Daraga, Albay

Daraga Banuaan kan Daraga
Municipality
Daraga Church with Mayon Volcano at the background
Nickname(s): Home of the Ruins
Map of Albay showing the location of Daraga
Daraga Location within the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol (Region V)
Province	Albay
District	2nd district
Founded	June 12, 1772
Barangays	54
Government
• Mayor	Gerry R. Jaucian
• Vice Mayor	Carlos V. Baylon
Area
• Total	118.64 km2 (45.81 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	115,804
• Density	980/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Daragueño
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	4501
Dialing code	52
Income class	1st class
Website	daraga.gov.ph

Daraga is a first class municipality in the province of Albay, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 115,804 people. It is home to the landmark Cagsawa Ruins.

Geography

The Municipality of Daraga is located in the south-west portion of Albay Province along the Maharlika Highway, making it accessible from Manila and the Visayas, as well as the other municipalities of eastern Bicol Peninsula. It is roughly "boot-shaped", with the "tall" part ranging 13.05–13.25° north latitude and 123.66–123.73° east longitude and the "wide" part ranging 13.02–13.09° north latitude and 123.56–123.71° east longitude. It is bounded on the north and east by Legazpi City, on the south by the Province of Sorsogon (particularly the municipality of Pilar), and on the west by the Municipalities of Camalig and Jovellar.

A land-locked municipality, Daraga has a total land area of 11,860 hectares (29,300 acres). This is about 4.70% of the land area of Albay Province. This municipal land area is distributed among the present 16 urban barangays and 42 rural barangays. The urban barangays total 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) (12.65%) and the rural barangays make up the remaining 10,360 hectares (25,600 acres) (87.35%) of the total municipal land area.

Climate

The Municipality of Daraga has a general wet climate characterized by a lack of a dry season. Maximum rainfall is from November to January, and average monthly rainfall is 223.4 millimetres (8.80 in). Prevailing winds are generally from north-east to south-west. Average temperature is 27.0 °C (80.6 °F). But the climate change phenomenon has changed the past climate pattern. Dry spells are becoming more pronounced, as it is with the wet season. The phenomenon is felt all over the country as well.

Elevation

67.3% of the total municipal land area has a predominantly low elevation of up to 100 metres (330 ft). The surface terrain is generally characterized by combination of level to nearly level areas, gentle to undulating areas and undulating to rolling areas.

Soil

The different soil types to be found within the Municipality of Daraga are the Mayon Gravelly Sandy Loam, Annam Clay Loam, Gravelly Sandy Loam, Legazpi Fine Sandy Loam (Stoney Phase), Sevilla Clay Loam and Sevilla Clay .

The underlying geology are made up of several types, namely Alluvium, Shale and Sandstone Limestone and Basalt and Andesite Series. The prevalent geologic type is the Shale and Sandstone Sequence and other equally significant geologic types such as alluvium. Recent Volcanic, Crystalline Limestone and Psyroclastine Limestone are found near the base of Mayon Volcano mostly in the urban barangays.

Minerals available within the municipality of Daraga are non-metallic consisting of Gravel, and Boulders. These minerals are abundant in Barangays Budiao, Busay, Bañadero and Matnog brought down from the slopes of Mayon Volcano during occurrences of volcanic eruptions and rains.

Drainage

The surface drainage pattern of the Municipality of Daraga is largely affected by the water run-off coming from Mayon Volcano coupled with those from other directions. Major river systems which convey and act as natural drainage channels as well as water source include:

1. Yawa River in Barangay Cullat, Malobago, Kilicao, Tagas, Binitayan & Bañag which connects to the Albay Gulf in Legazpi City
2. Colabos Creek in Bañag, San Roque, Market Area, Sagpon, and Bagumbayan
3. Quillarena River in Malabog & Budiao
4. Gumacon Creek in Barangay Maroroy, Tagas
5. Gulang-Gulang Creek in Barangay Pandan

History

The word daraga historically referred to a maiden, and is the modern term for an unmarried woman in many of the Bikol languages. The original settlement of Daraga dates back to 12th century, but has changed location repeatedly due to the constant threats posed by Mayon Volcano. The town was previously named Budiao, Cagsawa, and Locsin.

Year	Event
12th c.	Early settlers were mostly traders. The name Daraga came from a type of tree that was abundant on the hill where a baroque Catholic church now stands.
1587	Franciscan missionaries arrive, and christen the place Budiao, later renaming it to Cagsawa.
1595	Cagsawa becomes a visita (satellite mission station) attached to the town of Camalig.
1772	Governor-General Simón de Anda renames Cagsawa to Salcedo, which is later renamed Daraga.
1814	Town is destroyed in the deadliest eruption of Mayon Volcano, killing 1,200 people that sought refuge inside the church.
1815	Government for Daraga is formally organized, with Venancio Espíritu Salomon as Barangay Captain.
1892	Under the Becerra Law, Daraga becomes a constituent of Legazpi City.
1922	Daraga regains its autonomy when the Philippine Assembly ordered the partition of Daraga from Albay, composed of Albay and Legazpi City.
1948	Under Republic Act 306, Daraga is again incorporated into Legazpi as one of its districts.
1954	R.A. 993 officially recreates the Municipality of Daraga.
1959	Daraga renamed to Locsin.
1967	R.A. 4994 restores the name Daraga.
1973	Under Presidential Decree 125, Daraga is again incorporated as part of Legazpi City; implementation of decree was suspended.
1993	Daraga adjudged the 'cleanest and greenest' municipality in Bicol.
2001	Mayon Volcano erupts in June, blanketing the town with an inch of ash.
2002	Municipal government finishes construction of modern supermarket.
2006	Mudflows from Mayon Volcano, triggered by heavy rains from Typhoon Reming (international name: Durian) buried at least eight villages. More than 20,000 Individuals were evacuated, and thousands lost their homes.
2007	The National Museum declared the town's 400-year-old Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church a national cultural treasure.
2008	Daraga experiences economic boom with the opening of several national food chains and the opening of LCC Supermarket.
2010	The government of Daraga negotiates for the establishment of the Bicol International Airport in the town, with the proposed construction site in Barangay Alobo.
2012	Daraga holds first ever Cagsawa Festival in February.

Demographics

Population census of Daraga
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	83,928	—
1995	91,829	+1.70%
2000	101,031	+2.07%
2007	110,625	+1.26%
2010	115,804	+1.68%
Source: National Statistics Office

The 2010 municipal population of 115,804 is distributed among the urban and rural Barangays. The urban population is 48.54% while rural population completes the remaining 51.45%. The "built-up density" is 5,659 persons/km². It has a literacy rate of 96.08%. The municipality growth rate is 1.3%.

In terms of employment and livelihood, farming ranks high at 33.53%, crafts and related workers as well as elementary occupations follow second with 17.71% and 21.89% respectively.

Language

The languages spoken in Daraga include East Miraya (Daragueño), Bicol, Tagalog, and English.

Transportation

The tower is what remains of the Cagsawa Church, which was buried by the 1814 eruption of Mayon Volcano.

The Municipality of Daraga has a total Road Network of about 129.01 kilometers. This is categorized either as National Roads, Provincial Roads, Municipal Roads and Barangay Roads. These barangay Roads comprised the bulk of the municipality road network system. About 24.97% are concrete paved while the remaining 75.03% remains in Asphalt, Gravel of Earth fill pavement conditions. These are about 25 bridges within the municipality and 66.22% of which are within barangay roads while the other bridges are part of national, provincial of barangay roads.

Economy

Daraga's economy, originally agriculture-based, has rapidly transformed into an emerging urban system, benefiting from the economic opportunities of being located contiguously with the urban center of Legazpi. It draws trade relations with the island province of Masbate through the nearby Port of Pilar.

Daraga will be the site of the future Bicol International Airport which will further boost tourism in the region and will introduce more opportunities especially in this town. Local officials are now considering cityhood in the near future or upon the completion of the said international airport, if that so, Daraga would be the fourth city in Albay.

Daraga has the highest number of business establishments among towns in Albay. As of 2011 it has over 2,300 business establishments registered with the Permits and Licensing Office. The town is a center of handicraft manufacturing with several handicraft factories choosing their location in the municipality.

Tourism

Our Lady of the Gate Parish or Daraga church

Its existing tourist spots/attractions are the Cagsawa Ruins and Resort and Our Lady of the Gate Parish.

Cagsawa Ruins and Resort is located in Barangay Busay. Its prominent attraction is the Belfry of the Cagsawa Church which submerged in mudflow during the February 2, 1814, Mayon Volcano Eruption and killed 1,200 people. The site is presently developed and complete with facilities for rooms, lodging and food, toilets/bathrooms, stalls for native products /ornamentals, restaurant/eateries, telephones and administration office significant number of foreign and local tourist visit the site all year round and realizes a sizeable profit.

The Our Lady of the Gate Parish was constructed in 1773 atop Sta. Maria Hill in Brgy. San Roque and is uniquely known for its rich baroque architecture.

Barangays

Daraga is politically subdivided into 54 barangays.

Barangays	Class	Population	Area (ha)	Barangay head
Alcala	Rural	2,755	116.1802	Ester L. Llandeza
Alobo	Rural	792	160.6478	Dexter L. Marmol
Anislag	Urban	9,445	858.4977	Elmer Lodronio
Bagumbayan	Urban	3,254	132.5419	Mark C. Magalona
Balinad	Urban	2,230	153.7430	Ester Ll. Londonio
Bañadero	Rural	1,637	204.0003	Archie Bajamundi
Bañag	Urban	2,719	27.3543	Gayzel M. CardiÑO
Bascaran	Urban	3,946	423	Julius L. Duran
Bigao	Rural	1,015	296.0832	Salvador Miravalles
Binitayan	Urban	4,257	24.0552	Celilia A. Arevalo
Bongalon	Rural	1,123	73.4752	Ferelyn M. Seva
Budiao	Rural	271	290.0678	Jefferson M. Mapula
Burgos	Rural	1,122	148.6710	Meriam M. Millena
Busay	Rural	1,684	213.7914	Amado B. Lorejo
Canarom	Rural	501	247.3559	Efren M. Llasos
Cullat	Rural	1460	30.7778	Luis D. Espejo
de la Paz	Rural	773	73.1887	Maria L. Marjalino
Dinoronan	Rural	608	61.0673	Hirfa M. Espadilla
Gabawan	Rural	1,983	93.1821	Roberto C. Obispo
Gapo	Rural	1,982	389.2490	Jesus M. Magdaong Jr
Ibaugan	Rural	546	179.0034	Raul Ll. Malto
Ilawod	Urban	1,987	18.4240	Teddy A. Villanueva
Inarado	Rural	1,694	682.2203	Rommel N. Marticio
Kidaco	Rural	1,205	116.0303	Amelia Magallano
Kilicao	Urban	3,925	379.4295	Eriberto M. Madrona
Kimantong	Urban	1,980	20.9764	Joey M. MaÑAgo
Kinawitan	Rural	405	78.4592	Eduardo N. Lubiano
Kiwalo	Rural	1,160	57.6508	Janet L. Lorilla
Lacag	Rural	2,321	383.8633	Arthur L. Llabore Sr.
Mabini	Rural	581	124.8330	Ranulfo N. Llorera
Malabog	Rural	4,099	287.4584	Alvin L. Montallana
Malobago	Rural	492	61.5571	Eduardo Ll. Mazo
Maopi	Rural	1,166	252.9489	Alex M.LoteriÑA
Market Area	Urban	2,538	20.8215	Wilfredo N. Nayve
Maroroy	Urban	5,331	73.5990	Robenson "toto" Lubiano
Matnog	Rural	1,680	270.1466	Bonifacio M. Odiver
Mayon	Rural	1,759	356.6953	Adoracion Blazo
Mi-isi	Rural	1,028	518.1970	Elmer A. Lorica
Nabasan	Rural	506	552.1423	Menche A. Llamasares
Namantao	Rural	1538	363.0704	Marilou Llaneta
Pandan	Rural	1,683	94.3188	Rosalito Cimanes
Peñafrancia	Urban	2,986	193.7429	Jose M. Lobas
Sagpon	Urban	5,723	29.6158	Loreto Barajas
Salvacion	Rural	3,344	551.6138	Nelson N. Mabini
San Rafael	Rural	296	32.6412	Alodea M. Lisay
San Ramon	Rural	1,441	784.9949	Aidar L. Llaguno
San Roque	Urban	4,308	41.9651	Victor U. Perete
San Vicente Grande	Rural	961	346.5665	Elena M. Vibar
San Vicente Pequeño	Rural	320	63.6688	Gonzalo N. Marfil Sr.
Sipi	Urban	3,454	38.9200	Dexter Billy M. Lorica
Tabon-Tabon	Rural	2,588	207.9939	Ric M. Rodrigueza
Tagas	Urban	6,527	100.4492	Cherry M. Mayor
Talahib	Rural	541	341.9260	Nieves M. Jacob
Villahermosa	Rural	2,203	414.7122	Eladio L. Rodrigueza

The present (2014) town mayor is Gerry Jaucian.

Education

Elementary

Every barangay in town has a certain elementary school. Some elementary schools that are near the center are the large ones that serve the students.

High schools

• Anislag National High School
• Daraga NHS
• Malabog NHS
• Lacag NHS
• Anislag NHS - Bascaran HS Extension
• Banadero NHS
• Anislag NHS - San Vicente Grande HS Extension
• Kilicao HS
• Immaculate Concepcion College of Albay (ICCA) High School Department
• United Institute (U.I.) High School Department
• Mary's Child Science Oriented School (MCSOS) High School Department
• Bicol College (BC) High School Department.

Colleges

• Daraga Community College (DComC)
• Immaculate Concepcion College of Albay (ICCA)
• Bicol College (BC)
• Bicol University (Daraga Campus)
• Belen B. Francisco Foundation Inc.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code