Planning 3

Project Study of Choice:

Region V (Bicol Region)
The Bicol Region or Region V (also known as
Bicolandia) is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines.
Bicol (also spelled Bikol) is composed of four provinces
in the Bicol Peninsula, the southeastern end of Luzon
Island, and two island-provinces adjacent to the
peninsula. Its regional center is Legazpi City in Albay
province.
The region is composed of six provinces, namely,
Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and
the island-provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate.
https://philippinescities.com/region-5-bicol/

A. Natural Conditions of Region V

 Geographical
Geographically, Bicol Region is located in the southernmost tip of Luzon, which
lies at 123 to 126 degrees longitude and 12 to 14 degrees latitude or generally at the
mid-section of the country. It has a total land area of 17,362 square kilometers
representing 5.67% share of the Philippines in terms of land area.
The region is the gateway of Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao and is within
the international seas, hence, the gateway to the Pacific. Located in the heart of the
industrialized countries, the place would serve as a jumping board for market and
business in the Pacific Rim, Europe, and the United States.
Bicol is accessible by land from Manila and the rest of Luzon thru the Maharlika
and Quirino Highways. From the Visayas and Mindanao islands, it can be reached via
the Matnog ferry terminal. Manila is about 10 hours away from Legaspi City. It is
serviced by major bus lines traversing the Manila-Bicol route.
Bicol Region is composed of four contiguous provinces: Albay, Camarines Sur,
Camarines Norte, and Sorsogon; two island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate;
and seven cities namely, Legazpi, Naga, Iriga, Tabaco, Ligao, Sorsogon, and Masbate.
https://www.dti.gov.ph/regions/region5/r5-profile-of-region

 Topography
 The region’s topography can 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.

 Slope

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

file:///C:/Users/decha/Desktop/planning%20exam/semis/5-Bicol-RDP-2017-
2022.pdf

 Land Use

Statistics on the Land Use and disposition of Alienable & Disposal lands (as of
December 31, 2011)

http://r5.denr.gov.ph/index.php/support-services/land-management-service
The Bicol Region has a total land area of 1,763,250 hectares, of which 541,189
hectares are established as forestland and 1,238,091 hectares are alienable &
disposable lands. Per 2011 Philippine Forestry Statistics, it has a total forest cover of
156,476 hectares.
 As of 2011, a total of 83 Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM)
Agreements were signed by the DENR in the region involving 47,926 hectares of
forestland, and benefitting 12,328 households and 83 people's organizations. The
CBFM is a government strategy which "gives the management of forests back to the
people." It offers long-term security of tenure to partner-communities and promotes an
integrated approach to sustainable forest resource management.
The region also participated in the National Greening Program, a flagship
program of President Benigno S. Aquino III which aims to reforest the entire Philippines
within 2011-2016. In 2011 alone, Region 5 was able to rehabilitate 6,080 hectares of
open and denuded lands by conducting massive tree planting activities involving its
citizens, thereby expecting to increase the region's forest cover. 
Bicol Region has a large amount of rich flat land, and agriculture is the largest
component of the economy, followed by commercial fishing. Coconuts, abaca, banana,
coffee and jackfruit are the top five permanent crops in the region. Rice and corn are
among the chief seasonal crops. Mining is also one of the contributors to the region's
economy.

http://r5.denr.gov.ph/index.php/about-us/regional-profile

 Land Classification

Majority (70%) of Bicol’s land area is classified as alienable and disposable.

Forest lands account for only 29 percent while unclassified forest land is one percent
(Figure 3.8). There are 91,930 hectares classified as ancestral domain of Indigenous
Peoples (IPs) with certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT). Of this total, 13,926
hectares are for conversion from Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claim (CADC) to
CADT; and 26,096 hectares have ongoing conversion from CADC to CADT.
 Coastal Area

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

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

 Climate

Based on the Modified Corona’s climate classification system, three climate types
occur over the Bicol Region. 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.
  Rainfall
Rainfall. Majority of the average rainfall in the country is due to the occurrence of
tropical cyclones in the vicinity. The southwest and northeast monsoons contribute
seven percent each, while the remaining 39 percent is attributed to the combined effects
of the Inter- Tropical Convergence Zone, shear lines, 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 four 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.

https://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/5-Bicol-RDP-2017-2022.pdf

 Resources

Region 5 (Bicol Region) is best known for being the home of the world's largest
fish - the butanding (whale shark) and the majestic Mayon Volcano. It also has the other
beautiful natural features like mountains, waterfalls with lush vegetation, and beaches
that have grown famous for water sports activities.
Geology
Bicol Region is volcanic in origin and part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Volcanism is
evident by the number of hot springs, crater lakes, and volcanoes that dot the region
starting from Mount Labo in Camarines Norte to the Gate Mountains in Matnog,
Sorsogon. Mayon Volcano is the most prominent of the volcanoes in the region, famous
for its perfect conical shape and for being the most active in the country. Other
volcanoes include Bulusan Volcano, Mount Isarog, Mount Iriga, Mount Malinao, Mount
Masaraga, and the Pocdol Mountains.
Mineral Resources
The region is endowed with rich mineral resources, which include gold, copper,
guano, rock phosphate, marble, silver, lead and manganese.

Wildlife
The Bicol Region is home to both the world's largest and smallest fishes. Donsol,
a fishing town in Sorsogon province, serves as a sanctuary to a group of 40 whale
sharks (Rhincodon typus), which are considered as the largest fish in the world. Locally
known as "butanding", whale sharks visit the waters of Donsol from November to May.
They travel across the oceans but nowhere else have they been sighted in a larger
group the in the waters of Sorsogon. They measure between 18 to 40 feet in length and
weight about 20 tons.
Despite the enormous size and the popular misconceptions about all sharks
being "man-eaters", this species does not pose any significant danger to humans. In
fact, they are quite gentle and can be playful with divers. Divers and snorkelers can
swim with this giant fish without any risk apart from unintentionally being hit by the
shark's large tail fin.
The world's smallest commercial fish, sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis), can be
found only in Lakes Bato and Buhi in Camarines Sur province. Sinarapan is a goby
which grows to an average length of 1.25 centimeters, just slightly longer than the dwarf
goby. Today, unabated fishing in teh two lakes threatens the population of sinarapan.
Lastly, the species endemic to the region is the Isarog shrew-mouse, which
inhabits in Mt. Isarog, Camarines Sur.
Protected Areas
The following sites in the region have been declared by law as protected areas
and components of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS): the
Malabungot Protected Landscape and Seascape (Garchitorena, Camarines Sur), Chico
Island Wildlife Sanctuary (Cawayan, Masbate), Naro Island Wildlife Sanctuary
(Cawayan, Masbate), Lagonoy Natural Biotic Area (Lagonoy, Camarines Sur), Abasig-
Matogdon-Mananap Natural Biotic Area ( Camarines Norte), Bongsalay Natural Park
(Batuan, Masbate), Mayon Volcano Natural Park (Albay), Bicol Natural Park (Camarines
Norte and Camarines Sur), Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (Sorsogon), and Mt. Isarog
Natural Park (Camarines Sur).

DENR Jurisdiction
 Six (6) Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) and
eleven (11) Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) are
serving the mandate of the DENR in Region 5. These are: PENROs Camarines Norte,
Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Catanduanes; and CENROs Daet,
Naga City, Iriga City, Goa, Sipocot, Legazpi City, Guinobatan, Sorsogon City, Mobo,
San Jacinto, and Virac.

http://r5.denr.gov.ph/index.php/about-us/regional-profile

B. Population Structure of Region V

 Distribution

The population of Region V (Bicol

Region) as of August 1, 2015 was
5,796,989 based on the 2015 Census of
Population (POPCEN 2015).
The 2015 population of the region
is higher by 376,578 compared with the
population of 5.42 million in 2010, and by
1,110,320 compared with the population
of 4.69 million in 2000. Refer to Table 1.
The population of Region V increased by
1.29 percent annually, on average, during
the period 2010 to 2015.
https://psa.gov.ph/content/population-
region-v-bicol-based-2015-census-
population

Among the six provinces

comprising the region, Camarines Sur had
the biggest population in 2015 with 1.95
million, followed by Albay with 1.31 million,
Masbate with 892 thousand, Sorsogon
with 793 thousand, and Camarines Norte
with 583 thousand. Catanduanes had the
smallest population with 261 thousand.
Refer to Table 3.
 Camarines Norte
was the fastest growing
province in the region with
an average annual
population growth rate
(PGR) of 1.38 percent
during the period 2010 to
2015. It was followed by
Camarines Sur (1.32
percent), Sorsogon (1.30
percent), Masbate (1.28
percent), and Albay (1.22
percent). Catanduanes
posted the lowest PGR of 1.11 percent. See Table 4.

Region V is composed of seven cities, 107 municipalities, and 3,471 barangays.

Among the cities and
municipalities in the region, the
largest in terms of population size
is Legaspi City, Albay with
196,639 persons. It was followed
by Naga City, Camarines Sur
(196,003) and City of Sorsogon,
Sorsogon (168,110). Refer to
Table 5.

https://psa.gov.ph/content/population-region-v-bicol-based-2015-census-
population

Demography Status of Region 5 (Bicol Region)

 https://psa.gov.ph/content/quickstat-region-v-bicol-region-january-2018
 Consumption

https://psa.gov.ph/content/quickstat-region-v-bicol-region-january-2018

 Employment

https://psa.gov.ph/content/quickstat-region-v-bicol-region-january-2018
  The Bicol region posted the second-highest employment rate in the country at 96.2
percent, figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) nationwide Labor Force Survey
showed.

Aside from this, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bicol OIC-
Regional Director Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla also boasted that the region achieved the
second-lowest unemployment rate in the country at 3.8 percent. “[This is] indeed a
boost to our efforts in helping generate jobs and assisting in creating employment
opportunities,” the local DOLE office was quoted as saying in a Bicol Standard report.
Only Cagayan Valley managed to beat Bicol in both categories, posting an
employment rate of 96.9 percent and an unemployment rate of 3.1 percent. Based on
the PSA survey, some 3.7 million Bicolanos aged 15 years old and above were part of
the labor force in the region. The number represents 67 percent of the entire labor force
in Bicol. “This figure has gone up by at least two notches from 65.3 percent from last
year’s LFPR,” Trayvilla said.

http://bicol.politics.com.ph/2019/04/17/albay-placed-under-state-of-calamity-due-
to-el-nino/

C. Economy of Region V
 Production
The largest component of the region’s economy is agriculture. It is known for its pili
nuts, coconuts, abaca, banana, coffee, and jackfruit, as well as for rice and corn. Their
other industries include commercial fishing, mining, handicrafts, jewelry manufacturing,
among others.
https://www.dti.gov.ph/regions/region5

 Economic Situation on the Bicol Economy in 2017

Gross regional domestic product or GRDP measures gross value added of all
resident producer units in the region. It includes regional estimates on the three major
sectors including their subsectors, namely: agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing
(AHFF) sector; industry sector (mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction,
electricity and water); and services sector (transport, communication and storage, trade,
finance, real estate, private and government services).
The recent economic history of Bicol shows that the region managed to grow
despite setbacks and uncertainties. In the past four years, Bicol has been considered as
one of the fastest growing regions in the country: 8.1 percent in 2013, 4.3 percent in
2014, 8.9 percent in 2015, and 5.5 percent in 2016. In 2017, the GRDP grew at a
slightly lower pace of 5.1 percent. The decline in growth between 2016 and 2017 does
not translate to a decreased GRDP. Rather, the economy expanded, albeit at a slower
pace. The GRDP increased to PhP172.36 billion from PhP164.06 billion in 2016.
The services sector remained as the biggest contributor to the regional economy
with 57.6 percent, accounting for 3.7 percentage points of the total 5.1 percent growth.
However, it expanded at a slower pace of 6.5 percent from 6.9 percent in 2016. The
industry sector, contributing 22.7 percent to the regional economy or 0.8 percentage
points of the 5.1 percent growth, also decelerated from 7.4 percent in 2016 to 3.6
percent in 2017. On the other hand, the AHFF sector rebounded from a 0.1 contraction
in 2016 to a 2.6 percent growth in 2017, sharing 19.6 percent or 0.5 percentage points
of the total 5.1 percent growth.,
The decelerated growth of the services sector could be attributed to the
slowdown in most of the sub-industries within the sector. Financial intermediation and
public administration and defense/compulsory social security grew at a slower pace
from 11.2 percent in 2016 to 7.0 percent. Trade and repair of motor vehicles,
motorcycles, personal and household goods, as well as transportation, storage and
communication also slowed to 4.2 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively in 2017 from
6.7 percent each in 2016.
The increase in number of banks and pawnshops, the implementation of the
second tranche of the Salary Standardization Law, the conditional cash transfers and
rice subsidies given to 375,398 poor households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program contributed to the growth of financial intermediation and public administration
and defense/compulsory social security. However, the skewed distribution of banks and
pawnshops towards highly populous and urbanized areas remained a challenge in
improving access to financial services of the farmers and fisher folks, as well as the
micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Real estate, renting and business
activities grew faster from 1.9 percent in 2016 to 5.4 percent in 2017 because of the
expansion of several subdivisions such as Camella Homes, Eco Homes, Lumina
Homes, and Imperial Homes, among others.
The decelerated growth of transportation, storage and communication was
demonstrated by the 16.3 percent decrease in sea outgoing passengers and the 16.4
percent drop in volume of cargo. The decline in sea traffic was due to the gale warnings
issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration along the eastern seaboard of the region.
Other services accelerated from 9.3 percent in 2016 to 10.4 percent in 2017 with
the sustained growth of tourism, education and health and social work subsectors.
Gross revenue from tourism grew by 7.9 percent which was demonstrated by the 1.3
percent growth in tourist arrivals. This could be attributed to the new tourism facilities
and support services as well as the participation of the region in various tourism
activities. In addition, the tourism support infrastructure under the Department of
Tourism (DOT)-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Convergence
Program improved access to tourism destinations regionwide.
Growth in other services was also fueled by education, as well as health and
social work, which grew by 11.4 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively. The
implementation of the K to 12 Program and Expanded Students’ Grants-In-Aid Program
for Poverty Alleviation, the 83 percent PhilHealth insurance coverage, and social
pension provided to all poor senior citizens identified in the Listahanan or the National
Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction contributed to the growth of these
subsectors.
The industry sector grew at a slower rate of 3.6 percent due to decelerated
growths in mining and quarrying, manufacturing and construction and the contraction of
electricity, gas and water supply by 0.2 percent. Such contraction was attributed to the
damaged electric transmission and distribution lines caused by Typhoon Nina. The
production of steam for the regions’ geothermal power plants also declined by 6.9
percent which resulted to a 2.2 percent decrease in electricity generation.
Mining and quarrying managed to grow by 5.5 percent, notwithstanding the 60
percent decline in non-metallic mineral products, 1.9 percent decline in gold production,
and 10.9 percent decrease in silver production. Stone quarrying increased by 41.9
percent. Gold and silver production in Aroroy, Masbate by Filminera Resources
Corporation decreased by 1.86 percent and 10.86 percent, respectively.
Construction slowed down from 5.5 percent in 2016 to 5.1 percent in 2017.
Construction by the government increased by 12.4 percent, but construction by the
private sector decreased by 14.3 percent. Government spending for infrastructure and
other economic and social services included widening of roads and bridges along the
Maharlika Highway or the Asian Highway 26, Catanduanes Circumferential Road,
Albay-Camarines Sur diversion road, Bacon-Manito Road, Pio Duran-Donsol Road,
Guinobatan-Camalig-Daraga-Legazpi Platform road networks in Albay, and
Guinobatan-Jovellar-Donsol Road leading to Pilar Port. The construction of the Bicol
International Airport lagged at 69 percent completion rate. The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa
Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services or KALAHI-
CIDSS implemented cycles 1, 2 and 3. Growth in the industry sector could also be
attributed to the activities initiated by both private and government sectors, such as
product development, capability building of MSMEs, conduct of trade and business
missions and implementation of shared service facilities and Go Negosyo enters of the
Department of Trade and Industry, and the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading
Program of the Department of Science and Technology.
The rebound in the AHFF sector was due to the 6.5 percentage points expansion
in fishing. It recovered from a negative growth of 5.5 percent in 2016 to a positive
growth of 7.4 percent in 2017. The total volume of fishery production went up by 1.9
percent or equivalent to 4,449 metric tons (MT).
Agriculture and forestry accelerated to 2.8 percent from 1.4 percent in 2016. The
production of major crops like palay and corn increased by 4.7 percent and 10.65
percent from 0.87 percent and 6.34 percent in 2016, respectively. The total volume of
palay produced was 1.33 million MT from 1.27 million MT in 2016. The growth in
production of palay increased the productivity level from 3.6 MT per hectare to 3.69 MT
per hectare. The increased crop production could be attributed to the favorable weather
conditions as no severe weather disturbance significantly affected the region, and the
better quality of inputs were provided, such as improved planting materials, utilization of
farm machineries and equipment, and the rehabilitation and expansion of irrigation
facilities. The adverse impact of Typhoon Nina which affected a total of 86,620 hectares
of agricultural lands was quickly mitigated. The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 5
immediately deployed harvesters to hasten harvesting of palay and immediately
rehabilitated the damaged farm areas.
Poultry production grew by 2.4 percent. The production of chicken eggs
continued to stumble from negative 3.29 percent in 2016 to negative 4.42 percent in
2017. The sudden changes in temperature affected egg production. The Bird Flu
outbreak in San Luis, Pampanga caused alarm to Bicol Region’s poultry raisers. The
DA Region 5 immediately conducted massive distribution of antibiotics and other
medicinal drugs and quarantine of poultry was strictly imposed in close coordination
with other concerned government agencies and LGUs.
Looking ahead, the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and
Inclusion (TRAIN) Law is expected to affect the regional economy. Estimates show that
the effect of TRAIN on inflation is about 0.70 percent. Prices of goods will be affected by
the increased prices of crude oil in the international market, the drop in exchange rate
and the typhoons that hit the country in 2017. To cushion the impact of price increase in
goods, the Unconditional Cash Transfer Program will be implemented. Cash grants
amounting to PhP2, 400 per year will be provided to poor households who will not
directly benefit in the lowering of personal income taxes. This will entail a budget
requirement of at least PhP1.6 billion in 2018 to cover 684,655 poor households in the
Bicol region.
The TRAIN Law is expected to boost consumer and manufacturing demand, but
its inflationary pressure will have an impact on the cost of production. Higher take home
pay of about 99 percent of income taxpayers provides additional disposable income,
thereby increasing household consumption.
The Build, Build, Build Program is expected to increase growth potential in the
medium term by modernizing the infrastructure backbone. It is envisioned to increase
the productive capacity of the regional economies, create jobs, increase incomes, and
strengthen the investment climate leading to sustained inclusive growth.
Tourism will remain as a major economic driver of the region as it provides
ancillary impact to the other sectors, particularly on business services, trade, and
transportation sectors. The sustained growth in tourism will be fueled by new tourism
facilities and support services, aggressive tourism promotion and marketing activities.
Tourism access roads and facilities under the DOT-DPWH convergence and Tourism
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority will be prioritized. The disturbance caused
by Mayon Volcano’s restiveness will have no significant effect on the economy.
Domestic airlines may have been affected by temporary closure of air traffic; but there
was increased demand for land travel as more tourists wanted to watch the eruption of
the volcano. Immediate interventions were done to mitigate the effects of volcanic ash
on agriculture.
Certainly, the economic gains in 2017, the first year of implementation of the Bicol
Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 serve as good platform for the succeeding
years of plan implementation. The challenge for both the public and private sectors is to
effectively work together in laying down the foundation for inclusive growth, a high trust
and resilient society, and a globally competitive knowledge economy, notwithstanding
unexpected developments and changing conditions. In doing so, we are guided by the
long-term vision of the Filipinos, the Ambisyon Natin 2040: matatag, maginhawa at
panatag na buhay para sa lahat.

http://nro5.neda.gov.ph/neda-region-5-statement-on-the-bicol-economy-in-2017/

D. Social Development Situation of Region V

 Manpower Supply
http://www.nwpc.dole.gov.ph/regionandwages/region-v-bicol/

 Literacy

Bicol Region posted a literacy rate of 99.0 percent among the 4,388,772
household population aged 10 years and over. This is higher than the 98.3 percent
literacy rate that was recorded in 2010. In the 2010 Census of Population and Housing
and POPCEN 2015, a person is considered literate if he/she is able to read and write a
simple message in any language or dialect.
Literacy rate in 2015 was slightly higher for female (99.1%) than male (98.9
percent). Similarly, literacy rate was the same in 2010, with 98.5 percent for female and
98.2 percent for male.

http://rsso05.psa.gov.ph/content/2015-census-population-highlights-
demographic-characteristics

 Health / Family Child Care Services

Every Bicolano has the right to the highest attainable standard of health. Healthy
Bicolanos will have more economically productive life. Improvements were noted on the
average life expectancy, infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, and crude birth
rate, access to safe water and sanitary facilities, and health insurance coverage.
However, Bicol is lagging behind in terms of achieving the MDGs on maternal mortality,
immunization coverage, and incidence of deaths due to tuberculosis and malaria. Other
problems in the health sector include high cost and inaccessibility of health services,
lack of logistic support for medicines, food supplements and medical supplies, and
inadequate funds for PhilHealth coverage.
Nutrition problems include protein and energy malnutrition, micronutrient
deficiencies, obesity, and diet related non-communicable diseases. Underlying causes
are low intake of nutrients, wrong beliefs and practices on nutrition, and lack of medical
services. These are compounded by insufficient family incomes to provide minimum
nutritional requirements. The unmet need for family planning is still high. Contraceptive
prevalence rate remains low, with those not using any contraceptive method
outweighing those using modern and traditional methods. This is because of inadequate
knowledge on population and family planning and lack of access to contraceptive
materials and commodity support.

 Major Programs and Projects

1. Maternal and Child Health Program

2. Communicable/Non- Communicable Disease Control Program
3. National Health Insurance Program
4. Nutrition PPAN Interventions Program
5. Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program and other projects
6. Responsible Parenthood Movement
7. Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program
8. Population and Development Integration

https://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/RegV_RDP_2011-2016.pdf

 Programs for Youth and Elderly

Adolescent Health and Youth Development

Program Manager:     Ms. Magdalena G. Abellera   -   Regional Director, RPO V

Assistant:               Mr. Reynaldo O. Wong          -    Regional Director, RPO IX

The Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program (AHYDP) is one of the
key component programs of the Philippine Population Management Program (PPMP). 
The overall goal of the AHYD Program is to contribute to the improvement and
promotion of the total well-being of young Filipinos ages 10-14; 15-19 and 20-24
through their sexual and reproductive health.   Specifically it aims to contribute to the
reduction of the incidence of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections
(STIs) and HIV/AIDS among young people which are aligned with the thrusts of the
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Program of Action
(PoA).
As the government agency tasked to manage the AHYD Program, the Philippine
Commission on Population leads in the coordination and monitoring of relevant
initiatives in the areas of:
 Policy support
 Service delivery
 Capacity building
 Advocacy and information, communication and education (IEC)    
 Research and  management information system 
Moreover, the Commission works hand in hand with the Department of Health and
other stakeholders both public and private in linking demand and services through the
development and piloting of demand generation strategies and conduct of researches
that merit appropriate policy and program responses.  The efforts of the Commission
involve and target the various level of stakeholders including the young people
themselves as the primary stakeholder, the family, specifically the parents as primary
sexuality educators and the school, government, church and media as supporting
institutions.  With concerted efforts, necessary services and information which are
crucial to the development of the total well-being of the young people will be made
available wherever they go--- home, school, church and community.
http://rpo5.popcom.gov.ph/index.php/2015-06-27-05-15-59/2015-10-19-06-29-27

Population and Development Integration

Program Manager : Mr. Lolito R. Tacardon - Regional Director, NCR

Assistant : Ms. Marilyn Ogaya - Planning Officer IV, RPO IV

The need to integrate population concerns in development has long been

recognized internationally and nationally. The 1967 UN Declaration of Population stated
that the population problem is a principal element in long-range national planning. This
was seconded by the World Population Conference in Bucharest in1974 which stated in
its World Population Plan of Action that “the essential aim of the population program is
the social, economic and cultural development of countries; it recognizes that population
variables and development are interdependent; and that population policies and
objectives are an integral part (constituent elements) of socioeconomic development
policies.”

During the ICPD in 1994, the indisputable interrelationship of population and

development (POPDEV) was given emphasis in its Programme of Action. The ICPD
articulated the need to meet the needs of individuals within the framework of universally
recognized human rights standards instead of merely meeting demographic goals. The
adoption of this Programme of Action marks a new phase of commitment and
determination to effectively integrate population issues into socioeconomic development
proposals and to achieve a better quality of life for all individuals, including those of
future generations. Essentially, it promoted the integration of population factors in
sustainable development initiatives. Recognizing the interrelationships between
population, sustained economic growth, and sustainable development is a key element
of the integrated strategy.
Recognizing the importance and necessity of integrating population dimensions in
development initiatives and processes, the PPMP will continue to adopt POPDEV
integration as its key strategy. This key program component and strategy essentially
seeks to put people – their needs and aspirations – as the main consideration in
developing policy and program interventions. It promotes a mindset that explicitly
recognizes people as the subject and object of development.
As a population management strategy, POPDEV integration is defined as the
explicit consideration and integration of population dynamics and dimensions in the
critical steps of any development initiative, such as plan and program development,
policy formulation, database management and utilization, and other efforts that aim to
improve, in a sustainable manner, the development conditions of the people and the
locality in which they live.
The strategy seeks, in the long term, to enable institutions to create an enabling
environment for people to achieve their development goals through a well-managed
population. Having a well-managed population means the achievement of population
processes and outcomes that are consistent with, complementary to, and facilitative of
socioeconomic and human development. It is about making a connection between
population factors and development initiatives to ensure integrated and sustainable
development. Explicitly integrating population into economic and development
strategies will both speed up the pace of sustainable development and poverty
alleviation and contribute to the achievement of population objectives and an improved
quality of life of the population.
http://rpo5.popcom.gov.ph/index.php/2015-06-27-05-15-59/2015-10-19-06-29-27
Reproductive Health / Responsible Parenthood / Family Planning
Program Manager     :    Mr. Lydio M. Español Jr.     -     Regional Director, RPO IV
Assistant                  :    Ms. Marites U. Cipriano      -      Planning Officer III, PMED

Specifically, POPCOM would like to help couples / parents exercise responsible

parenting to achieve their desired number, timing and spacing of their children, and to
contribute in improving the maternal, neonatal and child health, and nutrition (MNCHN).
POPCOM does these through the following:
 Fund releases for the conduct of Responsible Parenting Classes in the
barangays
 Partnership with MSWD in the conduct of Family Development (FDS) Sessions in
4Ps areas in the region
 Partnership with DOH in the Kalusugang Pangkalahatan (KP) through tracking of
couples with unmet need in family planning during FDS sessions
 Establishment and maintenance of an online web-based reporting system of
couples reached
 Conduct of capability building activities on Pre-Marriage Counseling for LGUs,
and other related competencies
 Development, production and dissemination of advocacy/ IEC materials
 Observance of special population events (e.g. Natural Family Planning Week,
Family Planning Month)

http://rpo5.popcom.gov.ph/index.php/2015-06-27-05-15-59/2015-10-19-06-31-53

E. Spatial Structure of Region V

Source: Bicol RSDF
Structure of the Space
 The Land

The Bikol Peninsula occupies the southeastern

tip of Luzon Island and stretches from its borderline
withTagkawayan in Quezon province southeast
towards Samar Island. The region is surrounded by
different bodies of water – the Lamon Bay to its north,
the Pacific Ocean to the east, Samar Sea in the
southeast, and the Ragay Gulf and Sibuyan Sea in the southwest. Because of its
position, it plays a significant role in inter-island transport between Luzon and Eastern
Visayas.
The four provinces that make up the Bikol Peninsula stretches for more than 250
kilometers to the southeast. Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur occupies the northern
part. Contiguous to it is the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon. The province-island of
Catanduanes stands guard on the peninsula’s northern approach, while the islands of
Masbate province are at its southernmost end.
The region has a total land area of 1.8 million hectares–almost 6% of the total
land area of the Philippines. Camarines Sur has the largest land area followed by
Masbate, while Catanduanes is the smallest province.
Bikol is generally mountainous–the terrain ranges from slightly undulating to
rolling and hilly to mountainous.The highest peaks include the mountain of Labo in
Camarines Norte; Mt. Isarog in Camarines Sur; Mt. Malinao in Albay; Mt. Bintacan in
Sorsogon; Mt. Simbajan in Masbate; and Mt. Boctot in Catanduanes. In addition to
these peaks, Bikol is also home to two active volcanoes, namely the world-renowned
Mayon Volcano in Albay and Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon.
There are a few stretches of flat plains in Bikol. The Bicol River Basin (also called
the Bicol Plains) covers 312,000 hectares extending from Libmanan in northwest
Camarines Sur to Polangui in the northwest tip of Albay. There is also the Irosin-Juban
valley in Sorsogon, in addition to small patches of plains along the western Coast of
Albay and Sorsogon. In main Masbate Island, a stretch of plains facing the southwest
coast from Milagros to Esperanza towns can also be found.
https://bikolinitiative.wordpress.com/bikol-wiki/bikol-at-a-glance/
https://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/5-Bicol-RDP-2017-2022.pdf

 Development of Areas

The Bicol region is rich in cultural and spiritual heritage. It has a wealth of natural
resources suitable to agriculture, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, mining, and tourism.
However, there is widespread poverty in the region. Almost half of the Bicolanos are
poor. They earn below the minimum amount required for food and other basic needs.
Most families depend on rural employment as source of income. Many Bicolanos are
unemployed. Most professionals, skilled, and unskilled workers look for jobs outside the
region and abroad.
School age population continues to increase. But not all children are in school.
Many do not finish basic education. Students perform below average in the National
Achievement Test. Most graduates of technical, vocational, and college courses are not
gainfully employed.
Although Bicolanos have longer life expectancy and infant deaths in the region
have decreased, maternal mortality is still high. There is high incidence of tuberculosis,
malaria, and lifestyle related illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and
cardiovascular diseases. Malnutrition among schoolchildren is prevalent. The health
situation is aggravated by expensive medicines and inadequate health services.
Half of the poor families in Bicol do not own the home lots they occupy. Many
families live in makeshift houses located on public lands, along riverbanks, railroad
tracks, and in high disaster risk areas. Many houses do not have potable water and
sanitation facilities.
Some population groups are susceptible to abuse and are most vulnerable to
disaster risks. These are the poor families, women, children, indigenous peoples, the
elderly, and persons with HIV/AIDS, disabled persons, landless farmers, and overseas
workers.
Agriculture, fishery, and forestry employ the most number of persons. Most
families dependent on this sector are poor. Only half of the irrigable land is covered by
inefficient irrigation systems. Many agricultural areas are not served with roads. Illegal
and abusive fishing and forestry practices threaten the sustainability of these resources.
Although mining contributed substantially to the economic growth of the region in
2009, the industry is constrained by issues related to environmental protection, child
labor, and risks to life and health. There is also strong opposition to mining in the region.
 Manufacturing activities in Bicol are mostly small scale. Many are agriculture and
mineral based. Several manufacturing establishments have stopped operations due to
high cost of doing business, low labor productivity, unreliable power supply, and lack of
raw materials.
Wholesale and retail trade is a major economic activity within the region. But the
exchange of goods outside the region is hampered by inadequate infrastructure and
logistics. Prices of most commodities in Bicol are higher than in Metro Manila. Export
sales have decreased.
Tourism and its related service industries play an important role in the region’s
economy. The whalesharks in Donsol, Sorsogon and the Pili watersports complex and
Caramoan beaches in Camarines Sur have put Bicol region in the domestic and
international tourism map. Jobs have been created by tourism. But investments in
tourist destinations are inadequate and tourism activities are not integrated.
Bicol is connected to other parts of the country through land, water, and air
transport. Movement within the region relies heavily on the local road network which
needs a lot of improvement. Farm to market roads are in very poor condition. Rail
transport service has not been restored after Typhoon Reming destroyed the railroad
tracks. Water transport is underutilized. The Pantao regional port and some municipal
ports have no ship calls. National ports need to be improved to accommodate more and
larger vessels. All airports operate only at daytime and are unreliable in poor weather
conditions.
The liberalization of the telecommunications industry allowed the entry of more
telephone and internet service providers in the region. Telecommunications has
become more affordable and efficient. But the development of this sector is constrained
by vulnerability of cell sites and telephone lines to strong typhoons and sabotage,
pilferage of telephone cables, and power outages.
Bicol is a major geothermal energy supplier. Energy generated by power plants
in Bicol is more than the demand of the region. However, there are frequent brownouts
in Bicol and cost of electricity is high.
The quality of Bicol’s natural environment (land, water and air) has been
deteriorating as a result of conversion of prime agricultural lands into residential and
commercial uses, proliferation of informal settlers in urban areas not suitable for
housing, encroachment of settlements in protection areas, improper disposal of wastes,
illegal cutting of trees, and improper practice of slash and burn agriculture. Most LGUs
do not have comprehensive land use plans.
Bicol is vulnerable to climate and geological related hazards such as typhoons,
floods, landslides, storm surge, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. The increased
frequency and intensity of these hazards, aggravated by changes in climatic conditions,
have brought damages to life and property. Most LGUs and majority of the population
are not prepared for hazards and communities are not organized for disaster risk
reduction. There are houses and other structures that are built in high disaster risk
areas and in waterways.
Most LGUs lack technical capability and financial resources to manage and
implement devolved programs. They lack the capability to mobilize communities when
there are impending disasters. Peace and security is threatened by high crime
incidence, low crime solution efficiency, illegal drugs, insurgency, and human rights
violations.
Productivity both in the government and private sectors is low. Business
transactions take a long time. People have become indifferent and complacent to what
is going on around them and are not aware of their rights and responsibilities as
citizens.
In summary, the region faces the following challenges:
1. Sustaining high and more inclusive economic growth
2. Providing for the basic needs of the poor and disadvantaged groups
3. Creating stable and adequate paying jobs for the labor force
4. Ensuring adequate supply of basic goods and services
5. Maintaining low population growth and promoting small family size
6. Balancing utilization and protection of natural resources
7. Adapting to disaster risks and climate change
https://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/RegV_RDP_2011-2016.pdf

 Development Vision

Bicol will be the country’s most livable region in 2020. This vision will guide the
development objectives, strategies, and interventions contained in the plan.
The number of poor Bicolanos is reduced by more than half to meet the MDG on
poverty reduction. Adequate paying jobs are available for all Bicolanos and they enjoy
their right to work without discrimination. Livelihood opportunities are available for
families who want to have other sources of income. Bicolanos will want to stay and live
in the region. They do not have to migrate to other regions and countries to have more
decent lives. Those who are living in other regions and countries will be inspired to
relocate back to Bicol.
Every Bicolano’s right to education is fulfilled. Each child is provided with early
childhood care. Elementary and high schools achieve 100 percent enrolment. School
dropout rates decline and achievement test results are higher than the national average.
Elementary graduates possess a high degree of competence in reading, writing, and
mathematics. High school graduates are equipped with occupational skills in agriculture,
trade, and entrepreneurship. All families have graduates in tertiary education who have
skills required by government, business, and emerging global industries. All schools are
accessible and safe. Males and females have equal participation in all levels of
education thus achieving the MDGs on universal primary education and gender
equality.
Every Bicolano’s right to the highest attainable standard of health is fulfilled.
Modern and affordable health services are accessible to all Bicolanos. Health indicators
improve, i.e., reduced infant and maternal mortality, decline in morbidity, and increased
life expectancy. The incidence of communicable diseases, such as polio, tuberculosis,
and malaria, is eliminated. There is a continuous decline in malnutrition cases, as most
of the households are able to meet the minimum nutritional requirements of family
members. Each province has a tertiary hospital located in a safe area and is provided
with modern equipment. All health care providers and workers are competent. Health
insurance coverage is expanded to the poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
Bicol has achieved the MDGs on child mortality reduction, maternal health
improvement, and elimination of all major communicable diseases.
Every family’s right to adequate housing is fulfilled. Homeless families are
provided with decent and affordable homes in safe areas. Families squatting on public
lands have security of tenure, while those in disaster risk areas have been relocated to
safe communities. All houses are typhoon resistant, provided with potable water supply,
sanitation facilities, and electricity. Vulnerable groups are covered by social protection to
empower them to engage in productive activities.
Economic activities produce sufficient goods and services for home consumption
and export. The region’s economy generates enough jobs to increase family incomes.
The benefits of economic growth are distributed equitably among the Bicolanos.
Outputs from research and development are widely disseminated to entrepreneurs.
Quality Bicol products are sold locally and internationally. Bicol is a primary tourist
destination for ecological, agricultural, educational, and medical tourism in the country.
Every Bicolano’s right to adequate food is satisfied. Food and other basic
commodities are available and affordable. Sustainable use of agriculture, fishery,
forestry, and mineral resources is maintained. There is sufficient supply of raw materials
and other production inputs for manufacturing and other economic activities. Crop
production systems are resilient to changes in weather patterns.
Education and health facilities, production and market centers, and tourist
destinations are accessible in all weather conditions. Bicol has a well-developed
network of paved roads connecting all barangays. International, national and regional
ports and facilities are comparable to other countries. Alternative low cost inland water
transport facilities are available. Efficient rail transport is available. Transport systems
are interconnected and are able to handle increased volume of passengers and cargo.
All barangays are covered by telecommunication and internet facilities. Bicol enjoys a
reliable power supply and cost of electricity is lower than in other regions. Critical
infrastructure facilities are located in areas that are safe from disasters and sabotage.
Bicol’s natural environment is clean and healthy. Forests, wildlife, and water
resources are protected despite increase in population. Air and water bodies are not
polluted. The degradation of land and forest resources has been reversed to halt soil
erosion, restore nutrients to crop lands, and rehabilitate forest lands.
Local government units are implementing land use plans that ensure disaster risk
reduction and climate change adaptation. There is a conscious concern for ozone
depleting substances. The MDG on environmental sustainability is achieved.
Good governance is a shared responsibility of the government, the private
sector, and civil society. There is transparency and accountability in all three sectors of
governance. Government takes a proactive role as facilitator and catalyst in charge of
bureaucracy, peace, justice, and security. The private sector introduces new
technologies, provides financing to implement infrastructure projects, and integrates
social programs in business plans as part of corporate responsibility. Civil society and
other voluntary associations serve as partner and link of the government to the
communities. All the other human rights of Bicolanos are fulfilled, i.e., right to participate
in government, freedom of opinion and expression, right to peaceful assembly and
association, and right to social security. Corruption in the public sector and in the private
sector is eliminated.
https://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/RegV_RDP_2011-2016.pdf

 Allocation of Infrastructures

Infrastructure is the backbone of regional development as it supports the

sustainable economic and social development of a locality. Bicol’s infrastructure
development has been on the rise for the last six years. This has been observed by a
dominant contribution of construction to the Bicol’s Gross Regional Domestic Product
(GRDP) starting 2015. However, despite the increase in infrastructure investments,
there remains a wide gap in terms of infrastructure access, quality and reliability.
Investments in infrastructure projects have to be increased to catch up with the more
advanced regions of the country.
Transportation
 Bicol needs an efficient intermodal transport network that will connect its four
mainland and two island provinces to other regions. An integrated transport network will
open up new economic opportunities, reduce transportation cost, and increase access
to social services. It will support the development of the countryside and strengthen the
socioeconomic, cultural and political linkages between and among regions. The region's
transport system relies heavily on the road network which resulted in the fast
deterioration of the roads and high cost of goods.
Maharlika Highway is the main trunk line road that connects the Bicol mainland to
Metro Manila. Most of the local roads need improvement to efficiently link them to
arterial or national roads. Generally, barangay or farm to market roads are in very poor
condition. Rail transport has not been fully rehabilitated. Water transport is not
maximized.
The nine national ports in the region do not have adequate and comfortable
passenger terminals, warehouses, parking areas, berthing facilities, and other
appurtenant facilities needed to accommodate more and large vessels. The 36
municipal ports are underutilized.
Air transport is unreliable during inclement weather. Most airports are not
equipped with adequate navigation systems to allow aircraft landing at night and during
adverse weather conditions. Most airports need improvement and upgrading of their
passenger terminal buildings and amenities.
Communications
The liberalization of the telecommunications industry allowed the entry of more
telephone and internet service providers in the region. Competition among service
providers resulted to cheaper and more efficient communication services.
Major telephone operators in Bicol are Bayantel and Digitel, which offer cable
and wireless systems, as well as internet services. There is wide cellular phone
coverage in the region. Most investment centers, tourism and production areas are
accessible by mobile phones.
The sector is threatened by vulnerability of cell sites and telephone lines to
strong typhoons and sabotage, pilferage of telephone cables, and power supply
interruptions. Another concern is the wide disparity between the price of a voice call and
the price of a text message for mobile phone services.
There is also a need to reduce the cost of connectivity among telephone service
providers to further lower user costs. The telephone and telegraph services of the
Telecommunications Office and private telegraph companies have become obsolete.
The viability of the Philippine Postal Corporation is also threatened, with private courier
services displacing the government postal services especially in urban areas.
Energy
The maximum capacities of the region’s geothermal generating plants were not
achieved because of shutdowns due to the usual wear and tear and damages brought
by Typhoons Reming and Milenyo. Only Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant units 1 and 2
contributed 1141.124 GWH or 30.66 percent of total geothermal energy supplied to the
Luzon Grid. But this is more than enough to supply the region’s total power demand of
740.50 GWH.
The electric cooperatives have energized 223 barangays or 99.9 percent of the
potential barangays as of 2009. Only 3 barangays are not yet energized. Off-grid
barangays in the province of Masbate were energized by the National Power
Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group through its Philippine Rural Electrification
Project. A total of 114 barangays in Masbate Island and 14 barangays in Ticao Island
have been energized. Another 26 barangays in the island municipalities of Claveria,
San Pascual, San Fernando and San Jacinto are for energization.
Despite being a major contributor to the Luzon grid, Bicol is faced with high
power cost and frequent brownouts. This is primarily due to the inefficiency and
mismanagement of electric cooperatives. Power pilferage reflected as systems loss is a
perennial problem of the cooperatives which is passed on to the consumers’ bill. The
super typhoons that frequent the region cause damages to the generation facilities,
transmission lines and distribution facilities.
https://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/RegV_RDP_2011-2016.pdf
Irrigation
The irrigation subsector aimed at providing adequate irrigation facilities to
farmers and increasing the number of hectares of irrigated areas. From 2011 to 2016,
the NIA targeted a total of 12,137 hectares of new areas to be irrigated; 28,600 hectares
to be rehabilitated and 12,845 hectares to be restored with the implementation of
various irrigation facilities. However, these targets were not fully attained. Figure 19.1
shows the target and actual accomplishments of NIA by type of intervention from 2011
to 2016.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6bG4bsvioc0YzVWV2J0Ykp0RGc/view

 Institutional Aspects

Education
 The DepEd intensified its campaign to enroll all school-age children to achieve
universal participation through the implementation of the K to 12 program, thus,
requiring additional classrooms to accommodate incoming learners. In the
implementation of Senior High School (SHS) program, the number of classroom
allocation was increased from 2,102 in 2013 to 3,095 in 2014.
In 2015, the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF) allocated 2,566 classroom
projects, of which, 236 were completed, 1,765 are ongoing, and 565 have not yet
started. The increasing number of school population would likely lead to the problem of
shortage of classrooms. Repair and maintenance of existing classrooms damaged by
tropical cyclones that hit the region, and the use of public schools as temporary shelters
for those affected by disasters further pose as a challenge in improving the quality of
education of Bicolanos.
Health
Report from the National Health Facility Registry (NHFR) of the DOH shows that
there are 1,525 health facilities in the region. More than three-fourths are barangay
health stations (BHS). The BHS is a community- based and patient-directed facility that
provides primary health care.
Its goal is to provide first aid, maternal and child health care, diagnosis of social
diseases, health education and other basic health services to all the members of the
community it is serving.
The second health facility in terms of number is the rural health unit (RHU). The
RHU is the primary government health care facility at the municipal level wherein health
services are delivered. The Rural Health Act of 1954 provided for the establishment of a
rural health unit in every municipality, and appropriated funds for the purpose.
Two categories of rural health units, senior and junior, came into being. The
senior unit was similar to the demonstration team above; the junior consisted of doctor
or nurse and sanitary inspector or midwife. A rural dental service was also established.
The DOH imposed a no home birthing policy in August 2015. This resulted to an
increase in birthing homes and lying-in clinics. There are 119 birthing homes in the
region that help prevent maternal and newborn mortality. There are 24 government
hospitals and 41 private hospitals that provide health care services in the region.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6bG4bsvioc0YzVWV2J0Ykp0RGc/view

Housing
The HUDCC reported an increase in the number of families allocated with
socialized housing through the implementation of resettlement projects, CMP, housing
projects for uniformed personnel, settlements upgrading, and HOMA to households
affected by disasters.
From 2011 to 2015, a total of 21,561 families were provided with socialized
housing. From 2010 to 2016, a total of 29 resettlement sites were developed in 19
municipalities and three cities in the region. Aside from land title requirements, the
implementation of resettlement projects have not been successful in providing
employment, livelihood opportunities, and adequate services to many settlers.
The CMP of the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) implemented eight
projects valued at PhP42.09 million, benefiting 910 families during the plan period. As of
2015, a total of 1,325 housing units were completed under the AFP/PNP Housing
Project for military and police personnel. Settlements upgrading during the plan period
benefited a total of 695 families.
The HOMA program for disaster survivors benefited a total of 11,480 families. A
total of 16,615 core shelter units were completed by the DSWD. Housing loans were
made available for Pag-IBIG members amounting to PhP3.173 billion for the
construction of 5,462 housing units. The affordability of and access to government
housing programs by the poor remain a major challenge in the future.
The 2015 Listahanan assessment reported that about 626,483 poor households
live in housing units with roofs and walls made of light or salvaged materials and without
electricity. To address the housing needs, titling of lands identified for socialized
housing shall be fast tracked.
Government requirements and processes in delivery of housing programs shall
be harmonized. Subsidies and grants to lower down payments and cost of titling and
installation of infrastructure services onsite shall be provided. Basic infrastructure
support to resettlement sites such as potable water, reliable power supply, access roads
to nearest commercial centers, and ICT, among others, shall be provided.
Solid Waste Management
The total solid waste generation in the Bicol region has been increasing in the
last five years, from 1,879 MT per day in 2012 to 2,012 MT per day in 2016. Increasing
population and consumption have resulted in increased waste generation, thus,
exacerbate the problems of inefficient collection and inadequate disposal facilities.
These emphasize the need to ensure proper management of solid wastes in the region
through the full implementation of the provisions in R.A. 9003 or the Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act (ESWMA) of 2000 and the other identified strategies for the
solid waste management (SWM) sector. Bicol has only one operational sanitary landfill
and one with ongoing construction (Table 19.6). These are located in Legazpi City and
Bato, Camarines Sur, respectively.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6bG4bsvioc0YzVWV2J0Ykp0RGc/view
Table 19.7 shows that there are 20 LGUs with controlled disposal facilities (CDF),
ten of which have safe closure and rehabilitation plans (SCRP).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6bG4bsvioc0YzVWV2J0Ykp0RGc/view

F. Administrative and Political Division of Region V

Region V (Bicol Region) Political division

The region is composed of six provinces: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,
Sorsogon and the island-provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate. It has one
independent component city, Naga City, and six component cities — Iriga, Legazpi,
Ligao, Masbate City, Sorsogon City, and Tabaco City. Masbate and Sorsogon are cities
in their eponymous provinces. As of 2010, Camarines Sur is the largest province in area
and population, occupying 5,481.6 km2 (2,116.5 sq. mi) or around 30.4% of the total
land area with a population of 1,822,371. Catanduanes is the smallest in area as well as
population with only 1,511.5 km2 (583.6 sq. mi) or 8.4% of the total regional area and a
population of 246,300.
The administrative center of the region is Legazpi
http://bicolregion.islandsphilippines.com/
Organizational Structure

http://r5.denr.gov.ph/index.php/about-us/organizational-chart
Questions:
1. What do we have?
1.1. What in this conditions will have improvement?
1.2. What in this conditions are under-utilized?
1.3. What in this conditions are the constraints or problems?
2. What do we want?
3. How do we do what we want? When?
Managing the Quality of Environmental Data at EPA Region 5
Data about the environment is necessary in making the right decisions to protect human
health and the environment. To keep the data reliable, Region 5 created a strong quality
management plan. It focuses on steady quality improvement for the region’s programs
and divisions. Region 5 also offers technical guidance and support to gather quality
environmental data for state, local and tribal organizations, and to citizens of the region.
The main quality assurance (QA) functions in Region 5 include:
 fulfilling the required agency-wide quality system
 providing technical assistance for the collection of chemical, biological,
microbiological and radiological data under:
o Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
o Superfund
o Clean Air
 o Clean Water/Safe Drinking Water Acts for the:
 Great Lakes National Program
 RCRA Program
 Superfund Program
 Air Program
 Water Program
 providing technical support/assistance to regional project officers and grantees
 conducting QA evaluations of field sampling and laboratory operations
 reviewing study plans, quality management plans and internal & external data
 reviewing QA documentation in support of grants, cooperative & interagency
agreements and contracts
 managing the Environmental Services Assistance Team (ESAT) and
national/regional analytical contracts
 providing training/guidance on data quality, laboratory practices/ethics,
designated approving officials (DAO’s) and others topics as requested