Samal, Bataan

Samal
Municipality
Municipality of Samal
Flag Seal
Map of Bataan with Samal highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Samal Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°46′04″N 120°32′35″E / 14.76778°N 120.54306°E / 14.76778; 120.54306
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon
Province	Bataan
District	1st district
Founded	1699
Barangays	14 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Alexander C. Acuzar
• Vice Mayor	Ronald M. Ortiguerra
• Representative	Geraldine B. Roman
• Municipal Council	Members Marjun Q. Bantay Lolito S. Llanda Erval V. Flores Kathrina A. Saldaña Dylan M. House Evangeline G. Buensuceso Edgardo I. De Leon Jaime M. Manguiat
• Electorate	29,669 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	56.30 km2 (21.74 sq mi)
Elevation	15 m (49 ft)
Highest elevation	133 m (436 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	38,302
• Density	680/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
• Households	9,185
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	10.07 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 168.8 million (2020), 67.24 million (2012), 71.96 million (2013), 86.9 million (2014), 100.1 million (2015), 115.7 million (2016), 122.3 million (2017), 133.4 million (2018), 147.4 million (2019), 178.3 million (2021), 230 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 295.9 million (2020), 59.78 million (2012), 69.29 million (2013), 110.4 million (2014), 181.9 million (2015), 198.7 million (2016), 271.2 million (2017), 257.6 million (2018), 282.9 million (2019), 328.4 million (2021), 337.8 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 169.2 million (2020), 64.84 million (2012), 66.63 million (2013), 66.62 million (2014), 86.37 million (2015), 91.74 million (2016), 111.3 million (2017), 124.2 million (2018), 147.5 million (2019), 168.9 million (2021), 208.7 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 141.2 million (2020), 18.27 million (2012), 18.71 million (2013), 43.78 million (2014), 99.32 million (2015), 93.18 million (2016), 137.7 million (2017), 115.8 million (2018), 134.5 million (2019), 109.3 million (2021), 103.3 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Peninsula Electric Cooperative (PENELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2101
PSGC	030812000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)47
Native languages	Mariveleño Tagalog

Samal, officially the Municipality of Samal (Tagalog: Bayan ng Samal), is a municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 38,302 people.^[3]

Samal originated from samel, a covering attached to a banca to protect the passengers from the sun and rain, made of nipa leaves and woven together.

Saint Catherine of Sienna became the patron of Samal, which was founded as a municipality on April 20, 1641.^[5]

"Sea gypsies" of Mindanao settlers ("Badjaos" who resided for many years in Maubac, Lambayung, Tanjung, Pata, Tapul, Lugus, Bangos, Pagasinan, Parang, Maimbung, Karugdung and Talipaw, Mindanao) migrated to Luzon in the early 14th century and settled in Bataan. In Samal, they propagated the pearl and capiz culture.

Samal was the second town founded by the Dominican friars in Bataan and is composed of four barrios: Calaguiman, Santa Lucia, Poblacion and Lalawigan.

Samal is located in the eastern part of Bataan Peninsula, bordering Abucay to the south, Orani to the north and northwest, Morong to the west, and Manila Bay to the east. It is 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Balanga and 113 kilometres (70 mi) from Manila.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 56.30 square kilometres (21.74 sq mi) ^[6] constituting 4.10% of the 1,372.98-square-kilometre- (530.11 sq mi) total area of Bataan.

Samal is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.^[8] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020[3]		2010[9]
030812001	East Calaguiman (Poblacion)	6.7%	2,573	2,744	▾	−0.64%
030812002	East Daang Bago (Poblacion)	3.1%	1,169	1,195	▾	−0.22%
030812013	Gugo	9.8%	3,756	2,965	▴	2.39%
030812003	Ibaba (Poblacion)	8.4%	3,210	3,153	▴	0.18%
030812004	Imelda	7.0%	2,665	2,324	▴	1.38%
030812005	Lalawigan	10.3%	3,926	3,799	▴	0.33%
030812006	Palili	5.5%	2,092	1,865	▴	1.16%
030812008	San Juan (Poblacion)	11.0%	4,230	4,089	▴	0.34%
030812009	San Roque (Poblacion)	3.0%	1,159	1,154	▴	0.04%
030812010	Santa Lucia	6.5%	2,480	2,459	▴	0.09%
030812011	Sapa	9.6%	3,682	3,407	▴	0.78%
030812012	Tabing Ilog	5.7%	2,184	2,121	▴	0.29%
030812014	West Calaguiman (Poblacion)	3.7%	1,419	1,449	▾	−0.21%
030812015	West Daang Bago (Poblacion)	2.0%	753	854	▾	−1.25%
	Total		38,302	33,578	▴	1.32%

Population census of Samal

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 4,680 —     1918 5,231 +0.74% 1939 7,404 +1.67% 1948 6,995 −0.63% 1960 9,708 +2.77%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1970 15,002 +4.44% 1975 16,731 +2.21% 1980 18,041 +1.52% 1990 21,991 +2.00% 1995 24,560 +2.09%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2000 27,410 +2.38% 2007 33,867 +2.96% 2010 33,578 −0.31% 2015 35,298 +0.96% 2020 38,302 +1.62%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][9][11][12]

In the 2020 census, Samal had a population of 38,302.^[3] The population density was 680 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,800/sq mi).

Poverty incidence of Samal

5 10 15 20 2006 15.30 2009 11.96 2012 4.58 2015 13.14 2018 7.27 2021 10.07 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Composed largely of uplands and hills with some lowlands and plains, Samal's main produce are palay, corn, vegetable, fruits, root crops, coffee and cut flowers, including livestock, poultry and aquatic resources such as shellfish, crabs, prawns, shrimps and different species of fish.

Joaquin Ma. Joson of Bataan established the first ice plant. Wooden shoe (bakya) making, and pulp mills (Bataan Pulp and Paper Mills, Inc. in the scenic slope of Mount Natib) are some of the industries of the natives. It also manufactures banana chips and arrow root flour through native processes, then made into cookies called araro as pasalubong. Samal is also rich is marine aquatic resources and highly productive farmlands.

Garments manufacturing in Samal is engaged in by five (5) firms already engaged in exports.^[vague][21]

In the Town Hall of Samal and along the streets, Capiz shells are displayed to show that the town residents manufacture this commodity.

Pursuant to the Local government in the Philippines",^[22][23] the political seat of the municipal government is located at the Municipal Hall. In the History of the Philippines (1521–1898), the Gobernadorcillo was the Chief Executive who held office in the Presidencia. During the American rule (1898–1946) (History of the Philippines (1898-1946)), the elected Mayor and local officials, including the appointed ones held office at the Municipal Hall. The legislative and executive departments perform their functions in the Sangguniang Bayan (Session Hall) and Municipal Trial Court, respectively, and are located in the Town Hall.

Members of the Samal Municipal Council
(2022-2025)

Position	Name of official
District Representative (1st Legislative District, Bataan)	Geraldine B. Roman
Municipal Mayor	Alexander Carpio Acuzar
Municipal Vice Mayor	Ronald Medina Ortiguerra
Municipal Councilors	Marjun Q. Bantay
	Lolito S. Llanda
	Erval V. Flores
	Kathrina A. Saldaña
	Dylan M. House
	Evangeline G. Buensuceso
	Edgardo I. De Leon
	Jaime M. Manguiat

Samal's elected officials are - Mayor Alexander Carpio Acuzar (Liberal) and Vice Mayor Ronald Medina Ortiguerra (Liberal).

The Sangguniang Bayan Members are: Marjun Q. Bantay, Lolito S. Llanda, Erval V. Flores, Kathrina A. Saldaña, Dylan M. House, Evangeline G. Buensuceso, Edgardo I. De Leon and Jaime M. Manguiat.^[21] They hold office at the second floor of the Town Hall, particularly the Office of the Mayor and Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall, respectively.

The 2nd Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Orani-Samal MCTC Judge Ma. Cristina J. Mendoza-Pizzaro holds office in her sala located at the second floor of the MTC building at the back of the Orani Town hall.

Samal's attractions, events and historical landmarks include:

• Senakulo sa Calaguiman during Holy Week
• Town Hall of Samal and Samal Square
• Samel festival
• Pilis falls
• Samal Capiz shell industry
• Fishponds, mangrove, mussels and seafoods in Samal bay
• St. Catherine of Siena church

• 
  Jose Rizal Samal Park and Plaza
• 
  Post office, rear facade of Town hall
• 
  Public market
• 
  Capiz shells street lights surround downtown
• 
  Banca transportation

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code