Magarao, Camarines Sur

Magarao
Municipality

Magarao municipal hall

Map of Camarines Sur showing the location of Magarao
Magarao

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 13°40′N 123°11′E / 13.67°N 123.18°E / 13.67; 123.18Coordinates: 13°40′N 123°11′E / 13.67°N 123.18°E / 13.67; 123.18
Country Philippines
Region Bicol (Region V)
Province Camarines Sur
District 2nd district
Founded 1570
Barangays 15
Government[1]
  Mayor Philip Salvador A. Señar
Area[2]
  Total 44.97 km2 (17.36 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
  Total 25,694
  Density 570/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 4403
IDD:area code +63(0)54
Income class 4th class; partially urban

Magarao is a fourth class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 25,694 people.[3]

History

Magarao derived its name from a species of thorny wild bush locally known as garao-garao, which abundantly grows in the area. This type of plant no longer exists today as it was believed that the inhabitants of Magarao hindered its growth and propagation because of its thorny appearance.

It was a group of missionaries from the Order of Friars Minor who founded the town in 1570, although missionary work continued only in the year 1690.

Barangays

Magarao is politically subdivided into 15 barangays.

  • Barobaybay
  • Bell (Pob.)
  • Carangcang
  • Carigsa
  • Casuray
  • Monserrat (Pob.)
  • Ponong
  • San Francisco (Pob.)
  • San Isidro (Pob.)
  • San Juan (Pob.)
  • San Miguel
  • San Pantaleon (Pob.)
  • Santa Lucia (Pob.)
  • Santa Rosa
  • Sto. Tomas (Pob.)

Demographics

Population census of Magarao
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 4,374    
1918 5,717+1.80%
1939 8,556+1.94%
1948 10,411+2.20%
1960 8,501−1.67%
1970 10,938+2.55%
1975 11,846+1.61%
1980 13,414+2.52%
1990 16,623+2.17%
1995 18,264+1.78%
2000 20,964+3.00%
2007 22,515+0.99%
2010 24,274+2.78%
2015 25,694+1.09%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][4][5][6]

In the 2015 census, the population of Magarao was 25,694 people,[3] with a density of 570 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,500 inhabitants per square mile.

Languages

Bicol is widely spoken in the town, while Tagalog, Hiligaynon (Bisaya) and Ilocano are used immigrants and by locals as lingua francas when communicating with non-Bicolanos.

Religion

Residents of Magarao are predominantly Roman Catholic.

Barangay Sta. Lucia holds an annual novena to its patron saint, Lucy of Syracuse, nine days before her feast on 13 December. Villagers bring the saint's image in procession every morning of the novena at the poblacion, a celebration that attracts devotees from other parts of the Bicol Region. Hymns to the saint, known as the Gozos, as well as the Spanish version of the Ave Maria, are chanted during the dawn procession, which is followed by a Mass.

Economy

At present, Magarao belongs to the fifth class municipality although there are improvements being made by the local government to hasten its developmental stage. The town, through the initiative of its local officials, allows its constituents to engage into worthwhile activities by providing for them training and seminar workshops on various livelihood projects like ceramics training, papermaking, handicrafts and other community-based industries.

This was made possible due to the combined efforts made by the local government of Magarao and the provincial government of Camarines Sur through the Provincial Livelihood Training, Research and Development Program. PLTRD is geared towards providing community-based industries, identifying projects for product development and skills training and also conducting seminar and workshops for the various livelihood projects.

The residents of Magarao has immersed themselves in opportunities which would not just serve benefits for them but would obviously boost their town's economic condition.

Transportation

Coastal barangays are served by bancas that ply from the wharf near Naga City to the barangays of Ponong, Barobaybay and Carigsa along the Bicol River and in the estuarine areas.

Utilities

Power and electricity is supplied by the Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative II (CASURECO II).

References

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