DONSOL PROFILE

Donsol is a coastal town located at the northwestern part of the Province of Sorsogon. It is bounded to the North by the Municipality of Jovellar, Albay; on the northwestern part, by the Municipality of Pio Duran, Albay; on the southern part, by the Burias Pass; and, on the eastern part, by the Municipality of Pilar. It is 68 kilometers from the capital town of Sorsogon and 51 kilometers from the City of Legazpi. It is composed of 51 barangays, 11 of which are located in the coastal areas of the municipality. Donsol is accessible from Manila by land through national roads and travel time is approximately 13 hours, or by air via the Legazpi City Domestic Airport on a 90 minute flight. Vans ply the route Legazpi City-Donsol and vice versa. Other modes of transport are buses and jeepneys. Transport within the municipality is mainly provided by jeepneys and tricycles.

The census on population conducted by the National Statistics Office in 2000 shows that Donsol has a population of 39, 995. Of which forty-six percent (46%) lives in the coastal areas. Donsol's population is increasing at a relatively high annual rate of 3.23%. This is higher than the national average of 2.36%.

Donsol is a 4th class municipality (NSCB Municipal Income Classification, 2004). The people generally depend on farming, livestock production and fishing for their income and livelihood. Of these sources of income and livelihood, capture fisheries dominates with an estimated annual contribution of Php 54 million and employing around 3,000 fishers. Other sources of income include cottage industries, food processing, trading and marketing, construction, and transportation. Moreover, the booming whale shark ecotourism, although seasonal in nature, has significantly provided income and employment opportunities in the area.

There are no landline telecommunications and internet services in Donsol. Mobile telecommunications services are mainly provided by two major telecommunications companies. Water and power supplies are mainly provided by the Donsol Water District and Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative, respectively. A number of grocery stores and drug stores catering to the needs of Donsolanons and visitors sprout in the town proper. As for the accommodation services, there are two (2) resorts, four (4) home stays and one (1) lodging house operating in Donsol. Only local restaurants and food establishments provide food and catering services. No fast food chain operates in the municipality.