La Libertad, Negros Oriental

La Libertad
Municipality
Municipality of La Libertad
Sunset view taken at a beach in La Libertad
Map of Negros Oriental with La Libertad highlighted
OpenStreetMap
La Libertad Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°02′N 123°13′E / 10.03°N 123.22°E / 10.03; 123.22Coordinates: 10°02′N 123°13′E / 10.03°N 123.22°E / 10.03; 123.22
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas
Province	Negros Oriental
District	1st district
Founded	January 10, 1919
Barangays	29 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Emmanuel L. Iway
• Vice Mayor	Lawrence D. Limkaichong Jr.
• Representative	Jocelyn S. Limkaichong
• Municipal Council	Members Julius C. Sabac Leonardo M. Cabildo Rene D. Gargoles Ronie T. Facturan Gualberto S. Laturnas Emelia Luz D. Medes Ritcho G. Absin Redgil C. Medes
• Electorate	25,336 voters (2019)
Area [2]
• Total	139.60 km2 (53.90 sq mi)
Elevation	50 m (160 ft)
Highest elevation	556 m (1,824 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census) [3]
• Total	41,089
• Density	290/km2 (760/sq mi)
• Households	9,138
Economy
• Income class	3rd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	57.52% (2015)[4]
• Revenue	₱147,822,709.84 (2020)
• Assets	₱699,460,031.31 (2020)
• Expenditure	₱225,023,693.59 (2020)
• Liabilities	₱227,605,087.37 (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Negros Oriental 1 Electric Cooperative (NORECO 1)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6213
PSGC	074613000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)35
Native languages	Cebuano Tagalog
Website	www.lalibertad-negor.gov.ph

La Libertad, officially the Municipality of La Libertad (Cebuano: Lungsod sa La Libertad; Tagalog: Bayan ng La Libertad), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 41,089 people. ^[3]

History[]

"The history of a nation is often interwoven with persons who in one way or another have been instrumental in its progress-political, educational, economic,social and to some extnt religious. Such is the history of a small barrio turned into a beautiful town. This is a brief history of La Libertad, a town 105 kilometers north of Dumaguete City."

"Hugging closely the coasts of Tanon Strait, and nesting cozily in the wide and fertile valley swept by the Hinoba-an River lines, La liBertad against a backdrop of a sylvan scenery. It bears a Castillan name which connotes "freedom" and whose yesteryears are filled with tender memories."

"Barrio Hinoba-an During the Spanish Regime. The place was then inhabited by the primitive tribes who were mostly Negritos. Several enterprising families from neighboring towns and distant provinces came to settle in this barrio. Among the first pioneers was a certain Pedro Absin. He came from the distant province of Camarines Sur with the Spanish friars, who spread the Christian religion to this part of Negros. He married a lovely lass who later was baptized as Mauricia. This was the beginning of the large and progressive Francisco Acar Absin clan."

"The other families were the Facturans from Jimalalud, the Carinals from Tayasan, and the de Paduas form Ilo-ilo. These people were the leading pioneer families of the "old" Hinoba-an. Most of them were engaged in farming and fishing."

"The fertile valleys of Hinoba-an were so enticing that several families immigrated to this barrio in the later part of the Spanish period. One of the prominent families that moved in was the Libo-on family. The head of this family was an Ilonggo. However, he did not come directly to Hinoba-an. A certain Maestro Tomas Libo-on of Miag-ao, Iloilo, arrived at the barrio of Jimalalud where he was employed as a private tutor by some families. He was a widower when he came but he brought with him his only son, Luciano, and a niece, Romana Libo-on. They lived in the barrio for several years. Later, Luciano was married to Bernabela Facturan, a native of the place. However, they were attracted by the richness of the soil of the neighboring barrio of Hinoba-an. They bought a pave of land at the mouth of the Hinoba-an River and built their first house there.

"Another family worthy of mention is the Banogon family. The head of this clan was Pio Banogon. Born on May 5, 1876 in Tanjay, another town of this province, Pio grew to be a promising young man. After he finished grade school, his parents sent him to Manila to study at San Juan de Letran for two years. When he returned home, he was so moved by his adventurous spirit that he decided to go northward. In 1896, he arrived at Jimalalud. It was in this barrio where he found his life's mate, one Petra Sevilla, a scion of the Facturans of Jimalalud. Like the others, the Banogons were also magnetized by the richness of the farmland of Hinoba-an. They bought some parcels of land at Canlaro in the barrio of San Jose and at Binatangan in Martilo."

"The other prominent families that moved to Hinoba-an were the Dionaldos from Moalboal, Cebu; the Somozas from Bais; the Emperados from Ayungon; and the Villaesters from Toledo, Cebu."

(lifted from "Souvenir Program 50th Anniversary of the creation of La Libertad as a Municipality of Negros Oriental, Dec 30, 31, 1968; Jan 1, 1969)

La Libertad was severely affected during the 2012 Visayas earthquake, that caused landslides killing dozens of people.^[5]

Barangays[]

La Libertad is politically subdivided into 29 barangays.

Climate[]

Economy[]

Education[]

Elementary schools:

1. Agbobolo ES
2. Aniniaw ES
3. Aya ES
4. Bagtic ES
5. Bigaa ES
6. Busilac ES
7. Cangabo ES
8. Eli ES
9. Guihob ES
10. Kansumandig ES
11. La Libertad CES
12. La Liberbertad North Pob PS
13. Mambulod ES
14. Mandapaton ES
15. Manghulyawon ES
16. Manluminsag ES
17. Mapalasan ES
18. Martilo ES
19. Nasunggan ES
20. Pacuan ES
21. Pangca ES
22. Pisong ES
23. Pitogo ES
24. San Jose ES
25. Solonggon ES
26. Tala-on ES
27. Talostos ES

Secondary:

1. La Libertad Technical Vocational School
2. Pacuan National High School
3. Saint Francis School (private)

Demographics[]

Tourism[]

The construction of swimming pool at La Limar had already been completed and is operational. Presently, La Limar is catering to seminars, weddings, family reunions and other services which is being handled by the Local Government.

The Local Government is now actively participating in the promotion of local tourism and we are showcasing our La Li Mar beach Resort located at San Jose, La Libertad.

The project was initiated by Congresswoman Jocelyn S. Limkaichong who was also a former mayor of the town.

Local government[]

Elected municipal officials (2010–2013):

• Mayor: Emmanuel Iway
• Vice Mayor: Lawrence Limkaichong
• Councilors:
  • Nancy Temonio Laturnas
  • Ronald Opada
  • Ronie Bulabon
  • Emelia Luz Medes
  • Leonida Rios
  • Jellenito Cayetano
  • Bertoldo Burlasa
  • Jovito Sabanal
  • ABC President: Ronald Gallosa
  • SK Federation President: PJ Arriesgado

List of former elective officials[]

References[]

External links[]

• La Libertad Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System