4.2.

3 GEOPHYSICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

4.2.2.1 LOCATION AND LAND AREA

The City of Batangas is a coastal city lying in a cove-like shape at the south-eastern

portion of Batangas Province and geographically situated at coordinates 13 degrees, 45

minutes and 25.96 seconds north latitude and 121 degrees, 3 minutes and 29.2 seconds

east longitude. It is bounded on the northwest by the municipality of San Pascual; on the

north by the municipality of San Jose; on the east by the municipalities of Ibaan, Taysan

and Lobo; and on the south by the Batangas Bay.

Batangas City, the capital of Batangas Province has a total land area of more or less

28,541.44 hectares. It is about 112.00 kilometres away from Manila and has a travel time

of approximately two (2) hours through the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR).
4.2.2.2 TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPE

Batangas City has a rolling terrain that ranges from 0% to 30% in slope. Its highest

point is Mount Banoy in Barangay Talumpok Silangan which is 968 meters above sea

level and about 13.50 kilometers east of the Poblacion. The city‟s coastal Barangays

starting from Sta. Rita Aplaya from the north down to Ambulong on the south are nearly

level at 0% to 3%.

In the east beyond the barangays of Mabacong, Simlong and Pinamucan Ibaba, the

slope rises from 8% to 30%. The Matuco Point at the southwest tip of the city along the

Batangas Bay has a slope of 30%. To the immediate south is Verde Island composed of

six (6) barangays which is mountainous and with a slope ranging from 3% to 30%.
4.2.2.3 GEOLOGY

There are seven (7) types of soil that composed the land area of Batangas City.

Their types, location and agricultural potentials are as follows:

Type of Soil : Taal Sandy Loam

Location : Sta. Rita Karsada, Sta. Rita Aplaya, Sta.

Clara and Cuta

Agricultural Potentials : corn, citrus, sugar cane, fruit trees

Type of Soil : Hydrosoil

Location : Calicanto and Wawa

Agricultural Potentials : saltbeds and fishponds

Type of Soil : Calumpang Clay Loam

Location : Libjo, Poblacion and Pallocan

Agricultural Potentials : Sugar Cane

Type of Soil : Ibaan Clay Loam

Location : Pinamucan, Mahabang Dahilig, Malalim,

Sirang Lupa, Conde, Talumpok

Kanluran/Silangan, Sto. Niño, Tulo,

Paharang

Agricultural Potentials : sugar cane, upland crops, rice and

intercrops
Type of Soil : Ibaan Loam

Location : Balete, Concepcion, Bucal, Mahabang

Parang, Sorosoro, Tingga, Banaba,

Balagtas, Alangilan, Bolbok, Kumintang,

San Pedro, Dumantay, Dalig, Gulod,

Sampaga, San Isidro, Ambulong and

Tabangao Aplaya

: sugar cane, upland rice, corn,

Agricultural Potentials vegetables, coffee and bananas

Type of Soil : Ibaan Loam (Gravely Phase)

Location : Talumpok Kanluran/Silangan, Conde,

San Miguel, Sto. Niño, Tabangao Dao,

Haligue, Talahib Payapa, Talahib

Pandayan, Mabacong, Ilijan and Dela

Paz

Agricultural Potentials : coconut, atis, cacao and coffee

Type of Soil : Sibul

Location : Isla Verde

Agricultural Potentials : rice, peanuts, tomatoes and

vegetables
4.2.2.4 CLIMATE

Batangas City is generally coolest during the months of December to January with

temperature ranging from 22ºC to 26ºC. The mean temperature rises and attains a

maximum of 36 degrees Celsius (36ºC) in May. The month of October marks the steady

fall of temperature.

The driest months in Batangas City are from January to April, with the average

monthly rainfall of less than 50 mm per month.

The northeast monsoon “amihan” prevails starting the months of November up

to April. Although originally moist, it becomes comparatively drier after crossing the

Sierra Madre Range to the north and east of Batangas, thus attributing for predominantly

dry weather during this period.

By May to the later part of October, the situation is reversed. The southwest

monsoon “habagat” prevails bringing with it considerable rain. A pronounced maximum

rain period occurs in Batangas during the months of June, July, August and September

when southwest monsoon flow is steadiest and the average monthly rainfall is 275 mm

per month.

By the end of October, the northeast monsoon starts to set again. However, the

months from October to December are not characterized by dry weather as compared to

the months from January to April. This is partly due to the fact that typhoons and

depressions most frequently affect the city during the months from July to December.
MONTHLY HOURS OF SUNSHINE

DAILY HOURS OF DAYLIGHT AND TWILIGHT

The length of the day varies significantly over the course of the year. The shortest day is December
21with 11:17 hours of daylight; the longest day is June 20 with 12:59 hours of daylight.

DAILY SUNRISE AND SUNSET WITH TWILIGHT

The earliest sunrise is at 5:26am on June 1 and the latest sunset is at 6:30pm on July 11.
The latest sunrise is at 6:25am on January 21 and the earliest sunset is at 5:24pm
on November 21
AVERAGE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE

AVERAGE MONTHLY PRECIPITATION

AVERAGE MONTHLY RAINY DAYS

AVERAGE WIND SPEED PER MONTH

MEDIAN CLOUD COVER

The median cloud cover ranges from 37% (mostly clear) to 86% (mostly cloudy). The
sky is cloudiest on August 23 and clearest on April 4.

4.2.2.4 WATER RESOURCES

Batangas City is traversed by several streams that converge at the Calumpang

River which in turn flows into the Batangas Bay. Calumpang River is a perennial body of

water with a catchment area of approximately 472.00 square kilometers. The river forms

the southeastern boundary of the Poblacion and it flows into the Batangas Bay at a point

approximately two kilometers south of Batangas Port.

There are several springs in Batangas City that have sufficient volume of discharge

to suffice the needs of nearby residents for their water supply requirements. These can be

found in barangays Talumpok Kanluran & Silangan, Cumba, Sto. Domingo, Talahib

Pandayan, Talahib Payapa, Ilijan, Malibayo, Bilogo, Haligue Kanluran, Haligue Silangan,

Maruclap and Conde Itaas.

4.2.2.7 COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES

VERDE ISLAND PASSED AS THE CENTER OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY OF THE

WORLD

A team of marine conservationist

declared in 2006 that the Philippines is

the Center of Marine Biodiversity in the

world and Verde Island Passages as the

"Center of the Center of Marine

Shorefish Biodiversity".

Many threatened species which include sea turtles like hawksbills, olive ridleys,

and green turtles; humphead wrasses, giant groupers and giant clams are present in the

Verde Island Passage.

The area has more than 300 species of corals, which is considered one of the largest

concentrations of corals in the country or even in the whole world. Coral health is

generally good, though the effects of global warming and increased pollution, may still

lead to drop in diversity. The Verde Island passage is located next to Batangas Bay which

is rapidly becoming a major refining and petrol chemical center in the Philippines. Until

now, no infrastructure is in place to contain a major oil, or chemical spill.