Tabaco
For the narcotic, see tobacco.
City of Tabaco (Tabaco City) | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Nickname(s): City of Love, Padyak Capital of the Philippines | |
 Location of the City of Tabaco within the province of Albay | |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Region | V (Bicol Region) |
| Province | Albay |
| Incorporated (town) | circa 1731 |
| Incorporated (city) / Cityhood | March 24, 2001 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro (Lakas-CMD) |
| Area | |
| • Land | 117.14 km2 (45.2 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 123,513 |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| City Class | Component City |
| Income Class | Fourth Class City |
Tabaco City is a 4th class city in the province of Albay, Philippines. Mainland Tabaco City borders Malinao to the north, Polangui and Oas to the west, Ligao City to the southwest, Mayon Volcano to the south, Malilipot to the southeast, and Lagonoy Gulf to the east. The island of San Miguel, Bicol, part of the city's territory, is the northwesternmost of Albay's four main islands in the Lagonoy Gulf. Mayon Volcano overlooks the city to the north. The island of San Miguel to the east is under the city's jurisdiction.
According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 123,513 people in 19,599 households.
History
Recorded in the Estado Geografico Estadistico Historico written in 1805 by Father De Huerta, the recorded history of the city began in 1587 through the missionary work of the Franciscan Fathers. In 1616, Fr. Pedro De Alcareso became the first permanent minister and built a church which was dedicated to the glorious Precursor of our Saviour, St. John the Baptist. Up to the present, St. John the Baptist remained the patron saint.
The President on record, however, was only in 1731, Martin Aguirre. The incumbent, Krisel Lagman-Luistro, from whom we now address as City Mayor is the 177th to hold the position.
Krisel Lagman-Luistro introduced House Bill No. 7851, converting the municipality of Tabaco into a component city of the Province of Albay. Senate Bill No. 2244 was sponsored by Sen. Sergio Osmeña III and Sen. Franklin Drilon as its counterpart in the Senate. The Republic Act No. 9020, An Act Converting the Municipality of Tabaco into a Component City of the Province of Albay was signed into Law by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 5, 2001. The municipality was finally converted into a city after the plebiscite conducted on March 4, 2001.
The Official Seal was conceived from the legend of how the name “TABACO” came about. It was officially adopted thru Municipal Council Resolution No. 29 on February 23, 1966.
When the Spanish conquistadores landed, they were met by an irately jealous father who thought they were taking away his daughter. At the top of his voice he shouted to his family, “TABAK KO! TABAK KO!” (My bolo! My bolo!). His daughter came running with the bolo waving it to the Spaniards. The Spaniards thought that the fisherman was greeting and welcoming them to his land named “TABACO.” Forthwith, they entered the word TABACO in their catalogue as the name of the place they were exploring.
Topography
The terrain of Tabaco is generally flat. The difference in elevation from the highest point to the lowest point is 5 meters only. Maximum elevation is 13 meters above sea level. The central part of the mainland which is located slightly to the west of the poblacion is generally flat along the national highway going to Ligao City. To the northwesternmost portion from the central mainland, the elevation of the terrain reaches 400 meters above sea level. From the south of the national road to the extreme portion west of the mainland, the elevation continuously rises up to the crater of the Mayon Volcano at an elevation of 2,462 meters.
The San Miguel Island is almost entirely surrounded by groups of small hills. The land level, however, is plain and elevated at about 35 meters above sea level.
Government
City Officials
- Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro - City Mayor
- Reynaldo "Rey" Bragais - City Vice-Mayor
- Alexander Philip V. Demetriou - City Councilor
- Leona P. Martirez - City Councilor
- Ronnel R. Borromeo - City Councilor
- Lourdes Belangel-Berces - City Councilor
- Karen C. Matza - City Councilor
- Julio C. Azada Chua, Jr. - City Councilor
- Alfredo Adalla, Sr. - City Councilor
- Nestor T. San Pablo - City Councilor
- Noel L. Que - City Councilor
- Celso M. Borjal - City Councilor
- Benjamin B. Bron - ABC President
- Raul Angelo B. Bongalon - SKCF President
Department Heads
- Manuel B. Belen - OIC City Administrator
- Veronica B. Barrameda - City Treasurer
- Luis B. Melgar - OIC City Budget Officer
- Preciosa Bautista - OIC City Accountant
- Engr. Juan B. Berces - City Planning and Development Officer
- Engr. Noel S. Bonaobra - City Engineer
- Felipe Juan Imperial - OIC City Assessor
- Engr. Alex C. Binza - OIC City Civil Registrar
- Jaime Bragais - OIC City Agriculturist
- Carmenchita U. Dellova - City Social Welfare and Development Officer
- Dr. Audwin Azada - City Health Officer
- Arch. Jaime B. Borlagdan - City Architect
- Atty. Renato B. Romano - City Legal Officer
- Dominador Reynaldo Martirez - Market Supervisor
Economy
The city used to be the province's economic capital. Its economy is still heavily dependent on agriculture. Major crops include rice, corn, rootcrops, vegetables, coconuts and abacá. Poultry and swine raising as well as fishing are other major industries such as cuttlery is very much alive. Tabaco City has the sole international seaport in the region contributing to the city's vibrant economy it is today.
- Agriculture
Although the City of Tabaco may not be predominantly agricultural in nature because of its “more developed” state as compared to the neighboring municipalities, agricultural activities are still preset and very much healthy. Major crop are rice, corn, root crops, vegetables, coconuts and abaca.
- Fishing & Aquatic Resources
Shallow Fishing / Municipal / Sustenance – There are sixteen coastal barangays, five in the island of San Miguel and eleven in the mainland of the city. Fishing gears most used are fish net, fish corrals and hook & line.
Deep-Sea Fishing / Commercial – Fishing gears used are ring net (calansisi) and large banca with nets (basnig).
Fishpond
- Forest
Total forest area is 2,572 hectares.
- Mineral Resources
There are no mineral deposits of any size or consequence that would be of commercial value. The only resource of this type would be sand and gravel that wash down in stream from the Mayon Volcano. These have been a boom to the hollow blocks production and building construction.
- Major Industries
- Woodcraft / Wood Upholstery – furniture and fixtures
- Cutlery / Metal Craft – bolos, scissors, knives, razors, farm implements, window grills, steel gates and tricycle sidecars
- Rattan Craft – furniture and fixtures
- Ceramics – hollow blocks, toilet bowls, floor tiles and reinforced concrete pipes
- Hat & Mat Weaving (made of caragumoy leaves)
- Ship Repair / Building – dry dock facility at Brgy. Salvacion
Climate
The City of Tabaco belongs to the second type of climate. It is characterized by no distinct dry season but with a very pronounced maximum rainfall from November to January.
The area has pronounces warmness and humidity throughout the year with a mean temperature of 26.0 degrees Celsius and a humidity range up to 80%.
February is the coldest month with a low of 21.0 degrees Celsius. The warmest temperature is experienced during the month of May with a mean temperature of 27.0 degrees Celsius.
Demographics
Language / Dialect
Majority of the population speak a small variation of Bikol-Legazpi. Other languages/dialects spoken are English, Tagalog, Spanish and Chinese.
Religion
Most are Roman Catholic. The rest are Protestants of various denominations (Baptist, Philippine Independent Church, Pentecostal, Church of God International), Neo-Christians (Iglesia ni Cristo) and Islam. There are also a few atheists and buddhists living in the city.
Barangays
Tabaco City is politically subdivided into 47 barangays.
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