Norzagaray, Bulacan

Norzagaray
Municipality

The Sierra Madre Mountains in Norzagaray

Seal

Map of Bulacan showing the location of Norzagaray
Norzagaray

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 14°55′N 121°03′E / 14.92°N 121.05°E / 14.92; 121.05Coordinates: 14°55′N 121°03′E / 14.92°N 121.05°E / 14.92; 121.05
Country Philippines
Region Central Luzon (Region III)
Province Bulacan
District 3rd District
Founded 1860
Barangays 13
Government
 • Mayor Geronimo G. Cristobal Jr.
Area[1]
 • Total 309.77 km2 (119.60 sq mi)
Highest elevation 1,188 m (3,898 ft)
Population (2015 census)[2]
 • Total 111,348
 • Density 360/km2 (930/sq mi)
 • Poverty rate Decrease 6.7%
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 3013
IDD : area code  +63 (0)44
Income class 1st class urban
Electricity Manila Electric Company
• Consumption 21.23 million kWh (2003)
Website norzagaray.gov.ph

Norzagaray is a first class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 111,348 people.[2]

It is the location of Angat Dam which sits on the lower realms of the Sierra Madre mountain range, the Dam is notable for being a major water and power supply for the National Capital Region.

History

The nucleus of what today is the Town of Norzagaray traces from the old barrio Casay and barrio Matictic which was ecclesiastically and politically administered by the Augustinians from the Town of Angat as its visitas as shown in the document "Mapa del Teritorio de Bulacan" by Fray Emmanuel Blanco O.S.A in 1832 which appeared in another document "Administracion Espiritual de los Padres Agustinos calzados de la Provincia del Dulce Nombre de Jesus de las Islas Filipinas" of Fray Francisco Villacorta in 1833.

The people of Barrio Casay worked for reforms politically, socially and economically, in order to be separated from Angat. They succeeded in their separation bid through Governor-General Fernándo Norzagaray y Escudero (1857-1860) who issued a Real Cedula declaring barrio Casay together with barrio Matictic to be constituted as a new independent town from Angat. Political boundaries of Angat and Pueblo de Casay y Matictic were demarcated and the newly created town was renamed as "Norzagaray" in honor of the said Governor-General Fernando de Norzagaray.

Geography

The town of Norzagaray is bordered by City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and Rodriguez, Rizal, to the south; by General Nakar, Quezon to the east; Santa Maria to the west; Angat, Bulacan is north-west; and Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan is to the north.

Barangays

Norzagaray is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. Friendship Village Resources (FVR) was created into a barangay under Sangguniang Panlalawigan Kapasiyahan Bilang 179-T 2002 and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Kautusan Bilang 003 on April 18, 2002; ratified on October 12, 2002; taken from barangay Tigbe.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2015[2] 2010[3]
031413003 Bangkal 1.3% 1,419 1,325 ▴ 1.31%
031413004 Baraka 0.5% 523 581 ▾ −1.98%
031413006 Bigte 10.9% 12,118 11,032 ▴ 1.80%
031413007 Bitungol 9.1% 10,177 8,020 ▴ 4.64%
031413015 Matictic 10.8% 12,025 10,395 ▴ 2.81%
031413016 Minuyan 9.0% 10,038 8,810 ▴ 2.52%
031413020 Partida 4.9% 5,422 5,267 ▴ 0.55%
031413021 Pinagtulayan 1.8% 1,996 1,495 ▴ 5.66%
031413022 Poblacion 14.6% 16,262 15,642 ▴ 0.74%
031413024 San Mateo 7.8% 8,630 9,089 ▾ −0.98%
031413031 Tigbe 14.4% 16,058 14,846 ▴ 1.51%
031413032 San Lorenzo 1.8% 1,990 1,980 ▴ 0.10%
031413033 Friendship Village Resources (FVR) 13.2% 14,690 14,613 ▴ 0.10%
Total 111,348 103,095 ▴ 1.48%

Demographics

Population census of Norzagaray
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 5,131—    
1918 6,747+1.84%
1939 10,789+2.26%
1948 13,394+2.43%
1960 12,202−0.77%
1970 19,144+4.60%
1975 23,750+4.42%
1980 26,032+1.85%
1990 33,485+2.55%
1995 51,015+8.21%
2000 76,978+9.22%
2007 105,470+4.44%
2010 103,095−0.83%
2015 111,348+1.48%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[2][3][4][5]

In the 2015 census, the population of Norzagaray was 111,348 people,[2] with a density of 360 inhabitants per square kilometre or 930 inhabitants per square mile.

Municipal government

Town hall, seat of the Government

Just as the national government, the municipal government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative and judiciary. The judicial branch is administered solely by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The LGUs have control of the executive and legislative branch.

The executive branch is composed of the governor for the provinces, mayor for the cities and municipalities, and the barangay captain for the barangays.Local Government Code of the Philippines, Book III, Department of Interior and Local Government official website. The legislative branch is composed of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial assembly) for the provinces, Sangguniang Panlungsod (city assembly) for the cities, Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly) for the municipalities, Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council), and the Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.

The seat of Government is vested upon the Mayor and other elected officers who hold office at the Town hall. The Sanguniang Bayan is the center of legislation.

Economy

Republic Cement Plant

The town main industry are Cement Manufacturing and Quarrying. Other industry of the town are Agriculture and Tourism.

Tourism

Norzagary Cockpit Arena

Today, the town of Norzagaray is quickly rising in terms of commercial and economic status with tourist potentials. "Bakas" which is on a portion of the Angat River is recognized as one of the busiest places in the locality, particularly during summertime, which is noted for its natural beauty. People from distant towns often visit the place for relaxation.

Another potential spot for tourism is the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve where the Angat River Hydroelectric Plant or Angat Dam is located. The dam is the biggest hydroelectric plant the National Power Corporation (NPC) has ever constructed in terms of power capacity within the entire Philippines. Because of Angat Dam's size, its reservoir sinks to critical levels during the dry season necessitating the need for cloud seeding in some years. The 37-kilometre (23 mi) reservoir of this hydroelectric plant is covered with forests producing a cool climate.

Another is the Pinagrealan Cave located in Barangay Bigte. This cave is a subterranean network of caverns extending more than a kilometer deep. The Katipunero Revolutionaries during the war against Spain used it as a camp in 1896 and again during the Filipino-American War in 1898 as hideout of General Emilio Aguinaldo (the First President of the Philippines). It was also used as a sanctuary by the Japanese Imperial Army when the Philippines was liberated by joint Filipino and American Forces.

There are still other sites with tourism potential in the locality. However, some of these places are located in remote areas of the town, which are inaccessible to motor vehicles, therefore in need of immediate attention.

The town of Norzagaray is rich in natural resources and endowed with natural beauty. Its people are claimed to be religious, industrious and very hospitable just like any other person from Bulacan.

The town people do have recreation like legal gambling. The government and private sectors provided services and education to the natives.

The town is rich in scenic spots, navigable rivers and medieval Churches, inter alia. The following are the points of interests:

Historical and Cultural Heritage

The natives are religious and hear Mass or pray in the Catholic and INC churches. The town also remembers the 31 heroes of the Revolution.

Religious

St. Andrew, the Apostle Church

Santuario de Paz Memorial Park (Minuyan)

The town's prime eternal repose garden is located in Minuyan.

Bulacan 11-billion peso bulk water supply project

On December 12, 2007, Bulacan and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) signed an agreement for the development of a P11-billion bulk water supply project. Ayala-owned Manila Water Co. Inc. will implement the project. MWSS and Manila Water will provide a financial package of an infrastructure grant, a P10-million development assistance and a P10-million royalty fee to the towns of Norzagaray and Doña Remedios Trinidad, which will host the water supply project.[6]

18-hectare landfill

On January 19, 2008, an 18-hectare waste disposal facility, a new sanitary landfill that would also be a tourist attraction opened in Norzagaray, Bulacan province. The president of Wacuman Corp. stated: "I want them to see our system in our place which should not be abhorred because we are using the new state-of-the-art technology." The facility has a category 4 rating (the highest category for a sanitary landfill) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Province: BULACAN". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  4. ↑ Census of Population (1995, 2000 and 2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City and Municipality. NSO. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011.
  5. ↑ "Province of Bulacan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  6. ↑ Abs-Cbn, Bulacan govt, MWSS ink deal on bulk water supply project
  7. ↑ abs-cbnnews.com, New landfill opens in Norzagaray, Bulacan
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