Basey, Samar

Basey
Municipality
Bird's eye view of Basey, Samar from Guintolian Hill
Seal
Map of Samar showing the location of Basey
Basey Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°17′N 125°04′E / 11.283°N 125.067°ECoordinates: 11°17′N 125°04′E / 11.283°N 125.067°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Province	Samar
Congr. district	2nd district of Samar
Founded	1591
Barangays	51
Government[1]
• Mayor	Junji Igmedio Ponferrada
• Vice-Mayor	Ramon Lancanan
Area[2]
• Total	513.01 km^2 (198.07 sq mi)
Population (2015)[3]
• Total	55,480
• Density	110/km^2 (280/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	6720
Dialing code	55
Income class	1st class; partially urban
Website	www.basey.gov.ph

Basey is a first-class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2015 census of the National Statistics Office, it has a population of 55,480.^[3] Basay is said to be the Leyte's capital during the American period. It is currently the record holder in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's longest mat or banig.

On 8 November 2013, Basey was one of the places heavily devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan, leaving more than 200 people dead.

Etymology

The town's name is pronounced "Basai" or "Basay", not "basÉY". This mispronunciation was propagated by American soldiers in the early days of the American colonial period. There is no "ey" sound in the Waray-Waray language. Basay is from the Waray word mabaisai, meaning "beautiful".

Barangays

Basey is politically subdivided into 51 barangays.^[2] In 1957, the sitio of Cancoral was converted into the barrio of Roxas.^[4]

• Amandayehan
• Anglit
• Bacubac
• Baloog
• Basiao
• Buenavista
• Burgos
• Cambayan
• Can-abay
• Cancaiyas
• Canmanila
• Catadman
• Cogon
• Dolongan
• Guintigui-an
• Guirang
• Balante
• Iba
• Inuntan
• Loog
• Mabini
• Magallanes
• Manlilinab
• Del Pilar
• May-it
• Mongabong
• New San Agustin
• Nouvelas Occidental
• Old San Agustin
• Panugmonon
• Pelit
• Baybay (Pob.)
• Buscada (Pob.)
• Lawa-an (Pob.)
• Loyo (Pob.)
• Mercado (Pob.)
• Palaypay (Pob.)
• Sulod (Pob.)
• Roxas
• Salvacion
• San Antonio
• San Fernando
• Sawa
• Serum
• Sugca
• Sugponon
• Tinaogan
• Tingib
• Villa Aurora
• Binongtu-an
• Bulao

Demographics

Population census of Basey
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	39,137	—
1995	40,114	+0.46%
2000	43,809	+1.91%
2007	48,389	+1.38%
2010	50,423	+1.51%
2015	55,480	+1.84%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][5]

Tourism

The town of Basey is famous for its beautiful Sohoton Caves, whose inner chamber features stalactites, stalagmites, and an underground river.^[6] The town is also known for artistically woven decorative mats called Banig. Tourists buy these mats as souvenir items.

References

1. "Municipalities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
2. "Province: Samar (Western Samar)". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 1 January 1970. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
3. "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
4. "An Act Converting the Sitio of Cancoral in the Municipality of Basey, Province of Samar, into Barrio of Roxas". LawPH.com. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
5. "Province of Western Samar". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
6. "Sohoton Caves, Basey, Samar". gerryruiz photoblog. Retrieved 22 August 2013.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System
• More photos and information on Basey Municipality