BRIEF HISTORY OF CALUBIAN

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

On January 8, 1919, Governor Charles E. Yeater issued Executive Order No. 4, creating the town of Calubian which is formerly a barrio of the Municipality of Leyte, Leyte. Originally, its name was Eulalia in honor of a prominent lady resident. Later it was changed to Calubian due to the vast coconut plantation of the place (Photo shown is the Eulalia Monument located at the foot of the Veloso hill on the way to the Municipal Hall).

The Local Government of Calubian was formerly organized on January 22, 1919 with Felix Garganera as its first town executive. In 1922, he was succeeded by Nepumoceno Torlao, a generous resident of the locality. Then Alejandro Baronda took the reign as Local Chief Executive from 1931 to 1934. From 1934 to 1937, Felix Lafuente became the Town Chief followed by Francisco Enage in 1938 to 1940 and later on Enrique Q. Enage led the town from 1941 to 1942. They were followed by Lorenzo Mendoza from 1942 to 1944. Honorato Agas Sr led his people from 1945 to April 15, 1986 except for one term 1952-1953 when he was defeated by Rosendo Eamiguel, a popular landlord of Barangay Villalon.

The popular EDSA Revolution on February 25, 1986 brought an end to Agas’ term and Victorio Loygos Sr was eventually appointed as the OIC Mayor from April 16, 1986 to May 1987. Engr. Rolando R. Amparado succeeded him by appointment from June 24, 1987 to November 30, 1987 followed by Marciano Batiancela Jr from December 1, 1987 until the newly elected Local Chief Executive in the person of Dr. Carlos C. Cotiangco Jr. assumed office on February 8, 1988. He has done tremendous accomplishment in the Metro-Calubian by accomplishing several infrastructure projects such as concreting of municipal and barangay roads, public markets, waiting sheds, completion of municipal hall, improvement of the drainage system , multi-purpose pavements and water works projects.

On May 11, 1992 synchronized election was held putting into power a newly elected Local Chief Executive in the person of Salvador T. Po, a son of a prominent Chinese Merchant. He was then the top Municipal Councilor in the previous years up to 1991. The town of Calubian used to be a gloomy area, full of desperation, devoid of commercial and social services, the future of Calubianons was put in the hands of the municipal mayor. Along with the policies and thrusts of the national government, the local administration aims continuously for the development of the community and the upliftment of its constituents.

Mayor Salvador T Po had not finished his third term since on January 27, 2001 he died with colon cancer thereby putting the reign to his successor the Vice Mayor Renato E. Misa who became the executive on January 28, 2001 to June 30, 2001. The May election of 2001 was contested between the defending incumbent mayor Misa and the daughter of the late Salvador Po Sr and the reigning SK Federation President in the person of Hazel R. Po. Hazel Po emerged the winner and served continuously for three consecutive terms and is still the reigning incumbent mayor. The coming May 2010 election had put the test to the Po clans by putting her brother Salvador R Po Jr as the mayoralty candidate come May 2010.


SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND BIOPHYSICAL PROFILE

Physical and Biophysical Resources

The Municipality of Calubian comprising of 53 barangays, occupies the eastern portion of the northernmost tip of the mainland of Leyte. Its coastline measures 36 kilometers and the town is located in a well sheltered harbour which is a port of call of inter-island vessels. It is 190 kilometers away by land route from Tacloban City via Palompon, and 107 kilometers via Calaguisi, Leyte. Majority of its thickly populated barangays are located along the coastline which explains why fishing is one of the most important occupation of its populace.

Calubian is bounded on the north by the Biliran Strait, on the south by the Municipality of San Isidro, on the east by the town of Leyte, and the west by the Visayan Sea. Its climate falls under the second type as classified by PAGASA which is described as no dry season with a pronounced maximum rain during the month of November to January.

The Municipality has a total land area of 13,760 hectares having a topography which is gently undulating and rolling. The highest elevation is 302 meters above sea level. Its slope ranges from 0 to 25 percent and above. Majority of its area has a slope ranging from 15% to 25%.
Calubian has seven major rivers; Gutosan River, Gunsorongan River, Villanueva River, Manga River, Railes River, Jubay River and Cuwanon River. One of the rivers traverse the heart of the municipality while one separates the town proper from the rest of the barangays. The presence of the rivers endangered lowlands for the occurrence of flooding especially during the continuous downpour of rain. History shows that Villanueva River had experienced overflowing its banks during rainy days flooding the barangay by as high as 10 meters above sea level. Likewise, Gutosan River overflows during rainy days affecting Barangays Cabalquinto and F.E. Marcos. Jubay River has the biggest flood zone and has caused the newly constructed dam of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to collapse during the 1978 typhoon.

In terms of its socio-economic base, Calubian posted a negative growth rate as 2000 census revealed due to the high rate of out-migration to urban centers especially to Metro Manila and other highly urbanized cities. Its population based on the 2005 census is 28,421. However, the latest census of August 2007 showed that Calubian population increased to 29,945.

Agricultural Profile

Calubian is basically an agricultural town. Of the total land area of 13,760 hectares, 9,723.58 hectares or 70.67% is agricultural with additional 3,180.26 grassland areas which are potential areas to be tapped for agricultural development. The number one major crop grown is coconut which is commercially grown covering a total of 53% of municipality’s total land area, hence, the name of the town originated from it. Major crops grown are corn, rice, banana, vegetables and root crops. Corn is the one and considered the staple food crop of the majority of Calubianons since it is abundantly raised in the locality. A total land area of 1,370 hectares is devoted to corn with production potential ranging from 1,027 to 1,370MT utilizing an average yield of .75 to 1.0MT per hectare which is the usual range of production of the local corn farmers. However, the area devoted to corn has not been exploited well to its maximum potential due to some problems currently experienced by the farmers.

Banana and rice are the second and third grown crops covering an area of 535.45 and 214.95 hectares, respectively. Among the problems that affect the banana production is the presence of the disease locally known as “bugtok” or “kurikong” while for rice , the lack of farm-to-market roads and irrigation facilities are considered the most pressing problems.