Bagong Silang

Not to be confused with Bagong Pagsilang or Bagong Silangan.

Bagong Silang Barangay 176
Barrio (1971–1974) Barangay (1974-persent)
Area
• 2020	5.24 km2 (2.02 sq mi)
Population
• 2020	261,729
Government
• Type	Barangay
Barangay Captain
• 2013–persent	Joel Bacolod
History
• Established	20 May 1971
Preceded by Succeeded by Tala Estate 176-A 176-B 176-C 176-D 176-E 176-F
Today part of	Barangays 176-A, 176-B, 176-C, 176-D, 176-E, and 176-F

Bagong Silang or Barangay 176 was a barangay in Caloocan, Metro Manila, Philippines that existed from 1971 its division. Part of the city's Zone 15, it was known for being the most populous barangay in the Philippines, with a population of 261,729 according to the 2020 census, ^[1] as well as the largest barangay in the country in terms of land area, measuring 574 hectares (1,420 acres). ^[2] Due to its large population, there were calls to divide it. Following a plebiscite on August 31, 2024, it was divided into six distinct barangays: 176-A, 176-B, 176-C, 176-D, 176-E, and 176-F, though the area is still informally referred to as Bagong Silang.

Bagong Silang was also the northernmost barangay of Metro Manila, located in the northern section of the city bordering the province of Bulacan.

History

Bagong Silang occupied parts of land originally of Tala Estate, which is historically under the jurisdiction of the town of Novaliches before it was absorbed by Caloocan in 1903. ^{[3] [4] [5]} The 808-hectare (2,000-acre) estate was reserved and acquired by the government in 1938 primarily for a leprosarium, which turned out to be the Central Luzon Sanitarium (now the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital); however, only one-third of the land was used for such purpose. ^[6] Due to advancements in medical science that no longer required the segregation of hansenites, the leprosarium needed lesser land, paving the way for housing and urban development and plans for a tree plantation to supply logs for low-cost housing in present-day Metro Manila, which was ultimately abandoned due to administrative issues under President Ferdinand Marcos. ^{[7] [8]}

Bagong Silang was established as a barrio during the term of President Ferdinand Marcos in 1971. ^{[8] [9]} The name of the barangay is a Tagalog phrase corresponding to the English word newborn, meant to signify renewed hope for its residents who were resettled from their original slum areas in Manila, Commonwealth in Quezon City, and San Juan. ^{[10] [11]} It was converted into a barangay in 1974, following the nationwide implementation of the Integrated Reorganization Plan (IRP) under Presidential Decree No. 557. ^[12]

Partitions

Bagong Silang Welcome Arch

In February 1989, President Corazon Aquino approved Republic Act (RA) No. 6714, reducing the number of barangays in Caloocan from 188 to 60. As part of this plan, Barangay 176 (Bagong Silang) was slated to be divided into five smaller barangays. ^[13] A plebiscite was held on March 10; ^{[14] [15]} with only 10% of the city's voters participating. ^{[16] [14]} Majority of the participated voters reportedly opposed the proposal, thus the existing barangays continued as independent entities. ^[16]

In September 2013, the barangay was proposed to be divided into seven smaller barangays to alleviate perceived issues in its administration. It was reported that residents complained that due to the barangay's size, both in terms of land area and population, government services were spread thin. ^{[10] [11]}

2024 Division Plebiscite

In November 2022, Caloocan 1st district representative Oscar Malapitan introduced a bill for the partition. ^[17] On April 3, 2024, President Bongbong Marcos signed Republic Act No. 11993, which divides the barangay into six smaller barangays designated with letters (from 176-A to 176-F), whose territories would consist of at least one existing "phases". ^[18] The plebiscite, which was supposed to be done 90 days from the effectivity of the law, ^[18] was held on August 31 ^{[19] [20]} in five public schools which was used as voting centers. ^[21] A majority voted in favor of splitting the barangay. ^[22]

The partition was organized by phases: ^[23]

Partition by Phases

Barangay	Phases
176-A	Phases 1 and 2
176-B	Phases 3, and 5
176-C	Phase 4
176-D	Phase 7
176-E	Phase 8
176-F	Phase 9
176-G	Phase 10

Plebiscite for Republic Act No. 11993

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	22,854	89.84
No	2,584	10.16
Required majority	50.00
Total votes	25,438	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	85,846 [21]	29.63%
Source: COMELEC, via Manila Bulletin [23]

Geography

The barangay was located in North Caloocan. The Marilao River flowed along the northern and western borders of the barangay, separating it from Bulacan. Barangays 174, 175 and 178 lie south of Bagong Silang, while Barangays 187 and 188 lie on the east. Due to its large population, addresses in the barangay were formatted as Phase (Phases 1 to 10), Package, Block and Lot. ^[10]

Demographics

Barangay hall (Barangay 176)

Bagong Silang was the largest barangay in terms of population with 261,729 people, which accounts for about 15.75% of Caloocan's total population as of 2020. ^[1] It was more populous than about two-thirds of the cities in the country. It became the relocation site of people living in slum areas across the present-day Metro Manila since the 1970s greatly contributing to the barangay's population. ^{[10] [11]}

Schools

There were seven public elementary schools and three public high schools in Bagong Silang.

Elementary

1. Bagong Silang Elementary School – Phase 1,
2. Sto. Niño Elementary School – Phase 1
3. Gabriela Silang Elementary School (former Bagong Silang Elementary School – Annex) – Phase 1
4. Rene Cayetano Elementary School – Phase 8B
5. Pag-asa Elementary School – Phase 7B
6. Silanganan Elementary School – Phase 3
7. Star Elementary School – Phase 1
8. Kalayaan Elementary School – Phase 10B

High School

1. Bagong Silang High School – Phase 3
2. Benigno Aquino Jr. High School – Phase 2
3. Kalayaan National High School – Phase 10B ^{[10] [11]}
4. Tala High School – Phase 5

Gallery

• 
  Langit Road
• 
  Zabarte Road
• 
  Santo Niño Parish Church
• 
  San Jose Amang Mapagkalinga Parish Church
• 
  Colegio de San Gabriel Arcangel of Caloocan
• 
  Police Community Precinct 3

References

1. Census of Population (2020). "National Capital Region (NCR)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved July 8, 2021.
2. "How Caloocan's Bagong Silang became biggest barangay in PH". Philippine News Agency . May 20, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
3. "Spanish Era". Roman Catholic Diocese of Novaliches. August 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
4. PHIMCOS (August 2020). "Occupation and Victory The Philippines in World War II". The Murillo Bulletin Special World War II Issue. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
5. Act No. 942 (October 12, 1903), An Act Reducing the Thirty-Two Municipalities of the Province of Rizal to Fifteen , retrieved May 12, 2022
6. G.R. No. 148606 (June 30, 2008), CHARLES LIMBAUAN, petitioner, vs. FAUSTINO ACOSTA, respondent. , retrieved August 2, 2022
7. G.R. No. 106593 (November 16, 1999), NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY, petitioners, vs. HONORABLE MAURO T. ALLARDE, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 123, Kalookan City and SPOUSES RUFINO AND JUANITA MATEO, respondents. , retrieved August 2, 2022
8. Samonte, Severino C. (May 20, 2023). "How Caloocan's Bagong Silang became biggest barangay in PH". Philippine News Agency . Retrieved September 23, 2024.
9. Presidential Proclamation No. 843, s. 1971 (April 26, 1971), Reserving the Tala Estate for various government uses as well as for housing and urban development. , retrieved August 2, 2022
10. "Caloocan councilor pushes for the division of Barangay Bagong Silang". Philippine Information Agency. September 19, 2013. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
11. Melican, Nathaniel (September 16, 2014). "Largest barangay in PH can't live up to 'new hope' image; split pushed". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
12. Presidential Decree No. 557 (September 21, 1974), Declaring all barrios in the Philippines as barangays, and for other purposes, Official Gazette
13. Republic Act No. 6714 (February 28, 1989), An Act Merging, Dividing, and/or Reviving the Different Barangays in Caloocan City and for Other Purposes, Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines , retrieved November 27, 2023
14. "Kalookan plebiscite today". Manila Standard . March 10, 1989. p. 9. Retrieved April 6, 2024– via Google Books.
15. Presidential Proclamation No. 384 (March 9, 1989), Declaring March 10, 1989 as a special day in Caloocan City , retrieved April 6, 2024
16. Mahilum, E. (March 11, 2023). "Voter turnout low for KC plebiscite". Manila Standard . p. 9. Retrieved April 6, 2024– via Google Books.
17. Dioquino, Aaron Homer (June 20, 2023). "Caloocan gov't plans to split Brgy. Bagong Silang into six separate villages". Manila Bulletin . Retrieved April 6, 2024.
18. Citations:
    • Mangaluz, Jean (April 5, 2024). "Marcos signs law dividing Caloocan barangay into six". Inquirer.net . Retrieved April 5, 2024.
    • "Batas na maghahati sa anim na barangay sa Bagong Silang, Caloocan, nilagdaan na ni PBBM". RMN News (in Tagalog). April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
19. Naval, Gerard (July 23, 2024). "Caloocan plebiscite set on August 31". Malaya Business Insight . People's Independent Media, Inc. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
20. Jaymalin, Mayen (July 23, 2024). "Gun ban set for Caloocan barangay plebiscite". Philippine Star . Philstar Global Corporation. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
21. Locus, Sundy (August 30, 2024). "Comelec to hold plebiscite dividing Caloocan barangay on Aug 31". GMA Integrated News . Retrieved August 31, 2024.
22. "Caloocan voters OK splitting Bagong Silang into 6 barangays". ABS-CBN . September 1, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
23. Nievera, Allysa (September 1, 2024). "Caloocan residents vote 'Yes' to dividing Bagong Silang into 6 separate barangays". Manila Bulletin . Retrieved September 1, 2024.

External links

• Media related to Bagong Silang at Wikimedia Commons
• Severino C. Samonte (May 20, 2023). "How Caloocan's Bagong Silang became biggest barangay in PH". Philippine News Agency.