Pahinga · Hinga · Dahan-dahan
BAMBI'S PLACE
Hub Site Evaluation Checklist
Assessing candidate sites for the Nana Bambi's commercial hub
Use this checklist for every site you look at. Fill it in on the spot. Do not rely on memory. A site that looks perfect on a drive-past can fail three of these criteria on closer inspection. |
The hub site is the most important decision of Year 1. Requirements: Road-facing on or near the Andaya Highway between Ragay and GRS. Enough space for containers, cold chain, market, and delivery dispatch. Low flood risk. Clean title. Accessible lease at a viable price. Do not settle. Do not rush. But do not let Month 4 pass without a decision. |
Site Details — Fill In On Inspection |
Field | Notes |
Site address / barangay | |
Owner name | |
Contact (owner or agent) | |
Date inspected | |
Inspected by | |
GPS coordinates | |
Asking lease price (per month) | |
Asking purchase price (if applicable) | |
Lease term available |
Section 1 — Location & Access |
✓ | Location & Access | |
☐ | Andaya Highway frontage | Does the site have direct road frontage on the Andaya Highway? Or within 200m with clear access road? |
☐ | Road condition | Is the access road sealed and passable year-round — including wet season? Can a loaded delivery truck access it? |
☐ | Visibility | Is the site visible from passing traffic? Can signage be seen from 100m in each direction? |
☐ | Distance from Ragay town | How far from Ragay poblacion? Under 5km is ideal. Note the actual distance. |
☐ | Distance from GRS | How far from General Reyes Santos? This is the other end of the delivery corridor. |
☐ | Parking / turning space | Is there space for vehicles to pull in, turn around, and load/unload without blocking the highway? |
☐ | Electricity connection | Is there an existing CASURECO power connection on the site or immediately adjacent? |
☐ | Water supply | Existing supply (well, municipal) or would this need to be established? Note source and reliability. |
Section 2 — Site Size & Suitability |
✓ | Size & Suitability | |
☐ | Total area | Measure or estimate the total usable area in square metres. Minimum viable: 500 sqm. Ideal: 1,000+ sqm. |
☐ | Level ground | Is the ground reasonably flat, or does it require significant earthworks? Estimate cost if levelling needed. |
☐ | Container placement | Can at least 3 x 40ft containers be placed in a U-shape configuration with working space in front? |
☐ | Cold chain space | Is there room for a reefer container separate from or adjacent to the main structure? |
☐ | Market/retail frontage | Is there a natural front-of-house area for a market stall, covered display, or retail counter? |
☐ | Delivery staging area | Is there a shaded area where delivery crates can be staged and sorted before dispatch? |
☐ | Future expansion | Is there room to grow — second wing, upper level, additional containers — without hitting a boundary? |
☐ | Drainage | Does water drain away from the site or does it pool? Check during or after rain if possible. |
Section 3 — Flood & Natural Hazard Risk |
Bicol is one of the most typhoon-affected regions in the Philippines. Flood risk at the hub site is a critical assessment — not a box-ticking exercise. A flooded hub site can destroy inventory, equipment, and cold chain in a single event. |
✓ | Flood & Hazard Risk | |
☐ | Flood history | Ask locals and the barangay captain: has this site flooded in the past 10 years? If yes — how often and how deep? |
☐ | Proximity to river or creek | Is there a waterway within 300m? Note name and approximate distance. Check flood inundation maps. |
☐ | Elevation above road | Is the site elevated above the road level (good) or below it (risk of road runoff entering the site)? |
☐ | PHIVOLCS hazard check | Check the Mines and Geosciences Bureau / PHIVOLCS hazard maps for liquefaction and landslide risk at this location. |
☐ | Typhoon exposure | Is the site in an open area exposed to prevailing typhoon winds, or does it have natural windbreaks — hills, tree lines, existing structures? |
☐ | Storm surge risk | Is the site within 2km of the coast or a tidal river? If yes, storm surge risk must be assessed before proceeding. |
Section 4 — Legal & Title |
Do not sign anything, pay anything, or begin any work on a site until the title has been reviewed by a lawyer. Title disputes are common and can be catastrophic. |
✓ | Legal & Title | |
☐ | Title type | Is this a Torrens title (clean registered title) or an untitled lot? Torrens title is strongly preferred. |
☐ | Owner confirmed | Has the owner's identity been verified against the title document? Is the person you are talking to actually the registered owner? |
☐ | No encumbrances | Are there mortgages, liens, or court orders registered against the title? Ask the owner and verify with the Register of Deeds. |
☐ | No boundary disputes | Are the boundaries clear and undisputed by neighbouring landowners? |
☐ | Zoning classification | Is the land classified for commercial or mixed use? Agricultural land may require conversion before commercial use — note and confirm. |
☐ | CARP coverage | Is the land covered by Comprehensive Agrarian Reform? If so, conversion and transfer restrictions apply. |
☐ | Lease terms acceptable | Is the owner willing to offer a lease of at least 5 years with renewal option? Shorter terms are a risk for infrastructure investment. |
☐ | Lawyer review | Has the title been reviewed by a Philippine lawyer before any commitment is made? |
Section 5 — Community & Context |
✓ | Community & Context | |
☐ | Barangay relationship | Is the local barangay captain aware of and supportive of the intended use? Early community buy-in reduces future friction. |
☐ | Neighbouring uses | What are the adjacent land uses — residential, agricultural, commercial? Any uses that could conflict (piggery smell, noise)? |
☐ | Labour availability | Are there people in the immediate barangay who could work at the hub? Proximity to workforce matters. |
☐ | Competitor proximity | Are there existing feeds stores, market operations, or similar businesses within 2km? Note and assess the competitive landscape. |
☐ | Farmer catchment | How many active farming households are within a 10km radius? This is the feeds customer base. |
Section 6 — Scoring Summary |
After completing each section, score the site against the criteria below. A site must score at least 70 points to proceed to legal review.
Category | Max Points | Your Score | Notes |
Location & Access | Highway frontage, visibility, utilities | ||
Site Size & Suitability | Space, drainage, layout potential | ||
Flood & Hazard Risk | Most critical category — double weight | ||
Legal & Title | Clean title, acceptable terms | ||
Community & Context | Barangay support, farmer catchment | ||
TOTAL | 70+ required to proceed to lawyer review |
Decision | Score Range | Action |
✓ Proceed | 85–100 | Take to lawyer immediately. Make offer on lease terms. Do not delay. |
✓ Proceed with conditions | 70–84 | Proceed to legal review but note the weak areas. Negotiate lease terms to address risks. |
⚠ Borderline | 55–69 | Do not proceed unless no better option exists. Document the risks clearly before committing. |
✗ Reject | Below 55 | Move on. Do not let momentum or cost-of-search pressure you into a poor site decision. |
Live with the land, not on it. · Makiisa sa kalikasan.
Nana Bambi's · Ragay, Camarines Sur, Bicol · March 2026