Balungao, Pangasinan

Balungao
Municipality

Balungao Town Hall

Seal

Map of Pangasinan showing the location of Balungao
Balungao

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 15°54′N 120°42′E / 15.900°N 120.700°E / 15.900; 120.700Coordinates: 15°54′N 120°42′E / 15.900°N 120.700°E / 15.900; 120.700
Country  Philippines
Region Ilocos (Region I)
Province Pangasinan
District 6th District, Pangasinan
Founded 1815[1]
Barangays 20
Government[2]
  Mayor Philipp G. Peralta (Lakas–CMD)
  Vice Mayor Minda T. Peralta (Nacionalista Party)
Area[3]
  Total 73.25 km2 (28.28 sq mi)
Population (2010)[4]
  Total 26,678
  Density 360/km2 (940/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 2442
Dialing code +75
Income class 4th class; partially urban
Website balungao.org

Balungao is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan in the Philippines. The town is located in the south-eastern part of the province bordering the province of Nueva Ecija to the south. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 26,678 people with a fourth class income classification. Balungao is partially urban community with an area of 7,325 hectares (18,100 acres).[3]

Barangays

Balungao is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.[3]

  • Angayan Norte
  • Angayan Sur
  • Capulaan
  • Esmeralda
  • Kita-kita
  • Mabini
  • Mauban
  • Poblacion
  • Pugaro
  • Rajal
  • San Andres
  • San Aurelio 1st
  • San Aurelio 2nd
  • San Aurelio 3rd
  • San Joaquin
  • San Julian
  • San Leon
  • San Marcelino
  • San Miguel
  • San Raymundo

History

Early settlers

The town of Balungao were first inhabited by nomadic people from the Ilocos region who found their way to the area through San Fabian, Pangasinan. They were farmers looking for places to settle down, engaging in agriculture to survive. Its origin is evident in the fact that Balungao is one of the Ilocano-speaking towns in the province where the primary language is the Pangasinense.[1]

Foundation

Balungao was originally called Panaclaban and was a part of Cuyapo town in the adjacent province of Nueva Ecija till the latter part of 18th century. It was annexed to the town of Rosales, Pangasinan in the early part of 19th century because of its geographic location. It officially became an independent municipality in 1815.[1]

Demographics

Population census of Balungao
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 21,473    
1995 21,274−0.17%
2000 23,813+2.45%
2007 25,214+0.79%
2010 26,678+2.08%
Source: National Statistics Office[4][5]

Climate

Climate data for Balungao, Pangasinan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29
(84)
29
(84)
30
(86)
32
(90)
33
(91)
33
(91)
33
(91)
33
(91)
34
(93)
32
(90)
31
(88)
29
(84)
31.5
(88.6)
Average low °C (°F) 21
(70)
21
(70)
22
(72)
23
(73)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
23
(73)
22
(72)
21
(70)
22.7
(72.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 127.5
(5.02)
115.8
(4.559)
129.7
(5.106)
141.1
(5.555)
248.2
(9.772)
165
(6.5)
185.3
(7.295)
161.9
(6.374)
221.4
(8.717)
299.5
(11.791)
199
(7.83)
188.7
(7.429)
2,183.1
(85.948)
Average rainy days 17 17 17 15 20 19 19 20 21 20 17 19 221
Source: World Weather Online[6]

Places of interest

Mount Balungao

Mount Balungao (15°51′44.90″N 120°40′57.70″E / 15.8624722°N 120.6826944°E / 15.8624722; 120.6826944) is an extinct volcano, 382 metres (1,253 ft) ASL located in the municipality of Balungao. Its volcanic past is manifested by its physical profile and the presence of hot and cold springs. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) lists Mount Balungao as an inactive volcano.[7]

Balungao Hilltop Adventure

Balungao opened its doors to adventure travel tourism with the opening of Balungao Hilltop Adventure (15°52′2″N 120°41′10″E / 15.86722°N 120.68611°E / 15.86722; 120.68611) on September 8, 2011. Located at the foot of Mount Balungao, the resort was constructed by the municipal government of Balungao and boasts the 2nd longest Zip-line in the Philippines (2011) at 600 metres (2,000 ft) long. The Balungao Hilltop Adventure also offers ATV or quad bike adventure, bungee trampoline, biking, mountain climbing, and the refurbished hot and cold spring swimming pools.[8]

It originally started as the Mt. Balungao Hot and Cold Springs Resort under the administration of former Mayor Jose G. Peralta Jr. It was not until 2011, under the administration of the Mayor Philipp G. Peralta, that it was repackaged for adventure travelers.

Longest Zipline in Pangasinan

Balungao Hilltop Adventure offers a Zip Line with a length 600 meters which could last from 15 seconds to a minute depending on your weight and your position when you are suspended at the Zip Line. It begins from a Hill, overlooking the valley passing through another hill down to the Balungao Hot and Cold Spring Resort. It is considered as the longest Zip line in Pangasinan[9]

Education

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Historical Development". Hataw Balungao. Retrieved on 2012-04-23.
  2. "Municipalities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 "Province: PANGASINAN". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  5. "Province of Pangasinan". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  6. "Balungao, Pangasinan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". World Weather Online. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  7. "Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)- List of Inactive Volcanoes"
  8. "Zipline Adventure in Balungao Pangasinan – Hot and Cold Springs Resorts". Pangasinan, Festival Capital of the North. Retrieved on 2012-01-24.

External links

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