Catarman, Northern Samar

Catarman
Municipality

Map of Northern Samar showing the location of Catarman
Catarman

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 12°27′N 124°39′E / 12.450°N 124.650°E / 12.450; 124.650Coordinates: 12°27′N 124°39′E / 12.450°N 124.650°E / 12.450; 124.650
Country  Philippines
Region Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Province Northern Samar
Barangays 55
Government[1]
  Mayor Francisco C. Rosales, Jr. (NUP)
Area[2]
  Total 464.43 km2 (179.32 sq mi)
Population (2015)[3]
  Total 94,037
  Density 200/km2 (520/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Catarmananon
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 6400
Dialing code 55
Income class 1st
Urban/Rural Partially urban

Catarman (Waray: Bungto san Catarman; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Catarman; Filipino: Bayan ng Catarman) is a first class municipality and the capital of Northern Samar, Philippines. It is the largest town in terms of land area and population in the province. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 94,037, making it the most populous municipality in Eastern Visayas. It is the commercial, educational, financial, political and government center of the province. It lies on the northern part of Samar Island, bounded to the east by Mondragon, to the west by Bobon, to the south by Lope de Vega, and to the north by the Philippine Sea.

Geography

On the Pacific coast are flat lowlands with the interior characterized by outlying low hills. Mount Puyao in Barangay Liberty is the highest peak in the area. The Catarman River, a major provincial river, divides the eastern and the western parts of the town. It is fed by the Paticua, Hibulwangan, Mahangna, Tura, and Danao creeks together with lesser prominent estuaries.

Barangays

The Municipality of Catarman is politically subdivided into 55 barangays, 17 of them in the poblacion.[2]

  • Acacia (pob.)
  • Aguinaldo
  • Airport Village (pob.)
  • Bangkerohan
  • Baybay (pob.)
  • Bocsol
  • Cabayhan
  • Cag-abaca
  • Cal-igang
  • Calachuchi (pob.)
  • Casoy (pob.)
  • Cawayan
  • Cervantes
  • Cularima
  • Daganas
  • Dalakit (pob.)
  • Doña Pulqueria
  • Galutan
  • Gebalagnan
  • Gibulwangan
  • Guba
  • Hinatad
  • Imelda
  • Ipil-ipil (pob.)
  • Jose Abad Santos (pob.)
  • Jose P. Rizal (pob.)
  • Lapu-lapu (pob.)
  • Liberty
  • Libjo
  • Mabini
  • Mabolo (pob.)
  • Macagtas
  • Malvar
  • McKinley
  • Molave (pob.)
  • Narra (pob.)
  • New Rizal
  • Old Rizal
  • Paticua
  • Polangi
  • Quezon
  • Salvacion
  • Sampaguita (pob.)
  • San Julian
  • San Pascual
  • Santol (pob.)
  • Somoge
  • Talisay (pob.)
  • Tinowaran
  • Trangue
  • UEP Zone I
  • UEP Zone II
  • UEP Zone III
  • Washington
  • Yakal (pob.)

History

Welcome sign at Catarman
Catarman Legislative Building
Catarman Municipal Hall
Catarman Cathedral

Before the coming of the Spaniards, Catarman (Calatman) or (Cataruman) was a settlement by the mouth of the river of the same name in the region called Ibabao. The Spanish Conquistadores freely applied the name Ibabao to the northern part of Samar island when it established its civil government. The similarities in the vocabularies and pronunciation of the dialects of these areas traces them to a common root as a people.

The town was one of the 13 villages and settlements and adopted as pueblos by the Spaniards in Samar Island and was one of the settlements in the northern parts of the island. The pueblo was named Calatman and was one of the pueblos in the Visayan islands, then collectively referred to as Islas de Pintados. Test Edit.

Conversion to Cityhood

In 2003, its application for cityhood was deterred after officials of the neighboring of towns Bobon and Mondragon opposed the planned Catarman City conglomeration, which was necessary to meet the criteria for the approval of its bid for cityhood. Another bill was filed converting the Municipality of Catarman into a component city of Northern Samar but is still pending with the Committee on Local Government in the House of Representatives since July 2010. The rise of establishments and banking institutions has swiftly came and filled the spaces of Catarman that paved the way for it to become competitive.

Demographics

Population census of Catarman
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 9,994    
1918 13,278+1.91%
1939 21,007+2.21%
1948 33,153+5.20%
1960 39,434+1.46%
1970 44,438+1.20%
1975 53,267+3.70%
1980 59,021+2.07%
1990 50,965−1.46%
1995 61,705+3.65%
2000 67,671+2.00%
2007 81,067+2.52%
2010 84,833+1.67%
2015 94,037+1.98%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][4][5][6]

Transportation

Catarman National Airport Terminal
Aerial view of Catarman

There is only one airline operating through the Catarman National Airport (IATA: CRM) coming from and going to Manila: PAL Express. Flights are frequently booked out well in advance and a one way ticket from Manila costs between PhP3,000 and PhP8,000 unless booked well in advance. Pedicabs, commonly known as "padyak" and tricycles are the means of transportation within the town, while multicabs, jeepneys, and vans are the means of transportation to neighboring and distant towns within the province. Several taxi and bus companies are also operating from the town going to Manila or Tacloban city and vice versa.

Education

Catarman is home to the University of Eastern Philippines, the first state university in the visayas and the largest university by student population and curriculum in Eastern Visayas. The University has satellite campuses in the province, one in Laoang and the other in Catubig (officially known the Pedro Rebadulla Memorial Campus), and has several extension programs offered across satellite campuses in the region.

Catarman is also an abode to the top performing schools in the region which already have a name in the National Level.

Other public and private schools (but not limited to):

Elementary:

Highschool:

College/Vocational:

References

  1. "Municipalities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Province: Northern Samar". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  3. 1 2 Census of Population (2015). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  5. Census of Population (1995, 2000 and 2007). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City and Municipality. NSO. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011.
  6. "Province of Northern Samar". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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