Sorsogon City, officially the City of Sorsogon, (Central Bicolano: Ciudad nin Sorsogon; Filipino: Lungsod ng Sorsogon), is a 3rd class city and capital of the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 168,110 people.
The city was formed in the year 2000 by the merging of Bacon and Sorsogon towns. The city's total population spread across 64 barangays. It is the third most populous city in the Bicol Region behind Legazpi City (196,639) and Naga City (196,003). Sorsogon City covers a land area of 31,292 hectares (77,320 acres), making it Bicol's largest city in terms of land area. The city is bounded by the municipality of Castilla in the West, the municipality of Manito in the Northwest, Albay Gulf in the North, the municipality of Prieto Diaz in the East, the municipality of Gubat in the Southeast, the municipality of Casiguran in the Southwest and by Sorsogon Bay in the South. The city serves a trans-shipment point from the Visayas and Mindanao provinces. the city are dubbed by any names such as the "Gateway to Southern Philippines","Bicol's Largest City", "Gem City of the South", "Pro-life City", "City of Fun that Never Stops" and "Character City of Bicolandia". Sorsogon City is one of the region's leading cities in urbanization and the most promising city in terms of development.
Sorsogon City is divided into three districts: The West District, East District where the central business area is and Bacon district which is a former town of the province and was merged with the town of Sorsogon upon the creation of the city in 2000.
The name of the city "Sorsogon" is derived from the word "solsogon" which meant trace your way following the river upstream. the name is uttered by a native who misunderstood the question of the Spanish colonizers about the name of the place.
Video Sorsogon City
Etymology
The name of the place was once spelled as Solsogon. The name literally means 'to trace a river upstream'. The name of Sorsogon City has been spelled differently in various occasions during its history. When the Spaniards had settled in Gibalong, they set out to further explore the inner lands but got lost upon the discovery of new territories until they reach a small river emptying into what is now Sorsogon Bay. They asked a native they met for the name of the place. The native, not understanding Spanish and thinking they were asking for directions answered 'solsogon', which meant trace your way following the river upstream. Through constant use, Sosogon became Sorsogon hence becoming the name of the town.
Maps Sorsogon City
History
Colonial period
With the coming of the Spanish colonizers in the 1600s, Bacon was organized into a visita of the town of Casiguran, one of the oldest settlements in Luzon. The municipality of Sorsogon, whose original Site was in Sitio Pocdol in Capuy, was in turn, a visita of Bacon. As its population increased, however, Sorsogon was declared an independent, full-fledged parish in 1628.
The Pueblo Civil de Bacon was established in 1754, with Juan Elias as its first gobernadorcillo. Sorsogon on the other hand, became an independent political unit in 1864.
From their organization as visitas and eventually as independent pueblos, both Bacon and Sorsogon remained under the territorial jurisdiction of the province of Albay. On October 17, 1894, the Spanish authorities organized a geographical unit independent from Albay, with the town of Sorsogon as its seat of government. The new province adopted the name of the town and has since been known as the Province of Sorsogon.
Foundation
Sorsogon City was created by virtue of Republic Act 8806 which was enacted on August 16, 2000, and ratified in December 2000.
Prominent politicians of the locality behind its creation were former Sorsogon 1st District Representative and now Senator Francis Escudero and former Bacon Municipal Mayor Leovic R. Dioneda. Former Bacon Vice Mayor Aurelio Destacamento, joined by former Sorsogon councilors Antonio C. Detera, Azel Diesta and Telo Mella fought before the two local legislative chambers, for the approval of appropriation ordinances providing budget for the holding of its plebiscite.
Prior to its ratification, a petition to declare RA 8806 null and void was filed by lawyer Atty. Gil Gojol. Because Bacon municipality was enjoined as one of the respondents in said petition, a young practicing lawyer from Buenavista, Bacon District, in the name of Atty. Glenn Olbes, defended its constitutionality. The legal battle for its constitutionality was upheld later on by a majority decision of the Sorsoguenos who desire for the development of the newly created local government unit.
Opponents for its ratification were incumbent Governor Raul R. Lee and his wife, Sally Ante Lee who became its first contested City Mayor.
The merged municipalities of Bacon and Sorsogon which created the city have their own long histories from Pre-Hispanic Era to present.
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 the municipality of Castilla in the West, the municipality of Manito in the Northwest, Albay Gulf in the North, the municipality of Prieto Diaz in the East, the municipality of Gubat in the Southeast, the municipality of Casiguran in the Southwest and by 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 south western 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 north east, and Pacific Ocean in the east.
Sorsogon City is 581 kilometres (361 mi) southeast of Manila and 54 kilometres (34 mi) south of Legazpi City, Albay 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. largest city 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 South-east.
Neighborhoods
Downtown and Central Sorsogon
Similar to many other cities in the Philippines, Sorsogon was developed on a grid plan, with the city center at Rizal and Magsaysay Streets. While this intersection was initially near the geographic center of Sorsogon, that center has shifted as the city has expanded far to the east.
Eastern Sorsogon (East District)
A combination of urban and suburban development, the east Side is generally defined as the area toward the eastern boundary of the city. Eastern part of the city encompasses the banks of Sorsogon Bay and Generally a flatland.
Northern Sorsogon (Bacon District)
In the year 1609, The Fanciscans founded the settlement of Bacon, which later became a visita or barrio, and in 1617, it was separated from Casiguran to become an independent parish, which included Sta. Florentina (now Rapu-rapu), and Montupar (now Prieto-Diaz). Bacon's patroness was Our Lady of the Annunciation, until Fray Gregorio Sta. Ana replaced it with Sta. Rita de Casia. In 1853, however, Fray Remigio de Vera returned the Our Lady of the Annunciation, as patroness of the parish, up to the present time. Bacon is the oldest municipality (pueblo civil) of the province. It was founded in 1754, with Juan Elias as its first gobernadorcillo. It is also the nearest town to the capitol town of Sorsogon, with a distance of only nine kilometers. The road connecting it is the oldest in the province. The municipality of Bacon (Now Bacon District, City of Sorsogon), as established by the Spanish government then, included under its jurisdiction the barrios of Sta. Florentina, Batan and Cagraray islands. When Sorsogon became an independent province from Albay, Bacon lost to Albay, Rapu-rapu, Batan and Cagraray islands. Also, the barrios of Suwa and Cabit were lost to the Municipality of Manito, also in Albay. Rapu-rapu became a municipality of Albay in 1901, while Prieto-Diaz was separated from Bacon in 1904, to become an independent municipality. With the separation of sorsogon from Albay, the boundaries separating them were moved from Balabagan to Suwa.
The Sorsogon-Bacon Bridge. Bacon was an important port during the Spanish period until the opening of the Sorsogon-Albay road in 1924. Government officials, businessmen and travelers from Manila used to come to Legazpi City by train, and from Legazpi City to Bacon, by the launch, San Antonio, and from Bacon to Sorsogon, by bus. Due to the importance of the port in business, and the road, in transporting goods from Bacon to Sorsogon, Governor Peñaranda of Albay issued a decree in 1814 ordering the construction of Gabao Bridge, to be finished in forty-five days by polistas. One-half of the bridge, on the Bacon side, was constructed by polistas from Bacon, and the other half from Sorsogon (Unfortunately, this bridge is no longer there, having given way to the widening of the concrete roadway going into Bacon, which is now a mere district of Sorsogon City)
Bacon Town was merged with Sorsogon town to become Sorsogon City and was created by virtue of Republic Act 8806 which was enacted on August 16, 2000, and ratified in December 2000. At present Bacon District is composed of 28 Barangays.
Western Sorsogon (West District)
The western district is relatively undeveloped compared to other parts of the city. It is generally classified as the area near the banks of the Kawayan River and east of it.
Barangays
Upon its creation through the merging of Sorsogon and Bacon municipalities, Sorsogon City is divided in three districts. Sorsogon City is composed of 64 barangays, with 23 barangays in West district, 14 barangays in East District and 27 barangays in Bacon district.
Climate
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).
Sorsogon City is situated in the country's geographical Zone 6 where 3 typhoons/cyclones pass in two years. The city is also prone to storm surge as revealed by data gathered from the Natural Disaster Reduction Branch of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (NRDB-PAGASA). Stronger typhoons and storm surges caused by the changing global climate are foreseen to create further stress to the city's settlements especially in terms of housing and basic infrastructure. Strengthening these structures is crucial to increase the city's resilience to projected climate change impact. Not only would infrastructure strengthening initiatives help ensure the people's safety in the event of strong typhoons but also save the family assets and lessen household and government costs for recovery and reconstruction.
Typhoon Nina (also known as Sisang) was the strongest typhoon that hit the province, killing at least 200 people in November 1987. In 2006, more than 10,000 houses in the city were totally damaged while damages to public infrastructure were estimated at P208 million pesos.
Demographics
Demographic statistics:
- 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
Religion
Roman Catholicism
The city is the ecclesiastical seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon. it is also the dominant religion in the city with 95% of the population, a Roman Catholic. This dominant faith is supported by the presence of different institutions and churches; The Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral is in the center of the city perhaps the most distinguishable landmark in the city. It is the seat of the Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul and of the Diocese of Sorsogon. and its towers dominate the city's skyline. Other churches include the Our Lady of Fatima Church and the Bacon Church in the Bacon district. The Our Lady of Penafrancia Seminary school for clergy is also in Barangay Bibincahan, East district. Monasteries and retreat houses are also in the city like the Poor Claire Monastery and the El Retiro Retreat House. Other religious institute like St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon- the first catholic school in the province of Sorsogon built in 1937 is in Barangay Talisay. It is a sister school of Universidad de Sta. Isabel in Naga City and is run by the Daughters of Charity
Evangelicalism
Other Christian organizations are represented by Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) whose imposing church is a landmark along Barangay Balogo. Also having considerable number of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whose church is also along Barangay Balogo.Biblical Christianity is also present in this city represented by the Sorsogon First Baptist Church in Piot.
Politics and government
The City of Sorsogon was created by virtue of Republic Act 8806, which was signed into law on August 16, 2000 and ratified during a plebiscite on December 16, 2000. RA 8806, also known as the Cityhood Law, called for the merger of the municipalities of Sorsogon and Bacon into a component city of the Province of Sorsogon.
The First Mayoralty Elections were held in 2001 and Sally A. Lee became the first Mayor of Sorsogon City.
Sorsogon City supported Fernando Poe Jr. in the 2004 Philippine Presidential Election. Benigno Simeon Aquino III won in the city during the 2010 Philippine Presidential Election, with 40% (25,756) of the total votes as opposed to the 35% (22,759) of the votes garnered by former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada
In general, Sorsogon City does not support a specific political party during presidential and congressional elections as opposed to other cities and municipalities.
City 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. 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. Both the council members and the mayor serve three-year terms; and eligible for re-election for two more three-year terms.
Since the city's creation in 2000, only two serve as Mayor of the City namely Sally A. Lee who is the incumbent Mayor and also served as the first elected mayor of the city, and Leovic R. Dioneda who served from 2007 to 2013.
Sorsogon City, like other municipalities, is composed of barangays and is headed by a Barangay Chairman and Kagawads composed the barangay's legislative body- the Sangguniang barangay.
The list of mayors and Vice Mayors of Sorsogon City
Economy
Sorsogon City, as the capital town of the province of Sorsogon, is a hub of trade and commerce. Its strategic location has given rise to a busy commercial district composed of local businesses and franchises of national and regional business chain. 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, 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. The main agricultural products include rice, coconut, abaca, pili nuts, root crops and vegetables.
Peter Paul Philippine Corporation a company produces different Coconut products has set up a factory in the city. Sorsogon City, as the capital town of the province of Sorsogon, is a hub of trade and commerce. Its strategic location has given rise to a busy commercial district composed of local businesses and franchises of national and regional business chain. 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.
An Economic Zone has been identified in the north-east part of the City. It covers the barangays of Buhatan, Cabid-an and Bibincahan. Within the Economic Zone and along the diversion road, a 50-hectare agro-industrial zone is being proposed and targeted. The area can accommodate the food terminal, warehouses, storage facilities and light industries.
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.
Shopping
The Gaisano Capital Sorsogon is downtown along Magsaysay Street. Gaisano Capital Group is a shopping mall chain in the Philippines, owned by Cebu-based Gaisano family.'
CityMall (Philippines) is being built just in front of Sorsogon Provincial Capitol and plans to open in the first quarter of 2018, Xentro-LCC Mall is slated to open in now closed Robertson Supermarket building along Rizal and De Vera Streets in 2018. 7-Eleven is now open beside Land Bank and in Magsaysay Street. Another branch opened near Sorsogon National High School. Robinsons Place Sorsogon are also underway.
Meanwhile, SM Supermalls the country's biggest mall network, bares plan to put up SM City Sorsogon beside Sorsogon Grand Terminal in Barangay Balogo which is now in clearing operations. During the SM Partner's Summit Gala Night held last October 2015 when it celebrated its 30th Anniversary in a two-day event dubbed "Bricks Click, Creating the New Marketplace" that began with a retail forum and culminated in a gala night at the SMX Convention Center where top partners were given recognition. SM City Sorsogon is planned to open in 2019 has a lot size of 132,003 sqm with a gross floor area of approximately 74,003 sqm. Anchor tenants are SM Store and SM Hypermarket. The mall will also have cinemas, foodcourt, BPO and cyberzone.
Housing
National and Local Real Estate Developers have also invested in the city. Some of these include Vista Land (Camella Homes Sorsogon) located at Barangay Cabid-an, Sorsogon City in front of Sorsogon Dairy Farm, Imperial Ridge Homes in Barangay Pangpang and San Fernando Estates by LKY Group.
Infrastructure
The proposed Sorsogon Business and Leisure Park is a 20 hectare reclamation area linking the 3-hectare Pinaculan Island to the Sorsogon Pier in Sorsogon Bay, forming part of the expansion area of the Sorsogon City's central business district. The area shall have a rock causeway and seawall, complete with wide and well-paved roads, underground electrical and telephone systems and water supply. Low, medium and high density zones shall be identified for business establishments, plants and factories, including a central park.
Pepita Park is in Barangay Bucal-Bucalan along the national highway, about 15-20 minutes away by car from the center of the City. Already in place is a small rest area for travelers, complete with a mini-park and a small canteen with a view deck. The proposed development of the area involves the construction of a seafood trading and rest facility, complete with seafood stalls, bayside restaurants and cafes, and adequate parking space. The food stalls and restaurants will specialize in fresh blue crabs which Sorsogon is known for. Customers can have their pick of crabs and other seafood from the stalls and have them cooked at the adjacent restaurants or open air grill shops.
Culture
Annual events
Pili Festival
The Pili Festival celebrates the pili, which supports the livelihood of many Sorsoganons. Although the growing of pili is popular in the other provinces of Bicol, it is Sorsogon which has the largest land area devoted to pili farming.
The Feast day of the Patron Saints of Sorsogon City- Sts. Peter and Paul coincides with the celebration of Pili Festival. Their feast day is on the 29th of June. Catholic Mass and Processions happen during this day.
Sosogon Festival
Sosogon Festival is a month-long celebration during December giving significance on the birth of Sorsogon City. This event highlights the history, culture and ethnicity of the City of Sorsogon and their good harvest pili.
Kasanggayahan Festival
The festival, celebrated in the whole province in the last week of October, commemorates the founding of Sorsogon as a province. Festivities include a series of cultural, historical, religious, agro-industrial and economic activities, showcasing the province's abundant agricultural products, particularly food and decorative items.
Though a provincial event, most of the festivities during the Kasanggayahan Festival including the "Pantomina sa Tinampo", street dances and others are conducted in the city since this is the provincial capital of Sorsogon and the seat of the province is in the city.
Holy week celebrations
Holy week celebrations commemorate the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Catholicism as a predominant religion in the city celebrates holy week either the months of March or April.
During this time many different cultural traditions like Pabasa and Way of the Cross were held. The City Procession was organized by the Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul and is participated by hundreds and thousands of people. It was held at sundown on Holy Wednesday and Good Friday and many religious icons are paraded around the city.
Barangay fiestas
Sorsoganons are very religious and fun-loving. Being mostly Roman Catholics, they are active in every festivity celebrated throughout the year. Like any other Filipino ethnolinguistic groups, each barangay honors their patron saint with a celebration on its feast day.
Food and delicacies
Sorsogon is a town famous for coconut based Bicol cuisine. Laing or Gulay Na Gabi in its dialect, is a famous dish that have delighted Filipinos and foreigners to the extent of their Bicol dining experience. It is a kind of vegetable called Taro leaves cooked in coconut-cream and mixed with variety of chillies. Another popular dish immensely flavored with chilli and cooked in coconut milk is called Bicol express. It is present in most restaurants of Bicol but for Sorsogenos, it is just a daily energizing food. Other dishes are Langka or jackfruit, a local fruit called Santol, or even the banana blossoms are simple ingredients usually prepared in coconut cream but when cooked the Bicolano way, turns out an exciting tasteful cuisine.
Tourism
One of the most promising development sectors is the "Tourism Sector". Huge potential and actual tourism sites abound in the City of Sorsogon. The foremost tourism strategy being adopted by the City Government is the "Community-Based Eco-tourism Strategy" which focuses on the development of the area without causing any harm or damage to the environment. The City Government cannot do this alone. Hence, People's Organizations and the business sector are being tapped to cooperate in this very laudable program. Likewise, in the management of Events and Festivals, public and private partnerships are being resorted to as both sectors are bound to benefit in the developmental and commercial aspects of tourism development. Necessarily, the Sorsogon Tourism Office (SCTO) has to update the city's Tourism Master Plan and conduct an intensive Information and Education Campaign to boost the Tourism Industry.
Places of interest
Natural Attractions
- Bato Limestone Cave - Privately owned, about 100 m. away from the junction (a private trail) along the Sawanga-Bacon road. There are 3 caves, one is habitable while two are used as burial grounds. Various ancient artefacts were unearthed by a group of archaeological team in 1956. The artefacts contained human bones, beads, seashells and shell drinking cups. It was estimated 2,000 years old. It is in triangular position in the sea by the shores of Calicaran.
- Buhatan River Eco-Adventure- it is an initiative of the people of Barangay Buhatan, its council and the Samahan ng mga kababaihan ng Buhatan (a newly formed people's organization) and as launched last April 6, 2015. This eco-adventure offers kayaking, floating cottage with restaurant that traverse the 5 kilometer river from the local tourism post up to Sorsogon Bay area. Night Cruise is also becoming popular since there are fireflies sightings along the river banks. Floating cottage restaurant also offers local kakanin such as hinagom, linukay, taro chips and chocolate tablea. Other activities that one can enjoy are recreational fishing like bentol (local way of fishing using a modified square fish net) and bingwit, mangrove planting, bird and firefly watching. Kayak costs around Php100 pesos per hour for 2 persons while floating cottage is around Php1,500 pesos for 10 persons. If there are less than 10 people, It is considered as a private tour.
- Paguriran Island Resort and Lagoon- the island itself is very picturesque with a kind of lagoon at its center with the earth and craggy rock wall enclosing it, jutting upwards, much like a volcano crater. Jagged rocks and massive coral formations primarily made up Paguriran's triangular-shaped island, but the charm it possesses came from the lagoon. A serene sanctuary confined by natural barriers.
Recreation Parks and Ecoparks
- PNOC-Ecopark - covering a total of 25,100 hectares of forest reservation, straddling the Sorsogon-Albay boundary areas. This eco-park offers a lot of eco-tour delights and adventures.
- Sorsogon City Rompeolas and Family Park- It is the city's version of Baywalk and here is where students go to hang after school, where families take a stroll, where old souls looking to reminisce linger, and where artists try to make. That day the sunset was not the usual glorious kind, but the overall scenery was just as colorful. Stalls selling your typical street food line one side of the park, and huts and sheds are plenty. A part of the bay was enclosed to make fish pens, and some parts were dedicated to recreational kayaks.
- Sorsogon Provincial Capitol and Park- The capitol building which is the center piece of the huge capitol park was built during the early American period and features Roman Gothic columns on its facade. The capitol park has large trees and a 1923 statue of Dr. Jose Rizal. It is said that Sorsogon Capitol park is the biggest capitol park in Bicol Region. It is located in the city center on Rizal Street in front of CityMall Sorsogon. It is complete with a park where townsfolk could enjoy and rest, a children's playhouse, basketball court, cemented walks and a tennis court.
- Sorsogon City Hall and Park- The city hall building house the executive and legislative power of the city of Sorsogon. It is where all other government offices are located. It is located in Barangay Cabid-An. It consists of a park where townspeople, travellers and tourists alike can rest and do picnics. A Children's park and wellness center can also be found here.
- Pepita Park and Rest Area- it is scenic rest area along Sorsogon Bay, where tourist traveling from the north and south can enjoy and rest. It is located in Barangay Bucalbucalan, West district, a 15-minute drive from the city-center. It is complete with resthouse, cemented walks, beaches, children's playground and lush greenery. One of the distinguished features of the park is the crab-like building. Overlooking the bay is the Paroja Hill Grotto.
Beaches and Resorts
- Alvic Beach Resort- located in Bacon District
- Lebanon Beach- located in San Juan Bacon
- New Seabreeze Resort- located in Bacon District
- Long Beach- located in Caricaran Bacon
- Manunggul Beach
- Padaraw beach resort
- Pagol Beach Resort
- Sirangan Beach Resort
- Summer Hut Beach Resort
- Tolongapo Beach - the name literally means "three stones". It is naturally formed and is in a triangular position in the sea by the shores of Barangay Caricaran. Swimmers usually climb on these sea formed rocks for diving and resting.
- White Sand Beach- located in Bacon District
Falls
- Busay Falls- Guinlajon
- Botong Twin Falls- EDC PNOC
Lakes
- Danao lake - Brgy San Juan Bacon
- Mt. Pulog Lake - Sta. Cruz Bacon
Spring Resorts
- Alburo Spring Resort - Palje, Capuy, Sorsogon City
- Bucalbucalan Spring - Natural cold spring in Brgy. Bucalbucalan, a coastal barangay
- Suhi Natural Spring Resort- Panlayaan Sorsogon
Churches, monasteries and religious attractions
- Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral - The main church of the city and it is the seat of the Diocese of Sorsogon. This is perhaps the most distinguishable landmark and the most noticeable structure in the city. It has a huge dome dominates the city's skyline and was patterned based on St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. This church has been around since the 1900s. The old church was nearly destroyed by Typhoon Milenyo last September 2006 and was redesigned and rebuilt. The new church was inaugurated on April 27, 2011 on the occasion of the 60th year of the Diocese of Sorsogon. The Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul is observed on June 29 each year.
- El Retiro Church and Retreat House- Located in Barangay Cabid-an, East District, It is Built primarily as a home for the religious, it has lawns lovingly tended by praying hands. A few meters up, there's the Monastery of St. Clare. The chapel and the surrounding gardens mirror monastic calm, making El Retiro a touch of heaven on earth.
- Our Lady of Fatima Church
- Our Lady of Peñafrancia Seminary
- Paroja Hill and Grotto - located atop a hill across pepita park and it overlooks Sorsogon Bay
- Poor Claire Monastery- Bariis Cabid-An
- The Parish Church of Annunciation- located in Bacon District
Infrastructure
Airports
Sorsogon City has a community airport at Bacon district. Only small commuter planes can only land there. There were several attempts to revive the airport but it is rarely used due to the presence of the Legazpi Domestic Airport (soon to be Bicol International Airport) which is 50 kilometers away from the city.
Communications
The city has modern and efficient communication facilities which include landline telephones and cellular mobile phone. Digitel and Bayantel makes long-distance and domestic landline telephone communication possible while Smart Communications, Globe Telecommunications and Sun Cellular Network provide mobile phone services. There are also Five (5) internet service providers offering dial-up connections and 3G services. Connecting through these five (5) providers are thirteen internet cafes that cater to the public.
For the broadcast media the city have three (3) AM Radio stations, seven (7) FM Radio Stations, two (2) local broadcast television stations. Cable TV is also available with DCTV cable and ESTV cable providing the services.
For mail services, the Philippine Postal Corporation (Sorsogon City Post Office) provides domestic, international and other mail services and four (4) private messengerial and courier service companies which include JRS express, LBC, Mail and More Business Services, Incorporated, and Air21 express. Pawnshops also make use for local and international money transfer.
For newspaper and periodicals, Two (2) national and five (5) local newspapers both in English and Filipino circulate in the city along with local newsletters and magazine printed in the City by the City Government and other entities.
Ports
The port of Sorsogon, classified as municipal port, has a 664m causeway and reinforced concrete pier. Incoming cargoes like cement, plywood and beer comes from Manila and Cebu. The port is also used by motorized bancas ferrying passengers and goods to and from neighboring towns. No regular trips and routes have been developed or revived since the mode of transportation shifted to land when roads eventually connected towns and barangays. The District of Bacon on the other hand, has two (2) ports, the Poblacion Port and Banao Port.
Roadways
There are three highways in the area. The Pan-Philippine Highway, also known as the Maharlika Highway runs north from Legazpi City passing the towns of Pilar, and Castilla. It also traverses through the central business district of the town all the way to the rest of the towns of the Second Congressional District of Sorsogon province. Sorsogon City Diversion Road leaves the Pan-Philippine Highway at Barangay Pang-pang at the western side of the city and heads north passing barangays Pang-pang, Bibincahan, San Juan, and reconnecting with the Pan-Philippine Highway at Barangay Cabid-an. The diversion road was created to prevent public utility vehicles from entering the center of the town during rush hours to prevent traffic congestion in the central business district. It also serves as an alternative road network for other vehicles coming from Legazpi City to the Second Congressional district and vice versa. The Bacon-Manito Road serves Bacon District and connects with Manito, Albay on the Northeast and also reconnects with rest of the city to the south.
Roads and highways in Sorsogon City include:
- Pan-Philippine Highway
- Sorsogon City Diversion Road
- Bacon- Manito Road
Rail
As of now no rail links connect Sorsogon city to the rest of Luzon but plans are underway to extend the Philippine National Railways to Matnog, Sorsogon in a 171 Billion PHP ($3.8 Billion) South Line Project.
Energy
Electricity
Sorsogon City's electrical power source comes from the Luzon Grid; transmitting electricity to the whole island of Luzon and is managed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. The City's electricity is managed however by the Sorsogon Electric Cooperative II with its substation situated within the city limits on barangay Cabid-an, East district. Secondary electrical power source is a 600 Kilowatt hydroelectric power-plant on barangay Guinlajon, West district. It is expected to generate 2.786-gigawatt per hour (GWH) annually, would be a significant contribution to the province's peak demand of 12.406 MW.
Water Supply
Sorsogon City Water District (SCWD) is a Government-Owned & Controlled Corporation created under Presidential Decree No. 198 (Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1978). SCWD was established on February 14, 1975 after it was issued a Conditional Certificate of Conformance by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and has since then provided for the water supply of the Municipality of Sorsogon and later City of Sorsogon with the merging of the municipalities of Sorsogon and Bacon in 2001.
In 2014, SCWD partnered with Abejo Waters Inc. to set-up a bulk water supply facility tapping the Cawayan River as its source because of its enormous volume of water seepage on it. The plan of the water district is to tap fifty liters per second (LPS) out of the seepage of water in the river to supply adequately the needs of new concessionaires in the western part of the city. Abejo Waters promised that the water treatment facility will not only supply the Barangays of Guinlajon, Basud, Ticol, Pamurayan, Penafrancia, Pangpang and Tugos but will continuously flow even to the consumers of the water district in the city proper.
Sorsogon City currently draws water from 13 deepwells and 4 springs which has to serve 64 barangays from the districts of Bacon and Sorsogon. At present, there are 13,402 existing service connections and a total of 10,619 active service connections as of December 2014 which are 100 percent metered. Of this total, 9,701 are residential/government connections while 918 are commercial establishments.
Proposed projects
The proposed Sorsogon Business and Leisure Park is a 20 hectare reclamation area linking the 3-hectare Pinaculan Island to the Sorsogon Pier in Sorsogon Bay, forming part of the expansion area of the Sorsogon City's central business district. The area shall have a rock causeway and seawall, complete with wide and well-paved roads, underground electrical and telephone systems and water supply. Low, medium and high density zones shall be identified for business establishments, plants and factories, including a central park.
Four projects are identified to cost forty million pesos each; the Construction of Sorsogon City Rompeolas Park and Recreation Center as a forerunner of Sorsogon Tourism Estate and the flagship of the city tourism industry. It will be affiliated with the Tourism Infrastructure Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA).
Three other projects, the locations are still to be identified will cost forty million pesos each, for the improvement and concreting of various streets, for shore protection and river control. It was justified for convenience and environmental protection to arrest the inundation and possible conditions of rivers and shorelines as part of climate change adaptation programs and policies in anticipation of the effects of the same.
Estimated to cost thirty million pesos are the construction of an infirmary hospital aimed to decongest the Dr. Fernando B. Duran Memorial Hospital often congested with city residents patients, and the construction, upgrading, rehabilitation of drainage system and irrigation canals to minimize flooding in times of calamity and heavy rains.It was also conceived to address health related problems such as dengue fever and leptospirosis.
In Bacon District, the Bacia Auditorium and Youth Training Center/Multi-purpose Center will receive twenty five million pesos as fund not solely for the purpose, but will augment evacuation center of the district.The district poblacion is 50-60 centimeters below sea level as indicated in the topographic survey of the city.
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 decongest the city traffic once completed and provide an additional space for a walkway.
The Medium Term Economic/Infrastructure Development Plan (2015-2022) is seen as a support facility with an assured development for the city.
Transportation
There are three options to get to Sorsogon City, they are via plane and via land. If it is coming from the southern part of the Philippines though, an option is to ride a ferry.
By land
Sorsogon City can be reached by land transport from Manila by bus or by private vehicle, taking about 12 to 15 hours depend on traffic.
By air
Air transport going to the City is available via 45-minute Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Zest Air flights which lands at Legazpi City Airport. From the airport, 1 to 1 1/2 hours travel time to Sorsogon City by land via private utility vehicles and UV Express vans or buses.
By sea
the port of Sorsogon, has a 664m causeway and reinforced concrete pier. Incoming cargoes like cement, plywood and beer comes from Manila and Cebu. The port is also used by motorized bancas ferrying passengers and goods to and from neighboring towns. Bacon District on the other hand, has two (2) ports, the Poblacion Port and Banao Port.
Transportation within the city
Tricycle and jeepneys are the primary modes of transportation within the city while outlying coastal barangays (Osiao and Sto. Niño) can be reached via motorized banca. Tricycles operate in the 3 districts of the City. Tricycles are color coded to signify its routes. Yellow tricycles are all around routes, Blue Tricycles are intended for West District Routes and Green Tricycles are for Bacon District Routes. Jeepneys are the mode of transportation when going to Bacon district and for those who need to go outside of Sorsogon City's perimeter such as going to the second district municipalities or even Legazpi City. Buses bound for Legazpi or Manila and Jeepneys bound for other municipalities in the second district are in the Central business district and in the Sorsogon City Grand Terminal.
Sports
- Sorsogon Lawn Tennis Club- The Tennis Court is in the Sorsogon Provincial Capitol Complex
- Sorsogon Provincial Gymnasium- also in the Sorsogon Provincial Capitol Complex
- Xtrim Badminton Court
- Sorsogon Sports Complex (Balogo Sports Complex)
Sustainability
For the past 5 years, red tide is recurrently occurring at the Sorsogon Bay thus minimizing the income and displaces the fisherfolks. The old City Public Market and the illegal dumping of waste at the river banks and shorelines were identified as a contributory factor to this phenomenon. To combat its effect, coastal and river clean-up and mangrove reforestation are being conducted. A waste water treatment facility has been constructed at the newly renovated Sorsogon City Public Market. Wastewater is treated before going out to the bay.
Solid Waste Management Act is now institutionalized. All offices at the City Government are required to practice segregation and the City Material Recovery Facility or MRF is now under construction.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk reduction is integrated in the plans, programs and activities of the City Government with the support from the UN - Habitat together with the active participation of the non-government organizations and people's organizations.
Health and nutrition
The primary medical care of the city is provided by the City Health Office, which focuses on providing quality, cost effective, preventive, promotive and curative health care services to the people of Sorsogon City. To ensure that the health programs and activities filter down to the barangays the CHO branched out into three District Health Offices manned by physicians with adequate but non-complementing manpower. Each district health office has several barangay health stations to supervise administratively and technically. These three district health offices are "Sentrong Sigla," OPB and TB DOTS certified. Of the three DHOs, only Bacon district is MCP certified. The two districts are in the process of meeting requirements for the package.
The city has some health initiatives such as the Reproductive Tract Health Clinic (RTHC), which ensures public safety on sexually transmitted infections; Animal Bite Treatment Center (ABTC), which provides anti-rabies vaccination; Teen Center, which provides counselling and area for teen agers; Birthing Facility, which provides supplementary health service to mothers including attendance to normal deliveries, referrals of complicated cases, promotion of breastfeeding and family planning counselling.
For the year 2010, the City Health Budget amounted to 55,479,680.80, which took up 11.90% of the overall city budget. Curative health services are provided mainly by two tertiary hospitals (private & government owned), two secondary private hospitals and several private medical and dental clinics. These facilities cater not only to people from the city but also from other municipalities of Sorsogon Province.
The main hospitals in the city are the following:
- Dr. Fernando B. Duran Sr. Memorial Hospital
- Sts. Peter and Paul Hospital
- Sorsogon Medical Mission Group Hospital & Health Services Cooperative
- St. Therese of The Child Jesus Hospital Incorporated
Public safety
Public safety statistics:
- 123 PNP personnel
- 20 traffic aides and barangay traffic aides
- Minimum 8 inmates a month
- 19 firefighters
- 4 fire trucks and equipment
- 2 Fil-Chi fire trucks and 20 fire volunteers
- Disaster preparedness - CDCC, BDCC, Sorsogon Emergency Rescue Team
Education
Public Elementary Schools
All barangays are served by public elementary schools
- Number of schools - 72
Public Senior High Schools
- Bogña Integrated High School
- Buhatan Integrated High School
- Buhatan National High School
- Celestino G. Tabuena Memorial National High School
- Gatbo National High School
- Osiao Paglingap National High School
- Pamurayan Integrated School
- Panlayaan High School
- Rawis National High School
- Rizal National High School
- San Isidro National High School
- Sawanga National High School
- Sorsogon National High School
- Sto. Niño Integrated School
Public Tertiary School
- Sorsogon State College
Private Primary Schools
- Adventist Learning Center (ALC) - Bibincahan, East District
- Agape Formation & Educ'l Center Found. Inc. - Alegre Street, Burabod
- Alpha-Omega Learning Center - 4th Road OLV, Bibincahan
- Bellgate's Learning Center, Inc. - Garcia, Sulucan
- Creative Tots' Learning Workshop (CTLWI) Inc. - 4728 1st Cor 1st Road, OLV, Bibincahan
- Divine Healer Learning Center - El Retiro Comp., Cabid-an
- Immaculate Heart of Mary School - Jimenez Street, Basud
- King of Glory Kiddie School - 3rd Avenue, Bibincahan
- LWCC Child Learning Center Inc. - Magsaysay Street, Almendras
- Maple School of Sor. Found. Inc. - Sor Aurora Building, Balogo
- Mother Mary Montessori School of Sorsogon, Inc. - Gate 2 Catmon Street, SPPVS Bibincahan
- Neo Kindergarten School - Bibincahan
- Very Important Preschoolers (VIP) Learning Center - Rizal Street, Talisay
Private Secondary Schools
- First Baptist Christian Academy - Rizal Street, Piot
- Queenship of Mary Learning Center - Seabreeze Homes, Cabid-an
- Sorsogon Chiang Kai Shek School - Magsaysay
- Sorsogon Puericulture Learning Center - Capitol Compound, Burabod
- Sosogon Family Service Center - 9th Road, O.L.V. Bibincahan
- St. Jerome Academy - 17th Street, Pangpang
- Villanueva Institute - Gabao, San Roque
Private Tertiary Schools
- Aemilianum College Incorporated
- AMA Computer Learning Center College Sorsogon (ACLC- Sorsogon)
- Annunciation College of Bacon Sorsogon Unit Incorporated
- Bicol Merchant Marine College Incorporated
- Computer Communication Development Institute (CCDI- Sorsogon)
- Speed Computer College
- St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon (Formerly Colegio de la Milagrosa)
- The Lewis College
Diocesan School
- Our Lady of Peñafrancia Seminary - Bibincahan, Sorsogon
Notable people from Sorsogon City
- Eddie Garcia - Film actor and director
- Eugenia Apostol (sister of former Sorsogon Mayor Duran) - one of the founders of Philippine Daily Inquirer
- Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero - former congressman, and now senator of the 15th Congress
- Jorge Barlin - First Filipino and Bikolano Bishop and was assigned parish priest and Vicar Forane of Sorsogon from 1887 to 1906
- Loida Nicolas-Lewis - Born and raised in Sorsogon. Lewis is the Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of TLC Beatrice, LLC, the Lewis Family investment firm and is also Chairman and CEO of TLC Beatrice (China), Limited, a Cayman company which operates retail convenience stores in five major cities in China and TLC Beatrice Foods (Philippines) which operates a fresh meat processing plant.
- Mary Walter - actress, whose career spanned through several decades. She was born in Bacon.
- Salvador Escudero Sr. - former Provincial Governor of Sorsogon and was a guerilla leader during the Japanese occupation. He was fondly called Gurang (old man in Bikol) by the local folks. Sorsogon's PNP Provincial Office along Magsaysay St., Sorsogon City, is named after him.
- Vicente L. Peralta - late congressman of Sorsogon City. A hospital in Castilla was named after him.
- Gerphil Geraldine Flores - A Filipino-German Classical Singer and Asia's Got Talent Season 1 (2nd runner up).
- Aldin Ayo - Sorsogon City West District Councilor, and Coach of the De La Salle Green Archers.
- Tierry F. Garcia, M.D. - Son of former Sorsogon Governor Silverio Garcia, Dr. Garcia was a pioneer in the Ear, Nose and Throat specialty in the Philippines. After residency in Otolaryngology at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, he co-founded and was first President of the Philippine Society of Otolaryngology and Bronchoesophagology, co-founded the Manila Doctors Hospital, served as Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at the Philippine General Hospital and Professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, and was twice the Official Delegate of the Philippines to the International Congress of ENT specialists. He also served as the first president of the Philippine Medical Association in America, founded the Sorsogon Economic Development Corporation, the Sorsogon Economic Foundation, and Philippine Scientific Agricultural Foundation, and served as president of the Philippine-Israeli Friendship Society.</ref>
Sister cities
Local
- Legazpi City, Albay
- Iloilo City, Iloilo
- Pasay City, Metro Manila
- Zamboanga City, Zamboanga
International
- Ceuta, Spain
- Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States
Gallery
See also
- Bicolano People
- Bicol Region
- Bicol Languages
- List of Bicol Region Cities and Municipalities
References
External links
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- Philippine Census Information
- Local Governance Performance Management System
Source of article : Wikipedia
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