Paracale

Last updated
Paracale
Municipality of Paracale
Pulang Daga Beach in Paracale, Philippines.jpg
Pulang Daga Beach
Flag of Paracale, Camarines Norte.png
Nickname: 
Gold Town or "Town of Gold"
Motto(s): 
Ako'y Paracaleño, yaman ko'y ginto nasa lupa nasa puso
Ph locator camarines norte paracale.png
Map of Camarines Norte with Paracale highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Paracale
Philippines location map (square).svg
Red pog.svg
Paracale
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°16′48″N122°47′13″E / 14.28°N 122.787°E / 14.28; 122.787
Country Philippines
Region Bicol Region
Province Camarines Norte
District 1st district
Founded1581
Barangays 27 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
  Type Sangguniang Bayan
   Mayor Romeo Y. Moreno
   Vice Mayor Bernadette E. Asutilla
   Representative Josefina B. Tallado
   Municipal Council
Members
  • Brigido A. Oco, Jr.
  • Amelia O. Oco
  • Rav Russel M. Moreno
  • Mario Cesar E. Cariño
  • Zaldy E. Moya
  • Darwin P. San Luis
  • Reno G. Pisalbon
  • Wilfredo Q. Peralta
   Electorate 38,292 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
  Total
197.9 km2 (76.4 sq mi)
Elevation
23 m (75 ft)
Highest elevation
753 m (2,470 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census) [3]
  Total
58,391
  Density300/km2 (760/sq mi)
   Households
13,588
Economy
   Income class 3rd municipal income class
   Poverty incidence
28.63
% (2021) [4]
   Revenue 274.4 million (2022)
   Assets 478.4 million (2022)
   Expenditure 204 million (2022)
   Liabilities 122.1 million (2022)
Service provider
  ElectricityCamarines Norte Electric Cooperative (CANORECO)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
4605
PSGC
IDD : area code +63(0)54
Native languages

Paracale, officially the Municipality of Paracale (Tagalog : Bayan ng Paracale), is a municipality in the province of Camarines Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 60,198 people. [5]

Contents

Paracle’s economy is driven by agriculture and small scale, often informal gold mining and gold ore processing. Rice, corn, coconut and root crops and vegetables are the major agricultural products. Being a coastal community with a number of historical sites and providing boat access to Calaguas Group of Islands it also has some claim as a tourist destination.

History

Paracale was an active fishing and small scale mining community prior to the Spanish colonial period. In 1572, attracted by news of gold deposits, Juan de Salcedo petitioned to search for mines in the Bicol region. [6] Arriving by boat from the North, Salcedo’s expedition found mining operations at Paracale, but was forced to retreat due to sickness and lack of provisions. A more permanent settlement and mission post was established by Franciscan friars in 1581. It was established as a town in 1611. However, the mission was abandoned in 1634, reestablished by the Franciscans in 1638, but was abandoned again in 1662. In 1687, the Franciscan missionaries returned to their mission.

In 1863, Paracale was then formally established as a town. Seventeen years later, the Franciscans returned to Paracale to reestablish church administration.

1952 mining accident

On December 15, 1952, 56 miners of the Paracale Mining Co. perished when the Baluarte mine shaft they were working in collapsed and prevented them from escaping the rapidly flooding mine. [7]

Gold mining

The town's name was derived from para cale, meaning 'canal digger".

Small scale mining in Camarines Norte pre dates the Spanish colonial period, but the region came to prominence in 1626 when a sizable gold deposit was identified close to the current location of Paracale town. Spaniards employed local labour to extract gold-bearing gravel from adjacent rivers and streams, although mining operations were described as intermittent, small in scale and rarely profitable due to frequent flooding, in 1688 it was recorded that miners in Paracale were paid three reals per week plus food for extraction of gold ore. [8]

During the period of American colonial rule dredges were used to mine alluvial gold deposits.

Artisanal mining for gold still persists in many locations adjacent to the town. An ILO report published in 2017 estimated that about half the population of the town were engaged in small scale mining activities either as a financier, mine worker, processor or independent gold panner. [9] Compressor mining, a hazardous informal mining method where ore is extracted by divers in flooded, narrow shafts while breathing through an air tube connected to makeshift compressor, was banned in the Philippines in 2012. Nonetheless Parcale attracted significant attention in November 2013 when a collapse of informal mining operations on the beach led to the deaths of a number of compressor mining divers. [10] In 2021, the Philippine National Police sought the closure of all illegal mining activities in Camarines Norte as the components of improvised explosive devices used by NPA terrorists were established as coming from illegal mining sites in the area. [11]

Presence of uranium

According to the December 1976 study of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) there is the presence of uranium at Larap Mine in Paracale [12] though it suggests that the Philippine geology is not likely to be favourable for a commercially viable volume of uranium.

Barangays

Paracale is politically subdivided into 27 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Demographics

Population census of Paracale
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 3,864    
1918 6,617+3.65%
1939 15,198+4.04%
1948 11,801−2.77%
1960 16,512+2.84%
1970 21,461+2.65%
1975 22,619+1.06%
1980 25,308+2.27%
1990 39,192+4.47%
1995 43,824+2.12%
2000 42,453−0.68%
2007 46,856+1.37%
2010 53,243+4.76%
2015 59,149+2.02%
2020 60,198+0.37%
2024 58,391−0.73%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

In the 2020 census, the population of Paracale, Camarines Norte, was 60,198 people, [18] with a density of 300 inhabitants per square kilometre or 780 inhabitants per square mile.

Climate

Climate data for Paracale, Camarines Norte
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)27
(81)
27
(81)
29
(84)
31
(88)
31
(88)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
28
(82)
27
(81)
29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
23
(73)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)85
(3.3)
55
(2.2)
53
(2.1)
47
(1.9)
112
(4.4)
156
(6.1)
213
(8.4)
159
(6.3)
201
(7.9)
216
(8.5)
197
(7.8)
141
(5.6)
1,635
(64.5)
Average rainy days15.411.613.612.319.923.727.326.026.024.621.819.1241.3
Source: Meteoblue [19]

Economy

Poverty incidence of Paracale

10
20
30
40
50
2000
49.23
2003
47.57
2006
36.20
2009
35.57
2012
24.00
2015
35.80
2018
37.61
2021
28.63

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]

Infrastructure

Transportation
Land transportation is the primary means of transporting people, goods and services from the barangay to the town proper of Paracale. The municipality is connected to its different barangays by the municipality's major roads, namely the Maharlika Highway.
Water supply
The barangays of the municipality are being served by levels I, II and III water supply. Other barangays are being served by shallow wells, deep wells or dug wells.
Power supply
Paracale is being served by electric power, formerly by the defunct Hidalgo Electric Enterprise, now by the National Power Corporation through the Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative (CANORECO). After the establishment of this cooperative, there was a great improvement in terms of power supply condition in the municipality.
Communication
Paracale has a telecommunication system that is being run by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). There are two satellites of Smart, Globe. There is postal office and has a staff of one mail carriers serving all barangays in the municipality. These personnel cannot adequately serve the entire from the lack of personnel; another problem is the difficulty in the delivery of mails in the remote and far-flung barangays.
Mining companies

Media

Paracale and its surrounding area is being served by a local community radio, Radyo Natin 102.5

Churches

The canonically crowned image of Nuestra Senora de Candelaria de Paracale who is the patroness of the town. NSCandelariaParacale.jpg
The canonically crowned image of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Paracale who is the patroness of the town.

Government

Municipal officials:

Education

Public Elementary Schools

  • Paracale Central School hernando lucy principal 3
  • Tugos Elementary School arnel escalante principal 1
  • Alfonso Dasco Elementary School - Antonio R. Naing Jr. - Principal I
  • Batobalani Elementary School
  • Macolabo Elementary School
  • Capacuan Elementary School
  • Dalnac Elementary School
  • Gumaus Elementary School
  • Calaburnay Elementary School
  • Tawig Elementary School
  • Pedro V. Moreno Elementary School
  • Bagumbayan Elementary School
  • Pinagbirayan Elementary School
  • Labnig Elementary School
  • M Era Elementary School
  • Dagang Elementary School Antonio R. Naing Jr - Principal I
  • Santa Catalina Elementary School
  • S. Basilio Elementary school
  • Awitan Elementary School
  • Igang Elementary School
  • Mampungo Elementary School
  • Dancalan Elementary School
  • Palanas Elementary School

Public Secondary Schools

References

  1. Municipality of Paracale | (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. Newson, Linda (2009). Conquest and Pestilence in the Early Spanish Philippines. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 158. ISBN   978-0-8248-6197-1.
  7. Vicencio, Macario T. (November 19, 1955). "Paracale -- ghost town of gold rush". The Manila Times . The Manila Times Publishing Company, Inc.
  8. Newson, Linda (2009). Conquest and Pestilence in the Early Spanish Philippines. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 158. ISBN   978-0-8248-6197-1.
  9. "Artisanal and small-scale gold mining baseline report: Camarines Norte and South Cotabato" (PDF). International Labour Organization. p. 29. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  10. Paddock, Richard (27 January 2014). "In the Philippines, workers toil among hazards in compressor mining". PBS NewsHour . Center for Investigative Reporting. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  11. Caliwan, Christopher. "PNP seeks closure of illegal mining sites in Camarines Norte". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  12. "National favourability studies - Philippines" (PDF). International Uranium Resources Evaluation Project (IUREP). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-11-04.
  13. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  14. Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  18. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  19. "Paracale, Camarines Norte: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  20. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  21. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  22. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  23. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  24. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  25. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  26. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  27. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.