Carcar, officially the City of Carcar (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Carcar; Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa sang Carcar; Filipino: Lungsod ng Carcar), is a 5th class component city in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 136,453 people.[3]
Carcar City is bordered to the north by the town of San Fernando, to the west are the towns of Barili and Aloguinsan, to the east is the Cebu Strait, and to the south is the town of Sibonga.
Carcar lies on the southernmost part of Metro Cebu area.[5]
History
Carcar was known as "Kabkad" or "Sialo" before Spanish colonization.[6] It became a town in 1599. Carcar is considered one of the oldest towns in Cebu, with its Spanish influence lasted more than 300 years ago.
Cityhood
In July 2007, the municipality of Carcar was converted into a component city of the province of Cebu after ratification of Republic Act 9436.
On November 18, 2008, Supreme Court ruled that the cityhood charters of Carcar and 15 other cities as unconstitutional as a result of a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines. A year later, on December 22, Carcar and 15 other municipalities regained their status as cities again after the court reversed its November 18, 2008, ruling. On August 23, 2010, the court reinstated its ruling on November 18, 2008, causing Carcar and 15 cities to revert to municipalities. Finally on February 15, 2011, Carcar and the other 15 municipalities regained their cityhood status.
In 2013, after a six year legal battle, the League of Cities of the Philippines acknowledged and recognized the cityhood of Carcar and 15 other cities on July 19, 2013.[7][8]
Geography
Carcar is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of Cebu City. It has a land area of 116.78 square kilometres (45.09 sq mi).
Topography
The land is generally level with less than 18% slope comprising 78.7% of the total land area. Areas with slopes ranging from 18 to 50% cover 19.3% of the total land area and those over 50% slope comprise approximately 1.9%. The highest recorded elevation is a little over 660 metres (2,170 ft) above sea level, located within the barangay of Napo.
Soil type
The municipality has five dominant soil types namely: Faraon Clay, Steep Phase, the Lugo Clay, the Mandaue clay loam & the Hydrosol type.
Barangays
Carcar is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate
The wet season occurs during the months of May to October and the dry season, from January to May.
As a Heritage City of Cebu, Carcar contains various Spanish and American period structures. The Carcar plaza alone hosts several heritage structures, the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria dominates the area. Within the complex various structures stand, including quaint houses and their distinctive architectural details.
Surrounding the Rotunda and in the public market one will find the famous Carcar chicharon, lechon, ampao, bucarillo, gorgorias and puso – just some of the local delicacies.
The Kabkaban Festival, which is the town's local festival in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria. The name of the festival comes from the old name of the town, which was taken from the local term for the Oakleaf Fern (Aglaomorpha quercifolia) which is abundant in the town, even to this day. Celebrated from the November 23 to 25, it highlights the rich culture, faith, and musical history of Carcar.
Education
The public schools in Carcar are administered by the Schools Division of Carcar City.
Elementary schools
Bolinawan Elementary School — Bolinawan
Buenavista Elementary School — Buenavista
Calidngan Elementary School — Calidngan
Canal Elementary School — Sitio Canal, Bolinawan
Can-asujan Elementary School — Can-asujan
Cara-atan Elementary School — Sitio Cara-atan, Buenavista
Carcar Central Elementary School — P. Nellas Street, Poblacion III
Guadalupe Elementary School — Guadalupe
Hunob Elementary School — Sitio Hunob, Guadalupe
Kalangyawon Elementary School — Sitio Kalangyawon, Napo
Kamanggahan Elementary School — Sitio Kamanggahan, Guadalupe
Kayam Elementary School — Sitio Kayam, Napo
Liburon Elementary School — Liburon
Lunas Elementary School — Sitio Lunas, Calidngan
Mainit Elementary School — Sitio Mainit, Guadalupe
Manghupi Elementary School — Sitio Manghupi, Can-asujan
Maximina V. Barangan Elementary School — Poblacion I
Moag Elementary School — Sitio Moag, Guadalupe
Napo Elementary School — Napo
Ocaña Central Elementary School — Ocaña
Perrelos Elementary School — Perrelos
Pit-os Elementary School — Sitio Pit-os, Calidngan
Sa-ay Elementary School — Sitio Saay, Can-asujan
Tagaytay Elementary School — Sitio Tagaytay, Can-asujan
Tal-ot Elementary School — Sitio Tal-ut, Valencia
Tapal Elementary School — Sitio Tapal, Guadalupe
Tawog Elementary School — Sitio Tawog, Valladolid
Tuyom Elementary School — Tuyom
Upland Elementary School — Poblacion I
Valencia Elementary School — Valencia
Valladolid Elementary School — Valladolid
High schools
Can-asujan National High School — Can-asujan
Carcar Central National High School — P. Nellas Street, Poblacion III
Gelacio C. Babao, Sr. Memorial National High School — Valladolid
Kalangyawon National High School — Sitio Kalangyawon, Napo
Liburon National High School — Liburon
Maximino Noel Memorial National High School — Guadalupe
Ocaña National High School — Ocaña
Perrelos National High School — Perrelos
Pit-os National High School — Sitio Pit-os, Calidngan
Roberto E. Sato Memorial National High School — Calidngan
Tal-ut National High School — Sitio Tal-ut, Valencia
Tuyom National High School — Tuyom
Tuyom Senior High School — Tuyom
Valencia National Vocational High School — Valencia
Integrated schools:
Puesto Integrated School — Sitio Puesto, Napo
Notable personalities
Teofilo Camomot – founded the Congregation of Blessed Virgin Missionaries
^"2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
^ a b cCensus of Population (2020). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
^"PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
^Sun–Star 2005.
^Inocian, Reynaldo; Irmano, Kristel Joy; Sitoy, Evelyn; Delgado, April Rose; Lozano, Elena (October 29, 2020). "Cebu's Places Named After Endemic Flora: Basis for Innovative Teaching Models". International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention. 7 (10): 6241–6255. doi:10.18535/ijsshi/v7i010.06. ISSN 2349-2031.
^"16 new cities recognized as LCP members (Archived)". Sun Star News. July 19, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
^"League finally recognizes 16 'unqualified' cities". Rappler. July 19, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
^ a bCensus of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
^"Carcar: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
^Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
^Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)