Pantabangan

Last updated
Pantabangan
Municipality of Pantabangan
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Mountains in Pantabangan
Flag of Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.png
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Pantabangan in Nueva Ecija.svg
Map of Nueva Ecija with Pantabangan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Pantabangan
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Pantabangan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°48′31″N121°08′36″E / 15.8086°N 121.1433°E / 15.8086; 121.1433
Country Philippines
Region Central Luzon
Province Nueva Ecija
District 2nd district
Founded 1701
Barangays 14 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
  Type Sangguniang Bayan
   Mayor Roberto T. Agdipa
   Vice Mayor Monaliza H. Agdipa
   Representative Micaela S. Violago
   Municipal Council
Members
  • Vladimir S. Poblete
  • Katherine H. Escuadro
  • Rodolfo T. Agdipa
  • Anthony M. Barcelo
  • Noel D. Barcelo
  • Marife M. Palad
  • Celestino T. Sadaba
  • Mida A. Uera
   Electorate 28,627 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
  Total
392.56 km2 (151.57 sq mi)
Elevation
260 m (850 ft)
Highest elevation
547 m (1,795 ft)
Lowest elevation
107 m (351 ft)
Population
 (2024 census) [3]
  Total
32,694
  Density83/km2 (220/sq mi)
   Households
7,213
Economy
   Income class 1st municipal income class
   Poverty incidence
19.66
% (2021) [4]
   Revenue 344.9 million (2022)
   Assets 1,686 million (2022)
   Expenditure 306.6 million (2022)
   Liabilities 464.9 million (2022)
Service provider
  ElectricityPantabangan Municipal Electric System (PAMES)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
3124
PSGC
IDD : area code +63(0)44
Native languages Ilocano
Tagalog

Pantabangan, officially the Municipality of Pantabangan, is a municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 31,763 people. [5]

Contents

History

Pantabangan was founded on November 30, 1645, by Fr. Juan Alonzo de Abarca, an Augustinian priest with the 29th Spanish mission in the Philippines. The village grew into a settlement and was officially included in the map of the Philippines in 1747. In 1900, Pantabangan formally became a town.

In the early 16th and 17th centuries, the “Id-dules” (Aetas or Baluga) and Egongots (Ilongots) tribes inhabited the southern Sierra Madre and Caraballo Mountains. Pantabangan (Pantabanganan in early 18th century) may have come from the root Ilongot word "Sabangan or Sabanganan" that means "junction of water streams". It was learned that most of the places in the area were derived from Ilongot words like Caanaoan, Puncan, Cadanglaan (now Carranglan), Kabaritan (Now San Jose City) and others. Bungamong (Bongabon) and Cadanglaan were formerly sitio of Pantabangan and Kabaritan also part of Pantabangan.

When the Second World War broke out, imperial Japanese forces occupied Pantabangan in 1942. During the Liberation, combined military forces of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the Philippine Constabulary, the United States Army and the U.S. Army Air Forces recaptured the town and defeated Japanese soldiers in the Battle of Pantabangan.

In 1950, Sitio Lublub was converted into a barrio in the municipality, separated from Barrio Marikit. Lublub became part of the municipality of Alfonso Castañeda in Nueva Vizcaya upon the latter's creation in 1979. [6]

In May 1966, the Philippine Congress passed the Upper Pampanga River Project Act (Republic Act No. 5499) authorizing the construction of the Pantabangan Dam and its appurtenant structures. The groundbreaking ceremony led by then President Ferdinand Marcos took place on June 11, 1971. The project was finally completed in August 1974.

The construction of the Dam had great economic and social impact on the lives of Pantabangeños. About 8,100 hectares (20,000 acres) of productive farmland and the town center (East and West Poblacion) along with seven outlying barangays (Villarica, Liberty, Cadaclan, San Juan, Napon-Napon, Marikit and Conversion) were submerged under the new lake. Residents were relocated to higher ground overlooking the vast reservoir, which became the new Pantabangan town center. Before the expansion of the dam through the Casecnan Project in the 1990s, the belfry of the 18th century church resurfaced from the dam's summer low water level. During drought in 1983, some areas of the old town emerged. [7]

The Pantabangan Dam is claimed [ by whom? ] to be the second largest dam in Asia, and supplies the irrigation requirements for about 77,000 hectares (190,000 acres) of agricultural lands in Central Luzon. Its power station generates 112 megawatts of hydroelectric power.

In February 1996, then President Fidel V. Ramos led the ground-breaking ceremony of the Casecnan Transbasin Project, a 27 kilometres (17 mi) tunnel from the Casecnan River in Nueva Vizcaya to a terminal point at the Pantabangan reservoir and was commissioned on December 11, 2001. The project aims to augment the capacity of the dam to irrigate an additional 50,000 hectares (120,000 acres) of agricultural land and generate an additional 140 megawatts of hydroelectric power for the Luzon grid.

The present Pantabangan town has 14 barangays and a total land area of about 41,735 hectares. The succeeding years since its relocation saw its progress from a fifth-class municipality in 1975, then to a fourth-class, then to a Municipality in 2006 and finally, in July 2008, pursuant to Section 2 of the Department of Finance Order No. 23-08, Pantabangan was reclassified as First-Class Municipality. It is the only town in the Philippines which boasts of three hydroelectric plants within its territorial jurisdiction.

Geography

Located in the northern part of Nueva Ecija, Pantabangan is located at the foot of Mt. Mabilog below Mt. Dalimanok which are found between Sierra Madre and Caraballo Mountain ranges. It is home to the Pantabangan–Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve. It is also the site of the Pantabangan Dam and Lake.

Pantabangan is 51 kilometres (32 mi) from Cabanatuan, 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Palayan, 167 kilometres (104 mi) from Manila, and 139 kilometres (86 mi) from Bayombong.

Barangays

Pantabangan is politically subdivided into 14 barangays, as shown below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Cadaclan
  • Cambitala
  • Conversion
  • Ganduz
  • Liberty
  • Malbang
  • Marikit
  • Napon-Napon
  • Poblacion East
  • Poblacion West
  • Sampaloc
  • San Juan
  • Villarica
  • Fatima

Climate

Climate data for Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)28
(82)
29
(84)
30
(86)
32
(90)
31
(88)
30
(86)
29
(84)
28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(82)
29
(84)
28
(82)
29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)18
(64)
18
(64)
19
(66)
20
(68)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
20
(68)
18
(64)
20
(69)
Average precipitation mm (inches)4
(0.2)
6
(0.2)
7
(0.3)
12
(0.5)
61
(2.4)
89
(3.5)
96
(3.8)
99
(3.9)
81
(3.2)
88
(3.5)
37
(1.5)
13
(0.5)
593
(23.5)
Average rainy days2.53.04.16.315.819.422.521.620.117.59.64.0146.4
Source: Meteoblue [8]

Demographics

Population census of Pantabangan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 1,151    
1918 2,245+4.55%
1939 5,655+4.50%
1948 5,132−1.07%
1960 8,169+3.95%
1970 12,998+4.75%
1975 18,074+6.84%
1980 13,916−5.09%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 18,341+2.80%
1995 22,183+3.63%
2000 23,868+1.58%
2007 25,520+0.93%
2010 27,353+2.56%
2015 29,925+1.73%
2020 31,763+1.26%
2024 32,694+0.70%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
Pantabangan Town Hall Pantabangan,NuevaEcijajf0301 12.JPG
Pantabangan Town Hall

Languages

Tagalog is predominantly spoken in Pantabangan, followed by Ilocano. The people of Pantabangan ("Pantabangenian") are also known for their very distinct strong Pantabangan accent, called "Adyu-ari".

Economy

Poverty incidence of Pantabangan

10
20
30
40
2000
33.84
2003
28.78
2006
34.10
2009
21.84
2012
19.48
2015
24.92
2018
16.01
2021
19.66

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

Arts and Culture

The old Pantabangan town resurfacing in May 2024. On the background is the cross of Saint Andre Church Pantabangan Ruins The old St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Church.jpg
The old Pantabangan town resurfacing in May 2024. On the background is the cross of Saint Andre Church

The Pandawan Festival made its debut in April 2008, showcasing many local talents as well as other entertainments including indigenous art activities like art workshop and rural development thru art awareness programs. It features cooking contests, dance competitions and street dancing, and a parade. [22]

Since the completion of the dam, the site of the old town has become visible during times of extremely low water levels in the reservoir coinciding with the El Niño phenomenon, with recorded instances occurring in 1983, 2014, 2020 and 2024, sparking an influx of visitors to the site, particularly the cross of the Saint Andrew Church constructed in 1825. [23] A modern cross was erected in to replace the old during one of its reappearances. [24] The site, which also contains the ruins of the old public cemetery including headstones, foundations of the old municipal hall with its historical town marker, the town plaza and old tree trunks, [25] [26] has been designated as a cultural heritage zone by the municipal government. [27]

Transportation

Much of Pantabangan's population rely on public transportation such as tricycles and jeeps to get around the town.

Education

The Pantabangan Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. [28]

Primary and elementary schools

  • Cambitala Elementary School
  • Conversion Elementary School
  • Cadaclan Elementary School
  • Ganduz Elementary School
  • Kalayaan Elementary School
  • Liberty Elementary School
  • Masiway Elementary School
  • Napon-Napon Elementary School
  • Pamalyan Cultural Minority PS
  • Pantabangan East Central School
  • Pantabangan West Central School
  • Salvacion Elementary School
  • Sampaloc Elementary School
  • San Juan Elementary School
  • St. Andrew's School
  • Tanawan Central School
  • Villanueve Elementary School

Secondary schools

  • Cambitala National High School
  • Conversion Integrated School
  • Ganduz National High School
  • Marikit Integrated School
  • Pantabangan National High School
  • Pantabangan National High School - Annex (Cadaclan Integrated School)

Notable personalities

References

  1. Municipality of Pantabangan | (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. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  6. "Alfonso Castañeda". Province of Nueva Vizcaya. Government of the Philippines . Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  7. "An old submerged town reappears during a drought in the Philippines". Republic of the Philippines. Local Government of Pantabangan. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  8. "Pantabangan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  9. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  10. Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  11. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  12. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  13. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  14. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  15. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  16. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  17. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  18. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  19. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  20. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  21. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  22. Caparas, Celso de Guzman (13 May 2019). "8th Pandawan Festival in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija". Philippine Star Global.
  23. "Underwater Town in Nueva Ecija Reemerges Amid El Niño". Esquire. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  24. "LOOK: Old Pantabangan town reemerges as dam water level drops". ABS-CBN. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  25. Castro, Pam (April 26, 2024). "Philippine settlement submerged by dam reappears due to drought". Phys.org . Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  26. Castro, Pam (April 24, 2024). "Philippine settlement submerged by dam reappears due to drought". The Philippine Star . Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  27. "You can visit the old Pantabangan town in Nueva Ecija that reemerges amid droughts". Rappler. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  28. "Masterlist of Schools" (PDF). Department of Education. January 15, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2025.