Bicol Region, officially designated as Region V, is an administrative region in the Philippines grouped under the Luzon island group. It covers 6 provinces, namely, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon. The regional center is the City of Legazpi. The Bicol Region has 107 municipalities, and 7 cities with the total number of barangays in the region amounting to 3,471.
Bicol Region is composed mainly of rich flat land, and agriculture is the largest component of the economy with close to 50% of the region’s population dependent on the industry. Coconuts, abaca, banana, coffee and jackfruit are the top five permanent crops in the region, rice and corn are two of the major seasonal crops. Commercial fishing is also important with thirteen major fishing grounds supplying fish markets in places as far as Metro Manila.
Mining is also one of the contributors to the region’s economy. Several handicrafts, jewelry manufacturing, other small-scale industries and manufacturing enterprises bolster rural incomes.
With population at more than 6 million, pests are expected to infest residential and commercial establishments.