Introduction

   High power rates, low labor productivity, and insurgency problem in some rural areas, remained as the more pressing concerns in the region. With its resources and potentials, Bicol continued to strive on trying to level-off with the other regions of the country in terms of socio-economic development. Through the RDC5, more definite and doable measures were geared towards promoting tourism, improving transportation, sustaining agricultural development, and reducing power costs for the Bicolanos

     Development Planning & Investment Programming

   The approval and endorsement of the terms of reference for the formulation of the Bicol Integrated Development Master Plan to the NEDA-Public Investment Staff (PIS) was the very first initiative undertaken by the Council at the start of 2003. This was endorsed to the NEDA-PIS for Official Development Study Program through Resolution No. 05-01 s. 2003.

   On 15 July 2003, the RDC5 approved the World Bank-funded Feasibility Study for the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project (RBWMP), which was completed in May 2003. The Water Resources study, managed by NEDA, was conducted by Nippon Koei (NK) in association with Binnie, Black and Veatch (BBV), Orient Integrated Development Consultants, Inc. (OIDCI) and Environment and Natural Resources Consultants, Inc. (ENR). The FS components included flood mitigation, irrigation, fisheries, water supply, and institutional development.  The Watershed Management Study was managed by DENR and was conducted by SUSTEC in association with Hassal Consultants.

     Endorsement of Projects for Foreign-Assistance

   The Bicol Health Services Delivery Enhancement Project (BHS-DEP), formulated as a follow-through study of the DOH-CHD5’s Hospital Development Program, was endorsed by the RDC V for consideration by the NEDA-PIS for JICA funding. It aims to upgrade primary health facilities and hospitals through construction and equipping of selected health facilities and to establish a Regional Resource and Training Center for Women and Children’s Health Care.

   A project entitled Emergency Assistance to Support the Rehabilitation of Sustainable Agriculture in Typhoon Egay-Affected Communities in Region V, proposed by the Department of Agriculture Central Office, was endorsed by the Council for grant funding under the Technical Cooperation Program of the Food and Agricultural Organization.

 

   The Metro Naga Solid Waste Management Project, proposed by the Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC), was endorsed by the RDC 5 to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for funding assistance in the conduct of a full blown Feasibility Study. The proposed study will cover the 15 LGU-members of the MNDC.

 

   An Advocacy Project for Integrated Population, Health and Environment in the Bicol Region, proposed by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD), was strictly a private sector proposal but was also endorsed by the Council. This served to highlight the cooperation and partnership among the RDC 5, the LGUs, the civil society, the academe and other sectors in the project’s coverage areas.

     Endorsement of Infrastructure Projects

   RDC5 reviewed, approved and endorsed projects that were recommended by the IDC for RDC endorsement, namely:

• Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project (RBWMP). Considered as a flagship project of the region, this is already listed in the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) of the World Bank for FY 2005.

• Local Bridges. These projects are implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways – Central Office (the UK-Assisted and Countrywide Bridge Projects) and by the Department of Interior and Local Government (Austrian-Assisted Bridge Projects).

UK-Assisted Bridge Projects under the Tulay ng Pangulo sa Barangay under the President’s Bridge Program (PBP) of DPWH-CO included the following:

• Ligaya Bridge in Ligban, Camalig, Albay

• Quirangay Bridge, Quirangay, Camalig, Albay

• Cabagsay Bridge, Guinobatan, Albay

• Gloria Bridge, Guinobatan, Albay

• Pandan Bridge in Ligao City

   Countrywide Bridge Projects under PBP of DPWH-CO were as follows:

• Ognoy-Tandarura Bridge in Ligao City

• Calabidongan Bridge I Camalig, Albay

• Igang Bridge in Bacacay, Albay

• Mabato Bridge in Sta. Cruz, Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte

• Agimit Bridge in Panoypoy, Camalig Albay

   Austrian-Assisted Bridge Projects under the PBP of DILG:

• Realignment of Sta. Teresa Bridge in Malilipot to Doña Tomasa Bridge in Guinobatan, Albay

• Realignment of Salvacion Bridge in Bagamanoc to Almojuela Bridge in Viga Catanduanes

• Construction of San Antonio Bridge in Labo, Camarines Norte

   Water Supply Projects

• Aroroy Water Supply System

• Tabaco Water Supply System

• Donsol Water Supply System

• Pilar Water Supply System

• Bato Water Supply System

• Daraga Water Supply System

   Reports as of December 2003 indicated that four (4) of the water supply projects endorsed to the Local Water and Utilities Administration (LWUA) were already under construction. They are those of the Aroroy, Tabaco, Pilar and Bato Water Supply System Projects.

Irrigation

• Rehabilitation of Irrigation Systems and Rural Development (RISRD) in Areas affected by Mt. Mayon Eruption

• Procurement of Pumps, Drilling Rigs and Related Equipment of NIA

• Cagaycay and Daet-Talisay RIS

     Settlement of Regional Issues and Concerns

Various regional/provincial issues were given corresponding RDC actions as follows:

• a Resolution of endorsement for the Department of Justice to issue a Memorandum to the Registry of Deeds of Quezon province to effect the requested transfer of documents (re: the nine barangays from Quezon province to Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte), to the Registry of Deed of Camarines Norte; 

• a Resolution of endorsement to effect the transfer of the administration and maintenance of the national road portions of the 9 barangays to the Camarines Norte Engineering District of the DPWH;

• a Resolution endorsing Daet’s bid for cityhood in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.

• a Resolution requesting the Department of Justice to cause the transfer of land titles and other documents covering the nine barangays in Sta. Elena from the Registry of Deeds of Quezon Province to the Registry of Deeds of Camarines Norte;

• creation of a Special Committee on Devolution composed of the DILG, DOJ, and DBM, to address the region’s consolidated problems on devolution and to come up with recommendations on how to resolve those issues.

• a Resolution enjoining all LGUs to prioritize anti-rabies measures/campaigns to curtail the high rabies incidence in the Bicol Region;

• a Resolution enjoining the DILG to closely monitor and include the LGU’s initiative in eliminating/controlling rabies incidence as an additional indicator in assessing LGU performance.

      Increase in/Reactivation of RDC5 Membership/Committees

New Special Non-Voting Members (SNVMs). The RDC 5 approved the special non-voting membership of the state universities and colleges in Region V to the Council. Their membership was granted through the representation of the President of the Bicol University (BU) and of the President of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) in Region 5, represented by the President of Partido State University.

 

New Committees. A standing Committee on Bicol Tourism within the RDC was created by the Council’s Executive Committee to assist and provide direction to the development of the tourism industry in the region. The newly-created Special Committee on Bicol Tourism was affirmed and adopted by the Council during its regular meeting on 30 July 2003.

 

   Acting on the need to judiciously act on conflicts that arose from the implementation of Article 24 of the Local Government Code of 1991, the Council created a Special Committee on Devolution. It was tasked to study and provide recommendations on devolution issues. The Department of Justice (DOJ), through Regional Prosecutor Santiago Turingan, was designated as Chairman with the Regional Directors of the DILG and DBM as members. 

 

Reactivated Committees. Dormant for three (3) years, the Advisory Committee (ADCOM) of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 5 was formally reconvened by Gov. Al Francis Bichara on 13 March 2003 at Sulo Hotel, Quezon City. Comprised largely of Bicol’s Congressmen, ADCOM has since conducted a total of three (3) meetings in 2003 where they acted on major development concerns, pooling fund contributions for various development projects, and setting up the foundation for a catalytic institution for Bicol development.  

 

   On 08 July 2003, the Regional Productivity Committee (RPC), an RDC5 affiliate committee, was also reactivated.  As will be recalled, the RPC became inactive since year 2000 when its Secretariat was transferred from the NEDA to the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC). The reactivated RPC has its secretariat the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).

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