CHAPTER 1

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY

In this chapter, the land including the natural resources and soil, the climate, drainage,
hydrology and geology of Puerto Princesa City is briefly discussed in this study.

1.1 OVERVIEW

Puerto Princesa, officially the City of Puerto Princesa, (Cuyonon: Siyudad

i'ang Puerto Princesa; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa; Spanish: Ciudad de
Puerto Princesa), and often referred to as Puerto Princesa City, is a 1st
class Highly Urbanized Cityin the Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it
has a population of 255,116 people.

It is a city located in the western province of Palawan, and westernmost city in

the Philippines. Though the seat of government and capital for the province, the
city itself is one of 38 independent cities within the Philippines not controlled by
the province in which it is geographically located and is therefore an independent
area located within Palawan.

It is the least densely populated city in the Philippines. In terms of land area, the
city is the second largest geographically after Davao City with an area of 2,381.02
square kilometres (919.32 sq mi). Puerto Princesa is the location of the
Philippines' Western Command headquarters.

Today, Puerto Princesa is a popular tourist city with many beach resorts and
seafood restaurants. It has been acclaimed several times as the cleanest and
greenest city in the Philippines.
1.2 THE LAND

It is considered one of the largest cities in the country with a land area of 253,982
9.82 square kilometers stretching over 106 kilometers long with its narrowest
breadth of 8.5 kilometers at Barangay Bahile. Apportioned to 66 barangays of
which 35 are urban while 31 rural.

While large in size, only 1.8 percent

of the area is inhabited and a forest
cover of 151,405 hectares, believed
to be the biggest in any city in the
Philippines. Puerto Princesa is aptly
referred to as the “Princess City in
the Last Frontier” of the
Source: CLUP, 2013-2022; CDP, 2014-2016 Philippines.
Figure 2.1 Land Classification Map of Puerto Princesa City

From the town, a chain of tall and majestic mountain ranges could be seen:
towards the northwest, Mount Pulgar (1,208 meters) and Beaufort (1,121 meters);
towards the southwest, the Cordillera of the Aldea and the Tres Pisos. The
mountain ranges traverse the entire central length of the City, dividing it into two
distinct areas: the east and the west coasts. The eastern side is characterized by
thin strandlines bordered by swamplands, following a series of wide flat plains to
hilly terrain. The west coast has less to offer, being pinched by craggy foothills
and rugged mountains close to the sea. Generally, the terrain ranges from 10 to
1000 meters above sea level with rugged mountain areas in the interior. Its highest
peak is Cleopatra’s Needle at 1,605 meters. The City has large productive areas of
diverse marine ecosystems that provide shore protection and main source of food
and employment in the fisheries and tourism sectors. Its coastline stretches over
416 kilometers and its coastal waters cover an area of 327, 586 hectares. Its
mangroves which are important links between the shore and coastal ecosystems,
cover an area of 5,917 hectares. Presidential Decree No. 2152 of 1982 declared
 the whole province of Palawan including Puerto Princesa City a mangrove reserve
area.

The vast Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm which has an area of 29,768 hectares
offers good opportunities for farming of selected crops, livestock raising and other
agricultural development. Negotiations on the plan to place the National Prison
and Penal Farm under a joint management of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and
the City Government of Puerto Princesa are underway. It is envisioned that
Iwahig accommodate its resident prisoners in one portion of the area leaving vast
lands available for sustainable agricultural activities that will greatly benefit the
City’s economy.

1.2.1 Geographical Location

Puerto Princesa is the capital city of the island province of Palawan. It is located
at Latitude 10˚10’ 26’’ N, Longitude 118˚58’ 23’’ E in the Northeast (Brgy.
Marufinas) and at Latitude 9˚29’ 29’’ N, Longitude 118˚37’ 12’’ E in the
Southwest (Brgy. Kamuning). It is the only city in the province and it is
strategically located at the center. It is approximately 567 kilometers (km)
southwest of Manila. It is accessible through air and sea transport from Manila
and nearby provinces, and land transport from neighboring municipalities. Puerto
Princesa City is bounded by the Municipalities of San Vicente and Roxas in the
north, and the Municipality of Aborlan in the south. The city’s east and west coast
faces the Sulu Sea and the West Philippine Sea respectively. According to the
adopted Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of the city for the year 2013-
2022 with 66 barangays and a total land area of 219, 339.40 hectares, Puerto
Princesa is also the largest city in the country in terms of land area. Of which, 31
barangays are rural and 35 are urban. The urban barangays constitute to only
about 6.18% (13, 550.33 hectares) of the city’s total land area, while the rural
barangays represent the majority of the city’s land area with 205,789.08 has. or
93.82%. Mountains run across the entire city distinctly dividing the area in two-
the East and West Coast. The eastern side consist of swamplands and flat plains to
hilly terrains. While on the other hand the west coast has fewer flat land areas and
 is mostly comprised of mountain ranges. This unique natural setting gives the city
its one of a kind but fragile ecology (City Annual Report, 2015).

1.2.2 Soil

Lowland soils found in the City are mostly alluvial in formation and are usually
fertile soils; hence they are classified as prime agricultural lands. This type of soil
formation is suitable for irrigation and has potential for good yields of rice.
Upland soils are usually formed in place from underlying bedrocks. They are
usually thin compared to alluvial deposits and are also prone to erosion in the
absence of vegetation cover.

In terms of soil types, there are nine kinds found distributed in City: Bolinao Clay,
Tagburos Clay, Tapul Clay Loam, Guimbalaon Clay, Bay Clay Loam, Babuyan
Silt Clay Loam, Babuyan Clay, Malaglag Clay, and Hydrosol.

1.2.3 Natural Resources

A significant portion of the City retains its indigenous vegetation, rainforest,

mangroves, and coastal ecosystem, all of which support an array of wildlife. In
terms of species biodiversity and its wide range of ecosystems, Puerto Princesa is
of national significance. The famous Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National
Park (formerly known as Saint Paul’s Subterranean River National Park) covering
a protected area of 22,202 hectares is haven to endemic flora and fauna. UNESCO
has inscribed the Park as a World’s Heritage Site on December 4, 1999. This
natural wonder features an 8.2 kilometers navigable underground river reputed to
be the world’s longest that winds through a spectacular cave before emptying out
into the South China Sea.

Given that natural resources can be exploited for economic purposes, it is

necessary to properly manage the City’s natural resources so that sustainable
development can be achieved. This does not mean that these resources cannot be
used. However it does require that the use of renewable resources be managed so
 that their use can be sustained and adverse environmental and social impacts can
be avoided. Collective and timely effort is imperative to conserve the city’s major
natural resources for the benefit of the existing and future community. The proper
management of these resources will ensure that the community will continue to
benefit from these resources.

Conservation of natural areas protects biodiversity for future generations and

provides areas for recreation and enjoyment. While it may have some
environmental impacts, it does add to quality of life and enhances other economic
activities for eco-tourism. Such complementary activities include operating eco-
tourist destinations, making investments in tourism-related facilities and
enterprises and providing specific services for local and foreign tourists. The City
being part of the Province of Palawan is covered by Republic Act 7611 or the
Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan, thus environmental planning shall be
guided by the policies and principles so stipulated in the law.

1.3 THE CLIMATE

Puerto Princesa enjoys good climatic conditions. It is outside the typhoon belt of
the Philippines and is rarely affected by the direct and strong winds of a typhoon.

The City has two prevailing types of climate. The type that prevails in the west
coast has two distinct seasons: six months dry (November-April) and six months
wet (May-October) with the heaviest record rainfall in September. The lowest or
driest months occur in February. Western Barangays New Pangangan, Marufinas,
Cabayugan, Tagabinet, Buenavista, Bahile, Macarascas, Simpocan, Bagong
Bayan and Napsan fall within this type.

1.3.1 Rainfall

The City has two prevailing type of climate. The type that prevails in the west
coast has two distinct seasons: six months dry (November-April), and six months
 wet (May-October) with the heaviest recorded rainfall in September, While the
lowest or driest month occurs in February. Western barangays of the City (New
Panggangan, Marufinas, Cabayugan, Tagabinit, Buenavista, Bahile, Macarascas,
Simpocan, Bagong Bayan, and Napsan) fall within this type. The type prevailing
in the east coast has short dry season with varying heavy rainfall months. Dry
months have been recorded during the months of January to April. Recorded
rainiest month is September.

1.3.2 Temperature

Temperature is one of the three most important factors in climate as far as plant
growth is concerned. The other two factors are moisture and light. Temperature
influences every chemical and physical process connected with plants such as
solubility of minerals; absorption of water, gases, etc.; synthesis; growth and
reproduction. In the animal world, atmospheric temperatures have profound effect
in the reproductive as well as productive efficiency of livestock, like milk
production in dairy farming.

The City has a uniform high temperature. However, there is no marked difference
in temperature between areas falling under the first and second type of climate.
Generally the warmest months are March, April and May, the coolest are
November, December, January, and February.

1.3.3 Humidity

The City has more or less uniform as well as high relative humidity. The range is
from 79 to 86 percent with an annual mean of 84 percent. Fluctuations in relative
humidity affect the rate of evaporation in such a way that if other factors like
moisture content of the soil and its temperature and the temperature of the air
were momentarily held constant, a lower relative humidity tends to enhance
vaporization, while in an extreme case, atmosphere approaches 100 percent,
evaporation may cease and condensation induced.

1.3.4 Wind
The City has two distinct prevailing winds, the northeast (NE) monsoon and the
southwest (SW) monsoon. The northeast monsoon generally sets in October and
continues until April. The monsoon blows mainly between north and northeast
with a tendency towards an easterly direction at the end of the season. It has a
velocity ranging from 15 to 25 kilometers per hour at its height and an average of
6 kilometers per hour. Rain clouds during the NE monsoon practically lose all the
moisture before reaching the southwest part of the archipelago, thus the City and
the province as a whole receive no rainfall towards the end of the northeast
monsoon (January-April).

Southwest (SW) monsoon or the summer monsoon follows the NE monsoon after
a transition period of variable winds and calms. The SW monsoon prevails from
June to October. It blows most steadily during July and August although not as
steady as the NE monsoon, reaching a maximum velocity of about 35 kilometers
per hour. In October or during the close of the SW monsoon, strong winds occur
in the southern part of the city. The southwest winds bring torrential rains but
with uneven distribution.

The NE and SW monsoons affect the eastern and western part of the City. When
these winds blow, the seas are very rough. The calm months of the year are from
April through June on both the eastern and western side of the City.
1.4 DRAINAGE AND HYDROLOGY

Puerto Princesa has 11 watersheds that cover a total of 115,610 hectares. Five (5)
of these watersheds have major river basins while the rest have medium-sized
river basins. The five river basins with the largest area include Babuyan River
(25% of the total catchment area), Montible River (20%), Langogan River (14%),
Inagawan River (12%) and Bacungan River (10%). Irawan Watershed, which is
the main source of water supply in the City, has a small catchment area
comprising only 3% of the total catchment area.
 Puerto Princesa City also has 675 hectares with irrigation facilities in Lukuan
communal irrigation system, Tagburos communal irrigation system, Inagawan
communal irrigation system and Iwahig-Balsahan communal irrigation system.

FY 2017
NO.OF Name of NO. OF NO. OF MODE OF ACTUAL NO.OF
Municipality TOTAL
PROJECT Sub-project PROJECT PACKAGES IMPLEMENTATION (DATE) PROJECTS
Proposal

Puerto
1 Iwahig CIS 4,500,000.00 1 1 ✔ ✔
Princesa

1 Sub-total 4,500,000 1 1 1 - 1

Total for
1 4,500,000 1 1 1 - 1
CARP-IC

Inagawan Puerto
1 4,500,000.00 1 1 ✔ ✔
CIS Princesa

1 Sub-total 4,500,000 1 1 1 - 1

Total for
1 4,500,000 1 1 1 - 1
CARP-IC

Source: region4b.nia.gov.ph

1.5 GEOLOGY

In the southern portion particularly in the Irawan area, metamorphic rocks of the
Inagawan Formation can be found. The area is also partly composed of
sedimentary Iwahig Formation, alluvium of unconsolidated gravel, sand, pebbles
and silt. Some ultramafic rocks of the Palawan Ophiolite Complex also
characterize the area.

The northern part of the City is comprised of ultramafic rocks. In particular, the
Langogan area is characterized by metamorphic rocks consisting of quartz-
feldspathic and mica schists, phyllites, slate and quartzites. The ultramafic rocks
consist of unaltered sepertenized pridotite, dunite and pyrexomite.

Babuyan area is made up of Irahuan Metavolcanics which resemble the quartz-

hematite schist in appearance and are also friable and weather into dark reddish
 gray platy fragments which are usually scattered near outcrops of river beds. St.
Paul limestone outcrops as small patches are found in the south and midwestern
part of the catchment. It is comprised of a very thick, massive, marbleized
limestone with very well developed karst.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park has karsts limestone
formation and is popular tourist destination among local and international tourists.
The underground river is about 8.2 kilometers in length and has been proclaimed
under Proclamation No. 212 as a National Park. The park covers a protected area
of 22,202 hectares. It is also included in the list of World Heritage Sites by
UNESCO because of its diverse ecosystem and the presence of rare flora and
fauna. The site, which is located in Sabang, barangay Cabayugan has also fine
white beaches.

REFERENCES

http://puertoprincesa.ph/?q=about-our-city/about-puerto-princesa-city

http://puertoprincesa.ph/about-our-city/land-classification

http://puertoprincesa.ph/?q=about-our-city/natural-environment

http://region4b.nia.gov.ph/?q=content/program-works-palawan

http://phttp://puertoprincesa.ph/?q=about-our-city/water-resources

http://puertoprincesa.ph/?q=about-our-city/geology