Bula, Camarines Sur
Municipality in Camarines Sur, Philippines
Municipality in Bicol Region, Philippines
Bula
Municipality
Municipality of Bula
A view of native houses in Bula
A view of native houses in Bula
Flag of Bula
Flag
Official seal of Bula
Seal
Anthem: Tan-aw Bula
Map of Camarines Sur with Bula highlighted
Map of Camarines Sur with Bula highlighted
Interactive map of Bula
Bula is located in Philippines
Bula
Bula
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°28′10″N 123°16′39″E / 13.4694°N 123.2775°E / 13.4694; 123.2775
CountryPhilippines
RegionBicol Region
ProvinceCamarines Sur
District 5th district
Barangays33 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorAmelita A. Ibasco
 • Vice MayorNilo C. Malanyaon II
 • RepresentativeMiguel Luis R. Villafuerte
 • Municipal Council
Members
  • Joel O. Caya
  • Nelson P. Ballerbar
  • Nellie P. Largo
  • Sherlyn Joy R. Hombre
  • Ma. France Merced S. Sedilla
  • Gregorio L. Pontanal
  • Ely A. Soreta
  • Mulrey B. Parro
 • Electorate46,508 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
 • Total
167.64 km2 (64.73 sq mi)
Elevation
24 m (79 ft)
Highest elevation
263 m (863 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)[3]
 • Total
75,943
 • Density453.01/km2 (1,173.3/sq mi)
 • Households
15,468
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
42.61
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱234,489,389.53 (2020)
 • Assets₱ 746.8 million (2022)
 • Expenditure₱ 212.3 million (2022)
 • Liabilities₱ 200 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityCamarines Sur 3 Electric Cooperative (CASURECO 3)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
4430
PSGC
0501706000
IDD : area code +63 (0)54
Native languagesRinconada Bikol
Central Bikol
Tagalog
Websitemunicipalityofbula.gov.ph

Bula, officially the Municipality of Bula (Rinconada Bikol: Banwaān ka Bula; Tagalog: Bayan ng Bula), is a municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 75,943 people.[5]

History

The town of Bula is historically considered one of the first four mission towns of Camarines Sur founded by the Spanish conquistadores when they set foot on the Bicol soil coming from the Visayas in 1576. The other premier towns were Naga, Quipayo[Note 1] and Nabua.

The Spaniards who first came to this place asked the men who were splitting bamboo about the name of the area, and since they did not understand the language, they thought they were being asked about the name of the bamboo, so they got the answer "Bu-la." And so Bula became the name of the town.

However, it was only in 1578 when the natives were Christianized, so the National Historical Commission dates back the town's history to 1578. From this, the town chose St. Mary Magdalene as its patron saint and celebrated its fiesta every 22nd day of July, which is the birthdate of the saint.

The original location of Bula's town proper was located in the now Barangay Ombao Polpog. The location had to be changed due to the town proper's isolation from other Rinconada city centers.

Geography

Bula is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Pili and Ocampo, on the east by the municipality of Baao, on the southeast by the Municipality of Nabua, on the south it is bounded by the Municipality of Balatan, on the southwest by Ragay Gulf, and on the west by the Municipality of Minalabac.

Barangays

Bula is politically subdivided into 33 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Bagoladio
  • Bagumbayan
  • Balaogan
  • Caorasan
  • Casugad
  • Causip
  • Fabrica
  • Inoyonan
  • Itangon
  • Kinalabasahan
  • La Purisima
  • La Victoria
  • Lanipga
  • Lubgan
  • Ombao Heights
  • Ombao Polpog
  • Palsong
  • Panoypoyan
  • Pawili
  • Sagrada (Sagrada Familia)
  • Salvacion (Poblacion)
  • San Agustin
  • San Francisco
  • San Isidro
  • San Jose
  • San Miguel
  • San Ramon
  • San Roque (Poblacion)
  • San Roque Heights
  • Santa Elena
  • Santo Domingo
  • Santo Niño
  • Taisan

Climate

Climate data for Bula, Camarines Sur
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 33
(91) 		32
(90) 		36
(97) 		37
(99) 		38
(100) 		37
(99) 		35
(95) 		33
(91) 		35
(95) 		34
(93) 		33
(91) 		32
(90) 		35
(94)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 27
(81) 		27
(81) 		29
(84) 		31
(88) 		32
(90) 		32
(90) 		31
(88) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		29
(85)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 36.63
(1.44) 		49.6
(1.95) 		46.66
(1.84) 		78.81
(3.10) 		93.81
(3.69) 		135.51
(5.34) 		326.31
(12.85) 		406.1
(15.99) 		214.85
(8.46) 		313.98
(12.36) 		76.2
(3.00) 		262
(10.3) 		2,040.46
(80.32)
Average rainy days 19 23 17 19 23 27 31 29 27 29 24 29 297
Source: World Weather Online[6]

Demographics

Population census of Bula
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 2,859—    
1918 5,346+4.26%
1939 11,750+3.82%
1948 11,952+0.19%
1960 24,257+6.07%
1970 31,506+2.65%
1975 36,904+3.22%
1980 40,642+1.95%
1990 48,240+1.73%
1995 54,650+2.37%
2000 57,474+1.09%
2007 62,024+1.06%
2010 68,011+3.41%
2015 69,430+0.39%
2020 73,143+1.10%
2024 75,943+0.91%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[7][8][9][10][11]

In the 2024 census, the population of Bula was 75,943 people,[12] with a density of 440 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,100 inhabitants per square mile.

Language

Majority of the people speak the Bula-Pili variant, a lowland dialect (sinaranəw) of Rinconada Bikol language, also known as Riŋkonāda. The population can also understand and speak Tagalog or Filipino language and English.

Religion

Majority of the population are Roman Catholic members which is the biggest bulk of Bulaeños adhering to Christian faith. The rest of population are followers of different Protestant denominations.[13]

Economy

Poverty incidence of Bula

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
56.59
2003
46.31
2006
46.00
2009
45.97
2012
41.29
2015
45.45
2018
25.05
2021
42.61

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

Despite staying as a 2nd class municipality, there have been improvements brought along by the Local Government Unit from the mid-2010s to the present to the year. This is because some areas need improvement of infrastructures. This also makes Bula a 1st class municipality.

Bula was formerly included in the Metro Naga area before the designation was discontinued in 2017.

Commercial and Industrial

Commercial and Industrial are focused in the Centro part of the town situated in Sagrada. At the start of the 2020s, Micro Businesses in the town bloomed — recent developments such as the Palmeda Transcend Park in Brgy. Sagrada Familia acts as a center for Micro and franchise businesses.

Agriculture

The agricultural output of Bula mainly consists of rice, wheat, coconut, and corn.

Tourism

The town of Bula has views of Tan-Awan Park, Nalalata Falls, and Burabod. Tan-Awan Park, located in Barangay Bagoladio atop a hill, attracts a number of tourists because of its views overlooking the areas of its neighboring towns in Rinconada.[citation needed]

Bula is also home to beaches on its easternmost side, neighboring Minalabac in the north and Balatan to the south.

Education

The Bula Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.[22]

Primary and elementary schools

  • Anayan Elementary School
  • Archangel Saint Michael Academy
  • Bagoladio Elementary School
  • Bagumbayan Elementary School
  • Balaogan Elementary School
  • Bula Central School
  • Bula Parochial School
  • Bula South Central School
  • Carbeth Victory Academy
  • Caorasan Elementary School
  • Casugad Elementary School
  • Catasan Elementary School
  • Causip Elementary School
  • Chamsomang Christian School
  • Fabrica Elementary School
  • Felipe P. Panton Elementary School
  • Itangon Elementary School
  • Kaibigan Child Center Foundation
  • Kinalabasahan Elementary School
  • La Purisima Elementary School
  • La Victoria Elementary School
  • Lanipga Elementary School
  • Lopez Palsong Elementary School
  • Lubgan Elementary School
  • Macalinao Elementary School
  • Ninoy Aquino Elementary School
  • Ombao (P) Elementary School
  • Ombao Heights Elementary School
  • Panoypoyan Elementary School
  • Romero Elementary School
  • Salles Elementary School
  • San Agustin Elementary School
  • San Francisco Elementary School
  • San Jose Elementary School
  • San Ramon Elementary School
  • Sta. Elena Elementary School
  • Sto. Domingo Elementary School
  • Taisan Elementary School

Secondary schools

  • Balaogan National High School
  • Bula National High School
  • Bula National High School - Caorasan Annex National High School
  • Casugad National High School
  • Fabrica High School
  • Felipe P. Panthon High School
  • La Victoria High School (Fabrica National High School Annex)
  • Mother Theresa Colegio De Bula
  • Ombao National High School
  • Palsong National High School
  • San Ramon High School
  • Sto. Nino Integrated School
  • Bula Municipal Building
    Bula Municipal Building
  • St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church
    St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church
  • Bula Catholic Cemetery
    Bula Catholic Cemetery
  • Bula Public Market
    Bula Public Market
  • Bula National High School
    Bula National High School
  • Nalalata Cave
    Nalalata Cave
  • Nalalata Falls
    Nalalata Falls
  • Bula Parochial School
    Bula Parochial School
Panoramic View in Tanawan Park

Notes

  1. ^ Established in 1578, Quipayo (is now modern-day Calabanga) was only a barrio.

References

  1. ^  Municipality of Bula | (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. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Camarines Sur: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". World Weather Online. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  7. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  8. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  9. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region V (Bicol Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  11. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  12. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  13. ^ Tino, Marilou (Nov 25, 2019). "THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CAMARINES SUR: A WITNESS TO HISTORY". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  15. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  16. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  17. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  18. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  20. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  21. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Masterlist of Schools" (PDF). Department of Education. January 15, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bula, Camarines Sur.
  • Philippine Standard Geographic Code
  • Philippine Census Information
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