WHY ARE WE SO RICH, YET SO POOR?
Bicol has a total
population of 5,109,798 as of 2010 and growing at an average rate of 1.23%
annually. It has two major sources of renewable energy, from the BacMan and
Tiwi geothermal plants. The total power generated by these plants was 674.54 gigawatt-hours in 2009 while the total
power distributed was only 740,509 thousand
kilowatt-hours. Moreover, our region has strong potentials for other
renewable energy sources.
Electricity
consumers in Bicol pay P7-10 per kilowatt hour while consumers in Metro Manila
pay only P4-7. A working individual who earns minimum wage here finds it harder
to sustain electricity expenses than a student in Manila.
Aside from
energy, we have abundant mineral reserves as well, both metallic and
non-metallic. In Rapu-Rapu we have gold, copper, silver, zinc and other mineral
resources, in Paracale and Aroroy we are rich in gold, in Catanduanes we have
coal, in Camarines Sur we have marble, to name a few.
Our region is
abundant with agricultural and forestry products such as abaca, coconut, corn,
rice, timber, among others. We have abundant fishery resources around the Bicol
peninsula. There is strong tourism potential in many areas of each of our six
provinces. We had 46% increase in tourist arrivals in 2008 and by 2010 we
topped other regions as number one in the country on tourist arrivals. We are
surrounded by beaches and islands like the Caramoan peninsula, Calaguas Island
in Camarines Norte and pristine waters in Masbate, to name a few. Sorsogon is
ever popular of Butanding watching in Donsol.
But reports from
the National Economic Development Authority paint a gloomy picture of our
region. Bicol remains the fourth poorest in the country based on the economic
well-being of individuals. Our region is the second poorest in Luzon, next to
MIMAROPA.
Poverty incidence
in Region 5 remained high at 51.1% in 2006 and 45.1% in 2009. This 2009 figure
translates to about 2,422,267 poor Bicolanos.
CHARTER OF THE
BICOL AUTONOMOUS REGION
The Charter of the Bicol
Autonomous Region captures the major principles of the movement. It has six key
components: (1) Fiscal Autonomy; (2) Strong Anti-Dynasty Provisions; (3) Strong
Anti-Corruption Conditions; (4) More Effective and Efficient Justice System;
(5) Principle of Territoriality; and (6) More Adoptive Educational Framework.
Fiscal autonomy gives
regional and local government units the right to retain and enjoy a major
part of the region’s income instead of giving the bulk of it to the
national government as the present set up dictates.
Strong anti-dynasty
provisions do not allow spouses and relatives of incumbent government
officials of up to fourth degree of
affinity and consanguinity to be appointed into office.
To institutionalize strong
anti-corruption stipulations, the Regional Government will have quarterly
reports on the state of affairs and
finances of the region. Three private accounting firms will audit the
financial accounts of the Bicol Autonomous Region.
A more effective and
efficient justice system will be ensured through the creation of a Regional
Appellate Court. Moreover, a
Regional Planning and Development Board will be established to give the local
government and representatives from all sectors opportunity to
participate in the planning and making
decisions for their own good.
The principle of
territoriality will be carried out by giving the Regional Autonomous Government
the power to control, regulate and supervise the exploitation, utilization
and development of the national resources within the Bicol autonomous
territory. This is in line with advancing regional patrimony vis-à-vis national
patrimony. The principle of territoriality ensures that the communities
affected by the different development projects shall have the greater benefits
in terms of lower cost and more socio economic benefits.
A more adoptive educational framework should be
meaningful, relevant and
responsive to the needs of the Bicolanos. The Bicol Autonomous Region shall
encourage the publication of textbooks and reference materials in the Bicol
language at all levels. It shall promote the use of the Bicol language in
national exams particularly, but not limited to, civil service, NSAT and NCAE.
IMMEDIATE CONCRETE STEPS
Presently, the Movement
is governed by an organizational structure with a regional convenor and
provincial convenors for each of the six provinces.
Representatives of the
Bicol Autonomy Movement have been recently invited and attended a hearing
sponsored by the Committee on Charter Change of the House of Representatives.
The hearing tackled proposed amendments to the 1987 Philippine Constitution
related to a federal form of government and possible autonomy of selected
regions. The Movement shall primarily work within the framework of the
Constitution through an amendment of Article 10 to include a Bicol Autonomous Region.
Another possible step
shall be to pass a Bill in the Philippine legislature creating the Bicol
Autonomous Region. Then a plebiscite shall be conducted throughout the six provinces
of the region so that Bicolanos themselves will decide on the issue.
This
is a summary of the roundtable discussion sponsored by the Institute of
Politics, Department of Social Sciences and Economics Society last September 25,
2012. The main input was given by Mr. Renne Gumba, Director of the Institute of
Politics and Co-Convenor of the Bicol Autonomy Movement. For
comments/inquiries, contact Dr. Bernadette Gumba at Local 2013 or 09063877196
or berns@mbox.adhu.edu.ph. Thank you.
