Sorsogon City

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Sorsogon City
Aerial view
Aerial view
Flag of Sorsogon City
Flag
Official seal of Sorsogon City
Seal
Nickname: 
"Gateway to Southern Philippines"[1]
OpenStreetMap
CountryPhilippines
FoundedFebruary 28, 1895
CityhoodDecember 16, 2000
Barangays(see Barangays)
Government
 [2]
 • MayorMa. Ester E. Hamor
 • Vice MayorMark Eric C. Dioneda
 • RepresentativeEvelina G. Escudero
 • City Council
Members
 • Electoratevoters (?)
Highest elevation
1,078 m (3,537 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
DemonymSorsoganon
Economy
 • Poverty incidence% (?)
Service provider
 • Electricity—
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
PSGC
PSGC unknown
Major Pan-Philippine Highway RouteAH26 (N1) sign.svg
Minor/Alternative City RoutesN643 (Philippines).svg N644 (Philippines).svg
Major religionsChristianity

Sorsogon City, officially known as the City of Sorsogon (Waray Sorsogon: Syudad san Sorsogon; Central Bikol: Siyudad nin Sorsogon; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Sorsogon), is a 3rd class component city and capital of the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 182,237 people. [4]

The component city was established on the year of 2000, from the merger of Bacon and Sorsogon municipalities.[5] The city's total population spread across 64 barangays.

It serves a trans-shipment point from the Visayas and Mindanao provinces and is dubbed as the "Gateway to Southern Philippines".[1] Sorsogon City is one of the region's leading cities in urbanization and the most promising city in terms of development.

History

Evidence of human habitation come from 3,000-year-old remains in a cave in Bacon and ancient burial sites dug upstream of Sorsogon rivers. Spanish missionaries came upon settlements in both sites when they arrived in the 1600s. Moro pirates had already frequented the territorial waters before the arrival of the Spanish missions.

Bacon was established as a visita of Casiguran while Sorsogon, originally in Sitio Pocdol in Capuy, was then established as a visita of Bacon. Sorsogon then became an independent, full-fledged parish in 1628 due to an increase in population. The two parishes later became civilian political units.[6]

The Pueblo Civil de Bacon was established in 1754, with Juan Elias as its first gobernadorcillo. Sorsogon became an independent pueblo in 1864. Both Bacon and Sorsogon were under the territorial jurisdiction of the province of Albay until the establishment of the independent province of Sorsogon on October 17, 1894.[7]

In 1951, Sorsogon was made the center of the episcopal see of the then newly established Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon comprising the Sorsogon and Masbate provinces, with the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church in the town of Sorsogon as the designated cathedral.[8]

Cityhood

Main article: Cities of the Philippines

Sorsogon City was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 8806[5] which was enacted on August 16, 2000 and ratified in December 2000.

Geography

Sorsogon City covers a land area of 31,292 hectares (120.82 sq mi). It is at the southernmost tip of the Bicol Peninsula and of Luzon Island. The city is bounded by Castilla in the west, Manito in the northwest, Albay Gulf in the north, Prieto Diaz in the east, Gubat in the southeast, Casiguran in the southwest, and Sorsogon Bay in the south. Sorsogon is characterized by an irregular topography; mountain ranges on the north-west, sloping uplands on the central part of the city, plain areas southwestern and central north and southeast portion, and marshlands on the southeast deltas. It is also surrounded by water, with Sorsogon Bay to the west Albay Gulf to the northeast, and Philippine Sea in the east.

Panoramic view of Sorsogon Bay

Sorsogon City is 581 kilometres (361 mi) southeast of Manila and 54 kilometres (34 mi) south of Legazpi City. The 2015 Census puts the city's population at 168,110 with an annual growth rate of 0.84%. Sorsogon City ranked as the 3rd largest city in terms of population in the Bicol region. The only city in the province of Sorsogon, Sorsogon City is the largest in terms of land area in the Bicol region.

The Pan-Philippine Highway which runs from northwest to southeast through the city, connects Sorsogon City to the municipalities of Castilla, Pilar, in the northwest towards Daraga, Legazpi City, Naga City and the rest of Luzon. It also connects to the municipalities of Gubat, Casiguran and the rest of the second district municipalities of the province of Sorsogon in the southeast.

Barangays

Main article: List of barangays in Sorsogon City

Climate

Climate data for Sorsogon City
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35
(95) 		40
(104) 		35
(95) 		39
(102) 		39
(102) 		39
(102) 		39
(102) 		39
(102) 		35
(95) 		39
(102) 		39
(102) 		39
(102) 		40
(104)
Average high °C (°F) 31
(88) 		31
(88) 		32
(90) 		34
(93) 		34
(93) 		33
(91) 		33
(91) 		33
(91) 		33
(91) 		33
(91) 		32
(90) 		31
(88) 		34
(93)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73) 		23
(73) 		24
(75) 		25
(77) 		26
(79) 		25
(77) 		24
(75) 		25
(77) 		25
(77) 		25
(77) 		25
(77) 		24
(75) 		23
(73)
Record low °C (°F) 15
(59) 		15
(59) 		19
(66) 		14
(57) 		15
(59) 		17
(63) 		18
(64) 		16
(61) 		20
(68) 		20
(68) 		19
(66) 		19
(66) 		14
(57)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 293
(11.5) 		227
(8.9) 		209
(8.2) 		166
(6.5) 		189
(7.4) 		203
(8.0) 		231
(9.1) 		196
(7.7) 		271
(10.7) 		295
(11.6) 		387
(15.2) 		539
(21.2) 		3,206
(126.2)
Average rainy days 21 15 15 12 13 14 17 16 17 18 21 23 202
Source 1: http://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/Philippines/Sorsogon/climate-profile.aspx
Source 2: http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Sorsogon-weather-averages/Sorsogon/PH.aspx

Sorsogon City features a tropical rainforest climate with copious amount of rainfall throughout the course of the year. There is no pronounced dry season, but it has very pronounced maximum rain from November to January with December as the wettest month of the year, experiencing 23 days of rain. Temperature is constant throughout the year. Sorsogon City's average yearly rainfall is just over 2,671 mm (105.2 in). April is the driest month of the year which only sees 12 rain days and 2,671 mm (105.2 in) of rainfall. Average High temperature is at 38.08 °C (100.5 °F) and its Average Low temperature is at 24.5 °C (76.1 °F). The coolest month is January with a daily mean of 25.5 °C (77.9 °F) and the hottest months are jointly April and May with a daily mean of 28 °C (82.4 °F).

Demographics

Historical population census of then
Municipality of Bacon
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 14,536—    
1918 14,733+0.09%
1939 18,351+1.05%
1948 22,859+2.47%
1960 21,723−0.42%
1970 27,957+2.55%
1975 28,546+0.42%
1980 31,965+2.29%
1990 32,810+0.26%
1995 38,603+3.09%
2000 42,166+1.91%
Bacon ceased to exist as a separate
municipality in December 2000.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [10] [11]
Historical population census of then
Municipality of Sorsogon
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 13,511—    
1918 16,694+1.42%
1939 22,097+1.34%
1948 26,004+1.83%
1960 35,542+2.64%
1970 47,734+2.99%
1975 53,700+2.39%
1980 60,574+2.44%
1990 72,871+1.87%
1995 83,012+2.47%
2000 92,512+2.35%
Sorsogon & Bacon merged in December 2000.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [10] [11]
Population census of Sorsogon City
YearPop.±% p.a.
Combined population of Sorsogon & Bacon
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [10] [11]

Demographic statistics:[12]

  • Annual Growth Rate 1.69% for the period 2000 – 2007
  • Population Growth Rate – 2.15% (1995–2000)
  • Population Density - 627 persons per square kilometer
  • Total Number of Households 30,290
  • Male Population - 77,117
  • Female Population - 74,337
  • Religion – 95% Roman Catholic
  • Labor Force – 56% of the total population, 1/4 of the over-15 years old is, at least, high-school graduate, 15% of the total workforce have college-level education
  • Student Population - 15,323
  • Voting Age Population - 83,123

Economy

Rizal Street in downtown area

Sorsogon City, being the capital town of the province of Sorsogon, is a hub of trade and commerce. Business is concentrated in the downtown area near the public market and major commercial establishments primarily geared towards retail and wholesale and the Bacon District is the secondary business district of the city.

As of 2012, Sorsogon City ranked third among the cities with most revenue in the Bicol region with an estimated annual income of P432,978,837,[13] only behind Naga City and Legazpi City. Despite being a city and its increasing annual income, agriculture and fisheries sector is still the driving force of its economy.[citation needed] The main agricultural products include rice, coconut, abaca, pili nuts, root crops and vegetables.[citation needed]

The Bay City Sorsogon, that is currently being built at the coast of Barangay Balogo will definitely have a huge impact on the economic growth of the city. It is a priority project of LKY Development Corporation, a privately owned real estate company. The Bay City Sorsogon includes a Commercial Complex, Five Star Hotel, Coliseum, Outdoor Dining Area, a Central Bus Terminal and a lot more. The excavation of this 16-hectare property just started during the last quarter of 2010 and the completion is expected by the 3rd quarter of 2011.[14][better source needed]

Shopping Malls

There are 5 major shopping areas in the city while over 1,000 commercial establishments. The SM City Sorsogon was officially opened to the public on October 28, 2022, making it the first SM Supermall in Sorsogon, fourth in the Bicol Region, and 81st in the country. It is the biggest mall in the province and will host a terminal which will make Sorsogon City even more accessible. Savemore Supermarket in the downtown area. Gaisano Mall which is the 2nd biggest mall in the area is generated with a solar panel. Citymall Sorsogon which is a convenient mall near the Capitol and near tourist spots. Centro Department store also exists.[15]

Sorsogon Diversion Roads

Sorsogon City has two diversion roads bypassing the city proper and cutting travel time to the towns of Gubat and Casiguran. One is inland and one is along the city's coast. There's a common entry point from the North, located in Brgy. Pangpang.

The 7 km,[16] 4-lane, Sorsogon Diversion Road was first completed. It's officially known as Salvador Escudero III Diversion Road.[17] Its entry point from the North is Brgy. Pangpang, traverses Brgy. San Juna-Roro and Brgy. Bibincahan, and exits at Brgy. Cabid-an.

The Sorsogon Coastal Road was partially completed during the pandemic[18] (Brgy. Talisay-Brgy. Balogo segment) and eventually fully completed in August 2022.[19] The 5 km, 4-lane, coastal road which traverses the coast of Sorsogon Bay, passes through Barangays Pangpang, Peñafrancia, Cambulaga, Talisay, Sirangan and exits at western border of Barangay Balogo. The said exit point also hosts to the SM City Sorsogon and Sorsogon Integrated Terminal Exchange (SITEX).[20]

Government

The city's local government is headed by a mayor elected by popular vote. The Vice Mayor serves as the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council), with 12 Councilors elected by popular vote as its members.[21] The Sangguniang Panlungsod serves as the city's legislative body and its role is to enact ordinances, approve resolutions, appropriate funds for the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants.[citation needed] Both the council members and the mayor serve three-year terms; and eligible for re-election for two more three-year terms.[22]

The 3 Districts of Sorsogon City shown in the picture: Marked in green is Bacon district, Yellow is the East District and in Blue, the West district.
Mayors of Sorsogon City
Mayor Term
Sally A. Lee June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2007
Leovic R. Dioneda June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2013
Sally A. Lee June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2019
Ester Hamor June 30, 2019 – Present
Vice mayors of Sorsogon City
Vice mayor Term
Edmundo Atutubo June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010
Bobet Lee Rodrigueza June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013
Charo Dichoso- Logronio June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Athan Balintong June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2019
Eric Dioneda June 30, 2019 – Present

Infrastructure

Sorsogon Sports Complex (Under construction)

A Sorsogon City Coastal Road is already underway. The construction of the coastal highway was pledged by Senator Francis Escudero and Sorsogon 1st District Representative Evelina Escudero. The 22-hectare coastal highway will help alleviate the traffic congestion once completed and provide an additional space for a walkway.[23]

In order to spur development in the city, The Toll Regulatory Board declared Toll Road 5 the extension of South Luzon Expressway.[24] A 420-kilometer, four lane expressway starting from the terminal point of the now under construction SLEX Toll Road 4 at Barangay Mayao, Lucena City in Quezon to Matnog, Sorsogon, near the Matnog Ferry Terminal. On August 25, 2020, San Miguel Corporation announced that they will invest the project which will reduce travel time from Lucena to Matnog from 9 hours to 5.5 hours.[25]

The Sorsogon Sports Complex (Formerly known as the Balogo Sports Complex) is a complex of sport facilities located at Brgy. Balogo and its still under rehabilitation. With the total cost of ₱887 Million and the capacity was 15,000 people, the said sports complex will become the host for the future Palarong Pambansa.[26] Mohri & P.A. Associates are the architecture of that project with the total area of 56,218 sq. m. and a 4 story.[27]

Notable personalities

  • Aldin Ayo - a former Sorsogon City's councilor, had coaching stints with Letran Knights,[28] De La Salle's Green Archers,[29] UST's Growling Tigers to name a few.
  • Eddie Garcia – Film actor and director
  • Eugenia Apostol - one of the founders of Philippine Daily Inquirer
  • Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero – former congressman (1998-2007) of Soesogon's First District, former Sorsogon governor (2019-2022), served 3 terms as a senator (2007-2019) and currently serving as a senator.[30]
  • Jessie Dellosa - former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff. He was born in the former town of Bacon, now a district in the city.
  • Jorge Barlin – First Filipino and Bikolano Bishop and was assigned parish priest and Vicar Forane of Sorsogon from 1887 to 1906[31]
  • Loida Nicolas Lewis – chairwoman and chief executive officer of TLC Beatrice, LLC, the Lewis Family investment firm and is also chairman and CEO of TLC Beatrice (China) and TLC Beatrice Foods (Philippines).
  • Mary Walter – actress, whose career spanned through several decades. She was born in Bacon.[32]
  • Vicente Peralta - the late solon represented the 2nd district of Sorsogon in congress from 1953 to 1968. He's a skilled orator and was tagged as one of the Ten Most Outstanding Congressmen by Philippine Free Press and Congressional Press Club.[33] A district hospital[34] and a city street[35] was named after him.

Sister cities

Local

International

References

  1. ^ a b "Senate Bill No. 3361" (PDF). Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  2. ^
  3. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Census of Population (2020). Table B - Population and Annual Growth Rates by Province, City, and Municipality - By Region. PSA. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "R.A. No. 8806: An Act Creating the City of Sorsogon by Merging the Municipalities of Bacon and Sorsogon in the Province of Sorsogon and Appropriating Funds Therefor". The Corpus Juris. August 16, 2000. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  6. ^ "Sorsogon City History | Tourist Spots, Language and Festivals | Philippines Cities".
  7. ^ "Basic profile | SORSOGON CITY".
  8. ^ "Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, Bicol, Philippines". GCatholic. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Census of Population (2015). Highlights of the Philippine Population 2015 Census of Population. PSA. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c Census of Population and Housing (2010). Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities (PDF). NSO. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c Censuses of Population (1903–2007). Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Region: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  12. ^ Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2003–2012, Summary (Briefing Material), Sectoral Consultation, Vicanta Hall, Sorsogon City, November 27, 2003
  13. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "ECMP company profile 2009 rev3.pmd" (PDF). Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  15. ^ "[Updated] Jomil Cinema 1 (Now Centro Mall)". September 20, 2011.
  16. ^ https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/DPWH/sites/default/files/issuances/DO_098_S2005.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  17. ^ "R.A. No. 11043: An Act Naming the Diversion Road in Sorsogon City, Province of Sorsogon as Salvador H. Escudero III Diversion Road". June 29, 2018.
  18. ^ "5.52-KM Sorsogon City Coastal Road Now Open to Motorists". August 19, 2020.
  19. ^ "Construction of Sorsogon Coastal Road improved connectivity, better access for people — Villar". April 29, 2022.
  20. ^ "Sorsogon transport policy loads added burden to commuters at Sorsogon Integrated Terminal Exchange (SITEX) – Bicol Express News".
  21. ^ "Republic Act 8806, Article IV, Sec. 12".
  22. ^ "Powers and Duties: City Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilor in the Philippines". May 2021.
  23. ^ http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/801429309855/sorsogon-city-inaugurates-rompeolas-food-court-other-developments-soon-to-rise[dead link]
  24. ^ "SLEX Toll Road 5 to connect Quezon province to Sorsogon". YugaTech. August 18, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  25. ^ "San Miguel investing P122B for SLEX Toll Road 5, Pasig River Expressway projects". GMA News Online. August 25, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  26. ^ "887-million sports complex to rise in Sorsogon". Department of Public Works and Highways. November 13, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  27. ^ "Balogo Sports Complex". Mohri & P.A. Associates, Inc.
  28. ^ "Aldin Ayo seeking third term as councilor in Sorsogon City as he continues to coach Letran Knights in NCAA".
  29. ^ "It's official: Aldin Ayo says move from Letran to la Salle has nothing to do with money or politics".
  30. ^ "Francis Escudero".
  31. ^ page 32, Tracing from Solsogon to Sorsogon, 2nd Edition (2007), ISBN 978-971-814-099-4
  32. ^ "Dont you know that Mary Walter & Lino Brocka are Sorsoganons?". September 5, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  33. ^ "Remembering a Great Solon". June 12, 2012.
  34. ^ "Vicente L. Peralta Memorial District Hospital".
  35. ^ "Vicente Peralta St · Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, Philippines".

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Sorsogon City.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sorsogon City.
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