Sorsogon City - WikiHQ

Sorsogon City, officially the City of Sorsogon (Waray Sorsogon: Syudad san Sorsogon; ; ), is a component city and capital of the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 187,670 people.

Sorsogon City is the most populous city in the province, third most populous city in the entire Bicol Region and one of the leading cities in urbanization and most promising city in terms of development.

The component city was established on the year of 2000, from the merger of Bacon and Sorsogon municipalities. The city's total population spread across 64 barangays.

It serves a transshipment point from the Visayas and Mindanao provinces and is dubbed as the "Gateway to Southern Philippines".

The Pueblo Civil de Bacon was established in 1754, with Juan Elias as its first gobernadorcillo. Sorsogon became an independent pueblo in 1864. Both Bacon and Sorsogon were under the territorial jurisdiction of the province of Albay until the establishment of the independent province of Sorsogon on October 17, 1894.

In 1951, Sorsogon was made the center of the episcopal see of the then newly established Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon comprising the Sorsogon and Masbate provinces, with the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church in the town of Sorsogon as the designated cathedral.

Cityhood

Sorsogon City was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 8806,

Annual Growth Rate 1.69% for the period 2000 – 2007
Population Growth Rate – 2.15% (1995–2000)
Population Density - 627 persons per square kilometer
Total Number of Households 30,290
Male Population - 77,117
Female Population - 74,337
Religion – 95% Roman Catholic
Labor Force – 56% of the total population, 1/4 of the over-15 years old is, at least, high-school graduate, 15% of the total workforce have college-level education
Student Population - 15,323
Voting Age Population - 83,123

Economy

thumb|Rizal Street in downtown area

Sorsogon City is the economic center of Sorsogon Province and a hub of trade and commerce. It is one of the major cities in the Bicol Region after Naga City, Camarines Sur and Legazpi City in Albay. The city is a vital financial center housing numerous banks, non-bank financial institutions, manufacturing corporation and offices of major government departments and agencies. Although Sorsogon City does not have significant manufacturing industries, its dynamic service and agricultural sectors drive the economy forward.

In 2022 COA Report, Sorsogon City ranked third out of the seven cities in the Bicol Region with a total revenue of ₱1.42 billion pesos only after Legazpi City (₱1.84 billion) and Naga City (₱1.76 billion) making it part of the key urban centers in the region.

Sorsogon City is gradually becoming a major investment hub and is considered one of the emerging cities for doing business in the country. Investors in banking, real estate, retail, manufacturing and other business and industrial enterprises are similarly drawn to the city because of its rapid advancements of government infrastructure and business-friendly environment.

Banking

As of December 31, 2023, there are 30 banking offices operating in the city that offers banking services to businesses and residents according to Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation. Sorsogon is the third city in Bicol Region, after Legazpi and Naga with a highest total deposits amounting to Php 17,699,836 from 224,682 accounts.

Retail

The city is home to a number of retail establishments. There were 3,475 business establishments in Sorsogon City as of 2022. There are 3 major shopping malls in the City of Sorsogon namely, SM Supermalls, Gaisano Capital and Citymall. It also attracted other local and national retail chains.

As further proof of dynamic and growing economy, LCC Mall Sorsogon and Yashano Mall Sorsogon, two of Bicol's homegrown shopping malls, will soon rise at Sorsogon City Central Business District.

Meanwhile, SM City Sorsogon, the fourth SM Supermall in Bicol and the 81st in the Philippines, is located beside the Sorsogon Integrated Terminal Exchange (SITEX) and formally opened on October 28, 2022. The mall is located along Maharlika Highway, Balogo, East District in Sorsogon City. SM City Sorsogon spans 40,000 square meters of gross floor area, providing two levels of shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations that will further boost the city and province’s socioeconomic, cultural, and leisure activities. Among its amenities are three cinemas, a food court, wellness and services hubs, and amusement, leisure, and hobbies shops.

Its parking space has more than 700 slots as well as a public transport terminal.

Real Estate

As Sorsogon City is strategically located at the southernmost tip of the island of Luzon and considered one of the emerging city in the Philippines. The real estate sector is starting to flourish with the entry of local and national real estate developers. Numerous local estate developers are starting to establish their footprints in the city.

The City Government of Sorsogon aims to provide housing and a home to informal settlers in the city thru Mayor Ester Hamor's 10+1 Agenda, Taas-Noo Ciudadano Ako Program - Mass Housing Program, a priority program of Mayor Hamor thru the construction of the Sirangan Tenements and Sampaloc Tenements - a twelve (12) building 2-storey socialized housing building for informal settler families around the barangays covering the inner Sorsogon Bay Area in Sorsogon City.

Road Networks

To decongest the Pan-Philippine Highway and to spur new developments outside the downtown area, two bypass roads were constructed in Sorsogon City, (1) the 7.654 kilometer Salvador Escudero III Diversion Road traversing Barangay Pangpang, Macabog, San Juan, Bibincahan and exits Brgy. Cabid-an, Sorsogon City and (2) the latest coastal road with a view of the Sorsogon Coastline, the 5.52 kilometer Sorsogon City Coastal Road, a four-lanes, consisting of rock causeways and three bridges traversing several barangays of Sirangan, Sampaloc, Balogo, Pangpang, Tugos, Cambulaga, and Talisay in Sorsogon City. It may be considered among the grandest of the Build-Build-Build projects in Bicol Region undertaken by DPWH Regional Office 5 and Sorsogon First District Engineering Office thru the effort of Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero. Other than decongesting the heavy traffic in the main thoroughfare of Sorsogon City, this road was built to provide protection to the surrounding areas from storm surges especially the Bicol Region is among the most frequent path of typhoons entering the Philippine area of responsibility.

Industries and manufacturing

A number of companies have chosen the city to become the site for their industrial expansion. These include:

Peter Paul Philippines Corporation, situated at Diversion Road, Cabid-an, Sorsogon City, has established production facilities to produce coconut juice, milk and cream, virgin coconut oil, paring cake and oil and desiccated coconut.
Century Pacific Food one of the largest brand companies in the Philippines is to set up their sardines factory at Brgy. Abuyog, Sorsogon City for their 555 and Ligo products.

Tourism

As a gateway to the Visayas and Mindanao, tourism plays a major part as a catalyst in contributing to Sorsogon City's economy. There are myriad of selections of attractions in the city that tourists can visit.

Here are the Sorsogon City’s point of interests, destinations, and attractions:

;Natural areas

Paguriran Island and Lagoon
Halabang Baybay Beach
Tolong Gapo Beach
Libanon Black Sand Beach
Pagol Beach
Buhatan River Tour and Firefly Watching
Busay Falls

;Historical locations

Sorsogon Provincial Capitol Building (originally Constructed dated 1904)
Dr. Jose Rizal Monument
Annunciation Parish Church in Bacon (406 years as of 2022)
Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral

;Library and Museums

Museo Sorsogon
Museo ng Gerilya ng Sorsogon (Gabaldon Building, Sorsogon East Central School)
Sorsogon State University Library

;Parks and Sceneries

Pepita Park
Sorsogon Capitol Park
Sorsogon Rompeolas Park
Sorsogon Coastal Road

;Sports, Concert and Performing Arts Venues

Sorsogon Sports Complex
Sorsogon Coliseum
Sorsogon City Convention Center
Sorsogon Cultural Center for the Arts
Sorsogon Provincial Gymnasium
Sorsogon Lawn Tennis Center

Government

The city's local government is headed by a mayor elected by popular vote. The Vice Mayor serves as the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council), with 12 Councilors elected by popular vote as its members. The Sangguniang Panlungsod serves as the city's legislative body and its role is to enact ordinances, approve resolutions, appropriate funds for the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants. Both the council members and the mayor serve three-year terms; and eligible for re-election for two more three-year terms.

thumb|The 3 Districts of Sorsogon City shown in the picture: Marked in green is Bacon district, Yellow is the East District and in Blue, the West district.

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Mayors of Sorsogon City

! scope="col" | Mayor

! scope="col" | Term

! scope="row" | Sally A. Lee

| June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2007

! scope="row" | Leovic R. Dioneda

| June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2013

! scope="row" | Sally A. Lee

| June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2019

! scope="row" | Ester Hamor

| June 30, 2019 – Present

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Vice mayors of Sorsogon City

! scope="col" | Vice mayor

! scope="col" | Term

! scope="row" | Edmundo Atutubo

| June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010

! scope="row" | Bobet Lee Rodrigueza

| June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013

! scope="row" | Charo Dichoso- Logronio

| June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2016

! scope="row" | Athan Balintong

| June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2019

! scope="row" | Eric Dioneda

| June 30, 2019 – Present

Infrastructure

thumb|right|[[Sorsogon Sports Complex]]

In order to spur development in the city, The Toll Regulatory Board declared Toll Road 5 the extension of South Luzon Expressway. A 420-kilometer, four lane expressway starting from the terminal point of the now under construction SLEX Toll Road 4 at Barangay Mayao, Lucena City in Quezon to Matnog, Sorsogon, near the Matnog Ferry Terminal. On August 25, 2020, San Miguel Corporation announced that they will invest the project which will reduce travel time from Lucena to Matnog from 9 hours to 5.5 hours.

The Sorsogon Sports Complex (Formerly known as the Balogo Sports Complex) is a complex of sport facilities located at Brgy. Balogo and its still under rehabilitation. Sorsogon Arena which is the centerpiece of the complex has a total seating capacity of 15,000 spectators and with the total cost of , the said sports complex will become the largest outdoor sports complex in the Southern Luzon and in Bicol Region. It is scheduled to host the Palarong Bicol, PRISAA National Games and Palarong Pambansa. Mohri & P.A. Associates are the architecture of that project with the total area of 56,218 sq. m. and a 4-storey Roman Colosseum-inspired stadium.

The Sorsogon Coliseum is a proposed indoor sporting arena located within the Sorsogon Capitol Compound in Sorsogon City is set to be a structure, seating 10,000 to 12,000 spectators.

The Sorsogon City Convention Center (SCCC) can now host big events such as conventions, exhibits, trainings and competitions. The 4,099 square meters facility can accommodate up to 2,500 spectators. It is located in City Hall Complex, Brgy. Cabid-an, Sorsogon City adjacent to Sorsogon Cultural Center for the Arts.

The Sorsogon Cultural Center for the Arts is a facility in the City of Sorsogon for audio and visual presentations and will house exhibit rooms and halls for shows and performances as well as offices. It was designed to be the country’s second main arts facility next to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The 2,638-square meter edifice features an outdoor lobby, lounge lobby, vestibule, spectators’ area, orchestra pit, performance stage, and a seating capacity of 338 on the ground floor and 177 on the mid-floor level. The Sorsogon Cultural Center for the Arts will be a grand place to cover film and broadcast arts, as well as literary and visual arts.

The City Government of Sorsogon started to construct the 4-Level Sorsogon City Public Parking aims to address the roadside parking issues and ease traffic congestion. Due to the increasing number of motor vehicles plying the city roads and address the worsening traffic congestions in the central business district area in Rizal and Magsaysay Streets. It will also cater to the parking needs of marketgoers and businesses since it is well within the public market area. It is located in the area formerly Plaza Bonifacio, Brgy. Sirangan, Sorsogon City.

Festivals

Pili Festival – This is Sorsogon City’s major festival in honor of the patron saints of the city, Sts. Peter and Paul. The Pili tree (and nut) is indigenous to the province and is known for its various practical, economic and nutritional applications. This festival aims to emphasize its importance, and heightens awareness of the pili. The fiesta’s big attraction is the street dance in which elaborately costumed dancers depict the many uses of the tree. This is celebrated every last week of June (June 29) and usually a week-long celebration (June 19 to 29).

Transportation

Land

Much of the city's population rely on public transportation such as tricycles and jeeps to get around the city. The city boasts its color-coded public transportation system which it has pioneered in the region. All tricycles have its own color code depending on the district, zone or route that it is serving.

Inter-town trips are served by the new airconditioned e-jeepneys while inter-provincial trips are served by the UV Express Vans and number of bus companies operating provincial and regional routes, with the modern Sorsogon Integrated Terminal Exchange (SITEX) serving as the terminus.

Air

The city is 1-hour away from the Bicol International Airport located in Daraga, Albay.

The Sorsogon City Domestic Airport is a proposed airport development project located at Barangay Gabao, Bacon District, Sorsogon City.

The Provincial Government of Sorsogon has released the proposed design for the upgrading of the existing Bacon Community Airport to a domestic airport. This airport development will propel growth in different sectors, such as trade, employment and tourism.

Governor Edwin "Boboy" Hamor has been very vocal in pushing for the airport rehabilitation project which aims to make travel to and around the province's convenient and seamless.

Accordingly, construction of the airport is due to commence in March 2024 and it will take three (3) years to complete and is expected to cater more passengers which aims to boost economic activities in the province.

Education

There are four schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the city under the Schools Division of Sorsogon City. The schools division office oversees the management and operations of schools districts which handle all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are the:

Bacon East Schools District
Bacon West Schools District
Sorsogon East Schools District
Sorsogon West Schools District

Notable personalities

Aldin Ayo - a former Sorsogon City councilor who had coaching stints with Letran Knights, De La Salle Green Archers, UST's Growling Tigers to name a few. Currently the head coach of the Converge FiberXers in the PBA.
Eddie Garcia – Film actor and director
Eugenia Apostol - one of the founders of Philippine Daily Inquirer
Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero – former congressman (1998-2007) of Soesogon's First District, former Sorsogon governor (2019-2022), served 3 terms as a senator (2007-2019) and currently serving as the Senate President.