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 1920's. Which then became 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). Then a major road was constructed from the mine site up to the Marabahay Is. This road is called Macadam Highway, which is named after famed scientist - John Loudon McAdam.

Then in 2003 a number of telecommunication companies were established and soon electrical services were made available.

Economy

Rio Tuba is known for its nickel mineral reserves. Nickel mining is a very important industry in the locality. The primary minesite of [http://www.riotuba.com 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.

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. Among the 22 barangays of Bataraza, Rio Tuba has the largest population.

Ursula Island

Ursula 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.

External links

* [http://www.riotuba.com Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation]