a) Geographic Size and Location
Dupax del Norte, an inner town of the Province of Nueva Vizcaya (Refer to Maps No. 1 and 2), is around 245 kilometers north of Manila and 22 kilometers from the Provincial Capitol of Bayombong. It is bounded by the following:
Ø On the North, by the municipality of Bambang (Nueva Vizcaya);
Ø On the Northeast, by the municipality of Kasibu (Nueva Vizcaya);
Ø On the East, by the municipality of Maddela (Quirino);
Ø On the South, by the municipality of Alfonso Castaneda (Nueva Vizcaya); and
Ø On the West, by the municipality of Dupax del Sur (Nueva Vizcaya)
It has a total land area of 44,830.7000 hectares representing about 10.32% of the total land area of the province, or the 4th largest municipality. The municipality is politically subdivided into 15 barangays (R-Table 1), the biggest of which is Brgy New Gumiad with an area of 12,854.4600 hectares (28.67%) while Brgy Ineangan is the smallest with an area of 498.09000 hectares (1.11%).
b) Topography, Slope and Elevation
The municipality has complex landforms as evidenced by its various topography and slope categories. It is mountainous dominated by very steeps slopes of above 50% of its total land area. The lowest slope of 0 to 3% cover an area of 3,320.00 hectares or around 7.41% of its total land area.
As regard to elevation, the municipality s dominated by areas below 500 meters (above sea level) which covers about 45.89 % of the total area, followed by areas with elevation between 500 and 1,000 meters occupying 30.73%. The least being considered protected area due to elevation of above 1,000 meters accounted for about 23.38% of the total area.
c) Soil Classification
The Bureau of Soils identified four (4) soil types found with the municipality and these are described (R-Table 2) as follows:
1) Bantog Clay Loam – which comprises around 5,260.00 hectares of land representing 1l.73% of the total land area. This type of soil has poor drainage which is attributed to the slightly compact subsoil consisting of very fine textured clay. Rice is the main crop grown on this type of soil.
2) San Miguel Sandy Loam – which comprises around 692.50 hectares or an equivalent 1.55% of the total land area of the municipality. This type of soil is very easy to cultivate as there are practically no impediments in tillage operation and the soil is loose and friable. However, it is subject to flooding during rainy season. Rice, corn, onions, garlic and vegetables are usually grown in this type of soil.
3) Guimbalaon Clay Loam – which comprises an area of 20,548.00 hectares representing 45.84% of the total land area. The surface soil has a distinct dark brown color and becomes darker when wet. The clay loam surface has a good medium granular structure which is sticky when wet and becomes slightly hard and compact when dry.
4) Undifferentiated Mountain Soil – which occupies around 18,330.20 hectares of land or 40.89% of the total land area of the municipality. Agricultural importance cannot be ascertained because of their inaccessibility. It is mainly suited for forest and wildlife.
d) Water Resources
The municipality is endowed with natural webs of water consisting of rivers, streams and creeks which are naturally formed because of its mountainous and rugged topography. Though there are other rivers that traverse the municipality, the most prominent however, are the following:
1) Manga River – this traverse the upper tip of the municipality which orginates from the nearby town of Dupax del Sur which ten crosses Dupax del Norte on the northwest portion covering Brgy Ineangan and exiting northward to municipality of Bambang then back to Dupax del Norte through Brgy Lamo up to Brgy Bitnong. The river finally exits to Dupax del Sur where it originated;
2) Casecnan River – this originates from Dupax del Sur which enters the mid-portion of Dupax del Norte through Brgy Belance and back to Dupax del Sur through Brgy Binuangan. The rive then re-enters Brgy Binuangan trending through Brgy New Gumiad until it exits to the municipality of Alfonso Castaneda;
3) Ganip River – This originates from the province of Quirino entering Dupax del Norte through Brgy New Gumiad traversing the lower tip of the municipality until it exits to the municipality of Alfonso Castaneda.
By natural flow of water, various tributary creeks to these rivers were created cutting across the various parts of municipality. These creeks, which are being utilized as source of potable and irrigation water, are:
Ø Parai Creek Binuangan Creek Makiape Creek
Ø Manga Creek Mayputo Creek Nagapitan Creek
Ø Mancanao Creek Nagakay Creek Pistala Creek
Ø Tayse Creek Andangui Creek Lingeg Creek
Ø Macate Creek
e) Climate
Climate in the Philippines is base on rainfall distribution that occurs in its respective area. The municipality of Dupax del Norte generally belongs to the 3rd type of climate where it experiences:
1. Dry Season – which starts from November to mid-May, and
2. Wet Season – which starts from Mid-May to October
It is generally cool and the temperature varies in accordance with the elevation. Mountain barangays are relatively cooler due to the cool breeze emanating from the forest areas. The coolest months of the year as per records however, are the months of December to February.
f) Natural Hazards
Dupax del Norte is exposed to some naturals hazards like earthquake and flooding. There are three (3) fault lines observed, each one causing danger to live and properties. This faultiness, as recorded and mapped, is the following:
a) Faultline 1 – this almost divides the length of the municipality as the faultline traverses Brgy New Gumiad with a northward trend to Brgys Binuangan, Belance, Macabenga, Oyao, Bitnong, Munguia, Inaban, Mabasa and Lamo;
b) Faultline 2 – This cuts across Brgy New Gumiad going northward to Brgys Yabbi and Bulala and then exiting to the municipality of Kasibu;
c) Faultline 3 – This is jus observed within Brgy Malasin with a northward direction.
During rainy season, there is flooding that occurs in some areas due to the overflowing of Manga River because of silted waterways. The areas affected by floods are:
a) Brgy Lamo – which destroys agricultural and residential areas. The depth of flood sometime reaches as high as 2 feet and lass for about 2 days;
b) Brgy Bitnong – this particularly affects agricultural areas with depth of water reaching about a foot and lasting for a day;
c) Brgy Ineangan – which erodes the provincial road and portions of agricultural lands. Flood depth of about 2 feet lasts for almost 2 days.
g. Existing Land Use
The existing land use of the municipality (R-Table 69), as derive from its Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), revealed the following classification and usage of land (Refer to Map No. 5)
TABLE 1 EXISTING LAND USE DATA, 2000
LAND USE CLASSIFICATION | EXISTING LAND USE DATA | |
AREA (ha) | PERCENT | |
Ø Agricultural | 9,080.049 | 20.254 |
Ø Forest | 34,710.660 | 77.426 |
Ø Bodies of Water | 628.160 | 1.401 |
Ø Mining and Quarrying Area | 8.000 | 0.018 |
Ø Open Space | 14.629 | 0.033 |
Ø Infrastructures ad Utilities | 131,452 | 0.293 |
Ø Built-up Area | 257.750 | 0.575 |
Ø Other Uses | - | - |
TOTAL | 44,830.700 | 100.00 |
Data Extracted from R-Table 69
The existing land use reveals that the municipality is basically forest representing more than three quarters of the total area. This scenario, however is quite alarming as some of these forest areas are being utilized for agricultural purposes, hence, there are some observed degradation.
There are vast pasture areas in the municipality within the production forest but are currently underutilized due to a promulgation that prohibits intensive grazing and ranching to protect the watershed areas.
Quarry areas exist and found along two (2) rivers ( Mangga River and Benay River) which are specifically located ate Brgys Inaban, Munguia, and Ineangan.
The Urban Area as recognized by the National Statistics Office (NSO), consist of two (2) barangays, i.e. Brgys malasin and Ineangan (Refer to Map No.7)