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Calapan, officially the City of Calapan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Calapan), is a component city and the capital of the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 148,558 people,^[5] making it the most populous settlement in the entire island of Mindoro.

It is the regional center of the MIMAROPA region, as well as its second biggest city (after Puerto Princesa).

Calapan is the regional and administrative center of the MIMAROPA region^[6] and the second-largest city in the region, after Puerto Princesa in Palawan. It is the only city on the island of Mindoro and one of only two cities in MIMAROPA.

The city also serves as the primary center of commerce, industry, transportation, communication, religious activities, and education in the province of Oriental Mindoro.

The city serves as a primary gateway to the province of Oriental Mindoro, facilitated by the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that connects Luzon to the southern Philippines.

The Port of Calapan is the largest and busiest seaport on Mindoro Island and is located approximately 45 minutes to 3 hours by ferry or roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessels from the Batangas City International Port.

The Port of Calapan is home to the Largest Passenger Port terminal in the country^[7] and is the busiest passenger port in the region, with annual passenger traffic reaching millions.

Since the late 1990s, Calapan City has experienced significant urbanization and development. The city hosts multiple commercial establishments, higher education institutions, business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, and regional and national government offices, reflecting its function as the regional administrative center of MIMAROPA. With a relatively low poverty incidence and growing economic activity, a number of national and international companies have established or expanded operations in the city.

The derivation of the name of Calapan cannot be traced with certainty.

Some have suggested that it comes from the word “Kalap,” meaning to gather logs, implying that “Kalapan” was a place where logs were collected. However, historical records do not mention Calapan as a center for logging, and the town’s swampy environment would not have supported the growth of large forest trees suitable for timber.

Another theory states that Calapan was originally pronounced “Kalapang,” which, according to an old Tagalog dictionary, is a synonym for “sanga” (branch) or “a part of anything.” This could refer either to the settlement being a branch of its mother town, Baco, or to the peninsula where the Calapan seaport, airport, and the barangays of Lazareto and San Antonio are now located.^[8]

Prior to Spanish colonization, the island of Mindoro was inhabited by the Mangyan people, one of the earliest indigenous groups in the Philippines.

The island also functioned as a regional trading hub, with Chinese merchants documented to have engaged with local communities as early as the 10th century. This interaction is often associated with trade between the pre-colonial polity of Ma-i and merchants from what is now Guangdong in southern China.^[9] It is important to note, however, that the precise location of Ma-i remains a subject of scholarly debate.

With the expansion of Spanish colonial authority, segments of the indigenous population relocated from coastal settlements, including areas corresponding to present-day Calapan, to the interior highlands. This movement is generally understood as a response to colonial intrusion and the increasing pressures of external settlement and control.^[10]

Calapan was formerly a small village before the establishment of the first Religious District in Baco. The District convent was transferred to Calapan in 1733 and began its jurisdiction over the Northern Mindoro Ecclesiastical Area.^[11]

The town’s poblacion, or town center, was originally located slightly inland in what is now known as Lumangbayan, meaning “old town.” Presumably due to pirate raids in 1753-1754, the poblacion was later relocated to its present site along the coast of Calapan Bay.^[10]

During the early 18th century, the town occupied a narrow strip of land extending from Ibaba to Ilaya, laid out in a cross-shape facing the present Santo Niño Cathedral and divided by a river. Over time, additional barrios were established to accommodate the growing settlement.

At Ibaba, Augustinian Recollects constructed a church fortified with walls and watchtowers to protect the settlement from marauders from the south.^[8] Although the church was rebuilt in concrete at around the 1940s, remnants of the original fortifications, localy known as a kuta, are still visible in what is now the Oriental Mindoro Heritage Museum.

In 1837, the capital of the province was moved from Puerto Galera to Calapan. The 1800s census showed that Calapan had 979 native families and 8 Spanish-Filipino families.^[12]

Inspired by an earlier action led by Juan Naguit of Cavite, in which a group of Filipinos attacked the church of Sucol (present-day Bongabong) during Mass on 22 May 1898, hundreds of Mindoreños—including migrants from Cavite and Batangas as well as members of the local elite—took up arms across the island.^[13]

In early June 1898, approximately 1,000 revolutionaries launched an assault on the provincial capital of Calapan, but the initial attack was repelled by Spanish forces. The revolutionaries succeeded only after the arrival of over 1,000 additional insurgents under Colonel Alfonso Panopio from Batangas, who joined forces with the local Mindoro fighters. On 1 July 1898, Governor Rafael Morales formally surrendered, and a revolutionary government was promptly established in Mindoro.^[13]

The occupation of the Philippines by American forces following the defeat of the Spanish government in Manila brought significant political, economic, and social changes to the island of Mindoro and to the city of Calapan.

The occupation of Calapan by American forces began in earnest on 15 July 1901, when seventy U.S. soldiers disembarked near the town and took control with minimal resistance. During this initial occupation, several houses were burned, some residents were wounded, and twenty-five Filipinos were killed. According to the diary of Pedro del Rosario, a local schoolteacher at the time, some victims were forced into the river in groups and shot. After this expedition, the Americans returned to Batangas.^[13]

A second, larger expedition commenced on 27 July 1901, with 800 U.S. soldiers under the command of Major Evans tasked with occupying Mindoro permanently. The mission also included an objective to capture or neutralize Arthur Howard, an American deserter believed responsible for the death of U.S. General Lawton in December 1900; however, this objective was not achieved, as Howard and Provincial Governor Ramon Atienza evaded capture by retreating to the forests. ^[13]

On 29 July 1901, Calapan was formally occupied by U.S. forces. Major Evans subsequently established a municipal government composed of Filipinos willing to collaborate. Pursuit operations against remaining Filipino soldiers were largely unsuccessful due to the swampy terrain near Lake Naujan, which provided a strategic advantage to the defenders.^[13]

A primary education system using English as the language of instruction was introduced, and Calapan Port was opened to facilitate inter-island commerce. The U.S. Army Signal Corps installed military telegraph lines connecting Calapan and Batangas, while land-based telegraph services were also made available to the public in Calapan and Naujan.^[14]

The development of a provincial road along the east coast, which later became part of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, connected the island’s main towns. Additionally, the implementation of free trade between the United States and the Philippines encouraged economic growth and attracted a significant number of settlers to the previously sparsely populated areas of Mindoro and the city of Calapan.^[14]

When Mindoro became a sub-province of Marinduque on June 13, 1902, the provincial capital was once again moved to Puerto Galera, with Captain Robert S. Offley serving as the first civil governor.^[15] On November 10, 1902, Mindoro was detached from Marinduque. In 1903, Calapan once again became the provincial capital.^[11]

When Mindoro was detached from Marinduque on November 10, 1902, Baco, Puerto Galera and San Teodoro were annexed to Calapan in 1905 under Act No. 1280, adding a total area of 843 square kilometres (325 sq mi) of land.^[16] In 1902, under Act No. 2824, the three municipalities gained their independence.

In 1919, the boundary dispute between Calapan and Naujan was settled by the presidents (mayors) Agustin Quijano of Calapan and Agustin Garong of Naujan regarding a portion of territory that now defines the present boundary. The agricultural area was awarded to Naujan, reducing the size of Calapan relative to Naujan, which is currently the largest municipality in the province by land area.

On 15 December 1944, the invasion of Mindoro commenced. Favorable weather conditions enabled the full deployment of American air and naval power, including six escort carriers, three battleships, six cruisers, and numerous support vessels, against relatively light Japanese resistance.^[17]

Due to inadequate airstrip facilities in Leyte, the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team landed by sea at Mangarin Bay in present-day San Jose, Occidental Mindoro alongside the main landing force, rather than conducting an airborne drop. In the days that followed, American forces advanced northward across Mindoro, liberating several towns on January 24, 1945, including Calapan.^[17]

In the year 1998, Calapan was converted from a municipality into a component city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8475.^[18] The law was authored in Congress by Rep. Renato V. Leviste and was signed by President Fidel Ramos on February 2, 1998. On March 21, 1998, the people of Calapan ratified the creation of the City of Calapan in a plebiscite marking that same day as the city’s foundation day. Former Mayor Arnan C. Panaligan became the last Municipal Mayor and the first City Mayor of Calapan. To date, it is the first and only city in the whole island of Mindoro.^[11]

Calapan was reclassified from a 4th class city in 2007 to a 3rd class city in 2010, on account of its innovations in public service, modernization programs, increased revenue collection, and overall economic improvement. Calapan City was later reclassified as a 2nd Class Component City in 2025.^[19]

Calapan is bounded to the north and north-east by the Calapan Bay, south and southeast by Naujan, and to the west by the Baco. The city lies at the quadrangle bounded by 13°12.6 and 13°27’ north latitudes and 121°17’ east longitudes. It is approximately 28 nautical miles (52 km; 32 mi) from the nearest point of Batangas, 45 kilometres (28 mi) south of Batangas City and 130 kilometres (81 mi) south of Manila.

The city has an area of 250.06 km² (96.55 sq mi) and is composed of 62 barangays of which 28 are classified as urban and 34, rural. The city also exercises jurisdiction over the Baco Islands, comprising Baco Chico, Baco Medio, and Baco Grande, as well as the two Silonay Islets in Calapan Bay, known as Silonay Island and Harka Piloto.

The overall land characteristic is a wide plain with rivers, interspersed with wetlands at the seacoast periphery. The highest elevation is 187 m (614 ft) above sea level at Bulusan Hill, a 6-kilometre (3.7 mi) long landform east of the city, which interrupts the mostly flat terrain north-east of the Halcon-Baco Mountain Range.^[20]

Calapan is divided into 62 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Calapan’s climate is described as mild. It is relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. February and March have the least rainfall while October and November are the months of greatest rainfall. Average yearly rainfall is 2,500 to 4,500 millimetres (98 to 177 in) at the city’s south-west portion. The average daily temperature is 22.9 to 28.3 °C (73.2 to 82.9 °F).

Wind direction throughout the year is variable; Northeast monsoons prevail from August, November, December and January to March; East to Northeast on April; Southeast to South on May and June; Northeast to South on July and September, and Easterly on October.

Climate is favorable for vegetation throughout the year under the Type III climate type of the Philippine weather bureau, PAGASA, with relative humidity at 81%.

Population census of Calapan

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	5,554	—
1918	13,571	+6.14%
1939	17,158	+1.12%
1948	22,340	+2.98%
1960	33,060	+3.32%
1970	47,532	+3.69%
1975	55,608	+3.20%
1980	67,370	+3.91%
1990	85,898	+2.46%
1995	96,506	+2.21%
2000	105,910	+2.01%
2007	116,976	+1.38%
2010	124,173	+2.20%
2015	133,893	+1.45%
2020	145,786	+1.81%
2024	148,558	+0.45%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[23][24][25][26][27]

Calapan has a population of 148,558 people as of the 2024 census.^[28]

Tagalog and English are widely spoken in the city. The Tagalog spoken in Calapan has historically been influenced by the Batangas dialect, largely due to the city’s geographical proximity to Batangas and the presence of Batangueño residents in the province.

Poverty incidence of Calapan

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]}

Since 1998, the city has experienced rapid development making it one of the fastest growing cities in the country. The establishment of a designated special development area, particularly an eco-zone for light industries within the Urban Development Area (comprising Lumangbayan and Guinobatan), has been promoted as a key growth center. This zone generates employment and stimulates economic opportunities by focusing on agro-industrial activities, including food processing, handicraft production, furniture manufacturing, and other related industries.

Calapan serves as the province’s industrial hub. It plays a pivotal role in the economic development of the province and its adjacent areas.

Calapan is home to numerous malls and shopping centers, including the following:

• Xentro Mall Calapan – Biggest Mall in the Island
• Nuciti Central Mall Calapan
• CityMall Calapan
• Gaisano Capital Calapan
• Citimart Island Mall
• Unitop Shopping Center
• Puregold Calapan

Trading and commercial activities are mainly confined in wholesale and retail trade. Other thriving industries are manufacturing, financing, tourism, food and beverages and services. In recent years, the city has witnessed the influx of private investments that increase income and employment opportunities. The City Investment Code encourages new and existing entrepreneurs to increase their investments. All business establishments are also required to employ bonafide residents of the city to at least 70% of the job opportunities that they will generate.

Majority of the vast agricultural lands of Calapan is devoted to rice production. Other crops grown in the area are citrus fruits such as calamansi, banana, lanzones, rambutan, mango, coconut and vegetables.

Calapan is served by an extensive road network comprising national, provincial, city, barangay, and NIA roads.

The principal transport corridor is the Mindoro segment of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH), designated as N452, which consists of several major road sections. These include the Calapan North Road, which connects the city to the municipality of Puerto Galera and, upon completion of the Abra de Ilog–Puerto Galera Road, is expected to provide access to northern Occidental Mindoro, including the municipalities of Abra de Ilog and Mamburao. The Calapan South Road serves as another primary route, linking the city to southern municipalities of Oriental Mindoro, such as Pinamalayan and Roxas, as well as to parts of Occidental Mindoro, including San Jose. ^[37] This route also supports long-distance bus services connecting Calapan to destinations in Visayas, including Aklan and Iloilo, via Metro Manila.

Other major roads within the city include J.P. Rizal Street, a key thoroughfare traversing downtown Calapan, and M. Roxas Street, which runs relatively parallel to it. Quezon Drive provides access to the Port of Calapan, while the Suqui–Sapul Road (N455) connects to Calapan Airport and offers an alternative route to the port, in addition to serving nearby barangays.

In addition to these primary routes, the city is supported by numerous secondary city and barangay roads, as well as rural infrastructure such as NIA-administered roads and farm-to-market (FMR) roads, which play a significant role in supporting agricultural activities in the surrounding areas.

Motorized tricycles are a common mode of transport in Calapan, primarily serving short-distance travel within the city. Pedicabs are also widely used, particularly in the downtown area, for very short trips.

Jeepneys, electric jeepneys (e-jeeps), multicabs, and some van routes provide transportation within the city and to nearby municipalities in Oriental Mindoro, traversing both urban and rural areas. These routes connect Calapan to northern municipalities such as Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, and Baco, as well as to southern municipalities including Naujan and Victoria, and extend to more distant areas such as Socorro and Pinamalayan. Within the city, routes also serve outlying barangays such as Bucayao and Comunal.^[38]

For longer-distance travel, buses and vans operate routes to the southern parts of Oriental Mindoro and onward to the neighboring province of Occidental Mindoro.

Interprovincial bus services linking Metro Manila, including terminals in Cubao, PITX, and Alabang, to southern Mindoro and select destinations in the Visayas, such as Iloilo, also pass through Calapan.

The Port of Calapan serves as the primary maritime gateway of the Island of Mindoro, providing regular connections to Batangas International Port in mainland Luzon. The route is serviced by a range of vessels, including fast craft, conventional ferries, and larger roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ships.

The Port of Calapan is an approximately 75,000-square-meter complex that includes key facilities such as a Law Enforcement Building (LEB), Port Operations Building (POB), land transportation terminal, and four access gates. The Passenger Terminal Building (PTB), inaugurated in March 2023, is currently the largest seaport terminal in the Philippines in terms of passenger capacity, with a capacity of 3,500 passengers. The port remains under ongoing expansion.^[39]

Major shipping companies such as Montenegro Shipping Lines and Starlite Ferries operate frequent, near round-the-clock trips between the two ports, while other operators, including FastCat, OceanJet, and SuperCat, provide scheduled ferry services throughout the day.

In addition to these regular routes, limited services are available via smaller vessels. The motor bangka M/B Anyayahan operates trips between Calapan and Lobo, Batangas, typically three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays) with a single scheduled departure.

Local maritime transport is also present within the vicinity of Calapan. Small bangka services operate across the Baruyan River from the Port of Barangay Wawa to Barangay Pambisan in Baco. Informal for-hire banca services are likewise available for short-distance travel within Calapan Bay, including trips to nearby islets and, on occasion, to more distant locations such as Isla Verde in Batangas.

The city also has an airport, the Calapan Airport, classified as a secondary airport and is used for general aviation handling mostly small planes and choppers.

Calapan is bounded by the Calapan Bay on the north and Suki Beach on the east. While the northern shores is built up with houses, locals and tourists would flock on the eastern shores’ black sand beach of Suki which is doted by a number of resorts.

Calapan also has two museums. The Mindoro Heritage Museum at the city center was also the former site of the Kuta or Spanish Fortress. The museum hosts geological, ethnographical, and political history of Mindoro. Calapan City Museum is found at the City Hall.^[40]

In the area of eco-tourism, Calapan has two mangrove parks, at Mahal na Pangalan Marine Park and Silonay Mangrove Conservation Park, as well as the Bulusan Nature Park.^[41][42]

The city is host to numerous higher educational institutions. The Divine Word College of Calapan, a Catholic college run by the Divine Word Missionaries is currently the largest institution of higher learning in the city and the province of Oriental Mindoro. Other private institutions of higher learning include the St. Anthony College Calapan City (Information Technology, Nursing and Tourism), Luna Goco Colleges (Nursing), Southwestern Luzon Maritime Institute Foundation and Filipino Academy of Scientific Trades (Maritime Studies), AMA Computer Learning Center (Information Technology), and CLCC Institute of Computer Arts and Technology (Information Technology).

There are currently two public institutions of higher learning in the city. One is the Mindoro State University (Calapan Campus) while the other is the City College of Calapan which was opened last June 2008 through the initiative of City Mayor Salvador Leachon.^[43]

Calapan has nine national high schools (NHS), one of which is the Oriental Mindoro National High School (OMNHS) the main campus of the school and the largest public high school in Oriental Mindoro. Other public high schools include the Mamerta Gargullo Tolentino Memorial National High School (former Parang NHS), Ceriaco A. Abes Memorial MNHS, Canubing NHS, Managpi NHS, Pedro V. Panaligan MNHS, the Community Vocational High School, the LEMNAHIS Bucayao Annex, and the Nag-iba National High School (former LEMNAHIS Annex Nag-iba).

The Catholic Church also runs the Holy Infant Academy, while DWCC also maintains a Basic Education Department.

Public elementary schools meanwhile are organized into three districts. They are the Calapan West, Calapan South (Pedro Tolentino Memorial School (PTMS) and Calapan East Districts.

Being the only city in the island, Calapan City serves as the medical hub of Mindoro. It houses numerous tertiary-level hospitals with advanced and modern facilities. Hospitals in there include:

• Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital
• Ma. Estrella General Hospital
• Mindoro Medical Center Inc.
• Luna Goco Hospital
• MMG Hospital
• Hospital of the Holy Cross
• Sta. Maria Village Hospital

In addition, the city has public health centers providing free health check-ups and basic medicine supplies to all residents. These public centers are being funded and supported by the City Health and Sanitation Department.

Members of the Calapan City Council
(2019–2022)^[44]

Position	Name
District Representative (1st Legislative District of the province of Oriental Mindoro)	Paulino Salvador C. Leachon
Chief Executive of the City of Calapan	Mayor Arnan C. Panaligan
Presiding Officer of the City Council of Calapan	Vice Mayor Gil G. Ramirez
Members of the City Council	Mary Pauline Mylene A. de Jesus
	Charles O. Pansoy
	Rafael E. Panaligan Jr.
	Genie R. Fortu
	Farrah Fay C. Ilano
	Jocelyn U. Neria
	Ronalee E. Leachon
	Roberto L. Concepcion
	Rius Anthony C. Agua
	Marian Teresa G. Tagupa

• Valenzuela, Philippines
• Lucena, Quezon, Philippines
• San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
• Batangas City, Philippines

• Arra San Agustin – Filipina noontime show presenter host of Eat Bulaga! and actress
• Néstor Vicente Madali González – Internationally acclaimed writer and educator
• 3rd Lt. Jose Protacio C. Gozar – Pilot officer with the Philippine Army Air Corps who received the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry during the air war at the onset of World War II.
• Col. Arnulfo Acedillo Acedera, – Pilot officer with the Philippine Army Air Corps, and father of AFP Chief of Staff Arnulfo Acedera Jr.
• Jason Francisco – 3rd Placer, Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up
• Karen Reyes – 2nd Big Placer of Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition 4
• Charo Santos-Concio – Member of Board of Directors (former President & CEO), ABS-CBN Corporation
• Col. Pedro A. Serran (USAFFE-AFP)– Son of Isidro and Maxima Serran, born November 26, 1913, in Calapan. Known as the “Liberator of Zarraga,” Iloilo Province during World War II. He died on June 8, 1999, in Colorado, U.S.A., and is buried in Pittsburgh, California. His life-size statue stands on the park named after him in Zarraga. It was inaugurated in 1998.
• Joseph Mercado – Vice President, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
• Jose Antonio N. Carrion – Governor of Marinduque, 2007 – 2010
  • Bryan Alcantara – Governor of JD1202, 2026 – 2027

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
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