FAST FACTS

Large towns: Ragay (pop: 52,021) and Sipocot (57,861) in the first district, the bailiwick of the Andayas.

Biggest population: Libmanan (92, 839) in the second district serves as a bellwether town. People say that whoever wins in the gubernatorial race there takes the provincial seat. The second district is the newfound turf of Rep. Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria “Dato” Arroyo, son of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Capital: Pili (76, 496) in the third district, the long-time turf of the Villafuertes, who also have Calabanga (73,333) as a bailiwick.

Fourth (Partido) District has been held, politically, by the Fuentebellas and has some of the largest towns in terms of land area and population, including Tinambac (59,125), Goa (54,035), Lagonoy (46, 093) and Tigaon (45, 509). Caramoan (40, 810)—home to world-famous beaches—belongs to this district.

Fifth (Rinconada) District—the “Alfelor country”—has Iriga (97,983), a component city and the large towns of Nabua (75,422), Buhi (70, 756), Baao (52,466) and Bula (62, 024).

For years, the provincial government has found it difficult to look into the concerns of the 14 largest political subdivisions while being careful not to neglect the 21 other smaller—and poorer—towns, including Cabusao (17,599), Garchitorena (24, 825), Siruma (17,035), and Balatan (25, 982).

Nueva Camarines

Fourth district: Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Presentacion, San Jose, Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, Tigaon, Sagñay.

Fifth district: Baao, Balatan, Bato, Bula, Buhi, Nabua, Iriga City.