Occidental Mindoro Facts

REGION IV-B (MIMAROPA) Occidental Mindoro

Brief History
Prior to the coming of the Spaniards
in 1571, Mindoro was already known to the
Chinese merchants who plied the waters to
conduct

their

commercial

expeditions.

Trading relationship existed between the

Philippines and China, particularly, in the
eastern part of the island. For this reason, after
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi discovered the
island in 1569, Goiti, as master of camp,
sailed to Mindoro on May 8, 1570, and
encountered the Chinese merchants. But even
as they transacted business with the islanders,
to the amazement of the Spaniards, there had
already been signs of Hindu and Pagan
influence in the place.
The earnest conquest of Mindoro
began in 1570 in the district of Mamburao,
when Juan de

Salcedo subjugated the

inhabitants under the Spanish authority. The

early names of Mindoro were Mai and Mina de Oro. The latter is a contraction of the Spanish description of the phrase
which means gold mine. Although there were no major gold discoveries, panners and Mangyans have found gold in
small quantities in the rivers of Baco, Binaybay, Bongabong, and Magasawan Tubig.
The province of Occidental Mindoro is characterized by successive mountain ranges, valleys and plateaus with
rolling grazing lands along the coast. It is situated at the western portion of the island of Mindoro. The province is
bounded by Verde Island Passage on the north, Mindoro Strait on the south and west and Oriental Mindoro on the east.
Considered as Home of the Indigenous Mangyans, 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. The South China Sea is to the west of the province and Palawan is located to the southwest, across Mindoro
Strait. Batangas is to the north, separated by the Verde Island Passage.

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Occidental Mindoro is endowed with marine beauty from its virgin forests, beautiful white sand beaches, islands and islets
rich in marine life, coral gardens, mysterious caves, and cascading waterfalls.
Tagalog is spoken by 69.78 percent of the people. Other dialects are Ilokano (10.63 percent), Hiligaynon (6.47 percent),
and Kinaray-a (5.84 percent). The working population can read and speak Filipino and English.
Republic Act No. 505, An Act to Create the Provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro, which was
approved by Congress on June 13, 1950, created the Province of Occidental Mindoro and its sister province, Oriental
Mindoro.
Upon its creation, Occidental Mindoro was composed of the then eight existing municipalities: Abra de Ilog,
Looc, Lubang, Mamburao, Paluan, Sablayan, San Jose and Sta. Cruz, and another municipalities were created: Calintaan
in 1967, Magsaysay and Rizal both in 1969.
It was during the year 1950 that the then President of the Republic of the Philippines appointed Damaso V.
Abeleda, who was then Mayor of the Municipality of Paluan, as the First Governor of Occidental Mindoro in 1951, Mateo
Virola was appointed replacing Damaso V. Abeleda as Governor and served until after the new elected Governor had
qualified.
Succeeding elected governors were Fererico Castillo (1951-1956), Mariano Tajonera (1956-1959), Arsenio L.
Villarosa (1960-1986), Peter O. Medalla Jr. (OIC, 1986-1988; elected 1988-1992), Jose T. Villarosa (2001-2004),
Josephine Y. Ramirez-Sato served for three terms, (1992-2001, and serving her fourth term as governor since year 2004 up
to the present.
Elected Assemblymen/representatives (before EDSA Revolution) were Judge Jesus V. Abeleda (the first elected
assemblyman, 1951-1954) Felipe Abeleda (1954-1965), Pedro C. Medalla Sr. (1966-1972) and Pedro T. Mendiola Sr.
(1978-1986).
Elected representatives (after the EDSA Revolution) were: Mario Gene J. Mendiola (1987-1992), Jose T. Villarosa
(1992-1998), Ricardo V. Quintos (a Constitutional Convention Delegate in 1973), after winning his protest against his
rival Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa, won the seat and officially declared representative, six months before the term ended, for
the term 1998-2001, Josephine Y. Ramirez-Sato in 2001-2004, and Amelita C. Villarosa from 2004 to present.

Occidental Mindoro Facts

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Dubbed as "Marine Wonderland," the fantastic land that is Occidental Mindoro is endowed with marine beauty from its
virgin forests, beautiful white sand beaches, islands and islets rich in marine life, coral gardens, mysterious caves, and
cascading waterfalls.
It has one of the country's wondrous secret hideaways, the Apo Reef, which is regarded as the second largest in the world.
This 34-kilometer reef in Sablayan, which is located in Apo Island, is acclaimed as the best in Asia and as the diving
mecca of the Philippines. The Apo Reef Marine Park includes the fascinating bird-populated islands of Binangaan and
Cajos del Bajo, which are surrounded by waters with over 500 species of marine life and luxuriant coral growth
represented by approximately 400 to 500 kaleidoscopic coral species.
Mt. Iglit in San Jose is a game sanctuary for the tamaraw, a wild animal found nowhere else in the world, bearing a
resemblance to the Philippine buffalo, commonly known as carabao. Mamburao boasts of an elongated strip of beach with
natural and rustic surroundings. In Lumang Bayan, Sablayan, a five-hectare park overlooking the sea, known as Presing
Park, is frequented by promenaders.
Occidental Mindoro is a diving paradise with so much to offer divers out to discover several unexplored shoals and atolls.
The areas around Ambulong Island, Ilin Island, White Island, and Pandan Grande offer a fertile diving ground surrounded
by exquisite coral reefs and colorful marine life, ranging from exotic fish to exquisite seashells.
Every 25th to 27th of April, residents of San Jose celebrate the Saknungan, a 3-day thanksgiving festival highlighted by
streetdances and parades. Saknungan is a Mangyan term which means ""bayanihan"" or the spirit of cooperation,
brotherhood, and unity at work - the spirit portrayed by the Mindoreos day-to-day, especially during the planting and the
harvesting seasons.

Occidental Mindoro Facts

The province of Occidental Mindoro is characterized by successive mountain ranges, valleys and plateaus with
rolling grazing lands along the coast. It is situated at the western portion of the island of Mindoro. The province is
bounded by Verde Island Passage on the north, Mindoro Strait on the south and west and Oriental Mindoro on the east.
With a total land area of 5,865.71 sq. km., Occidental Mindoro is composed of 11 municipalities and 162
barangays. Its provincial capital is Mamburao.
The island of Mindoro, formerly called Mai or Mina de Oro used to be under the administration of Bonbon,
now Batangas. In the 17th century, Mindoro was separated from Batangas and was integrated with Marinduque. However,
in 1892, the two were separated and were made different provinces. In 1950, the island was divided into Oriental and
Occidental Mindoro.
Occidental Mindoro is gifted by nature with a highly fertile soil which is a source of various crops like palay,
coconut, fruits, root crops and vegetables. It is acclaimed as the Rice Granary of Southern Tagalog and is rich in mineral
resources such as limestone, talc, ore, copper, iron, gold and decorative stones. Its virgin jungle and the inaccessibility of
wild mountain terrain has protected its wildlife, among them the world famous Tamaraw. It is also noted for its rich
fishing grounds.
QUICK

FACTS:

Occidental Mindoro is the 17th largest province in the Country and lies on the western part of
the island of Mindoro. It is located south of the province of Batangas in Southern Luzon and
Northwest of the Visayas. The Province is bounded on the north by the Verde Island Passage, on
the west by South China Sea on the south by Sulu Sea and on the east by its sister province,
Oriental Mindoro.
GEOGRAPHY
The entire island of Mindoro, which is separated from the Southern Luzon mainland, is composed of Occidental Mindoro
and Oriental Mindoro. These two provinces are separated by a mountain range, running through the entire length of the
island, which serves as a natural and political boundary.
Occidental Mindoro is situated along the western part of the island, located south of the province of Batangas in Southern
Luzon. On the north, it is bounded by Verde Island Passage, on the west and the south by Mindoro Strait, and on the east
by Oriental Mindoro.
The topography of Occidental Mindoro is generally rugged, with narrow strips of coastal lowlands. Its terrain is
characterized by successive mountain ranges, valleys, and elongated plateaus, with rolling lands along the coastal region.
CLIMATE
The province has two pronounced seasons: the dry season from November to April, and the wet season during the rest of
the year. It is shielded from the northeast monsoon and tradewinds by mountain ranges but is vulnerable to the southeast

Occidental Mindoro Facts

monsoon and cyclonic storms. The average annual volume of rainfall is 2,000 mm. Temperature ranges from 30.7 to 16.4
degrees Celsius.
POPULATION
The island of Occidental Mindoro registers a total population of 380,250 based on the 2000 National Statistics Office
Survey. It ranked eight in population/size in the Southern Tagalog Region, accounting for 4.5 percent of Mindoro's total
number of inhabitants.
Land Area
588,350 hectares
LANGUAGE/DIALECTS
Tagalog is spoken by 69.78 percent of the people. Other dialects are Ilokano (10.63 percent), Hiligaynon (6.47 percent),
and Kinaray-a (5.84 percent). The working population can read and speak Filipino and English.
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
Occidental Mindoro is politically governed by a Provincial Governor, as in other provinces and municipal mayors. It is
divided into eleven municipalities: Abra de Ilog, Calintaan, Looc, Lubang, Magsaysay, Mamburao, Paluan, Rizal,
Sablayan, San Jose, and Sta.Cruz.
WEATHER
The province is dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Its coolest months are December to
February; its warmest temperature is registered in March to June. Its average maximum temperature goes up to 30C, its
minimum humidity ranges from 63% to 87% with an annual average of 75.4%.

TRANSPORTATION
By air, it takes 45 minutes from Manila to San Jose via Philippine Air Lines, Cebu Pacific and Sea Air. By Sea, 2 1/2
hours from Batangas City Pier to Abra de Ilog Pier, while from Batangas City Pier to San Jose it takes 12 hours via Rollon, Roll-off vessels of the Montenegro Shipping Lines and Besta Lines.
MAJOR INDUSTRIES
Farming, Fishing & Aqua Farming, Salt Industry and Food Processing.
MAJOR PRODUCTS
Rice, Corn, Salt, Mangoes.

Occidental Mindoro Facts

SOURCES OF LIVELIHOOD
White and Blue Collar Jobs, Farming, Livestock and Poultry Raising, Trading and Construction.

SCHOOLS
Colegio De San Sebastian
Dangeros, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro 5104
Divine Word College of San Jose (formerly Divine Word Academy 6 years)
General Lukban St., San Jose, Occidental Mindoro 5100
Occidental Mindoro National College-Mamburao
Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro 5106
Occidental Mindoro National College-Occidental Mindoro Polytechnic College-Murtha
Murtha, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro 5100
Occidental Mindoro National College-P.T. Mendiola Sr. Mem. Techno. and Polytechnic College (formerly Pedro T.
Mendiola Sr. Memorial Technological & Polytechnic College)
Labangan, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro 5100
San Jose Community College
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro 5100

Location & General Info

Occidental Mindoro... is accessible to other provinces by boat and some
airplane service. It is located on the backside of the large island facing the
China Sea and away from mainstream traffic.
Abra de Ilog on its northern tip is two hours by boat from Batangas; San Jose,
the principal town, is some 50 minutes by plane from Manila; and Mamburao,
the capital town, is only 45 minutes by plane from mainland Luzon.
Occidental Mindoro has five seaports and four airports, and is a trading center
for the Visayas region. The operation of the Batangas International Port will
hopefully be a breakthrough for the province and will open doors for more
forward and backward linkages. Still in the infancy stage of agroindustrialization, Occidental Mindoro is wide open for investors and offers
less competition. Beside the China Sea, the province is at positioned to take
advantage of national and international shipping routes.
Above all, Occidental Mindoro is a believeing for a booming economy. At the threshold of increasing industrialization and
urbanization, investors have a wider option to choose from a variety of attractive-investment packages. Ably portraying
the Calabarzon spirit, Occidental Mindoro is a major player in the MIMAROPA, a designated growth area that includes

Occidental Mindoro Facts

the provinces of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan. MIMAROPA aims to
complement the tourism, food and agri-based requirements of the Southern Tagalog, Southern Visayas and the National
Capital Region.
Provincial Infrastructure and Services
Roads & Bridges
Occidental Mindoro is the western half of the island of Mindoro. Some 25 kilometers south of Batangas, its potential lies
in its proximity to Batangas and Manila. Road arteries within the province total some 1,633 kilometers concentrated
along the coastal areas - a combination of concrete, asphalt, gravel and earth. About 200 bridges span various creeks and
rivers built mostly of concrete and steel.
Power Supply
Electric power is supplied by the National Power Corporation and the Island Power Corporation (IPC) through the
Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO), while the island municipalities of Lubang and Looc are supplied by
the Lubang Electric Cooperative (LUBELCO). The power supply is still inadequate, and plans are underway to increase
the supply through private capital intervention.
Transport Facilities
The province has four ports of entry. The port at Abra de Ilog could accommodate medium-size roll on/roll off passengercargo ships. It is two hours away by ship from Batangas and 31.4 kilometers from the capital town of Mamburao. Other
ports are located in Mamburao, Sablayan, and the busy town of San Jose.
Land transport within the province is facilitated by 3,500 public utility vehicles (buses, cargo trucks, jeepneys and
tricycles). A number of jeepneys offer "door to door" direct transport and cargo service from the different municipalities to
Manila and neighboring provinces. Air link is provided by three airports in San Jose, which could accommodate B737-300
jets, and the Mamburao and Lubang airports suited for military aircraft, commercial planes and Fokker 50s.
Communication Facilities
In key municipalities, the direct dial telephone system is in place, providing easy access to other provinces and countries.
The use of two-way radios and cellular phone is popular among businesses with operations in the interior of the province.
Globe Telecom, RCPI, PT&T and Digitel offer telephone and fax services. The provincial government has also installed
intermunicipality telephone and radio systems in the nine towns of the province's mainland.
Media/Handling Services
Two local radio stations operate in the area together with four local newspapers and 23 television channels accessed
through five cable networks. National newspapers arrive daily via regular plane flights from Manila, and mail handling
services are provided by the Philippine Airlines, LBC, JRS, Aboitiz and other messengerial companies besdies the 12 post
offices located in the 11 municipalities.
Financial Institutions
Land Bank of the Philippines
-San Jose Branch
-Sablayan Branch
-Mamburao Branch
Philippine National Bank
-San Jose Branch

Occidental Mindoro Facts

-Mamburao Branch
Development Bank of the Philippines
Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co.
United Coconut Planters Bank
-San Jose Branch
-Sablayan Branch
First Allied Bank
Rural Banks.
Accommodations
Newcomers to the place can avail of food and accommodation services offered by the existing hotels and beach resorts. In
few municipalities where hotel services are not available "homestay" accommodations may be provided by a friend or the
host. Apart from the facilities for conventions, seminars, meetings and trainings
offered by a number of hotels and resorts, the newly opened gymnasium in San Jose and the Provincial Training Center
and Astrodome in Sablayan are available for business meetings, sports activities and other functions.
Costs of Basic Goods & Services
A. Transportation Plane Boat
Manila-San Jose P883.00 P200 - P350
Batangas - Abra de Ilog - 52.00
Manila - Mamburao 600.00 B. Power
Service Rates
Description Minimum Excess Rate
Residential 10 kwh - P38.00 P 3.89/kwh
Commercial 20 kwh - P76.90 P 3.85/kwh
Industrial 44 kwh - P196.31 P 3.85/kwh
C. Water
Residential 10cu.m. - P7.25 P 9.25/cu.m
Commercial 10cu.m. - P9.05 P14.50/cu.m
D. Communications
National Day Call 1st 3 min - P17.60 P 4.20/min
Calls Sunday/Holiday/
Night Call 1st 3 min - P13.55 P2.80/min
Int'l Day Call 1st 3 min
Calls US US $2.32 (excluding Europe 9.60 19% VAT) Other Countries 1.70
Night Calls less 35% of day rate
E. Labor Daily Minimum Wage Rate
*Emerging Growth Area **Resource-based area
a. Retail & Service P82.00 - P102.00 P77 - P97 Sector w/ not more than 10 wokers employed
b. Other sectors with P142.00 P137.00 more than 10 workers
c. Agricultural plantation P132.00 P127.00 (regardless of gross sales)
d. Agriculture P112.00 P107.00 (Non-plantation)
c. Cottage/Handicraft P120.00 P107.00 (regardless of # of workers)

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* Emerging Growth Area Includes the town of San Jose
** Resource-based Area, all Municipalities except San Jose
F. Real Estate Prevailing Market Value Assessed Value
a. Commercial/ P2,000.00 - P5,000.00/sq.m P 500.00 Industrial Area
b. Residential Area P 220.00 - P1,500.00/sq.m P 200.00 - P 500.00/sq.m
c. Agricultural Irrigated P150T-P250T/ha. P43.22T/ha.
Non-Irrigated P 75T-P150T/ha. P37.54T/ha.
Upland P 50T-P 75T/ha. P18.24T/ha.

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References
1. Retrieved fromhttp://www.tourism.gov.ph/sitepages/InteractiveSitesPage.aspx?siteID=21. Retrieved on September
19,2016.
2.

Mindorenian.

(2011).

Retrieved

from

http://www.wowmindoro.com/features/latest/about-occidental-mindoro/.

Retrieved on September 19,2016.

3. Retrieved from http://www.occidentalmindoro.ph/general-information.html. Retrieved on September 19,2016.
4. Retrieved from http://www.crcc-usa.org/missions/philippines/occmindoro/generalinformation.htm. Retrieved on
September 19,2016.