Sipocot, Camarines Sur

Sipocot
Municipality
Seal
Nickname(s): Egg Basket of Camarines Sur; Native Chicken Capital of Camarines Sur; Where Andaya Highway Ends
Motto: "Boronyog Sipocot"
Map of Camarines Sur showing the location of Sipocot
Sipocot Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°46′N 122°59′E / 13.767°N 122.983°E / 13.767; 122.983Coordinates: 13°46′N 122°59′E / 13.767°N 122.983°E / 13.767; 122.983
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol (Region V)
Province	Camarines Sur
District	1st district (Riverside)
Barangays	46
Government[1]
• Mayor	Rogenor R. Astor
• Vice Mayor	Beth Abergos
Area[2]
• Total	243.43 km2 (93.99 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	64,042
• Density	260/km2 (680/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	4408
Dialing code	054
Income class	1st class; partially urban

Sipocot is a first class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 64,042 people.^[3]

Geography

Notable hills include:

• Susong Daraga Hill, located at Brgy. Impig and near CBSU-BIST campus
• Overlooking Point, Manangle located on the left side towards Manila at the Quirino Highway.

Barangays

Sipocot is politically subdivided into 46 barangays:^[2]

History

Long before it became a town in the year 1801, Sipocot originally belonged to the town of Lupi, being one of its barrios. Its conversion into a town also paved the way for the establishment of its parish in dedication of St. John the Baptist, the town's patron saint. This marked the beginning of the celebration of the town fiesta held annually every June 24.

A version known to the local residents concerning the roots of the name of the municipality tells about the coming of the Spaniards to the Philippines, where a certain Captain Aguire of Lupi spent his leisure hours fishing in the cool water of Vigaan River in the morning and in the afternoon he would sail back by banca in the Bicol River. He usually have a plentiful catch which would be more his family needs. This activity did not escape the Spanish encomienderos’ ears in the town of lupi and the said Captain was summoned by the Spaniards for questioning. However, in the process of the inquiry, the Captain misunderstood and misinformed the foreigners and pointed to the Bicol River as his fishing area. The following day, the Spaniards and some native guides equipped with hook and lines went to the river to fish.

Upon reaching the bank they found a shed with Captain Aguirre’s fishing net or “pocot”. They also found in the place different kinds of fishes like bakla, kasili, and buyod. Delighted with their discovery, the Spaniards asked some natives the name of the place. The natives thinking that the Spaniards were asking for the name of the net they were holding, answered “si,pocot”. From then on, the Spaniards built a settlement near the Vigaan River which they christened SIPOCOT.

Demographics

Economy

Banks and financial institutions in Sipocot include Land Bank of the Philippines, RCPI, Rural Bank of Sipocot, Rural Bank of Pamplona, Rural Bank of Minalabac, CARD Bank, BLVING Lending Corporation, M Lhuiller, Tambunting Pawnshop, Cebuana Lhuiller, Henry Lhuiller and Sipocot. Pawnshop.

Department stores in Sipocot are Tom Eloy Convenient Store, NOVO-Fabulous, ANSON Merchandise, and Lady Anne's Boutique and Giftshoppe.

Infrastructure

Transportation and communications

• Digitel Communications, BayanTel and PLDT provide the telephone services including DSL, Broadband, and Dial-up internet services
• Using of Cellular phones is one of the important medium of communication in the area, it is being powered by Smart Communications, Sun Cellular and Globe Telecom, (it also includes the Talk N Text, Touch Mobile, etc.)
• The municipality also have this Post Office with 4408 as the Zip Code.
• The area is accessible via buses, jeepnies, tricycles, trains, skates, etc. for public transportation vehicles.
• The cable TV is also available, it is being powered by Dream Cable and Sky Cable. In the area ABS-CBN and GMA are the leading TV stations being watched.

Hospitals

• Sipocot District Hospital
• Our Lady of Salvation Hospital

Education

Binahian Elementary School

Tertiary

• Felix O. Alfelor Sr. Foundation College, located at Brgy. South Centro
• Central Bicol State University of Agriculture- Sipocot (Bicol Institute of Science and Technology), located at Brgy. Impig. This college has a transition name: Central Bicol State University of Agriculture - Sipocot (2009–Present); Camarines Sur State Agricultural Colleges - Sipocot Campus (2003–2009); Bicol Institute of Science and Technology (1992–2003); Sipocot National School of Arts and Trades (1972–1992)

Secondary

• CBSUA-Sipocot Laboratory High School(Sipocot)
• Felix O. Alfelor Sr. Foundation College - High School Dept., located at Brgy. South Centro
• Sipocot National High School, located at Brgy. Tara (Division Leader School - Division Of Camarines Sur)
• Villazar National High School, located at Brgy. North Villazar
• Sacred Heart High School, located at Brgy. Calagbangan (supervised by the Villazar National High School administration, de jure)
• Bolo Norte High School, located at Brgy. Bolo Norte (supervised by the Sipocot National High School administration, de jure)
• Anib National High School, located at Brgy. Anib
• Caima National High School High School, located at Brgy. Caima

Intermediate

• Every barangay has its own elementary schools. Schools are divided into two districts: Sipocot North District (schools in the northern part of the town) and the Sipocot South District (most of the southern part).

Private primary education

• Felix O. Alfelor Sr. Foundation College - Elementary School Dept. (Condemned Building)
• Lady Amherstia Montessori School
• Nazareth Institute of Learning & Formation
• Serranz Learning Center
• Christian Mission Service Philippines School

Sports and recreation venues

• Sipocot Municipal Amphitheater
• Governor Mariano E. Villafuerte Sr. Sports Complex (Town Plaza)
• CBSUA-BIST Andaya Gymnasium
• CBSUA-BIST Cultural Stage and Quadrangle
• CBSUA-BIST Audio Visual Room
• CBSUA-BIST Sports Ground
• Calagbangan Cockpit Arena
• Sipocot Cockpit Arena
• Every barangay has its own Barangay Plaza for social gatherings and sport activities.
• Sipocot Municipal Hall's Field
• SNCS Covered Court, Oval and Open Ground
• SNHS Sports Complex
• Impig Viewing Point
• Susong Daraga and other mt.
• Butterfly Garden

Parishes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sipocot, Camarines Sur.

• Official Site of the Diocese of Libmanan
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Official Site of the Province of Camarines Sur

		Basud, Camarines Norte / Mercedes, Camarines Norte
	Lupi		San Miguel Bay Cabusao
	Sipocot
	Ragay Gulf	Libmanan

v t e Province of Camarines Sur Municipalities Baao Balatan Bato Bombon Buhi Bula Cabusao Calabanga Camaligan Canaman Caramoan Del Gallego Gainza Garchitorena Goa Lagonoy Libmanan Lupi Magarao Milaor Minalabac Nabua Ocampo Pamplona Pasacao Pili Presentacion Ragay Sagñay San Fernando San Jose Sipocot Siruma Tigaon Tinambac Component city Iriga Independent component city Naga (Administratively independent from the province, but grouped under Camarines Sur by the National Statistics Office)