Cawayan, Masbate

Cawayan, officially the Municipality of Cawayan, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Masbate, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 67,033 people.[3]

Cawayan
Municipality
Municipality of Cawayan
Mahayahay Coastline
Map of Masbate with Cawayan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Cawayan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 12°02′N 123°41′E
Country Philippines
RegionBicol Region (Region V)
ProvinceMasbate
District3rd district
Barangays37 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorEdgar S. Condor
 • Vice MayorEster C. Binsol
 • CongressmanWilton T. Kho
 • Electorate43,212 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total260.19 km2 (100.46 sq mi)
Population
 (2015 census)[3]
 • Total67,033
 • Density260/km2 (670/sq mi)
 • Households
15,039
Economy
 • Income class2nd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence51.80% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue (₱)148,346,891.97 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
5405
PSGC
054106000
IDD : area code +63 (0)56
Climate typetropical rainforest climate
Native languagesMasbateño language
Tagalog

Cawayan had an approximate income of Php 90,785,714.09 in 2012.[5]

Barangays

Cawayan is politically subdivided into 37 barangays. [2]

  • Begia
  • Cabayugan
  • Cabungahan
  • Calapayan
  • Calumpang
  • Dalipe
  • Divisoria
  • Guiom
  • Gilotongan
  • Itombato
  • Libertad
  • Looc
  • Mactan
  • Madbad
  • R.M. Magbalon (Bebihan)
  • Mahayahay
  • Maihao
  • Malbug
  • Naro
  • Pananawan
  • Poblacion
  • Pulot
  • Recodo
  • San Jose
  • San Vicente
  • Taberna
  • Talisay
  • Tuburan
  • Villahermosa
  • Chico Island
  • Lague-lague
  • Palobandera
  • Pena Island
  • Pin-As
  • Iraya
  • Punta Batsan
  • Tubog

Climate
Climate data for Cawayan, Masbate
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 39
(1.5)		 34
(1.3)		 42
(1.7)		 36
(1.4)		 73
(2.9)		 109
(4.3)		 118
(4.6)		 108
(4.3)		 129
(5.1)		 136
(5.4)		 112
(4.4)		 89
(3.5)		 1,025
(40.4)
Average rainy days 12.6 9.7 12.0 13.0 20.5 25.3 26.2 24.8 25.2 25.9 21.9 17.9 235
Source: Meteoblue [6]

Demographics
Population census of Cawayan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 20,104—    
1970 28,708+3.62%
1975 27,581−0.80%
1980 31,696+2.82%
1990 38,336+1.92%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1995 45,834+3.40%
2000 52,256+2.85%
2007 59,658+1.84%
2010 63,115+2.07%
2015 67,033+1.15%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][7][8][9]

In the 2015 census, the population of Cawayan, Masbate, was 67,033 people,[3] with a density of 260 inhabitants per square kilometre or 670 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy
View of Mount Begia from Mahayahay

Agriculture

The locals of Cawayan still largely depend on subsistence farming despite its topographic advantage to adapt commercial farming. The lack of funding for agriculture and infrastructure and its political insecurity due to the presence and activities of armed groups kept by political families[10] and other subversive elements hinder the town's progress in spite of its geographical benefits.

Being primarily plain and flat, Cawayan is conducive to cattle farming. Grasslands are abundant in the plains and in the gentle slopes of the valleys and hills. However, land grabbing[11] issues still prevail as evidenced by hectares of private enclosures locally known as "ranchos" that run miles after miles. Herds of cattle inside the fence barrier are visible from the national road as one travels into the interior making Cawayan a major player in the cattle industry of the province.

Cawayan has several outlying islands crucial to its local fishing industries. These islands provide most of the marine resources to cater to the needs in the mainland. Barter trade is still practiced on Sundays, the town's busiest day.

Copra farming is also popular in Cawayan.

Infrastructure
Cawayan Port Improvement Project

The P42.95-million Cawayan Port Improvement Project in Barangay Mahayahay included the construction of rock causeway, back-up area, RC platform, RoRo ramp and breasting dolphin, as well as port lighting system, and mooring and fendering system. The project was completed on January 26, 2009.[12]

The construction of this facility has drawn various forms of criticism. Nothing since the road construction project years way back that paved the national highway for a smooth access to other places had the townsfolk witnessed the unveiling of this multi-million project with such warm welcome. However, it was also evident that the materials used were substandard due to its massive damage when a typhoon struck the area months after its completion. Nevertheless, there was no denying of its economic contribution that further flourished open trade in the Visayan nautical radius.

RoRo Project

Other than the local outrigger boat operators, a shipping company provides services to cater to the town's need of reliable vessel to transfer commodities to and from Cawayan for trade. It departs daily from Cawayan usually at 12:00 noon for a six-hour trip and docks at Pulambato Port in Bogo City, Cebu. And at around 12:00 midnight it sails back to Cawayan Port.

For about two years, the RoRo vessel stopped operating in Cawayan,[13] but on October 10, 2012, RoRo service was restarted.

Station of the Cross
Marine Sanctuary in Recodo[14]

Industry

A local crab meat processing industry operates in Peña Island owned by Arturo Marcaida Jr.[15] He is considered as the most successful fisherman who made it big in fish culture and fish processing business not only in Masbate but in the entire Bicol Region which earned for him the title “Crab King".[16]

Another booming industry of the town is the dried fish industry.

Tourism

Cawayan is naturally blessed with beautiful places. Famous hang-outs and tourist spots include the Station of the Cross atop Mount Begia; tropical islets of Naro and Peña; a marine sanctuary across Recodo Bay; and a wide stretch of beaches among others.

Tourists can also enjoy visiting downtown during Sundays at Barangay Divisoria which has one of the largest open markets in the Philippines.[17]

Education

Secondary schools:

  • Western Masbate Roosevelt High School
  • Naro National High School
  • Villahermosa National High School
  • Malbug High School
  • Madbad National High School

Tertiary schools:

  • Atty. Manuel B. Abinuman Memorial Colleges, Inc.
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References
  1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. "Province: Masbate". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". 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 1 January 2020.
  5. "2012 Local Government Performance Management System". Department of the Interior and Local Government. Archived from the original on 2014-08-21. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  6. "Cawayan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  7. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  8. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  9. "Province of Masbate". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  10. "Masbate: Paradise in a pool of blood". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  11. "Corruption, injustice, greed are real causes of poverty in Masbate". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  12. "PGMA Infrastructure". Pgmainfra.ph. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  13. "PPA breaks silence, stresses no need for the modular Ro-Ro port project". Archived from the original on 2012-07-16.
  14. "Fish back in Masbate marine sanctuary". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
  15. "Crab King of Masbate". Bicol.da.gov.ph. 1996-08-01. Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  16. "Former struggling fisherman now Masbate's Crab King". Goodnewspilipinas.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  17. "Off to a road less traveled: Cawayan, Masbate".
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