1

Chapter 7. NATIONAL TERRITORY

I. Territory Defined
- an administrative division, usually an area that is under the jurisdiction of a state. In most countries a territory is
an organized land controlled division of an area that is controlled by a country but is not formally developed into,
or incorporated into, a political unit of the country that is of equal status to other political units that may often be
referred to by words such as "provinces" or "states".
-in international politics, a territory is usually a non-sovereign geographic area which has come under the
authority of another government; which has not been granted the powers of self-government normally devolved
to secondary territorial divisions; or both.

Etymology
The origins of the word territory begin with the Proto-Indo-European root ters ('to dry'). From this emerged the
Latin word terra ('earth, land') and later the Latin word territorium ('land around a town'). Territory made its debut
as a word in Middle English during the 14th century. At this point the suffix -orium, which denotes place, was
replaced with -ory which also expresses place.
Types of territory include:

 Capital territory
 Dependent territory
 Federal territory
 Overseas territory
 Unorganized territory, a region of land without a "normally" constituted system of government. This does not
mean that the territory has no government at all or that it is unclaimed territory. In practice, such territories
are always sparsely populated.
 Disputed territory, a geographic area claimed by two or more rival governments. For example, the territory
of Kashmir is claimed by the governments of both India and Pakistan; for each country involved in the
dispute, the territory is claimed as part of the existing state. Another example is the Republic of
China (commonly labeled "Taiwan"), whose sovereigntystatus is disputed by and territory claimed by
the People's Republic of China.
 Occupied territory, a region that is under the military control of an outside power that has not annexed the
region. Current examples are Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, occupied by the State of Israel.
Other examples of occupied territory include the country of Kuwait after it was briefly invaded by Iraq in
1990, Iraq after the American invasion of 2003, Germany after World War II and Kosovo after 1999.

Capital territory
A capital territory or federal capital territory is usually a specially designated territory where a country's seat
of governmentis located. As such, in the federal model of government, no one state or territory takes pre-
eminence because the capital lies within its borders. A capital territory can be one specific form of federal district.

 In Australia, the capital Canberra lies within the Australian Capital Territory and was originally called the
FCT.
 The National Capital Territory is where New Delhi, the capital of India, is located.
 Nigeria has its capital Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory.
 In Pakistan, the capital city Islamabad lies within the Islamabad Capital Territory.
Dependent territory is a designation for a territory that is not an independent sovereign state, yet remains
politically outside the governing state's integral area.[5] Presently, all dependent territories are either overseas
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territories or non-sovereign associated states. Only four countries currently possess dependent territories:
the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Norwayand the United States.
Examples include:

 The 14 British Overseas Territories are dependent territories of the United Kingdom with varying degrees of
self-governance.
 Bouvet Island, Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land are uninhabited dependent territories of Norway.
 The three Crown dependencies are associated states of the United Kingdom.
 Cook Islands and Niue are associated states of New Zealand.

Federal territory is an area within the direct and usually exclusive jurisdiction of the central or national
government within a federation.
Federal territories include:

 Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)

 Federal Territory (Malaysia)

Overseas territory is a broad designation for a territorial entity that is separated from the country that governs it
by an ocean. An overseas territory may be either a constituent part of the governing state or a dependent
territory.
Examples include:

 The five overseas collectivities of France are broadly autonomous territories that are also part of the country.
 Greenland and the Faroe Islands are constituent parts of the Kingdom of Denmark which are internally self-
governing.
 The 14 British Overseas Territories are dependent territories of the United Kingdom with varying degrees of
self-governance.
 American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands are dependent
territories of the government of the United States with varying local autonomy.
 Bouvet Island, Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land are uninhabited dependent territories of Norway.
 Claimed parts of Antarctica.

1.1. Philippine Archipelago with All the Islands & Waters Embraced Therein
The Philippines (/ˈfɪlɪpiːnz/ ( listen); Filipino: Pilipinas [ˌpɪlɪˈpinɐs] or Filipinas[ˌfɪlɪˈpinɐs]), officially
the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas)[a] is a unitary sovereign and archipelagic
country in Southeast Asia. Situated in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands[18] that
are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas,
and Mindanao. The capital city of the Philippines is Manila and the most populous city is Quezon City, both
part of Metro Manila.[19]Bounded by the South China Sea on the west, the Philippine Sea on the east and
the Celebes Sea on the southwest, the Philippines shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the
north, Vietnam to the west, Palau to the east and Malaysiaand Indonesia to the south.
The Philippines' location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator makes the Philippines prone
to earthquakes and typhoons, but also endows it with abundant natural resources and some of the world's
greatest biodiversity. The Philippines has an area of 343,448 square kilometers (132,606 sq mi)[5]and, as
of 2015, had a population of at least 100 million.[7] As of January 2018, it was the eighth-most populated
country in Asia and the 12th most populated country in the world. Approximately 10 million additional
Filipinos lived overseas,[20] comprising one of the world's largest diasporas. Multiple ethnicitiesand cultures
are found throughout the islands. In prehistoric times, Negritoswere some of the archipelago's earliest
inhabitants. They were followed by successive waves of Austronesian peoples.[21] Exchanges with
Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Islamic nations occurred. Then, various competing maritime stateswere
established under the rule of Datus, Rajahs, Sultans or Lakans.
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The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in Homonhon, Eastern Samar in 1521 marked the beginning of Hispanic
colonization. In 1543, Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos named the archipelago Las Islas
Filipinas in honor of Philip II of Spain. With the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi from Mexico City, in
1565, the first Hispanic settlement in the archipelago was established.[22] The Philippines became part of
the Spanish Empire for more than 300 years. This resulted in Catholicism becoming the dominant religion.
During this time, Manilabecame the western hub of the trans-
Pacific trade connecting Asia with Acapulco in the Americas using Manila galleons.[23]
As the 19th century gave way to the 20th, the Philippine Revolution followed in quick succession, which
then spawned the short-lived First Philippine Republic, followed by the bloody Philippine–American
War.[24] Aside from the period of Japanese occupation, the United States retained sovereignty over the
islands until after World War II, when the Philippines was recognized as an independent nation. Since
then, the Philippines has often had a tumultuous experience with democracy, which included the
overthrow of a dictatorship by a non-violent revolution.[25]
It is a founding member of the United Nations, World Trade Organization, Association of Southeast Asian
Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperationforum, and the East Asia Summit. It also hosts the
headquarters of the Asian Development Bank.[26] The Philippines is considered to be an emerging
marketand a newly industrialized country,[27] which has an economy transitioning from being one based on
agriculture to one based more on services and manufacturing.[28] It is one of the only two
redominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being East Timor.

The Philippines was named in honor of King Philip II of Spain. Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos,
during his expedition in 1542, named the islands of Leyte and SamarFelipinas after the then-Prince of
Asturias. Eventually the name Las Islas Filipinas would be used to cover all the islands of the archipelago.
Before that became commonplace, other names such as Islas del Poniente (Islands of the West) and
Magellan's name for the islands San Lázaro were also used by the Spanish to refer to the islands.[29][30][31][32][33]
The official name of the Philippines has changed several times in the course of its history. During
the Philippine Revolution, the Malolos Congress proclaimed the establishment of the República Filipina or
the Philippine Republic. From the period of the Spanish–American War (1898) and the Philippine–American
War (1899–1902) until the Commonwealth period (1935–46), American colonial authorities referred to the
country as the Philippine Islands, a translation of the Spanish name.[24] From the 1898 Treaty of Paris, the
name Philippines began to appear and it has since become the country's common name. Since the end
of World War II, the official name of the country has been the Republic of the Philippines.[34]

Geography of the Philippines

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Geography of the Philippines

"Pearl of the East"
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Continent Asia

Region Southeast Asia

Coordinates 13°00'N 122°00'E

Area Ranked 64th

• Total 343,448[1] km2 (132,606 sq mi)

• Land 99.38%

• Water 0.62%

Coastline 36,289 km (22,549 mi)

Borders None

Highest point Mount Apo

2,954 metres (9,692 ft)

Lowest point Galathea Depth

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10,540 metres (34,580 ft) (sea level)

Longest river Cagayan River

Largest lake Laguna de Bay

The Philippines is an archipelago that consists of 7,641 islands[2] with a total land area of 343,448 square kilometers
(132,606 sq mi).[3] The 11 largest islands contain 95% of the total land area. The largest of these islands is Luzonat
about 105,000 square kilometers (40,541 sq mi). The next largest island is Mindanao at about 95,000 square
kilometers (36,680 sq mi). The archipelago is around 800 kilometers (500 mi) from the Asian mainland and is located
between Taiwan and Borneo.
The Philippine archipelago is divided into three island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The Luzon islands
include Luzon itself, Palawan, Mindoro, Marinduque, Masbate, Romblon, Catanduanes, Batanes and Polilio. The
Visayas is the group of islands in the central Philippines, the largest of which
are: Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Siquijor, Biliran and Guimaras. The Mindanao islands include
Mindanao itself, Dinagat, Siargao, Camiguin, Samal, plus the Sulu Archipelago, composed primarily of Basilan, Sulu,
and Tawi-Tawi.

Physical geography[edit]

Territorial limits of the Philippines

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 7,641 islands,[4] 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 343,448 square
kilometers (132,606 sq mi).[3]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. The
Philippines is broken up by the sea, which gives it one of the longest coastlines of any nation in the world.
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Off the coast of eastern Mindanao is the Philippine Trench, which descends to a depth of 10,430 meters (34,220 ft).
The Philippines is part of a western Pacific arc system characterized by active volcanoes. Among the most notable
peaks are Mount Mayon near Legazpi City, Taal Volcano south of Manila, and Mount Apo in Mindanao. All of the
Philippine islands are prone to earthquakes. The northern Luzon highlands, or Cordillera Central, rise to between
2,500 meters (8,200 ft) and 2,750 meters (9,020 ft), and, together with the Sierra Madre in the northeastern portion of
Luzon and the mountains of Mindanao, boast rain forests that provide refuge for numerous upland tribal groups. The
rain forests also offer prime habitat for more than 500 species of birds, including the Philippine eagle (or monkey-
eating eagle), some 1,100 species of orchids, and some 8,500 species of flowering plants.
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.

Topography[edit]

Major volcanoes in the Philippines

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.
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
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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.
Most of the islands used to be covered by tropical rainforests. However, illegal logginghas reduced forest cover to less
than 10% of the total land area.
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10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Major geographic features of the Philippines

1 Batanes group of islands 16 Palawan group of islands

2 Babuyan group of islands 17 Panay island

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3 Cordillera mountains 18 Negros island

4 Cagayan valley 19 Cebu island

5 Sierra Madre mountains 20 Bohol island

6 Caraballo mountains 21 Leyte island

7 Zambales mountains 22 Zamboanga peninsula

8 Central Luzon plain 23 Bukidnon-Lanao plateau

9 Sierra Madre (southern tip) 24 Davao-Agusan Trough

10 Polillo group of islands 25 Diwata mountains

11 Bicol peninsula 26 Cotabato Basin

12 Mindoro island 27 Central Mindanao highlands

13 Romblon group of islands 28 Pacific Cordillera mountains

14 Masbate island 29 Tiruray highlands

15 Samar island 30 Sulu archipelago

Luzon[edit]

Luzon in satellite image

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The La Paz San Dunes in Laoag, part of the Ilocos coastline

Pasil Valley in Kalinga of the Cordillera Central

The Sierra Madre Mountains viewed from Gabaldon

The plains of Central Luzon, showing the Manila Bay with Mount Arayat in the background
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The Zambales Mountains as viewed from San Narciso

Laguna de Bay at Cardona, with the Banahaw volcano complex in the distance

Mayon Volcano overlooking the city of Legazpi.

The Batanes and Babuyan islands

The Batanes and Babuyan Islands are situated on the northernmost extremity of the Philippines at Luzon Strait 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

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.
Cagayan Valley

Nestled between the Cordilleras in the east and the Sierra Madre mountain ranges in the west is the Cagayan Valley,
also the name of the administrative region which it covers. Through its center runs the country's longest river,
the Cagayan, flowing in a northward direction before emptying its waters in the Luzon Strait at the town of Aparri.
Further information: Cagayan Valley

Cordilleras and Caraballos

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. Caraballo Occidentalles, is further divided into 2 ranges, the Cordillera
Norte and Cordillera Central.[citation needed] They line the central portions of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Further information: Cordillera Central

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.
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Sierra Madre Mountains

Lying in the eastern portion of Luzon is the longest mountain range in the Philippines, the Sierra Madre, stretching
from Quezon province in the south to Cagayan in the north. 80 percent of the mountain range is tropical rainforest,
which is diminishing from rampant illegal logging activity. The range serves as the eastern wall of Luzon Island that
protects inhabitants from tropical cyclones usually coming from the Pacific Ocean.
Central Luzon Plains

The largest plain of the nation is situated in the Central Luzon region and produces most of the national rice supply,
earning itself the nickname "Rice Bowl of the Philippines". The plains encompass the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva
Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Pangasinan.
Manila-Katagalugan plains

South of the Central Luzon plains lies the largest inland freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, the Laguna de Bay. To the
east of the lake is a plain that stretches westward to the Manila Bay. 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 had been converted
into cities and towns, and are thus industrialized. Lying east of the lake is the southern terminus of the Sierra Madre
mountain range at northern Quezon province.
To the southwest of the Laguna de Bay is the nation's third largest lake, the Taal, bordered to the north by
the Tagaytay Ridge, a ridge stretching from southern Cavite to northern Batangas provinces.
Bondoc Peninsula

The Bondoc Peninsula is located in the southeastern part of Quezon Province.

Further information: Bondoc Peninsula

Bicol peninsula

Southeast of Laguna de Bay lies the Bicol Peninsula, connected to mainland Luzon by the isthmus of Tayabas. The
predominantly flat landscape features several solitary peaks, usually active volcanoes, which
include Iriga, Mayon and Bulusan.
The peninsula has an irregular coastline that features large bays and gulfs, which include the Lamon Bay, San Miguel
Bay, Lagonoy Gulf, and Albay Gulf to the north, and the Tayabas Bay, Ragay Gulf and Sorsogon Bay to the south.
Mindoro island

Mindoro coastal plains

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 the city
of Calapan and Puerto Galeraare located.
Mindoro highlands

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 the Mindoro Strait.
Palawan

Kalayaan islands (Spratly Islands)

The Kalayaan Islands are located to the west of Palawan. Kalayaan is a Filipino word meaning "freedom".
Further information: Spratly islands

Visayas[edit]
Catbalogan plains
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help by adding to it. (January 2016)

Panay-Negros-Cebu area

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help by adding to it. (January 2016)

Mindanao[edit]
Eastern Pacific Cordillera

The eastern coast of Mindanao features a long mountain range, the Eastern Pacific Cordillera, which stretches
from Bilar Point at Surigao in the north to Cape San Agustin at Davao in the south. Forming its northern portion are
the Diwata Mountains (also spelled Diuata), separated from the south by low passes situated at the middle. To the
east of the range are narrow strips of lowland that feature several inlets and bays, the most prominent of which
include the Lianga and Bisligbays.[5][6]
Davao-Agusan Trough

To the west of the Pacific Cordillera lies an extensive lowland, the Davao-Agusan Trough. Its northern portion includes
the Agusan Valley which forms the lower river basin of the Agusan River. The river flows in a northward direction and
empties into the Iligan Bay. Draining the southern portion of the lowland are several other rivers, which include
the Tagum, flowing southward to the Davao Gulf.[5][6]
Central Mindanao highlands

Situated west of the Davao-Agusan Trough is a complex series of mountain ranges called the Central Mindanao
Highlands(also known as the Central Cordillera). From these mountains form the headwaters of several rivers which
include the Rio Grande de Mindanao, Pulangi, Maridagao and Tagoloan rivers. Several tall mountains, such as Mount
Apo, the country's highest are found within the range.[5]
Bukidnon-Lanao plateaus

The north-central portion of Mindanao is dominated by an extensive highland region, the Bukidnon-Lanao Plateau,
which includes the Kitanglad and Kalatungan mountain ranges. Within the plateau lies the country's second largest
lake, Lake Lanaosituated at an elevation of 2,296 feet, drained by the Agus River flowing northward to its river
mouth at Iligan Bay.[5]
Cotabato Basin

South of the Bukidnon-Lanao Plateau lies a large depression, the Cotabato Basin, which forms the lower river basin of
the country's second largest river system, the Rio Grande de Cagayan (also known as the Mindanao River).
Surrounded by three mountain ranges, the basin's only opening to the sea is to the northwest at Illana Bay, where the
Mindanao River empties into the ocean.[5][6]
To the southeast of the main basin are two large valleys, the Koronadal and Allah valleys.[5]
Tiruray highlands

Situated south and west of the Cotabato Basin are a moderately high mountain range, the Tiruray Highlands, which
block off the Basin from the southern coastline.[6] South of the highlands are narrow strips of coastlines.[5]
Zamboanga peninsula

At the northwestern tip of Mindanao is the generally mountainous Zamboanga Peninsula. The chain of mountain
ranges in this region is called Zamboanga Cordilleras, with the highest elevation at Mount Dapi, which is 2,617 meters
(8,586 ft) high.
The southern coastline is irregular, featuring two smaller peninsulas, the Sibuguey and Baganian, extending
southward to the Moro Gulf.[5]
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Outlying islands of Mindanao

Dinagat and Siargao islands

To the north of the Diwata Mountains at northeast Mindanao lie Siargao island and the Dinagat group of islands.[5]
Sulu archipelago

Southwest of the Zamboanga Peninsula is the Sulu Archipelago, a chain of islands which comprise the smaller
archipelago provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.[5]

Administrative geography[edit]
Further information: Administrative divisions of the Philippines

The Philippines is divided into a hierarchy of local government units (LGUs) with the 81 provinces and 38 independent
citiesas the primary unit. Provinces are further subdivided into component cities and municipalities, both of which
consist of barangays, the smallest local government unit.

Regions[edit]
There are 17 regions comprising the Philippines. Each region, with the exception of the National Capital Region, is
further subdivided into component provinces. The National Capital Region is divided into four special districts.
Most government offices establish regional offices in a city to serve the constituent provinces. Such cities are
designated as "regional centers". The regions themselves do not possess a separate local government, with the
exception of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Further information: Regions of the Philippines

Provinces[edit]
Forming the regions, with the exception of the National Capital, are the 81 provinces. Each province has a capital city
or municipality.
Further information: Provinces of the Philippines § List of provinces

Landlocked and island provinces[edit]

Of the 81 provinces of the Philippines, 15 are landlocked, and 16 are island provinces.

Landlocked provinces Island provinces

Province Region Island Province Region Island group

Apayao CAR Luzon Batanes II Luzon

Abra CAR Luzon Marinduque IV-B Luzon

Kalinga CAR Luzon Romblon IV-B Luzon

Mountain Province CAR Luzon Palawan IV-B Luzon

Ifugao CAR Luzon Catanduanes V Luzon

Benguet CAR Luzon Masbate V Luzon

Nueva Vizcaya II Luzon Guimaras VI Visayas

Quirino II Luzon Cebu VII Visayas

Nueva Ecija III Luzon Bohol VII Visayas

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Tarlac III Luzon Siquijor VII Visayas

Laguna [A] IV-A Luzon Biliran VIII Visayas

Rizal [A] IV-A Luzon Camiguin X Mindanao

Bukidnon X Mindanao Dinagat Islands XIII Mindanao

North Cotabato XII Mindanao Basilan ARMM Mindanao

Agusan del Sur XIII Mindanao Sulu ARMM Mindanao

Tawi-Tawi ARMM Mindanao

A
These provinces have coastlines on Laguna de Bay, a large
lake. Since lakes do not allow access to seaborne trade, they
are considered to be landlocked.

Climate[edit]
Main article: Climate of the Philippines

Philippines map of Köppen climate classification.

The Philippines has a tropical climate dominated by a rainy season and a dry season, although certain locations have
no dry season (meaning, all months have an average rainfall of above 60 mm) and certain higher-altitude areas can
have a subtropical climate. The summer monsoon brings heavy rains to most of the archipelago from May to October,
whereas the winter monsoon brings relatively 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.
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
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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.

Statistics[edit]
CIA Statistics[edit]
Unless otherwise indicated, the information below is taken from CIA Factbook information for the Philippines.[7]
Area

 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

 36,289 kilometres (22,549 mi)

Maritime claims
(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.
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Lingayen Gulf

Balabac Strait

Basilan Strait

Cebu Strait

Guimaras Strait
 18

Baler Bay

Mindoro Strait

San Bernardino Strait

San Juanico Strait

South China Sea

Surigao Strait

Bohol Sea

Camotes Sea

Philippine Sea (Pacific Ocean)

Samar Sea

Sibuyan Sea

Sulu Sea

Visayan Sea

Celebes Sea

Tablas Strait

Tañon Strait

Balintang Channel

Davao Gulf

Lagonoy Gulf

Leyte Gulf

Panay Gulf

Ragay Gulf

Manila Bay
 19

Luzon Strait

Butuan Bay

Iligan Bay

Illana Bay

Lamon Bay

Macajalar Bay

San Miguel Bay

Moro Gulf

Sarangani Bay

Sibuguey Bay

Honda Bay

Jintotolo Channel

Tayabas Bay

Verde Island Passage

Canigao Channel

Babuyan Channel

Polillo Strait

Linapacan Strait

Tapiantana Channel

Asid Gulf

Oceans and Seas in the Philippines

Natural resources

 Timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, and copper.

Land use

 Arable land: 19%

 20

 Permanent crops: 16.67%

 Other: 64.33% (2005)
Irrigated land

 15,500 square kilometers (5,985 sq mi) (2003)

Natural hazards
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

 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.[8]
Also Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013 caused major problems.
Environment - international agreements

 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
Subnational enclaves and exclaves
In political geography, an enclave is a territory or part of a territory lying wholly within the boundaries of another, and
an exclave is one which is politically attached to a larger piece but not actually contiguous with it. Many entities are
both enclaves and exclaves, but the two are not synonymous.
Exclaves which are not enclaves

 Caloocan City is divided in two by Valenzuela City and Quezon City.

 In Cotabato province, the municipality of President Roxas is divided in two by Antipas municipality.
Pene-enclaves/exclaves and inaccessible districts

 In SoCCSKSarGen, Sarangani province is divided by General Santos City or Sarangani Bay.

 In Zamboanga Peninsula:
 Isabela City is part of this region (although it is the capital of the ARMM province of Basilan), but it is
separated from it by Basilan Strait.
 Zamboanga del Sur — Zamboanga City, a chartered city, is unofficially part of this province but is separated from
it by Zamboanga Sibugay.
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 Province of Soccsksargen
More than four
Four distinct geographic divisions converging at a single point is not uncommon in the Philippines, and there are other
points of convergence between five or more divisions that can be found.
 21

Count Cities/municipalities Location

 Tagkawayan
 Labo
5 San Lorenzo Ruiz Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Quezon
 San Vicente
 Del Gallego
 Cadiz
 Sagay
5 Silay Negros Occidental
 Talisay
 Calatrava
Mayon shared by 8 cities/towns
 Batuan
 Bilar
5 Carmen Bohol
 Dimiao
 Valencia
 Alicia
 Dagohoy
5 Pilar Bohol
 San Miguel
 Ubay
 Baungon
 Lantapan
5 Sumilao Bukidnon
 Talakag
 Malaybalay
 Aleosan
 Carmen
5 Kabacan Cotabato, Maguindanao
 Pikit
 Pagagawan
 Tibiao
 Barbaza
5 Madalag Antique, Aklan, Capiz
 Libacao
 Jamindan
 Basey
 Marabut
6
 Balangkayan
Eastern Samar, Samar
 Llorente
 Balangiga
 Lawaan
 Ligao
 Legazpi
 Tabaco
 Guinobatan
8 Albay (Mayon Volcanocrater)
 Camalig
 Daraga
 Malilipot
 Santo Domingo
Geographic center
 22

This article appears to contradict the article Extreme points of the

Philippines. Please see discussion on the linked talk page. (January 2016) (Learn how
and when to remove this template message)

The island province of Marinduque prides itself as being the geographic center of the Philippines.[9] 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).[10] The Luzon Datum of 1911 in Marinduque
is used as point number one for all map makers in the country.[11]
The boundaries of the Philippine archipelago are described in Article III of the Treaty of Paris (1898), as comprising
an irregular polygon.[12] 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",[13] 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 122°E.[7]
The extreme points under Philippine control as of 2010 are:

Direction Location

Latitude (N)

North Amianan Island, Batanes 21º7’18.41"

East Pusan Point, Davao Oriental[a] 7º17’19.80"

South Frances Reef, Tawi-Tawi 4º24’53.84"

West Thitu Island[b], Kalayaan, Palawan 11°3’10.19"

 a
Pusan Point is the easternmost incorporated territory of the Philippines, but the Benham Plateau is the easternmost unincorporated
 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 kilometres (7.5 mi) NNE of Apo Island, in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
Further information: Extreme points of the Philippines

Largest cities and towns[edit]

Further information: List of Philippine cities and municipalities by population

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.
 23

1.2. All Other Territories Over Which The Philippines has Sovereignity or Jurisdiction

1.3. The Terrestrial, Fluvial, & Aerial Domains

1.4. The Inland Waters

II. The Archipelago Doctrine

III. The Philippine Claim on the Spratlys
IV. The Philippine Claim on Sabbah