Nonoy Ibasco

12/06/2026

From 39th Poorest to Bicol’s Liquid Giant: What CamSur’s Financial Rise Really Means

For years, discussions about Camarines Sur have often revolved around politics. Supporters point to accomplishments. Critics point to shortcomings. But every now and then, a set of numbers emerges that deserves attention regardless of political affiliation.
This is one of those moments.

According to recent reports from the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), Camarines Sur today stands among the strongest-performing provinces in the country financially. The province is now ranked as the 3rd richest province in the Philippines in terms of assets, the 2nd highest in local revenue growth nationwide, and has earned recognition as Bicol’s “Liquid Giant” because of its substantial cash reserves and operating income.

Sa madaling salita, hindi lamang mayaman sa papel ang CamSur. May kakayahan rin itong pondohan ang mga programa, proyekto, at serbisyong kailangan ng mga mamamayan.

A Journey Two Decades in the Making

What makes these recognitions remarkable is the context behind them.

Noong 2004, kabilang ang Camarines Sur sa mga pinakamahihirap na probinsya sa bansa, ranking 39th poorest nationwide. Fast forward to today, the province is consistently mentioned among the country’s fiscal leaders.

Whether one agrees or disagrees politically with the Villafuerte family, one fact is difficult to ignore: the transformation happened during a period of leadership continuity that spanned multiple administrations.

For more than two decades, successive provincial governments pursued a relatively consistent direction—investment attraction, public-private partnerships, infrastructure development, education, tourism, healthcare, and fiscal discipline. The result is a province whose financial indicators now compare favorably with some of the country’s most industrialized regions.

Why Should Ordinary Camarinenses Care?

Most people don’t wake up in the morning wondering about a province’s asset base or liquidity position.
What matters is whether these financial gains translate into real benefits.
Can the province provide healthcare assistance?
Can students receive scholarships?
Can roads, schools, and hospitals be built?
Can government respond quickly during disasters?
Can investments create jobs?

These are the questions that matter.
The argument made by many observers is that strong finances provide government with options. A province with resources can act. A province without resources often struggles to do so.

In recent years, CamSur has expanded scholarship programs, healthcare assistance, community colleges, agricultural support, and disaster-response capabilities. These programs require funding, and funding ultimately comes from sound financial management.
More Than Rich. Financially Ready.

Perhaps the most interesting recognition is the title of Bicol’s “Liquid Giant.”
Being wealthy in assets is one thing.
Having cash available when it is needed is another.

A province may own buildings, land, and infrastructure, but if it lacks liquidity, it may struggle to respond during emergencies or launch major programs. CamSur’s reported ₱4.5 billion cash and fund balance against ₱5.17 billion operating income suggests a province with significant financial readiness.
For taxpayers and residents, that distinction matters.

The Bigger Lesson

Beyond politics, beyond personalities, perhaps the larger lesson is this:
Progress rarely happens overnight.
Whether in government, business, or personal life, meaningful results are often the product of consistency, long-term planning, and disciplined ex*****on.

The rise of Camarines Sur from one of the country’s poorest provinces to one of its strongest fiscal performers did not happen in a single year, nor under a single program.
It was built over time.

And while there will always be room for improvement—and there should be—these achievements deserve recognition because they are not easy accomplishments.
The numbers tell an important story.

The challenge now is ensuring that this fiscal strength continues to translate into better healthcare, better education, better jobs, stronger communities, and greater opportunities for every Camarinense.
Because in the end, the true measure of success is not how much wealth a province accumulates.
It is how much that wealth improves the lives of its people.

The Facts

• 3rd Richest Province in the Philippines (COA FY 2024)
• 2nd Highest Local Revenue Growth Nationwide (BLGF FY 2023)
• Bicol’s Liquid Giant (BLGF FY 2025)
• ₱33.23 Billion Assets
• ₱28.56 Billion Net Worth
• ₱4.5 Billion Cash & Fund Balance

Sources;

COA • BLGF • PSA

“Whatever one’s political views may be, the fiscal indicators reported by COA and BLGF suggest that Camarines Sur has experienced a remarkable financial transformation over the last two decades.”

The CamSur Observer
Context. Insight. Conversation.

12/06/2026

𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 | 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐆𝐔 𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐚 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 🇵🇭

11/06/2026

Mga minamahal kong kababayan at kapwa Bulaeños,

Sa pagdiriwang natin ng ika-128 Araw ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas, alalahanin natin ang sakripisyo at kabayanihang nagbigay sa atin ng kalayaan na tinatamasa natin ngayon.

Ang temang “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan.” ay nagpapaalala na ang ating kalayaan ay bunga ng ating mayamang kasaysayan at siyang gabay natin sa pagbuo ng mas maunlad na kinabukasan para sa bawat Bulaeño.

Nawa’y patuloy nating pangalagaan ang ating kalayaan sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaisa, pagmamahal sa bayan, at tapat na paglilingkod sa kapwa. Sama-sama nating itaguyod ang isang mas progresibo, mapayapa, at maunlad na Bayan ng Bula.

Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan sa ating lahat!🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

11/06/2026

10/06/2026

For a long time, many people felt a strong sense of distrust toward their local government, believing that decisions were mostly made by a select few who didn’t represent them.

The feeling was summed up in the saying, “Sila-sila lang ‘yan,” or “It’s just them,” highlighting the belief that the public was left out of important discussions about their own lives.

However, in Bula, a coastal town in Camarines Sur with over 75,000 residents, a positive change is underway.

Here, the focus is shifting from the idea of “them” making decisions to a belief in the “power of us” working together.

Edgar Tabornal, the president of the Bula People’s Council, explained that the involvement of community groups in local decisions has become a great example of how governments and citizens can work hand-in-hand.

The partnership was celebrated during the regional launch of President Bongbong Marcos' Executive Order 31 on Thursday, which formalized the Philippine .

The launch was part of Department of Budget and Management's (DBM) Project CINCO, which aims to encourage collaboration between the government and civil society organizations (CSOs).

Tabornal said that one of the most important results of the teamwork was that it had helped to rebuild trust in the government.

With members of these organizations actively participating in decision-making, residents no longer feel like outsiders; they’re now engaged in discussions about policies, planning, and budgeting, according to Tabornal.

He highlighted how this collaboration allows community representatives to vote on priorities and provide input on proposed budgets.

Mary Ruth Parro, who coordinates planning and development in Bula, shared an example of this teamwork: the local government’s transport support program designed to tackle the energy crisis.

Instead of simply handing out subsidies in a top-down approach, the local government brought together transport leaders and community members to design a solution together.

The result was the “Libreng Sakay Para sa mga Taga-Bula” program, which provides free rides with licensed drivers and operators to ensure that residents have access to transportation even during tough times.

“This approach allowed us to make the most of our limited funds, helping a wider range of people—including commuters, drivers, and small local gas station owners,” Parro said.

The new way of working together illustrates how effective collaboration can improve lives and strengthen the community.

Resident Lucila Quintana praised the new initiative, saying, “Thanks to this well-thought-out program, everyone involved—commuters, drivers, and operators—will benefit.”

Under the Bagong Pilipinas initiative, the local government is changing the old view of CSOs as adversaries of the government.

“We want the local government to be friendly to CSOs. We are open and transparent,” said Parro, highlighting that sharing information is crucial for good governance.

By seeing CSOs as valuable partners that provide skilled personnel and expertise, the local government has sped up progress that might have taken many years to achieve on its own.

Tabornal noted that transparency starts right from the beginning of the planning process.

This begins with collaborative planning, where community members and leaders outline their development goals for the next few years.

Next comes the Annual Investment Plan, which ensures that funding aligns with the community’s real needs, he said.

Tabornal said that involving CSOs in the budgeting process creates openness and helps make the local government’s intentions clear.

Each month, the local government also holds a community engagement event called “talakayan”, inviting CSOs and residents to discuss and give feedback on the government’s accomplishments.

For these partnerships to work well, Tabornal believes a change in mindset is needed.

He encourages CSOs to approach collaborations with a helpful attitude instead of demanding what they want from the government.

He suggests that instead of asking, “What can the government do for me?” they should ask, “What can I do for my government?”

Even though his background is in agriculture, he said that well-planned projects and policies benefit all community members, not just farmers.

“CSOs are on the front lines and understand the everyday challenges the community faces,” Tabornal said.

He continued: “When they share their insights during local council meetings, they not only voice their own concerns but also help the government address wider issues affecting everyone.”

“When the government opens its doors and the people come in with a service mentality, it leads to a better budget and a stronger democracy,” he added.

Meanwhile, Project CINCO was launched as a regional campaign to support a government effort promoting transparency and citizen participation.

According to Francis Bautista, DBM director for Bicol, the project emphasizes that CSOs and ordinary citizens are essential partners in government, ensuring it is inclusive and accountable.

The launch included a workshop with representatives from over ten local governments in the Bicol region, along with various community groups.

Participants worked together to create plans and policies that strengthen citizen involvement in local budgeting and governance. (PIA5/KBernadas)

09/06/2026

ABISO | Libreng Sakay Pick-up Points (Bula - Naga vv)

Sa mga pasahero po ng Libreng Sakay Program, ito po ang mga pick-up points ng mga partner jeepneys rutang Naga - Bula.

- STI
- PUREGOLD
- BICOL ACCESS
- ROBINSON'S PLACE

No. of Vehicle Deployed: 11
Duration: June 8-17, 2026
Operating Hours: 6AM-9AM | 3PM-6PM daily

Please be guided.

09/06/2026

'𝐁𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐎𝐍'𝐒 𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒'

Public trust in provincial leadership remains strong across the Bicol Region, with all six governors surpassing RPMD Foundation Inc.'s governance benchmark and several posting exceptionally high ratings in both trust and performance. The latest 𝐑𝐏𝐌𝐃 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐜. “𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧” 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 reveals a region where voters continue to reward leaders who demonstrate effective governance, responsive public service, accountability, and measurable results. The findings provide a comprehensive snapshot of public sentiment toward provincial leadership and underscore the growing importance of governance performance as a key measure of political success.

The assessment utilized RPMD's 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐈𝐎𝐆), a composite governance indicator derived from both 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 and 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. Unlike popularity surveys, the IOG measures public confidence in elected officials and evaluates their actual performance in office, making it a more comprehensive gauge of leadership effectiveness, governance quality, and constituent satisfaction.

Leading the regional rankings is 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐮𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐝 “𝐋𝐑𝐚𝐲” 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞 𝐉𝐫. 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐫, who posted an outstanding 𝟖𝟒.𝟐% 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐈𝐎𝐆). His rating was generated from 𝟖𝟑.𝟗% 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 and 𝟖𝟒.𝟓% 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 scores, placing him firmly within RPMD's highest-performing governance tier. The results reflect broad constituent confidence in his leadership, public service delivery, and overall provincial management. The findings indicate that residents continue to view his administration favorably across key governance indicators, making him the highest-rated provincial governor in the Bicol Region.

Ranking second is 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐲, who registered an impressive 80.4% IOG, supported by 80.2% Trust and 80.7% Performance ratings. The findings demonstrate sustained public approval of his administration and reflect strong constituent satisfaction with governance initiatives, service delivery, and leadership effectiveness throughout the province.

Securing third place is 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞, who achieved a strong 77.7% IOG, derived from 77.3% Trust and 78.1% Performance ratings. His results underscore continued public confidence in provincial governance and indicate favorable voter assessments regarding responsiveness, accessibility, and overall administrative performance.

In fourth place is 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐠𝐨𝐧, who posted a solid 74.1% IOG, generated from 73.7% Trust and 74.5% Performance ratings. The results suggest that residents continue to recognize and appreciate the administration's efforts in governance, public service delivery, and provincial development initiatives.

Completing the Top Five is 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐊𝐡𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞, who recorded a 69.8% IOG, backed by 69.4% Trust and 70.2% Performance ratings. The findings place him well above RPMD's 55 percent passing benchmark and indicate generally positive constituent evaluations of his leadership and management of provincial affairs.

Meanwhile, 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐀𝐳𝐚𝐧𝐳𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬 earned a respectable 67.9% IOG, supported by 67.5% Trust and 68.3% Performance ratings. While ranking sixth overall, the governor remains within RPMD's strong-performing category, reflecting positive public sentiment and favorable assessments of governance performance among Catanduanes residents.

Based on RPMD's governance classification framework, Governors Luis Raymund “LRay” Favis Villafuerte Jr., Noel Rosal, D**g Padilla, and Boboy Hamor belong to the region's Top Governance Tier, having achieved IOG ratings exceeding 70 percent, reflecting very strong public approval and governance effectiveness. Meanwhile, Governors Richard Kho and Patrick Azanza belong to the Strong Governance Tier, posting ratings significantly above RPMD's 55 percent passing benchmark, indicating favorable constituent evaluations and positive assessments of their respective administrations.

According to Dr. Paul Martinez, Global Affairs Analyst and Executive Director of RPMD Foundation Inc., the results demonstrate that Bicolano voters are increasingly evaluating their leaders based on governance outcomes rather than political affiliation or popularity. He emphasized that citizens are paying closer attention to service delivery, responsiveness, accountability, program implementation, and overall provincial management when assessing their elected officials.

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒙 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒚. 𝑰𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒈𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑩𝒊𝒄𝒐𝒍 𝒗𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔, 𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆," 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒛 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅.

Martinez further noted that the Bicol Region survey is part of RPMD Foundation Inc.'s nationwide “Boses ng Bayan” public service initiative, which regularly monitors public sentiment toward elected officials and institutions nationwide.

"𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚. 𝑩𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒂 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚," 𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒅.

The RPMD Foundation Inc. “Boses ng Bayan” Bicol Region Governance Assessment was conducted from April 1–8, 2026, through interviews with 5,000 randomly selected respondents across the six provinces of the Bicol Region, representing all socio-economic classes. The survey carries a ±1% margin of error at a 95% confidence level. The Bicol Region survey forms part of RPMD Foundation Inc.'s nationwide “Boses ng Bayan” initiative and is conducted as part of the organization's public service program. The study is independent and non-commissioned, designed to measure current public sentiment, trust, and governance performance among elected officials and public institutions.

The assessment utilized RPMD's Index of Governance (IOG) framework, which combines Trust Ratings and Performance Ratings into a single governance score. Trust Ratings measure public confidence, credibility, integrity, leadership reliability, and overall confidence in a governor's ability to govern effectively. Performance Ratings evaluate actual governance outcomes, service delivery effectiveness, responsiveness, project implementation, and overall administrative performance.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬were evaluated using a comprehensive governance framework that measured public perceptions across multiple dimensions of provincial leadership and administration. These include 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬, 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡, 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲, 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, and the governor's overall ability to improve the quality of life of residents throughout the province. Respondents were likewise asked to assess whether their governors have effectively fulfilled campaign commitments, utilized public resources responsibly, delivered tangible results, and provided competent leadership in addressing the province's most pressing challenges.

According to Martinez, the governance assessment reflects a growing trend among Filipino voters who are becoming increasingly performance-oriented in their evaluation of public officials.

"Citizens today are looking beyond personalities and political affiliations. They want effective governance, efficient public services, responsible stewardship of public funds, and leaders who remain visible, accessible, and responsive to their constituents' needs. The higher the trust and performance ratings, the stronger the public validation of a governor's leadership and governance outcomes," Martinez added.

Under RPMD standards, an Index of Governance (IOG) score of 55% constitutes the minimum passing benchmark for governance performance. Scores from 55% to 59.99% indicate acceptable governance performance; ratings of 60% and above reflect strong governance performance, while scores of 70% and above signify very strong public approval and governance effectiveness. The higher the rating, the stronger the public validation of an official's trustworthiness, leadership effectiveness, and performance in office.

The results show that all six Governors surpassed the passing benchmark, with four reaching the Top Governance Tier and the remaining two earning the Strong Governance Tier. The findings suggest that governance in the Bicol Region remains generally strong, with voters continuing to place significant value on accountability, service delivery, responsiveness, and tangible results. As the electorate becomes increasingly performance-driven, the survey serves as a valuable barometer of public sentiment and provides leaders with important insights into how their constituents evaluate governance. Ultimately, the results underscore a growing reality in modern governance: trust may open the door to leadership, but sustained performance, effective service delivery, and tangible results are what earn lasting public confidence and political legitimacy.

08/06/2026

TOURISM STATISTICS UPDATE | Municipality of Bula, Camarines Sur

The Municipal Tourism, Culture and Arts Office (MTCAO) of the Local Government Unit of Bula continues to actively monitor and consolidate tourism data in compliance with the standards and mandates of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Based on the latest logbook retrieval and validation covering resorts, plazas, and tourist inns, Bula recorded a total of 12,743 same-day visitors and 355 overnight tourists as of May 2026. This includes 6,823 male and 5,911 female same-day visitors, and 198 male and 157 female overnight guests, reflecting sustained tourist activity across key destinations in the municipality.

Notably, this month’s data reflects a significant increase of 28.78% compared to the April 2026 statistics, highlighting the continued growth of Bula as an emerging local tourism destination.

The LGU of Bula remains committed to strengthening tourism monitoring systems, promoting local attractions, and sustaining data-driven development for the benefit of both residents and visitors.



Department of Tourism - Philippines
LGU BULA

08/06/2026