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Revision as of 10:47, 27 December 2007 by 58.69.181.205 (talk) (→Commerce,Economy and Banking)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Template:Infobox Philippine city Sorsogon City is a 4th class city in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. It is the capital city of Sorsogon. It was formed by merging the former towns of Bacon and Sorsogon in 2000.
According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 134,678 people in 26,047 households.
Barangays
Sorsogon City is politically subdivided into 64 barangays.
36 barangays were in the former municipality of Sorsogon:
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28 barangays were in the former municipality of Bacon:
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History
Sorsogon City was created by virtue of Republic Act 8806 which was enacted on August 16, 2000 and ratified in December 2000.
Prominent politicians of the locality behind its creation were incumbent Sorsogon 1st District Representative Francis Escudero and former Bacon Municipal Mayor Leovic R. Dioneda. Former Bacon Vice-Mayor Aurelio Destacamento, joined by former Sorsogon councilors Antonio C. Detera, Azel Diesta and Telo Mella fought before the two local legislative chambers, for the approval of appropriation ordinances providing budget for the holding of its plebiscite.
Prior to its ratification, a petition to declare RA 8806 null and void was filed by lawyer Atty. Gil Gojol. Because Bacon municipality was enjoined as one of the respondents in said petition, a young practising lawyer from Buenavista, Bacon District, in the name of Atty. Glenn Olbes, defended its constitutionality. The legal battle for its constitutionality was upheld later on by a majority decision of the Sorsoguenos who desire for the development of the newly created local government unit.
Opponents for its ratification were incumbent Governor Raul R. Lee and his wife, Sally A. Lee who became its first contested City Mayor.
Commerce,Economy and Banking
Sorsogon City is already considered as one of the most competetive cities around the region based on its present economic status that is rapidly growing. LCC mall Inc. that is originally located in Legazpi City and Naga City has already opened its newest branch in Sorsogon City which gives Sorsogueños the chance to witness an all new latest and modernized shopping experience.
There are rumors saying that the SM Prime Holdings (owner of SM Supermalls) had expressed its interest in putting up its branch here in Sorsogon City. But still, this statement is baseless and still in state of inconsistency.
Sorsogon City is the central business district of the province. It host most of the banks around the province namely Land Bank of the Philippines, Metrobank, Allied Bank, China Bank,United Coconut Planters Bank, Far East Bank and Trust Company, Legazpi Savings Bank Equitable PCI Bank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank, Camalig Bank, and Banco de Oro Universal bank that will open very soon.
A number of restaurants, bars and well-known food chains are located at Rizal and Magsaysay Avenues inside the city's central business district lead by Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich are just few of those.
The Province of Sorsogon including the Sorsogon City Government has been declared the commodity champion for Pili nut because it is the biggest Pili production source in the whole Bicol Region, accounting for approximately 70% of the total Pili supply in the country. It has a total of 1,568.54 hectares planted to Pili trees, or an estimated total of 56,861 trees capable of producing 1,893 metric tons of Pili nuts per harvest season. This positions Sorsogon favorably as the main supplier of Pili nuts in the world market. Also, since this is a new export product, the prospect is bright for producers and processors of Pili nuts.
The proposed hydroelectric plants located in the barangays of Osiao, Tiris and Maricrum all in the Bacon District of Sorsogon City, have an estimated combined generating capacity of 3.45 megawatts, enough to stabilize and further improve the reliability of the existing power supply system under the coverage area of the Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SORECO II). The Provincial Government proposes to develop these under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme. The proposed upgrading of the existing Cawayan Hydroelectric Plant, under the same BOT scheme, intends to maximize its potential for a total power output of 2,500 kilowatts.
Seaweed culture, particularly Eucheuma seaweeds, offers the brightest prospects among all marine resource development projects in the Province of Sorsogon. In fact, cooperative-ran Eucheuma farms are now in place, and have proven to be economically-successful, in the municipalities of Matnog, Castilla, Gubat, Barcelona, Magallanes and Bacon District in Sorsogon City. There are also Gracillaria seaweed farms. One of the possible strategies for the promotion of local commercial production of seaweeds is to link up seaweed producers with foreign buyers and processors through contract farming and marketing schemes.
Prawn production is one of the identified priority industries in the City Government of Sorsogon because of its demand both in the domestic and international market. At present, there are a total of 1,900.52 hectares of fishponds devoted to prawn culture in the province. Investors interested in inland aquaculture, or specifically prawn production, can establish support facilities, such as prawn hatcheries and laboratories to ensure the industry�s sustainability.
The province's marble reserves are located principally in Barangay Bato, Bacon District, but these are also found in the adjacent barangays of Gatbo and Sugod, also in Bacon District of Sorsogon City, with an estimated total geological reserve of 25 million cubic meters. Small scale marble quarrying and processing are now being undertaken by individual lot owners in Barangay Bato.
A total of 98,155.07 hectares of agricultural land is devoted to coconut production in the Province of Sorsogon. The province produces an estimated 65,000 metric tons of copra per annum. The proposed Integrated Coconut Processing Plant will buy whole nuts from local coconut farmers, which will go into four major plant operations/processing. These include the Copra Drying Division to produce coconut oil; the Coconut Water Division to produce coconut vinegar and Nata de Coco; the Coconut Shell Carbonization Division to produce activated carbon; and the De-Husking Division to produce coco coir for fiber mats and coco peat for soil conditioner.
Transportation
Sorsogon City can be reached through land transport from Manila by bus for about 10-11 hours. More than 5 bus companies operate daily to and from Manila to Sorsogon.
The proposed upgrading of the existing Sorsogon Airport located in Bacon District will mean Sorsogon residents, as well as visitors from Manila and other places, can already avail of direct flights without the necessity of going to the Legazpi Airport in Albay Province. It will also mean a big boost to the local tourism industry. At present, the existing airport can only accept light aircraft because of its short runway. The proposed upgrading and development will involve the extension and concreting of the runway, expansion of the apron, construction of a bigger terminal building, construction of access roads, removal of obstructions and other airport requirements. The airport is only 5 kilometers away from Sorsogon City's central business district, compared to the Legazpi Airport which is one hour and half ride from Sorsogon.
The Sorsogon Provincial Government, in coordination with the Sorsogon City government envisions the setting up and construction of an Integrated Land Transportation Terminal that will house all passenger buses and jeepneys coming in and out of Sorsogon City proper. The identified site is Barangay Cabid-an along the diversion road. A terminal building will be constructed for ticket offices, passenger lounges, commercial stalls, restaurants or eateries, and quarters for drivers and other transport staff. This will cover an initial one hectare area including adequate space for the parking of buses and jeepneys.
Tourism
Sorsogon City the capital and seat of government as jump-off point, all the eco-tour destinations within the province are easily accessible, including the singularly exciting, high adventure Whale Shark or Butanding Interaction activity off the waters of Donsol, Pilar, Castilla, Magallanes, and Bacon District of Sorsogon City; a rare nature-commune at the Mt. Bulusan Natural Park and its mystical Bulusan Mountain Lake Resort, with its exotic flora and fauna; the province's magnificently colorful dive sites and marine sanctuaries; mysterious caves with interesting folk legends to explore; hot springs and healing mineral water spas to soak in, relax and unwind; the picturesque little islands within Sorsogon Bay and off Matnog, offering fine white, black or pink sand beaches; the historical landmarks, including old churches, ancient houses and monuments, historic ruins of baluartes, murallas, and astilleros or ancient shipyards; and local arts and crafts.
Located offshore in Sorsogon Bay just parallel to the Sorsogon Pier that juts into the Bay, the 3-hectare island is suitable as a picnic resort, complete with swimming pools, bird and butterfly sanctuaries, a mini-zoo, a botanical garden, bicycle lanes, picnic huts and cottages, or a small hotel, a seafood restaurant, a small marina for boating in Sorsogon Bay, and other leisure facilities.
Infrastructure
The proposed Sorsogon Business and Leisure Park is a 20 hectare reclamation area linking the 3-hectare Pinaculan Island to the Sorsogon Pier in Sorsogon Bay, forming part of the expansion area of the Sorsogon City's central business district. The area shall have a rock causeway and seawall, complete with wide and well-paved roads, underground electrical and telephone systems and water supply. Low, medium and high density zones shall be identified for business establishments, plants and factories, including a central park.
This is located in Barangay Bucal-Bucalan along the national highway, about 15-20 minutes away by car from the Sorsogon City's central Business District. Already in place is a small rest area for travelers, complete with a mini-park and a small canteen with a view deck. The proposed development of the area involves the construction of a seafood trading and rest facility, complete with seafood stalls, bayside restaurants and cafes, and adequate parking space. The food stalls and restaurants will specialize in fresh blue crabs which Sorsogon is known for. Customers can have their pick of crabs and other seafood from the stalls and have them cooked at the adjacent restaurants or open air grill shops.
External links
 Province of Sorsogon | |
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| Sorsogon City (capital and largest city) | |
| Municipalities | |
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