Camarines Norte
Camarines Norte, situated in the Bicol Region of Luzon, Philippines, is the northernmost province of the region. It shares borders with Quezon Province to the west, Camarines Sur to the south, and the Philippine Sea to the north. Covering a land area of approximately 2,277.93 square kilometers, the province serves as the gateway to Bicolandia. As of the 2020 Census, Camarines Norte had a population of 629,699, accounting for about 10.35% of the Bicol Region’s total population, with a population density of 276 inhabitants per square kilometer. The provincial capital, Daet, is the most populous town and functions as the administrative and commercial center. Camarines Norte comprises 12 municipalities: Basud, Capalonga, Daet, Jose Panganiban, Labo, Mercedes, Paracale, San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Santa Elena, Talisay, and Vinzons.
Economically, Camarines Norte relies heavily on agriculture, with significant production of grain crops, vegetables, coconuts, root crops, and fruits. The province is particularly renowned for its small sweet pineapples. Additionally, mining activities, especially for gold and iron ore, along with jewelry crafting, and the pineapple and coconut industries, contribute to the local economy. In 2023, the province’s economy grew by 3.7%, with its Gross Domestic Product increasing from ₱60.19 billion in 2022 to ₱62.41 billion in 2023.
Agricultural Sector
The agricultural sector in Camarines Norte experienced notable challenges in 2023, marked by declines in key crop productions and external factors impacting overall productivity.According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the province’s agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector contracted by 8.7% in 2023, contributing to a slower overall economic growth of 3.7% compared to the previous year. While the agricultural sector in Camarines Norte faced significant hurdles in 2023, the proactive measures and strategic initiatives reflect a concerted effort to revitalize the sector, enhance resilience against climate impacts, and promote sustainable agricultural development in the province.
Fisheries Sector
As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the fisheries sector in Camarines Norte showed mixed performance across its major subsectors. Marine municipal fisheries demonstrated remarkable growth, with production increasing by 84.94% compared to the same period in the previous year. This rise was primarily driven by higher catches of economically important species such as frigate tuna (Tulingan), Indian mackerel (Alumahan), and squid (Pusit). However, inland municipal fisheries experienced a sharp decline of 81.33%, largely due to reduced catches of native species like carp, mullet (Ludong), and snails (Suso). The aquaculture sector also contracted significantly, with production falling by 81.36%, mainly attributed to decreased outputs in seaweed, mudcrab, and white shrimp. These figures underscore the sector’s susceptibility to environmental and climate-related challenges and emphasize the need for strategic interventions to ensure sustainable development and resilience in the province’s fisheries industry.
Poverty Situation
Camarines Norte continues to grapple with significant poverty challenges, particularly among its rural population. While specific provincial poverty incidence figures for Camarines Norte are not detailed in the available data, the Bicol Region, to which the province belongs, recorded a poverty incidence of 33% among its population in the first semester of 2023, indicating that approximately one in three individuals lived below the poverty threshold. Despite these initiatives, the persistent high poverty rates underscore the need for sustained and targeted interventions to promote inclusive economic growth and improve the living conditions of Camarines Norte’s residents.
Project Profile
BFAR
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), through its Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program, has been actively implementing various projects in Camarines Norte to enhance the livelihoods of local fisherfolk and promote sustainable fisheries development. BFAR-SAAD has conducted training programs focusing on organizational development, management, and financial literacy for beneficiaries in municipalities like San Vicente. These trainings aim to equip fisherfolk with the necessary skills to manage their livelihoods effectively and ensure the sustainability of the projects. Overall, the BFAR-SAAD projects in Camarines Norte demonstrate a comprehensive approach to fisheries development, combining livelihood support, capacity building, and market access to empower local fisherfolk and promote sustainable economic growth in the province.
| Year Covered | Municipality | Barangay | Project | Association | Members | Input Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bombon | San Jose (Pob.) | Tilapia Culture in Pond | Bombon Fishpond Operators Association | 57 | 1,450,744.00 |
| 2023 | Buhi | Santa Isabel | Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Buhi Indigenous People Farmers And Fishermen Association | 19 | 1,286,680.00 |
| 2023 | Cabusao | Pandan | Fishing Gear (Bottom Set Gillnet) | Samahang Mangingisda Ng Pandan | 42 | 972,552.00 |
| 2023 | Camaligan | Tarosanan | Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Team Camaligan Hanap-buhay Association | 20 | 1,100,980.00 |
| 2023 | Gainza | Cagbunga | Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Cagbunga Fisherfolk Association | 20 | 1,286,680.00 |
| 2023 | Garchitorena | Mansangat | Fishing Gear (Bottom Set Gillnet) | Mansangat Farmers And Fishermen Association | 20 | 421,940.00 |
| 2023 | Goa | Gimaga | Tilapia Culture in Pond | Goa Fisherfolk And Farmers Association | 65 | 1,078,976.00 |
| 2023 | Libmanan | Tinalmud Nuevo | Fishing Gear (Bottom Set Gillnet) | Punto Asul Fisherfolk Association | 30 | 560,940.00 |
| 2023 | Sagñay | Nato | Fishing Gear (Bottom Set Gillnet) | Sikap Parapangke Association | 50 | 934,900.00 |
| 2023 | San Fernando | Cotmo | Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | San Fernando Fisherfolk Association | 35 | 1,336,179.00 |
| 2023 | Siruma | Pinitan | Seaweed Culture | Samahan Ng Mga Mangingisda Ng Pinitan (smp), Inc | 34 | 984,000.00 |
| 2023 | Tigaon | San Antonio | Tilapia Culture in Pond | Tigaon Inland Fisherfolk Association | 52 | 1,450,744.00 |
| 2024 | Bombon | San Jose (Pob.) | Tilapia and Catfish Culture in Pond | Bombon Fishpond Operator Association | 43 | 1,408,548.00 |
| 2024 | Buhi | Santa Isabel | Tilapia Culture in Modified Cage | Buhi Indigenous Peoples Farmers And Fishermen Agriculture Cooperative | 18 | 766,000.00 |
| 2024 | Cabusao | Pandan | Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Samahang Mangingisda Ng Pandan | 42 | 1,802,200.00 |
| 2024 | Camaligan | Tarosanan | Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Team Camaligan Hanap-buhay Association | 20 | 130,000.00 |
| 2024 | Gainza | Cagbunga | Fishing Gear (Freshwater Gillnet) | Cagbunga Fisherfolk Association | 19 | 185,000.00 |
| 2024 | Garchitorena | Mansangat | Motorized boat (22 footer) | Mansangat Farmers And Fisherfolk Association | 17 | 868,000.00 |
| 2024 | Goa | Gimaga | Tilapia Culture in Pond | Goa Fisherfolk And Farmers Association | 62 | 848,894.00 |
| 2024 | Libmanan | Tinalmud Nuevo | Motorized boat (22 footer) in Support to Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Punto Asul Fisherfolk Organization | 30 | 868,000.00 |
| 2024 | Sagñay | Nato | Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Sikap Parapangke Association | 50 | 1,232,885.00 |
| 2024 | San Fernando | Cotmo | Motorized boat (22 footer) in Support to Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | San Fernando Coastal Fisherfolk Association | 28 | 868,000.00 |
| 2024 | Siruma | Pinitan | Fishing Gear (Crab Entangling Net and Crab/Squid Pot) in Support to Seaweed Culture | Samahan Ng Mga Mangigisda Ng Pinitan (smp), Inc | 30 | 808,404.00 |
| 2024 | Tigaon | San Antonio | Tilapia Culture in Pond | Tigaon Inland Fisherfolk Association | 33 | 848,894.00 |
| 2025 | Bombon | San Jose (Pob.) | Catfish Culture in Pond | Bombon Fishpond Operators Association | 45 | 1,272,050.00 |
| 2025 | Buhi | Santa Isabel | Tilapia Culture in 1900 sqm Modified Cage in Support to Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Buhi Indigenous Peoples Farmers Fisherfolk Agriculture Cooperative | 19 | 1,861,380.00 |
| 2025 | Cabusao | Pandan | Non-motorized boat (30 footer) in Support to Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Samahang Mangingisda Ng Pandan | 42 | 1,499,500.00 |
| 2025 | Camaligan | Tarosanan | Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Team Camaligan Hanapbuhay Association | 19 | 500,605.00 |
| 2025 | Gainza | Cagbunga | Fishing Gear (Freshwater Gillnet) | Cagbunga Fisherfolk Association | 21 | 302,200.00 |
| 2025 | Garchitorena | Mansangat | Motorized boat (22 footer) in Support to Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Mansangat Farmers And Fishermen Association | 20 | 324,000.00 |
| 2025 | Goa | Gimaga | Tilapia Culture in Pond | Goa Fisherfolks And Farmers Association | 63 | 1,813,380.00 |
| 2025 | Libmanan | Tinalmud Nuevo | Motorized boat (22 footer) in Support to Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | Punto Azul Fisherfolk Organization | 30 | 1,435,080.00 |
| 2025 | Sagñay | Nato | Milkfish Culture in Pond | Sikap Parapangke Association | 46 | 1,654,550.00 |
| 2025 | San Fernando | Pinamasagan | Motorized boat (22 footer) in Support to Fishing Gear and Paraphernalia | San Fernando Fisherfolk Association | 29 | 1,227,408.00 |
| 2025 | Siruma | Pinitan | Seaweed Culture | Samahan Ng Mangingisda Ng Pinitan Inc. | 34 | 210,000.00 |
| 2025 | Tigaon | San Antonio | Tilapia Culture in Pond | Tigaon Inland Fisherfolk Association | 42 | 1,644,130.00 |