Obando, Bulacan

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Municipality of Obando

Location
Map of Bulacan showing the location of Obando
Government
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Bulacan
District	4th district of Bulacan
Barangays	11
Income Class:	3rd class
Founded	1753
Mayor	Orencio E. Gabriel (Lakas-CMD)
Official Website	elgu2.ncc.gov.ph/obando/
Physical characteristics
Area	15.91 km²
Population      Total (2007)      Density	52,906 3325.32/km²
Coordinates	14°42'N 120°55'E

Obando is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. It is 16 kilometers away from the Philippine capital Manila. Obando is locked by two cities from Metro Manila namely Valenzuela City in the east, Navotas and Malabon City in the south, Bulacan in the north, and the waters of Manila Bay in the west. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 52,906 people in 11,229 households.

Contents 1 Demographics 2 Problems 3 Economy 4 Geography 5 History 6 See also 7 External links 8 References

[edit] Demographics

As of 2002, Obando has an estimated population of 58,245 wherein 49% are male and 51% are female. Of the current population, about 14% live in rural barangays while the rest constitute the urban population. There are 12,349 households. The average monthly income of a household is P9,000.00, slightly below the P9,540.00 minimum for a family of 6 threshold set by Department of Social Welfare and Development.

[edit] Problems

• Heavy flooding during rainy seasons
• River pollution caused by the Tanza, Navotas dumpsite. In 2002, the Sangguniang Bayan of Obando, Bulacan passed a controversial resolution allowing all the Phileco (Philippine Ecology Systems Corp.) barges that contains tons of Metro Manila's garbage to pass the river of Obando and dumped it in a river-turned "controlled" dumpsite facility in Tanza, Navotas which is only 1 km away from Obando. Mass actions followed but local officials failed to stop the dumping up to this date. Studies showed that the operation of the dump was polluting the river and had caused several diseases among residents, mostly old folks, women and children.

[edit] Economy

• City Employment - a lot of Obandenyos have white collared jobs and are working in big companies and commercial organizations in Metro Manila. A lot of them are successful and some are the big names behind the companies that they are employed.
• Factory Employment - there are also residents that work in factories in Obando and nearby towns
• OFW - Obandenyos also tried their luck abroad and a lot became very successful
• Fishing which was the major means of livelihood for the people of Obando before is still active.
• Other sources of income are food processing, duck, poultry, hog and pets raising
• Trading - from barbecue stands to "Samalamig", cellphone loads, sari-sari stores, tiangge, photography, and other services.
• The "Pedicab" or "Trike" is also a common sight in Obando, Bulacan. It is a human-powered tricycle for hire, usually with one or two seats for carrying passengers in addition to the driver. A lot of enterprising Obandenyos have ventured to this alternative public transport and it is much preferred by the riding public. The fare is way cheaper than a jeepney or a motored tricycle ride and they are very useful during flood time.
• Garments & Jewelry Making - they were popular and promising industries before but when times became tough specially in 2002, these businesses folded up.

[edit] Geography

Flat and low-lying coastal plains characterize the general topography of Obando. The area was formerly an estuary, but it filled up partially from the peripheral parts of each sand bar and sand spit and formed up into current figure that mainly consisted of commercial district, partly industrial district, residential area and fishpond. Within the municipality are two rivers and three creeks namely Meycauayan River, in the north, Pinagkabalian River, in the south and Paco Creek, Hulo Creek and Pag-asa Creek traversing the town parallel to the provincial road.

Obando has a land area of 15.91 km². It has an urban area of 1.85 km² which comprise 2 barangays, the other 9 barangays constitute about 14.06 km² of rural area of the abovecited area, 82.50% are fishponds. Obando is politically subdivided into 11 barangays (8 urban, 3 rural). Barangays Binuangan and Salambao are located along the Paliwas River, and can only be reached by means of motorized boats.

• Panghulo
• Catanghalan
• Pag-asa
• Paliwas
• San Pascual
• Hulo
• Lawa
• Paco
• Tawiran
• Binuangan
• Salambao

Obando, just like the other towns of Bulacan, has two pronounced seasons: dry and wet season. The wet season is from May to October and the dry season is from November to April. The rainfall of the wet season accounts for about 80% of the annual rainfall, which is due to west monsoons and typhoons.

[edit] History

In the 18th century, the municipalities now known as Meycauayan, Polo and Obando comprised only one town, the Municipality of Meycauayan. The town of Polo and Obando, formed a barrio called Catangalan. In the year 1623, the municipality of Polo was organized which is actually what is now the Town of Obando. By virtue of a decree promulgated during the time of Governor and Captain General of the Archipelago, Don Francisco de Obando y Solis Marquez of Obando, the town was created on May 14, 1753. In the Governor's untimely death at the hands of the British during the Seven Year's War, the creation and establishment of the town was made and attended by the Alcalde Mayor of the province, Don Francisco Morales y Mozabe, the Provincial Minister, S. Gregorio, Rev. Fr. Alejandro Ferrer, together with numerous religious devotees. The minister who was chosen to administer the town was Rev. Fr. Manuel De Olivendia. In the year 1907, Obando was made an independent town of Bulacan. Then through the untiring efforts of the municipal officials, a portion of Gasak, Navotas was reclaimed to form a part of Obando. The municipal officials, believing that this portion was once a part of the municipality but was adopted by Navotas in the course of time, effortlessly pushed through its claim to regain the area. The concerted action of all those concerned paid off when on January 30, 1975, by virtue of a Presidential Decree No. 646, a portion of approximately 1.78 square kilometres of Gasak, Navotas was returned back to Obando. This is mostly fishpond and sandy beach and believed that when fully developed, this will serve as a good tourist attraction. By resolution of 1975 Municipal Council, the area was made into a barangay and named it Nuestra Señora de Salambao in honor of one of its patron saints.

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Mayors Of Obando, Bulacan

Orencio Gabriel (2007 - Present)
Zoilito Santiago (2004 - 2007)
Onesimo Joaquin (2001 - 2004)
Conrado Lumabas Jr. (1992 - 2001)
Bienvenido Evangelista (1988 - 2001)
Antonio Joaquin (OIC 1986 - 1988)
- Other names to follow -

Vice Mayors Of Obando, Bulacan

Leonardo Pantanilla (2007 - Present)
Jose Correa (2004 - 2007)
Zoilito Santiago (2001 - 2004)
Onesimo Joaquin (1998 - 2001)
Rico Santos (1995 - 1998)
Gaudioso Dela Cruz (1992 - 1995)
Romegio Dela Cruz (1988 - 1992)
- Other names to follow -

[edit] See also

• Obando Fertility Rites

[edit] External links

• http://elgu2.ncc.gov.ph/obando/
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• Alvin Claridades' Bahay Pahina
• Problema Sa Basura Video Report
• gmanews.tv/video, Bulacan electrical shop fire placed under control after 24 hours, 01/23/2008 (in Filipino)
• Abs-Cbn Interactive, Obando factory blaze not yet declared 'fire out'

[edit] References