Balamban

History

There is no exact date which can be ascertained as the establishment date for the settlement of Balamban.

According to oral history, a polity called Balambang was part of a pre-Hispanic monarchy called Hinulawan located in the present Balamban barangay of Nangka.

A Spanish document attests that the community was recognized as a town during Spanish colonial period. The first administrator of the pueblo was Ciriaco Gutierrez, a Spanish captain who was appointed in 1857. The first native Filipino to hold the position was Macario Montejo which was followed by other natives including Fermin Ricafort.

As per a document dated May 2, 1878 from the Archive Division, Bureau of Records Management, the pueblo (now municipality) of Asturias was created from the pueblos of Balamban and Tuburan.

According to oral history, the construction of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish was initiated by a priest in 1875. He oversaw the parish until 1909.

On March 17, 1957, the Douglas C-47 which carried then-president Ramon Magsaysay crashed in Mount Manunggal. A monument was erected at the site which is now considered historical site ever since.

The Cebu Transcentral Highway was constructed in the 1990s improving the accessibility of Balamban with Cebu City.

Geography

Balamban is bordered to the north by the town of Asturias, to the west is the Tañon Strait, to the east is Cebu City, and to the south is the City of Toledo. It is 49 km from Cebu City.

Barangays

Balamban is politically subdivided into 28 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

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Demographics

Economy

Shipbuilding is a major industry of the town of Balamban since the 1990s. Among the prominent firms with shipyards in the town is Austal Philippines, Tsuneishi and Metaphil at the West Cebu Industrial Park.

Farming is another source of livelihood for residents with corn, crops and vegetables among the important crops. The municipality is also the only source of abaca fibers in Cebu produced in a 260 to plantation in Mount Manunggal in barangay Magsaysay.

Cannabis has also been illicitly cultivated in Magsaysay and other mountainous barangays of Balamban which is discouraged by the government and has encouraged farmers to grow alternative crops including abaca.

Government

The following were the mayors of Balamban:

• Eufracio Yntig (1945–1946)
• Rizalina Migallos (1947–1955)
• Exasperanza Sanchez-Binghay (1955 – 1967)
• Socrates Gonzalez (1967–1986)
• Vicenta Dumdum (OIC; 1986–1987)
• Jose Narvios Jr. (March–June 1998)
• Alex Binghay (1988–1998)
• Marcelo Ike Pilapil (1998–2001)
• Alex Binghay (2001–2010)
• Ace Stefan Binghay (2010–2019)
• Alex Binghay (2019–2022)
• Ace Stefan Binghay (2022–2025)

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. "History Of Balamban, Cebu".
3. (27 March 2022). "Mt. Manunggal a 'gem destination' in Cebu - DOT-7". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
4. "The Freeman ProgreCEBU: Cebu Transcentral Highway". The Philippine Star.
5. (8 October 2017). "How a shipbuilding firm jump-started Balamban's economy". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
6. "Aside from shipbuilding capital Balamban positions itself as business-friendly town". The Philippine Star.
7. "BUKID-MPC: Barangay development through abaca". The Philippine Star.
8. (6 December 2009). "Ex-marijuana farmers get aid". The Philippine Star.
9. (4 May 2012). "Marijuana plants uprooted in Balamban". Cebu Daily News.
10. (29 April 2014). "DTI turns over abaca machines to farmers' coop in Balamban". SunStar Publishing Inc..
11. "Past Mayors".