Cawayan

Cawayan
Municipality
Municipality of Cawayan
Mahayahay Coastline
Flag
Map of Masbate with Cawayan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Cawayan Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°55′49″N123°46′08″E / 11.9303°N 123.7689°E / 11.9303; 123.7689
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region
Province	Masbate
District	3rd district
Barangays	37 (see Barangays)
Government   [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
•  Mayor	Edgar S. Condor
•  Vice Mayor	Ester C. Binsol
•  Representative	Wilton T. Kho
•  Municipal Council	Members Daniel O. Olmilla Arnold A. Cortes Victoria M. Ando Vicenta S. Goopio Renato B. Montecalvo Jacinta V. Flores Pol T. Yocte Relan O. Abinuman
•  Electorate	44,749 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	260.19 km2 (100.46 sq mi)
Elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Highest elevation	99 m (325 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census) [3]
• Total	69,265
• Density	270/km2 (690/sq mi)
•  Households	16,169
Economy
•  Income class	2nd municipal income class
•  Poverty incidence	24.26 % (2018) [4]
•  Revenue	₱ 228.3 million (2020)
•  Assets	₱ 479.9 million (2020)
•  Expenditure	₱ 242.5 million (2020)
•  Liabilities	₱ 126.6 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Masbate Electric Cooperative (MASELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5405
PSGC	054106000
IDD  :  area code	+63 (0)56
Native languages	Masbateño Tagalog

Cawayan, officially the Municipality of Cawayan, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Masbate, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 69,265 people. ^[3]

Cawayan is 64 kilometres (40 mi) from Masbate City.

History

Cawayan was created as a municipality from portions of Milagros through Executive Order No. 244 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on July 18, 1949. ^[5]

Geography

Barangays

Cawayan is politically subdivided into 37 barangays.  ^[6] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• 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
Mean daily maximum °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)
Mean daily minimum °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 [7]

Demographics

Population census of Cawayan

Year Pop. ±% 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% 1995 45,834 +3.40%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2000 52,256 +2.85% 2007 59,658 +1.84% 2010 63,115 +2.07% 2015 67,033 +1.15% 2020 69,265 +0.65%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [8] [9] [10] [11]

In the 2020 census, the population of Cawayan, Masbate, was 69,265 people, ^[3] with a density of 270 inhabitants per square kilometre or 700 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 ^[19] 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 ^[20] 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. ^[21]

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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, Cebu. And at around 12:00 midnight it sails back to Cawayan Port.

For about two years, the RoRo vessel stopped operating in Cawayan, ^[22] but on October 10, 2012, RoRo service was restarted.

Station of the Cross

Marine Sanctuary in Recodo

Industry

A local crab meat processing industry operates in Peña Island owned by Arturo Marcaida Jr. ^[24] 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". ^[25]

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. ^[26]

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.

References

1.   Municipality of Cawayan | (DILG)
2. "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.
3. Census of Population (2020). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 8 July 2021.
4. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
5. "Executive Order No. 244, s. 1949". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 18 July 1949. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
6. "Province: Masbate". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 12 November 2016.
7. "Cawayan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
8. Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region V (Bicol Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
10. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
11. "Province of Masbate". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
12. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
13. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
14. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
15. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
16. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
17. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
18. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
19. "Masbate: Paradise in a pool of blood". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
20. "Corruption, injustice, greed are real causes of poverty in Masbate". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
21. "PGMA Infrastructure". Pgmainfra.ph. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
22. "PPA breaks silence, stresses no need for the modular Ro-Ro port project". Archived from the original on 2012-07-16.
23. "Fish back in Masbate marine sanctuary". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
24. "Crab King of Masbate". Bicol.da.gov.ph. 1996-08-01. Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
25. "Former struggling fisherman now Masbate's Crab King". Goodnewspilipinas.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
26. "Off to a road less traveled: Cawayan, Masbate". 11 April 2011.

External links

• LGU Cawayan Masbate Website
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System