GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE
Maligayang pagdating sa Lalawigan ng Occidental Mindoro!
It brings me immense pride to wholeheartedly welcome all of you as you begin an exciting journey to discover the beauty, culture, and warm hospitality that our cherished province holds in store for you.
Endowed with natural wealth, scenic attractions, and cultural heritage sites, I believe that Occidental Mindoro is a must-see for explorers.
Home to truly warm people living in its eleven charming coastal municipalities, the province is an enchanting island with pristine beaches and shorelines studded with raw and untouched coral reefs, floras and faunas, atolls, and underwater discoveries.
It is home to Apo Reef, the largest coral reef in the Philippines. It spreads over an area of 34 square kilometers, making it the second-largest connecting coral reef in the world (the first place is occupied by the Great Barrier Reef of Australia).
Dubbed as the diving mecca of the Philippines, this 34-kilometer reef has a narrow channel dividing the reef into two lagoon systems. Beneath the clear water of these lagoons, divers can explore the fine white sand bottom with its colorful array of approximately 400 to 500 coral species. Almost 500 marine species, including a variety of sharks, stingrays, and manta rays, can be spotted around the area. Birdwatchers can visit the fascinating bird-populated island of Binangaan and Cajos del Bajo, which are also part of the Apo Reed Marine Park. The Apo Reef was declared as a protected area under the category of Natural Park due to Presidential Proclamation No. 868 that was issued in 1996. The DENR’s Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) listed the Apo Reef for the consideration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Another pride of Occidental Mindoro is the Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park. Declared as a national park and forest reservation, Mt. Iglit-Baco is also a game sanctuary for the tamaraw (Bubalus Mindorensis), a species of wild water buffalo endemic to Mindoro. Resembling the carabao, the tamaraw is smaller in size, with shorter and straighter V-shaped horns. Iglit-Baco National Park is also the home of the Hanuno’o Mangyan, Mindoro’s aborigines.
The culture of Mindoreños is rich and unique- held during the Province’s Foundation Day in November is the celebration of Arawatan Festival, a Mangyan Hanunoo word which means “cooperation” and “helping each other”. It is Occidental Mindoro’s province-wide festival that delivers inspiration from the virtues of the indigenous tribe. It showcases the various festivities of different municipalities depicting a rural way of life, with a special highlight on the culture and tradition of different Mangyan communities.
Beyond the bliss of its stunningly beautiful tourist attractions, historical sites, dive sites, and clean beaches, more than the tradition, culture, and history, the Province of Occidental Mindoro is a home to humble and simple Mindoreños- the finest characters of Filipinos, that makes it a sustainable and livable province in the Philippines.
Serbisyong Ganado para sa Ganadong Turismo ng Occidental Mindoro!
GOVERNOR EDUARDO B. GADIANO
Chairperson, Regional Peace, and Order Council (RPOC) MIMAROPA