Balanga City

Infobox Philippine city
infoboxtitle = City of Balanga, Bataan
sealfile = Balanga City Seal.png locatormapfile = Ph_locator_bataan_balanga.png caption = Map of Bataan showing the location of Balanga City.
region = Central Luzon (Region III)
province = Bataan (Capital)
districts = 2nd district of Bataan
barangays = 25
class = 5th class city; component city
cityhood = 2000
website = [http://www.cityofbalanga.gov.ph Balanga Official Website]
mayor = Jose Enrique Garcia (Kampi)
areakm2 = 135.60
pop2000 = 71,088
popden2000 = 524
The City of Balanga (Filipino: "Lungsod ng Balanga") is a fifth class city in the province of Bataan, Region III - Central Luzon, Philippines. It is the capital city of Bataan. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 71,088 people in 14,065 households. Its citizens are called Balangueños.

Balanga City is primarily a residential-agricultural city. In recent years, it is increasingly becoming an important commercial city in Region III.

Barangays

Balanga City is politically subdivided into 25 barangays.

City Mayor

History

Balanga, the capital of Bataan, was formerly a visita of Abucay before it was established as a mission of the Dominican Order in the Provincial Chapter of April 21, 1714 and later declared a vicariate on April 18, 1739, under the patronage of Saint Joseph. Upon the establishment of Bataan as a separate province in 1754, Balanga was made its capital by General Pedro Manuel Arandia due to its favorable location, at the heart of the new territorial jurisdiction. The word Balanga originates from the Tagalog word bañga (clay pot), which the town used to produce and which was among the best that can be found in the country.

Today. Balanga has just recently been transformed into a City. Prior to this development, the City has extended its urban fringe to west of Roman Superhighway and a new growth center in Barangay Tuyo has been delineated in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. During the past years, the city saw a high record of residential growth. The consequent expansion of the physical limits of the urban core as well as the expected large increases in population, and its attractiveness to commercial and employment activities, the City Government of Balanga decided to undertake a Master Planning exercise and to propose various developmental projects that would establish Balanga as a well-planned community with quality and character that is innovative and special.. [ [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/factsheet/pdf01/fs1_01.asp NSCB - 2001 Factsheet - 12 New Cities Created] , July-December 2000.]

Education

Balanga City is the educational center of the province of Bataan. It currently has one public university and several private colleges offering various courses such as Accountancy, Business Administration, Computer Science and Information Technology, Elementary and Secondary Education, Engineering, and Health Professions like Nursing and Midwifery.

Bataan Peninsula State University is the lone public university in the city. It operates two campuses in the city, the main campus which is located in the capitol compound and the Balanga City campus which is located in downtown area.

Tomas del Rosario College is one of the oldest private educational institution in the city. It is located at Capitol Drive in Barangay San Jose.

St. Joseph's College of Balanga is the newest college in the city.

The other private colleges in the city include Asia Pacific College of Advanced Studies and EastWoods College (formerly SOFTNET College of Science and Technology), both located in Barangay Ibayo, Bataan Heroes Memorial College located in Bataan Provincial Expressway, Microcity Computer College located at Capitol Drive, and STI College Balanga in Barangay Poblacion.

Other higher educational institutions in the city of Balanga include AMA Computer Learning Center – Balanga, Philippine Women's University - CDCEC Bataan, and Proclesia International Inc.

The city is also a host to the biggest public secondary school in the province, the Bataan National High School. The other notable public secondary schools in the city are the laboratory high school of Bataan Peninsula State University, and the newest Bataan Integrated School.

Notable private secondary schools in the city include the high school departments of Tomas del Rosario College, Asia Pacific College of Advanced Studies and St. Joseph College's of Balanga, Bataan Infant Jesus School and Bataan Montessori School, Inc.

Economy

Banks

The following is a list of banks in the city.
*Accord Bank
*Balanga Rural Bank
*Banco de Oro
*Banco Filipino
*Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
*Bataan Development Bank
*Bataan Savings and Loan Bank
*Chinabank
*Development Bank of the Philippines
*Guagua Savers Bank
*Land Bank of the Philippines
*Maybank
*Metrobank
*Philippine National Bank
*Philippine Savings Bank
*Planters Development Bank
* [Rizal Commercial Banking
*United Coconut Plant Corporation
*Unity Bank

Commercial Centers

*Balanga Plaza Arcade
*Bataan Metromall is located in Barangay Poblacion. It has a department store and an appliance center. Popular clothing companies operate their shops in the mall including Bench and Penshoppe.
*Bataan Sunshine Mall
*Bataan Transport Mall
*Central Plaza Mall
*Naval Commercial Center
*RECAR Beltran Commercial Complex

Restaurants

Several restaurants operate in the city and these include the following. [ [http://sites.google.com/a/bataan.gov.ph/tourism/where-to-dine/food--restaurants Provincial Tourism Office - Where to dine] .]
*Aling Edios Pansit
*Aling Estrella's Eatery
*Andrei's Restaurant
*Aranice Barbequehan
*Aurora's Restaurant
*Bistro Timotea
*Chowking
*Dayrit's Kitchen
*Denbell's
*Greenwich Pizza
*Ihaw-ihaw sa Tagle's
*J2 Fastfood Nook
*Jam's Burger Plus, Inc.
*Java Jam
*Jollibee
*Joyous Restaurant
*Kentucky Fried Chicken
*Kitchen Delight
*Louis Restaurant
*Master Chef
*Max's Restaurant
*McDonald's
*Michell's
*Nico's Terrace Grill
*Razon's
*Red Ribbon (Bakeshop)
*Seashore Restaurant
*Wanam Restaurant

Public Market

*Bagsakan Center Food Terminal
*Balanga City Public Market

Places of Interest

General

*Balanga City Hall
*Balanga City Plaza
*Bataan Provincial Capitol
*Catholic Church Belfry
*Surrender Site Marker, Balanga Central School

Hospitals

*Bataan Doctors' Hospital
*Bataan General Hospital
*Isaac-Catalina Medical Center
*St. Joseph Hospital
*Women's Hospital

Hotels

This is a list of hotel accommodations in the city. [ [http://sites.google.com/a/bataan.gov.ph/tourism/where-to-stay/accomodations Provincial Tourism Office - Accomodations] ]
*Buenavista Lodge
*Crown Royale Hotel
*D' Samat Lodge
*Elison Hotel
*Hillside Garden Mansions
*Marian Hotel

Places of Worship

* Assembly of God
*Capitol United Methodist Church
*Tortugas United Methodist Church
*Iglesia ni Cristo
*Kabanalbanalang Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus - established in the Philippines on May 1922 by Teofilo Ora
*Kingdom Hall of Jehova's Witnesses
*Papuri Home
*St. Joseph Cathedral

ports

*Balanga Athletic Grounds
*Bataan People's Center is a great venue for indoor sports competition and for concerts. It is located within the Bataan Capitol Compound.

ubdivisions/Villages

*Doña Francisca Subdivision
*Doña Maria Subdivision
*San Antonio Village
*Taglesville Subdivision
*Villa Lina Subdivision

Cemeteries

*Eternal Shrine Memorial Park

Bataan Provincial Expressway

Balanga City is located at Exit 30 of the Bataan Provincial Expressway. It can also be reached from up north through the newly opened Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) Hermosa exit.

References

External links

* [http://www.t-macs.com/kiso/local/ 2000 Philippine Census Information]
* [http://www.mybataan.com/content/view/74/239/ Balanga City General Information]
* [http://batang-balanga.blogspot.com Balanga City News and Current Events]
* [http://www.mybnhs.com/ Bataan National High School]
* [http://www.cityofbalanga.gov.ph/ City of Balanga]
* [http://www.katropa.com Filipino Community]
* [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
* [http://sites.google.com/a/bataan.gov.ph/tourism/where-to-stay/accomodations Provincial Tourism Office - Accomodations]
* [http://sites.google.com/a/bataan.gov.ph/tourism/where-to-dine/food--restaurants/ Provincial Tourism Office - Where to dine]