Cawayan

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Coordinates: 11°55′49″N 123°46′08″E
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Cawayan, Masbate)

Cawayan

Municipality

Municipality of Cawayan
 Mahayahay Coastline

Flag

Map of Masbate with Cawayan highlighted

show
OpenStreetMap
 Cawayan

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 11°55′49″N 123°46′08″E

Country Philippines

Region Bicol Region

Province Masbate

District 3rd district

Barangays 37 (see Barangays)

Government
[1]

• Type Sangguniang Bayan

• Mayor Edgar S. Condor

• Vice Mayor Ester C. Binsol

• Representative Wilton T. Kho

• Municipal Council show

 Members

• Electorate 44,749 voters (2022)

Area

[2]

• Total 260.19 km2 (100.46 sq mi)

Elevation 12 m (39 ft)

Highest elevation 99 m (325 ft)

Lowest elevation 0 m (0 ft)

Population

(2020 census)[3]

• Total 69,265

• Density 270/km2 (690/sq mi)

• Households 16,169

Economy

• Income class 2nd municipal income class

• Poverty incidence 24.26

% (2018)[4]

• Revenue ₱ 228.3 million (2020)

• Assets ₱ 479.9 million (2020)

• Expenditure ₱ 242.5 million (2020)

• Liabilities ₱ 126.6 million (2020)

Service provider
 • Electricity Masbate Electric Cooperative (MASELCO)

Time zone UTC+8 (PST)

ZIP code 5405

PSGC 054106000

IDD : area code +63 (0)56

Native languages Tagalog

Cawayan, officially the Municipality of Cawayan, is a 2nd class municipality in

the province of Masbate, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population
of 69,265 people.[3]

Cawayan had an approximate income of Php 90,785,714.09 in 2012. [5]

Cawayan is 64 kilometres (40 mi) from Masbate City.

History[edit]
Cawayan was created as a municipality from portions of Milagros through Executive
Order No. 244 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on July 18, 1949.[6]

Geography[edit]
Barangays[edit]
Cawayan is politically subdivided into 37 barangays. [7] Each barangay consists
of puroks and some have sitios.

 Begia
 Cabayugan
 Cabungahan
 Calapayan
 Calumpang
 Dalipe
 Divisoria
 Guiom
 Gilotongan
 Itombato
 Libertad
 Looc
 Mactan
 Madbad
 R.M. Magbalon (Bebihan)
 Mahayahay
 Maihao
 Malbug
 Naro
 Pananawan
 Poblacion
 Pulot
 Recodo
 San Jose
 San Vicente
 Taberna
 Talisay
 Tuburan
 Villahermosa
 Chico Island
 Lague-lague
 Palobandera
 Pena Island
 Pin-As
 Iraya
 Punta Batsan
 Tubog
Climate[edit]

hideClimate data for Cawayan, Masbate

Ma Ap Ma Au No Yea
Month Jan Feb Jun Jul Sep Oct Dec
r r y g v r

29 29 31 32 31 30 30 30 30 29 29
Mean daily maximum 32 30
(84 (84 (88 (90 (88 (86 (86 (86 (86 (84 (84
°C (°F) (90) (86)
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

23 22 23 23 25 24 25 24 24 24 23
Mean daily minimum 25 24
(73 (72 (73 (73 (77 (75 (77 (75 (75 (75 (73
°C (°F) (77) (75)
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 1,02
39 34 42 36 73 109 118 108 129 136 112 89
Average precipitation 5
(1.5 (1.3 (1.7 (1.4 (2.9 (4.3 (4.6 (4.3 (5.1 (5.4 (4.4 (3.5
mm (inches) (40.4
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
)

12. 12. 13. 20. 25. 26. 24. 25. 25. 21. 17.
Average rainy days 9.7 235
6 0 0 5 3 2 8 2 9 9 9

Source: Meteoblue[8]

Demographics[edit]
Population census of Cawayan
Year Pop. ±% p.a. Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1960 20,104 — 2000 52,256 +2.85%
1970 28,708 +3.62% 2007 59,658 +1.84%
1975 27,581 −0.80% 2010 63,115 +2.07%
1980 31,696 +2.82% 2015 67,033 +1.15%
1990 38,336 +1.92% 2020 69,265 +0.65%
1995 45,834 +3.40%

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[9][10][11][12]

In the 2020 census, the population of Cawayan, Masbate, was 69,265 people, [3] with a
density of 270 inhabitants per square kilometre or 700 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy[edit]
Poverty Incidence of Cawayan

Graphs are
unavailable due to
technical issues. There
is more info
on Phabricator and
on MediaWiki wiki.

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14]

[15][16][17][18][19]
 View of Mount Begia from Mahayahay
Agriculture[edit]
The locals of Cawayan still largely depend on subsistence farming despite its
topographic advantage to adapt commercial farming. The lack of funding for agriculture
and infrastructure and its political insecurity due to the presence and activities of armed
groups kept by political families[20] and other subversive elements hinder the town's
progress in spite of its geographical benefits.

Being primarily plain and flat, Cawayan is conducive to cattle farming. Grasslands are
abundant in the plains and in the gentle slopes of the valleys and hills. However, land
grabbing[21] issues still prevail as evidenced by hectares of private enclosures locally
known as "ranchos" that run miles after miles. Herds of cattle inside the fence barrier
are visible from the national road as one travels into the interior making Cawayan a
major player in the cattle industry of the province.

Cawayan has several outlying islands crucial to its local fishing industries. These
islands provide most of the marine resources to cater to the needs in the
mainland. Barter trade is still practiced on Sundays, the town's busiest day.

Copra farming is also popular in Cawayan.

Infrastructure[edit]
Cawayan Port Improvement Project
The P42.95-million Cawayan Port Improvement Project in Barangay Mahayahay
included the construction of rock causeway, back-up area, RC platform, RoRo ramp and
breasting dolphin, as well as port lighting system, and mooring and fendering system.
The project was completed on January 26, 2009. [22]

The construction of this facility has drawn various forms of criticism. Nothing since the
road construction project years way back that paved the national highway for a smooth
access to other places had the townsfolk witnessed the unveiling of this multi-million
project with such warm welcome. However, it was also evident that the materials used
were substandard due to its massive damage when a typhoon struck the area months
after its completion. Nevertheless, there was no denying of its economic contribution
that further flourished open trade in the Visayan nautical radius.[citation needed]

RoRo Project
Other than the local outrigger boat operators, a shipping company provides services to
cater to the town's need of reliable vessel to transfer commodities to and from Cawayan
for trade. It departs daily from Cawayan usually at 12:00 noon for a six-hour trip and
docks at Pulambato Port in Bogo, Cebu. And at around 12:00 midnight it sails back to
Cawayan Port.

For about two years, the RoRo vessel stopped operating in Cawayan, [23] but on October
10, 2012, RoRo service was restarted.

Station of the Cross

Marine Sanctuary in Recodo[24]
Industry[edit]
A local crab meat processing industry operates in Peña Island owned by Arturo
Marcaida Jr.[25] He is considered as the most successful fisherman who made it big in
fish culture and fish processing business not only in Masbate but in the entire Bicol
Region which earned for him the title “Crab King". [26]

Another booming industry of the town is the dried fish industry.

Tourism[edit]
Cawayan is naturally blessed with beautiful places. Famous hang-outs and tourist spots
include the Station of the Cross atop Mount Begia; tropical islets of Naro and Peña; a
marine sanctuary across Recodo Bay; and a wide stretch of beaches among others.

Tourists can also enjoy visiting downtown during Sundays at Barangay Divisoria which
has one of the largest open markets in the Philippines. [27]

Education[edit]
Secondary schools:

 Western Masbate Roosevelt High School

 Naro National High School
 Villahermosa National High School
 Malbug High School
 Madbad National High School
Tertiary schools:
 Atty. Manuel B. Abinuman Memorial Colleges, Inc.