Rodriguez, Rizal

The town had received its former name of Montalban from a derivation of the Spanish word Monte (Mountain) from the numerous hills found within and surrounding the town.[8] A common name for the municipality up to the present, it was its official name from its founding in 1909 until 1982 when the Batasang Pambansa officially renamed it to Rodriguez under Batas Pambansa Blg.275 in honor of Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr., a native of the municipality who served as Senate President.[1]

Based on the 1954 journal History and Cultural Life of Montalban and its Barrios, what would then be the town of Montalban was formerly the barrio Balite which was under the jurisdiction of the town of San Mateo during the Spanish period. The town was then founded by Fr. Eustaquio of Pasig in 1871.[8] On another account, San Mateo, with its large size, was partitioned on April 27, 1871 when Captain General Rafael Izquierdo issued a decree separating the barrios of Balite, Burgos, Marang and Calipahan from San Mateo and formed them into the new municipality of Montalban.

According to the Executive Summary included in the Annual Audit Reports of Rodriguez, Rizal, the municipality of Montalban was founded on June 30, 1871 under the "Acta de Erreccion" or Deed of Foundation.[9] The municipality was then incorporated to the newly created Province of Rizal on June 11, 1901 by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 137.[10] Montalban was then consolidated with San Mateo by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 942 on October 12, 1903. San Mateo served as the seat of government in line with the economic centralization.[11] Montalban then became an independent municipality again by virtue of Executive Order No. 20 series of 1908 on February 29, 1908.

In 1982, the town was officially renamed to Rodriguez under Batas Pambansa Blg.275 in honor of the former Senate President and town native Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr.[1]

Rodriguez is a town of mountains. From its north to south, a series of sloping ridges, hills and mountains ranges adorn the town. In fact, around 27% or the town is occupied by mountains and slopes. The town's highest peak is Mount Irid, 1,469 meters above sea level.

The province of Rizal covers 1,175.8 square kilometers. Rodriguez makes up 26.6% of the entire province of Rizal, housing 11 barangays. Rodriguez's economic activities include agriculture and commerce such as the Avilon Zoo.

Elevation and slope

The mountainous interior of Rodriguez

The Municipality of Rodriguez is generally very rough in topography, with 83% of its total land area composed of upland areas, hills and mountain ranges. The remaining 17% low-lying terrain and rolling lands are found at the south-western portion of the municipality, along with the northern portions of the Municipality of San Mateo.

The rolling slopes comprise the Marikina River Valley, where water from higher elevations drain towards the Marikina River and its tributaries at the south-western portion of the municipality. Elevations at these western lowlands range from 10 to 30 meter above sea level. The western portion of the flatlands gently rises towards the west, which is part of Quezon City.

The mountainous regions of the Municipality of Rodriguez are found at the central and eastern areas, with sleepy sloping ridges and mountain ranges, traversing north to south. The terrain in these mountain ranges has slopes ranging from 30–50%. Very steep hills and mountains have slopes greater than 50%. Rolling to hilly areas 18–30% in slope can also be found. These high elevations are drained by the Tanay, Puray, and Rodriguez Rivers.

Barangays

Map of Rodriguez (Montalban) Rizal and its Barangays. This is subject to the correction by the Montalban LGU.

Rodriguez is politically subdivided into 11 barangays (8 urban, 3 rural) [4] with the barangays of San Isidro and San Jose being two of the most populated barangays in the municipality and in the Philippines.[13]

Barangay	Population (2015 census)[14]
Balite	9,983
Burgos	44,100
Geronimo	5,554
Macabud	9,707
Manggahan	13,913
Mascap	4,699
Puray	3,921
Rosario	7,244
San Isidro	117,277
San Jose	124,868
San Rafael	27,956
Rodriguez	369,222

Rodriguez Town Hall

In the 2015 census, the population of Rodriguez, Rizal, was 369,222 people,[5] with a density of 1,200 inhabitants per square kilometre or 3,100 inhabitants per square mile.

The main transportation used in the municipality were jeepneys, tricycles, UVs, and buses. There are jeepneys that ply through the towns of San Mateo, Marikina and Cubao via Marcos Highway in Quezon City, some ply the route that leads to Philcoa in Quezon City via Batasan Road in San Mateo, others connect Rodriguez to Litex Road in Quezon City. The Marikina Auto Line Transport Corporation (MALTC) buses is the only one that regularly travels to farther places like Makati and Parañaque. UV's ply the routes to Cubao in Quezon City and Santa Lucia Grand Mall in Cainta.

Formerly there was railway service under the Philippine National Railways that traverses the San Mateo - Marikina - Pasig area and had its terminus at Barangay Balitè behind the Santo Rosario Parish Church but it had been long dismantled and the railway line converted into roadway that now consists of the road aptly named Daang Bakal.

It is known that 'patok' jeepneys originated from this town way back during the 80's. These jeepneys are known for their notoriety on the road. Despite this, they are popular among the passengers hence the name patók which means 'popular'. They still ply this town up to this day, most plying the Montalban-Cubao route via Marcos Highway. These jeepneys have already spread throughout the Rizal province as well as in Marikina City since then.

[19]

• H Vill Hospital
• N. Medcare Hospital
• St. Mark Hospital
• Montalban Infirmary
• Casimiro A. Ynares Sr. Memorial Hospital

There are numerous elementary and high schools, both public and private, offering primary, secondary and tertiary education in the town of Rodriguez. There are also colleges and institutions that offer graduate and undergraduate programs in town.

• Pamitinan Protected Landscape
• Wawa Dam[20]
• Puray Falls
• Rodriguez Ancestral Mansion
• Mount Pamitinan and Binacayan
• Mount Hapunang Banoi
• Mount Sipit-Ulang
• Avilon Zoo

• List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines
• San Mateo, Rizal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rodriguez, Rizal.

• Rodriguez Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Local Governance Performance Management System
• Caving in Wawa Dam, Montalban