History
CALBAYOG CITY HALL
Calbayog City (Waray: Syudad san Calbayog, Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Calbayog, Tagalog: Lungsod ng Calbayog) is a first class city in theprovince of Samar, Philippines. 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. Calbayog comprises 157 barangays, 25 of which are urban and 132 are rural. Calbayog is the third largest city in the Philippines in terms of land area.
According to the 2010 census, Calbayog has a population of 172,778 (37,395 households) making it the third most populated city in Eastern Visayas and the most populated city in Samar Island, the city alone makes up for 23.5% of the population of the province of Samar. Calbayog is one of the commercial trade centers in Eastern Visayas. And is the center of commerce in Samar. Its airport and a seaport make it an ideal gateway to Samar. Calbayog is subdivided into three major districts: Calbayog, Tinambacan, and Oquendo.
Calbayog's early history has been associated with the introduction and spread of Catholicism in the country. Calbayog started as one of the small settlements in the Island of Samar, an area assigned to the Jesuit missionaries. Jesuit chroniclers, as early as the 17th century, notably Fr. Ignacio Alcina, wrote many accounts about it and its people. Jesuit records and reports referred to the settlement initially as Ibatan and Jibatang (Hibatang). In the annual report of 1739 the name Calbayog appeared for the first time. Fr. de Huerta, a 19th century Franciscan writer, noted in his work Estado Geografico that in earlier times, Calbayog was called Tiayban for having been founded near a river of the same name. Then it was transferred due to a flood to the shore of the Hibatang River, whose name it took. Then again the settlers transferred to the place that they permanently occupied and took the name Calbayog.
Hibatang had already been a small settlement at the beginning of the 17th century. It slowly occupied a prominent place among the several small settlements. It became a visita (a large barrio with a chapel) of Capul under the jurisdiction of the Parish priest of that town. After the expulsion of the Jesuit missionaries from the Philippines in the 18th century, the administration of the parishes in Samar was handled over to the Franciscan friars.
Calbayog as a town and parish during the Spanish period was composed of several villages, the most populated of which are called visitas. Calbayog grew from visita size and became a pueblo (town). It was created a separate parish in 1785. Separated from the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the parish priest of Capul, it was later given its own minister, becoming a religious center. Its parish priests cared for the spiritual needs of the people living in what are now Calbayog City, the municipalities of Sta. Margarita, Sto. Niño and Almagro. By the late 19th century a number of visitas became the poblaciones when new towns were created from Calbayog. They were Caybago (later called Oquendo), Sta. Margarita, Weyler (later called Tinambacan) and Sto. Niño.
According to the 2010 census, Calbayog has a population of 172,778 (37,395 households) making it the third most populated city in Eastern Visayas and the most populated city in Samar Island, the city alone makes up for 23.5% of the population of the province of Samar. Calbayog is one of the commercial trade centers in Eastern Visayas. And is the center of commerce in Samar. Its airport and a seaport make it an ideal gateway to Samar. Calbayog is subdivided into three major districts: Calbayog, Tinambacan, and Oquendo.
Calbayog's early history has been associated with the introduction and spread of Catholicism in the country. Calbayog started as one of the small settlements in the Island of Samar, an area assigned to the Jesuit missionaries. Jesuit chroniclers, as early as the 17th century, notably Fr. Ignacio Alcina, wrote many accounts about it and its people. Jesuit records and reports referred to the settlement initially as Ibatan and Jibatang (Hibatang). In the annual report of 1739 the name Calbayog appeared for the first time. Fr. de Huerta, a 19th century Franciscan writer, noted in his work Estado Geografico that in earlier times, Calbayog was called Tiayban for having been founded near a river of the same name. Then it was transferred due to a flood to the shore of the Hibatang River, whose name it took. Then again the settlers transferred to the place that they permanently occupied and took the name Calbayog.
Hibatang had already been a small settlement at the beginning of the 17th century. It slowly occupied a prominent place among the several small settlements. It became a visita (a large barrio with a chapel) of Capul under the jurisdiction of the Parish priest of that town. After the expulsion of the Jesuit missionaries from the Philippines in the 18th century, the administration of the parishes in Samar was handled over to the Franciscan friars.
Calbayog as a town and parish during the Spanish period was composed of several villages, the most populated of which are called visitas. Calbayog grew from visita size and became a pueblo (town). It was created a separate parish in 1785. Separated from the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the parish priest of Capul, it was later given its own minister, becoming a religious center. Its parish priests cared for the spiritual needs of the people living in what are now Calbayog City, the municipalities of Sta. Margarita, Sto. Niño and Almagro. By the late 19th century a number of visitas became the poblaciones when new towns were created from Calbayog. They were Caybago (later called Oquendo), Sta. Margarita, Weyler (later called Tinambacan) and Sto. Niño.
During the American Era, Calbayog rose to political as well as religious prominence. Prominent political and religious figures in Samar and Leyte emerged from it, particularly those who studied in the Colegio-Seminario de San Vicente de Paul (now Christ the King College and St. Vincent de Paul Seminary) which was established in 1905 and La Milagrosa Academy which was established in 1911. Both schools were run by the religious.
On April 10, 1910, the Diocese of Calbayog was created by virtue of the Papal Bull of Pope Pius X. The diocese comprised the Islands of Samar andLeyte. Calbayog became the seat of the diocese. In 1942, the occupied by the Japanese forces entered in Calbayog city, in 1945, the liberated in Calbayog city by the Philippine Commonwealth troops and recognized guerrillas against the Japanese forces in World War II. It was only much later that the other dioceses in the region were created. Republic Act No. 328, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Calbayog was signed into law on July 15, 1948 by then President Manuel A. Roxas. The first set of city officials, incumbent municipal officials of the place, were sworn in on October 16, 1948 much later than the signing of the law that created Calbayog City (Republic Act 328) as the municipal officials waited. Legally, therefore, Calbayog was founded as a city on this date as it was on this date that its charter was signed into law. The city comprises the territorial jurisdiction of the former Municipalities of Calbayog, Oquendo and Tinambacan.
On April 10, 1910, the Diocese of Calbayog was created by virtue of the Papal Bull of Pope Pius X. The diocese comprised the Islands of Samar andLeyte. Calbayog became the seat of the diocese. In 1942, the occupied by the Japanese forces entered in Calbayog city, in 1945, the liberated in Calbayog city by the Philippine Commonwealth troops and recognized guerrillas against the Japanese forces in World War II. It was only much later that the other dioceses in the region were created. Republic Act No. 328, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Calbayog was signed into law on July 15, 1948 by then President Manuel A. Roxas. The first set of city officials, incumbent municipal officials of the place, were sworn in on October 16, 1948 much later than the signing of the law that created Calbayog City (Republic Act 328) as the municipal officials waited. Legally, therefore, Calbayog was founded as a city on this date as it was on this date that its charter was signed into law. The city comprises the territorial jurisdiction of the former Municipalities of Calbayog, Oquendo and Tinambacan.
Transportation
- By land
- By sea
- By air
Economy
Tinapa one of the products
of Calbayog where authentic quality can be found particularly in
Brgy. Matobato. It is a favoritepasalubong.
Calbayog serves as the commercial, industrial and fishing center of the province, it is currently the tiger among the urban centers of Samar Island. It's income numbered to approximately 72 Million in 2011 making it the city with the most income in Samar Island. Calbayog City is the principal outport (abaca and copra are shipped here) for the province's northern plains. It also serves as a main Coco Oil producer as international vessels regularly dock at a port owned by Samar Coco at Barangay Malajog, Calbayog City. There are nine banks operating in the city, they are: RCBC, PNB, Greenbank, UCPB, CitySavings Bank, Rural Bank of Calbayog City, Landbank, OK Bank and MetroBank.
Groto, Malajog Beach
Agriculture -The land area of the city is generally divided into agriculture and forestry areas. Agricultural lands are subdivided into production, built-up area, protection land, mangrove, severe erosion area, and watershed forest reserve; while forest lands are further subdivided into open canopy, logged-over areas, built-up and protection areas.
Largely an agricultural city, 57,654.07 hectares (or 63.85%) belongs to agriculture while 32,645.93 hectares (or 36.15%) are forest lands. Its major products are copra, abaca, rice, vegetables, corn,rootcrops, fruits, bamboo, & nipa. With the overall total quantity (mt.) of 28,330.428.
Fishery and aquatic resourcesCalbayog is an exporter of fish and other marine products. Fisheries contribute to the economic revenues of the city. Major species abound such as mackerels, sardines, squids, prawns, crabs,shells, oysters, and others. Fish processing such as smoking, salting and drying are small scale industries operating in the locality. Fresh catch are exported in huge volume on a daily basis throughout the country. Samar Sea, with a fishing ground of 1,198 square miles (3,100 km2) is a vast resource for agriculture and sea farming activities.
Forest resources -The forest land of Calbayog has an area of 6,327.91 hectares. Happy Valley and Seven Hills are remote areas with barangays producing forest products like rattan, nito, cogon, bamboo, and others. These are adequate supply of raw materials for export oriented products.
Local sources -revealed that forest land have dramatically dwindled. The remotest forest areas have been depleted with the traditional slash-and-burn farming, poachers, and illegal loggers invading the resource thereby endangering valuable species and wildlife. Some are even entirely wiped out. Intensified program by concerned agencies are now in motion to save forest resource, including reforestation and tree planting.
Livestock and PoultryProduction of livestock and poultry products is another industry that enjoys the major concern of the city through the Tri-District program, a centerpiece program of the present government. Breeding centers were opened to develop superior genetic stocks and upgrading of carabao and dispersal program were established to accelerate livestock production. Dressed chickens are now exported throughout the region especially in Masbate, with an average of 2,000 heads daily. The investment of Swift Foods Inc., which has been operating in the city for almost five years, and the operation ofSolmar Dressing Plant supply poultry products which is now expanding its market in Central Visayas and Luzon.[citation needed]
Mineral Resources-Nature has made Calbayog replete with mineral deposits. Unprocessed or natural marble is found in coastal barangays. Manganese, which is chiefly used in the form of ferromanganese in steel making, is similarly available in the area. It was however purposely left untouched to supposedly preserve the natural balance of the area. Sand and gravel are also supplied to meet local construction needs, though barely enough as some areas are banned from extraction in order to protect existing structures.
Largely an agricultural city, 57,654.07 hectares (or 63.85%) belongs to agriculture while 32,645.93 hectares (or 36.15%) are forest lands. Its major products are copra, abaca, rice, vegetables, corn,rootcrops, fruits, bamboo, & nipa. With the overall total quantity (mt.) of 28,330.428.
Fishery and aquatic resourcesCalbayog is an exporter of fish and other marine products. Fisheries contribute to the economic revenues of the city. Major species abound such as mackerels, sardines, squids, prawns, crabs,shells, oysters, and others. Fish processing such as smoking, salting and drying are small scale industries operating in the locality. Fresh catch are exported in huge volume on a daily basis throughout the country. Samar Sea, with a fishing ground of 1,198 square miles (3,100 km2) is a vast resource for agriculture and sea farming activities.
Forest resources -The forest land of Calbayog has an area of 6,327.91 hectares. Happy Valley and Seven Hills are remote areas with barangays producing forest products like rattan, nito, cogon, bamboo, and others. These are adequate supply of raw materials for export oriented products.
Local sources -revealed that forest land have dramatically dwindled. The remotest forest areas have been depleted with the traditional slash-and-burn farming, poachers, and illegal loggers invading the resource thereby endangering valuable species and wildlife. Some are even entirely wiped out. Intensified program by concerned agencies are now in motion to save forest resource, including reforestation and tree planting.
Livestock and PoultryProduction of livestock and poultry products is another industry that enjoys the major concern of the city through the Tri-District program, a centerpiece program of the present government. Breeding centers were opened to develop superior genetic stocks and upgrading of carabao and dispersal program were established to accelerate livestock production. Dressed chickens are now exported throughout the region especially in Masbate, with an average of 2,000 heads daily. The investment of Swift Foods Inc., which has been operating in the city for almost five years, and the operation ofSolmar Dressing Plant supply poultry products which is now expanding its market in Central Visayas and Luzon.[citation needed]
Mineral Resources-Nature has made Calbayog replete with mineral deposits. Unprocessed or natural marble is found in coastal barangays. Manganese, which is chiefly used in the form of ferromanganese in steel making, is similarly available in the area. It was however purposely left untouched to supposedly preserve the natural balance of the area. Sand and gravel are also supplied to meet local construction needs, though barely enough as some areas are banned from extraction in order to protect existing structures.