Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no4004

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA.

AN ACT
DECLARING THE CITY OF LIGAO AS THE SECONDARY ADMINISTRATIVE
CAPITAL OF THE BICOL REGION AND DIRECTING NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES RELATED TO FISHERIES, AGRICULTURE, AND
RURAL DEVELOPMENT TO ESTABLISH SATELLITE OFFICES THEREIN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bicol Region (Region V) is composed of six provinces—Albay, Camarines Sur,
Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and Masbate. The current regional capital, Legazpi
City, hosts most national government regional offices. However, its geographic position on the
Pacific-facing easter seaboard renders it highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards:
typhoons, storm surges, floods, lahar flows, and eruptions of Mayon Volcano. These
vulnerabilities can, and have in the past, disrupted regional governance and public service
delivery.

By contrast, Ligao City lies inland, shielded from storm surges, less exposed to
Mayon’s direct hazards, and positioned closer to the geographic midpoint of the Bicol
Region. Using both provincial centroid calculations and north-south latitude balancing, the
Bicol midpoint is located around 13.08° N. Ligao City, at 13.216° N, sits barely fifteen
kilometers north of this line, placing it almost exactly on the region’s north-south axis. This
geographic centrality makes Ligao more accessible to the Bicol provinces as a whole,
especially when connected through the Daang Maharlika and other arterial highways that
converge in its vicinity.

Ligao is also strategically situated within the Quinale Plains, one of the largest rice-
producing areas of the region, and near Pantao and Pio Duran ports that link Albay with
Masbate and the Visayas. This location makes it a natural hub for agriculture, fisheries, and
rural development services—sectors that form the backbone of Bicol’s economy and employ
the majority of its population.


Accordingly, this bill declares Ligao City as the Secondary Administrative Capital
of the Bicol Region. It directs national government agencies whose mandates are tied to
agriculture, fisheries, and rural development—such as the Department of Agriculture, Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, and Department of Trade
and Industry—to prepare and establish satellite offices in Ligao. By doing so, farmers,
fisherfolk, cooperatives, and rural entrepreneurs will have closer access to essential
government services.

Furthermore, the measure mandates that the designation of Ligao as a secondary capital
be incorporated into the Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP), the National Spatial
Strategy (NSS), and other spatial development frameworks, thereby ensuring alignment with
long-term planning for infrastructure, disaster resilience, and economic development.

By adopting Ligao City as the Secondary Administrative Capital, the Bicol Region will
not only secure continuity of governance in times of disaster but also strengthen its rural
development focus and ensure that regional planning is more geographically balanced.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

RAYMON! A SALCEDA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

4004

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA.

AN ACT
DECLARING THE CITY OF LIGAO AS THE SECONDARY ADMINISTRATIVE
CAPITAL OF THE BICOL REGION AND DIRECTING NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES RELATED TO FISHERIES, AGRICULTURE, AND
RURAL DEVELOPMENT TO ESTABLISH SATELLITE OFFICES THEREIN

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration. The City of Ligao, Province of Albay, is hereby declared as
the Secondary Administrative Capital of the Bicol Region (Region V), to serve as an alternate
seat of regional offices of the national government in the event of disruption, disaster, or other
circumstances that impair the effective functioning of the primary regional capital in Legazpi
City.

SEC. 2. Secondary Seat of Regional Governance. Regional offices of national
government agencies may establish extension or satellite offices in Ligao City as part of
continuity of governance. This designation shall not diminish the status of Legazpi City as the
primary regional administrative capital.

SEC. 3. Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development Agencies. The Department of
Agriculture (DA), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)}-
Forestry and Watershed offices, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Rural Industries
programs, and other national government agencies whose core mandates are related to
agriculture, fisheries, and rural development are hereby directed to prepare and implement
plans for acquiring land, leasing, or otherwise establishing satellite offices in Ligao City.

These agencies shall ensure that such offices are designed to support farmers,
fisherfolk, cooperatives, and rural communities across the Bicol Region.

SEC. 4. Spatial Development Plans. The designation of Ligao City as the Secondary
Administrative Capital of the Bicol Region shall be integrated into the Regional Physical


Framework Plan (RPFP), the National Spatial Strategy (NSS), and other related long-term
development frameworks prepared by the National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) and the Regional Development Council (RDC). All spatial, economic, and
infrastructure development plans at both the regional and national levels shall take this
designation into account.

SEC. 5. Disaster and Continuity of Government Functions. The designation of Ligao
City as the Secondary Administrative Capital shall form part of the regional disaster risk
reduction and management strategy, ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of public services in
times of calamity or crisis.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in
consultation with the National Economic and Development Authority, the Regional
Development Council of Bicol, the Provincial Government of Albay, and the City Government
of Ligao, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, the remaining provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,