Naval, Biliran

Naval (IPA: [nɐ'val]), officially the Municipality of Naval (Waray: Bungto han Naval; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Naval; Tagalog: Bayan ng Naval), is a 2nd class municipality and capital of the province of Biliran, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 58,187 people.[3]

Naval
Municipality of Naval
Downtown area
Downtown area
Flag of Naval
Official seal of Naval
Map of Biliran with Naval highlighted
Map of Biliran with Naval highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Naval is located in Philippines
Naval
Naval
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°35′N 124°27′E / 11.58°N 124.45°E / 11.58; 124.45
CountryPhilippines
RegionEastern Visayas
ProvinceBiliran
District Lone district
FoundedSeptember 26, 1869
Barangays26 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorGretchen Stephanie Espina
 • Vice MayorVicente V. Curso
 • RepresentativeGerardo J. Espina Jr.
 • Councilors
List
 • Electorate34,898 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total108.24 km2 (41.79 sq mi)
Elevation
41 m (135 ft)
Highest elevation
433 m (1,421 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total58,187
 • Density540/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
 • Households
13,727
Economy
 • Income class2nd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
22.86
% (2018)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 187.9 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 286.7 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 197.9 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 62.91 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityBiliran Electric Cooperative (BILECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6543
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)53
Native languagesCebuano
Waray
Tagalog

History

The Cathedral of Naval, whose parish was founded in 1860, nine years before the 1869 formal establishment of the pueblo of Naval.

The town of Naval was once named Bagazumbol, which was perceived by natives as being too warlike a description.[5] The aboriginal name was later modified in 1859 to a more peaceful[neutrality is disputed] name—the presently known Naval.

On May 26, 1860, Naval was separated from Biliran, but it became an independent parish only in September later that year. The following year, on July 31, 1861, Romualdo Ximeno, Bishop of Cebu, officially declared Naval an independent parish. In August 1861, Father Santos de Santa Juana took up formal residence as the first parish priest of Naval and served the town for twenty-one years until 1882.

On September 26, 1869, Naval was officially established and recognized as an independent pueblo.[6]

In 1957, the barrio of Higatangan was abolished, and its sitios of Libertad and Mabini were converted into barrios.[7]

Cityhood

As of today, Naval pushes itself on its way to cityhood.[8]

House Bill No. 6230 was filed last February 10, 2020 for the conversion of the municipality of Naval into a component city in the province of Biliran.[9] The bill is currently pending with the committee on local government since February 12, 2020.

In the 19th Congress of the Philippines, house bills were filed by various representatives which seeks Naval including other capital towns of provinces with no current component cities, independent component cities or highly urbanized cities to automatically convert into cities.[10][11][12]

Geography

Higatangan Island (11°34′0″N 124°16′0″E / 11.56667°N 124.26667°E / 11.56667; 124.26667) is under jurisdiction of Naval Municipality.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 108.24 square kilometres (41.79 sq mi)[13] constituting 20.19% of the 536.01-square-kilometre- (206.95 sq mi) total area of Biliran, making it the largest municipality in the province.

Barangays

Naval is politically subdivided into 26 barangays.[14] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Barangays Libertad and Mabini are located in Higatangan Island.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2020[3] 2010[15]
087808001 Agpangi 4.4% 2,536 2,371 0.67%
087808002 Anislagan 1.2% 681 602 1.24%
087808003 Atipolo 6.4% 3,709 3,325 1.10%
087808004 Calumpang 11.0% 6,398 5,121 2.25%
087808005 Capiñahan 4.1% 2,411 2,272 0.60%
087808006 Caraycaray 7.2% 4,177 3,701 1.22%
087808007 Catmon 2.8% 1,625 1,486 0.90%
087808008 Haguikhikan 3.1% 1,788 1,621 0.99%
087808009 Padre Inocentes Garcia (Poblacion) 9.3% 5,397 4,744 1.30%
087808010 Libertad 1.5% 864 917 −0.59%
087808012 Lico 1.8% 1,038 910 1.32%
087808013 Lucsoon 3.2% 1,845 1,568 1.64%
087808014 Mabini 1.6% 932 984 −0.54%
087808015 San Pablo 3.1% 1,787 1,678 0.63%
087808016 Santo Niño 5.1% 2,960 2,627 1.20%
087808017 Santissimo Rosario Poblacion (Santo Rosa) 4.1% 2,379 2,420 −0.17%
087808018 Talustusan 3.3% 1,932 1,878 0.28%
087808019 Villa Caneja 1.7% 961 854 1.19%
087808020 Villa Consuelo 3.1% 1,819 1,764 0.31%
087808021 Borac 1.4% 787 728 0.78%
087808022 Cabungaan 0.7% 398 383 0.38%
087808023 Imelda 1.9% 1,099 958 1.38%
087808024 Larrazabal 6.9% 4,009 3,200 2.28%
087808025 Libtong 2.1% 1,209 989 2.03%
087808026 Padre Sergio Eamiguel 2.6% 1,528 1,270 1.87%
087808027 Sabang 0.7% 423 428 −0.12%
Total58,18748,7991.77%

Climate

Climate data for Naval, Biliran
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)28
(82)
29
(84)
29
(84)
31
(88)
31
(88)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
30
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)73
(2.9)
56
(2.2)
75
(3.0)
71
(2.8)
114
(4.5)
174
(6.9)
172
(6.8)
163
(6.4)
167
(6.6)
161
(6.3)
158
(6.2)
125
(4.9)
1,509
(59.5)
Average rainy days15.212.516.217.323.927.328.426.926.927.123.819.3264.8
Source: Meteoblue[16]

Demographics

Population census of Naval
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 4,617—    
1918 7,047+2.86%
1939 11,696+2.44%
1948 12,506+0.75%
1960 15,124+1.60%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1970 20,286+2.98%
1975 22,269+1.89%
1980 26,499+3.54%
1990 29,811+1.18%
1995 32,954+1.90%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000 37,974+3.09%
2007 44,288+2.14%
2010 48,799+3.59%
2015 54,692+2.20%
2020 58,187+1.23%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[17][15][18][19]

In the 2020 census, Naval had a population of 58,187.[3] The population density was 540 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,400/sq mi).

Economy

Poverty Incidence of Naval

5
10
15
20
25
30
2006
19.90
2009
27.77
2012
21.73
2015
27.69
2018
22.86
2021
20.69

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

Government

The mayors of Naval were Absalon Sablada who served from 1952 to 1955; Brigido Caneja Sr. from 1956 to 1971; Arturo Velasquez from 1972 to 1979; Niceto Limpiado from 1980 to 1986; Fortunato Casas from 1986 to 1987; Gorgonio Contredas and Francisca Bangcuyo in 1987; and Simeon Pitao from 1988 to 1997. Gerardo J. Espina Jr. from 1998 to 2004, and Gerardo S. Espina Sr. from 2004 to 2006. Presently, the town is headed by Gerard Roger Espina.

Transportation

  • By land: Buses and vans travel to Tacloban (in Leyte); jeepneys go to other towns in Biliran; tricycles or habal-habals are the mode of transport within Naval.
  • By air: The town is served by Biliran Airport (ICAO: RPVQ). Biliran Airport has a runway length of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).
  • By sea: Pump boats can be taken or chartered for going to Leyte, Higatangan Island, Naval and Mariripi.

Healthcare

Naval has the following health facilities:

  • Naval Municipal Health Center
  • Biliran Provincial Hospital
  • Naval Doctors' Healthcare Services
  • FCE Polyclinic and Diagnostic
  • Mother and Child Clinic

Education naval==The main campus of Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) is located in Naval.

Public secondary schools:

  • Biliran Province State University-Laboratory High School (BiPSU-LHS)
  • Naval School of Fisheries (NSF)
  • Naval National High School (NNHS)
  • Lucsoon National High School (LNHS)
  • Higatangan National High School (HNHS)

Private secondary schools:

  • Cathedral School of La Naval (CSN)
  • Limpiado Memorial Foundation, Inc. (Lightbringer Learning Center)

Public elementary schools:

  • Naval Central School (Naval North District)
  • Naval SpEd (Special Education) Center
  • Caraycaray Central School (Naval South District)
  • Agpangi Elementary School
  • Anislagan Elementary School
  • Atipolo Elementary School
  • Borac Elementary School
  • Cabungaan Elementary School
  • Calumpang Elementary School
  • Capinahan Elementary School
  • Catmon Elementary School
  • Haguikhikan Elementary School
  • Higatangan Elementary School
  • Imelda Elementary School
  • Larazabal Elementary School
  • Libtong Elementary School
  • Lico Elementary School
  • Lucsoon Elementary School
  • P.S. Eamiguel Elementary School
  • San Pablo Elementary School
  • Sabang Elementary School
  • Talustusan Elementary School
  • Villa Caneja Elementary School
  • Villa Consuelo Elementary School

Private elementary schools:

  • Cathedral School of La Naval
  • Limpiado Memorial Foundation, Inc. (Lightbringer Learning Center)

References

External links