Calapan

Nicknames: Motto: 13°24′50″N 121°10′48″E / 13.414°N 121.18°E / 13.414; 121.18CountryPhilippinesRegionMimaropaProvinceOriental MindoroDistrict 1st districtFoundedJanuary 2, 1917CityhoodMarch 21, 1998Barangays62 (see Barangays)Government • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod • MayorMarilou F. Morillo • Vice MayorRommel Rodolfo A. Ignacio • RepresentativeArnan C. Panaligan • City Council • Electorate100,921 voters (2022)Area • Total250.06 km² (96.55 sq mi)Elevation87 m (285 ft)Highest elevation2,576 m (8,451 ft)Lowest elevation0 m (0 ft)Population • Total145,786 • Density580/km² (1,500/sq mi) • Households35,147Demonym(s)Calapeños (Male)
Calapeñas (Female)Economy • Income class3rd city income class • Poverty incidence% (2018)^[4] • Revenue₱ 1,107 million (2020) • Assets₱ 1,707 million (2020) • Expenditure₱ 1,009 million (2020) • Liabilities₱ 482.1 million (2020)Service provider • ElectricityOriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO)Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)ZIP codePSGCIDD : area code +63 (0)43Native languagesTagalogWebsitewww.cityofcalapan.gov.ph

Calapan, officially the City of Calapan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Calapan), is a 3rd class component city in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 145,786 people.^[3] The city is the capital of the province of Oriental Mindoro.

The city serves as the gateway to the Oriental Mindoro province with the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) an integrated ferry project of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that extends further to the southern part of the Philippines. The Calapan City Seaport is the largest and busiest seaport on Mindoro Island, which is just 45 minutes away by ferry boats and roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ships to-and-fro Batangas City International Seaport.

Calapan is one of two cities in the Mimaropa region, the other being Puerto Princesa in Palawan. Calapan serves as the region's administrative center.^[5] It is also the center of commerce, industry, transport, communication, religious activities and education in the entire province of Oriental Mindoro.

Etymology

The derivation of the name of Calapan cannot be traced with certainty. Some opined that it came from the word “Kalap” which means to gather logs. Thus “Kalapan” was supposed to be a place where logs were gathered. In the old records, however, there was never a mention of Calapan as a place where logs were produced or exported. Furthermore, huge forest trees where logs were produced certainly did not grow near the town, which was swampy. Another theory holds that Calapan was originally pronounced as “Kalapang” which, according to an old Tagalog dictionary, was a synonym for “sanga” or branch. It could then refer to the settlement of Kalapang as a branch of its mother town of Baco, an adjoining town. The name was later hispanized as Calapan.^{[citation needed]}

History

Calapan was formerly a small village before the establishment of the first Religious District in Baco. The District convent was transferred to Calapan in 1733 and began its jurisdiction over the Northern Mindoro Ecclesiastical Area.^[6]

In the early 18th century, the town only occupied a strip of land stretching from Ibaba to Ilaya in a cross-shape facing the present Santo Niño Cathedral and cut off by the river. Later on, succeeding barrios were founded.

In 1837, the capital of the province was moved from Puerto Galera to Calapan. When Mindoro became a part of Marinduque on June 13, 1902, the provincial capital was once again moved to Puerto Galera. On November 10, 1902, Mindoro was detached from Marinduque. In 1903, Calapan once again became the provincial capital.^[6]

When Mindoro was detached from Marinduque on November 10, 1902, Baco, Puerto Galera and San Teodoro were annexed to Calapan in 1905 under Act No. 1280, adding a total area of 843 square kilometres (325 sq mi) of land.^[7] In 1902, under Act No. 2824, the three municipalities gained their independence.

In 1919, the boundary dispute between Calapan and Naujan was adjudicated by Presidentes (Mayors) Agustin Quijano of Calapan and Agustin Garong of Naujan over a portion of the territory of what is now known as the present boundary. The portion of agricultural area was awarded to Naujan, thus, making the area of Calapan much smaller as compared to that of Naujan which is now considered as the biggest municipality of the province.

Cityhood

In the year 1998, Calapan was converted from a municipality into a component city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8475.^[8] The law was authored in Congress by Rep. Renato V. Leviste and was signed by President Fidel Ramos on February 2, 1998. On March 21, 1998, the people of Calapan ratified the creation of the City of Calapan in a plebiscite marking the same day as the city's foundation day. Incumbent Mayor Arnan C. Panaligan became the last Municipal Mayor and the first City Mayor of Calapan. To date, it is the first and only city in the whole island of Mindoro.^[6]

Calapan was reclassified from a 4th class city in 2007 to a 3rd class city in 2010, on account of its innovations in public service, modernization programs, increased revenue collection, and overall economic improvement.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

Calapan is bounded to the north and north-east by the Calapan Bay, south and southeast by Naujan, and to the west by the Baco. The city lies at the quadrangle bounded by 13°12.6 and 13°27’ north latitudes and 121°17’ east longitudes. It is approximately 28 nautical miles (52 km; 32 mi) from the nearest point of Batangas, 45 kilometres (28 mi) south of Batangas City and 130 kilometres (81 mi) south of Manila.

The city has an area of 250.06 km² (96.55 sq mi) and is composed of 62 barangays of which 22 are classified as urban and 40, rural. The city also has jurisdiction over the Baco Islands and the two Silonay Islets on Calapan Bay.

The overall land characteristic is a wide plain with rivers, interspersed with wetlands at the seacoast periphery. The highest elevation is 187 m (614 ft) above sea level at Bulusan Hill, a 6-kilometre (3.7 mi) long landform east of the city, which interrupts the mostly flat terrain north-east of the Halcon-Baco Mountain Range.

Barangays

Calapan is divided into 62 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

These barangays are grouped into congressional districts where each district is represented by a congressman in the country's House of Representatives.

Climate

Calapan's climate is described as mild. It is relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. February and March have the least rainfall while October and November are the months of greatest rainfall. Average yearly rainfall is 2,500 to 4,500 millimetres (98 to 177 in) at the city's south-west portion. The average daily temperature is 22.9 to 28.3 °C (73.2 to 82.9 °F).

Wind direction throughout the year is variable; Northeast monsoons prevail from August, November, December and January to March; East to Northeast on April; Southeast to South on May and June; Northeast to South on July and September, and Easterly on October.

Climate is favorable for vegetation throughout the year under the Type III climate type of the Philippine weather bureau, PAGASA, with relative humidity at 81%.

Demographics

Population census of Calapan

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	5,554	—
1918	13,571	+6.14%
1939	17,158	+1.12%
1948	22,340	+2.98%
1960	33,060	+3.32%
1970	47,532	+3.69%
1975	55,608	+3.20%
1980	67,370	+3.91%
1990	85,898	+2.46%
1995	96,506	+2.21%
2000	105,910	+2.01%
2007	116,976	+1.38%
2010	124,173	+2.20%
2015	133,893	+1.45%
2020	145,786	+1.69%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14]

Calapan has a population of 145,786 as of the 2020 census.^[11]

Economy