Baliwag

Baliwag Baliuag
Component city
City of Baliwag[1]
(From top, left to right): Mariano Ponce Museum • Ang Baliuag kay Rizal Monument • Baliwag Clock Tower • Baliwag Church • Baliwag Transit terminal
Flag Seal
Nickname:  Buntal Hat Capital of the Philippines
Motto(s):  Dugong Baliwag, Pusong Baliwag (English: Baliwag by blood, Baliwag by heart)
Map of Bulacan with Baliwag highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Baliwag Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°57′14″N 120°54′04″E / 14.954°N 120.901°E / 14.954; 120.901
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon
Province	Bulacan
District	2nd district
Founded	1733
Cityhood	December 17, 2022
Barangays	27 (see Barangays)
Government  [2]
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
• Mayor	Ferdinand V. Estrella
• Vice Mayor	Marie Claudette S. Quimpo
• Representative	Augustina Dominique C. Pancho
• City Council	Members Marie Claudette Q. Serrano Enrique V. dela Cruz Jr. Lee Edward V. Nicolas Maria Isabel P. Librero Wilfredo A. Lapira Lowell C. Tagle Antonio S. Patawaran Rodrigo E. Baltazar
• Electorate	107,076 voters (2022)
Area [3]
• Total	45.05 km2 (17.39 sq mi)
Elevation	18 m (59 ft)
Highest elevation	44 m (144 ft)
Lowest elevation	8 m (26 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[4]
• Total	168,470
• Density	3,700/km2 (9,700/sq mi)
• Households	43,789
Demonyms	Baliwageño (male) Baliwageña (female) Baliwagenean
Economy
• Poverty incidence	11.20 % (2021)[5]
• Revenue	₱ 655.3 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 1,168 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 659.6 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 428.7 million (2020)
Utilities
• Electricity	Meralco
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	3006
PSGC	0301403000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)44
Native languages	Tagalog Kapampangan

Baliwag, officially the City of Baliwag (Tagalog: [bɐˈliʊag]; Filipino: Lungsod ng Baliwag), is a component city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 168,470 people.^[4]

Baliwag was founded in 1732 by Augustinian friars and was incorporated by the Spanish Governor-General on May 26, 1733. It was carved out from the town of Quingua (now Plaridel).

Baliwag is 28 kilometers (17 mi) from Malolos and 51 kilometers (32 mi) from Manila.

Through the years of Spanish domination, Baliuag was predominantly agricultural. People had to depend on rice farming for the main source of livelihood. Orchards and tumanas yielded fruits and vegetables, which were sold in the public market. Commerce and industry also played important contributions to the economy of the people. Buntal hat weaving in Baliwag together with silk weaving popularly known in the world as Thai silk; the manufacturer of cigar cases, piña fibers, petates (mats), and Sillas de Bejucos (cane chairs) all of the fine quality became known in many parts of the world. The local market also grew. During the early part of the 19th century, Baliwag was already considered one of the most progressive and richest towns in Bulacan. The growth of the public market has significantly changed the model of the economy of the city.

Baliwag is the major commerce, transportation, entertainment, and educational center of Northern Bulacan. With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, Baliwag is part of Manila's built-up area which reaches San Ildefonso, Bulacan at its northernmost part.

On July 22, 2022, Republic Act No. 11929 lapsed into law. The said measure will convert the municipality into a component city and standardize its name as the City of Baliwag.^[6] On December 17, 2022, a plebiscite was held,^[7] 17,814 residents voted in favor of conversion to a component city while only 5,702 voted against.