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Magarao
Municipality in Camarines Sur, Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Magarao, officially the Municipality of Magarao (Central Bikol: Banwaan kan Magarao; Tagalog: Bayan ng Magarao), is a municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 28,197 people.[5]
Magarao | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Magarao | |
Saint Anne Parish Church Magarao Municipal Hall Magarao Town Proper | |
 Flag | |
 Map of Camarines Sur with Magarao highlighted | |
 Interactive map of Magarao | |
.svg)  Magarao Location within the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 13°39′43″N 123°11′25″E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Bicol Region |
| Province | Camarines Sur |
| District | 3rd district |
| Founded | 1570 |
| Barangays | 15 (see Barangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Ma. Maruja A. Señar |
| • Vice Mayor | Edmund Aldrin C. Bediones |
| • Representative | Nelson S. Legacion |
| • Municipal Council | Members |
| • Electorate | 19,499 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 44.97 km2 (17.36 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 9.0 m (29.5 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 46 m (151 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | −2 m (−6.6 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 28,197 |
| • Density | 627.0/km2 (1,624/sq mi) |
| • Households | 5,884 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 3rd municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 31.01 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 141 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 254.6 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 93.1 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 40.1 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Camarines Sur 2 Electric Cooperative (CASURECO 2) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 4403 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)54 |
| Native languages | Central Bikol Tagalog |
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It is known for its traditional healers (Chiropractor or massage therapist) locally called manghihilot. Residents and visitors seek them for muscle pain, strained tendons, and body fatigue. The practice of hilot has been passed down through generations, making the town recognized as the Hilot Capital of Bicol for this local healing tradition.
Etymology
Magarao derived its name from the abundance of fishtraps called "garao" which was used by the locals along its creeks and rivers. The prefix ma- denotes abundance. Thus Ma-garao meaning a place with many garao.
History
It was a group of missionaries from the Order of Friars Minor who founded the town in 1570, although missionary work continued only in the year 1690.
Geography
Barangays
Magarao is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate
| Climate data for Magarao, Camarines Sur | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32 (90) |
31 (88) |
34 (93) |
36 (97) |
37 (99) |
37 (99) |
36 (97) |
34 (93) |
35 (95) |
34 (93) |
33 (91) |
32 (90) |
34 (94) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 27 (81) |
27 (81) |
29 (84) |
31 (88) |
32 (90) |
32 (90) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
30 (85) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 39.34 (1.55) |
68.7 (2.70) |
26.73 (1.05) |
66.19 (2.61) |
84.49 (3.33) |
178.89 (7.04) |
244.27 (9.62) |
188.3 (7.41) |
160.98 (6.34) |
445 (17.5) |
135.5 (5.33) |
367.8 (14.48) |
2,006.19 (78.96) |
| Average rainy days | 16 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 23 | 28 | 30 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 29 | 274 |
| Source: World Weather Online (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[6] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
Population census of Magarao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[7][8][9][10][11] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the 2024 census, the population of Magarao was 28,197 people,[12] with a density of 630 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,600 inhabitants per square mile.
Languages
Bicol is widely spoken in the town, while Tagalog, Hiligaynon, Bisaya, and Ilocano are used immigrants. Tagalog is being used by locals as lingua franca when communicating with non-Bicolanos.
Religion
Residents of Magarao are predominantly Roman Catholic.
Barangay Santa Lucia holds an annual novena to its patron saint, Lucy of Syracuse, nine days before her feast on 13 December. Villagers bring the saint's image in procession every morning of the novena at the poblacion, a celebration that attracts devotees from other parts of the Bicol Region. Hymns to the saint, known as the Gozos, as well as the Spanish version of the Ave Maria, are chanted during the dawn procession, which is followed by a Mass.
Economy
Poverty incidence of Magarao
39.43
36.47
32.70
40.25
27.83
32.87
16.32
31.01
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
At present, Magarao belongs to the municipality bracket although there are improvements being made by the local government to hasten its developmental stage. The town, through the initiative of its local officials, allows its constituents to engage into worthwhile activities by providing for them training and seminar workshops on various livelihood projects like ceramics training, papermaking, handicrafts and other community-based industries.
This was made possible due to the combined efforts made by the local government of Magarao and the provincial government of Camarines Sur through the Provincial Livelihood Training, Research and Development Program (PLTRD) The program is geared towards providing community-based industries, identifying projects for product development and skills training and also conducting seminar and workshops for the various livelihood projects.
The residents of Magarao has immersed themselves in opportunities which would not just serve benefits for them but would obviously boost their town's economic condition.
Magarao was formerly included in the Metro Naga area before the designation was discontinued in 2017.
Infrastructure
Communications
Internet providers include Globe, Smart, TNT, PLDT in the town. Telephone company is BayanTel and other local telephone companies.
Power
Power and electricity is supplied by the Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative II (CASURECO II).
Roads
Most roads are paved. The main road is both paved and asphalted. Rural areas are mostly gravel or dirt roads Calabanga-Naga road or Northbound road goes through town.
Transportation
Coastal barangays are served by bancas that ply from the wharf near Naga City to the barangays of Ponong, Barobaybay and Carigsa along the Bicol River and in the estuarine areas.
Water utility
Water is provided by Metro Naga Water District (MNWD).
Education
The Magarao-Bombon Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.[21]
Primary and elementary schools
- Barobaybay Elementary School
- Bell-San Francisco Elementary School
- Carangcang Elementary School
- Casa Amihan Playschool
- Casuray Elementary School
- Doroteo Federis Sr. National High School
- Francisville Learning Center
- Instituto De Caceres
- Magarao Central School
- Prince Thad Montessori School
- Sta. Lucia Elementary School
Secondary schools
- Magarao National High School
- Ponong Integrated School
Gallery
Saint Anne Parish Church
Magarao Fire Station
A heritage house in Magarao
Senakulo during Holy Week
