Milagros, Masbate

Milagros, officially the Municipality of Milagros, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Masbate, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 57,473 people. [3]

Milagros
Municipality
Municipality of Milagros
Rice fields in Milagros
Map of Masbate with Milagros highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Milagros
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 12°14′N 123°30′E
Country Philippines
RegionBicol Region (Region V)
ProvinceMasbate
District2nd district
Barangays27 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorNatividad Isabel R. Magbalon
 • Vice MayorJose S. Magbalon Jr.
 • RepresentativeElisa T. Kho
 • Electorate34,532 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total565.30 km2 (218.26 sq mi)
Elevation
11 m (36 ft)
Population
 (2015 census) [3]
 • Total57,473
 • Density100/km2 (260/sq mi)
 • Households
11,439
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence44.62% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue₱166,381,497.15 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
5410
PSGC
054112000
IDD : area code +63 (0)56
Climate typetropical rainforest climate
Native languagesMasbateño language
Tagalog

It is facing the Asid Gulf and is the largest municipality in the province in terms of land area. [2]

Etymology

Milagros got its name from Spanish word Milagro meaning miracle. Stories handed down from generation to generation told us that the community was founded by early settlers who are peace loving and faithful converted Christians. Early then, coastal communities are the center of trade and commerce because of its facility to transport goods and products to and from the other communities. These are often the targets of marauding “moro” bandits who pillage and wreak havoc to victim communities. News of the atrocities caused by these heartless invaders sent shivers to the bones of those unwarring communities.

One day a flotilla of vintas with armed men aboard anchored at the bay ready to attack on signal. People scampered to safety to neighboring hills leaving behind the weak, the sick and the old. Being true believers of the Christian faith, they implored the aid of their patron Saint, St. Joseph to spare them from the wrath of these heartless invaders. Their prayers were not left unanswered. Every time these invaders are poised to attack, they saw myriads of armed combatants with guns and cannons lined up at the shore in defense position, thus giving the bandits second thoughts of pursuing their attack. Every time these bandits are set to attack these armed combatants always appear. Sensing that they are vulnerable to these invincible defenders, the “moro” bandits called off the attack.

This always happened whenever there were invaders who threaten the peaceful community. News of these events circulated among other bandit groups, which eventually deter them from raiding the community.

For these countless miracles, the community was called “MILAGROS”.

Barangays

Milagros is located at the southern part of the Masbate Island duplicating boomerang shape of the Island. It is bounded out the north by the Mobo, Baleno, Masbate City, Mobo, North – East by Uson North West by Aroroy, Mandaon and Balud, On the East by the Municipality of Cawayan and to the south by Asid Gulf.

It is the largest municipality of the province with an area of 56, 540 hectares. It is composed of 27 barangay with one island barangay and one island sitio. It has an estimated population of 50, 100 for the year 2007.

  • Bacolod
  • Bangad
  • Bara
  • Bonbon
  • Calasuche
  • Calumpang
  • Capaculan
  • Cayabon
  • Guinluthangan
  • Jamorawon
  • Magsalangi
  • Matagbac
  • Matanglad
  • Matiporon
  • Moises R. Espinosa
  • Narangasan
  • Pamangpangon
  • Poblacion East
  • Poblacion West
  • Paraiso (Potot)
  • San Antonio
  • San Carlos
  • Sawmill
  • Tagbon
  • Tawad
  • Tigbao
  • Tinaclipan (Bato)

Milagros is one of the original municipalities of Masbate since its creation as a New Province by virtue of Philippine Commission Act. No. 105 enacted on March 18, 1901. It is the mother municipality of Cawayan, Balud and Mandaon until their creation under Executive Order 244.

The municipality is endowed with rich mineral resources the as of to date has partially been tapped. Manganese is being extracted at barangays Pamangpangon and Taisan and as being exported to Japan. Large deposit of white clay, which maybe used in making of porcelain products and other novelty items can be found at Barangay Bonbon and Matanglad. Other precious minerals such as gold, copper and silver are also present in the area.

The municipality is bounded on the south by Asia Gulf which is part of the Visayan Sea, a rich existing fishing ground.

Aware of the need to conserve, protect and manage our marine resources, the LGU has passed the Municipal Fishery Ordinance and Instituted the Coastal Resource Management Program.

Under this program, Bangad Fish Sanctuary was established and Mangrove Reforestation was launched and sustained. Fish wardens are trained and deputized. Other coastal barangays has resorted to seaweeds farming as alternative livelihood and to prevent corals and sea grass from further degradation from drag net and trawl fishing.[5]

Climate
Climate data for Milagros, Masbate
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 39
(1.5)		 34
(1.3)		 42
(1.7)		 36
(1.4)		 73
(2.9)		 109
(4.3)		 118
(4.6)		 108
(4.3)		 129
(5.1)		 136
(5.4)		 112
(4.4)		 89
(3.5)		 1,025
(40.4)
Average rainy days 12.6 9.7 12.0 13.0 20.5 25.3 26.2 24.8 25.2 25.9 21.9 17.9 235
Source: Meteoblue [6]

Demographics
Population census of Milagros
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 6,674—    
1918 10,521+3.08%
1939 30,171+5.14%
1948 33,502+1.17%
1960 17,048−5.47%
1970 24,480+3.68%
1975 24,630+0.12%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1980 28,496+2.96%
1990 33,305+1.57%
1995 38,925+2.96%
2000 44,575+2.95%
2007 48,185+1.08%
2010 52,619+3.26%
2015 57,473+1.69%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [3] [7] [8][9]

In the 2015 census, the population of Milagros, Masbate, was 57,473 people, [3] with a density of 100 inhabitants per square kilometre or 260 inhabitants per square mile.

Politics in Milagros

The former dominant political clan in Milagros was the De Jesus Clan and followed by the Abapo Clan. In 2015, former Milagros town Mayor Bernardito Abapo was arrested in a raid by the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on a suspected drug laboratory in Masbate province.[10] The results of the 2007 Local Elections replaced the Abapo Clan by the Magbalon Clan Dr. Natividad Isabel Revil-Magbalon finished her 3-consecutive terms or a total of 9 years as being the mayor of the municipality. Since Dr. Natividad Isabel Magbalon can no longer run for mayor, her husband Jose Magbalon Jr. run on her behalf and won the 2016 elections with 51.2% votes over his opponent Bobet Trias.[11]

References
  1.  Municipality of Milagros | (DILG)
  2. "Province: Masbate". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. https://milagrosmasbate.wordpress.com/about/
  6. "Milagros: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  7. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  8. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  9. "Province of Masbate". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  10. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/436394/news/regions/2-ex-mayors-arrested-in-masbate-shabu-lab-raid
  11. http://ph.rappler.com/elections/2016/results/philippines/Bicol-Region/Masbate/Milagros/position/8132/mayor?image=1&title=2016%20Election%20Results:%20Mayor,%20Milagros&desc=Milagros:%20JOSE%20JR.%20MAGBALON%20null%20is%20leading%20as%20Mayor%20based%20on%20Comelec%20Unofficial%20Partial%20Results%20%7C%20Philippine%20Elections
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