Sigay, Ilocos Sur - Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Geographic Location and Topography

Sigay lies in the upland regions of Southwestern Ilocos Sur, approximately within the longtitudinal points 16*59'40"N and 17*07'20"N, and within the latitudinal points 120*33'30"E and 120*37'00".

Five upland Local Governments surround Sigay: on the North lies the Municipality of Del Pilar (formerly known as Concepcion); on the East, the Municipalitie of Quirino (upper east boundary) and the Municipality of Cervantes (upper central to lower East boundary); on the South lies the Municipality of Suyo and on the West, the Municipality of Salcedo.

Sigay has an elongated shape and consists of seven highly elevated barangays: traversing the municipality from the north, one passes through Mabileg, then Poblacion, San Ramon, San Elias, Abaccan, Matallucod and finally, Sto. Rosario in the Southernmost portion.

The landforms are, basically, composed of very high mountains, hills and valleys.

The highest spot elevation found in the municipality is 1,508 meters above sea level in Barangay Sto. Rosario, although several mountains peak at 515 m, 657 m, 733 m, 762 m, 811 m 1,057 m, and 1,325 m, respectively, and constitute almost all of the eastern and southern portions of the municipality. not so many have scaled these heights. The tribal elders who have reached these highest places, claim however, that these mountains are thickly populated with age-old timber, trunks as large as 2–3 meters in diameter. Likewise, strangers who have explored these mountains also speak of very large pythons, wild boar and deer, rare orchids and other mountain flora. If this is true, then Sigay could very well claim to have conserved, through the years, a substantial portion of the virgin forests and wildlife of Ilocos Sur.

Sigay is approximately 30 kilometers from the Municipality of Candon, where the inhabitants usually buy their needs. There is no access road - whether national or provincial - from the north, except for a rough road that has been carved through the Buaya River, by the inhabitants. Although it is accurate to say that the road crosses the Buaya River, the road itself is semi-permanent, turning and twisting along with the river's path and crossing the shallower portions of the water. In the summer, when the Buaya River (known by the locals as the Quinibor River) runs low, rough-road vehicle, trucks and motorbikes maybe used to enter the municipality, crossing the Buaya fourteen (14) times. This trip takes approximately three hours from Candon.

Meanwhile, down south, another large river, the Suyo River (which is a tributary of the larger Amburayan-Chico River) may be found. From the Tagudin-Suyo Road, which commences in Bitalag, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, vehicles may take the turn to the Suyo-Sigay Road, cross the Suyo River twice and then come to the entry point in Barangay Sto.Rosario. The trip, by public utility jeep takes two hours or so.

The rainy season poses a problem in that as the rivers swell, vehicles Sigay-bound and out, may no longer negotiate the area. If the people chose to go to the City of Candon, they would cross the Buaya River on foot, traversing the river 14 times for a total of fifteen kilometer hike, until they reach Salcedo where they can get a passenger jeepney. Similarly, on the other end of the municipality, residents going southward to Suyo cross the river on foot, and hike about three hours. The people who do not have businesses in the urban areas simply stay at home and wait for the rains to stop, the rivers to abate. a great deal of frustration comes from walking the roads in the community, which have not been thoroughly concreted, which the rains muddy up.

For the Sigay resident, this is sheer isolation.... when during the rainy days, the residents carry their sick down the mountains and across the rivers to the nearest decent hospital... when during these wet days, food is scarce, money is even scarcerand the people are cut off the source of their basic needs.

Climate

One of Sigay's unique attractions is definitely its climate, cold and calming in the summer season. Local tourists call Sigay "The Little Baguio" of Ilocos Sur. Biking or hiking to the Sigay View Deck in Sto. Rosario, where one could see a breath-taking panoramic view of the coastal towns of Southern Ilocos Sur, in the cool mountain weather, is certainly worth taking. Trekkers and cyclists may also camp at the Tirad Pass National Park for an adventure with wildlife and a mystical union with undefiled nature. the climate is also the reason for the abundant fruit harvests and the upland vegetable gardens. Succulent citrus varieties and other fruit trees thrive very well in cold weather.

Like any other municipality in the Ilocos Region, Sigay enjoy two pronounced seasons: the wet season (from May to November) and the dry season (from December to APril). The Coronas Climate Classifications of the Philippines indicates that the climate in Sigay is of Type 1 ( Figure 2.4 Climate Map of the Philippines ). An average of nineteen tropical cyclones visit the country annually, and Sigay suffers the brunt of an average of 32% or approximately 7 typhoons, this including an approximate 1-2 super typhoons in the year. This information is based on the PAG-ASA typhoon frequency data for the Philippines, also discernible on the same map.

Locals report an average temperature of 15-16 degree Celsius, especially at night, but the villages, temperature may go to down as low as 12-14 degree Celsius in the coldest months. The temperature should be much lower in the highest elevations of eastern SIgay.

There is no agro-meteorological station near the area; nevertheless, the Sigay Municipal Profile indicates that Sigay receives an average rainfall of 268 mm for an average of 12 days per month. This is quite close to the local climate, since most of the year, rain falls quite voluminously in the mountains. According to the Municipal Profile, the Average typhoon intensity is eleven (11) knots going westward.