4.

1 Study Area

Since the study aims to create a facility that will

cater a government office that provides quality health

care services on a specific target users and

beneficiaries, thus the researcher sought to make an

analysis and extensive study of the profile of the target

person of the scope of implementation.

Since the scope of the study tends to focus on an

institution, the DOH-CHD IV-B, that will serve the whole

region, MIMAROPA, the researcher focuses his study in

this range and level of scope, regional.

This type of study area presentation aims not only

to analyze the number, descriptions and needs of each

group of the intended users and beneficiaries, but also

to have a macro to micro analysis of the people, offices

and scopes / area of study involved for the better

implementation of the project.

4.2 MIMAROPA Profile

Since one of the goal of the study is to create a

facility that will cater the DOH-CHD IV-B that will serve

Page | 92
the entire region, the research first describe MIMAROPA,

the office study area.

Figure 4.1. MIMAROPA Political Map

4.2.1 Historical Background

Provinces of MIMAROPA was then part of Region IV -

known as Southern Tagalog Region, the largest and

considered as prime region in the country due to its

size and population. However, to accelerate the social

economic development of the provinces and the

cities comprising Region IV and improve the delivery of

Page | 93
the public services and to promote efficiency in the

government, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued

Executive Order 103 (EO103) on May 17, 2002 which

subdivided the Southern Tagalog provinces which were

included in Region IV into two regions — Regions IV-A and

IV. Region IV-A is now known as CALABARZON (which stands

for the provinces of Cavite, LAguna, BAtangas, Rizal and

QueZON). Region IV-B is known as MIMAROPA, standing for

the island provinces belonging to the region — MIndoro

(Oriental and Occidental), Marinduque, ROmblon and

PAlawan. E.O. 103 also transferred the province of Aurora

to Region III in Central Luzon.

After that, Former President Gloria Macapagal-

Arroyo has signed Executive Order 429,

moving Palawan to Region VI on May 23, 2005. After this,

Region IV-B began to be called MIMARO instead of

MIMAROPA. However, people of Palawan criticized the move,

citing a lack of consultation, with most residents in

Puerto Princesa City and nearly all municipalities

preferring to stay with Region IV-B. Consequently,

Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on August 19,

2005 to address this backlash. This order directed the

Page | 94
abeyance of Executive Order 429 pending the approval of

an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of

Palawan from MIMAROPA to Region VI. This makes the

Palawan retained as a part of MIMAROPA region.

The 2010 Philippine Census of Population continued to

report the Region IV name as 'Mimaropa' and continued to

list the province of Palawan as part of that region. As

of 2012, it is not clear whether or not the transfer of

Palawan to region VI is still considered pending by the

Philippine government. As of 2012, the National

Statistical Coordinating Board of the Philippines

continues to list Palawan province as part of the

MIMAROPA region.

4.2.2 Physical Characteristics

MIMAROPA region lies along the southern portion of

Luzon. It is archipelagic, composed of 1,984 islands,

bounded in the north by CaLaBarZon and the Verde Island;

in the southeast by Bicol region and the Pacific Ocean;

in the south lies Panay Islands.

Page | 95
 Extending southwestward into the Sulu Sea is the

Province of Palawan, and on the west of the region is the

South China Sea.

MIMAROPA has a total land area of 2,745,720

hectares, with an arable land area of 550,302 hectares

irrigated areas. Palawan is the biggest with Marinduque

as smallest island province.

MIMAROPA is probably the most biologically

significant region in the country in terms of richness in

both terrestrial and marine species diversity. Located in

the Region are nineteen (18) National Integrated

Protected Areas System (NIPAS) sites occupying a total

land area of 1,614,578.63 hectares.

MIMAROPA boasts of a long coastline totaling 6,428

kilometers which is 17.7% of the country‘s total

coastline of 36,289 km. It is made up of 1,984 islands,

consisting twelve (12) main islands, namely: Marinduque,

Mindoro & Lubang, Romblon, Tablas & Sibuyan, Palawan,

Dumaran, Coron, Culion, Balabac & Linapacan, It is one

of two (2) Regions sharing no land border with another

Region, the other one being Region VIII (Eastern

Page | 96
Visayas). The entire MIMAROPA area is also part of the

Coral Triangle Initiative (Philippines, Indonesia and

Malaysia)

MIMAROPA is also rich in mineral resources.

Important metallic minerals that can be found include

copper, gold, silver, iron, lead, zinc, molybdenum,

pyrite, manganese, nickel, chromite, cobalt, mercury and

chromium. Non-metallic are: coal, asbestos, guano and

phosphates, red and white clay, marble, barite, jade and

silica.

4.2.3 Demography

4.2.3.a ) Regional Demographic Profile

Table 4.1. MIMAROPA Regional Demographic Profile

Despite of its total land area, the region displays

the smallest number of population as compared to its

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neighboring regions. With a total number of 2,731,928

population (2010 Census) distributed on five island

provinces, most of the MIMAROPAns are living on rural

areas, counted as 2,132,056 (2010 Census), much larger

than those living on urban communities with a total

number of 612,615 (2010 Census), since all of the

provinces in the region are agricultural-based. For the

past years, the region displays a rapid increase on

population displaying a population growth rate of 2.20%,

projecting that the population will boost in a total

number of 3,416,900 on year 2015. Considering the total

area of the region, it displays a population density of

93 persons per square kilometers (Regional Statistics

Profile, July 2014).

Page | 98
4.2.3.b ) Provincial Demographic Profiles

a) Oriental Mindoro

Table 4.2. Oriental Mindoro Demographic Profiles

Page | 99
b) Occidental Mindoro

Table 4.3. Occidental Mindoro Demographic Profiles

Page | 100
c) Marinduque

Table 4.4. Marinduque Demographic Profiles

Page | 101
d) Romblon

Table 4.5. Romblon Demographic Profiles

Page | 102
 e) Palawan

Table 4.6. Palawan Demographic Profiles

4.2.4 Vital statistics and Health Profile

Given its population, the region registers a total

number of 48,505 registered births and 12, 530 registered

deaths as of 2010. In line with this, unfortunately, the

region also displays a high number of infant deaths

counted as 609 incidences, 30.8 crude birth rate (per

1,000 population), 5.6 crude death rate (per 1,000

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population), and 25.3 crude rate of natural increase (per

1,000 population).1 (2000 Census-Based Regional Population

Projections)

As to provide health services all over the region,

there are 33 public and 27 hospitals in the region,

including two (2) DOH retained hospitals both found in

Palawan, displaying a bed to population ratio of 1:1,375,

near enough to the ideal ratio of 1:1000 hospital bed to

population ratio. Also there are 77 rural health units,

displaying a RHU to population ratio of 1:38,200, and 788

barangay health stations, displaying a BHS to population

ratio of 1:3.733, far from the ideal of 1:20,000 MHU/RHU

to population ratio and 1:2,000 BHS to population ratio.

The current statistics regarding mortality rate is still

alarming since it displays a greater value as compared to

the national vital statistics of the country.

1
Region IV-B MIMAROPA Quickstat, as of July 2014

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 4.2.4.a ) Regional Vital Statistics

Table 4.7. MIMAROPA Regional Vital Statistics

4.2.4.b ) Regional Vital Incidences

Health Crude Crude Death Infant Maternal

Indicator Birth Rate Rate Mortality Mortality
Marinduque 17 4.98 19.21 176.68
Occ. Mindoro 21 3.52 8.36 77.81
Or. Mindoro 20 3.13 6.46 61.81
Palawan 17.54 2.64 11.07 189.32
Romblon 17.32 5.23 18.13 70.42
Calapan City 18.19 4.62 20.13 -
PTO. Princesa
19.82 5.23 14.41 94.50
City
Regional 18.85 4.62 14.40 106.43
National 21.2 4.3 9.3 62
Table 4.8. MIMAROPA Regional Vital Incidences

Page | 105
4.2.4.b Provincial Vital Statistics

1. Oriental Mindoro

Table 4.9. Oriental Mindoro Vital Statistics

2. Occidental Mindoro

Table 4.10. Occidental Mindoro Vital Statistics

Page | 106
3. Marinduque

Table 4.11. Marinduque Vital Statistics

4. Romblon

Table 4.12. Romblon Vital Statistics

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 5. Palawan

Table 4.13. Palawan Vital Statistics

The current DOH-CHD IV-B is located at Proj.4,

Quezon City, which is 187 km away from MIMAROPA (Calapan

City). Also there are DOH field extension offices on each

provinces comprising the region, and two DOH retained

hospitals, the Ospital ng Palawan (ONP) and Culion

General Hospital.

4.2.5 Transportation

MIMAROPA recognizes the transportation sector as a

critical component to the overall development of the

region. Opportunities are ripe for the region to be at

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the forefront of capital projects for its inter-modal

transport system.

Over the years, MIMAROPA benefited from several key

infrastructure projects. The Strong Republic Nautical

Highway (SRNH) and the development of Busuanga and Puerto

Princesa City Airports are notable projects that have

provided socio-economic growth opportunities to its

respective areas. However, much is needed to connect

MIMAROPA‘s most fragmented island economies, which rank

amongst the poorest in the Philippines. Yet there is

still a gap to fulfill for the region to have an

efficient transport system connecting each island on the

region and to other parts of the country.

Travelling in MIMAROPA is often difficult,

exhausting, fragmented and multi-modal. A journey

throughout the region requires a combination of air, sea

and land-based transportation. Intermodal transport

systems and its connections to the hinterlands play a

crucial role in development; they provide a lifeline

access for remote areas and narrow the dependency on

living subsistent lifestyles. Calapan City, in Oriental

Mindoro, is designated as the Regional Government Center,

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by virtue of Executive Order No. 682. As new center of

regional governance, there are immediate issues of

accessibility that need addressing.

4.2.5.A Sea-based Transportation

MIMAROPA is one of the two regions that are no land

borders, meaning within its jurisdiction are all bounded

by bodies of waters. Sea-based transportation is

MIMAROPA‘s primary mode of inter-island transport.

MIMAROPA‘s sea-based assets include 23 primary and

secondary ports, which are under the management of the

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). Other feeder ports are

under the purview of the Department of Transportation and

Communication (DOTC), local government units (LGUs) and

private sector (mining and gas industries)

These seaports running on the region, and conducting

their daily trips and operations of RoRo vessels and

ferries going to another part or island on region as well

to the neighboring regions. Also there are existing trips

of water taxis and motorized bancas all over the region,

are used for inter-island and inter-municipality

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transportation. Most of the islands are only accessible

by this type of transportation.2

MIMAROPA‘s sea transport network carries inter-

island bound passengers and goods across its seas,

connecting its many neighboring regions and provinces.

Along with the national road network, it forms the

backbone for interconnecting MIMAROPA to its provinces

and neighboring regions.

Figure 4.2. Total passengers carried in MIMAROPA‘s Ports

2
Seaport Assessment, MITDP

Page | 111
 MIMAROPA‘s sea transport network is weak in

responding to connectivity issues, with no organized

system that fully integrates the island provinces.

Traditionally, the region has relied on the efforts of

the private sector to deliver transport services.

However, operators thrive in the high-risk environment

through the trial and error of routes, some with non-

regular schedules, or special trips. Further, it operates

within poorly developed infrastructure assets that are

poorly constructed, situated, and designed.

4.2.5.B Road network

MIMAROPA‘s roads are used as the primary means of

accessing markets, employment, health services and

education facilities. It has a national road network

length of 2,260 kilometers. Paved roads include concrete

and asphalt: these accounts for 55% and 8% of the total

network, constituting a total of 1232.7 kilometers of

paved road with concrete and 182.59 kilometers of paved

road with asphalt. 38% of national roads are still

unsurfaced (a total of 841.15 kilometers of national road

with gravel and 3.7 kilometers with earth).

Page | 112
 MIMAROPA has an average national road density that

is the lowest among regions in the Philippines. Among its

provinces, Marinduque has a national road density 0.74 km

higher than the national average, by virtue of its

compact size. Conversely, Palawan, the largest province,

has a road density of 0.20 kilometers per square

kilometer.

Most provinces in the region have circumferential

national roads encompassing its municipalities/cities,

have not 100% paved. In Mindoro, The completion of the

circumferential national road connecting the provinces of

Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro in the North

(Abra de Ilog to Puerto Galera) is one of the most

critical infrastructure deficiencies that demand

immediate action. Sections of the national highway along

Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro have the worst road

conditions. During inclement weather, Sablayan is cut off

from the north (Santa Cruz to Abra de Ilog) and the south

(San Jose to Magsaysay). Rehabilitation and road

construction in the area is currently underway. Most of

the national roads in Oriental Mindoro are paved, since

they have rehabilitated prior to the accommodation of the

Page | 113
Strong Republic Nautical Highways program, traversing

Calapan City to Roxas. 93% of 148 kilometers, the total

national road length of Oriental Mindoro are paved, while

only 46% of 419 kilometers, total national road length of

Occidental Mindoro are paved.

Meanwhile, Romblon land transportation improvements

deserve priority status, as the province is amongst the

poorest and most distanced of all provinces the

Philippines. The circumferential roads of the three main

islands of Romblon are not closed and many parts are

still unpaved. The quality of Romblon‘s national roads is

variable depending on the island and section. In the

general sense, the national road in Tablas is moderately

developed, Romblon is well developed and Sibuyan is

mostly undeveloped (unsurfaced). A key project of

Romblon‘s infrastructure improvements package is the

expediting of road surfacing projects for circumference

routes in Sibuyan (approximately 70% unpaved) and Tablas

(approximately 30% unpaved). Sibuyan Island‘s

Circumferential Road is largely unsurfaced, restricting

the flow of traffic to the island‘s interconnecting

ports. Without a solid backbone for these distant island

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economies, residents will remain isolated from major

centers of activity and opportunity. Only 33% of the

province‘s 307 kilometer circumferential national road is

paved, which is the lowest in the region.

In Palawan, considering its land area, which is the

largest among the provinces in the country, 44% of 307

total national road networks are paved. The Projects

involve the construction of an estimated 18km access road

leading to the newly build Port in Taytay and the

completion of road works from Taytay to El Nido in

Northern Palawan. The surfacing of Palawan‘s national

road between Taytay and El Nido is currently underway.

Its completion would support the operations of Taytay

Port, which would provide new travel options for tourists

heading to-and-from Puerto Princesa and El Nido. The

improved roads can also be used to move agricultural

produce from Occidental Mindoro via Taytay‘s port and

reduce travel times to hotels and resorts in Northern

Mainland Palawan. The Bataraza to Rizal Cross Country

Road is currently under construction. The municipality of

Quezon has expressed interest in developing the road

network to open up the Tabon Caves complex to tourists.

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Doing so would allow tourists to visit to the caves as an

alternative to the Puerto Princesa Underground River,

which has limited daily placements. The surfacing of

Palawan‘s national road sections between Quezon and Rizal

is required. The national road in Busuanga is rough,

posing a barrier to a ‗trickle-down-effect‘ of tourists

that could visit from neighboring Coron.

Among others, Marinduque displays a 100% paved

circumferential national road, with a total road length

of 198 kilometers. As it is said before that Marinduque

is the only province in the region that has national road

density that has higher than the national average.

MIMAROPA has an extensive set of bridges. Of the

total 20,543 meters of bridges along the region‘s

national road network, 80.82% are permanent structures

made of concrete and steel. The others are temporary

structures made of bailey and timber. Palawan features

the most temporary bridges.

When the circumferential road is completed, linking

the island‘s transportation hubs would be easier,

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encouraging domestic trade and providing access to

mobility for people and goods.

4.2.5.C Air-based transportation

Air traffic is mainly attributable to tourism,

industry and business. MIMAROPA has eleven airports with

five producing regular commercial flights. Other airports

are classified as community airports. Upgrades are being

systematically implemented, as the introduction of

competitive budget carriers drives down the cost of

flying, making it a more viable option for the public.

Airports open up MIMAROPA to the rest of the nation

and the world. The aviation market is central to the

economy and prosperity of some of its well-established

centers of tourism, providing fast connections of

international standard to connector airports in Manila

and Cebu City. It also serves an increasingly important

fright and commuter task, as budget carriers drive down

the costs of air travel. MIMAROPA‘s portfolio of airports

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under the management of Civil Aviation Authority of the

Philippines (CAAP) and the DOTC include3:

a. Operational airports:

Puerto Princesa Airport, Palawan (International)

Busuanga Airport, Palawan (1st class domestic)

San Jose Airport, Occidental Mindoro (1st class

domestic)

Gasan Airport (Marinduque)

Tablas Airport (Romblon)

b. Inoperational airports:

Pinamalayan Airport (Oriental Mindoro)

Mamburao Airport (Occidental Mindoro)

Calapan City Airport (Oriental Mindoro)

3
Airport Assessment, MITDP

Page | 118
 Table 4.14. Travel Distance from Calapan City

The table above shows the RGC‘s capacity to

coordinate its provincial counterparts is marred by the

lengthy travel times, distances, excessive modal

interchanges and subsequently, cost. This has severe

implications for the government effectiveness of MIMAROPA

and for the unity of a region that is currently divided.

The provision of a broader network of options for inter-

island connectivity satisfies the requirements of an

effective RGC. This is of primary concern to NEDA IV-B,

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along with other established regional agencies in Calapan

City.

As a new center of regional administration, Calapan

City is facing immediate accessibility issues that

require urgent attention. The RGC‘s ability to work with

its provincial counterparts is hindered by the long

travel times, indirect services, multiple modal-

interchanges and high travel cost. This has severe

implications for the effectiveness of MIMAROPA as an

administrative unit and for the unity of a region that is

currently divided (MIMAROPA is the only region in the

nation that has offices in Metro Manila). Providing a

broader network of options for inter-island connectivity

would satisfy the requirements of a fully functioning

RGC. This is of primary concern to NEDA IV-B, along with

other established regional agencies in Calapan City. In

regard with this, the agency has formulated and started

to implement MIMAROPA Intermodal Transport Development

Plan (MITDP). The project seeks to fast-track the

delivery of modern, cost-effective and socially inclusive

infrastructure up to the year 2028 and is designed to

monitor and advise on the planning of MIMAROPA‘s regional

Page | 120
intermodal transport system, in tandem with activities

occurring at the local, municipal, provincial and

regional levels of government. The MITDP will improve

provincial travel times to the RGC.

Figure 4.3. MIMAROPA‘s Intermodal Transport System by

2030

Page | 121
 Figure 4.4. MIMAROPA
Intermodal Transport
Development Plan
(MITPD)Nominated Projects

Page | 122
Page | 123
Page | 124
 This includes 31

encompassing projects,

including the 16 MIMAROPA

priority projects,

targeted to be completed

into three respective

delivery timeframes,

namely 2013-2016, 2016 2022, and 2022-2028. 21 of the

said encompassing projects are targeted to be

accomplished on the first timeframe, 2013-2016, with some

projects that are already completed as of now.

The project prioritizes and endorses project

proposals that improve travel times and cost to the RGC,

Calapan City from any point in MIMAROPA. The completion

of the project will ensure the efficiency of Calapan City

as the regional development center, also assuring the

effective and proper delivery of health care services all

over the region, including those far-flung areas, thus

supporting the effectivity of the researcher‘s project

proposal to be located in Calapan City. The proper

determination of access to each province in the region

implementation of the said project will help the said end

Page | 125
users of the researcher‘s proposal to determine the most

convenient way of deliverance of the services their

offices offer.

4.3 DOH-CHD MIMAROPA Profile

Center for Health Development No. 4B (CHD 4B) is the

DOH Regional Field Office for MiMaRoPa covering the

mainland provinces and cities of Occidental and Oriental

Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. CHD 4B is

responsible for the field operations of the Department of

Health in the MiMaRoPa region and it is mandated to

implement and monitor health and health-related laws,

regulations, policies and programs, and to coordinate

with regional offices of other departments, offices and

national government agencies as well as local government

units within the region. Presently, CHD4B has its office

located at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC)

Compound in Project 4, Quezon City.

CHD 4B has currently 5 major divisions, as follows:

1. Support to Operations (STO) – which consists of the

Health Human Resource Development (HHRD), and Planning,

Statistics are directly under the supervision of the

Page | 126
Regional Director and / or Asst. Regional Director. This

division provides support to the operations service to

the agency and DOH field extension offices in MiMaRoPa

provinces. The division, as stated by the current DOH-CHD

office, needs to accommodate seven (7) regular employees,

including the Regional Director and Assistant Regional

Director.

2. Management Support Service Division (MSSD) – is

responsible for ensuring the adequate administrative

support services to the organization such as personnel

service, cashiering, property and supply management,

records management, budgeting, accounting, and house-

keeping management which includes the dormitory,

transport, security, engineering, information technology

and maintenance services. This division is powered by

twenty five (25) regular employees, and twenty seven (27)

job order employees.

3. Local Health Development Division (LHDD) – is tasked

to coordinate, monitor and oversee all the health

assistance (both technical and logistics) being provided

by the DOH and CHD to local government units and other

sectors

Page | 127
 As one of the division with the most scopes of work,

the said division is composed with the most number of

manpower, breakdown into fifteen (15) regular employees

and forty five (45) job order employees.

4. Regulations and Licensing and Enforcement Division

(RLE) – the office is mandated to ensure the quality and

safety of health services, goods and products by

enforcing regulations and licensing standards. This is

composed of three (3) regular employees and four (4) job

order employees.

5. Health Operations Division (HOD) – previously the

Technical Services Division is the office in charge for

the operation of the following components: Health program

/ policy development, monitoring and evaluation; Health

advocacy and promotion; Technical & logistic assistance

for health facilities, programs/ projects; Research and

development; and Epidemiology and surveillance.

This division is subdivided into two (2)

departments, depending on the function they perform. The

first division, the Health Facilities Enhancement

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Program, is composed of one (1) regular employee and six

(6) job order employees.

There are also other offices that are significant

part of the DOH-CHD IV-B in performing its main

functions. This includes:

1. Hospital Operations – provides direct service

delivery in the DOH retained hospital. The Ospital ng

Palawan (ONP) and the Culion General Hospital, both found

in Palawan.

2. Provincial DOH-CHD Office- these are satellite

offices of the DOH designated on each of the provinces of

the region.

This divisions will not be part of the development

since they are intended to locate within specific

provinces and hospitals to better serve its stakeholders.

The main function of the office is to promote

Universal Health Care among its constituents. In regard

with this, functions of the DOH-CHD MIMAROPA4 as a whole

are divided on the following matters:

4
DOH-CHD MIMAROPA Profile

Page | 129
1. Health Regulation

2. Health Service Delivery

3. Human Resource for Health

4. Good Governance

5. Health Financing

6. Health Information

7. Health Emergency Services

The researcher sees that thorough assessment of the

office concerned, determining its functions, the

activities on each of its division and determining the

total number of end users of the project will provide the

project efficiency, translating this data into a sole

design solution.

4.4 Calapan City Profile

4.4.1 Historical Background

The derivation of the name of

Calapan cannot be traced with

certainty, since there are plenty of

etymologies where the word is said to

be derived from. Some opined that it

Figure 4.5.
Oriental Mindoro came from the word ―Kalap‖ which
Political Map

Page | 130
means to gather logs. Thus ―Kalapan‖ was supposed to be

a place where logs were gathered. Another theory holds

that Calapan was originally pronounced as ―Kalapang‖

which, according to an old Tagalog dictionary, was a

synonym for ―sanga‖ or branch. It could then refer to

the settlement of Kalapang as a branch of its mother town

of Baco, an adjoining town. The name was later

hispanized as Calapan.

The City of Calapan was founded as a parish in 1679

by a Spanish Augustinian Recollect priest, Fr. Diego dela

Madre de Dios. Human settlements were established around

the parish church which later became the beginning of a

small town.

The District convent was transferred to Calapan in

1733 and began its jurisdiction over the Northern Mindoro

Ecclesiastical Area.

In the early 18th century, the town occupied only a

strip of land stretching from Ibaba to Ilaya in a cross –

formed facing the present church and cut-off by a river.

In the course of the century, succeeding barrios were

founded.

Page | 131
 The year 1998 was a landmark event for Calapan when

it was converted from a municipality into a component

city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8475. The law was

authored in Congress by Rep. Renato V. Leviste and was

signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on February 2, 1998 in

Malacanang Palace. On March 21, 1998, the people of

Calapan ratified the creation of the City of Calapan in a

plebiscite. March 21, 1998 is therefore marked as the

Foundation Day of the City of Calapan. Incumbent Mayor

Arnan C. Panaligan became the last Municipal Mayor and

the First City Mayor of the City of Calapan. Also, it is

the first and only city in the province of Oriental

Mindoro, and one of the only two cities in the region.

4.4.2 Physical and Natural Characteristics

4.4.2.A Geographical Location

The City of Calapan, a second class component city,

lies on the head of Calapan Bay, Northeastern part of

Mindoro Island, and lies in the quadrangle bounded by

1312.6 and 1327‘ North latitudes and 12117‘ East

longitudes. It is bounded on the North and Northeast by

Calapan Bay, on the South and Southeast by the

Municipality of Naujan and on the West by the

Page | 132
Municipality of Baco and overlooked inland by the

towering Mount Halcon, Mindoro‘s highest mountain peak.

The city is 28 nautical miles far from the nearest point

of Batangas Province and is about 45 kms. South of

Batangas City and 130 kms. to South of Manila.

4.4.2.B Physical Geography

The city is situated on the vast northeastern

floodplain of Oriental Mindoro. The overall land

character is that of a wide plain having meandering

rivers interspersed with wetlands at the seacoast

periphery.

The flat terrain is interrupted by the elongated

Bulusan Hill (highest elevation equal to 187 meters above

sea level) at the northeast towards the coast and the

rise at the southwest which is actually part of the foot

of the Halcon-Baco Mountain Range.

4.4.2.C Land Area

According to the Land Management Bureau, Calapan has

total land area of 250.06 square kilometers or 25,006

hectares including the three (3) Baco Islets and two (2)

Silonay Islets; the National Statistics Office has a

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figure of 265.20 sq.km. As measured from cadastral data

using Geographic Information System (GIS)-based

techniques, it has an area of approximately 185.99 sq.

km. including the 5 islets.

4.4.2.D Physical Characteristics

Physical characteristics on an area are based on its

land classification. The lands are classified in the city

according to Geomorphic and Land Management Units (GMU

and LMU). The grouping is based on certain homogeneous

characteristics (based on GMU) such as physiography,

hydrology, soil type and soil chemistry, as well as slope

and topography in order to facilitate the evaluation and

assessment of a given land use, suitability and

adaptability to a given area (based on LMU). Five

classifications were mapped in Calapan City, each of

these containing sub-classifications.

a. Lowland

This is the most extensive landform in the city and

is best described as a broad flatland. The rock type of

this landform is mixed sediments (alluvium) which is

composed mainly of quartz and clay and is formed through

fluviatile (mechanical) deposition of rivers and streams.

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This landform has the lowest elevation among all types

and is actually a floodplain where inundation is a

concern especially during the occurrence of heavy rains.

Lowlands are further subdivided into the following:

 Coastal Plain- Formed through the deposition of

alluvial materials such as sand and shells by waves

and by silt, clay and other fine particles by rivers

and streams. Mostly found in the northeastern

coastline of the city as a belt especially in the

barangays of Suqui, Silonay, Maidlang, Gutad and

Navotas (going inland along the Kilokilo and Silonay

Rivers). On the western side, this is found along the

flanks of the Baruyan River up to Caluangan Lake.

Fishponds, mangroves, nipa, beach ridges and swales

characterize the coastal plain. Beach Ridge and Swales

areas have level to nearly level slopes with

elevations ranging from 0 to 3 meters. Soils are very

rapidly infiltrated by water and have very low water

holding capacity. These may be found in the eastern

coastline, particularly in Brgys. Suqui, Silonay,

Maidlang, Gutad and Navotas. On the other hand,

fishponds and mangroves areas may be found near the

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 coastline of Silonay, Gutad and Navotas as well as

along the flanks of the Baruyan River and inland at

the Masipit/Sta. Isabel area. These areas have level

slopes (0% to 1%) and ranges from 0 to 1.5 meters in

elevation. These are poorly drained with moderately

deep-to-deep soils.

 Broad Alluvial Plains- Most dominant GMU and borders

the coastal plain areas. Composed of clay, silt, sand,

gravel and cobbles deposited from the highlands by

rivers and streams. May be found throughout the city

and predominantly at its western, central,

southeastern and southern parts. This is the dominant

LMU and covers northwestern, western, central,

southeastern and southern parts. These areas are

level to gently sloping (0% to 3% slope) and ranges

from 3 to 15 meters in elevation. The depressed areas

are prone to seasonal flooding and they are moderately

well to poorly drained. These areas comprise most of

the City‘s prime agricultural lands.

 Swamps and Marshes have slopes are level to nearly

level (0% to 1%), concave with elevations ranging from

3 to 5 meters. These areas are very poorly drained

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 and are mostly found in the periphery of the Silonay

and Kilokilo Rivers.

b. Upland

Residual Terraces represent this landform type which

is made up of sandstone, pyroclastic and/or dacite. These

areas are gently sloping areas that are bounded by steep

slopes and can be found at the foot of the Hills of

Bulusan and in the southwestern part of Brgy. Canubing

II. Residual Terraces are level to gently sloping (0% to

3%), 15 to 80 meters in elevation and moderately well

drained. These areas have slight erosion hazard, shallow

soil depth and have moderate fertility. These may be

found in the western, southern and eastern periphery of

the Hills of Bulusan.

c. Hills

These are landforms with abrupt rises and with

elevations of less than 500 meters above sea level. These

are subdivided into the following:

 Sandstone/Shale Hills- has a more or less gentle

terrain, has deeper soil and its rock material is

relatively susceptible to weathering and erosion.

Formation has been due to sedimentation (mechanical)

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 and is composed mainly of quartz and other

authigenic materials. Found in the foothills of the

Halcon-Baco Mountain Range, southwest of Canubing

II. These areas are low relief. These areas are

strongly rolling to hilly, with a 10 to 100 meter

elevation range, slight to moderately eroded and

moderately well-drained. Erosion hazard is slight,

with few rock outcrops and with low fertility.

These may be found southwest of the city, near

Canubing II and Patas.

 Limestone Hills- very rugged and have shallow soils.

Formation is due to chemical deposition and is

composed of calcite and carbonate materials. Found

in the five islets of Calapan. These areas are low

relief. These areas are strongly rolling and with

an elevation range of 10 to 100 meters. They are

slightly to moderately eroded and are moderately

well drained. These may be found in the Baco and

Silonay Islets.

 Dacitic Hills- the Hills of Bulusan, Lazareto and

the minor rises from Salong to Guinobatan are

composed of dacitic rocks (quartz, feldspar,

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 biotite, hornblende and Ferro-magnesium) formed

through volcanic extrusion. Some geologists regard

the formation in Bulusan, along with the andesitic

hills around Lake Naujan as a dormant volcanic cone.

These areas are low relief. Dacitic hills are

strongly rolling to hilly, 0 to 180 meters

elevation, slightly eroded and moderately well-

drained. Soil fertility is moderate and erosion

hazard is slight. These are found in Lazareto,

Hills of Bulusan, Nacoco and stretch from Salong to

Guinobatan.

 Metamorphic Hills- part of the foothills of the

Halcon-Baco Mountain Range and were likely formed

through the diastrophic process that created the

said mountain. May be found southwest of Canubing II

near the boundary of the city with the

municipalities of Baco and Naujan. Some of its areas

are low relief. These areas are strongly rolling to

hilly, 0 to 100 in meters elevation, slightly to

moderately eroded and well-drained. These may be

found at the southwest part of the city, in Canubing

II, Patas, Sta. Rita, Balingayan and Personas. The

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 remaining areas are high relief. High relief

Metamorphic Hills are hilly to steep hilly, 100 to

500 meters in elevation, slightly to moderately

eroded and moderately well-drained. This LMU is

actually part of the foothills of the Halcon-Baco

Mountain Range and is found in Canubing II near

boundaries of Naujan and Baco.

d. Mountains

The metamorphic mountains are part of the foot of

the Halcon-Baco Mountain Range, formed through

diastrophic processes, and may be found in the junction

of the boundary of the city with Baco and Naujan.

Mountainous, rugged, slightly to moderately eroded and

well-drained. This is part of the foot of the Halcon-

Baco Mountain Range and is located at the junction of the

boundaries of Calapan, Naujan and Baco in Canubing II.

e. Miscellaneous

Caluangan (Baruyan) Lake is classified as a

Miscellaneous Landform and is located in the western

portion of the city. The Baruyan River empties first

into this lake before exiting to Calapan Bay at the

north. The Caluangan Lake is classified as part of this s

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LMU. The slope is level to nearly level (0% to 3%) and

concave. It is about 150 has. And is part of three (3)

barangays: Baruyan, Tawagan and Canubing I. The geologic

movement of land masses due to high earthquake intensity

occurrences in Mindoro is believed to be the major cause

in the formation of Caluangan Lake. The lake is located

in Calapan City, Province of Mindoro, Philippines and it

covers three coastal barangays namely: Barangays Baruyan,

Tawagan and Canubing I. The lake is a 150 hectares area

enclosed with mangrove vegetation and receives water

inflow from Tawagan, Canubing, and Wawa rivers. Based

on the initial study on physico-chemical and biological

assessment, the City Planning and Development Office

(UPDD) of the City of Calapan, Mindoro reported that Lake

Caluangan is considered oligotrophic. The water is a

brackish/saline type due to the mixing of water inflows

from marine and freshwater tributaries. Presently, the

lake has been used for aquaculture purposes and day-to-

day fishing activities. The lake has 147 fish corrals, 17

fish pens and 11 lift nets. Recent survey revealed that

there are 11 salambao (lift nets), 147 baklad (fish

corral) and 17 fish pens operating in the lake, and

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commonly it has been utilized for mostly for Caranx sp.

culture.

Figure 4.6. Oriental Mindoro Slope Map

Page | 142
 4.4.2.E GeoHazard

Figure 4.7. Oriental Mindoro Geohazard Map

Areas subjected to hazards depend on its

geographical location and attributes, meaning the parcels

of the city is divided to areas wherein it is prone to

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such catastrophes. These are based on the classification

of land management units they belong to, as mapped by DA.

These are the following:

a. Environmentally Constrained Areas

These are areas that are prone to weather-,

hydrologically and geologically induced hazards.

b. Floodplain Areas

Since Calapan City is located in the floodplain of

the province, most of the city has been classified as a

floodplain except for the Hills of Bulusan and its

vicinity as well as the southwest (Canubing II) at the

boundary of Baco and Naujan. Flooding is mainly caused

by the overflow of water of the Pulang Tubig ( Bucayao)

River. Other rivers that overflow include the Dulangan

and Biga-Baco Rivers. The overflow of these rivers is a

major concern especially if it occurs simultaneously with

the high tide.

c. Areas Prone to Coastal Erosion and Flooding

The northeastern part of the city is prone to

coastal erosion due to its unstable soil. Erosion

follows creeps along the coast following a northwestern

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direction. This especially affects the areas of Navotas,

Gutad, Maidlang, Silonay, Suqui as well as the Silonay

Islets.

Almost all the coastal areas of the city are prone

to coastal flooding during high tides. The Poblacion

area is flooded as the sea waters rise since the

elevation of its drainage outfalls become lower than the

high tide elevation.

d. Steeply Sloped Areas

Areas that have 18% and steeper slopes are very difficult

to use and warrant extremely cautious measures to prevent

landslides and flooding of lower areas. These are

located in the upper areas of the Hills of Bulusan and in

some parts of Balingayan, Malamig, Malad, Canubing II and

Patas.

e. Earthquake-Induced Hazards

Aside from this, the city is prone to damages brought

by an earthquake. It is because there are two identified

fault line borders in the city:

 The Lubang Fault at the north of Baco Grande Island

which follows an east-west axis and the Central

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 Mindoro Fault at the west following a north-south

axis.

 The Aglubang River Fault, which is a branch of the

Central Mindoro Fault, traverses the western part of

the city and follows a north-south axis.

4.4.2.F Resources

Aside from the other mineral resources stated

earlier, there have been reports that guano may be found

in the caves of Lalud, Lazareto, Suqui and Silonay

Islets. Sand and gravel, on the other hand, are being

quarried along the Bucayao and Longos rivers. There has

been no evidence on the presence of metallic minerals in

any part of the city.

The city is gifted with abundance of surface and

groundwater resources present in its area. Two major

river systems pass through the city coming from the

mountain range. The Bucayao (Pulang Tubig) River System

passes through the southern part and exits to the

southeast. The Bucayao River ―has the biggest annual

average discharge of 2,629 m³/ second among all the major

rivers of Oriental Mindoro.The Biga-Baco-Malaylay River

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System passes through the city‘s southwestern and western

parts before exiting into Calapan Bay. These two river

systems, including the Aglubang-Magasawang Tubig River

System, built the alluvial plains of northeastern

Mindoro. Other minor rivers and streams that drain the

city‘s floodplain include the Panggalaan River, Dulangan

River, Kalaung River, Canubing Creek, Baruyan River,

Masipit Creek, Calapan River, Biga Creek, Kilokilo River

and Silonay River.

A prominent surface water body is Caluangan

(Baruyan) Lake covering about 150 hectares. Its flanks

have been converted into fishponds while fishpens and

fishcages have been established in the lake proper.

The city also straddles two watershed areas. The big

part of it is part of the Malaylay Watershed that it

shares with Baco and portions of San Teodoro and Puerto

Galera. Its eastern sector is part of the Mag-Asawang

Tubig Watershed that it, in turn, shares with Naujan.

The city‘s waters, though not a known fishing

ground, is home to well-known commercial fishery species.

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Calapan City has a vast sea water which provide a rich

fish catch.

Mangrove and nipa abound the eastern coast

especially within barangays Navotas, Gutad, Maidlang and

Silonay. There are also patches of mangrove and nipa

areas along the Baruyan River and Caluangan Lake.

Corals are present in the islands, especially around

the Baco Islets. The coral reef areas and sea grass areas

cover 90 has and 30 has respectively according to the

City Environment and Natural Resources Department.

Calapan also houses two important parts of Verde Island

Passage Marine Corridor, the Harca Piloto Island Fish

Sanctuary and Silonay Mangrove Forest Conservation Area.

4.4.2.G Climatic

Month Atmos Dry Wet Maxi Mini Dew Rela Pre Wind
pheri Bulb Bulb mum mum Poin tive cip Speed
c Tempe Temp Temp Temp t Humi ita (m/s)
Mean ratur erat erat erat Temp dity tio
Sea e ure ure ure erat (%) n
Level (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) ure (mm
Press (°C) )
ure
(hPa)
January 1012. 25.5 23.8 31.0 20.7 23.2 87 128 001
6 .3
Februar 1012. 26.0 24.4 31.6 21.5 23.8 88 187 002
y 2 .5
March 1012. 26.8 24.7 33.0 21.7 24.0 84 175 002
0 .1
April 1009. 28.7 26.1 35.6 22.8 25.3 81 62. 001
7 0

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 May 1009. 28.4 26.0 35.2 23.0 25.2 83 253 001
2 .2
June 1007. 27.9 26.0 34.8 22.6 25.4 86 397 001
0 .5
July 1007. 27.1 25.6 33.9 22.2 25.1 89 470 001
9 .7
August 1007. 26.9 25.6 33.8 21.2 25.2 90 293 001
5 .4
Septemb 1006. 27.8 25.2 33.2 21.0 24.4 81 275 001
er 7 .8
October 1008. 26.7 24.9 32.8 22.0 24.3 86 104 001
1 .1
Novembe 1009. 26.6 25.0 32.5 22.0 24.5 88 558 001
r 7 .8
Decembe 1010. 26.1 24.8 32.1 21.7 24.2 88 228 001
r 1 .4
Source: Calapan PAGASA Station

Legend:
hPa - hectopascal
°C - degree Celsius
% - percentage
mm - millimeter
m/s - meter per second

Table 4.15. Climatic Weather Condition 2013

Calapan City‘s climate is mild with no distinct wet

and dry season. Its climate is typically type III

according to the modified Coronas Classification of

PAGASA, which is described as having no very pronounced

maximum rain period with short dry season lasting from

one to three months. Areas of this type are partly

shielded from northeast monsoon and are also benefited by

the rainfall caused by the tropical cyclone. About two to

three typhoons occur every two years. Recently, typhoon

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YOLANDA hit Calapan City last November 8, 2013 with

maximum gustiness of 20 mps 1,332 Z, 80 degrees and a 24

hours rainfall of 233.8 mm.

Temperature ranges from 23.1°C average minimum to

30.41°C average maximum. The coldest months are January

and February, and the months of April and May as the

hottest.

The seasons are not very pronounced and it is

relatively dry from January to April and wet from May up

to December. The months of January and April have the

least rainfall, while July and November are the months

with the greatest rainfall. Rainfall is more or less

evenly distributed throughout the year. Total

precipitation this year is 3,134.8 mm. throughout the

year the city receives approximately 4,800 hours of

sunshine. Average day length is 12 hours. June has the

longest day length with 12.5 hours while December has the

shortest.

Average relative humidity refers to the measure of

the moisture content of the atmosphere. The month of

August has the highest relative humidity of 90% while

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months of April and September have the lowest with 81% of

relative humidity. The average relative humidity for 2013

is 85.91%, which is higher as compared to the previous

years, with average relative humidity of 84.26% for 2012

and 82.83% for 2011. Thus, it is much hotter in this year

as compared than that of the previous years.

Wind direction shifts about four times a year. From

June to September, southwest monsoon prevails in this

period of the year. In October, wind direction blows from

east to northeast. The northeast monsoon prevails from

November to February of the year. Finally it becomes

easterlies in March to May. (Source: Calapan City PAGASA)

4.4.3 Functional Role of the City

The city is the capital of the province, wherein it

acts as the seat of the provincial Government of Oriental

Mindoro. The present Provincial Capitol, provincial

agencies‘ offices, satellite offices, batasang

panlalawigan, congressional office, ang others, are

currently found within the city premises.

Touted as Gateway to the Golden Isle, Calapan serves

is the gateway to the Oriental Mindoro province, through

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Calapan port, largest and busiest seaport on the Mindoro

Island, and travelling by sea as the only means of public

transportation to the province, and with the

implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway,

an integrated roll-on/roll-off ferry, it opens up and

extends further the province premises to the southern

part of the Philippines.

Considering its economy and development, the city

acts as the center for business, commerce and trade for

the province. Calapan City serves as the province‘s

industrial hub. It plays a pivotal role in the economic

development of the province and its adjacent areas.

The city also acts as the center for education of

the province. The city is host to numerous higher

educational institutions, mostly are privately owned,

counted as eight. There are currently two public

institutions of higher learning in the city. One is

the Mindoro State University (Calapan Campus) while the

other is the City College of Calapan. Calapan City has

seven national high schools (NHS), one of which is

the Oriental Mindoro National High School (OMNHS) the

flagship campus and the largest Public High School in

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Oriental Mindoro. The Catholic Church also runs the Holy

Infant Academy, while DWCC, MINSCAT and LGC also maintain

a Basic Education Department. 49 Public elementary

schools meanwhile are organized into three districts.

They are the Calapan West, Calapan South and Calapan East

Districts.

The city also acts as a center of health services

for the account of the province. Aside from the home of

the Provincial Health office, the city, and the whole

province as well, through the core referral system, are

served primarily by the Oriental Mindoro Medical Center

which is also the largest hospital in the province. There

are also numerous private hospitals in the city such as

the Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services

Cooperative which is the only tertiary level hospital in

the region, Maria Estrella General Hospital, Sta. Maria

Village Hospital, Hospital of the Holy Cross and the

Luna-Goco Medical Center. In addition, the city has well-

equipped public health centers providing free health

check-ups and basic medicine supplies to all residents.

These public centers are being funded and supported by

the City Health and Sanitation Department.

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 Calapan City also plays a big role to the whole

region as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed

Executive Order 682 last November 22, 2007 designating

Calapan City as the Regional Government Center (RGC) of

Region IVB.5

In line with this development, MIMAROPA regional

offices are now being mobilized for relocation to Calapan

City, with satellite offices expected to open within six

months from the effectivity of EO 682. Full transfer of

all offices is expected within 18 months thereafter.

Metro Manila previously served as the Interim Regional

Government Center for Region IV-B. The establishment of

RGC in the MIMAROPA region after its creation in 2002 is

a major development for the province which will augur

well for its future. In present, there are still regional

offices (including DOH-CHD IV-B), located outside the

city premises, particularly in Quezon City and Batangas,

that are not yet have been transferred nor located on the

RGC.

The center will help fast track regional development

by setting up a well-coordinated system of government

5
Executive Order 682

Page | 154
service while increasing economic activity. Under EO 682,

the task of formulating a blueprint for the center‘s

operation in order to meets its goals and objectives, has

been assigned to the National Economic Development

Authority IV-B in coordination with the Office of the

Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers, other

government units and the private sector.

RGC‘s presence in Calapan City will open up

opportunities in addition to the economic benefits

brought forth by the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

4.4.4 Demographic Profile

Calapan City, as the provincial capital, and center

commerce, trade, health, education and government, is the

most populated municipality/city in Oriental Mindoro. As

per 2010 NSO Census of

Population, the city‘s

total population is

124,173. Moreover,

Calapan City has a

population growth of 1.60

Table 4.16. Calapan City
according to NSO.
Population Growth

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Calapan City Persons
Total Households 24,138
Total Populations 105,933
Number of Children age 0-5 years old 15,027
Malnourished Children age 0-5 years old 672
Number of Children age 0-4 years old 12,514
Child Deaths age 0-4 years old 57
Number of Children age 0-1 year old 2,615
Women Deaths Due to Pregnancy-Related Causes -
Table 4.17. Calapan City Demographic Profile

The city of Calapan is predominantly rural. Only 22

out of 62 barangays are onsidered urban, namely Calero,

Camilmil, Ibaba East, Ibaba West, Ilaya, Libis,

Lumangbayan, San Rafael (Salong), San Antonio, San

Vicente Central, San Vicente East, San Vicente North, San

Vicente South, San Vicente West, Sta Maria Village, Sto.

Niño, Tibag, Lalud, Lazareto, Pachoca, Tawiran and

Guinobatan while the remaining 40 barangays are rural.

42% of the total population in the city lives in urban

areas.

The population density of the city is 6.73 persons

per hectare. It indicates that seven (7) persons live on

each hectare of Calapan‘s land area. Almost 90% of the

Calapeños have Roman Catholic as their religion, while 4%

belongs to the Iglesia ni Cristo.

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 4.4.5 Socio-economic Profile

According to the National Statistical Coordination

Board, the Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold of

Oriental Mindoro is P17,415.00 for the year 2012

(latest). Also, the Poverty Incidence among Families is

21.5% (estimates), while the Magnitude of Poor Families

has an estimate number of 39,272.

The city's economy is dependent on agriculture and

fishing. However, a growing industry in machinery and

tourism has contributed well to the city's annual income

making it one of the fastest growing new cities in the

country for the last 10 years.

Since 1998 prior to its establishment as a city,

Calapan has experienced rapid development. The

establishment of a special development area, particularly

an eco-zone for light industries located at the Urban

Development Area (Lumangbayan and Guinobatan), has been

promoted and now serves as growth area which generates

employment and spurs economic opportunities. Such

industries focus on agro-industrial based activities such

as food processing, handicraft making, furniture making

and other related activities.

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 City Government of Calapan sources of income came

from local taxes, general income, service income,

business income and other income. A total increase of P

27,267,114.21 or 6.4% in total operating income with the

current amount (2013) of P456,514,787.66 compared to last

year (2012) P429,247,673.45. large part of the total

operating income comes from Internal Revenue Allotment,

amounting 347,422,787.66 and business incomes.

Considering the population of the city, the total

number of population capable of working is almost 90,000.

In lieu with this, only 32,163 are employed, with 5,777

employees engaged in agriculture, mining and forestry and

5,941 engaged in wholesale, retail trade and vehicular

repair, the highest number of employment among other

industries in the city.

Both considered as agriculturally-progressive and

urbanized city. The five major crops are rice, citrus,

banana, rambutan and lanzones. The top five industries in

Calapan City are trading, tourism, services, marine and

aquatic, and food processing.

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 4.4.6 Existing Land Use / Land Use Trends

Calapan City‘s area is dedicated to different land

use. As an agricultural city, Land use in the city is

mostly agricultural, with a total land area of 16,244.47

hectares, mostly used for propagation of rice crops.

Other land use includes residential with a total area of

958.77 hectares, industrial, with a total area of 47.96

hectares, 20.53 hectares for military reservations, 7.99

hectares for agro-industrial purposes, and 5 hectares for

tourism use. There are also remaining 4 hectares of

forest, 69.74 hectares of mangroves/wetlands and the

remaining 959.059 hectares are still built-up areas.

The city has a central corridor with two pronounced

lateral branches. The central corridor is defined by the

North-South Road that links it to the southern

municipalities of the province. The west lateral is the

National Road going to Puerto Galera and the east lateral

is the Provincial Road that provides access to the

eastern coastal barangays.

The urban core is at the northern part of the city

(Poblacion and vicinity) with a trend going southward

along the North-South Road. This includes barangays

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Tibag, Sta. Maria, Ibaba, San Vicente, Calero, Libis,

Ilaya, Sto. Niño, Lalud, Lumang Bayan, Camilmil, Salong,

San Antonio and parts of Suqui. being the traditional

commercial-residential center of the city. Beyond these

areas lie vast ricelands and a coastal margin accented by

the hills of Bulusan.

The urban expansion area shall absorb the urban

expansion requirements of the city. Based on the

standards of the National Economic and Development

Authority and the Urban Area Density Method, the urban

land requirement for the year 2008 is 136 has. and 276

has., respectively .This area includes portions of

barangays Bulusan, Guinobatan, Sapul, Palhi and Parang.

It has moderate to high development capability with

minimal environmental constraints.

At present, as the center of trade, commerce,

education, health and government of the province,

business establishments and development emerges in the

city, especially in the poblacion area. The opening of

Strong Republic Nautical Highways and Regional Government

Center brought up development in the city, especially

those in the part of the national road. Growth and

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development now can be observed along the diversion road

and national road, especially those in the part of Sto.

Nino, Lumangbayan, Guinobatan, Sta. Isabel, Bayanan, and

Biga. Growth can also be observed in parts of Cinco and

Dose, tends to create a satellite town, displaying a new

town center. These developments also brought up

population growth to the said barangays.

Based on a population density gradient study, there

is a substantial densification of the city. The

increasing density can be felt intensely at the poblacion

up to barangays about 10 kilometers from the city center.

As a gateway linking Mindoro Oriental to the rest of

Southern Tagalog Region, Calapan experiences increasing

demands for affordable housing units. Natural population

growth and in-migration exert unwanted pressure on

available lands. Informal settlements have mushroomed

along coastal areas and riverbanks. These are danger

zones that are constantly threatened by flooding during

weather disturbances. The frequent occurrence of typhoons

in Calapan cause flooding particularly along coastal

barangays and areas along riverbanks.

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 4.4.7 Transportation (see also Regional Profile)

Calapan City is touted as the Gateway to the Golden

Isle, since it is the most convenient and easiest entry

point in travelling to Mindoro Island. The main access to

the city from mainland Luzon is through Calapan Port. The

Port of Calapan is the main port serving Oriental Mindoro

and plays an important role in the transport of general,

RORO cargoes and passengers to other provinces. It is 22

nautical miles southward from Batangas City. Sea distance

to Manila is 104.3 nautical miles. It is located at lat

13°25.8‘ N, long 121°11.8‘E. The port is between Balite

and Calapan Points in an open sight 4.0 kilometers wide

NE of Calapan City Proper. It is about 1.5 kilometers

from the existing Calapan airport. It offers regular

trips of cargo and RoRo vessel to and from Batangas Port

and Lubo Batangas, and is a significant part of the

Strong Republic Nautical Highways. The national road from

the port through the Calapan City proper to other

municipalities is in excellent conditions.

Currently, Calapan airport is non-operational, and

presently used as training grounds for general aviation.

Transportation through private aircraft is approximately

Page | 162
30 minutes from Manila to Calapan airport or vice versa.

Calapan Airport, occupying 20 has. of land in barangay

Lazareto, is classified as a secondary airport by Air

Transportation Office (ATO). It mainly handles small

planes and choppers and is being used for daytime

operations only since it has neither runway lights nor

communication facilities.

Travelling through land all over the city is

convenient, since most of the roads, national,

provincial, and barangay roads, are paved and in good

conditions, through the implementations of government

projects such as paving of farm to market roads. Calapan

City‘s road network has a total length of 124.202

kilometers. The city road measures 48.670 km length while

barangay road measures 75.532 km length.

4.4.8 Solid Waste Management

Solid wastes are regularly collected in 51 barangays

in Calapan City, wherein 6 units of garbage hauling

trucks, provided by the local government, are used to

collect garbage around the city regularly, prior to its

disposal on the existing 1.5 hectare sanitary landfill in

Batino, the lone garbage catchment area servicing the

Page | 163
city. The City Government collects wastes with an average

of 40 to 60 tons daily, and an annual volume of collected

waste of 14,600 – 21, 900 tons.

The City Environment and Natural Resources

Department accomplished effectively the proper waste

collection and disposal procedures in accordance to

national and local policies. Substantial reduction in the

volume of garbage generated in CY 2013 in the 51 service

barangays was noticed because of the mandatory

establishment of Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). There

are 142 MRFs established for economic & health purposes.

Recyclables were sold to buyback centers (junkshops) and

biodegradable materials were composted, reducing bulk of

solid waste collected by the city government. The number

of service barangays increased by 21 % for 2013. CENRD is

continuously conducting meetings with street sweepers,

collectors and waste keepers for their sensitive tasks

and duties. Intensified campaign to encourage barangays

to establish and operate their own Materials Recovery

Facility (MRF) for intensified waste segregation was

done. Establishment of compost pits is highly encouraged.

Page | 164
4.4.9 Telecommunications

There are two exiting body offering land-based

telephone system services in the city. These are the

Calapan Telephone System Inc. (CATSI), servicing a total

of 2,728 households in all over the province, and Globe

telecommunications of Innove Communications Inc.,

servicing 460 households in Calapan city and in other

seven municipalities.

Cellular phones are widely used in the city as a

means of communications, since its signals all over the

city are in good condition. There are three major

telecommunication providers offering this services,

namely the Globe Telecommunications, Smart

Communications, and Sun Cellular, all having cell sites

located at the city proper.

Those telecommunications and telephone system

services providers mentioned above also offers internet

connection services that can be accessed all over the

city and in neighboring municipalities. As of 2013, CATSI

is servicing 215 clients of internet connection services

while Globe telecom is servicing 1,840 households.

Page | 165
 There are also local entities providing cable

television signal in both urban and rural areas. Calapan

Cable is servicing all over 34 barangays in Calapan city

with an approximately 3000 subscribers, while Tamaraw

Vision Network (TVNet) is servicing an approximate 7000

subscribers all over 47 barangays. Cignal cable

television also starts to provide this kind of services.

4.4.10 Water supply

At present, Calapan Waterworks Corporation provides

potable water supply on Calapenos, supplying a total

number of 10, 042 wate supply connections, wherein 9,431

of it are for residential and 611 are for commercial use.

As of 2013, 32 out of 62 barangays in the city are

availing the water supply service. The said corporation

derives its water supply from 4 wells in Bayanan with a

capacity of 2,764,800 liters of groundwater in a day each

and another well in Tawiran with a capacity of ,1036,800

liters of groundwater in a day.

Meanwhile, the remaining households are dependent on

other sources of potable water supply. Other potable

water sources are combinations of free-flow water supply

mostly used in irrigation of lands, combinations of

Page | 166
individual and communal water supply system, shallow,

dug, and deep wells, water pumps, springs and others.

4.4.11 Existing Power Supply

Electric power supply is provided by Oriental

Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO) with its main

office located at Sta. Isabel, Calapn City. The electric

cooperative was established in 1973, under the auspices

of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR, it also

supplies power to the entire province of Oriental

Mindoro. The sources of power came from 3.5 megawatts and

6.5 megawatts Diesel Powerplants, Paitan Mini Hydro

Powerplant which provides 1.6 megawatts of electricity,

and a land base generator providing 6.1 megawatts of

electric power supply. Currently, there are 29,632

connections in 62 barangays in Calapan City. Unlike in

other municipalities, brownouts and interruption in the

power supply are seldomly experienced in the city,

especially those in urban areas, especially in hot days.

However, when there is a shortage in power supply, the

cooperative management scheduled rotational brownouts to

sustain the demand for electricity.

Page | 167
 4.4.12 Postal Services

The city is serviced by a lone Postal Office

operated by Philippine Postal Corporation located at the

Provincial Capitol Complex. Under this are a mail

distribution center, 1 mail box, 1 mail transport vehicle

and 4 lock box module, all under the supervision of the

Provincial Postal Office. Also, there are other 6

existing private business providing postal services to

the city. These are the Aboitiz Express, FedEx, LBC

Express Padala, JRS Express, Wide Wide World Express

Corporation, and Mail and More Business Services.

Overall, they handle a total of 100,319 pieces of sent

letters and 559,235 pieces of received letters annually.

Also, they handle a total number of 2,983 sent packages

and 6,825 received packages, and classified as others

counted as 12,105 pieces sent and 44,025 pieces received.

4.4.13 Existing Drainage System

Existing drainage facilities service the urban

barangays. This is a combination of box culverts,

reinforced concrete pipe culverts (RCPCs), and open

canals. The outfalls are mostly discharged into the

Calapan River. However, high tidal elevations tend to

Page | 168
cause a backflow situation coupled with the situation

that Calapan River‘s siltation problem was exacerbated

after the 1994 earthquake. Flood prone areas in the

Poblacion due to higher tidal elevation include the

market area, slaughterhouse area, socialized housing

area, Libis, Calero, Tibag, and San Vicente North. On-

going dredging and rehabilitation of Calapan River tends

to solve the problem of siltation on the natural drainage

system of the city.

Page | 169
Figure 4.8. Calapan City General Land Use Map

Page | 170
Figure 4.9. Calapan City General Zoning Map

Page | 171
 POBLACION MAP
N
Ca la p a n Pier

SAN ANTONIO

W E LAZARETO

Airp ort

y
S
a
SUQUI
B

SAN RAFAEL

C . Na
nue
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Q ue

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.
a St

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F. Pa
p

St.
St.

ra s
co
LIBIS

St.
a

ma
.
o St

F.Sa
la sc
Ve

Osm eña Street

IBABA EAST
St.
l Lo p
ez
Street

eet
s Str
Pa ra
Adria tic o

a t

D. Ab
Gen. Malvar Street

Stree
Niño
Sto.

ac
C Cla ud io St.

Roxas Street (Divers

St.
San Agustin Street

ILAYA
Gen. Lim Street

IBABA WEST Bonifa c io Drive BULUSAN

Bonifa c io Street
Del Rosario Street
e

Luna Street
Ma b ini Street

ion Road)
v

Aurora Blvd.
Jose P. Rizal Street (National Road)

Kala
Sales Street

Gonza les St.

Med ra no Street
SAN VICENTE NORTH
w Street

Ma la luan St.
r STO. NIÑO

Molave Street
vd .

Cue to Stree

R
ra Bl

Atienza Street

Ipil Street
Jua n Luna Street
Auro
i

SAN VICENTE CENTRAL

Elbo Street

r Street
M. H. Del Pila
Ram irez Street

Ba ta a n St. Ga m b oa Street
SAN VICENTE WEST

Yakal Street
Cubi Street
Aboboto Street

Zam ora Street

Lom io Street
Fallarm e St.

Leute rio S
treet
SAN VICENTE EAST
t. Dita Street
id or S
Co rrig
Street
Leuterio

PACHOCA TIBAG
Ag uina ld o Street
t
Ro xa

SAN VICENTE SOUTH Stree

Gov

an
La wa
. In

s Stre
fa nt
ad o

et (D

Mah

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Gov. More Street
St.

ig m a
og an

Ma nd
iversio

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reet
n

treet
olo S
Road

Antip

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ag on
Ma lug
Ap ito
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)

g Str
Ma c op a

ili Str
Ac ac

ay Str

eet
eet
ng Str
io Str

eet
eet
La ng ka St. eet
Violeta Street
STA. MARIA VILLAGE
Ma ng g a St.
CAMILMIL
Ila ng -Ila ng Street
Rosal Street
Walang Katap

Diwang Guinto

Ka m ia s St. Sa m p a g uita Street

La
wa
Karila gan St.

a n
Str

t
ee

Ca m ia Stree
at St.

Ra m b utan St.
t
St.
Jo se P.

Goza r St. Gov. Ignac io Street Gum a m ela Street

Sa ntol St.
Pinag kaisah
Maharlika

Diwang Guinto

Dam ayan

Mola ve
Karila gan St.
Rizal

Lo c

Street
Da m a De Noc he
to
St.
Amuguis
St.

St.
Stree t

an St.

St.
St.

Ip il St.

Enc a rna c ion St.

St.
tiona l Ro (Na

y Street
Ma lug a
To Guinobatan
ad )

r St.
Fille

Del Rosa rio St.

LUMANGBAYAN

Pa na lig a n Street

LALUD
Ma ng g a St.
Duhat St.

Atis St.

Bayab as St.

Sa ntol St.

Ubas Street
Langka St.
Durian St.

Street 9

Prepared by:
Zoning and Land Use Division
Urban PLanning and Development Department
TAWIRAN GUINOBATAN

Drawn by:
Eng r. REDENTOR A. REYES JR.

Figure 4.10. Calapan City Poblacion Map

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