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 Municipalities/barangays Population Literacy Rate

548, 160 hectares/5,481.6 sq.m. 35 municipalities; 2 cities; 1,063 barangays 1,551,549 (Census 2000) 1,661,081 (2004 Projection) 1.07% (Projected Population Growth Rate) Simple-95.4%; Functional-86.0%

Labor Force and Participation Rate Predominant Language and Dialect Climate Generated Exports Value of Investments Number of Banking Institutions

Over 1,010,000; 72.1% (April 2003) Total Employed: Over 669,000 persons (April 2003) Filipino (Tagalog), English; Bikol Standard, Buhinon, Partido; Buhinon Dry season (March-May);Wet season (June-October) Cool (November-February) ? favorable to agriculture and industry US$ 2.42 M (2002); US$ 1.58 M (2003) Direct Investment (BN) P 954.867 M (2003) 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 Balatan Bato Bombon Buhi Bula Cabusao Calabanga Camaligan Canaman Caramoan Del Gallego Gainza

14,305 6, 372 9, 872 4, 420 19, 179 15, 125 4, 681 16, 384 1, 300 2, 741 22, 501 28, 676 1, 821

Garchitorena Goa Iriga City Lagonoy Libmanan Lupi Magarao Milaor Minalabac Nabua Naga City Ocampo Pamplona Pasacao Pili Presentacion Ragay Sa San Fernando Sipocot San Jose Siruma Tigaon Tinambac TOTAL

21, 810 21, 038 11, 963 45, 973 33, 620 25, 312 3, 901 2, 341 15, 613 9, 623 7, 748 11, 833 8, 062 14, 954 12, 265 10, 244 27, 235 10, 819 6,600 21, 160 3, 901 12, 743 9, 120 31, 465 526,720.00

Topography Camarines 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.

Hydrology The 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.

Soil Soil 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 Classification Land Use Category Classified Alienable and Disposable Agricultural Residential Commercial Industrial

Area Covered (in Hectares) 365,624 295,111 19,181 2,150 4,200

Grazing Land Mineral Reservation Other Land Uses Unclassified Forestland Classified Forestland Timberland (upland) Forest Reserve National Park Civil Reserve Fishpond TOTAL

22,524 2,000 20,458 4,354 156,704 127,325 15,027 13,145 73 1,134 526,682

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 No. of Area Population Barangays (km) (2007) Mayor (20072010)

City/Municipality

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

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. Delea

Ragay

75

272.35

72,021

Ricardo B. Aquino

Sagay

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 islands 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 Luzons 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 Spains 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), Vir ac (1775),Bato (1830), and Calolbon (San Andres) in (1853. During the early 50s 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 Osmea, 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, 2007 Household: 44, 335 Land Area: 1,511.1 sq.km. or 151,150 hectares Capital Town: Virac Congressional District: 1 No. of Municipalities: 11 No. 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 hours 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 hours sea ferry trip to San Andres or Virac. Capital No. No. Cities: None of of Town: Barangays: Municipalities: Virac 315 11

WEATHER 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 Mountainsoil, mainly found at the central portion of the province. Louisiana clay, which comprises 35 percent, is more or less evenly distributed. Calataganclay 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 Cultivated Land Forest Land Residential/Solar/Commercial

Area (has) 53,387 69,342 2,614

Percent (%) 35 46 1.7

Fishpond/Swamp/Nipa/Marshland 2,360 Thickets/Pasture/Cogonal Others TOTAL 21,686 1,761 151,150

1.6 14.3 1.2 100

DEMOGRAPHICS

Virac is the largest in terms of population and population density. Gigmoto is the least populated and has the smallest population density. Distancefrom Vira Barangay Incom Population c s e (2007) (km) Class Persons Household s Bagamano 62.4 18 5th 11,807 1,940 c Baras 26 29 5th 11,653 2,245 Bato 11 27 5th 18,738 3,569 Caramoran 88.5 27 4th 23,790 4,880 Gigmoto 54.7 9 5th 7,055 1,442 Pandan 98.7 26 5th 17,696 3,620 Panganiba 57.3 23 5th 8,877 1,770 n San 17 38 4th 31,463 6,434 Andres San Miguel 11.5 24 5th 12,205 2,470 Viga 52.6 31 4th 19,266 3,670 Virac 0 63 1st 57,067 12,296 TOTAL 315 3rd 232,75 44,335 7 LGU Shar Land Population e Density Area (%) Sq Persons/sq. km m 6.2 108 94 7.3 3.2 16.7 12.4 7.9 4.22 108 384 101 40 159 146 110 49 252 187 120 64 203 125 151 157 1,512

13.4 167 8.3 10.0 10.4 100 104 128 410 154

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

Political
[edit]Political

Divisions

Catanduanes is subdivided into 11 municipalities.

Municipality

No. of Area Population Pop. density Barangays (ha.) (2007) (per km)

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

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