ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
PHILIPINE NATURAL REASOURCES Q2 M1
Natural Resources
- Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and
fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic
gain.
• The current population of the Philippines is 111,595,843 as of
Saturday, November 20, 2021, based on World meter elaboration
of the latest United Nations data.
• The Philippines 2020 population is estimated at 109,581,078
people at midyear according to UN data.
• The Philippines population is equivalent to 1.41% of the total
world population.
• The Philippines ranks number 13 in the list of countries (and
dependencies) by population.
• The population density in the Philippines is 368 per km2 (952
people per mi2).
• The total land area is 298,170 km2 (115,124 sq. miles)
• 47.5 % of the population is urban (52,008,603 people in 2020)
• The median age in the Philippines is 25.7 years.
Philippines is a blessed country. Surrounding its islands are the
oceans and seas where the richest and most biodiversity marine
environment thrives making it rich in fish and other aquatic
resources. Its land has fertile plains surrounded by majestic
mountain ranges rich in many species of plants and animals. With
its rich natural resources and its naturally landscaped
environment, the Philippines is said to be the epicenter of wealth
and beauty.
Bodies of Water
• The three largest rivers in the country are the Cagayan River
found in Northern Luzon, the Rio Grande de Mindanao and the
Agusan River which are both found in Mindanao.
• The famous underground river in Palawan is also
very famous among tourists.
• Aside from rivers, the country is also rich with lakes. Some of
its famous lakes are the heart-shaped Laguna de Bay, Taal in
Batangas, Sampalocin Laguna, Buhi and Bulusan in Bicol, Naujan in
Mindoro Oriental, and Lanao and Mainit in Mindanao.
• Generating power for the nation’s growth are the magnificent
waterfalls that also serve as tourist attractions. To name a few of
these famous falls are the Maria Christina Falls found in the
North Western part of Lanao province in Mindanao and the
Pagsanjan falls in Laguna.
The Land
• The Philippine’s primary source of livelihood among its people is
its fertile land.
• Rich and wide plains that are ideal 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.
The Forests
• Forests are among the most valuable natural resources in the
Philippines. The Philippines has been blessed with some of the
most biologically diverse as well as the most beautiful forests
anywhere on the planet.
• Almost half of the country’s total land area is forest. 60% of
these forests are found in Mindanao.
• In 2013, the forestry sector contributed PhP5.26 billion (0.12%)
to the national gross domestic product (GDP) (2014 Philippine
Statistical Yearbook).
• Forests serve as significant carbon sink and are vital for
biological conservation and environmental protection, locations for
education and research, habitat for indigenous flora and fauna,
and resettlement areas.
The Forests
• Besides providing habitats for animals and livelihoods for
humans, forests also offer watershed protection, prevent soil
erosion and mitigate climate change.
• The country’s biggest natural forest, if not of all the terrestrial
Protected Areas in the country, is the Northern Sierra Madre
Natural Park, or NSMNP. Being the Philippines’ longest mountain
range, it requires the establishment of multiple government
reservations called Protected Areas to cover as much of its
territory as possible.
• According to the DENR-Provincial Environment and Natural
Resources Office (PENRO) of Isabela, more than 291 species of
birds can be found in NSMNP. The national bird, the Philippine
Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), is among the 83 birds that are
endemic to the Philippines. Of the mammals found there, 25 of
them are endemic. Among the heaviest of the world’s flying
mammals, the Golden Crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus), can
be found there roosting along steep slopes and cliff edges. The
freshwater Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is one of
sixteen reptile species found in NSMNP that are endemic to the
Philippines.
Mineral Resources
• The Philippines is not a petroleum-rich country, but the land is
still full of many valuable minerals.
• There are an estimated 21.5 billion metric tons of metal deposits
in the Philippines and 19.3 billion metric tons of nonmetal minerals
in the ground.
• Nickel is the most abundant deposit in the Philippines, while iron
and copper are also present in significant amounts.
• Nickel is found in Surigao del Norte, Davao, Palawan, Romblon
and Samar. Iron is found in Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Camarines
Norte and Cotabato. Copper is also found in Zambales, Batangas,
Mindoro, Panay and Negros.
• Most of the country’s metallic minerals, including gold, iron ore,
lead, zinc, chromite, and copper, are drawn from major deposits in
the islands of Luzon and Mindanao. Smaller deposits of silver,
nickel, mercury, molybdenum, cadmium, and manganese occur in
several other locations.
Mineral Resources
• Among the non-metal deposits, the most abundant are cement,
lime, and marble. Other non-metals also include asbestos, clay,
guano, asphalt, feldspar, sulfur, talc, silicon, phosphate, and
marble.
• The Visayas is the primary source of nonmetallic minerals which
includes limestone for cement, marble asphalt, salt, sulfur,
asbestos, guano, gypsum,phosphate, and silica.
• Petroleum and natural gas are extracted from fields off the
northwest coast of Palawan.
Fishery Resources
• With the Philippines territorial waters measuring as much as
1.67 million square kilometers and being located in the world’s
fishing center, the Philippines is definitely rich in different
marine resources. Out of the 2400 species of fish found in the
country, 65 have good commercial value. Other marine products
include corals, pearls, crabs and seaweeds.
• Some of the country’s best saltwater 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 the best fishing areas in the
Philippines are the Laguna de Bay, Bombon Lake in Batangas, Bato
Lake in Camarines Sur, Naujan Lake in Mindoro and Mainit Lake in
Agusan del Norte.