Daraga

Etymology

The word daraga historically referred to a "maiden", and term for an "unmarried woman" in many of the Bikol languages. The original settlement of Daraga dates back to the 12th century, but has changed location repeatedly due to the constant threats posed by the Mayon Volcano. The town was previously named Budiao, Cagsawa, Locsin, and Salcedo.

History

Early history

The early history of Daraga dates back to the 12th century when the area was first settled by traders. The name “Daraga” was derived from a type of tree that once grew abundantly on a hill where a baroque-style Catholic church now stands.

Spanish colonial era

In 1578, Franciscan missionaries arrived and established a mission in the area, naming it Budiao. The settlement was later renamed Cagsawa. By 1595, Cagsawa had become a visita or satellite mission station under the jurisdiction of the nearby town of Camalig.

In 1772, Governor-General Simón de Anda renamed Cagsawa to Salcedo, although the town would later revert to the name Daraga. The municipality suffered a major tragedy in 1814 when the eruption of Mayon Volcano destroyed the town, killing around 1,200 people who had sought refuge inside the Cagsawa Church.

Formal governance of Daraga was organized in 1815, with Venancio Espíritu Salomon serving as Barangay Captain. Under the Becerra Law of 1892, Daraga became part of Legazpi City.

American colonial era

In 1922, the Philippine Assembly granted Daraga its autonomy by separating it from Albay and Legazpi.

Post-war era

In 1948, Republic Act No. 306 was enacted, once again incorporated Daraga into Legazpi as one of its districts.

Six years later, in 1984, the Republic Act No. 993 reestablished Daraga as an independent municipality. In 1959, it was renamed Locsin through Republic Act No. 2505, but this was reversed in 1967 when Republic Act No. 4994 restored the name Daraga.

In 1973, Presidential Decree No. 125 again merged Daraga with Legazpi City, but the implementation of this decree was later suspended.

Philippine fifth republic

The town gained recognition in 1993 when it was awarded as the “Cleanest and Greenest Municipality” in the Bicol Region.

In June 2001, another eruption of Mayon Volcano covered parts of the town with volcanic ash. The following year, the municipal government completed the construction of a modern public market. In 2006, heavy rains brought by Typhoon Reming (international name: Durian) triggered mudflows from Mayon Volcano that buried at least eight villages, displaced over 20,000 residents, and destroyed thousands of homes.

In 2007, the National Museum declared the 400-year-old Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church (Daraga Church) a National Cultural Treasure. The town’s economy grew rapidly in 2008 with the opening of national food chains and the LCC Supermarket.

The municipal government began negotiations in 2010 for the construction of the Bicol International Airport, located in Barangay Alobo.

In February 2012, the town held its first-ever Cagsawa Festival to celebrate its heritage and history.

In 2024, Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo was arrested for his alleged involvement in the 2018 killing of Representative Rodel Batocabe of the Ako Bicol party.

Government

Past municipal administrators

Geography

Daraga is located at , in the south-west portion of Albay province, along the Maharlika Highway, making it accessible from Manila, the Visayas, and the other municipalities of eastern Bicol Peninsula. It is roughly "boot-shaped", with the "tall" part ranging 13.05–13.25° north latitude and 123.66–123.73° east longitude and the "wide" part ranging 13.02–13.09° north latitude and 123.56–123.71° east longitude. It is bounded on the north and east by Legazpi City, south by Sorsogon (particularly the municipality of Pilar), and west by Camalig, and Jovellar. It is 3 km from Legazpi and 524 km from Manila.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 118.64 km2 constituting of the 2,575.77 km2 total area of Albay. This municipal land area is distributed among the present 16 urban barangays and 42 rural barangays. The urban barangays total 1500 ha (12.65%) and the rural barangays make up the remaining 10360 ha (87.35%) of the total municipal land area.

Elevation

67.3% of the total municipal land area has a predominantly low elevation of up to 100 m. The surface terrain is generally characterized by combination of level to nearly level areas, gentle to undulating areas and undulating to rolling areas.

Soil

The different soil types to be found within Daraga are the Mayon Gravelly Sandy Loam, Annam Clay Loam, Gravelly Sandy Loam, Legazpi Fine Sandy Loam (Stoney phase), Sevilla Clay Loam and Sevilla Clay.

The underlying geology are made up of several types: Alluvium, Shale and Sandstone Limestone and Basalt and Andesite Series. The prevalent geologic type is the Shale and Sandstone Sequence and other equally significant geologic types such as alluvium. Recent Volcanic, Crystalline Limestone and Psyroclastine Limestone are found near the base of Mayon Volcano mostly in the urban barangays.

Minerals available within the municipality of Daraga are non-metallic consisting of Gravel, and Boulders. These minerals are abundant in Barangays Budiao, Busay, Bañadero and Matnog brought down from the slopes of Mayon Volcano during occurrences of volcanic eruptions and rains.

Drainage

The surface drainage pattern of Daraga is largely affected by the water runoff coming from Mayon Volcano coupled with those from other directions. Major river systems which convey and act as natural drainage channels as well as water sources include:

• Yawa River in Barangay Cullat, Malobago, Kilicao, Tagas, Binitayan & Bañag which connects to the Albay Gulf in Legazpi City
• Colabos Creek in Bañag, San Roque, Market Area, Sagpon, and Bagumbayan
• Quillarena River in Malabog & Budiao
• Gumacon Creek in Barangay Maroroy, Tagas
• Gulang-Gulang Creek in Barangay Pandan

Climate

| access-date = December 29, 2018}} Daraga has a generally wet climate characterized by a lack of the dry season. Maximum rainfall is from November to January, and average monthly rainfall is 223.4 mm. Prevailing winds are generally from north-east to south-west. Average temperature is 27.0 C.

But the climate change phenomenon has changed the past climate pattern. Dry spells are becoming more pronounced, as it is with the wet season. The phenomenon is felt all over the country as well.

Barangays

Daraga is politically subdivided into 54 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Demographics

In the 2024 census, Daraga had a population of 138,000 people. The population density was {{sigfig|138,000/118.64|2}} PD/km2.

In 2010, the 2010 municipal population of 115,804 was distributed among the urban and rural barangays. The urban population was 48.54% while rural population completed the remaining 51.45%. The "built-up density" was 5,659 persons/km2. It had a literacy rate of 96.08% and a municipality growth rate of 1.3%.

In terms of employment and livelihood, farming ranks high at 33.53%, crafts and related workers as well as elementary occupations follow second with 17.71% and 21.89% respectively.

Language

The languages spoken in Daraga include East Miraya (Daragueño), Bicol, Tagalog, and English.

Economy

Daraga's economy, originally agriculture-based, has rapidly transformed into an emerging urban system, benefiting from the economic opportunities of being located contiguously with the urban center of Legazpi. It draws trade relations with the island province of Masbate through the nearby Port of Pilar.

Daraga is the site of the Bicol International Airport which will further boost tourism in the region and will introduce more opportunities especially in this town. Local officials are now considering cityhood in the near future or upon the completion of the said international airport, if that so, Daraga would be the fourth city in Albay.

Daraga has the highest number of business establishments among towns in Albay. As of 2011 it has over 2,300 business establishments registered with the Permits and Licensing Office. The municipality is a center of handicraft manufacturing with several handicraft factories choosing their location in the municipality.

Tourism

Daraga's existing tourist spots/attractions are the Cagsawa Ruins and Resort and the Our Lady of the Gate Parish.

Cagsawa Ruins and Resort is located in Barangay Busay. Its prominent attraction is the belfry of the Cagsawa Church which submerged in mudflow during the February 2, 1814, Mayon Volcano Eruption which killed 1,200 people.

The Our Lady of the Gate Parish was constructed in 1773 atop Santa Maria Hill in Barangay San Roque and is uniquely known for its rich Baroque architecture.

Transportation

Daraga has a total road network of about 129.01 km. These are categorized as national roads, provincial roads, municipal roads and barangay roads. The barangay roads comprise the bulk of the municipality road network system. About 24.97% are concrete paved while the remaining 75.03% remains in asphalt, gravel or earth fill pavement conditions. These are about 25 bridges within the municipality and 66.22% of which are within barangay roads while the other bridges are part of national, provincial or barangay roads.

Daraga is the site of the newly constructed Bicol International Airport. It serves the City of Legazpi and the rest of Albay. It is located at barangay Alobo.

Culture

Cagsawa festival

The month-long Cagsawa festival is celebrated every February since 2012 in commemoration of Mt. Mayon's eruption.

Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church

Also known as Daraga Church, this 18th-century baroque structure stands atop a hill overlooking Mayon Volcano and the sea. Built from volcanic stones in 1773, it became the main place of worship after the Mayon eruption that destroyed nearby Cagsawa. During World War II, the Japanese occupied the church, and it later suffered heavy damage. Restoration work took place from 1971 to 1973. Today, the church remains a prominent landmark, notable for its intricate façade carved from volcanic rock.

Education

There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are the:

• Daraga North Schools District
• Daraga South Schools District

Primary and elementary schools

• Alcala Elementary School
• Alobo Elementary School
• Anislag Elementary School (Daraga South Central School)
• Bagtang Elementary School
• Balinad Elementary School
• Banadero Elementary School
• Banag Elementary School
• Bascaran Elementary School
• Belen B. Francisco Foundation
• Bicol College Elementary School
• Bigao Elementarty School
• Binitayan Elementary School
• Bongalon Elementary School
• Budiao Elementary School
• Burgos Elementary School
• Busay Elementary School
• Canarom Elementary School
• Carolina Elementary School (Dinoronan Elementary School)
• Cresche School
• Cullat Elementary School
• Daraga Human Resource Development Center
• Daraga North Central School
• De la Paz Elementary School
• Gabawan Elementary School
• Gapo Elementary School
• Harvest in Christ Christian Academy
• Ibaugan Elementary School
• Immaculate Concepcion College Laboratory School
• Impact Learning Center
• Inarado Elementary School
• Kidaco Elementary School
• Kiddie Starlets School
• Kilicao Elementary School
• Kinawitan Elementary School
• Kiwalo Elementary School
• Lacag Elementary School
• Loving Care Learning Center
• Mabini Elementary School
• Malobago Elementary School
• Maopi Elementary School
• Maroroy Elementary School
• Mary's Child Science Oriented School
• Matnog Elementary School
• Mayon Elementary School
• Mi-isi Elementary School
• Nabasan Elementary School
• Namantao Elementary School
• Penafrancia Elementary School
• San Rafael Elementary School
• San Ramon Elementary School
• San Vicente Grande Elementary School
• San Vicente Pequeño Elementary School
• Star Minds School for Kids
• Sunshine International School
• Tabontabon Elementary School
• Tagas Elementary School
• Talahib Elementary School
• United Institute
• Upper Malabog Elementary School
• Villahermosa Elementary School

Secondary school

• Anislag National High School
• Anislag National High School - Bascaran High School Extension
• Anislag National High School - San Vicente Grande High School Extension
• Bañadero High School
• Bicol College High School Department
• Daraga National High School
• Immaculate Concepcion College High School Department
• Kilicao High School
• Lacag National High School
• Malabog National High School
• Mary's Child Science Oriented School High School Department
• San Vicente Grande High School
• United Institute High School Department

Higher educational institutions

• Bicol University – Daraga
• Belen B. Francisco Foundation
• Bicol College
• Daraga Community College
• Immaculate Concepcion College

Notable personalities

• Barbie Imperial - actress and model
• Gwen Apuli - member of Pinoy pop girl group Bini

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. (July 18, 2016). "Daraga: Explore the Home of the Cagsaua Ruins in Albay".
3. (June 18, 1948). "Republic Act No. 306 - An Act Creating the City of Legaspi".
4. (June 8, 1954). "Chan Robles Virtual Law Library".
5. (June 21, 1959). "Republic Act No. 2505 - An Act Changing the Name of the Municipality of Daraga, Province of Albay, to Municipality of Locsin".
6. (June 17, 1967). "Republic Act No. 4994 - An Act Changing the Name of the Municipality of Locsin, Province of Albay, to Municipality of Daraga".
7. (February 5, 1973). "Presidential Decree No. 125; Amending Certain Provisions of Republic Act No. 2234, Otherwise Known As the City Charter of Legazpi, and For Other Purposes".
8. "Cagsawa Festival".
9. Capulong, Raya. (August 27, 2024). "Police arrest Daraga Mayor Baldo over 2018 Batocabe slay". abs-cbn.com.
10. "General Information". Municipal Government of Daraga.
11. Daraga Municipal Planning and Development Office
12. (January 15, 2021). "Masterlist of Schools".
13. (December 14, 2021). "Barbie Imperial: The ups and downs of Barbie's world". PEP.ph.
14. (2024-06-23). "‘Mabuhay! We are your BINIbinis!’". The Freeman.