Carcar

For the town in Spain, see Cárcar. For the Woody Guthrie song, see Car Car.

Carcar, officially the City of Carcar (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Carcar; Filipino: Lungsod ng Carcar), is a component city in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 136,453 people.^[3]

Carcar
Component city
City of Carcar
Carcar Old Town Plaza as seen from the bell tower of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church
Seal
Nickname:  Heritage City of the South
Motto(s):  Sidlak Carcar!, Sadya Carcar!
Anthem: Ganghaan sa habagatan English: Southern gate
Map of Cebu with Carcar highlighted
OpenStreetMap OpenStreetMap
Carcar Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°07′N 123°38′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas
Province	Cebu
District	1st district
Founded	1599
Cityhood	July 1, 2007 (Lost cityhood in 2008 and 2010)
Affirmed Cityhood	February 15, 2011
Barangays	15 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
• Mayor	Mario Patricio P. Barcenas (1Cebu)
• Vice Mayor	Efren A. Quijano (1Cebu)
• Representative	Rhea Mae A. Gullas
• City Council	Members Jufhel L. Alcuizar Jeson B. Fernandez Vincent Raymund L. Escobido Atty. Hervy Alejandro B. de Dios Ma. Bernadith R. Barcenas, DPA Harold B. Nacua, DPA Roy O. Velez Lorena Mae A. Tabora Atty. Michelle Amistad-Zozobrado Victor Ian P. del Rosario
• Electorate	87,040 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	116.78 km2 (45.09 sq mi)
Elevation	97 m (318 ft)
Highest elevation	807 m (2,648 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	136,453
• Density	1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
• Households	32,075
Economy
• Income class	5th city income class
• Poverty incidence	30.71 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 1,052 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 3,912 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 696.8 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 1,050 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Cebu 1 Electric Cooperative (CEBECO 1)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6019
PSGC	072214000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)32
Native languages	Cebuano Tagalog

History

Carcar was known as "Kabkad" or "Sialo" before Spanish colonization.^{[citation needed]} It became a town in 1599. Carcar is considered one of the oldest towns in Cebu, with its Spanish influence lasted more than 300 years ago.

World War II and the Koga papers

See also: Operation Z (1944)

In early April 1944, fishermen Pedro Gantuangko and Rufo Wamar, both residents of Carcar, discovered a wooden box floating off the coast of San Fernando, Cebu after they were alerted to the crash of a Japanese plane at sea. Upon retrieving the box from the shore, they discovered a water-soaked portfolio containing various Japanese-language documents, which they dried for the next two days and kept hidden from Japanese authorities. Gantuangko eventually handed over the documents to local guerrillas, with the papers soon reaching Lt. Col. James M. Cushing. Japanese military officers murdered numerous civilians in their persistent search for the documents, with both Gantuangko and Wamar separately fleeing to Bohol to hide from authorities.^[5][6]

The documents, later named the "Koga papers" after General Mineichi Koga, were picked up by the American submarine USS Crevalle in Negros Oriental and sent to Brisbane, Australia, where it was discovered by General Douglas MacArthur to contain plans called Operation Z that revealed the Japanese' tactics in the Pacific theatre. The papers soon proved crucial to the forming of the Allied plan to liberate the Philippines, pushing the planned Allied invasion of the country to October 1944, two months ahead of schedule.^[5][6]

Cityhood

Main article: Cities of the Philippines

For further information, see League of Cities of the Philippines v. COMELEC.

In July 2007, the municipality of Carcar was converted into a component city of the province of Cebu after ratification of Republic Act 9436.

On November 18, 2008, Supreme Court ruled that the cityhood charters of Carcar and 15 other cities as unconstitutional as a result of a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines. A year later, on December 22, Carcar and 15 other municipalities regained their status as cities again after the court reversed its November 18, 2008, ruling. On August 23, 2010, the court reinstated its ruling on November 18, 2008, causing Carcar and 15 cities to revert to municipalities. Finally on February 15, 2011, Carcar and the other 15 municipalities regained their cityhood status.

In 2013, after a six year legal battle, the League of Cities of the Philippines acknowledged and recognized the cityhood of Carcar and 15 other cities on July 19, 2013.^[7][8]

Geography

Carcar City is bordered to the north by the town of San Fernando, to the west are the towns of Barili and Aloguinsan, to the east is the Cebu Strait, and to the south is the town of Sibonga. Carcar is 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Cebu City, 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Barili, and 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Aloguinsan. It has a land area of 116.78 square kilometres (45.09 sq mi).

Carcar lies on the southernmost part of Metro Cebu area.^[9]

Topography

The land is generally level with less than 18% slope comprising 78.7% of the total land area. Areas with slopes ranging from 18 to 50% cover 19.3% of the total land area and those over 50% slope comprise approximately 1.9%. The highest recorded elevation is a little over 660 metres (2,170 ft) above sea level, located within the barangay of Napo.

Soil type

The municipality has five dominant soil types namely: Faraon Clay, Steep Phase, the Lugo Clay, the Mandaue clay loam & the Hydrosol type.

Barangays

Carcar is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020[3]		2010[10]
072214001	Bolinawan	8.0%	10,881	10,852	▴	0.03%
072214002	Buenavista	2.0%	2,662	2,294	▴	1.50%
072214003	Calidngan	2.4%	3,258	2,953	▴	0.99%
072214004	Can‑asujan	6.7%	9,114	7,845	▴	1.51%
072214005	Guadalupe	9.3%	12,641	10,633	▴	1.74%
072214006	Liburon	5.6%	7,606	6,749	▴	1.20%
072214007	Napo	4.7%	6,427	6,344	▴	0.13%
072214008	Ocaña	6.9%	9,361	8,507	▴	0.96%
072214009	Perrelos	10.4%	14,129	12,901	▴	0.91%
072214012	Poblacion I	8.0%	10,919	8,996	▴	1.96%
072214013	Poblacion II	2.0%	2,680	2,432	▴	0.98%
072214014	Poblacion III	5.1%	6,898	5,763	▴	1.81%
072214015	Tuyom	4.5%	6,080	5,563	▴	0.89%
072214010	Valencia	4.0%	5,485	4,885	▴	1.17%
072214011	Valladolid	8.4%	11,523	10,606	▴	0.83%
	Total		136,453	107,323	▴	2.43%

Climate

The wet season occurs during the months of May to October and the dry season, from January to May.

Climate data for Carcar, Cebu
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28 (82)	29 (84)	30 (86)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	30 (85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	23 (73)	24 (75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	70 (2.8)	49 (1.9)	62 (2.4)	78 (3.1)	138 (5.4)	201 (7.9)	192 (7.6)	185 (7.3)	192 (7.6)	205 (8.1)	156 (6.1)	111 (4.4)	1,639 (64.6)
Average rainy days	13.4	10.6	13.1	14.5	24.2	27.9	28.4	27.7	27.1	27.4	22.5	15.9	252.7
Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)[11]

Demographics

Population census of Carcar

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	31,895	—
1918	37,392	+1.07%
1939	36,308	−0.14%
1948	32,818	−1.12%
1960	36,304	+0.84%
1970	45,806	+2.35%
1975	47,174	+0.59%
1980	57,822	+4.15%
1990	70,841	+2.05%
1995	78,726	+2.00%
2000	89,199	+2.71%
2007	100,632	+1.68%
2010	107,323	+2.37%
2015	119,664	+2.09%
2020	136,453	+2.62%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][10][13][14]

Economy

Poverty incidence of Carcar

10 20 30 40 50 2000 49.90 2003 22.88 2006 35.00 2009 27.21 2012 17.02 2015 21.39 2018 13.80 2021 30.71 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Tourism

Mercado Ancestral Home

• As a heritage city of Cebu, Carcar contains various Spanish and American period structures. The Carcar plaza alone hosts several heritage structures, the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria dominates the area. Within the complex various structures stand, including quaint houses and their distinctive architectural details.
• Surrounding the Rotunda and in the public market one will find the famous Carcar chicharon, lechon, ampao, bucarillo, gorgorias and puso – just some of the local delicacies.
• Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit Hot Spring National Park
• Heritage Houses such as the Mercado Mansion
• Tuyom Beach – Beach Houses
• The Kabkaban Festival, which is the town's local festival in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria. The name of the festival comes from the old name of the town, which was taken from the local term for the Oakleaf Fern (Aglaomorpha quercifolia) which is abundant in the town, even to this day. Celebrated from the November 23 to 25, it highlights the rich culture, faith, and musical history of Carcar.

Education

The public schools in Carcar are administered by the Schools Division of Carcar City.

Elementary schools

• Bolinawan Elementary School — Bolinawan
• Buenavista Elementary School — Buenavista
• Calidngan Elementary School — Calidngan
• Canal Elementary School — Sitio Canal, Bolinawan
• Can-asujan Elementary School — Can-asujan
• Cara-atan Elementary School — Sitio Cara-atan, Buenavista
• Carcar Central Elementary School — P. Nellas Street, Poblacion III
• Guadalupe Elementary School — Guadalupe
• Hunob Elementary School — Sitio Hunob, Guadalupe
• Kalangyawon Elementary School — Sitio Kalangyawon, Napo
• Kamanggahan Elementary School — Sitio Kamanggahan, Guadalupe
• Kayam Elementary School — Sitio Kayam, Napo
• Liburon Elementary School — Liburon
• Lunas Elementary School — Sitio Lunas, Calidngan
• Mainit Elementary School — Sitio Mainit, Guadalupe
• Manghupi Elementary School — Sitio Manghupi, Can-asujan
• Maximina V. Barangan Elementary School — Poblacion I
• Moag Elementary School — Sitio Moag, Guadalupe
• Napo Elementary School — Napo
• Ocaña Central Elementary School — Ocaña
• Perrelos Elementary School — Perrelos
• Pit-os Elementary School — Sitio Pit-os, Calidngan
• Sa-ay Elementary School — Sitio Saay, Can-asujan
• Tagaytay Elementary School — Sitio Tagaytay, Can-asujan
• Tal-ot Elementary School — Sitio Tal-ut, Valencia
• Tapal Elementary School — Sitio Tapal, Guadalupe
• Tawog Elementary School — Sitio Tawog, Valladolid
• Tuyom Elementary School — Tuyom
• Upland Elementary School — Poblacion I
• Valencia Elementary School — Valencia
• Valladolid Elementary School — Valladolid

High schools

• Can-asujan National High School — Can-asujan
• Carcar Central National High School — P. Nellas Street, Poblacion III
• Gelacio C. Babao, Sr. Memorial National High School — Valladolid
• Kalangyawon National High School — Sitio Kalangyawon, Napo
• Liburon National High School — Liburon
• Maximino Noel Memorial National High School — Guadalupe
• Ocaña National High School — Ocaña
• Perrelos National High School — Perrelos
• Pit-os National High School — Sitio Pit-os, Calidngan
• Roberto E. Sato Memorial National High School — Calidngan
• Tal-ut National High School — Sitio Tal-ut, Valencia
• Tuyom National High School — Tuyom
• Tuyom Senior High School — Tuyom
• Valencia National Vocational High School — Valencia

Integrated schools

• Puesto Integrated School — Sitio Puesto, Napo
• Sacsac Integrated School — Sacsac, Calidngan, Carcar City

Colleges

• Carcar City College — P. Vasquez St., Poblacion I

Notable personalities

• Teofilo Camomot – founded the Congregation of Blessed Virgin Missionaries
• Sheryn Regis – singer

Gallery

• 
  Rizal Monument at Old Town Plaza
• 
  Carcar City Museum (formerly, Carcar Dispensary)
• 
  St. Catherine of Alexandria Church Interior
• 
  Carcar Former Municipal Complex