Iriga

Iriga
City
City of Iriga
Seal
Map of Camarines Sur showing the location of Iriga City
Iriga Location within the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country	[[{{#property:P17}}]]
Region	Bicol (Region V)
Province	Camarines Sur
District	4th district
Founded	1578 (as a visita)
Founded	1683 (as a pueblo)
Cityhood	September 3, 1968
Barangays	36
Government
• Mayor	Ronald Felix Alfelor(LP)
Area
• Total	137.35 km2 (53.03 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	105,919
• Density	770/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code	4431
Dialing code	54
Income class	4th class, partially urban
Website	www.iriga.gov.ph

Iriga, officially the City of Iriga (Rinconada Bikol: Syudad ka Iriga; Filipino: Lungsod ng Iriga; Bikol: Syudad nin Iriga), is a third class city in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is located about 400 kilometres (250 mi) south-east of Manila, and about 61 kilometres (38 mi) north of Legazpi. It is bounded by the town of Buhi in the east, by the municipalities of Baao, Nabua and Bato in the west, by the province of Albay in the south, and by the municipalities of Ocampo and Sangay in the north.

According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 105,919 people.

Barangays

Iriga City is politically subdivided into 36 barangays.

3

Demographics

Population census of Iriga
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	74,269	—
1995	82,482	+1.98%
2000	88,893	+1.62%
2007	97,983	+1.35%
2010	105,919	+2.87%
Source: National Statistics Office

Language

Irigueños or people of Iriga speak Rinconada Bikol language. Irigueños of Austronesian lineage are using Iriga variant while the indigenous and oboriginal groups of Agta or Negritos are using Agta variant of the language. Tagalog/Filipino and English languages are also understood and spoken. Bikol Central is also commonly understood and spoken in the Rinconada area.

Religion

The majority of the city residents are Roman Catholic. The Archdiocese of Nueva Caceres has several parishes and churches in the city. The biggest church can be found at the center of the city (Saint Anthony of Padua) and the Lourdes grotto symbolizes the long history of Catholicism in Iriga. Tinagba, a harvest festival can be seen a fusion of folk tradition and Catholic saint celebration.

Iglesia ni Cristo is the largest minority religion in the city. The INC's district office of ecclesiastical district of Camarines Southeast (CSE) is located in Barangay San Nicolas. The office oversees the church members in Rinconada and Partido areas in Camarines Sur, and Burias island in Masbate. Thus, a large number of INC members can be found in the city. At present, Iglesia Ni Cristo has four local congregations and two extensions in Iriga.

Islam is a new religion in the city and most of its members are immigrants from Mindanao island. LDS Church members are also numerous, as well as Jehovah's Witnesses. Baptist adherents are also active in the city.

Establishments

Iriga Plaza Hotel

Chowking Iriga

Bigg's is a homegrown foodchain

Iriga City Central Terminal

The city was chartered September 23, 1968. It used to have a small business district situated at the center of the city with a number of businesses.

Found at the downtown Iriga is the City Park which is located near the cathedral and across the old City Hall. It is a well landscaped, Japanese-themed park with a huge spurting fountain at the center but was later replaced with a skating rink. Acacia trees are lit with colored lights during Christmas season. Surrounding the park are business establishments and landmarks such as the Lourdes Grotto which offers a great view of the downtown. Iriga City Public Market is one of the busiest in the region which makes the city as the center of commerce in Rinconada district.

The old Iriga City Public Market was redesigned and reconstructed in 2010 and now hosts LCC supermarket, many local shops and several national chain restaurants. Sold at the new public market are locally grown and harvested organic produce such as tilapia harvested from nearby Lake Buhi and Lake Bato. Salt water fresh and dried fish from neighboring Balatan coast are sold in abundance in the market. Gift shops offering locally manufactured products made from local hemp, pili nut, bamboo and coconut are offered to local and foreign tourists.

The city is home to three major commercial complexes namely the LCC Mall Iriga, which was the second LCC Mall in the district, the UNP Town Mall near the University of Northeastern Philippines, and the largest and newest Regent Central Commercial Complex. National chain restaurants like Mang Inasal, Chow King, Jollibee, Biggs and Shakey's opened branches in the city. Many other fastfood and specialty restaurants are planning to open branches in the future. A new convention center was built in front of the Catholic Grotto hosts important events in the city.

With the opening of SM City in nearby Naga City, large mall operators are eyeing Iriga City as expansion base of their operations in the region. SM Supermalls, Robinsons Malls, and Puregold are showing interest in the city. Banks have opened branches in Iriga City namely Philippine National Bank, Banco Filipino, Metro Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines, Banco de Oro and several other local and rural banks. Many others are planning to put up branches in the city.

The city is home to two universities, several colleges and trade schools. The University of Saint Anthony, University of Northeastern Philippines, La Consolacion College, STI College, AMA Computer Learning Center and many others are located right within the city proper. These schools have enrollees from the city and nearby towns. The city is host to a big number of student migrants from the region.

There is a number of waterfalls and springs found in the city. Several resorts and hotels were built to accommodate growing tourist arrivals. The old Ibalon Hotel which was renovated and renamed as Iriga City Plaza Hotel is one of the region's best places to stay and dine. Local cuisine offering meat and vegetarian dishes with coconut milk and red chili peppers.

A small central bus terminal was constructed in the city center to accommodate buses, shuttles and jeepneys going to Manila and neighboring cities. Philippine National Railways and Philippine Transportation Company (PHILTRANCO) maintain stations in Iriga City. Several hospitals operate in the city. A catholic-convent run Sta. Maria Josefa Hospital is well- equipped and among the best in the region. The city government is doing its best to upgrade the city's infrastracture. The city aims to be a first class city in the near future.

On several occasions, Iriga City was awarded the Cleanest and Greenest City in the region. But the city is prone to occasional flash floods. Rain water gushes from Mount Iriga to the downtown area bringing mud along the way. The city government is on its way to modernize the aging drainage system of the city center. Several roads, buildings, and hydro electric energy projects are underway. Electrification of far villages in the mountain and river districts was completed and now, the city is 100% electrified.

A new City Hall was constructed outside the downtown a couple of miles to expand the city center.

Telecommunications

Iriga City is served with several nationally-operating telecom companies namely Digitel, Bayantel, PLDT, Smart, Globe and Sun cellular which offer telephone and internet services. These companies maintain major operations in the city. Iriga City is also the regional base of operations of TV and radio network RPN (Radio Philippines Network) Channel 9. Since 1968, its radio station RPN DZKI-AM (Radyo Ronda Iriga) and television station RPN DWKI-TV 10 (currently airing CNN Philippines) which has been operating from the city has dominated the airwaves . There is a few local cable TV operators dominate the cable TV market including GMA TV 13 Iriga (affiliated to DZAL of Rinconada Broadcasting Corp.) ABS-CBN Corporation has proposed to construct a relay station in the city probably on a UHF Channel while TV5 planned to set up a 10 KW UHF relay station here. DZIJ-RJTV Channel 21 is set to open in the city.

See also

• Camarines Sur
• Bicolano People
• Bicol Region
• Bicol Languages
• List of Bicol Region Cities and Municipalities

External links

• Official Website of the City of Iriga
• FPJ's Blog "Skulakog" by H. Frank V. Peñones, Jr.
• Iriga Historical Timeline
• 2007 NSCB information
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Iriga City, World
• Iriga City, Philippines : Great People, Great Destination
• NCC Website for Iriga City
• News from Iriga
• University of Saint Anthony