Rio Tuba
Rio Tuba is one of the populated barangays in the Municipality of Bataraza in the Province of Palawan in the Philippines. It is about 236 kilometers from Puerto Princesa City, the provincial capital. The town of Bataraza can be reached by bus, jeepney, or shuttle van which departs daily from the city. Bataraza is about 6 hours drive from Puerto Princesa City.
Name
The name "Rio" is a Spanish term which means river. However "Tuba" is a local plant which was used by the natives a poisons to fishes during their local festivities.
History
The barangay was founded by Mr. Anselmo dela Chica in the early 1920s, also the community's first captain. Then in 1968, a small group of geologist and engineers came and found out the vast nickel deposit. Then a year or two followed the foundation of the RTNMC (Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation).
Government
The barangay is ruled by an elected Bgy. Captain. He/She is assisted by several Bgy. Councilors.
List of Rio Tuba Bgy. Captains
- Anselmo dela Chica
- Severino dela Chica
- Hji. Abdulhamid Usman
- Hji. Aittok Abdurasid
- Hji. Ayob Acob
- Rodolfo Consolacion
- Ernesto Llacuna
- Engr. Antonio Sadongdong
- Gomer Miano
- Engr. Rufil Jayag
- Gomer Miano - incumbent
Rio Tuba is divided into sitios.
- Bukid-Bukid
- Santo Niño (Kayasyasan)
- Marabahay
- Tagdalungon
- Bongkol-Bongkol
- Macadam
- Racob
- Kinurong
- RTN Townsite
- BCI (Tuka Angri)
- Canumay
Transportation
It is also in Rio Tuba where means of transport are available to reach most of the inner barangays of Bataraza either by public utility jeeps, tricycle, motorcycle or pumpboat.
Education
There are 4 public schools, 1 private school, and 16 learning centers for the indigenous people (IP)
Public
- RTNES (Rio Tuba North Elementary School)
- RTNES (Rio Tuba North Elementary School Annex)
- RTNHS (Rio Tuba National High School)
- RTSES (Rio Tuba South Elementary School)
Private
- LSVMS (Leonides S. Virata Memorial School)
Indigenous Learning System (ILS)
- 34 centers (as of 2016) under the supervision of the Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation,
College
- Western PHilippines University (WPU)
Economy
Rio Tuba is known for its nickel mineral reserves. Nickel mining is a very important industry in the locality. The primary minesite of Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation(RTN) is located within its jurisdiction. The Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC), a joint venture between Japanese investors and RTN, put up a US$180-million expanded Hydrometallurgical Processing Plant (HPP). The plant is designed to extract nickel from low-grade ores previously considered waste.
Bird's Island
Bird's island is a bird sanctuary that is about 2 hours pumpboat ride from Rio Tuba. This island is a haven for birds that converge here about two hours before sunset, to take their rest after a day's long ride.