PROFILE
 

CHAPTER I:  BASIC INFORMATION  

  A.      Physical Information

  1.       Geography

  Gutalac occupies the southern portion of the province of Zamboanga del Norte and located approximately 182 kilometers from Dipolog City, the capital of the province. It is bounded on the north and west by Sulu Sea, on the south by the municipality of Baliguian and on the east by the municipalities of Labason and Kalawit. Bordering the municipality is a 32 kilometers coastline on the northwest, 39-kilometer river on the east and 29 kilometer line from Coronado Point on the west.

 2.       Topography

  The topographic condition of the municipality ranges from slightly rolling hilly to mountainous. The elevation within the urban center ranges from 150 to 200 meters above sea level. Highest peak is found about 5 kilometers southeast of barangay New Dapitan with an elevation of 745 meters. Second highest peak that is visible in every corner of the municipality is Mt. Bantal, located about 2-kilometer northwest of barangay Mamawan with an elevation of 665 meter. Most plain to nearly level land is evident at the outskirts of every barangay and coastal areas. Some patch of level land area also found along rivers.

 

  ESTIMATED AREA BY DIFFERENT ELEVATION

Elevation

Area (has.)

%

 

Below 100 m

14.54

100 m to 200 m

15,866

32.43

200 m to 300 m

7,495

15.32

300 m to 400 m

4,512

9.22

400 m to 500 m

5,039

10.30

500 m to 600 m

5,492

11.22

600 m to 700 m

3,250

6.64

Above 700 m

160

.33

TOTAL

48,926

100.00

 

3.       Land Area

  Gutalac as the fourth largest municipality in the province covers a total land area of 48,926 hectares. This comprises 27,986 hectares covering the 33 barangays 76 sitios and 20,940 hectares covering uninhabited forestall area.

 

APPROXIMATE LAND AREA BY BARANGAY

Barangay

No. of Sitios

Area (has.)

%

Sas

2

2,512

5.13

Mamawan

5

2,262

4.62

Immaculada Concepcion

2

1,550

3.17

Bagong Silang

3

1,444

2.95

Panganuran

4

1,412

2.89

Imelda

3

1,362

2.78

Lux

1

1,262

2.58

Cocob

2

1,156

2.36

Pitawe

7

969

1.98

Bayanihan

2

885

1.81

Sibalic

6

881

1.80

Bacong

3

869

1.78

Buenavista

0

844

1.73

Canupong

4

831

1.70

New Dapitan

2

800

1.64

Malian

1

762

1.56

Upper Gutalac

2

756

1.55

Map

5

737

1.51

San Vicente

0

687

1.40

Sto. Niño

2

631

1.29

San Juan

1

569

1.16

San Isidro

2

562

1.15

Banganon

1

556

1.14

Tipan

3

525

1.07

Lower Lux

1

506

1.03

Pitogo

1

494

1.00

Datagan

3

469

.96

Loay

2

419

.86

Matunoy

0

362

.74

La Libertad

2

337

.69

Poblacion

3

269

.55

San Roque

1

237

.48

Salvador

0

69

.14

 

4.       Climate

  The municipality belongs to the four types of climate. There are two district reasons, the dry and the rainy. Dry seasons start to be felt in the month of January and end either in the month of April or May. The municipality is below typhoon belt. However, great intensity may felt in high places and coastal area that causes sporadic to crops and properties. The temperature ranges from relatively cool in nighttime and warm in daytime.

 

5.       Land Capability

  The land of the municipality is classified class A and M described as follows:

  A – A good land that can b cultivated safely and extensively with ordinary good farming practice.

M – this land is too steep, eroded, rough or shallow for cultivation but suited for grazing if handle with great care.

 

6.       Soil Type

  The basic soil components in the municipality are Louisiana Complex, San Miguel silt and undifferentiated mountain soil.

 

7.       Crop Suitability

  Almost all kinds of economic crops are suited throughout the municipality. Under normal weather condition most land of the municipality is suited primarily to corn production. Other crops include rice, coconuts, root crops, vegetables and fruits. Cogonal area covers mostly the open spaces as vegetation. Uninhabited areas of the municipality are covered with forest trees. Diversified farming brought several hectares of agricultural area planted to more profitable crops. These include mango, wood trees and rubber.

 

8.       Land Classification

  For the purpose of economic development and maintenance of ecological balance, the total land area of the municipality is classified into the following use: seasonal crops, open space, primary forest, secondary forest, cocoland, Riceland, watershed area, build-up area and expansion for built-up area.

 

GENERAL LAND USE ESTIMATED AREA

Land Use/Physical Attributes/Vegetation

Area (Has)

%

Agriculture – Undulating to rolling slope and moderately soils with none to slight erosion. Area planted to seasonal crops like corn, rice, root crops and vegetables. Included in this area are coconuts and fruit trees. Generally this area are suited for agricultural production

25,110

51.32

Production Forest – Rolling moderately steep slope and shallow soil will slight erosion. Natural forest with some portion of logged-ever area and reforested area.

13,090

26.75

Protection Forest – Steep, slope and very shallow soil with severe erosion. Natural forest not suited for agricultural production and considered reservation areas.

4,720

9.65

Protected Areas for Agriculture – Fire heavy texture and well drained with none to slight flooding. Highly suitable for agricultural production.

3,255

6.65

Watershed Area – Rolling to moderately steep and shallow soil with slight erosion. Protected catchment area reserve for potable water supply for urban utilization. This area had been identified for water supply III development of the urban center.

1,750

3.58

Settlement Area – Small patch of level land where center of barangay is located and concentration of barangay dwelt.