Sipocot

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Sipocot
Municipality
Municipality of Sipocot
The Municipal Hall of the Local Government Unit of Sipocot, Camarines Sur
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Egg Basket of Camarines Sur Native Chicken Capital of Camarines Sur
Motto(s):  "Better Tomorrow, Better Sipocot"
Map of Camarines Sur with Sipocot highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Sipocot Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°46′N 122°59′E / 13.77°N 122.98°E / 13.77; 122.98Coordinates: 13°46′N 122°59′E / 13.77°N 122.98°E / 13.77; 122.98
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region
Province	Camarines Sur
District	1st district
Founded	July 3, 1801
Barangays	46 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Tomas A. Bocago
• Vice Mayor	Felix B. Macalino III
• Representative	Michael John Duavit (caretaker)
• Municipal Council	Members Kim B. Alano Robell E. Astor Joby N. Alemania Jeane M. Chan Eduardo B. Dela Peña, Jr. Maria Olympia N. Bailey Angelo Eric E. Beraquit Francisco C. Veras, Jr. (Appointed)
• Electorate	39,984 voters (2019)
Area [2]
• Total	243.43 km2 (93.99 sq mi)
Elevation	69 m (226 ft)
Highest elevation	267 m (876 ft)
Lowest elevation	8 m (26 ft)
Population  (2020 census) [3]
• Total	68,169
• Density	280/km2 (730/sq mi)
• Households	13,472
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	41.80% (2015)[4]
• Revenue	₱222,716,546.21 (2020)
• Assets	₱488,982,956.96 (2020)
• Expenditure	₱186,260,546.22 (2020)
• Liabilities	₱155,870,601.82 (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Camarines Sur 1 Electric Cooperative (CASURECO 1)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4408
PSGC	051734000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)54
Native languages	Central Bikol Tagalog

Sipocot, officially the Municipality of Sipocot (Central Bikol: Banwaan kan Sipocot; Tagalog: Bayan ng Sipocot), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 68,169 people. ^[3]

Geography[]

Notable hills include:

• Susong Daraga Hill, located at Brgy. Impig and near CBSUA-Sipocot campus
• Overlooking Point, Brgy. Manangle located on the left side towards Manila at the Quirino Highway.
• Hundred Steps, located in Barangay Impig

Barangays[]

Sipocot is politically subdivided into 46 barangays:

Climate[]

History[]

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Long before it became a town in the year 1801, Sipocot originally belonged to the town of Lupi, being one of its barrios. Its conversion into a town also paved the way for the establishment of its parish in dedication of St. John the Baptist, the town's patron saint. This marked the beginning of the celebration of the town fiesta held annually every June 24.

A version known to the local residents concerning the roots of the name of the municipality tells about the coming of the Spaniards to the Philippines, where a certain Captain Aguire of Lupi spent his leisure hours fishing in the cool water of Vigaan River in the morning and in the afternoon he would sail back by banca in the Bicol River. He usually have a plentiful catch which would be more his family needs. This activity did not escape the Spanish encomienderos’ ears in the town of lupi and the said Captain was summoned by the Spaniards for questioning. However, in the process of the inquiry, the Captain misunderstood and misinformed the foreigners and pointed to the Bicol River as his fishing area. The following day, the Spaniards and some native guides equipped with hook and lines went to the river to fish.

Upon reaching the bank they found a shed with Captain Aguirre's fishing net or “pocot”. They also found in the place different kinds of fishes like bakla, kasili, and buyod. Delighted with their discovery, the Spaniards asked some natives the name of the place. The natives thinking that the Spaniards were asking for the name of the net they were holding, answered “si, pocot”. From then on, the Spaniards built a settlement near the Vigaan River which they christened SIPOCOT.

Demographics[]

In the 2020 census, the population of Sipocot, Camarines Sur, was 68,169 people, ^[3] with a density of 280 inhabitants per square kilometre or 730 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy[]

Coconut plantation in Sipocot

Banks and financial institutions in Sipocot include Land Bank of the Philippines, RCPI, Rural Bank of Sipocot, Rural Bank of Pamplona, Rural Bank of Minalabac, CARD Bank, BLVING Lending Corporation, M Lhuiller, Tambunting Pawnshop, Cebuana Lhuiller, Henry Lhuiller and Sipocot. Pawnshop.

Prominent establishments in Sipocot includes Tom Eloy Convenient Store, ANSON Merchandise, RodBar Auto Supply, and Lady Anne's Boutique and Giftshoppe. 7-11 Convenience stores are also present with 2 branches.

Infrastructure[]

Sipocot poblacion

Highways[]

The municipality is connected with Manila by the new Andaya Highway and daily rail services to and from Naga & Legazpi are provided by the Philippine National Railways.

In order to spur development in the municipality, The Toll Regulatory Board declared Toll Road 5 the extension of South Luzon Expressway.^[16] A 420-kilometer, four lane expressway starting from the terminal point of the now under construction SLEX Toll Road 4 at Barangay Mayao, Lucena City in Quezon to Matnog, Sorsogon, near the Matnog Ferry Terminal. On August 25, 2020, San Miguel Corporation announced that they will invest the project which will reduce travel time from Lucena to Matnog from 9 hours to 5.5 hours.^[17]

Another expressway that will serve Metro Naga is the Quezon-Bicol Expressway (QuBEx), which will link between Lucena and San Fernando, Camarines Sur.^[18]

Communications[]

• Digitel Communications, BayanTel and PLDT provide the telephone services including DSL, Broadband, and Dial-up internet services
• Using of Cellular phones is one of the important medium of communication in the area, it is being powered by Smart Communications, Sun Cellular and Globe Telecom, (it also includes the Talk N Text, Touch Mobile, etc.)
• The municipality also have this Post Office with 4408 as the Zip Code.
• The area is accessible via buses, jeepnies, tricycles, trains, skates, etc. for public transportation vehicles.
• The cable TV is also available, it is being powered by Dream Cable and Sky Cable. In the area ABS-CBN and GMA are the leading TV stations being watched.

Hospitals[]

• Sipocot District Hospital
• Our Lady of Salvation Hospital

Education[]

Binahian Elementary School

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Tertiary

• Felix O. Alfelor Sr. Foundation College, located at Barangay South Centro^[19]
• Central Bicol State University of Agriculture - Sipocot (Bicol Institute of Science and Technology), located at Barangay Impig. This college has a transition name: Central Bicol State University of Agriculture - Sipocot (2009–Present); Camarines Sur State Agricultural Colleges - Sipocot Campus (2003–2009); Bicol Institute of Science and Technology (1992–2003); Sipocot National School of Arts and Trades (1972–1992)

Secondary

• CBSUA-Sipocot Laboratory High School (Sipocot)
• Felix O. Alfelor Sr. Foundation College - High School Dept., located at Barangay South Centro
• Sipocot National High School, located at Barangay Tara
• Villazar National High School, located at Barangay North Villazar
• Sacred Heart High School, located at Barangay Calagbangan (supervised by the Villazar National High School administration, de jure)
• Bolo Norte High School, located at Barangay Bolo Norte (supervised by the Sipocot National High School administration, de jure)
• Anib National High School, located at Barangay Anib
• Caima National High School High School, located at Barangay Caima

Elementary

• Every barangay has its own elementary schools. Schools are divided into two districts: Sipocot North District (schools in the northern part of the town) and the Sipocot South District (most of the southern part).

Private Primary Institutions

• Christian Mission Service Philippines School
• Felix O. Alfelor Sr. Foundation College - Elementary School Department
• King Thomas Learning Academy, Inc
• Nazareth Institute of Learning & Formation
• Serranz Learning Center

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sipocot.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Official Site of the Province of Camarines Sur