Catbalogan City
| Location | |
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| Government | |
| Region | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) |
| Province | Samar (Capital) |
| District | 2nd district of Samar |
| Barangays | 57 |
| Income class: | 5th class; Partially Urban |
| Mayor | Hon. Coefredo "Tekwa" Uy |
| Cityhood | March 15, 2007 |
| Official Website | catbalogan.lgu-ph.com |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Area | 274.22 km² |
| Population | 84,180 306.9/km² |
| Coordinates | 11°47' N 124°53' E |
Catbalogan City is a 5th class city in the province of Samar, Philippines. It is the capital city of Samar. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 84,180 people in 16,100 households.
History
The city of Catbalogan was founded or settled sometime in October 1596, by the priests of the Jesuit Order. Friar Francisco de Otazo, who arrived in the Philippines in 1596, was the first missionary to bring the Catholic faith to the people of Catbalogan in 1768, the Spanish Franciscans took over.
The original name of the city was KATBALAUGAN or KABALAUGAN. The two syllables of the name are compounds of the prefix KAT or KA and the substantive noun BALAUG of the Samar-Leyte Visayan language. “Katbalaugan or Kabalaugan” means “a place where seafarers, fishermen or sailors take shelter or cover and are detained.” The old fishing village of Katbalaugan or Kabalaugan was the refuge of people riding in small boats and sailboats when the Northwest and Southwest monsoons blew during the months of July, August, and September.
During the early days of Spanish occupation of the Philippines, Samar was under the jurisdiction of Cebu. Later, it was declared a separate province. But, in 1735, Samar and Leyte were united into one province with Carigara, in Leyte, as the capital. The union, however, did not prove satisfactory. So in 1768, Samar again became a separate province from Leyte. Since then, Samar has emerged as an independent political unit with Catbalogan City as the capital.
On January 27, 1900, the Americans captured the city of Catbalogan. Civil government was established on June 17, 1902 with Julio Llorente of Cebu as the first governor of Samar.
On May 24, 1942, the Japanese forces landed in Barrio Pangdan and occupied the capital. On December 18, 1945, the American liberation forces re-occupied the city.
On June 19, 1965, the Philippine Congress approved Republic Act No. 4221 dividing Samar into Western Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar. Catbalogan thus ceased to be the capital of the whole island-province after enjoying the prestige of being the premier town of Samar for 197 years since 1768. Later Western Samar was renamed Samar with Catbalogan still as the capital city.
The greatest calamities that visited Catbalogan were big fires. The April 1, 1957 conflagration, considered as the most destructive fire, caused damage to properties in the amount of thirty million pesos (P30,000,000.00). The next was on May 19, 1969, where damage was estimated at twenty million pesos and the more than 100-year-old Roman Catholic Church was razed to the ground. Paradoxically, each time Catbalogan City suffered under the throes of these calamities, better buildings and structures emerged from the ashes.
As early as 1960, Catbalogan already agitated to become a city. In 1969, the bill creating Catbalogan into a city was being deliberated in the Senate, but the conflagration of 1969 caused it to be shelved.
On March 15, 2007, Catbalogan finally attained its cityhood status. Senator Manny Villar (President of the Senate); Jose De Venecia, Jr. (Speaker of the House of Representatives); Oscar G. Yabes (Secretary of the Senate); Roberto P. Nazareno (Secretary General, House of Representatives) and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (President of the Philippines) were among its signatories. The residents of Catbalogan ratified this change in a plebiscite held on June 16, 2007.
Geography
A. Location
The capital city of Catbalogan is located in the western seacoast of the Province of Samar. It is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Tarangnan and San Jorge, on the east by the municipality of Jiabong, and on the west by Maqueda Bay. The Pan-Philippine Highway traverses the city from Barangay San Vicente in the north through the poblacion to Barangay Lagundi in the south. It is about 800 kilometers south of Manila.
B. Land area
The total land area of Catbalogan City is 274.22 km². Its city proper covers an area of 1.30 skm².
There are 57 barangays in the entire city, twenty-one of which are situated in the poblacion. Another twenty-one barangays are located in the coastal areas and fifteen are in the interior or upland areas.
C. Topography
The topography of Catbalogan City is rough and its mountains are relatively high. Approximately 2% of the land area are plain and mostly found along the seacoast while 43% are rolling hills and 55% is mountainous.
The coastline of Catbalogan City is irregular with bays bordering the poblacion and other barangays. It has a total of ten (10) miles in length.
D. Climate and rainfall
The climate is classified as 4th type (mild) wherein rainfall is more or less distributed throughout the year.
In Catbalogan City there is hardly a month without rainfall. The driest month is April. Generally, there is no distinct dry season but the months of February, March, April and May comprise the shortest dry season. Rainfall is more or less uniform throughout the year and heaviest during the months of November and December.
Typhoons are very frequent during the months of August, September, October, November and December. Although Samar (Catbalogan City) has been popularly known as a typhoon-prone area, the truth is, the island of Samar is only being used as a reference point by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA.)
E. Soil types
The soils of Catbalogan City are of two types, namely, the Catbalogan clay loam and faraon clay. The clay loam, which is the predominant one, is the primary soil developed from shales and sandstones. The faraon clay, on the other hand, is a residual from Caroline limestone and is fair with organic matter contents. Limestone rocks are sometimes found on the surface. The clay loam is a type of soil suited for agriculture particularly for rootcrops.
Barangays
Catbalogan City is politically subdivided into 57 barangays.
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Transportation
How to reach Catbalogan City?
- You can reach Catbalogan City from Manila or Tacloban City by land, air or sea.
AIR
Currently, no commercial flights to Catbalogan City are available. However, the Catbalogan City airport on Buri Island is accessible to private and charter jets from Manila and elsewhere.
SEA
The Port of Catbalogan (Piers I and II) is classified as a national port that can handle passengers and cargoes to and from Manila, Cebu and other places.
LAND
Bus transit is the dominant public land transport to Catbalogan City from Manila or Tacloban City passing through the Pan-Philippine Highway (Maharlika Highway.) The public mode of transportation within the city is by tricycles or pedicabs.
Notable Attractions
- Cal-apog Beach - located in Barangay Pangdan - a rocky beach
- Sunshine Beach - located in Barangay Guinsorongan within the city proper - a prominent beach in Catbalogan City.
- Buri Beach - located on Buri Island, 12 km from the city proper. The beach has a long coastal stretch and is ideal for swimming and diving.
- Bangon Falls - located in Barangay Bangon in the interior mountains of Catbalogan City.
Notable Shopping Destinations
Major shopping center in Catbalogan City:
- Centro Shopping Mall
Places to Eat
- Ernie's Pizza
- Jollibee Catbalogan
- JC Foodspot
- Charito's Delights
Hotels / Lodging
- Rolet Hotel - Mabini St., Catbalogan City.
- Fame Hotel - 7th St., Catbalogan City.
- Maqueda Bay Hotel - Del Rosario St., Catbalogan City.
Elementary Schools
- Catbalogan I Elementary School
- Catbalogan II Elementary School
- Catbalogan III Elementary School
- Catbalogan IV Elementary School
- Elementary School Department (Saint Mary's College of Catbalogan, Samar College)
Secondary Schools
- Samar National School
- High School Department (Saint Mary's College of Catbalogan, Samar College, Samar State University)
- Catbalogan National Comprehensive High School
Colleges/Universities
Hospital / Health Facilities
- Samar Provincial Hospital
Banks / Financial Institutions
- Allied Banking Corporation
- China Bank Corporation
- Development Bank of the Philippines
- Land Bank of the Philippines
- Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company
- PCI - Equitable Bank
- Philippine National Bank
- Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
TV Networks and Cable Television
- Decobeam Cable TV Services
- D'Leopards CATV
Radio Stations
- DYMS
- DYRV
Telecommunications
- Bayan Telecommunications, Inc. (Bayan Tel)
- Bureau of Telecommunications
- Globe Telecom
- Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart Wireless)
- Sun Cellular Network
Government
Elected officers in the recently concluded 2007 election last May 14:
City Mayor
Hon. Coefredo T. Uy
Vice Mayor
Hon. Manuel Van A. Torevillas
Councilors:
1. Hon. Arthur Vaughn Zosa
2. Hon. Rodrigo C. Perez, Jr.
3. Hon. Manuel F. Correche
4. Hon. Perfecta Sabenecio
5. Hon. Herminia S. Cabral
6. Hon. Rodolfo T. Aquino
7. Hon. Teodoro V. Ilagan
8. Hon. Art Sherwin L. Gabon
9. Hon. Calixtro H. Rosal
10. Hon. Michelle Rose Arseño
External links
- Web Portal for Catbalogan and Samar
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- Catbalogan Airport
- 2000 Philippine Census Information
- Catbalogan LGU Website
- Marine Resources
| Cities and Municipalities of Samar |
|---|
| Almagro • Basey • Calbayog City • Calbiga • Catbalogan City • Daram • Gandara • Hinabangan • Jiabong • Marabut • Matuguinao • Motiong • Pagsanghan • Paranas • Pinabacdao • San Jorge • San Jose De Buan • San Sebastian • Santa Margarita • Santa Rita • Santo Niño • Tagapul-an • Talalora • Tarangnan • Villareal • Zumarraga |
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