Milagros, Masbate

Milagros
Municipality
Municipality of Milagros
Rice fields in Milagros

Map of Masbate with Milagros highlighted
Milagros
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 12°14′N 123°30′E / 12.23°N 123.5°E / 12.23; 123.5Coordinates: 12°14′N 123°30′E / 12.23°N 123.5°E / 12.23; 123.5
Country  Philippines
Region Bicol Region (Region V)
Province Masbate
District 2nd district
Barangays 27 (see Barangays)
Government [1]
 • Type Sangguniang Bayan
 • Mayor Natividad Isabel R. Magbalon
 • Electorate 29,325 voters (2016)
Area [2]
 • Total 565.30 km2 (218.26 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
 • Total 57,473
 • Density 100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code 5410
PSGC 054112000
IDD : area code  +63 (0)56
Climate type Tropical rainforest climate
Income class 1st municipal income class
Revenue (₱) 166,381,497.15 (2016)
Native languages Masbateño language
Tagalog

Milagros, officially the Municipality of Milagros, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Masbate, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 57,473 people.[3]

It is facing the Asid Gulf and is the largest municipality in the province in terms of land area. [2]

Etymology

Milagros got its name from Spanish word Milagro meaning miracle. Stories handed down from generation to generation told us that the community was founded by early settlers who are peace loving and faithful converted Christians. Early then, coastal communities are the center of trade and commerce because of its facility to transport goods and products to and from the other communities. These are often the targets of marauding “moro” bandits who pillage and wreak havoc to victim communities. News of the atrocities caused by these heartless invaders sent shivers to the bones of those unwarring communities.

One day a flotilla of vintas with armed men aboard anchored at the bay ready to attack on signal. People scampered to safety to neighboring hills leaving behind the weak, the sick and the old. Being true believers of the Christian faith, they implored the aid of their patron Saint, St. Joseph to spare them from the wrath of these heartless invaders. Their prayers were not left unanswered. Every time these invaders are poised to attack, they saw myriads of armed combatants with guns and cannons lined up at the shore in defense position, thus giving the bandits second thoughts of pursuing their attack. Every time these bandits are set to attack these armed combatants always appear. Sensing that they are vulnerable to these invincible defenders, the “moro” bandits called off the attack.

This always happened whenever there were invaders who threaten the peaceful community. News of these events circulated among other bandit groups, which eventually deter them from raiding the community.

For these countless miracles, the community was called “MILAGROS”.

Barangays

It is the largest municipality of the province with an area of 56, 540 hectares. It is composed of 27 barangays with one island barangay and one island sitio. It has an estimated population of 50, 100 for the year 2007.

  • Bacolod
  • Bangad
  • Bara
  • Bonbon
  • Calasuche
  • Calumpang
  • Capaculan
  • Cayabon
  • Guinluthangan
  • Jamorawon
  • Magsalangi
  • Matagbac
  • Matanglad
  • Matiporon
  • Moises R. Espinosa
  • Narangasan
  • Pamangpangon
  • Poblacion East
  • Poblacion West
  • Paraiso (Potot)
  • San Antonio
  • San Carlos
  • Sawmill
  • Tagbon
  • Tawad
  • Tigbao
  • Tinaclipan (Bato)

Milagros is one of the original municipalities of Masbate since its creation as a New Province by virtue of Philippine Commission Act. No. 105 enacted on March 18, 1901. It is the mother municipality of Cawayan, Balud, and Mandaon until their creation under Executive Order 244.

The municipality is endowed with rich mineral resources the as of to date has partially been tapped. Manganese is being extracted at barangays Pamangpangon and Taisan and as being exported to Japan. Large deposit of white clay, which maybe used in making of porcelain products and other novelty items can be found at Barangay Bonbon and Matanglad. Other precious minerals such as gold, copper and silver are also present in the area.

Demographics

Population census of Milagros
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 6,674—    
1918 10,521+3.08%
1939 30,171+5.14%
1948 33,502+1.17%
1960 17,048−5.47%
1970 24,480+3.68%
1975 24,630+0.12%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1980 28,496+2.96%
1990 33,305+1.57%
1995 38,925+2.96%
2000 44,575+2.95%
2007 48,185+1.08%
2010 52,619+3.26%
2015 57,473+1.69%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][4][5][6]

In the 2015 census, the population of Milagros, Masbate, was 57,473 people,[3] with a density of 100 inhabitants per square kilometre or 260 inhabitants per square mile.

Politics in Milagros

The former dominant political clan in Milagros was the De Jesus Clan and followed by the Abapo Clan. In 2015, former Milagros town Mayor Bernardito Abapo was arrested in a raid by the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on a suspected drug laboratory in Masbate province.[7] The results of the 2007 Local Elections replaced the Abapo Clan by the Magbalon Clan. Dr. Natividad Isabel Magbalon finished her 3-consecutive terms or a total of 9 years as being the mayor of the municipality. When she was still the mayor of the town, the Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of the case against Dr. Magbalon before the Sandiganbayan after finding probable cause to indict her. The Ombudsman accused Magbalon of graft charge for withholding the representation and transportation allowance (RATA) allotted for the Office of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (OMSWD) in 2013.[8] Since Dr. Natividad Isabel Magbalon can no longer run for mayor, her husband Jose Magbalon Jr. run on her behalf and won the 2016 elections with 51.2% votes over his opponent Bobet Trias.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Province: Masbate". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  5. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  6. ↑ "Province of Masbate". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  7. ↑ http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/436394/news/regions/2-ex-mayors-arrested-in-masbate-shabu-lab-raid
  8. ↑ http://bicol.politics.com.ph/2016/08/10/vice mayor-magbalons-past-sin-haunts-him/
  9. ↑ http://ph.rappler.com/elections/2016/results/philippines/Bicol-Region/Masbate/Milagros/position/8132/mayor?image=1&title=2016%20Election%20Results:%20Mayor,%20Milagros&desc=Milagros:%20JOSE%20JR.%20MAGBALON%20null%20is%20leading%20as%20Mayor%20based%20on%20Comelec%20Unofficial%20Partial%20Results%20%7C%20Philippine%20Elections
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