Occidental Mindoro

Population

21st smallest Total (2007) 380,250

languages

Tagalog, Kamangyan

General Information

(Filipino: Kanlurang Mindoro, "Western Mindoro"; Spanish: Mindoro Occidental) is a province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. Its capital is Mamburao and occupies the western half of the island of Mindoro, on the west by Apo East Pass, and on the south by the Mindoro Strait; Oriental Mindoro is at the eastern half.

Geography

General land surface features that characterize Occidental Mindoro are mountains, rivers, hills, valleys, wide plains and some small fresh water lakes.The taller mountains can be found in the interior that it shares with Oriental Mindoro. Mountain ranges converge on the two central peaks, namely Mt. Halcon in the North, and Mt. Baco in the South. The northern part of the province has relatively fewer plains, while the southern parts have wider flatlands. Most of the plains are cultivated fields, with few remaining untouched forests. There are several major drainage or river systems flowing on a generally westerly course: Mamburao river, Pagbahan, Mompong, Biga, Lumintao, Busuanga and Caguray. The province is also home to one of the more popular coral reefs in the Philippines, Apo Reef. Significant hilly areas can be found rolling off in Sta Cruz in the north, and in San Jose and Magsaysay in the south. These are grassed-over rather than forested. Swamp areas are restricted to the south, specially, along the river mouths.

Economy / Resources

Wet land or lowland rice is a rainy season crop, being heavily dependent on water, and therefore produced from July (planting season) to October (harvest season). Tobacco, onions, garlic and vegetables are rather grown during the dry season (November to May)since they are not water-intensive crops, and require longer photoperiodicity. Forest resources include timber and minerals, among them gold, copper, silver, chrome, and non-metallic minerals such as lime for making cement, and greenstones for ornaments. Timber groups include many species of hardwoods, such as mahogany, and other types of trees in high demand for durability.

Culture

About 70% of the people living in Occidental Mindoro are Tagalogs. Ilocanos account for 15% while settlers the Visayas account for about 10%. Mangyans account for the rest. Occidental Mindoro is migrant territory with many families tracing their roots to other provinces. This was the result of government programs in the mid-20th century encouraging settlement in sparsely inhabited regions. The province. As a result, different ethnic communities hve come to live in Occidental Mindoro. In theinterior highlands live the indigenious Mangyan peoples of Mindoro. These docile peoples are slash and burn agricultures who occasionally trade with lowlandsers. During market day, groups of other necessities. The Iraya Mangyans live mostly in settlements along the nothern border with Oreintal Mindoro. This culturally distinct group is noted for their fine basket tradition they embelish with octagonal designs.

Climate

The province has two distinct weather patterns, rainy from June to October, and dry from November to May. Wettest period is from August to September, and driest from March to April. Temperature range is from 78 degree F (26 degree C) in the windy uplands to 90 F (32 degree C) in the unstirring lowlands.