| Pantabangan | |
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| — Municipality — | |
| Map of Nueva Ecija showing the location of Pantabangan. | |
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Pantabangan
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Central Luzon (Region III) |
| Province | Nueva Ecija |
| District | 2nd District |
| Founded | 1701 |
| Barangays | 14 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 392.56 km2 (151.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 25,520 |
| • Density | 65/km2 (168.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | 3124 |
| Income class | 4th class; rural |
| Population Census of Pantabangan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | Rate | |
| 1995 | 22,183 |
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| 2000 | 23,868 | 1.58% | |
| 2007 | 25,520 | 0.93% | |
Pantabangan is a 4th class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 25,520 people in 4,808 households. This is the site of the Pantabangan dam.
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Located in the northern part of Nueva Ecija, Pantabangan then was a small village at the foot of Mt. Mabilog below Mt. Dalimanok which are found between Sierra Madre and Caraballo Mountain ranges. The place was discovewred on November 30, 1645 by Fr. Juan Alonzo de Abarca, an Augustinian priest who with the 29th Spanish mission in the Philippines.
The village grew into a settlement and was officially included in the map of the Philippines in 1747. in 1900, Pantabangan formally became a town.
In May 1966, the Old Philippine Congress passed the Upper Pampanga River Project Act (Republic Act 5499) authorizing the construction of the Pantabangan Dam and its appurtenant structures. The groundbreaking ceremony led by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos took place on June 11, 1971. The project was finally completed in August 1974.
The construction of the Dam had great economic and social impact on the lives of Pantabangeños. About 8100 hectares of productive farmlands were submerged and the residents of the town proper (East and West Poblacion) and seven of its outlying barangays (Villarica, Liberty, Cadaclan, San Juan, Napon-Napon, Marikit and Conversion) were relocated in nearby places which later formed to what is now known as the new Pantabangan town. They had to start their lives all over again in a new place where the future was uncertain. They were left with no choice. Indeed, the Pantabangeños sacrificed so much – in the interest of the nationaql economic growth.
The Pantabangan Dam the cleanest Dam in the country and acclaimed as the second largest Dam in Asia, generates 112 megawatts of hydroelectric power and supplies the irrigation requirements of about 77,000 hectares of agricultural lands in Central Luzon.
In February 1996, the then President Fidel V. Ramos led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Casecnan Transbasin Project, a 27-kilometer tunnel from the Casecnan River in Nueva Viscaya to a terminal point at the Pantabangan reservoir and was commissioned on December 11, 2001. the project aims to augment the capacity of the Dam to irrigate an additional 50,000 hectares of agricultural land and generate an additional 140 megawatts of hydroelectric power for the Luzon grid.
The present Pantabangan town has 14 barangays and a total land area of about 41,735,314 hectares. The succeeding years since its relocation saw its progress from a fifth-class municipality in 1975, then to a fourth-class, then to a second class Municipality in 2006 and finally, in July 2008, pursuant to Section 2 of the Department of Finance Order No. 23-08, Pantabangan was reclassified as First-Class Municipality. It is the only town in the Philippines which boasts of three hydroelectric plants within its territorial jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, Pandawan Festival made its debut in April 2008 showcasing many local talents as well as other entertainments. Tourists like to visit especially the water sport enthusiasts for jetskiing, boat riding and even bass fishing. What most people don't know is that the OLD TOWN or LUMANG BAYAN of Pantabangan was submerged in the 1970's & was relocated to the higher ground overlooking the vast reservoir. Hundreds of families lost their houses, farmlands, livelihood and risked their future to give way to the construction of the dam. Before the expansion of the dam through the Casecnan Project in the 1990's, it is a scene during summer season to see the belfry of the 18'th century church resurfaces from the dam's low water level. During drought in 1983, some areas of the old town emerged.
The memories and legends of the old town are depicted by Pantabangan's well known child folk painter, Elito V. Circa on his ALAMAT NI MINGGAN or LEGEND OF MINGGAN and using his blood and hair on his painting.
Jason Abalos is also known showbiz artist, a member of ABS-CBN's circle of homegrown talents named Star Magic. He was discovered after joining Star Circle Quest, a reality show in search of new actors.
Tagalog is predominantly spoken in Pantabangan followed by Ilocano dialect. People of Pantabangan "Pantabangenian" are also known for their very distinct strong Pantabangan accent, temporarily we called ito "Adyu-ari". Well known Pantabangan words are ANTA (baket),ADYU & ARI (o), ABAT (eh baket), BULAAN (sinungaling), KULAT.
Pantabangan is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.
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