BICOL RIVER BASIN




Location



Area               : 3,171 sq. km.
Region           : V
Provinces      : Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay
Towns/Cities : 50
Barangays      : 963
Outlet             : San Miguel Bay
Est. Pop’n       : 2,011,326 (2010)
RBO                 : Bicol River Basin Management Committee
RDC Reso.       : RDC Resolution No. 13 (s. 2015)
Forestland       : 550.62 sq. km.
A&D                  : 2,620.38 sq. km.
NGP Area         : 59.86 sq. km. (as of October, 2015)

VISION

"A sustainably managed Bicol River Basin with high ecosystem biodiversity, providing stable, dependable, and sustained high quality water supply for agricultural, domestic and industrial use and contributing to the socioeconomic development of local communities."

GOAL

Reduce poverty in local communities such that those within the Bicol River Basin are able to sustain their livelihoods without resorting to environmentally destructive practices and empower them to become co‐custodians of the river basin

CRITICAL WATERSHEDS
  1. Libmanan-Cabusao Watershed
  2. Inarihan Watershed (THIRIS)
  3. Barit-Rida Watershed
  4. Buhi-Iriga-Lalo Watershed
  5. Hibiga Watershed
  6. Nasisi Watershed
  7. Basey-Bublusan
  8. Hinagyanan River Watershed
  9. Tigman River Watershed
  10. Pili River Watershed
  11. Nabua River Watershed
PROTECTED AREAS
  1. Bicol Natural Park
  2. Mt. Isarog Natural Park
  3. Mt. Mayon Natural park
  4. Malabungot Protected Landscape and Seascape
WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AREA
  1. Lake Buhi Water Quality
ECOSYTEM SERVICES

  • Lakes
  • Lake Buhi: 1,800 has.
  • Lake Bato: 2,810 has.
  • Lake Baao: 177 has.
  • Water Balance
  • Est. available water: 3,365 MCM/yr
  • Groundwater Recharge: -61 MCM/yr
  • Deficit: 67,981 cu.m.


  • Agriculture: 243,909 has.
  • Main crops: Rice, corn, coconut, abaca, pineapple (Formosa), root crops
  • Fisheries: fish, crabs, shrimps, Sinarapan (world's smallest commercially harvested fish is found in Lakes Bato and Buhi)
  • Livestock: egg production, small-scale backyard farming


  • Lake Buhi Hydropower Plant: 2.8 MW of power (NPC/People's Energy Service, Inc.)


  • 190 terrestrial species; 8 key species identified by IUCN; 25 bird species
  • Flora : 456 species; Fauna : 351 species
  • Cabusao Wetlands : Critical habitat for the vulnerable Philippine endemic duck (Anas luzonica
  • Estimated reef area : 3,774 has.
  • Mangroves : 2,183 has

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PROBLEMS
  1. Within the typhoon belt – 2 typhoons / month in rainy season and 1 strong typhoon in a year
  2. Constrained agricultural production due to deteriorated irrigation facilities
  3. Declining fish catch in the lakes and rivers
  4. unregulated/illegal fishing
  5. Mangrove conversion/ destruction
  6. water pollution
  7. Saline water intrusion into the Bicol River
  8. Institutional constraints due to inadequate funds, trained manpower
STRATEGIES
Strategies to Promote Resilience of Ecosystems and Communities to Climate Related Hazards
  1. Disaster Risk Management Enhancement Program
    1. Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Planning
    2. CLUP Updating and DRRM Capability Enhancement
    3. River Easement Management
  2. Watershed Management Program
    1. Information, education and communication campaign and capability building
    2. Natural Forest Protection and Conservation
    3. Rehabilitation of Degraded Forestlands and Protected Areas
    4. Multi-storey Agroforestry Farm Development in A & D lands
    5. Mangroves and Wetlands Management
    6. Flood Mitigation
Strategies to Promote Investments in Production areas to Meet Demands for Ecosystem Goods and Services
  1. Irrigation Facilities Improvement
  2. Water Quality
  3. Socio-economic Development Programs
    1. Bamboo-based Industry Development
    2. Quarrying in Appropriate Areas of Quinali Sub-basin
    3. Organic Farming
    4. Farm to Market Roads Improvement
    5. Water Regulation and Potable Water Development
    6. Nature-based Tourism Development

River Basin Organization


Membership of the BRB Management Committee