Biñan, Laguna

Infobox Philippine municipality
infoboxtitle = Municipality of Biñan
sealfile =
locatormapfile = Ph_locator_laguna_binan.png caption = Map of Laguna showing the location of Biñan.
region = CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
province = Laguna
districts = First District of Laguna
barangays = 24
class = First Class;urban
mayor = Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat (NPC)
areakm2 =
pop2007 = 262,735
popden2000 = |

Biñán is a municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. Accessible from Metro Manila via the South Luzon Expressway, Biñan has become both a suburban residential community of Metro Manila and a location for some of the Philippines' largest industrial estates and export processing zones. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 262,735.

Biñan is the second town of Laguna if you are coming south from Metro Manila. The town is one of three comprising the first district of Laguna.

Built up area

With the continuous expansion of Metro Manilla, the city is now included in Manilla built up area which reaches Lipa City in its southernmost part.

Barangays

Biñan is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.

{| border="0"
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* Biñan (Poblacion)
* Bungahan
* Santo Tomas (Calabuso)
* Canlalay
* Casile
* De La Paz
* Ganado
* San Francisco (Halang)
* Langkiwa
* Loma
* Malaban
* Malamig
* Mamplasan
* Platero
* Poblacion
* Santo Niño (San Anton)
* San Antonio
* San Jose
* San Vicente
* Soro-Soro
* Santo Domingo
* Timbao
* Tubigan
* Zapote

History

The name of the town was believed to have originated as a contraction of the term "binyagan", which means "baptism".

Biñan was discovered by the Spaniards who founded it at the end of June 1571, a month after Miguel Lopez de Legaspi established Manila based on the old writings.

In 1769, when the provincial capital was transferred from Bay to Pagsanjan, Biñan was separated from Bay. In 1771, during the time of Pablo Faustino, Santa Rosa separated from Biñan after a bloody war that lasted for hundreds of years led by onel a famous katipunero at binan and became a separate town.

Historically, Biñan is nationally recognized in the books related to the biography of José Rizal, the country's national hero. It was said that Jose Rizal took residence in the areas near the town proper during his childhood and was formally educated in one of its schools. His teacher is Justiniano Cruz Aquino. In honor of Jose Rizal, a plaque of recognition was bestowed on the house where he stayed at. A monument now stands at the center of Biñan's town plaza in recognition of Biñan's affiliation to Rizal.

Economy

Biñan has been popularly recognized as the trading center area immediately south of Metro Manila. Retailers from nearby towns often plow the town proper to purchase goods and merchandise intended to be sold elsewhere.

A common sight is the preparations and setting up of the wholesalers and the arrival of jeepneys and trucks carrying various items such as fruits, vegetables, dry goods, dairy products, meat, fish, etc. The market activity would be 24 hours with peak reaching the early hours (5:00-8:00am) as Filipinos are known to work in the early hours of the day trying to prevent exposure to the beating sun.

The town is also known for pancake made from rice wheat topped with cheese or butter (Puto Biñan). The best known makers of Puto in Biñan are located in the barangay of San Vicente in the name of Nila's Puto.

This town is also known for the shoes and slippers manufactured in Dela Paz and Malaban. While in Platero you will find the manufacturer of hats or the so called "Sumbrero".

Education

Biñan is also considered the educational center of the first congressional district of Laguna, having the most number of secondary and tertiary schools in the area. The first University in Biñan is the University of Perpetual Help System of Laguna located in Barangay Sto. Niño. The first International School, Brent School, is located at Barangay Mamplasan. Schools include the Brent International School, Colegio San Antonio-Biñan formerly Saint Anthony School of Biñan, La Consolacion College-Biñan, Colegio San Agustin-Biñan, De La Salle-Canlubang, Saint Michael's College of Laguna,Catholic School of Pacita, University of Perpetual Help System Laguna, Santa Catalina College-Biñan, Lake Shore Educational Institute,Caritas Don Bosco School,Biñan National High School,Biñan Elementary School,Pagkakaisa Elementary School,Jacobo Z. Gonzales Memorial School of Arts and Trade, San Vicente Elementary School.

Physical Features

LAND AREA AND LOCATION: Biñan covers a total area of 4,350 hectares which represents 2.5 percent of the entire Laguna area. Barangay San Francisco occupies the largest area which is about 16.83 percent of Biñan while Barangay Casile has the smallest area with only 12 hectares or 0.27 percent.

The Municipality of Binan is located in the province of Laguna in the island of Luzon about 35km south of Manila. It is bounded on the north by San Pedro on the south by Sta. Rosa`on the west by Carmona, Cavite. On the eastern and northern horizon lies the Laguna de Bay.

TOPOGRAPHY:

The Municipality of Binan is generally plain with 85.33 percent of its total area having a slope of zero to 2.5 percent. This covers all the 24 barangay except for small portions of barangay Biñan and San Francisco having a slope ranging from 2.6 to 25 percent, meaning it is gently sloping to strongly sloping. With more that three-fourths of its area generally level to nearly level, this makes Biñan suitable for agricultural and urban development.

CLIMATE AND RAINFALL:

The climate of Biñan is characterized by two pronounced seasons; dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Maximum rainfall occurs from June to September with an annual average rainfall of 200 millimeters. Through the Philippines is located in the “typoon belt” zone, Biñan is hardly protected by mountains in the peripheral areas. Its making the area cooler.

SOIL PROPERTIES:

Of the eleven types of soil that compose the land area of Laguna, Carmona and Gingua series covers about two types that can only be seen in Biñan. Carmona series covers about 2,577 hectares or 59.24 seen in Biñan’s land area. Agricultural land in these areas are primarily devoted to rice and sugar production. Gingua series, on other hand, specifically the fine sandy type covers 315 hectares which is one of the most productive soils in laguna where a variety of crops especially vegetables are grown profitably. The other two basic soil types comprising Biñan are Guadalupe series covering 660 hectares and Lipa series with 798 hectares. All soil types are best suited to rice and, with the exception of Guadalupe series, to sugarcane.

ACCESSIBILITY:

The Municipality of Binan is accessible to all types of land transportation from Manila, or South Super Hiway, exits Mamplasan-LIP and Southwoods in Biñan, Susana Heights in Muntinlupa City and Carmona in Cavite can be used. From the south or from the capital town Sta. Cruz, the National Highway can be utilized.

POPULATION:

As of 2006, Biñan has a total population of 269,608.

BARANGAY POPULATION NO. OF HOUSEHOLDS

Sto. Tomas 40,354 6,726Malaban 37,555 6,259Dela Paz 33,033 5,505San Francisco 25,592 4,265Canlalay 24,753 4,126San Antonio 24,379 4,063San Vicente 13,676 2,279Platero 12,445 2,074San Jose 7,624 1,271Sto. Niño 6,613 1,102Soro-Soro 6,482 1,080Sto.Domingo 6,245 1,071Tubigan 5,651 942Poblacion 3,809 635Mamplasan 3,593 599Casile 3,340 557Ganado 3,191 532Timbao 2,462 410Langkiwa 2,373 396Loma 2,145 356Malamig 1,459 243Bungahan 1,174 196Zapote 1,081 180Biñan 579 97

TOTAL 269,608 44,884

LAND AREA PER BARANGAY (has)Province of Laguna 175, 973 (has) Municipality of Binan 4,359 (has)

Economic Fratures

Agriculture

Agricultural Area: Rice - 465.5 has Vegetable – 53.49 has

No. of rice farmers – 221 No. of Veg. farmers – 240

Fishing Gears

Gill Net - 25,000 Banca (authorized) - 46 Banca (unauthorized) - 30

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Footwear, Headwear, Making of Puto and special pasalubong like pinipig, ampaw etc.

INVESTMENT SITES The municipality of Biñan has two industrial parks namely, Laguna International Industrial Park and Laguna Technopark, Inc. The two industrial parks have created a good image in contributing favorably in our municipality as well as Philippine economy in terms of local employment and the generation of foreign exchange. To date, our municipality has benefited a large number of residents being employed in different companies there. To name a few, Honda Parts Manufacturing Corporation, Kito Corporation, Nissin Brake, Ryonan Electric, Cirtek Electronics, Sunpower, Nidec, Isuzu Philippines, Atlas Copco, Diageo, Furukawa Electric, Takata, Toshiba, Transitions Optical Phils., Inc., Hitachi Computer products, Amkor Anam Precision machine, IMI, TDK, and several multi-national companies.

Tourist Attraction

Splash Island, a modern water themepark, is located at Barangay San Francisco. It is accessible through the Southwoods Exit of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). Tibagan Falls in Barangay Malamig, and Hollywood Action star Chuck Norris use this location as part of his movie shooting. Pavillion Mall is located at Barangay San Antonio and Barangay Santo Niño. Rizal monument in downtown.

External links

* [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
* [http://www.t-macs.com/kiso/local/ 2000 Philippine Census Information]