CAVITE ECOLOGICAL PROFILE 2021:
Geophysical Environment
Topography
Elevation Slope
Situated at the entrance of Manila Bay, Cavite is The slope is the degree of inclination of a given area. It is
characterized by rolling hinterlands punctuated by hills, a the number of feet the land rises or falls over 100 feet and
shoreline fronting Manila Bay at sea level, and the rugged is written in terms of percentage. The degree of slope
portion at the boundary with Batangas. affects soil moisture, which influences species selection. It
also estimates the erosion potential of the place and helps
Cavite is divided into four physiographical areas: the lowest
in selecting the most appropriate planting techniques.
lowland area, lowland area, central hilly area, and upland
mountainous area. Cavite's slope range is divided into six categories, as
prescribed by the National Land Use Committee: level to
The lowest lowland area is the coastal plain. These areas
nearly level, gently sloping to undulating, undulating to
have a shallow ground level of zero to two meters elevation
rolling, rolling to moderately steep, steep, and very steep.
than the high tide level of about 0.8 meters elevation from
the mean sea level (MSL). These are the cities of Bacoor Table 2.2 Slope Classification, Province of Cavite
and Cavite and Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario. Slope Area Percent
Description
(%) (sq.km.) Share
Coastal and alluvial plains are considered lowland areas. Level to nearly level 0-3 283.1980 19.84
These areas have a flat ground slope of less than 0.5% Gently sloping to undulating 3-8 267.7866 18.76
Undulating to rolling 8 - 18 586.2041 41.08
and a low ground elevation of two meters to 30 meters. Rolling to moderately steep 18 - 30 154.6783 10.84
The alluvial plain can be found in the City of Imus and the Steep 30 - 50 52.0280 3.65
southern part of the City of Gen. Trias. These cities form Very steep ≥ 50 83.1650 5.83
the transition area between the coastal plain and the Total 1,427.0600 100.00
central hilly area. It also covers some areas of Bacoor and
the municipalities of Carmona, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Level to nearly flat slope ranges from 0-3%, which
and Tanza. comprises the cities and municipalities along the province's
shoreline. These are Cavite City, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario,
The third topography type is the central hilly area, found and portions of the City of Bacoor, Tanza, Naic, Ternate,
on the mountain foot slope, and forms the rolling and Maragondon which serve as the municipal fishing
tuffaceous plateau. This topography includes steep hills, grounds of the province. Abound with beaches, heritage
ridges, and elevated inland valleys. The plateau has a sites, and historical markers, these areas are also known
ground elevation ranging from 30 meters to nearly 400 as tourist destinations for local and international tourists.
meters and a ground slope ranging from 0.5% to 2%. The Other economic activities in the area include the operation
cities of Trece Martires and Dasmariñas, and the of the fish port, aquaculture, inland fishing, and shipping
municipalities of Gen. E. Aguinaldo, Gen. M. Alvarez, the and navigation. Other areas having portions of these
western part of Ternate, northern parts of Amadeo, slopes are Carmona, Gen. Mariano Alvarez, and the cities
Indang, Silang, Magallanes, and Maragondon have this of Gen. Trias, and Imus, primarily suitable for irrigated rice
kind of topography. production and freshwater fishponds.
The last topography type is the upland mountainous area The central transition area with a slope of 3-8%, gently
situated at a very high elevation above 400 meters with sloping to undulating partly comprises the cities of Trece
slopes of more than two percent found in the city of Martires, Tagaytay, Dasmariñas, Bacoor, Imus, and Gen.
Tagaytay and municipalities of Alfonso, Mendez, southern Trias and the municipalities of Carmona, Gen. M. Alvarez,
parts of Amadeo, Indang, Silang, Magallanes, and Tanza, Maragondon, Naic, and Silang. These areas are for
Maragondon. Mt. Sungay, the highest elevation in Cavite, terraced irrigated rice and fishponds, while other areas are
is about 700 meters above sea level and is located east of suitable for vegetable production, flowering plants, annual
Tagaytay City. It is characterized by flat to rugged crops, and high-value crops. Livestock and poultry
topography. From Tagaytay ridge northward, the areas production can be a profitable business in Tanza, Naic,
adjoin Silang, Amadeo, and Mendez-Nunez, exhibiting flat Silang, and the City of Gen. Trias.
to rolling topography with gently sloping surfaces while
eastern and southern Tagaytay City including Alfonso The undulating to rolling with a slope of eight (8) to 18%
shows moderate to rugged topography. Portions of comprises the portion of Trece Martires City, Carmona,
Ternate, Maragondon, General Mariano Alvarez, and Gen. M. Alvarez, City of Gen. Trias, Tanza, Tagaytay City,
Magallanes are fairly rugged and 100 to 200 meters above Alfonso, Magallanes, Maragondon, Naic, Silang and the
sea level. At Mounts Palay-Palay and Mataas na Gulod, whole municipality of Amadeo, Gen. Aguinaldo, Indang and
both about 650 meters above sea level, the steepest climb Mendez-Nuñez. These areas are noted for crop production
from the creek to the top of the ridge is about 300 meters where bountiful fruit and vegetables are nurtured and
or about 50% average slope. harvested. These also serve as pastures and grazing lands
for livestock and are also known for agritourism.
Corregidor Island is about 177 meters above sea level.
7
Map 2.3 Slope Map, Province of Cavite
8
CAVITE ECOLOGICAL PROFILE 2021:
Geophysical Environment
The area with a slope of 18-30%, rolling to moderately Landforms
steep comprises the portions of the City of Dasmariñas,
Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Tagaytay City, Alfonso, Magallanes, According to the National Geographic Society, landforms
Maragondon, Silang, and Ternate where crop production is are features on the Earth’s surface that are part of the
the main economic activity. terrain. The four major types of landforms are mountains,
hills, plateaus, and plains. Buttes, canyons, valleys, and
The area with a 30-50% slope comprises the portion of basins are considered minor types of landforms.
Tagaytay City, Magallanes, Maragondon, Silang, and
Ternate. These areas are for pasture and perennial trees The Philippines, fondly called the “Pearl of the Orient”, has
or those that live for more than two years. a diverse environment, well known for its different
landforms. Some of it can be found in the province of
Lastly, on the south-western tip with 50% and above slope Cavite.
are Tagaytay City, Alfonso, Maragondon, and Ternate.
These areas are the province's forest areas, which can be The province of Cavite has its share of the mesmerizing
used for recreational activities like hiking and beauty of nature that every Filipino can enjoy. Pico de Loro,
mountaineering. It also serves as a place for research also known as the Parrot’s Beak, is one of the most popular
studies for students and researchers. mountains in the Philippines. The wide plains of Cavite, the
West Philippine Sea, and the coves and beaches of
Areas with slopes ranging from 0-3% to 8-18% categories Nasugbu can be seen at the peak due to its elevation of
are utilized for commercial, industrial, and tourism 688 meters. Mt. Pico de Loro is part of the Mt. Palay-Palay-
purposes. However, some houses and buildings are built in Mataas-na-Gulod Protected Landscape, the remaining
locations with more than 18-30% slope for vacation, lowland rainforest in Cavite, covering particularly
retreat, or training purposes Maragondon and Ternate, and Batangas. Mount Marami,
one of the ancient volcanic features of Bataan Arc, Mount
Geology Buntis, and Mount Nagpatong, home to Andres Bonifacio
Shrine and claim to be the execution site of the said hero,
The geology or the geologic features of the province is
are other notable mountains in Cavite. Another peak in
described by the materials the earth is made of, the
Cavite is Mt. Sungay (Mt. Gonzales) in Tagaytay. The
structure of those materials and the processes acting upon
inactive stratovolcano is the highest point in Cavite at 709
them. This sub-chapter made special emphasis on the
meters.
physical geology of the province and takes a closer look at
the features of the earth and the processes acting on them
such as, but not limited to the presence of volcanoes,
earthquakes, rocks, mountains, oceans, and just about any
present feature within its territorial jurisdiction.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau identified a total of six
geologic units present in the province (Map 2.4). Taal Tuff
is situated in the central portion of the province while the
northern portion of the province going towards Metro
Manila is underlain by the Diliman Tuff, an upper member
of the Guadalupe Formation.
From the hilly areas to the south of the province, which
includes the ridges of Ternate and Maragondon, and the
portions of Magallanes, the Lobo Agglomerate is present. Lucsuhin National Bridge
Lobo Agglomerate is now considered part of the upper
horizon of the Pinamucan Formation. Another notable landform in Cavite is the Lucsuhin National
Bridge, locally called Cabag Cave or Lucsuhin Cave, which
Mataas na Gulod Volcanic Complex underlies the portions is a national bridge connecting Barangay Lucsuhin and
of the mountainous area to the west of the province, Barangay Kalubkob in Silang, Cavite. The bridge crosses
including the mountains of Palay-Palay and Mataas na the Ylang-ylang River and is the first national bridge
Gulod. Some portions of the mountainous parts of reported in the country.
Maragondon and Magallanes are underlain by Talahib
Andesite. Talahib Andesite is considered to be equivalent Soils and Land Capability Classes
to the Nasugbu Volcanic Complex, rocks named from the
exposures observed in the Looc lead-silver-antimony mine Identification of soil characteristics, most importantly, the
at Looc, nasugbu, Batangas. soil type is instrumental in recommending the best land use
for that area. Moreover, if intended for agriculture,
Quaternary Alluvium, the youngest geologic unit in the knowing the soil type will help identify the most suitable
province, is observed to be abundant in the coastal areas, crops to be planted in the area. It will contribute to the
alluvial plains, and portions of the flat-lying areas in the achievement of optimized land productivity.
province.
