Albay

Located at the southern tip of Luzon Island and about 550 kms. from Manila. Albay has a land area of 2,552.6 square kilometers, consisting of 3 cities and 14 towns. As of August 1, 2015, the Census of Population shows that Albay had reached 5,796,989 million inhabitants. The urban population constitutes 19.6% of the entire population, proving that Albayanos are predominantly living in rural areas. The important products of the people are hemp, coconut, sugar cane, pineapple, vegetables and rice. At any given moment, the number of people in the area is increased due to transients of various origin and purposes from within the country and of foreigners visiting. Population Statistics

INDUSTRIES

Of the total 6,369 manufacturing establishments of varied sizes in the Bicol Region, half is located in Albay.

On large-scale manufacturing industries, 48.6 percent are operating in Albay. Among them are the export-oriented establishments like Isarog Pulp & Paper Mills and Albay Industrial Development Corporation.

Handicraft is the major source of rural income. It continues to provide fairly large share in the small scale industries of the province. On Agriculture, coconut, rice, abaca and corn are its major crops. The province also boasts of its coal resources in Batan Island now being tapped by multi-national private firms.

CLIMATE

Albay has 3 types of climate. The eastern areas experiences no dry season with a very pronounced maximum rain period from December to January, the western areas have more or less heavily distributed rainfall throughout the year and the central areas have no pronounced maximum rain period with a short dry season from November to January. The province has a yearly average of 20 typhoons ranging from 60-180 kph. Average rainfall is 233 millimeters with a lowest at 130 millimeters in April and the highest at 389 millimeters during December. Average temperature is 33.15 Celsius high and 22.60 Celsius low.

POWER

Albay is a major supplier of geothermal energy to the Luzon Grid with its Tiwi Geothermal Plant with an energy generating capacity of 330 megawatts and the Bacon-Manito (BacMan) Geothermal Plant with an energy generating capacity of 210 megawatts.

Local electrification is provided by the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO). All of the municipalities and cities of the province are energized for a 100% electrification coverage.

LANGUAGE/DIALECT

Bicol is the local dialect. Surprisingly, it constitutes a strange variety in words and in diction among the 17 municipalities of the province. In some towns, there are clear distinctions of variable terminologies in their use of words to convey their messages as compared with the nearest neighboring towns. What puzzles visitors and tourists are the amazing variations of many words of the same meaning for one object or concept among the people in every town. Generally, the Bicol dialect spoken in Legazpi, Naga and Albay District is the common tongue used. The big alteration of tone and of words arises as one travels between Naga City, on the west end and Legaspi City to the east or away from these city proper. They also speak Tagalog fluently. English is not difficult for them to communicate with liberal stature.

GEOGRAPHY

Located at the southern tip of Luzon Island and about 550 kms. from Manila, Albay is approximately 13 to 13.5 degrees north latitude and 123.25 to 124.25 degrees east longtitude. It is bounded by Lagonoy Gulf and the province of Camarines Sur in the northwest, the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Province of Sorsogon in the south, and the Burias Pass in the southeast. It has a total land area of 2,552.6 kms., a total coastline of 354 kms. Albay is composed of 3 cities and 15 municipalities grouped into 3 congressional districts.

POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

Albay has fourteen (14) municipalities and three cities (Legazpi, Tabaco, Ligao). Legazpi has been officially designated as the site of the regional offices.

The municipalities are politically subdivided into three districts: namely, first district (Bacacay, Malinao, Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, Tabaco City and Tiwi), second district (Legazpi City, Camalig, Daraga, Manito and Rapu-rapu), third district (Guinobatan, Jovellar, Libon, Ligao City, Oas, Pio Duran, and Polangui).

MOUNTAINS AND TOURISM

The mountains of the province are Mayon, Masaraga and Malinao in the northeast and Catburaun in the west. Its forests are sources of timber, rattan, pili nuts and gum elemi. There are also vast grasslands for pasturing horses, cattle, carabaos, goats and sheep.

Mayon Volcano, the major tourist attraction of the province, is known for its symmetrical, almost perfect cone that rises over 7,500 feet above sea level. It erupted 15 times, with the catastrophe of February 1, 1814 as the most destructive. Its lava buried the town and church of Cagsawa.

It has a total coastline of 354 kms, with many beautiful stretches of sand, escarpment and beaches.