Cawayan

Municipality in Masbate, Philippines

Municipality in Bicol Region, Philippines

Cawayan

Municipality

Municipality of Cawayan

Mahayahay Coastline

Flag

Map of Masbate with Cawayan highlighted

OpenStreetMap

Cawayan

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 11°55′49″N 123°46′08″E﻿ / ﻿11.9303°N 123.7689°E﻿ / 11.9303; 123.7689
Country| Philippines
Region| Bicol Region
Province| Masbate
District|  3rd district
Barangays| 37 (see Barangays)
Government

[1]

• Type| Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor| Edgar S. Condor
• Vice Mayor| Ester C. Binsol
• Representative| Wilton T. Kho
• Municipal Council|

Members

*   * Daniel O. Olmilla
* Arnold A. Cortes
* Victoria M. Ando
* Vicenta S. Goopio
* Renato B. Montecalvo
* Jacinta V. Flores
* Pol T. Yocte
* Relan O. Abinuman

• Electorate| 44,817 voters (2025)
Area

[2]

• Total

| 260.19 km2 (100.46 sq mi)
Elevation

| 12 m (39 ft)
Highest elevation

| 99 m (325 ft)
Lowest elevation

| 0 m (0 ft)
Population

(2024 census)[3]

• Total

| 68,510
• Density| 260/km2 (680/sq mi)
• Households

| 16,169
Economy

• Income class| 2nd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence|

27.65

% (2021)[4]
• Revenue| ₱ 325 million (2022)
• Assets| ₱ 740.4 million (2022)
• Expenditure| ₱ 244.1 million (2022)
• Liabilities| ₱ 293 million (2022)
Service provider

• Electricity| Masbate Electric Cooperative (MASELCO)
Time zone| UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code|

5405

PSGC|

0504106000

IDD : area code | +63 (0)56
Native languages| Masbateño
Tagalog

Cawayan, officially the Municipality of Cawayan, is a municipality in the province of Masbate, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 69,265 people.[5]

Cawayan is 64 kilometres (40 mi) from Masbate City.

## History

[edit]

Cawayan was created as a municipality from portions of Milagros through Executive Order No. 244 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on July 18, 1949.[6]

## Geography

[edit]

### Barangays

[edit]

Cawayan is politically subdivided into 37 barangays. [7] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

* Begia
* Cabayugan
* Cabungahan
* Calapayan
* Calumpang
* Dalipe
* Divisoria
* Guiom
* Gilotongan
* Itombato
* Libertad
* Looc
* Mactan
* Madbad
* R.M. Magbalon (Bebihan)
* Mahayahay
* Maihao
* Malbug
* Naro
* Pananawan
* Poblacion
* Pulot
* Recodo
* San Jose
* San Vicente
* Taberna
* Talisay
* Tuburan
* Villahermosa
* Chico Island
* Lague-lague
* Palobandera
* Pena Island
* Pin-As
* Iraya
* Punta Batsan
* Tubog

### Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Cawayan, Masbate

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 29
(84)  | 29
(84)  | 31
(88)  | 32
(90)  | 32
(90)  | 31
(88)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 29
(84)  | 29
(84)  | 30
(86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 23
(73)  | 22
(72)  | 23
(73)  | 23
(73)  | 25
(77)  | 25
(77)  | 24
(75)  | 25
(77)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 23
(73)  | 24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 39
(1.5)  | 34
(1.3)  | 42
(1.7)  | 36
(1.4)  | 73
(2.9)  | 109
(4.3)  | 118
(4.6)  | 108
(4.3)  | 129
(5.1)  | 136
(5.4)  | 112
(4.4)  | 89
(3.5)  | 1,025
(40.4)
Average rainy days  | 12.6  | 9.7  | 12.0  | 13.0  | 20.5  | 25.3  | 26.2  | 24.8  | 25.2  | 25.9  | 21.9  | 17.9  | 235
Source: Meteoblue[8]

## Demographics

[edit]

Population census of Cawayan| Year| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1960 | 20,104| —
1970 | 28,708| +3.62%
1975 | 27,581| −0.80%
1980 | 31,696| +2.82%
1990 | 38,336| +1.92%
1995 | 45,834| +3.40%
| Year| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2000 | 52,256| +2.85%
2007 | 59,658| +1.84%
2010 | 63,115| +2.07%
2015 | 67,033| +1.15%
2020 | 69,265| +0.69%
2024 | 68,510| −0.26%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[9][10][11][12][13]

In the 2020 census, the population of Cawayan, Masbate, was 69,265 people,[14] with a density of 270 inhabitants per square kilometre or 700 inhabitants per square mile.

## Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Cawayan

2000
74.01

2003
72.46

2006
50.90

2009
47.58

2012
49.25

2015
51.80

2018
24.26

2021
27.65

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

View of Mount Begia from Mahayahay

### Agriculture

[edit]

The locals of Cawayan still largely depend on subsistence farming despite its topographic advantage to adapt commercial farming. The lack of funding for agriculture and infrastructure and its political insecurity due to the presence and activities of armed groups kept by political families[23] and other subversive elements hinder the town's progress in spite of its geographical benefits.

Being primarily plain and flat, Cawayan is conducive to cattle farming. Grasslands are abundant in the plains and in the gentle slopes of the valleys and hills. However, land grabbing[24] issues still prevail as evidenced by hectares of private enclosures locally known as "ranchos" that run miles after miles. Herds of cattle inside the fence barrier are visible from the national road as one travels into the interior making Cawayan a major player in the cattle industry of the province.

Cawayan has several outlying islands crucial to its local fishing industries. These islands provide most of the marine resources to cater to the needs in the mainland. Barter trade is still practiced on Sundays, the town's busiest day.

Copra farming is also popular in Cawayan.

### Infrastructure

[edit]

Cawayan Port Improvement Project

The P42.95-million Cawayan Port Improvement Project in Barangay Mahayahay included the construction of rock causeway, back-up area, RC platform, RoRo ramp and breasting dolphin, as well as port lighting system, and mooring and fendering system. The project was completed on January 26, 2009.[25]

RoRo Project

Other than the local outrigger boat operators, a shipping company provides services to cater to the town's need of reliable vessel to transfer commodities to and from Cawayan for trade. It departs daily from Cawayan usually at 12:00 noon for a six-hour trip and docks at Pulambato Port in Bogo, Cebu. And at around 12:00 midnight it sails back to Cawayan Port.

For about two years, the RoRo vessel stopped operating in Cawayan,[26] but on October 10, 2012, RoRo service was restarted.

Station of the Cross Marine Sanctuary in Recodo[27]

### Industry

[edit]

A local crab meat processing industry operates in Peña Island owned by Arturo Marcaida Jr.[28] He is considered as the most successful fisherman who made it big in fish culture and fish processing business not only in Masbate but in the entire Bicol Region which earned for him the title “Crab King".[29]

Another booming industry of the town is the dried fish industry.

### Tourism

[edit]

Famous attractions include the Station of the Cross atop Mount Begia; tropical islets of Naro and Peña; a marine sanctuary across Recodo Bay; and a wide stretch of beaches among others.

Barangay Divisoria has one of the largest open markets in the Philippines.[30]

## Education

[edit]

Secondary schools:

* Western Masbate Roosevelt High School
* Naro National High School
* Villahermosa National High School
* Malbug High School
* Madbad National High School

Tertiary schools:

* Atty. Manuel B. Abinuman Memorial Colleges, Inc.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Municipality of Cawayan |  (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. ^ "Executive Order No. 244, s. 1949". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 18 July 1949. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
7. ^ "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
8. ^ "Cawayan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
9. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
10. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
11. ^ 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.
12. ^ 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.
13. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
14. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
15. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
16. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
17. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
18. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
19. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
20. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
21. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
22. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
23. ^ "Masbate: Paradise in a pool of blood". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
24. ^ "Corruption, injustice, greed are real causes of poverty in Masbate". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
25. ^ "PGMA Infrastructure". Pgmainfra.ph. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
26. ^ "PPA breaks silence, stresses no need for the modular Ro-Ro port project". Archived from the original on 2012-07-16.
27. ^ "Fish back in Masbate marine sanctuary". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
28. ^ "Crab King of Masbate". Bicol.da.gov.ph. 1996-08-01. Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
29. ^ "Former struggling fisherman now Masbate's Crab King". Goodnewspilipinas.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
30. ^ "Off to a road less traveled: Cawayan, Masbate". 11 April 2011.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cawayan, Masbate.

* LGU Cawayan Masbate Website
* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
* Philippine Census Information
* Local Governance Performance Management System

Places adjacent to Cawayan

| Milagros | Uson / Dimasalang | Palanas

|
|

|  |
Asid Gulf |

Cawayan

|  |
| Visayan Sea | Placer

* v
* t
* e

Province of Masbate

Masbate City (capital and largest city)

Municipalities|

* Aroroy
* Baleno
* Balud
* Batuan
* Cataingan
* Cawayan
* Claveria
* Dimasalang
* Esperanza
* Mandaon
* Milagros
* Mobo
* Monreal
* Palanas
* Pio V. Corpus
* Placer
* San Fernando
* San Jacinto
* San Pascual
* Uson

Component city|

* Masbate City

*[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