Legazpi | |
|---|---|
| City of Legazpi | |
.jpg) Old Albay District  Legazpi Marker  Embarcadero de Legazpi .jpg) Port District .jpg) Plaza Rizal  St. Raphael Parish Church .jpg) St. Agnes Academy | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname(s): | |
| Anthem: Legazpi Ngonyan[6] | |
 Map of Albay with Legazpi highlighted | |
OpenStreetMap  | |
.svg)  Legazpi Location within thePhilippines | |
| Coordinates:13°08′N123°44′E / 13.13°N 123.73°E /13.13; 123.73 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Bicol Region |
| Province | Albay |
| District | 2nd district |
| Founded | 1616 |
| Cityhood | 1892 (First time) July 18, 1948 (Second time) June 12, 1959 (Final date) |
| Named after | Miguel Lopez de Legazpi |
| Barangays | 70 (seeBarangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Panlungsod |
| • Mayor | Alfredo A. Garbin Jr. |
| • Vice Mayor | Oscar Robert H. Cristobal |
| • Representative | Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda |
| • City Council | Members
|
| • Electorate | 131,412 voters (2022) |
| Area | |
• Total | 153.70 km2 (59.34 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 149 m (489 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 2,444 m (8,018 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2020 census)[9] | |
• Total | 209,533 |
| • Density | 1,400/km2 (3,500/sq mi) |
| • Households | 46,445 |
| Demonym(s) | Legazpeños (masculine) Legazpeñas (feminine) Legazpians (English, occasionally) |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 1st income class city |
| • Poverty incidence | 17.62 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 1,856 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 4,999 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 1,412 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 652.6 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) |
| • Water | Legazpi City Water District |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 4500 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)52 |
| Native languages | Central Bikol Tagalog |
| Website | legazpi |
Legazpi (IPA:[lɛˈgaspɪ]), officially theCity of Legazpi (Central Bikol:Syudad nin Legazpi;Filipino:Lungsod ng Legazpi), is acomponent city and capital of theprovince ofAlbay,Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 209,533.[9] Legazpi is the regional center and largest city of theBicol Region and in Albay, in terms of population.[11][12] It is the region's center of tourism, education, health services, commerce[13] and transportation[4] in the Bicol Region. The city is applying for a Highly Urbanized City (HUC).
The city is composed of two districts, Legazpi Port and the Old Albay District.Mayon Volcano, one of the Philippines' most popular icons and tourist destinations, is partly within the city's borders.[14]
In 2018, Legazpi was ranked first in overall competitiveness among component cities by theNational Competitiveness Council.[15] The city also ranked first in infrastructure and second ineconomic dynamism.[16][17] In the same year, Legazpi was also named "most business-friendly city" in the component city category by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.[18]
The city of Legazpi was named afterMiguel López de Legazpi, the Basque Spanishconquistador who officially annexed thePhilippine Islands to theSpanish Empire in 1565, and whose surname came froma town inGipuzkoa,Spain.
The area that is now Albay had a thriving civilization before the Spanish arrived.[19] The Spanish explorers found densely populated settlements with an abundance of gold and provisions in the southernBicol peninsula.[20] Ancient inhabitants practiced rice cultivation, made fine gold jewelry and possessed silk, suggesting trade with China.[20] American anthropologistHenry Otley Beyer found jars, stone tools and shells from 100 to 500 BC inSorsogon and Albay.[21] Meanwhile, ancient burial jars and pottery were also found in Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave inCamalig.[22] Other evidences of pre-Hispanic civilization include theMataas shell scoop, which dates back to theLate Neolithic Period, found inCagraray Island.[23] The Mataas shell scoop was declared a National Cultural Treasure by theNational Museum of the Philippines.[24]
Legazpi was originally a fishing settlement calledSawangan that occupied the mangrove swamps that is now the Legazpi Port, inhabited by fisher folk and farmers.[25] In 1569, a Spanish expedition dispatched byMiguel Lopez de Legazpi led by Luis Enriquez de Guzman and Augustinian friar Alonso Jimenez first set foot in Albay. They arrived on the coastal settlement calledIbalon in present-dayMagallanes, Sorsogon after exploring the islands ofMasbate,Ticao andBurias and proceeded inland as far as present-dayCamalig, Albay.[20][26]
In July 1573, the conquistadorJuan de Salcedo, grandson of Governor-General Legazpi, led another expedition from the north. They founded Villa Santiago de Libon (present-dayLibon, Albay) and reached the settlement of Albaybay, whose name was subsequently shortened to 'Albay' orPueblo de Albay. In 1616, Pueblo de Albay served as the capital of Partido de Ibalon, which included present-day Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, parts ofCamarines Sur and the islands ofCatanduanes, Ticao and Burias.[27]
Spanish religious missionaries governed the settlement in the 1580s. In 1587, Franciscan friars of theDoctrina de Cagsawa began to convert the area's population toChristianity. The village of Sawangan became more populous and progressive and the first parish priest, Fray Francisco de Santa Ana, OFM, built a wooden chapel withSt. Gregory the Great as patron. Sawangan then became an independent parish and was calledMisión de San Gregorio Magno de Sawangan.[28]
A bigger and more imposing church replaced the chapel during the tenure of Fray Martin del Espiritu OFM in 1636 and Sawangan continued to thrive despite theMoro raids in the 1700s, a super typhoon in 1742, an earthquake in 1811, and other calamities.[28] Sawangan was created a visita regular in 1605 and elevated as an independent town in 1616.
On February 1, 1814, a catastrophic eruption of Mt. Mayon partially destroyed Sawangan and buriedCagsawa, Budiao and Camalig. The parish priest of Sawangan, Fray Pedro Licup, urged the residents to transfer to Makalaya (present-day Barangay Taysan) located on the slopes of Mt. Bariw. However, many residents decided to return to the lowlands and settled in Taytay (present-day Barangay Bagumbayan).
Other survivors opted to return to the original location of Sawangan and established Binanuahan (Banuang Gurang) despite a decree by the Gobierno Superior signed on October 1, 1829, which prohibited the establishment of new towns.[28] The new settlement in Taytay grew larger and eventually became a township. Binanuahan was declared a visita or tributary of Taytay and the combined town became known as Albay Nuevo.[29]
In 1839, the settlers in Taytay started to erect a stone church designed by Gobernadorcillo Don Jose Ma. de Peñaranda, an architect, in consultation with Fray Jose Yagres, OFM. The structure would become the presentCathedral of San Gregorio Magno in the Old Albay District. Meanwhile, those who returned to Sawangan established anermita or chapel dedicated to theArchangel Raphael, whom they adopted as patron saint. This became the present church of St. Raphael the Archangel in the Legazpi Port district.
On July 17, 1856, Governor General Ramon Montero signed a decree creating the township of Pueblo Viejo, out of Binanuahan and the adjacent villages of Lamba, Rawis and Bigaa. In another decree, Montero named the town Legazpi, which was formally established on October 22 of the same year, in honor of no less than Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Governor General, who landed in the town's territories years before.
The port of Legazpi served as anchorage for ships sailing toNueva España (Mexico) beginning in the latter part of the 16th century. The nearby Sula Channel was used as a sanctuary by galleons during storms because of its sheltered inlet. In 1873, Legazpi was made a port of entry by a Royal Decree earlier issued in Madrid on May 18, 1872, and later promulgated by Governor-GeneralJuan Alaminos y Vivar on December 3, 1874.[28][30]
Legazpi was declared a city for the first time under the Becerra Law of 1892.[31][32][33][34] In 1894, the Spanish Minister of the Ultramar promulgated a decree creating the combined city government (ayunamiento) of Legazpi, a merger of the towns of Albay (now Old Albay District) andDaraga with the territories of the former.
On September 22, 1898, the Civil Governor of Albay, Angel Bascaran y Federic and the Spanish residents evacuated Albay. Subsequently, a revolutionary junta was organized by Don Anacieto Solano who later turned over the command to GeneralVicente Lukban, General-in-chief of Operations of the revolutionary government in the southern region.[29]
On January 23, 1900, American forces composed of three infantry companies equipped with powerful rifles and cannon landed on the shores of Albay Gulf to conquer Legazpi. They were met by 800 revolutionary Filipino troops headed by GeneralJose Ignacio Paua, Col. Antero Reyes, Captain Alvaro Nepomuceno, and Policarpio Pergone who put up a strong defense of the city.[35]
The American troops, headed by Brig. Gen.W.A. Kobbe, encountered heavy resistance from the Filipino forces who gallantly engaged them in a bloody fight on San Rafael Bridge that resulted in the death of 172 Filipinos including Reyes, who used onlybolos. Another 12 Filipinos were injured while the American forces suffered only 12 injured infantrymen.[35] To commemorate the valiant efforts of the revolutionary troops, a monument was built on the site of the former San Rafael Bridge. The swampy area where the bridge was located was reclaimed during the early 20th century and is now the intersection of Rizal Street and Quezon Avenue.
Following their occupation of the city in 1900, the American occupiers cancelled Legazpi's city status. In 1908, after the war's conclusion, the Americans split Legazpi into two separate towns, Legazpi and Albay (now Old Albay District), which became the provincial capital of Albay. In 1922, the town of Daraga was further split from the then municipality of Albay.
On December 12, 1941, a few days after theattack on Pearl Harbor, Legazpi was occupied by forces of theImperial Japanese Army, the purpose of which was to obtain control of local airstrips which could be used as forward bases by fighter aircraft for operations in central Luzon. Throughout the Japanese occupation, resistance by Bicolano and local troops of thePhilippine Commonwealth Army continued in the hills and mountains south of Legazpi. In January 1945, American and Filipino liberation forces, supported by Bicolano guerrillas, liberated Legazpi. However, the city suffered extensive aerial bombardment from US aircraft and many old buildings were destroyed including the old St. Raphael church and the Academia de Santa Ines campus.
Legazpi became a city for the second time on July 18, 1948, when Daraga and Legazpi were combined to constitute its territory under Republic Act No. 306;[36] at that time, PresidentElpidio Quirino appointed Jose R. Arboleda[37] as the first city mayor.[38] But on June 8, 1954, Republic Act No. 993 was approved, recreating the two towns (Daraga and Legazpi) and the city was dissolved.[39]
Finally, on June 12, 1959, Legazpi became a city for the third time under Republic Act no. 2234.[40] Amendments were introduced under R.A. 5525.[41] Presidential Decree 125 issued on February 23, 1973, declared the town of Daraga as part of the territorial jurisdiction of the city.[42][43] This decree, however, was not implemented with the onset of the Integrated Reorganization Plan, which involved the restructuring of local governments.
On September 24, 1972, then PresidentFerdinand Marcos designated Legazpi as the administrative center of Bicol Region through the Integrated Reorganization Plan of 1972, the implementing framework of Presidential Decree No. 1.[44][45]
Pope John Paul II visited Legazpi on February 21, 1981, during his first apostolic journey to the Philippines.[46][47] Aside from Manila where the beatification ofSt. Lorenzo Ruiz was held, the Pope also visitedBaguio,Bacolod,Iloilo,Bataan,Cebu, andDavao.[48] The Pope held a mass dedicated to farmers at theSt. Gregory the Great Cathedral.[49]
Legazpi is on the eastern portion of the province of Albay bounded on the north by the municipality ofSanto Domingo, on the east byAlbay Gulf, on the west by the municipality ofDaraga, and on the south by the municipalities ofManito, Albay andPilar andCastilla, Sorsogon. The city is located 527 kilometres (327 mi) south of Manila.
From north to south, the city spans approximately 29 kilometers; from east to west, the narrowest portion is about 3 kilometers (urban district) while the widest is about 15 kilometers (southeast area).[50] Legazpi has a total land area of 20,437 hectares, 90 percent of which is classified as rural (18,431.66 hectares) while 10 percent is classified as urban (2,005.39 hectares).[51]
Legazpi's topography is generally plain on the northeastern areas, with slopes ranging from five to fifteen degrees. The southern areas have mostly rolling to hilly terrain. In the city's coastal areas, the terrain varies from plain (north) to hilly (south).[52] Legazpi is criss-crossed by several rivers including the Tibu, Macabalo and Yawa rivers with a number of swampy areas, particularly in the urban district. To mitigate flooding in these low-lying areas, the local government has built an urban drainage and flood control system consisting of dikes, canals, sea walls and three pumping stations located in Barangays San Roque, Bay-Bay and Victory Village.[53][54]
Legazpi is politically subdivided into 70barangays.[55] Each barangay consists ofpuroks and some havesitios.
Currently, there are 45 urban barangays and 25 rural barangays.[56]
| Barangay number | Barangay name | Class | Population (2015)[57] | Barangay head[58] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Em's Barrio | Urban | 3,725 | Irma Trinanes |
| 2 | Em's Barrio (South) | Urban | 1,820 | Leticia Tejada |
| 3 | Em's Barrio (East) | Urban | 900 | Jose P. Pispis |
| 4 | Sagpon | Urban | 953 | Gibsen Salvador E. De Leoz |
| 5 | Sagmin | Urban | 1,375 | Jude A. Rico |
| 6 | Bañadero | Urban | 1,390 | Arthur R. Marco |
| 7 | Baño | Urban | 645 | Domingo Alberto D. Pasano Jr. |
| 8 | Bagumbayan | Urban | 3,400 | Amore Rex B. Rañeses |
| 9 | Pinaric | Urban | 1,493 | Roy A. Nanoz |
| 10 | Cabugao | Urban | 547 | Victor R. Lapasaran |
| 11 | Maoyod | Urban | 1,110 | Romeo A. Madraso |
| 12 | Tula-Tula | Urban | 2,586 | Arnold Bahillo |
| 13 | Ilawod West Pob. (Ilawod 1) | Urban | 721 | Maria Lourdes F. Baltazar |
| 14 | Ilawod Pob. (Ilawod 2) | Urban | 854 | Gerald A. Ayque |
| 15 | Ilawod East Pob. (Ilawod 3) | Urban | 2,879 | Erlim A. Azotea |
| 16 | Kawit-East Washington Drive | Urban | 5,372 | Jonathan G. Rodenas |
| 17 | Rizal St. – Ilawod | Urban | 2,048 | Lina A. Chan |
| 18 | Cabañgan (West) | Urban | 3,856 | Hisham Ismail |
| 19 | Cabañgan | Urban | 1,427 | John B. Macalampad |
| 20 | Cabañgan (East) | Urban | 641 | Ma. Nimfa B. Bolanos |
| 21 | Binanuahan (West) | Urban | 917 | Jose T. Abiera |
| 22 | Binanuahan (East) | Urban | 1,619 | Carmen V. Sarona |
| 23 | Imperial Court | Urban | 746 | Gina M. Samaupan |
| 24 | Rizal | Urban | 2,695 | Ricardo V. Abunda |
| 25 | Lapu-Lapu | Urban | 1,398 | Karren Canon - Valdez |
| 26 | Dinagaan | Urban | 798 | Ma. Jocelyn L. Astor |
| 27 | Victory Village (South) | Urban | 1,418 | Joie M. Bahoy |
| 28 | Victory Village (North) | Urban | 2,399 | Antonio L. Loveriza |
| 29 | Sabang | Urban | 1,656 | Ismael G. Santillan |
| 30 | Pigcale | Urban | 1,688 | Fernando Lopez |
| 31 | Centro Baybay | Urban | 1,879 | Teresita L. Empig |
| 32 | San Roque | Urban | 5,632 | Joselito G. Martinez |
| 33 | PNR – Peñaranda St. – Iraya | Urban | 2,773 | Marife D. Velasco |
| 34 | Oro Site – Magallanes St. | Urban | 1,633 | Manuel Deladia |
| 35 | Tinago | Urban | 375 | Syri R. Sayco |
| 36 | Capantawan | Urban | 644 | Eric Sim B. Brizuela |
| 37 | Bitano | Urban | 8,559 | Bernard Y. Pacardo |
| 38 | Gogon | Urban | 5,752 | Perfecto D. Nacion |
| 39 | Bonot | Urban | 3,521 | Henry C. Asejo |
| 40 | Cruzada | Urban | 5,853 | Edsil N. Llaguno |
| 41 | Bogtong | Urban | 4,753 | Armando M. Toledo |
| 42 | Rawis | Urban | 8,868 | Joel A. Orosco |
| 43 | Tamaoyan | Rural | 1,642 | Sylvia M. Del Agua |
| 44 | Pawa | Rural | 3,469 | Ma. Yulina A. Que |
| 45 | Dita | Rural | 1,791 | Romeo A. Almayda Jr. |
| 46 | San Joaquin | Rural | 2,260 | Richard S. Ibarra |
| 47 | Arimbay | Urban | 3,753 | Janita B. Bea |
| 48 | Bagong Abre | Rural | 1,627 | Ester B. Cargullo |
| 49 | Bigaa | Rural | 6,730 | Ricardo A. Arienda |
| 50 | Padang | Rural | 1.653 | Harold L. Bembenuto |
| 51 | Buyuan | Rural | 3,895 | Ernesto B. Perez |
| 52 | Matanag | Rural | 1,895 | Reynaldo D. Poguilla |
| 53 | Bonga | Rural | 3,503 | Michael A. Mina |
| 54 | Mabinit | Rural | 1,640 | Levy Lourdes P. Nunez |
| 55 | Estanza | Rural | 4,237 | Josephine A. Baloso |
| 56 | Taysan | Rural | 12,330 | Albert P. Asaytuno |
| 57 | Dap-dap | Urban | 2,287 | Glenn J. Barcelon |
| 58 | Buraguis | Urban | 4,549 | Amelita T. Bariso |
| 59 | Puro | Rural | 4,756 | Nicasio G. Barrios Jr. |
| 60 | Lamba | Rural | 1,352 | Norberto M. Abion |
| 61 | Maslog | Rural | 4,796 | Felicidad A. Olimpo |
| 62 | Homapon | Rural | 4,832 | Benhur B. Ariola, Jr. |
| 63 | Mariawa | Rural | 1,664 | Cristina L. Arana |
| 64 | Bagacay | Rural | 1,616 | Julian A. Ariola |
| 65 | Imalnod | Rural | 2,146 | Valentino M. Llaneta |
| 66 | Banquerohan | Rural | 6,976 | Crispin A. Botin |
| 67 | Bariis | Rural | 1,812 | Geremias B. Leron Jr. |
| 68 | San Francisco | Rural | 2,479 | Rosemarie A. Barrameda |
| 69 | Buenavista | Rural | 1,319 | Ester P. Ardales |
| 70 | Cagbacong | Rural | 2,776 | Genaro M. Asilo |
| Climate data for Legazpi (1991–2020, extremes 1903–2023) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32.7 (90.9) | 33.7 (92.7) | 35.0 (95.0) | 36.5 (97.7) | 37.7 (99.9) | 37.6 (99.7) | 36.6 (97.9) | 36.9 (98.4) | 36.0 (96.8) | 35.3 (95.5) | 34.4 (93.9) | 33.2 (91.8) | 37.7 (99.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.9 (84.0) | 29.4 (84.9) | 30.2 (86.4) | 31.7 (89.1) | 32.5 (90.5) | 32.3 (90.1) | 31.5 (88.7) | 31.5 (88.7) | 31.5 (88.7) | 31.1 (88.0) | 30.4 (86.7) | 29.4 (84.9) | 30.9 (87.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.3 (79.3) | 27.0 (80.6) | 28.2 (82.8) | 29.0 (84.2) | 28.8 (83.8) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.3 (82.9) | 28.1 (82.6) | 27.8 (82.0) | 27.4 (81.3) | 26.7 (80.1) | 27.7 (81.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.9 (75.0) | 24.8 (76.6) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.3 (77.5) | 24.9 (76.8) | 25.0 (77.0) | 24.8 (76.6) | 24.4 (75.9) | 24.4 (75.9) | 24.0 (75.2) | 24.5 (76.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) | 16.0 (60.8) | 17.0 (62.6) | 16.7 (62.1) | 17.1 (62.8) | 18.9 (66.0) | 15.8 (60.4) | 19.4 (66.9) | 19.0 (66.2) | 17.2 (63.0) | 17.9 (64.2) | 13.9 (57.0) | 13.9 (57.0) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 346.5 (13.64) | 251.0 (9.88) | 232.1 (9.14) | 152.0 (5.98) | 197.9 (7.79) | 215.9 (8.50) | 281.1 (11.07) | 222.5 (8.76) | 279.9 (11.02) | 321.9 (12.67) | 450.3 (17.73) | 642.0 (25.28) | 3,593.1 (141.46) |
| Average rainy days(≥ 1 mm) | 18 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 195 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 85 | 84 | 84 | 82 | 82 | 83 | 85 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 86 | 87 | 84 |
| Source:PAGASA[59][60] | |||||||||||||
Legazpi City features atropical rainforest climate with copious amount of rainfall throughout the year. Legazpi has noticeably wetter and drier periods of the year. However, the city's driest month, April, still sees on average of over 150 millimetres (5.9 in) of precipitation per month. Similar to many other cities with this climate, temperatures are relatively constant throughout the course of the year, with a mean annual average of 26.9 °C (80.4 °F).[61] The coolest month is January with a daily mean of 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) and the hottest months are jointly May and June with a daily mean of 28.1 °C (82.6 °F). The all-time record high temperature was 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) on May 27, 1968, and the all-time record low temperature was 13.9 °C (57.0 °F) on February 28, 1971.[61]
Because of its geographical location on the eastern coast of the Philippines and the close proximity ofMayon Volcano, Legazpi is vulnerable totyphoons,sea level rise andvolcanic eruptions. Tomitigate the effects of climate change and improve the city's resilience against disasters, the city government has adopted adisaster risk reduction andclimate change adaptation strategy.[62] The City Government of Legazpi was recognized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) as a model locality in implementing risk reduction management practices in the Philippines.[63]
On the provincial level, Albay has institutionalizeddisaster preparedness and disaster response by creating the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) in 1995.[64] The APSEMO is tasked to design and implement a disaster risk management and reduction program. Its main objective is to develop more pro-active and disaster resilient communities.[64] Specificdisaster preparedness strategies in Albay and Legazpi include preemptive evacuation,[65] 'zero casualty' policy,[66][67] re-planning of the city's land use,[68]mangrove reforestation,[69] and the establishment of the Climate Change Academy as a training center for disaster risk management, evaluation ofclimate risk hazards and adaptive capabilities, planning, and programming.[70][71] On March 12, 2018, MayorNoel E. Rosal announced his administration's proposed plan to construct a permanent 1000-room evacuation center in Barangay Homapon for citizens living within the "eight-kilometer extended danger zone" near the volcanoMayon.[72]
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| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[57][73][74][75] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
According to the 2020 census, the population of Legazpi is 209,533 people,[9] with a density of 1,400/km2 or 3,600/sq mi.
Legazpi had an average annual population growth of 1.86% between 2000 and 2007 according to the 2010 census. About 58 percent of the city's population or 105,853 live in areas classified as urban while 42 percent or 76,348 live in rural areas. The city has a population density of 9 people per hectare (54 people per hectare in urban areas and 4 people per hectare in rural areas). Daytime population in Legazpi is estimated to reach 350,000 due to the daily influx of students, workers, entrepreneurs, and tourists.[76]
Legazpi is the most populous city in the province of Albay and in the Bicol Region. It comprises 14.8% of the total population of Albay.[77] The main language spoken isCentral Bikol. In addition,English andFilipino/Tagalog are also widely used and spoken.[56]
Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in the city. Other religious denominations includeIglesia ni Cristo,Members Church of God International,Orthodoxy, Protestant churches such asBaptist,Methodist,Evangelical Christians,Seventh-day Adventist Church,Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,Jehovah's Witnesses, andIslam. The city is the ecclesiastical seat of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Legazpi.
Poverty incidence of Legazpi
10 20 30 40 2000 33.87 2003 36.48 2006 26.20 2009 30.68 2012 17.32 2015 17.98 2018 13.78 2021 17.62 Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85] |
Legazpi is a major economic hub in theBicol Region. Economic activities in the city include agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, services, manufacturing and mining. Major sources of income include rice, root crops, and coconut. The city exportscoconut oil,copra cake,perlite, andabaca products.[56][86] The city also has a fast-growing tourism industry with focus onadventure tourism.[87][88] The city government is promoting Legazpi as an ideal location forICT-BPO businesses. In 2014, Legazpi's locally generated income reached Php338.2 million, with total income (includingIRA) at Php711.1 million.[56][89] In the same year, Legazpi ranked first among cities in Bicol in terms of tax collection efficiency.[90][91] Legazpi City was recognized as the most business-friendly city in Southern Luzon in 2007 by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.[92][93] In 2014, the city was ranked second among the top three livable cities in the Philippines in the Livable Cities Design Challenge organized by theNational Competitiveness Council (NCC) and theAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.[94][95]
TheDepartment of Agriculture-Bicol's data notes that 90% of Philippines'pili plantation-production comes from theBicol Region. In 1936, Don Antonio Regidor, who was born in Spain on November 24, 1891 pioneeredBicol Region’s pilinut industry. He founded Central Pilinut Candy at Old Albay District, Barangay Pinaric, Legazpi City, Albay. In 2023, "Albay Pilinut Candy" is managed by his grandchild Audrey Rose Battung-Deocareza.[1][96][97][98]
There were 5,055 business establishments in Legazpi as of 2014[update].[99] Most of these are located in the city's central business district, the Legazpi Port District. Landco Business Park, the first master-planned commercial business district in the Bicol Region, opened in 2001.[100] Thriving industries in Legazpi include coconut oil milling and production (Legaspi Oil Company – CIIF),[101] construction aggregate quarrying,[102]'pinukpok' (abaca fabric) production in Barangay Banquerohan,[103][104] and organic fertilizer manufacturing.[105]
To further boost the local economy, the city government is promoting the establishment of information technology (IT) parks and industrial estates such as the Embarcadero IT Park in Barangay Victory Village, City Light Industrial Park (CLIP) in Barangay Bogtong, Legazpi City Special Economic Zone in Barangay Banquerohan, Bicol Regional Agro-Industrial Center (BRAIC) and First Legazpi Industrial Estate, both in Barangay Homapon.[106][107]
The city is also home to a number of retail establishments. Liberty Commercial Center, Inc. (LCC), a homegrown Albayano company established in nearbyTabaco City in 1945, operates a major mall (LCC Mall Legazpi), three supermarkets and fiveExpressmarts (grocery stores) in the city.[108] Another notable mall is Pacific Mall Legazpi, the first full-sized mall in Bicol. Other malls in Legazpi include Embarcadero de Legazpi, A. Bichara Silverscreens and Entertainment Center, 101 Shopping Mall,Yashano Mall and Gregorian Mall. The city has also attracted investments from national retail chains includingMetro Gaisano,SM Savemore, Robinsons Supermarket,Puregold,Ministop and7-Eleven.Ayala Malls[109][110][111] recently opened itsAyala Malls Legazpi – Liberty City Center. Meanwhile,SM City Legazpi, the second and largest SM Supermall in Bicol and the 71st in the Philippines, is located beside the Legazpi City Bus Terminal and opened on September 14, 2018.[112][113]
The city has two public markets: Legazpi City Public Market, a recipient of the 'Huwarang Palengke Award' in 2006,[114] and Old Albay Public Market.[115][116] The Ibalong Pasalubong Center has shops selling souvenirs and local handicrafts.[117]
As of December 2017, Legazpi had a total of 47 banks, with volume of bank deposits at Php35.4 billion.[118] Legazpi Savings Bank, a thrift bank based in the city with eleven branches around the Bicol Region, was acquired by Robinsons Bank in 2012.[119] TheBangko Sentral ng Pilipinas also has a branch in the city, along Rizal Street in Barangay Cabangan.
Legazpi is recognized as one of the 'next wave cities' forbusiness process outsourcing (BPO).[120][121] The next wave cities are a list of ICT hubs beyond Metro Manila identified by the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines and theDepartment of Science and Technology, based on a set of criteria such as worker supply, telecom infrastructure and other factors needed to sustain the BPO industry.[122] Legazpi is aiming to attract more BPO firms to put up offices in the city.[123][124] As of 2015[update], BPO companies in Legazpi include One Half Philippines.[125]
The city currently has one IT park, the Embarcadero IT Park,[126] which offers about 8,000 call center seats that could provide jobs to some 24,000 agents in three shifts. Pioneering the business in the city is the Incubation Center of Southern Luzon Technological College Foundation Inc. (SLTCFI), which is an extension of Embarcadero's P1.8-billion IT Park, the very first IT ecozone in the Bicol region inaugurated in July 2009.[4] As of 2015[update], the biggest locator in Embarcadero IT Park is Sutherland Global Services.[127][128]
There are 141 residential subdivisions and housing sites (132 privately owned, 9 government owned) in Legazpi.[56] National and local real estate developers have also invested in the city. These include Vista Land (Camella Legazpi),[129] Deca Homes,[130] and Sunwestville Realty and Development Corp. (Eco Homes Bayshores Condominium).[131] In 2015, Taft Property Ventures Development Corp., the real estate arm ofGaisano Group, announced that it is building a condominium in Legazpi.[132][133]
Located on the southern foothills of the scenicMount Mayon, the city has a flourishing tourism industry. The province of Albay, whose center of trade and commerce is in the city, recorded a 66 percent growth rate in tourist arrivals for 2013.[134] In the same year, the city had a total of 263,568 foreign tourist arrivals, the most in the region.[135] In 2014, the city welcomed 666,210 tourists, an increase of 15 percent from the previous year.[136] including Chinese tourists who arrived at the city via direct chartered flights fromXiamen, China.[137][138][139] In 2015, Legazpi aims to reach its target of 900,000 tourist arrivals.[140][141] Legazpi increased its tourist arrivals by 13.97% in 2017.[142]
Legazpi has the tourism tagline the"City of Fun and Adventure",[143][144] with a number of adventure tourism activities within the city including riding anATV around Mt. Mayon,zip-lining,skydiving,scuba diving, andwater sports.[145][146][147][148][149][150] In an ATV adventure to Mt. Mayon, tourists drive anall-terrain vehicle over rough trails, including a dry riverbed, leading to the volcano's lower slopes where hardened lava rock from previous eruptions are deposited. The activity was featured in reality showsThe Amazing Race Asia 4 in 2010 andThe Amazing Race Philippines 1 in 2012.[151] American actorZac Efron visited Legazpi in October 2012 and drove an ATV around Mayon.[152][153]
Hiking and climbing Mt. Mayon is allowed during peaceful spells but was prohibited following aphreatic explosion with casualties in May 2013.[154][155] As part of its efforts to promote sports and adventure tourism, the city hosts annual sporting events such as Mt. Mayon Triathlon, Mayon 360 Ultramarathon andXTERRA Triathlon. The city also serves as a jump-off point to other adventure activities nearby including river rafting and waterfalls exploration inMalinao,[156][157]spelunking inCamalig,[158] island hopping inBacacay,[159][160] skimboarding in Santo Domingo,[161] and whale shark interaction inDonsol, Sorsogon.
The city is home to 56 hotels and 110 bars and restaurants.[56] As of 2014[update], Legazpi had a total of 1,547 hotel rooms.[162] Among the notable hotels in the city is The Oriental Legazpi. Located in the hills of Taysan, it offers a panoramic view of the city, Albay Gulf and Mt. Mayon.[163] It served as the venue of the joint conference meetings of theUnited Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and theAssociation of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) from May 14 to 20, 2014[164] as well as thePATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum 2015.[165]
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Legazpi is also aiming to be one of the top five convention destinations in Luzon by 2020.[136] The city has two public indoor arenas that can also serve as convention centers: Ibalong Centrum for Recreation (capacity: 7,000 persons)[166] and Albay Astrodome (capacity: 5,000 persons) The Albay Astrodome was used as the venue for the Big Night ofPinoy Big Brother: 737 on November 7–8, 2015.[167] The city government is also planning to build the Legazpi City Convention Center.[168] There are also several privately owned and hotel-based convention facilities such as the Casablanca Convention Hall (capacity: 1,000 persons),[169] The Oriental Grand Ballroom (capacity: 750 persons),[170] and Top of St. Ellis (capacity: 300 persons).[171] In 2015, Legazpi hosted 51 national and international conventions.[172] Legazpi was a port of call for German cruise shipHapag-Lloyd Cruises'MS Bremen in October 2018.[173]
With a total trade value of US$129,423,764, the port of Legazpi is the leading port for exports in the entire Bicol Region for 2013.[174] Among the 17 port districts in the country, Legazpi is one of only five port districts that posted positive collection goals for January to April 2015.[175]
Legazpi is governed by a mayor, vice mayor, and ten councilors. Each city official is elected to serve for a three-year term. The representative of theLiga ng mga Barangay and theSangguniang Kabataan also participates in the city council. The current city mayor of Legazpi is Alfredo A. Garbin Jr..
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TheIbalong Festival is a non-religious festival held annually each August. The festival celebrates the epic-fragmentIbalon, which narrates the exploits of three legendary heroes of Ibalon or Ancient Bikol: Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong. It was first held in October 1992. Yearly activities include the Ibalong Street Presentation, trade fairs, bazaars and weekend markets, Mutya ng Ibalong Pageant, and sports-related events such as the annual Mt. Mayon Triathlon.[176]
The Magayon Festival is a month-long annual festival celebrating Mt. Mayon. It is held in May in the entire province of Albay with most of the activities held in Legazpi. The name comes from the Bikol word'magayon', which means beautiful, from which the name of Mt. Mayon is derived. The festival features agricultural products display and trade fairs, culinary shows, cultural events, street parades, photo/arts exhibits, and sports events.[177]
During theChristmas season, the Karangahan Albay Green Christmas is held to emphasis on safe and environment-friendly celebration of the Yuletide season. First held in 2009, the festival runs from December 1 to 31.[178][179][180][181]
Having different patron saints, the city's two districts have differentfiestas. Legazpi port district fiesta is held every October 24 in honor of St. Raphael the Archangel. Yearly activities include street parade and a maritime procession. The Albay district fiesta is held every September 3, in honor ofSt. Gregory the Great; it is usually declared a local non-working holiday.[182][183] There are several local festivals held in the city's barangays including Santo Cristo Festival in Barangay Dap-Dap, Bankero Festival in Barangay San Roque, Biga Festival in Barangay Bigaa, Banua Festival in Barangay Binanuahan, Peñafrancia Festival in Barangay Sabang and Hikot Festival in Barangay Victory Village.[184]
TheAlbay Vulcans are a Philippinerugby union andrugby league team based in Legazpi. They play in thePhilippines National Rugby League Championship.
Legazpi is considered as the gateway to Bicol because of its relative proximity to the provinces of the region due to its geographical location.[185][186] With an airport, seaport, bus and rail terminals, the city is accessible to all modes of transportation.
The city was formerly served byLegazpi Airport. It was the busiest domestic airport in mainland Southern Luzon[187] and was ranked 15th busiest in the country in 2012, with total passenger traffic of 578,762. The Legazpi Airport has a runway length of 2,280 meters (7,480 ft) and is capable of handling international aircraft. As of 2015[update],Cebu Pacific flies three times daily between Manila and Legazpi four times weekly between Cebu and Legazpi.Philippine Airlines has two daily flights between Manila and Legazpi.Cebgo (formerly Tigerair Philippines), a subsidiary of Cebu Pacific, has one daily flight between Manila and Legazpi.
In 2015, the Legazpi Airport was renovated to expand and improve the passenger terminal, add separate arrival and pre-departure areas for domestic and international chartered flights, and provide office space for the Bureau of Immigration, customs and animal quarantine, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.[188] In October 2021, Legazpi Airport was replaced by theBicol International Airport (IATA: DRP,ICAO: RPLK), in Barangay Alobo,Daraga, 15 km (9.3 mi) away from the former airport.
Legazpi is accessible by land transport. Modes of public transport within the city includejeepneys,tricycles,taxicabs andpedicabs. Several buses ply the route between Manila with stops in neighboring provinces.[189] The city has an award-winning integrated bus and public utility vehicle terminal calledLegazpi Grand Central Terminal, apublic-private partnership project.[190] Buses and public utility vehicles also have regular trips between Legazpi and neighboring cities.
In order to spur development in the city, The Toll Regulatory Board declared Toll Road 5 the extension ofSouth Luzon Expressway.[191] A 420-kilometer, four lane expressway starting from the terminal point of the now under construction SLEX Toll Road 4 at Barangay Mayao, Lucena City in Quezon to Matnog, Sorsogon, near the Matnog Ferry Terminal. On August 25, 2020, San Miguel Corporation announced that they will invest the project which will reduce travel time from Lucena to Matnog from 9 hours to 5.5 hours.[192]
The city also has Legazpi Boulevard which connects the Bicol International Airport to the municipality ofDaraga.[193] The boulevard is known for its scenic view of Mayon volcano by both joggers and tourists.[194] It is also one of the longest coastal roads outside the country's capital.[195]
The city was also served byLegazpi station, the southernmost terminus of thePhilippine National Railways (PNR). Plans are underway to revive rail transport between Manila and Legazpi.[196] In the mid-2010s, the PNR has started commuter rail service between Legazpi andNaga City,[197] although this was short lived. Legazpi station was also the terminus of Legazpi – Tabaco branch line and the Legazpi Division Line.
It was later proposed in 2021 byJoey Salceda for his reelection bid that the Legazpi–Daraga alignment of thePNR South Main Line shall be replaced by the Metro Legazpi Tramway project, alight rail andstreetcar line that will connect downtown Legazpi to the newDaraga station of thePNR South Long Haul project. The line will have 8 stations over an unspecified track length.[198]
The port of Legazpi is classified as a national sub-port of entry catering to domestic and foreign cargo vessels.[199] Its modern-day port, which was built by the engineering firm Pedro Siochi and Company during the era of President Quezon, played a great role in the liberation of Manila in 1945. As of 2015[update], regular passenger trips from the port are between Legazpi and the island municipality ofRapu-Rapu and coastal villages of Bacon District, Sorsogon City. The city government has proposed the construction of an internationalcruise ship terminal under public-private partnership.[200] The proposed passenger cruise terminal has received approval from theDepartment of Tourism and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).[200][201]
The city government operates a 1.5-hectare (3.7-acre)sanitary landfill in barangay Banquerohan. Opened in 2011 through a grant from the Spanish government'sAgencia Espanola Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID),[202] the sanitary landfill has two cells that will contain the city's non-recyclable waste.[203] In 2010, Legazpi implemented asolid waste management program with emphasis on reduction of waste in the household and business establishment level;resource recovery,recycling, and reusing at the barangay level; collection, transfer, transport and management ofresidual waste at the city level.[204] The city also aims to reduceplastic waste by implementing the 'plastic for rice program' wherein citizens can exchange five kilos of residual plastic waste for a kilo of rice.[205] The city government recognizes barangays that practice outstanding solid waste management.[206]
As a result of its waste management programs, the city was able to successfully reduce solid waste generated per capita per day from 0.5 kilograms (1.1 lb) in 2009 to 0.29 kilograms (0.64 lb) in 2015.[204] Meanwhile, the city is planning to build aseptage andwaste water treatment facility to protect its water resources.[207] A Japanese firm has also proposed an organic fertilizer manufacturing project.[208]
To prevent flooding in the city's main business center, the city government is building aflood control project that is envisioned to turn Legazpi into an 'all weather city'.[209] Components of the project include threepumping stations located in barangays San Roque, Baybay and Victory Village, dikes and drainage systems along the Tibu and Macabalo Rivers, and a 2.7 kilometer coastal road in barangays Pigcale, Sabang, Baybay, San Roque and Rawis that will serve as protection fromstorm surges.[210][211][212]
Legazpi is a center of education in the Bicol Region. It is home to two universities (Bicol University andUniversity of Santo Tomas–Legazpi) and a number of colleges and technical-vocational schools. As of 2010[update], there are 63 daycare/pre-schools, 57 elementary schools and 27 secondary schools in the city.[213]
Bicol University, established in 1969 as the premier regional state and research university and the firstISO 9001:2008 certified public university in Bicol, has its main campus in Legazpi near the boundary with neighboringDaraga town. The BU Main Campus hosts the College of Education (BUCE), College of Nursing (BUCN), College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL), College of Science (BUCS), Graduate School (BUGS), Institute of Physical Education, Sports and Recreation (IPESR), College of Medicine (BUCM), Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School-Elementary Department and Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School-High School Department (BUCEILS-HS). The Bicol University Research Extension Program Center (BUREPC), the Amphitheatre and the Little Theater are also found on this campus. For the school year 2015–16, BU has 27,226 enrollees.[214]
University of Santo Tomas - Legazpi formerlyAquinas University of Legazpi is the first Catholic University in Bicol Region and Southern Luzon run by the Dominican Fathers/Order of Preachers. Founded by Don Buenaventura de Erquiaga as the Legazpi Junior Colleges in 1948, UST-Legazpi became a university in 1968 when the administration of the college was passed on to the Dominicans. University of Santo Tomas – Legazpi offers pre-elementary, elementary, high school (General Curriculum, Special Program in the Arts, and PAASCU Level III-candidate Science High School), Senior High School, and twenty–three (23) programs (in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education; College of Business Management and Accountancy; College of Health Sciences; and College of Engineering, Architecture, and Fine Arts), the newest of which are the BS Pharmacy, the first and only program in the Region, and BS Medical Technology, both supervised by UST-Manila. The Peñaranda Campus hosts the College of Business Management and Accountancy, College of Law (the Center of Excellence in Legal Education in Bicol), the Graduate School, and the Center for Continuing Education.[215]
St. Agnes' Academy, established in 1912 by theMissionary Benedictine Sisters as "Academia de Sta. Ines", is the oldest Catholic school in Albay and the second Benedictine school to be established in the Philippines afterSt. Scholastica's College Manila.[216]
Divine Word College of Legazpi is a Catholic college run by theSocietas Verbi Divini (SVD) Congregation. It started as Liceo de Albay, a diocesan parochial school for boys established in 1947 by Rev. Fr. Juan Carullo, a retired Army Chaplain. In 1960, the SVD led by Fr. Joseph L. Bates took over the administration of the school and renamed it Divine Word High School. It was elevated to tertiary level as Divine Word College of Legazpi (DWCL) in 1965.[217]
Legazpi City Science High School, founded in 2004 as "Legazpi City High School" and became full-fledgedscience high school on January 15, 2016. Located in Bitano, Legazpi City, it provides education for junior and senior high school students. Itsjunior high school department offersSPSTE (Special Program in Science, Technology, and Engineering). Likewise, itssenior high school offers two tracks with three strands. The academic track includesSTEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics),ABM (Accounting and Business Management), andICT (Information and Communications Technology) under theTVL (Technical-vocational) strand.
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Chōshi, Japan
Hengyang, China
Beaumont, Texas, USA
Places adjacent to Legazpi, Albay | |
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 Province ofAlbay | |
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Legazpi (capital and largest city) | |
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