Santa Maria | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Santa Maria | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Map of Romblon with Santa Maria highlighted | |
 Interactive map of Santa Maria | |
.svg)  Santa Maria Location within thePhilippines | |
| Coordinates:12°26′30″N122°06′15″E / 12.44167°N 122.10417°E /12.44167; 122.10417 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Mimaropa |
| Province | Romblon |
| District | Lone district |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Barangays | 6 (seeBarangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Lorilie "Bic-Bic" M. Fabon |
| • Vice Mayor | Roland M. Largueza |
| • Representative | Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona |
| • Councilors |
|
| • Electorate | 6,716 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 36.20 km2 (13.98 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 52 m (171 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 651 m (2,136 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 8,360 |
| • Density | 231/km2 (598/sq mi) |
| • Households | 2,396 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 5th municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 40.1 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 90.78 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 228.7 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 69.81 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 28.03 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Tablas Island Electric Cooperative (TIELCO) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 5508 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)42 |
| Native languages | Onhan Romblomanon Tagalog |
Santa Maria, officially theMunicipality of Santa Maria, (formerlyImelda), is amunicipality in theprovince ofRomblon,Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 8,360 people.[5]
The place got its name from Santa Maria in it was renamed in 1988.
Santa Maria was known in Spanish times asCagbagacay, after a bamboo plant called"bagacay" in the local dialect, which was in abundance in the area. Back then it was still a barrio ofGuintigui-an town. In 1910, barrio Cagbagacay was renamed Concepcion after its patron theImmaculada Concepcion.[6]
On September 12, 1982, barrio Concepcion (Norte) together with barrios Bonga and Concepcion Sur were organized and created into a new municipality by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 234, authored by Assemblyman Nemesio Ganan Jr. The new municipality was named "Imelda", in honor of then First LadyImelda Marcos, as well as to distinguish the town fromConcepcion municipality onMaestre de Campo Island, also in Romblon.[6][7]
After thePeople Power Revolution in 1986 which toppled the regime of dictatorFerdinand Marcos, the town was renamed Santa Maria on April 17, 1988, by virtue of Republic Act No. 6651, again in honor of its patron the Immaculate Conception of theBlessed Virgin Mary. Three new barangays were added to the municipality: San Isidro, Paroyhog, and Santo Nino.[8]
Situated on the eastern side ofTablas Island, Santa Maria faces the Sibuyan Sea. It is bounded in the north by the municipality ofSan Agustin, in the south by the municipality ofAlcantara, in the west by the municipality ofOdiongan and in the east by Romblon Pass. Santa Maria has a total land area of 3,620 hectares (8,900 acres). It is generally mountainous with a limited portion of the plain area along the coast. The town is considered one of the most peaceful areas in the province.[9]
Santa Maria is politically subdivided into 6barangays. Each barangay consists ofpuroks and some havesitios.
| Climate data for Santa Maria, Romblon | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28 (82) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 28 (82) | 29 (85) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21 (70) | 21 (70) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 23 (74) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 31 (1.2) | 20 (0.8) | 25 (1.0) | 39 (1.5) | 152 (6.0) | 269 (10.6) | 314 (12.4) | 285 (11.2) | 303 (11.9) | 208 (8.2) | 95 (3.7) | 70 (2.8) | 1,811 (71.3) |
| Average rainy days | 9.5 | 7.1 | 9.0 | 11.3 | 21.0 | 25.7 | 28.1 | 26.5 | 27.3 | 24.6 | 16.5 | 12.1 | 218.7 |
| Source: Meteoblue[10] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6,459 | — |
| 1995 | 7,785 | +3.56% |
| 2000 | 7,324 | −1.30% |
| 2007 | 7,520 | +0.36% |
| 2010 | 7,683 | +0.78% |
| 2015 | 8,508 | +1.96% |
| 2020 | 8,989 | +1.16% |
| 2024 | 8,360 | −1.73% |
| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15] | ||
According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 8,360 people.
Onhan, also known as Taga-onhan or Inunhan (Alcantaranhon style), is the native language of majority of its inhabitants, whileRomblomanon or Ini is the native tongue in the two northern barangays of Bonga and Santo Niño (Bitaugan).
Poverty incidence of Santa Maria
Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
As a municipality in the Province of Romblon, government officials in the provincial level are voted by the electorates of the town. The provincial government have political jurisdiction over local transactions of the municipal government.
Pursuant to Chapter II, Title II, Book III of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991,[24] the municipal government is composed of amayor (alkalde), avice mayor (bise alkalde) andmembers (kagawad) of the legislative branchSangguniang Bayan alongside a secretary to the said legislature, all of which are elected to a three-year term and are eligible to run for three consecutive terms.
Barangays are also headed by elected officials:Barangay Captain,Barangay Council, whose members are calledBarangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.
| Period | Mayor | Vice Mayor |
|---|---|---|
30 June 2010 - 30 June 2013 | ||
30 June 2013 – 30 June 2016 | ||
30 June 2016 - 30 June 2019 | Lorilie "Bic-Bic" Fabon (IND)[26] | |
30 June 2019 - 30 June 2022[27] | Lorilie "Bic-Bic" Fabon | Dennis Corpin y Fortu |
30 June 2022 - 30 June 2025[28] | Roland Largueza (NP) | |
30 June 2025 -incumbent[29] |
a Died in office.
b Served in acting capacity.
c Resigned.
The incumbent mayor is Lorilie "Bic-Bic" Fabon y Manito y Fetalino while the incumbent vice mayor is Roland M. Largueza.[30]
The San Agustin-Calatrava Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.[31]
Makati: On February 8, 2008, Santa Maria Mayor Fred Hernandez and Makati MayorJejomar Binay signed a sisterhood relationship agreement between the two local government units.[32]Places adjacent to Santa Maria, Romblon | ||||||||||||||||
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