Catanduanes

The island province of Catanduanes is a kidney-shaped island at the easternmost seaboard of the
Philippines. It is the first landmass of the Philippine archipelago to kiss the Pacific Ocean at 13 degrees to
14 degrees north latitude and 124 degrees to 125.5 degrees longitude. A part of Bicol Region, Catanduanes
is the 12th largest island of the Philippines and is separated from the Bicol peninsula by the Maqueda
Channel and Lagonoy Gulf.
Catanduanes is a lush island of mountains and water. Forest cover about 46 percent of the total
land area. Surfacing from the mountains are numerous springs, waterfalls and rivers training out into the
ocean. The island is lined with more than 20 islets and rocks that give it an interesting shoreline. It also
provides the choice of deed swells and surfs of the Pacific Ocean in the northeastern tip. On the southern
tip, one can view the gentle lolling of the ebb and the flow of the waters of Maqueda Channel over its over
its cream sand beaches.
LAND AREA:1,510 sq.km. – 151, 150 hectares
TOPOGRAPHY:Rugged and mountainous. Only about 10 percent of the land area have slope gradients
under 8%.
POPULATION:The island is a 3rd class province with a total population of 232,756 (as of 2007)
POPULATION DENSITY:139 persons per sq.km.
HEALTH:Eight (8) government-owned hospitals; 11 municipal health centers; 54 barangay health centers
stations; and 165 day care centers.
LABOR FORCE:Potential labor force is approximately 60 percent of the population (15 years and above).
Unemployment Rate is 10%.!

Brief History
The PROVINCE OF CATANDUANES, (opposite the Bicol Region), is bounded by the Maqueda
Channel on th the west, the Pacific Ocean on the north and east, and the Lagonoy Gulf and Cabugao Bay
on the south.
The Island, with a land area of 1,511.5 square kilometers and a population of 215,356 in 2000, is
composed of 11 towns, with Virac as the capital. Its fertile soil was made richer by the volcanic ashes form
the distant Mayon Volcano.
Catanduanes is frequently visited by storms. However, the vessel that visits its ports are provided
with safe enchorage by the bays and coves of Kalapalan, Giogmoto, Soboc, and Cabugao.
The important industries of the province are fishing, and cattle rising. In Pandan, "buri" hats and
mats, roof shingles, and alcohol are manufactured for local consumption.
The province, formerly known as "Catanduan," "Catandognan," and finally, "Catanduanes,"
derived its name from the "tando" trees which then abound in the Island.
In 1573, Juan de Saceldo explored Catanduanes. Later, on January 6, 1576, Fr. Diego de Herrera
with nine Augustinians sailed from Acapulco to the Philippines aboard the galleon, "Espiritu Santo."
Although it was reported that the galleon was shipwrecked near the coast of Catanduanes in April
1576, the others claimed that the disaster was caused by bad weather and all the crewmembers perished.
Some said that the survivors were either killed by natives or made servants of a certain "Datu" of the island.
Catanduanes was once a part of Ibalon, now Albay. The ecclesiastical mission in the province was
controlled by Nueva Caceres. However, in 1582, it was allotted to four "encomendoeros.
In 1663, Fr. Francisco Colin, SJ. described the inhabitants as noted shipbuilders, without using
nails or futtock timbers.
In 1755, the Muslims overran the island, defeated the "alcalde mayor," and pillaged and burned the
towns including important ecclesiastical and municipal records.
 During the Philippine Revolution, the Spaniards left Catanduanes on a motorboat named Josefa
on September 18, 1898, before the arrival of the first Philippine revolutionary troops under Major Estanislao
Legazpi.
When the Philippine-American war broke out, Brigadier General William A. Kobbe occupied Virac
on January 24, 1900.
The island was governed by Japanese Imperial Forces after they occupied Legazpi in 1941. After
the liberation of Bicol region in 1945, including Catanduanes, the United States Armed Forces maintained
a military base in Panay island.
On September 26, 1945, Commonwealth Act. No. 687, Catanduanes (a subprovince of Albay)
became a separate and independent province. Under Republic Act No. 159, dated June 26, 1947, the
former municipality of Caramoan was recreated out of the Municipality of Pandan; under R.A. No. 491,
dated June 12, 1950, the Municipality of Bagamanoc was also created.
In the town of Bato, Msgr. Teotimo Pacis, Bishop of Legazpi, declared the Holy Cross of Batalay
as a Diocesan Shrine on April 1, 1973. The cross was said to be the place by Geronimo Galves at the burial
site of Fr. Herrera in 1576. (Source: www.wowbicol.com)
Virac
Virac is a 1st class municipality the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. It is the capital
municipality of the province and the third largest town with a land area of 188 km2. According to the 2007
census, it has a population of 64,554.
Land-Use in the Province of Catanduanes (in hectares)
Total Land Alienable & Res./Solar/ Swamp/Fishpond/ Timberland or Public Land
Municipality
Area Disposable Commercial Marshland/Nipa Forestal and Others
Bagamanoc 9,390.00 5,353.00 67.00 583.00 4,829.96 96.00
Baras 10,950.00 8,867.00 56.00 493.00 4,549.43 144.00
Bato 4,880.00 4,774.00 96.00 827.50 893.09 182.00
Caramoran 25,240.00 8,087.00 44.00 1,222.00 17,008.02 135.00
Gigmoto 18,700.00 11,693.00 28.00 34.00 9,002.88 262.00
Pandan 11,990.00 8,552.00 57.00 2,074.50 2,496.74 214.00
Panganiban 6,380.00 2,691.00 38.00 386.00 1,793.65 58.00
San Andres 20,260.00 11,318.00 112.00 692.00 7,247.42 170.00
San Miguel 12,510.00 3,318.00 61.00 148.00 7,377.00 69.00
Viga 15,110.00 9,449.00 91.00 446.00 6,784.81 108.00
Virac 15,740.00 7,535.00 634.00 69.00 7,701.00 386.00
Total 151,150.00 81,637.00 1,284.00 6,975.00 69,684.00 1,824.00
Socio-Economic Profile
Municipality Area (ha. ) 2007 Population (in thousand) Income Class 2007 Income(in million pesos)
Bagamanoc 9,390 10.1 5th 22.0
Baras 10,950 11.7 5th 24.6
Caramoran 25,240 25.6 4th 40.6
Gigmoto 18,700 7.5 5th 26.1
Pandan 11,990 19.0 5th 29.3
Panganiban 6,380 9.2 5th 22.1
San Andres 20,260 33.7 4th 42.9
San Miguel 12,510 12.9 5th 26.5
Viga 15,110 19.2 4th 32.0
Virac 15,740 64.5 1st 79.80

National Greening Program

“To plant 300,000 thousand seedlings of indigenous, fruit trees and other forest tree species , covering 600
hectares CBFM, Protected Areas, and Urban/Other Areas from July to December 2011”.
NGP Catanduanes Accomplishment for CY - 2011
Target Accomplishment
NGP Sites No. of Adaptors %
Area(has) # of Sdlgs. Area Planted Sdlgs.
1. CBFM Areas 9 263.4403 131,720 263.4403 131,720 100
2. Watershed Areas 9 171.9911 85,995 171.9911 85,995 100
3. Protected Areas 5 141.4901 70,745 141.4901 70,745 100
4. Urban Areas 26 28.2886 14,144 28.2886 14,144 100
TOTAL 49 605.2101 302,604 605.2101 302,604 100%
Target Area = 600Hectares
Accomplishment = 605.2101
% Accomplishment = 100.87%
Accomplishment Report
SUMMARY OF NGP SITES FOR CATANDUANES
Municipality Area (hectares)
1. Virac 40.17
2. San Andres 103.00
3. Caramoran 68.00
4. Pandan 35.50
5. San Miguel 89.00
6. Viga 108.00
7. Bagamanoc 15.00
8. Panganiban 8.00
9. Bato 12.36
10. Baras 60.85
11. Gigmoto 62.12
Total 602.00