Balanga | |
|---|---|
| City of Balanga | |
.jpg) Poblacion Plaza Mayor .jpg) Balanga City Hall  Balanga Cathedral  Balanga Nature and Wetland Park  Bataan Provicial Capitol  SM City Bataan | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nicknames: Bataan Capital City; Bataan University Town | |
 Map of Bataan with Balanga highlighted | |
 Interactive map of Balanga | |
.svg)  Balanga Location within thePhilippines | |
| Coordinates:14°41′N120°32′E / 14.68°N 120.53°E /14.68; 120.53 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Central Luzon |
| Province | Bataan |
| District | 2nd district |
| Founded | 1712 |
| Cityhood | December 30, 2000 |
| Barangays | 25 (seeBarangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Panlungsod |
| • Mayor | Raquel Francis D. Garcia |
| • Vice Mayor | Francis Anthony S. Garcia |
| • Representative | Albert Raymond S. Garcia |
| • City Council | Members
|
| • Electorate | 70,117 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 111.63 km2 (43.10 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 138 m (453 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 1,403 m (4,603 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | −1 m (−3.3 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 109,931 |
| • Density | 984.78/km2 (2,550.6/sq mi) |
| • Households | 24,919 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 4th city income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 6.98 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 1,224 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 2,179 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 917.1 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 692.9 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Peninsula Electric Cooperative (PENELCO) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 2100 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)47 |
| Native languages | Mariveleño Tagalog |
| Catholic diocese | Balanga |
| Website | www |
Balanga (pronounced[bɐˈlaŋa]), officially theCity of Balanga (Filipino:Lungsod ng Balanga), is acomponent city and capital of theprovince ofBataan,Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 109,931 people.[5]
It was included theUNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2015.
The word Balanga originates from theKapampangan orTagalog termbalangâ ("clay pot"), which the town produced and which were among the best that can be found in the country. Compare withCalamba, Laguna.
Balanga was formerly a village ofAbucay before it was established as a mission of theDominican Order in the Provincial Charter of April 21, 1714, and later declared a vicariate on April 18, 1739, under the patronage ofSaint Joseph. Upon the establishment of Bataan as a separate province in 1754, Balanga was made its capital by Governor-GeneralPedro Manuel de Arandía Santisteban due to its favorable location at the heart of the new territorial jurisdiction.
On December 30, 2000, Balanga was inaugurated as a city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8984, authored by CongressmanEnrique "Tet" Garcia.[6]
The city has extended its urban fringe to the west of the Roman Superhighway, and a new growth center in Barangay Tuyo has been delineated in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. During the past years, the city saw a high record of residential growth. Consequently, with the expansion of the physical limits of the urban core, as well as the expected large increases in population, and the city's attractiveness to commercial and employment activities, the City Government of Balanga decided to undertake a Master Planning exercise and to propose various developmental projects that would establish Balanga as a well-planned community with quality and character that is innovative and special, although this is currently hindered by an unreliable electricity supply.[7]
Balanga City is primarily a residential-agricultural city, with a rapidly growing commercial sector. It has a total land area of 11,163 hectares (27,580 acres), which comprises 8.13% of the total land area of Bataan. It is located at the eastern part of the province ofBataan and lies in the southwestern part ofCentral Luzon. It is bounded inland by the municipality ofAbucay in the north,Pilar in the south, the municipalities ofBagac andMorong in the west andManila Bay in the east. Balanga is 124 kilometres (77 mi) fromManila by land and about 31.2 nautical miles (57.8 km; 35.9 mi) by ferry to Manila.[8]
| Climate data for Balanga, Bataan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 34 (93) | 35 (95) | 33 (91) | 31 (88) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19 (66) | 19 (66) | 20 (68) | 23 (73) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 20 (68) | 23 (73) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 7 (0.3) | 8 (0.3) | 14 (0.6) | 26 (1.0) | 127 (5.0) | 210 (8.3) | 263 (10.4) | 272 (10.7) | 218 (8.6) | 114 (4.5) | 46 (1.8) | 21 (0.8) | 1,326 (52.3) |
| Average rainy days | 4.0 | 4.0 | 6.9 | 11.2 | 21.0 | 24.5 | 27.4 | 26.9 | 25.9 | 21.9 | 13.4 | 6.3 | 193.4 |
| Source: Meteoblue(modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[9] | |||||||||||||
Balanga is politically subdivided into 25barangays. Each barangay consists ofpuroks and some havesitios.
Population census of Balanga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The population of Balanga in the 2024 census was 109,931 people,[15] with a density of 980 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,500 inhabitants per square mile.
Poverty incidence of Balanga
Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
The City of Balanga has a total area of 5,698.99 hectares (14,082.5 acres) of land classified for agricultural use. 1,458.55 hectares (3,604.2 acres) of irrigated land, and 1,090.65 hectares (2,695.1 acres) upland, are utilized for crops production. In 2017, 8,144.42 metric tons (8,015.79 long tons; 8,977.69 short tons) of rice were produced.[24]
The city classified 459 hectares (1,130 acres) of land to be utilized for aquaculture. It is composed of 148 hectares (370 acres) of coastal marine area, 276.6 hectares (683 acres) of brackish water fishpond and 34.4 hectares (85 acres) of freshwater fishpond. A total of 172 metric tons (169 long tons; 190 short tons) of marine products with an annual average of 5 metric tons (4.9 long tons; 5.5 short tons) per hectare are produced from freshwater fishponds with tilapia is the most common specie cultured. For brackish water fishponds, 968 metric tons (953 long tons; 1,067 short tons) are produced with an average of 3.5 metric tons (3.4 long tons; 3.9 short tons) per hectare. Some of the species cultured in brackish water are bangus (milkfish), sugpo, vannamei shrimp and alimango (mud crab).
Balanga is well known for its smoked and dried fish products under the One Town One Product (OTOP) program. For the year 2017, there are ninety-nine (99) fish processors in the city mostly located in villages of Tortugas, Sibacan, Puerto Rivas Ibaba and Villa Lina in Barangay Tenejero.[24]
The City of Balanga, while still predominantly agricultural is currently experiencing an accelerated growth in commercial sector. As capital ofBataan, it is the prime commercial hub in the province. Business enterprises are mainly wholesale and retail, servicing, construction, insurance, financing and manufacturing. Retail and trading comprise the largest number of business establishments in this city. Several shopping centers are located in the city, notablySM City Bataan,Vista Mall Bataan, Waltermart Balanga, Capitol Square, Galeria Victoria, Center Plaza Mall, Recar Commercial Complex and Ocampo's Megastore. WhileRobinsons Place Balanga City's construction is expected to start.
In 2008, 80 hectares (200 acres) of the city's central district was declared as a "University Town" through City Ordinance No. 21, Series of 2008. It aims to encourage the development of Balanga as an emerging hub for start-ups and technology-related businesses in the Philippines.[25]
The city is one of the twenty-five (25) emerging digital hubs identified by The Digital Cities 2025 program by theDepartment of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), and Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc. (LPC).[26] It hosts several business process outsourcing (BPO) companies such asGenpact, Boston-based start-up Botkeeper, and Australia-based Yoonet.
To further improve its revenue generation capability, the City Government entered into severalpublic–private partnership (PPP) projects, such as the Galeria Victoria, the Plaza Property which develops the city's main plaza, and the Capitol Square mall.
Pursuant to theLocal government in the Philippines",[27][28] the political seat of the municipal government is located at the City Hall. In theHistory of the Philippines (1521–1898), the Gobernadorcillo is the Chief Executive who holds office in the Presidencia. During the period of American rule (1898–1946) (History of the Philippines (1898-1946)), the elected Mayor and local officials, including the appointed ones, hold office at the Municipal Town or City Hall. The legislative and executive departments perform their functions in the Sangguniang Panglungsod (Session Hall) and the Regional and Metropolitan Trial Courts, respectively, and are located in the second floor of the City Hall and in the Halls of Justice.
| Position | Name of official |
|---|---|
| District Representative (2nd Legislative District, Bataan) | Jose Enrique S. Garcia III |
| City Mayor | Francis S. Garcia |
| City Vice Mayor | Vianca Lita V. Gozon |
| City Councilors | Noel Valdecañas |
| Jett Nisay | |
| Vic Baluyot | |
| Elmo Sanchez | |
| Hubert Pizarro | |
| Karl Paguio | |
| Joy Panganiban | |
| Carding Magpantay | |
| Tony Tranate | |
| Benjie Meriño |
The City administration envisions the City of Balanga as U-Town, a World Class University Town in 2020 (City Ordinance No. 21, Series of 2008, "Declaring the eighty point forty-two (80.42) hectares at the city's central district as University Town in the City of Balanga, Bataan").[29]
Balanga listed a 'Record-Breaking' P6B Investments In 2012.Balanga City won the 1st Robredo ICT Awards.[30]
| Mayor | Term |
|---|---|
| Tomas B. Gallardo | 1901–1903 |
| Angel Mendoza | 1903–1907 |
| Antonio Tuason Sr. | 1907–1909 |
| Amado de Leon | 1909–1912 |
| Andres de Leon | 1912–1916 |
| Jose P. Banzon | 1916–1919 |
| Venacio Banzon | 1919–1928 |
| Antonio Tuason Sr. (2nd Term) | 1928–1931 |
| Venacio Banzon (2nd Term) | 1931–1934 |
| Mariano Batungbacal | 1934–1937 |
| Mariano Herrera | 1938–1942 |
| Mariano Batungbacal (2nd Term) | 1942–1943 |
| Numeriano Quindoy | 1943–1944 |
| Carlos Y. Gonzales | 1944–1945 |
| Mariano Herrera (2nd Term) | 1945–1946 |
| Jose N. Gonzales | 1946–1947 |
| Graciano Pastorfide | 1947 |
| Pedro R. Dizon | 1948–1951 |
| Crispulo Torrico | 1951 |
| Faustino V. Vigo | 1952–1955 |
| Pedro R. Dizon (2nd Term) | 1956–1959 |
| Emilio Bernabe | 1960–1963 |
| Vicente Malibiran | 1964–1967 |
| Teodoro Camacho III | 1968–1971 |
| Celso Valdecañas | 1972–1979 |
| Teodoro R. Alonzo | 1980–1986 |
| Teodoro Camacho III (2nd Term) | 1986–1987 |
| Melanio S. Banzon Jr. | 1988–1998 |
| Albert S. Garcia | 1998–2004 |
| Melanio S. Banzon Jr. (2nd Term) | 2004–2007 |
| Jose Enrique Garcia III | 2007–2016 |
| Francis Anthony S. Garcia | 2016–2025 |
.jpg)
List of accredited transport cooperatives as of January 2021:[34]
Access to health services in the city is adequate with the presence of one government owned general hospital and four private hospitals.
The City of Balanga also has one City Health Office (CHO) and four (4) functional PhilHealth-accredited Rural Health Units (RHU). RHU 1 in San Jose houses the Basic Emergency Maternal and New Born Care Facility. While the Newborn Screening (NBS) facility is located in RHU 3 in Barangay Cupang Proper. RHU 4 in Barangay Tenejero is the newest, established in March 2017. These government-owned facilities provide free pre-natal, delivery and post natal services, family planning, women's health and safe motherhood counseling, control of diarrheal diseases, expanded program on immunization, control of acute respiratory illness, TB Dots clinic, diabetic clinic and STD AIDS social hygiene clinic. These are augmented by 22 smaller barangay health stations and one Dental Bus making health care more accessible to a greater number of the city residents. Numerous privately owned medical facilities can also be found all over the city. These include 19 medical and 19 dental clinics, 14 laboratory and diagnostic centers and 10 beauty and skin care facilities.[37]
Being a Hall of Fame Awardee of the Department of Health's Red Orchid Award, the City of Balanga is strictly implementing the Smoke-Free Policy. Regular anti–smoking campaign for colleges, university and schools, and orientation on health ordinances are conducted regularly across the city. The Comprehensive No Smoking Ordinance of the City of Balanga prohibits the sale, distribution, usage, and promotion of all tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) also known as "vape", within the declared University Town area and within the three (3) kilometers radius of the city.
To ensure and expand the city's strong advocacy for 100% tobacco-free environment, the City Government launched theTobacco-Free Generation (TFG) Campaign last December 2015. It is intended to secure the Millennials’ (those who were born from the year 2000 and onwards) commitment to not smoke. With this program, the City of Balanga was awarded with “World Health Recognition for Heath Cities Best Practice, Youth Engagement to Promote Tobacco Control” last August 29, 2016.[37]
The Balanga City Schools Division Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.[38]
The city hosts the biggest public secondary school in the province,Bataan National High School. Other public secondary schools present are Balanga City National Science High School, City of Balanga National High School and the Bataan Integrated School. While private secondary schools in the city include the high school departments of Asia Pacific College of Advanced Studies, Bataan Infant Jesus School, Bataan Montessori School, Inc.,Tomas del Rosario College andSt. Joseph Colleges of Balanga.
Balanga City is the educational center of the province ofBataan. It currently has one state-owned university and several private colleges offeringBaccalauréat degrees in accountancy, business administration, entrepreneurship, computer science and information technology, teaching, engineering, architecture, and health.
Bataan Peninsula State University, a state-owned institution, has its two biggest campuses located in the city: the main campus in the capitol compound, and a satellite campus located in downtown area.
Tomas del Rosario College is one of the oldest private educational institutions in the city. It is located in the Capitol Drive inBarangay San Jose. The other private colleges in the city include Asia Pacific College of Advanced Studies, Eastwoods Professional College of Science and Technology (formerly SOFTNET College of Science and Technology),Bataan Heroes Memorial College, Microcity Computer College and St. Joseph's College.
Other higher educational institutions in the city of Balanga include:AMA Computer Learning Center,Philippine Women's University-CDCEC Bataan, Bataan Maritime Institute, and Proclesia International Incorporated.
| First | Capital ofBataan 1754–present | Incumbent |
Places adjacent to Balanga, Bataan | ||||||||||||||||
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
