HISTORICAL LANDMARKS OF CALAPAN CITY

Sto. Nino Cathedral


Constructed in 1959, visitors will be amazed with its grandiose alatar, magnificent pipe organ and stained glasses that depict the mysteries of the Holy Rosary, Beatitudes, Gifts of the Holy Spirit and Apostle’s Creed.


Majestic City Hall


The two-storey City Hall inspired Greek Corinthian Order of Architecture is probably the most impressive neo-classic architecture in the whole country. Aside from the different local government offices, the edifice also houses the City Museum and the Taxpayer’s Center. The City Hall is a favorite destination for study tours, excursions, local gatherings and occasions.

Calapan Plaza


A place where families and friends can hang around and have a picnic. It has a map of Oriental Mindoro smack in the middle of a small pond and a monument of Jose Rizal, a rare depiction, one where he is seated, writing one of his novels.


City Museum
The museum is a repository of Calapan’s history in photographs and memorabilia. It serves as a memorial marker as a perennial remembrance to the founders and great men of Calapan. It is an interesting showcase of the customs and way of life of Calapenos.

Historical Sites



San Vicente Bridge- The place where the Siege of Calapan started and lasted for about a month.





Hilltop- The first headquarters of USS Annapolis with Commander Evans.






Calapan Public Market






Leido Memorial National High School- The oldest secondary school in Oriental Mindoro.






Calapan Central School- The oldest elementary school, served as garrison during the Japanese Era.





San Agustin House- A certain portion of this house served as torture chamber where Bishop William Finneman, Mr. Virgilio Encarnacion and Dr. Jesus Punzalan were maltreated by the Japanese.






Old Provincial Capitol- A thick-walled building served as a prison.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

Sea Transportation

The Port of Calapan is the main port serving Oriental Mindoro and plays an important role in the transport of general and RORO cargoes, and passengers to other provinces. The port is a reinforced concrete general purpose wharf, primarily operated using the RORO facilities. Chief commodities handled at the port are copra, rice and other agricultural products for outbound cargo, cement, fertilizer and general commodities for inbound cargo. It has a total area of 32,116 square meters.

It is about 1.5 kilometers from the existing Calapan airport. It is 22 nautical miles southward from Batangas City. Sea distance to Manila is 104.3 nautical miles. It is located at lat 13°25.8’ N, long 121°11.8’E.



*RORO Average travel time is 2 hours from Batangas City port and vice versa.

**Fast Craft Ferry Average travel time is 45 minutes from Batangas City port and vice versa.


Land Transportation

Tricycles, Multicabs, Busses and Jeepney traverse the national access roads from the Calapan port through the city proper and to other municipalities.



Air Transportation Calapan City has (1) secondary airport, Lazareto Airport. It is currently being used by small aircrafts and helicopters for scheduled charter flights.

GENERAL INFORMATION OF CALAPAN CITY

Calapan is the capital city of the Oriental Mindoro Province, located on the northeast side by the Calapan Bay. It is the only city in the province and is the center of commerce, higher education, trade activities and religious activities.

First founded by Spanish Agustinian Recollect, Fr. Diego de la Madre de Dios in 1679, Calapan started as a parish church with built settlements around it later on becoming a small town. These settlements were built near the seashore along Calapan River. The development of the town of Calapan was thus similar to the pattern of town development during the Spanish colonial era where the establishment of residences, town hall and plaza were built around the church under the watchful eyes of the Spanish priests. With the gradual development of Calapan, eventually became the seat of administrative power and the capital of the whole province of Mindoro during the last stages of the Spanish period.

The derivation of the name of Calapan cannot be traced with certainty. Some opined that it came 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 holds 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.

The year 1998 was a landmark event for Calapan when it 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, signed by President Fidel V. 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 the same day as the city’s foundation day. Incumbent Mayor Arnan C. Panaligan became the last Municipal Mayor and the First City Mayor of the City of Calapan.

Since its creation as a city, Calapan has witnessed significant strides in commerce and industry, infrastructure and social services. New commercial establishments were opened providing employment and income opportunities for the residents. An expanded program on social services delivery, particularly in health care and education, were undertaken. An upgrade of the city’s physical structures includes the construction of new roads and drainage facilities and a new City Government Center. In the One Town-One Product (OTOP) of the National Government, Calapan is touted as the "Golden Grains City of the South" possessing picturesque natural attractions, culture-rich historical sites, eco and agri-tourism sites, beach and farm resorts, fully developed hotels, inns and pension houses. Enhancement of already breath-taking sceneries through the tasteful addition of classic resort facilities, quality and high standards of accommodation facilities and services create an environment conducive to the development of tourism as OTOP of the city. Long beach front in Calapan Bay, the vast potentials of the city as a major agricultural producer, its tropical rainforest and other environmental conservation area lead to a more vibrant and diversified agri-eco tourism investment and development. Through OTOP, the local administration is determined to put Calapan in the map as one of the country's premiere tourist destination.

AN INVITATION TO ECOTOURISM

Calapan City serves as a vital link between the mainland Luzon and Mindoro Island. Further, it is also a major backbone for water and land transportation from Luzon to the various islands in the Visayas and Mindanao. Judging from the number of buses and RO-RO (roll-on, roll-off) boats that pass through Calapan City, it would be surmised that it have a developed tourism industry.

The city captures a good percentage of the tourists who mostly travel all the way to the Visayas or Puerto Galera in Mindoro Oriental.


Ecological Tourism or Ecotourism according to the World Tourism Organization can be defined as “all forms of tourism in which the tourists’ main motivation is the observation and appreciation of nature, that contribute to the conservation of, and that generate minimal impacts on the natural environment and cultural heritage.


There are good potentials for the city to develop its tourism industry through ecotourism. Its natural resources remain relatively intact, Calapan City becomes a preferred destination for people seeking nature-based attractions.

Pamahalaang lungsod ng Calapan, nananatiling iso Certified

Tunay na maipagmamalaki ang pagkakahirang sa Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Calapan bilang isa sa apat lamang na nananatiling International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Certified Local Government Units (LGUs) sa buong Pilipinas. Mula sa 122 mga LGUs sa bansa, apat lamang ang patuloy na nahahanay at muling kinilala sa larangan ng maayos na pamamahala at may pang-internasyunal na kaledad ng serbisyo publiko.

Tinanggap ni Punong Lungsod Doy C. Leachon ang sertipiko ng pananatili ng Calapan LGU sa pagiging ISO certified sa Malacañang Palace noong ika-16 ng Enero 2012. Mismong si Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang naggawad ng nasabing sertipiko sa Alkalde.

Kabilang din sa apat na pinarangalan ay ang lungsod ng Dagupan, Tanauan, Batangas at San Fernando, La Union.

Nakatutugon ang pamahalaang lungsod sa mga pamantayan na nakapaloob sa ISO 9001: 2008 Quality Management Standard ng Certification International Philippines, Inc. (CIPI). Ang CIPI ay nagsasagawa ng taunang audit na siyang magsasabi kung patuloy na mananatiling ISO Certified ang Calapan City LGU. Bahagi din ang audit ng layunin na higit na masiguro ang pagkakaroon ng mabilis at de kalidad na serbisyo para sa mga mamamayan ng lungsod at maging sa mga bisita o negosyante na nagnanais na mamuhunan sa Calapan. At sa resulta nga ng ikatlong surveillance audit ng CIPI, muli na namang pumasa ang Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Calapan sa mga pamantayan ng ISO.

Ayon kay City Planning Development Department (CPDD) Project Evaluation Officer III Lea Carpio, kabilang sa mga proseso ng serbisyo na dumaan sa pagsusuri ang: (1) pagbibigay ng mga business permits at iba pang clearances ng City Health and Sanitation Department (CHSD) at City Engineering and Public Works Department (CEPWD); (2) appraisal at assessment ng real properties; (3) ang pagbibigay ng tax declaration copy ng City Treasury Department (CTD) at City Assessor’s Department (CAD); (4) at pagrerehistro at pagbibigay ng birth certificates, death certificates at marriage certificates ng City Local Civil Registry (CLCR).

Binigyang-diin din ni Carpio na sakaling sa audit ay may makita sa LGU na major non-conformity sa mga alituntunin ng ISO, maaaring suspendihin ang sertipikasyon na ibinigay dito. Dagdag pa niya, binibigyan lamng ng 90 araw ang organisasyon na magsagawa ng corrective action kung sakaling mapatawan ito ng suspensyon.

Ipinagmamalaki ni Mayor Leachon na isa ring TOYM 2011 Awardee, ang pagpasa ng Calapan sa nasabing 3^rd surveillance audit at napanatili ang pagiging ISO Certified ng Calapan. Patunay ito, ayon sa kaniya, na hindi nagsasawa at patuloy na nagbibigay ng quality public service ang mga kawani ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Calapan.

Drug free City, patuloy na sinisiguro ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Calapan!

Bahagi ng patuloy na adbokasiya para sa isang Drug-Free City of Calapan, muling nagsagawa ng Drug Testing ang Pamahalaang Lungsod sa mga kawani noong ika-24 ng Enero 2012.

Pinangasiwaan ang nasabing aktibidad ng City Human Resource Management Department (CHRMD) sa pamumuno ni City Human Resource Officer Rene M. Colocar kasama ang JDB Drug Testing Center na kinikilala ng Department of Health. 25 empleyado ang sinuri para sa unang batch.

Kabilang sa kanila ang mga kawani ng Public Safety Department (PSD), Traffic Management Office (TMO) at mga Security Guards.

Layunin ng ginanap na test ang pagtukoy sa mga indibidwal na nasasangkot sa pag-abuso at paggamit ng iligal na droga. Dahil sa paggamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot, nagiging sanhi nito ang nakakapinsalang problema sa katawan; kalusugan; sa relasyon sa kapwa at kapamilya; at nagkakaroon din ng masamang epekto sa pagtupad sa tungkulin sa trabaho. Ayon sa statistics, naitalang mahigit kumulang 50,000 ang kaso ng droga sa bansa ng taong 2011. Ito ang dahilan sa patuloy na pagsisikap ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Calapan na panatilihin ang pagkakaroon ng 0% drug use and abuse sa buong lungsod. Ang Calapan ang magsisilbing magandang ehemplo na tutularan ng mga Pilipino.

Bumisita ang mga kawani ng JDB Drug Testing Center sa bawat departamento dala ang kanilang makabagong kagamitang teknikal upang masuri ang mga kawani sa pamamagitan ng ihi, buhok, at iba pa.

Ayon sa CHRMO, ang sinumang casual employee na positibo sa ginawang pagsusuri ay awtomatikong tatanggalin sa trabaho at agarang ipapadala sa rehabilitation centers. Sa kaso naman ng mga regular na empleyado, sinumang magpopositibo sa test ay dadaan sa due process of law at maaaring sampahan ng kasong administratibo. Sa kasalukuyan , mayroong mahigit 500 permanent at 600 casual employees ang Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Calapan.

Ayon sa JDB, karaniwan sa mga mapanganib na mga gamot na naabuso ang THC na karaniwan ay tinatawag na marijuana, magbunot ng damo, usok, pot at hash; kokaina o kilala sa tawag na pumutok, skitz at snow; methamphetamine/MDMA na tinaguriang ice, ecstasy, loka, bubog at salamin; opiates o heroin, kabayo, oxycontin vicodin, morpina, koudin at nikotina; amphetamines o kilala sa tawag na bilis, gaya nina at pumunta; at benzodiazepines o bar, roofies, date rape drug, valium, Librium at xanax. Lahat ng substance ng mga ito ay maaaring Makita sa drug test na isinagawa.

Mahalagang isyung pangkaligtasan para sa mga mamamayan ang pagkakaroon ng kaalaman at kamalayan sa masamang naidudulot ng pag-abuso sa iligal na droga. Ang Drug Test sa pangkalahatan ay ang nagsisilbing preventive measure upang masiguro ang pagiging Drug Free City ng Lungsod ng Calapan.

“2011 Seal of Good Housekeeping” iginawad sa Calapan ng DILG

Umani muli ng parangal ang Lungsod ng Calapan mula sa Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) noong ika-27 ng Disyembre 2011, ito ang “2011 Seal of Good Housekeeping Award.” Patunay ito ng patuloy na pagiging isa sa Most Competitive Cities ng lungsod sa buong bansa.

 Kaugnay ang prestihiyosong parangal sa reform agenda ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III sa temang “Biyaheng Pinoy: Tapat na Palakad, Bayang Maunlad.” Tumutukoy ito sa kahanga-hangang kakayahan at mga nagawa ng isang lokal na pamahalaan sa larangan ng pagpaplano, pagkakaroon ng maayos at bukas na pamamahala, kahandaan sa

pananagutan at sa pagpapahalaga sa mga bagay na naisakatuparan ng isang Local Government Unit (LGU).

 Sa rekognisyong nakamit ng Lungsod ng Calapan, malaki ang naiambag ng pagkakaroon ng mahusay na pagpaplano sa pamahalaang lungsod sa pangunguna ni Mayor Doy C. Leachon. Kabilangdin ditto ang maayos na pagsusumite ng mga ulat ukol sa mga proyekto at serbisyo na ginampanan nito sa nasasakupan.

 Ayon kay Mayor Leachon, malaking karangalan ang Seal of Good HousekeepingAward na siyang sumasalamin sa de-kalidad at responsableng pamamahala sa Calapan. Dagdag pa dito, bilang resulta ng maayos na pamamahala, inaasahan niya na marami pang magagandang oportunidad ang dadating sa syudad at mas makikilala pa ito ng mga mamumuhunan upang higit na umunlad ang ekonomiya nito.

 Nakatakdang tumanggap ng 3 milyong piso ang Lungsod ng Calapan bilang gantimpala sa nasabing parangal. Malaking tulong ito sa pagpapatuloy ng mga makabuluhang proyekto at serbisyo para sa mga Calapeño. Tumanggap din ang Lungsod ng sertipiko na nilagdaan ni DILG Regional Director Atty. Rolando Calabarzon.