Rapu-Rapu

Rapu-Rapu, officially the Municipality of Rapu-Rapu, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Albay in the Bicol Region of the Philippines. The population was 36,151 at the 2020 census.
The municipality comprises three islands: Rapu-rapu Island, Batan Island, and Guinanayan Island.
History
Rapu-Rapu and Batan Islands were historically part of Prieto Diaz in Sorsogon. Before it became a municipality on 1901, it was a bario of Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon. The Visita (Chapel) here and the spiritual and pastoral needs of the people were taken care of by the Parish Priest of Prieto Diaz. Records show that Rev. Fr. Santiago Nepomuceno was in charge here in the early part of 1891, then Rev. Fr. Juan Brusola took over. It was during his term that the Parish of Sta. Florentina was founded.
Sometime after the year 1891, Rapu-Rapu and Batan Islands became part of the municipality of Bacon, Sorsogon mainly due to their geographical location, nearer to Bacon than to Prieto Diaz. This move was more favorable to the people transportation - wise and business - wise. Because of the growing population in both islands, Governor Arlington Betts, Civil Governor for the Province of Albay, created the municipality of Rapu - Rapu in 1901. A plebiscite was held. The people were made to choose, if they would want to belong to the province of Sorsogon or to the province of Albay. Majority of the people chose Albay for their province and their will pass respected.
Geography
Rapu-Rapu is located at .
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Albay.
Rapu-Rapu is southeast of Manila and east of Legazpi City, the provincial capital. The small island of Rapu-Rapu and Batan lie to the east of Luzon and together with the islands of San Miguel and Cagraray, form the northern rim of Albay Gulf. These islands represents a low monoclinal continuation of the eastern structural arch into the waters of Lagonoy Gulf. Most of the land surface of Rapu-Rapu has exposed basement-complex rocks in its interior consisting mainly of serpentines. Rapu-Rapu have deposits of coal and copper.
Barangays
Rapu-Rapu is politically subdivided into 34 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate
Rapu-Rapu has a tropical climate. There is significant rainfall throughout the year in Rapu-Rapu. Even the driest month still has a lot of rainfall. According to Köppen and Geiger, the climate is classified as Af. The average annual temperature in Rapu-Rapu is . The average annual rainfall is . The driest month is April with . Most precipitation falls in December, with an average of . The warmest month of the year is June with an average temperature of . In February, the average temperature is . It is the lowest average temperature of the whole year. The difference in precipitation between the driest month and the wettest month is 344 mm. The average temperatures vary during the year by 2.6 °C.
Typhoons are an especially frequent and destructive menace in the Bicol region. The months of September, October and November experience the more destructive of these violent tropical storms. Forty percent of the storms carrying high-velocity winds in the Philippine pass through Southeastern Luzon where Rapu-Rapu is located.
Demographics
In the 2020 census, Rapu-Rapu had a population of 36,151. The population density was .
Government
The following were the elected officials of Rapu-Rapu for the term 2013–2016.
Education
Rapu-Rapu has 36 elementary schools and 7 secondary schools directly supervised by Department of Education-Division of Albay.
Primary schools
Acal Elementary School
Bagaobawan Elementary School
Batan Elementary School
Bilbao Elementary School
Binosawan Elementary School
Bogtong Elementary School
Buenavista Elementary School
Buhatan Elementary School
Calanaga Elementary School
Caracaran Elementary School
Carogcog Elementary School
Dapdap Elementary School
Gaba Elementary School
Galicia Elementary School
Guinanayan Elementary School
Hamorawon Elementary School
Lagundi Elementary School
Liguan Elementary School
Linao Elementary School
Malobago Elementary School
Mananao Elementary School
Mancao Elementary School
Manila Elementary School
Masaga Elementary School
Minso Elementary School
Morocborocan Elementary School
Nagcalsot Elementary School
Nstr. Sra De Guadalupe Elementary School
Pagcolbon Elementary School
Rapu-Rapu Elementary School
Sagrada Elementary School
San Ramon Elementary School
Tinocawan Elementary School
Tinopan Elementary School
Viga Elementary School
Villahermosa Elementary School
Secondary schools
Batan National High School
Bilbao National High School
Bogtong National High School
Mancao National High School
Rapu-Rapu National High School
Tinopan National High School
Villahermosa National High School
References
External links
[ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
Municipalities of Albay
Island municipalities in the Philippines