Manito, Albay

Manito
Municipality
Official seal of Manito Seal
Location of Manito in the province of Albay
Manito Map of the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol (Region V)
Province	Albay
District	2nd district
Incorporated	1840
Named for	Nito vines that proliferate in the area
Barangays	15
Government
• Type	Municipal Government
• Mayor	Cesar S. Daep
Area
• Total	107.40 km2 (41.47 sq mi)
Area rank	14th out of the 18 cities/municipalities
Highest elevation	760 m (2,490 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2010)
• Total	22,819
• Rank	17th out of the 18th cities/municipalities
• Density	212.5/km2 (550/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	4514
Dialing code	52
Rural/Urban	Partially urban (2007)
Income classification	4th class (2007)
Website	www.manito.ph

Manito is a coastal municipality in the province of Albay in the Republic of the Philippines. It is the south-easternmost municipality of Albay located on the northern foothills of the Pocdol Mountains, a volcanic mountain range with no historical eruptions but with thermally active features. According to the May 1, 2010 census, it has a population of 22,819 people.

Geography

Manito is located on the south-eastern tip of Albay, adjoining the south-eastern limit of Legazpi City. The west and NW coast of Manito lies along Poliqui Bay opposite the city of Legazpi. To the north and north-east coast of the municipality lies Albay Gulf. To the east and south of Manito is the province of Sorsogon separated by the Pocdol Mountains, which is also called as the Bacon-Manito Volcanic Complex. Because of topography, the two provinces are not connected along the coast. A mountain pass from Brgy. Nagotgot connects Manito to the Sorsogon City in Sorsogon province.

Southwest of the poblacion is Brgy. Buyo separated by the Buyo River. The two rivers serve as irrigation for small rice fields and water sources for the residents.

Barangays

Manito is politically subdivided into 15 barangays with 14 classified as rural areas and only the poblacion (town center, also known as Brgy. It-ba), classified as an urban area. The poblacion is situated on the north-western seashore of the town, south of the mouth of the Camanitohan River. Northwest of the town center is Brgy. Cawit, separated by the Caminatohan.

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History

Contrary to the people of this small town believe, the first settlers in the area came from Bacon, Cagraray Island or Casiguran which are geographically situated near Manito. In prehistoric time, the Bicolanos from the above-mentioned places had shown evidence of civilization. Recently artifacts unearthed from this place both by Filipino and foreign anthropologist show that Bicol is indeed inhabited first by Bicolanos, not traders from foreign lands.

In 1840, a few settlers the Visayas came and settled in the place near the coast of Manito, because of fear from Moro invaders. They officially established the place and named it Manito, because it was abounding in clinging vine called "nito”, which belongs to the rattan family and is used as raw material for making baskets. When nito vines are artistically made into baskets, the finished products are very beautiful because of the natural dark brown color similar to the color of coffee. The prefix "Ma” means plenty,then Manito means "plenty of nito".

Later, natives from the neighboring towns of Albay, Bacon, and Rapu-rapu who fled from the Moro raiders found a safer place near the seashore and near the thick west Of Manito. In the past this town was surrounded by thick forest that gave natural fiction — a haven of safety and comfort — to the Visayan settlers. Although they were brave and courageous, they lacked arms and ammunitions to fight the Moros.

In the early years of settlement, the center of this place that soon became the Poblacion had only a fear scattered houses surrounded to pour in, the forests were awed. The cleared areas were planted with abaca and other crops. Due to the abundance of food and money which the people earned through the sale of their forest and agricultural products, Manito became a progressive settlement. But today it is left behind by neighboring towns. This is probable due to its poor natural location and lack of industry. Forests are mostly denuded due to concession granting permission in the awn of trees in 1980s, while replanting of trees was neglected. Perhaps, if nito vines had been planted together with other forest trees, the income atone for this industry might be one of the major source of the residents these days.

Demographics

Population census of Manito
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	16,011	—
1995	18,451	+2.69%
2000	20,420	+2.20%
2007	21,652	+0.81%
2010	22,819	+1.93%
Source: National Statistics Office

Town fiesta

Saint Raphael the Archangel is the patron saint of Manito where the town fiesta is celebrated every October 24 in his honor.

Economy

At present, the municipality serves as a supplier of “lasa” grass and its final product - - soft broom. A significant number of households are engaged in soft broom making as a source of livelihood. Many households are still engaged in cottage industries like basket making in spite of the dwindling supply of “nito” vines.

In 1982 the municipality of Manito emerged in the limelight by virtue of PD k.20364 establishing Manito as reservation area for Geothermal Exploration and development On June 1994, the Bacman Geothermal Production Field has started its full operation and on October 80,1998, President Joseph Estrada inaugurated the additional 1.5 megawatt power/multi-crop drying plant located at Pawa, Manito in support of his food security program.

External links

• General Map of the Municipality of Manito