SORSOGON CITY--Members of the provincial legislative board of Sorsogon have expressed support for the full autonomy of Bikol, the second poorest among the country’s 16 regions, as an alternative to better governance and progress.
A multi-sectoral group, under the First Regional Forum on Bicol Autonomy launched over the weekend, spearheads the move.
Sorsogon provincial board member Arnulfo Perete said through a genuine and full autonomy, Bikol could fully harness its potentials to emerge as a “super region,” considering its rich natural resources.
“The region is strategically located and accessible through land, sea and air transportation and yet we are lagging behind our neighbors in terms of regional economic development given the fact that our poverty incidence is at 62.8 percent,” Perete told PNA Wednesday.
Bikol has 13 major fishing grounds that supply fish markets as far as Metro Manila; one of the highest producers of palay, abaca, corn and coconut; and boasts of voluminous mineral reserves like gold, copper, silver, iron, phosphate rock, per lite, red clay, and marbles. Yet, Perete said that since Bikolanos had no control over their natural resources, the regional unemployment rate had escalated.
“We have active energy sources such as the BacMan (Bacon-Manito) and Tiwi geothermal fields here and in Tiwi, Albay; hydro power plants in Buhi, Camarines Sur and this city and biomass technology but we are made to pay high cost of electricity,” he said.
The BacMan geothermal energy field within the boundaries of this city and Manito, Albay, now operated by the Lopezowned Energy Development Corp. (EDC), produces over 220 megawatts of electricity while the Tiwi geothermal facility, owned by Chevron, contributes about 180 megawatts.
The region also produces energy from biomass using coconut husks and rice hulls.
Bikol also had potential wind-driven energy resources sites in Baleno, Masbate; Donsol and Matnog, Sorsogon; Virac, Catanduanes and some parts of Burias Island.
It has ocean thermal energy potentials in the Camarines provinces and Catanduanes, downstream oil facilities in Pasacao, Camarines Sur and Masbate City with a total storage capacity of 87.9 million barrels and coal reserves in Batan Island of Albay, Catanduanes and Masbate.
Bikol is a tourist destination owing to the majestic Mayon Volcano of Albay, whale sharks of Donsol, Sorsogon, manta rays of Ticao Island of Masbate, various historical landmarks and stretches of paradise beaches, among others.
Vice-Gov. Renato Laurinaria supported Perete, saying “despite the richness of Bikol, it remains the poorest among the other regions of the country. Our peace and order situation has deteriorated, we have slow and corrupt justice system, poor delivery of social services and political dynasties exist.”
The inability of the Bikolanos to efficiently utilize their natural resources to acquire social and economic prosperity is the main reason why they are poor, Laurinaria said.
“We allow our natural wealth to be exploited by foreigners as we are not provided with the opportunity, technology, expertise and support to develop what we have and be able to sustain it for the future generations,” he said.
Since the region is very much dependent on agriculture and fisheries, Laurinaria said Bikolanos became easily socially vulnerable.
Also, the region’s irrigation systems do not support well agricultural productivity while well-established alternative livelihood programs are lacking for fisher folks displaced by the decline in fish catch due to abuse of the fishing grounds and red tide.
“Thus, Bikol is poorest and will remain under such situation unless full and genuine autonomy is attained to give way to its economy to grow with its people given the opportunity to utilize their natural resources wisely and productively,” the vice-governor added. (PNA)