Physical Characteristics

Geographical Location

Opol is one of the 24 municipalities in Misamis Oriental, within the Cagayan – Iligan Industrial Corridor. It is the first municipality located west of Cagayan de Oro City and lies within the grid coordinates 8o20’ north latitude and between 124o25’ and 124o35’ east latitude.

The municipality is bounded on the north by Macajalar Bay; on the east by the City of Cagayan de Oro; on the west by the City of El Salvador and the Municipality  of Manticao; and on the south by the Province of Lanao del Norte.

It is approximately 11 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro City and 30 minutes ride by public utility vehicle. Opol is 9 km away from the booming industrial City of El Salvador and about 21 km from the newly established Laguindingan Airport and can be reached through public utility vehicles such as buses, vans, and jeepneys.

 

Land Area

Opol has a total land area of 17,513.4351 hectares and occupies roughly 4.77 percent of the provincial area of 367,360 hectares.

It is composed of 14 barangays namely: Awang, Barra, Bagocboc, Bonbon, Cauyunan, Igpit, Luyong Bonbon, Limunda, Malanang, Nangcaon, Patag, Poblacion, Tingalan, and Taboc.

 

Climate

The municipality’s climate falls within Type A, which is characterized by a short dry season of about one to three months without a very pronounced maximum rain period. The dry months usually start in February and end in April. The remaining months are rainy.

Temperatures are uniformly high throughout the municipality except in the upper barangays of Awang, Bagocboc, Tingalan, Nangcaon, Cauyunan, and Limunda, where temperature is lower.  Precipitation occurs in all months.

 

Rainfall

PAGASA data shows that total annual average rainfall in the Municipality of Opol from 1981-2010 is 1,703.3 mm. Further, PAGASA reveals that from June to November which is rainy season, the average rainfall per month is 184.43 mm. From December to May which is dry season, the average rainfall per month is 95.66 mm.

Opol usually experiences rainfall that would last for an hour followed by moderate rain. MGB’s rainfall record in the upstream section is 140 mm annually while average annual precipitation computed from monthly average for a ten-year period (2001-2011) is 1,540.98 mm of which 72 % falls during June to November and the remainder during the dry period December to May.

  

Temperature

PAGASA records normal temperature in Opol ranges from 18.61 as lowest and 35.9 as the highest. The months of November to January showed lowest temperature ever recorded by PAGASA with the remaining months registering relatively average on temperatures.

  

Topography

The topography of Opol is characterized by rugged terrain with approximately 25% flood plains starting from the coast of Macajalar Bay, extending inward to the southern direction towards the Province of Lanao del Norte. Approximately 3 km thereafter, the terrain rises forming into mountain range that suddenly drops to a small level area in the portions of Tingalan and Nangcaon then again rises higher southwards towards the boundary of Lanao del Norte.

 

Slope

Areas along the coastal barangays are within 0 – 3% slopes. The slope rises to 3 – 8% in the barangays of Patag and Malanang in the eastern portion of Bagocboc and Tingalan. On the northern portion of Bagocboc and Tingalan the slope rises again 8-15% on the western part of the municipality along the boundaries of Alubijid and Manticao are consistent slopes of 30-50%.

 

Elevation

More or less 1/3 or 34.38 % of the municipal area has an elevation of 101-200 meters above sea level. This covers mostly  the hinterland barangays of Awang, Bagocboc, Tingalan, Nangcaon, and Cauyunan. The elevation rises again from 201-300 meter covering 23.89 percent located at the southern portion of the six hinterland barangays. The highest elevation of 601 meters and above which covers the smallest area of 3.64% can be found only at Barangay Cauyunan.

 

Potential Natural Risks/Hazards

There are five characterization of natural hazard most likely to occur in the municipality due to climate change. These are earthquake induced landslide, rain induced landslide, storm surge, liquefaction, and flood.

There are six barangays identified as highly susceptible to earthquake induced landslide in the municipality namely: barangay Barra specifically in Gordo (near the National Highway); barangay Bagocboc, a  small portion located near the Bungcalalan river going to Iponan river and a portion between Sitios Langgamon and Bayogbayogan; barangay Cauyonan, a portion near the Iponan River; barangay Limonda, a portion of Tulod and areas near Looc river; barangay  Nangcaon, a portion in Tagculot, Pigtao and Tao-tawili; barangay Tingalan, a portion in between Limbasan and Salawaga.

Areas that are highly susceptible to rain induced landslide are barangay Bagocboc, a portion in Langgamon; barangay Cauyonan, a small portion near Tao-tawili River; Limonda, a portion near the Looc river; barangay Nangcaon and barangay Tingalan, Megdaha area.

Storm surge or high sea level rise will most likely to occur in the urban barangays of the municipality, namely: Barra, Bonbon, Luyong Bonbon, Igpit, Poblacion, and Taboc.

There are 3 barangays identified that is highly susceptible to liquefaction. These are Barra, Taboc, Tingalan, and Igpit specifically Zone 1, 2, and 3.

Flood prone areas are barangay Barra, most of these area are located near the Iponan River and the shoreline areas; barangay Igpit, specifically Zone 4, 5, and 6; barangay Malanang, a big portion in Anilao to Citihomes, Bodiongan, and Nasagpian; and Barangay Taboc, beach, mangrove, and fishpond, areas going to Anilao near the Bungcalalan River.

                                             

Hydrogeology

Opol is traversed by Iponan River, along the east, only one (1) river that passes Malanang, Taboc, and Igpit and drains into Macajalar Bay on the northeastern side of the municipality. Several creeks/tributaries are found in all hinterland barangays like Binigwayan Creek, Lumayagan Creek, Candiisun Creek, Pigtao, and Looc Creek, all drain into Iponan River as the outfall which serves also as the boundary between Cagayan de Oro and the eastern part of Opol.

On the coastal side fronting Macajalar Bay, more or less 25 percent are flood prone areas due to the low terrain and the lack of drainage canals within the urbanized area of Poblacion.

 

Geomorphology

More than ¾ or 76.25% of the total land area within the hinterland barangays are limestone plain followed by limestone hills covering about 12.72%. The broad alluvial plains covering the least 0.19% are found along the coast stretching inwards towards the National Highway on the south.

  

Geomorphology Area Classification

Type Area % Distribution
Broad Alluvial Plain 34.37 0.20
Minor Alluvial Plain 100.00 0.57
Shale Sandstone Hills 507.82 2.90
Conglomerate Hills 898.48 5.13
Limestone Hills 2,226.64 12.71
Ultra Basic Hills 390.64 2.23
Limestone Plain 13,355.56 76.26
TOTAL 17, 513.4351 100.00

Source: Bureau of Soil / NAMRIA Map

  

Soil

There are 7 types of soil that cover the municipality. Lourdes clay loam covers biggest area of 27.78% and occupies the southern portion of the municipality. The least area of 3.04% is occupied by beach sand along the coastline.

 

Soil Map Classification

TYPE OF SOIL        Area Covered (Has.)       % Distribution
Lourdes Clay Loam 4,865.23 27.78
Hydrosol 1,742.59 9.95
Beach Sand 532.41 3.04
Sand Miguel Loam 1,819.65 10.39
Matina Clay 2,681.31 15.31
Bantog Clay 3,110.38 17.76
Mountain Soil 2,761.87 15.77
TOTAL 17,513.44 100%

Source: Bureau of Soil