GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION

Sinait is situated in the northernmost tip of Ilocos Sur and it belongs to the first political district of the province. It is bounded on the North by Badoc, Ilocos Norte; on the east by the Ilocos Mountain Ranges; on the South by Cabugao, Ilocos Sur and on the west by the South China Sea. The town lies approximately within 17 52’ 10” altitudes and 120 27’ 20” longitudes.

Along the northern side of Sinait is the Sta Cruz Creek, the recognized natural boundary between Sinait and Badoc. From the South is the Sinanbeclat Creek, a stream winding from the mountains on the East towards the sea on the West. On the Western edge of Sinait is the South China and the beach has a span of about 13 kilometers with an approximate area of 37.5650 hectares.

TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPE

Sinait is is nesteled among rugged hills and mountains, plains and sea rocks. Data gathered from the 1995 Ilocos Sur Provincial Land Use Master Plan / Provincial Physical Framework Plan show that Sinait has relatively flat area along the shoreline and lowland barangays with slope ranging from 0-3% or level to nearly level. These are irrigable land suitable for agricultural, urban, industrial and other uses.

In barangays Cabangtalan, Dadalaquiten Norte Dadalaquiten Sur, Sapriana, Calingayan and Cabarambanan are areas which are gently sloping to undulating (3 – 8% slope); and portions of Brgy. Barikit, Cabangtalan, Katipunan, Jordan, Cutin, Duyayyat, Sallacapo, Tubigay, Aguing, Ricudo, Nagongburan, Zapat, Baracbac, Nagculloban and Quibit-quibit are undulating to rolling hills with a slope of 8 – 18%.

On the other hand of 18 – 30% slope are portions of Brgys. Dadalaquiten Norte, Tapao, Marnay, Ubbog, Cabulalaan, Quibit-quibit and Nagcullooban; of 30 – 50% slope are parts of Brgys. Barikit, Cabarambanan, Cabulalaan, Cadanglaan, Sallacapo, Tubigay, Zapat, Nagongburan, Baracbac and Nagcullooban while the northeastern portion of Cabulalaan and the eastern part of Quibit-quibit have steep hills and mountain areas with a slope of 50% and above. These areas are reserved for forest trees.

SOIL TYPE, SUITABILITY AND CAPABILITY

The soil map of the province of Ilocos Sur prepared by the Bureau of Soil conservation (then an agency of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources) shows that there are three principal types in Sinait, namely the Bantay Loam; the San Minuel Clay Loam (mapped in Brgys. Teppeng, Zapat, Pug-os); and the bantog Clay (found in Brgys. Paratong, Marcos, portions of Katipunan and Curtin, the urban barangays Baliw, Barikir, and Tappao; and portions of Brgys. Sta. Cruz, Banttog, Jordan, Purag, Pacis, Nagbalioartian, ricudo and Duyayyat).

In small patches, are those of Quingua and Faraon Series. Along the coast to the China Sea is beach sand.

Bantay Loam. The surface soil is brown to dark brown loam; friable; gramular and up to 15-20 centimeters deep. The boundary with the lower layer is gradual. The upper subsoil is yellowish brown clay loam; friable and course granular in structure. Beneath is a layer of highly weathered shale which breaks into cube-like fragment under slight pleasure. Lime precipitates are present. The substratum consist of highly weathered shale.

Like Bantay Clay Loam, this soil type is not agriculturally important. However, due to lack of arable lands, these are cultivated and planted to unpland rice and tobacco. Coconuts are also planted in limited number. Bamboo abounds the are but a grate portion is covered with brush and cogon.

San Manuel Clay Loam. The surface soil is grayfish brown (10 yr 5/2) to brown (10 yr 5/3) clay loam which is slightly sticks when moist. The subsoil and substratum are similar to those of other soil types of the San Manuel Series.

Generally, these soils are well-drained as they usually occur along rivers. They are developed from alluvial material washed down from the higher areas underline by both igneous and sedimentary rocks.

San Manuel soils are considered to be good for lowland rice and are highly valued by farmers. Most any crop grows on these soils so long as there is enough moisture or otherwise provided with irrigation water. (Soil Report No. 19, soil survey of Ilocos province, Philippines, by Juan A. Mariano, Isidro A. Romero & Jorge A. Tingzon, 1954).

Bantog Clay. Almost similar in characteristics as in Bantog Sandy Loam, the surface soil is brown sandy loam; friable; 25 centimeters thick. The subsoil is dark sandy clay loam to clay loam. The texture of this layer becomes finer as its depth increases. The substratum is yellowish brown silty clay loam. The main crop is rice. Other crops grown after rice. Other crops grown after rice are sweet potato, corn, tomato and eggplant. “Boho” grows in profusion at the foot of the hills.

MINERAL RESOURCES

While Sinait is without known metallic mineral deposits such as gold (placer), copper, magnetite sand deposit and iron deposits, there are non-metallic mineral resources. There are raised coral reefs (coral fragments, calcareous debris); white coral in the coastline of Brgy. Katipunan, limestone found along the shoreline of Sinait; guano found in Aran Cave in Brgy. Marnay, 6 kms. Northwest of the poblacion; and “yeso”, a rock similar to a components which can also be used in the manufacture of chalk (per Bureau of Science). “Yeso” is available in sitio Bulbuli of Barangay Nagcullooban.

HYDROLOGICAL RESOURCES

Passing through the Northern tip of the Poblacion meadering from mountain barangays Nagcullooban ann Quibit-quibit towards the South China Sea in the Sinait River. Serving as the natural boundary between sinait and the Municipality of Badoc, Ilocos Norte is the StaCruz Creek; and in the Southern portion of Sinait is the Sinanbeclat Creek, a stream winding from the mountains. The aforesaid river, creeks, their tributaries and small streams moving in a westward direction towards the South China Sea are principal source of water or the agricultural lands of Sinait. They also serve as the Municipality drainage system for rainwater during rainy seasons and typhoons.

GEOLOGY

The Municipality of Sinait’s Northeastern tip is underlain with Dirite; the Northwestern tip with Reefal Limestone; and the Southeastern tip with Zigzag formation. Beneath the Nothren portion of Barangays Cabulalan,Cabarambanan, Sapriana, Sta Cruz; In Baangays Tapao, Cabangtalan, Barikir, Baliw, Katipunan, Paratong, Teppeng, Pug-os; in Weastern parts of Quimmallogong, Calanutian, Magsaysay, Curtin, Ricudo, Jordan and Battog, and the urban barangays are Alluvium. The rest of the towns are of Rosario Formation.

MAN-MADE RISKS AND NATURAL HAZARDS

There are no man – made risk areas in Sinait although there are natural hazards. The municipality is transverses by a normal fault line originating from Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, frequent earthquakes are sometimes felt in Ilocos Sur. These were, however, tectonic and not volcanic in origin as determined by PAG-ASA. The Norman fault line transverses Brgys. Baracbac, Cadanglaan, Quibit-quibit and Cabulalaan; while its coastal barangays are local “tsunami” prone or may be affected by tidal waves. Likewise, although Sinait is not affected by lanslide and rockfalls, siltation shoreline or accelerated shoreline erosion, portion of Brgys. Tapao, Sallacapo, Zapat, Baracbac, Cadanglaan, Nagcullooban, Cabarambanan and Cabulalaan are erosion prone; and parts of Brgys. Baliw, Ricudo, Pacis and Aguing along riverbanks are floodprone.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER

The Municipality of Sinait is tropical humid area. It has two pronounced seasons, namely, dry and wet. Being one of the identified lowland towns of the Province of Ilocos Sur, the climate is generally arid (classified as type E by Pag-asa) or, there are more dry months than wet.

Dry seasons occur from the month of December up to May and lights to heavy rains are expected for the rest of the year. The wettest month in August when the mean rainfall reach 810 millimeters. The minimum rainfall of 3 to 6 millimeters occurs during the months of January and February. June to September register the heaviest rainfall. The total annual rainfall in the Province of Ilocos Sur as of 1995 was 2,552 millimeters. Total rainfall in Sinait was 3,436.4 millimeters. Lately, in 1998, October was the wettest month. Not only in Ilocos Sur but likewise the entire Region I was visited by series of typhoons and storms.

During dry , seasons coolness is due to the Northeast monsoon and is often experienced during the month of December to March, while the rains are caused by the Southwest monsoon. The temperature ranges from 23.89 C (usually occurring in the month of January) to a hot 28.7 C (during the months of April and May).

VEGETATION COVER

Vegetation cover structures consist of virgin forest second growth forest, pine forest, mossy / marginal / mangrove forest, plantation forest and other classified forest; large – scale grassland; cultivated open land with public forest; arable land, coconut plantation and cropland; waterways, both freshwater and brackiswater, and built – up areas.

At present, the Eastern portions of Bgys. Cabulalaan; Quibit-quibit and Nagcullooban are covered with secondary forest. Forest watershed reserve total 48 hectares; and reforestation project, which is going-on, covers an area of 40 hectares.

In the Municipality of Sinait, 4,196.0900 has. Or 53.80% of the locality’s land areas are agricultural planted with of rice, corn, root crops, tabacco, garlic, onion, legumes and vegetables. Approximately 1,265 has. Or 16.22% are forest; 1,910.3115 has. Or 24,49% grassland / brush land / pastureland; 18.2035 has. Or 0.23% Tourist Spots; 37.5650 has. Or 0.48% sand dunes; and 122,6595 has or 1.58% bodies of water.

Built-up areas consist of residential, 105.4360 has. Or 1.35% commercial, 3.6715 has or 0.04% industrial, 0.1350 has; hospital, 0.1450 has; educational, 14.7360 has.; religious, 7.1800 has.; infrastructures/ utilities, 110.0630 has. Or 1.41% and parks and playgrounds, 0.3450 has.

EXISTING LAND USE

Pending to the undertaking of cadastral survey, the following are rough estimates based on the data supplied by the Farm Management Technician on their statistics on agriculture, the Bureau of Soils, Barangay Officials, the National Census and Statistics Office, the Municipal Assessor and the Municipal Secretary.

Agriculture

In general, agriculture is the mayor pre-occupation of the people of Sinait. Most of the families are directly engaged in farming with 4,215 hectares or 54.04% of the total land area of Sinait devoted to agriculture.

Fish Ponds

Fish ponds are located in Brgy. Calanutin , Parotong, Sabangan and Dadalaquiten Norte with a total land area of 4 hectares or .050 % of the whole area of Sinait

Forest

The eastern most portion of Sinait is covered with forest with a total area of approximately 1,264 hectares or 16.22 % of  the total area of the municipality.

Open Grassland

Open spaces have been defined to include pasturelands, grassland and secondary forest. There are 1,970 or 25.26 % of the total land area of the municipality is classified as open spaces.

Built-up Areas

Residential

The total residential area of Sinait consist of approximately 244 has. or about 3 % of the total land area of the place. Patches of residential area scattered from the shore to the mountain ranges. The urban area occupies 33 has. or about 14 % of the total residential area and 42 % of the municipal area. The high-density residential areas of Sinait are poblacion, Brgy. Pug-os, Teppeng, Paratong, Dadalaquiten Norte And Sta Cruz.

Intuitions

Most institutions of Sinait are located within the Poblacion area while some school and health centers are located at the rural barangays. These institutions include schools, chapels, hospitals , health clinics and government offices. The total institutional area is approximately 35 has. or .45 % of the total land area. These institutions are not easily flooded. Their location makes them accessible to residential areas and free from environmental pollution.

Roads

The national highway cuts across the poblacion of the municipality wherein several provincial and municipal roads have branched out. It spread and joined together, it is approximately an area of 67 has. or 3.59 % of the whole area of Sinait.

Commercial

The commercial business district is located at the center and Southern portion of the poblacion with an area of approximately 2 has. of the total land area. These commercial areas are located along the national highways.