Physical Profile

PHYSICAL, GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE

PHYSICAL FEATURES:

Iba is centrally located in the province. Being the capital town, it is the seat of the provincial capitol. Although the town is located in the low area, destructive floods seldom ravage the place. It is however, prone to typhoons because of its geographical location. The western section of the Municipality of Iba is a gentle sloping coastline plain with elevations of 5-10 meters above the main sea level. Some 7 kilometers farther east, abrupt increases in elevation maybe seen. Hills and mountains with elevations ranging from 20-600 meters occupy this municipality.

METEOROLOGY AND RAINFALL:

The town, like any other town of the province, is blessed with a mild climate of two types: the rainy and the dry season. Iba’s climate is no different from the other towns where rainy season begins from June and ends in September, while the dry season is from October to May. An average of 43.15 centimeters deep is noted with a temperature of 22 degrees centigrade is observed during rainfalls. The highest temperature experienced during this season is 24 degrees centigrade while the lowest is 19.18 degrees centigrade. A temperature as high as 35 degrees centigrade characterizes Iba.

PREVAILING WINDS:

The northeast, southeast monsoon prevails over the municipality when intensified during period of typhoon, storm. Because of the exposure of the town to its vast China Sea, winds become horrible during the disastrous occurrences. However, because of the presence of towering mountains on the eastern side, winds are somewhat controlled. Coastal barangays of Iba such as Lipay-Dingin, Sto. Rosario, Bangantalinga, Amungan and San Agustin provides fishermen and fish dealers with a stable source of income with their daily healthy catch of different species of fish from the rich sea such as tuna, tulingan, lapu-lapu, alumahan, pusit, and others while several fishponds yield hundreds of kilos of bangus, tilapia and sugpo.
Lush vegetables and ricelands are familiar sights in San Agustin, Amungan, Bangantalinga, Sta. Barbara, Dirita-Baloguen and Palanginan where vegetables like ampalaya, okra, eggplant, tomato and others fill the farm after harvest time. In Iba, one can not get hungry if one is not lazy, for deep in the river or creek yields shellfish known as balisara, suso or lukan and small shrimps and a trek towards the pilapil will yield kuhol, papaet or other vegetables.

RIVERS:

Various rivers and creeks slice through the various necks of Iba-they are the sources of irrigation waters and are the lifeblood of farmers and others who depend them for livelihood. Some of these rivers are the Marangla River, Tambac River, Prenza, Tacar, Baong and other small creeks and rivers distributed in the different barangays.Marangla River provides irrigation waters for the people of San Agustin, while Prenza River provides water for Sta. Barbara farmers. Tambac River is a source of livelihood for the people in the sitio where small fishes and shrimps abound.

FISHING GROUNDS AND RICELAND:

Iba may not be a vegetable or rice valley like other towns but certainly, it boasts of being endowed with productive fishing grounds, rice lands, and vegetable plantations.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora is the different species of flowers and plants in the locality. These are composed of breadleaf and semi-deciduous trees. Grass family is abundant such as wise, bamboo, kawayan-kiling, rattan and buho. The presence of cogon and talahib are also noticeable during its season. Leguminous plants such as mongo, patani, beans of different varieties, peanuts and others are also grown in the municipality.

Fruit trees are found growing in the locality but only mangoes are produced economically. Calamansi, chico, fruits and others are grown but only for domestic consumption.
Fauna species originally found in the forest and nooks of the municipality is fast rearing extinction. In a very small quantity, species of horn, pigeon doves, ovials, wild duck and hip fishers are still present. Hunters who either go hunting for pleasure or to satisfy their hobby, or who for necessity, sometimes go with their catch of wild boars or wild ducks. Amphibians and reptiles, lizards, snakes, and fresh water fish varieties like hito, the Taiwan hito, abounds the rice fields during planting season. Domesticated animals like dogs, poultry, cattle, goats, and hogs are present in almost all homes.

SOIL AND WATER

Soil types vary from sandy to loamy. Sandy muddy soil can be found along the swamplands. Sandy soil can be found in the coastal barangays, sandy clay loam soil which is prevalent in almost all barangays are suitable to rice, sugarcane and all types of vegetables. The presence of clay loam or red clay in Bangantalinga was noted, which is the future source of bricks, bricks - by - product of the barangay.

Like other towns of Zambales, Iba has two (2) types of water: the fresh and the salty or brackish. A dark crystalline soil (black soil), which indicates the presence of chromite, is found in barangay Sta. Barbara.