Current
Situation
Bicol’s
total
population
reached
5,109,798 in
2007. It
grew
annually by
1.23 percent
from 2000,
which is
lower than
the
country’s
2.04 percent
growth rate.
Having the
fourth
lowest
population
growth rate
among the 17
regions, the
share of
Bicol to the
country’s
total
population
decreased
from 6.3
percent in
1995 to 5.7
percent in
2007.
The increase
in
population
resulted to
a population
density of
290 persons
per square
kilometer as
of 2007, up
from 265 in
2000 but
still lower
than the
country’s
population
density of
295.
Catanduanes
has the
smallest
population,
current
growth rate,
and
population
density. The
population
of Camarines
Norte was
the second
lowest, but
it grew the
fastest at
1.57
percent.
Camarines
Sur, the
biggest
province in
terms of
land area
and
population,
had a
population
growth rate
of 1.22
percent and
population
density of
321.6. Albay,
the province
with the
second
largest
population,
was the most
densely
populated at
466.5.
Based on the
2000 census,
average
household
size in
Bicol was
5.24, higher
than the
national
average of
5.0. About
45.5 percent
of Bicolanos
were within
the
dependent
age brackets
of 0-14 and
65 years up
and about
54.6 percent
comprised
the
economically
active
population.
This means
that for
every 100
Bicolanos in
the working
age group,
there were
83
dependents.
Half of the
population
was below 19
years old.
There were
104 males
for every
100 females.
Assuming a
constant
population
growth rate
of 1.23
percent,
Bicol’s
population
is expected
to double in
56 years. An
increasing
population,
coupled with
a high
dependency
ratio, puts
pressure on
the
household to
satisfy
basic human
needs and
compels the
government
to provide
adequate
social and
economic
services. It
also strains
the capacity
of the
environment
and natural
resources to
support
human
activities.
In terms of
the overall
Human
Development
Index (HDI)
for 2006,
most of the
provinces in
Bicol were
classified
under a
medium level
of human
development,
ranking
between 30th
and 51st
among 77
provinces in
the country.
Only the
Province of
Masbate had
a low HDI
and ranked
72nd. All
Bicol
provinces
had medium
life
expectancy
and
education
indices and
had low
annual per
capita
incomes,
ranging from
P13,624 to
P20,704
compared to
the
country’s
per capita
income was
P24,727.
Low levels
of per
capita
income
despite
medium
health and
education
indices
indicate one
or a
combination
of the
following:
-
low
quality
of basic
education
-
inability
to
pursue
higher
education
-
low
level of
skills
acquired
in
tertiary
education
-
inadequate
employment
opportunities
-
mismatch
between
labor
skills
and the
labor
market
The vicious
cycle of
poverty has
pervaded
Bicol for a
long time.
Taking out
the poor
from their
dismal state
has been the
aim of most
programs and
projects but
still the
number of
poor
families has
been growing
over the
years. Past
interventions
have not
been
significantly
translated
into
improvements
in the
quality of
life of more
than half of
the
population.
Bicolanos
have become
poorly
educated,
unproductive,
and socially
indifferent.
The
Bicolanos’
capacity to
contribute
to the
economy and
sustained
development
of the
region has
to be
greatly
improved.
The level
and pace of
Bicol’s
development
shall depend
on the
strength of
its human
resources.
The region
needs
Bicolanos
who can ably
manage and
utilize
other
resources
through
their
innovative
skills. The
educational
system shall
have the
primary
responsibility
to elevate
the status
of Bicolanos
into
educated,
productive,
and civic
minded
citizens.
According to
the 2009
World
Competitiveness
Yearbook,
the
Philippines
ranked low
in
government
and business
efficiency
due to
corruption,
inability to
adopt new
technologies,
and weak
local
government
units. It
has also
been
attributed
to low
productivity
and poor
compliance
to
international
standards.
Another
report
prepared by
the World
Economic
Forum showed
that the
Philippines
dropped from
71st to 87th
place in
global
competitiveness
index. The
report cited
corruption
as the
biggest
problem for
the
Philippines.
This was
followed by
an
inefficient
bureaucracy,
inadequate
infrastructure,
policy
instability,
access to
financing,
and tax
regulation.
Desired
Situation
The
Bicolanos
shall be the
principal
resource
that will
propel and
sustain the
region’s
economic
growth. The
main
objective is
to develop a
globally
competitive
workforce.
The school
age
population
comprises
the
workforce of
the future.
In view of
this, basic
education
shall be
compulsory
and
universal.
School
feeding
programs in
the first
four years
of basic
education
shall be
implemented.
Public
spending on
education
and health
care shall
be
prioritized
over other
infrastructure
projects and
services.
The improved
educational
system shall
bring every
child who
should be in
basic
education to
school.
Early
childhood
care for the
3-5 years
old must be
provided to
every child.
Elementary
schools in
all
barangays
shall at
least have
one
established
and
accredited
day care
center and
all grade
one
enrollees
must
preferably
have early
childhood
care
experience.
The LGUs in
partnership
with the
DSWD shall
ensure the
establishment
of Day Care
Centers in
all
barangays.
Every family
shall have a
graduate in
tertiary
education
and two
members who
are
gainfully
employed.
Higher
literacy,
technical
competence,
and good
citizenship
will be the
main goals
of
education.
Graduates of
basic
education
shall have a
high degree
of
competence
in reading
comprehension
and shall be
able to
write
legibly and
sensibly.
They shall
have mastery
of basic and
advance
mathematics.
They shall
be equipped
with basic
skills in
agriculture,
arts and
trades and
can be
gainfully
employed.
Graduates of
tertiary
education
shall be
ready for
professional
and
technical/vocational
work and
shall be
globally
competitive.
They shall
be equipped
with
proficient
language
skills for
the global
market
demand
complemented
with a
strong
culture of
entrepreneurship
and
innovation.
Education
will result
in
significantly
higher
employment
and lower
underemployment
rates will
be achieved.
The tertiary
and post
graduate
educational
system shall
produce a
working
group that
is able to
adjust to
the changing
demand for
skills in
the
employment
market.
Education
shall enable
Bicolanos to
choose the
best and the
brightest
candidates
for all
elective
positions,
participate
in the
development
process, and
to be
vigilant in
curbing
corruption.
