Bicol Region - Regional Profile

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

With its strategic location in the Philippine archipelago, the region is accessible by land, air and sea transportation facilities.

The region's economy is basically agricultural with close to 50 percent of its workforce dependent on the industry. Owing to its location, Region V is known for its natural resorts and white beaches and has thirteen major fishing grounds supplying fish markets in places as far as Metro Manila. Mining is also one of the contributors to the region's economy. It is also the site of two major geothermal fields which contribute substantially to the Luzon Power Grid.

Source: NSCB-Regional Unit

PROVINCE		CAPITAL	CITY		MUNICIPALITY	BARANGAY	DISTRICT	Income Class (As of December 2001)
Region V - BICOL			7		107	3,471	14
1	Albay	Legazpi City	3	Legazpi 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.
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 land	1,222,060 (69.3% of the region's land area)
Forest land	541,189 (30.7% of the region's land area)
TOPOGRAPHY	The 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.
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.

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