# Jiabong

Jiabong, officially the Municipality of Jiabong (Waray: Bungto han Jiabong; Tagalog: Bayan ng Jiabong), is a municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 19,205 people.
Jiabong was created in 1948 from the barrios of Jiabong, Jia-an, Malino, San Fernando, Casapa, Camorubo-an, Lulugayan, Macabitas Paglayogan, Dogongan, Bayog, and Malobago, formerly part of Catbalogan.

## Etymology

The name Jiabong is a combination of the terms “Hiya-an” which means a “place of preparation before an attack” and “bong” which is actually “the sound of a canon gun”. According to the legend, during Spanish time, villagers from Motiong, Paranas and San Sebastian fled to Casandig (now Jiabong) to seek refuge from the invading pirates who killed, robbed and held them as captives.
To rescue the villagers, the Spanish soldiers and guardia civil camped at Casandig and mounted their preparations for an eventual pirate attack. The Spanish soldiers cried “Ensiqueda Fuego, Hia-bong!” as cannons were fired on the invaders. After this victorious fight, remained two words: Jia-bong.

## History

In 1882, during the Spanish regime in the Philippines, Jiabong was made into a town or municipio. It was made as the cabeza de barangay, incorporating the barangays of Jia-an, San Fernando, Malino, Camarubo-an and the rest of the barangays that were founded later. During the Filipino-American war in 1900 to 1904, Catbalogan, Samar, the capital town, was placed under military rule. Jiabong became a barrio of Catbalgan from 1905 until June 15, 1948,
Jiabong became a separate municipality of Samar and got its independence from the Municipality of Catbalogan on October 22, 1948, when Congress approved House Bill No. 1812 into law. Under Republic Act. No. 269. On October 27, 1948, Jiabong was inaugurated as a municipality. President Elpidio Qurino appointed Domingo Jabinal as the Municipal Mayor and Eleuterio Bacarra as the Vice Mayor.

## Geography
### Barangays

Jiabong is politically subdivided into 34 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
* Bawang
* Bugho
* Camarubo-an
* Candayao
* Cantongtong
* Casapa
* Catalina
* Cristina
* Dogongan
* Garcia
* Hinaga
* Jia-an
* Jidanao
* Lulugayan
* Macabetas
* Malino
* Malobago (Villalinda)
* Mercedes
* Nagbac
* Parina
* Barangay No. 1 (Poblacion)
* Barangay No. 2 (Poblacion)
* Barangay No. 3 (Poblacion)
* Barangay No. 4 (Poblacion)
* Barangay No. 5 (Poblacion)
* Barangay No. 6 (Poblacion)
* Barangay No. 7 (Poblacion)
* Barangay No. 8 (Poblacion)
* Salvacion
* San Andres
* San Fernando
* San Miguel
* Tagbayaon
* Victory

### Climate

Climate data for Jiabong, Samar :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27 (81) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 29 (84) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (74) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 114 (4.5) | 81 (3.2) | 94 (3.7) | 81 (3.2) | 119 (4.7) | 192 (7.6) | 186 (7.3) | 158 (6.2) | 167 (6.6) | 185 (7.3) | 202 (8.0) | 176 (6.9) | 1,755 (69.2) |
| Average rainy days | 18.6 | 14.7 | 16.8 | 17.8 | 22.3 | 25.9 | 27.5 | 26.2 | 26.6 | 27.0 | 24.6 | 22.3 | 270.3 |
| Source: Meteoblue ||||||||||||||

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Jiabong
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 50
* 2006 48.40
* 2009 41.66
* 2012 37.14
* 2015 44.01
* 2018 25.65
* 2021 26.22
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Education
### Primary and elementary schools

Jiabong has 27 public primary and elementary schools:
* Bawang Elementary School
* Bugho Elementary School
* Camarubo-an Elementary School
* Candayao Primary School
* Cantongtong Elementary School
* Casapa Elementary School
* Catalina Elementary School
* Cristina Primary School
* Dogongan Elementary School
* Garcia Primary School
* Hinaga Primary School
* Jia-An Elementary School
* Jiabong Central School
* Jidanao Primary School
* Lulugayan Elementary School
* Macabetas Elementary School
* Malino Elementary School
* Malobago Elementary School
* Mercedes Elementary School
* Nagbac Elementary School
* Parina Elementary School
* Salvacion Primary School
* San Andres Elementary School
* San Fernando Elementary School
* San Miguel Primary School
* Tagbayaon Elementary School
* Victory Elementary School

### High schools

Jiabong also has three public high schools:
* Casapa National High School
* Jiabong National High School
* Malino National High School