“BANGON”: ALBAY RISING By Felipe Jose B. Peralta
“The Greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
-Confucius
Situated 550 kilometers south of Manila, the province of Albay is composed of 18 municipalities subdivided from three congressional districts. It has right now three chartered cities namely Tabaco, Legazpi and Ligao. With a land area of 2,552 square kilometers, it is where the world’s famous perfect cone volcano comes into full view- the majestic Mayon Volcano. Albay is approximately 13 to 13.5 degrees north latitude and 123.25 to 124.25 degrees east longitude. Bounded by Lagonoy Gulf and the province of Camarines Sur in the northwest, the Pacific Ocean in the east, the province of Sorsogon in the south, and Burias Pass in the southeast, Albay is strategically the growth center of business activities in the entire Bicol Region. Its economy basically depends on agriculture. The province is generally mountainous with scattered fertile plains and valleys around Mt. Mayon and Malinao. It has also a total coastline length of 354 kilometers. Its population as of 2012 is 1,233,423.
Having been along the typhoon belt for a long time, Albay constantly battles the rages of strong storms and typhoons, making the province one of the most depressed provinces in the country. Aside from the ravages of typhoons, Albay also experiences periodic volcanic eruptions and other natural calamities. Economic set-back has always been a problem for years, no wonder Albay earned the moniker as the “Disaster Paradise of the Philippines.”
In November 2006, Albay experienced the worst and devastating effects brought about by super howler “Reming”. Hundreds died. Ready to harvest agricultural products were gone within a flick of a finger. For four months the entire province was into total darkness. Albay got isolated from the rest of the world.
With the innovative leadership and new found vision for Albay, the local government unit headed by Governor Joey Sarte Salceda slowly rise up from the debris left by the said disasters. Salceda strengthened the people’s knowledge on disaster preparedness and mitigation through the conducts of several trainings. Different disaster drills were mandated to be taught to all sectors of the community. Preemptive evacuation was started in the province of Albay and became a national byword. Infrastructures were made to provide a safe place for the
constituents. With the help of several NGOs, Albay was able to rise amidst several difficulties. With the different innovative approaches in tackling disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, Albay province was declared in 2008 as a “Global Local Government Unit Model for Climate change Adaptation” by the United Nations International Strategy for disaster risk Reduction. Same accolade was also given by the World Bank. Albay has maintained its position as the first mover in terms of implementing good practices to ensure zero casualties during calamities. Today, Albay is the first in the whole Asia if not in the world to organized and form the Albay Climate Change Academy. Today, Albay has shifted its gear toward tourism development. With the knowledge learned in disaster mitigation, the province has adopted a new sales pitch: “Indulge Yourself in Warm Albay!” Last march 6-10, Albay was featured as a highlight tourist destination in the Philippines at an international tourism exposition in Berlin, Germany. “We are now being marketed abroad, so let’s not disappoint our visitors. Albayanos are great people, so let’s show them what we’ve got. And they’ll come back again and again,” Governor Joey Sarte-Salceda stressed. From being called as “Disaster Paradise”, Albay has totally risen as one of the tourism giants of the country. Albay has posted a 49 percent tourist arrival in 2012 with a 23 percent growth in foreign tourist sector.