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The Province

Located at the western coast of Central Luzon, Zambales shares common boundaries with Pangasinan on the north; Tarlac and Pampanga on the east; Bataan on the south, and South China Sea on the west. With a land area of 3,700  square kilometers, Zambales is the second largest among the six provinces of Central Luzon. It has a population density of 170 people per square kilometer, one of the lowest in the country.
 
The province is geographically divided into 13 towns and one city: Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, Paluig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Sta. Cruz, and the capital town of Iba. At the southernmost part are Olongapo City and the Subic Bay area, site of what used to be the biggest American naval facility outrside the United States.

Zambales is mainly populated by four major ethnic groups: Sambals, Ilocanos Tagalogs and Aetas. Tagalog is spoken in every town and around 75 percent of the population speak and understand English. Road signs are written in English.

The topography of the province is irregular with coastal plains and valleys stretching from Lingayen Gulf to Subic Bay. The mountain ranges on the eastern part occupy about 60% of its total land area.

Zambales has two pronounced seasons: dry from November to April, and wet from May to October.

The province is noted for its mangos, which are among the sweetest in the world. It is most abundant from January to April.



Infrastructures for Tourism


In the last decade, the sustained infrastructure development in Zambales has opened up its enormous potentials for tourism. The province may now fully harness these tourism potentials to spur the development of all its towns.

The government has invested on a national highway that spans the whole province. Today visitors could not help but notice the smooth ride from subic and Olongapo City to the northernmost town of Sta. Cruz. The provincial road network linking its 247 barangays is reputed to be among the most extensive in the country.

The Subic Bay Freeport Zone provides both foreign and domestic tourists a gateway to the province through its premiere international airport and world-class seaport that can service ocean-going cruise ships as well as large passenger and cargo ships. It serves as the hub of the southeast Asian operations of Federal Express, the leading air-cargo shipper of the world.

Except for the Subic Bay-Olongapo area, which is powered by ENRON-Subic, the province is energized by the 600-MW Masinloc Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant of the National Power Corporation, serviced by the Zambales, Electrification Cooperative (ZAMECO). All the municipalities have potable water systems, ten of which are service by the Local Water Districts.

Medical facilities in the province include a provincial hospital in Iba and two district hospitals located in San Marcelino and Candelaria. Municipal health units and private clinics are available in every municipality. Communication facilities are available through cell phones (SMART and Globe), PLDT and Digitel landlines, and internet service providers.

The province is serviced by 55 banks, most of which are electronically linked with their main headquarters in Manila. Two bus companies provide regular trips to and from Manila at 30-minute intervals.

The province has more than 900 available rooms in some 95 hotels and resorts that can be reached through well-paved roads from the town proper.