GEO-PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION POLITICAL BOUNDARIES

Maguindanao is located 968.51 (601.80 mi) aerial It is bounded on the northeast by the Province of kilometers away from the Kilometer Zero marker in the City Cotabato, on the northwest by the Province of Lanao del of Manila to the Provincial Capitol in the Municipality of Sur, on the southern part by Sultan Kudarat, and on the . The province occupies the northeastern portion of western part by . It is accessible by air through the former empire Province of Cotabato bounded partly by the (Awang) Airport on , vast marshland and the sea. by sea through the Polloc Free Port in Parang and by land through - Gen. Santos City Highway from the south, Cotabato City - Davao City route from the north and the Cotabato City – Lanao route from the north- western part.

Figure 2.1 Map Showing Figure 2.2 Map showing Province of Maguindanao Region

Figure 2.3. Administrative Map of Maguindanao | Ang Makabagong Maguindanao

TOPOGRAPHY GEOLOGY

Elevation Soils

Most of the areas in the province have an elevation of less There are about ten types of soil found in the province. than 500 meters above sea level. Few areas have an Among the principal soil types are clay loam and sandy elevation of 500-1,000 meters while there are only three loam, which are favorable for the cultivation of rice and (3) areas that have an elevation of more than 1,000 meters corn. These soil types are with the areas covered by the municipalities of Datu Piang, Buluan, , Upi, Ampatuan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, , Sultan Kudarat Slope and Parang. and have generally sandy loam soil. Mountain soil, which are undifferentiated, The topography of Maguindanao is divided into two (2) northwestern and southwestern portion of the province. physiographic units, the southwest mountain cluster and Ampatuan and Datu Odin Sinsuat have this type of soil. the Maguindanao lowland. The southwest mountain cluster includes the two (2) mountain ranges of Kinibaca and Blit. Table 2.1. Soil Type and Textural Classification by Municipality The Valley of Matuber River flowing northwest separates them into the Moro Gulf and Liw-a - Ig into the Mindanao MUNICIPALITY SOIL TYPE PRESENT LAND USE Sea. The Maguindanao lowland includes the extremity of San Miguel Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Ampatuan Cotabato base northeast of the provincial highlands up to Loam Rice & Corn the area towards the sea and Libungan marsh. Thick Langkong Clay accumulation of detritus materials derived from the Buldon Sandy Buldon weathering and erosion of the adjacent emergent Loam Timaga Clay landmass compose the sea. Buluan Loam Datu Abdula Sangki San Miguel Citrus, Cassava, Coconut,

Loam Rice, Banana, Abaca & Corn Kabacan Clay Rice, Corn, Mongo & Loam Tobacco Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Paraoon Clay Datu Odin Sinsuat Loam Rice, Banana, Abaca & Corn

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| Ang Makabagong Maguindanao

San Miguel Loam Rice & Corn Datu Paglas Loam Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Banga Clay Rice, Corn & Coconut Rice & Corn Loam Timaga Clay San Miguel Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Datu Piang Loam Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Loam Rice & Corn Rice & Corn Talitay San Miguel Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Datu Saudi Timaga Clay Loam Rice & Corn Ampatuan Loam Upi Paraon Clay Banana, Abaca, Ecellent for San Miguel Loam pasture Loam Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Source: DA-Maguindanao Rice & Corn San Miguel Loam Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Land Capability Classes Rice & Corn Kabuntalan Tamontaka Clay Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Classes A, BE, BW, BS are classified as very good land. Rice & Corn These land areas are suitable for crop cultivation with San Miguel varying requirements for soil conservation, while DE is Loam Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, classified as fairly good land that requires special soil Rice & Corn management for its very low fertility. This land is suitable Matanog Langkong Clay Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Rice & Corn for limited cultivation and best suited to pasture or forest.

Pagalungan Kabacan Clay Loam Table 2.2 Soil Classification and Land Capability Timaga Clay Loam Land Parang Balut Clay Loam Fruit Trees, Permanent crops Slope GENERAL Soil Type Capability Soil Limitation Range LAND USE Timaga Clay Classification S. K. Pendatun Loam Fish, salted site, Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Very severe San Miguel water (wetness) shrimps pond or Rice, Banana, Loam Hydrosol X 0% Level for recreation, Abaca & Corn Very poor need field Paraon Clay Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, drained verification Loam Rice, Banana, Tree farm Abaca & Corn Soil (including abaca Sultan Kudarat San Miguel Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Undifferen- U & banana) or Loam Rice & Corn tiated pasture, quarry purpose San Miguel Citrus, Cassava, Coconut, Page | 7

| Ang Makabagong Maguindanao

Slightly 0-3% Banga Sandy doughtiness & Bs nearly Diversified field Loam low fertility on level crops: annual sight Severely eroded upland field; Paraon Clay inadequate corn, sorghum, Severe 3-8% De 15-25% internal drainage upland, rice, doughtiness & Paraon Clay nearly dry or rough to soybeans, San Miguel very low fertility Loam Ds level to strong or rocky peanut, mongo, Gravelly Loam & severe salty gently sweet potato, excessive sloping cassava, etc. drained

Source: DA-Maguindanao Perennial field crops, Strongly sugarcane, LAND RESOURCES None to very River Wash Y sloping pineapple, slight 0-5% tangan-tangan, coconut, citrus, Land Classification fruit trees, etc.

San Miguel A Vegetables Loam The province has four (4) land classifications, namely: alienable and disposable land; forestland and timberland; 0-3% Level to national parks (NIPAS), and marshland (NIPAS). Basically, Buldon Sandy nearly Land Classification uses classified only as alienable and Loam disposable and timberlands. Alienable and Disposable has BE Rubber its own categories in terms of land uses. Agricultural 3-8% Dalican Clay nearly activities have mainly occurred on this area in which its Loam level to slopes reach only to eighteen percent (18%) below and gently above 18% was classified as timberland in which projects sloping of the government such as forest rehabilitation like Very severe reforestation and other activities pertaining to the erosion dry Wetland paddy Balut Clay N sometimes with rice development and improvement of forest cover are located stones & gravel in this area. All areas under NIPAS are covered by 40% Slightly timberlands. Tamontaka above, doughtiness, Diversified field BW Clay very some poorly crops rugged drained

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| Ang Makabagong Maguindanao

Existing General Land use

Province DJF MAM JJA SON Of the total provincial land area of 983,410 hectares, about 449,025 hectares or 45.66% are agricultural lands; 222,939 hectares or 22.67% are forestlands; 154,100 Maguindanao 27.6 28.3 27.5 27.6 hectares or 15.67% pasturelands; 113,583 hectares or 11.55% marshes and lakes; 3,149 hectares or 0.32% built- Table 2.3. Maguindanao Temperature, 1971-2000 Normal Values (°C) up areas and 40,614 hectares or 4.13% are unclassified land.

CLIMATE

DJF - northeast monsoon season MAM - summer season Climate Type JJA - southwest monsoon season SON - transition from southwest to northeast monsoon season

Based on the Modified Coronas Climate Change Classification (1951-2003), the climate in the province is characterized as seasons not very pronounced relatively Rainfall Records dry from November to April and wet for the rest of the year (Type IV). Observed Baseline (1971-2000)

DJF MAM JJA SON Historical

Lanao del Sur 293.8 369.4 661.5 562.2 Temperature Records Maguindanao 225.3 399.1 635.3 553.6

Based on PAG-ASA data, the province recorded the Source: DOST-PAGASA highest temperature at about 28.3oC in 1971-2000 specifically from the months of March, April and May while the rest of the months experienced a moderate temperature.

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Figure 2.4. Projected Values of Seasonal Mean Temperature and Seasonal Rainfall in 2020 and 2050 in Maguindanao | Ang Makabagong Maguindanao

effect of flood especially during heavy rains. Big chunks of aquatic plants (Water Hyacinth) have accumulated and clogged the columns of Delta Bridge in Rio Grande de Mindanao and other major tributaries, causing rivers to overflow, submerging nine towns in Maguindanao and threatening to breach a bridge linking the province to South Central Mindanao areas.

The province has 25 municipalities prone to flood comprising the municipalities of Sultan Mastura, Sultan Kudarat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, N.Kabuntalan, Talitay, , Talayan, Guidulungan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Salibu, Datu Piang, Mamasapano, , Shariff Aguak, Datu Unsay, Rajah Buayan, Gen. SK Pendatun, Paglat, Pandag, Paglas, Buluan, Mangudadatu, , and some portion of Ampatuan municipality. Flash flood occurred in the municipalities with steep slope like Parang, Talayan, Datu Odin Sinsuat and Upi. Sheet flooding frequently take place in low lying areas along the periphery of the marshes and lakes.

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