- Municipality of New Corella
- About
- Ecological Profile
- Geographical Location
Municipality of New Corella Official Website
Davao del Norte, Philippines 8104
2.1 Geographical Location
New Corella is located in the northeastern tip of the Province of Davao del Norte. It is bounded on the north by the Municipality of Montevista, on the south by the Municipality of Mawab and City of Tagum, southeast by the Municipality of Nabunturan and northwest by the Municipality of Asuncion. It lies between 7°30’ and 7°41’ north latitude and 125°45’ and 125° east longitude.
2.3 Topography
2.3.1 Elevation
New Corella’s terrain consists of flat, rolling and mountainous portion rich with forest and mineral resources. The highest terrain is located at Barangay Patrocenio with an elevation 361 meters high while the lowest terrain is located at El Unido, Mesaoy with an elevation of 16 meters high.
2.3.2 Slope Classification
New Corella has a total land area of 26,312 hectares that are grouped according to its classification. There are 7,856.76 hectares or 29.86% categorized under 0-3% or level to nearly level grouping; 4,380.94 hectares or 16.65% falls under 5-8% or characterized as gently sloping gently undulating or undulating soil areas. From slope 8-15% it comprises 3,560 hectares or 13.53% categorized as gently rolling for moderately and strongly sloping areas. Under 15-30% slope, it comprises 8,790.84 hectares or 33.41% made up of very strongly sloping or hilly soil areas while under slope classification 30-65%, it comprises 1,718.17 hectares or 6.53% that includes steep sloping or very hilly soil areas. The biggest number of hectares falls under slope classification 15-30%.
2.4 Geology Note
2.4.1 Rock Formations
2.4.2 Landforms
The mainland of New Corella has flat lands with irregular or hilly topography in Mambing, Cabidianan, Sta Fe, El Salvador, Del Monte, Patrocenio and New Cortez.
2.4.3 Soils
New Corella has three types of soil surface, to wit;
- Well-drained, high fertility soils or broad alluvial plain. This soil is derived from recent alluvium washed from the uplands underlain by sedimentary, such as shale, sandstone, and some limestone. The surface soil that reaches to a depth of 20 to 25 centimeters consists of brownish-gray to grayish brown clay loam with firm aggregates and course, granular to medium blocky structure. It is plastic and sticky when moist and hard when dry. This type of soil occupies a large plain of the municipality and can be found in barangays Suawon, Del Pilar, Sto. Nino, Limbaan, Mesaoy, Poblacion, San Roque, New Sambog, and a portion of Macgum.
- Well-drained, deep low fertility acid soils or high sedimentary foothill. It consists of yellowish-brown, light brown-friable, guilty clay loam. The hilly to mountainous topography give to a free or excessive external drainage and good internal drainage. This is commonly called camansa sandy clay loam. This soil type occupies the barangays of Mambing, El Salvador, Del Monte, Patrocenio, New Cortez and portion of San Jose and New Bohol.
- Poorly-drained flood prone soils or lower river terraces. This soil is developed from alluvium washed from the upland and deposited by rivers along their courses. Large portion of the areas under this type is sometimes flooded. Its organic matter content is usually high but frequent cultivation in some areas reduces it to only fair amount. This soil type is found in the northwest portion of the municipality covering the portion of the barangays of Macgum, Suawon and San Roque that are bounded by the Saug River.
2.4.4 Land Capability Classes
Land resources of New Corella are further classified in accordance with its capability. Land area capable for cultivation has a total of 14,550.53 hectares or 55.30% of the total 26,312 hectares. These agriculturally-feasible lands are located in 14 barangays, namely: Cabidianan, Carcor, Del Pilar, Limbaan, Macgum, Mesaoy, New Bohol, New Cortez, New Sambog, San Jose, Sta. Cruz, Sto. Niño, Suawon, Poblacion and San Roque.
The total land area limited to forestry and wildlife has a sum of 7,630 hectares or 29%. These areas area characterized by a slope of more than 18% and are declared as a national reserve forest land. It is composed of barangays Mambing, Patroceño, El Salvador, Sta. Fe and Del Monte. Included here are the portions of barangays Cabidianan, Limbaan, San Jose and New Cortez that are also capable for forestry.
While barangays with idle lands capable for pasture includes portion of Cabidianan, Carcor, New Bohol, Limbaan, Macgum, New Cortez, New Sambog, San Jose, Sta. Cruz, Sta. Fe, Sto. Niño, Suawon, Mambing, Patroceño, El Salvador and Del Monte. It has a total land area 3,946.8 hectares or 15% of the total land area. However, these areas are still potential for diversified crops production.
2.5 Land Resources
2.5.1 Land Classification
New Corella’s land use is classified into two (2) uses based on DENR’s data, namely; Alienable and Disposable (A&D) Lands with 18,902.01 has and Forestlands with 6,289.61 hectares.
2.5.2 Existing General Land Use
New Corella after being surveyed by the DENR, it came out that there is a decrease of land area from 32,148 hectares to 26, 311 hectares. Boundary conflicts between neighboring municipalities have been solved. A large area from barangay Sto. Nino, San Roque, New Sambog, Sta. Cruz, Del Pilar and Mesaoy were decreased and were added to Municipality of Asuncion. And these areas are mostly agricultural areas. There is also an increase of the Tourism area. The tourism office continues to discover more potential areas for ecotourism. Cemeteries have been also accounted including from the barangay level. On the other hand, Quarry has been decreased because of the order from the DENR to stop the operations of some identified quarries as it establish risk to the environment as well as the community living within the site. While Agro Industrial zone also increases because of the many packing houses constructed within the banana plantations. Agro-Industries such as rice mill continue to increase also.
2.5.3 Land Use Pattern
New Corella is composed of 20 barangays, all are agricultural areas. Municipality’s agricultural land is around 20,351.1 has or 80.7% of the municipality’s total land area. Residential areas are 2,515.6 has or 10%, Forest and Forestland are 2,271.3 has or 9% and Commercial/Industrial and Institutional are 0.1% respectively.
2.6 Mineral Resources
Great volumes of sand and gravel are found in Saug River that can be used for construction materials and for gravelling roads. Another attracting factor to road building construction is the presence of pulverized materials (limestone) that are mainly found in barangays Del Monte, Patrocenio, New Cortez, and San Jose. Limestone contributes greatly to road building due to its strong compact capability.
Guano and organic materials are also abundant in this municipality and are presently used as raw materials in the processing of organic fertilizers. Its deposits are found in the caves of Patrocenio, San Jose, New Cortez and Del Monte particularly Paraiso Cave. Guano deposits can sustain up to 50 years of operation.
2.8 Fresh water Resources
2.8.1 Surface Run-Off
New Corella has one (1) river and fifty (50) creeks. The only river in the Municipality is known as Saug River. It is the main waterway of all major tributaries from creeks and irrigation drains.
Water Bodies
| Name of Water Body | Location |
|---|---|
| Macgum River | Macgum |
| Limbaan Creek | Limbaan |
| Tagmilo Creek | Poblacion |
| Suawon Creek | Suawon |
| Lunao creek/canal | Sto. Niño, Suawon |
| Burako Creek | New Cortez |
| Diversion Canal | Poblacion |
| Creek | Poblacion |
| San Jose creek/canal | San Jose |
| Sta. Fe Creek 1 | Sta. Fe |
| Muwab Creek | Mambing, El Salvador |
| Linda Creek | El Salvador |
| Mambing creek 1 & 2 | Mambing |
| Mambing Creek/Lake | Mambing |
| Flood Control Canal | Poblacion |
| Plantation Canal | San Roque |
| Patrocenio Creek 1, 2 & 3 | Patrocenio |
| Limbaan Creek | Limbaan |
| Malitbog Creek | Malitbog, Mesaoy |
| Mambing Creek 1 & 2 | Mambing |
| Del Pilar Creek | Del Pilar |
| Saug 1 & 2 | Macgum |
| El Salvador creek 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 | El Salvador |
| Limbatangan Creek | Mambing |
| Mesaoy Creek 1 & 2 | Mesaoy |
| Ibuan Creek | Mesaoy, New Bohol |
| Anaman Creek | New Cortez |
| Mopia Creek | Carcor |
| Sangoy Creek | Limbaan, Poblacion, Del Monte |
| Vega Creek | Limbaan, Del Monte |
| Sta. Fe Creek 1, 2 & 3 | Sta. Fe |
| Cabidianan Creek 1 & 2 | Cabidianan |
| Poblacion Creek (Schisto Canal) | Poblacion |
| Mangcuagong Creek | Poblacion |
2.8.2 Groundwater Resources
Among the groundwater resources are three (3) headwaters of the watershed, namely: Hijo, Saug1 and Saug2 Watershed areas. The first headwater covers a total area of 1,039.41, the second covers a total area of 6,312.00 has and last one covers a total of 17,542.64 has.
Watershed Resources
| Name of Watershed | Location | Area (has) |
|---|---|---|
| Hijo Watershed | New Cortez, Patrocenio, Del Monte, El Slavador | 1,039.41 |
| Saug 1 Watershed | Cabidianan, Del Monte, El Salvador, Mambing, San Jose, Sto. Niño, Suawon | 6,312.00 |
| Saug 2 Watershed | New Cortez, Cabidianan, Patrocenio, Del Monte, Sta. Fe, New Bohol, Mesaoy, New Cortez, Del Pilar, | 17,542.64 |
2.9 Climate
2.9.1 Atmospheric Temperature
Seasonal temperature increase (in 0C) in 2020 and 2050 under the medium-range emission scenario in the province Davao del Norte.
There is a significant increase of temperature in year 2020 by 1.2 0C for the month of June, July and August while for the month of March, April, May and September October and November it will be hotter by 1.1 0C. While in 2050, in the month of June, July and August will be very hot with an increase of 2.5 0C, followed by the month of March, April and May it will be increased by 2.3 0C while for the Month of September, October, November and December, January and February will be increased by 2.1 and 1.9 0C respectively.
Projected Seasonal Temperature
The data shows that the area will experience relatively warmer conditions in March-April-May 2020 as compared to the observed seasonal temperatures. There will be 2.5 0C warming during the months of June-July-August of 2050 as compared to the observed seasonal temperature. However, a minimal decrease occur in the months of September, October and November both in 2020 and 2050 as compared to observed seasonal temperature.
2.9.4 Rainfall
Seasonal rainfall change in % in 2020 and 2050 under medium range emission scenario in the province of Davao del Norte.
In the months of March, April, May of 2020 the -12.5 shows that it has minimal occurrence of rainfall. While in 2050 the -22.2 means that there are fewer tendencies to rain in the months of March, April and May. However, it’s getting cold in the months of June, July, August and September, October and November of 2050.
Projected Seasonal Rainfall
In year 2020, in the months of December, January and February will experience greater rainfall of 695.604 as compared to months March to November. While in year 2050, the projected seasonal rainfall will be greater still in the month of December to February. Therefore, in these months, we should be vigilant for possible flooding and landslides.
Planting season should be avoided during months that are predicted to be flooding season to avoid agricultural losses.
2.10 Natural Hazards/Constraints
2.10.1 Flooding
Flood control structures and systems are needed by the populace in the municipality, because during rainy seasons they have experienced being isolated by water swelling from the rivers and creeks. In New Corella, barangays El Salvador, Mesaoy, New Bohol, San Jose, Suawon, Macgum, Sto. Nino, Sta. Cruz and Del Pilar are highly susceptible to flood. While barangays Cabidianan, New Cortez, New Sambog, Poblacion and Carcor are moderately susceptible to flood. On the other hand, Limbaan and San Roque are low in susceptibility to flood. See table below.
Flooding Susceptibility
Flooding Hazard Map
Meanwhile in the latest hazard profiling of the province in CY 2014, a flood map for New Corella was generated see Figure below.
Flood Map, New Corella
Several drainages and flood control structures were constructed especially during the existence of the banana plantations like the San Roque to Del Pilar Drainage which was about four (4) kilometers long constructed by Marsman Drysdale. The Dissilting of Limbaan Creek which was three (3) kilometers by Lapanday Group of Companies and the 60-meters wide drainage from New Cortez to Limbaan funded by the Local Government Unit of New Corella and the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte. Moreso, dissilting of Malitbog creek with a stretch of 6 kms. is another project implemented by the government to control flooding instances.
There are several small drainages constructed to at least divert the flow of the water at the public market, Issa Dam and from the Poblacion proper.
2.10.2 Erosion and Siltation
Both the eroded and the erosion potential areas affects the agricultural productivity in the upland farms and will continuously pose as threat unless farmers will adopt appropriate upland technology.
In New Corella, barangay New Bohol is highly susceptible to landslide specifically in Purok 1 and 2; Purok 3(Common 1), 4(Kapatagan) and 5 while barangays New Cortez and Del Monte are moderately to highly susceptible to landslide. These are areas like Purok 4, 5 and 6; Purok 2 (Matin-ao) and 3(Kauswagan) all of New Cortez.
While the rest of the barangays like Cabidianan, El Salvador, Limbaan, Mambing, Mesaoy, Patrocenio, San Jose, Sta. Fe and Suawon are moderately susceptible to landslide.