Region 8 Physical Planning Format.pdf

REGION 8 PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Regional Land Use Committee Regional Development Council National Economic and Development Authority 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .........................................................1 Background ..................................................................1 Objectives of the RPFP ..............................................1 Organization of the Plan .............................................2

CHAPTER 1 VISION AND PRINCIPLES .........................................3 Development Vision ....................................................3

c. Population Density .......................................... 31 d. Urban, Rural Population Tempo of Urbanization ............................................... 32 C. Economy ........................................................... 32 a. b. c. d. e.

Gross Regional Domestic Product ................. Employment .................................................... Agriculture, Fishery & Forestry ...................... Trade ............................................................... Tourism ...........................................................

32 32 33 33 33

General Principles .......................................................3

D. Development Challenges ................................ 33

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

The Planning Environment ...................................... 4

THE REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN ............................................... 39

A. Physical Environment ........................................4 a.Physical Characteristics ..........................................4 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Location .............................................................4 Land Area ...........................................................4 Topography ........................................................4 Slope ..................................................................7 Elevation ............................................................9 Climate ...............................................................9 Land Classification ............................................9 Water Resources ...............................................9 Marine and Coastal Resources .........................9 Mineral Resources .......................................... 13 Administrative Boundaries ............................. 13

A. Objectives ......................................................... 39 B. Spatial Development Strategy ........................ 39 C. Land Use Policy Framework ........................... 41 a.Settlements Development .................................... 42 Settlements Plan ...........................................43 Settlements Policies .....................................44 b.Production Land Use ............................................. 44 Goals .............................................................44 Policies ..........................................................44 Designated Production Land Use ................. 47

b.Land Use ............................................................... 13

c. Protection Land Use .............................................. 49

1. Existing Land Use ........................................... 13 2. Agricultural Land Use ..................................... 17 3. Forest Area ..................................................... 19

Goals .............................................................49 Policies ..........................................................49 Designated Protection Land Use ..................51

c.Infrastructure and Utilities ..................................... 19 1. 2. 3. 4.

Transportation & Communication Facilities .. Water Systems ............................................... Power and Energy .......................................... Social Infrastructure .......................................

19 25 25 29

d.Infrastructure Development .................................. 51 Goals .............................................................54 Policies ..........................................................54

CHAPTER 4 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN ....................... 57

B. Demographic Profile ........................................ 29 a. Population Trends and Growth ....................... 29 b. Population Distribution & Movement ............. 31

A. Plan Adoption ................................................... 57 B. Advocacy and Policy Implementation ........... 57 C. Implementation of Programs and Projects ... 57

LIST OF TABLES

Page

Table 1

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Land Area by Province ......................................................................................... 4

Table 2

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Area by Slope Range, by Province ..................................................................... 7

Table 3

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Area by Elevation, by Province ........................................................................... 7

Table 4

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Type of Climate .................................................................................................... 9

Table 5

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Land Area/Classification by Province .................................................................. 9

Table 6

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Political Units ...................................................................................................... 13

Table 7

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Existing Land Use .............................................................................................. 13

Table 8

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Agricultural Land Use ......................................................................................... 17

Table 9

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Aqua-Marine Culture .......................................................................................... 19

Table 10

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Forest Area ......................................................................................................... 19

Table 11

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National Roads by Province/Type of Pavement ............................................... 21

Table 12

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National Roads/Bridges Density ........................................................................ 21

Table 13

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Postal Services by Province .............................................................................. 23

Table 14

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Landline Telephone Service by Province .......................................................... 23

Table 15

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Irrigation Development ....................................................................................... 25

Table 16

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Status of Electrification ...................................................................................... 25

Table 17

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Public and Private Tertiary Schools ................................................................... 29

Table 18

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Government and Private Hospitals ................................................................... 29

Table 19

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Population and Average Annual Rate of Increase ............................................ 29

Table 20

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Population and Average Annual Rate of Increase by Province/City ................ 31

Table 21

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Migration Pattern ................................................................................................ 31

Table 22

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Population Density ............................................................................................. 31

Table 23

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Gross Regional Domestic Product .................................................................... 32

Table 24

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Employment Sector ............................................................................................ 32

Table 25

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Integrated Area for Development (IAD) Clusters ........................................ 42

Table 26

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Projected Population by Cluster ........................................................................ 43

Table 27

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Cluster of Urban Centers ................................................................................... 43

LIST OF MAPS

Page

Map 1

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Location ................................................................................................................ 5

Map 2

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Land Area ............................................................................................................. 6

Map 3

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Slope ..................................................................................................................... 8

Map 4

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Elevation ............................................................................................................. 10

Map 5

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Climate ................................................................................................................ 11

Map 6

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Land Classification ............................................................................................. 12

Map 7

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Coastal Resources ............................................................................................. 14

Map 8

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Mineral Resources ............................................................................................. 15

Map 9

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Administrative Boundaries ................................................................................. 16

Map 10

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Agricultural Resources ....................................................................................... 18

Map 11

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Forest Resources ............................................................................................... 20

Map 12

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Transport Network .............................................................................................. 22

Map 13

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Postal Communication and Telecommunications ............................................. 24

Map 14

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Irrigation Systems .............................................................................................. 26

Map 15

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Geothermal Reservation .................................................................................... 27

Map 16

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Power Grid Interconnection ............................................................................... 28

Map 17

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Tertiary Schools and Hospitals .......................................................................... 30

Map 18

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Geohazard (Volcanic Related) .......................................................................... 36

Map 19

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Geohazard (Flood Related) .............................................................................. 37

Map 20

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Geohazard (Landslide Related) ........................................................................ 38

Map 21

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Projected Population .......................................................................................... 40

Map 22

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Urban Centers .................................................................................................... 45

Map 23

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Integrated Area Development (IAD) Clusters .................................................... 46

Map 24

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Samar Island Natural Park ................................................................................. 48

Map 25

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Major Tourist Destinations .................................................................................. 50

Map 26

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Proclaimed Protection Areas ............................................................................. 52

Map 27

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Protected Areas for Proclamation ...................................................................... 53

EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

INTRODUCTION

e. Issues on settlement land use and protection measures that came out as a result of the flash flood and landslides in Ormoc City, in Panaon Island of Southern Leyte and in various areas of Samar Island.

Background The first Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP) of Eastern Visayas was prepared in 1993 and covered the period 1993 to 2022. It was prepared along with a similar physical framework plan at the national level to guide the allocation, utilization and management of the region’s natural endowment.

f.

This RPFP is the first revision of the original plan and covers the period 2005 to 2030. The updating is necessary since many developments have taken place which have significant impact on the utility of the plan. Certain events have altered or modified the policy environment that were not adequately foreseen or anticipated in the previous plan. Among the major developments that occurred during the last decade that are considered in this Plan are the following:

The updating of the Plan was coordinated by the Regional Land Use Committee (RLUC) through the conduct of workshops and small group meetings. The RLUC initiated a series of technical working group meetings to assess the requirements for the updating. Consequently, two formal workshops were conducted to update the Plan with the support of the Decentralized Planning Structures Project (DPSP) and technical assistance by Prof. Ernesto Serote of the UP School of Regional and Urban Planning (SURP). The two workshops focused on formulating the vision/goal and updating of the spatial strategies and policies. The participants of the two formal workshops were the regular members of the RLUC, the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinators (PPDCs) of the six provinces and selected Private Sector Representatives of the Regional Development Council (RDC).

a. Revision of the National Physical Framework Plan into the National Framework for Physical Planning which then required amendments in the regional and local physical plans. b. The conduct of population censuses in 1995 and 2000 provided additional information to the data available at the time the old RPFP was being prepared. c.

The implementation of the Samar Island Biodiversity Project (SIBP) which gave a new dimension in the protection of forest reserves and watersheds and policies on mining in the SIBP protected area.

A subsequent workshop was conducted among the regions in Visayas and Mindanao to determine the complementation, competition and conflicting concerns of Eastern Visayas with its neighboring regions.

Enactment by the Congress of laws on land, natural resources and environment, such as: 1. Republic Act 7586 – National Integrated Protected Areas Act 2. RA 7076 – People’s Small-Scale Mining Act 3. RA 7924 – Philippine Mining Act 4. RA 7916 – Special Economic Zone Act 5. RA 8048 – Coconut Preservation Act 6. RA 8371 – Indigenous People’s Rights Act 7. RA 8435 – Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act 8. RA 8850 – Philippine Fisheries Code 9. RA 9003 – Solid Waste Management Act

Objectives of the RPFP The Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP) provides broad and general policy guidelines on the utilization of the region’s natural resources. It intends to guide the LGUs in giving details on how different land uses will be prescribed and regulated. Basically, the RPFP provides the fundamental principles in the allocation and use: a. achieve a rational distribution of the region’s population and ensure access to economic opportunities and social services.

d. Pressure on the use and protection of forestland, watershed, mineral resources, geothermal reserves and marine areas of the region.

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

b. attain optimum utilization of agricultural, mineral, forest, watershed, geothermal and other natural resources of the region. c. preserve and maintain the integrity of the environment

Organization of the Plan The Plan is organized into four main chapters. Chapter I contains the vision and principles that served as guide in the formulation of policy framework on land use and management of the region’s physical resources. Chapter II presents the physical planning environment of the region. It includes the current condition of the region’s physical characteristics, demographic profile and economic situation, the development challenges in land use and the general spatial strategies of the Plan. Chapter III is the core of the RPFP. This part discusses the spatial strategy of the Plan and the recommended general land use plan and policy guidelines of the region in the four land use areas, namely: settlements development, production land use, protection land use and infrastructure development. Chapter IV describes the institutional, political, and administrative arrangements for implementing the RPFP. It also identifies the support activities necessary for plan implementation, and describes the mechanism for monitoring and evaluation to assess the extent to which the plan’s objectives are met.

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CHAPTER 1 VISIONS AND PRINCIPLES

EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

CHAPTER 1 VISIONS AND PRINCIPLES constituents with the need to preserve and enhance the conditions of the various ecosystem of the region.

Development Vision We envision Eastern Visayas as an agri-industrial center in the Visayas, a major geothermal resource of the country and a destination for foreign and domestic ecotourists and adventurers, growing within the context of sustainable development where quality social services are served, efficient infrastructure and public facilities are in place, ecological balance is maintained, safe environment is pursued, and where the state, private sector and civil society responsively interplay to achieve a better quality of life to all its inhabitants.

c. Spatial Integration The strategic position of Eastern Visayas shall be fully explored to improve production efficiency and delivery of services. This will be achieved through the full development of infrastructure system, particularly the intermodal transport network that will link the region to the rest of the country. It shall involve the establishment of linkages between areas of production and manufacturing to marketing centers to facilitate efficient movement of people and goods.

General Principles

d. Rational Urban/Rural Development

The formulation of the Physical Framework Plan of Eastern Visayas follows the following principles that reflected the desired conditions and processes concerning the use and management of the region’s physical resources.

The rational development of urban centers shall be achieved by reconciling the demands for urban land, infrastructure, services and utilities with the capacity of the environment in such centers to sustain growth. Alternative urban development shall be considered to encourage planned and rational urban development while complementing the growth of rural communities.

a. Food Security The ultimate objective under the food security principle is to provide sufficient and affordable food products to all residents of the region and to the rest of the country through local production and/or importation. This shall be accomplished through the full development and protection of agricultural land and marine resources suitable for food production. It shall include the provision of infrastructure that will enhance productivity and facilitate the movement of products to market centers.

e. Equitable Access to Physical and Natural Resources Equitable access shall be pursued by providing equal economic opportunities to all through the acquisition and use of land and other natural resources. Equitable access shall also be achieved in the provision of basic social services especially in rural communities.

b. Environmental Stability and Ecological Integrity Environmental stability shall be achieved through strict implementation of standards, policies and laws that regulate unlawful exploitation and resource degradation of agricultural land, marine resource, forest areas and watersheds. Ecological integrity shall be pursued through effective management of natural resources and reconciliation of the demands for economic activities and opportunities for its

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CHAPTER 2 THE PLANNING ENVIRONMENT

EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

CHAPTER 2 THE PLANNING ENVIRONMENT and Visayan Seas, and the islands of Cebu and Bohol; and on the east by the Leyte Gulf, the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean. (see Map No. 1)

The region’s planning environment with direct implication on land use or physical resources is described into three basic elements namely; physical, demographic and economic. These elements comprise the core of regional physical planning. The discussion that follows provides an overview of the region’s natural endowment and physical facilities, its demographic characteristics and the economic activities that influence the supply and demand relationship between these two elements.

2. Land Area The region accounts a total land area of 2,156,285 hectares or 7.1% of the country’s land area (see Table 1). Samar Island, the third largest island of the country, is the biggest island in the region — covering 1,355,935 hectares or around 63% of the region’s total land area. This is distributed among the three provinces namely: Eastern Samar Province - 447,075 hectares, Samar – 559,100 hectares, and Northern Samar – 349,800 hectares.

A. Physical Environment a. Physical Characteristics 1. Location Eastern Visayas is located in the eastern part of the Philippine islands, facing the Pacific Ocean. It is situated between 9045 to 1205 North Latitude and between 123050 to 126000 East Longitude. Western Global Voyager Ferdinand Magellan first sighted this region when his fleet floundered in Homonhon, a small island of Samar, because of strong eastern winds in the Pacific Ocean. The first Catholic Mass was also celebrated in Limasawa, a small island in Leyte. In the more recent pages of the region’s history, the American forces under General Douglas MacArthur also landed in Leyte to liberate the country from Japanese occupation.

Leyte Island, the second biggest island in the region, has an area of 744,760 hectares or 35% of the region’s total land area and divided into two provinces. Leyte Province has 571,280 hectares, while Southern Leyte Province has 173,480 hectares. Biliran Island, the third island of the region, has an area of 55,550 hectares (3% of the region’s total land area). The island is a province in itself (see Map No. 2).

Eastern Visayas serves as the geographical backbone of the country. It lies in the mid-easternmost border of the Philippine archipelago, which links Luzon and Mindanao through the national road network called the Maharlika Highway. For several years, Region VIII served as the only link from Luzon to Mindanao and vice versa. Yet, to a greater extent, even with this link, the natural movement of the population in this region is towards the urban center of Cebu in Central Visayas (Region VII) .

3. Topography Eastern Visayas is composed of three islands. Its two main islands, Leyte and Samar are connected by the famous San Juanico Bridge – the longest bridge in the Philippines. Biliran Island, the region’s third key island is found on the northern tip of Leyte. The three islands have relatively flat areas near and along the coasts and mountainous areas in the midst.

The region is bounded on the south by Surigao Channel and the island of Mindanao; on the north by San Bernardino Strait and the tip of the Bicol Peninsula; on the west, by Surigao Channel, Camotes

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Map No. 1 - LOCATION OF EASTERN VISAYAS

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Map No. 2 - LAND AREA

LEGEND: Biliran (3%) So. Leyte (8%) No. Samar (16%) Samar 26% E. Samar (21%) Biliran (3%)

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Samar Island is characterized by mountain ranges with forest and deep valleys. The Leyte Island, on the other hand is extensively flat on the northern part and has mountainous terrain on its southern and southwestern portions.

for settlement and agriculture, areas with 3-8% slope are still good for agriculture that will use the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) or orchard development (fruit tree farm), and areas with 8-18% slope are good for rain forestation technology (multilevel agriculture and forest production).

Biliran, the third and smallest island of the region, makes a large mountainous island. It has mountainous interior and narrow coastal areas.

On the other hand, approximately fifty one percent (51%) of the area has 18-50% slope described as rolling to steep areas. Sloping areas of 18-30% are good for production forest (timber) and Forest Management Agreement (FMA) while sloping areas of 30-50% slope are production forest conserved for adventure tourism. The remaining ten percent (10%) of the area has a very steep slope of more than 50%, often called cloud forest, which is strictly for protection forest. This area is intended to keep our air clean, sustain the supply of water and protect the soil from landslides (see Map No. 3).

The lowlands of Eastern Visayas are endowed with rich land resources – fertile soil, abundant water and wet climate, which is suitable for agriculture.

4. Slope Thirty-nine percent (39%) of the region’s total land area has 0-18% slope, ranging from level to rolling areas (see Table 2). Areas with 0-3% slope are good

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Map No. 3 - SLOPE

LEGEND:

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

5. Elevation More than half or about fifty-three percent (53%) of the region’s area has an elevation of 100 meters or less (see Table 3). This area is suitable for agriculture use. On the other hand, about 32% of the area with elevation from 100 to 300 meters, is good for rainforest and extractive production forest. Nearly five percent (5%) of the area has an elevation of 500-1000 meters which is good for showcase production forest. It is intended for adventure tourism. The remaining 2,309 hectares is above 1,000 meters elevation and is classified as cloud forest. This area is strictly for protection to sustain our water supply and prevent our soil from erosion and landslides (see Map No. 4).

The province of Leyte has the biggest A & D area, followed by the provinces of Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte and Biliran. On the other hand, the province of Samar has the largest forest area, followed by Leyte, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte and Biliran (see Map No. 6).

6. Climate The region has two types of climate called Type A and Type C. Type A climate is wet or rainy throughout the year with 1.5 dry months; while Type C climate is moist or rain is sufficiently distributed

8. Water Resources The region is practically covered by watershed areas. The litters of forest trees in the watershed areas make the soil fertile while the presence of forest trees preserves fresh water supply. Major rivers are found in the three provinces of Samar. The province of Samar has four (4) major rivers: Gandara, Gibatan, Calbiga, and Basey; Eastern Samar has six (6): Dolores, Ulut, Oras, Taft, Suribao and Llorente; and Northern Samar has three (3): Catubig, Catarman, and Palapag. The principal rivers in the Leyte Province are Binahaan-Kilot, Anilao-Malbasag, and Daguitan, while in Southern Leyte province are Subang Daku and Hinabian. In Biliran Province, the principal rivers are Anas and Caraycaray.

with at most 4.5 dry months. About eighty-one percent (81%) of the total area of the region is affected by wet season while only nineteen percent (19%) of the area experiences the moist season (see Table 4 and Map No. 5). However, both climate types are favorable for agricultural production.

9. Marine and Coastal Resources Coastal and marine resources are part of the physical resource of the Region.

7. Land Classification

Eastern Visayas Region is endowed with five major bays, namely: Maqueda Bay in Samar, Carigara Bay, Ormoc Bay in Leyte, Ormoc Bay in Leyte, San Pedro Bay in Leyte and Samar, and Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte.

Of the region’s land area, sixty (60.98%) is forest land while the remaining 39.02% is alienable and disposable (see Table 5). 9

EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Map No. 4 - ELEVATION

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Map No. 5 - CLIMATE

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Map No. 6 - LAND CLASSIFICATION

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In addition, there are also 20 fishery areas considered with production potentials. These areas are distributed in all provinces as follows: six in Northern Samar, four in Eastern Samar, five in Samar, one in Biliran, three in Leyte and one in Southern Leyte.

11. Administrative Boundaries For political administration purposes, Eastern Visayas, also known as Region VIII, is divided into smaller political units, namely provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays. There are two provinces in Leyte Island, three in Samar Island and one Island province which is Biliran. The province of Leyte, being the biggest province has two cities, 41 municipalities and 1,641 barangays (see Map No. 9).

Coastal deep sea areas along the North-eastern municipalities of Northern Samar and from Arteche to Maydolong in Eastern Samar are considered the “Tuna Highway” of the region. The marine resources in these municipalities are facing the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean where Tuna fish thrives (see Map No. 7). The productivity of the coastal and marine resources is affected by the activities in the lowland and the upland. So much solid and liquid wastes thrown by settlers and industries had caused alarming damage tomangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs, fishes, shelfish, and other marine life.

10. Mineral Resources The region is rich in mineral resources encased in 563,049 hectares. About 39% or 220,046 hectares are covered by mining rights and 61% or 343,003 hectares are covered by mineral reservation, including geothermal.

Eastern Visayas is also divided into 12 congressional districts. Leyte has five districts, Samar and Northern Samar have two each while Southern Leyte, Biliran and Eastern Samar has one district each.

b. Land Use

The top three metallic deposits of the Region are bauxite, nickel and chromite. Around 149.4 million tons are bauxite or aluminum which is abundant in San Jose de Buan and Gandara in Samar, middle and eastern part of Samar island, southern part of Eastern Samar, and Batag Island in Northern Samar.

1. Existing Land Use Eastern Visayas is basically an agricultural area with 976,415 hectares (45% of its total land area) devoted to agriculture. Its forest area covers about 609,325 hectares or 28.3% while more than 500,000 hectares or 25% of its total land area is considered

The region has approximately 17.3 million tons of nickel deposits found in Eastern Samar and a few in northern Leyte. Chromite deposits reached to around 3.5 million tons are mostly found in Homonhon island in Guiuan and other areas in the southern part of Eastern Samar. Other metallic deposits are gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron, magnesium, pyrite and uranium. Nonmetallic deposits include manganese, phosphate, bentonite, dolomite, guano, clay, gypsum, limestone, asphalt, talc and coal (see Map No. 8).

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Map No. 7 - COASTAL RESOURCES

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Map No. 8 - MINERAL RESOURCES

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Map No. 9 - ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARIES

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

idle as this is categorized as shrubland or grassland. The remaining 29,000 hectares or about 1.35% are built-up and settlement areas (See Table 7).

Pacific Towns of Southern Leyte and Panaon Island, Biliran Rice Terraces, Catubig Valley in Northern Samar, and Dolores Valley in Eastern Samar.

Among the provinces, Leyte has the biggest area devoted to agriculture (34%) followed by Northern Samar (20.6%). On the other hand, the three provinces of Samar Island share the biggest forest area with Samar Province having the biggest area of 263,559 hectares or 43.25% of the total forest area.

Rice development areas in Samar are sparingly distributed throughout the province with some concentration in San Jorge, Gandara, Pagsanhan and Tarangnan. The province of Northern Samar has the largest area devoted to abaca production. It has about 30,482 hectares or 64% the region’s land planted to abaca. The province of Southern Leyte follows with an area of 8,378 hectares.

The provinces of Leyte, Samar and Eastern Samar shares the biggest chunk of Shrubland and grassland at 30.6%, 25.4% and 23.8% respectively. The settlement areas are mostly located in Leyte province as it has about 48.9% of the total settlement areas of the region.

Development areas for corn cover slightly rolling areas of Western Leyte Cluster, dry areas of Eastern Leyte Plains, Abuyog-Mahaplag, Bato-Hilongos Delta in Leyte; Bontoc Mesa in Southern Leyte; and Pabanog Valley in Samar.

2. Agricultural Land Use Among the crops, coconut covers the biggest portion of 685,464 hectares or about 70% of the agricultural land even encroaching the forestland. Next is rice covering 185,961 hectares or about 19%,followed by abaca with an area of 47,983 hectares (also encroaching the forestland), sugarcane – 19,862 hectares, corn – 10,140 hectares, rootcrops - 4,375 hectares, banana and 4,010 hectares. About 5,123 hectares is being used as pastureland while nearly 11,000 hectares is being utilized as fishpond (see Table 8 and Map No. 10).

More productive use of the agricultural land is visible with the introduction of high value crops in Leyte, particularly in Tacloban, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Babatngon, Sta. Fe, Alang-alang and San Miguel. The crops include varieties of palatable species of Sweet Corn, Bitter Gourd, Sweet Gourd, Squash, Eggplant and Melon. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables produced in cooler areas are being planted in the uplands of Jaro, Leyte and Ormoc City. The region is also into plantation of fruit trees like Jackfruit and Mango. Jackfruit plantation spread throughout the region but is more visible in Leyte and Samar. Mango plantation now thinly spreads in Leyte and Samar provinces with concentrations in the municipalities of Palompon, San Isidro, Calubian in Leyte and Pinabacdao in Samar. Pastureland constitutes 5,123 hectares. Raising of large ruminants is visible in Capoocan, Babatngon and Biliran. Some raisers of large ruminants encroach the forestland. Milk production is increasing in large ruminants but these are being done through cut and carry system. Baybay and Ormoc City are famous for milk production. Small ruminants are either fenced or wildly grown under coconut trees throughout the region.

Coconut grows in practically all areas of the region since every province utilizes a large part of agricultural area for such crop. On the other hand, big areas devoted to rice production are found in the province of Leyte, and in the three Samar provinces. These include the East Leyte Plains, Western Leyte Deltas,

Coastal and marine waters also form part of the Region’s resource. The fishing grounds cover around 10,954 hectares. Its uses include municipal fishing, 17

EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Map No. 10 - AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

marine culture and brackishwater fishpond. Lapu-lapu (Grouper), Bangus (Milkfish), and Guzu (Carageena) are among the most common investment in mariculture.

3. Forest Area Forest area covers 609,325 hectares or about 28% of the total land area of the region. Woodlands or the upland forest comprises 93% of the forest area and the remaining 7% as wetlands or the lowland forest. Wetland forest embraces the freshwater swamps and coastal forest. The coastal forests are categorized into three types: the tree-type or mangroves covering 28,642 hectares, the palm-type or nipa with 10,276 hectares and the marsh and swamps with 3,908 hectares (see Table 10 and Map No. 11).

As of 15 February 2004, a total of 253 hectares of our coastal waters are devoted to Mariculture (see Table 9). This growing economic activity is one of the region’s major sources of income.

The three provinces of Samar share about eightyfive percent (85%) of the forest and mangrove areas of the region.

Brackish water fishpond covers a total of 7,043 hectares. Of this total, 4% is under the Fishpond Lease Agreement (FLA), 48% has been developed, 5% has been abandoned, and 47% remains undeveloped. Fishpond culture in brackish water is being pursued for Tiger Prawn and Bangus. Buyers of bangus, however, prefer marine culture than the brackishwater fishpond produce because the former type of production is more palatable. The “near-to -natural” production state of Bangus in marine culture is the main factor for its preferred taste.

The shrubland and grassland also are components of the forestland. The shrubs cover 257,281 hectares while grasses use 284,084 hectares. Ipil-ipil occupies 61 hectares of the shrub land and grassland.

C. Infrastructure and Utilities 1. Transportation and Communication Facilities

The use of freshwater areas for fish culture reached a total of 315 hectares. Freshwater has been used for fish culture in the region but the usual freshwater fishpond is shifting to freshwater caging. The main reason for the shift is because of the preferred taste of produce in “near-to-natural” state. Tilapia is the most common fish cultured in freshwater cages. Plans to culture other freshwater products like Paye is underway. Formal piloting of this type of culture is yet to be done.

Roads Eastern Visayas has a total of 2,946 kilometers of road with 2,274.4 kilometers or 79.4 percent classified as national road and 20.6 percent as local road. In terms of pavement types, 60.5 percent of the total national road is concrete, 9.3 percent is asphaltsurfaced while 30.2 percent is gravel surface (see Table 11).

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Map No. 11 - FOREST RESOURCES

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Complementing the national road network is the port network system serving the inter-island traffic and the utilization of navigable rivers to serve the populace in isolated communities (see Map No. 12).

Ports The sea transport of the region has evolved out of the natural flow of commodities and people in the region. To date, there are 17 commercial ports managed by the Philippine Ports Authority. The major ports are the Tacloban, Ormoc, Baybay, Hilongos and Palompon Ports in Leyte, the Maasin Port and Liloan Ferry Landing in Southern Leyte, the Borongan and Guiuan Ports in Eastern Samar, the Catbalogan and Calbayog Ports in Samar and the San Jose Port and San Isidro Ferry Landing in Northern Samar.

The average regional road density of 0.11 is low compared to the 0.18 road density at the national level. The province of Leyte has a road density of 0.16 per square kilometer while the provinces of Biliran and Southern Leyte have road densities of 0.24 and 0.17, respectively. The road densities of the provinces in Samar Island are much lower. Samar has a road density of 0.06, Eastern Samar has 0.07 and Northern Samar has 0.08 road density (Table 12). The cities of Tacloban and Calbayog have road densities of 0.04 and 0.09, respectively.

The Tacloban Port serves as the regional port of entry. The ports of Ormoc and Palompon serve the Cebu and Manila routes. In Southern Leyte, the Maasin port is serving the Cebu and Mindanao bound vessels while the Liloan Ferry Terminal serves the Mindanao bound motor vehicles. The link of the region to Luzon is served by the ports in Northern Samar. The San Jose Port serves the Luzon-bound vessels while the San Isidro Ferry Terminal serves the motor vehicles going to and from Luzon. The region is also served by a fast-craft sea transport. The service routes are Ormoc City – Cebu and Hilongos – Cebu, all in the province of Leyte. Inasmuch as movement of good and people in the region depends largely on land and water transportation, there is still a need to upgrade or modernize these facilities in order to serve the increasing demand from local and foreign vessels.

Airports The RP-Japan Friendship Highway, also referred to as the north-south backbone/maharlika highway serves as the main arterial road network that connects the reion to the Luzon and Mindanao regions through the ferry services in San Isidro/Allen in Northern Samar and Liloan in Southern Leyte, respectively.

The region has ten (10) existing airports. These are the airports of Ormoc, Hilongos, and Tacloban in Leyte; Biliran in Biliran; Maasin in Southern Leyte; Guiuan and Borongan in Eastern Samar; Catarman in Northern Samar, and; Catbalogan and Calbayog in Samar. However, only three (3) airports, namely: Tacloban, Calbayog and Catarman, are operational and being utilized for commercial, chartered and military flights. The Tacloban Airport is classified as a trunk line airport; the Calbayog and Catarman as secondary airports while the rest are under the

The region is also linked to the rest of the Visayas region through ferry services and the east-west lateral roads that cut across the region interconnecting with the north-south backbone/main arterial road.

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Map No. 12 - TRANSPORT NETWORK

TO LUZON

TRUNKLINE AIRPORT

TO CEBU

SECONDARY AIRPORT TERTIARY AIRPORT BASE PORT TERMINAL PORT NS-BACKBONE (Maharlika Highway) EAST-WEST LATERAL OTHER ROADS OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

TO MINDANAO

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

category of feeder airports. There is an urgent need to improve these facilities to ensure greater safety to passengers and accommodate bigger commercial aircrafts for a more efficient air transport in the region.

1.22 percent and Northern Samar has 0.6 percent per 100 population. The region has a landline telephone density of 1.20 per 100 population while its neighboring regions have telephone densities of 1.28 for Bicol, 3.29 for Central Visayas and 0.98 for Caraga Region. Tacloban City, the capital of the region, has a high telephone density of 5.5 telephone lines per 100 persons. At the provincial level, the province of Leyte tops other provinces in terms of telephone density at 2.13 lines per 100 persons. The province of Samar follows at 0.73 and Southern Leyte at 0.71 lines per 100 persons. The number of telephone connections in the other provinces is less than one-half connection per 100 persons (Table 14).

Postal Service There are 129 postal services in the region mainly provided by the government through the Philippine Postal Corporation. The postal offices are distributed in the 6 provinces as follows: Leyte - 48, Biliran-8, Southern Leyte-18, Samar - 19, Eastern Samar - 19 and Northern Samar 17 (seeTable 13). The total mail carriers accounted to 335 with 139 of which are operating in the province of Leyte, 16 in Biliran and 31 in Southern Leyte. The province of Samar has 65 mail carriers, while Eastern Samar and Northern Samar have 45 and 39 mail carriers, respectively.

Table 14 LANDLINE TELEPHONE SERVICE By Province

Table 13 POSTAL SERVICES By Province Province

Province

Subscribed Installed Capacity Telephone Lines Percent (No. of Number Lines) Share 527 1.22 7,606 33,794 78.40 116,784 16,722 2,570 5.93 19,347 1,256 2.90 2,252 261 0.60 20,460 4,748 10.96 43,336 100 183,171

Biliran Leyte Southern Leyte Eastern Samar Northern Samar Samar Region VIII Sources: NEDA Region VIII website (as of December 2002) NSO Region VIII (2000 Population Survey)

Number of Population Post Office to Post Offices Served Population Ratio 8 140,274 1:17,534 48 1,592,336 1:33,174 18 360,160 1:20,009 19 375,822 1:19,780 17 500,639 1:29,449 19 641,124 1:33,743 129 3,610,355 1:27,798

Biliran Leyte Southern Leyte Eastern Samar Northern Samar Samar Region VIII Sources: Philpost Region VIII (As of December 2003) NSO Region VIII (2000 Population Survey)

Population Served 140,274 1,592,336 360,160 375,822 500,639 641,124 3,610,355

Telephone Density Per 100 Population 0.38 2.13 0.71 0.33 0.05 0.74 1.20

The region experienced a rapid development in the Cellular Mobile Telephone Service (CMTS), which has a higher demand compared to landline phones. The increasing demand for cellular phones thus led to the installation of more cell sites in the region. The region’s major cellular mobile players are Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Digitel. For 2004, cellular companies have installed a total of 125 cell sites in the region. Compared to the total installation of 69 cell sites in 2003, this shows a significant increase of about 81.2 percent. The Province of Leyte has the bulk of installed cell sites, which is about 58 percent of the total installation, while the rest of the provinces in the region cover 42 percent of the total installed cell sites. The expansion program of the cellular phone operators became the major communication services to reach remote areas in the region. The government targeted a 100 percent cellular telephone services for provincial and capital cities/towns nationwide by 2004. The continuous growth of cellular mobile phones affected the

Telephone Service The telephone services of the region are provided by BayanTel, Isla Communications/Globelines, DOTCTELOF, Ormoc Telephone Company, Calbayog Telephone System, PLDT and PT&T. These are interconnected to the main telephone backbone which enables subscribers to call from any part of the region, the nation and abroad. The existing system has a total installed capacity of 183,171 lines. The total connection to date is only 43,336 lines or about 23.6 percent of the installed capacity. In addition, about 78.4 percent of the total installed capacity lines are concentrated in the province of Leyte. The five other provinces share the rest of the installed lines, as follows: Samar has 10.96 percent, Southern Leyte has 5.9 percent, Eastern Samar has 2 percent, Biliran has 23

EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Map No. 13 - POSTAL COMMUNICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATION

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

subscription to the landline phones and led to closure of some Public Calling Offices (PCOs) (see Map No. 13).

3. Power and Energy The source of power of the region is the Tongonan Geothermal Plant with a generating capacity of 112.5 megawatts (see Map No. 15). An additional 700 MW power plant has been developed within the Tongonan geothermal field for the Cebu, Bohol, and Luzon grids (see Map No. 16). Other probable sources and areas under exploration include that of Central Leyte, Cabalian in Southern Leyte and in the island of Biliran. These potential geothermal steam fields, if developed, will help meet the future power demands of the area and the rest of the country. However, there is an urgent need to also upgrade the power transmission and distribution grid in the Leyte-Samar area to improve the reliability and efficiency of the power system delivery in the region.

2. Water Systems The region has a total irrigable area of 84,380 hectares with 49,804 hectares or about 59% irrigated (see Table 15). The province of Leyte has the biggest area served with irrigation facilities at 35,324 hectares or about 70.9% of the total service area. The provinces of Leyte and Biliran also share the highest area still to be developed at 17,187 hectares followed by the three provinces in Samar (see Map No. 14). The inadequacy of irrigation facilities, especially in agricultural areas with high potentials, contributes to the slow growth of agricultural productivity in the region. Table 15 IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT By Province/By Type

The development of the hydropower potentials in Samar Island would supply the water and power needs of the municipalities and unserved barangays in the area and meet the power requirements of emerging industries in this side of the region.

Potential Area for Percent Exisitng Service Area By Type (Hectares) Irrigable Area Development % (Hectares) National Communal Private Total (Hectares) Developed Biliran 2,829 280 3,109 55,620 17,187 69.10% Leyte 16,050 15,697 3577 35,324 Southern Leyte 5,690 386 4,119 609 5,144 576 89.88% Eastern Samar 4,070 1,869 1,869 2,201 45.92% Northern Samar 10,860 2,045 2,045 8,815 18.83% Samar 8,140 2,343 2,343 5,797 28.78% Region VIII 84,380 16436 28,902 4,466 49,804 34,576 59.02% Source: NIA website (as of December 2003) Province

The rural electrification program in the region has already energized 100% of the municipalities and 74% of the barangays serving about 378,040 member consumers. The actual households connected to the power grid is about 61% of the total potential households (see Table 16).

In terms of potable water, about thirty-six percent (36%) of the region’s household population are served by potable water supply. Of this figure, about twenty-three percent (23%) are served by formal water works system while the remaining percent of the households rely mainly in informal water systems such as deep wells, open springs and similar sources.

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Map No. 14 - IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

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Map No. 15 - GEOTHERMAL RESERVATION

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Map No. 16 - POWER GRID INTERCONNECTION

TO LUZON (400 MW) NORTHERN SAMAR

SAMAR EASTERN SAMAR BILIRAN

TO CEBU (200 MW) LEYTE

GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT SUBSTATION/s

SOUTHERN LEYTE

INTERCONNECTION (existing) INTERCONNECTION (proposed)

TO BOHOL (100 MW)

TO MINDANAO

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

by the government, while over one-third (37%) are owned by the private sector. Spatial distribution shows that Leyte and Eastern Samar have nineten (19) hospitals each, Southern Leyte and Northern Samar have eleven (11) each, while Samar and Tacloban City have six (6) each. Most of the hospitals in said localities are government-owned, except in Tacloban City where five (5) of its six (6) hospitals are privately-owned. Four (4) hospitals provide the health needs of the residents of Ormoc City and its neighboring towns. Meanwhile, three (3) health facilities cater to the health needs of Calbayog City. Maasin City has one hospital which is run by the government (see Table 18 and Map No. 17).

4. Social Infrastructure Higher Education Institutions There are sixty-eight (68) public and private tertiary institutions in the region offering various fields of education. These are located in the different cities and municipalities of Eastern Visayas. Fifty-seven (57) schools or eighty-four percent (84%) of the total schools are privately-owned, while eleven (11) institutions or sixteen percent (16%) are State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). Each of the region’s provinces has at least one (1) SUC, with Leyte and Samar both having two (2) SUCs. Among the cities, Tacloban has two (2) SUCs, Calbayog has one, while the cities of Ormoc and Maasin have none (see table 17).

B. Demographic Profile a. Population Trends and Growth The region’s total population in 2000 reached 3,610,355. It accounts for 4.72% of the total population of the country. The region’s population growth rate for the ten-year period from 1990 to 2000 showed an annual average of 1.51%. This is the lowest growth rate compared to its neighboring regions and the average of the country (See Table 19).

However, in order to reach out to more people, especially those residing in areas far from the main SUC campus, twenty-one (21) satellite campuses have been established in strategic locations. Of these 21 campuses, fourteen (14) are in Leyte Island, One (1) in Biliran Island and six (6) are in Samar Island. On the other hand, the fifty-seven (57) private tertiary schools cater to the needs of students in areas where one or a combination of the following factors exist: a) there is no SUC main satellite campus, b) courses chosen not offered by the SUC, or c) students prefer to enrol in private schools.

The growth trend among provinces showed that the

Health Services A total of eighty-one (81) government and private hospitals are serving the health needs of the region’s population. Almost two-thirds (63%) of them are run

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Map No. 17 - TERTIARY SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS

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average of seven persons go out of the region for every 1,000 population. All provinces registered an outmigration rate except Southern Leyte. Among the cities, three cities recorded an out-migration rate ranging from 6 to 7 percent (See Table 21).

province of Southern Leyte registered the highest average annual rate of increase which is higher than the national average. Northern Samar followed with an annual average increase of 2.11%. On the other hand, Eastern Samar registered the lowest annual rate of increase of 0.79%. It is the only province with an annual rate of increase lower than one percent.

c. Population Density

Among cities, the population of Calbayog and Maasin are increasing at the rate of 2.83% and 2.39%, respectivedly. These increases are higher than the national average of 2.36%. (see Table 20). On the other hand, the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc, both in the province of Leyte showed moderate annual increases of 1.41% and 1.49%, respectively. Eastern Visayas is ranked 9th among all In 2000, the population density of the region was placed at 168.5 persons per square kilometers. It is less densely populated than the average of the country which is 260. Within the region, the most densely populated area is Tacloban City, being the regional capital. It is followed by the cities of Maasin and Ormoc. Among the provinces, Leyte has the highest population density (278 persons). The provinces of Leyte, So. Leyte and Biliran have densities higher than the regional average while all provinces in Samar have density lower than 200 persons per square kilometer (see Table 22).

regions in the country in terms of total population. Its population is concentrated in the provinces of Leyte and Western Samar with 44.1 percent and 17.7 percent, respectively (see Table 20). This is partly attributed to the continuing economic development in the urban centers of Tacloban City and Ormoc City in the province of Leyte and Catbalogan and Calbayog City in the province of Samar. The province of Northern Samar has 13.9 percent share, Eastern Samar province has 10.41 percent share while Southern Leyte and Biliran Provinces have shares of 10 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively.

b. Population Distribution & Movement The region’s low rate of increase in population is a direct result of high out-migration of 7.0 percent between the period 1995 to 2000. This means that an 31

EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

d. Urban, Rural Population and Tempo of Urbanization The population structure of the region is predominantly rural with 80.63 percent residing in rural areas while urban population is 19.37 percent of the total population. This ratio is relatively similar in all provinces of the region. In addition, the population in the rural areas is also increasing at a rate of 3.85 percent over the period 1990 to 2000 while the urban population is declining at -2.6 percent. The Region’s overall tempo of urbanization1 is placed at -6.51% percent. The factors that largely contributed to the trend are the high out migration and the reclassification of urban/ rural areas to a higher standard.

C. Economy a. Gross Regional Domestic Product The Region’s economic output increased from P17 billion in 1991 to P24 billon in 2003. The economy grew by 2.6% from 2001 to 2002 and by 5.2% between 2002 and 2003.

registered a gross output of 7% which is the 5th highest among regions.

b. Employment The agriculture sector continued to be the biggest contributor of the economy at 33.27%. It is followed by manufacturing at 19.96%. Real estate, government services and trade contributed between 9.5% to 7.96% (see Table 23).

During the 10-year period from 1994 to 2003, the region’s employment rate fluctuated between 92 to 94.1%. The employment rate of the region in 2003 of 92.2% is higher than the national average which is 89.9 and our neighboring regions, Region V and Region VII at 91.6 and 89.6 respectively (see Table 24).

In totality, the region’s contribution to the national economy is only 2.27% or the fourth lowest output among regions while our neighbor Central Visayas

The distribution of employed persons by industry

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The distribution of employed persons by industry showed that the agriculture sector was the dominant employer in Eastern Visayas. The share of agriculture dropped from 59% in 1994 to 50% in 2003. Industry shared a meager 9% to 11% share of employment while the services sector showed a growing employment trend from 32 to 39 percent between the ten-year period from 1994 to 2003.

d. Trade The region’s volume of exports grew by 36.9% in 2002 bringing its level to around 1.1 billion kilograms. However, its total value of $336.6 million is lower by 3.1% from the $347.4 million posted in the previous year. Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Materials accounted for the bulk or 62.6% ($210.9 million) of the total export earnings during the period.

The regional distribution of employmet differed from the national average which showed services as the dominant employer with agriculture contributing 37% and industry sharing 16% of employment. This sharing is also similar in Region 7 with the industry sector sharing a much higher employment contribution of 20%.

The volume of imports, on the other hand, declined by 18.5% from 1.7 billion kilograms (2001) to 1.4 billion kilograms (2002). The total value imports amounted to $345.7 million and was lower by 10.4% than that of the previous year. Crude materials accounted for 76.5% of the total value of imports in 2002.

c. Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry The Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (PASAR), and Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation (PhilPhos) operating at the Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE) were the major importers of Indelible Crude Materials except fuels, which accounted for 99.1% of the total volume of imports for this commodity in the same year.

The major agricultural crops of the region are coconut, palay and abaca. Palay production increased significantly by 10.0%, from 565,895 metric tons in 2001 to 622,435 metric tons in 2002. Irrigated farms in Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte produced twice as much palay (236.5%) than rain fed farms .Volume of coconut production in the different provinces increased between the period 2001 to 2002, except for Samar, which plunged by 4.8%.

Value of commodity flow in the region increased significantly by 59.1% between 2001 and 2002.

Abaca production declined by 7.3% from 29,955 metric tons in 2001 to 27,773 metric tons in 2002. Only the province of Southern Leyte posted an increase in production by 16.1percent.

e. Tourism Visitor arrivals in the region declined slightly by 2.0% from 176,149 arrivals in 2001 to 172,625 in 2002. Domestic arrivals, which comprise the bulk or 94.7% of the total arrivals, declined by 1.2%. Foreign visitor arrivals continued to drop by 14.0% in 2002. Nationals from the United States accounted for 28.7% of the region’s foreign tourists, followed by Japan at 23.5%.

Inventory of hogs posted a 4.5% increase in 2002 from a 7.5% decline in 2001. On the other hand, inventory of chicken continued to decline by 10.1%. Fish production increased by 4.6% in 2002. Leyte registered the highest production for commercial fishing and aquaculture at 22,360 and 10,128 metric tons, respectively. Samar posted the biggest production in municipal fishing at 15,129 metric tons.

Average occupancy rate in accredited accommodation establishments in Region VIII stood at 37.0% in 2002, higher by 1.3 percentage point than the previous year’s figure.

Log production in the region increased by 5.2% from 563 cubic meters in 2001 to 592 cubic meters in 2002. On the other hand, volume of saw log/veneer log production in the region rose significantly in 2002 by 45.2% reaching 2,062.5 metric tons. Maasin City accounted for more than half or 51.7% of the total production.

D. Development Challenges Based on the presentation of the planning environment, the challenge that confronts the region is in harnessing the full potentials of its natural endowment for the present and

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2001 and has been limited to traditional crops. The seasonal nature of many agricultural crops also contributed to the high underemployment of the region. This resulted to the high poverty incidence in rural communities of the region. Thus, one of the major considerations in production land use planning is to identify the suitable areas for agricultural production to an extent that it can secure the food requirements of the population in Eastern Visayas. This concern will extend to its need to protect such areas from conversion to other uses. Conversely, an important aspect of this consideration is the utilization of shrubland and grassland which constitutes 25% of the total land area of the region.

future residents of Eastern Visayas. It has to generate viable and sustainable development for its increasing population without imposing irreversible damage to the environment. The demand of the growing population has to be anticipated through proper planning and providing for the requirements of present and future generation and responding to the following specific challenges:

1. Increasing Urban Population, Density and Demand for Urban Services The continuing increase in the region’s population directly affected the urban centers of the region including other more progressive metropolitan areas such as Cebu and Metro Manila. Unplanned and unregulated expansion of urban centers in the cities of Tacloban, Ormoc, Maasin and Calbayog and the provincial capitals of Catbalogan, Naval, Catarman and Borongan has led to the growing urbanization problems such as congestion, high unemployment rate, improper solid waste disposal, presence of squatter colonies and other social problems. Such situation exerted more pressure to the government in providing the basic urban services and the abnormal allocation of resources to meet the demands for such basic social services. Given the limited resources of the region, such trend had a significant impact on the amount of sources left for the provision of basic social services and facilities in rural areas.

In addition to food production, the concern on agricultural productivity should also focus on sustaining the raw material supply for agri-based industries and agricultural exports. Coconut, abaca and aquamarine are among the commodities with high potentials in agri-industry production. The establishment of these agri-industries, especially in rural areas will widen the livelihood opportunities of rural folks and address the rising underemployment in agri-based communities.

3. Environmental Degradation The region is extremely vulnerable to degradation given its existing topography, climate and soil characteristics. This condition is further aggravated by indiscriminate and negative practices which resulted to the decline and dwindling level of productivity of forest and marine products. Wanton destruction of forest cover also contributed to siltation landslides which led to loss of lives and property during natural calamities. While Illegal logging and fishing activities are continuing threats to the region’s forest and marine life support system, these are difficult to curtail due to lack of alternative livelihood activities in poor communities.

Consequently, this situation led to the concern of outmigration. More people were attracted to the urban centers because of the scarcity of economic opportunities and basic services in rural areas thereby contributing further to the rising urban problems. As the demand for basic services and economic opportunities can not be responded, in rural communities as well as in our urban centers, going out of the region has become an undesirable but necessary option. This pattern is reflected in our 1995 to 2000 population trend where outmigration was high in all provinces except in Southern Leyte.

4. Environmental Pollution 2. Declining Agricultural Productivity Another growing environmental issue of the region is the increasing pollution levels both on air and water especially in urban areas. Smoke belching, unsanitary and indiscriminate waste disposal system and landfill sites are some of the pollutants that are real threats to the health and safety of settlement areas.

The region is known as an agri-based economy with 45% of its land used for agricultural production. Yet its share of employment has steadily declined from 58% to 50% as of 2003. The output of the agriculture sector also went down from 35% in 1992 to 30% in

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

hectares have no prescribed land use. The municipalities in these areas are in various stages of land use preparation. Forty-seven (47) municipalities have their draft CLUPs being reviewed by their respective Sangguniang Bayan. The remaining forty-six (46) municipalities with an estimated total land area of 264.7 thousand hectares are in the process of preparing or updating their land use plans.

5. Lack of Community Awareness and Participation in Environmental Protection Much of the effort of the government to protect the environment and avoid disasters is still not effective because of the lack of cooperation of the community. The citizens are still to be convinced on the value of helping to protect the environment and in preparedness during disasters.

Local and regional governments must threfore recognize the importance of formulating or updating and enforcing their land use plans and zoning ordinances.

6. Weak Linkage Between Physical and Economic Development Planning Anticipating the needs of a growing population emanates from and is regulated through land use plans and zoning ordinances prescribed by local governments. Yet, regulation of settlement areas, creation of employment opportunities, protection of the environment and provision of infrastructure facilities are planned without reference to the land use plan. Local and regional governments proceed in carrying out programs and allocating resources without looking at future demand for land and other services and the economic and environmental impact of such activities. Such conditions contribute to low productivity, prevalence of squatting and illegal activities and the extension of settlements and industries within environmentally critical and hazard prone areas (see Map No. 18-20).

Legitimized PFPs Undergoing PLUC review Undergoing SB review Preparatory Stage

7. Unupdated Land Use Plans As of September 2004, 22.3% of the region’s land area in 31 municipalities and 4 cities have prescribed land use through their CLUPs and zoning ordinances. The remaining 77.7% covering around 1,300,000

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EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Map No. 18 - GEOHAZARD (VOLCANIC RELATED)

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Map No. 19 - GEOHAZARD (FLOOD RELATED)

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Map No. 20 - GEOHAZARD (LANDSLIDE RELATED)

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CHAPTER 3 THE REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN

EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

CHAPTER 3

forestry plantation. A sizeable area of virgin mossy forest remains intact and harbors rich biodiversity. The region also has a wide array of forest and marine attractions for eco-tourism. The task ahead therefore is to ensure ecological integrity by effectively balancing the demand of land for productive endeavors vis-à-vis the preservation of the ecosystems. Within the context of our physical framework plan, a balanced management of our natural resources will ensure that the comparative advantages and natural resource endowment of the region are fully harnessed without destroying their regenerative capacity.

THE REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN A. Objectives The spatial objectives of the region are the following:

1. Planned and Rational Distribution of Population

4. Rationale urban-rural development and integration

The growth trend of the region shows that its population will reach 6 million by 2030 from 3.6 million in 2000 (see Map No. 21). The question on where these people will settle will have an impact on the land use pattern and the provision for its protection and access. This can be achieved through a deliberate and planned distribution of the population considering the carrying capacity of the different areas. Within the plan period, outmigration will be reduced by promoting sustained growth of the different economic clusters of the region.

Integration of rural and urban concerns will be among the major challenges of the region in the next 25 years. This will entail a deliberate effort to address the declining productivity in rural areas, rising out migration and increasing demand for urban services. It will involve efforts for a sustainable growth of urban areas with complementing interventions for a parallel growth of rural communities. The spatial strategy calls for the designation of specific role of provinces into economic clusters. Integration will be achieved by linking consumption and production areas through appropriate infrastructure facilities.

2. Optimum and Sustained Use of the Region’s Natural Resources The key to the region’s economic growth will anchor on the efficient utilization of the region’s land and water resources to provide sufficient and affordable food products to its constituents and to the rest of the country. It will pursue its capability to increase productivity by increasing the area cultivated for agri production, increasing the level of productivity of major crops, use of diversified/ multicropping system, and establishment of Agri-based industries. However, there is a need to implement techno-based production strategies, i.e., improvement of agricultural productivity without necessarily increasing the area for production by using high value crops. The same challenge of diversification and enhanced productivity level will also be carried out in the aqua marine and agro-forestry sectors.

5. Conscientious partnership with the private sector The allocation and use of land and other physical resources will be guided by the principle of just access to productive opportunities. It will encourage shared responsibility in the development and management of such resources to ensure that the desirable level of social welfare for the present and future generations is guaranteed.

B. Spatial Development Strategy The spatial development strategy proposed for Eastern Visayas is an Integrated Area for Development approach. It follows the polycentric concept of development, which means connecting a number of urban and rural growth areas to build strong and competitive development clusters that can grow and sustain business and provide efficient basic social services. The strategy corrects the current trend where development is concentrated and dominated

3. Ensure ecological integrity The natural topography of the region showed that there are vast tracks of sloping land suitable for agro-

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by few urban areas. This strategy is preferred due to the following reasons:

municipalities. The major factors used in developing these clusters were the role of the center and the satellite municipalities in order that their activities complement each other. Spatial integration will focus on linking production, marketing and consumption areas through appropriate infrastructure systems.

1. It will discourage and avoid rapid economic and demographic concentration in major urban centers beyond their carrying capacity, e.g. Tacloban, Ormoc, Catbalogan, Maasin City and Calbayog City.

Based on the preferences expressed by regional and local planners, the cities and municipalities are divided into twenty three (23) urban growth centers (including Metro Tacloban) having specific economic specialization.

2. It will harness the full economic potentials of all areas in the region, and 3. It will effectively establish complementation of economic activities and services between rural and urban areas.

Each of these clusters will have a respective city or municipality to serve as urban service center. They are recommended to be developed as provider of a range of services and facilities for the surrounding municipalities within their respective clusters. The urban services include higher levels of public and private services that are presently available only in major urban centers such as Tacloban, Ormoc, Maasin, Catbalogan, Calbayog, Borongan and Catarman. These services include the following: district and secondary hospitals; medical laboratories, banking services, higher levels of police and fire protection, disaster management and wellness centers, recreational facilities and shopping malls.

The modified IAD cluster concept basically combines two spatial strategies considered for the region, namely: Integrated Area Development and Hierarchy of Centers. Thus, the cities and municipalities were grouped into clusters according to the common resources and resourcebased economic activities of each group and the natural movement of people and their linkages with each other through existing transportation and communication networks. The combination of urban centers and IAD clusters basically responds to two of the desired development directions prescribed in the National Framework for Physical Planning (NFPP) namely: strengthening of urbanrural linkages and resource area-based development.

The integration of the economies of these clusters will vary according to the most efficient network and market linkages of these clusters. The IAD clusters in Northern and Western Samar will continue to trade abaca, pili and other products with the Bicol Region since markets in these areas are established and more efficient. In like manner, the clusters in the western part of Leyte and in the provinces of Biliran and Southern Leyte will link with Cebu and other areas in Bohol and Mindanao where markets are also established. These however, will be redefined when the regional center and the other clusters have built up their respective niches and intra and inter-regional linkages are improved.

Metro Tacloban as Regional Growth Center The Metro Tacloban Cluster will continue to be the regional growth center of Eastern Visayas. It will be maintained as the center of government, education, commerce and industries. It will also link the rest of the region to Luzon in the north, Mindanao to the south and Visayas to the west. It will be developed to become the processing and service center for all trade and commerce of all commodities and services produced by the region.

The details of the modified IAD clusters is presented in Table 25.

Integrated Areas for Development Clusters

C. Land Use Policy Framework

Each of the six provinces was divided into Integrated Areas for Development (IAD) clusters. The factors used in defining the role of the clusters are the resources they have, the economic activity they can develop and their linkage to major highways. The idea is to have an anchor city or municipality which is expected to pull up the satellite

The following discussions will detail the preferred spatial strategy into its four components namely: Settlements, Production Land Use, Protection Land Use and Infrastructure Development components.

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a. Settlements Development As an integral part of the RPFP, settlements development seeks to address the following:

Settlements are areas where concentration of population is engaged in economic, political, cultural and social activities. Many activities in a settlement, such as livelihood, shelter, education, recreation, transportation, communication and services spill over adjacent settlements forming a network of spatially interrelated activities. These settlements networks are the framework within which production, processing, and consumption take place, thereby creating a geographical clustering of independent but complimentary activities.

a. mobility of people and efficient production and movement of commodities through the provision of appropriate land, infrastructure and facilities; b. access to housing, education, health care, recreation, transportation and communication, sanitation, and basic utilities such as power, water, waste disposal and other services.

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Settlements Plan The demographic growth trend show that the various settlements in rural and urban areas will experience contrasting growth patterns. The cities and major urban centers of the region will continue to expand and grow almost twice its population by 2030. On the other hand, rural areas are expected to grow at a lesser pace. Its growth will be largely influenced by accelerated outmigration to urban centers within, and ultimately outside the region (see Table 26 Projected Population by Cluster). The major concern of settlements development is to achieve a desirable concentration of people in order to achieve a more rational provision of basic services and support infrastructure. The settlement plan therefore adopts the cluster of Urban Centers as its strategy in prescribing the desired concentration of settlements (See Table 27 - Cluster of Urban Centers). The clusters will be the main basis in anticipating future requirements for settlement, production land and basic infrastructure facilities to link settlement to production areas and in the provision of basic services.

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must also take into account the requirements of specific forward and backward industries in every economic cluster.

Settlement Policies 1. Development of the 23 Cluster of Urban Centers

b. Production Land Use

The delineation of 23 urban centers provides a rational basis in planning for the provision of basic social services such as health care, education, housing, transport, recreation, communication, basic utilities such as water, power and waste disposal services. It will serve to justify the allocation of the region’s resources because it ensures that all satellite municipalities under each of the urban centers will be adequately taken cared of. The establishment of industries and the implementation of programs and projects identified in the IAD clusters in the respective urban centers are expected to boost the economic activities in these urban centers. Thus, the availability of economic and employment opportunities and basic social services and infrastructure facilities will discourage the population from migrating to other regions, such as Central Visayas and Metro Manila. In the long run, the policy would maximize the benefits of investments in terms of the number of people served (see Table 27 and Map No. 22).

Production land use pertains to the direct and indirect utilization of land resources for crop production, fishery, livestock and poultry production, timber production, agroforestry, mining, industry and tourism. The primary objective of planning for production land use is to determine the most suitable and sustainable use of the land such that there is enough food and work for everyone today and tomorrow.

Goals Generally, the production land use sector will respond to two of the four objectives of the RPFP namely: ensure access to economic opportunities and the optimum utilization of natural resources. The attainment of these objectives is expressed in three sectoral goals to wit: develop the region into an agriindustrial economy; generate sustainable employment in the agriculture and related sectors, and; improve the quality of life for Eastern Visayans.

2. Updating and Enforcement of the Comprehensive Land Use Plans and Zoning Ordinances

Policies The viability of the Urban Cluster policy will be substantially carried out by local government units through the updating and strict enforcement of their comprehensive land use plans and zoning ordinances. Such land use plans should prescribe appropriate areas for settlement development and expansion outside the hazard prone and protected areas. The cities and municipalities within the cluster are encouraged to collectively update their CLUPs in order that complementation of resources, services and facilities are efficiently reflected in their respective plans.

1. Integrated Area for Development The main strategy of production land use is the delineation of Integrated Area for Development (IAD) where agri-industrial development will be pursued based on the natural resource endowment of the municipalities in each cluster. This policy gives importance to the capability of the different areas to contribute to the economy given the vast agricultural resources of the region. It is also consistent with the national policy framework of regional and sub-regional dispersion to allow the rural communities of the region to generate alternative economic activities. (see Map No. 23)

3. Integrate the Services and Facilities according to the needs of the centers Integrate the provision of basic services with the need of the growth centers according to their economic undertakings. For instance, provision of education in a growth center should already consider the technical skills needed by the community given the nature of the activity of these economic zones. Support services

2. Develop and protect SAFDZs from conversion This policy complements the IAD clusters concept. This means that other productive areas in the cluster should not be left out in favor of the economic activity of the cluster. On the contrary, the strategic agriculture

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Map No. 22 - URBAN CENTERS

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Map No. 23 - INTEGRATED AREA DEVELOPMENT (IAD) CLUSTERS

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and fisheries development zones (SAFDZ) should be developed and protected parallel with the economic activity of the clusters because these are the key production areas of the region. These areas were delineated based on their suitability and viability to produce specific agricultural products. It is likely that the economic activity of the cluster is consistent with the desired agricultural development potentials as prescribed in the SAFDZ. A case in point is the coconut industry. Our statistics shows that the industry remains a major output of almost all clusters since 70% of the agricultural area of the region is planted to coconut and all provinces have substantial area planted to this crop.

determine areas for production and protection. The primary model for regulated forest production will be implemented in the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP). A one-kilometer buffer zone along the perimeter of the SINP will be developed as commercial forest zone. It will be the landmark in enforcing protection policies within the SINP area (see Map No. 24). 5. Provide adequate infrastructure to IAD Clusters Adequate infrastructure support is needed to build the potentials of the IAD clusters. The support facilities should be able to link the production areas to the urban centers or the processing centers of the clusters. An efficient inter-modal transport system should be developed along three main market routes outside the region, namely: to Luzon in the north, to Mindanao in the south and to Cebu in the west. Efficient ports, airport, power, water, and communication should be established to support the viability of ecozones.

Local governments play an important role in protecting the SAFDZs by integrating these production zones in their Comprehensive Land Use Plans and zoning ordinances. LGUs will also be able to help in resolving conflicts arising from overlapping boundaries and other land issues.

6. Showcase agri-farm, fish-farm, forest-farm, and ecozones to local and foreign tourists to gain more market and income.

3. Develop the adjacent areas of the ecozones as agri-production center of raw material for agribased industries.

Designated Production Land Use A number of IAD clusters in almost every province of the region are identified as ecozones or agriindustrial areas. The most sensible land use policy for these clusters is to protect and develop areas adjacent to the ecozones for the production and processing of raw materials for agri-based industries. Inversely, new ecozones can be established in areas where resources are available for resource-based industries to ensure value-added output from the production of metallic and non-metallic resources.

1. General Use A&D lands or private lands have been considered for a variety of permissible uses, subject to local zoning. To ensure food sufficiency, SAFDZ have been designated for production land use. Highly productive SAFDZ need to be reserved to ensure food security; while marginal SAFDZ areas may be converted to other uses like industrial centers, commercial centers, housing subdivisions and recreational facilities. Allocating the marginal agricultural lands for other uses will also reduce conflicts in land use provided appropriate technology shall be promoted.

This strategy is an important policy support to build the economic growth of the cluster and is expected to boost alternative employment opportunities, especially in the countryside.

2. Agriculture

4. Develop areas for forest production

Alienable and disposable (A&D) areas with 0-3% slope are good for agriculture, specifically for rice and root crops. A&D areas with 3-8% slope are still good for agriculture but the use of Sloping Agricultural Land Technology for orchard development is recommended. A&D areas with 8-18% slope can still be used for agriculture through the rainforestation technology or multi-level farming.

The traditional way of gathering and cutting of primary and secondary forest products in wild source had led to an alarming depletion of this resource. These areas should be developed for commercial forest production and should be properly regulated to ensure that it can sustain the needs of and establish the wood and handicraft industry in the region. Appropriate delineation of forests should be done to 47

EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

Map No. 24 - THE SAMAR ISLAND NATURAL PARK (SINP)

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3. Fishery Eco-tourism/Adventure Tourism Coastal areas facing west, mostly within bay areas, are designated for marine culture. Muddy seawater is suitable for crab caging while running seawater is good for seaweed production. Municipal fishing is allowable in coastal waters within 15 kilometers from the shoreline; while marine waters, which is beyond 15 kilometers from the shoreline, is for commercial fishing.

Forestland within 30-50% slope is another enhancement zone for eco-tourism and adventure tourism (see Map No. 25). Revitalizing this portion of the forestland with endemic flora and fauna will regain and improve its scenic beauty.

Abandoned brackish water fishpond may be reverted back to coastal forest to increase marine productivity or may be reutilized for fish or prawn production. Other developed brackish water fishpond may be continued. Brackish water should be designated as coastal forest and should be protected to maintain the marine ecosystem and to increase productivity in coastal and marine waters. Besides, fish caging is becoming more viable than fishpond development.

c. Protection Land Use Protection land use refers to the rehabilitation, conservation, and management of sensitive or critical ecosystems to preserve their integrity, allow degraded resources to regenerate and to protect the people from environmental hazards.

Goals Within this planning period, the protection land Use Framework adopts four sectoral goals namely:

Freshwater fishpond may also be continued, although fish caging in freshwater is another trend cropping up. Again, the wetlands or the freshwater ecosystem is maintained through fish caging. 4. Enhancement Zone

1. 2. 3. 4.

Safe and clean environment Conserved biodiversity Sustained natural resources Maintained landscape quality

Forestry

Policies

Harvesting timber in forestland has been constrained by the total log ban in the region, but the need for lumber by households and industries is mounting. Commercial forests should then be encouraged in private lands with 8-18% slope under Private Land Timber Permit; while production forest should take place in denuded forestland within the 18-30% slope and 300 to 500 meters elevation. These areas described as sloping areas are good for production forest under Forest Management Agreement.The buffer zones of the SINP and the Tongonan Geothermal Preservation will be developed along this area.

In order to effectively respond to the protection land use issues , the following policies and strategies will be adopted within the next 25 years of the plan: 1. Rehabilitate denuded areas and protect remaining flora and fauna in National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) declared areas. 2. Conserve geothermal reservation and sustain geothermal use, its eco-tourism use and as life support. 3. Regular information campaign to educate the general public and campaign for their participation in environmental protection and resource conservation.

As a result, forest cover is expected to increase. Timber production will also increase and will now be a major contributor to the region’s Gross Regional Domestic Product and consequently, a major source of employment in rural areas.

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Map No. 25 - MAJOR TOURIST DESTINATION

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4. Monitor the environmental compliance by the resource developers in special management zones.

adventure tourism. These are also the habitat of flora and fauna that are potential sources for medications of common ailments and dreadful diseases.

Designated Protection Land Use

3. Strict Protection Land Use

1. Special Management Zones

The strict protection land uses are a no-go area. Cloud forests are among them – with slopes beyond 50% and with elevation exceeding 1,000 meters . This is covered by the DENR Administrative Order on NonNIPAS. These areas are critical to sustain fresh and clean air and water for the population. Destroying these areas will bring polluted air and water, landslides, and loss of life and properties.

Protection land use in forestland designated as NIPAS and non-NIPAS areas is intended for conservation of water, wildlife, biological diversity and backcountry recreation (see Map No. 26 and 27). The non-NIPAS areas comprising the cloud forest, buffer zones, and coastal zones are environmentally critical areas and should be strictly protected to avoid natural calamities – hot air, water shortage, flash flooding, landslide, and typhoon surge. As such, demarcation boundaries should be established on the ground.

Buffer zones of 20 meters both sides of the river in the forestland, 10 meters both sides of the river in the agricultural land and 3 meters both sides of the river in the urban areas are also assigned as strict protection land use, as covered by PD 705 and PD 1067. Destroying the vegetation of the buffer zones will result to soil erosion, siltation, low agricultural and fishery productivity.

The NIPAS areas, which include parks, wildlife and watersheds are protected to sustain the region’s resources and for nature tourism. Resource development like medical prospecting and underground mining may be permitted but should be carefully planned and undertaken in a way that addresses these special values.

Coastal forests (mangroves, romblon and nypa) and estuaries are also under this strict protection category. These areas are nursery of various forms of marine life. Although cutting of stems and leaves may be allowed for marginal coastal dwellers, uprooting should not be allowed. The vegetation within the coastal zone protects lives and properties from typhoon surges. The vegetation also protects salt-water intrusion. These strict protection areas are therefore critical to the lifesupport system. Disturbing, destroying and devastating these strict protection areas will lead to calamities such as polluted air and water, landslides, soil erosion, siltation, salinization and typhoon surges, which costs lives and properties

Hazard-prone areas like Biliran and Panaon islands should be constrained for settlements but may be promoted for agriculture, aquaculture, commercial forest and agri or resource-based industrial center. Disaster mitigation should be ensured in the construction of administrative and industrial buildings, and warehouses in these areas. 2. Protected Land Use for Showcasing

d. Infrastructure Development The protected land use for showcasing is intended for adventure destination. This specific land use is protected to preserve the natural aesthetic of the forestland. These areas have elevation ranging from 500 meters to 1,000 meters and slopes of 30% to 50%. Areas declared under the National Integrated Protected Area System also form part in this category. These areas need to be protected for viewing purposes. Spoiling the area will mean reduction of our dollar receipts out of

The role of infrastructure in regional development is to provide the built-up environment that allows production, consumption, and provision of service activities. Infrastructure is the common physical link among the production, protection and the settlements component of the plan. In this manner, the condition of infrastructure provides a physical measurement of local development and, ultimately, the quality of life.

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Map No. 26 - PROCLAIMED PROTECTED AREAS

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Map No. 27 - PROTECTED AREAS FOR PROCLAMATION

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Infrastructure development in the RPFP covers five sectors, namely: transportation, communication, energy, water resources, and social infrastructure. Transportation facilitates the movement of people, goods and services; communications system makes possible the exchange of information, messages, concepts and ideas; energy provides the power to maximize the productive efforts and improve the living condition of the people; and water works spread the benefits of water supply and help minimize the adverse impact of floods.

respectively. The region will also be linked to the rest of the Visayas region through ferry services and the East-West laterals to cut across region, interconnecting the North-South backbone. 2. Upgrading and proper maintenance of arterial roads Aside from interregional and intraregional linkages, transport development will also include other intraregional road networks of strategic importance serving both rural and urban areas and linking special economic and industrial zones, major food basket and production areas and important tourism areas. These roads will be upgraded into all-weather road standards.

In general, the infrastructure facilities of the region are still inadequate to deliver basic social services and support the region’s economic, industrial, and social development. Most of the built-up areas are found in urban centers while remote production areas are hardly accessible to urban centers thus, discouraging higher productivity. Limited budget and natural calamities also hinder the full development of these facilities.

3. Improvement and upgrading of ports and port facilities The region’s port network will be an important component of the inter-modal transport system to other regions. It will be improved, upgraded and provided with more effective and specialized cargo handling facilities such as roll-on roll-off port projects, which are programmed to connect the region to the rest of the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao island provinces. The identification and development of an international transshipment port in the region will be pursued.

Goals To address these concerns, infrastructure development will focus on the construction/completion of major roads and bridges network to link production areas to and from growth centers of the region; maintenance and improvement of existing facilities; and rehabilitation/restoration of infrastructure facilities damaged by typhoons and other calamities.

4. Improvement and upgrading of airports To effectively meet the expected increased traffic and accommodate bigger aircraft that will cater to industrial, urban, and tourism activities, the region’s trunk line airport, the DZR Airport located in Tacloban City will be upgraded and provided with facilities of international standards. Other secondary airports with existing commercial flights will also be improved and upgraded.

Policies a. Strengthen Urban-Rural and Interregional Linkages. 1. Completion of the inter-regional and intraregional circumferential roads

5. Development of waterways

The completion, improvement, and rehabilitation of inter-regional and intra-regional circumferential road network will be pursued to provide a strategic land transport network that connects all the urban clusters and their respective municipalities to the provincial, regional, and other growth centers of the country. This includes the Pan-Phil Highway referred to as the NorthSouth backbone. It will serve as the main road network that connects the region to the Luzon and Mindanao regions through ferry services in San Isidro/Allen in Northern Samar and Liloan in Southern Leyte,

To be given equal emphasis is the development of navigable rivers in Samar Island to complement the intraregional road network development program.

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the destruction of watershed areas. The rehabilitation, proper maintenance and expansion of irrigation systems will be given priority to improve the rice productivity of the region. Implementation of vital projects will consider present and projected situations in the regional food supply and demand chain. Food basket cluster will have priority except when land and water resources pose considerable limitations. Projects to irrigate crops other than rice shall be undertaken in support of the crop zoning and diversification program of the agriculture sector.

b. Support to the Productive Sectors 1. Provision of access points for telecommunication The primary objective of the telecommunications sector is to expand basic telephone service at reasonable rates. Public Calling Offices (PCOs) will be installed in all unserved municipalities. A satellite backbone network will be established to provide telecommunication services in areas not presently served by a public telephone network and provide the redundancy required for national long-distance network. Urban centers of every cluster will be provided with higher level public access centers equipped with computers, telephones, fax machines and other modern equipment for internet connectivity and other telecommunication needs. The principal instrument for achieving service expansion will be the private operators. They will be provided with operational assistance and financial incentives to carry out their exchange roll-out mandate. Accordingly, the government will initiate further improvements in the policy and regulatory environment by adopting clear and practical rules for interconnection of all public networks and equitable toll revenue-sharing schemes to ensure financial viability of local exchanges.

4. Protection of watersheds A more active role in managing critical watersheds affecting existing irrigation systems, hdro-electric plants and geothermal facilities will be pursued. The extent and location of denuded watersheds will be identified, after which proposals for their management will be made in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and affected communities. The utilization of water resources for recreational and leisure purposes in addition to traditional uses shall be sought during the planning period. This is primarily supportive of the government’s tourism development efforts aside from providing leisure and livelihood opportunities for the settlements within the vicinity of the resource. Environmental protection and conservation will also be enhanced with the development of facilities conforming to established tourism development guidelines and standards.

2. Improve the reliability and efficiency of power supply Power projects including transmission and distribution facilities support and serve as catalysts to development. These projects will be implemented to provide reliable and efficient supply of electricity at reasonable cost to the consuming public and attract prospective investors to the region. The projects along this policy will include the upgrading of 69 KV transmission lines from wood poles to steel poles and provision of additional substations to improve the reliability of the region’s transmission grid. It will also include the upgrading of the distribution system managed by electric cooperatives to improve the delivery voltage to commercial and household users.

c. Increase Access to Basic Services 1. Increase supply of potable water Adequate, safe and dependable water for household consumption will be increased through construction of additional sources of water supply. For urban areas, the pipe water supply system (Level III) will be extended alongside the development of traditional wells and spring facilities (Levels I and II) for rural areas. Water distribution system in urban areas will be rehabilitated to reduce revenue loss and incidence of water-borne diseases. The availability of water service according to urban clusters will be used in allocating these facilities in rural communities to ensure that such service will not become a hindrance in the development of the clusters.

3. Rehabilitation and expansion of irrigation facilities Statistics shows that only 59 percent (49,804 hectares) of the region’s potential irrigable area is irrigated. Irrigation facilities are fast deteriorating due to poor maintenance and are dried up as a result of 55

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2. Improve and expand postal communication service To improve the quality of postal communication services, postal units will be established in barangays not effectively covered by existing postal offices and stations. Mechanized mail handling and sorting systems will be developed and installed to improve and accelerate mail operations. 3. Expand rural electrification program to all barangays The rural electrification program in the LeyteSamar grid serves 618,127 households covering 4,389 barangays through the electric cooperatives This represents only 61% of households and 74% of barangays. Within the Plan period, the program will continue to reach out to unserved areas until all barangays are served with electricity. Alternative and cost efficient power source, such as solar, water or wind driven energy system, will be developed especially for island and far flung areas of the region. Establishment of energy-based industries in selected rural clusters will be a major strategy to improve the viability of electric cooperatives and reduce power rate.

d. Flood Control and Drainage Flood control and protection works in the identified critical areas of the region will be strengthened in response to existing and occasional problems caused by river inundation, meanding, and siltation as well as coastal erosion along shorelines. Development targets for this subsector will specifically include the implementation of river control/drainage projects, and seawalls. To minimize the incidence of water-borne and related diseases especially in the urban centers, a sewerage system has to be established. Flood control and drainage support systems for agricultural development shall likewise be constructed to mitigate damages to crops and properties caused by floods.

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CHAPTER 4 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN

EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN 2005-2030

CHAPTER 4 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN The mechanism to implement the Regional Physical Framework Plan is divided into three main stages, namely; Plan Adoption, Advocacy and Policy Implementation and Implementation of Programs and Projects. Each of these stages is discussed below.

These are however to be enforced at the local level through the Comprehensive Land Use Plans and Zoning ordinances. This stage therefore will involve the advocacy of the Plan to local government units so that important policies can be incorporated in their respective Comprehensive Land Use and Zoning Ordinance.

A. Plan Adoption The first and important mechanism to implement the Plan is its acceptance and adoption by the various sectors and local governments of the region. This stage will therefore involve the presentation, validation and formal adoption of the Plan by the sectoral committees, the Regional Land Use Committee and finally the Regional Development Council. The process is intended to clarify and confirm the roles and functions of the different line departments and local governments in the implementation of policies and strategies on settlements, production land use, protection land use and infrastructure development components.

C. Implementation of Programs and Projects In as much as the RPFP merely provides the long term framework, the mechanism to implement the various programs and projects will be done through the Regional Development Plan (RDP) and Investment Program at the regional level and the local development plans and investment programs of local governments. The current RDP which covers the period 2005 to 2010 will implement the first 6-year slice of the broad and long term policies recommended in the RPFP.

B. Advocacy and Policy Implementation The policy frameworks prescribed in the RPFP are broad guidelines that have to be given legal mandate before it can be enforced. Policies mandated at the national level have corresponding laws for implementation.

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