2.1 Location and Boundaries

Geographical Location

The province of Nueva  lies within the heart of Northern Luzon. It is one of the five (5) provinces of Region 02 and among the four (4) provinces of Cagayan Valley. It is geographically located at the southernmost part of the region and is often referred to as “The Gateway to Cagayan Valley”.  The coordinates of the province range between 1.5 degree, 45 minutes and 30 seconds and 16 degree, 41 minutes and 30 seconds north latitude and 120 degree, 44 minutes and 20 seconds and 121 degree, 27 minutes and 6 seconds east longitude

How to reach Nueva Vizcaya

Nueva Vizcaya is about 250  kilometers away from Manila. It could be reached by taking one of the numerous buses plying regularly the Cagayan Valley route.

Aside from reaching it by air travel, it has four (4) regular entry points These are through (a) the Dalton Pass at the town of Santa Fe, (b) the Daang Maharlika, entering the town of Diadi, (c) the Vizcaya-Banaue Road entering the town of Bagabag, and (d) the Vizcaya-Benguet Road, entering the town of Kayapa. 

Geographical Location

The province of Nueva  lies within the heart of Northern Luzon. It is one of the five (5) provinces of Region 02 and among the four (4) provinces of Cagayan Valley. It is geographically located at the southernmost part of the region and is often referred to as “The Gateway to Cagayan Valley”.  The coordinates of the province range between 1.5 degree, 45 minutes and 30 seconds and 16 degree, 41 minutes and 30 seconds north latitude and 120 degree, 44 minutes and 20 seconds and 121 degree, 27 minutes and 6 seconds east longitude

Topography

Nueva Vizcaya is approximately 79% mountainous characterized by steep to very steep landform, 8% rolling to moderately steep and 13% comprised the areas of : undulating to rolling;  gently sloping to undulating; and flat to near flat.

The province has an elevation ranging from 200-2,920 meters above sea level (MASL). Mt. Pulag in Kayapa has the  highest elevation while Magat Reservoir in Diadi is considered the lowest. The areas with lower elevation below 500 MASL are found in the municipalities of Diadi, Bambang, Bagabag,Alfonso Castañeda and Bayombong. Areas with this elevation totaled to 112,732 or 25% of the 442,724.8 total provincial land area.

Elevation of 500-1,000 MASL on the other hand comprised about 46% of the province’s land area or 201,939 hectares. Fifty one (51%) percent of the mentioned area is situated in the south sector of the province corresponding to 170,967 hectares. The remaining 30,972 hectares are found in the 7 municipalities in the north.

Most of the mountainous areas are found in the southern part of the province which comprised 117,929 hectares or about 29% of the total land area of the province. Likewise, the percentage share of the mountainous areas in the north accounts to 9% equivalent to 10,124 hectares.

Soil and Geology

In a joint study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency &Department of Environment and Natural Resources Philippines (2004), the soil map prepared by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) in 1995 shows that the dominant soil texture in the province is clay loam. This could be attributed to the abundance of the fine-grained volcanic rocks, sedimentary derivatives and pyroclastics. Along the river terraces, silt loam is also dominant. The watershed is underlayed by two rock types, igneous and sedimentary rocks. Igneous rocks are found to be the largest deposit in the area while sedimentary rocks are scattered and notable only in the northern portion of the watershed. General depth of the soil is moderately deep except those that are developed from ultra basic rocks and limestone and in areas where rock fragments are dominant. The soil has moderate to high water holding capacity except those along river terraces and the sedimentary hills. All upland soils are considered well drained both internally and externally except in clay alluvial plains. Quality of the soil varies from slow to moderately rapid-to-rapid in the upland and along the river terraces. Infiltration varies from slow to moderate in all uplands. The level of fertility in Nueva Vizcaya is very high.

On the other hand, PPDO-Geographic Information System (GIS) generated 5 types of igneous rocks which consists of Andesite Series, Metarocks, quarts, ultrabasic rocks and volcanic rock. Similarly, there were 6 types of sedimentary rocks recorded which are the following: unconsolidated conglomerate, coralline limestone, crystalline limestone, recent alluvium, sandstone and siltstone and reservoir.

About  23 soil types were found in numerous municipalities of the province. Annam Clay Loam is the most dominant which accounted to 22% of the total land area of the province and is the second largest deposit. Mountain soils comprised the 168,781.13 hectares corresponding to 32% of the total land area. Other soil types which are commonly found in the province that comprised at least 3% of the provincial land area are  guimbalaon clay loam, guimbalaon annam complex, guimbalaon gravelly clay loam and sevilla clay. 

Climate

Nueva Vizcaya is within the influence of the typhoon belt in Northern Luzon.  However, it is not in the direct path of cyclones that visit the region.

• The average annual rainfall ranges from 131.32 mm to 274.43 mm and the average rainfall volume is 191.75 mm

• The average maximum temperature ranges from 25⁰C to 29⁰C while minimum temperature ranges from 21⁰C to 25⁰C.

• The province falls under 2 types of climate, namely Type II and Type III.

  a.)  The northwestern part of the province experiences climate of Type II which means no dry season and minimum monthly rainfall occurs during March to May. Also, a very pronounced maximum rain period from December to February

  b.)  Likewise,the eastern part falls under the latter type. No pronounced maximum rainfall period, with a short dry season lasting only from 1-3 months, either during the period of December to Feb or March to May.

   

Topography

Nueva Vizcaya is approximately 79% mountainous characterized by steep to very steep landform, 8% rolling to moderately steep and 13% comprised the areas of : undulating to rolling;  gently sloping to undulating; and flat to near flat.

The province has an elevation ranging from 200-2,920 meters above sea level (MASL). Mt. Pulag in Kayapa has the  highest elevation while Magat Reservoir in Diadi is considered the lowest. The areas with lower elevation below 500 MASL are found in the municipalities of Diadi, Bambang, Bagabag,Alfonso Castañeda and Bayombong. Areas with this elevation totaled to 112,732 or 25% of the 442,724.8 total provincial land area.

Elevation of 500-1,000 MASL on the other hand comprised about 46% of the province’s land area or 201,939 hectares. Fifty one (51%) percent of the mentioned area is situated in the south sector of the province corresponding to 170,967 hectares. The remaining 30,972 hectares are found in the 7 municipalities in the north.

Most of the mountainous areas are found in the southern part of the province which comprised 117,929 hectares or about 29% of the total land area of the province. Likewise, the percentage share of the mountainous areas in the north accounts to 9% equivalent to 10,124 hectares.

Hydrologic Profile

Considering its rugged topography, the province developed complex arteries of rivers, streams, creeks and springs.  One major stream is the Magat River with its four tributaries, namely:  Matuno, Sta. Fe, Sta. Cruz and Marang Rivers with combined drainage area of 178,400 hectares or its equivalent 1,784 sq. kms.  These rivers are characterized by steep gradient on the upstream and slightly decreasing gradient towards the downstream.

The upper catchment of Matuno and Sta. Cruz rivers is the Cordillera Mountain Ranges situated in the western part of the province.  These two (2) tributary rivers traverse the municipalities of Ambaguio and Kayapa.  While the Sta. Fe and Marang Rivers originate in the eastern slopes of the Caraballo Mountains flowing towards Bagabag and ultimately to the reservoir of Magat high dam in Ramon, Isabela. On the other hand, the Tubo and Casecnan Rivers are located at the southeastern part of the province and serve as the headwater of the Cagayan River. The Casecnan River including some portions of the Quirino Province has a total drainage area of 609.17 sq. kms.

Generally, the province is well drained except in low-lying areas where flash floods commonly occur during the rainy season due to overflowing of rivers caused by heavy siltation of riverbeds.

2.2 Land Use and Forest Resources

Nueva Vizcaya is approximately 79% mountainous characterized by steep to very steep landform, 8% rolling to moderately steep and 13% comprised the areas of : undulating to rolling;  gently sloping to undulating; and flat to near flat.

The province has an elevation ranging from 200-2,920 meters above sea level (MASL). Mt. Pulag in Kayapa has the  highest elevation while Magat Reservoir in Diadi is considered the lowest. The areas with lower elevation below 500 MASL are found in the municipalities of Diadi, Bambang, Bagabag,Alfonso Castañeda and Bayombong. Areas with this elevation totaled to 112,732 or 25% of the 442,724.8 total provincial land area.

Elevation of 500-1,000 MASL on the other hand comprised about 46% of the province’s land area or 201,939 hectares. Fifty one (51%) percent of the mentioned area is situated in the south sector of the province corresponding to 170,967 hectares. The remaining 30,972 hectares are found in the 7 municipalities in the north.

Most of the mountainous areas are found in the southern part of the province which comprised 117,929 hectares or about 29% of the total land area of the province. Likewise, the percentage share of the mountainous areas in the north accounts to 9% equivalent to 10,124 hectares.