Prepared by:

Raul R. Sandoval

Philippines Natural
Resources

 The Philippines, Pearl of the Orient Seas, is

very rich in natural resources. Filipinos are by
nature creative and intelligent.
The richness of the environment is an
advantage for their livelihood.
With a coastal ecosystem stretching almost
20,000 km, the Philippines is likely to become
one of the earliest victims of rising ocean
temperatures and levels.
Centuries-old coral reefs are dying almost
overnight, and the destruction is being
witnessed not only by divers in remote spots.

 Regional marine science studies estimated in

the middle of 1999 that the Philippines'
magnificent underwater world would be gone
by around 2100.
Reports say that increased sea temperatures
were causing "mass coral bleaching events"
in the world's best coral reefs. Something has
to be done to reduce global warming caused
by the burning of oil, coal, and gas.

 For smaller bodies of water, the Philippines

has extensive but small river systems and
streams, which are mostly depicted by the
mountain ranges.
The fluvial system of Luzon is made up of (1)
Rio Grande de Cagayan and its tributaries (a
stream that flows into a larger body of water),
which drain the Cagayan Valley; (2) the Agno
Grande which drains Benguet and the valleys
of Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Tarlac.

 (3) the Abra River system, which receives its

tributaries from the Cordillera and drains
Lepanto, Bontoc, and the Abra; and (4) the
Rio Grande de Pampanga and its tributaries,
which drain the fertile valleys of Nueva Ecija,
Pampanga, and Bulacan.

BODIES OF WATER
The Philippines boast of many different kinds
of natural water forms, such as bays, rivers,
lakes falls, gulfs, straits, and swamps. Because
it is made up of islands, the country's coastline,
if laid end-to-end, would measure around 17.5
thousand kilometers.
The Philippines is blessed with excellent natural
harbors for ports like Manila Bay. Other excellent
harbors with port potentials are found in Ilocos,
Pangasinan, Visayas, and Mindanao.

RIO GRANDE DE CAGAYAN

TheCagayanRiver,alsoknownastheRioGrandede
Cagayan,isthelongestandlargestriverinthePhilippine
Archipelago.ItislocatedintheCagayanValleyregionin
northeasternpartofLuzonIslandandtraversesthe
provincesofNuevaVizcaya,Quirino,Isabelaand
Cagayan.
TheCagayanRiverpassesthroughoneofthefew
remainingprimaryforestsinthePhilippines.
Therivertraversesfourprovinces:NuevaVizcaya,
Quirino,IsabelaandCagayan.Theseprovinceshavean
approximatepopulationoftwomillionpeople,mostly
farmersandindigenoustribesmen.

 TheIbanagpeoplederivetheirtribe'snamefromCagayan
River'sancientname,Bannag.TheGaddangtribelivedin
theupperrichesoftheCagayanRiveranditstributaries.
Theriverdrainsafertilevalleythatproducesavarietyof
crops,includingrice,corn,bananas,coconut,citrusand
tobacco.
Therearedamsintwooftheriver'stributaries,theMagat
andChicoRivers,andtherearealsoseveralmining
concessionsinthemineral-richCordilleraMountainsnear
theheadwatersofthetwotributaryrivers.
Theprovincialgovernmentsalongtheriverhavealso
developedtourismprogramsthatofferactivitiesonthe
river,particularlywhitewaterrafting.

RIO GRANDE DE MINDANAO

RIVER

AGUSAN RIVER

Other notable bodies of water

in terms of size

Underground River

LAGUNA DE BAY
Aside from rivers, the country also abounds
with lakes. Easily the most famous is the
heart-shaped Laguna de Bay.
It is the largest lake in the Philippines located
east of Metro Manila between the provinces
of Laguna to the south and Rizal to the north
The lake is shaped like a stylized 'W', with
two peninsulas jutting out from the northern
shore

 Between these peninsulas, the middle lobe

fills the large volcanic Laguna Caldera.
In the middle of the lake is the large island of
Talim, which falls under the jurisdiction of the
towns of Binangonan and Cardona in
Rizal province.
The lake is one of the primary sources of
freshwater fish in the country. Its water drains
to Manila Bay via the Pasig River.

 The lake is a multipurpose resource. In order

to reduce the flooding in Manila along the
Pasig River, during heavy rains, the peak
water flows of the Marikina River are diverted
via the Manggahan Floodway to Laguna de
Bay, which serves as a temporary reservoir.
The lake has been used as a navigation lane
for passenger boats since the
Spanish colonial era.

 It is also used as a source of water for the

Kalayaan Pumped Storage Power Plant in
Kalayaan, Laguna.
Other uses include fishery, aquaculture,
recreation, food support for the growing duck
industry, irrigation and a "virtual" cistern for
domestic, agricultural, and industrial effluents.
Laguna de Bay has had a significant impact
on the cultures of the communities that grew
up around its shores, ranging from folk
medicine to architecture

Other Famous Lakes

Other famous lakes are:
Taal in Batangas,
Sampaloc in Laguna,
Buhi and Bulusan in Bicol,
Naujan in Mindoro Oriental, and
Lanao and Mainit in Mindanao

Waterfalls: Generating Power

Generating power for the Nations growth are
the magnificent waterfalls that serve as tourist
attractions, as well.
The biggest is waterfalls is the
Maria Cristina falls, it can be found in the
Northwestern part of Lanao province
in Mindanao, while the most popular is
Pagsanjan falls in Laguna, where tourist
came in droves

Maria Cristina Falls

Maria Cristina Falls is a waterfall of the Agus
River on the island of Mindanao.
It is sometimes called the "twin falls" as the
flow is separated by a rock at the brink of the
waterfall
It is a landmark of Iligan City, nicknamed the
City of Majestic Waterfalls, because of the
presence of more than 20 waterfalls in the
city

 It is located 9.3 kilometers away southwest of

the city proper at the boundaries of
Barangays Maria Cristina, Ditucalan, and
Buru-un
Well known for its natural beauty and
grandeur, the 320 - feet (98 meters) high
waterfall is also the primary source of electric
power for the city's industries, being
harnessed by the Agus VI Hydroelectric Plant

 Maria Cristina Falls powers the Agus VI

Hydroelectric Plant, one of the several
hydroelectric plants that harness Agus River.
The power plant has a 200 MW potential
capacity[4] supplied by a water flow of about
130 cubic meters per second
Agus VI is operated by the
National Power Corporation and was
commissioned on May 31, 1953.

Pagsanjan Falls
Pagsanjan Falls is one of the most famous
waterfalls in the Philippines.
Located in the province of Laguna, the falls is
one of the major tourist attractions of the
region.
The three-drop waterfall is reached by a river
trip on dugout canoe, known locally
as Shooting the rapids, originating from the
municipality of Pagsanjan

 The main falls of Pagsanjan are actually

located within the boundaries of Cavinti
, Laguna, but the more popular access by
canoes originates from the town of
Pagsanjan.
The falls and gorge were declared as a
National Park with Proc. 392 on March 29,
1939 and Proc. 1551 on March 31, 1976.
The Pagsanjan Gorge National Park covers
an area of 152.64 hectares (377.2 acres)

The Legend of the falls

According to history, the Pagsanjan Falls is rich in
legendary lore. Long, long ago, recounts one
legend, there were no falls. There were only the
foliaged highlands, the twin rivers called
Bumbungan and Balanac, and the alluvial delta
where the town of Pagsanjan now nestles. On the
eastern bank of the Bumbungan River lived two old
brothers named Balubad and Magdapio. For many
years, the two brothers enjoyed a rustic life of
peace and happiness.

But one day calamity struck. A terrible drought

brought ruin and death; no rains came for successive
months. The soil became dry as tinder. The blooming
flowers and food plants withered and died. The birds,
deer, wild hogs, monkeys, and other animals
disappeared. The rivers, creeks, and mineral springs
dried up. Not a single drop of life-giving rain fell from
heaven.
Balubad and Magdapio suffered immensely. Day and
night, they prayed for rain, but the gods did not heed
their prayers.

The older and weaker of the two brothers, Balubad,

died of thirst. Magdapio, with a sorrowing heart,
buried him on the slope of the mountain overlooking
the river delta. This mountain is now called Balubad.
Left alone in a waterless world, Magdapio
agonizingly trekked to the upper region of the arid
riverbed. He reached the high rocky cliffs, after an
arduous journey. But to his utter disappointment, he
found no water.

"Ye gods!" he sobbed bitterly, "Where is the water?"

In despair, he angrily hurled down his big cane
among the rocks.
Suddenly, a spring bubbled on the spot where the
cane fell. Rapidly it grew bigger. The fresh waters
roared down the canyon walls, soon becoming a
booming waterfall. Amazed at the miracle, Magdapio
fell on his knees and thanked the gods. He drank the
cool water until he felt new energy surging in his
blood. Thus emerged the falls of Pagsanjan

Natural Resources
The Philippines is rich in natural resources.
It has fertile, arable lands, diverse flora and fauna,
extensive coastlines, and rich mineral deposits.
About 30% of the land area of the country was
determined be geologically prospective by the
Philippine Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau.
But Only 1.5% of country's land area is covered
with mining permits.
Despite the rich natural resources of the
Philippines, the government is restricting its
exploitation.

 A logging ban is imposed on many areas of

the country and only in select areas are
"sustainable logging" allowed.
However illegal logging and small-scale illegal
mining continues is many areas.
In July 2012, President Benigno Aquino
III ordered a stop to all mining activities in all
(78 areas) protected and eco-tourism sites.
A positive step in the right direction to protect
the natural resources of the Philippines.

2011 Philippine Metallic

Mineral Production

Our Land
The Philippines primary source of livelihood is its
fertile land.
Rich, wide plains suitable for farming are found in
the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, South western
Bicol, Panay, Negros, Davao, Cotabato, Agusan
and Bukidnon.
The country s six major crops are rice, corn,
sugarcane, coconut, abaca and
tobacco.
Except for rice and corn, all these products are
exported, along with bananas and pineapples.

Rice Farm in Cagayan Valley

Sugar Cane Plantation in Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac

Del Monte Pineapple Plantation in Bukidnon

Our Forests
The Philippines also boasts of wide tracts of
lush, green forests.
In fact, almost half of the countrys total land
area is forested. Sixty percent of these forests
are found in Mindanao.

Guimaras

Tropical forest by the river, Villa

Escudero, Candeleria, Philippines

Mineral Resources
Except for petroleum and a number of metals,
mineral resources abound in Philippine soil.
The countrys mineral deposits can be classified
into metals and non-metals.
Our metal deposits are estimated at 21.5 billion
metric tons, while non-metal deposits are
projected at 19.3 billion metric tons.
Nickel ranks first in terms of deposits and size, it is
found in Surigao del Norte, Davao, Palawan,
Romblon and Samar.

 Iron is found in Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija,

Camarines Norte and Cotabato. While copper in
Zambales, Batangas, Mindoro, Panay and
Negros.
Among non-metal deposits, the most abundant
are cement, lime, and marble.
Other non-metals include asbestos, clay, guano,
asphalt, feldspar, sulfur, talc, silicon, phosphate,
and marble.

MARINE LIFE
An authentic rainbow of species pours out of
Philippine waters into aquariums around the
world each year.
The Philippines' underwater landscapes
surpass the terrestrial in beauty for
inexpressively rich marine life.
There are more than 500 sea species
containing variants of hard soft coral reefs.

 The seas support about 2,400 species of fish.

Individual and commercial fishermen have
caught tuna, mackerel, squid, cuttlefish shrimp,
lobster, crab, and a host of other marine
creatures.
Some reef fishermen destroy marine life
through cyanide poisoning and dynamite
fishing just to get a daily catch.
Other fishes such as swordfish, marlin, sailfish,
sharks, eels and sea snakes can also be
found.

 There is also a multitude of small fishes in various

colors and sizes, most of them still unnamed.
The world's largest fish, the harmless whale shark,
known to reach approximately 20 meters in length,
is occasionally seen in Philippine waters.
Meanwhile, the world's smallest fish called dwarf
pygmy (Pandaka pvgmaea) is common. It usually
inhabits the Malabon River and the streams of
Bulacan.
In Lake Buhi, the world's smallest commercial fish,
tabios, is found. However, that creature is nearing
extinction.

Fishery Resources
With its territorial waters measuring as much
as 1.67 million square kilometers and located
in the worlds fishing center, the Philippines is
definitely rich in marine resources.
Of the 2,400 fish species found in the
country. 65 have good commercial value.
Other marine products include corals, pearls,
crabs and seaweeds.

 Some of the countrys best salt water fishing areas

are found in Sintangki Island in Sulu Estancia in
Bohol, Malampaya in Palawan, Lingayen Gulf in
Pangasinan, San Miguel lake in Camarines Norte,
Bantayan Channel in Cebu, and the seas of
Quezon and Sorsogon.
On the other hand, among our biggest fisher water
fishing areas are Laguna de Bay, Bombon Lake in
Batangas, Bato Lake in Canmarines Sur, Naujan
Lake in Mindoro and Mainit lake in Agusan del
Norte.

NATIONAL PARKS
The Philippine government has established the
following national parks to protect many species
of plant, animal and sea life. The project to
preserve the Philippines' natural resources
officially started in 1992.
The N1PAP or National Integrated Protected
Areas Program aims to enlist the support of
indigenous people living in or around these
protected.

 - Palanan Wilderness Area (North Luzon) The

Philippines' largest protected area making up 10%
of the country's remaining primary forests.

 - Mt. Isarog National Park (Bicol) Isarog is the

Bicol region's second highest volcano at about
1,966 meters above sea level.

 - Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park. (Mindoro) The endangered

tamaraw is found here. Farmers encroaching upon the
area have caused a steady reduction in grasslands,
which has resulted in problems for the Mangyan people.

 - Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park (Romblon)

The spectacular slope of this mountainous
forest has nurtured and protected a world that
would have long ago been destroyed by
human activities if not for its isolation.
Among the ancient teak trees of the park can
be found several bizarre species of fruit bats,
large monkeys, and more than 100 known
bird species.

Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park

 - Coron Island. The Island boasts virgin forests and

stunning cliffs. The Tagbanua people, Coron's
indigenous residents, delight in the beauty of their
native habitat.

 - El Nido Marine Reserve. Rich in beaches and

wondrous jagged cliffs, El Nido is one of the
country's most popular tourist sites.

Other Protected Areas

Mt. Pulog, Northern Luzon

Hundred Islands, Northern Luzon
Mt. Arayat, Central Luzon
Mt. Mayon, Bicol
Bulusan Volcano, Bicol
Apo Reef, Mindoro
St. Paul Subterranean, Palawan
Turtle Island, Palawan
Sohoton Natural Bridge, Samar

Other Protected Areas

Lake Danao, Western Leyte

Lake Mahagnao Volcanic, Eastern Leyte
Mt. Kanlaon Nature Park, Cebu
Twin Lakes, Southern Negros
Mt. Malindang, Northwestern Mindanao