Daraga

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Daraga
Municipality
Municipality of Daraga
Daraga Church with Mayon Volcano in the background
Flag Seal
Nickname:  The International Gateway to Bicol "Home of Cagsawa Ruins"
Motto:  Arangkada Banwa
Map of Albay with Daraga highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Daraga Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°09′43″N 123°41′38″E / 13.1619°N 123.6939°E / 13.1619; 123.6939
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region
Province	Albay
District	2nd district
Founded	June 12, 1772
Barangays	54 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Carlwyn G. Baldo
• Vice Mayor	Gerry Raphael Z. Jaucian Jr.
• Representative	Jose Ma. Clemente "Joey" S. Salceda
• Municipal Council	Members Archie M. Bajamundi Julius L. Duran Carlos V. Baylon Bobby Magalona Joey Marcellana Stevie Bichara Jun Nuñez Leonides Teofilo C. de Lumen II
• Electorate	83,560 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	118.64 km2 (45.81 sq mi)
Elevation	79 m (259 ft)
Highest elevation	292 m (958 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	133,893
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
• Households	30,777
Demonym	Daragueño
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	15.47 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 382.4 million (2020), 186.6 million (2012), 205.2 million (2013), 222.4 million (2014), 257.2 million (2015), 275.9 million (2016), 312.1 million (2017), 332.7 million (2018), 357.3 million (2019), 431.1 million (2021), 559.1 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 1,514 million (2020), 405.8 million (2012), 421.6 million (2013), 440 million (2014), 477.4 million (2015), 821.8 million (2016), 1,030 million (2017), 1,260 million (2018), 1,342 million (2019), 1,705 million (2021), 2,274 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 363.3 million (2020), 166 million (2012), 150.4 million (2013), 159.3 million (2014), 181.9 million (2015), 191.6 million (2016), 204.2 million (2017), 239.6 million (2018), 290.1 million (2019), 334 million (2021), 462.7 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 521.5 million (2020), 137.4 million (2012), 134.6 million (2013), 126.9 million (2014), 183 million (2015), 229.1 million (2016), 339.7 million (2017), 473.9 million (2018), 458.5 million (2019), 558.7 million (2021), 681.9 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Albay Power and Energy Corporation (APEC)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4501
PSGC	050503000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)52
Native languages	Tagalog
Website	www.daraga.gov.ph

Daraga, officially the Municipality of Daraga (Central Bikol: Banwaan kan Daraga; Tagalog: Bayan ng Daraga), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Albay, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 133,893.^[3]

The municipality is home to the famous Cagsawa Ruins.

The word daraga historically referred to a "maiden", and term for an "unmarried woman" in many of the Bikol languages. The original settlement of Daraga dates back to the 12th century, but has changed location repeatedly due to the constant threats posed by the Mayon Volcano. The town was previously named Budiao, Cagsawa, Locsin, and Salcedo.

Year	Event
12th c.	Early settlers were mostly traders. The name Daraga came from a type of tree that was abundant on the hill where a baroque Catholic church now stands.
1578	Franciscan missionaries arrive, and christen the place Budiao, later renaming it to Cagsawa.
1595	Cagsawa becomes a visita (satellite mission station) attached to the town of Camalig.
1772	Governor-General Simón de Anda renames Cagsawa to Salcedo, which is later renamed Daraga.
1814	The municipality is destroyed in the deadliest eruption of Mayon Volcano, killing 1,200 people that sought refuge inside the church.
1815	Government for Daraga is formally organized, with Venancio Espíritu Salomon as Barangay Captain.
1892	Under the Becerra Law, Daraga becomes a constituent of Legazpi City.
1922	Daraga regains its autonomy when the Philippine Assembly ordered the partition of Daraga from Albay, composed of Albay and Legazpi City.
1948	Under Republic Act 306, Daraga is again incorporated into Legazpi as one of its districts.[5]
1954	Republic Act 993 officially recreates the Municipality of Daraga.[6]
1959	Daraga renamed to Locsin, through Republic Act No. 2505.[7]
1967	Republic Act 4994 restores the name Daraga.[8]
1973	Under Presidential Decree 125, Daraga is again incorporated as part of Legazpi City;[9] implementation of decree was suspended.
1993	Daraga adjudged the 'cleanest and greenest' municipality in Bicol.
2001	Mayon Volcano erupts in June, blanketing the town with an inch of ash.
2002	Municipal government finishes construction of modern supermarket.
2006	Mudflows from Mayon Volcano, triggered by heavy rains from Typhoon Reming (international name: Durian) buried at least eight villages. More than 20,000 Individuals were evacuated, and thousands lost their homes.
2007	The National Museum declared the town's 400-year-old Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church a national cultural treasure.
2008	Daraga experiences economic boom with the opening of several national food chains and the opening of LCC Supermarket.
2010	The government of Daraga negotiates for the establishment of the Bicol International Airport in the town, with the proposed construction site in Barangay Alobo.
2012	Daraga holds first ever Cagsawa Festival in February.
2016	Daraga became the first applicant for cityhood in the 17th congress.[10]
2024	Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo was arrested over his alleged involvement in the 2018 killing of Rep. Rodel Batocabe of the AKO BICOL party.

Daraga is located at 13°09′43″N 123°41′38″E / 13.1619°N 123.6939°E / 13.1619; 123.6939, in the south-west portion of Albay province, along the Maharlika Highway, making it accessible from Manila, the Visayas, and the other municipalities of eastern Bicol Peninsula. It is roughly "boot-shaped", with the "tall" part ranging 13.05–13.25° north latitude and 123.66–123.73° east longitude and the "wide" part ranging 13.02–13.09° north latitude and 123.56–123.71° east longitude. It is bounded on the north and east by Legazpi City, south by Sorsogon (particularly the municipality of Pilar), and west by Camalig, and Jovellar. It is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Legazpi and 524 kilometres (326 mi) from Manila.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 118.64 square kilometres (45.81 sq mi) ^[11] constituting 4.61% of the 2,575.77-square-kilometre- (994.51 sq mi) total area of Albay. This municipal land area is distributed among the present 16 urban barangays and 42 rural barangays. The urban barangays total 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) (12.65%) and the rural barangays make up the remaining 10,360 hectares (25,600 acres) (87.35%) of the total municipal land area.^[12]

67.3% of the total municipal land area has a predominantly low elevation of up to 100 metres (330 ft). The surface terrain is generally characterized by combination of level to nearly level areas, gentle to undulating areas and undulating to rolling areas.

The different soil types to be found within Daraga are the Mayon Gravelly Sandy Loam, Annam Clay Loam, Gravelly Sandy Loam, Legazpi Fine Sandy Loam (Stoney phase), Sevilla Clay Loam and Sevilla Clay.

The underlying geology are made up of several types: Alluvium, Shale and Sandstone Limestone and Basalt and Andesite Series. The prevalent geologic type is the Shale and Sandstone Sequence and other equally significant geologic types such as alluvium. Recent Volcanic, Crystalline Limestone and Psyroclastine Limestone are found near the base of Mayon Volcano mostly in the urban barangays.

Minerals available within the municipality of Daraga are non-metallic consisting of Gravel, and Boulders. These minerals are abundant in Barangays Budiao, Busay, Bañadero and Matnog brought down from the slopes of Mayon Volcano during occurrences of volcanic eruptions and rains.

The surface drainage pattern of Daraga is largely affected by the water runoff coming from Mayon Volcano coupled with those from other directions. Major river systems which convey and act as natural drainage channels as well as water sources include:

• Yawa River in Barangay Cullat, Malobago, Kilicao, Tagas, Binitayan & Bañag which connects to the Albay Gulf in Legazpi City
• Colabos Creek in Bañag, San Roque, Market Area, Sagpon, and Bagumbayan
• Quillarena River in Malabog & Budiao
• Gumacon Creek in Barangay Maroroy, Tagas
• Gulang-Gulang Creek in Barangay Pandan

Daraga has a generally wet climate characterized by a lack of the dry season. Maximum rainfall is from November to January, and average monthly rainfall is 223.4 millimetres (8.80 in). Prevailing winds are generally from north-east to south-west. Average temperature is 27.0 °C (80.6 °F).^[12]

But the climate change phenomenon has changed the past climate pattern. Dry spells are becoming more pronounced, as it is with the wet season. The phenomenon is felt all over the country as well.

Daraga is politically subdivided into 54 barangays.^[14] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Barangay	Population (2010)[15]	Area (ha)[16]	Class	Barangay head
Alcala	2,755	116.18	Rural	Ester L. Llandeza
Alobo	792	160.65	Rural	Dexter L. Marmol
Anislag	9,445	858.50	Urban	Elmer Lodronio
Bagumbayan	3,254	132.54	Urban	Mark C. Magalona
Balinad	2,230	153.74	Urban	Darren Maceda
Bañadero	1,637	204.00	Rural	Archie Bajamundi
Bañag	2,719	27.35	Urban	Gayzel M. Cardiño
Bascaran	3,946	423.00	Urban	Julius L. Duran
Bigao	1,015	296.08	Rural	Salvador Miravalles
Binitayan	4,257	24.06	Urban	Cecilia A. Arevalo
Bongalon	1,123	73.48	Rural	Ferelyn M. Seva
Budiao	271	290.07	Rural	Jefferson M. Mapula
Burgos	1,122	148.67	Rural	Henry Mallapre 2024 (Present)
Busay	1,684	213.79	Rural	Salvyn Mandane
Canarom	501	247.36	Rural	Efren M. Llasos
Cullat	1,460	30.78	Rural	Luis D. Espejo
de la Paz	773	73.19	Rural	Maria L. Marjalino
Dinoronan	608	61.07	Rural	Hirfa M. Espadilla
Gabawan	1,983	93.18	Rural	Roberto C. Obispo
Gapo	1,982	389.25	Rural	Jesus M. Magdaong Jr
Ibaugan	546	179.00	Rural	Raul Ll. Malto
Ilawod	1,987	18.42	Urban	Randy Kabayo Velasco
Inarado	1,694	682.22	Rural	Rommel N. Marticio
Kidaco	1,205	116.03	Rural	Nelson Magallano
Kilicao	3,925	379.43	Urban	Eriberto M. Madrona
Kimantong	1,980	20.98	Urban	Ramon D. Paran Jr.
Kinawitan	405	78.46	Rural	Eduardo N. Lubiano
Kiwalo	1,160	57.65	Rural	Janet L. Lorilla
Lacag	2,321	383.86	Rural	Arthur L. Llabore Sr.
Mabini	581	124.83	Rural	Ranulfo N. Llorera
Malabog	4,099	287.46	Rural	Paulo Montallana
Malobago	492	61.56	Rural	William Marbella
Maopi	1,166	252.95	Rural	Alex M.LoteriÑA
Market Area	2,538	20.82	Urban	Wilfredo N. Nayve
Maroroy	5,331	73.60	Urban	Robinson "toto" Lubiano
Matnog	1,680	270.15	Rural	Bonifacio M. Odiver
Mayon	1,759	356.70	Rural	Adoracion Blazo
Mi-isi	1,028	518.20	Rural	Elmer A. Lorica
Nabasan	506	552.14	Rural	Menche A. Llamasares
Namantao	1,538	363.07	Rural	Danilo Llaneta
Pandan	1,683	94.32	Rural	Rosalito Cimanes
Peñafrancia	2,986	193.74	Urban	Jose M. Lobas
Sagpon	5,723	29.62	Urban	Loreto Barajas
Salvacion	3,344	551.61	Rural	Nelson N. Mabini
San Rafael	296	32.64	Rural	Alodea M. Lisay
San Ramon	1,441	784.99	Rural	Aidar L. Llaguno
San Roque	4,308	41.97	Urban	Gary Calpe
San Vicente Grande	961	346.57	Rural	Elena M. Vibar
San Vicente Pequeño	320	63.67	Rural	Jesus Oarde
Sipi	3,454	38.92	Urban	Dexter Billy M. Lorica
Tabon-tabon	2,588	207.99	Rural	Ric M. Rodrigueza
Tagas	6,527	100.45	Urban	Cherry M. Mayor
Talahib	541	341.93	Rural	Nieves M. Jacob
Villahermosa	2,203	414.71	Rural	Eladio L. Rodrigueza

Population census of Daraga

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	18,695	—
1939	29,484	+1.27%
1960	41,973	+1.70%
1970	58,335	+3.34%
1975	63,265	+1.64%
1980	73,224	+2.97%
1990	83,928	+1.37%
1995	91,829	+1.70%
2000	101,031	+2.07%
2007	110,625	+1.26%
2010	115,804	+1.68%
2015	126,595	+1.71%
2020	133,893	+1.11%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[17][15][18][19]

In the 2020 census, Daraga had a population of 133,893.^[3] The population density was 1,100 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,800/sq mi).

In 2010, the 2010 municipal population of 115,804 was distributed among the urban and rural barangays. The urban population was 48.54% while rural population completed the remaining 51.45%. The "built-up density" was 5,659 persons/km². It had a literacy rate of 96.08% and a municipality growth rate of 1.3%.

In terms of employment and livelihood, farming ranks high at 33.53%, crafts and related workers as well as elementary occupations follow second with 17.71% and 21.89% respectively.

The languages spoken in Daraga include East Miraya (Daragueño), Bicol, Tagalog, and English.

Poverty incidence of Daraga

5 10 15 20 25 30 2006 29.40 2009 29.70 2012 17.88 2015 17.23 2018 13.51 2021 15.47 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

Daraga's economy, originally agriculture-based, has rapidly transformed into an emerging urban system, benefiting from the economic opportunities of being located contiguously with the urban center of Legazpi. It draws trade relations with the island province of Masbate through the nearby Port of Pilar.

Daraga is the site of the Bicol International Airport which will further boost tourism in the region and will introduce more opportunities especially in this town. Local officials are now considering cityhood in the near future or upon the completion of the said international airport, if that so, Daraga would be the fourth city in Albay.

Daraga has the highest number of business establishments among towns in Albay. As of 2011 it has over 2,300 business establishments registered with the Permits and Licensing Office. The municipality is a center of handicraft manufacturing with several handicraft factories choosing their location in the municipality.

Daraga's existing tourist spots/attractions are the Cagsawa Ruins and Resort and the Our Lady of the Gate Parish.

Cagsawa Ruins and Resort is located in Barangay Busay. Its prominent attraction is the belfry of the Cagsawa Church which submerged in mudflow during the February 2, 1814, Mayon Volcano Eruption which killed 1,200 people.

The Our Lady of the Gate Parish was constructed in 1773 atop Santa Maria Hill in Barangay San Roque and is uniquely known for its rich Baroque architecture.

Daraga has a total road network of about 129.01 kilometres (80.16 mi). These are categorized as national roads, provincial roads, municipal roads and barangay roads. The barangay roads comprise the bulk of the municipality road network system. About 24.97% are concrete paved while the remaining 75.03% remains in asphalt, gravel or earth fill pavement conditions. These are about 25 bridges within the municipality and 66.22% of which are within barangay roads while the other bridges are part of national, provincial or barangay roads.

Daraga is the site of the newly constructed Bicol International Airport. It serves the City of Legazpi and the rest of Albay. It is located at barangay Alobo.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2016)

Each barangay of Daraga has its own elementary school.

• Bicol University – Daraga
• Belen B. Francisco Foundation Inc.
• Bicol College (BC)
• Daraga Community College (DComC)
• Immaculate Concepcion College of Albay (ICCA)

• Barbie Imperial - actress, model, and former housemate from Pinoy Big Brother: 737^[28]
• Gwen Apuli - model, singer, dancer, former Pinoy Big Brother: Otso housemate, and member of Pinoy pop girl group Bini^[29]

Media related to Daraga at Wikimedia Commons

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code