Ligao, officially the City of Ligao (; West Miraya Bikol: Syudad nin Ligao; ), is a component city in the province of Albay, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people. Most of the city's economy came from the agricultural sector.
Ligao is from Legazpi and from Manila.
Etymology Ligao was named after the word ticau (Callicarpa candidans), an abundant tree that has poisonous leaves used to catch fish from rivers and creeks. Another variation is from the Tagalog word ligaw which means to court or win a woman’s love. It was formerly known as Cavasi.
History
During the 16th century, Ligao was established as a small settlement. In 1606, it was founded as a barrio of Polangui, and then ceded to Oas in 1665. In the following year, it became an independent municipality. The 1818 census showed the area had 2,968 native families and 24 Spanish-Filipino families.
Cityhood
On February 21, 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act 9008 into law, granting cityhood to Ligao. It was ratified by voters in a plebiscite on March 24 of the same year.
Geography
Barangays Ligao City is politically subdivided into 55 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
There are 11 urban and 44 rural barangays, of which 3 are coastal barangays.
Abella Allang Amtic Bacong Bagumbayan (Poblacion) Balanac Baligang Barayong Basag Batang Bay Binanowan Binatagan (Poblacion) Bobonsuran Bonga Busac Busay Cabarian Calzada (Poblacion) Catburawan Cavasi (Poblacion) Culliat Dunao (Poblacion) Francia Guilid (Poblacion) Herrera (Poblacion) Layon Macalidong Mahaba Malama Maonon Nasisi Nabonton Oma-Oma Palapas Pandan Paulba Paulog Pinamaniquian Pinit Ranao-Ranao San Vicente Santa Cruz (Poblacion) Tagpo (Poblacion) Tambo Tandarora Tastas Tinago (Poblacion) Tinampo Tiongson Tomolin (Poblacion) Tuburan (Poblacion) Tula-Tula Grande Tula-Tula Pequeño Tupas
Climate
The area of Ligao belongs to a combination of Types II and IV climate, and these are characterized by rainy season from July to December and dry season from January to June.
Local government
Elected officials + 2022–2025 Ligao City OfficialsPosition Name Party Mayor Fernando V. Gonzales Vice Mayor Jaypee M. David Councilors Albert Francis S. Bichara Amado V. Manlangit, Jr. Ana P. Manlangit Sherwin P. Quising Teodorico A. Residilla, Jr. Felipe O. Alday Jurlan N. Buello Emmanuel C. Ribaya Esteban M. Gonzales Sophia Garcia-Monasterial Ex Officio Municipal Council Members ABC President Jona L. Peñalosa (Mahaba) SK Federation President John Michael O. Surbano (Tuburan)
Legend A indicates that the official is elected for the first term A indicates that the official is re-elected to a higher position A indicates that the official is re-elected to the same position
Past Municipal Administrators
+ Spanish Era (1702–1898) Inclusive years Capitan municipal 1702 Don Miguel Tuagnon 1703 Don Fernando Dayang 1704-1705 Don Jose Carillo 1706-1707 Don Juan Lobos 1708 Don Fernando de Maliza 1709-1710 Don Roque Magñon 1711 Don Diego Carillo 1712-1713 Don Tomas Panibi 1714 Don Francisco Ramirez 1715 Don Miguel Tuagnon 1716-1717 Don Tomas Panibi 1718 Don Roque Magñon 1719 Don Juan Lobos 1720 Don Jose Ayagñon 1721 Don Tomas Panibi 1722-1723 Don Antonio dela Cruz 1724-1725 Don Jose Ayagñon 1726-1727 Don Antonio dela Cruz 1728 Don Francisco Antonio 1729 Don Pedro Manisao 1730 Don Salvador de la Corona 1731 Don Antonio de la Cruz 1732 Don Jose Ayagñon 1733 Don Francisco Antonio 1734 Don Francisco Fernandez 1735-1736 Don Salvador Concepcion 1737-1739 Don Esteban de Sto. Domingo 1740-1741 Don Francisco Fernandez 1742 Don Esteban de Sto. Domingo 1743-1745 Don Francisco Fernandez 1746-1749 Don Esteban de Sto. Domingo 1750 Don Joaquin Mateo 1751 Don Francisco Manuel 1752 Don Francisco Javier 1753 Don Esteban de Sto. Domingo 1754 Don Diego Villegas 1755 Don Diego Dimasayao 1756 Don Esteban de Sto. Domingo 1755 Don Diego Dimasayao 1756 Don Esteban de Sto. Domingo 1757 Don Diego Villegas 1758 Don Antonio Martines 1759 Don Miguel Alvarez 1760 Don Miguel Yuson 1761 Don Esteban de Sto. Domingo 1762 Don Diego Villegas 1763 Don Esteban de Sto. Domingo 1764 Don Pedro Demasudo 1765 Don Pascual Manlagñit 1766-1768 Don Joaquin Mateo 1769 Don Fernando Victor 1770 Don Juan Torrero 1771 Don Manuel Fernandez 1772 Don Juan Salvador 1773 Don Mateo Ataquinez 1774-1777 Don Esteban de Sto. Domingo 1778 Don Jose Leonardo 1779 Don Joaquin Mateo 1780 Don Alejandro Brioso 1781 Don Juan de la Cruz 1782 Don Tomas Villanueva 1783 Don Antonio de la Cruz 1784 Don Joaquin Mariano 1785 Don Tomas Villanueva 1786 Don Manuel Fernandez 1787 Don Juan Antonio 1788 Don Tomas Villanueva 1789 Don Tomas Paulino 1790 Don Esteban Vejerrano 1791 Don Julian Martinez 1792 Don Manuel de los Santos 1793 Don Tomas Villanueva 1794 Don Esteban Buenaventura 1795 Don Manuel San Antonio 1796 Don Pascual Buenaventura 1797 Don Juan Gonzaga 1798 Don Pedro Urbano 1799 Don Jose Alberto 1800 Don Esteban del Rosario 1801 Don Julian Martinez 1802 Don Esteban Reyes 1803 Don Vicente Apolinario 1804 Don Antonio Joaquin 1805 Don Tomas Villanueva 1806 Don Fernando del Rosario 1807 Don Esteban de Sto. Domingo 1808 Don Esteban del Rosario 1809 Don Jose Antonio 1810 Don Juan Gonzaga 1811 Don Andres Reyes 1812 Don Esteban Enrique 1813-1815 Don Jose Alberto 1816 Don Joaquin Mariano 1817 Don Manuel Salvador 1818 Don Juan Reyes 1819 Don Juan Gonzaga 1820 Don Esteban de Sto. Domingo 1821 Don Juan Casorog 1822 Don Jose Alberto 1823 Don Jose Molina 1824 Don Claudio Sanchez 1825 Don Agustin Silvestre 1826 Don Esteban Salazar 1827 Don Lazaro Cayetano 1828 Don Jose Alberto 1829 Don Mariano Rafael 1830 Pedro Yuson 1831 Don Blas Martirez 1832 Don Juan San Jose 1833 Don Matias Pedro 1834 Don Francisco Fernandez 1835 Don Lorenzo Hilario 1836 Don Miguel Tuason 1837 Don Diego Buenaventura 1838 Don Domingo Nava 1839-1840 Don Agustin Silvestre 1841 Don Vicente de Leon 1842 Don Juan del Rosario 1843 Don Euegenio Benito 1844 Don Juanario San Esteban 1845 Don Jose Luis 1846 Don Tomas del Rosario 1847 Don Fernandez Federico 1848 Don Eugenio San Benito 1849 Don Fernandez Federico 1850 Don Atanacio Allorde 1851 Don Francisco Alejandro 1852 Don Santiago Vivar 1853 Don Maximo Ralla 1854 Don Tomas Tuazon 1855 Don Julian Garcia 1856 Don Juan Orante 1857 Don Isidro Portallo 1858-1859 Don Domingo Imperial 1860-1861 Don Jose Relente 1862 Don Ignacio Pulvinar 1863-1864 Don Pablo Lorenzo 1865-1866 Don Monico Peralta 1867-1868 Don Agustin Sanchez 1869-1870 Don Pablo Lorenzo 1871-1872 Don Ambrocio Peñoso 1873-1874 Don Agusti Sanchez 1875 Don Agapito Nieves 1876 Don Domingo Imperial 1877-1878 Don Seminiano Querol 1879-1880 Don Pablo Ralla 1881-1882 Don Vicente Velasco 1883-1884 Don Pedro Señora 1885-1886 Don Agustin Silo 1887-1888 Don Pio Balana 1889-1892 Don Ramon F. Santos 1893-1894 Don Rufino Nieves 1895-1898 Don Pedro Ralla
+ Republica Filipina (1898–1900) Inclusive years Municipal president1898-1900 Ramon F. Santos
+ American Rule (1900–1941) Inclusive years Municipal president 1900 Esteban Delgado 1901-1903 Jose del Rosario, Sr. 1904-1905 Lorenzo Lopez 1906-1907 Roman Jaucian 1908-1909 Tomas Luna 1910-1915 Paulino Pulvinar 1916-1921 Jose Delgado 1922-1926 Roman Jaucian 1927 Maximo Prollamante 1928-1930 Salvador Jaucian 1931-1941 Jose Parlade, Jr.
+ Japanese Occupation (1942–1945) Inclusive years Municipal Mayor 1942-1943 Jose D. Conejero October 14, 1943 – April 30, 1944 Elias Tibor May 1, 1944 – December 17, 1945 Jose Parlade, Jr.
+ Post-War Period (1945–present) Inclusive years Municipal Mayor Municipal Vice Mayor SK Federation President ABC President Remarks December 18, 1945 – February 22, 1946 Jose D. Conejero February 23, 1946 – June 27, 1946 Daniel Delgado June 28, 1946 – September 18, 1947 Jose Quiapon September 19, 1947 – December 30, 1947 Atty. Florentino C. Jaucian January 1, 1948 – December 30, 1955 Jose G. Del Rosario January 1, 1956 – December 30, 1959 Rafael Gaya January 1, 1960 – December 30, 1963 Jose Parlade, Jr. January 1, 1964 – December 30, 1971 Rafael Gaya January 1, 1972 – 1978 Maximino A. Peralta Angel Garcia 1978-February 25, 1986 Francisco V. Gonzales, Jr. 1986–1988 Al Francis D.C. Bichara Appointed Mayor by Pres. Corazon Aquino February 1, 1988 – 1994 Francisco V. Gonzales, Jr. Magdalena S. Lim 1994-June 30, 1995 Magdalena S. Lim June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2004 Fernando V. Gonzales Vicente A. Gonzales Paul P. Manlangit Nicanor C. Sto. Tomas June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2013 Linda Passi-Gonzales June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2022 Patricia Gonzales-Alsua June 30, 2022 – June 30, 2028 Fernando V. Gonzales
Demographics
Economy
As of May 2022, there are 3 major banks in operation. Landbank, Metrobank and PNB.
BPI Direct BanKo also opened one of their branches here last 2019.
A local Mall Chain, LCC Malls, opened one of their branches here last December 2013.and JnF Mall on July 21, 2025
Education Presently, there are almost 60 Day Care Centers, 55 public elementary schools, 12 private elementary schools, 12 public high schools, 6 private high schools and 7 tertiary/vocational institutions/schools in the city.
Tertiary / Vocational / Technical Education The cit has seven tertiary schools: The Ligao Community College (LiComCo) its present location is at Brgy. Tomolin, Ligao City. The Courses offered are Bachelor of Secondary Education Majors in (Social Studies, Mathematics, English) The Bicol University College of Veterinary Medicine (BU Ligao) is still under construction at Brgy. Bay and Tinago, Ligao City.
The Infotech Development System Colleges, Inc. (IDSC) is a Non-sectarian institution and is located at Padre Natera St., Dunao, Ligao City. The RENET Technolical College and the Computer Arts Technology (RENET), which offers technical and vocational courses, located at corner R. Santos and Concepcion sts. Dunao, Ligao City. The Computer Arts and Technological College (CAT College), is located at McKinley st., Binatagan, Ligao City. Global Site for I.T. Studies - Ligao Branch, Inc. at Barangay Calzada The Jesse Robredo Productivity Center (JRPC), is a TESDA training center located at Brgy. Tuburan, Ligao City. The BFP Regional Office and Training Center located at Brgy. Tuburan, Ligao City.
Secondary Education Public High Schools Ligao National High School (LNHS) was originally named Ligao Municipal High School, in the then municipality of Ligao, now Ligao City. This was opened on June 20, 1980 through the efforts of the municipal officials who acted on a barangay resolution passed by several barangays which had long wished to have a secondary school. Hence, the passage and approval of Sangguniang Bayan Resolution Nos. 15, 17 and 19 s. 1980 which stated the public demand for the opening of Ligao Municipal High School supported by municipal funds. Thus, on June 24, 1980, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports finally signed and issued Permit No. 36, s. 1980 which marked the opening of the Ligao Municipal High School effective school year 1980 – 1981. Due to the petition received by the Sangguniang Bayan, the school was renamed as Ligao Municipal Technical Vocational School which offered vocational and technical subjects that would meet the needs of the community. Sometime in 1993, LMTVS was renamed Ligao National High School under Republic Act No. 7794. Since then LNHS has gained a name for itself by the achievements it earned from academic and non – academic competitions. The Ligao City National Technical-Vocational High School (LCNTVHS) is located at Ligao-Sabloyon-Tabaco Road, Brgy. Nasisi Ligao City. Is a Technical-Vocational High School was established through Republic Act No. 10984, on March 14, 2018.