Natural Resources of compostela Valley
LAND AREA AND ITS GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
Compostela Valley Province has a total land area of 4,666.93 sq. km. (based on Republic Act No. 8470), which is 14.73% of the region’s total land area of 31,692.74 sq. km., and 1.5% of the country’s landarea of 300,000 sq. km. Of the total land area of the province, 1,530.97 square kilometers (sq. kms.) are
alienable and disposable (A & D) and 3,135.96 sq. kms. are forestlands, accounting to 19.49% and 26.53% of the region’s A & D and forestland areas, respectively (Map 2).
Among the component municipalities of the province, Laak has the largest share (20.29%) of land area to the province, followed by Monkayo (14.85%), and New Bataan (14.75%). Mawab, on the other hand, has the least share (3.63%) of land area to the whole province of Compostela Valley. (Table 25)
Municipality | *Land Area (Sq. Km.) | % of Distribution | Land Classificaiton | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A & D | Forestland | % of A&D | % of Forestland | |||
Compostela Valley | 4,666.93 | 100.00 | 1,530.97 | 3,135.96 | 32.80 | 67.20 |
1. Compostela | 187.50 | 4.02 | 118.72 | 68.78 | 63.32 | 36.68 |
2. Laak | 947.06 | 20.29 | 208.19 | 738.87 | 21.98 | 78.02 |
3. Mabini | 412.25 | 8.83 | 78.92 | 333.33 | 19.14 | 80.86 |
4. Maco | 244.40 | 5.24 | 81.05 | 163.35 | 33.16 | 66.84 |
5. Maragusan | 394.29 | 8.45 | 117.66 | 276.63 | 29.84 | 70.16 |
6. Mawab | 169.52 | 3.63 | 99.97 | 69.55 | 58.97 | 41.03 |
7. Monkayo | 629.89 | 14.85 | 245.13 | 447.76 | 35.38 | 64.62 |
8. Montevista | 265.00 | 5.68 | 113.25 | 151.75 | 42.74 | 57.26 |
9. Nabunturan | 245.29 | 5.25 | 118.51 | 126.78 | 48.43 | 51.57 |
10. New Bataan | 688.60 | 14.75 | 200.79 | 487.81 | 29.16 | 70.84 |
11. Pantukan | 420.13 | 9.00 | 148.78 | 271.35 | 35.41 | 64.59 |
Source: PENRO-DENR 2015 Data (*Based on Republic Act 8470)
Map 2. General Land Classification, Davao De Oro

SOIL TYPE
Davao De Oro Province has the following soil types, to wit:
- Broad Alluvial Plain. This soil type is found in Compostela, Montevista, and Monkayo. It is generally characterized by lowland elevation with a soil depth of 100 cm. deep to very deep;
- Lower River Terraces. This soil type is found in Monkayo and Montevista. Its elevation is lowland with a soil depth of 50-100 cm.;
- Collu-Alluvial Fans. This soil type is found in Compostela and Monkayo. Its elevation is generally lowland, with a soil depth of 100 cm. to very deep;
- Low and High Sedimentary Foothills and Ridges. These are found in Monkayo and Compostela. It is characterized by an elevation of lowland and upland/hilly land, its soil depth is 50-100 cm.;
- High Limestone Hills. This soil type is found within Monkayo and Montevista. It is characterized by upland or hilly land elevation. Its soil depth is between 50 cm. and 100 cm. moderately deep;
- High Volcanic Complex. This type is found in Compostela, Montevista, and Monkayo;
- Limestone Mountains. This type is found in Montevista and Monkayo. Its soil depth is 50-100 cm.;
- High Meta-Sedimentary Mountains. This soil type is found only in Monkayo. Its elevation is characterized by upland/hilly land;
- Complex Volcanic Mountains. This type is found in Compostela, Monkayo and Montevista;
- Cambangan Clay Loam. This soil type is found in Nabunturan, Mawab, Maco, Mabini, Pantukan, and New Bataan. Its soil depth is 50-100 cm. deep. This type is good for agricultural purposes such as for rice paddies; it may also be used for upland crops with simple drainage system;
- Camansa Clay Loam. This soil type is found in Nabunturan, Mawab, Pantukan, Maco, Mabini, and Maragusan. This is good for forest production due to its topography;
- San Miguel Silty Clay Loam. This type is found in Mawab, Pantukan, Maco, Mabini, and Maragusan. It is good for diversified upland field crops. The dominant feature of this type is leveled to nearly level, well drained, medium texture and deep to very deep soil;
- Mountain Soil Undifferentiated. This is found in Nabunturan, Maco, Mabini, Maragusan, Pantukan, and New Bataan. This type of soil classification is good for forestland. Aside from this, it does not have much agricultural significance;
- San Miguel Silty Clay Loam. This is found in New Bataan;
- Common Clay Loam. This is found in Pantukan and Laak.
LAND SUITABILITY
The province has large areas suitable for forestry plantation specifically for exotic species and for forest protection due to the slope characteristics of majority of its areas (Table 26). As reflected in the slope description per municipality, New Bataan has the largest areas within the above 50% slope followed by Mabini. Compostela has the largest areas suitable for rice production, followed by Montevista and Monkayo, while Maragusan tops in terms of areas having large share of suitability for urban uses. (Table
26)
Table 26. Land Suitability (in sq. km.) By Municipality, Davao De Oro Province
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Source: BSWM Xl (based on 2015 data gathered)
AREAS PRONE TO NATURAL HAZARDS
Flooding and landslide are among the two incidences of natural hazard occurred in the province. Flooding is usually happened when there is heavy downpour, while landslide events are either rain induced or earthquake-induced.
Municipalities that are highly prone to flooding during continuous heavy rainfalls are Compostela, Mawab, Montevista, Nabunturan, New Bataan, and Monkayo. Nabunturan and Compostela have larger areas highly affected to flooding over other municipalities. (Table 27)
On the other hand, municipalities of Mabini and Pantukan have large areas highly affected by rain induced landslides based on t he GIS generated hazard mapping. Nonetheless in a specific location, there are 5 barangays in the province that are highly susceptible to landslide, namely, Masara of Maco, Tuboran of Mawab, Canidkid and New Cebulan of Montevista, and Mt. Diwata of Monkayo. The landslide susceptibility and its level of severity had been mapped out by the Bureau of Mines and Geo-Sciences. In summary, a total of 136 puroks and 47 sitios in 113 barangays in the province are subject to varying severity of landslides (Table 28).
Table 27. Areas Prone to Flooding, By Municipality and By Susceptibility Level Davao De Oro Province
Municipality | Area (has.) | Susceptibility Level | Affeced Area (has.) | % Affected Area to Total Land Area |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compostela | 18,750 | High | 5,985.000 | 31.92% |
Maco | 24,440 | High | 334.828 | 1.37% |
Moderate | 48.880 | 0.20% | ||
Low | 95.316 | 0.39% | ||
Maragusan | 39,429 | High | 812.237 | 2.06% |
Mawab | 16,952 | High | 3,049.665 | 17.99% |
Moderate | 557.720 | 3.29% | ||
Low | 2,510.591 | 14.81% | ||
Monkayo | 69,289 | High | 4,150.411 | 5.99% |
Moderate | 1,039.335 | 1.50% | ||
Low | 630.529 | 0.91% | ||
Montevista | 26,500 | High | 5,731.950 | 21.63% |
Nabunturan | 24,529 | High | 9,816.506 | 40.02% |
Moderate | 166.797 | .68% | ||
Low | 264.913 | 1.08% | ||
New Bataan | 68,860 | High | 13,131.600 | 19.07% |
Pantukan | 42,013 | High | 226.870 | 0.54% |
Moderate | 3,075.352 | 7.32% |
Source: GSI generated (based on 2015 data gathered)
Table 28. Number of Lanslide Prone Barangays, Puroks, & Sitios By Its Level of Susceptibility, Davao De Oro Province
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Source: Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (based on 2015 data gathered)
Moreover. the coastal municipalities of the province such as Maco, Mabini, and Pantukan are highly susceptible to Storm Surge event.
ACTIVE FAULTLINE AREAS
There are 3 identified fault lines that cut through Davao De Oro Province. The first faultline is traversing through the municipality of Tarragona, Davao Oriental and it cuts through the hinterlands in the northeastern portion of New Bataan going to barangays Panansalan and Manggayon of Compostela and to four more barangays situated in central part of Monkayo, namely, Tubo-tubo, Salvacion, Baylo, and Awao. The second faultline slices through the provinces of Davao Oriental, Davao De Oro, and Davao Del Norte. In Davao De Oro, it traverses in barangay Napnapan of Pantukan, barangay Golden Valley (Maraut) in the hinterlands of Mabini, barangays Sangab, Panangan, and Manipongol of Maco; and in barangays Malinawon, Tuboran, and Sawangan of Mawab. The third one runs through the barangays of Amorcruz, Kaligutan, and Macopa, all of Laak. This fault line also cuts across Tagum City, Davao DelNorte.
Moreover, there is one volcano identified in the province, named Mt. Leonard Kniasef. It is located at New Leyte, Maco, and it is considered an active volcano by Philvocs. It was believed that the said volcano had erupted 1000
WATER RESOURCES
Tabl 29. Number of Water Bodies, By Category and By Location / Municipality, Compostela Valley Province
Municipality | Rivers | Creeks | Waterfalls | Spring (cold & hot) | Lakes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Compostela | 3 | 3 | 4 | - | - |
Laak | 9 | 12 | 2 | - | - |
Mabini | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 (hot) | 1 |
Maco | 5 | 5 | 7 | 1 (hot) | 1 |
Maragusan | 2 | 11 | 16 | 2 (hot), 3 cold | 1 |
Mawab | 8 | 19 | 1 | 2 (hot), 300 cold | - |
Monkayo | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 (hot) | - |
Montevista | 3 | 27 | 0 | 2 cold | - |
Nabunturan | 2 | 16 | 1 | 1 hot | - |
New Bataan | 7 | 5 | 4 | - | - |
Pantukan | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 hot | - |
Compostela Valley | 47 | 115 | 39 | 314 | 3 |
Source: MLGU-MENROs and Provincial Tourism Office, Compostela Valley (based on 2015 gathered)
RIVER BASINS
There eighteen (18) major river basins in the Philippines covering 37.50% of the total land area of the country. Map 3 shows the location of these basins.
Map 3. Location of 18 Major River Basins in the Philippines

Davao De Oro is one of the provinces in the Davao Region which is traversed by the Agusan River Basin. The updated Agusan River Basin (ARB) Master Plan showed that ARB covers 3 regions, 8 provinces, 5 cities, 41 municipalities and 1 bay area. Specifically, the regions covered by the Agusan River Basin are Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Region 11 (Davao Region), and Region 13 (Caraga Region) where Butuan Bay is situated.
The Agusan River Basin (ARB) which has drainage area of 11,937 square kilometers and estimated length of 120 kilometers, is geographically divided into three (3) sub-basins, namely: upper ARB, middle ARB and lower ARB. Upper ARB covers the provinces of Davao De Oro, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental, while middle ARB covers Agusan Del Sur, Bukidnon and Surigao del Sur, and lower ARB for Agusan del Norte and Misamis Oriental. All municipalities in Davao De Oro comprised the Upper ARB, together with the municipality of Kapalong in Davao Del Norte and municipalities of Boston and Cateel of Davao Oriental. Agusan River Basin is the biggest river traversing Davao De Oro, and with its tributaries, it provides the major irrigation needs of the province (Map 4).
OTHER RIVERS
Other river traversing Davao De Oro is the Hijo River with drainage area of 689.22 square kilometers and an estimated length of 64 kilometers covering the municipalities of Maco, Mabini, Pantukan, Mawab and Nabunturan. Another rivers that are also considered important and critical water bodies in the province because of their substantial contributions to the people’s livelihood are the Naboc River in Monkayo and the Kingking River in Pantukan. These rivers are in critical condition as they serve as the drainage of the wastes from the mining operations in the respective municipalities.
Surface water outputs are utilized in the irrigation system and in other water system projects in support to agricultural development, while utilization for ground water is primarily domestic purposes.
Nonetheless, the hydro-geological characteristic of the province is considered very favorable. Potable water through spring development is found in all municipalities.
Map 4. Location Map of Agusan River Basin

FORESTLAND AND FOREST COVER
Forestland as presented earlier constitutes the largest portion of the province total land area at 67.2 percent or 3,135.96 square kilometers. It covers old growth forest, second growth forest (residual forest), mossy areas, mangroves, plantation use forest, brushland, open/grassland, and cultivated areas. Brushland comprises the largest area at 45.23 percent, followed by second growth forest or residual forest at 22.29 percent. Mangroves, on the other hand, have the least area of 0.21 percent of the forest cover. (Table 30)
Table 30. Forest Land in Square Kilometers, By Type of Forest Cover, Compostela Valey Province
Type of Forest Cover | Area (sq. km.) | % to Total |
---|---|---|
TOTAL | 3,135.96 | 100.00 |
1. Brushland | 1,418.37 | 45.23 |
2. Second Growth Forest (Residual Forest) | 699.00 | 22.29 |
3. Cultivated Areas | 433.36 | 13.82 |
4. Old Growth Forest | 373.61 | 11.91 |
5. Plantations | 152.86 | 4.87 |
6. Mossy | 26.90 | 0.86 |
7. Open/Grassland | 25.38 | 0.81 |
8. Mangroves | 6.48 | 0.21 |
Source: DENR-PENRO, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley (based on 2015 data gathered)
Source: DENR-PENRO, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley (based on 2015 data gathered)
1. MABINI PROTECTED LANDSCAPE AND SEASCAPE
The area covering 6,106 hectares more or less (subject to actual ground survey), is located at the municipality of Mabini particularly to include Pindasan Island mangrove wilderness area, Kopiat Island and surrounding portions of the Davao Gulf. It was declared as protection area on May 31, 2000 through the Proclamation No. 316.
2. MAINIT HOT SPRINGS AND PROTECTED LANDSCAPE
The Mainit Hotsprings and Protected Landscape in the municipality of Nabunturan covering 401 hectares more or less (subject to actual ground survey) was declared as protected area under Proclamation No. 320 dated May 31, 2000.
3. PROPOSED MOUNT TAGUB-KAMPALILI RANGES PROTECTED LANDSCAPE
The Mount Tagub-Kampalili Ranges Protected Landscape situated in the municipality of Maragusan containing an area of 42,953 hectares (subject to actual ground demarcation), was already proposed under House Bill No. 262 and will be referred to as the Mt. Tagub-Kampalili Ranges ProtectedLandscape.
The referred non-NIPAS areas are the second growth forest, mangrove and fish sanctuaries, buffer strips and easements, salvage zones along foreshore lands, freshwater swamps and marshes, protected agricultural areas (under RA 8435 and RA 8048) and other protected areas.
WATERSHED AREAS
There are four (4) watershed areas identified in the province which are given high priority by the provincial government in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). These are: 1) Upper Agusan River Basin, 2) Andap Watershed, 3) Hijo River Watershed, and 4) Kingking-Matiao River Cluster Watershed. (Table 31)
Other watershed areas in the province were also identified. Upon the implementation of the Upland Development Program in Southern Mindanao in the years 2000-2007, collaborations were forged and institutionalized thru Memorandum of Agreements between and among the concerned Municipal and Barangay LGUs and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO/CENRO) for the co-management of these watershed areas covering a total of 14,334 hectares. (Table 32)
Table 31. Critical Watershed Areas, Davao De Oro Province
Watershed Area | Location | Area (in hectare) | Condition |
---|---|---|---|
Total | 184,719.50 | Critical | |
1. Upper Agusan River Basin | New Bataan and Maragusan | 118,779.50 | Critical |
2. Kingking Matiao River Cluster Watershed | Pantukan | 36,665.00 | Critical |
3. Hijo River Watershed | Maco | 22,500.00 | Critical |
4. Andap Watershed | New Bataan | 6,775.00 | Critical |
Source: PENRO-DENR, Compostela Valley Province (based on 2015 data gathered)
Table 32. Watershed Co-Management Areas, Compostela Valley Province
Municipality | Watershed Name | Barangay(s) Covered | Area (has.) |
---|---|---|---|
Provincial declared protected watershed co- management areas (2009-2014) | |||
Maragusan | Mapawa | 10.69 | |
Maragusan | Magcagong | 10.79 | |
New Bataan | Matikdaon | Kahayag | 12.19 |
New Bataan | Mamada | Andap | 16.43 |
Compostela | Purok 3 | Tamia | 12.51 |
Compostela | Tingale-Canube | San Miguel | 48.99 |
Compostela | Purok 12 | San Miguel | 266 |
Compostela | Purok 1B | Mangayon | 500.00 |
Monkayo | Lanzones-Kaimito | Salvacion | 10.26 |
Monkayo | Lanzones-Kaimito | San Isidro | 20.04 |
Montevista | New Cebulan | 14.28 | |
Montevista | Guyon | Bankerohan Sur | 49.986 |
Nabunturan | Apogon | Katipunan | 10.28 |
Nabunturan | Batinag | Tagnocon | 23.498 |
Mawab | Tan-awan | Malinawon | 10.00 |
Mawab | Libertad | Malinawon | 13.60 |
Maco | Maduao | Concepcion | 14.21 |
Mabini | Golden Valley | Concepcion | 10.13 |
Mabini | Balayong | Pangibiran | 14.188 |
Pantukan | Upper Maubog | Tibagon | 10.35 |
Laak | Upper Ampawid | Ampawid | 26.67 |
Laak | Makaslog | Panamoren | 10.182 |
Sub Total | 349.27 | ||
UDP declared protected watershed co-management areas | |||
Maragusan | Magtinago | Katipunan | 26.00 |
Maragusan | New Negros | Katipunan | 214.00 |
New Bataan | Pagsilaan | Andap | 138.42 |
New Bataan | Cabinuangan | 183.00 | |
New Bataan | Fatima | 326.00 | |
New Bataan | Mapaso | San Roque | 38.33 |
Nabunturan | San Roque | 199.20 | |
Nabunturan | San Isidro | 571.50 | |
Mabini | Cabuyoan | 223.00 | |
Maco | Patari | Manipongol | 161.00 |
Maco | Mapaang | 77.00 | |
Pantukan | Tibagon | 727.00 | |
Sub Total | 2,884.45 | ||
TOTAL | 3,233.72 |
MINERAL RESOURCES
The province has rich deposits of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources. Metallic resources include gold, silver, copper and iron among others with both large and small-scale mining operations present. Total revenue of Php 98,495,748.55 was generated from these mineral resources from the period 2008 to 2015.
Small-scale mining is more on gold and silver extraction and or exploration. The gold rush in Mt. Diwata, Monkayo is the most famous but the operation also thrives in the municipalities of Maco, Maragusan, Nabunturan, New Bataan, and Pantukan where nine (9) People’s Small Scale Mining Areas were declared as “Minahan Ng Bayan” totaling 667.7786 hectares (Table 33)
Due to the huge reseve of gold in the previously mentioned municipalities, MGB declared these municipalities or Davao De Oro Province as a whole as the Gold District in the Davao Region (Table 34).
Table 33. Declared People’s Small Scale Mining Areas, Davao De Oro Province
LOCATION | AREA (in hectare) |
---|---|
1. Sitio Lumanggang, Barangay New Leyte,Maco, ComVal |
81 hectares |
2. Sitio Tuburan, Tandik, Maragusan/ BagongSilang, Panoraon, Maco, ComVal |
81 hectares |
3. Puroks 1 to 8, Barangay Panoraon, Maco,ComVal |
81 hectares |
4. Sitio Diat, Barangay Napnapan, Pantukan, ComVal |
81 hectares |
5. Sitio Biasong, Barangay Napnapan, Pantukan,ComVal |
81 hectares |
6. Sitio Boringot, Barangay Napnapan, Pantukan, ComVal |
81 hectares |
7. Anogkot, Barangay Araibo, Pantukan, Comval | 81 hectares |
8. Barangay Tandawan, New Bataan, Comval | 81 hectares |
9. Sitio Inupoan, Barangay Mainit, Nabunturan,ComVal |
81 hectares |
Source: PENRO-LGU, Compostela Valley Province (based on 2015 data gathered)
Table 34. Metallic and Non-metallic Minerals, Compostela Valley Province
Mineral Commodity | Estimated Reserve | Unit Used | Average Grade |
---|---|---|---|
A. METALLIC MINERAL RESERVES | |||
1. gold | 181,745,339 | mt | 3.67 gm au/mt |
2. copper | 481,775,616 | mt | .38% cu |
B. NON-METALLIC MINERAL RESERVES | |||
1. shale | 3,000,000 | mt | 45% sio2 |
2. marble | 54,000,000 | cu.m. | |
3. silica | 1,000,000 | cu.m. | 75% sio2 |
4. sand and gravel | 7,400,000 | cu.m. |
Source: MGB XI, Davao City (based on 2015 data gathered)
Gold mining activities began to soar in the province during 1980s at the municipalities of Monkayo, Nabunturan, Pantukan, Compostela, Mabini, and Maco. Monkayo till present is the most popular gold producing municipality and it has six production areas to include: Tinago, Upper Buenas, Busay, Upper Balite, Lower Balite and Paraiso. Pantukan, which ranked fourth in gold production next only to Maco and Compostela, has the Boringot Gold Complex consisting of Boringot, Magapispis and Lower Pagsanaran areas. Compostela, on the other hand, which ranked third, has the Bango area, while Maco, the second gold producing municipality, has the Masara area covered by Apex and North Davao Companies.
The Diwalwal Mineral Reservation Area in Monkayo was among the five medium-scale operating gold mines identified in the country. In 2006, a total area of 184,050 hectares was recorded as mining and quarrying areas. In 2014, about 158,760.78 hectares were recorded by the MGB with tenement application for Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) and about 72,089.34 hectares for Exploration Permit (EP), for a total of 230,850.12 hectares.
Moreover, non-metallic mineral deposits in the province include marble, magnesite, manganese and silica of which the latter is found in abundance in the municipalities of Mabini and Pantukan.
Table 35. Sand and Gravel Production, By Municipality, Compostela Valley Province
Muncipality | 2013 | 2014 |
---|---|---|
Compostela | 24,804.50 | 15,992.00 |
Laak | 4,966.50 | 777.00 |
Mabini | 1,077.50 | 750.00 |
Maco | 4,966.50 | 3,870.00 |
Maragusan | 52,313.00 | 15,805.00 |
Mawab | 67,789.00 | 106,857.00 |
Monkayo | 6,162.50 | 10,605.00 |
Montevista | ||
Nabunturan | 22,067.50 | 21,921.00 |
New Bataan | 37,883.50 | 19,465.00 |
Pantukan | 6,585.00 | 3,870.00 |
Compostela Valley | 228,615.50 | 199,912.00 |
Source: PENRO-LGU, Compostela Valley (based on 2015 data gathered)