Calauag, officially the Municipality of Calauag, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 71,809 people. It is 227 km southeast of Manila and 97 km east from provincial capital Lucena.

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 by Spanish conquistadors 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 possible remaining Japanese Armies.

Lost barangays to Bicol

Calauag experienced a big controversy due to a decade-long boundary dispute with the neighboring 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: • Don Tomas • Guitol • Kabuluan (alternatively spelled as Cabuluan in Tayabas Tagalog) • Kagtalaba • Maulawin • Plaridel (alternatively known as Macahadoc) • Patag Ibaba • Patag Iraya (alternatively spelled as Ilaya in Tayabas Tagalog) • 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.

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 or from Manila. At the north end of Quirino Highway, it meets Daang Maharlika in Barangay Tabugon. It also meets the north end of 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 kilometer narrow straight.

Barangays

Calauag is politically subdivided into 81 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

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 in the south of the town which consists of Municipal Hall which houses the City 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. Central Park is also located in front of the plaza and the City Hall.

Land area

Calauag has a land area size of 324.71 km2 (125.37 sq mi). Its land is three times bigger than San Francisco, California 121.51 km2 (46.91 sq mi) and almost half-smaller than the size of Singapore 728.3 km2 (281.2 sq mi).

Climate

Calauag has a tropical climate. It falls under the Type IV Tropical Climate which has rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. Rainy season must be expected from end of May to last week of December.

Demographics

Economy

Calauag has an agricultural-based economy. Most economic activity happens in Municipal Market and its vicinity. Most agricultural products are coconut-based and followed by rice, corn, fish, crabs and other seafoods. It is currently classified as First class-municipality.

Government

Local government

The mayor for the 2022-2025 term is Rosalina O. Visorde. Leah Dela Cruz is the town's incumbent vice mayor. Under the 1987 Constitution, the mayor is restricted to three consecutive terms with three years per term, although a mayor can be elected again after an interruption of term. The mayor has the direct control of the departments while the Municipal Administrator is indirectly in charge of all departments of the Municipal Government while the Vice Mayor is in charge of the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) which consists of seven Councilors and one Municipal Sangguniang Kabataan/SK (Youth Council) Chairman and one President of Liga ng mga Barangay (Barangay League) which are elected every three years and Municipal Administrator is appointed by the seating municipal mayor.

Congressional and provincial legislators

In the 18th Congress of the House of Representatives, Calauag is Represented by Keith Micah Tan of the 4th Congressional District of Quezon. The former disputed nine barangays are under First Congressional District of Camarines Norte, Represented by Josefina "Josie" B. Tallado. In the Provincial Board, Calauag, together with the other municipalities of 4th District of Quezon is represented by three elected board members for the term of 2022 to 2025: Roderick "Derick" Magbuhos of Atimonan, Harold Butardo of Guinayangan and Isaias Ubana II of Lopez, and are members of ruling Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). Provincial Councilors' League also has a seat in the Provincial Board, represented by Angelo "Ola" Eduarte, also of NPC which hails from Calauag.

List of Former Chief Executives

Tourism

Some of the notable attractions are:

Churches

Infrastructure

Transportation

Buses

Calauag is accessible by Bus Transportation through inter-city buses with signboards plying to Calauag and Bicol Region. Preferable bus companies plying to 4th District servicing the town are AB Liner, Barney Auto Lines, both with terminals in the town. Superlines, Daet Express and DLTBCo also unloads passenger at the town. Raymond Transportation, mostly bound for Bicol makes a short stopover at the town, being its headquarters and its historical route.

Railways

PNR Calauag Station (KM 243) is currently idle and the Intercity Service of PNR is currently defunct.

Roads and Waterways

Tourists are advised to take Tricycles as primary mode of transportation around the town. Cycling is also a common form of personal transportation in the town. Tollway nearest to Calauag is Ibaan Exit of STAR Tollway (E2). Santo Tomas Exit of STAR Tollway (E2) is preferable, as it does not require a detour to interior of Batangas. All Buses currently exits at Calamba (Turbina) Exit of the South Luzon Expressway. Calauag soon will be serviced by Toll Road 4 Mayao Exit once the toll road fully opens. Toll Road 5 and Quezon–Bicol Expressway are also planned to have exits for Calauag.

Utilities

Quezon I Electric Cooperative provides Electricity to the entire 3rd and 4th congressional districts of Quezon including barangays of Calauag lost to Bicol and Del Gallego, Camarines Sur. Calauag Water District (CWD) provides potable water to the residents of the Town Proper and nearby barangays (villages). The Yaganak-Mambaling Dam is the sole source of water for the entire municipality and operated by Calauag Water District, under license to Local Water Utilities Administration. The Local, National Direct Dial and Fiber internet are provided by PLDT which absorbed the local franchise of the closed Santos Telephone Corporation. The wireless network and internet are provided by national telecommunications companies PLDT (Smart), Globe and Dito. Cable Television and alternatative Cable Internet is provided by local cable operator (Calauag CATV System), albeit without High-Definition Television and national satellite television providers (Cignal, G Sat, and previously prior to lapse of congressional franchise, SkyDirect). Liquified petroleum gas meanwhile may be purchased per cylinder tanks in gasoline stations or in local distributors. Petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene are imported to the municipality through local distributors of publicly-listed oil companies Pilipinas Shell, Petron, and privately-owned Chevron, operating under the name of Caltex, as well as independent player Uno Fuels with most stations located near the road junction of Rizal Street and locally known as Calauag rotunda and National Highway or AH1

Education

Public Schools

Public Schools are operated by the Department of Education, through Division of 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

Media

Calauag and nearby towns were being served by Radyo Natin 100.9 FM.

Sister cities

Historically, the sister cities of Calauag are Guinayangan, Tagkawayan (Daughter town of Guinayangan), and Buenavista (then Piris).

Notable personalities

Gallery