Obando, Bulacan

Obando was likely originally called Binuwangan according to 18th-century maps. In the 1734 map of the Philippine islands by Pedro Murillo Velarde, the places labeled Vinuangan, Polo (now Valenzuela), and Maycauayan were indicated separately and proximate to one another.

In the 18th century, the present-day town of Obando formed part of Meycauayan, alongside the present-day cities of Valenzuela (formerly Polo) and San Jose del Monte. The towns of Polo and Obando formed a single barrio called Catanghalan. In the year 1623, the municipality of Polo was organized which included parts of modern Obando. By virtue of a decree promulgated during the time of Governor and Captain General, Francisco José de Obando y Solís, the town was created and separated from its mother town Polo on May 14, 1753. Upon the Governor-General’s untimely death at the hands of the British during the Seven Years' War, the creation and establishment of the town was made and attended by the Alcalde Mayor of the province, Don Francisco Morales y Mozabe, the Provincial Minister, S. Gregorio, Rev. Fr. Alejandro Ferrer, together with numerous religious devotees. The minister chosen for the new town was Rev. Fr. Manuel de Olivencia. On October 8, 1903, Obando was merged with Polo by virtue of Act No. 932 under the United States-run Insular Government.^[6]

On August 10, 1907, Obando was made an independent town of Bulacan.^[7] Through the untiring efforts of municipal officials, a portion of Gasak, Navotas was reclaimed to form a part of Obando. The municipal officials, believing that this portion was once a part of the municipality but adopted by Navotas in the course of time, effortlessly pushed through its claim to regain the area. The concerted action of all those concerned paid off when on January 30, 1975, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 646, a portion of approximately 1.78 square kilometers of Gasak, Navotas was returned to Obando. This parcel of land is mostly fishpond and sandy beach and it is expected that, when fully developed, it would serve as a tourist attraction. By a resolution of the municipal council in 1975, the area was made into a barangay and named Nuestra Señora de Salambao in honor of one of the three patron saints.^[8]

Obando is bordered by Valenzuela to the east, Navotas and Malabon to the south, Bulakan to the north, and the waters of Manila Bay to the west. It is 16 kilometers (9.9 mi) away from the Philippine capital Manila and is part of Manila's conurbation which reaches San Ildefonso in its northernmost part.^[8]

Flat and low-lying coastal plains characterize the general topography of Obando. The area was formerly an estuary, but it filled up partially from the peripheral parts of sand bars and sand spits and formed up into the current area that mainly consists of a commercial district, partly industrial district, residential area and fishpond. Within the municipality are two rivers and three creeks, namely the Meycauayan River in the north, the Pinagkabalian River in the south, and Paco Creek, Hulo Creek and Pag-asa Creek traversing the town parallel to the provincial road.^[8]

Obando, just like the other towns of Bulacan, has two pronounced seasons: dry and wet. The wet season is from May to October and the dry season is from November to April. The rainfall of the wet season accounts for about 80% of the annual rainfall, which is due to monsoons and typhoons.^[8]

In the 2024 census, the population of Obando was 61,073 people, with a density of 1,200 inhabitants per square kilometer or 3,100 inhabitants per square mile.^[16]

In 2002, Obando had an estimated population of 58,245 wherein 49% were male and 51% were female. Of the current population, about 14% live in rural barangays while the rest constitute the urban population. There are 12,349 households. The average monthly income of a household is ₱9,000.00, slightly below the ₱9,540.00 minimum for a family of 6 threshold set by Department of Social Welfare and Development.^[8]

Poverty incidence of Obando (%)

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]}

The Obando 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.^[26]

Obando is also the transmitter site of some AM stations, primarily broadcasting the Mega Manila area. Among them are:

• Super Radyo DZBB 594 (GMA Network)
• DWIZ 882 (Aliw Broadcasting Corporation)
• DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 (Philippine Collective Media Corporation/ABS-CBN Corporation)
• DZIQ Radyo Inquirer 990 (Trans-Radio Broadcasting Corporation, defunct)
• DZEC Radyo Agila 1062 (Eagle Broadcasting Corporation)
• INC Radio DZEM 954 (Christian Era Broadcasting Service International)
• DZME 1530 (Capitol Broadcasting Center)

• 
  Obando Public Market
• 
  Municipal Fishport
• 
  Colegio de San Pascual Baylon
• 
  Obando School of Fisheries
• 
  Paco Catholic Cemetery
• 
  Mangroves beside Paliwas Road
• 
  A fish pen in Obando
• 
  Obando People's Park
• 
  Paliwas Road

• Obando Fertility Rites
• Obando Church
• Colegio de San Pascual Baylon