Hinunangan, Southern Leyte

Municipality of Hinunangan
Municipality

Seal
Nickname(s): Rice Granary of the Province

Map of Southern Leyte showing the location of Hinunangan
Municipality of Hinunangan

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 10°24′N 125°12′E / 10.400°N 125.200°ECoordinates: 10°24′N 125°12′E / 10.400°N 125.200°E
Country Philippines
Region Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Province Southern Leyte
Congr. district Lone district of S. Leyte
Barangays 40
Government
  Mayor Romeo M. Gomez
  Vice Mayor Veronico Adlao
Area[1]
  Total 170.58 km2 (65.86 sq mi)
Population (2010)[2]
  Total 28,415
  Density 170/km2 (430/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 6608
Dialing code 53

Hinunangan is a 3rd class[1] municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 28,415,[2] a 2.47% growth compared to the 2007 census.[3]

Hinunangan is known as the "Rice Granary of the Province" for its vast plain land that is entirely planted with rice. Hinunangan has great potential for tourism because of its beautiful sand beaches and islands. The town is also a producer of rattan and wood-based furnitures, abaca handicrafts items, pineapple, vegetables, other forest products, and bamboo furnitures. It has a potential for mineral water and root crops processing and copper mining.[4]

Hinunangan is also known as a major gateway in Leyte because of its near proximity to Tacloban City. The opening of AbuyogSilago Road cuts travel time by more than 50 percent, from the previous 6 hours (Tacloban–Hinunangan Route) to less than 3 hours. It is also the place in Southern Leyte with the most immigrants from Europe and North America.

It has a lot of touristic places, such as Tahusan, Talisay or the twin islands (known as Cabugan Grande and Cabugan Chico as Pigafetta stated in his account during their travel with Magellan).. There are also hotels, inns, a public market and beach resorts.

Geography

Hinunangan is home to the highest mountain in the province, Mount Nacolod, with an elevation of 948 metres (3,110 ft) above sea level.[5]

Barangays

View of Hinunangan Bay from Poblacion
San Pablo and San Pedro Islands off the coast of Hinunangn. The town's major tourist attraction.
White beach at San Pablo Island, Hinunangan

Hinunangan is politically subdivided into 40 barangays,[1] two of which are island barangays located at the east of the town. The twin islands are accessible by motorized boats through Barangay Canipa-an.

Barangay Population
(2007)
Population
(2010)[2]
Ambacon
637
637
Badiangon
647
589
Bangcas A
668
743
Bangcas B
903
959
Biasong
609
566
Bugho
961
1,003
Calag-itan
1,167
1,180
Calayugan
678
700
Calinao
317
264
Canipaan
1,425
1,509
Catublian
1,373
1,503
Ilaya
520
472
Ingan
923
1,018
Labrador
800
802
Libas
463
449
Lumbog
363
337
Manalog
700
731
Manlico
745
752
Matin-ao
506
520
Nava
1,798
1,801
Nueva Esperanza
651
664
Otama
543
993
Palongpong
405
475
Panalaron
588
677
Patong
706
710
Poblacion
799
898
Pondol
957
993
Salog
349
353
Salvacion
519
483
San Pablo Island
427
440
San Pedro Island
473
486
Santo Niño I
559
524
Santo Niño II
946
1,004
Tahusan
920
960
Talisay
553
597
Tawog
486
523
Toptop
434
419
Tuburan
600
627
Union
397
378
Upper Bantawon
197
162

History

In 1521, Magellan recorded sighting Hunonganan (Hinunangan) during the voyage in Leyte Gulf. As far back in 1750, Hinunangan was a mid-way station of Boholanos trading in Eastern Leyte. They rested overnight at the mouth of Das-ay River where they moored their boats. A shelter was built for the crews and tenders known as "hononganan" or stopover. Hence the name. In 1822, a certain Boholano named Palonoy founded Hinunangan.[6] At this time, Silago to the north and Hinundayan and Anahawan to the south were part of Hinunangan.

In 1944, in the greatest naval battle in history the blocking warship of the Liberation waylaid the Japanese Fleet near Hinunangan. Thus, the area in Southern Leyte is the natural frontier of historically significant events in Philippine history.

2007 earthquake

On July 19, 2007, a strong earthquake hit the town with magnitude 6 on Richter scale and damaged some properties. The partial assessment report of Hinunangan dated July 20, a copy of which was obtained by PIA through Gov. Mercado, placed the estimated cost of damage to properties at P1,650,000.00 broken down as P790,000 for government infrastructure and P860,000 from private infrastructure.[7]

Among the public properties destroyed were the water system - P 500,000; Das-ay Bridge railguard - P100,000; East Central School Concrete Fence - P80,000; Otama Elementary School - P50,000; Patong Elementary School - P40,000; and Tahusan Elementary School—P20,000.[7]

The private infrastructure damaged included the Roman Catholic Bell tower - P100,000; Water tank of the Catholic convent - P40,000; Manalog barangay Chapel - P20,000; Sto. Nino barangay Chapel - P10,000; a number of houses - P400,000, and various appliances, P290,000.

Demographics

Population census of Hinunangan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 22,454    
1995 22,170−0.24%
2000 25,016+2.62%
2007 27,712+1.42%
2010 28,415+0.92%
Source: National Statistics Office[2]

Education

High schools:

Universities:

Other:

Health Care

Communication

Mobile:

Cable television:

Internet:

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Province: Southern Leyte". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010". 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  3. , NTSB National Statistics
  4. , Southern Leyte LGU website
  5. , NSCB Southern Leyte Profile
  6. Hinunangan History, Hinunangan.net
  7. 7.0 7.1 Hinunangan MDCC bares earthquake partial damage assessment report, Philippine Information Agency
  8. TESDA Hinunangan Skills and Technological Center

External links

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