Viga, Catanduanes

Viga is a fourth class municipality in the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 20,669 people.^[3]

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 about 52 kilometres (32 mi) north from the capital town of Virac.

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.

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), 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 enter-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 jessie tumala’s expedition reached the place and subdued the natives. In 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 pitch 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.^[4]

Demographics

Population census of Viga
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	16,270	—
1995	18,569	+2.51%
2000	18,105	−0.54%
2007	19,266	+0.86%
2010	20,669	+2.59%
Source: National Statistics Office^[3]^[5]

Barangays

Viga is politically subdivided into 31 barangays.^[2] According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 20,669 people.^[3]

	Rank	Population (2007)	Population (2010)	Classification^[6]
Almojuela	18th	523	556	Rural
Ananong	23rd	407	424	Rural
Asuncion Poblacion	22nd	456	533	Rural
Batohonan	31st	169	180	Rural
Begonia	14th	361	653	Rural
Botinagan	29th	307	299	Rural
Buenavista	10th	695	753	Rural
Burgos	7th	904	962	Rural
Del Pilar	26th	306	360	Rural
Mabini	24th	287	382	Rural
Magsaysay	17th	529	566	Rural
Ogbong	6th	844	1,006	Rural
Osmeña	25th	340	368	Rural
Pedro Vera (Summit)	2nd	1,156	1,248	Rural
Peñafrancia Poblacion	27th	334	339	Rural
Quezon	13th	694	714	Rural
Quirino (Abugan)	30th	208	228	Rural
Rizal	1st	1,295	1,274	Rural
Roxas	21st	487	541	Rural
Sagrada	15th	659	626	Rural
San Isidro Poblacion	28th	311	333	Rural
San Jose Poblacion	8th	833	909	Rural
San Jose (Oco)	4th	1,040	1,163	Urban
San Pedro Poblacion	19th	569	550	Rural
San Roque Poblacion	11th	656	728	Rural
San Vicente Poblacion	12th	684	728	Urban
Santa Rosa	16th	559	604	Rural
Soboc	9th	713	852	Rural
Tambongon	3rd	1,066	1,190	Rural
Tinago	5th	1,073	1,058	Rural
Villa Aurora	20th	521	543	Rural
TOTAL	4th	18,996	20,669	4th Class^[6]

Places to Visit

Viga Municipal Hall
Cargo Cable Car in Brgy. Burgos and Almojuela
Soboc Bay
Soboc Beach
Viga is the rice granary of the province of Catanduanes
Coastal Barangay of Tambongon
Nipa Palm (Nypa fruticans) Plantation

References

↑ "Municipalities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
1 2 "Province: Catanduanes". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
1 2 3 4 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
↑ "An act creating the municipality of Gigmoto in the province of Catanduanes". LawPH.com. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
↑ "Province of Catanduanes". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
1 2 Philippine Standard Geographic Code

External links

Panganiban

Caramoran

Philippine Sea

Viga

Gigmoto

Province of Catanduanes

Virac (capital)

Municipalities	Bagamanoc Baras Bato Caramoran Gigmoto Pandan Panganiban San Andres San Miguel Viga Virac

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