Calbayog, officially the City of Calbayog (Waray: Siyudad san Calbayog; Filipino: Lungsod ng Calbayog), is a 1st class component city in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 186,960 people.[3]
It lies along the coastal region of the province stretching about 60 miles (97 km) from the northern tip of the island and 180 miles (290 km) from southern boundaries.
It is the sixth largest city in terms of land and water areas in the Philippines. It is the nineteenth city of the Philippines. In 2020, Calbayog has 37,807 households with a population of 186,960 people, making up 24.7% of the total population of the province of Samar which is the most populous.[5] Calbayog is one of the commercial trade centers in Eastern Visayas. Calbayog is subdivided into three major districts: Calbayog, Tinambacan and Oquendo.
History
Unraveling of Revolutionary Society, Katipunan
After the exile of Rizal in Dapitan, the Katipunan was born in Binondo, Manila. Andres Bonifacio and his men moved heaven and earth to fight against the Spanish government then led by Gob. Heneral Polavieja. The katipunan expanded its membership from Luzon down to the Visayas Region, thereby increasing the number of Katipuneros in a span of one year. Sensing the secret plan of the Katipunan to overthrow the government, the Spanish authorities raided a Binondo printing press where subversive documents were found and confiscated. One of the documents seized was the list of members of the Katipunan. The name Benedicto Nijaga was one in the list, being the collector of revolutionary funds in the area. Upon learning of the arrests, Governor Polavieja ordered the arrest of all suspected members of the Katipunan. Nijaga was arrested together with twelve other katipuneros while campaigning for revolutionary funds. Shortly after they were jailed and reportedly tortured, a trial ensued, reminiscent of that of Rizal and other Filipino nationalists.[6] The 13 men were convicted and sentenced to death. On January 11, 1897, the thirteen were taken to Bagumbayan field under heavy guard. Just before sunrise, the men were executed.[7]
In 1942, the Japanese Army occupied Calbayog city. In 1945 the city was finally liberated by the Philippine Commonwealth troops and the guerrillas who had continued the fight against the Japanese throughout World War II. It was only much later that other dioceses in the region were created.
Republic Act No. 328, otherwise known as the City Charter of Calbayog was signed into law on July 15, 1948, by then President Elpidio Quirino. The first set of city officials, incumbent municipal officials of the place, were sworn in on October 16, 1948. The city comprises the territorial jurisdiction of the former Municipalities of Calbayog, Oquendo and Tinambacan.[9]
2008: Death of a Judge
In January 2008 Roberto Navidad, a Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge was shot dead in Calbayog City outside a drug store at the corner of Gomez Street and Nijaga Boulevard. As of 2008, the crime was still unsolved.[10] He was the 15th judge to be ambushed in the Philippines since July 20, 1999 (the 14th under the Arroyo government).
2011 Onwards: Political Deaths
On May 1, 2011, Calbayog's Mayor Reynaldo Uy was murdered by unknown gunmen. After his death, Vice-Mayor Ronaldo P. Aquino was sworn in as city mayor.[11]
On March 8, 2021, approximately 10 years after the death of Mayor Uy, Mayor Ronaldo P. Aquino was ambushed and killed by members of the Samar Provincial Police while on his way to his son's birthday party. The van he was riding was pelted with multiple bullets from high-powered arms. Two of his personnel were also among the casualties of the ambush.[12]
Vice Mayor Diego P. Rivera has been appointed as successor and is currently the Mayor of Calbayog City.[13]
On June 9, 2021, a senate investigation led by Senator Ronald "Bato" de la Rosa was conducted where the PNP, NBI and members of the Aquino family presented their testimonies and findings. Charges have been filed on the policemen. As of the 2022 election, Raymund "Monmon" Uy is now the city's mayor.[14][15]
Upgrade of city status
In the last quarter of 2021, Samar 1st district congressman Edgar Mary Sarmiento proposed to convert the city of Calbayog from being a component city into an independent component city through the virtue of House Bill No. 10483.[16]
Geography
The city has a total land area of 88,074 hectares (217,640 acres) as of 2007 which is 0.29% of the Philippines total land area, 3.79% of the regional land area, 6.12% of the island of Samar and 14.56% of the Samar province area.[17][18][19]
Forty percent of the city's land area are plain and hilly terrains with elevation ranging from 5 to 20 metres (16 to 66 ft) above sea level. The rest are rugged mountain ranges with elevations from 300 to 700 metres (980 to 2,300 ft) above sea level. Flooding is minimized because of many rivers, brooks, streams and natural water conveyors that flow towards the sea.
Climate
Calbayog experiences a variety of wind types: Amihan (northeastwind), Timog (southwind), Habagat (southwestwind), Canaway (northwest wind), Cabunghan (east wind), Dumagsa (southeast wind) and Salatan (west wind).
Calbayog has well distributed rainfall throughout the year, except during the summer months of February through May, when most parts of the city are dry. The highest rainfall intensity recorded is 267 millimetres (10.5 in) per hour. Heavy downpour is seldom experienced in the locality, therefore making Calbayog potentially appropriate for protective agricultural investment.
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[20]
Barangays
Calbayog is politically subdivided into 157 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
These barangays are grouped in three districts.
Calbayog District
The district is located in the southern and eastern boundaries of the city and is the main political and commercial District the city. The district is bounded to the north by the Oquendo and Tinambacan districts, to the south by the municipality of Santa Margarita and to the east by Matuguinao. The district comprises 84 barangays and has a population of 103,051 (2015 census) with a land area of about 446.6 square kilometres (172.4 sq mi).
Barangays of the Calbayog District
Acedillo
Aguit-itan
Alibaba
Anislag
Awang East
Awang West
Bagacay
Bagong Lipunan
Balud
Basud
Bontay
Buenavista
Cacaransan
Cagbanayacao
Cagboborac
Cagsalaosao
Cahumpan
Calocnayan
Canhumadac
Capoocan
Carayman
Carmen
Central
Cogon
Dagum
Dinawacan
Esperanza
Gabay
Gadgaran
Gasdo
Geraga-an
Guimbaoyan Norte
Guimbaoyan Sur
Guin-on
Hamorawon
Helino
Hibabngan
Hibatang
Higasaan
Himalandrog
Jacinto
Jimautan
Kalilihan
Kilikili
La Paz
Langoyon
Lonoy
Looc
Mabini I
Mancol
Matobato
Maybog
Maysalong
Migara
Naga
Naguma
Navarro
Nijaga
Obrero
Olera
Osmeña
Pagbalican
Palanas
Palanogan
Panonongan
Patong
Payahan
Pinamorotan
Rawis
Rizal I and Sitio Caballero
Roxas I
Salvacion
San Antonio
San Isidro
San Jose
San Policarpio
Saputan
Sinantan
Tabawan
Tanval
Tapa-e
Tigbe
Trinidad
Victory
Villahermosa
Tinambacan District
The Tinambacan district is located along the northern boundaries of the city, it is bounded to the north by the municipality of San Isidro, to the south by the Calbayog district and to the east by the Oquendo district. The district comprises 27 barangays and has a population of 46,157 (2015 census) with a land area of 182.9 square kilometres (70.6 sq mi).
Barangays of the Tinambacan District (27)
Amampacang
Ba-ay
Bante
Bantian
Binaliw
Bugtong
Caglanipao Sur
Cagmanipes Norte
Cagmanipes Sur
Cagnipa
Cag-olango
Cangomaod
Danao I
Danao II
Malaga
Malajog
Malayog
Malopalo
Manguino-o
Marcatubig
Peña
Saljag
San Joaquin
Tinambacan Norte
Tinambacan Sur
Tinaplacan
Tomaliguez
Oquendo District
The Oquendo District is located along the northeastern boundaries of the city, it is bounded to the north by Lope De Vega, to the south by the Calbayog district, to the east by Silvino Lobos and to the west by the Tinambacan district. The district comprises 46 barangays and has a population of 34,643 (2015 census) with a land area of 251.2 square kilometres (97.0 sq mi).
According to the 2015 census, Calbayog has a population of 183,851 making up 23.6% of the entire population of Samar Province as of August 1, 2015.[25]
Infrastructure
Utilities
Water and Sanitation
Calbayog Water (now owned by Manila Water) is in charge of the water utility in Calbayog City. As of 2017, it was using the Himonini River and Pasungon Falls as water sources.[26] The Dawu interior of Danaw, water reservoir, a dam was built for the Calbayog City Water District near Malajog. The dam was built for irrigation to nearby villages of Pilar and Dawu. The old dam or reservoir that was built near Oquendo is somewhat hefty and expensive since it uses river water and its expensive to purify the river water. The new reservoir was connected to the old pipelines of Calbayog City Water District. Some Fire truck Hydrants were located inside the City.
Energy and Power
Samar I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SAMELCO I) is located in Carayman, Calbayog. It has three sub-stations powered by the Tongonan Geothermal Energy and transmissioned by National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to its main office in Carayman then to its three sub-stations at 3600 volts, stepped down.[27][28]
Alferez Biktoy — the namesake of a musical staged by the City Arts and Culture Office for the centennial celebration of Philippine independence[citation needed]
Cardinal Julio Rosales — (September 18, 1906 – June 2, 1983) the second Archbishop of Cebu, was a Filipinocardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. A native of Calbayog, he made his studies at the Seminary of Calbayog and was ordained in his hometown on June 2, 1929. From 1929 to 1946, he did pastoral work in the diocese of Calbayog. He was consecrated bishop of Tagbilaran on September 21, 1946.