Balungao, Pangasinan

Balungao
Municipality
Municipality of Balungao
Balungao Town Hall

Seal

Map of Pangasinan with Balungao highlighted
Balungao
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°54′N 120°42′E / 15.9°N 120.7°E / 15.9; 120.7Coordinates: 15°54′N 120°42′E / 15.9°N 120.7°E / 15.9; 120.7
Country  Philippines
Region Ilocos Region (Region I)
Province Pangasinan
District 6th District, Pangasinan
Founded March 19, 1815[1]
Barangays 20 (see Barangays)
Government [2]
 • Type Sangguniang Bayan
 • Mayor Philipp G. Peralta
 • Vice Mayor Minda T. Peralta
 • Electorate 17,999 voters (2016)
Area [3]
 • Total 73.25 km2 (28.28 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[4]
 • Total 31,106
 • Density 420/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code 2442
PSGC 015507000
IDD : area code  +63 (0)75
Climate type Tropical monsoon climate
Income class 4th municipal income class
Revenue (₱) 88,743,226.31 (2016)[5]
Poverty incidence 12.23 (2012)[6]
Native languages Pangasinan
Ilocano
Tagalog

Balungao, officially the Municipality of Balungao, (Pangasinan: Baley na Balungao; Ilokano: Ili ti Balungao; Tagalog: Bayan ng Balungao), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 31,106 people.[4]

The town is located in the south-eastern part of the province bordering the province of Nueva Ecija to the south. Balungao is partially urban community with an area of 7,325 hectares (18,100 acres).[7]

Barangays

Balungao is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.

  • Angayan Norte
  • Angayan Sur
  • Capulaan
  • Esmeralda
  • Kita-kita
  • Mabini
  • Mauban
  • Poblacion
  • Pugaro
  • Rajal
  • San Andres
  • San Aurelio 1st
  • San Aurelio 2nd
  • San Aurelio 3rd
  • San Joaquin
  • San Julian
  • San Leon
  • San Marcelino
  • San Miguel
  • San Raymundo

History

Early settlers

The town of Balungao were first inhabited by nomadic people from the Ilocos region who found their way to the area through San Fabian, Pangasinan. They were farmers looking for places to settle down, engaging in agriculture to survive. Its origin is evident in the fact that Balungao is one of the Ilocano-speaking towns in the province where the primary language is the Pangasinense.[1]

Foundation

Balungao was originally called Panaclaban and was a part of Cuyapo town in the adjacent province of Nueva Ecija till the latter part of 18th century. It was annexed to the town of Rosales, Pangasinan in the early part of 19th century because of its geographic location. It officially became an independent municipality in 1815.[1]

Political Dynasty

The Peralta family has held various elective posts since the 1950’s, from barangay captain to municipal mayor. Felipe O. Peralta was elected mayor in the 1950’s, while his son Jose Sr., was elected as vice mayor in 1972, holding that position until 1980, his term being prolonged because of the declaration of Martial Law by then President Ferdinand Marcos years prior. Jose C. Peralta Sr was elected mayor in 1980, and was elected three times more, until he was shot inside the town’s parish, on April 25,1993.

Currently, the Peralta family holds the position of mayor, vice mayor, a council seat, barangay captain, and ABC President. Philipp G. Peralta is the incumbent mayor of the town, while serving as a councilor from 2004-2007, and its vice mayor from 2007-2010. Minda T. Peralta is the current vice mayor, serving since 2010, is the wife of former mayor, vice mayor, councilor, and barangay captain, Jose G. Peralta Jr. She was also notable for being the only one to be re-elected as vice mayor of the town.

Demographics

Population census of Balungao
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 5,853—    
1918 8,515+2.53%
1939 10,912+1.19%
1948 12,773+1.77%
1960 13,184+0.26%
1970 14,989+1.29%
1975 16,745+2.25%
1980 17,342+0.70%
1990 21,473+2.16%
1995 21,274−0.17%
2000 23,813+2.45%
2007 25,214+0.79%
2010 26,678+2.08%
2015 31,106+2.97%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[4] [8] [9] [10]

Climate

Climate data for Balungao, Pangasinan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 32
(90)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 34
(93)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 29
(84)		 32
(89)
Average low °C (°F) 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 21
(70)		 23
(73)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 127.5
(5.02)		 115.8
(4.559)		 129.7
(5.106)		 141.1
(5.555)		 248.2
(9.772)		 165
(6.5)		 185.3
(7.295)		 161.9
(6.374)		 221.4
(8.717)		 299.5
(11.791)		 199
(7.83)		 188.7
(7.429)		 2,183.1
(85.948)
Average rainy days 17 17 17 15 20 19 19 20 21 20 17 19 221
Source: World Weather Online[11]

Places of interest

Mount Balungao

Mount Balungao

Mount Balungao (15°51′44.90″N 120°40′57.70″E / 15.8624722°N 120.6826944°E / 15.8624722; 120.6826944) is an extinct volcano, 382 metres (1,253 ft) ASL located in the municipality of Balungao. Its volcanic past is manifested by its physical profile and the presence of hot and cold springs. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) lists Mount Balungao as an inactive volcano.[12]

Balungao Hilltop Adventure

Balungao opened its doors to adventure travel tourism with the opening of Balungao Hilltop Adventure (15°52′2″N 120°41′10″E / 15.86722°N 120.68611°E / 15.86722; 120.68611) on September 8, 2011. Located at the foot of Mount Balungao, the resort was constructed by the municipal government of Balungao and boasts the 2nd longest Zip-line in the Philippines (2011) at 600 metres (2,000 ft) long. The Balungao Hilltop Adventure also offers ATV or quad bike adventure, bungee trampoline, biking, mountain climbing, and the refurbished hot and cold spring swimming pools.[13]

It originally started as the Mt. Balungao Hot and Cold Springs Resort under the administration of then Mayor Jose G. Peralta Jr. It was not until 2011, under the administration of the Mayor Philipp G. Peralta, that it was repackaged for adventure travelers.

Longest Zipline in Pangasinan

Balungao Hilltop Adventure offers a Zip Line with a length 600 meters which could last from 15 seconds to a minute depending on your weight and your position when you are suspended at the Zip Line. It begins from a Hill, overlooking the valley passing through another hill down to the Balungao Hot and Cold Spring Resort. It is considered as the longest Zip line in Pangasinan[14]

Education

  • San Aurelio National High School
  • Rajal-Angayan National High School
  • Balungao National High School
  • Balungao Central High School
  • Remnant International School
  • San Leon National High School

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Historical Development". Hataw Balungao. Retrieved on 2012-04-23.
  2. ↑ "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Province: Pangasinan". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Pangasinan : Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index". Makati City, Philippines: National Competitiveness Council (Philippines). Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  7. ↑ "Province: PANGASINAN". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  8. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  9. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  10. ↑ "Province of Pangasinan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  11. ↑ "Balungao, Pangasinan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". World Weather Online. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)- List of Inactive Volcanoes" Archived 2008-12-06 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ "Zipline Adventure in Balungao Pangasinan – Hot and Cold Springs Resorts". Pangasinan, Festival Capital of the North. Retrieved on 2012-01-24.
  14. ↑
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