Bicol Region

• as Region V is more popularly known, is situated at the southernmost tip of the Luzon landmass. It is straddled between 11 - 30' to 14 - 20' North latitude and 122 - 20' to 124 - 30' East longitude.

The Region has a total land area of roughly 17,632.5 square kilometers, 5.9 percent of the country's total

land area.

• It is politically subdivided into six provinces, one chartered city, six component cities, 107 municipalities, and 3,471 barangays. At present, it has 14 congressional districts.

• The population of the Bicol Region reached 5,109,798 as of August 1, 2007. A region rich in history and natural resources, Bicol is inhabited by hospitable, smiling and fun-loving people.

• The province of Albay, which is strategically located in the center of the region, is home to the world famous Mount Mayon with its perfect cone shape. Legazpi City, also in Albay and is called the Gateway City of Bicol, is the regional center.

• On the northernmost part of the region is the province of Camarines Norte whose capital, Daet, holds the distinction of being the town to erect the first monument of the country's national hero, Jose Rizal.

• Naga City in the province of Camarines Sur is host to Colegio de Sta. Isabel, the first known normal school for girls in the Orient.

• The province of Catanduanes boasts of white beaches and resorts is an island paradise in the Pacific

• The province of Masbate, which lies exactly at the center of the Philippine archipelago, is known for its mining and cattle industry

• Sorsogon, the province known for its historic and panoramic places, shelters the world's largest fish - the whale shark locally known as Butanding.

PROVINCE CAPITAL CITY MUNICIPALITY BARANGAY DISTRICT

Income Class (As of

December 2001)

Region V - BICOL 7 107 3,471 14

1 Albay Legazpi City 3Legazpi City, Ligao City, Tabaco City

15 720 3 1st Class

2 Camarines Norte Daet - 12 282 1 3rd Class

3 Camarines Sur Pili 2 Iriga City, Naga City 35 1,063 4 1st Class

4 Catanduanes Virac - 11 315 1 3rd Class

5 Masbate MasbateCity 1 Masbate City 20 550 3 2nd Class

6 Sorsogon Sorsogon City 1 Sorsogon

City 14 541 2 2nd Class

LOCATION

• Located at the mid-section of the country, situated at the southernmost tip of the Luzon landmass between 11° - 30' to 14° - 20' North latitude and 122° - 20' to 124° - 30' East longitude. Northwest, it is bounded by Quezon province, East by the open seas of the pacific, Southeast by Samar Sea and Southwest by Sibuyan Sea.

LAND AREA (hectares)

• The Region has a total land area of roughly 17,632.5 square kilometers, 5.9 percent of the country's total land area. It comprises of three major islands and several islets. It is composed of six provinces, namely: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, in the southernmost part of Luzon; and the two island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate.

INHABITANTS

• As of May 1, 2000, the region's population reached 4,674,855 growing at an annual average of 1.68 percent between 1995 and 2000. The region has a population density of 265 persons per square kilometer. The number of households in the Bicol region increased to 891,541.

TOPOGRAPHY

• Range from slightly undulating to rolling and from hilly to mountainous. Volcanoes and Mountains dominate the sceneries in the countryside. Mounts Mayon, Malinao, Masaraga and Catburawan in Albay; Mount Labo in Camarines Norte; Mounts Isarog and Iriga in Camarines Sur; and Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon.

Sorsogon Camarines Sur

Camarines NorteAlbay

TERRAIN

• Diverse, owing to its numerous high mountains and/or volcanic landforms and extensive valleys interspersed with rivers and lakes.

TIME ZONE

• (Standard Time): One time zone. 120° East Meridian Time, which is eight hours in advance of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Certified Alienable & Disposable land1,222,060 (69.3% of the region's land area)

• Forest land• 541,189 (30.7% of the region's land area)

TOPOGRAPHY

• he region's topography is generally described as slightly undulating to rolling and hilly to mountainous. It is endowed with numerous volcanoes, mountains and peaks. The region's highest peak is Mayon Volcano which stands majestically at 2,421 meters above sea level

2004 POPULATION (1995 Census) 5,079,867

NO. OF PERSONS EMPLOYED IN AGRICULTURE (1998) 956,000

CLIMATE• Tropical, with a normal average year-round temperature of 27.4°C to 29.6°C.

Two pronounced seasons --- dry and wet.

The prevailing types of climate in the region are the second, and fourth types. The second type is characterized by a very pronounced maximum rainfall (November-January) and no dry season - Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Eastern Albay and Eastern and Northern Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte exhibit this weather type.

• The third type where seasons are not very pronounced, relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year is prevalent in Masbate, Western Camarines Sur, Western Albay and Ticao. Burias Island of Masbate exhibit the fourth type wherein rainfall more or less evenly distributed throughout the year.

• The region receives an average rainfall of 3,013 millimeters and mean annual temperature of 27.2 degrees Celsius.

FARMER, WOMEN & YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS

• There are 2,504 cooperative in the region as of 1995. The 4-H Club, the youth organization in the region has 719 organized club with a total membership of 7,295 youths. The Rural Improvement Club (RIC) has of this date 737 clubs with a general membership of 21,118 housewives.

NATURAL RESOURCES

• There are significant deposits of gold, silver, lead, zinc, iron, nickel, chromite, copper and manganese. The region has large tracts of arable and grazing lands and extensive fishing grounds.

Magnium Holdings in Bicol

Hemalite

FACILITIES

• Bicolandia is accessible by land transport, rail, air and water transportation. It has national ports, several municipal ports and national airports. Electricity and water supply are fairly adequate except in the island provinces where these facilities are concentrated in the capital and the more progressive towns. Educational opportunities are sufficient, since the region has several institutions of learning such as the oldest girl’s school in Naga City, Colegio de Sta. Isabel.

INDUSTRIES

• Bicol’s basic products are coconut, palay, cassava, corn, abaca and coconut. Farming, forestry products, mining, rice and corn milling and fishing are its major sources of income. Small-scale manufacturing industries include food preservation, furniture making, woodcraft, loom weaving, fiber craft, shell craft, pottery, rattan craft and pili confectionery.

Human Resources Pili Industry

Agriculture Resources Train Operation for Lucena City

Caranuim species found

One Of the Most Important Crop in Agriculture

URBAN CENTERS

• The major urban centers in the Bicol region are the cities of Legaspi, Naga and Iriga.

CREDIT INSTITUTIONS

• The financial system comprising of bank and non-banking institutions had grown in number. Banking institutions serviced the agricultural needs of the region with 59 rural banks leading in number and in the amount granted. The region likewise has 9 PNB branches; 6 DBP branches; 33 commercial banks and 1 CRB; and 70 credit institutions.

PREPARED BY

• MARGIE CANO-OS • BEED II-F