Like most municipalities, Bani has a legend
of its own which passed from generation to
generation by word of mouth. Originally, the
name of Bani was San Simon, the site of which
was Namagbagan. When the image of the Immaculate
Conception, the Patron Saint of the town disappeared
from the church altar, the people and Spanish
Authorities searched for the same. It was
found on top of a tall Bani tree located in
the vicinity of the present Roman Catholic
Church of Namagbagan. Thereafter, on several
occasions, the image would mysteriously disappear
only to be found in the same place. With this,
the inhabitants were convinced to leave their
homes and to settle at the present site. From
then on, the town was renamed Bani after the
tree where the image of the Patroness was
Creation of the Municipality
Historical records reveal that prior to 1762,
there were series of revolts in the Ilocos
Provinces. The most serious of these uprisings
was led by Diego Silang in Vigan who secured
a large following and gained control of the
region. Inspired by the said rebellion against
Spanish domination, the people of Binalatongan
(Pangasinan), with Juan de la Cruz Palaris
at its helm, followed suit only to be subdued
in 1765. To escape persecution through forced
labor and excessive tributaries, a large number
of Filipinos abandoned their villages and
escaped either to the mountains or to regions
beyond the control of the Spaniards.
Many of these northern people seeking peace
and freedom in “regions beyond control”,
took to the sea with small sailboats and sampans.
They chanced to come upon the mouth of Bani
River and Tambac Bay. Although barred by a
shallow sandbar knee-deep at low tide, their
daring and bravado pushed them further and
farther to a place with a very big tree which
fell across on shallow rapids called Don Cayo.
These adventurers from the Ilocos Provinces
and the Pangasinenses from the strife-torn
communities’ bordering the Ilocos region
were the first inhabitants of Bani. Their
settlements around the banks of Don Cayo became
a sitio, the nucleus of the town.
Since at the time Bani was part of the Province
of Zambales, the residents who were referred
to as “300 souls” by Fr. Mains
de Lomboto petitioned its Governor to convert
the sitio into a township and evinced their
desire to construct a “visita”
or chapel in the community. The Governor of
Zambales then conducted an ocular inspection
of the sitio. Later, on March 18, 1769, the
town Bani was founded.
Even before Magellan was supposed to have
“discovered” the Philippines for
the Occidentals in 1521, the Filipinos were
in fact already organized into political and
social groups called the “barangays”.
The barangay was headed by a datu or chieftain,
or by a Council of Elders.
There was even a Code of Kalantiyao containing
18 laws pertaining to the proper conduct of
the people. The Code was named after Datu
Kalantiyao, said to be descendant of the great
Datu Sumakwel, one of the earliest datus in
the Philippines. (In the Beginning, A Nation:
A President, By Mita Q. Sison Duque). These
Filipino datus were of Malay origins.
When the Spaniards came to the Philippines
in 1521, a native ruler named Kasikis controlled
a territory called “Luyag Na Cabaloan”
which included all of Pangasinan and a large
part of Zambales, La Union and Tarlac. His
place was located somewhere within the Municipality
of San Carlos (now San Carlos City). Through
the intercession of Rajah Lacandula of Tondo,
telling Kasikis to honor and receive the Spanish
missionaries kindly, all the members of his
family and his soldiers were baptized.
The Spanish conquistadores introduced in the
Philippines an administrative system whereby
the head of a sitio was called “Teniente
Absolute” and the town “gobernadorcillo”.
In 1843, the title “gobernadorcillo”
was changed to “capitan”.
As a sitio in 1762, Bani’s first “teniente
absolute” was Don Francisco Baltazar.
When Bani earned its township in 1769, the
appointed leader was Luis de Jesus. Later,
in 1843, Pedro Humilde occupied the top local
Year 1899 ushered in the American period in
Philippine History. One of the local administrative
orders asserted by the Americans was the installation
of “ Municipal Presidents” in
lieu of “Capitanes”. From 1901-1902,
Felomino Orilla was the “Presidente
Municipal”. Later successive Municipal
Presidents were appointed by the American
authorities, the last of whom was Juan Castelo.
In the Province of Pangasinan, civil government
under the American Regime was established
on February 18, 1901. In 1903, the boundary
of the province was changed, the latter acquiring
the northern portion of Zambales comprising
the towns of Alaminos, Bolinao, Burgos, Mabini,
Anda, Bani, Agno and Infanta. (Soil Survey
of Pangasinan Province, Philippines, by M.M.
Alicante, D.Z. Roselle, R.T. Marfoli and S.
Hernandez). The change in the provincial political
boundaries was partly due to the distance
of these western towns from Iba, the capital
of Zambales, and difficulties and scarcity
of transportation facilities at the time.
Past Local Chief Executives
For 378 years from 1521 to 1899, local chief
executives of the “pueblos” or
towns were appointed by the Spanish authorities
and from 1901 to 1936 by the Americans. In
1937 to present (2003), the local chief executives
were chosen by the town’s people through
Fishing and agriculture are the main sources
of livelihood for the majority of Bani residents.
Rice, coconuts, fruits and vegetables are
the major agricultural products, while “bangus”
is the major fish product. Fishponds near
the Bani River and its tributaries are expected
to contribute a major part in the improvement
of the municipality’s economy.
of the Municipality
Bani is classified as a third class municipality
as of 1996. The municipality is an agricultural
town with farming and fishing as the predominant
occupation of its residents. The town’s
agricultural and aquatic products find their
way not only in its public market for the
consumption of its inhabitants but likewise
to the commercial centers of Alaminos, Dagupan
City, Urdaneta and as far as Baguio City.
The municipality falls under the Seventh Level
Category or Village Center. It is, at present,
a Tertiary Urban Center.
Glimpse to the Future
As envisioned in the Provincial Physical Framework
Plan (PPFP) of Pangasinan, the Municipality
of Bani, while maintaining its being an agricultural
and aqua-marine culture town, shall also be
an agri-industrial center and a tourist haven
in the west. Furthermore, the town is expected
to become a first class municipality. As such,
the locality shall also have tourist destinations,
entertainment outfits and full-range convenience
shops with extension services.
FEATURES OF THE MUNICIPALITY
is geographically located in the western most
part of the Island of Luzon and all the Islands
of the Philippines except the Province of
Palawan. It lies between two big bodies of
water namely: Tambac Bay on the east and China
Sea on the west. The town is bounded on the
north by Bolinao, on the northeast by Tambac
Bay, on the east by Alaminos, on the southeast
by Mabini, and on the south by Agno. See Map
No. 1 (Location Map)
distances from Bani to its border towns are
26 kilometers from Bolinao, 20 kilometers
from Anda, 14 kilometers from Alaminos, and
16 kilometers from Mabini, 22 kilometers from
Burgos and 14 kilometers from Agno. As to
its distances to Urban Centers, Bani is 62
kilometers from Lingayen, the capital town
of the Province of Pangasinan, 76 kilometers
from Dagupan City, 252 kilometers from Metro
Manila, 133 kilometers from Baguio City, the
Summer Capital of the Philippines and 94 kilometers
from San Fernando City, which is the Regional
Center of Region I.
Land Area Classification
has a land area of 19,243.6075 hectares, as
per records of Land Management Sector (LMS)
of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR). About 553.9776 hectares
comprises the urban barangay while the remaining
18,689.6299 hectares comprises the rural barangays.
Of the 27 barangays of the municipality, Barangay
San Miguel has the largest area while Barangay
Tuqui Norte has the smallest
Climate and Weather
climate of Bani which is mild and pleasant
is characterized by two well-pronounced seasons:
dry and wet season. Dry season usually starts
in the month of November until May with occasional
light or very light rainfall. The driest months
are January to May. From June to October is
the wet season where heavy and continuous
rains are experienced brought about by typhoons
and tropical storms visiting the country.
Per Climatological Data of the Province of
Pangasinan as of 1995, Bani’s temperature
ranged from 21.6º to 34.7ºC or a
minimum temperature of 23.9º C and 31.9º
C maximum. Relative humidity was 87.3. Also,
in the same year, there were 144 rainy days
with 1,843.8 mm or an average of 12 and 153.7
mm, respectively. Wind direction most of the
time from northeast has an average of 178.3
mps with speed of 31mps, and atmospheric pressure
of 1,008.5 psi.
Topography and Land Capability
has both rolling and flat terrain. In its
western part lies a mountain range which rises
as high as 130 meters above sea level while
in itse. Soil Type / Suitability and Land
of the types of soil enables and gives farmers
the exact kind of fertilizers conducive to
their lands and the kind of plant variety
expected to increase the productive capability
of the land.
to Soil Survey of Pangasinan, the town of
Bani has five (5) types of soil which are
clay, clay loam, rockland and sandy loam,
which is a fissile clay like rock resembling
slate, with fragile uneven laminae. Bani soils
are suitable to varieties of crop production
particularly palay, corn, peanut, vegetables,
mango and watermelon.
following are the types of soil in the municipality
Bolinao Sandy Loam
occupies the level to nearly level areas at
the southern portion of Barangay Ranao and
relatively small areas also located at Barangays
Dacap Sur, San Simon, Centro Toma, Calabeng
and Tiep. The soil is moderately deep. Generally,
this soil is planted to paddy rice corn, tobacco,
peanut, mongo and vegetable crop. The soil
is classified as Class A, which is level to
nearly level and can be cultivated safely.
Bolinao Clay Loam
type of soil can be found in barangays Ranao,
San Simon, Dacap Sur, Centro Toma, Dacap Norte,
Tiep and Macabit. Generally, the areas are
diked and are devoted to rice during the wet
season. During dry season, however, a considerably
wide area remains idle due to the absence
of irrigation water. These lands are suited
for intensive cultivation capacity if irrigation
water is readily available. Common crops in
the area can be grown successfully requiring
only simple but good farm management.
belongs to a Class BE, which is nearly level
to gently sloping and none to slight erosion.
soil is clayish and generally shallow derived
from the weathering of the shale rocks. The
surface soil is very dark gray clay, 15 to
40 centimeters thick, sticky and plastic when
wet. Substratum is massive layer of shale
rock. This soil is located at northwest part
of Barangay Dacap Norte towards Centro Toma
up to Colayo. Those fishpond located in Barangays
Aporao, Luac, Tugui Norte, Tugui Grande and
Masidem are also having this type of soil.
It is suitable for upland rice, corn and tobacco.
Scattered patches of trees and shrubs and
grasses could also be found in areas with
this soil type.
soil class is Class BW and can be cultivated
safely that requires only simple but good
farm management practices.
soil is shallow and moderately eroded. The
top soil being shallow and its slope which
accelerates soil erosion when left unprotected
makes this land marginally suited for seasonal
cultivation. Scattered portions are planted
to upland rice, corn and vegetables during
wet season. These areas are best suited to
permanent crops or pastures. The soil is a
Class D which is good for settlements.
land type is composed of coralline rocks.
In some places there are very thin layer of
soil materials among the rocks on which some
trees have taken foothold. The present vegetation
should be maintained. These rocklands should
never be cleared so as not to facilitate the
complete washing away of the remaining soil
between the rocks. These instead may be planted
to permanent fruit trees as mango, casuy,
sineguelas and duhat and kept under vegetative
cover at all times. It is classified as a
Class X soil which is wet most of the time.
eastern part is situated a large expansion
of marshy area traversed by the Bani River
and a number of pond streams
Relief and Vegetation
relief is generally level with small patches
of undulating to gently rolling portions.
The only depressed areas are near the Bani
River, China Sea along Barangay Colayo, Centro
Toma, Dacap Sur, and San Simon; and in Tambac
Bay along Barangays Aporao and San Miguel,
since these areas are prone to natural calamities
like flooding , tidal wave and liquefaction.
the other hand, vegetative cover consists
of protection forest found in the western
part of Barangays San Simon, Dacap Sur, Centro
Toma and Colayo, secondary growth forest of
ipil-ipil, mahogany and dike were found in
Barangays Tiep, Dacap Norte, Colayo, Centro
Toma, San Simon, Dacap Sur, Calabeng, Quinaoayanan,
Tipor, Ballag, San Jose, Arwas, and Ranao.
The mangrove forest is found in Barangay Aporao
along the Tambac Bay, and grassland found
in the western barangays of Dacap Sur, Centro
Toma, Dacap Norte, San Simon, Ranao, Quinaoayanan,
Calabeng, San Jose and Arwas. Rice and other
seasonal crops were found in almost all barangays.
Waterways, both freshwater and brackish water
are found in the western and eastern parts
of the town and built-up areas are found in
each of the barangays of the municipality.
is endowed with natural resources like limestone,
phosphate guano and shale which are located
at Centro Toma, San Miguel, Garrita and Colayo.
Mineral resources of the municipality include
limestone, rock phosphate guano and shale.
However, the municipality is basically an
eco-tourism area. Predominantly it is more
into promoting tourism rather than engaging
in any mining activity. Mining of whatever
kind is therefore prohibited in the area.
are numerous rivers that traverse the municipality.
Bani River is the largest and widest. It starts
at a spot called Don Cayo in Sorong near the
old townside of Namagbagan. From there it
winds its way eastward towards its mouth at
Tambac Bay passing through Masidem, Tugui
Norte, Luac and Aporao. Along its way, it
is joined by tributaries from the southern
hinterlands – The Quinaoayanan River,
Ambabaay River, Banog River, Garrita River
and the controversial Ilog Putot of Barangay
San Miguel. From the north, it has only one
tributary, the Tugui River which comes from
the mountains at zigzag. And near the mouth
of Bani River, the Alaminos River, going south,
cuts the sitio of Abunciang from its mother
barangay San Miguel. All these rivers are
navigable except Ilog Putot, made by act of
man. These provide water irrigation to farmers
and also serve as natural drainage of the
municipality. (See Map No. 9)
Man Made Risk and Natural Hazards
municipality has no known man-made risk. All
administrative facilities and other infrastructure
like roads, bridges, dams, dikes were all
strategically located and maintained. Even
electrical post and transmitter lines are
all maintained and fully planned by the NAPOCOR
there are some portions of the town that experience
slight to moderate flooding depending how
strong the rain that falls during the rainy
season. Barangays affected are portions of
Barangays Ambabaay, Aporao, Banog Norte, Garrita,
Luac, Masidem, San Miguel, Tugui Grande and
Poblacion. These barangays were affected by
this natural hazard due to their nearness
to the river, fishponds and its physical characteristics
which is low land level. Slight to moderate
flooded area covers about 2,405.92 hectares.
from flood problems, there are also portions
which are erosion prone, which cover about
889.29 hectares. The affected barangays are
portions of Tiep, Ranao, San Jose, Colayo,
Dacap Sur, San Simon and Centro Toma. Erosion
occurs in these areas due to deforestation
and exposure of the soil to rain and excessive
heat that destroys plants, trees and grasses
that holds the soil.
Barangays San Simon, Dacap Sur, Centro Toma
and Colayo along the China Sea and Aporao
and San Miguel by Tambac Bay area are slightly
affected by liquefaction and by hazard from
hydrologic adjustments and from soils, rocks
and sediments movement. Likewise, there is
no danger of a high intensity earthquake since
the town is only traversed by a normal fault
line affecting portions of upland area of
Barangay Tiep, Luac and San Jose
The study of population is required in planning
so as to determine the size of human resources
in a locality and ascertain their various
needs and consider their interests and traits
for the economic growth of the community at
the local level. Human resources and their
needs could be specifically identified by
studying the population size, growth, structure,
distribution, density, composition and changes
due to births, deaths, inmigration, out-migration,
transfer of groups in the same population
such as marriages, separation, divorce and
other socio-economic characteristics and the
causes and consequences of those factors.
Likewise, the age of the population determines
the potential labor force and identifies the
areas with considerable unemployment rates.
These data guide the planners in redirecting
development towards the concerned area and
create job opportunities for existing and
Needless to say, the population size, its
growth, spatial and age distribution affect
the demand for economic goods and services
such as food, clothing and other manufactured
products, and the need to generate employment
opportunities. An increasing population connotes
an increasing demand for housing with necessary
amenities. As consumers, the size and composition
growth of population determine the demand
for water and power supply for households,
drainage system and other community utilities
such as transportation.
While land resources are definite in the area
and sometimes limited, or even subject to
liquefaction, population density and rural
expansion generally increase. Thus, population
growth is a major controlling factor in the
maintenance or degradation of ecological balance
and the massive conversion of protection and
production lands like agricultural and forestlands
to urban uses.
Historical Growth and Composition
municipality of Bani can be characterized
as having a continuous increase in population
from 1903 to present.
first recorded data on population of Bani
was 4,440, as per census in 1903. During the
succeeding censal year in 1918, it rose to
8,109 with an absolute change of 3,669 or
4.11 annual growth rate. This period recorded
the highest absolute percent change. This
number steadily increased to 14,565 in 1939
with an annual growth rate of 2.83 percent
and an absolute change of 6,456. This period
also recoded the highest absolute change.
Nine years after, in 1948, the population
rose to 18,402 with an increase of 3,837 or
2.63 percent annual growth rate. The population
in 1960 furthermore increased by 5,356 or
2.5 percent annual growth rate.
the period 1970 to 1975, the town’s
population increased to 27,549 with 1.82 annual
growth rate. A slight increase was observed
between 1975 to 1980 with a total population
of 29,039 having 1,490 from its level in 1975.
From 1980 to 1990, an increase of 8,141 or
2.50 percent change was noted. The censal
period done in 1995, registered a total population
of 37,450 with an increase of 270 or 0.14
annual growth rate. The last censal period
conducted in 2000 indicated an increase of
5,274 with an annual growth rate of 2.72 percent
As of 2007 census of population, Bani has a total population of 45,652.
Urban-Rural and Distribution
For the purpose of town planning and zoning,
Barangay Poblacion shall be considered as
urban barangay,. While the remaining 26 barangays
shall be considered as rural barangays. Presently,
the contiguous built-up portions of the said
urban barangays are the center of urban activities
in the municipality.
As per 2000 census, the urban barangay has
4,815 population comprising 11.24 percent
of the total municipal population and an average
household size of 5 persons.
Rural barangays have a total population of
38,009 comprising 88.76 percent of the total
population and an average household size of
4.77 or about 5. The most populated rural
barangays are Barangays San Miguel (3,464),
Quinaoayanan (2,425), Banog Norte (1,787),
Dacap Sur (1,940), and Centro Toma (1,712).
They also have the highest number of households.
Taken in its entirety, the municipality of
Bani has a gross density of 2 persons per
hectare which is still considered as low density.
However, compared to other towns similarly
situated, the locality’s population
is ideal. Population is sufficient in number
and there are rooms for economic expansion.
On the average, the urban areas has a population
density of 9 persons per hectare. The rural
area, on the other hand, has an average of
2 persons per hectare. The most populated
rural barangay is Tugui Grande and Tugui Norte
with a total population of 1,392 and 671 and
6 persons per hectare, respectively
As per 2000 NSO Census, of the 42,824 population
of Bani, 21,709 or 50.69 percent belonged
to male population while 21,115 or 49.31 percent
belonged to female population. There were
more males than females with ratio of 99:100
or there were 99 females for every 100 males.
or Dialects Spoken
Mother Tongue is the first dialect spoken
by a person in his earliest childhood. It
is the tongue used at the birth of a child.
While it is conceded that the formal education
of the child is in school, his personality
and upbringing are at home for which parents
are responsible. In the process, communication
between the parents and children is inevitable.
In this regard, mother tongue plays an important
The most dominant religion in Bani is Roman
Catholic with 28,686 or 66.98 percent followers.
Another dominant religion is the municipality
is Aglipay with 7,859 or 18.35 percent, Iglesia
Ni Cristo with 2,164 or 5.05 percent followers.
Other religions include: Islam, Philippine
Episcopal Church, Iglesia Evangelista Methodista
en Las Filipinas, United Methodist Church,
Salvation army Philippines, Convention of
the Philippine Baptist Church, Other Protestant,
Buddhist, Church of Christ of the Latter Day
Saints, Jehova’s Witnesses, Philippine
Benevolent Missionaries Association, Seventh
Day Adventist, Evangelicals, Bible Baptist,
Southern Baptist, Association of Baptist Churches
in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
and Its Measures
Migration is the movement of population across
a specific boundary for the purpose of residing
Of the total household population of age bracket
10 years old and over, as per 2000 data, majority
or 16,558 are legally married comprising 8,219
are males and 8,339 are females; 13,173 are
single of which 7,198 are males and 5,975
are females, 1,651 are widowed of which 408
are males and 1,243 are females, 212 are divorced
or separated of which 92 are males and 120
are females, 228 have not stated their status
of which 122 are males and 106 are females.
Of the 32,510 household population 10 years
old and over, 30,668 or 9,433 percent are
literate and 1,842 or 5.67 are illiterate.
Of the literate, 15,580 are male and 15,088
are female. Of the illiterate, 798 are male
and 1044 are female. Based on the table below,
there are more literate in the young generation
than those in old generation.
As per 2000 data, of the 37,748 inhabitants
5 years old and over, 94.81 percent have completed
or entered school under specific educational
level while 1,960 or 5.19 percent failed to
finish or enter school.
Majority or 12.835 or 34.00 percent of the
household population 5 years old and over
were able to reach high school of which 5,040
or 13.35 are undergraduate and 7,795 or 20.65
percent are graduate, 15,490 or 41.04 percent
reached elementary grade of which 6,995 or
18.53 percent were 1st to 4th grade and 8,495
or 22.50 percent were 5th to 7th grade, 2,784
or 7.38 percent are college graduate, 1,692
or 4.48 percent are post secondary of which
814 or 2.16 percent are undergraduate and
878 or 2.32 percent are graduate, 1011 or
2.68 percent are academic degree holder, 405
or 1.07 percent are post baccalaureate and
1,023 or 2.71 percent failed to state their
respective educational attainment.
Productive or working are population belonging
to the age bracket 15 to 64 years old represent
the locality’s potential labor force.
Dependent population, on the other hand, is
made up of young persons belonging to ages
0 to 14 and older ones who are 65 years old
On the other hand, the dependent age group,
the members of which are generally but not
necessarily dependent on the productive group
for their subsistence, totaled 16,800 or 39.46
percent of the total population as of 2000.
The young population consisting of 14,364
or 33.54 percent outnumbered the older ones
of 64 years old and over numbering 2,536 or
As per 2000, 25,924 or 60.54 percent of the
population belonged to the productive or working
age group. Potential labor force contributed
60.54 percent of the total population. The
ratio of young dependent to working age group
is 55:100 and the old dependent to working
age group is 10:100.
As per 1995 data, a total of 13,601 or 36.32
percent of the total municipal population
belong to school-going ages 7 to 20 years
old, as per DECS classification. Of the number
6,607 or 48.58 percent are elementary comprising
4,846 or 35.63 percent primary and 1,761 or
12.95 percent intermediate, 3,333 or 24.51
percent secondary ( 13 to 16 years old) and
3,661 or 26.92 percent tertiary (17 to 20
or Working Age Group
As of 1990. the municipality has a total labor
force of 23,282 of which 10,246 or 44.01 percent
are employed consisting of 7,779 or 33.41
percent male and 2,467 or 10.6 percent female;
1,792 or 7.70 percent are unemployed of which
869 or 3.73 percent are male and 923 or 3.96
percent are female. Large number of the population
comprising 11,244 or 48.29 percent are not
in the labor force.
Population projection is basic and very important
in Land Use Planning. This is the means to
enable the planner to forecast the size and
growth of the population in a study area and
direct the future utilization of available
resources to meet the needs required by such
size of population.
In planning, it was always wise and safe to
project the needed parameters. Projections
were made for the next ten (10) years 2003-2012
particularly for the total population, population
by barangay, population by age group, school-going
age, population density, and households population.
Mathematical methods of projections, specifically
Geometric and Linear Growth Approaches were
used. Ratios and preparations were also resorted
in some computations.
Population size and compositions were projected
in order to provide planners an idea for the
goods and services to be produced. The projections
were sourced out from the results of the total
The population of Bani is expected to reach
56,006 by year 2012 representing an increase
of 13,182 from its level of 2000. This means
that the municipality has to prepare itself
to accommodate a larger number of population
in the future.
Urban population is expected to reach 6,297
by year 2012 representing an increase of 1,482
from its level of 2000. The rate of population
growth is faster in the urban area than in
the rural area, hence it is expected that
urban lands shall be expected towards the
fringes of Poblacion.
Taking a closer look at the projections by
age-group, 13.24 percent of the highest increase
shall be contributed by ages 5 to 9 at the
peak of production group. Population growth
rate becomes much faster if population management
will not be taken seriously during the planning