Santa Maria, Romblon

The place got its name from Santa Maria in it was renamed in 1988.

Santa Maria was known in Spanish times as Cagbagacay, after a bamboo plant called "bagacay" in the local dialect, which was in abundance in the area. Back then it was still a barrio of Guintigui-an town. In 1910, barrio Cagbagacay was renamed Concepcion after its patron the Immaculada Concepcion.[http://wikimapia.org/15275170/Santa-Maria-Imelda-Romblon About Santa Maria] Wikimapia. Retrieved on April 16, 2012.

On September 12, 1982, barrio Concepcion (Norte) together with barrios Bonga and Concepcion Sur were organized and created into a new municipality by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 234, authored by Assemblyman Nemesio Ganan Jr. The new municipality was named "Imelda", in honor of then First Lady Imelda Marcos, as well as to distinguish the town from Concepcion municipality on Maestre de Campo Island, also in Romblon.[http://philippinelaw.info/statutes/bp234.html "An Act Creating the Municipality of Imelda in the Province Of Romblon"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026092427/http://philippinelaw.info/statutes/bp234.html |date=October 26, 2014 }} PhilippineLaw.info Retrieved on April 16, 2012.

After the People Power Revolution in 1986 which toppled the regime of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the town was renamed Santa Maria on April 17, 1988, by virtue of Republic Act No. 6651, again in honor of its patron the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Three new barangays were added to the municipality: San Isidro, Paroyhog, and Santo Nino.[http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno6651.html "An Act Changing the name of the Municipality of Imelda in the Province Of Romblon to Municipality of Santa Maria"] Chan Robles. Retrieved on April 16, 2012

Situated on the eastern side of Tablas Island, Santa Maria faces the Sibuyan Sea. It is bounded in the north by the municipality of San Agustin, in the south by the municipality of Alcantara, in the west by the municipality of Odiongan and in the east by Romblon Pass. Santa Maria has a total land area of {{convert|3620|ha}}. It is generally mountainous with a limited portion of the plain area along the coast. The town is considered one of the most peaceful areas in the province.[http://romblon.homestead.com/stamariah.html Profile: Santa Maria] Romblon Travel Guide. Retrieved on April 16, 2012.

Santa Maria is politically subdivided into 6 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Bonga
• Concepcion Norte (Poblacion)
• Concepcion Sur
• Paroyhog
• Santo Niño
• San Isidro

{{Weather box

| location = Santa Maria, Romblon

| width = auto

| metric first = Yes

| single line = Yes

| Jan high C = 28

| Jan low C = 21

| Feb high C = 29

| Feb low C = 21

| Mar high C = 30

| Mar low C = 22

| Apr high C = 31

| Apr low C = 23

| May high C = 31

| May low C = 25

| Jun high C = 30

| Jun low C = 25

| Jul high C = 29

| Jul low C = 25

| Aug high C = 29

| Aug low C = 25

| Sep high C = 29

| Sep low C = 25

| Oct high C = 29

| Oct low C = 24

| Nov high C = 29

| Nov low C = 23

| Dec high C = 28

| Dec low C = 22

| Jan precipitation mm = 31

| Feb precipitation mm = 20

| Mar precipitation mm = 25

| Apr precipitation mm = 39

| May precipitation mm = 152

| Jun precipitation mm = 269

| Jul precipitation mm = 314

| Aug precipitation mm = 285

| Sep precipitation mm = 303

| Oct precipitation mm = 208

| Nov precipitation mm = 95

| Dec precipitation mm = 70

| Jan rain days = 9.5

| Feb rain days = 7.1

| Mar rain days = 9.0

| Apr rain days = 11.3

| May rain days = 21.0

| Jun rain days = 25.7

| Jul rain days = 28.1

| Aug rain days = 26.5

| Sep rain days = 27.3

| Oct rain days = 24.6

| Nov rain days = 16.5

| Dec rain days = 12.1

| source 1 = Meteoblue

{{cite web

| url = https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/12.395N122.095E

| title = Santa Maria: Average Temperatures and Rainfall

| publisher = Meteoblue

| accessdate = April 28, 2020 }}

| date = April 28, 2020

}}

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According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 8,508 people. Onhan, also known as Taga-onhan or Inunhan (Alcantaranhon style), is the native language of majority of its inhabitants, while Romblomanon or Ini is the native tongue in the two northern barangays of Bonga and Santo Niño (Bitaugan).

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As a municipality in the Province of Romblon, government officials in the provincial level are voted by the electorates of the town. The provincial government have political jurisdiction over local transactions of the municipal government.

Pursuant to Chapter II, Title II, Book III of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991,{{cite web |website=The LawPhil Project|url=http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1991/ra_7160_1991.html |title=An Act Providing for a Local Government Code of 1991 |publisher=8th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines |accessdate=April 21, 2014}} the municipal government is composed of a mayor (alkalde), a vice mayor (bise alkalde) and members (kagawad) of the legislative branch Sangguniang Bayan alongside a secretary to the said legislature, all of which are elected to a three-year term and are eligible to run for three consecutive terms.

Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.

{{note label|Note1|a|a}} Died in office.

{{note label|Note2|b|b}} Served in acting capacity.

{{note label|Note3|c|c}} Resigned.

The incumbent mayor is Lorilie "Bic-Bic" Fabon y Manito y Fetalino while the incumbent vice mayor is Roland M. Largueza.{{cite news |title=santa maria (imelda) - romblon - City/Municipality Results - Eleksyon2022 - Results - |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2022/results/local/REGION+IV-B/ROMBLON/SANTA+MARIA/ |work=GMA News}}

• {{Flagicon|PHI}} Makati: On February 8, 2008, Santa Maria Mayor Fred Hernandez and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay signed a sisterhood relationship agreement between the two local government units.[http://www.makati.gov.ph/portal/mayor/view_press_release_archive.jsp?id=134 Press Release.] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120804045658/http://www.makati.gov.ph/portal/mayor/view_press_release_archive.jsp?id=134 |date=August 4, 2012 }} Makati City Portal. Retrieved on April 16, 2012.

• List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.philatlas.com/luzon/mimaropa/romblon/santa-maria.html Santa Maria Profile at PhilAtlas.com]
• [https://cmci.dti.gov.ph/lgu-profile.php?lgu=Santa%20Maria%20(Imelda) Santa Maria, Romblon Profile - Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index]
• [{{NSCB detail}} Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120716233046/http://www.census.gov.ph/data/census2007/index.html 2007 Philippine Census Information]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Santa Maria

| North = San Agustin

| East = Sibuyan Sea

| South = Alcantara

| West = Odiongan

}}

{{Romblon}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Municipalities of Romblon