Balanga, Bataan

Balanga
Component City
Lungsod ng Balanga (City of Balanga)

Seal
Nickname(s): Balanga 2020 University Town, Balanga Utown, Learning City

Location in the province of Bataan
Balanga

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 14°41′N 120°32′E / 14.68°N 120.53°E / 14.68; 120.53Coordinates: 14°41′N 120°32′E / 14.68°N 120.53°E / 14.68; 120.53
Country Philippines
Region Central Luzon (Region III)
Province Bataan
District 2nd District
Founded 1712
Cityhood December 30, 2000
Barangays 25
Government[1]
 • Representative, 2nd Congressional District Jose Enrique S. Garcia III (National Unity)
 • Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia (National Unity)
 • Mayor Francis S. Garcia (National Unity)
 • Vice Mayor ViancaLita V. Gozon (National Unity)
Area[2]
 • Total 111.63 km2 (43.10 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
 • Total 96,061
 • Density 860/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Balangueño, Balangueña
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code 2100
Dialing code +63 (0)47
Income class 4th class component city
Website www.cityofbalanga.gov.ph

Balanga, officially the City of Balanga (Filipino: Lungsod ng Balanga; Kapampangan: Lakanbalen ning Balanga) or Balanga City, is a fourth class[4] component city and capital of the province of Bataan in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 96,061 people.[3]

Balanga City is primarily a residential-agricultural city. It has a total land area of 11,163 hectares (8.13% of Bataan).[2]

History

Paterno St. in Brgy. Poblacion, Balanga City, during the 1970s

Balanga, the capital of Bataan, was formerly a visita of Abucay before it was established as a mission of the Dominican Order in the Provincial Chapter of April 21, 1714 and later declared a vicariate on April 18, 1739, under the patronage of Saint Joseph. Upon the establishment of Bataan as a separate province in 1754, Balanga was made its capital by General Pedro Manuel Arandia due to its favorable location, at the heart of the new territorial jurisdiction.

The word Balanga originates from the Kapampangan word "balañga" (clay pot, or "banga" in Tagalog), which the town used to produce and which was among the best that can be found in the country.

On December 30, 2000, Balanga was inaugurated as a City by the Republic Act 8984 authored by Congressman Enrique "Tet" Garcia.[5]

The city has extended its urban fringe to west of Roman Superhighway and a new growth center in Barangay Tuyo has been delineated in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. During the past years, the city saw a high record of residential growth. The consequent expansion of the physical limits of the urban core as well as the expected large increases in population, and its attractiveness to commercial and employment activities, the City Government of Balanga decided to undertake a Master Planning exercise and to propose various developmental projects that would establish Balanga as a well-planned community with quality and character that is innovative and special, although this is currently hindered by an unreliable electricity supply.[6]

Demographics

Population census of
Balanga City
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 51,512—    
1995 60,912+3.19%
2000 71,088+3.37%
2007 84,105+2.35%
2010 87,920+1.63%
2015 96,061+1.70%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][7]

The population of Balanga in the 2015 census was 96,061 people,[3] with a density of 860 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,200 inhabitants per square mile.

City government and politics

Pursuant to the Local government in the Philippines",[8][9] the political seat of the municipal government is located at the City Hall. In the History of the Philippines (1521–1898), the Gobernadorcillo is the Chief Executive who holds office in the Presidencia. During the American rule (1898–1946) (History of the Philippines (1898-1946)), the elected Mayor and local officials, including the appointed ones hold office at the Municipal Town or City Hall. The legislative and executive departments perform their functions in the Sangguniang Panglungsod (Session Hall) and the Regional and Metropolitan Trial Courts, respectively, and are located in the second floor of the City Hall and in the Halls of Justice.

Administration

The City administration envisions the City of Balanga as U-Town, a World Class University Town in 2020 (City Ordinance No. 21, Series of 2008, "Declaring the eighty and forty-two (80.42) hectares at the city's central district as University Town in the City of Balanga, Bataan").[10]

Balanga listed a 'Record-Breaking' P6B Investments In 2012. Balanga City won the 1st Robredo ICT Awards.[11]

Barangays

Balanga City is politically subdivided into 25 barangays.[2]

Town Proper Barangays Peripheral Barangays Coastal Barangays Lowland Barangays Upland Barangays
  • Poblacion
  • Cataning
  • Bagumbayan
  • Talisay
  • Malabia
  • San Jose
  • Ibayo
  • Doña Francisca
  • Cupang Proper
  • Cupang North
  • Cupang West
  • Sibacan
  • Tuyo
  • Puerto Rivas Ibaba
  • Puerto Rivas Itaas
  • Tortugas
  • Central
  • Tenejero
  • Camacho
  • Bagong Silang
  • Puerto Rivas Lote
  • Dangcol
  • Cabog-Cabog
  • Tanato
  • Munting Batangas

Former mayors

Mayor Term
Tomas B. Gallardo 1901–1903
Angel Mendoza 1903–1907
Antonio Tuason Sr. 1907–1909
Amado de Leon 1909–1912
Andres de Leon 1912–1916
Jose P. Banzon 1916–1919
Venacio Banzon 1919–1928
Antonio Tuason Sr. (2nd Term) 1928–1931
Venacio Banzon (2nd Term) 1931–1934
Mariano Batungbacal 1934–1937
Mariano Herrera 1938–1942
Mariano Batungbacal (2nd Term) 1942–1943
Numeriano Quindoy 1943–1944
Carlos Y. Gonzales 1944–1945
Mariano Herrera (2nd Term) 1945–1946
Jose N. Gonzales 1946–1947
Graciano Pastorfide 1947
Pedro R. Dizon 1948–1951
Crispulo Torrico 1951
Faustino V. Vigo 1952–1955
Pedro R. Dizon (2nd Term) 1956–1959
Emilio Bernabe 1960–1963
Vicente Malibiran 1964–1967
Teodoro Camacho III 1968–1971
Celso Valdecañas 1972–1979
Teodoro R. Alonzo 1980–1986
Teodoro Camacho III (2nd Term) 1986–1987
Melanio S. Banzon Jr. 1988–1998
Albert S. Garcia 1998–2004
Melanio S. Banzon Jr. (2nd Term) 2004–2007
Jose Enrique Garcia III 2007–2016

Landmarks / Places of interest

Plaza Mayor de Balanga Fountain

Healthcare

Isaac Catalina Medical Center

Education

Medina Lacson Building, Bataan Peninsula State University, Main Campus

Balanga City is the educational center of the province of Bataan. It currently has one public university and several private colleges offering various courses such as Accountancy, Business Administration, Computer Science and Information Technology, Elementary and Secondary Education, Engineering, and Health Professions like Nursing and Midwifery.

Bataan Peninsula State University is the lone state university in the city. It operates two campuses in the city, the main campus which is located in the capitol compound and the Balanga City campus which is located in downtown area.

Tomas del Rosario College is one of the oldest private educational institutions in the city. It is located at the Capitol Drive in Barangay San Jose.

The other private colleges in the city include Asia Pacific College of Advanced Studies and EastWoods Professional College of Science and Technology (formerly SOFTNET College of Science and Technology), both located in Barangay Ibayo, Bataan Heroes Memorial College located in Bataan Provincial Expressway, Microcity Computer College located at Capitol Drive and St. Joseph's College in upper Tuyo.

Other higher educational institutions in the city of Balanga include: AMA Computer Learning Center, Balanga; Philippine Women's University, CDCEC Bataan; Bataan Maritime Institute, Cupang Balanga; and Proclesia International Inc.

The city is also a host to the biggest public secondary school in the province, the Bataan National High School. The other notable public secondary schools in the city are the laboratory high school of Bataan Peninsula State University, and the Bataan Integrated School.

Notable Private secondary schools in the city include the high school departments of Asia Pacific College of Advanced Studies, Bataan Infant Jesus School, Bataan Montessori School, Inc., Tomas del Rosario College and St. Joseph College's of Balanga.

Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III's noted 2,050 scholars of the University Town of the Peninsula Foundation, Inc. which earned P10 million from private donors and per the December 2012 Balanga UTown Musical Mini-Series musical.[14]

Notable people from Balanga

See also

References

External links

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