Camarines Sur

Figure 1. PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR OFFICIAL SEAL

Camarines Sur (Tagalog: Timog Camarines) is a province of the Philippines located in

the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Naga City and the province borders Camarines

Norte and Quezon to the north, and Albay to the south. To the east lies the island province

of Catanduanes across Maqueda Channel.

Camarines Sur is the largest among the six provinces in the Bicol Region both in terms of population and

land area. Its territory encompasses two cities: Naga City, the lone chartered city, is the province's and

the region's most progressive city, also commercial, financial, and cultural center, while Iriga City, a

component city, is the center of the Rinconada area. Lake Buhi is where the smallest commercially

harvested fish can be found, the Sinarapan or tabyos (Mistichthys luzonensis).

History

The history of Camarines Sur has been an amalgam of cross-sectoral developments and outside influences. Folklore and scientific researches have it that, thousands of years ago, there was a wandering tribe of Tabon men inhabiting a vast area of verdant, fertile plains and rolling hills. The gentle, cave-dwelling Tabon families who subsequently developed a common culture and called themselves Ibalon, and their land of bounty was called Tiera de Ibalon. The name could well refer to the entire Island of Luzon, but later been commonly adopted to refer specifically to the present Kabikolan region. The name Kabikolan was derived from the word biko, meaning bent, crooked or twisted, denoting the place along the Bicol River s meandering course.

The first recoded account of the discovery of the place by the Spaniards was in 1569 when Captain Luis Enriquez de Guzman and Fr. Alfonso Gimenez first explored the Province. In 1571, the Spanish Conquistador Juan de Salcedo, grandson of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, came to the Bicol Region from the North. Two years later, in 1573, Juan de Salcedo leading his troops, penetrated and explored the Peninsula as far as Santiago de Libon in search for spices, gold and other precious stones. Excavators in archaeological sites also have proven that early settlers in the Province bartered with Chinese, Arabs and Indians Traders. Although its culture is predominantly Malay in origin, three centuries of Spanish rule had left its mark in the people s culture and way of life.

Spanish explorer Juan de Salcedo earlier called the place as Camarines , and in 1574, he named it Los Camarines , coined after the abundance of camarins or rice granaries, which were prominent features of the fertile plains.

Spanish colonizers later subjugated its people and denominated the area into two distinct aggrupations. The southern portion comprising the area south of the present town of Camalig (in Albay), Sorsogon, the islands of Masbate and Catanduanes, and the area, which is now Partido in present day, then called Partido de Ibalon . The northern, upper portion, which included from the present day Camalig town in Albay, and all towns of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, was called Partido de Camarines .

After years of research initiated by Govenor Luis R. Villafuerte since his first term as Governor in local and national records and even up to the archives in Spain the official foundation date of the Province was finally confirmed to be May 27, 1579. Governor General Francisco Sande issued the Decree, which led t the establishment of a settlement in a place called Camarines where Spanish Colonists were urged to reside.

In 1829, Parido de Camarines was divided into Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte. In 1854, the two provinces were united to form the Province of Ambos Camarines , but again separated in 1857 until 1893. Record showed that the two provinces jointly called Ambos Camarines underwent several fusions, annexations and repartitions and were finally separated into Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte with their present day boundaries by virtue of the Philippine Legislative Act No. 2711 of March 10, 1917.

Naga City, the former capital of Camarines Sur, was founded in 1573 as Nueva Caceres namesake of the Province in Spain and among the original five royal cities of the colony. It was designated as the Province s Capital by virtue of Philippine Legislative Act No. 2711 approved on March 10, 1917 until June 6, 1955, when Pili, the adjoining town was declared the Provincial Capital by virtue of Republic Act 1336 up to the present time.

Among the great sons of Camarines Sur were Bishop Jorge Barlin, the first Filipino Catholic Bishop, revolutionary leaders Elias Angeles and Felix Plazo, and the fifteen (15) Bicol Martyrs led by Manuel and Domingo Abella, who died fighting against the Spanish Rule.

Source: http://www.camarinessur.gov.ph/home

Quick Facts

Land Area 548, 160 hectares/5,481.6 sq.m.Municipalities/barangays 35 municipalities; 2 cities; 1,063 barangays

Population1,551,549 (Census 2000) 1,661,081 (2004 Projection) 1.07% (Projected Population Growth Rate)

Literacy Rate Simple-95.4%; Functional-86.0%Labor Force and Participation Rate

Over 1,010,000; 72.1% (April 2003) Total Employed: Over 669,000 persons (April 2003)

Predominant Language and Dialect

Filipino (Tagalog), English; Bikol Standard, Buhinon, Partido; Buhinon

Climate Dry season (March-May);Wet season (June-October) 

Cool (November-February) ? favorable to agriculture and industry

Generated Exports US$ 2.42 M (2002); US$ 1.58 M (2003)Value of Investments Direct Investment (BN) P 954.867 M (2003)Number of Banking Institutions

Around 66, composed of development banks, commercial and rural banks

Source: http://www.camarinessur.gov.ph/home

Geography and climate

[edit]Terrain

Camarines Sur lies at the center of the Bicol Peninsula. The province is also the largest in

the Bicol Region with a land area of 5,266.8 square kilometers. At the center of the province is

Bicol Plain. Surrounding it are mountains, two of which are Mount Isarog and Mount Iriga. The

eastern part of the province lies on the mountainous Caramoan Peninsula, which faces the

island of Catanduanes to the east.

The Bicol River drains the central and southern parts of the province into San Miguel Bay. Mt.

Asog is surrounded by three lakes: Buhi,Bato, and Baao.

[edit]Climate

The climate in Camarines Sur, like most of the rest of the country, is very tropical. It is dry from

March to May and wet the rest of the year Annual average rainfall is 2,565 millimeters.

Camarines Sur has an average temperature of 27.0 °C and a relative humidity of 25.8%. Based

from Aera Tranquilo

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camarines_Sur

Physical Characteristics

The province is geographically located in the central part of the Bicol peninsula which forms the southeastern part of the Bicol peninsula which forms the southeastern part of the island of Luzon.  It is about 450 kilometers from Manila and is located between 14O 10' and 130 15' North Latitude and between 1240 10' and 1220 40' East Longitude. It is bounded on the north by the province of Quezon and Camarines Sur Norte, San Miguel Bay and the Pacific Ocean; on the south by the province of Albay ; Lagonoy Gulf on the east; and on the west by Ragay Gulf.

Land Area The province is the largest among the six provinces of the Bicol Region with a land area of 526, 682 hectares which is 29. 87% of the total regional area, and 1.75% of the total area of the Philippines.

Land Use 

The existing land use of the province may be classified into 5 main categories which are:a.) Agricultural areas- areas devoted to agricultural such as irrigated and rain-fed areas, and lands devoted to crops and fruit trees.

b.) Grassland/Shrubland- consists of grasses, shrubs and pasture lands.

c.) Forest land- includes primary and secondary forest lands and kaingin areas.

d.) Wet land areas- consist of mangrove, marshland and fishponds.

e.) Miscellaneous- areas occupied by residential/commercial/built-up uses, rivers/lakes, beaches, rocks, volcanic ash and other uses.

The existing land use of Camarines Sur is still predominantly agricultural. The next biggest land use in terms of land area is grassland/shrubland.

Towns/Cities Area(Ha.) Baao 14,305Balatan 6, 372Bato 9, 872Bombon 4, 420Buhi 19, 179Bula 15, 125Cabusao 4, 681Calabanga 16, 384Camaligan 1, 300Canaman 2, 741Caramoan 22, 501Del Gallego 28, 676Gainza 1, 821Garchitorena 21, 810Goa 21, 038Iriga City 11, 963Lagonoy 45, 973Libmanan 33, 620Lupi 25, 312Magarao 3, 901Milaor 2, 341Minalabac 15, 613Nabua 9, 623Naga City 7, 748Ocampo 11, 833

Pamplona 8, 062Pasacao 14, 954Pili 12, 265Presentacion 10, 244Ragay 27, 235Sa񧡹 10, 819San Fernando 6,600Sipocot 21, 160San Jose 3, 901Siruma 12, 743Tigaon 9, 120Tinambac 31, 465TOTAL 526,720.00

TopographyCamarines Sur is generally hilly and mountainous with flat central area known as 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.  Mangroves and nipa swamps fro 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 ravines are deep and steep slopes are covered only by cogon. The Ragay coast is hilly and rolling. Mt. Isarog with an elevation of 1, 976 meters and Mt. Iriga with 1, 196 meters, in the central and southern parts are inactive volcanoes. Also there is the Tangkong Baka mountain range which is the lower portion of the Sierra Madre mountain system and the Calinigan Mountain Range (904 meters) in the Partido area. Other mountains in the province are: Mt. Sugutin- 366m, Mt. Tiis- 610 m, Saddle Peak- 1,028m, Triple Peak- 638m, Mt. Putianay- 640m, Mt. Elizario- 508m, Mt. Talitig- 385m.The province has three fresh-water lakes, namely: Lake Bato, Lake Buhi and Lake Baao which has an areas of 5,482 has. The area is likewise traversed by rivers, streams, and creeks that serve as natural drainage particularly in the basin area. The Bicol River, the largest in the region with an approximate length of 95 kilometers, begins at the outlet of Lake Bato and flows across through the plain to San Miguel Bay. Its tributaries have formed the famous Bicol River Basin which comprises 312, 000 hectares of fertile agricultural lands including 185, 000 hectares of watershed area.

HydrologyThe province's water resources, both ground and surface waters are very abundant and could very well meet the various demands of development. It was also observed that there are numerous hydo-electric potential resources and also large areas for irrigated area development and expansion.The province's inland waters consist of an intricate network or rivers, streams, and lakes. The network serves as natural drainage. The Bicol River is the largest river in the region and considered the main drainage channel for the major basin area of the Bicol Plains. The lakes consist of another vital inland water resources for the province. The more important ones include Lakes Bato, Baao and Buhi.

SoilSoil 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 the hills and mountains are of primary soils. The soils of the province are divided into 3 general groups namely:

a.) soils of plains and valleys which are composed of either Pili, San Miguel Guigua or Balongay series;

b.) soils of hills and mountains which are composed of either Tigaon, Bacolod, Faraon and Luisana series;

c.) the miscellaneous land types which consist of either hydrosol or the mountains soil undifferentiated.

Land ClassificationLand Use Category Area Covered (in Hectares)

Classified Alienable and Disposable 365,624

Agricultural 295,111Residential 19,181Commercial 2,150Industrial 4,200Grazing Land 22,524Mineral Reservation 2,000Other Land Uses 20,458

Unclassified Forestland 4,354

Classified Forestland 156,704

Timberland (upland) 127,325Forest Reserve 15,027National Park 13,145Civil Reserve 73Fishpond 1,134

TOTAL 526,682

Source: http://98.130.222.111/~camgov/profile.php

Cities and municipalities

Camarines Sur is subdivided into 2 cities and 35 municipalities. 19 of its towns are First

Class. Pili, Baao, Nabua, Calabanga, Lagonoy,Goa, Caramoan, Libmanan, Pasacao, Buhi, San

Fernando, Milaor, Canaman, Ragay, Sipocot, Garchitorena, Magarao, Pamplona,

andOcampo are all First Class Towns in the province of Camarines Sur

City/MunicipalityNo. of

Barangays

Area

(km²)

Population

(2007)

Mayor

(2007–2010)

Baao 30 143.05 72,466 Quirino Boncayao Jr.

Balatan 17 63.720 25,982 Nena B. Borja

Bato 33 98.720 44,437 Jeanette Bernaldez

Bombon 21 44.20 14,083 Ma. Luisa D. Angeles

Buhi 38 191.79 70,756 Rey P. Lacoste

Bula 33 151.25 62,024 Benjamin S. Decena

Cabusao 13 46.81 17,599 Norberto U. Genova

Calabanga 48 163.84 73,333 Evelyn S. Yu

Camaligan 13 13.00 20,758 Jayson Asico

Canaman 24 27.41 81,583 Emmanuel S. Requejo

Caramoan 51 225.01 79,810 Constantino Cordial, Jr.

Del Gallego 32 286.76 21,272 Lydia Abarientos

Gainza 8 18.21 9,404 Romeo A. Gontang

Garchitorena 23 218.12 74,825 Solon O.Demetriois, Jr.

Goa 34 210.38 82,035 Antero S. Lim

Iriga City 36 119.63 97,983 Madeleine A. Gazmen

Lagonoy 42 78,093 Delfin Pilapil

Libmanan 89 336.20 92,839 Marilyn A. Jimenez

Lupi 47 253.12 47,630 Roberto M. Matamorosa

Magarao 31 39.01 72,515 Salvador Senar

Milaor 36 23.41 76,452 Roger Flores

Minalabac 25 156.13 43,957 Leovegildo "Gil" D. Basmayor Jr.

Nabua 42 96.23 75,422 Delia Simbulan

Naga City 65 849.48 675,516 John G. Bongat

Ocampo 25 118.33 79,759 Fidel C. Carido

Pamplona 17 80.62 81,895 Gimeno Imperial

Pasacao 19 149.54 71,533 Asuncion Arsenio

Pili 26 122.65 91,496 Tomas Bongalonta, Jr.

Presentacion 18 20,266 Jaime V. Deleña

Ragay 75 272.35 72,021 Ricardo B. Aquino

Sagñay 19 108.19 29,082 Roberto A. Briones

San Fernando 22 156.13 70,697 Eugenio Lagasca, Jr.

San Jose 29 39.01 35,768 Gilmar S Paccamarra

Sipocot 46 211.60 77,861 Rogenor Astor

Siruma 22 127.43 17,035 Nonito M. Vier

Tigaon 23 91.02 45,509 Arnie Fuentebella

Tinambac 44 314.65 79,125 Ruel T. Velarde

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camarines_Sur

Catanduanes

Figure 2.1 Province of Catanduanes official seal

Catanduanes (Filipino:Katandwanes) is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Virac and the province lies to the east ofCamarines Sur across Maqueda Channel. As of 2007, the population of the province is 232,757 people.

Brief Historical Background     

The story of Catanduanes has always been linked with its religious past because church records were the only reliable data source available chronicling its early beginnings. However, many of documented accounts like the “LibrosCanonicus” were either destroyed in the numerous forays by pirates or lost during the many unrecorded natural calamities that frequented the island. This explains to a large extent the dearth of early historical information on Catanduanes.

Pre-Spanish

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the first settlers believed to have set foot in Catanduanes were seafarers from Borneo who had come from the island of Panay and whose other companions were settled in Albay during the latter part of the 13th and 14th centuries.   They were largely engaged in barter and trade with nearby islands, in search of new prospects for commerce and new lands for agriculture and probably for settlement.

The following periods were characterized by relative stability in population movement and much of the activities were limited to trading with neighboring islands and the establishment of population centers.  The uneventful gap between the turn of the 14th to the middle of the 15th centuries illustrates the doldrums in the island’s early history.

 

The Spanish Era 

During the early part of 1573, a group of Spanish conquistadores led by Juan de Salcedo set foot in Catanduanes while in pursuit of pirates plying their trade along the coastal villages of many of Bicol and southern Luzon’s coastal communities. 

This event sparked a vigorous influx of the many religious missionaries into the tribal communities, eventually subverting many of the tribal natives into Christianity not only by the sword but also by the cross.

In April 23, 1576, the galleon “Espiritu Santo”, in route to Manila from Acapulco, Mexico was wrecked off the coast of Batalay, Bato by an off-season weather disturbance.  Among the survivors were Father Diego de Herrera, a few Augustinian missionaries and some crew members. With this group came the first attempt to proselytize; a form of religious intrusion, which later became the major source of conflict with the natives that led to their violent deaths, according to some legends.  Over the grave of Fr. Herrera, the first Christian cross in Catanduanes was erected. The cross, which can be found in Barangay Batalay of the municipality of Bato, is a mute testimony to efforts of Spain’s religious mission towards bringing Christianity into this remote and isolated location.

   

The Naming of Catanduanes 

The actual Christianization of the island started some twenty years later. The conquistadores, after subjugating the Bicol mainland, came back with Franciscan missionaries and came upon several tribes living in the thatched huts called cobo by the natives.  Hence, “Isla de Cobos” became its first adopted name. But how the island came to be known by its present name – Catanduanes; evokes a legend handed down by word of mouth through generations but popularly taken as part historical and part legendary. The name was probably derived from the word “tandu”, a native click beetle or from “samdong”, a tree species; both of which are found in abundance throughout the island, hence “katanduan” or “kasamdongan”. The word was ultimately Hispanized to Catanduanes.

The Origin

Before its independence as a separate province, Catanduanes was once a part of "Ambos Camarines", also known as "Ibalon". In 1636, the Spanish colonizers later split Ibalon into two: Partido de Camarines andPartido de Ibalon (comprising what are now Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, and the islands of Ticao and Burias). Catanduanes as a municipality, together with Tabaco (Tabaco City) later comprised the 2nd Congressional District. In 1905, Catanduanes was made a sub-province of Albay, and subsequently, in 1945, it was separated and finally organized into a separate province. 

Creation of the Local Government Units

From 1600 to 1857, the colonizers were able to put up nine centers of local governments through the establishment of

 

parishes: Caramoran(1601), Pandan (1650), Viga (1661), Panganiban (1663), Virac (1775),Bato (1830), and Calolbon (San Andres) in (1853.

During the early 50’s several municipalities were created. Baras was created in 1950.  Bagamanoc, a thriving municipality during the Spanish period was reduced to a mere barangay of Viga and later of Panganiban, during the American regime.  It formally became a municipality on June 12, 1950 followed by Gigmoto in 1951, and San Miguel in 1952.  It was during this period that the island saw the development of an organized local authority and economic growth, as interlinking roads were built and trading centers created.

 

Commonwealth Act No. 687 or House Bill 301, authored by Congressman Francisco Perfecto, was enacted to create the island of Catanduanes as one of the six provinces of the Bicol Region and officially established Catanduanes as a province independent from Albay. It was approved by Congress on September 26, 1945, signed into law by President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. on October 24, 1945. On October 26, 1946, three months after the Philippine independence from the Americans, the island was finally recognized as a separate and independent province.

Remigio Socito, the last Lieutenant Governor, served as the first Provincial Governor. When elections were held in 1947, Alfonso V. Usero became the new Governor.

 

Political Districts

Catanduanes is a lone congressional district with a population count of 232,757 people as of 2007 NSO Census.  It has two provincial districts, namely: West District and East District.The West District is composed of the three (3) municipalities of Virac, the capital town and the biggest of all municipalities with sixty three (63) barangays; San Andres with thirty eight (38) barangays, and Caramoran with twenty seven (27) barangays. The East District is composed of eight (8) municipalities, namely: MLGU Pandan, twenty six (26) barangays; MLGU Bagamanoc, eighteen  (18) barangays; MLGU Panganiban, twenty three (23) barangays; MLGU Viga, thirty one (31) barangays;  MLGU Gigmoto, the smallest town with nine (9) barangays; MLGU Baras, twenty nine (29) barangays; MLGU Bato, twenty seven (27) barangays, and MLGU San Miguel, the only interior town, twenty four (24) barangays.

 

The Provincial Capitol of Catanduanes, Seat of the local government of the Province.

Source: http://www.catanduanes.gov.ph/Brief_Historical_Background.html

Quick Facts

Quick Facts

Population: 232,757. as of May 1, 2007Household: 44, 335Land Area: 1,511.1 sq.km. or 151,150 hectaresCapital Town: ViracCongressional District: 1No. of Municipalities: 11No. of Barangays: 315

Geography

The province is geographically situated at the easternmost part of the Bicol Peninsula, separated from the mainland Bicol by the Maqueda Channel and the Lagonoy Gulf. It is the first landmass of the Philippine archipelago to kiss the Pacific Ocean, making it directly open to the path of tropical cyclones, thus the monicker, "The Land of the Howling Winds".

Political Subdivision and Land Area

Comprised by 11 municipalities, 315 barangays and one congressional district, it has a total land area of 151,150 hectares or 1, 511. Sq km. The capital town is Virac.

Source: http://www.catanduanes.gov.ph/Quick_Facts.html

Geography

Catanduanes is situated in the easternmost fringe of Luzon: 13.3 to 14.1 degrees north latitudes

and between 124.1 to 124.3 degrees east longitudes. The island bounded on the West by the

Maqueda Channel, on the South by Lagonoy Gulf, and on the North and East by the Philippine

Sea (Map 1). Several islands compose the province, but majority of these are physically small to

be of relative significance. Its aggregate land area totals approximately 1,511.5 square

kilometers or 151,150 hectares. The coastlines, that stretch to almost 400 km (249 mi)

(248.5 mi) are mostly embayed and coiffed.[4]

The topography is rugged and mountainous, becoming more pronounced towards the central

portion of the island. The highest mountain peak is in Boctot, located between the municipalities

of Virac and San Miguel, Catanduanes with an elevation of 803 meters (2,600 ft) above sea

level. It is the premier mountain range with broadly spread old growth forests and watershed

which exerts widespread influence over its immediate environs that include the municipalities of

Virac, Bato, and San Miguel. Other prominent mountain forms with important significance

include the ranges: Obi in Caramoran, Cagmasoso in San Andres, and the Summit and

Magsumoso ranges within the Viga and Gigmoto areas.

The lowlands include the Virac Plain, Viga Plain, San Andres Plain and the Bato River Flood

Plain. The coastal municipalities with limited lowland agricultural areas are Pandan and

Caramoran. The more extensive lowlands are found in the southern parts of the province. The

largest coastal plain is the contiguous wetlands of Viga, Panganiban and Bagamanoc over

which lays the widest area ofrice paddies and nipa mangroves.

The province is mostly rugged and mountainous terrain. Its slope characteristics are 13% gently

sloping to undulating, 1% classified rolling to hilly, 2% very hills and mountains, 47% level to

very gently sloping, 32% steep hills and mountainous, and 5% undulating to rolling. Ten of the

eleven municipalities of the province are situated along the coastal fringes, over which locate its

mostly fractured plains. The only landlocked municipality is San Miguel with its poblacion [town

center] sitting in a location entirely devoid of flat lands. The majority of the built-up areas occupy

zones that are classified as flat to rolling.

[edit]Weather and Climate

Without a pronounced dry season, precipitation is distributed fairly well throughout the year

becoming wetter in the last quarter into the early months of the first quarter, when tropical

disturbances and monsoon wind bring in heavy rains. Other months are characterized by short

periods of dryer days and fine weather except in July and August, when the dry and gusty

northwest monsoon winds intensify.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catanduanes

Physical Characteristics

 

LOCATION

Catanduanes is situated in the easternmost fringe of Luzon: 13.3 to 14.1 degrees north latitudes and between 124.1 to 124.3 degrees east longitudes.

The island is bounded on the West by the Maqueda Channel, on the South by Lagonoy Gulf, and on the North and East by the Philippine Sea (Map). Several islands compose the province, but majority of these are physically small to be of relative significance. The coastlines that stretch to almost 400 kilometers are mostly embayed and craggy.

By air, it is less than an hour’s flight by commercial jet from Manila or an hour by propeller plane. Over land a 10-hour bus ride from Manila to Tabaco connects a two and a half to three hour’s sea ferry trip to San Andres or Virac.

Capital Town: ViracNo. of Barangays: 315No. of Municipalities: 11Cities: NoneWEATHER AND CLIMATE

Without a pronounced dry season, precipitation is distributed fairly well throughout the year becoming wetter during the last quarter and well into the early months of the first quarter, when tropical disturbances and monsoon wind bring in heavy rains. Other months are characterized by short periods of dryer days and fine weather except in July and August, when the dry and gusty northwest monsoon winds intensify.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Catanduanes is the 12th largest island in the Philippine Archipelago but the smallest province in the Bicol Region in terms of land area and population.Its aggregate land area totals approximately 1,511.5 sq. km. The municipality of Caramoran is the largest among the eleven municipalities, with the municipality of Bato being the smallest in area. Coastal lowlands comprise merely seven percent of the land area where majority of the communities are located.

The topography is mainly hilly to mountainous, becoming more pronounced towards the central portion of the island. The highest mountain peak is “Mt. Boctot”,in the municipality of Virac has an elevation of 803 meters above sea level. It is the premier mountain range with widely-spread old growth forests. Other prominent mountain forms with important significance include the ranges found in Obi in Caramoran, “Mt. Cagmasoso” in San Andres, and “Mt. Magsumoso” ranges within the Viga and Gigmoto areas.

The lowlands include the Virac Plain, Viga Plain, San Andres Plain and the Bato River Flood Plain. The coastal municipalities with limited lowland agricultural areas are Pandan and Caramoran. The more extensive lowlands are found in the southern parts of the province. The largest coastal plain is the contiguous wetlands of Viga, Panganiban and Bagamanoc over which lie the widest area of rice paddies and nipa palm mangroves.

The province has mostly rugged terrain with ten of its eleven municipalities situated along the coastal fringes. San Miguel, the only landlocked municipality is sited in a location mainly devoid of flat lands. 

Of the total 151,150 hectares, 35 per cent are cultivated; 46 per cent, forestland; and the rest classified as residential and multi-use public and other lands.

Status of Land Use

Of the total land provincial land area, 54 percent is alienable and disposable lands and 46 percent classified forestlands. The municipalities of Bato and Baras have the least forest lands. Municipality of Bato has the smallest forested areas.  Thirty seven percent of the provincial land area is unclassified “Mountain”soil, mainly found at the central portion of the province. Louisiana clay, which comprises 35 percent, is more or less evenly distributed. “Calatagan”clay loam is prominent in the municipalities of Virac and San Andres. Another notable soil type is the “Alimodian” clay, which is also found in the eleven municipalities.

 

Land Use Category

Area (has) Percent (%)

Cultivated Land 53,387 35

Forest Land 69,342 46

Residential/Solar/Commercial 2,614 1.7

Fishpond/Swamp/Nipa/Marshland

2,360 1.6

Thickets/Pasture/Cogonal 21,686 14.3

Others 1,761 1.2

TOTAL 151,150 100

 

DEMOGRAPHICS

Virac is the largest in terms of population and population density. Gigmoto is the least populated and has the smallest population density.

LGUDistancefrom Virac(km)

Barangays

IncomeClass

Population(2007)

Share

Land 

Area

PopulationDensity

Persons Households

(%) Sq km

Persons/sq.m

Bagamanoc

62.4 18 5th 11,807 1,940 6.2 108 94

Baras 26 29 5th 11,653 2,245 7.3 108 110Bato 11 27 5th 18,738 3,569 3.2 384 49Caramoran

88.5 27 4th 23,790 4,880 16.7 101 252

Gigmoto 54.7 9 5th 7,055 1,442 12.4 40 187Pandan 98.7 26 5th 17,696 3,620 7.9 159 120Panganiban

57.3 23 5th 8,877 1,770 4.22 146 64

San Andres

17 38 4th 31,463 6,434 13.4 167 203

San Miguel

11.5 24 5th 12,205 2,470 8.3 104 125

Viga 52.6 31 4th 19,266 3,670 10.0 128 151Virac 0 63 1st 57,067 12,296 10.4 410 157TOTAL   315 3rd 232,75

744,335 100 154 1,512

 

Source: http://www.catanduanes.gov.ph/Physical_Characteristics.html

Political

[edit]Political Divisions

Catanduanes is subdivided into 11 municipalities.

MunicipalityNo. of

Barangays

Area

(ha.)

Population

(2007)

Pop. density

(per km²)

Bagamanoc 18 9,390 10,183 -

Baras 29 10,950 11,787 -

Bato 27 4,880 18,738 -

Caramoran 27 25,240 25,618 -

Gigmoto 9 18,700 7,569 -

Pandan 26 11,990 19,005 -

Panganiban (Payo) 23 6,380 9,290 -

San Andres (Calolbon) 38 20,260 33,781 -

San Miguel 24 12,510 12,966 -

Viga 31 15,110 19,266 -

Virac 63 15,740 64,554 -