# Loay, Bohol

Loay, officially the Municipality of Loay (Cebuano: Munisipalidad sa Loay; Tagalog: Bayan ng Loay), is a municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 17,855 people.
Recent historical research found that instead of being in Bool, Tagbilaran, the actual site of the Blood Compact between Legazpi and Sikatuna may be in barangay Hinawanan. Loay is also known for the many antiques discovered in its soils, thus indicating a civilization before the Spanish came to Bohol: it has become a haven for the treasure hunters.
The town of Loay, Bohol celebrates its feast in May (the date is movable), to honor the town patron Santisima Trinidad/Blessed Trinity.

## History

During the period 1751–1754, Loay was a small village called Santissima Trinidad located at the strip of the Loboc River, as mentioned in the accounts of Father Juan Delgado (1892).
As a visita, it formerly belonged to the Municipality of Loboc. It was separated from the Loboc mission in 1795, although some state 1815 as the foundation date, and Redondo 1886 reflects that it became an independent parish in 1799.
The church and belfry of Loay were severely damaged by the 2013 earthquake.
On April 27, 2022, the old Clarin Bridge carrying National Route 850 (N850) over the Loboc River in Loay collapsed, killing 4 people and injuring 15. The bridge was damaged during the 2013 earthquake and still being used while a new replacement bridge was under construction next to it. One possible cause was the stationary traffic on the bridge that exceeded its capacity.

## Geography

Located at the mouth of the Loboc River, the municipality can be divided into a lower and an upper part. The lower part used to be called Canipa‑an because of the presence of nipa swamps in this part of the town, while the upper part is named Ibabao, being located on a plateau. Loay is 19 kilometres (12 mi) from Tagbilaran.

### Barangays

Loay is politically subdivided into 24 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
| PSGC | Barangay | Population | Population | Population | ±% p.a. | ±% p.a. |
| | | 2020 | 2020 | 2010 | | |
| 071228001 | Agape | 3.6% | 641 | 551 | ▴ | 1.52% |
| 071228002 | Alegria Norte | 1.7% | 300 | 299 | ▴ | 0.03% |
| 071228003 | Alegria Sur | 5.6% | 997 | 961 | ▴ | 0.37% |
| 071228004 | Bonbon | 1.6% | 282 | 314 | ▾ | −1.07% |
| 071228005 | Botoc Occidental | 3.5% | 619 | 521 | ▴ | 1.74% |
| 071228006 | Botoc Oriental | 3.6% | 644 | 648 | ▾ | −0.06% |
| 071228007 | Calvario | 4.6% | 828 | 715 | ▴ | 1.48% |
| 071228008 | Concepcion | 3.9% | 691 | 732 | ▾ | −0.57% |
| 071228010 | Hinawanan | 2.3% | 414 | 364 | ▴ | 1.30% |
| 071228011 | Las Salinas Norte | 1.5% | 272 | 217 | ▴ | 2.28% |
| 071228012 | Las Salinas Sur | 4.3% | 774 | 749 | ▴ | 0.33% |
| 071228013 | Palo | 2.2% | 397 | 335 | ▴ | 1.71% |
| 071228014 | Poblacion Ibabao | 6.9% | 1,231 | 1,220 | ▴ | 0.09% |
| 071228015 | Poblacion Ubos | 3.9% | 700 | 775 | ▾ | −1.01% |
| 071228016 | Sagnap | 2.8% | 506 | 503 | ▴ | 0.06% |
| 071228017 | Tambangan | 4.4% | 778 | 763 | ▴ | 0.19% |
| 071228018 | Tangcasan Norte | 4.1% | 729 | 699 | ▴ | 0.42% |
| 071228019 | Tangcasan Sur | 4.7% | 846 | 896 | ▾ | −0.57% |
| 071228020 | Tayong Occidental | 2.9% | 511 | 451 | ▴ | 1.26% |
| 071228021 | Tayong Oriental | 5.4% | 963 | 1,011 | ▾ | −0.49% |
| 071228023 | Tocdog Dacu | 3.8% | 677 | 701 | ▾ | −0.35% |
| 071228024 | Tocdog Ilaya | 2.3% | 415 | 424 | ▾ | −0.21% |
| 071228025 | Villalimpia | 9.5% | 1,697 | 1,674 | ▴ | 0.14% |
| 071228026 | Yanangan | 4.4% | 779 | 738 | ▴ | 0.54% |
| | Total | Total | 17,855 | 16,261 | ▴ | 0.94% |

### Climate

Climate data for Loay, Bohol :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28 (82) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (85) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 24 (74) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 102 (4.0) | 85 (3.3) | 91 (3.6) | 75 (3.0) | 110 (4.3) | 141 (5.6) | 121 (4.8) | 107 (4.2) | 111 (4.4) | 144 (5.7) | 169 (6.7) | 139 (5.5) | 1,395 (55.1) |
| Average rainy days | 18.6 | 14.8 | 16.5 | 16.7 | 23.9 | 26.4 | 25.6 | 24.1 | 24.4 | 26.3 | 23.7 | 20.5 | 261.5 |
| Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally) ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1903 | 8,941 | — |
| 1918 | 10,513 | +1.09% |
| 1939 | 11,093 | +0.26% |
| 1948 | 10,694 | −0.41% |
| 1960 | 10,137 | −0.44% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1970 | 10,634 | +0.48% |
| 1975 | 11,256 | +1.15% |
| 1980 | 10,842 | −0.75% |
| 1990 | 12,677 | +1.58% |
| 1995 | 12,450 | −0.34% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2000 | 14,433 | +3.22% |
| 2007 | 15,881 | +1.33% |
| 2010 | 16,261 | +0.86% |
| 2015 | 16,691 | +0.50% |
| 2020 | 17,855 | +1.33% |
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority :

## Economy

Poverty Incidence of Loay
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 2000 30.56
* 2003 18.38
* 2006 29.70
* 2009 28.39
* 2012 19.30
* 2015 19.80
* 2018 10.40
* 2021 16.53
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Tourism

Loay is one of the locations to take a Loboc river lunch cruise.
* Lunch cruise on the Loboc river
* Loay church 2006
* Remains of Loay church post-2013 earthquake