Lian, Batangas

Lian, officially the Municipality of Lian (Tagalog: Bayan ng Lian), is a municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 56,280 people.^[5]

Lian Lian
Municipality
Municipality of Lian
Street in Lian
Flag Seal
Map of Batangas with Lian highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Lian Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°02′N 120°39′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Calabarzon
Province	Batangas
District	1st district
Founded	1760
Annexation to Nasugbu	March 28, 1903
Reestablished	January 1, 1915
Barangays	19 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Joseph V. Peji
• Vice Mayor	Iniño V. Bolompo
• Representative	Leandro Antonio L. Leviste
• Municipal Council	Members Osita P. Vergara Roland H. Magyaya Bren Matthew C. Magbago Cesar R. Lagus Jr. Florante C. Lagus Jr. Lauro A. Butiong Reynaldo J. Herrera Jr. Exequel L. Bonuan
• Electorate	37,493 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	76.80 km2 (29.65 sq mi)
Elevation	36 m (118 ft)
Highest elevation	275 m (902 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	56,788
• Density	740/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
• Households	15,991
Demonym	Lianeño
Economy
• Income class	3rd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	9.4 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 278 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 496.7 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 234.3 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 96.63 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Batangas 1 Electric Cooperative (BATELEC 1)
• Water	Lian Water District
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4216
PSGC	0401013000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)43
Native languages	Tagalog
Website	www.lian.gov.ph

The patron saint of Lian is St. John the Baptist.

Etymology

According to the early residents of the town, it was initially named Lia, after the leader of the first group of Chinese traders who settled there. However, there is no significance if it is associated with the old name of the town. When Spaniards asked the traders about the name of the place and "Lia" was the answer, they took it as "Lian," the town's present name.^[6]

History

Lian was founded in 1760 by Chinese traders who settled in the area. There was no other information regarding the other settlers.^[6]

On March 28, 1903, Lian was merged with the municipality of Nasugbu.^[7] On December 28, 1914, Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison signed Executive Order No. 127, separating Lian from Nasugbu to restore its independent municipality status effective January 1, 1915 by first mayor Kapitan Isko.^[8]

Geography

Lian is located at 14°02′N 120°39′E. It is located at the western shore of Batangas, facing the Nasugbu Bay. It is 72 kilometers (45 mi) from Batangas City and 100 kilometers (62 mi) from Manila.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 76.80 square kilometers (29.65 sq mi) ^[9] constituting 2.46% of the 3,119.75-square-kilometer (1,204.54 sq mi) total area of Batangas.

Barangays

Lian is politically subdivided into 19 barangays, as shown in the matrix below.^[10] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Barangays Tres, Uno, Dos, Quatro, Singko, Malaruhatan and Binubusan (which is not Poblacion) are considered urban barangays, while barangays San Diego, Bungahan, Prenza, Bagong Pook, Kapito, Lumaniag, Humayingan, Puting Kahoy, Cumba, Luyahan, Matabungkay and Balibago are considered rural barangays.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2024[11]		2010[12]
041013002	Bagong Pook	4.1%	2,321	2,011	▴	1.01%
041013003	Balibago	5.7%	3,250	2,964	▴	0.65%
041013004	Binubusan	8.1%	4,610	4,061	▴	0.89%
041013005	Bungahan	7.5%	4,249	3,415	▴	1.54%
041013007	Cumba	3.0%	1,724	1,487	▴	1.04%
041013008	Humayingan	2.7%	1,557	1,328	▴	1.12%
041013009	Kapito	5.8%	3,273	2,764	▴	1.19%
041013012	Lumaniag	4.1%	2,309	2,114	▴	0.62%
041013013	Luyahan	4.2%	2,392	2,251	▴	0.43%
041013014	Malaruhatan	7.8%	4,410	3,322	▴	2.00%
041013015	Matabungkay	8.7%	4,938	4,389	▴	0.83%
041013016	Barangay 1 (Poblacion)	3.3%	1,895	1,598	▴	1.20%
041013017	Barangay 2 (Poblacion)	1.6%	928	514	▴	4.23%
041013018	Barangay 3 (Poblacion)	2.5%	1,411	1,413	▾	−0.01%
041013019	Barangay 4 (Poblacion)	2.6%	1,463	1,330	▴	0.67%
041013020	Barangay 5 (Poblacion)	1.9%	1,056	1,221	▾	−1.01%
041013021	Prenza	7.9%	4,486	4,070	▴	0.68%
041013022	Puting‑Kahoy	3.4%	1,905	1,707	▴	0.77%
041013023	San Diego	7.9%	4,483	3,984	▴	0.83%
	Total		56,788	45,943	▴	1.50%

Sitios

• Altura (Prenza)
• Bagbag (Bungahan)
• Balanoy (Prenza)
• Calumpit (Kapito)
• Ligtasin (Luyahan)
• Magahis (Humanyingan)
• Molino (Kapito)
• Matuod (Luyahan)
• Pajo (Lumaniag)
• Tan-ag (San Diego)

Climate

Climate data for Lian, Batangas
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29 (84)	30 (86)	31 (88)	33 (91)	32 (90)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	20 (68)	20 (68)	21 (70)	22 (72)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	22 (72)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	11 (0.4)	13 (0.5)	14 (0.6)	32 (1.3)	101 (4.0)	142 (5.6)	208 (8.2)	187 (7.4)	175 (6.9)	131 (5.2)	68 (2.7)	39 (1.5)	1,121 (44.3)
Average rainy days	5.2	5.0	7.4	11.5	19.8	23.5	27.0	25.9	25.2	23.2	15.5	8.3	197.5
Source: Meteoblue[13]

The climate of Lian falls under the first type of classification, Type I, characterized by two pronounced seasons: Dry season from November to April and wet season for the rest of the year.

Demographics

Population census of Lian

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	2,552	—
1918	5,104	+4.73%
1939	8,181	+2.27%
1948	10,702	+3.03%
1960	13,658	+2.05%
1970	20,624	+4.20%
1975	23,271	+2.45%
1980	26,091	+2.31%
1990	31,296	+1.84%
1995	36,000	+2.66%
2000	39,129	+1.80%
2007	44,925	+1.92%
2010	45,943	+0.82%
2015	52,660	+2.63%
2020	56,280	+1.41%
2024	56,788	+0.22%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][12][16][17]

In the 2020 census, Lian had a population of 56,280.^[18] The population density was 730 inhabitants per square kilometer (1,900/sq mi).

Most of the people in Lian are Tagalogs. However, some Visayans are found in some barrios and barangays. The main language is Tagalog. Most of the residents can also understand and speak English. Historically once been founded, they are inhabited by Chinese. Since 1800s, all Chinese in Lian was converted to Tagalog.^{[citation needed]}

Economy

Poverty incidence of Lian

10 20 30 40 50 2000 49.32 2003 34.01 2006 19.60 2009 16.49 2012 17.97 2015 13.27 2018 10.71 2021 9.40 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

Lian's main products include rice, corn, onion, calamansi, milkfish, which are sold at Lian Public Market and other various locations. Industries also been found in Barangay Malaruhatan. such as Azucarera De Don Pedro.^[when?] However, the industries cause damage the environment and climate change. Construction supplies such as aluminum, timber (wood), etc.

Table of products

Products in Lian^{[citation needed]}

Product	Description	Locations
Calamansi	Calamansi is a fruit has been found in calamansi trees in some barangays.	Unknown
Rice	Rice is the important food in the municipality. which is largely placed farms such as Barangays Kapito and Prenza.	Bungahan, Prenza, Malaruhatan, Bagong Pook, Kapito, Puting Kahoy, Humayingan, Binubusan, Matabungkay, Luyahan and Balibago
Corn	Corn is an alternative food in rice. which is used the medicine in various dishes.	Various locations which is same in rice.
Onion	Onion is the vegetable which is ranges in batangays Cumba, Prenza and Puting Kahoy.	Various locations which is same in rice.
Wood	Wood is the possible product which is found in the forest. Usefully in the construction.	All locations exempt Poblacion
Cement	Cement is the construction product to allow to construct the buildings, etc.	Everywhere
Sugar	Sugar which is allows it used in processed food in home.	Unknown
Aluminum	Aluminum which is used from the construction. However, it been used from tools.	Unknown
Milkfish	Milkfish is found in all coastal barangays. Useful for the nutrition of the humans.	San Diego, Lumaniag, Luyahan, Binubusan and Matabungkay
Chicken	Chicken is the poultry which people wants to interest as fast food.	Poultry farms
Sand	Sand which it allows to create glass. It will found in the beaches.	Sands in coastal barangays
Cocoa	Cocoa is the rare product, possibly found in barangay Cumba. However, it is usefully the recipe of chocolate.	Rarely found in Cumba.
Flour	Flour can be sold in the public markets. Which allows people to create/cook bread, cakes, etc.	Public markets and sari-sari stores
Salt	Salt is found in the sea. It is used in some recipes.	Coastal barangays
Processed food	Is found in sari-sari stores.	Sari-sari stores and supermarkets
Petroleum/Gasoline	Petroleum/Gasoline which is found in Azucarera De Don Pedro. Usefully in gasoline stations.	Azucarera De Don Pedro in Malaruhatan
Tilapia	Tilapia is found in the sea.	Coastal barangays
Fruits	Fruits which is found in the trees.	Everywhere
Vegetables	Vegetables which is found in trees and farmlands.	Everywhere
Hollow block	Hollow blocks which is usefully for the construction.	Unknown

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Municipal hall

Current officials as of 2022:

• Mayor: Joseph V. Peji
• Vice Mayor: Iniño V. Bolompo
• Councilors:³

• Cesar R. Lagus, Jr.
• Benito A. Magbago
• Osita P. Vergara
• Arlene C. Lagus
• Leopoldo A. Jonson
• Roland H. Magyaya
• Lauro "Ompong" A. Butiong
• Reynaldo J. Herrera, Jr.

Education

Saint Claire Academy

• Tan-ag Elementary School
• Grand Prairie Learning School
• Lian Institute
• Lian National High school
• Senior High School in Lian
• Matabungkay National High School
• R. B Concepcion Montessori School
• Saint Anne Academy (formerly known as Binubusan Academy)
• Saint Claire Academy
• Luyahan Elementary School
• Lian Central School
• Binubusan Elementary School
• Matabungkay Elementary School
• Prenza Elementary School
• Kapito Elementary School
• Lian Senior High School
• San Diego Elementary School

Transport

Lian is plied by public transportation such as jeepneys, tricycles, and buses.

Access

The Calatagan-Nasugbu Highway and the Palico-Nasugbu Highway runs through the municipality.

Tourism

Matabungkay Beach

Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint John the Baptist

• Matabungkay Beach – a white sand beach accessible to Manila 120 kilometers (75 mi) away that was originally 'discovered' to be a great weekend or daytrip destination in the early 1950s, allegedly by sun starved German residents of Manila.^{[citation needed]} It was soon a popular target for holiday-lovers, and permanent cottages (even deluxe beach houses) were built along the beach in the early 1960s by rich Manila folk.
• Town fiesta – Lian's fiesta is held annually every June 24 to commemorate the birthdate of Saint John the Baptist. It is being celebrated by five barangays in the Poblacion, Sitio Bag-bag, also celebrates its fiesta on this day because of its proximity to the town center than to its respective barangays, Kapito and Bungahan (Sitio Bag-bag is shared by 2 barangays).
• Balsa festival – The quaint barangay of Matabungkay is known for its wide beach, clear waters, creamy sand and the Balsa (bamboo beach raft). Every year, this small town comes alive in colorful celebrations as Matabungkay Beach Resort & Hotel hosts the Balsa Festival. The first ever Balsa Festival was held on May 18, 2002, aimed to help the local community by bringing back the town's popularity in the tourism map. With the continued support of the Department of Tourism, the Balsa Festival has become an annual event. Activities include the Balsa Race Competition, Balsa Decor and Cultural Dance Competition, a concert and dance party by the beach, prominent media personalities and foreign executives.

Notable People and Sites

People

• Mark Leviste, Filipino politician

Sites and Locations

• San Diego Beach
• Matabungkay Beach
• Lian Municipal Cemetery
• Lian Memorial Park