Minalabac

Minalabac, officially the Municipality of Minalabac (Central Bikol: Banwaan kan Minalabac, Tagalog: Bayan ng Minalabac), is a First Class (as of 2025) municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 51,841 people.^[5]

Minalabac
Municipality
Municipality of Minalabac
White pebble beach in Bagolatao
Flag Seal
Map of Camarines Sur with Minalabac highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Minalabac Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°34′01″N 123°10′52″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region
Province	Camarines Sur
District	2nd district
Barangays	25 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	James Colin D. Lizardo
• Vice Mayor	Noe G. Lavandero
• Representative	Vincenzo Renato Luigi R. Villafuerte
• Municipal Council	Members Rolito U. Orosco Renato A. Barcinas Peddy B. Benamira Miguel S. Bersabe Nilo N. Cadores Edilberto C. Platon Jr. Crisanto P. Bersabe Lea B. Betito
• Electorate	33,759 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	126.10 km2 (48.69 sq mi)
Elevation	7.0 m (23.0 ft)
Highest elevation	518 m (1,699 ft)
Lowest elevation	−3 m (−9.8 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	51,841
• Density	411.11/km2 (1,064.8/sq mi)
• Households	11,622
Economy
• Income class	1st Class (as of 2025)
• Poverty incidence	40.52 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 238.7 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 793.3 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 16.36 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 113.5 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Camarines Sur 2 Electric Cooperative (CASURECO 2)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4414
PSGC	0501722000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)54
Native languages	Central Bikol Tagalog
Website	minalabac.gov.ph

Etymology

The name Minalabac is linked to the early Spanish term “Minalagua,” which was said to mean “mine of water.” Early Spanish settlers reportedly used this name to describe the area, noting its water sources. Over time, the name evolved into its present form.^[6]

History

Minalabac traces its roots to the late 1500s. The first settlement was in Sitio Inguinan. Strong typhoons pushed residents to move the town about three kilometers to its present site.^[6]

The town became organized under the Municipal Code on January 31, 1901.

Geography

Barangays

Minalabac is politically subdivided into 25 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Barangay Name	Philippine Standard Geographic Codes Code	Urban/Rural	Population (2020 Census)
Antipolo	051722001	Urban	6,856
Bagolatao	051722002	Rural	1,277
Bagongbong	051722003	Rural	987
Baliuag Nuevo	051722004	Rural	1,672
Baliuag Viejo	051722005	Rural	3,452
Catanusan	051722006	Rural	1,393
Del Carmen-Del Rosario (Pob)	051722007	Rural	2,610
Del Socorro	051722008	Rural	1,384
Hamoraon	051722009	Rural	1,849
Hobo	051722010	Rural	4,430
Irayang Solong	051722011	Rural	1,950
Magadap	051722012	Rural	1,295
Malitbog	051722013	Rural	2,155
Manapao	051722014	Rural	2,660
Mataoroc	051722015	Rural	2,810
Sagrada (Sagrada Familia)	051722016	Rural	2,829
Salingogon	051722017	Rural	2,547
San Antonio (Pob)	051722018	Rural	1,081
San Felipe-Santiago (Pob)	051722019	Rural	841
San Francisco (Pob)	051722020	Rural	584
San Jose	051722021	Rural	1,923
San Juan-San Lorenzo (Pob)	051722022	Rural	1,498
Taban	051722023	Rural	1,277
Tariric	051722024	Rural	3,082
Timbang	051722025	Rural	1,539

Climate

Climate data for Minalabac, Camarines Sur
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	33 (91)	32 (90)	35 (95)	37 (99)	38 (100)	36 (97)	35 (95)	33 (91)	35 (95)	34 (93)	33 (91)	32 (90)	34 (94)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	27 (81)	27 (81)	29 (84)	31 (88)	32 (90)	32 (90)	31 (88)	29 (84)	30 (86)	29 (84)	28 (82)	28 (82)	29 (85)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	36.66 (1.44)	58.6 (2.31)	37.91 (1.49)	76.31 (3.00)	98.34 (3.87)	151.99 (5.98)	288.39 (11.35)	291.41 (11.47)	186.77 (7.35)	363.21 (14.30)	97.5 (3.84)	292.1 (11.50)	1,979.19 (77.9)
Average rainy days	18	23	16	17	25	28	31	26	27	29	24	29	293
Source: World Weather Online[7]

Demographics

Population census of Minalabac

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 3,993 —     1918 4,094 +0.17% 1939 9,620 +4.15% 1948 11,984 +2.47% 1960 19,654 +4.21% 1970 23,373 +1.75% 1975 27,089 +3.00% 1980 30,336 +2.29%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 35,922 +1.70% 1995 37,574 +0.85% 2000 41,734 +2.28% 2007 43,957 +0.72% 2010 48,162 +3.38% 2015 52,390 +1.62% 2020 53,981 +0.63% 2024 51,841 −0.97%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11][12]

In the 2020 census, the population of Minalabac was 53,981 people,^[13] with a density of 430 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Minalabac

10 20 30 40 50 60 2000 55.83 2003 49.35 2006 51.50 2009 48.36 2012 40.05 2015 45.38 2018 32.21 2021 40.52 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

Minalabac is classified as a municipality. Minalabac has the same economy as Libmanan, Cabusao, San Fernando, Milaor, Ocampo, Nabua, and Calabanga because of fishing in coastal barangays near Ragay Gulf particularly Salingogon, and Bagolatao. Minalabac has several beach resorts that also boosts the economy of the town. Majority of the land is devoted to rice, vegetables and other root crops.

It was formerly included in the Metro Naga area before the designation was discontinued in 2017.

Transportation

Jeepneys are used for transportation from Naga City to Minalabac (Vice Versa), and from LCC Terminal in Sabang, Naga City to the market of Minalabac. It is the main transportation for public use.

Infrastructures

The town has a couple of provincial roads. The main road in the town is the Milaor-Minalabac-Pili road and the other roads either goes to the Poblacion, other barangays, to Rinconada district, or even Albay.

Tourism

Two main summer beach destinations include the pebble beach in Bagolatao and sand beach in Hamoraon. The growing number of resorts offers amenities such as cottages, videoke, rest house, etc.^[22]

Government

Minalabac Municipal Hall

Elected officials

Members of the Minalabac Municipal Council
(2019-2022)^[23]

Position	Name of official
District Representative (2nd Legislative District, Camarines Sur)	Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte Jr.
Mayor	Christopher R. Lizardo
Vice-Mayor	Pedro Benamira
Councilors	Miguel S. Bersabe
	Renato A. Barcinas
	Noe G. Lavandero
	Louieley S. Barrameda
	Alejo Francis R. Sayson
	Pedro S. Balid
	Alex L. Nacor
	Arcel B. Bas

Education

The Minalabac Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.^[24]

Primary and elementary schools

• Antipolo Elementary School
• Bagolatao Elementary School
• Bagongbong Elementary School
• Baliuag Nuevo Elementary School
• Baliuag Viejo Elementary School
• Bingcay Elementary School
• Catanusan Elementary School
• Del Socorro Elementary School
• Hamoraon Elementary School
• Hobo Elementary School
• Irayang Solong Elementary School
• Magadap Elementary School
• Malitbog Elementary School
• Manapao Elementary School
• Mataoroc Elementary School
• Minalabac Central School
• Prince Thad Montessori School
• Sagrada Familia Elementary School
• Salingogon Elementary School
• San Antonio Elementary School
• San Jose Elementary School (Main)
• San Jose Primary School (Annex)
• Taban Elementary School
• Tariric Elementary School
• Timbang Elementary School
• Upper Anayan Primary School

Secondary schools

• Antipolo National High School
• Bagolatao National High School
• Hobo National High School
• Minalabac National High School
• Pangan High School Foundation
• Sagrada Familia High School
• Tariric Agro-Industrial High School
• Villamayor National High School