Norzagaray

Norzagaray, officially the Municipality of Norzagaray, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 136,064 people.

It is the location of Angat Dam which sits on the lower realms of the Sierra Madre Mountain range, the Dam is notable for being a major water and power supply for the National Capital Region.

History
The nucleus of what today is the town of Norzagaray traces from the old barrio Casay and barrio Matictic which was ecclesiastically and politically administered by the Augustinians from the town of Angat as its visitas as shown in the document "Mapa del Teritorio de Bulacan" by Fray Emmanuel Blanco, O.S.A. in 1832 which appeared in another document "Administracion Espiritual de los Padres Agustinos calzados de la Provincia del Dulce Nombre de Jesus de las Islas Filipinas" of Fray Francisco Villacorta in 1833.

The people of Barrio Casay worked for reforms politically, socially and economically, in order to be separated from Angat. They succeeded in their separation bid through Governor-General Fernándo Norzagaray y Escudero, who issued a Real Cedula declaring barrio Casay together with barrio Matictic to be constituted as a new independent town from Angat. Political boundaries of Angat and Pueblo de Casay y Matictic were demarcated and the newly created town was renamed as "Norzagaray" in honor of the Governor-General.

During the American occupation of the Philippines, Norzagaray was returned to Angat by virtue of Act No. 932 beginning in 1903.

Cityhood
As early as 2005, the town's Sangguniang Bayan approved Resolution No. 60, Series of 2005 requesting the Senate of the Philippines through its president, Franklin Drilon and the House of Representatives thru its speaker, Jose de Venecia Jr. to co-sponsor a bill for Norzagaray's conversion into a city and creation of a lone legislative district.

Geography
The town of Norzagaray is bordered by San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and Rodriguez, Rizal to the south; by General Nakar, Quezon to the east; Santa Maria to the west; Angat, Bulacan to the north-west; and Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan to the north. Norzagaray is 48 km from Malolos, 47 km from Manila, and 17 km from San Jose del Monte.

Norzagaray was previously part of the 3rd district of Bulacan from 1987 to 2022, when it was moved to the newly created 6th district along with Angat and Santa Maria.

Barangays
Norzagaray is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Friendship Village Resources (FVR) was created as a barangay out of barangay Tigbe under Sangguniang Panlalawigan Kapasiyahan Bilang 179-T 2002 and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Kautusan Bilang 003 on April 18, 2002; it was ratified on October 12, 2002.

Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Norzagaray was 136,064 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

Economy
In 2017, Norzagaray generated a total revenue of ₱457.59 million, ₱73.23 million or 19% higher than its previous income in 2016, making it as the 4th richest municipality in Bulacan after Marilao, Santa Maria and Baliwag.



Cement, Marble/Marble Processing, Food/Food Processing, Pyrotechnics
 * Major Industries

Bakeries, Processed meat and Agricultural products
 * Major Products

Cement and Marbles
 * Indigenous/Raw Materials Available

Tourism
Today, the town of Norzagaray is quickly rising in terms of commercial and economic status with tourist potentials. "Bakas" which is on a portion of the Angat River is recognized as one of the busiest places in the locality, particularly during summertime. People from distant towns often visit the place for relaxation.

Another potential spot for tourism is the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve where the Angat River Hydroelectric Plant or Angat Dam is located. The dam is the biggest hydroelectric plant the National Power Corporation (NPC) has ever constructed in terms of power capacity within the entire Philippines. Because of Angat Dam's size, its reservoir sinks to critical levels during the dry season necessitating the need for cloud seeding in some years. The 37 km reservoir of this hydroelectric plant is covered with forests producing a cool climate.

Another is the Pinagrealan Cave located in Barangay Bigte. This cave is a subterranean network of caverns extending more than a kilometer deep. The Katipunero Revolutionaries during the war against Spain used it as a camp in 1896 and again during the Filipino-American War in 1898 as hideout of General Emilio Aguinaldo (the First President of the Philippines). It was also used as a sanctuary by the Japanese Imperial Army when the Philippines was liberated by joint Filipino and American Forces.

There are still other sites with tourism potential in the locality. However, some of these places are located in remote areas of the town, which are inaccessible to motor vehicles, therefore in need of immediate attention.

Historical and Cultural Heritage
The natives are religious and hear Mass or pray at places of worship, especially Catholic and Iglesia Ni Cristo churches. The town also remembers the 31 heroes of the Revolution.
 * Monument of Sinfroso de la Cruz

Religious

 * St. Andrew the Apostle Parish (Poblacion, Norzagaray, Bulacan)
 * Virgen de las Flores Parish (Bigte, Norzagaray, Bulacan)
 * Seventh-day Adventist church
 * Iglesia ni Cristo church
 * Members Church of God International Locale Congregation of Norzagaray
 * Members Church of God International Locale Congregation of North Hill Village
 * Members Church of God International Locale Congregation of Hill Top
 * Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide (JIL)

Santuario de Paz Memorial Park (Minuyan)
The town's prime eternal repose garden is located in Minuyan.

Bulacan 11-billion peso bulk water supply project
On December 12, 2007, Bulacan and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) signed an agreement for the development of a P11-billion bulk water supply project. Ayala-owned Manila Water Co. Inc. will implement the project. MWSS and Manila Water will provide a financial package of an infrastructure grant, a P10-million development assistance and a P10-million royalty fee to the towns of Norzagaray and Doña Remedios Trinidad, which will host the water supply project.

18-hectare landfill
On January 19, 2008, an 18 ha waste disposal facility, a new sanitary landfill that would also be a tourist attraction opened in Norzagaray, Bulacan province. The president of Wacuman Corp. stated: "I want them to see our system in our place which should not be abhorred because we are using the new state-of-the-art technology." The facility has a category 4 rating (the highest category for a sanitary landfill) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Local government
Just as the national government, the municipal government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative and judiciary. The judicial branch is administered solely by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The LGUs have control of the executive and legislative branch.

The executive branch is composed of the governor for the provinces, mayor for the cities and municipalities, and the barangay captain for the barangays. The legislative branch is composed of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial assembly) for the provinces, Sangguniang Panlungsod (city assembly) for the cities, Sangguniang Bayan (town assembly) for the municipalities, Sangguniang Barangay (barangay council), and the Sangguniang Kabataan for the youth sector.

The seat of government is vested upon the Mayor and other elected officers who hold office at the municipal hall. The Sangguniang Bayan is the center of legislation of the municipality.

Incumbent Officials

 * Mayor: Ma. Elena L. Germar (NUP)
 * Vice Mayor: Patricio I. Gener (PDP-Laban)
 * Councilors:
 * Restituto B. Sumbillo (NUP)
 * Abbygail H. Reyes (NUP)
 * Giulius Caezar S. Iapino (PDP-Laban)
 * Alvin B. Cruz (NUP)
 * Luzviminda P. Espiritu (NUP)
 * Ma. Cleope S. Pelayo (PDP-Laban)
 * Zosimo S. Cruz Jr. (NUP)
 * Edsel C. Mendoza (PDP-Laban)
 * ABC President: Andrew Germar (Tigbe)
 * SK Federation President: Mark Ivan Feliciano (Tigbe)