Balanga, Bataan
Balanga (pronounced locally [bɐˈlaŋa]), officially known as the City of Balanga (Tagalog: Lungsod ng Balanga), is a 4th class component city and capital of the province of Bataan, Philippines. Balanga is a part of Bataan located directly south of San Fernando, Pampanga (the regional city center), northwest of Manila and north of Orion, Bataan. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 104,173 people. [3]
Balanga | |
|---|---|
| City of Balanga | |
From top, clockwise: Plaza Mayor de Balanga, Balanga City Hall, Balanga Cathedral, and Wetland Park Information Center | |
 Seal | |
| Nicknames: Bataan Capital City; Bataan University Town | |
 Map of Bataan with Balanga highlighted | |
OpenStreetMap  | |
.svg.png.webp)  Balanga Location within the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 14°41′N 120°32′E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Central Luzon |
| Province | Bataan |
| District | 2nd district |
| Founded | 1712 |
| Cityhood | December 30, 2000 |
| Barangays | 25 (see Barangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Panlungsod |
| • Mayor | Francis Anthony S. Garcia |
| • Vice Mayor | Vianca Lita V. Gozon |
| • Representative | Jose Enrique S. Garcia III |
| • City Council | Members |
| • Electorate | 70,769 voters (2019) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 111.63 km2 (43.10 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 138 m (453 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 1,403 m (4,603 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | −1 m (−3 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 104,173 |
| • Density | 930/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
| • Households | 20,832 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 4th city income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 3.39% (2018)[4] |
| • Revenue | ₱901,248,779.90 (2020) |
| • Assets | ₱1,526,670,071.69 (2020) |
| • Expenditure | ₱844,978,023.62 (2020) |
| • Liabilities | ₱368,712,184.47 (2020) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Peninsula Electric Cooperative (PENELCO) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 2100 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)47 |
| Native languages | Mariveleño Tagalog |
| Website | www |
History
Balanga, the capital of Bataan, was formerly a village of Abucay before it was established as a mission of the Dominican Order in the Provincial Charter 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 were 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 the 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. Consequently, with the expansion of the physical limits of the urban core, as well as the expected large increases in population, and the city's 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]
Geography
Balanga City is primarily a residential-agricultural city, with a rapidly growing commercial sector. It has a total land area of 11,163 hectares (8.13% of Bataan). It is located at the eastern part of the province of Bataan and lies in the southwestern part of Central Luzon. It is bounded inland by the municipality of Abucay in the north, Pilar in the south, the municipalities of Bagac and Morong in the west and Manila Bay in the east. Balanga is about 124 km by land and about 31.2 nautical miles by ferry to Manila.[7]
Climate
| Climate data for Balanga, Bataan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 31 (88) |
32 (90) |
34 (93) |
35 (95) |
33 (91) |
31 (88) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
30 (86) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 19 (66) |
19 (66) |
20 (68) |
23 (73) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
20 (68) |
23 (73) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 7 (0.3) |
8 (0.3) |
14 (0.6) |
26 (1.0) |
127 (5.0) |
210 (8.3) |
263 (10.4) |
272 (10.7) |
218 (8.6) |
114 (4.5) |
46 (1.8) |
21 (0.8) |
1,326 (52.3) |
| Average rainy days | 4.0 | 4.0 | 6.9 | 11.2 | 21.0 | 24.5 | 27.4 | 26.9 | 25.9 | 21.9 | 13.4 | 6.3 | 193.4 |
| Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[8] | |||||||||||||
Barangays
Balanga is politically subdivided into 25 barangays.
- Bagumbayan
- Cabog-Cabog
- Munting Batangas (Cadre)
- Cataning
- Central
- Cupang Proper
- Cupang West
- Dangcol (Bernabe)
- Ibayo
- Malabia
- Poblacion Barcenas
- Puerto Rivas Ibaba
- Puerto Rivas Itaas
- Puerto Rivas Lote
- San Jose
- Sibacan
- Camacho
- Talisay
- Tanato
- Tenejero
- Tortugas
- Tuyo
- Bagong Silang
- Cupang North
- Doña Francisca
Demographics
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [10] [11][12] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The population of Balanga in the 2020 census was 104,173 people, [3] with a density of 930 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,400 inhabitants per square mile.
Economy
| Poverty Incidence of Balanga | |
| Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19] | |
Agriculture and Fisheries
The City of Balanga has a total area of 5,698.99 hectares of land classified for agricultural use. 1,458.55 hectares of irrigated land, and 1,090.65 hectares upland, are utilized for crops production. In 2017, 8,144.42 metric tons of rice were produced.[20]
On the other hand, 459 hectares of land are utilized for aquaculture. It is composed of 148 hectares of coastal marine area, 276.6 hectares of brackish water fishpond and 34.4 hectares of freshwater fishpond. A total of 172 metric tons of marine products with an annual average of 5 metric tons per hectare are produced from freshwater fishponds with tilapia is the most common specie cultured. For brackish water fishponds, 968 metric tons are produced with an average of 3.5 metric tons per hectare. Some of the species cultured in brackish water are bangus (milkfish), sugpo, vannamei shrimp and alimango (mud crab).
Balanga well-known for its smoked and dried fish products under the One Town One Product (OTOP) program. For the year 2017, there are ninety-nine (99) fish processors in the city mostly located in villages of Tortugas, Sibacan, Puerto Rivas Ibaba and Villa Lina in Barangay Tenejero.[21]
Commerce and Services
The City of Balanga, while still predominantly agricultural is currently experiencing an accelerated growth in commercial sector. As capital of Bataan, it is the prime commercial hub in the province. Business enterprises are mainly wholesale and retail, servicing, construction, insurance, financing and manufacturing. Retail and trading comprise the largest number of business establishments in this city. Several shopping centers are located in the city, notably SM City Bataan, Vista Mall Bataan, Waltermart Balanga, Capitol Square, Galeria Victoria, Center Plaza Mall, Recar Commercial Complex and Ocampo's Megastore. While Robinsons Place Balanga City's construction is expected to start this 2022.
In 2008, 80 hectares of the city’s central district was declared as "University Town" through City Ordinance No. 21, Series of 2008. It aims to encourage the development of Balanga as an emerging hub for start-ups and technology-related businesses in the Philippines.[22]
Information Technology
The City is one of the twenty-five (25) emerging digital hubs identified by The Digital Cities 2025 program by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), and Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc. (LPC).[23] It hosts several business process outsourcing (BPO) companies such as Genpact, Boston-based start-up Botkeeper, and Australia-based Yoonet.
Public-Private Partnership
To further improve it's revenue generation capability, the City Government entered into several public–private partnership (PPP) projects, such as the Galeria Victoria, the Plaza Property which develops the city's main plaza, and the Capitol Square mall.
Government
Pursuant to the Local government in the Philippines",[24][25] 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 period of 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.
Elected officials
- Mayor: Francis S. Garcia (National Unity)
- Vice Mayor: Vianca Lita V. Gozon (National Unity)
- Councilors:
- Noel Valdecañas
- Jett Nisay
- Vic Baluyot
- Elmo Sanchez
- Hubert Pizarro
- Karl Paguio
- Joy Panganiban
- Carding Magpantay
- Tony Tranate
- Benjie Meriño
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 point forty-two (80.42) hectares at the city's central district as University Town in the City of Balanga, Bataan").[26]
Balanga listed a 'Record-Breaking' P6B Investments In 2012. Balanga City won the 1st Robredo ICT Awards.[27]
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 |
Tourism
Parks and Public Spaces
- Balanga Wetland Park[28] - Puerto Rivas Ibaba
- Plaza Major de Balanga - Poblacion
- Bataan Capitol Center - San Jose
- Bataan Tourism Park - Tenejero
- Doña Francisca Public Park - Doña Francisca
Historical Places
- Surrender of Bataan Site Marker - Talisay
- Bataan World War II Museum - Talisay
Churches
- Balanga Cathedral (Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph) -
- Divine Mercy Shrine of Diocese Balanga
- Santo Cristo Parish Church - Paterno Street, Cupang West
- San Roque Chapel - National Road, Tuyo
- The Risen Lord Chapel - Cuaderno Street, Doña Francisca
- Immaculate Conception Parish Church - Jose P. Rizal Street, Puerto Rivas Ibaba
Shopping and Commercial Centers
- SM City Bataan - Calero Street (Poblacion)
- Galeria Victoria - Paterno Street (Poblacion)
- WalterMart Balanga - Roman Superhighway (Tenejero)
- Vista Mall Bataan - Roman Superhighway (Cupang Proper)
- Capitol Square Mall - Capitol Drive (San Jose)
- Balanga City Public Market - Gen. Capinpin Street (San Jose)
Healthcare
Healthcare facilities
Access to health services in the city is adequate with the presence of one government owned general hospital and four private hospitals.
- Bataan Doctors Hospital and Medical Center - Cuaderno Street, Brgy. Doña Francisca
- Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center - Manahan Street, Brgy. Tenejero
- Balanga Medical Center (formerly Bataan Women's Hospital) - Palmera Street, Brgy. San Jose
- Isaac Catalina Medical Center - Calero Street, Brgy. Poblacion
- Centro Medico de Santisimo del Rosario - Roman Superhighway, Tenejero
- Saint Joseph Hospital and Medical Center - Don Manuel Banzon Avenue, Brgy. Poblacion
The City of Balanga also has one City Health Office (CHO) and four (4) functional PhilHealth-accredited Rural Health Units (RHU). RHU 1 in San Jose houses the Basic Emergency Maternal and New Born Care Facility. While the Newborn Screening (NBS) facility is located in RHU 3 in Barangay Cupang Proper. RHU 4 in Barangay Tenejero is the newest, established in March 2017. These government-owned facilities provide free pre-natal, delivery and post natal services, family planning, women’s health and safe motherhood counseling, control of diarrheal diseases, expanded program on immunization, control of acute respiratory illness, TB Dots clinic, diabetic clinic and STD AIDS social hygiene clinic. These are augmented by 22 smaller barangay health stations and one Dental Bus making health care more accessible to a greater number of the city residents. Numerous privately-owned medical facilities can also be found all over the city. These include 19 medical and 19 dental clinics, 14 laboratory and diagnostic centers and 10 beauty and skin care facilities.[29]
Comprehensive Smoke-Free Policy
Being a Hall of Fame Awardee of the Department of Health’s Red Orchid Award, the City of Balanga is strictly implementing the Smoke-Free Policy. Regular anti–smoking campaign for colleges, university and schools, and orientation on health ordinances are conducted regularly across the city. The Comprehensive No Smoking Ordinance of the City of Balanga prohibits the sale, distribution, usage, and promotion of all tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) also known as "vape", within the declared University Town area and within the three (3) kilometers radius of the city.
To ensure and expand the city’s strong advocacy for 100% tobacco-free environment, the City Government launched the Tobacco-Free Generation (TFG) Campaign last December 2015. It is intended to secure the Millennials’ (those who were born from the year 2000 and onwards) commitment to not smoke. With this program, the City of Balanga was awarded with “World Health Recognition for Heath Cities Best Practice, Youth Engagement to Promote Tobacco Control” last August 29, 2016.[30]
Education
Tertiary Education
Balanga City is the educational center of the province of Bataan. It currently has one state-owned university and several private colleges offering Baccalauréat degrees in accountancy, business administration, entrepreneuship, computer science and information technology, teaching, engineering, architecture, and health.
Bataan Peninsula State University, a state-owned institution, has its two biggest campuses located in the city, the main campus in the capitol compound, and a satellite campus located in downtown area.
Tomas del Rosario College is one of the oldest private educational institutions in the city. It is located in the Capitol Drive in Barangay San Jose. The other private colleges in the city include Asia Pacific College of Advanced Studies, Eastwoods Professional College of Science and Technology (formerly SOFTNET College of Science and Technology), Bataan Heroes Memorial College, Microcity Computer College and St. Joseph's College.
Other higher educational institutions in the city of Balanga include: AMA Computer Learning Center, Philippine Women's University-CDCEC Bataan, Bataan Maritime Institute, and Proclesia International Incorporated.
Secondary Education
The city hosts the biggest public secondary school in the province, Bataan National High School. Other public secondary schools present are Balanga City National Science High School, City of Balanga National High School and the Bataan Integrated School. While 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 Colleges of Balanga.
Notable personalities
- Julian Banzon, Filipino biochemist and National Scientist of the Philippines.
- Albert Garcia, 24th Governor of Bataan, former representative of Bataan's Second District, and former Mayor of Balanga.
- Jose Enrique S. Garcia III, current representative of Bataan's Second District, and former Mayor of Balanga.
- Romi Garduce, first Filipino to climb the Seven Summits.
- Chito Jaime, Filipino professional basketball player who plays for the Muntinlupa Cagers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League and the Philippine Basketball Association.
- Luz Magsaysay, wife of Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay and the seventh First Lady of the Philippines.
- Pedro Tuazon, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines (1946-1954) and former Solicitor General of the Philippines (1936-1938).
- Janine Mari Tugonon, first runner-up of Miss Universe 2012
- Oscar Cruz, archbishop-emeritus of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines.
- Elisse Joson, Filipina actress, endorser, model and businesswoman
See also
References
- City of Balanga | (DILG)
- "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- Census of Population (2020). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- "City Profile – City of Balanga".
- NSCB – 2001 Factsheet – 12 New Cities Created, July–December 2000.
- "Geography – City of Balanga".
- "Balanga: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
- "Province of Bataan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/NSCB_LocalPovertyPhilippines_0.pdf; publication date: 29 November 2005; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
- https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2003%20SAE%20of%20poverty%20%28Full%20Report%29_1.pdf; publication date: 23 March 2009; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
- https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2006%20and%202009%20City%20and%20Municipal%20Level%20Poverty%20Estimates_0_1.pdf; publication date: 3 August 2012; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
- https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2012%20Municipal%20and%20City%20Level%20Poverty%20Estima7tes%20Publication%20%281%29.pdf; publication date: 31 May 2016; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
- https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/City%20and%20Municipal-level%20Small%20Area%20Poverty%20Estimates_%202009%2C%202012%20and%202015_0.xlsx; publication date: 10 July 2019; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
- "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- "Agriculture – City of Balanga".
- "Agriculture – City of Balanga".
- "The University Town Area – City of Balanga".
- https://www.bworldonline.com/new-digital-cities-seen-to-attract-p70b-in-investments/
- "Philippines : Gov.Ph : About the Philippines". www.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 2006-10-03. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- "THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES - CHAN ROBLES VIRTUAL LAW LIBRARY". www.chanrobles.com.
- "City Government of Balanga - PROGRAMS/PROJECTS". Archived from the original on 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
- "City of Balanga – Balanga… Kahanga hanga".
- "Increase in number of migratory birds in Balanga recorded". The Philippine Star.
- "Health and Social Welfare Services – City of Balanga".
- "Health and Social Welfare Services – City of Balanga".
External links
 |
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Balanga. |
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balanga, Bataan. |
- Official website
- Balanga City General Information
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- Philippine Census Information
Places adjacent to Balanga, Bataan | ||||||||||||||||
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