Virac Airport Background

Virac Airport is located in the capital of Catanduanes and is the only airport
serving that island province in the Philippines. The airport is classified as a Class 1
principal (major domestic) airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
(CAAP), a body of the Department of Transportation and Communications that is
responsible for the operations of not only this airport but also of all other airports in
the Philippines except the major international airports.
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has
prioritized the funding of the rehabilitation of Virac Passenger Terminal and the
asphalt overlay of its runway. With the approved budget of 105.13 million pesos the
project focuses on expanding its passenger terminal area in order to cater to the
growing number of passengers and cargo that fly in and out of Catanduanes. Once
completed, these projects will help guarantee the boost of the local economy, as
well as provide a safer, more secure and more convenient air travel service.
Figure 2: Landside Virac Airport Terminal

Figure 1: Airside Virac Airport Terminal

Source: bicolstandard.com

HISTORY
Virac, the capital of the island province of Catanduanes, started its primitive
annals in pre-Spanish times when tribal chieftain Lumibao, scion of Datu Dumaguil
who came to the Philippines with the 13 Malay dauts, and his wife Milbigan settled
near Vidak spring and founded the first civilized settlement with a score of servant
followers and their wives. Some say Virac is a derivation of the word Vidac while
others claim it is a contraction of the Spanish version of the word burac, meaning
flower.
The growth of Virac in terms of governance peaked in 1972. From the original
34 barangays in 1960, Virac was able to establish 29 new communities to upgrade
the present composition of 63 barangays.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
The municipality of Virac is situated at about 13.3 degrees north latitude and
124.2 degrees east longitude. It is bounded on the east by the municipality of Bato
and Cabugao Bay and by the Lagonoy Gulf on its southern geographical fringes. On
its northern tips lies the municipality of Caramoran. The northeastern section is
shared with the Municipality of San Miguel, while the western boundary abuonds the
municipality of San Andres.
It has a total land area of 18,778.40 hectares or 12% of the total land area of
the province, ranking third in area among the eleven towns of the province of
Catanduanes.

CATCHMENT AREA
Virac Airport mainly caters to a catchment area including the Catanduanes province.
The province is in the Bicol Region of Luzon (designated as Region V of the
Philippines) and its capital is Virac. The province consists of the Catanduanes Island
(also called Virac Island), the Panay Island, Palumbanes group of Islands
(Porongpong, Tignob, and Calabagio) and a few other minor surrounding islets and
rocks. The province lies to the east of Camarines Sur across Maqueda Channel.

Figure 2. Province of Catanduanes

CATANDUANES REGION

POPULATION Virac City & Catanduanes Province

ECONOMY Virac City & Catanduanes Province

TOURISM Virac City & Catanduanes Province

b. Domestic traffic

c. Site dev't plan

d. Tourism Data

CATANDUANES TOURIST DESTINATIONS

FESTIVALS

Catandungan Festival

Kalbaryo

Kagharong

Burac Festival

Tinagcrosan Festival

ABACACO Festival

Feast day of the Holy Cross Shrine

Feast day of Saint Lawrence the Martyr and Our Lady of Salvacion

e. Layout of existing airport

f. Your proposed upgrading facility for a domestic airport

g. Air traffic growth

h. Climate/ environmental considerations

TOPOGRAPHY
Virac has a rugged topography, with mountain ranges, hills and small plain.
Coastward, Viracs landface is primarily characterized by rolling hills and
fractured plains over which the Poblacion and the majority of the built up areas are
located. The montainos terrain on its interior limits are parts of the mountain chain
dominating the central portion of the island province.
SLOPE
The highest round elevation in Virac is 742 meters while the lowest is 28
meters above sea level. Steep hills and mountains with 30-50% slope range acconts
for the 42% of the total land area covering approximately 7,888.80 hectares
predominating the Buyo district and Dugui areas and Magnesia, Igangg, and Talisoy
at the south side. Rolling to hilly lands with 18-30% slope range represent 24% of
the total. Nineteen percent with a total area of 3,527 hectares falls under level to
very gently sloping 0-3% slope range, where most of the built up areas are found.
The rest are between 3-18% slope range.

CLIMATIC CONDITION
The climate in Virac is classified as Type II, that is, there is no distinct wet and
dry season. From 1961 to 1995, Synap has recorded a mean annual rainfall of 2.776
mm with heavy rainfall occurring on October to December characterized with high
incidence of typhoons. In the same period, the mean temperature was 27.0 degree
Centigrade and the mean relative humidity was 81%.

SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Five types of soil exist in Virac consisting of Mountain soil, alimodian clay
loam, Calatagan clay loam, Virac sandy clay and beach sand. Alimodian clay loam
found in the lower northern to eastern highland comprises 38% of the total land
area. Calatagan clay loam typified by gently undulating to rolling land occupies 30%
which predominates the Calatagan district and southwestern part of Virac. Almost
23% is consist of mountain soil at the uppermost portion of Virac vegetated by
second growth commercial and non-commercial forests. At the lowland, beach sand
and sandy clay comprising 3% and 6% of the total land area are found along the
coasts and coastal plains respectively.

SURFACE DRAINAGE

The drainage pattern in Virac follows a dendritic pattern wherein the basin
and its tributraries primarily drain at the mouth of the Pajo River. The downstream
area is very much susceptible to flood occurrences during heavy rain downpour. On
the other hand, the upstreams have a considerable drainage density to catch runof
during wet season.
The minor rivers of Cawayan, Ile and Sibanhan meander generally on an
easterly direction before discharging at Cabugao Bay. Coastal waters are found in
twenty two (22) barangays.

MINERAL RESOURCES
Mineral deposits found in Virac are manganese and copper, which are
available in a limited scale, while traces of gold have been found by the gold
panning activities in Dugui area. It has also limited quantities of non-metallic
deposits like guano, coal and phosphates. However, the limestone deposits are
believed to be viable enough to supply a cement industry for a considerable number
of years.