GENERAL INFORMATION

Geographic Location, Physical Profile and Natural Resources

The town is located on the western part of Pampanga along the Zambales mountain ranges and is bounded by the municipalities of Porac on the north, Lubao on the south, Guagua on the east and Dinalupihan, Bataan on the west. It is approximately 23 kilometers fron the City of San Fernando and 90 kilometers from Manila. The town has an elevation of 12 feet above the sea level.

Topography

The relief varies from level, rolling and hilly to mountainous especially in the south northwestern sections of the town fringing the mountain ranges of Zambales.

Geology

Geologically, the area is part of the inter-mountainous are of the Central Planes on Luzon, which is almost level plain only a few meters above sea level.

Deposits of non-metallic minerals like construction materials and other metallic minerals, are found in Floridablanca, pumice with a volume of 1,500,000 metric tons is known exist in Barangay Pabanlag. C.M.Dizon gold mines and Kalahi investment incorporated identifies gold (38.28 short ton) a very precious metal, to exist in Pabanlag with 0.056 grade or analysis (0z.An/St.).

Abundant supply of boulders, gravel and sand abound in the riverbeds of Porac, Gumain and Caulaman Rivers. These quarry sites are believed to be supplying a significant volume of the construction needs of the province and other projects in the region and Metro Manila.

Land Area by Barangay

Flordablanca has a total land area of 17,548 hectares. It has thirty-three (33) barangays composing of 31 lowland and 2 upland barangays. It has four cultural minorities settlements; namely: Nabuclod, Mawacat, Mabini, and Camachile. The department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recognizes only Nabuclod and Mawacat as regular barangays due to technicalities when Malabni and Camatchile failed to field candidates and therefore participate in the 1982 barangay elections.

TOTAL LAND AREA BY BARANGAY

Source of data: Municipal Assessor’s Office, Floridablanca, Pampanga

Slope Categories

Soil Classification

According to Bureau of Soils in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, the soil series in Floridablanca are composed of Angeles Coarse soil, Angeles soil Undifferentiated, and LA PAZ Silt Loara.

The soils of the Angeles series consist of pale brownish gray, or ash gray to nearly whitish gray in the surface layer. The subsoil is brownish-gray to light reddish-brown sand with gravel. These soils have been developed from the continual deposition of soil materials from the surrounding hills and uplands by flowing rivers like the Porac, Caulaman and Gumain Rivers. The relief ranges from nearly level to slighlty undulation and the natural drainage condition is good.

Angeles fine sand and Angeles coarse sand consist the Angeles series. The soils of the La Paz series are quite extensive, covering the vicnities of Lubao, Floridablanca, between Porac and Sta. Rita, Angeles and San Fernando. The Surface soil is brown brownish gray and a pale-gray to yellowish-gray porous, loose and friable sandy subsoil. La Paz silt loam was mapped.

Water Resources

The Porac-Guamin-Caulaman Rivers constitute a network of irrigation system on the area and provide irrigation water to the farm and some of the out-lying municipalities. These also serve as the drainage of Floridablanca with the inclusion of numerous rivers, streams and creeks. There are three (3) known creeks in Floridablanca, namely: the Santol Creek, Sapang Bayabas Creek, and the San Ramon Tugtugan Creek.

A study of the artesian aquafiers in Floridablanca showed that the aquafiers were sand deposits which ranged in size from very fine to very coarse, with granule and pebbles up to one cm. generally sub-angular to rounded, of quarts, adesite, decite, feldspar, chet and hornblends and these aquafiers cropped out along the eastern slopes of the Zambales Mountains.

Climate

The most important climatic factor in Floridablanca is rainfall. It is well known that the amount of rainfall at any given place and time is dependent upon several factors. These factors include exposure, topography, altitude, prevailing winds, ocean current and latitude effects. During the months of December, January, February, March, and April rain fall in the Municipality is most negligible. It has two distinct seasons. One season is characterized by being relatively dry from December to April and wet during the rest of the year.

LAND SUITABILITY

(Land Management by Hectares)

DEMOGRAPHY

Population: based on actual survey of the NSO during the May 1, 2010 census of population.

Number of Household

The lists of number of household during the census of population on August 2007 were not determined by the NSO.

The census of population and household in 2000 show a total of 16,591 households. Taking into consideration the annual growth rate of 3.75% in the municipality, the projected number of households in 2009 will be 22,180.

CURRENT AND PROJECTED NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS BY BARANGAY 2000-2010

Age-Sex Structure

Like the rest of the country, the young population in Floridablanca exhibits a pyramid age structure. The population between ages under 1 year old to 17 years account for 33,208 or 32.12% of the population. On the other hand, 67,978 belong to the 18-65 years old age bracket and only 2,202 or 2.13% are in the age bracket of 66 years old and above.

Dialect / Language

As expected, Pampango (Kapampangan) is spoken generally at Floridablanca. The rest of the non-Pampango speaking households readily understand the dialect. The remaining 7.88% of the populace is spread about evenly. A sizeable 95.17% of its total population has Kapampangan (Pampango) as their mother tongue. Its Kapampangan speaking population has gradually accommodated the increasing share of the segments of the population speaking other dialects on account of municipal population increase constantly subjected to migration.

Religion

The Roman Catholic religion has remained deeply rooted in the municipality of Floridablanca ever since its propagation in 1823 as per survey of the 33 barangays of the municipality, 90% of its total population are Roman Catholic.

Literacy Rate

The literacy rate in the municipality of Floridablanca in 2007 is pegged to a significant 98.60% that means out of 52,510 school age population with highest grade completed in 2007, 51,775 have at least attended formal schooling ranging from pre-school to academic holder.

Poverty Incident Magnitude

Poverty incidence refers to the percentage of total poor population viz total population of the local government unit. Poverty magnitude refers to the actual number of households who are poor. In Floridablanca it was assessed that 7,155 households or 35% of the total household belongs to poverty magnitude.

Poverty threshold (Average family income): PhP14, 000.00

SECTORAL PROFILE ECONOMIC SECTOR:

Economy

The economy of Floridablanca is principally anchored on agriculture. It is estimated that 40% of the total households rely on farming as their means of livelihood. All of the 33 barangays are basically agricultural areas; twenty (20) of these are covered by CARP and represent then Floridablanca Agrarian Reform Community. Folridablanca ARC is composed of 1,998 farm households.

Crops that are predominantly produced are rice, sugarcane, vegetables and rootcrops. Aside from farming, there are farm families and individuals engaged in based industries such as poultry and livestock raising, fishpond and other related small scale agro-based business endeavors.

Since Mt. Pinatubo erupted, quarrying of sand and gravel has also become a major source of income both for the population and the government. Other related businesses are hollow-block and concrete products manufacturers.

Floridablanca has also a potential in timber production owing from its considerable forest area of 1,228.36 hectares along the mountainous region in the Floridablanca and Bataan-Zambales boundaries.

Employment Rate

Among those are gainfully employed are seasonal laborers, which comprise the biggest number. Seasonal labor is mainly agricultural in nature, depending on the labor requirements of some agricultural activities such as planting, cultivation and harvesting of different types of crops. This type is closely followed by the regular laborers at about 17.2% comprising farmers at 14.99%, the town boast of 36 doctors and 9 lawyers. Others include overseas contract workers (OCWs), drivers, employees, vendors, teachers, military, etc. There were 885 registered business commercial/industrial establishments in the municipality in 2007.

Labor Force

Floridablanca has a young population with 53.73% of its 103,338 population as of August 2007 belonging to the 1-24 years of age. About 61.71% of its 103,338 total inhabitants are between the ages of 18-65 years old, these figures represent the potential labor force.

Agriculture

The Municipality of Floridablanca is predominantly an agriculture area. Most of the farmers are engaged in planting rice, yellow and green corn, rootcrops, legumes, vegetables and fruit trees, etc. They adopt the modern package of technology especially under MAKASAMA, which results to a bountiful harvest and surplus for the whole year. Some of the problems are limited number of reliable marketing outlets and the standard price support of different farm products and higher cost of production inputs and fuel.

Farmers begin to use a combination of two or more compatible practices to minimize pest production to non-destructive level without the use of farm chemical. Establishment of observation station serves as early detection of the presence of pests and disease. So farmers use a system known as Integrated Pest Management.

Establishment of Techno-Farm Demonstration for production and distribution was done and selection of adapted and high yielding varieties and viable seeds is one factor being considered to increases farm income.

Responsibility in the initiation, promotion, organization and supervision in the strengthening of farmers’ cooperative movement. Livestock production and dispersal through loans and grant contributed a lot in the integrated system of farmers which give additional income to clientele. Increase of fishpond areas gave a dynamic increase of farm income.

Agrarian Reform

By terms of CARP coverage, Floridablanca is the third largest municipality in Pampanga. It occupies a total area of 5,663 hectares which is 32.27% of the total municipal area.

Floridablanca Agrarian Reform Community is comprised of twenty (20) clustered barangays covering 1,998 farmers’ beneficiaries.

On the western central part lies the rice-producing barangays namely: Valdez, Paguiruian, San Pedro, Cabangcalan, Fortuna, Sta. Monica, San Nicolas, and San Jose. On the eastern and northern part are the sugarcane producing barangays namely: Dampe, Carmencita, Pabanlag, and Calantas. Barangays that produces combination/varies agricultural products such as rice, sugar cane, and vegetables are: Gutad, Sto. Rosario, Apalit, San Isidro, San Antonio, Bodega, and Culubasa-Anon.

Forestry

The forested area on the western portion of Floridablanca ranging from the Zambales Mountain and Bataan is classified as a forest reserve; as it is situated in a steep land not suitable for urban area. This area forms part of the open space system and will help in maintaining ecological balance in the municipality.

Trade and Commerce

The center of the commercial activity in the municipality is built around the public markets located at Barangays Poblacion and Solib with an outlaying pattern of commercial activities along the major and second arterial transportaion network of the municipality. Both have an area of 2,316.16 sq. m. and 14,338 sq. m. respectively, with 223 and 240 stalls respectively. There is also an existing flea market (Talipapa) located at Floridablanca Resettlement Center.

The sari-sari stores as ever, contribute to the predominant form of trading with approximately 78% of the total operational commercial establishments in the municipality in 2007.

A quite significant increase of 1.34% in commercial activities has been realized in the municipality within the period of two (2) years (2006-2008). With such a continuous escalated trend in commercial activities, it is a must to improve and enhance support facilities in the public markets such as water, power, proper waste disposal system coupled with the maintenance and repair/improvement of existing bad roads most especially in the remote and far-flung barangays leading to the public market this brings a repercussion on the efficient transport of goods to and from the commercial areas more specifically during the rainy season.

Likewise, additional land allocation for commercial use outside the public markets should also be provided. Specifically, the identified areas for such commercial expansion to serve its increasing population are: the open spaces located along the newly constructed Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) in Barangays: San Jose, Pabanlag, San Ramon, Dampe, Bodega, and some portion of Calantas and the approval of Municipal Ordinance No. 30 dated December 10, 2008 declaring the 5 kilometer radius along the stretch of Ffloridablanca Interchange in the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) as an economic zone of Floridablanca, Pampanga.

Industry

Industrial activities play a pivotal role in the development and progress of the town a significant increase in industrial establishments in the municipality is evident since after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 when the Technology Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) extended soft loan to farmers-victims of the ash fall and lahar for their starting capital.

Agro-industrial establishments dominate the industrial activities in the municipality. There are around 38 piggeries, 34 rice mills, and mini-conos, and 8 poultry and duck raisers.

The Porac-Gumain River is a major source of vast resources for quarrying purposes. Furthermore, the non-existing non-metallic deposit such as clay, sand and gravel that abound at barangays Apalit, Pabanlag, Pandaguirig, Palmayo, San Jose, consuelo, Sta. Monica, Carmencita, San Pedro, and Cabangcalan can be utilized as raw materials for the productio of hollow blocks, tiles and other decorative blocks.

In anticipation to the growing trend of industrial activities in the municipality, there is a need to upgrade, improve facilities and develop additional infrastructure support facilities such as roads and bridges together with such amenities as water and power supply.

On the other hand, the initiation and promotion of more scale industries with the corresponding technical-know-how has to be continuously undertaken in the municipality by the concerned national line agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), etc. for the continuing skills training programs.

Appropriate a real allocation for agro-industrial zones shall likewise be identified to be concentrated at Barangay Sto. Rosario and Anon while the open space within the 5 kilometer radius located along the Floridablanca Interchage in the SCTEx is an economic zone

Quarry

Floridablanca’s area for quarrying purposes constitutes the lahar laden land along riverbanks. The estimated is about 470 hectares. The quarry sites are: barangays San Jose, Apalit, Carmencita, Consuelo, Pabanlag, Sta. Monica, Valdez, Pandaguirig, Consuelo, Cabangcalan, San Pedro, Dampe, and Palmayo.

SOCIAL SECTOR:

Housing

The national government has always viewed the provision of decent shelters to the houseless group of the population with great concern. As such, it has devised certain policies and programs in order that the standard of such dwelling units may be improved and likewise difficulties in acquiring the dwelling may be eased.

In 2007, the municipality of Floridablanca had a total population of 103,338 with 20,985 household. Out of these 20,985 dwelling units, 13,421 are of concrete housing materials, 3,211 are semi-concrete while the remaining 4,353 are of wooden/nipa/light materials of makeshifts. It is these makeshifts dwelling units that are to be replaced together with the dilapidated dwelling units.

Health & Nutrition

In the Municipality of Floridablanca, existing health facilities available to facilitate health services delivery consist of two (2) Rural Health Units (RHU). These are RHU I and RHU II which are located respectively at Barangays Poblacion and Gutad.

The above existing public health facilities are being manned by two (2) doctors, two (2) nurses, thirteen (13) midwives, two (2) dentists, two (2) sanitary inspectors, one (1) medical technologist, one (1) driver and two (2) utility workers.

The Municipality has two (2) public hospitals, namely: the Romana Pangan District Hospital in Barangay San Jose and the Air Base Hospital in Basa Air Base for the military personnel and their dependents and nearest kin. In terms of facilitites, the hospital have existing fifty (50) beds, one (1) x-ray equipment/machine, one (1) laboratory and two (2) ambulance vehicles.

Education

The formal education in Floridablanca is being undertaken by both public and the private from elementary level, secondary level to the tertiary level.

For the school year 2008-2009, Floridablanca has thirty-seven (37) elementary school, out of these, thirty-three (33) are public and four (4) are private, namely: Saint Augustine Academy of Pampanga, Divine Wisdom School in Palmayo, golden Sunrise Elem. School in San Nicolas, and Megabyte College of Science and Technology; and five (5) private learning centers, namely: Agape Christian School in San Nicolas, Marifer Learning Center in San Roque, Buelah Land Learning Center in San Antonio, Floridablanca Christian School in Jesus St., Poblacion, and McEwen School, Inc. in San Isidro. On the other hand, public elementary schools are divided into two districts, namely: Floridablanca East District which comprises fifteen (15) elementary schools and the Floridablanca West District which comprises eighteen (18) elementary and primary school.

Tertiary Educaiton is also availed at Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA), floridablanca National Agricultural School (FNAS), APO Computer School and Megabyte College of Science & Technology. Some go to more prestigious colleges and universities in Angeles City and Metro Manila. Others in Guagua, Bacolor, City of San Fernando, and Bataan.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT:

Garbage collection and disposal in Floridablanca utilize two (2) dump trucks to collect garbage within the urban barangays more specifically in the commercial areas. The open dumped site in Sitio Palakol of Barangay San Jose is now in the process of safety closure due to the strict implementation of RA 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2003. It is mandatory to all local government units and other entities to close all open or controlled dumped sites.

For the compliance, the municipality established/constructed a Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF) in barangay Mabical to process the biodegradable wastes materials into organic fertilizer/soil conditioners which was tested by the Department of Agriculture as an effective alternate of the fertilizers produced by big companies. The organic fertilixer/soil conditioner, product of the municipal MRF is now available. There is also an alternative solution of entering into a MOA between the Municipality of Floridablanca and the Metro Clark Sanitary Landfill but due to the high cost of tipping fees in the said landfill the municipal government could not afford the cost. Another problem is the long distance level. The municipal garbage trucks are already dilapidated due to age and could no longer travel the distance from the barangay source of wastes residuals to the sanitary landfill (facility) in Clark.

Households in other barangays most especially among the rural barangays resort to an individual garbage disposal system through the use of open fits for composting in their respective backyards.

At present, pollution has not posed any threat to the municipality’s environment since its existing industrial establishments are classified as light industries which are non-pollutive and non-hazardous to the environment.

Twelve out of the 33 barangays are flood prone. These are the barangay located along the rivers. The floods are caused by the overflowing of Porac, Gumain, Caulaman Rivers and run-off from the watershed of these rivers and their tributaries. Other causes are siltation of river caused by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and heavy rains.

Likewise, there are seven (7) existing cemeteries in the municipality cosisting of one (1) municipal cemetery, one (1) catholic cemetery, two (2) private cemeteries, and three (3) memorial parks. Due to limited areas of the municipal and catholic cemeteries, the municipal government is proposing to develop another municipal cemetery in the south.

To solve the flooding problem in the municipality, the construction of a drainage system to be considered by the local officials in coordination with the Department of Public Works & Highways. It is likewise of equal importance for the Local Government Unit to focus more of its flood control efforts by continuously clearing and dredging its rivers and waterways. It is also important that the local government should be vigilant with respect to strict compliance of national and local policies relative to the protection and preservation of the environment.

As per barangay survey reports in 2007, around 85% of the total households surveyed have toilet facilities ranging from the most sophisticated flush type toilet (water sealed) to the most common Antipolo type (closed pit) with the latter being more prevalent in the rural barangays. Furthermore, other households in the rural barangays use the open pit while a few households particularly the far flung barangays resort to burning for their human waste disposal. Up and communities do not have proper sanitary toilet facilities. Wastes are exposed and the probability of enticing germ-carrying insect is inevitable. The LGU in coordination with the DOH and other NGOs should address the problem by providing sanitary toilets to these 15% of the total households with no proper sanitary toilet facilities.

PROTECTIVE SERVICES:

Protective services have been proven as one of the essential factors in the attainment of peace and order. At present, the Municipality of Floridablanca has an existing force numbering to forty-five (45) to safeguard the population of 103,388 in 2007. The police-population ratio is 1:2,297 which means that for every 2,297 persons there is only one (1) policeman to provide protective services.

The police headquarter is specifically located at Barangay Poblaicon adjacent to the municipal building. Likewise, there is also a Kababayan Center which is located at the Floridablanca Resettlement Center.

A back-up support of 456 Bantay Bayan force have been organized to help in the maintenance of the peace and order situation in the municipality more specifically among its remote rural barangays.

In terms of facilities and equipment, the PNP Office of Floridablanca has four (4) mobile service vehicles, one (1) civil vehicle, one (1) unmarked vehicle, one (1) motorcycle and two (2) detention cells.

On the other hand, the fire fighting unit has seven (7) firemen with two (2) firetrucks. Its office/station is located at Poblacion adjacent to the municipal hall building.

The existing size of the police force is in sufficient to safeguard and protect the present population. With the standard police-population ratio of 1:1,000, there is a current need for fifty-eight (58) policemen in addition to its forty-five (45) police force. On the other hand, there is a current need of 43 firemen.

INFRASTRUCTURE:

Roads and Bridges

The existing land transport networks consist of major trunklines and arterial roads. The road network has a total length of 261.825 kilometers classified into four (4) categories, namely: National, Provincial, Municipal, and Barangay Roads. In terms of pavement, the roads are either paved with concrete, asphalt, gravel filled or dirt/earth.

The existing road network is being supplemented by sixteen (16) bridges. There are classified into provincial, barangay, and national and as to pavement, these are mostly bailey and concrete.

There are at present 16 bridges in Floridablanca: one (1) in Valdez-Mabical, one (1) in Solib to San Francisco, one (1) in Cabangcalan, one (1) in San Pedro, one (1) in San Roque-Caldera, one (1) in San Roque-Barin going to San Pedro Palcarangan, one (1) in Sto. Rosario going to Tucop, one (1) in Bodega, one (1) in San Jose-Santol Creek, one (1) in San Ramon, one (1) in Anon to Sto. Rosario, one (1) in Anon to Santiago, Lubao, one (1) in Maligaya to Fortuna, one (1) in Palapawan-Consuelo, one (1) in San Antonio, and one (1) in Camachile.

The construction of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) was completed and opened to public last April 2008. The construction of the Floridablanca interchange is on-going while the access road (exit road) will start by the first quarter of 2009.

LAND TRASPORT:

Land transport conveyances in the municipality consist of jeepneys and tricycles. The tricycles are the most common modes of transport within the municipality most especially in the far-flung barangays. There are more than 3,500 franchise holders. Jeepneys are always available for short distances such as Dinalupihan, Bataan-Floridablanca, Guagua-Floridablanca and Porac Floridablanca routes with an estimated 1,500 units/franchise holders.

The existing road network in the Municipality of Floridablanca is still sufficient to meet the transportation services need by its current 103,388 population. However, in anticipation to a growing population which could reach to 116,980 within the next two years coupled with the growing influx of commercial and industrial investment in the municipality because of the newly constructed SCTEx. There is a vital need to improve the present condition of its road network system. The concrete and asphalt paving of its roads shall maintained and gravel and earth road should be concreted. This is to enhance and facilities further the movement of goods and services not only from the farms but also from small to large commercial and industrial centers. The emphasis thought of road development is on the construction of good feeder road and farm market roads for efficient transport of farm products/yield.

WATER:

The Municipality of Floridablanca has its own waterworks system and it is under the management of the Floridablanca Water District. Its main office is presently located at Barangay Poblacion. Twenty-five (25) barangay were already served by FWD while Basa Air Base and Calantas maintain their own water system and services.

ELECTRIFICATION:

The major source of electric power in the municipality is the San Fernando Electric Lighting Company (SFELAPCO). It is mainly responsible for the delivery of power and the installation of electric wires and cables in the area. SFELAPCO extends its services to the 26 barangays in the municipality while Pampanga Electric Cooperative II (PELCO II) services Barangay Anon, portion of Barangay Gutad and the whole Floridablanca Resettlement Center. The Peninsula Electric Cooperative (PENELCO) which principally services the power needs to the Province od Bataan and energizes the three (3) barangays of Floridablanca near the Pampanga-Bataan boarder, namely: Bodega, Dampe, and Sto. Rosario.

Basa Air Base maintains its own electrical services to serve the military personnel including their denpendents.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS:

The telecommunications facilities available in the municipality consist of a telephone system, postal offices and radio units from the Mayor’s Office, Floridablanca Municipal Police Station and telegraphic services. There are two postal offices, the main or head office is located at Poblacion right besides the municipal building with 10 personnel and the other postal sub-station is located at Basa Air Base. It is being manned by postmaster and one (1) letter carrier.

On the other hand, the telephone services in the Municipality if Floridablanca is being provided by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Company, a private telephone company. There were also existing cell sites in the municipality, namely: Smart in Poblacion, Basa Air Base, Apalit, Calantas, Gutad, and Dampe; Globe in Fortuna, San Pedro, Valdez, and Apalit while Sun Cellular in Poblacion and Fortuna.

SPORTS AND RECREATION:

The Municipality of Floridablanca has a wide tange of existing sports and recreational facilities consisting of fifty-six (56) basketball court (all public) which are located in its thirty-three (33) barangays, two (2) tennis courst, seven (7) volleyball courts and baseball courts, fourteen (14) playground; four (4) parks, one (1) public library, fifteen (15) resorts, one (1) golf link, two (2) gymnasium, twenty-three (23) multi-purpose pavement.

Other facilities are: one (1) cockpit arena and two sports centers located in Solib and Del Carmen, both named Graciano T. Capulong Sports Center.

The promotion of physical fitness and sports development is one of the primary concerns of the municipal government most especially in the rural areas. There is a need to provide adequate sports and recreational facilities for the thirty-three (33) barangays. This is to encourage the youth to engage in sports activities and pavement them from using illegal drugs and involved in vices.