering the need to address the deficit in rice production, these prime rice
lands must be intensively cropped. The use of inbred rice varieties coupled with
appropriate farming technologies has to be fully introduced to rice farmers. Rice
lands within the 0 to 3 percent slope category and totaling 192,432 hectares will be
fully irrigated and protected from flooding by the year 2030. These rice areas will be
declared as prime lands and shall be protected from conversion to other uses.
Cropping intensity will be 2.5 times a year as the available irrigation water will be
sufficient year round. New organic farming technologies will be introduced to the
farmers. The major rice producing areas will be the alluvial plains within the Bicol
River Basin Area in Albay and Camarines Sur and the Irosin-Juban Valley Area in
Sorsogon.

Corn areas will be within the slope category of 0 to 8 percent. The major corn
cluster areas will be located within Camarines Sur, Albay and the island province of
Masbate. The corn cluster areas will have a total area of 30,019 hectares. For the
corn areas within the 3 to 8 percent slope category, soil conservation measures will
be adopted in order to prevent soil erosion. Existing areas devoted to white corn
production have to be protected from unnecessary conversion. Next to rice, white
corn is the other staple crop of the region more particularly in the province of
Masbate. Yellow corn cluster areas will also be protected and production will be
intensified to cater to the needs of the livestock and poultry industries.

For coconut, the following production and spatial planning strategies will be
pursued:
• There shall be a massive replanting of senile and unproductive
plantations.
• Integrated farming systems in the form of intercropping, multiple
cropping and relay cropping will be introduced to coconut farmers.
 Integration of livestock raising under coconut will be introduced using
improved grasses and legumes.
• Coconut producing areas have to be protected from indiscriminate
cutting of trees. The aging coconut groves requires for a massive
replanting of coconuts within the next 30 years.
• Promotion of multiple cropping technologies within monocropped
coconut areas will be vigorously pursued. Coconut areas within the 0
to 8 percent slope will be intercropped with short season and cultivated
cash crops like vegetables, root crops, spice crops, pineapple, upland
rice and corn. Those coconut areas within the 9 to 18 percent slope
will be recommended for intercropping with biennials and perennials
that require minimal tillage.
• Sloping agricultural land technologies (SALT) will be introduced to the
farmers. Identified intercrops within this slope category will include
banana, papaya, citrus and improved grasses and legumes for cut and
carry livestock growing.
• Coconut areas within the slope category beyond 18 percent will be
recommended for intercropping with permanent fruit bearing trees and
plantation forest species. Pili as a native crop to the region will be
vigorously and aggressively promoted as an intercrop within this slope
category.
• For coconut areas with slopes greater than 30 percent, indigenous fast
growing forest species like mahogany and narra will be introduced.
Existing abaca areas will be preserved from disease infection. In the absence of
new areas for its expansion, abaca intercropping will be undertaken in highly
suitable monocropped coconut areas. Abaca producing areas will be located away
from corn producing areas in order to protect them from possible disease infection,
corn being an alternate host of abaca disease vectors.. Catanduanes and Sorsogon
shall remain as the major abaca producing provinces.

Sugarcane production will be mostly located in the provinces of Camarines Sur and
Albay. The sugarcane growing areas are located within the 0 to 8 percent slopes.
This facilitates the harvest and transport of the raw cane to the sugar central.

Planting of pure stands of banana will be located in Camarines Norte and

Camarines Sur. These areas are slightly rolling lands within the slope categories of 9
to 18 percent. Tissue cultured banana seed pieces will be distributed to farmers in
order to ensure supply of disease free planting materials. Commercial scale
pineapple production will be centered in Camarines Norte. These areas can be
found in 0 to 18 percent slope category lands.

Pili, the flagship commodity of the region, shall be planted as intercrop in coconut
areas. New agroforestry farming systems will be developed and introduced to pili
farmers. Asexually propagated pili planting materials will be mass produced in order
to meet the demands of the farmers. As pili production will continue to increase,
research activities will be devoted to new products and by-products of the pili nut.
Research in prolonging the shelf life of pili will have to be vigorously pursued.
 Pasture areas mostly located in the province of Masbate will be planted to
improved grasses and legumes. Pasture carrying capacity will be increased to 3
animals per hectare of land. New technologies on pasture management will be
introduced to pasture land leasees.

For all the above policies and strategies, research and development of cost-
effective technologies will play a significant role in increasing production and
productivity of the region’s major crops. Such researches will have to be in the
fields of integrated pest management, appropriate farming systems to reduce if not
mitigate soil erosion; use of organic fertilizers, biological pest control, other
environmentally sound soil management techniques, and development of new
varieties resistant to pests and diseases.

Consistent with its role as an agri-industrial center, the region shall strengthen its
domestic base through the Industry Cluster approach. It shall promote forward and
backward linkages, information sharing between and among production sectors and
more focused development of infrastructure support system to reduce transaction
costs.

In the implementation of the Regional Growth Center Program in Bicol, an

assessment of the program must be given priority by decision makers both at the
regional and local levels. Issues, problems and constraints that had affected the
implementation of the program must be addressed during the short term. As the
RGC Program is guided by the objective of a market-oriented industrial dispersal
policy, changes in the location of industrial center is allowed to respond to the
economic and political environment of the area. As such the choice of industrial
location should favor a site that contributes to industrial dispersal, but such dispersal
should not compromise the viability of the industries themselves, or in the process
lead to the inefficient use of resources.

Dispersal is desirable given the assumption that spreading the location of

industries allows a larger number of the population to benefit from the employment,
income, and other desirable economic impacts of such industrial activities. Industrial
activities in the regional center can be focused on agro-industrial processing that
builds on the value-added chain based on Region V’s agricultural resources. PAICs
can link up with the BRAIC by providing production inputs or by hosting smaller
scale activities.

At the local level, location of the PAICs and economic zones should be guided by:
local development and land use plans; land suitability; existing and potential
industrial sites and support infrastructure; and environmental impacts.

The question of where industrial facilities should be located, assuming that there is
sufficient demand and that the types of industries have already been identified, may
be guided by the following:

a. Compatibility with the overall settlement growth pattern and

strategy, and with the local land use plan;
 • In identifying future industrial sites, some specific considerations
include: (a) the relationship of industrial site with adjoining and
other relevant land uses; (b) availability of appropriate skilled
labor; (c) capacity of the community to provide housing and
other service requirements; and (d) potential market for the
outputs to be produced from the site;
• Zoning regulations should also be reviewed with respect to new
technologies that allow greater land compatibilities with
adjacent land uses. Some flexibility in the development of
industrial areas should likewise be anticipated such that shifts in
the market for industrial and other land uses can be
accommodated. Mixed use developments should also be
considered and encouraged where there is sufficient land area
for an integrated industry-based community;
• Industrial ecology should be promoted. This requires the
clustering of industries that have backward linkages wherein the
wastes or by-products of one industry can be utilized by another
industry. Clustering would also allow cost-sharing schemes in
the construction and operation of waste-water treatment plants;

b. Local land suitability analysis should be pursued to identify lands

suited for specific industrial requirements, including required expansion
areas. Marginal agricultural lands should be prime candidates for
industrial expansion.
c. Industrial activities must be banned in SAFDZs, NIPAS areas,
and other similarly protected areas, and hazard-prone areas that have
been identified to be too risky for industrial activities to take place (e.g.
fault lines, erosion-prone areas, permanent volcanic eruption danger
zones).
d. There should be sufficient infrastructure support facilities
(power, water, and waste disposal), especially those that allow,
accessibility to markets, sources of production inputs (including labor),
and to key transportation facilities such as ports, airports, and
highways; and
e. Social and environmental impacts must be considered.

Industrial activities shoud also be treated as catalysts to industrial development in

an area, rather than as exclusive sites for production activities. While RAIC, PICs, or
ecozones enjoy scale and agglomeration economies from the collective presence of
several industries, industries can locate in other parts of a settlement, as a group or
individually, provided that they conform to the aforementioned considerations.

Solicit the inputs and participation of the private sector and other stakeholders in
planning for industrial sites.

Whether at the regional or local level, land suitability must complement market
compatibility in order to ascertain the viability of a proposed industrial site. Although
the feasibility of a specific industrial activity is best determined by its proponent-
investor, physical planners should be guided by private sector inputs regarding
preferred locations and other requisites to the development of industrial sites.

Similarly, affected communities in the development of RAIC, PAICs and other

proposed industrial sites should also be involved in the planning and implementation
of the projects to ensure that social concerns area advocated are addressed.

The strengthening of the region’s economy shall be anchored on a productive and

efficient micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In line with this, the region
shall pursue a comprehensive approach to MSMEs development through the
following strategic interventions: financing, market access, technology transfer and
productivity, human resource development and advocacy for enabling environment.

Business activities and projects indigenous to each municipality of the region shall
be developed and expanded through the One Town One Product (OTOP) Program.
The OTOP shall support the MSMEs to manufacture, offer, and market distinctive
products or services using indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents.
The growth of ICT shall be encouraged as an economic activity. Their locational
preferences shall not be prematurely constrained while infrastructure support and
other appropriate incentives shall be provided. Development of ICT in the region
shall focus in the cities of Legazpi and Naga as the main ICT hubs of the region.
Other LGUs shall be encouraged to prepare their areas for ICT by creating a local
environment conducive to ICT operations, such as providing the necessary
infrastructure support system and strengthening their marketing, financing,
operational management and technology enhancement.

Major Programs and Projects

Rice Intensification Program

The Rice Intensification Program aims to increase the production of the staple
crop. The program has several components, namely: rice seed system, irrigation
and water management, post harvest facility assistance, extension services and
training, and technical support services. The use of hybrid seeds will be aggressively
pursued in order to increase production. Organic farming technologies on rice will
be introduced to farmers. In order to ensure a year round supply of irrigation water,
existing irrigation systems will be rehabilitated while rainfed and potential rice areas
will be provided with irrigation facilities.

The specific objectives of the Rice Intensification Program are: 1) to attain

regional food security; 2) to reduce poverty incidence among rice farmers; 3) to
increase net farm income; 4) to ensure sustainability of the resource base; and 5) to
enhance people empowerment. Critical to the success of the program will be the all-
out support of local government units. It is expected that rice production in the
region will reach 3.6 million metric tons by the year 2030.
Corn Intensification Program

The overall goal of the Corn Intensification Program is to increase productivity and
production of quality corn for human consumption, feeds and industrial uses, as well
as improve farmer’s incomes and quality of life. The program’s specific objectives
are: 1) to increase average corn productivity from 0.8 MT/ ha. to 4.0 MT/ha; 2) to
increase farmers’ adoption of the yellow corn hybrid technology; 3) .to produce
quality corn and decrease post-harvest losses by 5 percent through timely and
proper harvesting, shelling, drying and storage techniques; 4) to increase the
income of corn farmers by insuring at least 50 percent return on the investments
and by improving productivity of labor; and 5) to insure corn-based farming systems
technology development and transfer system.

The program shall be implemented through the development of corn cluster areas
as the basic production module. The farm cluster shall be a contiguous prime corn
area of at least 400 hectares. The program components will include: provision of
credit facility, acquisition of post-harvest facilities, extension and training, marketing
assistance, and technical support services. It is expected that total corn production
for the region will have reached 240 MT by the year 2030.

Abaca Rejuvenation and Expansion Program

The program intends to protect, rehabilitate and expand the abaca areas of the
region. Existing abaca lands will be protected from further disease infection. The
objectives of the program are: 1) to increase abaca fiber production as a raw
material input to handicraft making, pulp and paper and other industry uses; 2) to
increase average yield per hectare of abaca thereby increasing farmer’s net income;
and 3) to control if not eradicate the viral diseases of abaca. Buffer zones will be
established in order to curtail the spread of the abaca diseases. Disease eradication
will be conducted in abaca-infected areas through community participation.
Thereafter, replanting of rogued plantations will be done using disease- free tissue
cultured seedlings.

Abaca will likewise be intercropped within suitable coconut areas. It will also be
used as a companion crop within reforestation areas. Old plantations will be
rejuvenated using better yielding varieties.

Coconut Replanting and Multi-Cropping Program

The existing coconut lands of the region are already aged and low- producing. For
the next thirty years, senile trees must be cut and replaced with high yielding
varieties. Further, the productivity of coconut lands is low due to monocropping.
The coconut replanting and multi-cropping program intends to rehabilitate and
increase coconut land productivity and production. The objectives of the program
are: 1) to maximize utilization of the coconut lands of the region; 2) to increase the
net farm income of coconut farmers through the introduction of high yielding
varieties and multicropping; and 3) to provide for the raw material needs of the
coconut-based agri-industries of the region like geo-textile making, virgin coconut oil
production, coconut wine, vinegar and coco-based handicrafts making.

The strategy of implementation will center on the establishment and promotion of

coconut model farms. A "model coconut farm" is a cluster of small but contiguous
farms owned and/or operated by small coconut farmers totaling 15 to 20 hectares,
within the Strategic Agriculture and Fishery Development Zone (SAFDZs). It will have
the following features:

• Fully intercropped with cash and commercial crops such as corn,

legumes, bananas, root crops, fruit trees and agro-forest products;
• With 10 heads of cattle for fattening, 5 heads of carabao as
work animals and breeding, 250 chickens and 10 hogs for meat
production;
• Adequate water supply for irrigation, livestock use and/or for
aquaculture production;
• Organized and viable cooperative undertaking entrepreneurial
ventures; and
• Essential production and processing facilities such as irrigation
facilities, farm implements, fiber extractor, and multi-purpose dryer
operated by coconut farmers.

The model coconut farmer shall be provided with the necessary knowledge, values
and skills to develop his farm not only as a producer but also as an entrepreneur
through actual experience and training.

Other High Value Commercial Crops Development Program

The overall objective of the high value commercial crops program is to increase
production of the following crops in the region: sugar cane, banana and pineapple.
Intensive cropping of sugar cane in Camarines Sur would be needed to meet the
needs of its sugar mill. Banana and pineapple shall be produced for desserts.

Model farms for the above commodities will be established in strategic locations.
Technical assistance to farmers will be provided through extension and training.
Production inputs, loan assistance and credit facilities shall also be given.

Agro-Forestry Program

The agro-forestry program intends to increase the production of selected fruit

trees and fast-growing timber species in the region. The long-term objective of the
program is to increase the plant density and to cover the open production lands. Pili
as the flagship commodity of the region will be promoted for planting as intercrop to
coconut areas with slopes within the 18 to 30 percent. Forest tree species will be
recommended in lands having slopes greater than 30 percent. The program will
require the full cooperation of national government agencies that are concerned with
crops and the local government units. Seedlings will be mass-produced and
distributed to farmers. Nurseries will be established in strategic areas to provide
upland farmers with quality planting materials. Private land owners in upland areas
will be encouraged to go into agro-forestry.

Pasture Development Program

The pasture development program intends to improve the carrying capacity of the
region’s pasture lands from the present one animal head per hectare to 2.5 animal
heads per hectare. This will be carried out through the planting of improved grasses
and legumes. The program shall provide technical assistance to pasture lease
agreement holders through the provision of planting materials like grass cuttings and
legume seeds. Credit facility for the development of pasture lands shall also be
provided.

Fishponds Development Program

The program intends to increase fresh water fish production through the
improvement of fishpond management. New technologies on fishpond culture will
be provided to fishpond lease agreement holders. Provision of loan assistance for
fishpond development will be provided to fishpond owners.

Regional Growth Center Program

The program aims to disperse industrial activities to areas outside Metro Manila
thereby, encouraging investments in the countryside. The RGC Program includes
the establishment of the Bicol Regional Agri-Industrial Center and Provincial Agri-
Industrial Centers in the different provinces of the region. It includes
implementation of infrastructure to ensure that firms in those centers would be
competitive vis-avis those located in Metro Manila and in other regions.

Legazpi-Iriga-Naga-Daet Growth Corridor

The project aims to strengthen linkages among the provinces of Region V and
other regions to optimize the use of resources and encourage complementation of
local development strategies.

Special Economic Zones

A Special Economic Zone or ECOZONE refers to selected areas which are highly
developed or which have the potential to be developed into agro-industrial,
industrial, tourist, recreational, commercial, banking, investment and financial
centers whose metes and bounds are delimited by Presidential Proclamation.
Settlements Development

Scenario by Year 2030

Based on the assessment of the prevailing situations in the region, it is envisioned

that by the end of the planning period, 2000-2030, the following objectives would
have been achieved:
• To effect a rational distribution of the population
This can be realized through the provision of services and economic facilities
especially in identified growth areas so as to encourage and spur the movement of
people in still less-habited areas.

It is also proposed that an aggressive and responsive population management

program be implemented in all sectors of society.

• To achieve equitable distribution of the fruits of development

among sub-regional areas

The highly polarized growth of the cities of Naga and Legazpi, although proved to
have served its purpose, provided negative effect to neighboring areas. Some areas
no longer grew, were highly dependent on these cities for most of its economic
activities. Some areas have been merged and/or have grouped/organized together
to achieve a common purpose.

With the classification of Masbate and Camarines Norte provinces as one of the
poorest provinces in the country, efforts must be done in order to alleviate these
conditions. Emphasis should be made on the following: ensure provision of and
access to employment opportunities; enhance revenue generation and promote the
efficient use of resources; and develop agri-industry systems that are suited to the
areas.

In terms of delineation of areas in the region, the definitions used during the past
RPFP were adopted. These are listed below:
• Politico-administrative boundaries. The smallest political unit
considered is the barangay. Each province was considered as a single
IAD;
• Natural boundaries and resource homogeneity. Where natural
boundaries do not conflict with No. 1, the same were used considering
further the physical resource homogeneity of the area;
• Commonality of dominant socio-economic activities. Municipalities
whose dominant socio-economic activities are common or are inter-
related were grouped together in sub-integrated area development
(SIAD) unit;
• Functionality. In terms of spatial linkages, i.e., urban-rural linkages,
the neighboring municipality, the province, the region;
• Flow analysis. Population movement and commodity flow;
• Hierarchy of municipalities within each province or the centrality
function of each municipality relative to the province/region;
 • Contiguity. Physically, non-contiguous areas will pose more problems
in program/project implementation; existing SIAD delineation
(particularly in the BRBDP program provinces), current conflicts were
corrected; and
• Population distribution levels and trends of urbanization. Pinpoints key
growth/potential areas.

Redirection of Population Growth

Urban centers whose further growth may be encouraged include all the identified
secondary and tertiary growth centres of all SIADS. These will be given priority
considering their designated functions. Functions still not present within these
centres shall be provided to maximize their functionality.

Urban centres whose growth must be restrained /discouraged include:

• All settlements within the proclaimed reservations areas.

Affected settlements of Tiwi, Malinao, and Manito, all of Albay and part
of Sorsogon City (areas covered by then-Bacon) in Sorsogon province
will be allowed expansion outside the peripheries of the reservation
areas suitable for settlement purposes;
• All settlements within the danger zones of Mayon Volcano, Mts.
Bulusan and Iriga which are all active volcanoes; and those lying along
active fault lines. Consonant to these, frontline agencies especially
those in the services and infrastructure sectors shall be prohibited from
implementing projects that serve to negate the importance of this
policy, i.e., the expansion of the current level of education facilities,
power supply connections, provision of pipe water supply, etc.;
• All settlements lying within historical tsunami areas – affected
barangays along Sorsogon Bay; and
• All urban centres which are surrounded by prime agricultural
rice lands. These are the poblaciones of Oas, Libon, Baao, Ocampo,
Sangay, Pili, Bombon and Calabanga. Some barangays of these
municipalities can have urban expansion as indicated in the proposed
settlement map.

Infrastructure Development

Basically, the infrastructure plan is based on the development challenges, issues

and concerns confronting the development of the region. These could be achieved
through spatial development strategies and supporting policies and with
corresponding programs and projects. The spatial development strategies and
policies are categorized into general and specific.

General Development Strategies and Policies

The national level spatial development strategies and policies are also deemed
appropriate at the regional level. These are broadly categorized as follows: a)
Strategic Role of Infrastructure; b) Food Security and Agrarian Reforms; c)
Protection and Disaster Mitigation; and d) Local and Private Sector Participation. The
details are shown below.

Strategic role of infrastructure

• Prioritize and implement infrastructure projects that support the

policy of national dispersal through regional concentration;
• Promote inter-modal transportation systems, taking into account
compatibility, economic feasibility, comparative advantage and
linkages of desired transportation modes to facilitate smooth
transfer of people and goods between designated transfer
points;
• Prioritize and implement infrastructure projects that allow
increased access to basic social and other development services
while catering to productive sectors and market-based
industries;
• Ensure compatibility of infrastructure with local land use and
development plans, giving priority to projects with the most
strategic impacts;
• Protect infrastructure right-of-way.

Food Security and Agrarian Reform

• Prioritize and implement strategic rural/regional infrastructure

that support food security and agrarian reform objectives by
enhancing local production and market linkages.

Protection and Disaster Mitigation

• Promote infrastructure compatibility with NIPAS and other

protection areas, mitigating potential negative effects of
infrastructure projects, while ensuring the operational efficiency
of such projects and protecting them from the harmful
encroachment of other activities;
• Incorporate disaster mitigation principles in Infrastructure
development; and

Local and Private Sector Participation

• Promote local and private sector participation in infrastructure

planning, decision-making and implementation.

Spatial Development Strategies and Policies Specific for the Region

The overall strategy of the plan is geared towards restructuring the infrastructure
requirements of the region. It shall provide infrastructure support services to the
three other plans within the planning horizon of 3–10 years period. The required
interregional linkages, particularly those among urban centers shall be maintained in
order to increase access to alternative product sources and markets, allowing for
increased competition and greater economic integration.

To achieve these objectives, the regional priorities resulting from the various
workshops are: (1) Railways; (2) Power, Electrification and Irrigation; (3) Roads and
Bridges, Airports, Ports, Water Supply; and (4) Communication.

General Strategies and Policies

The order of priority of physical development shall be:

• maintenance of existing infrastructure facilities to extend the life span
of the project and thereby generate more productive use of assets;
• construction of additional and/or new structures.

The type and scale of new infrastructure facilities shall be consistent with or in
support of the desired spatial pattern for a specific plan period. Likewise,
infrastructure shall be used to induce or effect the realization of the desired spatial
pattern.

The location of new infrastructure shall as much as possible, avoid disturbing

critical ecosystems. In cases where this does not apply, appropriate mitigation
measures shall be incorporated in the project design.

Existing infrastructure facilities found to be improperly located .i.e. threatened by

environmental hazard or impinge upon critical ecosystems shall be made to conform
to the policies established under Protection Land Use.

The provision of infrastructure facilities in environmentally critical areas will have

to be studied closely. Any proposed project in any of these areas as defined in the
Protection Land Use Plan shall be subjected to environmental impact assessment.

The construction of roads and bridges, communications and other infrastructure

and installations within the identified environmentally-critical areas by government
and private institutions shall be undertaken with the least impairment of the
resource values therein. The objective is to avoid or reduce damage or injury to the
resource value. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall
likewise be involved in the planning and establishment of these infrastructure
facilities.

Maintain and/or rehabilitate existing infrastructure facilities in production and

settlement areas to facilitate socio-economic activities.

Upgrade and/or provide new infrastructure facilities in the identified expansion

areas for production and settlement.
 Upgrading and/or new construction shall be supported by an appropriate study
indicating the economic viability, social desirability and environmental impact
assessment. The latter shall apply only to critical projects defined under
Proclamation No. 2146.

The design of infrastructures shall be based on engineering design and best

practices and shall conform to the National Building Code.

Specific Strategies and Policies

The transportation network of the region shall be so designed to link the growth
poles, production areas and other strategic development areas.

The plan for the transport sector is to create an intermodal transportation system
that will link the four (4) modes of transportation. Local and international traffic shall
be opened for the air and sea transport. Air transport development will involve the
upgrading of existing airports into international standards while ports development
will consider the provision of RORO facilities in areas covered by the nautical
highway. The local sea traffic will involve travel to and from neighboring barangays
and municipalities using local ports. For land transport, roads and railways shall be
upgraded to accommodate the increasing traffic demand.

Roads Transport

The mode of improvement for road sections shall be based on the Annual Average
Daily Traffic (AADT). Road sections with an AADT of 550 shall preferably be
concreted. Otherwise double bituminous surface treatment shall be preferred for
road sections with an AADT between 360 and 550; gravel for road sections with an
AADT between 160 and 360; and earth for road sections with an AADT below
160. Horizontal and vertical alignment, drainage facilities and other related
structures shall conform to the AASHTO standards. Existing road densities in the
primary growth centers shall be increased to at least 1 km/sq.km.

The above conditions shall be applied to the priority road sections that support the
nautical highways, growth poles and production and tourism areas.

Railways

The railway transport services will be developed through the upgrading of its
physical facilities. Efficient, cheap and safe train service in the mainline south of the
PNR shall be in operation up to Matnog, Sorsogon. Additional new rolling stocks
shall be provided based on passenger and cargo traffic, if deemed necessary, the
operation of the PNR shall be privatized.
Sea Transport

On water transport development, priority shall be given to national ports and other
seaports identified in the nautical highway. To achieve more efficient port services,
other port appurtenances and facilities shall be based on the type of cargo handled
and the projected volume of passengers and cargoes. The traffic flow and influence
areas shall also serve as the bases for ports development in particular on the
establishment of RORO facilities for the identified ports included in the nautical
highway (Figure 4.05).

Air Transport

The strategic framework is based on having effective and efficient airport runways
and facilities within international standards. The physical infrastructures would
require: Construction of the New Legazpi Airport, upgrading of the existing airports
to serve as gateways to regional centers and major tourist destinations and a
Feasibility study of the Pamplona Airport in Camarines Sur. The policies that need to
be in place are: a) Ensuring compliance with international security standard; b)
Promoting the integration with global markets and considering the need to develop
more international gateways; and c) encouraging airline industry to restore domestic
flights for the inter-provincial and inter-regional flights as shown in Figure 4.05.

Water Resources

The strategy shall incorporate the fundamental elements of integrated water

resources managements. These elements involve: 1) strong coordination among
water users, 2) water conservation, 3) social, economic and environmental value of
water, and 4) demand management.
Water Supply

The provision of safe, potable and sufficient water supply for domestic,
commercial and industrial use shall taken into account the following: (a) the
targeted human settlements/cluster of households, number of population served; (b)
and willingness and ability of water associations to share in the responsibility of
installing and maintaining a system.

Level I, a point source, usually a protected well (shallow/deep well drilled driven)
or developed spring, with one water outlet but without any distribution system and
has a coverage of 250 meters radius from source and has effective serviceability of
15 to 25 households. These are adopted in rural areas where houses are thinly
scattered. Generally, there are no water treatment provided, in some areas however,
disinfections are conducted periodically.

Level II water supply is communal faucet system consisting of a point source, a

reservoir, a piped distribution network and communal faucets. The water sources are
usually drilled/driven wells or spring. Water treatments are not also provided except
for periodic disinfections by local authorities. A simple communal piped water system
with communal faucet for 4 to 6 households. Each communal faucet has an
effective area within 25 meters radius and the system average effective service is
100 households, will be generally be used in rural areas or semi-urban areas where
houses are clustered densely enough to justify a pipe water distribution system.

Level III, piped water system with individual connections, will generally be
adopted for densely populated barangay centers and urban areas. Preferably, the
source for gravity type II and Level III system should be within 2.5 kilometers from
the beneficiary centers. Level II system will be federated into a Level III when the
serviced settlements satisfactorily satisfied the minimum requirements for a Level III
system. This system has a source, reservoir, piped distribution network and
individual household connections where water treatments are provided through a
drip type chlorination system.
Figure 4.05 Sea and Air Flow Map
Irrigation

It shall focus on the maintenance, rehabilitation of aged and damaged irrigation

facilities and appurtenant structures and on the construction of new irrigation
facilities targeting the 50% of the total potentially irrigable areas. Moreover, it shall
implement the volumetric water pricing system.

The construction of irrigation projects shall be in full support of Republic Act No.
6978 (AFMA) thus ensuring the promotion of rural development for an accelerated
program within ten-year period.

Flood Mitigation

Flood mitigation structures are important to safeguard the population, settlement

and agricultural areas. But because of the huge investments required, an integrated
flood mitigation and drainage program throughout the region should be prepared
coupled with disaster management programs. The structures shall be so designed to
give importance to the upstream and downstream impacts.

Power/Energy

The power/energy policies shall initiate institutional reforms to ensure

transparency and accountability, if not eradicate administrative impropriety. Such
reforms should: a) pursue the streamlining of the ECs to reduce system losses to
single digit, b) allow the private sector through investment management contract
(IMC); c) address NPC losses by loan restructuring d) privatize Transco and NPC
generation plants in an optimal manner; e) privatization of existing NPC-SPUG
areas. The other energy/power policies shall focus on: ensuring sufficient and
reliable power supply and system efficiency improvement; prioritizing projects that
address energy generation for sufficient power supply; exploring the use of new and
renewable energy sources; 100% electrification of all the barangays; and resolving
water allocation issues on hydropower.

Communication

The strategies for the development of the digital infrastructure includes regulatory
and legal reforms outlined as follows:
• Promoting and strengthening the independence of regulatory powers
of the NTC;
• Promoting price settings to balance cost recovery, externalities and
consumers willingness and capacity to pay. Adoption of cost-based
pricing for telecom sector- lower national/international charges;
• Setting/clarifying legal regime on voice over the internet protocol
(VOIP) – Executive Order on VOIP;
• Continuing work with mobile phone producers to disperse cell sites to
un-served areas to connect the region and the entire country.
Social Infrastructures

School Building

The school building program shall provide adequate and convenient classrooms
through the following strategies: (a) rehabilitation and/or improvement of partly
damaged or not well maintained but economically repairable classrooms to maximize
the use of existing structures; (b) replacement of aged or severely dilapidated
classrooms; (c) construction of new classrooms to accommodate the annual
increment in enrollment, maintain an average occupancy rate of about 40 to 50
pupils per room, and provide accessible educational facilities to small and isolated
barangays, and (d) provision of non-academic school buildings.

Health Facilities

The planning design for the location and bed capacities of hospitals shalll follow a
hierarchal order consisting of 10 beds for municipal hospital, 25 beds for district
hospitals, 50 beds for regional hospitals and 250 beds for medical centers. The
health centers and equipment shall be upgraded to conform within standards and/or
minimum requirements.

To balance the distribution of health facilities, the primary health care facilities and
services shall be provided in the rural areas. These facilities shall be based on
accessibility to the users, number of population served, health practices in the rural
communities, health status of the population and socio-economic situation.

Government Buildings Facilities

The maintenance, improvement and new construction of buildings will be the

responsibility of the respective concerned entities. RA 7160 or the Local
Government Code of 1991 tasks LGUs with the responsibility of developing their
respective areas through their own resources, national government buildings from
the generated savings of the agency.

Solid Waste Management Facilities

DENR Administrative Order 98-49 and 98-50, encourage LGUs to adopt the
sanitary landfill method as the proper means of waste disposal. It requires LGUs to
put up or upgrade their existing open dumping sites to specified levels taking into
account their technical feasibilities. A 2.60 hectare of land per 100,000 population is
recommended for sanitary landfill projects.

Long-Term Infrastructure Projects

The proposed infrastructure projects shall put into operation the desired spatial
pattern. The major proposals, categorized according to sub-sector, are presented
as follows:
 Regional Transportation Network

By the end of the planning period, an inter-modal transport system shall be in

place in the region. The inter-modal transport system will feature improved roads,
strategic ports with RORO facilities, upgraded railways and airports. Adequate
facilities required for safe and comfortable transportation of people, goods and
services from end to end of the system will be provided. The network will link the
production and processing areas to the primary and secondary growth centers of the
region, as well as to other regions. At the same time, it shall help increase the influx
of local and foreign tourists.

Effective provision of the basic land transport linkages will involve the
construction/improvement of national secondary, provincial, city, municipal,
barangay, and farm to market roads and bridges.

The highways and road sections to support the nautical highway (Figure 4.06)
RORO development, follow:

• Central Nautical Highways

 San Remigio Port, San Remigio, Placer, Masbate (RORO)

a. Placer, Masbate – Aroroy, Masbate Road

b. Malinta –Lagta Baleno road

 Aroroy Port, Aroroy, Masbate (RORO)

a. Placer, Masbate – Aroroy, Masbate Road

b. Malinta –Lagta Baleno road

 Claveria Port, Claveria, Masbate (RORO)

a. Claveria – San Pascual, Masbate Road

b. Boca Engano, Masbate – Claveria, Masbate road
 San Pascual Port, San Pascual, Masbate (RORO)

a. San Pascual -Claveria, Masbate Road

 Pasacao Port, Pasacao, Camarines Sur (RORO)

 Pantao Port, Pantao, Libon, Albay (RORO)

a. Libon-Marocmoc – Pantao Road

• Eastern Nautical Highways

 Codon Port, San Andres, Catanduanes (RORO)

 a. Catanduanes Circumferential Road

 San Vicente Port, Caramoan, Camarines Sur (RORO)

a. Ocampo-Tigaon-Goa-Lagonoy-Presentacion-Garchitorena-
Caramoan-Guijalo
b. Tinambac Siruma Road
 Sangay (Nato) Port, Sangay, Camarines Sur (RORO)
 Cataingan Port, Cataingan, Masbate (RORO)

a. Cataingan – Aroroy, Masbate Highway

 Aroroy Port, Aroroy, Masbate (RORO)

a. Aroroy – Cataingan, Masbate Highway

The MTPDP priority projects:

• Mabolo Bridge
• Ocampo-Tigaon-Goa-Lagonoy-Presentacion-Garchitorena-Caramoan-
Guijalo Road, Camarines Sur,
• Tinambac-Siruma Road, Camarines Sur,
• Cam. Sur-Tiwi-Legaspi-Manito-Sorsogon Road,
• Ligao-Pio Duran Road, Albay,
• Pilar-Donsol Road, Sorsogn

Foreign Assisted Projects (FAP) national roads:

• Libon-Marocmoc-Pantao Road
• Ligao-Pioduran Road
• Catanduanes Circumferential Road
• Lagonoy-Presentacion-Caramoan-Garchitoren-Guijalo Road
• Masbate-Milagros Road
• Sorsogon-Bacon-Manito Road
• Putiao-Pilar-Donsol Road
• Daang-Maharlika via Abuyog-Gubat-Ariman Road
Figure 4.06 Philippine Nautical Highway
 Locally funded (LFP) national roads
Albay Camarines Norte Camarines Sur
First District Bagong – Silang- Capalonga First District:
Rd.
CBS – Tiwi – Legaspi Catanduanes Concreting, Reblocking
Boundary Rd of Quirino H'way
Mt. Mayon Park Road,Tabaco Jct. Bato-Baras-Giggmoto- Sipocot-Barcelonita-Cabusao
City Viga rd. Road
Tabaco-Ligao Road Concreting of Jct. Second District
Panganiban Sabloyon Road
Sto-Domingo-Malilipot Road Concreting of Buenavista Naga City Boundary-
Road Calabanga-Balongay Road
Improvement of Tabaco Concreting of Sioron Nat. Hanawan-Coonsocep Road
Wharf Rd Road
Improvement of Malinao Pob. Concreting of Soboc Road Hanwan-San Ramon Road
Rd.
Improvement of Sto. Domingo Concreting of Tambongon Carolina-Panicuason Road
Rd. Road
Const. Of Mayon Bridge, Tiwi. Concreting of Happy Valley Anayan-Ocampo Road
Road
Second District: Concreting of Mayngaway Third District
Road
Lakandula drive road, L C. Concreting of Tinago Road Tinamabac-Siruma Road
Leg.-Manito-Punta de Jesus Concreting of Villa Aurora Goa-Tinambac Road
Rd. Road
Camalig-Comun-Inarado- Concreting of Tilod Lagonoy-Presentacion-
Gapo- Penafrancia Road, Caramoan Road
Banquerohan-Bariis-Sogoy- Concreting of San Andres Goa-Digdigon-San Isidro Road
Sorsogon Boundary Section
Third District Masbate Balayan-Tagbon-Lamon-
Pinamihagan Road
Albay West Coast Road, First District Lagonoy-Presentacion Road
Maonon-Panguirianan- San Fernando North Road Presentacion Maligaya Road
Pioduran Road,
Libon-Bacolod-Buga Road. San Pascual-Claveria Road Teres-Garchitorena Road
San Fernando-Talisay Road Jct. Binalay-Tamban Road
Sorsogon San Fernando South Road San Rafael-Salogon-
Mampirao-San Jose Road.
First District Second District Fourth District
Construction of Pilar-Donsol Crossing Mandaon-Mandoan Iriga-Hanawan Road
Road, Road
Donsol Banuang Gurang Jct. Milagros-Aroroy-Baleno- Construction of Laganac
Road, Lagta Road Bridge
Banuang Gurang-Albay Bdry Buenavista-Cawayan Road Baao Old MSR.
Rd.
Sorsogon Diversion Cataingan-Placer Rroad
Concreting,
Ariman-Casiguran Road. Daraga - Placer Road.
Second District
Ariman-Junction-Bulusan Lake
Irosin-Bulusan Lake Road
 Ariman-Casiguran Road
Juban-Magallanes Road
Gubat-Prieto Diaz Road

Local roads proposed by the LGUs for the improvement

Improvement of 77.302 kilometers Provincial roads and 409 linear

•
meters of bridges
• Improvement of 68.654 kilometers City roads
• Improvement of 41.992 kilometers Municipal roads and 8 linear meters
of bridges
• Improvement of 432.207 kilometers Barangay roads and 28 linear
meters of bridges
Tourism infrastructure support roads
• The access roads to major tourism destinations envisioned in the
Regional Tourism Master Plan: (1) road sections in the third district of
Camarines Sur, first and second district of Albay, and Catanduanes (2)
road sections proposed by LGUs directly leading to the tourism areas.
• Improvement of existing roads leading to the existing airports and the
proposed New Legaspi City airport.
• Improvement of existing roads and bridges leading to different ports
particularly in the Third District of Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes,
and Masbate.
• Improvement and construction of roads leading to the PNR

Railways

• The railway program includes, 1) upgrading and improvement of

physical facilities of the PNR Mainline South, 2) PNR extension to
Matnog, Sorsogon, 3) Provision of additional rolling stocks

Water Transport

• Improvement of existing facilities of the eight (8) PPA operated ports

and completion of Pantao Port. The eight ports are: (1) Legaspi City
Port; (2) Tabaco Port; (3) Pasacao Port; (4) Virac Port; (5) Masbate
Port; (6) Bulan Port; (7) Matnog Port; and (8)) San Andres Port.
• Establishment of RORO in the identified ports included in the central
and eastern nautical highways, as follows.

Central Nautical Highway Ports Eastern Nautical Highway Ports

1. San Remigio, Placer, Masbate 1. Codon, San Andres, Cat’nes
2. Aroroy, Masbate 2. San Vicente, Caramoan, Cam. Sur
3. Boca Engano Port, Claveria, 3. Sangay, Cam. Sur
4. Claveria, Masbate 4. Cataingan, Masbate
5. San Pascual, Masbate 5. Arorroy, Masbate
6. Pasacao, Cam. Sur
7. Pantao, Albay
 • Provision of RORO facilities complementing the nautical highway, the
Trans-Visayas Inter-modal Transport Network Project. These ports
include Pilar Port in Sorsogon, Aroroy and Mandaon Ports in Masbate.
The technical viability of these ports shall likewise be determined to be
undertaken by DOTC - PMO ports; and
• Improvement of local ports to support the inter-island transport and
complement the central, and eastern nautical highways. These ports
include ports in Ticao Island, Masbate, namely: (1) San Jacinto port (2)
Talisay Port, San Fernando, (3) San Fernando Port, (4) Batuan and
Burgos (Lagundi) Ports, Batuan and 5) Balud Port, Masbate. The
feasibility of these ports shall also be determined by DOTC – PMO Ports
for inclusion in their Local Port Development Program.

Air Transport

• Upgrading of existing airports to serve as gateways to regional centers

and major tourism destinations, and
• Fund sourcing for and implementation of the construction of the New
Legaspi City Airport
• Establishment of a domestic airport of international standard at
Pamplona, Camarines Sur. (The FS is now being undertaken by the
DOTC)

Communications

• In addition to the policies, programs and projects, the DOTC-line

agencies need to improve their buildings and facilities to effectively
perform the regulatory reforms in the industry

Power / Energy

Projects that are geared to sufficient energy generation and effective power supply
are presented below with their respective locations indicated on Figure 4.07 and
Figure 4.08.
• Rehabilitation of generating units to their original efficiency
• Development of other geothermal energy sources through promotion
of geothermal exploration
• Development of new and renewable energy sources,
• Implementation of the Luzon-Catanduanes interconnection project,
• Regional industrial center transmission lines,
• 40 MW Tanawon Geothermal Power Plant, and
• Rapu-Rapu Diesel Power Plant.
Figure 4.07 Proposed Power and Energy Projects
Figure 4.08 Prioritized Barangays for Energization
Water Resources Development

Water Supply

The provision of safe, potable and sufficient water supply for domestic,
commercial and industrial use will cover the following programs and projects:
• Improvement of 15 water district projects (Level III water supply
system), LWUA proposal
• Construction of 170 Level II water supply system as per LGU proposals
• Construction of 1,033 Level I water supply system as per LGU
proposals, and
• Construction of 16,920 units of Level I, DPWH proposal
Irrigation

Physical improvement of the existing coverage area and construction of new

projects to increase area coverage will be implemented through specific programs
and projects as follows:
• Rehabilitation of irrigation facilities covering 18,247 hectares, FAPs
(NIA-Assisted). Includes RBWMP, on THIRIS, 3542 hectares.
• Rehabilitation of irrigation facilities covering 3,968 hectares, FAPs
(DAR-Assisted)
• Rehabilitation of Irrigation Facilities covering 40,882 hectares (Locally
Funded)
• New construction of irrigation facilities covering 1,560 hectares (Locally
Funded)

Flood Control

Flood control development will promote and adopt Integrated Water Resources
Management (IWRM) principles, with the following programs and projects:
• Implementation of the Bicol River Basin Watershed Development
Projects
• Implementation of the locally funded flood control projects of DPWH.
• Mayon Volcano Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project or the Comprehensive
disaster prevention around Mt. Mayon
Figure 4.09 Composite Land Use Map
Social Infrastructure

The region proposes the social infrastructure programs and projects as follows:

Schools

• Establishment of elementary schools in Barangays without elementary

schools (BWOES) (21 Barangays out of 135 under the SONA
commitment and construction of 38 elementary school in school-less
barangays)

School Classrooms

• Classroom construction ( 2818 for elementary schools and 1,712

for secondary schools)
• Classroom replacement (3,141 for elementary schools and 542
for secondary schools)
• Classroom repair (14,167 for elementary schools and 1,788 for
secondary schools)

Health Facilities

• Repair / improvement of hospital buildings

• Construction of Barangay Health Stations
• Repair / Improvement of Main Health Centers
•
Government Buildings

• Repair / improvement / construction of government buildings and

facilities

Solid Waste Management

• Establishment of solid waste management in areas with more than

100,000 population by their respective LGUs

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Review, Approval and Adoption

The RPFP acquired legitimacy as the result of a formal process of endorsement

and adoption. As such, government agencies, local government and the private
sector acknowledge its significance. It becomes an integrating factor in various
development activities in the Region.

The RPFP will guide detailed land use planning and development at the
provincial, city and municipal levels through the various legal and political
controls operating at those levels. Under present conditions, the main leverage
of the national and regional agencies relate to their public investment functions.
The LGUs through their planning and zoning powers, as well as their capital
improvement programs, will carry out the RPFP provisions which pertain to
them. At both levels, through positive and negative measures, government
seeks to influence private investment.

The plan implementation process started with the official endorsement by the
Regional Land Use Committee (RLUC) of the “draft” RPFP after the completion of
the first draft RPFP by the RLUC. It was submitted to the RDC for approval and
adoption as the “final” RPFP.

The steps in this process were as follows:

Interregional Consultations. Two interregional consultations were attended

by NEDA personne. The first inter-regional consultation group was with the
Visayas and Mindanao regions, i.e. regions IV-B, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X and XIII.
The second group was composed of Regions III, IV-A, IV-B and V. These
consultations aimed to identify and resolve inter-regional issues; to agree on
possible areas for integration and complementation of development strategies,
especially among regions with strong trade and transportation linkages and those
sharing common boundaries; and to establish substantive linkages among
regions.

Review of the draft RPFP by the Regional Land Use committee, which is
composed of agencies concerned with the plan components, i.e. settlements,
production, protection and infrastructure. The overall responsibility for
orchestrating the review process was with NEDA.

Provincial Consultations. The RLUC-TWG presented the draft RPFP to the

Provincial Development Councils (PDCs)/ Provincial Land Use Committees
(PLUCs) for their comments and suggestions. This also familiarized them with
those provisions of the RPFP that affect the province.

Revision of Draft. The RLUC-TWG made revisions on the draft RPFP based on
results of the inter-regional consultations and the provincial consultations.

Review and Endorsement by the RLUC. The RLUC reviewed again the RPFP,
the revised draft incorporated results of the series of consultation meetings. The
revised draft was endorsed for presentation to the RDC for approval and
adoption.

RDC Approval and Adoption. The RDC approved and adopted the RPFP
during its meeting on April 25, 2006 through an appropriate resolution.
Plan Phasing

The 30-year period programs and projects is divided into three phases, Phase 1
from 2000-2010, Phase 2 from 2011-2020 and Phase 3 from 2021-2030. To have
a disagregation of financial costing and to synchronize the RPFP with the tenure
of political officials and the medium term and short-term planning cycles at the
different levels.

Organizational Structure for Plan Implementation

The Regional Development Council, through its Regional Land Use Committee
(RLUC) is the over-all lead in the implementation of this plan. This entity is the
counterpart of the National Land Use Committee (NLUC) which is responsible for
the coordinative functions tasked to oversee physical planning activities in the
region. The RLUC shall likewise perform deliberative functions on purely land use
policy issues and conflicts. Policy recommendations shall be elevated to the
Regional Development Council for final deliberation and decision. Operational and
technical issues/conflicts shall be decided upon by the RLUC and based on the
nature of the concern may no longer be raised to the RDC.

The RLUC shall be backstopped by a Regional Core Group with NEDA V staff as
the lead. The RCG shall be supervised by the RLUC and supported by lead staff
on concerns related to production land use, protection land use, settlements and
infrastructure. These lead sector staff shall provide the necessary
sector/technical inputs and give preliminary recommendations on issues related
to their particular sector. The Regional Core Group shall serve as the integrating
body of the sector inputs and shall likewise act as the technical secretariat of the
RLUC.

The existing structure of the Regional Land Use Committee (RLUC) as a

special/affiliate committee under the Regional Development Council (RDC) shall
be maintained. It is chaired by the Regional Director of NEDA and Co-chaired by
the Regional Coordinator of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating
Council; and the members are the Regional Directors of the following agencies:
Department of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, Tourism, Interior and Local
Government, Environment and Natural Resources, Transportation and
Communication, Public Works and Highways, Trade and Industry, Science and
Technology and the Regional Administrator of the Housing and Land Use
Regulatory Board and three regular RDC members representing the Private
Sector.

The Regional Core Group (RCG) shall be composed of senior technical staff
from the selected RLUC member agencies, namely: DENR, DAR, DA, DPWH,
HLURB, DOT, DOST, HUDCC, DILG, DOTC and NEDA. Overall coordination of all
physical planning activities shall be the responsibility of the NEDA Regional Office
specifically the Macro Intersectoral Coordination and Assistance Division
(MICAD).
 At the Provincial Level, a Provincial Land Use Committee (PLUC) is the
counterpart of the Regional Land Use Committee (RLUC), which is also tasked to
coordinate and supervise the physical planning activities in the Province.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Integration of Plans and Planning Process

The implementation of the RPFP will be carried out through the RDC-NRO
network. The specific committee, who will be responsible for this is the Regional
Land Use Committee (RLUC). The applicable portions and phases of the RPFP
become integral part of the medium-term and short-term planning processes and
output directing the RDC and its member-agencies and local authorities. This
process of plan integration has both vertical and horizontal dimensions.

Vertical Integration

Vertical integration is achieved by aligning, rationalizing or reconciling spatial

policies at the regional level with those of the national level, on the one hand, and
ensuring that provincial, city and municipal comprehensive land use plans take the
RPFP into consideration, on the other.

Despite efforts to align the RPFP with the NFPP during the plan preparation stage,
it may well be that new issues and concerns arise at this late stage of the planning
process which cannot be unilaterally resolved by the Region. In such case, the RDC,
on the initiative of the RLUC, should seek clarification and /or resolution from the
NLUC. Once a resolution is made, a mutual adjustment is then effected that aligns
the two plans.

At the lower level of the hierarchy of plans, Provincial Physical Framework Plans
(PPFPs) and City and Municipal Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) are likewise
reconciled with the RPFP. The vertical integration of lower level land use plans of
provinces, highly urbanized and independent component cities as provided for under
EO 72, Section 2(d); and through the power of the provincial governments to review
and approve comprehensive land use plans and zoning ordinances of component
cities and municipalities as mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991.

Horizontal Integration

Horizontal integration ensures that the RPFP provides a basis for the medium-term
development planning and annual budgeting by the RDC. With the RPFP in place,
the RDP becomes one of its implementing instruments. All aspects of the RPFP can
be translated into specific aspects of the RDP. The general objectives of the RPFP
are comprehensive and relevant enough for adoption in the medium-term plan. The
objectives of the RDP as defined by policies, strategies and targets should be
consistent with the RPFP spatial strategies and sectoral development policies.

The physical development policies covering the four major components of the
RPFP will similarly serve as the framework for the formulation of specific sectoral
programs and projects. For example, the regional production land use strategy can
influence the formulation of programs and projects in the economic or productive
sectors. The regional settlements strategy for its part, provides guidelines for the
social programs and projects and the location and allocation of support
infrastructure. The regional infrastructure strategy serves as a basis for the
infrastructure support component of the MTRDP which in turn is translated into the
Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP). The RDIP is finally broken
down into the Annual Investment Program (AIP) which becomes part of the annual
budget.

The environmental management or protection land use strategy can be a source

of sectoral programs and projects having to do with preservation, conservation,
rehabilitation and protection of vital natural resources. This will help operationalize
the Philippine Agenda 21, which seeks among other things “to achieve economic
growth with adequate protection of the country’s biological resources and its
diversity, vital ecosystems functions and over-all environmental quality.

Beyond the requirement that all sectoral development programs and projects
impinging on the natural ecosystems must incorporate environmental conservation
measures, the environmental management strategy of the RPFP demands that active
conservation and rehabilitation projects in severely degraded areas be regarded as
“development projects” in their own right. It is time that more projects of this latter
type find their way into the RDP.

Another aspect of horizontal integration pertains to sectoral plans. Sectoral

agencies dealing with land and other natural resources may formulate and adopt
their own long-term and medium-term plans. Such sectoral plans must be prepared
within the framework of the RPFP. The sectoral agencies’ plans must be linked to
the RPFP process in two ways: First, the sectoral agencies provide data and
information as input to the formulation or refinement of regional development goals
and objectives in the RPFP. Second, sectoral agencies implement those particular
components of the RPFP that are within their functional responsibility through their
sectoral programs and projects. The latter role includes monitoring of environmental
change to furnish feedback information into an inter-agency resource information
system. This resource information system provides monitoring and feedback data
for future revisions of the RPFP and the formulation of other development plans.

Replanning and Updating

The Regional Land Use Committee (RLUC) shall monitor changes in land use and
other physical resources. The NEDA shall be responsible for the monitoring of
changes in the socioeconomic environment.

The Provincial Land Use Committee (PLUC) and the Provincial Planning (PPDO),
City and the Municipal Development Planning Offices (MPDO) shall serve as the
counterparts at the province, city and the municipality. The PLUC together with the
Provincial and City Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO/CENRO) shall
monitor environmental change at the provincial level. Private Organizations and
People’s Organizations are encouraged to participate. Any revision of the medium-
term plan that has spatial or land use implications should be reflected in the revision
of the RPFP.

Executive Order NO. 72 identifies the composition of the PLUC. It is Chaired by

the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator (PPDC), Provincial
Agriculturist, a representative of non-government organization that are represented
in the Provincial Development Council (PDC) and representatives from the following
national government agencies as members: Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board
(HLURB), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH)< Department of Tourism (DOT) and
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Plan implementation shall be monitored to facilitate its updating. The monitoring

shall be done on a yearly basis. The Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation
System (RPMES) shall be used as the official monitoring report.

Policy review shall be hand-in-hand with the monitoring to be able to improve the
program implementation. Based on the results of the monitoring, policies needing
refinement or revision can be raised to the proper authorities.

It is targeted that the RLUC shall perform periodic review of the physical plans and
conduct revision and updating every three years to coincide with the term of the
local government officials.

IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT SERVICES

There shall be support activities that will ensure the efficient and effective
implementation of the programs and projects. Likewise, capability building
programs shall be proposed to enhance the planners on the aspect of updating,
monitoring and evaluation of the project being implemented. Advocacy on the 30-
year plan shall be performed for a wider dissemination of the proposed land use,
protection, settlements and infrastructure plans to achieve the goals and objectives
of the plan. Included in the promotion will be the potential of the region to attract
more investors

Public Information Programs. A précis of the plan in non-technical language

will be written and disseminated through the different media of communication. It
will be translated into a primer to enable ordinary citizens to understand what it is all
about and how it affects them.

Capability Building Program. Efforts shall be exerted for training and

retraining programs on various aspects of physical and land use planning to enable
TWG members to keep abreast of recent developments in physical planning
concepts and techniques. Training is needed on gender analysis and planning to
better analyze and plan for gender concerns that influence sectoral policies and
plans. Scholarships, both locally and abroad may be sourced from time to time to
help facilitate this process.

Further Research. Further research shall be conducted through the Bicol

research system or the academe. Results of studies shall become inputs to the next
cycle of planning and plan refinement. The following is an initial list of research
areas:

• existing land use and other thematic maps using a series of satellite imageries
that will show changes in land use over time;
• map overlay analysis showing relationships among themes, i.e. land tenure
vs. land use.