Pamplona, Negros Oriental

Historical Background

Pamplona then a barrio of Tanjay was created into a municipality by virtue of Republic Act No. 535 enacted on June 16, 1950 which Hon. Pedro Bandoquillio, elected congressman in 1947 authored in congress. Since its creation, it has been administered by six municipal mayors. They were the late Juan Cañaveral, Sergio Aniñon, and Apolinario P. Arnaiz, Sr., who managed to hold the reign for more than 22 years. After the EDSA Revolution in 1986, Douglas T. Diago was appointed as Officer In Charge, ran and won in the 1987 election and took the reign for twelve years, managing to complete his three term of mayorship from 1986-1998.

The late Wenceslao E. Duran, the undefeated politician, took hold of the administration for a brief period, after winning the 1998 election. He died of cardiac arrest while delivering his address during training in the municipality on December 18, 1999. Atty. Ricarte R. Valencia, who was then the vice mayor took office up to June 30, 2001. He ran for the post and lost in the election. Winning in the two elections in 2001 and 2004, the young, and energetic Apolinario P. Arnaiz, Jr. now reigns in his last term.

Naming

Originally the place was called “Tampa”, named after a big shady tree located at the heart of the town. The naming of the place into Pamplona has two versions.

According to professor Timoteo Oracion, a historian of Silliman University, Pamplona was named after a certain town “pueblo” in Spain called Pamplona. According to his version the first Spanish priest who was assigned to the place was amazed by the by the beautiful terrain which resembles to that of Pamplona, Spain. So that Tampa was renamed into Pamplona.

Other history foretold by the old people of the place is that, the place was called after a certain priest named Fr. Santiago Pamplona, the first Spanish Curate assigned in area.

Location

The municipality of Pamplona is located 37.9 kilometers northwest of Dumaguete City, the capital City of Negros Oriental, and 7.6 west of the municipality of Tanjay. Its coordinates are specifically as follows:

9 2’ – 9 30’ North Latitude 123 00’ – 1123 0Â’ East latitude

Tanjay bounds it on the north, east by the municipality of Amlan and Tanjay, on the south by the municipality of Sibulan and on the west by Sta. Catalina.

Political Subdivision

Pamplona is politically subdivided into 16 barangays.

* Abante * Balayong * Banawe * Datagon * Fatima * Inawasan * Magsusunog * Malalangsi

* Mamburao * Mangoto * Poblacion * San Isidro * Santa Agueda * Simborio * Yupisan * Calicanan

Tourism

In the past, Pamplona is out in the picture of tourism industry of Negros Oriental. With the establishment of Pamplona Golf and Country Club which a small portion is located in the municipality, tourism dawns in the vision of the town. Although it is strategically located in the municipality of Tanjay, it brings the name of Pamplona. Activity

With its endeavor towards putting Pamplona in the map of Tourism destination in the province, the municipality had launched the KASULAD Festival last October 1-12, 2005. This will be a yearly festivity which will include street dancing and agricultural and industrial fair. Nature

Another potential area which attracts visitors, is the sulfuric water falls known as Palaypay Falls. Its water source is nestled by the mountains of Sibulan. The place is accessible by four wheel drive vehicles and motorcycles, being connected by rough roads. It is located 12 kilometers from the Poblacion and can be reached within thirty minutes drive or two hours walk from Poblacion.

Mountain ridges overlooking the plains of Pamplona, can be an object of viewers of scenic beauties. Nabalabag ridge, located at an elevation of 800 meter above sea level at barangay San Isidro, overlooks on the west at municipalities of Bayawan and Sta. Catalina and in the east, with the town of Pamplona, Tanjay and Manjuyod and the city of Bais. Food and Delicacies

Pasalubong delicacies processed in the municipality include Glazed Banana and Carmelitos. This food has self life of one month, meaning that it will not get spoiled within one month. The famous Bodbod is also processed in the area.

Business Establishments

There are 243 Food Establishments operating in the municipality, 218 or 90% which have sanitary permits.

There are 10 Sand and Gravel Operating in the Municipality, 6 Copra Buyer and 5 Hog Buyer.

Education

The municipality has a total of 23 established primary and elementary schools. Each of the sixteen barangays composing the municipality has at least one primary schools. There are barangays who have more than two. San Isidro, the first largest barangays as to land area and second in population has four schools, two complete elementary and two primary schools.

School enrolment for the school year 2004-2005 totaled to 6,417. A total number of 165 teachers are delivering education services.

Pamplona school district to the present has 149 school buildings. This includes buildings which dilapidated, and requires repair. Ten percent of these are beyond repair and needs new construction for replacement.

There are three secondary schools in the municipality. These are Pamplona National High School at Poblacion, Sta. Agueda National High School at Sta. Agueda and Isidoro Salma Memorial School at Balayong.

Performance indicator for the School year 2004-2005 revealed that the literacy rate is 80%, Cohort Survival rate is 40.89%, drop out rate is 2.32%, and participation rate is 85.97. This mean that out of the total children enrolled in schools 2.32% drop out or stop during the school year and of the total school age population, 85.97% are in schools.

The DepEd of Pamplona District is undertaking various educational programs. Among which is the Third Elementary Education Program (TEEP) for School buildings, improvement and Innovation facilities. It envisioned of improving the educational quality of our pupils for global competition. To the moment five buildings were improved and repaired.

The Fifth Country Program for Children (CPC V) has identified another two pilot barangays for its child program. Day care Children, Grades I and II of barangays Magsusunog and Inawasan had availed the program. They were provided with vitamin supplements, plastic chairs and other materials to meet the child-friendly-school standards. Barangay Health Centers on the other hand had received equipment and facilities in the delivery of health services.

Health

Health The record of live birth indicates that 20 child are born for every 1,000.00 population, while death records showed that 4 died for every 1,000. The data shows, that with the total population of 32,000 our municipalityÂ’s population will increase to 37,120 by the year 2012. This indicates the need to strengthen the campaign for birth control or family planning. According to the report of the MHO with the total death, 99% or 156 had medical attendance. These proves that medical services is efficient and effective. Of the seven infant deaths three died of Pneumonia, two died of unknown cause and two on stillbirths. Cause of one maternal death was due to Postpartum hemorrhage. The decrease of infant and maternal death rate for the year signified the efficient and effective delivery of health services in the barangays. Despite of the insufficient facilities in the barangays, midwives and health workers efficiently did their jobs. The top three leading causes of mortality showed that 60 died of Pneumonia, 18 died of Cerebrovascular Accident while 17 died of Congestive Hearth Failure while the top three leading causes of morbidity showed Influenza, Pneumonia and Diarrhea. Basing on the report, Pneumonia is the top leading cause of mortality among infants and adults. The top three leading causes of morbidity are environmentally borne. Both three can be accounted to poor environmental sanitation. This situation will guide both health workers and stakeholders where to direct its programs. Malnutrition is still prevalent in the municipality. Although incidence of severe is .7% which is very low, incidence of mild is 44% which is still high. The incidence of severe has to be eradicated and the incidence of mild has to be reduced. Improving health condition of the people and total eradication of both infant and maternal death incidence are the endeavors of heath workers. With this there is a need for substantial support of both the barangay and municipal government units in form of facilities, supplies and medicines.

Agriculture

Agriculture Basically, Pamplona is an agricultural municipality. Agricultural continues to be the main economic activity as it played an important role in the development of the town. The main crops raised in the place are sugar, coconuts and bananas. Other crops such as corn, rice and other root crops grows in areas where accessibility to farm to market roads is rare. Coconut is the largest crops raised accumulating 3,676 hectares, followed by sugar 3,432 hectares and corn, 1,022 hectares. Only 107 hectares are irrigated rice land while 643 hectares are upland rice. Of the total agriculture areas of the municipality, 11,395 is strategic areas for development of Agro-industrial crops, 1,925 hectares for food crops while 925 for High Value Crops. Other agri-related economic activities which greatly helped in the increase of farmerÂ’s income is livestock raising. Record shows that livestock raised includes large cattle, swine, chicken, goats and many others. Other information on agricultural support facilities are shown in the following presentation.

edited by: Rhiam boy Divinagracia LGU-Pamplona IT Specialist Pamplona, Oriental Negros

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]
* [http://www.friendster.com/alawihao]