Calauag

Geography

Calauag is located on the north-eastern end of Tayabas Isthmus. The Daang Maharlika or Pan-Philippine Highway runs at the town after Lopez in Southbound and after Santa Elena at the Northbound. At the north end of Quirino Highway, it meets Daang Maharlika in Barangay Tabugon. It also meets the north end of Sumulong–Guinayangan Provincial Road which also meets Daang Maharlika in Barangay Sumulong. It is bounded to the north-west by Calauag Bay, south-west by Lopez, to the east by Guinayangan, and to the north by Basiad Bay and Tinig Bay; it is separated from Alabat Island by a 1 kilometer narrow strait.

Barangays

Calauag is subdivided into 90 Barangays (Villages):

Town proper

The town center (poblacion) consists of 12 barangays and 11 blocks from the PNR Station in the East to Pinagkamaligan ES on the west. Going west from Barangay Pinagtalleran via Quezon Street, there are five blocks of high concentration of shops, groceries and banks.

The Government Center is located at the South of the town which consists of Municipal Hall which houses the Municipal Library, Fire Station, Police Station and Precinct, and the Municipal Council building. Quezon Plaza is a well used spot for programs and events. The Livelihood Center is two blocks away from the Plaza and Quezon Street. the Central Park is also located in front of the Plaza and the Municipal Hall.

Climate

Calauag has a Tropical Climate like most of the country. Summers are hot and dry while rainy season is cold and wet but has more bearable weather unlike in Manila. It also falls under the Type IV Tropical Climate which has Rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year.

History

According to the writings of Valentin Martin in his "Ensayo de una sintesis de los trabajos realizados sos las corporaciones religiosas Españolas de Filipinas", the first record of the establishment of a settlement in Calauag dates as far as the year 1584. However, the formal founding of the town was placed in the year 1851 with the union of the settlements in Apad and Calauag.

The first elected Captain of the town was Juan Sunog. In 1897 the town was placed the Revolutionary Government and Alipio Declaro became the Municipal President. In 1914 under Municipal President Marciano Roldan, the town was destroyed by fire for the first time in its history. On December 24, 1941, the town was occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army and on January 14, 1942, the town was again destroyed by fire. On April 19, 1945, the United States and Filipino forces liberated the town from Japanese occupation. The general headquarters of the Philippine Army and Constabulary under the Commonwealth regime was built and station in Calauag during and after the war from 1945 to 1946 against the Japanese.

Disputed barangays

Calauag experienced a big controversy due to a decade long boundary dispute with the town of Santa Elena in the Province of Camarines Norte which resulted in a Supreme Court case, Presidential intervention, and the loss of a quarter of its land area. The disputed barangays were Cabuluan, Don Tomas Morato, Guitol, Kagtalaba, Maulawin, Patag Ibaba, Patag Ilaya, Plaridel and Tabugon.

On October 14, 1991, the Provincial Government and Municipal Government of Calauag ordered the demolition of a boundary marker installed by the DENR. In October 1995, then President Fidel V. Ramos came to Calauag to meet with local officials to resolve the boundary dispute between the two provinces and surveyed the whole disputed area. Calauag retained its jurisdiction, however the case was elevated to the Supreme Court. The Case of Province of Quezon vs. Province of Camarines Norte eventually ruled in favor of Camarines Norte and Calauag ceased its political jurisdiction on the said barangays.

Economy

Calauag is one of the major towns in Southern Quezon in terms of economy and population. Calauag is often known as the Communications and Transport Capital of Quezon due to presence of four bus companies and one communication company Headquartered in Calauag.

Energy Facilities

Calauag Quezon power system is provided by the Quezon 1 Electric Cooperative. Trans-Asia Renewable Energy will be constructed the 10 MW wind energy project soon to cope up the KW demand of the whole town.

Local government

The mayor for the 2013-2016 term is Luisito Visorde. Arcadio Mendoza is the town's incumbent vice-mayor. The mayor is restricted to three consecutive terms, a total of nine years, although a mayor can be elected again after an interruption of one term. The mayor has the direct control of the departments while the Municipal Administrator is indirectly in charge of all departments of the Government while the Vice Mayor is in charge of the Municipal Council which consists of seven Councilors and one Municipal Sangguniang Kabataan/SK (Youth Council) Chairman which are elected every three years and Municipal Administrator is appointed by the mayor.

Congressional and provincial legislators

In the 16th Congress of the House of Representatives, Calauag is Represented by Angelina Tan of the 4th congressional district of Quezon province while the disputed barangays are under 1st congressional District of Camarines Norte, Represented by Cathy Barcelona-Reyes. However, the disputed barangays still receive funds from some of the Board Members of Quezon province.

In the Provincial Council, the 4th District of Quezon is represented by four incumbent board members: Manuel Butardo, Gerald Ortiz and Rhodora Tan.

Public Schools

Public Schools are operated by the Department of Education-Quezon and divided by two districts: The East District and The West District. There are also one public high school that operates inside the town proper.

Private Schools

Support Facilities

Banks & Financial Institution

Money Transfer/Pawnshop

Drugstores/Pharmacies

Hotel & Resort/ Restaurant

Gasoline Station

Commercial Convenience Store

Hospital & Medical Clinic

Tertiary & TESDA Training School

Transportation

Calauag is accessible by Land Transportation like bus, and train via PNR Hondagua of Bicol Express Service. Calauag Station is currently under renovation due to damages of Typhoons and Storms and the Intercity Service is currently defunct. Travelling around the town proper is no problem since there are thousands of tricycles circling the Town Proper.

Utilities

Quezon I Electric Cooperative provides Electricity to the whole 3rd and 4th congressional district. Calauag Water District provides clean and potable water to the residents of the Town Proper and nearby barangays and taps water at the Yaganak-Mambaling Dam. The Local, NDD and DSL internet are provided by Santos Telephone Corp. While the wireless network and internet are provided by national telecommunications companies PLDT (Smart and Sun Cellular) and Globe. Digital Cable Television is provided by local cable operator (Calauag CATV System) though if you want better and HD channels, you may opt out getting national satellite television provider (Cignal, G Sat, or Dream). While gas may be purchased per tanks in gasoline stations or in local distributor. Gas pipeline is not offered in entire province unlike in other cities around the world.

Notable points of interest

Media

Calauag and nearby towns were being served by Radyo Natin 100.9 FM and QuezoNews-FM 94.5

Notable natives/residents

Sister cities

Historically, the sister cities of Calauag are Guinayangan (Settlement started at Guinayangan before moving to Viñas and Apad), Tagkawayan (Daughter town of Guinayangan), and Buenavista (then Piris).