Introduction
The Bicol Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP) provides the framework and defines the scope of development planning for the whole region.
The RPFP serves as guide to decisions on how land and natural resources may be put to the most beneficial use for the people. It indicates how resources may be managed and conserved for the benefit of present and future generations. It is designed to show the desired direction and amount of growth of the region as a whole and its sub-regional areas over a plan period of 30 years. It deems to promote the direction and amount of growth that represents a balance between the need of the region to fulfill its functional role in the national economy and the need to ensure sustainable utilization of physical resources. Thus, it takes into account and seeks to contribute to the attainment of national development goals and targets.
The RPFP guides public and private investment to achieve an efficient settlement pattern providing better access by the region’s population to basic services. It provides a rational mix of land uses that promotes both productivity and environmental integrity.
It should be noted that the RPFP is indicative in nature and does not intend to usurp the zoning powers of local government units.
The RDC approved and adopted the RPFP during its meeting on April 25, 2006. Thus, the various policies and strategies of the different plan components are reflected in this chapter. It will guide the formulation of the next Medium-Term Bicol Regional Development Plan (MTRDP).
Vision, Goal and Roles
Vision.
Bicol Region is envisioned to be a region achieving accelerated economic growth and equitable social development and rational distribution of population among sub-regional areas through sound management of natural resources.
Goals and Objectives. To help achieve the vision, land use and physical planning shall focus on rational use and allocation of land and physical resources. This goal can be achieved if production lands are used according to the land use suitability. It will also mean keeping protection lands in their right state to be able to provide an effective life support system to Bicolanos. Infrastructure support facilities will be placed in strategic areas that will promote economic and social development while not compromising environmental health.
Corollary to the above goal, the following objectives shall be pursued:
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To attain environmental stability and ecological integrity.
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To attain sustainable use of protected agricultural areas.
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To provide efficient and effective infrastructure facilities and utilities for economic integration and for an equitable access and delivery of services.
Roles of Bicol Region. Bicol region shall have the following roles: (a) geothermal energy producer; (b) agri-industrial center; (c) food basket of Luzon; (d) mineral-based production center; (e) ecotourism destination; and (f) south Luzon's gateway to the Visayas and the Pacific.
Geothermal Energy Producer. The Bicol Region, having geothermal power generating plants with aggregate generating capacity of 512.574 MW, shall continue providing ample amount of electricity to the Luzon Grid for distribution to the island group. Other potential sources of geothermal energy shall be explored.
Agri-Industrial Center. The agriculture resource-base of the Bicol Region shall be utilized for the development of agri-based industries. Non-traditional products from traditional commodities, i.e. coconut, abaca and pili shall be developed through science and technology. Likewise, non-traditional crops of high commercial value will be developed into agri-industries.
Food Basket of Luzon. With the improved climatic condition in the Region coupled with large areas for agricultural expansion, production of food crops will be intensified to get a larger market share of the needs in Luzon regions. Food commodities include rice, vegetables, rootcrops, fruits especially queen pineapple, fishery products, pork, chicken and beef.
Mineral-Based Production Center. Mineral-based activities in Bicol shall cover exploration, extraction and value adding activities that will lead to the development of vertically and horizontally integrated mineral-based industries.
Ecotourism Destination. The presence of unique and diverse flora and fauna in Bicol makes it a primary destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
South Luzon’s Gateway to the Visayas and the Pacific. Bicol’s strategic location at the southern tip of Luzon makes it south Luzon’s gateway to the Visayas. The presence of Legazpi and Tabaco Ports, both catering to international vessels, bring Luzon close to having trade and tourism relations with other countries in the Pacific.
Spatial Development Strategies
Planning Units.
There will be a network of sub-regional planning and programming units dividing the region into smaller and more manageable units. At the sub-regional level, a province is an integrated area development (IAD) unit. Each IAD has sub-integrated area development (SIAD) units that are clusters of municipalities grouped according to homogeneity of physical resources, economic activities, proximity and accessibility to each other and concentration of services and facilities.
Network of Settlements. A network of settlements shall be developed with Metro Naga and Metro Legazpi as the primary growth areas; the capital towns as secondary growth centers; and SIAD centers as tertiary growth centers.
The various services required of an expanding population in the less urbanized and rural municipalities will be catered by the more urbanized and identified secondary centers and/or tertiary centers backed up, if necessary, by the primary industrial/service centers of Metro Legazpi and Metro Naga.
The two island provinces and the two sub-islands of Masbate will continue to strive to be self-sufficient in basic social services due to its increasing population while maximizing the use of their agriculture, mineral and tourism resource bases. The respective secondary and tertiary growth centers shall be developed to serve as an efficient market and/or marketing intermediary.
Development Drivers. The region’s development drivers are related to the roles of Bicol, namely: geothermal power generation; intensified agricultural production, especially for food and raw materials for industry; mineral extraction and processing; and ecotourism. Trade shall also be a development driver as profitability that will redound to greater family income shall be determined by the marketing system.
Production activities shall be pursued in agriculture-rich areas, mineral-rich areas, identified tourism areas and industrial areas, while taking consideration of their sustainability of land use and their effect on ecological balance.
The way we manage ecological balance and biodiversity shall have a great impact on the state of the life support system of the Bicolanos as well as the state of ecotourism in the Region.
Transportation and digital communication infrastructure shall play a major role in making these effective development drivers that will ultimately lead to poverty reduction. Physical and digital infrastructure support shall be strategically located to effect:
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Economic integration of production (agriculture, mineral and industrial areas) with consumption areas;
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Greater access to basic social services especially by rural areas, the island provinces and the islands of Masbate, and of other municipalities with island barangays;
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Greater accessibility of ecotourism destinations; and
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Integration of Bicol Region with the rest of the country through intermodal transportation.
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Greater accessibility of ecotourism destinations; and
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Integration of Bicol Region with the rest of the country through intermodal transportation.
Intra-regional Economic Integration. Intra-regional economic integration shall be achieved through the improvement in physical access and access to information in all areas. Physical access shall be improved through an intermodal transport network among cities and municipalities that will:
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Reduce cash and non-cash hauling/transport cost of farmers/fisherfolks in bringing their products to trading centers;
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Reduce cash and non-cash hauling/transport cost of middlemen in the performance of their assembling function;
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Facilitate access of rural population to basic social services, i.e. schools and hospitals.
Information related to marketing, basic social services, employment, government services and requirements and the like shall be made available by allowing digital infrastructure to cover the whole region. Partnership with the private sector, especially the telecommunication service providers need to be forged
in establishing landline telecommunication lines in the rural areas.
Interregional Economic Integration. The Bicol Region shall have interregional economic relations with most of the regions in Luzon and some regions in Visayas and Mindanao. Major areas of interregional relations are agriculture, agri-industry, trade and tourism.
Transportation and information infrastructure shall play a critical role in making effective and efficient interregional linkages in these areas. Intermodal transportation shall be improved. Regular routes along the Philippine nautical highway shall include the Bicol Region. The following shall be the major transport strategies:
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Provision of roll-on roll-off facilities in ports in strategic locations to transport a greater amount of goods in and out of these areas;
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Improvement of land transport infrastructure which connect production areas to these ports;
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Upgrading of the rail transport system that will extend to Matnog, Sorsogon. Feasibility of extending it to other parts of mainland Bicol, i.e., Camarines Norte, shall be studied;
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Construction and upgrading of airports and work for increased air traffic to and from Bicol airports.
Industrial activities must be banned in SAFDZs, NIPAS areas, and other similarly protected areas, and hazard-prone areas that have been identified to be too risky for industrial activities to take place (e.g. fault lines, erosion-prone areas, permanent volcanic eruption danger zones).
Urban centers whose growth must be restrained /discouraged for disaster risk reduction include:
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All settlements within the proclaimed reservations areas. Affected settlements of Tiwi, Malinao, and Manito, all of Albay and part of Sorsogon City (areas covered by then-Bacon) in Sorsogon province will be allowed expansion outside the peripheries of the reservation areas suitable for settlement purposes;
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All settlements within the danger zones of Mayon Volcano, Mts. Bulusan and Iriga which are all active volcanoes; and those lying along active fault lines. Consonant to these, frontline agencies especially those in the services and infrastructure sectors shall be prohibited from implementing projects that serve to negate the importance of this policy, i.e., the expansion of the current level of education facilities, power supply connections, provision of pipe water supply, etc.; and
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All settlements lying within historical tsunami areas – affected barangays along Sorsogon
Bay.
