TANAUAN CITY

THE CITY OF COLORS

A City as defined under the Local Government Code of 1991 is composed of more
urbanized and developed barangays, serves as a general-purpose government for the
coordination and delivery of basic, regular and direct services and effective governance
of the inhabitants within its jurisdiction. Cities may be classified as highly urbanized
cities (HUCs), Component Cities (CCs) and Independent Component Cities (ICCs). As
of September 30, 2016, there are about 145 cities in the Philippines. Thirty-three (33) of
these are Highly Urbanized (HUCs), five (5) are Independent Component (ICCs), with
the rest being components (CCs) of their respective provinces.

One of those component cities is the city known to be the “cradle of noble heroes”,
Tanauan. Tanauan is a component city of the province of Batangas. Being a component
city means that Tanauan is still a subject to general supervision by the province and
their respective charters do not prohibit the qualified voters of the city to vote for elective
provincial officials.

This paper aims to distinguish the old and new profile of Tanauan City including its
brief history and the laws prior to its conversion as a municipality and as a component
city. This paper also aims to present the grounds and prerequisites provided by the
constitution for its conversion and division, and who were the elective officials during
those times.

BRIEF HISTORY
 Tanauan was founded on its present location in 1754, having been transferred
from the fringe of Taal Lake where it was originally situated. It is believed that generally,
Tanauan and Sala was originally founded in 1572 by the Augustinian missionaries who
built mission at the shore of what is now known as Taal lake below Tagaytay Ridge.
The first Tanauan is composed of the present Talisay, Laurel, Barangay Montana,
Sulpok and Suplang. A natural disaster brought about by violent eruptions of Taal
Volcano in 1754 had submerged the whole ancient town of Tanauan. This caused the
residents to move to Sala, the second site of Tanuan. It was also during this time that
dispute between the two sites arise because of their geographical boundaries. Both
towns were relocated and fused into one town. There was disagreement between the
two on whether to name the new town Tanuan or Sala. This conflict had been settled
down in favor of Tanauan by which Sala became a barrio of Tanauan located on
northeastern part of Batangas.

CONVERSION TO A FIRST CLASS MUNICIPALITY

It was in 1996 when Tanauan became a first class municipality. A municipality as

defined under the Local Government Code of 1991, is consisting of a group of
barangays, serves primarily as a general-purpose government for the coordination and
delivery of basic, regular and direct services and effective governance of the inhabitants
within its jurisdiction.

On the other hand, Section 7 of Local Government Code of 1991 states that the
creation of local government unit or its conversion from one level to another level shall
be based on verifiable indicators of viability (income, population and land area) and
projected capacity to provide services On the other hand, Section 442 of R.A 7160
provides the requisites for the creation of a municipality. This includes income of at least
2,500,000 million for the last two consecutive years based on 1991 constant prices,
population of at least 25,000 inhabitants as certified b y the National Statistics Office
and contiguous territory of at least 50 square kilometers as certified by Land
Management Bureau. Tanauan in 1996 had met this requirements provided by R.A
7160. Way back in 1996, Tanauan acquired and has been classified as first class
municipality. To be classified as a first class municipality, Section 2 (a) of Executive
Order no. 249 July 25, 1987 provides that first class Municipalities should obtained an
average annual income of fifteen million pesos or more. The total number of inhabitants
during years 2015-2016 ranges to about 103, 868 inhabitants suited for the
requirements provided by R.A 7160.

Tanauan City was in their first year as a first class municipality when the town
underwent total reconstruction of museum under the administration of Mayor Cesar V.
Platon with the left and right wings converted into Social Hall and Library respectively,
while the central portion is reserved for meetings, conferences, and other activities.

Below is the Population census of Tanauan City before it became classified and
converted into a municipality.

Population census of Tanauan

Year Pop.
Year Pop. 1980 74,020
1990 92,754
1903 18,263
1995 103,868
1918 22,473
1939 26,186
1948 30,203
1960 44,975
1970 61,910
1975 66,703

LIST OF FORMER MAYORS BEFORE TANAUAN WAS CONVERTED INTO A

MUNICIPALITY

o Estanislao Gonzales (1870-1884) o Pedro M. Carandang (1899-

o Jose B. Gonzales (1885-1886) 1900)

o Ruperto Laurel (1887-1888) o Juan Gonzales Suizo (1900-

o Sixto Gonzales Castillo (1892- 1902)

1898) o Florentino Laurena (1902)

 o Valentin Dimayuga (1902-1903)
o Florentino Collantes (1903-1904)
o Prospero Dimayuga (1904-1905)
o Pantaleon Gonzales (1905-1906)
o Francisco Oñate (1906-1907)
o Fulgencio Platon (1907-1908)
o Nicolas Gonzales Sr. (1908-
1912)
o Crispin Garcia (1912-1916)
o George Collantes (1916-1922)
o Fulgencio Platon (1922-1925)
o Florentino Laurena (1925-1928)
o Antonio Dimayuga (1928-1937)
o Felix Ebron (1937)
o Alfredo Magpantay (1937-1942)
o Nicolas Gonzales (1942-1943)
o Jose M. Corona (1943-1945)
o George Collantes (1946-1951)
o Pedro B. Gonzales (1951-1967)
o Jaime Banjo Laurel (1968-1970)
o Sebastian Carandang (1970-
1971)
o Francisco E. Lirio (1971-1980)
o Sotero Olfato (1980-1987)
o Pedro Tipa (1987-1988)
o Sotero Olfato (1988-1992)
o Cesar V. Platon (1992-2001)

CONVERSION INTO A COMPONENT CITY

A City as defined under the Local Government Code of 1991, is

composed of more urbanized and developed barangays, serves primarily as a general-
purpose government for the coordination and delivery of basic, regular and direct
services and effective governance of the inhabitants within its jurisdiction.

After 5 years of being a first class municipality, it eventually became a city by

virtue of Republic Ac 9005, otherwise known as “An Act converting the Municipality of
Tanauan into a Component City to be known as the City of Tanauan, enacted on
February 2, 2001. It was signed into law by then President Gloria Macapal Arroyo, was
duly ratified and approved through a plebiscite held on March 10, 2001.

On March 10, 2001, a Saturday, the charter was approved by a referendum in

Tanauan that drew 8,890 or 16% of the 55,453 registered voters. The "yes" had it over
the "no" by a landslide, 7,026 to 1,961. According to cityhood advocates, quoted in
reports reaching Batangas on Sunday, the turnout was two times better than previous
conversion-to-city exercises.

Pursuant to the requirements provided in by Local Government Code of 1991 for

the creation and conversion of a municipality into a city, Tanauan has a total land area
of 107.16km2 which was composed of 48 barangays, 7 of which are in the poblacion.
There are six lakeshore barangays along Taal Lake.

The total number of inhabitants after it was converted into a component city
ranges to about 103,561. This was based on a population census conducted by
Philippine Statistics Authority. There are 33 mayors who also have served the city and
this includes Alfredo C. Corona (2001-2006), Sonia Torres-Aquino (2006-2013) and
Antonio C. Halili (2013-incumbent).

Several establishments were constructed and operated which sustains

Tanauan’s cityhood. This includes making old municipal building as a museum
envisioned to be a learning center and repository of the cultural and historical richness
of Tanauan. Tanauan being a component city was able to build livelihood opportunities
to its inhabitants through Housing, Financial and Lending Institution.

Tanauan is also politically subdivided into 48 barangays.

 Altura Bata  Balele

 Altura Matanda  Banjo East (Bungkalot)
 Altura-South  Banjo West (Banjo Laurel)
 Ambulong  Bilog-bilog
 Bañadero  Boot
 Bagbag  Cale
 Bagumbayan  Darasa
 Gonzales  Poblacion Barangay 5
 Hidalgo  Poblacion Barangay 6
 Janopol  Poblacion Barangay 7
 Janopol Oriental  Sala
 Laurel  Sambat
 Luyos
 Mabini
 Malaking Pulo
 Maria Paz
 San Jose
 Maugat
 Santol (Doña Jacoba Garcia)
 Montaña (Ik-ik)
 Santor
 Natatas
 Sulpoc
 Pagaspas (Balok-balok)
 Suplang
 Pantay Matanda
 Talaga
 Pantay Bata
 Tinurik
 Poblacion Barangay 1
 Trapiche
 Poblacion Barangay 2
 Ulango
 Poblacion Barangay 3
 Wawa
 Poblacion Barangay 4

La Playa District

A cluster of the six lakeshore barangays of Tanauan which serves as the tourism district
of the city. It is consist of barangays:

 Ma. Paz  Gonzales

 Wawa  Banadero
 Boot  Ambulong
 Today, The City Government of Tanauan is ISO 9001:2008 and 9001:2015 certified
on 33 frontline services and supporting process. Tanauan City was also rated Excellent
by the Civil Service Commission in the 2016 anti-Red Tape Report Card Survey and
2015 Philippine quality awardee Level 1. September 29, 2003, Tanauan was made a
“City of Character” and became a member of International Character Cities together
with other cities around the world.

The City of Tanauan originated as a simple barrio without a permanent place to

call as their own but because of some unexpected phenomena; a disaster became a
beautiful disaster and has paved way for the City to grow its income and livelihood
matters. They use their resources and services effectively resulting to two conversions
or divisions, one was becoming a municipality and the most recent is becoming a
component city until now.