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2.0 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
2.1 Physical Character
2.1.1 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Sta. Barbara is a landlocked municipality situated almost exactly at the heart of the Province of
Pangasinan. It is bounded in the north by the Municipality of Mangaldan, in the northeast by the
Municipality of Mapandan, in the east by the City of Urdaneta, in the west by the Municipality of
Calasiao and in the south by the Municipality of Malasiqui.
It is geographically located at 16⁰00’11.196” north latitude and 120⁰24’3.953” east longitude. The
municipality is about 25 kilometers distant from the Provincial Capital of Lingayen and about 205
kilometers distant from Manila. Figure 2.1 presents location map of Sta. Barbara.
The Municipality’s land area is approximately 6,547.78 hectares (411.30 has of which is contested
area) equivalent to 1.2 percent of the total land area of the Province of Pangasinan and 0.51
percent Region 1
Table 2.1 Land Area of Region 1, Pangasinan and Sta. Barbara
Focus Land Area (in has.) Share of Sta. Barbara
Sta. Barbara 6,547.78 -
Pangasinan 536,818 1.22
Region 1,284,019 0.51
Source: National Statistics Office
Sta. Barbara has 29 barangays. The Largest in terms of land area is Barangay Leet with 668.84
hectares which is equivalent to about 10.90 percent of the total municipal area. The smallest is
Poblacion Sur with only 43.58 of 0.71 percent of the municipal area. The following table shows the
land areas of the barangays while their geographical locations are presented in Figure 2.2
Table 2.2 Barangay Land Areas
Barangay Land Area (in has) % Share
Alibago 64.33 0.98%
Balingueo 390.69 5.97%
Banaoang 211.99 3.24%
Banzal 197.91 3.02%
Botao 263.55 4.03%
Cablong 265.97 2.53%
Carosucan 139.59 2.13%
Dalongue 144.43 2.21%
Erfe 94.35 1.44%
Gueguesangen 222.07 3.39%
Leet 668.84 10.21%
Malanay 144.79 2.21%
Maningding 243.77 3.72%
Maronong 241.23 3.68%
Maticmatic 25.41 3.82%
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Barangay Land Area (in has) % Share
Minien East 146.06 2.23%
Minien West 216.41 3.31%
Nilombot 184.77 2.82%
Patayac 363.25 5.55%
Payas 381.1 5.82%
Poblacion Norte 51.54 0.79%
Poblacion Sur 43.58 0.67%
Sapang 145.42 2.22%
Sonquil 378.00 5.77%
Tebag East 50.27 0.77%
Tebag West 96.5 1.47%
Tuliao 412.51 6.30%
Ventinilla 88.48 1.35%
Primicias 134.68 2.06%
Contested Area (with
411.30 6.28%
Malasiqui)
Total 6,547.79 100.00%
Table 2.2 arangay Land Areas (Cont’d)
Source: MuMunicipal Planning and Development Office
2.1.2 GEOPHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
Topography and Slope
The municipality forms part of Central Pangasinan which is considered to be the rice granary of the
province. It is located on a broad alluvial plain between two mountain ranges on the east and west
and bounded by earthquake faults on its sides. Generally, the municipality has a zero to three
percent slope range. It has Flat landforms with sloping to moderately rolling areas at the
southeastern portion with Barangay Minien East. Table 2.3 and Figure 2.3 present the slope
characteristics of Sta. Barbara.
Table 2.3 Slope Features of the Land
Slope Range Area (in has.) % Share
0 to 3 percent 6,544.42 99.95
8 to 15percent 3.36 0.05
Total 6,547.78 100.00
Source of Data: Pangasinan Slope Map, BSWM
Soils
The soils of the municipality are suitable to almost all kinds of agriculture crops. The three types of
soil in Sta. Barbara are of the san Manuel Series. This series represents soils alluvial formation and,
such they are mostly along courses of rivers. The different soil materials deposited during its
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formation consist of loose and friable, silt, loam, which are brown and light in color. The greater part
of this soil has been cultivated to crops of various kinds. San Manuel has deep water tables.
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The San Manuel Fine Sandy Loam encompasses 2,965.30 hectares or 48.32 percent of the
municipality’s land area. This soil type is loose and always inundated by flood. Lowland rice is
widely grown in this type of soil.
The other soil type found in Sta. Barbara is the San Manuel Silt Loam. This soil type comprises
526.37 hectares or 13.47 percent of the municipality. It is developed from recent alluvium washed
from the uplands and deposited by rivers along their courses. A large portion of the areas under this
type is sometimes flooded and for this reason they make up some of the most productive soils of
the province. Because of the natural fertility of the soil, diverse crops are raised on it with
moderately high yields.
The following table presents the distribution of soil types in the municipality while Figure 2.4
presents their respective locations
Table 2.4 Basic Soil Type Distribution
Soil Type Area (in has.) % Share
San Manuel Fine Sandy Loam 3,163.89 48.32
San Manuel Silt Loam 2,501.91 38.21
San Manuel Silty Clay Loam 881.99 13.47
Total 6,547.78 100
Source: Pangasinan Soil Map BSWM
Physiography
Sta. Barbara physiography is generally (73.55) characterized by river levees. These are nearly level
to gently sloping areas with deep, fine loamy over clayey, moderately drained areas. River levees
are usually found under coconut, tobacco, sugarcane and rice paddies.
Broad alluvial plain also characterized the municipality’s physiographic features. Generally, these
areas are all level to nearly level moderately to poorly drained soils. Alluvial plains in Sta. Barbara
were the results of sediment deposition during major floods and from eroded sediments from
adjacent foothill and mountain areas which were being transported and deposited in the area.
River terraces are found in Balingueo since these areas experienced river overflow and stream
bank erosion during prolonged heavy rains. Some areas in barangay Patayac, Cablong, Carusocan
and Botao are characterized by abandoned river channels. Erosion poses no problem on these
areas. Sedimentary hills, in turn, are evident in Minien East and Minien West.
Table 2.5 presents and details the physiographic features of Sta. Barbara while Figure 2.5 shows
the location of these.
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Table 2.5 Basic Physiographical Distribution
Physiographical Feature Areas (in has.) % Share
Broad alluvial plain-subject to seasonal run off flooding 1,563.02 23.87
River levee 4,815.63 73.55
River terraces w/ seasonal river flooding 20.99 0.32
Abandoned river channel 131.19 2.00
Slightly undulating to gently sloping low sedimentary hills
(shale) w/ smooth slide slope and rounded hills and 16.95 0.26
ridges.
Total 6547.78 100.00
Source of Data: Pangasinan Physiographic Map, BSWM
Geology
Geological features such as alluvium, alluvial fans and river wash characterize almost the entire
(99.95%) landscape of Sta. Barbara (refer to table 2.6) Fluviatile alluvium consists of a
heterogeneous assemblage of angular to rounded gravel to pebble size fragments of older rocks.
These are loosely embedded in a sandy matrix of floodplain, swampy and along river thalwegs 1.
Alluvial fans and river wash, on the other hand, are made up of volcanic deposits.
A portion, about three hectares, of barangay Minien East and Minien West are made up of thick and
massive sandstone overlain by shale. Shale are mostly clastic sediments and are calcareous. Table
2.6 shows the geological feature of Sta. Barbara and their locations are presented in figure 2.6.
Table 2.6 Geological Features
Geological Feature Areas (in has.) % Share
Alluvium 6,544.49 99.95
Sandstone and Shale 3.29 0.05
Total 6,547.78 100.00
Source of Data: Pangasinan Geological Map, BSWM
2.1.3 NATURAL HAZARDS
Flood Hazard
The municipality is frequently visited by typhoons during the rainy seasons. During heavy rains, the
Sinucalan River and its tributaries (Marusay Creek and Tolong River) overflow and cause damage
to crops and property.
Based on site inspection and Key Informant Interviews, the flood prone areas in the municipality are
located in barangay Sonquil, Poblacion Norte, Poblacion Sur, Sapang, Tuliao, Malanay, Nilombot,
Ventinilla, Primicias, Maningding, Banzal, Maticmatic, Leet, Banaoang, Payas, Dalongue, Alibago
and Maronong. Figure 2.7 presents the flood prone areas in the municipality.
_________________________
1
The line of the fastest flow along the course of a river. This usually crosses and recloses the stream channel.
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Figure
2.7
MAP
OF
FLOO
DING
PRON
E
AREA
S
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Erosion
Since the municipality is generally flat with slopes ranging from only zero to three percent, it does
not experience any erosion at all. Although the topsoil may be disturbed, there is no conspicuous
erosion occurring in more than 90 percent of its land area.
Slight erosion is experienced in some portion of Barangay Minien West. In these areas, the topsoil
is disturbed and slightly reduced by sheet erosion and small rills with no conspicuous development
of braids gullies.
Table 2.7 and Figure 2.8 present the municipality’s erosion potential map.
Table 2.7 Erosion Potentials
Classification Area (in has.) %Share
No erosion 6,492.00 99.16
Slight Erosion 55.00 0.84
Total 6,547.00 100.00
Source of Data: Pangasinan Soil Erosion Map, BSWM
2.1.4 METEOROLOGY
Climate
The municipality has two distinct seasons, wet and dry, which falls under Type I of the Philippine’s
Coronas Classification System. The dry season occurs from November to April while the rainy
season occurs from May to October
Temperature
The average temperature in the municipality is 27.47 ⁰C. The highest temperature was recorded
during the month of April at 29.20 ⁰C while the lowest was in the month of January at 24.60 ⁰C.
Rainfall
The municipality has an average rainfall of 19.99 millimeters in a year. The highest rainfall recorded
was in the month of August (49.33mm) while the lowest recorded during the month of January
(0.99mm). The municipality has an average of 9.75 rainy days in a year.
Relative Humidity
The relative humidity in Sta. Barbara varies from 80 to 90 percent with an average of 84.29 percent.
Table 2.8 presents the climatological data of Sta. Barbara while Figure 2.9 presents the Coronas
Map of the Philippines.
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THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE AND FIGURE 2.9 SOURCE
DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF THE MUNICIPALITY CORONAS MAP OF
OF STA. BARBARA, PANGASINAN (2009-2018) PAGASA
THE PHILIPPINES
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Table 2.8 Climatological Data
Relative
Temperature Rainfall Number of Rainy
Month Humidity
(⁰C) (millimeter Days
(%)
January 24.60 0.99 2.00 82.40
February 25.35 22.13 4.00 83.30
March 26.45 3.05 4.00 84.10
April 29.20 1.90 3.00 80.00
May 28.65 29.70 15.00 81.70
June 28.10 28.02 22.00 88.00
July 28.60 15.38 17.00 86.00
August 27.20 49.33 24.00 90.00
September 28.30 9.31 14.00 86.00
October 28.40 18.80 5.00 83.00
November 28.00 14.50 5.00 83.00
December 27.47 46.50 2.00 84.00
Average 27.47 19.99 9.75 84.23
Source: Municipal Socio-Economic and Physical Profile, 2004
2.1.5 WATER RESOURCES
Rivers and Creeks
There are several rivers and Creeks which cut across the broad plains of Sta. Barbara. The more
prominent of these are Sinucalan and Tolong Rivers which westward from Urdaneta City to
Calasiao and Balingueo River which flows westward from the southern of the municipality. Other
waterways in the municipality include Calarian, Marusay and Abolid Creeks. These waterways
provide to domestic, agricultural and industrial consumption. Among the aforesaid waterways, the
Sinucalan River is the most utilized in terms of farm irrigation since it hosts the NIA dam.
Portions of these surface waters are now heavily silted, particularly the tail-ends of the Sinucalan
and Tolong Rivers and Calarian Creek due to soil erosion. In addition, some portions of the Calarian
Creek have already been encroached by farmers resulting to disruptions to the flow of water.
Groundwater
The number of established deep and shallow wells in the municipality surveyed by NWRB suggests
that the area has fairly extensive and productive aquifers. The average annual potential recharge of
the municipality aquifers was recorded at 0.3 to 0.8 meters. The production wells in the area have
an average yield of approximately 20 liters of water per second. In some areas, however, wells can
yield as much as 60 liters per second.
2.1.6 SURFACE DRAINAGE
The drainage condition of the municipality is basically described by its dry and flood prone areas.
Flood prone areas (Fig 2.7) which are subjected to regular inundation are located in barangays
Sonquil, Poblacion Norte, Poblacion Sur, Sapang, Tuliao, Malanay, Nilombot, Ventinilla, Primicias,
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Maningding, Banzal, Maticmatic, Leet, Banaoang, Payas, Dalongue, Alibago and Maronong. These
are level lands adjacent to the Sinucalan River and Calarian Creek. The rest of the barangays are
considered as dry land.
2.1.7 NATURAL RESOURCES
The municipality has no natural or minerals resources. There are also no forests or large-scale
grass lands.
2.1.8 LAND CLASSIFICATION
The whole 6,547.78 hectares of sta. Barbara is classified as alienable and disposable. This means
that the whole municipality is of public domain and classified and determined not needed for forest
purposes. It is available for disposition under Commonwealth Act. No. 141 and can be owned
privately by Filipino citizens.
2.1.9 STRATEGIC AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERY DEVELOPMENT ZONE (SAFDZ)
The total irrigated areas by National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and Shallow Tube Well (STW) is
3603 hectares. These are considered Prime Agricultural Land and are not negotiable for
conversion. These can be considered SAFDZ (fig. 2.8). These SAFDZ are located in all barangays
except barangay Primicias.
2.1.10 NIPAS AREA
The NIPAS areas are designated protected areas of the country set aside for their unique physical
and biological significance. There are no areas within the municipality which are part of NIPAS.
2.2 Land Suitability Assessment
The whole municipality is basically flat and classified and alienable and disposable with soils which
are very suitable for crop production. There are also no classified protected areas nor fault zones
which encompass the municipality. This suggests that there are no areas in the municipality which
are not suitable for urban use.
There are, however, flood prone areas, prime agricultural lands and areas which experience slight
erosion that must be considered. These areas have been considered moderately suitable for urban
development due to environmental physical factors.
Figure 2.10 presents the Land Suitability Map of the Municipality.
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