Buhi, Camarines Sur

Municipality in Camarines Sur, Philippines

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Buhi, Camarines Sur" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Municipality in Bicol Region, Philippines

Buhi

Municipality

Municipality of Buhi

View of Buhi from Mount Asog

Buhi Municipal Hall

Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church

Flag

Seal

Map of Camarines Sur with Buhi highlighted

OpenStreetMap

Buhi

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 13°26′05″N 123°31′00″E﻿ / ﻿13.4347°N 123.5167°E﻿ / 13.4347; 123.5167
Country| Philippines
Region| Bicol Region
Province| Camarines Sur
District|  5th district
Founded| April 14, 1578
Barangays| 38 (see Barangays)
Government

[1]

• Type| Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor| Rey P. Lacoste
• Vice Mayor| Jose Alfred N. Balagot
• Representative| Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte
• Municipal Council|

Members

*   * Maria Bella Z. Nonato
* Leticia D. Moralde
* Catherine M. Martinez
* Marlon L. Tabalde
* Raul S. Libardo
* Victor Ramon H. Carullo
* Gloria M. Arce
* Eddie A. Mesalucha

• Electorate| 53,101 voters (2025)
Area

[2]

• Total

| 246.65 km2 (95.23 sq mi)
Elevation

| 129 m (423 ft)
Highest elevation

| 1,409 m (4,623 ft)
Lowest elevation

| 0 m (0 ft)
Population

(2024 census)[3]

• Total

| 78,104
• Density| 320/km2 (820/sq mi)
• Households

| 18,796
Economy

• Income class| 1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence|

36.76

% (2021)[4]
• Revenue| ₱245,889,870.47 (2020)
• Assets| ₱643,761,840.05 (2020)
• Expenditure| ₱ 256.1 million (2022)
• Liabilities| ₱ 89.09 million (2022)
Service provider

• Electricity| Camarines Sur 3 Electric Cooperative (CASURECO 3)
Time zone| UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code|

4433

PSGC|

0501705000

IDD : area code | +63 (0)54
Native languages| Central Bikol
Tagalog
Website| www.buhi.gov.ph

Buhi, officially the Municipality of Buhi (Buhinon: Banwaan nya Buhi; Rinconada Bikol: Banwāan ka Buhi; Tagalog: Bayan ng Buhi), is a municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 81,306 people.[5]

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Lake Buhi is home to the world's smallest edible fish locally known as "Sinarapan".

Buhi is not just known for Lake Buhi but it is likewise the home to the world's smallest commercial fish locally known as the sinarapan (Mystychtis luzonensis).

## History

[edit]

Buhi Veterans Memorial Monument

The town known today as Buhi began as a small settlement by refugees fleeing the outrage of Mayon Volcano hundreds of years ago. These people founded a permanent settlement in an area close to the lake and flourished as time passed.

The general exodus of people fleeing and being able to escape grave calamities such as Mayon's eruption was known in local vernacular as "naka-buhi". Local lore takes this as the most probable explanation as to how the town acquired its present name – Buhi. One version of local legend attributes the town being accorded the name to the time when the first Spaniards came and asked local settlers the name of the area. The local settlers misunderstood the question as how they came to be there and so gave the response "Naka-Buhi".

There were two patron saints with whom the town directed their devotion. The first was St. Francis of Assisi placed in the church made of wooden materials. Unfortunately, in 1730 the church was razed down by fire. It was, however, replaced by a stone structure built under the supervision of Rev. Fray Jose de Cerda. Another saint was installed, St. Anthony of Padua.[citation needed]

The present Buhi Church was completed in 1884. The roof was destroyed by fire and fully repaired in 1890.

On December 28, 1995, 13 people of Sitio Bogtong, Barangay Gabas were killed, three of whom were beheaded, by four gunmen inside a house, with survivors numbering at least seven.[6][7] The massacre arose due to disputes over a 24-hectare farm land previously owned by the assassinated Cristito Nieva Jr. and his wife Ester; two of the victims, Estelito Campo and Alex Gaite, were petitioners in an agrarian case that had the Nieva couple as respondents.[8][7] A witness pointed to brothers Toto and Rogelio "Crisboy" Clyde and two of their relatives as being the perpetrators of the crime.[7]

## Geography

[edit]

Lake Buhi

Buhi is located in the south-eastern part of the province of Camarines Sur. It is bound on the east by Mount Malinao, on the west by Mount Asog and Iriga City, on the north by Sagñay-Buhi mountain ranges and on the south by the low-lying ranges of Polangui, Albay, with the following coordinates: 13 degrees 25’ 32.4" north latitude and 123 degrees 30’ 49.1" east longitude. It is 75 kilometres (47 mi) north-east of Legazpi City and 53 kilometres (33 mi) and south of Naga City.

The municipality has been divided into five sectors, namely:

* The Poblacion
* The Lake/Mt. Asog sector
* the Road/cross road sector
* The Mountain sector
* The Malangkaw Sector

### Barangays

[edit]

Buhi is politically subdivided into 38 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

* Amlongan (del Rosario)
* Antipolo
* Burocbusoc
* Cabatuan
* Cagmaslog
* Dela Fe
* Delos Angeles
* Divino Rostro
* Gabas
* Ibayugan
* Igbac
* Ipil
* Iraya
* Labawon
* Lourdes-Hinulid-tubog
* Macaangay
* Monte Calvario
* Namurabod
* Sagrada-Pito
* Salvacion
* San Antonio
* San Buenaventura
* San Francisco Parada
* San Isidro
* San Jose Baybayon
* San Jose Salay
* San Pascual
* San Pedro
* San Rafael
* San Ramon
* San Roque
* San Vicente
* Santa Clara
* Santa Cruz
* Santa Elena
* Santa Isabel
* Santa Justina
* Santa Lourdes
* Tambo

### Topography

[edit]

Buhi has generally mountainous and hilly surface, with 50% of its area having a slope of around 25%. The Poblacion located on the south shore of Lake Buhi, has gently rolling topography.

Mt. Malinao and Mt. Asog dominate the town's surface terrain whose highest elevations are 1,548 metres (5,079 ft) and 1,196 metres (3,924 ft) above main sea level respectively.

Itbog Falls located in Barangay Santa Cruz, on the south-eastern side of Lake Buhi, is a 60 feet (18 m) twin waterfalls. It could be reached by means of a motorized boat ride from the town proper, then a 30-minute trek.

### Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Buhi, Camarines Sur

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 31
(88)  | 30
(86)  | 33
(91)  | 35
(95)  | 36
(97)  | 35
(95)  | 34
(93)  | 32
(90)  | 34
(93)  | 32
(90)  | 31
(88)  | 30
(86)  | 33
(91)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 26
(79)  | 26
(79)  | 28
(82)  | 30
(86)  | 31
(88)  | 30
(86)  | 29
(84)  | 28
(82)  | 29
(84)  | 28
(82)  | 27
(81)  | 27
(81)  | 28
(83)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 64.54
(2.54)  | 102.68
(4.04)  | 57.93
(2.28)  | 85.33
(3.36)  | 202.28
(7.96)  | 290.93
(11.45)  | 389.95
(15.35)  | 298.3
(11.74)  | 311.59
(12.27)  | 437.08
(17.21)  | 132.1
(5.20)  | 373.8
(14.72)  | 2,746.51
(108.12)
Average rainy days  | 22  | 26  | 18  | 19  | 24  | 30  | 31  | 29  | 29  | 29  | 27  | 30  | 314
Source: World Weather Online[9]

Buhi has a warm, humid climate. During the warmest months from March to June, temperatures reach 29.2 °C (84.6 °F). The weather cools off during the rainy season which last from August to February with an average temperature of 24.7 °C (76.5 °F).

### Land use

[edit]

A rice field with the view of Mount Asog

A total area of 24,665 hectares (60,950 acres) is occupied by the municipality, about 13,000 hectares of which are part of the watershed in Rinconada. 18,378 hectares (45,410 acres) of its land area are within the watershed declared as protected area by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 573 and Executive Order no. 224. All other areas are cultivated for agriculture, quarry and human settlement. Higher slopes east and north of Lake Buhi are predominantly forests and secondary brushland. Total area utilized as built-up areas is 448 hectares (1,110 acres).

Farmlands make up about 7,500 hectares (19,000 acres) of which about 2,375 hectares (5,870 acres) have access to irrigation, while 600 hectares (1,500 acres) are non-irrigated. About 2,811 hectares (6,950 acres) are open water spaces of Lake Buhi, and other lakes and streams.

## Demographics

[edit]

Population census of BuhiYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1903 | 9,692| —
1918 | 14,103| +2.53%
1939 | 22,391| +2.23%
1948 | 25,057| +1.26%
1960 | 37,786| +3.48%
1970 | 41,259| +0.88%
1975 | 44,226| +1.40%
1980 | 48,625| +1.91%
1990 | 57,496| +1.69%
1995 | 61,887| +1.39%
2000 | 67,762| +1.96%
2007 | 70,756| +0.60%
2010 | 73,809| +1.55%
2015 | 77,143| +0.84%
2020 | 81,306| +1.11%
2024 | 78,104| −0.96%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14]

In the 2020 census, the population of Buhi, Camarines Sur, was 81,306 people,[15] with a density of 330 inhabitants per square kilometre or 850 inhabitants per square mile.

The total population was 70,756 in 2007, with a growth rate of about 2.1%. The total number of households was 13,238 and with an average household size of 5 persons. At the 2010 census, the population has increased to 73,809 persons. The local language is Buhinon, a dialect of Bikolano.

Literacy rate of Buhi is about 99%. The labor force is about 24,000 people strong, or 63% of economically productive people age 15 to 64 years old.

8 out of 10 persons are Roman Catholics; Iglesia ni Cristo makes up about 2% of the total population which is the largest minority religion in the municipality.

### Language

[edit]

A signage in the local language (Disposing of fish scales and their innards on the lakeshore is prohibited.)

Buhinon is the mother tongue of the majority of the population especially those residing around the lake area with Rinconada Bikol as its first language especially the folks residing on the western part of the municipality near Iriga City. Buhinon is classified as a lone language, and the only one used in the province of Camarines Sur. Buhinon, the Albay Bikol languages, and Rinconada Bikol are members of Inland Bikol group of languages and share common vocabulary.

## Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Buhi

2000
51.62

2003
43.25

2006
41.00

2009
43.99

2012
34.07

2015
39.84

2018
29.82

2021
36.76

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

* Two thirds of the population depends on agriculture
* More than one-fifth of the total land area is devoted to agriculture primary crops are rice, corn, coconut, and abaca
* Rice grows in the vast field of Road sector while corn and abaca are being grown at Mountain sector

## Infrastructure

[edit]

### Transportation

[edit]

Buhi Terminal

* Three major road networks that link the town to the adjacent province of Albay, Partido District and Iriga City. Most of its roads are gravel, especially those in the lake, road and mountain sectors.
* Presence of tricycles and jeepneys
* Presence of non-aircon and aircon buses
* Presence of motorized boats and bancas
* Presence of motorcycles called door-to-door

### Spring Resorts

[edit]

* Pongol Hot Spring
* Balerite Resort
* Lologon Resort
* Sinagpan Spring Resort

### Utilities

[edit]

Water supply:

* Rural Waterworks Multi-Purpose
* Cooperative provides the potable drinking water to at least 1,683 households in 7 suburban areas
* Burabod ririgusan- tubog Lourdes Buhi Camarines sur
* Magindara

Power and electricity:

* CASURECO III delivers electricity to 63% of households and business establishments and 97% of barangays
* Host to a 1.2 MW mini hydro-electric power plant of the National Power Corporation

### Health

[edit]

Presence of 1 public hospital; 3 private medical clinics; 38 health stations/centers; 3 pharmacies

Public Hospital:

* Buhi Community Hospital (temporarily closed by DOH)

Private Clinics:

* Claveria Clinic
* Portugal Clinic
* Sabio-Valenciano Clinic

Dental Clinic

* CJR Berces Dental Clinic
* Dr. Wennie A. Samper Dental Clinic

## Education

[edit]

CSPC Buhi campus Buhi Lyceum St. Bridget School

* No. of pre-schools: 33 public and 4 private schools
* No. of elementary schools: 33 public and 4 private schools
* No. of high schools: 3 private and 6 public schools
* No. of colleges: 1 state college
* No. of universities: 1 state university

### State colleges

[edit]

* Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges-Buhi Campus (Brgy. Lourdes)

### Public high schools

[edit]

* Sta. Justina National High School (Big School)
* Tambo National High School (Big School)
* San Vicente National High School (Big School)
* Buhi High School (Big School)
* Iraya High School
* Salvacion High School
* Los Angeles High School
* Agapito de Lima National High School (Brgy. Macaangay)
* Dautil-Watkins High School (Brgy. Monte Calvario)

### Private high schools

[edit]

* Buhi St. Joseph's Academy Inc. (formerly St. Joseph's Academy)
* Buhi Lyceum
* Buhi Southeastern Academy, Inc. (Brgy. San Vicente)
* St. Bridget School

### Private elementary schools

[edit]

* Buhi Institute Foundation
* Holy Child Educational Center (Buhi Branch)
* Buhi Lyceum
* Elen O. Villanueva School

### Social media

[edit]

* LGU Buhi Official Facebook page

### FM stations

[edit]

* 88.5 DWLF FM – Barita 88.5 (inactive)
* 97.7 DWEA FM – Buhi (Radyo Buhi, Numero Uno)
* 100.1 Radyo Natin Buhi
* 102.9 DWLR – Lauyay Radio (closed)

## Notable people

[edit]

* Victor Wood – singer, actor, politician
* Avel Bacudio – fashion designer
* Elaine Kay Moll – Binibining Pilipinas candidate
* Yen Quirante – television personality

## Gallery

[edit]

* Lake Buhi

* Buhi Church

* Patio

* Parish Pastoral Center

* Baked "Sinarapan"

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Municipality of Buhi |  (DILG)
2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
6. ^ "14 massacred in Camarines Sur". Manila Standard. Legazpi City: Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. December 30, 1995. p. 2. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
7. ^ a b c Narito, Florencio P. (January 3, 1996). "Witness names mastermind, cohorts". Manila Standard. Legazpi City: Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. p. 10. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
8. ^ Evangelista, Romie A. (December 31, 1995). "Revenge eyed in Camarines Sur massacre". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. p. 4. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
9. ^ "Camarines Sur: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". World Weather Online. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|url=` (help)
10. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
11. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
12. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region V (Bicol Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
13. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
14. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
15. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
16. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
17. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
18. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
19. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
20. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
21. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
22. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
23. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Buhi, Camarines Sur.

* Buhi Online (www.buhi.com) – The First Online Community of Buhi. Established 1998.
* Buhi Families

Genealogical Research project

Places adjacent to Buhi, Camarines Sur

|  | Sagñay |

|
|

|  |
Iriga |

Buhi

| Tiwi, Albay
|  |
| Polangui, Albay | Malinao, Albay

* v
* t
* e

Province of Camarines Sur

Pili (capital)
Naga (largest city)

Municipalities|

* Baao
* Balatan
* Bato
* Bombon
* Buhi
* Bula
* Cabusao
* Calabanga
* Camaligan
* Canaman
* Caramoan
* Del Gallego
* Gainza
* Garchitorena
* Goa
* Lagonoy
* Libmanan
* Lupi
* Magarao
* Milaor
* Minalabac
* Nabua
* Ocampo
* Pamplona
* Pasacao
* Pili
* Presentacion
* Ragay
* Sagñay
* San Fernando
* San Jose
* Sipocot
* Siruma
* Tigaon
* Tinambac

Component city|

* Iriga

Independent component city|

* Naga (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Camarines Sur by the Philippine Statistics Authority.)

Authority control databases |

* Yale LUX

|

*[PSGC]: Philippine Standard Geographic Code
*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate. Executive Order 135 §6 states that for "census years" (years divisible by 10) the reference date would be May 1st, but for all other years, the reference date is to be the "middle of the year". This means that growth rates, although correct, are not necessarily simple year-on-year comparisons.
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template