1.0 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CITY

        1.1 Geography

The City of Gapan is located in the southeastern part of Nueva Ecija. It is presently bounded on the north by the municipality of San Leonardo; on the east by the municipalities of Peñaranda and Gen. Tinio; on the west by the municipality of San Isidro and on the south by the municipality of San Miguel, Bulacan.

There are twenty three (23) barangays comprising the city with a total land area of 18,568 hectares, wherein Macabaklay got the biggest share of 4,506 hectares. Gapan proximity to Manila is 96 kilometers, 19 kilometers from Cabanatuan and 45 kilometers from San Fernando, Pampanga.

        1.2 Topography, Slope & Elevation

The City has flat terrains on the center down to the western part and rolling going up to the Sierra Madre Mountains on the eastern side.

        1.3 Physiography & Soils

Clayish is the general classification of soil which is good for palay production. It is also adaptable to all kinds of agri-crops such as root crops, vegetables and fruit trees.

        1.4 Drainage, Tributary Patterns & Catchment Areas

Pampanga river and Malimba river are the two main rivers that drained the city, these rivers are flowing southwest passing through the Province of Pampanga.

        1.5 Land Classification

Gapan has about 45.49 % or 8,446 hectares, chiefly devoted for agricultural purposes, and 1.28 % or 237.03 hectares are inland fisheries, the remaining hectares are classified as built up areas, grassland and pasture land.

        1.6 Water Resources

Ground water is the main source of potable water supply in the City supplied by private owned deep wells, hand pumps and local water utility. Barangay San Vicente, San Lorenzo, San Nicolas, Sto Niño, Bayanihan, Malimba, Sto. Cristo Norte, Sto. Cristo Sur, San Roque, Mangino and Pambuan are covered by lone water distributor the Gapan Water District.

Water resources for agricultural purposes came from the spring in Minalungao cave and from Pantabangan dam. Other sources are deep wells, small farm reservoir, small water impounding pond and shallow wells which were constructed/installed by the City Government.