Viga, Catanduanes Explained

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Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Philippines
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Type2:Province
Nickname:Rice Granary of Catanduanes
Subdivision Type3:District
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1661
Parts Type:Barangays
Parts Style:para
P1: (see Barangays)
Leader Name:Emeterio M. Tarin
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Leader Name1:Cesar O. Cervantes
Leader Title3:Municipal Council
Leader Name4: voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|)
Elevation Max M:459
Elevation Min M:-1
Population Density Km2:auto
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Population Demonym:Viganon
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:+8
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Demographics Type1:Economy
Demographics1 Title2:Poverty incidence
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Demographics1 Title6:Assets rank
Demographics1 Title7:IRA
Demographics1 Title8:IRA rank
Demographics1 Title9:Expenditure
Demographics1 Title10:Liabilities
Demographics Type2:Service provider
Demographics2 Title1:Electricity
Demographics2 Title2:Water
Demographics2 Title3:Telecommunications
Demographics2 Title4:Cable TV
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Viga, officially the Municipality of Viga, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 22,869 people.

Viga is one of the eleven towns in the province of Catanduanes, located in the north-eastern portion of the island. It occupies approximately 8.96% of the total land area of the island and 0.0406% of the entire country. It is nestled in one of the widest inland plains of the island, between three neighboring towns and the Philippine Sea. To the south is the town of Gigmoto, to the west is the town of Caramoran. It is north from the capital town of Virac.

History

The site of the original settlement of Viga was at Caviga-e now called Viga. It was believed that a group of tribesmen led by "Abines" from the mainland were the first settlers. Due to frequent Moro raids, they fled inland and settled in a place where the primitive inhabitants were akin to the province's pygmies. They called this place "Oco" (now barangay San José (Oco)), meaning short people or dwarf. When the Moro threat diminished, the settlers move to the lowlands where the soil was more fertile. They selected the area where herbaceous giant gabi-like plants which they called "Marviga" grew abundantly. The settlers were of mixed stock as result of the inter-marriages between the natives and the migrating tribesmen.

In the later part of 16th century, a group of Spaniards believed to be a group of Juan de Salcedo’s expedition reached the place and subdued the natives. It then became a Spanish settlement. An Augustinian friar named Francisco Putiocan became the first Catholic Priest and recognized leader. The Spaniards called the settlement "Viga", shortened from "Marviga". This name was subsequently adopted as the official name of the municipality.

During the Spanish colonization, the inhabitants were converted to the Catholic faith. As time went on they felt however, the strain of Spanish civil rule cruelties, when the Philippine Revolution broke out, many able-bodied natives joined the nationalistic movement and fought the colonizer.

When the Americans came, Viga was virtually liberated from the Spanish rule, civil government was established. When the Second World War broke out, Viga become the center of guerilla movement in the province. A pitched and running battle between the guerillas and escaping Japanese forces were simultaneously fought at Bangguerohan and Cabatangan where the latter was defeated.

In 1951, the barrios of Sicmil and Sioron were transferred to then newly created town of Gigmoto.[1]

Geography

Viga is mostly rugged and mountainous terrain. Its slope characteristics are 29% gently sloping to undulating, 3% classified rolling to hilly, 18% very hills and mountains, 6% level to very gently sloping, 13% steep hills and mountainous, and 13% plains. The prominent mountain forms with important significance include the ranges are Summit and Magsumoso. The largest coastal plain is the contiguous wetlands over which lays the widest area of rice paddies and a vast swamp full of nipa and mangroves.Viga is an agricultural municipality, considered as the rice granary of the province. The two types of agricultural products raised are the food and export crops. The food crops being raised are palay, corn, banana and other root crops. The export crops are mainly Abaca and coconut. The area planted with these crops and the production derived there from is the principal source of livelihood by the inhabitants.

Forest and vegetation

Viga is a biodiversity hotspot. Its lush rainforest is home to Philippine brown deer (Rusa marianna), flying foxes, and other endemic bat species, warty pigs, civets, cobras, giant pythons, monitor lizards, sailfin lizards and other endemic animals. Exotic bird species such as Philippine hornbill, rail, parrot, bittern, egret, pheasant, coot, lapwing, plover, Philippine duck, quail, owl, oriole, kingfisher, swiftlets and many more are also found. In fact, a record of "Philippines Birding Trip Reports" has found out many bird species in several portions such as the watershed and timberland forests reserve where scattered deer populations are also usually reported. Unfortunately, one bird subspecies, the Catanduanes Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba luzonica rubiventris) had experienced over-exploitation in the late 20th century. Although most forests are still intact, this species has suffered over-hunting. It is very rare and believed to be near extinction or already extinct as its last reported specimen was collected in 1971.

The Southern giant slender-tailed cloud rat (budkon/bugkon) which is found only in Catanduanes and the southern half of Luzon Island, is still widely reported. It is critically endangered as humans hunt them for food and for some extent, as pets. In mainland Luzon, sightings of this wonderful creature is already rare while in Marinduque, it is generally considered extinct.

Flora and fauna

The Catanduanes narrow-mouthed frog (Kaloula kokacii), an arboreal amphibian which is found only in Catanduanes and some parts of Bicol, enjoys its diversity but being carefully monitored. Clearing of some forests may pose a threat to amphibian species. An amphibian Hylarana similis is found only in Catanduanes and Luzon islands. One of the very recent species found in Catanduanes and portions of Bicol region is the new loam-swimming skink, a legless reptile with its assigned scientific name Brachymelesmakusog. The rich dipterocarp forest also harbors numerous tropical plant species including the threatened species of pitcher plants and rafflesia as well as endemic banana varieties. Many highly valuable hardwood trees such as yakal, apitong, palosapis, and molave are still found in the forests though local reports indicate that these species are already threatened. Mangrove forests exist in several coastal areas, but the largest locations are in Banquerohan (Viga-Panganiban).

Marine diversity

The marine environment of Viga is also ecologically rich as its terrestrial zones. Coastal reefs harbor many endangered and threatened types of mollusks such as giant Triton, cowries, abalone, cone snails, conches, octopuses, squids, and nautiluses. Marine mammals are also reported to frequent on its coasts such as species of dolphins and whales which appear in March–June. Many edible marine algae such as caulerpa, valonia, and turbellaria also grow abundantly on its rough coasts. Viga is nestled in the very beginning of the Kuroshio Current; a sea current that runs through Eastern Philippines, Taiwan and Japan. This current performs an array of physical and biological functions in countless marine life like migration and breeding. This explains why migratory fish tracks are usually encountered in its waters. Tuna migration can be seen on its peak in the months of April and May. Dugongs were once known to swim on coasts but this event is already becoming extremely rare.

Viga coast is one of the best spots for flying fish population; a flying fish can attain its fullest size which may weigh 300g. Rabbitfish, a kind of reef fish is one of the most heavily exploited marine tropical fish in the locality. Its fry that comes out in shallow coasts during the breeding season (March–May) are fished in large volumes. Approximately 10 million rabbitfish fries are caught annually. That natural event supplies food for many people but its ecological impact can be devastating. Nature advocates started to strengthen their campaign for an eco-dialogue for this matter. Sea cucumbers are also known to be abundant in many islets of the eastern coasts facing the Pacific Ocean.

Climate

Viga has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round and with extremely heavy rainfall in November and December.

Barangays

Viga is politically subdivided into 31 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Poblacion Barangays

Interior Barangays

Coastal Barangays

BarangayPopulationIncome Class[2]
Almojuela556523Rural
Ananong424407Rural
Asuncion Poblacion533456Rural
Batohonan180169Rural
Begonia653361Rural
Botinagan299307Rural
Buenavista753695Rural
Burgos962904Rural
Del Pilar360306Rural
Mabini382287Rural
Magsaysay566529Rural
Ogbong1,006844Rural
Osmeña368340Rural
Pedro Vera (Summit)1,2481,156Rural
Peñafrancia Poblacion339334Rural
Quezon714694Rural
Quirino (Abugan)228208Rural
Rizal1,2741,295Rural
Roxas541208Rural
Sagrada626659Rural
San Isidro Poblacion333311Rural
San Jose Poblacion909833Rural
San Jose (Oco)1,1631,040Rural
San Pedro Poblacion550569Rural
San Roque Poblacion728656Rural
San Vicente Poblacion728684Rural
Santa Rosa604559Rural
Soboc852713Rural
Tambongon1,1901,066Rural
Tinago1,0581,073Rural
Villa Aurora543521Rural
Viga Municipality8.3%21,62420,66919,2664th Class[3]

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Viga, Catanduanes, was 22,869 people, with a density of NaNPD/km2NaNPD/km2.

Economy

Viga is an agricultural municipality, considered as the rice granary of the province. The two types of agricultural products raised are food and export crops. The food crops raised are palay, corn, banana and other root crops. The export crops are mainly Abaca and coconut. The area planted with these crops and the production derived there from is the principal source of livelihood by the inhabitants.

Education

Elementary schools

List of public elementary schools in Viga

School IDName of SchoolYear EstablishedLocationDistrictCurricular ClassClass Organization
113317Almojuela Elementary School1978AlmojuelaViga WestKinder & ElementaryCombined Monograde and Multigrade
113318Ananong Elementary School1947AnanongViga EastKinder & ElementaryCombined Monograde and Multigrade
113307Batohonan Elementary School1983BatohonanViga EastKinder & ElementaryMultigrade
113308Begonia Elementary School1972BegoniaViga EastKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113309Botinagan Elementary School2002BotinaganViga EastKinder & ElementaryCombined Monograde and Multigrade
113310Buenavista Elementary School1965BuenavistaViga EastKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113319Burgos Elementary School1920BurgosViga WestKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113320Del Pilar Elementary School1972Del PilarViga WestKinder & ElementaryCombined Monograde and Multigrade
113321Mabini Elementary School1963MabiniViga WestKinder & ElementaryCombined Monograde and Multigrade
113311Magsaysay Elementary School1966MagsaysayViga EastKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113322Ogbong Elementary School1948OgbongViga WestKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113323Osmeña Elementary School1984OsmeñaViga WestKinder & ElementaryCombined Monograde and Multigrade
113324P. Vera Elementary School1963P. VeraViga WestKinder & ElementaryCombined Monograde and Multigrade
113325Quezon Elementary School1972QuezonViga WestKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113312Quirino Elementary School1971Quirino (Abugan)Viga EastKinder & ElementaryCombined Monograde and Multigrade
113326Rizal Elementary School1993RizalViga WestKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113327Roxas Elementary School1968RoxasViga WestKinder & ElementaryCombined Monograde and Multigrade
113328Sagrada Elementary School1945SagradaViga WestKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113329San Jose (Oco) Elementary School1940San Jose (Oco)Viga WestKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113330San Roque Elementary School1970San RoqueViga WestKinder & ElementaryMonograde
174011San Vicente Elementary School2002San VicenteViga WestElementaryMonograde
113313Soboc Elementary School2008SobocViga EastKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113331Santa Rosa Elementary School1975Santa RosaViga WestKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113332Summit Elementary School1965SummitViga WestKinder & ElementaryCombined Monograde and Multigrade
113314Tambongon Central Elementary School1928TambongonViga EastKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113315Tinago Elementary School1919TinagoViga EastKinder & ElementaryMonograde
113333Viga Central Elementary School1936San Pedro Pob.Viga West Kinder & ElementaryMonograde
113316Villa Aurora Elementary School1948Villa AuroraViga EastKinder & ElementaryCombined Monograde and Multigrade

National high schools

The table below contains the list of all the public senior high schools found in Catanduanes published by the Department of Education or DepEd. Included on the list are the municipalities, school ID, school names, and program offerings.

List of public/national high schools in Viga

School IDName of SchoolYear EstablishedLocationDistrictEducationProgramsSpecialization
302097San Jose National High School1967San Jose (Oco)Viga WestSenior HighGeneral Academic Strand & Technical Vocational LivelihoodCookery (NCII), Bread and Pastry Production (NC II), Food and Beverage Services (NC II)
302104Tambognon National High School1988TambongonViga EastSenior HighGeneral Academic Strand & Technical Vocational LivelihoodBread and Pastry Production (NC II), Cookery (NC II), Housekeeping (NC II), Carpentry (NC II)
302105Tinago National High School1972TinagoViga East---
302107Viga Rural Development High School1972San Vicente Pob.Viga WestSenior HighScience, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; Accountancy, Business, and Management; & Technical Vocational LivelihoodElectrical Installation and Maintenance (NC II), Hairdressing (NC II), Bread and Pastry Production (NC II), Beauty/ Nail Care (NC II)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: An act creating the municipality of Gigmoto in the province of Catanduanes. LawPH.com. 2011-04-09.
  2. name="psgc">Philippine Standard Geographic Code
  3. http://nap.psa.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/province.asp?provCode=052000000&provName=CATANDUANES&regCode=05&regName=REGION Philippine Standard Geographic Code

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