Norzagaray, Bulacan

Norzagaray, officially the Municipality of Norzagaray (), is a municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 136,064 people.

It is the location of Angat Dam which sits on the lower realms of the Sierra Madre Mountain range. It is notable for being a major water and power supply for the National Capital Region.

History

The nucleus of what today is the town of Norzagaray traces from the old barrio ''Casay'' and barrio ''Matictic'' which was ecclesiastically and politically administered by the Augustinians from the town of Angat as its visitas as shown in the document "''Mapa del Teritorio de Bulacan''" by Fray Emmanuel Blanco, O.S.A. in 1832 which appeared in another document "''Administracion Espiritual de los Padres Agustinos calzados de la Provincia del Dulce Nombre de Jesus de las Islas Filipinas''" of Fray Francisco Villacorta in 1833.

The people of Barrio Casay worked for reforms politically, socially and economically, in order to be separated from Angat. They succeeded in their separation bid through Governor-General Fernándo Norzagaray y Escudero, who issued a Real Cedula declaring barrio Casay together with barrio Matictic to be constituted as a new independent town from Angat. Political boundaries of Angat and ''Pueblo de Casay y Matictic'' were demarcated and the newly created town was renamed as "Norzagaray" in honor of the Governor-General.

During the American occupation of the Philippines, Norzagaray was reunited with Angat by virtue of Act No. 932 beginning in 1903.

On September 13, 1977, Barangays Bayabas and Kabayunan were ceded to the newly established municipality of Doña Remedios Trinidad, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1196.

Geography

The town of Norzagaray is bordered by San Jose del Monte, and Rodriguez, to the south; by General Nakar to the east; Santa Maria to the west; Angat to the north-west; and Doña Remedios Trinidad to the north. Norzagaray is from Malolos, from Manila, from San Jose del Monte, and from Angat.

Norzagaray was previously part of the 3rd district of Bulacan from 1987 to 2022, when it was moved to the newly created 6th district along with Angat and Santa Maria.

Barangays

Norzagaray is politically subdivided into 13 barangays, as shown in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Friendship Village Resources (FVR) was created as a barangay out of barangay Tigbe under ''Sangguniang Panlalawigan Kapasiyahan Bilang 179-T 2002'' and ''Sangguniang Panlalawigan Kautusan Bilang 003'' on April 18, 2002; it was ratified on October 12, 2002.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Norzagaray was 136,064 people, with a density of .

Languages

The municipality, along with two other municipalities (San Miguel and Doña Remedios Trinidad) and one city (San Jose del Monte) of Bulacan, is the homeland of the ''Alta Kabulowan'', the first inhabitants of Bulacan, whose language is also called Alta Kabulowan. Their language is currently endangered and is in dire need of local government intervention. The majority of residents in the town are native speakers of the Tagalog language.

Economy

In 2017, Norzagaray generated a total revenue of , or 19% higher than its previous income in 2016, making it as the 4th richest municipality in Bulacan after Marilao, Santa Maria and Baliwag.

;Major Industries
Cement, Marble/Marble Processing, Food/Food Processing, Pyrotechnics

;Major Products
Bakeries, Processed meat and Agricultural products

;Indigenous/Raw Materials Available
Cement and Marbles

Tourism

Today, the town of Norzagaray is quickly rising in terms of commercial and economic status with tourist potentials. "Bakas" which is on a portion of the Angat River is recognized as one of the busiest places in the locality, particularly during summertime. People from distant towns often visit the place for relaxation.

Another potential spot for tourism is the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve where the Angat River Hydroelectric Plant or Angat Dam is located. The dam is the biggest hydroelectric plant the National Power Corporation (NPC) has ever constructed in terms of power capacity within the entire Philippines. Because of Angat Dam's size, its reservoir sinks to critical levels during the dry season necessitating the need for cloud seeding in some years. The reservoir of this hydroelectric plant is covered with forests producing a cool climate.

Another is the Pinagrealan Cave located in Barangay Bigte. This cave is a subterranean network of caverns extending more than a kilometer deep. The Katipunero Revolutionaries during the war against Spain used it as a camp in 1896 and again during the Filipino-American War in 1898 as hideout of General Emilio Aguinaldo (the First President of the Philippines). It was also used as a sanctuary by the Japanese Imperial Army when the Philippines was liberated by joint Filipino and American Forces.

There are still other sites with tourism potential in the locality. However, some of these places are located in remote areas of the town, which are inaccessible to motor vehicles, therefore in need of immediate attention.

Historical and Cultural Heritage

The natives are religious and hear Mass or pray at places of worship, especially Catholic and Iglesia Ni Cristo churches. The town also remembers the 31 heroes of the Revolution.
*Monument of Sinfroso de la Cruz

Religious

*St. Andrew the Apostle Parish (Poblacion, Norzagaray, Bulacan)
*Virgen de las Flores Parish (Bigte, Norzagaray, Bulacan)
*Seventh-day Adventist church
*Iglesia ni Cristo church
*Members Church of God International Locale Congregation of Norzagaray
*Members Church of God International Locale Congregation of North Hill Village
*Members Church of God International Locale Congregation of Hill Top
*Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide (JIL)

Santuario de Paz Memorial Park (Minuyan)

The town's prime eternal repose garden is located in Minuyan.

Infrastructure

Bulacan 11-billion peso bulk water supply project

On December 12, 2007, Bulacan and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) signed an agreement for the development of a P11-billion bulk water supply project. Ayala-owned Manila Water Co. Inc. will implement the project. MWSS and Manila Water will provide a financial package of an infrastructure grant, a P10-million development assistance and a P10-million royalty fee to the towns of Norzagaray and Doña Remedios Trinidad, which will host the water supply project.

18-hectare landfill

On January 19, 2008, an waste disposal facility, a new sanitary landfill that would also be a tourist attraction opened in Norzagaray, Bulacan province. The president of Wacuman Corp. stated: "I want them to see our system in our place which should not be abhorred because we are using the new state-of-the-art technology." The facility has a category 4 rating (the highest category for a sanitary landfill) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Government

Local government

Just like the national government, the municipal government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative and judiciary. The judicial branch is administered solely by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The LGUs have control of the executive and legislative branch.

The executive branch is composed of the governor for the provinces, mayor for the cities and municipalities, and the barangay captain for the barangays.Local Government Code of the Philippines, Book III
Department of the Interior and Local Government official website The legislative branch is composed of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial assembly) for the provinces, Sangguniang Panlungsod (city assembly) for the cities, Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly) for the municipalities, Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council), and the Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.

The seat of government is vested upon the Mayor and other elected officers who hold office at the municipal hall. The Sangguniang Bayan is the center of legislation of the municipality.

Incumbent Officials

*Mayor: Ma. Elena L. Germar ( NUP)
*Vice Mayor: Patricio I. Gener ( Lakas-CMD)
*Councilors:
**Restituto B. Sumbillo ( NUP)
**Abbygail H. Reyes ( NUP)
**Giulius Caezar S. Iapino ( PFP)
**Alvin B. Cruz ( NUP)
**Luzviminda P. Espiritu ( NUP)
**Ma. Cleope S. Pelayo ( Lakas-CMD)
**Zosimo S. Cruz Jr. ( NUP)
**Edsel C. Mendoza ( Lakas-CMD)
*ABC President: Andrew Germar (Tigbe)
* SK Federation President: Mark Ivan Feliciano (Tigbe)

Gallery

Angat Watershed Forest Reserve in Norzagaray, Bulacan.jpg, Angat Watershed Forest Reserve
View of Norzagaray River from Matictic Bridge (2).jpg, View of Angat River (Bakas River) from Matictic Bridge
Rhinoceros rock sa likod ng Iglesia ni Cristo.jpg, Rhinoceros rock formation behind a chapel of Iglesia ni Cristo in Barangay Bigte
09180jfRoads Welcome Bigte San Mateo Norzagaray Bulacanfvf 15.JPG, Rhinoceros rock formation zoomed view

References

External links

Norzagaray Bulacan
* Philippine Standard Geographic Codebr>Philippine Census Information

{{Authority control

Municipalities of Bulacan