Balanga, Bataan

Balanga, officially the City of Balanga (Tagalog: Lungsod ng Balanga; Kapampangan: Lakanbalen ning Balanga), is a 4th class city and capital of the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 96,061 people.[3]

Balanga
Component city
City of Balanga
From top, clockwise: Plaza Mayor de Balanga, Balanga City Hall, Balanga Cathedral, and Wetland Park Information Center
Seal
Nicknames: 
Bataan University Town,
Bataan Capital City
Map of Bataan with Balanga highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Balanga
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°41′N 120°32′E
Country Philippines
RegionCentral Luzon (Region III)
ProvinceBataan
District2nd District
Founded1712
CityhoodDecember 30, 2000
Barangays25 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorFrancis Anthony S. Garcia
 • Vice MayorVianca Lita V. Gozon
 • CongressmanJose Enrique S. Garcia III
 • Electorate70,769 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total111.63 km2 (43.10 sq mi)
Population
 (2015 census)[3]
 • Total96,061
 • Density860/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
 • Households
20,832
Economy
 • Income class4th city income class
 • Poverty incidence9.46% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue (₱)574,310,731.02 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
2100
PSGC
030803000
IDD : area code +63 (0)47
Climate typetropical monsoon climate
Native languagesMariveleño
Tagalog
Websitewww.cityofbalanga.gov.ph

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 borders Pilar to the south, Abucay to the north, Morong to the west, and Manila Bay to the east.

History
Paterno St. in Barangay Poblacion, Balanga, during the 1970s

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 "bang" 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]

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 [7]

Barangays

Balanga City is politically subdivided into 25 barangays.

Town Proper BarangaysPeripheral BarangaysCoastal BarangaysLowland BarangaysUpland 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

Local Government

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 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.

  • 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").[10]

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

Former mayors
MayorTerm
Tomas B. Gallardo1901–1903
Angel Mendoza1903–1907
Antonio Tuason Sr.1907–1909
Amado de Leon1909–1912
Andres de Leon1912–1916
Jose P. Banzon1916–1919
Venacio Banzon1919–1928
Antonio Tuason Sr. (2nd Term)1928–1931
Venacio Banzon (2nd Term)1931–1934
Mariano Batungbacal1934–1937
Mariano Herrera1938–1942
Mariano Batungbacal (2nd Term)1942–1943
Numeriano Quindoy1943–1944
Carlos Y. Gonzales1944–1945
Mariano Herrera (2nd Term)1945–1946
Jose N. Gonzales1946–1947
Graciano Pastorfide1947
Pedro R. Dizon1948–1951
Crispulo Torrico1951
Faustino V. Vigo1952–1955
Pedro R. Dizon (2nd Term)1956–1959
Emilio Bernabe1960–1963
Vicente Malibiran1964–1967
Teodoro Camacho III1968–1971
Celso Valdecañas1972–1979
Teodoro R. Alonzo1980–1986
Teodoro Camacho III (2nd Term)1986–1987
Melanio S. Banzon Jr.1988–1998
Albert S. Garcia1998–2004
Melanio S. Banzon Jr. (2nd Term)2004–2007
Jose Enrique Garcia III2007–2016

Demographics
Population census of Balanga
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 7,347—    
1918 8,275+0.80%
1939 11,684+1.66%
1948 12,379+0.64%
1960 18,143+3.24%
1970 28,484+4.61%
1975 34,289+3.79%
1980 39,132+2.68%
1990 51,512+2.79%
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][12][13][14]

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.

Landmarks and places of interest
  • SM City Balanga with Toy Kingdom (Opening in late December 2019 & early January 2020)
Plaza Mayor de Balanga Fountain
  • Balanga Wetland Park[15]
  • "Ibong Dayo" Festival in Barangay Tortugas (December 4–7)[16]
  • Plaza Mayor de Balanga
  • Bataan Capitol Compound
  • Bataan Peninsula State University
  • Bataan World War II Museum
  • Galleria Victoria Mall
  • The Plaza Hotel Balanga City
  • GAP Plaza Hotel
  • La Vista Balanga Inland Resort
  • Center Plaza Mall
  • Balanga Public Market
  • Balanga Cathedral
  • Capitol Square Mall Balanga
  • Fall of Bataan Marker
  • Balanga Surrender Site Marker
  • Divine Mercy Shrine of Diocese Balanga
  • Hillside Garden Mansions, Munting Batangas, Roman Superhighway
  • WalterMart Balanga, Roman Highway
  • Balanga City as seen from the top of Mount Samat
  • The facade of Balanga City Hall
  • Balanga Cathedral
  • Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park during the Ibong Dayo Festival

Healthcare
Isaac Catalina Medical Center
  • Bataan Doctors Hospital
  • Bataan General Hospital
  • Bataan Women's Hospital
  • Isaac Catalina Medical Center
  • Centro Medico de Santisimo de Rosario
  • St. Joseph Hospital

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 on 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 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 Colleges 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.[17]

Notable people
gollark: <@151391317740486657> I considered it for Chorus City, but it would have been pointless.
gollark: Nobody made one. That is why.
gollark: Alternate solution: switch to FULL COMMUNISM and don't have a shop.
gollark: Solution: make your own city and make your own mall in it.
gollark: Wait, that's illegal.

See also

References
  1. "City". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  2. "Province: Bataan". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  5. "City Profile – City of Balanga".
  6. NSCB – 2001 Factsheet – 12 New Cities Created, July–December 2000.
  7. "Balanga: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. "Philippines : Gov.Ph : About the Philippines". www.gov.ph. Archived from the original on 2006-10-03. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  9. "THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES - CHAN ROBLES VIRTUAL LAW LIBRARY". www.chanrobles.com.
  10. "City Government of Balanga - PROGRAMS/PROJECTS". Archived from the original on 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  11. "City of Balanga – Balanga… Kahanga hanga".
  12. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  13. 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.
  14. "Province of Bataan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  15. "Increase in number of migratory birds in Balanga recorded". The Philippine Star.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2013-02-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "PIA - Philippine Information Agency - Balanga City foundation earns P10M for scholars". Archived from the original on 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
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