Calapan
Calapan, officially the City of Calapan, is a component city and the capital of the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people, making it the most populous settlement in the entire Mindoro Island.
It is the regional center of Mimaropa region, as well as its second biggest city.
The city serves as the gateway to the Oriental Mindoro province with the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway an integrated ferry project of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that extends further to the southern part of the Philippines. The Calapan City Seaport is the largest and busiest seaport on Mindoro Island, which used to be just 45 minutes away at the minimum by ferry boats and roll-on/roll-off ships to and from Batangas City International Seaport.
Calapan is the only city in Mindoro island and it is one of two cities in the Mimaropa region, the other being Puerto Princesa in Palawan. Calapan serves as the region's administrative center. It is also the center of commerce, industry, transport, communication, religious activities and education in the entire province of Oriental Mindoro.
Since the late 90s, Calapan City experienced rapid urbanization and development and is now a bustling city with numerous Malls, Fast-food chains, Higher Educational Institutions, Business Process Outsourcing and is also home to Regional and National Government offices being Calapan City is the Regional Government Center of MIMAROPA Region. With its estimated population to be at 150,000+, its low poverty incidence rate and High purchasing power, Different National and International Brands/Companies are rushing to open up business and expand their Investment in the city.
Calapan City is also home to the Largest Passenger Port terminal in The country and is the Busiest Passenger port in the Region with Foot Traffic reaching in Millions Annually.
Etymology
The derivation of the name of Calapan cannot be traced with certainty. Some opined that it comes from the word “Kalap” which means to gather logs. Thus “Kalapan” was supposed to be a place where logs were gathered. In the old records, however, there was never a mention of Calapan as a place where logs were produced or exported. Furthermore, huge forest trees where logs were produced certainly did not grow near the town, which was swampy. Another theory states that Calapan was originally pronounced as “Kalapang” which, according to an old Tagalog dictionary, was a synonym for “sanga” or branch. It could then refer to the settlement of Kalapang as a branch of its mother town of Baco, an adjoining town. The name was later hispanized as Calapan.History
Calapan was formerly a small village before the establishment of the first Religious District in Baco. The District convent was transferred to Calapan in 1733 and began its jurisdiction over the Northern Mindoro Ecclesiastical Area.In the early 18th century, the town only occupied a strip of land stretching from Ibaba to Ilaya in a cross-shape facing the present Santo Niño Cathedral and cut off by the river. Later on, succeeding barriers were founded.
In 1837, the capital of the province was moved from Puerto Galera to Calapan. When Mindoro became a part of Marinduque on June 13, 1902, the provincial capital was once again moved to Puerto Galera. On November 10, 1902, Mindoro was detached from Marinduque. In 1903, Calapan once again became the provincial capital.
When Mindoro was detached from Marinduque on November 10, 1902, Baco, Puerto Galera and San Teodoro were annexed to Calapan in 1905 under Act No. 1280, adding a total area of of land. In 1902, under Act No. 2824, the three municipalities gained their independence.
In 1919, the boundary dispute between Calapan and Naujan was adjudicated by Presidentes Agustin Quijano of Calapan and Agustin Garong of Naujan over a portion of the territory of what is now the present boundary. The agricultural area was awarded to Naujan, thus making the area of Calapan much smaller compared to that of Naujan, which is now considered the biggest municipality in the province.
Cityhood
In the year 1998, Calapan was converted from a municipality into a component city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8475. The law was authored in Congress by Rep. Renato V. Leviste and was signed by President Fidel Ramos on February 2, 1998. On March 21, 1998, the people of Calapan ratified the creation of the City of Calapan in a plebiscite marking that same day as the city's foundation day. Incumbent Mayor Arnan C. Panaligan became the last Municipal Mayor and the first City Mayor of Calapan. To date, it is the first and only city in the whole island of Mindoro.Calapan was reclassified from a 4th class city in 2007 to a 3rd class city in 2010, on account of its innovations in public service, modernization programs, increased revenue collection, and overall economic improvement. Calapan City was later reclassified as a 2nd Class Component City in 2025.
Geography
Calapan is bounded to the north and north-east by the Calapan Bay, south and southeast by Naujan, and to the west by the Baco. The city lies at the quadrangle bounded by 13°12.6 and 13°27’ north latitudes and 121°17’ east longitudes. It is approximately from the nearest point of Batangas, south of Batangas City and south of Manila.The city has an area of and is composed of 62 barangays of which 22 are classified as urban and 40, rural. The city also has jurisdiction over the Baco Islands and the two Silonay Islets on Calapan Bay.
The overall land characteristic is a wide plain with rivers, interspersed with wetlands at the seacoast periphery. The highest elevation is above sea level at Bulusan Hill, a long landform east of the city, which interrupts the mostly flat terrain north-east of the Halcon-Baco Mountain Range.
Barangays
Calapan is divided into 62 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.These barangays are grouped into congressional districts where each district is represented by a congressman in the country's House of Representatives.
- Balingayan
- Balite
- Baruyan
- Batino
- Bayanan I
- Bayanan II
- Biga
- Bondoc
- Bucayao
- Buhuan
- Bulusan
- Calero
- Camansihan
- Camilmil
- Canubing I
- Canubing II
- Comunal
- Guinobatan
- Gulod
- Gutad
- Ibaba East
- Ibaba West
- Ilaya
- Lalud
- Lazareto
- Libis
- Lumangbayan
- Mahal Na Pangalan
- Maidlang
- Malad
- Malamig
- Managpi
- Masipit
- Nag-Iba I
- Nag-Iba II
- Navotas
- Pachoca
- Palhi
- Panggalaan
- Parang
- Patas
- Personas
- Putingtubig
- San Antonio
- San Raphael
- San Vicente Central
- San Vicente East
- San Vicente North
- San Vicente South
- San Vicente West
- Sapul
- Silonay
- Sta. Cruz
- Sta. Isabel
- Sta. Maria Village
- Sta. Rita
- Sto. Niño
- Suqui
- Tawagan
- Tawiran
- Tibag
- Wawa
Climate
Wind direction throughout the year is variable; Northeast monsoons prevail from August, November, December and January to March; East to Northeast on April; Southeast to South on May and June; Northeast to South on July and September, and Easterly on October.
Climate is favorable for vegetation throughout the year under the Type III climate type of the Philippine weather bureau, PAGASA, with relative humidity at 81%.
Demographics
Calapan has a population of 148,558 people as of the 2024 census.Language
is the main dialect of Calapan City.Economy
Since 1998, the city has experienced rapid development making it one of the fastest growing cities in the country. The establishment of a special development area, particularly an eco-zone for light industries located at the Urban Development Area, has been promoted and now serves as growth area which generates employment and spurs economic opportunities. Such industries focus on agro-industrial based activities such as food processing, handicraft making, furniture making and other related activities.Calapan serves as the province's industrial hub. It plays a pivotal role in the economic development of the province and its adjacent areas.
Trade and commerce
Calapan hosts numerous malls and shopping centers which to name a few:Xentro Mall Calapan - Biggest Mall in the Island
Nuciti Central Mall Calapan
CityMall Calapan
Gaisano Capital Calapan
Citimart Island Mall
Unitop Shopping Center
Puregold Calapan
Trading and commercial activities are mainly confined in wholesale and retail trade. Other thriving industries are manufacturing, financing, tourism, food and beverages and services. In recent years, the city has witnessed the influx of private investments that increase income and employment opportunities. The City Investment Code encourages new and existing entrepreneurs to increase their investments. All business establishments are also required to employ bonafide residents of the city to at least 70% of the job opportunities that they will generate.
Agriculture
Majority of the vast agricultural lands of Calapan is devoted to rice production. Other crops grown in the area are citrus fruits such as calamansi, banana, lanzones, rambutan, mango, coconut and vegetables.Transportation
is the primary seaport serving the city which connected through routes to the Batangas International Port in mainland Luzon. Motorized tricycles are a common mode of transport and jeepneys and vans served as transportation options to other municipalities within Oriental Mindoro which passes through the mostly concreted provincial road spanning the province.The city also has an airport, the Calapan Airport, classified as a secondary airport and is used for general aviation handling mostly small planes and choppers.