Norzagaray, officially the Municipality of Norzagaray ( tgl, Bayan ng Norzagaray), is a 1st class
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...
in the
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions out ...
of
Bulacan
Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan ( tl, Lalawigan ng Bulacan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and part of the Me ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 136,064 people.
It is the location of
Angat Dam
Angat Dam () is a concrete water reservoir embankment hydroelectric dam that supplies Metro Manila and nearby provinces with water. It was a part of the Angat- Ipo- La Mesa water system. The reservoir supplies about 90 percent of raw water requ ...
which sits on the lower realms of the Sierra Madre mountain range, the Dam is notable for being a major water and power supply for the
National Capital Region
A capital region, also called a capital district or capital territory, is a region or district surrounding a capital city. It is not always the official term for the region, but may sometimes be used as an informal synonym. Capital regions can exis ...
.
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
Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...
Fernándo Norzagaray y Escudero
Fernando María Félix Mateo Juan Nepomuceno de Norzagaray y Escudero (19 July 1808 - 12 September 1860) was a Spanish soldier and colonial governor. Of Basque descent, he was a lieutenant general before becoming the 104th Governor of Puerto Ri ...
(1857-1860) 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 said Governor-General Fernando de Norzagaray.
Cityhood
As early as 2005, the town's Sangguniang Bayan approved Resolution No. 60, Series of 2005 requesting the Senate of the Philippines through its
president
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
* President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
,
Franklin Drilon
Franklin Magtunao Drilon (born November 28, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and former politician. He had the longest tenure in the Senate of the Philippines (tied with Lorenzo Tañada, Tito Sotto and incumbent Loren Legarda), having served four ...
and the House of Representatives thru its
speaker
Speaker may refer to:
Society and politics
* Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly
* Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture
* A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially:
** In ...
,
Jose de Venecia Jr.
Jose Claveria de Venecia Jr. (), also known as JDV, Joe De V or Manong Joe (born December 26, 1936), is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, serving from 1992 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2008. As Speaker, he was the ...
to co-sponsor a bill for Norzagaray's conversion into a city and creation of a lone legislative district.
Geography
The town of Norzagaray is bordered by
City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and
Rodriguez, Rizal
Rodriguez, officially the Municipality of Rodriguez ( tgl, Bayan ng Rodriguez), formerly known and still commonly known as Montalban, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a popu ...
, to the south; by
General Nakar, Quezon to the east;
Santa Maria to the west;
Angat, Bulacan
Angat, officially the Municipality of Angat ( tgl, Bayan ng Angat), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 65,617 people.
Etymology
The Town of Angat got its n ...
is north-west; and
Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan
Don (; ; pt, Dom, links=no ; all from Latin ', roughly 'Lord'), abbreviated as D., is an honorific prefix primarily used in Spain and Hispanic America, and with different connotations also in Italy, Portugal and its former colonies, and Croat ...
is to the north.
Norzagaray once a part of the 3rd district of Bulacan from 1987 to 2022 when it was moved to 6th district along with Angat and Santa Maria.
Barangays
Norzagaray is politically subdivided into 13
barangay
A barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as barrio (abbreviated as Bo.), is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district, or ward. In metropolita ...
s. Friendship Village Resources (FVR) was created into a barangay under ''Sangguniang Panlalawigan Kapasiyahan Bilang 179-T 2002'' and ''Sangguniang Panlalawigan Kautusan Bilang 003'' on April 18, 2002; ratified on October 12, 2002; taken from barangay Tigbe.
Climate
Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Norzagaray was 136,064 people, with a density of .
Economy
In 2017, Norzagaray generated a total revenue of P457.59 million, P73.23 million or 19% higher than its previous income in 2016, making it as the 4th richest municipality in Bulacan after
Marilao
Marilao, officially the Municipality of Marilao ( tgl, Bayan ng Marilao), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 254,453 people.
With the continuous expansion of ...
,
Santa Maria and
Baliuag
Baliwag or Baliuag, officially the City of Baliwag ( fil, Lungsod ng Baliwag), is a component city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 168,470 people.
Baliuag was founded in 1732 by Aug ...
.
;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
The Angat River (also called Quingua River) is a river in the Philippines located in the province of Bulacan. It flows from the Sierra Madre mountain range to Manila Bay. Three dams are located along the river namely Angat, Ipo and Bustos. The ...
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
The Angat Watershed Forest Reserve is a conservation area that protects the drainage basin in the southern Sierra Madre range north of Metro Manila in the Philippines where surface water empties into the Angat River and its distributaries. It is s ...
where the Angat River Hydroelectric Plant or
Angat Dam
Angat Dam () is a concrete water reservoir embankment hydroelectric dam that supplies Metro Manila and nearby provinces with water. It was a part of the Angat- Ipo- La Mesa water system. The reservoir supplies about 90 percent of raw water requ ...
is located. The dam is the biggest
hydroelectric plant
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined an ...
the
National Power Corporation
The National Power Corporation ( fil, Pambansang Korporasyon sa Elektrisidad, also known as Napocor, NPC or National Power), is a Philippine government-owned and controlled corporation that is mandated to provide electricity to all rural areas o ...
(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
Cloud seeding is a type of weather modification that aims to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, which alter the microphysica ...
in some years. The
reservoir
A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation.
Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contr ...
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
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (: March 22, 1869February 6, 1964) was a Filipino revolutionary, statesman, and military leader who is the youngest president of the Philippines (1899–1901) and is recognized as the first president of the Philippine ...
(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 in the Catholic and INC churches. The town also remembers the 31 heroes of the Revolution.
*Monument of Sinfroso de la Cruz
Religious
*St. Andrew the Apostle Church
*Virgen Delas Flores Church
*
Seventh-day Adventist
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is an Adventist Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week in the Christian (Gregorian) and the Hebrew calendar, as the Sabbath, and ...
church
*
Iglesia ni Cristo church
*
Members Church of God International
Member may refer to:
* Military jury, referred to as "Members" in military jargon
* Element (mathematics), an object that belongs to a mathematical set
* In object-oriented programming, a member of a class
** Field (computer science), entries in ...
Locale Congregation of Norzagaray
*
Members Church of God International
Member may refer to:
* Military jury, referred to as "Members" in military jargon
* Element (mathematics), an object that belongs to a mathematical set
* In object-oriented programming, a member of a class
** Field (computer science), entries in ...
Locale Congregation of North Hill Village
*
Members Church of God International
Member may refer to:
* Military jury, referred to as "Members" in military jargon
* Element (mathematics), an object that belongs to a mathematical set
* In object-oriented programming, a member of a class
** Field (computer science), entries in ...
Locale Congregation of Hill Top
*
Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide
Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide (JILCW), or more commonly known as Jesus Is Lord Church (JIL), is a Christian megachurch based in the Philippines. It describes itself as a Full Gospel, Christ-centred, and Bible-based church, with 5 million mem ...
(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
Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan ( tl, Lalawigan ng Bulacan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and part of the Me ...
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
Manila Water Company, Inc. has the exclusive right to provide water and used water (wastewater) services to over six million people in the East Zone of Metro Manila. It is a subsidiary of the country's oldest conglomerate, Ayala Corporation.
I ...
Co. Inc. will implement the project. MWSS and Manila Water will provide a financial package of an
infrastructure
Infrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or other area, and encompasses the services and facilities necessary for its economy, households and firms to function. Infrastructure is composed of public and priv ...
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 18-hectare
waste
Waste (or wastes) are unwanted or unusable materials. Waste is any substance discarded after primary use, or is worthless, defective and of no use. A by-product, by contrast is a joint product of relatively minor economic value. A waste pr ...
disposal facility, a new
sanitary landfill
Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage. Preventing human contact with feces is part of sanitation, as is hand washing with soap. Sanitation systems ...
that would also be a tourist attraction opened in Norzagaray,
Bulacan
Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan ( tl, Lalawigan ng Bulacan), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and part of the Me ...
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
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources ( fil, Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas na Yaman, DENR or KKLY) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for governing and supervising the exploration, developmen ...
abs-cbnnews.com, New landfill opens in Norzagaray, Bulacan
Government
Just as 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 Supreme Court ( fil, Kataas-taasang Hukuman; colloquially referred to as the ''Korte Suprema'' lso used in formal writing is the highest court in the Philippines. The Supreme Court was established by the Second Philippine Commission on J ...
. 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 barangay
Local Government Code of the Philippines, Book III
Department of the Interior and Local Government
The Department of the Interior and Local Government ( fil, Kagawaran ng Interyor at Pamahalaang Lokal), abbreviated as DILG, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for promoting peace and order, ensuring public saf ...
official website. The legislative branch is composed of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
Sangguniang Panlalawigan (abbreviated as SP; ), commonly known as the Provincial Board, are the legislatures in Philippine provinces. They are the legislative branches of the provinces, and their powers and responsibilities are defined by the Loc ...
(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
Sangguniang Kabataan (abbreviated as SK; ) is a council meant to represent the youth in each barangay in the Philippines. It was put "on hold", but not quite abolished, prior to the 2013 barangay elections. In January 2016, the Sangguniang ...
for the youth sector.
The seat of Government is vested upon the Mayor and other elected officers who hold office at the Town hall. The Sanguniang Bayan is the center of legislation.
Elected Officials
*Mayor: Ma. Elena L. Germar ( NUP)
*Vice Mayor: Patricio I. Gener ( PDP-Laban)
*Councilors:
**Restituto B. Sumbillo ( NUP)
**Abbygail H. Reyes ( NUP)
**Giulius Caezar S. Iapino ( PDP-Laban)
**Alvin B. Cruz ( NUP)
**Luzviminda P. Espiritu ( NUP)
**Ma. Cleope S. Pelayo ( PDP-Laban)
**Zosimo S. Cruz Jr. ( NUP)
**Edsel C. Mendoza ( PDP-Laban)
* ABC President: Andrew Germar (''Tigbe'')
* SK Federation President: Mark Ivan Feliciano (''Tigbe'')
References
External links
Norzagaray Bulacan
* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
br>Philippine Census Information
{{Authority control
Municipalities of Bulacan