San Agustin, officially the Municipality of San Agustin, (formerly Guintigui-an and Badajoz), is a municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 24,115 people.[5]
On 20 June 1957, by virtue of Republic Act No. 1660, Badajoz Town was changed to San Agustin, after the town's patron saint.[6]
History
San Agustín was known during Spanish times as Guintigui-an because of the abundance of a fish called "tigue" in the area. Negrito and Mangyan tribes from Panay and Mindoro were the first inhabitants, as well as migrants from island of Romblon, and southern Tablas.[7]
In the early part of Spanish conquest, the first settlement was at barangay Cabolutan. The early settlers found it very tiring at times to cross the channel to Romblon town to attend to civil and religious duties. To solve this problem, Cabolutan leaders discussed the matter such as building a visita in their settlement of around 250 souls. Finally in 1635, the first church building made of coral stone and lime was started.
In 1700, Spanish authorities decided to separate Cabolutan in Tablas Island from Romblon, with its seat at visita Cabolutan subjugating all settlements west of Tablas Island. The new pueblo or town of Cabolutan progressed slowly and grew more populous despite frequent Moro kidnapping raids. However, in 1790, a smallpox epidemic almost wiped out the town's entire population. The heavy casualty toll caused the pueblo's abolition which led to re- incorporation to Romblon until 1855, when another pueblo named Guintigui-an was founded some 4 kilometers south of the old town site. The town was founded by Don Laureano Montesa together with his brother Don Esteban and cousin Don Luis Montesa, who became Tiniente Absoluto in Romblon. Its jurisdiction included what is now the towns of Calatrava and Santa Maria. The construction of the Cotta (fort) at Payong-Payong hill (located in present-day barangay Cagbo-aya), started in 1873. Cotta protected the community from Muslim pirates and still stands today. In 1868, the town was renamed "Badajoz" by Andres Lebarde, a visiting Spanish soldier, after his native city of Badajoz, Spain.[7]
Geography
San Agustin is in the north-eastern part of Tablas Island with a total land area of 14,048 hectares (34,710 acres). It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Calatrava, on the south by the municipality of Santa Maria, on the east by Romblon Pass facing the Romblon capital town and on the west by the municipality of San Andres. Its municipal port serves as the eastern gateway to the main island of Tablas, as well as to the neighboring islands of the province.
A mountain range shields the town from southeasterly monsoon but is completely exposed to north-easterly typhoons. San Agustin has the second highest mountain in the province, the volcano-shaped Mount Payaopao at 2,182 feet (665 m) high, overlooking Carmen Bay.
Barangays
San Agustin is politically subdivided into 15 barangays.[8] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
According to the 2015 census, San Agustin has a population of 22,598 people.[9]Romblomanon or Ini is the native language of the municipality's inhabitants. Tagalog is widely understood, and English stands as the medium of communication in business and trade.
As a municipality in the Province of Romblon, government officials in the provincial level are voted by the electorates of the town. The provincial government have political jurisdiction over local transactions of the municipal government.
Pursuant to Chapter II, Title II, Book III of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991,[16] the municipal government is composed of a mayor (alkalde), a vice mayor (bise alkalde) and members (kagawad) of the legislative branch Sangguniang Bayan alongside a secretary to the said legislature, all of which are elected to a three-year term and are eligible to run for three consecutive terms.
Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.
Elected officials
The incumbent mayor and vice mayor of San Agustin for the term 2019–2022 are Denon Madrona and Zaldy G. Marin, respectively.[17]
The municipality has various establishments including general merchandise stores, construction and welding shops, furniture outlets, funeral homes, rice mill, bake shops, bank, pawn shops, catering services, hostels, cable TV station, and Internet shops.
Farming and fishing provide the main source of livelihood for the residents in San Agustin. The farmers primary products are rice, coconut, banana, copra, abaca. Fishermen harvest the bounty of the surrounding seas. Aside from fishing, an alternative source of livelihood are swine and poultry raising, cottage industries such as raffia production (bags, baskets, mats, hats, etc.) rattan and nitto basket and plate weaving, broom production such as soft broom made of tiger grass, locally known as walis tambo, and coconut broom or broomstick made of coconut palm fronds (leaves), locally known as walis tingting.
Starhorse Shipping Lines and Montenegro Lines serves port of San Agustin from the port of Lucena and port of Romblon daily with roll-on/roll-off vessels. Access to San Agustin is also by ferry from the port of Batangas City in southern Luzon and disembarking at the port of Odiongan in Barangay Poctoy. M/V Princess Annavel serves San Agustin from the port of Batangas City twice a week departing Batangas to San Agustin every Thursday and Saturday at 4:00p.m. M/V Grand Unity of Navios Shipping Lines serves San Agustin from the port of Batangas City once a week departing Batangas to San Agustin every Friday at 5:00p.m. Travel time from Batangas to San Agustin port takes about 8–10 hours. Travel time from San Agustin port to San Agustin town proper is about 1–2 minutes by motorcycles. Jeepneys and tricycles are also readily available. Meanwhile, Montenegro Lines serves Odiongan from the port of Batangas City daily with roll-on/roll-off vessels departing Batangas at 5:00p.m., and 2GO Travel departing Batangas to Odiongan every Sunday and Thursday at 10:00a.m., and every Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 9:00p.m. Travel time from Batangas to Odiongan port takes about 7–10 hours. A public utility jeep stationed in Odiongan port will bring you to San Agustin for a two-hour drive. San Agustin has daily RORO ferry (M/V Reina Magdalena/M/V Maria Querubin of Montenegro Lines) and pump boat services to Romblon, Romblon, and Magdiwang, Romblon. Pump boats leave San Agustin for Romblon, Romblon twice daily at 8:00a.m. and 1:00p.m. while RORO ferry (M/V Reina Magdalena/M/V Maria Querubin of Montenegro Lines) leave San Agustin for Romblon, Romblon and Magdiwang, Romblon daily at 6:00a.m.
Getting around
Public utility jeepneys, tricycles and motorcycles provide the main means of transport within the municipality, as well as to and from the neighbouring municipalities within Tablas Island.
The people of San Agustin is kept abreast of current events and information through broadcast media via television. At present, there are two free-to-air TV channels, GMA-7 and PTV-13, which both have established transmitter stations in the province. cable TV service is provided by a local cable TV operator, San Agustin Cable Antenna Corporation, with areas covering the barangays of Poblacion, Dubduban, Cagboaya and Carmen. A subscription-based Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite TV service provider is also made available in San Agustin by leading DTH Service provider such as Dream Satellite TV, Cignal, and G Sat.
Radio
AM radio stations broadcasting from Manila and nearby provinces such as DZMM, DZBB, DZRH, Bombo Radio, RMN Network, etc. can be heard in San Agustin. Local FM radio station DWGM Charm Radio 100.5 FM (stationed in Romblon, Romblon) is also on-the-air daily broadcasting programs tailor-made to the issues and needs of the local community.
Print media
Local newspapers being circulated in the municipality are the Pinoy Text, Romblon Sun, and Romblon Times. The local online magazine accessible from San Agustin is Romblon News.
Postal Services
The Philippine Postal Corporation provides postal services for the municipality with its post office in Barangay Poblacion.
Healthcare
San Agustin has its own hospital, the Tablas Island District Hospital, a government hospital, and four barangay health stations.
Education
The San Agustin-Calatrava 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.[27]
Festivities: The people of San Agustin celebrates the Kalipayan Festival (Biniray / Streetdancing) held during the months of April and August while the Sabwagan Festival is held every month of February and July at Barangay Carmen.
Attractions: San Agustin, among its attractions, include beaches, waterfalls, diving site, etc.
Dubduban – Bita Falls, located in the interior of Barangay Dubduban, this impressive seven-tiered falls lies amidst dense vegetation and cool surroundings. The first tier is on the top of a hill with a 70-foot deep pool of clear blue-green waters. The bottom tier ends in a shallow pool of water.
Long Beach, a long, wide sandy beach located at the foot of Mt. Payaopao (Barangay Mahabangbaybay), now being developed as the center of eco-tourism in the municipality.
Sunken Spanish Galleon(Barangay Carmen), this site is highly recommended for sea explorers. This Spanish Galleon can be found in the deep waters of Carmen Bay, ideal for scuba diving.
Kambaye Beach(Barangay Binongaan), possess a white long sandy shore and provides a full view of Romblon Island.
Trangkalan Grotto and Stations of the Cross, this sacred place can be found in Barangay Bachawan. The place offers a tranquil atmosphere for the religious and a cascading falls to refresh picnickers..
Cawayan Park(Barangay Cawayan), the terrain is hilly and thickly forested, making it a homey refuge for wildlife flora and fauna.
Punta Gorda Stairways(Barangay Cawayan), a concrete steps from the shoreline to the hilltop. Constructed by the national government in 1950, it is one of the most beautiful tourist spot in the area.
Cotta(Barangay Cagboaya), the ruins of an old Spanish cotta or fort which was built by the natives to serve as a watch post for raiding Moro pirates. Perched on Payong-Payong Hill in Barangay Cagboaya, the remaining limestone walls of the cotta serve as a mute testimony to the town's rich historic past.
San Agustin Freedom Park(Barangay Poblacion), the municipal park in San Agustin is a sprawling hectare of greens by the bay. It offers an undisturbed view of ships passing through Romblon Pass and, on clear days, a view of the islands of Romblon and Sibuyan.
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