Las Navas
Las Navas is a 4th class municipality in the province of Northern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 29,346 people in 5,641 households.
On or before the revert ion of the municipality to a barrio, a certain Spanish Colonel of the Spanish armed Forces in the name of De Las Navas explored the Northern Part of Samar. He sailed with his mean upstream the Catubig River and reached the place “Binongtu – an”. The people warmly meet him as a high ranking Spanish Official of the Armed Forces with full respect and high regards to the Government.
In his visit to the place, he told the people that the name Binongtu – an of the place be changed to Las Navas (in his name) and serve as a reminder that a prominent Spanish Army arrived and reached the place. The people accepted the proposed name and change the name Binongtu – and to Las Navas, as its official name.
Profile
During the Spanish regime, one of the municipalities that was recognized as a town is Las Navas, formerly known as “Bungto”, meaning town. Upon recognition a Parochial Church was constructed with a parochial priest as head of the town. It is situated in the interior part of the island along the Catubig River. It comprises a wide lowlands between hills now known to be the Catubig Valley. The river is big enough that small tonnage or motored vessels can easily sail to the source of the river.
At the latest part of the 18th century, a band of Moro Pirates sailed to the river and reached the town or “Bungto”. The people were robbed and the town was burned. Afraid of the motives of the pirates, the inhabitants abandoned the town for a period of time.
After several months, the people returned to the place and retrieved all what had been left by the fire. They constructed their homes and reestablished the town and the sear of the Government. After the reestablishment of the municipality and the inhabitants were stable enough, leaders thought of changing the name “Bungto” . It was in an unanimity made by the populace that Bungto was changed to “Binongtu – an” meaning that the palce was then a Bungto, then abandoned for a period of time because of the Moro pirates that robbed the Christian community of the people.
How it got its name
On or before the revert ion of the municipality to a barrio, a certain Spanish Colonel of the Spanish armed Forces in the name of De Las Navas explored the Northern Part of Samar. He sailed with his mean upstream the Catubig River and reached the place “Binongtu – an”. The people warmly meet him as a high ranking Spanish Official of the Armed Forces with full respect and high regards to the Government.
In his visit to the place, he told the people that the name Binongtu – an of the place be changed to Las Navas (in his name) and serve as a reminder that a prominent Spanish Army arrived and reached the place. The people accepted the proposed name and change the name Binongtu – and to Las Navas, as its official name.
Geographic info
The municipality is located at the heart of the island of Samar. It is bounded on the north by the Catubig, Northern Samar, on the east by the Jipapad, Eastern Samar, on the west by the Silvino Lubos, Northern Samar and on the south by the Municipality of San Jose de Buan.
Soil
The soil in this area is predominantly silt and clay loam with a fine texture and a high water retention capacity. Thi soil type is fertile and suitable for lowland rice but needs water drainage for upland crops
Land
The municipality has a total land area of 21, 060 hectares. Most of this land are devoted to agricultural production and the rest are forest reservation,
Bodies of water
Rivers, brooks, creeks can be found practically when hiking from one place to another and traversed by the Catubig river. The Catubig river is the most famous river in the area, it is commonly called as the Main River, compared to Hinaga river and Hagbay river.
Demography
Total Population: 22, 019 Total number of household: 4, 286
Generally, the people speaks Waray – waray as a common dialect while English and Pilipino is used only as medium of instructions in schools and other types of communications.
Industry
The municipality is basically and practically agricultural area with rice production as a major activity. However, of the total land area 4, 733 hectares are planted with rice and 3, 275.2 hectares for coconut. The remaining areas are planted with abaca with a total of 1, 332.5 hectares, root crops has a total of 540 hectares. Livestocks and poultry is considered as a major economic activity of the small farmers and his family.
Other major resources such as timber products, tikog and rattan are also abundant, such offering a bright prospect for agricultural development and for subsequent industrialization through small and medium scale industries.
Services
Social
The municipality is serve by a district hospital at Catubig, but it has its own Rural Health Center in yhr Poblacion and other barangay Health Station for health services. There is one operational pharmacy in the area, the Girlie Drugstore located a the La Purisima Street, Poblacion.
For health manpower, there is a total of one rural health Physician, one rural health nurse, one sanitary inspector and four rural Health Midwives, including volunteers for health services known as barangay Health workers (SHWS). It is through this government organization where health care and family planning including immunization are carried out and implemented.
Educational
Education is given emphasis and priority among the programs of the municipality. In terms of educational facilities, the area has one elementary school district with complete elementary level in some areas of the district and 39 incomplete barangay primary schools.
It has complete secondary school which offers Agro – Industrial technology and basic academic requirements. People in the area avail its tertiary courses from its Sister town of Catubig, UEP and even Manila and some other colleges and universities in the area.
Transportation
The municipality is reached mainly by navigation along the Catubig river with the use of pump boats and bancas. The pump boats ply from Las Navas to Catubig daily at P 20.00 per person. This docks at look in Catubig and look too in Las Navas. It leaves Las Navas at 5:00 am and is expected to arrive 5:30 am in Catubig.
Motorboats and bancas are used in going to the different barangays while hiking is still practice from the barangays in going to and from the Poblacion.
Communicationa Facilities
The main communication link to other centers is the post office serving the municipality and the Telecom Office. The post office is located in the La Purisima Street, Poblacion from H. Jolejole District and the Telecom Office is also located inside the municipal compound.
For long distance calls or calls outside the province, the residence avail of the communication facilities at Catarman – the capital town.
Water Supply
Water works system (Level II) serves the poblacion of Las Navas. In the barangays, individual households usually obtain water from wells, springs, rain catchment and from the river.
Tourism
At the upper most stream a famous falls is located known as Pinipisakan falls. The Pinipisakan falls located 15 kilometers away from the town of Las Navas is the main attraction of the area and is accessible by motor boats.
Barangays
Las Navas is politically subdivided into 53 barangays.
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External links
 Province of Northern Samar | |
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Catarman (capital and largest municipality) | |
| Municipalities | |