Fund Source	Allocation (in million pesos)	Number of Projects				Accomplishment (%)
		Total	Com- pleted	On- going	NYS	Planned	Actual
Regular Infrastructure Program	6,003.962	924	695	114	115	71.76	72.26
PDAF, etc.	441.535	375	322	4	49	54.18	54.18
Total	6,445.497	1299	1017	118	164	70.56	71.02

Fund Source	Allocation (in million pesos)	Number of Projects				Accomplishment (%)
		Total	Com- pleted	On- going	NYS	Planned	Actual
Regular Infrastructure Program	6,744.651	857	844	10	3	99.38	97.99
PDAF, etc.	1,090.123	1,113.	1,104	5	4	99.62	96.25
Total	7,834.774	1,970	1,948	15	7	99.41	97.75

Source:  DPWH 5

   The regular maintenance of national roads and bridges under the DPWH Maintenance Fund had a total allocation of PhP190.797 million intended for the repair and maintenance of 2,196 kilometers national roads, 17,881 linear meters of bridges and roadside maintenance works. PhP141.129 million was allocated for regular carriageway maintenance and PhP49.668 million for regular roadside maintenance which were all funded under the Special Road Support Fund of the Motor Vehicle Users Charge (MVUC). The road maintenance projects had an overall physical accomplishment of 83.19 percent as of December 31, 2007 (Table 6.4).

 

   The regular roadside maintenance fund accommodated one worker for every 3.5 kilometers of national road or a total of 622 workers throughout the region. It was a nationwide roadside maintenance program of DPWH aimed at providing employment to the people in the barangays in line with the Ten-Point Agenda of the President for job generation. The Hunger Mitigation Program allocated additional funds for roadside maintenance in the depressed barangays amounting to PhP30.780 million, thereby generating additional employment of 658 roadside workers every month on rotation basis.

District	Repair and Maintenance  Fund Allocation			Additional Roadside Allocation	Accomplishment (%)
	Carriageway	Roadside	Total
Albay I	10,406,000	3,877,987	14,283,987	0	100.00
Albay II	13,798,000	3,597,690	17,395,690	0	90.40
Cam. Norte	14,807,000	3942,948	18,749,948	9,211,004	83.01
Cam. Sur I	8,416,000	2,902,954	11,318,954	1,011,921	78.71
Cam. Sur II	6,137,000	1,906,150	8,043,150	682,512	61.85
Cam. Sur III	20,291,000	5,060,598	25,351,598	1,841,173	99.33
Cam. Sur IV	6,314,000	1,935,175	8,249,175	675,136	98.51
Catanduanes	21,855,000	6,160,225	28,015,225	0	98.24
Masbate I	10,451,000	3,525,240	13,976,240	8,140,693	89.20
Masbate II	5,936,000	1,593,371	7,531,371	4,564,844	67.20
Masbate Sub	5,936,000	2,286,488	7,953,488	4,653,274	61.02
Sorsogon I	8,424,000	3,048,315	11,472,315	0	70.55
Sorsogon Sub	8,627,000	2,832,930	11,459,930	0	73.93
Total	141,129,000	49,667,844	190,796,844	30,780,557	83.19

Denomination	Franchise		Units
	Number	%Share	Number	%Share
PUB	583	6.53	928	8.39
PUJ	6,122	68.55	7,569	68.40
Vehicles For Hire	72	0.81	57	0.52
Shuttle Transport	3	0.03	3	0.03
School Transport	22	0.25	22	0.20
Trucks for Hire	263	2.94	763	6.89
FC Express	1,866	20.89	1,724	15.58
Total	8,931	100.00	11,066	100.00

Year	Actual Revenue	Budget Release	Net Revenue	% Over
2005	22,994,379.77	6,134,000.00	16,860,379.77	274.87%
2006	15,420,876.75	6,174,000.00	9,246,876.75	149.77%
2007	18,550,708.01	7,542,000.00	11,008,708.01	145.98%

                  Source:  LTFRB 5

   During the current year, the agency had restored the services of two Mobile Franchising Units (Daet and Masbate City)to bring government services closer to the clienteles despite limited LTFRB budget. The LTFRB Daet Extension Office was able to handle 2,266 various transactions while Masbate Extension Office handled a total of 180 transactions during CY 2007.

 

B. Water

 

   The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Port Management Office of Legazpi(PMO-Legazpi) supervised 8 terminal ports (PPA national ports), 14 municipal ports and 13 private ports in the entire region.

 

   In CY 2007, the gross revenue performance of the entire PMO-Legazpi increased by about 15 percent compared in 2006. The actual generated revenue for CY 2007 was PhP70.445 million indicating a slight increase over the CY 2006 revenue of PhP61.879 million (Table 6.8).

 

   Not to mention the sluggish performance of the present economy such other constraints like the existence of cement cartel, the series of typhoons that hit the region in the last quarter of the year, the decreased exportation of coconut oil abroad and the suspension of the importation of cement clinker for the local cement factory have affected the performance of the PMO.

 

Table 6.8 Gross Revenues Generated By Terminal, PMO – Legazpi,

CY 2006-2007

Terminal Ports (including Mun. and  Private Ports)	Revenues		% Growth
	2006	2007
Baseport Legazpi*	12,389,428	10,624,096	(14)
Bulan	1,246,838	1,864,836	50
Jose Panganiban	1,316,687	458,012	(65)
Masbate	6,455,332	7,770,848	20
Matnog	18,431,757	17,973,958	(2)
Pasacao	2,463,049	2,988,603	21
Tabaco	15,290,621	24,635,569	61
Virac**	3,533,800	4,129,696	17
Total	61,127,512	70,445,618	15

                  * Includes Pantao Port statistics

                 ** Includes San Andres Port Statistics

                 Source:  PPA-PMO Legazpi

   A 13 percent increase in vessel traffic was noted in CY 2007 with 20,597 shipcalls as compared to 18,153 shipcalls recorded in CY 2006. The increment was mainly attributed to domestic shipping traffic provided by RORO ferries and fastcrafts plying the various passenger ports of the region (Table 6.9). The foreign shipcalls registered a decrease in CY 2007 due to reduced crude coconut oil exportation caused by low supply of coconut products as a result of the series of strong typhoons that hit the country in CY 2006.

 

   Contrary to the increase in shipcalls, shipping tonnage slid by 2 percent since the shipping traffic was mostly composed of domestic passenger vessels with small gross registered tonnage (GRT) like fastcrafts and RORO vessels. Few international ships, cargo vessels and big fishing vessels docked the region’s national ports due to low economic activities. 

 

The vessels’ gross registered tonnage (GRT) recorded in CY 2007 decreased by 2 percent (6.070 million tons) as compared to 6.204 million tons in CY 2006 (Table 6.9)

Table 6.9 Shipcalls and Shipping Tonnage Statistics by Terminal,PMO-Legazpi,

CY 2006-2007

Terminal Ports (incl. Mun. & Private Ports)	Shipcalls (Number)			Shipping Tonnage (GRT)
	2006	2007	% Growth	2006	2007	%Growth
Baseport Legazpi*	1,999	2,572	29	734,940	501,164	(32)
Bulan	4,866	4,673	(4)	89,817	119,181	33
Jose Panganiban	15	19	27	39,414	22,637	(43)
Masbate	3,839	4,799	25	1,350,213	1,248,183	(8)
Matnog	3,964	5,286	33	2,658,878	2,810,093	6
Pasacao	394	436	11	296,510	335,418	13
Tabaco	1,542	1,444	(6)	553,598	616,301	11
Virac**	1,534	1,368	(11)	480,494	417,276	(13)
Total	18,153	20,597	13	6,203,864	6,070,253	(2)

* Includes Pantao Port statistics

** Includes San Andres Port Statistics

Source:  PPA-PMO Legazpi

   In terms of cargo, the region’s ports handled a total of 4.027 million metric tons of cargo in CY 2007 registering a modest 10 percent increase over the CY 2006’s cargo volume of 3.666 million metric tons (Table 6.10). 

 

   The increase in domestic cargo could be attributed to both government and private ports. However, large volumes of inbound and outbound cargoes were noted in the following private ports: (1) Batan Port – gravel, sand, and coal; (2) NFH Port – fish products; (3) Globe Coco Port – copra and crude coconut oil; and (4) Shell Pasacao Port – refined petroleum products.

 

   Foreign cargoes showed positive growth due to large volume of imported rice and pyrite discharged at Tabaco Port, methanol surfactant at Panganiban Port and imported coal unloaded at Baseport Legazpi.

 

   Some 2.845 million passengers used the services of various ports in CY 2007. This figure posted a 1 percent decrease from last year’s 2.879 million commuters (Table 6.10). The slight overall decrease could be attributed to the frequent cancellations of voyages during typhoons/rainy season and non-operation of one passenger servicing port in Pasacao, Camarines Sur.  

 

   The biggest volume of passengers was concentrated at Matnog Port which serviced about 1.481 million passengers or more than half (52%) of the total passenger traffic during the current year. Matnog Port is servicing the Maharlika Highway as a RORO port for the inter-regional travel to the Visayas and Mindanao. The port also serves as a vital support to the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

 

Table 6.10 Cargo Traffic and Passenger Traffic by Terminal, PMO-Legazpi,

 CY 2006- 2007

Terminal Ports (incl. Mun. & Private Ports)	Shipcalls (Number)			Shipping Tonnage (GRT)
	2006	2007	% Growth	2006	2007	%Growth
Baseport Legazpi*	1,999	2,572	29	734,940	501,164	(32)
Bulan	4,866	4,673	(4)	89,817	119,181	33
Jose Panganiban	15	19	27	39,414	22,637	(43)
Masbate	3,839	4,799	25	1,350,213	1,248,183	(8)
Matnog	3,964	5,286	33	2,658,878	2,810,093	6
Pasacao	394	436	11	296,510	335,418	13
Tabaco	1,542	1,444	(6)	553,598	616,301	11
Virac**	1,534	1,368	(11)	480,494	417,276	(13)
Total	18,153	20,597	13	6,203,864	6,070,253	(2)

* Includes Pantao Port statistics

** Includes San Andres Port Statistics

Source:  PPA-PMO Legazpi

 

   Communications

 

   The available facilities for communication in Bicol are postal and telecommunications.  Postal communication service is provided by the Philippine Postal Corporation while telecommunication services are provided by various providers regulated by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

 

   The impact of information and communications technology is the best proof that the gains of technology can trickle down to all sectors of society. People from all economic classes, age groups and demographics have been influenced by the innovations that continue to sweep the industry.

A. Telecommunication

 

   The performance of the Regional NTC is dependent on the National NTC which provides the general directions of the operation of the Commission. The NTC is a regulatory agency providing an environment that ensures reliable, affordable and viable infrastructure and services in information and communication technology (ICT) accessible to all.

 

   For CY 2006, the Regional NTC issued 1,134 licenses, permits and certificates. It has inspected and investigated 317 radio installations and stations, a sharp decline from previous records due to the effects brought by typhoons Milenyo and Reming. It has also monitored 4,575 frequency channels and disposed 59 administrative cases. It has collected a total revenue of PhP3,505,160.00.

 

   In terms of telephone density, the region posted 2.12 installed lines per 1,000 population and 1.32 subscribed lines per 1,000 population in CY 2006. This is lower compared to the national figures of 7.76 installed lines per 1,000 population and 4.00 subscribed lines per 1,000 population. Based on the regional distribution of telephone lines (Table 6.11), the region ranked 11th among the 16 regions.

Table 6.11 Regional Distribution of Telephone Lines, CY 2006

Region	Population	Installed Lines	Subscribed Lines	Teledensity
				Installed	Subscribed
CAR	1,553,173	89,154	33,660	5.74	2.17
NCR	11,289,368	2,840,239	1,619,608	25.16	14.35
I	4,481,820	192,581	111,696	4.30	2.49
II	3,086,812	37,990	28,066	1.23	0.91
III	8,426,578	408,207	271,175	4.84	3.22
IV	12,810,064	1,073,343	581,450	8.38	4.54
V	5,165,243	109,631	68,387	2.12	1.32
VI	6,884,429	427,481	135,385	6.21	1.97
VII	6,068,238	470,616	222,748	7.76	3.67
VIII	4,133,242	151,652	27,790	3.67	0.67
IX	3,522,722	35,945	29,446	1.02	0.84
X	3,189,990	146,258	56,361	4.58	1.77
XI	5,902,604	322,243	108,916	5.46	1.85
XII	2,971,763	82,616	31,864	2.78	1.07
XIII	2,319,415	117,116	31,927	5.05	1.38
ARMM	2,409,317	33,315	8,773	1.38	0.36
Total	84,214,778	6,538,387	3,367,252	7.76	4.00

Source: NTC

   There were 113 stations that operated in 2006. This indicated that the telegraphic means had lesser patronage in terms of information communication compared to digital means. The facilities were served by private and public facility operated by TELOF.

 

   The broadcast and CATV industries improved from 2647 to 2,788 facilities nationwide. The region component showed an increase of 15 facilities from 247 to 262 TV relay stations and CATV. This has increased people’s awareness and accessibility to public information.

 

B.  Postal Communication

 

   CY 2007 again proved to be a challenging period for postal communication considering the financial crisis encountered by the region due to series of typhoons that strongly hit all parts of Bicol Region in the last quarter of CY 2006. Despite this situation, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC) Region 5 realized a revenue of about PhP53 million, 89.12 percent attainment compared to the CY 2007 revenue target of PhP59,832,532. This is 1.91 percent lower than the revenue for CY 2006 of PhP54 million. This can be attributed   to   the   continuous decrease of postings from institutional customers like GSIS, SSS and Philhealth and other major customers with business counterparts in other countries who temporarily suspended their business transactions.                                               

 

   Phil-post 5 operation also increased on other postal products and services especially those not affected by the advancement in communication technology. These products and services include mail permits, business mails, presentation to customs, rent income, registration fees, and the postal ID.

   Irrigation, Drainage and Flood Control

A.  Irrigation

 

   The only crop grown in irrigated lands is paddy rice through surface type of irrigation. It has provided support to the region’s food security.

 

  Out of the region’s potential irrigable area of 239,660 hectares, about 50 percent has been developed. Of the developed service area, 20,487 hectares were National Irrigation Systems (NIS), 68,227 hectares Communal Irrigation Systems and 31,207 hectares were Private Irrigation Systems. It remained low because the focus of the irrigation sector was on the restoration and rehabilitation of irrigation systems particularly those damaged by typhoons Milenyo and Reming and on the institutional strengthening of the farmer beneficiaries.

 

  There were 463 hectares of new areas developed, 7,065 hectares rehabilitated and 3,711 hectares restored. The implementation of rehabilitation, restoration and new projects was greatly hampered by heavy rainfall.

 

  Seventy-seven NIS irrigators associations (IAs) were recipients of institutional strengthening activities of the NIA with 67 strengthened, 2 organized and 8 registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). There were 13 IAs that renewed their operation and management contract for NIS and 87 IAs executed their memorandum of agreement with NIA for Communal Irrigation Systems.

 

   The average cropping intensities of the National Irrigation Systems went down from 138.24 percent to 135.59 percent and Communal Irrigation Systems from 123 percent to 119 percent, respectively. This was attributed to the heavy rains experienced during the year.

B. Flood Control

 

  Frequent weather disturbances affected the Bicol Region inducing water related hazards such as floods, landslides, mud and debris flow. To cope with these hazards, flood control and management was of vital importance to the region for its social and economic development. Flood management however only focused on the more expensive engineering solutions rather than the non-structural measures. The structural measures were necessary but not sufficient.

 

  Intermittent sections of river training works and drainage structures were constructed solving the problem locally. Palliative measures such as dredging of rivers were also common but these were not effective and efficient because dredged materials were just dumped along riverbanks. Engineering solutions continued to be implemented in the region.

 

   For CY 2007, DPWH 5 flood control projects were not implemented as of December 2007 because funds were not yet released. Actual implementation of these projects may take place in March 2008 should the budget allocations are released. For regular fund projects, it had an allocation of PhP78.675 million composed of 81 flood control projects. Meanwhile, for special projects it was composed of 13 flood control projects with a total allocation of PhP13.474 million. Regular projects are implemented by DPWH District Engineering Offices while special projects which include Mayon Sabo Works, Upper Bicol River Basin flood control projects in Albay, and lower Bicol River Basin flood control projects in Camarines Sur are implemented by DPWH Regional Office.