POLANGUI

The land of beauty, talent, laughter and songs…

Location, Land Area and Population

Founded by a Spanish Friar, Baltazar de la Magdalena in 1584, Polangui

is located at the North-western quadrant of the third district of Abay
Province. It is 552 kilometers south of Manila and 43 kilometers north of
Legazpi City.

Panoramic View of Mt. Mayon

The view of Mayon Volcano is on its perfect side at Polangui. This active
volcano stands 2,462 m. above sea level. Polangui is not included in
volcano’s danger zone.

Electricity and Water

Electric power is available 24-hours daily while water supply service is

adequate.

Market and Solid Waste Management System

Polangui has one central market providing all kinds of consumer goods.
Food items and products at reasonable rates complemented by several
private department stores. The LGU has reliable solid waste disposal
system.

Transportation Facilities

Polangui is at the crossroad of major land transportation routes. Manila-

bound air-conditioned, de luxe and first class buses of Philtranco,
Peñafrancia, Cagsawa, Executive Carrier, RSL, Gold Line and tourist
pass this town daily. Legazpi City airport is 25 minutes-drive. Air-con
and first class buses and air-con filcab, FX vans for Naga-Legazpi ply
daily while jeepneys and motorized tricycles for shorter routes are
available daily.
Telecommunication System

Polangui has 4 major telephone companies (SOTELCO, MATELCO,

BAYANTEL, DIGITEL) providing direct and operator-assisted local,
international and long distance calling service. Cell sites coverage include
SMART, GLOBE, SUN CELLULAR. Providing cable TV services are
ESTV and DCTV.

Peace and Order Condition

Polangui prides itself for being the most peaceful municipality of Bicol
Region with almost zero monthly crime rates. A haven for tourists and
investors alike, it is an ideal place to live in.

Health Services

The present health services of the municipality is administered by a

Municipal Health Officers, 2 Public Health Nurses, 1 Medical
Technologist, 1 Dentist and 10 Midwives and Barangay Health Workers.
Health facilities are centered at the Municipal Health Office and
Barangay Health Stations backed up by 2 private hospitals and 14 clinics
(Medical, Dental, Children, Optical and OB-Gyne) that provide
alternative curative health services to the populace.

INCUMBENT MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS

Mayor : JESUS S. SALCEDA SR.

Vice-Mayor : RENATO S. BORJA
Councilors : CHERILIE M. SAMPAL
MA. SOCORRO L. SAMBITAN
SIMEON S. SAMSON JR.
LARRY JOSE S. LAUSINGCO
PEDRO JOJO C. SABILLA
MAY A. SILO
VICENTE JOSE GERARD Z. JAUCIAN
NORMAN E. SABAYBAY
SHAYNE T. SAMANIEGO (SK)
ANIANO REFORSADO (ABC)
BARANGAYS

AGOS LA MEDALLA
ALNAY LA PURISIMA
ALAMON LANIGAY
AMOGUIS LIDONG
ANOPOL LOURDES
APAD MAGPANAMBO
BALABA MAGURANG
BALANGIBANG MATACON
BALINAD MAYNAGA
BUYO MAYSUA
CENTRO OCCIDENTAL MENDEZ
CENTRO ORIENTAL NAPO
CEPRES PINAGDAPUGAN
COTMON PONSO
COTNOGAN SALVACION
DANAO SAN ROQUE
GABON SANTICON
GAMOT SANTA CRUZ
ITARAN SANTA TERESITA
KINALE SUGCAD
KINUARTILAN UBALIW
 ‘OYANGI’: A TALE OF A BEAUTIFUL TOWN

Legend says that the name Polangui was taken from the name of a
red-leafed tree called “Oyangui” which is now extinct. The town which
was originally called “Binanuaan” was inhabited by about 500 natives
and with the baptism of 25 elderly citizens, the place was named
Polangui.

Another legend which is now the focus of the search for the most
beautiful and talented Polangueña, is about the story of a beautiful
maiden named “Pulang Angui” which means “Red Maria” (Angui is the
nickname of Maria) who loved red colors for dress and whose beautiful
body, face and red lips became the object of affection by the males to the
point of adoration. She was modest in her ways, talented for possessing
various skills, with happy disposition, showing love of art and religiously,
she would lead the tribe in festivities. When the Spaniards came, the
soldiers who first set foot in Polangui asked for the name of the place.
The native thought the foreigners were seeking for the name of “Pulang
Angui” and said so. The Spaniards recorded the name as POLANGUI, a
concoction of the name which was later on, as years went by, was
converted to POLANGUI.
 PIO DURAN

Early Settlers

The genesis as to how Pioduran sprang out from the map of Albay was
accounted to folklorists. The history started by the assumption of power
by the Spanish Army Enrique de Guzman to the Island of Ticao, Masbate
and Burias. Seafarers, they could have been lured by the sea, sought new
land beyond the sea horizon and migrated along the coast of Panganiran
Bay.
The spread of the cross toward Christianizing the country made a certain
Spanish haciendero, Don Antonio Melleza and half of his men to join the
early settlers at the Bank of Panganiran Bay. They too, built their abode
in this place and Don Melleza, wanted to expand his realm, made the
place a central production of sugar, hence, the vast plain of Caratagan
was planted with sugarcane. Finished products including livestock found
their way as far as Manila market when trade vessels docked periodically
along the Coast of Panganiran River.
However, when the clash between the Filipinos and the Spaniards broke
out, the sugar plantation and the settlement were burned to sell his
acquired ownership to Don Vicente de Vera who then later sold to Ex-
Senator Lorenzo Tañada, who at present, still owns vast tracts of lands.

Name of Origin

Panganiran was the first known name to early settlers. It was coined by
the vernacular “ganid”. With thick groves and giant trees, the place
became the favorite habitat of wildlife.Game hunters used to visit the
place and those who lost their track away from their companions would
set their rendezvous at the swamps where Marok-barok trees thrived
abundantly. “Marokbarok” to wanderers and people became the site’s
name. Later on the species name became Malacbalac and this corrupt
word was soon named to the place.

Creation as Town

As population tend to grow in the place, the need to separate the place
from its mother municipality, Guinobatan, was the primary hope and
concern of its inhabitants. In 1928, Don Hilario Peñaflor and Precillano
Osial, both native of Malacbalac, initiated the will to materialize its
creation as a town. Attempts however, were set aside blundered by the
idea of Congressman Pedro Sabido to concentrate more on the opening of
national road bridging Ligao to Pioduran. In 1939, the road project was
finally completed.

The construction of Ligao-Pioduran road became the turning point for the
people of Malacbalac. The success of the project encouraged the trading
among the nearby towns. Thus, tempo of economic life quickened for
years until World War II affected the place. The Malacbalac dispensary
with ten-bed capacity became the favorite garrison of the Japanese
soldiers and this forced the people to abandon the said place.

In 1946, war was gradually phasing out and the country was busy
rehabilitating from the ravage of war. Malacbalac Community School, the
first educational school was established at the Sitio Malidong
(BArangay1) Twelve years after, secondary schools was organized; the
Malacbalac High School (Flores Institute) owned by Mr. Juan Tolosa, Sr.
and later sold to Mr. Antonio Flores and the other was San Lorenzo
Academy founded by Ex-Senator Lorenzo Tañada.

Meanwhile, Captain Prescillano Osial, a guerilla soldier who served as a

municipal councilor of Guinobatan, submitted a petition making
Malacbalac a town, to the then Representative Marcial O. Rañola. In
1949, the bill was filed in the Congress but due to his defeat in the next
national poll under the republic, the bill named after, acted on the same
bill but his untimely death lessened the chance of enacting the bill.

Nevertheless, his elected widow Congresswoman Josefina Duran,

continue his crusade to the Congress. House Bill 5335 was enacted on
June 12, 1963 by Republic Act 3817, otherwise known as an act creating
the Municipality of Pioduran in the Province of Albay and signed by
President Diosdado Macapagal.

Pursuant to Section 2 of the said Act, a plebiscite was held

simultaneously with the general election in 1963. The affirmative votes to
compose this municipality win.

On March 13, 1964, a new municipality in this Province of Albay was

officially born. To formalize its recognition, set of local officials were
appointed by President Diosdado Macapagal. These officials were either
a political protégé or those people worthy of such titles, for having shown
their enthusiasm to create the town. Mr. Protesto O. Pavia was appointed
as Municipal Mayor; Mr. Ramon Moreno as Vice Mayor and the
councilors were Mr. Florencio Granado, Mr. Bienvenido Elaurza, Mr.
Amando Millabas, Mr. Anacleto Marquez, Mr. Custodio Patanao and Mr.
Cenon Oloya.
Twenty barangays were taken from their mother municipality, Ligao,
Guinobatan and Jovellar. From Ligao, nine barangays were taken:
Basicao, Coastal, Marigondon, Old Panganiran, Caratagan, Binodegahan,
Agol, Cuyaoyao, Flores and Mamlad, Rawis, Oringon, Buyo, Basicao,
Interior, la Opinion (Old Nablangbulod) Sukip and Malacbalac. From
Jovellar, only Buenavista was taken. Sitios of Tibabo, Sto. Cristo,
Salvacion, Matangkad, Lawinon, Alabangpuro, Macasitas and Banawan
were supplemented. The promulgation of Presidential Decree 86 under
deposed President Marcos whereby Barangays are created within the
Barangay I, Barangay II, Barangay III, Barangay IV and Barangay V.
Thus, Pioduran now has a total of thirty-two barangays.