Province of Camarines Sur
Provincial Profile
Discover the rich history, geography, and demographics of our beloved province.
Table of Contents
548k+
Total Hectares
Land Area
Luis Raymund
“LRay” Villafuerte Jr.
Executive Profile
The Governor
Governor Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. is a dynamic executive leader and economic strategist who has spent decades steering Camarines Sur toward progress. Under his visionary guidance, the province transitioned from a traditionally agrarian community into a globally recognized epicenter for international tourism, ecological sustainability, and high-tech manufacturing.
He formally assumed office for his fourth non-consecutive term as Governor on June 30, 2025, launching a comprehensive modernization roadmap designed to absorb local technological human capital, prevent regional brain drain, and establish structural economic resilience.
Prior to returning to the local executive seat, his leadership spanned national policy as a multi-term Representative of the 2nd Congressional District (2016–2025) and as Deputy Speaker of the 18th Congress, advocating for fiscal decentralization, economic recovery, and infrastructure modernization.
De La Salle University
1990Bachelor of Arts in Political Science — Department Gold Medalist, highest GPA in his graduating class, and "Best Thesis" awardee for his extensive research on local autonomy.
Stanford Graduate School of Business
2003Completed advanced Executive Business Education, focusing on management, strategic leadership, and administrative innovation.
Institute for International Studies & Training (IIST)
2006Attended specialized executive leadership coursework in Japan, focusing on international economic cooperation and governance.
Key accomplishments during his initial three terms as Governor (2004–2013) that transformed the province:
Tourism Revolution
Established the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) and branded the Caramoan Archipelago globally.
Guinness World Records
Mobilized the El Verde Movement for mass re-afforestation, securing two Guinness World Records for tree planting.
Digital Foundations
Founded the CamSur Information Technology Park and the CamSur Animation Studio to build regional tech jobs.
Local Empowerment
Pioneered modern decentralization strategies, pushing decision-making power down to local municipalities.
Key metrics and developments spearheaded during his current administrative term (2025–2026):
87% Governance Index
Achieved 86% Trust and 88% Performance in the RPMD nationwide Boses ng Bayan survey.
Chromebook Plant
Secured a 5,000 sq. m. assembly facility at CamSur Uptown Global City with Allied Corp Asia Pacific.
₱86M+ Scholarships
Expanded tertiary financial aid, supporting over 8,600 local students provincial-wide.
Geographic Data
Location & Districts
Camarines Sur occupies the central part of the Bicol Peninsula in southeastern Luzon. The province spans from 13°15′ N to 14°10′ N Latitude and 122°40′ E to 124°10′ E Longitude, with its geometric centroid located at approximately 13°40′ N, 123°20′ E.
Border & Boundaries
It is bounded on the north by the province of Quezon, Camarines Norte, San Miguel Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. To the south lies Albay, to the east is the Lagonoy Gulf, and to the west is the Ragay Gulf.
Reapportioned under Republic Act No. 9716 (upheld in Aquino III v. COMELEC), the province is divided into five legislative districts:
District 1: Northwestern Coastal & Agro-Forestry
5 LGUsCabusao, Del Gallego, Lupi, Ragay, Sipocot
Hub: Sipocot. Gateway to Quezon; relies on agricultural crop farming (palay, coconut, corn) and Ragay Gulf fisheries.
District 2: Central Basin & Maritime Logistics
7 LGUsGainza, Libmanan, Milaor, Minalabac, Pamplona, Pasacao, San Fernando
Hub: Libmanan & Pasacao. Extensive lowland rice farming in Bicol River Basin; main provincial seaport is located at Pasacao.
District 3: Metropolitan Core & Capital
8 LGUsNaga City, Pili, Bombon, Calabanga, Camaligan, Canaman, Magarao, Ocampo
Hub: Naga City & Pili. Regional center for BPO-IT, retail commerce, regional administrative services, and agro-industries.
District 4: Partido Eco-Tourism Peninsula
10 LGUsCaramoan, Garchitorena, Goa, Lagonoy, Presentacion, Sagñay, San Jose, Siruma, Tigaon, Tinambac
Hub: Goa & Caramoan. Pacific peninsula driven by abaca processing, deep-sea fisheries, and eco-tourism (Caramoan Islands).
District 5: Rinconada Lake & Volcanic Basin
7 LGUsIriga City, Baao, Balatan, Bato, Buhi, Bula, Nabua
Hub: Iriga City & Nabua. Contiguous freshwater basin driven by inland lake aquaculture (Lake Buhi/Sinarapan, Lake Bato).
The proposed Interactive Spatial-Environmental Engine (ISEE) converts static maps into a real-time public spatial-environmental monitoring resource:
Hydro-Climatic Flood Monitor
Integrates live stream telemetry from Bicol River Basin and lakes Buhi/Bato/Baao to project flood footprints and warn catchment zones.
Coastal Vulnerability Layer
Tracks offshore tides, marine wind velocities, storm surge heights, and coastal erosion models along the Pacific and Gulf coastlines.
Agro-Economic & Evacuation Tracker
Maps agricultural soil salinity, cooperatives, and live operational capacities of the province's 301 permanent evacuation shelters.
Provincial Map
Quick Facts
Topography
Camarines Sur is hilly and mountainous with a flat central area known as the Bikol plain. It is generally flat at the midsection, between mountain ranges, with other small coastal plains on the northeastern coast. These areas are circumscribed by rolling hills. The ravines are deep, while steep slopes are covered only by cogon. Mangroves and nipa swamps form along both coasts of the province.
The Caramoan peninsula is rough and mountainous with an elevation as high as 904 meters above sea level. The Ragay coast, meanwhile, is hilly and rolling. The province has two inactive volcanoes in its central and southern part, namely Mt. Isarog, with an elevation of 1, 976 meters, and Mt. Iriga, with an elevation of 1, 196 meters.
Two mountain ranges also envelope the province. The Tangkong Baka mountain range, which is the lower portion of the Sierra Madre mountain system, and the Calinigan Mountain Range (904 meters), which is located in the Partido area. Other mountains in the province are Mt. Sugutin (366 meters), Mt. Tiis (610 meters), Saddle Peak (1,028 meters), Triple Peak (638 meters), Mt. Putianay (640 meters), Mt. Elizario (508 meters), and Mt. Talitig (385 meters).
Slope & Elevation
Ranges from flat coastal plains to rugged mountainous terrain. Major peaks include Mt. Isarog (1,966m) and Mt. Iriga (1,196m).
Climate Type
Belongs to Type II Climate (no dry season with very pronounced maximum rain period) and Type IV Climate (rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year).
Natural Hazards
Susceptible to typhoons, flooding in low-lying areas (Bicol River Basin), and landslides in steep mountainous regions.
Hydrography
The water resources of Camarines Sur, encompassing both surface and groundwater systems, are extraordinarily abundant. They serve as the lifeblood of the province, sustaining extensive agricultural irrigation, domestic water supplies, thriving inland fisheries, and offering tremendous potential for hydroelectric energy development.
The province's inland waters form an intricate hydrological network of rivers, streams, and creeks that serve as natural drainage channels. Foremost among them is the Bicol River, the longest and most prominent river in the Bicol Region with an approximate length of 95 kilometers. Emanating from the outlet of Lake Bato, it meanders across the fertile plains and empties into San Miguel Bay. Its extensive tributaries form the vital Bicol River Basin, which spans over 312,000 hectares of fertile agricultural lands and 185,000 hectares of critical watershed reserves.
Camarines Sur is also distinguished by its three major freshwater lakes with a combined surface area of approximately 5,482 hectares: Lake Buhi, internationally celebrated as the natural habitat of the Sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis), the world's smallest commercially harvested fish; Lake Bato, a vital freshwater fishery and tributary source; and Lake Baao, a crucial natural catchment and wetland basin. In addition, the province is bounded by three major marine waters—San Miguel Bay, Ragay Gulf, and Lagonoy Gulf—supporting rich marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.
Bicol River Basin
The region's primary 95-km arterial drainage system, supporting 312,000 hectares of fertile alluvial plains and 185,000 hectares of watershed reserve.
Freshwater Lakes
Comprises 5,482 hectares across Lake Buhi (sanctuary of the Sinarapan, world's smallest commercial fish), Lake Bato, and Lake Baao.
Coastal Waters & Gulfs
Bounded by San Miguel Bay, Ragay Gulf, and Lagonoy Gulf with expansive fishing grounds, mangrove wetlands, and coral reefs.
Soil
Soil texture ranges from clayey to gravelly. The Bicol plain consists of loam, clay loam, and deposits with silt materials along the banks of the Bicol River. Generally, the surface is moderately dense and compact. The plains and valleys of Camarines Sur are covered by secondary soils, while its hills and mountains are covered by primary soils. The soils of the province are divided into 3 general groups, namely:
A
Soils of plains and valleys
B
Soils of hills and mountains
C
Miscellaneous land types
Land Use
It is the largest among the six provinces of the Bicol Region, with a land area of 526,682 hectares. This is 29.87% of the total area of the Bicol Region and 1.75% of the total area of the Philippines.
Agricultural Areas
Areas devoted to agriculture, such as irrigated and rain-fed lands, crops, and fruit trees.
Grassland & Shrubland
Consists of grasses, shrubs, and pasture lands.
Forest Land
Includes primary and secondary forest lands and kaingin areas.
Wet Land Areas
Consists of mangrove, marshland, and fishponds.
Miscellaneous
Residential, commercial, built-up uses, rivers, lakes, beaches, rocks, volcanic ash.
Land Area
The existing land use of the province may be classified into 5 main categories. Each plays a vital role in our ecosystem and economy.
Key Observation
The existing land use of Camarines Sur is still predominantly agricultural. The next biggest land use in terms of land area is grassland and shrubland.
- Agricultural Areas
- Grassland/Shrubland
- Forest Land
- Wet Land Areas
- Miscellaneous
Provincial Government of Camarines Sur
