About Mamburao
History
The Municipality of Mamburao lies on the level area of the coastal bank of Mamburao River and extends far beyond into interior at the foot of the mountains. The town is situated along Mamburao Bay, between Tubili Point and Mamburao Reef, and affords good anchorage. Mamburao River empties into the bay about 3¼ miles eastward of Tubili Point. The bay has a good anchorage for northerly and easterly winds, but it’s exposed to the southeast monsoon. The Mamburao Reef extends 3¼ miles southward from Caroisan Point.
In the early days of the propagation of Christianity, the Village of Mamburao belonged to the third convent district established at Calavite. Mamburao later became a ‘colossal empire”, for it either incorporated three towns or gave birth to the municipality. From the end of the Spanish period in 1902, Sablayan was a part of Mamburao as a barrio. Under Act 1280 in 1905, Paluan and Abra de Ilog were annexed to Mamburao as barrios. In 1992, all these places were eventually separated to Mamburao transforming them to three (3) different municipalities. Sta. Cruz, a barrio of Mamburao, was also given independent status as a municipality in the same year.
Before the separation of Sta. Cruz from Mamburao, the latter had an area of 1,050 square kilometers, or 105,000 hectares. The population of Mamburao in 1903 was only 894. In 1939, it increased to 4,423, and in 1948 it jumped to 5,571. The literacy percentage back then was 46.6%.
By June 13, 1950, the entire province of Mindoro was divided into two separate provinces, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro – with Mamburao as the capital for Occidental Mindoro. Mamburao can be reached from the north via Batangas City to Matabang Port at Abra de Ilog – and on the South entrance thru Caminawit Port – San Jose.
In the year 1974, thru Presidential Decree No. 86, the Poblacion proper was divided into eight (8) barangays, namely Barangay 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The barangays were headed by a Barangay Chairman and six (6) Councilmen duly elected by the Assembly.
On May 17, 1997, a Barangay election was held which led to the total reorganization of Barangay Officials. At present, each barangay gets to elect a Punong Batangay, seven (7) Barangay Kagawads, and a Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson as an Ex-Officio Kagawad.
Presently, Mamburao is composed of Fifteen (15) Barangays, namely: Poblacion 01, Poblacion 2, Poblacion 3, Poblacion 4, Poblacion 5, Poblacion 6, Poblacion 7, Poblacion 8, Payompon, Balansay, Fatima, Talabaan, Tangkalan, San Luis and Tayamaan, with an approximate land area of 33,950 hectares.
Geography
The Municipality of Mamburao is the capital of the Province of Occidental Mindoro. It has a total land area of 31,555.23 ha situated adjacent Paluan in the west, Abra de Ilog in the North, and Sta. Cruz in the southeast. Out of the15 barangays, Barangay Tangkalan has the largest land area, followed by Barangay Balansay. It also has several coastal barangays including the eight Poblacions, Barangays Payompon, Tayamaan, Balansay, Fatima, and San Luis. Additionally, four of its barangays are classified as urban. Namely, Balansay, Payompon, Tayamaan, and Poblacion 7. Municipal waters on the other hand have a total area of 43,079.29 ha.
Population and Religion
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the total population of Mamburao as of May 1, 2020 is 47,705.
Mamburao residents are known as Mambureños, and they speak Tagalog as their native language.
The predominant religion in Mamburao is Roman Catholicism.
Economy
The economy of Mamburao is highly dependent on its agricultural produce. The two major crops are rice and corn. Rice production accounts to 25,527.80 MT with 4.484 MT/ha while corn production accounts to 16,273.60 MT or 7 MT/ha. This production has increased in both area and volume throughout the years. Exportation to Region IV-A or CALABARZON is also one of the municipality’s roles. Additionally, agricultural production is also varied with some farmers venturing on cassava, onion, mango, legumes, watermelon, and other products. There are also several livestock and dairy farmers particularly in Barangays Balansay, Tayamaan, and Payompon while there are also poultry farmer in Barangays Fatima, Balansay, Payompon, and Tayamaan. Fisheries and aquaculture also play a vital role in the economy of the municipality. Among the three sectors of the fishing industry, marine fishery is the most prominent with Barangays Talabaan, Fatima, Balansay, Payompon, Poblacion 2, Poblacion 7, and Tayamaan being engaged in it. Products include yellow fin tuna, giant squid, roundscad/galunggong, lapulapu, Spanish mackerel, dalagang bukid, dilis, talakitok, bisugo, stonefish, prawns, crabs, and lobsters. Among these, yellow fin tuna, giant squid, and lobsters are exported to Europe, Japan, Dubai, and Hongkong.
Tourism
Because of its great geographical location, Mamburao has a lot to offer when it comes to tourism spots, especially for people who adore beaches. Some of the tourism attractions in the municipality are as follows:
MANGROVES VIEW – It is located at So. Dungon, Barangay Tayamaan, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro. Passers-by are drawn to this mangrove’s view, especially during sunset. Because it runs parallel to the road, it provides a very tranquil setting. Mangroves are important to people because they help stabilize Mamburao’s coastline ecosystem and reduce erosion. It also provide natural infrastructure to help protect nearby populated areas by reducing erosion and absorbing storm surge impacts during extreme weather events.
ISLA DE ORO LAGOON PARK – One of the most visited places in Mamburao is the Isla De Oro (Cultural and Eco-Park Lagoon), a park where everybody is welcome. It is located at Barangay Tangkalan. It contains a garden, a playground, recreational grounds, a dragon fruit farm, and floating cottages. The man-made lagoon is located in the center of the park, where you may go fishing or kayaking. Toy cars are also available for children in the playground.
PAROLA BEACH (DUNGON LIGHTHOUSE) – It is one of the most popular destinations for locals, particularly those looking for adventure. It is located at Sitio Dungon, Brgy. Tayamaan. The magnificent Parola of Dungon can be reached in two ways: on foot via the Tayamaan Proper or Tikian Bridge, or by taking a boat and enjoying the large waves. This beach provides a spectacular view of rock formations, nature (both flora and fauna), and massive waves slamming to the shore. The lighthouse that guides the fishermen on their journey home can be seen at the top of the mountain.
TAYAMAAN BEACH (CROCODILE HEAD VIEW) – At the end of the long stretch of fine sand beach at Barangay Tayamaan lies ahead, a crocodile-head-like mountain. This perfect view of the beach, added to the clear and refreshing saltwater, sums up the best summer getaway for tourists who visit Tayamaan Beach. Take your pick from the various resorts that line the beach. It is a popular place to commemorate special occasions. Crocodile Head Mountain can also be seen from the Tayamaan Fishport.
FATIMA BEACH – If there is a perfect sunset vista, Fatima Beach is at the top of the list. This long stretch of fine-sand beach is made up of various resorts that provide visitors with a variety of services. Watersports such as jet skiing, speedboating, kayaking, rafting, and hiking among the stunning rock formations are available at resorts. You can ride an ATV while admiring the beauty of the beach if you want to take the adventure to the next level. You can also relax under the coconut trees that line the beach’s shoreline.
OCCIDENTAL MINDORO CAPITOL COMPLEX – At the top of the mountainous side of Barangay Payompon, the Provincial Capitol Complex is located. It has a volleyball and basketball court; it also serves as a skating ground for the skaters. The playground is the most crowded and favorite spot for children. Many students can also be seen around the complex; its spacious area serves as their practice area for their extra-curricular activities at their school. One of the main attractions at the main Capitol Building is the preserved remains of Kalibasib, the last captive-bred Philippine tamaraw that died in the afternoon of October 10, 2020. Kali, as he was nicknamed, was under the care of the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) at the Tamaraw Gene Pool Farm located at Manoot, Rizal, in the province of Occidental Mindoro. At night, the Capitol Complex is well lit, which is good for hanging out. One of the favorite spots of the locals is the fountain, which is decorated with different colors of lights, and is instagrammable.
