Viga, Catanduanes

Viga
Municipality
Official seal of Viga Seal
Nickname(s): Rice Granary of the Province of Catanduanes
Map of Catanduanes with Viga highlighted Map of Catanduanes with Viga highlighted
Viga Location within the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol (Region V)
Province	Catanduanes
District	Lone district
Founded	Year 1661
Barangays	31
Government
• Mayor	Gordon Subia Olfindo (Liberal Party)
• Vice Mayor	Yolando Tuquero (Lakas–CMD)
Area
• Total	158.23 km2 (61.09 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	20,669
• Density	130/km2 (340/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
Zip Code	4805
Dialing code	52
Website	http://www.vigacatanduanes.gov.ph/

Viga is a fourth class municipality in the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 20,669 people.

Viga is one of the eleven towns in the province of Catanduanes, located in the north-eastern portion of the island. It occupies approximately 8.96% of the total land area of the island and 0.0406% of the entire country. It is nestled in one of the widest inland plains of the island, between three neighboring towns and the Philippine Sea. To the south is the town of Gigmoto, to the west is the town of Caramoran. It is about 52 kilometres (32 mi) north from the capital town of Virac.

Viga is an agricultural municipality, considered as the rice granary of the province. The two types of agricultural products raised are the food and export crops. The food crops being raised are palay, corn, banana and other root crops. The export crops are mainly Abaca and coconut. The area planted with these crops and the production derived there from is the principal source of livelihood by the inhabitants.

History

The site of the original settlement of Viga was at Caviga-e now called Viga. It was believed that a group of tribesmen led by "Abines" from the mainland were the first settlers. Due to frequent Moro raids, they fled inland and settled in a place where the primitive inhabitants were akin to the province’s pygmies. They called this place "Oco" (now barangay San José), meaning short people or dwarf. When the Moro threat diminished, the settlers move to the lowlands where the soil was more fertile. They selected the area where herbaceous giant gabi-like plants which they called "Marviga" grew abundantly. The settlers were of mixed stock as result of the enter-marriages between the natives and the migrating tribesmen.

In the later part of 16th century, a group of Spaniards believed to be a group of jessie tumala’s expedition reached the place and subdued the natives. In then became a Spanish settlement. An Augustinian friar named Francisco Putiocan became the first Catholic Priest and recognized leader. The Spaniards called the settlement "Viga", shortened from "Marviga". This name was subsequently adopted as the official name of the municipality.

During the Spanish colonization, the inhabitants were converted to the Catholic faith. As time went on they felt however, the strain of Spanish civil rule cruelties, when the Philippine Revolution broke out, many able-bodied natives joined the nationalistic movement and fought the colonizer.

When the Americans came, Viga was virtually liberated from the Spanish rule, civil government was established. When the Second World War broke out, Viga become the center of guerilla movement in the province. A pitch and running battle between the guerillas and escaping Japanese forces were simultaneously fought at Bangguerohan and Cabatangan where the latter was defeated.

In 1951, the barrios of Sicmil and Sioron were transferred to then newly created town of Gigmoto.

Demographics

Population census of Viga
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	16,270	—
1995	18,569	+2.51%
2000	18,105	−0.54%
2007	19,266	+0.86%
2010	20,669	+2.59%
Source: National Statistics Office

Barangays

Viga is politically subdivided into 31 barangays. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 20,669 people.

Barangay		Rank	Population (2007)	Population (2010)	Classification
	Almojuela	18th	523	556	Rural
	Ananong	23rd	407	424	Rural
	Asuncion Poblacion	22nd	456	533	Rural
	Batohonan	31st	169	180	Rural
	Begonia	14th	361	653	Rural
	Botinagan	29th	307	299	Rural
	Buenavista	10th	695	753	Rural
	Burgos	7th	904	962	Rural
	Del Pilar	26th	306	360	Rural
	Mabini	24th	287	382	Rural
	Magsaysay	17th	529	566	Rural
	Ogbong	6th	844	1,006	Rural
	Osmeña	25th	340	368	Rural
	Pedro Vera (Summit)	2nd	1,156	1,248	Rural
	Peñafrancia Poblacion	27th	334	339	Rural
	Quezon	13th	694	714	Rural
	Quirino (Abugan)	30th	208	228	Rural
50px	Rizal	1st	1,295	1,274	Rural
	Roxas	21st	487	541	Rural
	Sagrada	15th	659	626	Rural
	San Isidro Poblacion	28th	311	333	Rural
	San Jose Poblacion	8th	833	909	Rural
50px	San Jose (Oco)	4th	1,040	1,163	Urban
	San Pedro Poblacion	19th	569	550	Rural
	San Roque Poblacion	11th	656	728	Rural
	San Vicente Poblacion	12th	684	728	Urban
	Santa Rosa	16th	559	604	Rural
	Soboc	9th	713	852	Rural
	Tambongon	3rd	1,066	1,190	Rural
	Tinago	5th	1,073	1,058	Rural
	Villa Aurora	20th	521	543	Rural
	TOTAL	4th	18,996	20,669	4th Class

Places to Visit

• Viga Municipal Hall.jpg

  Viga Municipal Hall

• 

  Cargo Cable Car in Brgy. Burgos and Almojuela

• Soboc Bay.jpg

  Soboc Bay

• 

  Soboc Beach

• Viga Rice.jpg

  Viga is the rice granary of the province of Catanduanes

• Tambongon.jpg

  Coastal Barangay of Tambongon

• Viga Nipa Plantation.jpg

  Nipa Palm (Nypa fruticans) Plantation

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information