2011 PY Chapter 2
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2 Physiography and Related Characteristics Introduction O ne of the most important functions of the government is to see to it that all plans and programs for disaster preparedness and management is at its best. These plans and programs are very essential in the mitigation and eventually prevention of widespread destruction of lives and properties. In 2010, significant improvements in weather forecasting and warning system highlights PAG-ASA accomplishments through the adoption of a new system and acquisition of modern technological equipment. The Philippines, on the average for the period 1986-2010, sustained 18 tropical cyclones per year. The highest number of typhoons was recorded in 1993 with 36 unprecedented cyclones, whipping across the country. Only 11 tropical cyclones were recorded in 2010. 2.1 Geography and Location The Philippines is one of the largest island groups in the world. Of its 7,107 islands, only about 3,144 islands are named. It lies 966 kilometers off the southern coast of Asia, bounded in by the waters of the South China Sea in the west, the Pacific Ocean in the east, Sulu and Celebes Seas in the south, and Bashi Channel in the north. Its northernmost islands are approximately 240 kilometers south of Taiwan, and the southernmost islands lie approximately 24 kilometers from the coast of Borneo. At a most envied location, the Philippines sits on the eastern rim of the Asiatic Mediterranean, in between Asia mainland and Australia of the Pacific. This position finds the Philippines at the frontage of international travel lanes. Land Area The Philippines has a 300,000-square kilometer land area. There are three major island groups: Luzon, with an area of 111,524.0 square kilometers; Visayas, 93,846.0 square kilometers; and Mindanao, 94,630.0 square kilometers (Table 2.1). Imaginary borders cut across the country, dividing the three island groups now into 17 regions, regions into 80 provinces, and provinces into 138 cities and 1,496 municipalities, comprising 42,026 barangays. (Tables 2.2 and 2.2a) Physiography and Related Characteristics A region, as defined in the Philippine Standard Geographic Code, is a subnational administrative unit comprising of several provinces having more or less homogenous characteristics, such as ethnic origin of inhabitants, dialect spoken, agricultural produce, among others. A province is regarded as the largest political unit in the governmental structure of the Philippines, consisting of varying numbers of municipalities and, in some cases, of component cities. The functions and duties of the province in relation to its component cities and municipalities are in general coordinative and supervisory. Cities are classified into three: the highly urbanized cities, the independent component cities, which are unregimented by the province; and the component cities which are part of the provinces where they are located and subject to their administrative supervision. The municipality is a corporate body endowed with the facilities of a municipal corporation, exercised by and through the municipal government in accordance with law. Barangay is the smallest political unit into which cities and municipalities in the Philippines are divided. The population in a barangay consists of less than 1,000 inhabitants. Coastal Areas The Philippines’ coasts comprise the world's longest discontinuous coastline. Its total measure of 34,600 kilometers is longer than the coastline of Great Britain, twice that of Greece, and more than twice the length of the United States coastline. These extensive seacoasts are indented with good harbors and navigable rivers and lakes. Manila Bay, the finest uncontrived harbor in the Far East, has an area of 1,970 square kilometers. The country’s principal islands are highly endowed with harbors that can accommodate huge vessels. Valleys and Mountains The Philippines takes pride in its diverse topography. Its four major bottomland plains are the Central Plain and Cagayan Valley in Luzon, and the Agusan and Cotabato Valleys in Mindanao. The two lowlands in Luzon contrast sharply with the high mountain areas of central and east Cordillera, and with the mountains of Zambales. Several plateaus such as the Bukidnon and Lanao Plateaus in Mindanao also add to the unevenness of the landscape. Two mountain ranges lie almost analogous to each other—the Sierra Madre and Cordillera Mountains in Luzon. Sierra Madre stretches out from Cape Engaño northeast of Cagayan to a point east of Laguna de Bay. The Cordillera, on the other hand, slashes parallel to west of Luzon. The country’s highest peak is Mt. Apo in Mindanao, with a 2,954-meter stature. In Southern Tagalog, the uplands include Makiling, Tagaytay Ridge, and Banahaw. Mindoro has Baco and Halcon Mountains. The Visayan Islands are traversed by mountain ambits, except Samar and Bohol. In Mindanao, the Lanao provinces have many volcanoes and mountains. The Makaturing and Ragang NSO 2011 Philippine Yearbook Volcanoes split Lanao and Cotabato areas. Mounts Kitanglad and Kalatungan are found in Bukidnon. The Kulaman Canyon is located in Sumilao, Bukidnon, and can be reached by crossing the Kulaman River. Inland Waters Rivers. About 374 rivers water the country’s 80 provinces, aside from small mountain streams that sometimes swell up to three times their size during rainy months. The principal rivers, which are mostly found in Luzon, include the 353-kilometer Cagayan River, and the Agno and Pampanga Rivers. The Cagayan River is a basin of about 20,000 square kilometers and is shared by Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya. The Agno River and its subordinates, run through Pangasinan and flows into the Lingayen Gulf. The Pampanga River flows into the Manila Bay and gushes through the rice fields and sugar lands of Pampanga. Its tributaries irrigate most of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon. The Pasig River, which flows into the Manila Bay, is an outlet of the Laguna de Bay. It is valuable as a passageway to places along its riverbanks. The Visayas have no large rivers but thrives with streams that flow into its lands. In Mindanao, the Agusan River is navigable in certain areas. Cotabato River, which flows into the Moro Gulf, is also navigable up to the Cotabato hinterland. For reference, Table 2.4 presents a list of rivers and the provinces through which the rivers flow. Lakes. The country has 57 lakes. The ten largest lakes include Laguna de Bay, Lake Lanao and Lake Dapao in Lanao del Sur, Taal Lake in Batangas, Lake Mainit in Surigao del Norte, Lake Naujan in Oriental Mindoro, Lake Buluan in Sultan Kudarat, Lake Bato and Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato. (See Table 2.5a.) Laguna de Bay, with an area of 90,000 hectares, abounds with fish and other marine life. Lake Lanao, measuring at 34,700 hectares, is located in the middle of Lanao del Sur. The 23,400 hectars Taal Lake is a prime tourist spot with the picturesque Taal Volcano sitting on its center. Lake Mainit, 14,000 hectares, is believed to be the crater of an extinct volcano and is so called because of its hot spring. Lake Naujan, with 10,900 hectares area, is rich in fish products. The 6,500 hectares Lake Buluan is in the center of Cotabato Valley, an agricultural area. (See Table 2.5a.). Volcanic Landforms Only 22 of the estimated 444 volcanic landforms all over the archipelago are considered active. This means that only 5 percent of Philippine volcanoes have erupted within historic times or about 600 years for the Philippines. All other volcanoes are inactive and so have begun to alter in form due to weathering and erosion. Considering the relative newness of written history, however, some volcanoes classified as inactive may in fact be active and in the future could show signs of activity. Mayon, Taal, Bulusan, and Hibok-Hibok Volcanoes have relatively Physiography and Related Characteristics shorter repose periods of eight to 40 years between eruptions. These volcanoes are likely to erupt frequently. For a complete list of principal volcanoes and their main features, refer to Table 2.6 The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is a service institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that is principally mandated to mitigate aftermath of disasters that may arise from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami and other related geotectonic phenomena. With the completion of the second phase of the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s funded project for the improvement of seismic data resolution in 2004, PHIVOLCS is now appropriately equipped. In addition to the 35 manned seismic stations, another 29 unmanned seismic observation points with satellite communication to the existing stations were put up. These now comprise the 64- station national seismic observation network. Recent Volcanic Activity. In August 2008, the Mayon Volcano manifested mild ash explosion that reached an approximate height of 200m above the summit crater before drifting east-northeast. The ash-ejection was recorded as explosion-type earthquake which lasted for 1 minute by the seismic network deployed around the volcano. Immediately after the explosion, visual observation becomes hampered by the thick clouds. The observations show that Mayon Volcano is undergoing an episode of increased activity probably related to magma movement and post eruptive behavior. Meanwhile, seismic unrest was also observed in Taal Volcano in August 2008. The Taal Seismic network recorded 10 volcanic earthquakes accompanied by rumbling sounds. The seismic events were located northeast of the volcano island near Daang Kastila area with depths of approximately between 0.6km and 0.8km. Other quakes were felt at intensity 2 by residents at barangay Pira-piraso. Although surface thermal observations did not indicate significant change in the thermal and steam manifestations, the Main Crater Lake was off-limits because steam explosions may suddenly occur.