There are two sites in the Philippines where substantial peatlands have been found: the Agusan Marsh and the Leyte Sab-a Basin. There has been a lack of targeted surveys for peatlands. However, information indicates that there are almost certainly other areas. The location of these areas is shown in Figure 1.

The Sab-a Basin is a west-east elongated basin close to the north coast of Leyte separated by a metamorphic ridge. The total area is approximately 3,088 ha, about 44% of which has been reclaimed for agriculture. The remaining unutilised peatland (1,740 ha) in the eastern half of the basin consists of small remnant areas of swamp forest and sedge/grass peat swamp (ADB 2000). The two smaller peat basins in the area (Daguitan 210 ha) and Kapiwaran (430 ha) have mostly been converted to agricultural land.

The Agusan Marsh may hold the largest area of peatland in the Philippines. At present, there is no reliable estimate of the area as well as the distribution of peat within the marsh. Two areas of peatland within the marsh have been confirmed – the first one is found at the northern part of Bunawan, where the vegetation has mostly been cleared and burned. The other is found at the west of Caimpugan and exhibits the characteristics of a peat dome where the forest is mostly intact except those near the Gibong River. There may be other areas of peat within the marsh, especially in Terminalia copelandii/Metroxylon sagu forests in the northwest portion of the marsh.

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