MODULE II.

PHILIPPINE
GEOGRAPHY

Module II
THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE
PHILIPPINES

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 Lesson Overview
The geography of the Philippines, characterized by its archipelagic
nature, diverse landscapes, and susceptibility to natural disasters, has
played a pivotal role in shaping the country's culture. The cultural
richness and diversity of the Philippines can be attributed in large part to
its geographical features and historical interactions with the
environment.

Lesson Objectives
 Identify the different features of the Philippine Geography
 Cite notable features of the Philippines in terms of geography
 Realize the role of the geography in shaping people’s culture

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2.1 Location and Climate

Image Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Four-climatic-classifications-of-the-regions-in-the-

Philippines-based-on-Corona-System_fig2_351049634

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 The Climate of the Philippines is tropical and maritime. It is
characterized by relatively high temperature, high humidity and abundant
rainfall. It is similar in many respects to the climate of the countries of Central
America. Temperature, humidity, and rainfall, which are discussed hereunder, are
the most important elements of the country's weather and climate.

Temperature
Based on the average of all weather stations in the Philippines, excluding Baguio,
the mean annual temperature is 26.6o C. The coolest months fall in January with
a mean temperature of 25.5oC while the warmest month occurs in May with a
mean temperature of 28.3oC. Latitude is an insignificant factor in the variation
of temperature while altitude shows greater contrast in temperature. Thus, the
mean annual temperature of Baguio with an elevation of 1,500 meters is 18.3oC.
This makes the temperature of Baguio comparable with those in the temperate
climate and because of this, it is known as the summer capital of the Philippines.
The difference between the mean annual temperature of the southernmost
station in Zamboanga and that of the northernmost station in Laoag is
insignificant. In other words, there is essentially no difference in the mean annual
temperature of places in Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao measured at or near sea
level.

Humidity
Humidity refers to the moisture content of the atmosphere. Due to high
temperature and the surrounding bodies of water, the Philippines has a high
relative humidity. The average monthly relative humidty varies between 71
percent in March and 85 percent in September. The combination of warm
temperature and high relative and absolute humidities give rise to high sensible
temperature throughout the archipelago. It is especially uncomfortable during
March to May, when temperature and humidity attain their maximum levels.

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Rainfall
Rainfall is the most important climatic element in the Philippines. Rainfall
distribution throughout the country varies from one region to another, depending
upon the direction of the moisture-bearing winds and the location of the
mountain systems.
The mean annual rainfall of the Philippines varies from 965 to 4,064 millimeters
annually. Baguio City, eastern Samar, and eastern Surigao receive the greatest
amount of rainfall while the southern portion of Cotabato receives the least
amount of rain. At General Santos City in Cotabato, the average annual rainfall is
only 978 millimeters.

The Seasons
Using temperature and rainfall as bases, the climate of the country can be divided
into two major seasons: (1) the rainy season, from June to November; and (2) the
dry season, from December to May. The dry season may be subdivided further
into (a) the cool dry season, from December to February; and (b) the hot dry
season, from March to May.

Climate Types
Typhoons have a great influence on the climate and weather conditions of the
Philippines. A great portion of the rainfall, humidity and cloudiness are due to
the influence of typhoons. They generally originate in the region of the Marianas
and Caroline Islands of the Pacific Ocean which have the same latitudinal location
as Mindanao. Their movements follow a northwesterly direction, sparing
Mindanao from being directly hit by majority of the typhoons that cross the
country. This makes the southern Philippines very desirable for agriculture and
industrial development.

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2.2 River and Fluvial System

Fluvial systems are dominated by rivers and streams. Stream erosion may be the
most important geomporphic agent. Fluvial processes sculpt the landscape,
eroding landforms, transporting sediment, and depositing it to create new
landforms. Human civilization and ecosystems alike are dependent on fluvial
systems. Rivers provide water for hydroelectric power and shipping, as well as
supporting stream-side wetlands (riparian areas) that are critical for clean water
and provide rich habitat.

Rivers in the Philippines

The Republic of the Philippines is located in the western Pacific Ocean and is
made up of 7,641 islands. It has a population of 100,981,437 people, with the
Visayan and Tagalog peoples being the largest ethnic groups. The capital city is

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Manila with Quezon City being the most populous. The highlands are
mountainous and of volcanic nature and are covered by tropical rainforest. The
country experiences a tropical maritime climate which is hot and humid. Notable
physical features include Mount Apo (the county's highest peak at 9,692 feet),
the Philippine Trench, the San Juanico Strait, and Laguna de Bay.

Cagayan
The River Cagayan is locally referred to as the Rio Grande de Cagayan. It flows
from the Caraballo Mountains covering 314 miles to the Babuyan Channel into
the Philippine Sea, with the water generally flowing from south to north. This river
experiences severe flooding due to high rainfall of up to 300 millimeters annually
and surface retention that causes the water to move slowly. Valleys along the
river are very fertile, and farmers grow rice, coconut, citrus, and tobacco. There
are two dams which have been built on two of its tributaries. The national
government has developed tourism along the river. The Ibanag community
derives their name from the river’s former name, Banag. The river has a wide
variety of fish including a rare riverine fish locally known as ludong (Cestreaus
plicatilis).

Mindanao
The River Mindano is the second longest river in the Philippines, stretching out
over a total of 232 miles. The river's four major tributaries are the Allah River,
Buluan River, Pulangi River, and the M’lang River. At its mouth at Illana Bay, it
forms two distributaries, the Cotabato and Tamontaka. The river is an important
transport artery for the towns along its banks.

Agusan
The River Agusan flows 217 miles along the Compostela Valley and drains into
Butuan Bay. The most illustrious feature of this river is the Agusan Mash which

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covers 19,197 hectares. It serves to reduce flash floods. It is home to over 200
bird species and many other endangered species of plants and animals. It has
been declared a wildlife sanctuary. Communities found along the river include
Mamanua, Manobo, Mgahat, and Mandaya. Their economic activities are farming
and subsistence fishing with rice being the leading food crop and coconut the
leading cash crop.

Pulangi
The River Pulangi is the largest tributary of the River Mindanao. It stretches 199
miles and has the largest watershed in the Philippines covering an area of 1.8
million hectares. A power station has been built along the river with a production
capacity of 255 megawatts, and another one has been proposed with a projected
capacity of over 300 megawatts. This project has sparked opposition with some
arguing that the dam would submerge the grave of ancient ancestors known as
Apo Mamalu. Tributaries feeding the river include the Manupali River, Muleta
River, Bobonawan River, Tigwa River, and Bukidnon River.

Pampanga
The source of this river is in the Sierra Madre highlands and it drains into Manila
Bay at Bulacan, covering a distance of 162 miles from its source to its mouth. Its
tributaries are the Rio Chico, the Penaranda River, and the Coronel-Santor River.
Three dams have been constructed along this river, and they provide water for
irrigation to the residents of Nueva Ecija province. At the lower end of the river,
the water is used in fish farming and a newly constructed irrigation scheme.

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 ESSAY xx ESSENCE!
Answer the following questions:
1. How do rivers influence the economic activities of people living along their banks,
such as fishing and tourism?
2. What are the environmental benefits of rivers, such as their role in maintaining
biodiversity and supporting ecosystems?
3. How do rivers affect transportation and trade, historically and in modern times?
4. How have dam construction and river modifications affected the livelihoods of
people and ecosystems downstream?
5. In what ways do rivers contribute to cultural and social aspects of communities,
such as traditions, folklore, and festivals?

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2.3 Administrative Divisions
CAR – CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
ABRA - Natural Dye Capital of the Philippines
APAYAO - Ipasindayaw! ("Apayao, Ipagmalaki," which is more like a battle cry
than a nickname.)
BENGUET - Salad Bowl of the Philippines
IFUGAO - Land of Beautiful Rice Terraces/ Land of Hudhud and the Alim
KALINGA - Prince of the Highlands
MOUNTAIN PROVINCE - Land of the Mountaineers

REGION I : ILOCOS REGION

ILOCUS NORTE – Northern Tourist Destination
ILOCUS SUR – Northern Getaway; Heritage Village
PANGASINAN – Salt Capital; Pangasinan or panag asinan means “where salt is
made”
LA UNION – Surfing Capital in the North
• Dagupan City – Bangus Capital

REGION II : CAGAYAN VALLEY

BATANES - The Home of the Winds; considered as the smallest province in the
Philippines
CAGAYAN - Land of Smiling Beauty
ISABELA - The Queen Province of the North', 'Top Corn Producer of the
Philippines' and 'Rice Bowl of the North'.
NUEVA VIZCAYA – Citrus Capital; referred to as lowland Baguio because of its
pleasant climate.
QUIRINO - Forest Heartland of Cagayan Valley

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REGION III : CENTRAL LUZON
AURORA - “Gateway to Pacific”
BATAAN - The Battle of Bataan is known in history as one of the last stands of
American and Filipino soldiers before they were overwhelmed by the Japanese
forces in World War II. The
Bataan Death March was named after the province, where the infamous march
started.
BULACAN - “Land of the Heroes.”
NUEVA ECIJA - "Rice Granary of the Philippines"
PAMPANGA - Culinary Capital of the Philippines
TARLAC - Melting Pot of Central Luzon
ZAMBALES – Chromite Capital; Mt. Pinatubo

REGION IV A : CALABARZON
CAVITE - "Land of the Brave"
LAGUNA – “the Philippines' Silicon Valley”; Resort Capital
BATANGAS - Land of Rolling Hills and Wide Shore Lands.
RIZAL – The Cradle of Philippine Art
QUEZON – Coconut capital of Luzon

REGION IV B : MIMAROPA
MINDORO – Ma-yi “Land of Gold”; Rice Granary and Fruit Basket of Southern
Tagalog
MARINDUQUE - The Heart of the Philippines
ROMBLON - Marble Capital of the Philippines
PALAWAN - Last ecological frontier; The Land of Promise

REGION V : BICOL REGION

ALBAY – Alluring Capital

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CAMARINES NORTE - Gateway to Bicolandia
CAMARINES SUR - The Last Frontiers in the Luzon Peninsula
CATANDUANES – Land of the Howling Winds
MASBATE - Rodeo Capital of the Philippines
SORSOGON - Gateway to Southern Philippines; 'Land of Kasanggayahan' or 'A Life
of Prosperity'.

REGION VI : WESTERN VISAYAS

AKLAN - Boracay; oldest province in the country
ANTIQUE - Where mountain meets the sea - Malalison Island; Hantík, the local
name for the large black ants found on the island.
CAPIZ - “Seafood Capital of the Philippines” - Rizal
GUIMARAS - "Mango Capital of the Philippines"
ILO-ILO – City of Love
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – Sugar Bowl of the Philippines

REGION VII: CENTRAL VISAYAS

BOHOL - Green Gateway to the World - Bohol-Panglao Airport
CEBU - Queen City of the South ; oldest city
NEGROS ORIENTAL – “Buglas” ; Spaniards changed its name to Negros because of
darkskinned natives lived on the island.
SIQUIJOR - Island of Fire; Mystic Island of Central Visayas

REGION VIII : EASTERN VISAYAS

BILIRAN - Undiscovered paradise
LEYTE - the site of the largest naval battle in modern history
SAMAR – Caving Capital of the Philippine; home to Asia's 2nd largest cave system

REGION IX : WESTERN MINDANAO -ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA

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ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE – God's Given Land; Twin-City Province, Zamboanga del
Norte has been made famous by the beauty and charm of the Orchid City of
Dipolog and the historical, rustic quaintness of the Shrine City of Dapitan.
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY - Little Disneyland
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR - Little Hong Kong of the South

REGION X : NORTHERN MINDANAO

BUKIDNON - Food Basket of Northern Mindanao
CAMIGUIN - Island Born of Fire ; home to seven volcanoes
LANAO DEL NORTE - Land of Beauty and Bounty
MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL
MISAMIS ORIENTAL

REGION XI : DAVAO REGION

DAVAO DEL SUR - Land of Eagles (possibly covering the whole Davao region)
DAVAO DEL NORTE - The Banana Capital of the Philippines
DAVAO ORIENTAL - Coconut Capital of the Philippines
DAVAO OCCIDENTAL - Lupain ng Antigong Mamamayan
COMPOSTELA VALLEY

REGION XII : SOCSARGEN

COTABATO - Stone Fortress of Mindanao
SARANGANI - Boracay of the South; Southern Philippines’ front door
SOUTH COTABATO - Land of the Dreamweavers
SULTAN KUDARAT - Robusta Capital of the Philippines

REGION XIII : CARAGA

AGUSAN DEL NORTE - A Haven of Antiquated Finds
AGUSAN DEL SUR - Timberland of the Philippines

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DINAGAT ISLANDS - The Mystical Islands Province of Love
SURIGAO DEL NORTE - Surfing Capital of the Philippines
SURIGAO DEL SUR - Little Boracay of CARAGA

BARMM – BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO

BASILAN - Treasure Islands of the Southern Seas
LANAO DEL SUR
MAGUINDANAO
SULU - Dubai of the Philippines
TAWI‑TAWI - The Venice of the South/ The Philippines' Cradle of Islam

NCR REGION
CALOOCAN CITY
LAS PIÑAS CITY
MAKATI CITY – Business Capital
MALABON CITY
MANDALUYONG CITY
MANILA CITY – Ever Loyal City
MARIKINA CITY
MUNTINLUPA CITY
NAVOTAS CITY
PARAÑAQUE CITY
PASAY CITY
PASIG CITY
QUEZON CITY
SAN JUAN CITY – Smallest City
TAGUIG CITY
VALENZUELA CITY

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Image Source: http://philippinegeographic.blogspot.com/2013/08/regions-of-philippines.html

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2.4 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.

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.

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

Mineral resources
Except for petroleum and a number of metals, mineral resources abound in

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 Philippine soil. The country’s 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.

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 countries best salt water fishing area’s 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.

Think, Pair, Share.

Directions: Get a partner and try to collaboratively asnwer these questions.
1. What are the ecological consequences of deforestation and illegal logging in the
Philippines, and how can these issues be effectively addressed?
2. What role does the Philippines play in regional and global biodiversity
conservation, and what strategies can be employed to protect its unique
ecosystems?
3. How have historical patterns of resource exploitation impacted the current state
of natural resources in the Philippines?

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2.5 Coastlines

Image Source: https://rare.org/program/philippines/

Compared to some countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia and Thailand,

the Philippines is surrounded by deep waters ranging from 2,000 meters to 4,000
meters. Its shallow waters are relatively narrow and close to shore. However, with
its more than 7,000 islands, the country is supported by large productive areas

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of diverse marine ecosystems, which provide shore protection and nutrient
cycling as well as valuable economic goods.

Indeed, the Philippines is one big coastal community of more than 70 million
people. The country’s coastline stretches to more than 18,000 km, and its coastal
waters cover an area of 266,000 sq km. Seventy percent of its more than 1,500
municipalities are located in the coastal area, which is home to millions of people
for whom the sea is an ordinary, but often little understood, fact of life. Coastal
fishing activities account for between 40% and 60% of the total fish catch. All told,
the fisheries sector accounts for about 4% of GNP and directly employs over a
million Filipinos, more than half of whom are engaged in small-scale fishing. Fish
and other marine products supply up to 70% of the total animal protein intake
and 30% of the total protein intake of Filipinos. And, with the growth of tourism
in the coastal areas, Philippine coastal resources are predicted to become even
more economically valuable over time.

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2.6 Volcanoes and Earthquakes

Image Source: https://gulfnews.com/special-reports/deadliest-earthquakes-in-the-

philippines-what-you-need-to-know-1.1612705914449

Earthquakes frequent the Philippines, an Asian country of 108 million inhabitants.

And this is because the archipelago (made up of 7,641 islands) is on the western
edge of the so-called “Ring of Fire”.
There’s a fascinating reason why geologists attribute "fire" to it. The vast area is
a seismically active site, which often triggers volcanic eruptions and tremors.
Another fact: this area is home to 75% of the world’s 1,500 most active volcanoes.

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About 300 of those volcanoes are in the Philippines, of which 22 are active and
the rest (278) are "dormant" as of the record.

Why is the Philippine frequented by earthquakes?

The reason is because it straddles a number of active earthquake fault lines.
Faults allow blocks in the Earth's crust to move relative to each other. These
movement may occur rapidly, usually in the form of an earthquake — or may
occur slowly, in the form of what geologists describe as "creep". Most faults
produce repeated displacements over geologic time.

Most Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(PHIVOLCS), at least twenty-four (24) of these volcanoes are active or potentially
active, while the rest are dormant. Based on documented eruptions over the
years, the six most active volcanoes are:
1. Mayon - since 1616, Mayon has erupted 47 times
2. Taal - since the sixteenth century, Taal has erupted more than 30 times
3. Kanlaon - erupted 30 times since 1819
4. Bulusan - erupted 15 times since 1885
5. Hibok-Hibok - erupted five times in modern history
6. Pinatubo - erupted in 1991 after being dormant for 600 years. From June 12
to June 16, 1991, the volcano erupted four times

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 TASK
Direction: Make 500 word essay about the influence of geographic features in the
Philippine Popular Culture. You may use these guide questions below.
1. How these geographical features affect the spread of popular culture? What is the
role of the technology in this matter?
2. In promoting the tourism industry, why popular culture is incorporated in
advertisements to entice the targetted people?
3. How does climate and regions affects the cultural representation of the
community (e.g. fashion, fad, self-expression, trends)?

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 References:
1. https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/information/climate-
philippines#:~:text=The%20Climate%20of%20the%20Philippines,the%20countrie
s%20of%20Central%20America.
2. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/fluvial-landforms.htm
3. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/longest-rivers-in-the-philippines.html
4. http://philippinegeographic.blogspot.com/2013/08/regions-of-
philippines.html
5. https://www.philippine-history.org/about-philippines.htm
6. http://oneocean.org/about_crmp/where_we_are.html
7. https://www.traveling-up.com/active-volcanoes-in-the-philippines/
8. https://gulfnews.com/special-reports/deadliest-earthquakes-in-the-
philippines-what-you-need-to-know-1.1612705914449

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