Cawayan

Cawayan was created as a municipality from portions of Milagros through Executive Order No. 244 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on July 18, 1949.{{cite web |title=Executive Order No. 244, s. 1949 |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1949/07/18/executive-order-no-244-s-1949/ |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines |date=18 July 1949 |access-date=31 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514082955/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1949/07/18/executive-order-no-244-s-1949/ |archive-date=14 May 2019 |url-status=bot: unknown }}

Cawayan is politically subdivided into 37 barangays.{{PSGC detail|area}} Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}

• Begia
• Cabayugan
• Cabungahan
• Calapayan
• Calumpang
• Dalipe
• Divisoria
• Guiom
• Gilotongan
• Itombato
• Libertad
• Looc
• Mactan
• Madbad
• R.M. Magbalon (Bebihan)
• Mahayahay
• Maihao
• Malbug
• Naro
• Pananawan
• Poblacion
• Pulot
• Recodo
• San Jose
• San Vicente
• Taberna
• Talisay
• Tuburan
• Villahermosa
• Chico Island
• Lague-lague
• Palobandera
• Pena Island
• Pin-As
• Iraya
• Punta Batsan
• Tubog

{{div col end}}

{{Weather box

| location = Cawayan, Masbate

| width = auto

| metric first = Yes

| single line = Yes

| Jan high C = 29

| Jan low C = 23

| Feb high C = 29

| Feb low C = 22

| Mar high C = 31

| Mar low C = 23

| Apr high C = 32

| Apr low C = 23

| May high C = 32

| May low C = 25

| Jun high C = 31

| Jun low C = 25

| Jul high C = 30

| Jul low C = 24

| Aug high C = 30

| Aug low C = 25

| Sep high C = 30

| Sep low C = 24

| Oct high C = 30

| Oct low C = 24

| Nov high C = 29

| Nov low C = 24

| Dec high C = 29

| Dec low C = 23

| Jan precipitation mm = 39

| Feb precipitation mm = 34

| Mar precipitation mm = 42

| Apr precipitation mm = 36

| May precipitation mm = 73

| Jun precipitation mm = 109

| Jul precipitation mm = 118

| Aug precipitation mm = 108

| Sep precipitation mm = 129

| Oct precipitation mm = 136

| Nov precipitation mm = 112

| Dec precipitation mm = 89

| Jan rain days = 12.6

| Feb rain days = 9.7

| Mar rain days = 12.0

| Apr rain days = 13.0

| May rain days = 20.5

| Jun rain days = 25.3

| Jul rain days = 26.2

| Aug rain days = 24.8

| Sep rain days = 25.2

| Oct rain days = 25.9

| Nov rain days = 21.9

| Dec rain days = 17.9

| source 1 = Meteoblue

{{cite web

| url = https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/cawayan_philippines_1717620

| title = Cawayan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall

| publisher = Meteoblue

| accessdate = 23 June 2020 }}

| date = 23 June 2020

}}

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| footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|2015}}{{PH census|2010}}{{PH census|2007}}{{LWUA population data}}

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In the 2020 census, the population of Cawayan, Masbate, was 69,265 people,{{PH census|current}} with a density of {{convert|{{sigfig|69,265/260.19|2}}|PD/km2|disp=or}}.

{{PH poverty incidence}}

File:Mount Begia.jpg

The locals of Cawayan still largely depend on subsistence farming despite its topographic advantage to adapt commercial farming. The lack of funding for agriculture and infrastructure and its political insecurity due to the presence and activities of armed groups kept by political families{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/62885/masbate-paradise-in-a-pool-of-blood |title=Masbate: Paradise in a pool of blood |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}} and other subversive elements hinder the town's progress in spite of its geographical benefits.

Being primarily plain and flat, Cawayan is conducive to cattle farming. Grasslands are abundant in the plains and in the gentle slopes of the valleys and hills. However, land grabbing{{cite news|url=http://opinion.inquirer.net/16471/corruption-injustice-greed-are-real-causes-of-poverty-in-masbate |title=Corruption, injustice, greed are real causes of poverty in Masbate |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}} issues still prevail as evidenced by hectares of private enclosures locally known as "ranchos" that run miles after miles. Herds of cattle inside the fence barrier are visible from the national road as one travels into the interior making Cawayan a major player in the cattle industry of the province.

Cawayan has several outlying islands crucial to its local fishing industries. These islands provide most of the marine resources to cater to the needs in the mainland. Barter trade is still practiced on Sundays, the town's busiest day.

Copra farming is also popular in Cawayan.

; Cawayan Port Improvement Project

The P42.95-million Cawayan Port Improvement Project in Barangay Mahayahay included the construction of rock causeway, back-up area, RC platform, RoRo ramp and breasting dolphin, as well as port lighting system, and mooring and fendering system. The project was completed on January 26, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.pgmainfra.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65:cawayan-port-improvement-project&catid=36:central-philippines&Itemid=65 |title=PGMA Infrastructure |publisher=Pgmainfra.ph |date= |accessdate=2011-11-17}}

The construction of this facility has drawn various forms of criticism. Nothing since the road construction project years way back that paved the national highway for a smooth access to other places had the townsfolk witnessed the unveiling of this multi-million project with such warm welcome. However, it was also evident that the materials used were substandard due to its massive damage when a typhoon struck the area months after its completion. Nevertheless, there was no denying of its economic contribution that further flourished open trade in the Visayan nautical radius.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

; RoRo Project

Other than the local outrigger boat operators, a shipping company provides services to cater to the town's need of reliable vessel to transfer commodities to and from Cawayan for trade. It departs daily from Cawayan usually at 12:00 noon for a six-hour trip and docks at Pulambato Port in Bogo, Cebu. And at around 12:00 midnight it sails back to Cawayan Port.

For about two years, the RoRo vessel stopped operating in Cawayan,{{cite web |url=http://maritimereview.ph/2011/08/ppa-breaks-silence-stresses-no-need-for-the-modular-ro-ro-port-project/ |title=PPA breaks silence, stresses no need for the modular Ro-Ro port project |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120716100333/http://maritimereview.ph/2011/08/ppa-breaks-silence-stresses-no-need-for-the-modular-ro-ro-port-project/ |archivedate=2012-07-16 }} but on October 10, 2012, RoRo service was restarted.

File:Station of the cross.jpg

File:Recodo Sanctuary.jpg

A local crab meat processing industry operates in Peña Island owned by Arturo Marcaida Jr.{{cite web |url=http://www.bicol.da.gov.ph/SUCCESS%20STORIES/Arturo%20Marcaida.html |title=Crab King of Masbate |publisher=Bicol.da.gov.ph |date=1996-08-01 |accessdate=2011-11-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910125309/http://www.bicol.da.gov.ph/SUCCESS%20STORIES/Arturo%20Marcaida.html |archivedate=2011-09-10 }} He is considered as the most successful fisherman who made it big in fish culture and fish processing business not only in Masbate but in the entire Bicol Region which earned for him the title “Crab King".{{cite web |url=http://goodnewspilipinas.com/?p=10964 |title=Former struggling fisherman now Masbate's Crab King |publisher=Goodnewspilipinas.com |accessdate=2011-11-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124095757/http://goodnewspilipinas.com/?p=10964 |archivedate=2010-11-24 }}

Another booming industry of the town is the dried fish industry.

Cawayan is naturally blessed with beautiful places. Famous hang-outs and tourist spots include the Station of the Cross atop Mount Begia; tropical islets of Naro and Peña; a marine sanctuary across Recodo Bay; and a wide stretch of beaches among others.

Tourists can also enjoy visiting downtown during Sundays at Barangay Divisoria which has one of the largest open markets in the Philippines.{{cite web|url=http://edikdolotina.blogspot.com/2011/04/on-road-less-traveled-cawayan-masbate.html|title=Off to a road less traveled: Cawayan, Masbate|date=11 April 2011 }}

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Secondary schools:

• Western Masbate Roosevelt High School
• Naro National High School
• Villahermosa National High School
• Malbug High School
• Madbad National High School

Tertiary schools:

• Atty. Manuel B. Abinuman Memorial Colleges, Inc.

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160315155939/http://lgucawayanmasbate.com/ LGU Cawayan Masbate Website]
• [{{NSCB detail}} Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081120024509/http://www.census.gov.ph/data/census2007/index.html Philippine Census Information]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140821074348/http://www.blgs.gov.ph/lgpmsv2/cmshome/index.php?pageID=23&frmIdDcfCode=7&fLguType=CM&frmIdRegion=8&frmIdProvince=48&frmIdLgu=822 Local Governance Performance Management System]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Cawayan

| North = Uson / Dimasalang

| Northeast = Palanas

| Southeast = Placer

| South = Visayan Sea

| West = Asid Gulf

| Northwest = Milagros

}}

{{Masbate}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Municipalities of Masbate

Category:Political divisions established by Philippine executive order