LOCATION AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

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Brief History

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Christianity reached Bicol Region in 1569 and by the 17th Century missionaries reached Lagonoy Gulf. The missionaries found a little settlement by the river to the north bordered by a string of hills and mountains. To its west, it was guarded by a tall and majestic sentinel-the Mt. Isarog. To the South, by a sprawling stretch of plain and to the east, by a salty water of Lagonoy Gulf. the approach of the settlement was marked by a big vine tree which the native called "HAGONOY', whose small flowers with violet petals were used to season the native "cosido". the missionaries called the area "La Hagonoy" and the name adhered to the whole place sice the hagonoy vines frew abundance. Overtime the "HA" from the La Hagonoy was dropped leading to its present form of "Lagonoy".

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Lagonoy became a full pledge parish in 1764 under the ecclesiastical province of Nueva Caceres and the first stone church was erected in 1768. Overtime, several municipalities were carved out from Lagonoy (1777-Goa; 1794-Tigaon;1816-San Jose and 1887-Presentacion). Lagonoy is under the fourth administrative district of Camarines Sur specifically located at the northeastern part of the Province. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Gachetorena, between then lies a body of water. The northeast, by a part of the Municipality of Tinambac and Pacific Ocean, in the east by the Municipality of Tinambac.

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Lagonoy is divided into two (2) major areas; Lagonoy North coastal area which shares bodies of water, like the Tamban River, the Lamit Bay and the north Pacific Ocean. Lagonoy South Comprises mainly of the mainland areas identified as the west mainland, east mainland and the east coastal areas.

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The municipality is subdivided into thirty-eight (38) barangay units wherein seven (7) of which compsed the urban barangays and the remaining thirty one (31) rural barangays. Lagonoy occupies alomost 20% of the land area of the fourth distirct of Camarines Sur with 37.318 hectares, making it as the largest town of Partido. Out of its total land area. 1.5% or 563.821970 hectares are classified as urban and 98.5% or 36,753.178030 hecrares are rural.

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Population

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The Population of the Municipality has been growing postively. Per 2010 Population census, Lagonoy reached a total of 51,814, a mere 2.84% of the Province entire population. The municipality's average growth rate is 3.98%. San Ramon ranked First in Population with 3,619 Population followed by Barangay Burabod with 3,398 population. Barangays Agosais and Onalo had the smalled population registered during the 2010 census with 338 and 366, resepectively.

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The municipal population is expected to increase by 11,157 in 2015 and an additional 13,558 by 2020. In termes of population, the municipality belongs to the median group. However, in terms of population density the municipality is the least dense in the province.

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SOCIAL SERVICES

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Education

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At present, there are thirty three(33) elementary school available in the area; Five (5) public high school and one (1) private secondary school. Out of 33 elementary schools, only 26 schools have complete elementary grades while remaining seven(7) were offered primary grades only.

College education is available in the area, at the nearby municipalities like Goa and Cities like Naga and Eriga offering college education. Technical Courses are offred at Partido State University, Lagonoy Campus.

Non-formal education is alson provided on the municipality by the ALS, TESDA-DepEd-NFE division and the Local Government of Lagonoy. Preparatory education is provided by the public and private learning centers. Day care services are alson provided to different barangays of the Municipality.

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Health

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Health facilities in the municipality include the municipal health center of the Rural Health Unit l located at San Rafael and the Rural Health Unit ll at Balaton. There are 14 Brangay Health Stations established. the Main Health Center serves the 27 mainland and east coastal barangays of the municipality while the RHU ll serves the North Coastal Barangays.

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The available health personnel are follows, Municipal Health Physician, Municipal Health Officer, Rural Health Nurses, Rural Health Midwives, Dentist, Medical Technician & Rural Sanitary Inspectors.

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ECONOMIC PROFILE / LAND USE

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Agriculture

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Lagonoy is predominantly agriculture, thus farming is the main source of income. Around 15, 586 has. are classified as active agricultural area and 354 has. are agricultural expansion areas. The major agricultural crops in Lagonoy is Coconut covering 9,374 has. Rice ranks second with 1,361 has.; rootcraps with 250 has.; Corn occupies 202 has. and abaca with 504 has.

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Livestock and poultry farming is the secondary source of income among farmers. its production is widespread, but invariably small-scale in nature. Lagonoy is also rich in fishes and other aquatic resources. The vast mangove and swamps area are good grounds for producing high quality of fish products.

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Commerce and Industry

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A total of 369 business establishment have been registered and operating in the municipality. Commercial establishments are concentrated along the National Highway or main thoroughfare.

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       Industry is limited to cottage and small-scale industries. It is concentrated as labor-intensive or home industry activities. Minor farm products such as rattan, Bamboo, Tibgao, Tiger Grass, Karagumoy and nipa are being utilized by small-scale industries for furniture production, Home-based decorations and housing developement.

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Majority of the income earners are self-employed or engaged in family-operated business such as farming, fishing, livestock/cattle raising, cottage industries and other small/medium scal enterprises.

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The municipality has a custody of mineral resources, metallic and non-metallic such as: chromites, manganese, ore, iron, gold, granite, nickel and marble whic are commercially exploitable.

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Other thatn these, Lagonoy has several forest and agricultural resources which used for cottage, home based and small medium industries, Tiger grasses are abundant in the east coastal areas which are used for soft broom making: karagumoy for mat/basket/hat making; Rattan for basket/rattan split/furniture/house making, Bamboo for furniture/home decoratives and Nipa for nipa shingle making.

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INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES

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Transportation

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Several barangays of Lagonoy are served by jeeps, buses, tricycles and boats. Tricycle is the main mode of transportation between barangays and the poblacion. Eastern coastal barangays can be reached by taking the Caramoan/Presentacion-Goa jeepneys or taking a jeepney going to Sabang, San Jose and a boat ride from Sabang to destination. 

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The northern barangays means of transportation is by boat. In order for them to reached the poblacion, one has to take a boat ride to brgy. Tamban, Tinambac, then take a jeep to Naga City and a bus to Lagonoy or a jeep passing Tierra Nevada to Goa then a Jeepney going to Lagonoy.

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Bus terminal is located beside the ruins of public market serving buses traveling to Naga City and Manila. Jeepney terminal is located infront of the Lagonoy Central School 300 Meters away from the public market while passenger vans used the front side of the public market. Two (2) bus operators with Lagonoy-Naga Route and Vice versa are operating in the area servicing commuters withing and outside the Municipality. Two (2) public utility buses operating with route Lagonoy-Manila and Vice Versa. Raymond bus is operating both ordinary and air-conditioned buses; Peñafrancia tours with air-conditioned bus only.

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Roads

At present, all municipal roads, provincial roads (San Rafael - Burabod road section and Saripongpong - San Roque road section) and National Roads( Camagong - Sta. Maria - Caguiscan road section) are already paved or concrete. Improvement of Caramoan Peninsula road is currently undertaken by the DPWH- 3rd Engineering District, based at PDA center, Tigaon, Camarines Sur.

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Communication

Postal, telephone system, radio relay system, cable TV relay system and news paper serve as the Municipality's communication facilities which facilitate the operation of socio economic activities of the area. In some areas, cellphones can now be used receiving signal from Suncellular, Smart and Globe Cellsites.

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Power & Electrification

Almost all of the 38 Barangays are energized by the NAPOCOR through the distribution facilities of the CASURECO IV. Other sitios in the North Coastal and upland areas used Solar and Generating Sets.

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TOURISM

Lagonoy is not just a mere dot in the Bicolandia but it hides a town of undicovered tourist spots especially in upland barangays. The major natural tourist attraction of the municipality is the existence of seven (7) waterfalls with crystalline - like falling waters decorated with big stones and vines. The Bulan-ogan and Madooy Falls can be found at Barangay Agosais, 6.0kms aways from the Poblicacion, while the Nagroan Falls is located at Barangay Himanag. These falls are still inknown to non- Lagonoyon's and seldom visited because of the absence of the access road bound to the area and considering the geograpical location of the aforesaid barangays which area categorized as mountain / upland barangays. Sulfo, Kinahulogan, Gabao and Mainit Falls are located at the east coastal areas of the municipality and frequently visited by the local excursionist especially during summer vacations. several long stretch of beautiful coastline and dozen small caves are also available in the area. The Belfry of the first stone church erected at the original town site and the Lagonoy park / Plaza are man made tourist attraction in the area. The Park/Plaza was constructed infront of the Municipal Hall Building and equipped with mini-water falls, fish pond/ lagoons and children's playground.

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There is only one hotel in the area which offer lodging facilities to local and foreign visitors. Other commercial tourist facilities such as videoke bars, theatre, restaurants and other recreation centers are readily available in the area. There are two (2) cockpits in the area with different schedule of operation of cockfighting activities.

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