3. The Philippine archipelago lies in Southeast Asia in a position that has led to its
becoming a cultural crossroads - a place where Malays, Hindus, Arabs,
Chinese, Spaniards, Americans, and others had interacted to forge a unique
cultural and racial blend. The archipelago numbers some 7,107 islands; and the
nation claims an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles (370 km)
from its shores. The Philippines occupies an area that stretches for 1,850
kilometers (1,150 mi) from about the fifth to the twentieth parallels north latitude.
The total land area is slightly more than 300,000 square kilometers (115,831 sq
mi). Only approximately 1,000 of its islands are populated, and fewer than one-
half of these are larger than 2.5 square kilometers (1 sq mi). Eleven islands
make up 95 percent of the Philippine landmass, and two of these — Luzon and
Mindanao — measure 105,000 square kilometers (40,541 sq mi) and 95,000
square kilometers (36,680 sq mi), respectively. They, together with the cluster
of islands in Visayas in between them, represent the three principal regions of
the archipelago that are identified by the three stars on the Philippine flag.
Topographically, the Philippines is broken up by the sea, which gives it one of
the longest coastlines of any nation in the world.
Physical setting
5. The country's most extensive river systems are the Pulangi River,
which flows into the Mindanao River (Rio Grande de Mindanao); the
Agusan, in Mindanao which flows north into the Mindanao Sea; the
Cagayan in northern Luzon; and the Pampanga, which flows south
from east Central Luzon into Manila Bay. Laguna de Bay, east of
Manila Bay, is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines. Several
rivers have been harnessed for hydroelectric power.
To protect the country's biological resources, the government has taken
a first step of preparing a Biodiversity Action Plan to address
conservation of threatened species.
6. Political geography
The Philippines is divided into a hierarchy of local government units
(LGUs) with the 80 provinces as the primary unit. Provinces are further
subdivided into cities and municipalities, which are in turn composed of
barangays. The barangay is the smallest local government unit.
The Philippines is divided into 17 regions with all provinces grouped into
one of 16 regions for administrative convenience. The National Capital
Region however, is divided into four special districts.
Most government offices establish regional offices to serve the
constituent provinces. The regions themselves do not possess a
separate local government, with the exception of the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao.
7. Regions
Ilocos Region (Region I)
Cagayan Valley (Region II)
Central Luzon (Region III)
CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
MIMAROPA (Region IV-B)
Bicol Region (Region V)
Western Visayas (Region VI)
Central Visayas (Region VII)
Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)
Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Davao Region (Region XI)
Soccsksargen (Region XII)
Caraga (Region XIII)
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
National Capital Region (NCR; Metro Manila)
8. Provinces
Abra
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Sur
Aklan
Albay
Antique
Apayao
Aurora
Basilan
Bataan
Batanes
Batangas
Benguet
Biliran
Bohol
Bukidnon
Bulacan
Cagayan
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Camiguin
Capiz
Catanduanes
Cavite
Cebu
Compostela Valley
Cotabato
Davao del Norte
Davao del Sur
Davao Occidental
Davao Oriental
Dinagat Islands
Eastern Samar
Guimaras
Ifugao
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
Iloilo
Isabela
Kalinga
La Union
Laguna
Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Sur
Leyte
Maguindanao
Marinduque
Masbate
Misamis Occidental
Misamis Oriental
Mountain Province
Negros Occidental
Negros Oriental
Northern Samar
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Vizcaya
Occidental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Palawan
Pampanga
Pangasinan
Quezon
Quirino
Rizal
Romblon
Samar
Sarangani
Siquijor
Sorsogon
South Cotabato
Southern Leyte
Sultan Kudarat
Sulu
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Sur
Tarlac
Tawi-Tawi
Zambales
Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga Sibugay
9. List of landlocked provinces
in the Philippines
A landlocked province is one that has no coastline, meaning no
access to sea or ocean. There are 16 landlocked provinces in the
Philippines:
All provinces of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR): Apayao,
Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao and Benguet
Two provinces of Cagayan Valley (Region II): Nueva Vizcaya and
Quirino
Two provinces of Central Luzon (Region III): Nueva Ecija and
Tarlac
Four provinces of Mindanao:
Bukidnon of Northern Mindanao (Region X)
South Cotabato of SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Agusan del Sur of Caraga (Region XIII), and
Similarly, Laguna and Rizal Province of CALABARZON (Region
IV-A) have coastlines on Laguna de Bay. Since lakes do not allow
access to seaborne trade, these provinces are still considered to
be landlocked.
10. List of island provinces in the Philippines
An island province completely surrounded by water, is the
opposite of a landlocked one. There are 16 island provinces
in the Philippines:
One province of Cagayan Valley (Region II): Batanes
Three provinces of MIMAROPA (Region IV-B): Marinduque,
Romblon, and Palawan
Two provinces of Bicol (Region V): Catanduanes and
Masbate
One province of Western Visayas (Region VI): Guimaras
Three provinces of Central Visayas (Region VII): Cebu, Bohol
and Siquijor
One province of Eastern Visayas (Region VIII): Biliran
One province of Northern Mindanao (Region X): Camiguin
One province of Caraga (Region XIII): Dinagat Islands
Three provinces of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM): Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi
12. Subnational quadripoint
A quadripoint is a point on the Earth that touches four distinct
regions. Such points are often called "four corners", from the
corners of the four regions meeting there.
Four provinces in Mindanao meet at a point at the summit of
Mount Apo: Bukidnon of Northern Mindanao Region,
Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur of Davao Region, and
Cotabato Provinceof Soccsksargen
13. Six
The municipalities of Basey and Marabut, Samar
Province; and Balangkayan, Llorente, Balangiga
and Lawaan, Eastern Samar Province.
14. Eight
The cities of Ligao, Legazpi and Tabaco, and the
municipalities of Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga,
Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, in the province of Albay
meet on the crater of Mayon Volcano.
15. Extraterritoriality
Plaza Rizal in Naga City is claimed by the
province of Camarines Sur, its home province.
The Plaza belonged to the city (formerly Nueva
Caceres) when it was the capital of Ambos
Camarines. A new capitol was constructed in Pili
when Camarines Sur was created.
16. Geographic center
The island province of Marinduque prides itself as being the geographic
center of the Philippines.[1] The Marinduque governor has stated that
their claim to be the Geographical Center of the Philippines has received
notice and support from the National Mapping and Resource Information
Authority (NAMRIA).[2] The Luzon Datum of 1911 in Marinduque is used
as point number one for all map makers in the country.[3]
The boundaries of the Philippine archipelago are described in Article III
of the Treaty of Paris (1898), as comprising an irregular polygon.[4] A
box enclosing that polygon would have corners at 20°N 116°E, 20°N
127°E, 4.75°N 127°E, 4.75°N 116°E. The center of this box would lie at
121.5 E, 12.375 N. That point lies roughly in the center of the Tablas
Strait between the islands of Tablas and Mindoro.
Republic Act No. 9522, "An Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial
Sea of the Philippines",[5] describes an irregular polygon which fits within
a box with its center at 121°44'47.45"E 12°46'6.1252"N, a point also
roughly in the center of the Tablas Strait.
The CIA Factbook locates the Philippines at 13°N 12°E.[6]
17. The extreme points under Philippine control as of 2010 are:
Direction Location Coordinates
Latitude (N) Longitude (E)
North Amianan Island, Batanes 21º7’18.41" 121º56’48.79"
East Pusan Point, Davao Oriental[a] 7º17’19.80" 126º36’18.26"
South Frances Reef, Tawi-Tawi 4º24’53.84" 119º14’50.71"
West Thitu Island[b], Kalayaan, Palawan 11°3’10.19" 114°16’54.66"
a Pusan Point is the easternmost incorporated territory of the Philippines,
but the Benham Plateau is the easternmost unincorporated territory of
the Philippines.
b Thitu island is the westernmost of all the Spratly Island features
controlled by the Philippines as of December 2009.
The center of a box enclosing these points would be located at
12°46’6.13"N, 120°26’36.46"E. That point is located in the Mindoro Strait,
about 12 km NNE of Apo Island, in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
18. Climate
The Philippines has a tropical wet climate dominated by a rainy season
and a dry season. The summer monsoon brings heavy rains to most of
the archipelago from May to October, whereas the winter monsoon
brings cooler and drier air from December to February. Manila and most
of the lowland areas are hot and dusty from March to May. Even at this
time, however, temperatures rarely rise above 37 °C (98.6 °F). Mean
annual sea-level temperatures rarely fall below 27 °C (80.6 °F). Annual
rainfall measures as much as 5,000 millimeters (196.9 in) in the
mountainous east coast section of the country, but less than 1,000
millimeters (39.4 in) in some of the sheltered valleys.
Monsoon rains, although hard and drenching, are not normally
associated with high winds and waves. But the Philippines sit astride the
typhoon belt, and it suffers an annual onslaught of dangerous storms
from July through October. These are especially hazardous for northern
and eastern Luzon and the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions, but
Manila gets devastated periodically as well.
19. In the last decade, the Philippines has been hit severely by natural disasters. In
2005 alone, Central Luzon was hit by both a drought, which sharply curtailed
hydroelectric power, and by a typhoon that flooded practically all of low-lying
Manila's streets. Still more damaging was the 1990 earthquake that devastated
a wide area in Luzon, including Baguio and other northern areas. The city of
Cebu and nearby areas were struck by a typhoon that killed more than a
hundred people, sank vessels, destroyed part of the sugar crop, and cut off
water and electricity for several days. The Philippines is prone to about 6-9
storms which make landfall each year, on average. The 1991 Mount Pinatubo
eruption also damaged much of Central Luzon, the lahar burying towns and
farmland, and the ashes affecting global temperatures.
Building construction is undertaken with natural disasters in mind. Most rural
housing has consisted of nipa huts that are easily damaged but are inexpensive
and easy to replace. Most urban buildings are steel and concrete structures
designed (not always successfully) to resist both typhoons and earthquakes.
Damage is still significant, however, and many people are displaced each year
by typhoons, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. In 1987 alone the
Department of Social Welfare and Development helped 2.4 million victims of
natural disasters.
20. Terrain
The islands are volcanic in origin, being part of the Pacific Ring of Fire,
and are mostly mountainous. The highest point in the country is the peak
of Mount Apo in Mindanao, which is 2,954 meters (9,692 ft) above sea
level. The second highest point can be found on Luzon at Mount Pulog, a
peak 2,842 meters (9,324 ft) above sea level.
The Philippine Archipelago is geologically part of the Philippine Mobile
Belt located between the Philippine Sea Plate, the South China Sea
Basin of the Eurasian Plate, and the Sunda Plate. The Philippine Trench
(also called the Mindanao Trench) is a submarine trench 1,320
kilometers (820 mi) in length found directly east of the Philippine Mobile
Belt and is the result of a collision of tectonic plates. The Philippine Sea
Plate is subducting under the Philippine Mobile Belt at the rate of about
16 centimeters (6.3 in) per year. Its deepest point, the Galathea Depth,
has a depth of 10,540 meters (34,580 ft). The Philippine Fault System
consists of a series of seismic faults that produce several earthquakes
per year, most of which are not felt.
21. Many volcanoes in the country are active, the most recent eruption
being that of Mount Pinatubo on Luzon in 1991. Mount Mayon is
another of the active volcanoes and has the world's most perfectly-
shaped cone. Mayon has a violent history of 47 eruptions since
1616 and another violent eruption is currently feared. Taal
Volcano, also located on Luzon, is one of the Decade Volcanoes.
The islands typically have narrow coastal plains and numerous
swift-running streams. Every island has sand beaches, but few
open onto spacious lowlands. There are few large plains or
navigable rivers. The longest river is the Cagayan River or Rio
Grande de Cagayan in northern Luzon measuring 354 kilometers.
In Mindanao, the longest river is the Rio Grande de Mindanao or
Mindanao River which drains Maguindanao and other parts in
western-central Mindanao. Agusan River drains eastern Mindanao.
Most of the islands used to be covered by tropical rainforests.
However, illegal logging has reduced forest cover to less than 10%
of the total land area.
24. The Batanes And Babuyan islands[edit]
The Batanes and Babuyan Islands are found on the Luzon
Strait north of the Philippines facing Taiwan. It contains the
northernmost point of land, the islet of Y'Ami in the Batanes
Islands, separated from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel
(c.80.4672 kilometers (50.0000 mi) wide).
Western Luzon[edit]
This region stretches from Mairaira Point in Pagudpud, Ilocos
Norte in the north to Cochinos Point in Mariveles, Bataan in
the south. The terrain ranges from coastal plains to rugged
mountains bordered by the South China Sea in the west and
the Cordillera Central and Zambales mountain ranges in the
east. Western Luzon is known for its beaches, surf spots and
historic towns.
25. Cagayan Valley[edit]
Main article: Cagayan Valley
Cagayan Valley (Lambak ng Cagayan in Filipino; Tana' nak Cagayan in the Ibanag language; Tanap
ti Cagayan in the Ilocano language) is a region of the Philippines, also designated as Region II or
Region 02. It is composed of five provinces, namely: Batanes with Basco as the capital, Cagayan,
Tuguegarao City as the capital, Isabela considered to be the heart of the region with Ilagan City as
the capital, Nueva Vizcaya with Bayombong as the capital, and Quirino with Cabarroguis as the
capital. It has four cities; Cauayan and Ilagan City in Isabela, its regional center - Tuguegarao City in
Cagayan, and its commercial center - Santiago City in Isabela.
Most of the region lies in a large valley in northeastern Luzon, between the Cordilleras and the
Sierra Madre mountain ranges. The Cagayan River, the country's longest river runs through its
center and flows out to Luzon Strait in the north, in the town of Aparri, Cagayan. The Babuyan and
Batanes island groups that lie in the Luzon Strait also belong to the region.
Cordilleras and Caraballos[edit]
Main article: Cordillera Administrative Region
The Cordilleras and Caraballos, together with the Sierra Madre Range, form the main mountain
system in Northern Luzon.
The Cordilleras consists of 2, sometimes 3, mountain ranges that are found in northwestern central
Luzon. The first, called Caraballo del Sur, forms the nucleus of the system and has its highest peaks
in the border between the provinces of Abra, Ilocos Norte and Cagayan. The next, called Caraballo
Occidentalles, is further divided into 2 ranges, the Cordillera Norte and Cordillera Central. They line
the central portions of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
The Caraballos (Caraballo de Baler) start where the Sierra Madre and the Cordilleras meet. They
are found south of Cagayan Valley, northeast of the Central Luzon Plains.
26. Sierra Madre range[edit]
The Sierra Madre range is the longest mountain range in the Philippines and lies in the
Northeastern part of Luzon Island. The range stretches from Quezon Province to Isabela.
80 percent of the mountain range is tropical rainforest, which is diminishing from rampant
illegal logging activity. Only 5 percent of the mountain range is unexplored. The Sierra
Madre Mountain Range serves as the eastern wall of Luzon Island that protects
inhibitants from tropical cyclones usually coming from the Pacific Ocean. These storms
happen an average of 26 per year will cause a lot of distress for the people living in the
biggest island of the Philippines.
Central Luzon plains[edit]
The largest plain in the country and produces most of the country's rice supply, earning
itself the nickname "Rice Bowl of the Philippines". Its provinces are: Aurora, Bataan,
Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. It is an administrative division
or region of the Republic of the Philippines, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces of
the vast central plain of the island of Luzon (the largest island), for administrative
convenience
Manila-Calabarzon plains[edit]
This region is where the capital of the Philippines is located. Large rivers from bays and
mountain springs traverse the plain. In the Northern part of the region, that is, Manila and
Rizal, most of the plain has been converted into cities, and are thus industrialized. The
plain harbors the largest inland freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, the Laguna de Bay.
27. Mindoro island[edit]
Mindoro coastal plains[edit]
Mindoro's coastal plains are characterized by rice and corn fields, rivers,
beaches, and extensive open space areas. Most of the population is
concentrated on the northern and eastern coast of this island where Calapan
and Puerto Galera are located.
Mindoro highlands[edit]
The Mindoro mountain range begins with Mount Halcon and is further divided
into 3. The northwest ends at Calavite Point and is a landmark for ships. The
east originates from Lake Naujan and the west follows Mindoro Strait.
The endangered tamaraw, or Mindoro dwarf buffalo, is located on Mindoro.
Palawan[edit]
Kalayaan islands (Spratly Islands)[edit]
The Kalayaan islands are located to the west of Palawan. "Kalayaan" is a
Filipino word meaning "freedom". see Spratly islands
Bicol peninsula[edit]
This peninsula is connected to mainland Luzon by the isthmus of Tayabas.
Provinces occupying Bicol Peninsula are the provinces of Camarines Norte,
Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and the easternmost municipalities of Quezon
Province.
Visayas[edit]
Catbalogan Plains
28. Panay-Negros-Cebu area[edit]
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)
Mindanao[edit]
Zamboanga peninsula[edit]
Zamboanga Peninsula has a very mountainous terrain. The chain of mountain
ranges in this region is called Zamboanga Cordilleras. The highest mountain in
these ranges is Mt. Dapi, which is 2,617 meters (8,586 ft) high.
Misamis coastal plains[edit]
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)
Bukidnon-Lanao plateaus[edit]
The plateaus are located in the north-central portion of Mindanao. They are
extensive flatlands around the height of 1,300 meters (4,300 ft) above sea level.
Agusan-Surigao-Davao coastal plains[edit]
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)
Southern Pacific cordillera[edit]
Compostela valley[edit]
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)
Sarangani-Cotabato coastal plains[edit]
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)
29. Statistics
Unless otherwise indicated, the information below is taken from CIA Factbook information for the
Philippines.[6]
Area[edit]
Total: 300,000 square kilometres (115,831 sq mi)
Land: 298,170 square kilometres (115,124 sq mi)
Water: 1,830 square kilometres (707 sq mi)
Coastline[edit]
36,289 kilometres (22,549 mi)
Maritime claims[edit]
(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)
Territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nautical miles (190 km; 120 mi) from coastline
as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China
Sea up to 285 nautical miles (528 km; 328 mi) in breadth.
Natural resources[edit]
Timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper, silver
Land use[edit]
Arable land: 19%
Permanent crops: 16.67%
Other: 64.33% (2005)
Irrigated land[edit]
15,500 square kilometers (5,985 sq mi) (2003)
30. Natural hazards[edit]
The Philippines sit astride typhoon belt and are usually affected by 15 and
struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes;
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis.
Environment - current issues[edit]
Uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water
pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which are
important fish breeding grounds; severe water pollution that caused the death of
one of the country's major rivers, though there are ongoing efforts at
resuscitation.[7]
Also Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013 caused major problems.
Environment - international agreements[edit]
Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
Largest cities and towns[edit]
The following is a list of the most populous cities in the country, with their
population according to the 2010 census. Component cities and municipalities
of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao are taken as one to show the
extent of urbanization.
31. Largest cities or towns of the Philippines
Philippines 2010 Census
Rank Name Region Pop. Rank Name Region Pop.
1 Quezon City National Capital Region2,761,720 11 Parañaque National
Capital Region 588,126
2 Manila National Capital Region1,652,171 12 Dasmariñas
CALABARZON 575,817
3 Caloocan National Capital Region1,489,040 13 Valenzuela National
Capital Region 575,356
4 Davao City Davao Region 1,449,296 14 Las Piñas National Capital
Region 552,573
5 Cebu City Central Visayas866,171 15 General Santos
SOCCSKSARGEN 538,086
6 Zamboanga City Zamboanga Peninsula 807,129 16 Makati National
Capital Region 529,039
7 Antipolo CALABARZON 677,741 17 Bacoor CALABARZON 520,216
8 Pasig National Capital Region669,773 18 Bacolod Western
Visayas511,820
9 Taguig National Capital Region644,473 19 Muntinlupa National Capital
Region 459,941
10 Cagayan de Oro Northern Mindanao 602,088 20 San Jose del Monte
Central Luzon 454,55
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