MINDORO TODAY
Mindoro is the 7th largest island in the Philippine archipelago. It was on November 15, 1950 thru Republic Act 505 that this island was divided into two separate provinces, the province of Oriental Mindoro on the eastern half and Occidental Mindoro on the western part of the province.
Oriental Mindoro measures 4,364.72 square kilometers. It has 14 municipalities and one component city, namely: Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, Calapan City (the provincial capital), Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao.
Oriental Mindoro is touted as the country's "emerging eco-tourism destination". It evokes images of a genuine tropical paradise --- white sands, crystal clear water, lush green forests covering majestic mountains and splendid waterfalls. Tamaraw, an indigenous specie of the water buffalo, various flora and fauna found on slopes of Mount Halcon and the native Mangyans, all together add to the richness of nature and culture of the province.
Oriental Mindoro is also known as the "Rice Granary" and "Fruit Basket" of Southern Tagalog. It still is the Banana King and Calamansi King of the region. Its total agricultural area is 169, 603.34 hectares. Based on agricultural statistics, 85, 244 hectares are devoted to palay production while 21, 671 hectares to coconut plantation. The province, for the past years, registered an average of 1 to 2 million cavans as surplus in rice production.
Oriental Mindoro, with all these potentials, has become a premium destination for tourists and a fine ground for both local and foreign investors.
GENERAL INFORMATION
LOCATION
Oriental Mindoro, located 140 kilometers southwest of Manila, is only 45 minutes by air-conditioned ferry ride from the International Port of Batangas. It can also be reached via air in 30 minutes from NAIA Domestic Airport.
Oriental Mindoro is bounded on the north by the Verde Island Passage, on the east by Maestro del Campo Island and the Tablas Strait, on the south by Semirara Island in the west by the province of Occidental Mindoro.
PEOPLE
Warm and friendly, the Mindoreņos welcome its visitors with a smile and hospitality indicative of the Filipino culture.
They enjoy a simple and pleasant life springing from the pastoral and idyllic atmosphere of the province. The province is largely rural, 70% of the population is engaged in agriculture and fishing with only 30% living in urban centers.
Just as gentle and simple are the Mangyans of Mindoro, these Mindoreņos comprise seven ethno-linguistic groups.
Tagalog is widely spoken in the province. The people are equally conversant in English.
POTENTIALS
Oriental Mindoro is focusing on developing its agricultural potentials by encouraging investors to improve productivity and increase agro-industrial capacities. Fruit and vegetable production, tree farming, agriculture and feed milling are viable activities that can be readily absorbed by markets in CALABARZON and Metropolitan Manila. At the same time, the province is increasing its own capabilities to process these products by establishing agro-industrial zones within the province.
Light industries such as marble works, metal works, ceramics, handicrafts and houseware manufactures can thrive with the availability of raw materials within the province.
Tourism is a bright prospect. There are also opportunities in developing national parks like Lake Naujan, and Mount Halcon into eco-tourism resort areas.
Because of its strategic geographical location, Oriental Mindoro is also emerging as the Regional Center of MIMAROPA. The regional offices of the Register of Deeds, the Farmers Training Center of the Department of Agriculture, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The Provincial Government effected the formulation of a comprehensive program, the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, which aims to accelerate the development of the Southern Islands of the Philippines by opening up an alternative trade and tourism gateway through the existing backdoor exit in Oriental Mindoro. The alternative route is now linking the mainland Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao, especially the growth corridors of MIMAROPA and CALABARZON.
The Nautical Highway is the fulfillment of the commitment of the President to provide more efficient connection and low-cost transport from Luzon to Mindanao. It covers 17 provinces namely Oriental Mindoro, Tagaytay, Marinduque, Romblon, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Bohol, Guimaras, Cebu and Siquijor.
The Municipality of Roxas in Oriental Mindoro is now serving as gateway to other destinations such as San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Boracay, Romblon and Palawan. Pinamalayan is a jump-off point to Marinduque and Puerto Galera is the identified alternative route.
The road network of 919 kilometers of Manila-Iligan via Dapitan runs along the major islands of Luzon (Manila, Cavite, Batangas), Oriental Mindoro (Calapan., Roxas), Panay (Caticlan, Kalibo, Ivisan, Iloilo), Negros (Bacolod, Pulupundan, Kabangkalan, Bais, Dumaguete) and Mindanao (Dapitan, Dipolog, Ozamis, Iligan). Interconnections between the major islands are via RORO and fast crafts.
With the abovementioned potentials, Oriental Mindoro is now positioned to become a dynamic island economy, serving as the main link of the mainland Luzon to Southern Islands and the Luzon urban beltway.
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