Municipal Profile
Municipality of Donsol, Sorsogon

Donsol is a coastal town with a total land area of 152.99 sq. km. and is located at the northwestern part of the province of Sorsogon, which occupies the southern terminus of the Bicol Peninsula. Of the total land area, about 25.64 sq. km. comprises the built-up urban area and 15.68 sq. km.  is devoted to agricultural purposes,  and about 13.86 sq. km. is reserved for recreational and tourism purposes. Some 5.33 sq. km. of undifferentiated lands  including waterways of  are not fully developed.

It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Jovellar, Albay, on the northwest, by the municipality of Pio Duran, Albay, on the south by the Burias Pass and on the east part by the municipality of Pilar, Sorsogon.

It is geographically located about 12° 54' 26.896" north latitude and 123° 36' 28.867" east longitude. It is 66 kilometers away from the City of Sorsogon and 51 kilometers away from the City of Legazpi in the province of Albay. A provincial road connects Donsol to the municipality of Pilar while provision for road network connecting Donsol to the two adjacent municipalities of Jovellar and Pioduran has been  considered and included in the development plan of the municipality.

Topography

The municipality of Donsol is characterized by moderately rugged to undulating terrain with rounded to sub-rounded ridges and spurs. The highest elevation is 153 meters above sea level found at Brgy. Sta. Cruz while the lowest elevation is 5 meters above sea level at the coastline of the same barangay. In-fill valleys are quite common in the inland part. Flat lands are dominant along the coastal areas and along river valleys. About 20 percent of the total land area are plains, favorable to rice and vegetable production. The rest is devoted to coconut plantation, grazing purposes and other agricultural uses. Generally, Donsol's terrain is rugged due to the ranges of mountains and hills.

Climate

General area of Donsol is located in a region where the boundary of Type III and Type IV climate has been delineated. But, the rainfall pattern of Donsol is much similar to Masbate where Type III climate prevails. Type III climate is characterized by the absence of pronounced maximum rain period and with a short dry season lasting only from one to three months. From June to November, coastline is rough due to the prevailing southwest monsoon. Temperature ranges from 22°C during the coolest month to 35°C during summer. Average temperature is 27°C.

Water Bodies

Donsol River and Ogod River are the two major rivers in the municipality of Donsol. Donsol River is the most extensive having a drainage area of 396 sq. km. The head water of this river system extends northwards into the Province of Albay. Only 20 percent of the drainage area falls within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Donsol.

Ogod River is much smaller than Donsol River. Drainage area is about 122 sq. km. The eastern side of the drainage falls within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Pilar. Sibago River and Tinanogan River are smaller rivers within the municipality of Donsol with drainage areas of 29.9 sq. km. and 13.73 sq. km. respectively.

The coastal water or rivers of Donsol is part of Burias Pass. This a northwest-southeast oriented body of marine water that is bounded on the northeast by the Bicol Peninsula and on the southwest by the islands of Burias, Ticao and Masbate. Burias Pass is contiguous with Ragay Gulf to the northwest and Ticao Pass to the southeast. Proximity of Burias Pass to the San Bernardino Strait indicates the strong possibility that it is influenced by the flow of the Pacific Ocean into the Philippine Islands.

Source: Local Government Unit of Donsol, Sorsogon

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