Occidental Mindoro
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| Basic data | |
|---|---|
| Region : | MIMAROPA |
| Capital : | Mamburao |
| Population : | 487.414 August 1, 2015 census
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| Population density : | 83 inhabitants per km² |
| Area : | 5,865.7 km² |
| PSGC : | 175100000 |
| Governor : | Josephine Ramirez Sato |
| Official website: | Occidental Mindoro |
| structure | |
| - Highly urbanized cities | 0 |
| - provincial cities | 0 |
| - municipalities | 11 |
| - Barangays | 162 |
| - electoral districts | 1 |
| Location of the province on the island of Mindoro | |
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Coordinates: 13 ° 0 ' N , 120 ° 55' E
Occidental Mindoro ( Filipino : Kanlurang Mindoro or "Western Mindoro", derived from the Spanish "Mina de Oro" = gold mine) is a province of the Philippines on the island of Mindoro . The province lies in the MIMAROPA region (Region IV-B) and covers the entire western half of the island, the seat of the provincial government is Mamburao .
geography
The Mindoro Occidental Province occupies the western part of Mindoro Island, while the other part forms the Oriental Mindoro Province . To the northwest of the province lies the South China Sea , to the west the Strait of Mindoro , which separates the island of Mindoro and the Calamian archipelago to the southwest . In the north, the Isla Verde Strait separates the island from the Batangas province on Luzon . The Lubang Islands, separated from the island by the Calavite Strait, are located north of the province and are part of the province's administrative area.
The topography of the province is characterized by mountains, some rivers, hills and valleys, wide plains and some small freshwater lakes. The larger mountains are located in the interior of the island and represent the border mountains to the neighboring province. The mountain ranges ultimately converge at two central peaks, Mt. Halcon in the northern section and Mt. Baco in the south. Another mountain is called Bundok ng susong dalaga , which can be translated as "Jungfrauenbrustberg" because it resembles a reclining woman.
The northern part of the province offers relatively less flat areas, while in the southern part there are extensive areas of flat land. Most of the plains are cropland and are surrounded by the few remaining pristine forests. In the vicinity of the northern town of Sta Cruz and in the southern towns of San Jose and Magsaysay, however, the area is hilly and runs out towards the coast. Here the flat areas are overgrown with grass and less forested. In the south of the province there are also some marshlands that can be found especially along the estuaries.
There are several major river systems that generally flow west towards the sea: the Mamburao River, the Pagbahan, the Salagan, the Karatong, the Mompong, the Biga, the Lumintao, the Busuanga and the Caguray. The province has a total area of 5,865.7 km².
In the province are the nature parks of Mount Iglit Baco National Park , the Mount Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary and the Apo Reef Marine Natural Park with the world's most famous coral reef in the Philippines, the Apo Reef . A breeding station for the largest mammal in the Philippines, the Tamarau, has been set up in the municipality of Rizal .
Culture
Demographics and language
Occidental Mindoro Province has a total population of 487,414 people, according to the 2015 census. The population density is 83 people per km².
The most important languages are Tagalog , Ilokano , Visaya , Kapampangan , Bikolano , Mangyan and other, less common dialects. Occidental Mindoro is a melting pot of cultures, which has been particularly popular due to recent immigration.
Mangyan
The indigenous peoples of the province are the Mangyans (Manguianes in Spanish , Mañguianes in ancient Tagalog ), consisting of 7 different tribes. They colonize the interior of the island and are particularly resident here in the highlands. The Mangyans lived on the island before the Spaniards arrived. It is believed that they originally came from Indonesia before settling on the island.
There is much historical and geophysical evidence that the Mangyans once inhabited the coasts before they were forced to retreat to the interior jungle when the Spanish colonizers reached Mindoro. The main reasons for this withdrawal were to avoid cultural clashes, avoid disease and preserve their way of life.
Today the number of Mangyans is estimated at only around 10% of the total population and thus at around 50,000 individuals, whose habitat extends over both provinces. However, there are no exact figures about theirs, as many of them still live in the higher regions of the island and thus far away from civilization and they also avoid contact with the lowland inhabitants.
economy
Today's Occidental Mindoro is an agricultural area, the main basis of which is the production of agricultural products. The basis for this is rice production, a staple food in the Philippines, in which almost 80 percent of the population is involved.
The cultivation of wet rice or lowland rice is reserved for the rainy season, as this crop is extremely dependent on water, which is why it is sown in July and harvested in October. Tobacco , onions, garlic and other vegetables, on the other hand, are more likely to be grown in the dry season, from November to May, as they are more light-dependent and less water-dependent crops. In addition, corn , onions, garlic, salt and fish (from the sea or from aquaculture ) are obtained in excess in the province and can therefore be exported. Mangoes , cashews , plantains ( saba ) and a few other fruits are grown in the orchards of the highlands and complement, among other things, the executable goods of Occidental Mindoro. In addition, peanuts are also planted in some parts of the province, as well as cassava , sweet potatoes , ginger and other less common crops.
In addition to the forestry wood deposits, the province also offers various mineral resources, including gold , copper , silver , chrome as well as non-metallic minerals such as lime, which is used to manufacture cement and green stone, from which ornaments are made. Lumber types include many hardwoods, such as mahogany and other types of trees that are known for their longevity and durability.
There are no large industrial plants in the province. The government is the largest employer and employs the largest number of non-agricultural workers. The local electrical cooperative, the Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (Omeco), is the largest private employer with almost 150 regular employees. The rest of the population is involved in private crafts or fishing.
Administrative division
General
Occidental Mindoro is divided into 11 independently administered municipalities. These are in turn divided into a total of 162 barangays (districts). The province is still assigned to a congress district .
Communities
Colleges
climate
Occidental Mindoro's climate is determined by two different weather periods: a rainy season and a dry season. The rainy season in the province begins at the end of May, intensifies in June, July, August, September and October before gradually subsiding in November. The months of August and September are the wettest months and are accompanied by storms during this time.
The dry season, on the other hand, begins in November when the rainfall subsides before the rain almost completely subsides in January, February, March and April. March and April are the driest months and are characterized by cloudless skies and dry earth.
The temperature ranges between 26 ° C in the windy highlands and 32 ° C in the wind-protected lowlands.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Maiden's breast mountain, Occ. Mindoro
- ^ Emma Helen Blair: The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Volume XXIII. BiblioBazar, 2007, ISBN 978-1-4346-0145-2 , p. 236.
- ↑ Page of the Magyan Heritage Center, section Introduction ( Memento of the original from May 3, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
