Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya

History

Spanish era

Villaverde was formerly a barrio of Solano, Nueva Vizcaya called Ibung, founded by a Dominican Friar named Alejandro Vidal in 1767. More than a century later, an order from the Spanish Government was issued to Father Juan Villaverde giving instruction to organize into a town. Thus, on May 28, 1872, Ibung became a town of the province of Nueva Vizcaya. Ibung was originally settled by christianized Ifugaos resettled from the area of Kiangan who later abandoned the town after a malaria epidemic in 1890, whereupon they were replaced by Ilocano migrants.

American era

When the American took over, Ibung lost its status as a town because of insufficient funds. Moreover, most of the people residing in the area have transferred to an adjoining towns for fear of their lives from non-Christian tribes who dwelt in Cordillera mountains in the north-west part of the town. Ibung became a barangay of the municipality of Solano again .

Philippine independence

On June 17, 1957, through the sponsorship of the Congressman Leonardo B. Perez, Republic Act. No. 197 was enacted providing for the creation of the town Ibung through the separation of the barrios of Ibung and Bintawan from Solano. On September 1, 1957, Antonio B. Aquino was appointed as the first mayor of Ibung.

Two years later, on June 21, 1959, Republic Act. No. 2515 was enacted amending Republic Act. No. 1972 changing the name of the town from Ibung to Villaverde in honor of Father Juan Villaverde who had organized the town. Romualdo Ubando was appointed as the first Municipal Mayor at that time. In 1963, Antonio B. Aquino was the first elected Mayor after renaming the town.

On January 3, 1986, the town's 16-year mayor, Romualdo Bediones, was abducted by New People's Army (NPA) rebels led by a "Ka Annie" and held until he was tried by a kangaroo court and executed in public on January 11 after being declared guilty of "landgrabbing" and protecting criminality; his abducted driver was released by the rebels to inform authorities about the execution.

Geography

The Municipality of Villaverde lies on the northern district of the province and is bounded by Lamut, Ifugao on the North; Solano on the South; Bagabag on the East, and Ambaguio on the West. It has a total land area of 81.50 square kilometers, the smallest town which accounts for 1.86% of the total land area of Nueva Vizcaya.

Villaverde is situated 15.89 km from the provincial capital Bayombong, and 308.30 km from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Villaverde is politically subdivided into 9 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Barangay Poblacion where the Municipal Hall is located and Barangays Ibung, Bintawan Norte and Bintawan Sur as the commercial and educational center of the town.

• Bintawan Norte
• Bintawan Sur
• Cabuluan
• Ibung
• Nagbitin
• Ocapon
• Pieza
• Poblacion (Turod)
• Sawmill

Climate

Demographics

In the 2020 census, Villaverde had a population of 20,118. The population density was {{sigfig|20,118/81.50|2}} PD/km2.

Economy

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Villaverde is part of the lone congressional district of the province of Nueva Vizcaya. It is governed by a mayor, designated as its local chief executive, and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the municipal councilors are elected directly in polls held every three years.

Elected officials

Education

The Schools Division of Nueva Vizcaya governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. The Villaverde Schools District Office governs all public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality.

Primary and elementary schools

• Bintawan North Elementary School
• Bintawan South Elementary School
• Bintawan UMC Learning Center
• Buenavista Elementary School
• Felix-Juana Brawner Community School
• Gov. Juan Manzano Elementary School
• Nagbitin Elementary School
• Ocapon Elementary School
• Sawmill Elementary School
• Turod Elementary School
• Villa Par-Pale Elementary School
• Villaverde Central School
• Villaverde Central School Annex

Secondary schools

• Bintawan National High School
• Our Lady of Fatima School of Villaverde

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. Salgado, Pedro. "Cagayan Valley and Easter Cordillera: 1581-1898, Volume II". Rex Publishing.
3. "An Act Creating the Municipality of Ibung, Province of Nueva Vizcaya". LawPH.com.
4. (January 13, 1986). "Foreign News Briefs". UPI.
5. Gallardo, Ellen. (January 13, 1986). "Mayor executed by NPA 'court'". The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc..
6. "2019 National and Local Elections".
7. "DEPED REGIONAL OFFICE NO. 02".
8. (January 15, 2021). "Masterlist of Schools".