Sofronio Española, officially the Municipality of Sofronio Española (Tagalog: Bayan ng Sofronio Española), is a municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 37,416 people.[3]

Sofronio Española
Municipality of Sofronio Española
Flag of Sofronio Española
Official seal of Sofronio Española
Map of Palawan with Sofronio Española highlighted
Map of Palawan with Sofronio Española highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Sofronio Española is located in Philippines
Sofronio Española
Sofronio Española
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°57′17″N 117°59′38″E / 8.954756°N 117.994008°E / 8.954756; 117.994008
CountryPhilippines
RegionMimaropa
ProvincePalawan
District 2nd district
FoundedJune 5, 1995
Named forSofronio Española
Barangays9 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorAbner Rafael N. Tesorio
 • Vice MayorMarsito C. Acoy
 • RepresentativeJose C. Alvarez
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate22,675 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total
473.91 km2 (182.98 sq mi)
Elevation
37 m (121 ft)
Highest elevation
204 m (669 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total
37,416
 • Density79/km2 (200/sq mi)
 • Households
9,918
Economy
 • Income class2nd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
21.31
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 235.1 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 556.2 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 193.1 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 202.6 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityPalawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
5324
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)48
Native languagesPalawano
Tagalog

Sofronio Española is the province's newest municipality, officially established on June 5, 1995, and Iber Chou became the first Municipality Mayor, when Republic Act No. 7679 partitioned the town from Brooke's Point.[5] It was named after the late Representative Congressman Sofronio Española.[6]

History

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The creation of the Municipality of Sofronio Española took nearly three decades. Resolution No. 120 dated December 12, 1988 of the Sangguniang Bayan of Brooke’s Point proposed the separation of its northern barangays, namely, Abo-Abo, Isumbo, Panitian, Labog, Punang, Iraray, Pulot Shore, Pulot Center and Pulot Interior, into a new municipality. The proposed municipality was to be called Sofronio Española in honor of the late Congressman Sofronio Española of the then lone district of Palawan. Barangay Resolution dated April 16, 1990 of Barangay Pulot reinforced this move, requesting Hon. Ramon V. Mitra, Jr., then Speaker of the House of Representatives, to facilitate the creation of the new municipality.

On July 9, 1992, Hon. Alfredo E. Abueg, Jr., then congressman of the Second District of Palawan, filed House Bill No. 60, an Act creating the Municipality of Sofronio Española in the Province of Palawan. To expedite the approval of this bill, Board Member Cipriano Barroma sponsored Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 120 on April 16, 1993.

The House of Representatives approved Republic Act 7679, the law creating the Municipality of Sofronio Española in the Province of Palawan on August 3, 1993, and by the Senate on November 25, 1993. Finally, the law creating Sofronio Española was lapsed into law.

Section 1 of RA 7679 states that Barangays Pulot Center, Pulot Shore (Pulot I), Pulot Interior (Pulot II), Iraray, Punang, Labog, Panitian, Isumbo and Abo-Abo are to be separated from the Municipality of Brooke’s Point and constituted into a distinct and independent municipality of the province to be known as the Municipality of Sofronio Española. The seat of government shall be in Barangay Pulot Center.

Geography

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Sofronio Española is located in the southern part of Palawan along its eastern seaboard, beginning at kilometer 128.1 to kilometer 166 of the National Highway (Puerto Princesa City, South Road). It lies approximately between 8 53’3.58” to 9 11’26.26” North and 117 51’24.42” to 118 7’35.58” East. It is bounded on the north by Narra, on the south by Brooke’s Point, on the east by the Sulu Sea, and on the West by Quezon. It is 163 kilometres (101 mi) from Puerto Princesa.

Barangays

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Sofronio Española is politically subdivided into 9 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Abo-abo
  • Iraray
  • Isumbo
  • Labog
  • Panitian
  • Pulot Center
  • Pulot Interior (Pulot II)
  • Pulot Shore (Pulot I)
  • Punang

Climate

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Climate data for Sofronio Española
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30
(86)
30
(86)
31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
30
(86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 24
(75)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
25
(76)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 85
(3.3)
69
(2.7)
100
(3.9)
105
(4.1)
202
(8.0)
246
(9.7)
241
(9.5)
215
(8.5)
236
(9.3)
262
(10.3)
231
(9.1)
144
(5.7)
2,136
(84.1)
Average rainy days 15.6 13.3 17.5 19.9 27.4 28.1 29.4 28.6 28.6 28.8 26.4 21.0 284.6
Source: Meteoblue[7]

Sofronio Española is characterized by type I climate – a pronounced wet and dry season. The wet season is from May to November, while the dry season is from December to April. The prevailing winds in the municipality are the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat). The Northeast Monsoon blows the sea into fury from November to March. The Southwest Monsoon is stronger than the Northeast Monsoon with gusts of up 60kph or more and usually blows from June to September. In between the two-monsoon wind is the lull season. This is usually during the months of April and May of every year. During this period, the sea is as smooth as glass, and since it is also the peak of the dry season, it is the best time for sea travel and other sea activities.

Demographics

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Population census of
Sofronio Española
YearPop.±% p.a.
1995 22,986—    
2000 26,801+3.35%
2007 28,698+0.95%
2010 29,997+1.62%
2015 32,876+1.76%
2020 37,416+2.58%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11]

In the 2020 census, the population of Sofronio Española was 37,416 people,[3] with a density of 79 inhabitants per square kilometre or 200 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

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Poverty incidence of Sofronio Española

10
20
30
40
50
2006
42.00
2009
30.13
2012
32.93
2015
30.38
2018
17.35
2021
21.31

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

References

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  1. ^ Municipality of Sofronio Española | (DILG)
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ a b c Census of Population (2020). "Mimaropa". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Republic Act No. 7679; An Act Creating the Municipality of Sofronio Española in the Province of Palawan" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. 24 February 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Sofronio Española" (PDF). Provincial Government of Palawan. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  7. ^ "Sofronio Española: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  8. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region IV-B (Mimaropa)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  9. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region IV-B (Mimaropa)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region IV-B (Mimaropa)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  11. ^ "Province of Palawan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  14. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  15. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  16. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  18. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  19. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
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