Balagtas, Bulacan
Balagtas ([bɐlɐgˈtas]), officially the Municipality of Balagtas (Tagalog: Bayan ng Balagtas), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 77,018 people. The municipality is 30 kilometers (19 mi) from Manila and is 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) from Malolos City.
Balagtas
Bigaa | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
| Municipality of Balagtas | |
New Municipal Hall of Balagtas | |
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Flag | |
Map of Bulacan with Balagtas highlighted | |
OpenStreetMap | |
Balagtas Location within the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 14°48′52″N 120°54′30″E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Central Luzon |
| Province | Bulacan |
| District | 5th district |
| Founded | 1596 |
| Renamed | June 18, 1966 |
| Named for | Francisco Balagtas |
| Barangays | 9 (see Barangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Eladio E. Gonzales Jr. |
| • Vice Mayor | Ariel C. Valderama |
| • Representative | Ambrosio C. Cruz Jr. |
| • Municipal Council | Members |
| • Electorate | 51,503 voters (2022) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 28.66 km2 (11.07 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 8.0 m (26.2 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 33 m (108 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | −3 m (−10 ft) |
| Population (2020 census) | |
| • Total | 77,018 |
| • Density | 2,700/km2 (7,000/sq mi) |
| • Households | 19,461 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 1st municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 3.38 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 330.4 million (2020) |
| • Assets | ₱ 601.6 million (2020) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 304.8 million (2020) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 165.3 million (2020) |
| Utilties | |
| • Electricity | Meralco |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 3016 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)44 |
| Native languages | Tagalog |
With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, Balagtas is part of Manila's built up area which reaches San Ildefonso, Bulacan in its northernmost part.
The MacArthur Highway bisects the municipality of Balagtas as this national road cuts northward to the Cagayan Valley. At the southern approach of the town from Manila is a concrete bridge that crosses the Balagtas River. The river, navigable by banca and motor boats, empties into Manila bay after snaking through the town of Bulacan to the West which provides Balagtas' townsfolk with fish, shrimp, and other fresh water food.
At the foot of the bridge, along the highway towards the North, is the town hall. In front of the town hall is a park where the monument of its hero, Francisco "Balagtas" Baltazar is located. The town hall is surrounded by Spanish colonial type houses. Two hundred meters from the municipal hall is the barrio of Panginay, the birthplace of Francisco Balagtas, for whom also "Balagtasan", a form of debate in versified Tagalog, was named. In 1946 the Historical Society of the Philippines placed a marker at the birthplace of Balagtas. In reverence to the hero's deeds, the official name of Bigaa was changed to Balagtas through the legislative act sponsored by then Congressman, Teodulo Natividad.