Biñan City

Biñan (Tagalog pronunciation: [biˈɲan] or traditionally [biˈɲaŋ]), officially the City of Biñan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Biñan), is a component city in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 584,479 people, making it the most populous city in the province of Laguna. Biñan has become both a suburban residential community of Metro Manila and a location for some of the Philippines' largest industrial estates and export processing zones.^[1]

Etymology

The origin of the name Biñan remains uncertain. One account suggests that before Captain Juan de Salcedo proceeded to Cainta and Taytay en route to Bay, he landed in Biñan. According to tradition, Catholic priests Alfonso de Alvarado and Diego Espinar erected a large wooden cross on the site of the present-day San Isidro Labrador Parish and celebrated a thanksgiving Mass.^[1]

History

Captain Juan de Salcedo explored Laguna de Bay and founded Biñan at the end of June 1571, a month after Miguel López de Legazpi established Manila. In 1644, Dominican friars turned the area into a hacienda known as Hacienda de San Isidro Labrador de Biñán, in honor of Saint Isidore the Laborer. When the seat of the provincial government of the Laguna de Bay was transferred from Bay to Pagsanjan in 1688, Biñan separated from Tabuco (present-day city of Cabuyao).^[1]

Cityhood

On February 2, 2010, by the virtue of Republic Act No. 9740, Biñan became a component city after its voters accepted the ratification in a plebiscite. It became the 4th city in the province and 139th in the Philippines.^[1]

Geography

Biñan is located 35 kilometers (22 mi) south of Manila and 52 kilometers (32 mi) from Santa Cruz. It is bounded on the north by San Pedro, on the west by General Mariano Alvarez, Carmona, and Silang, on the south by Santa Rosa, while on the east lies Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country.^[1]

Topography

Biñan is generally plain with 85.33% of its total area having a slope of zero to 2.5%. This covers all the 24 barangays except for small portions of barangays Biñan and San Francisco having a slope ranging from 2.6 to 25%, meaning it is gently sloping to strongly sloping. With more than three-fourths of its area generally level to nearly level, this makes Biñan suitable for agricultural and urban development.^[1]

Soil properties

Of the eleven-soil series that compose the land area of Laguna, Carmona and Gingua series covers about two types that can only be seen in Biñan. Carmona series covers about 2,577 hectares (6,370 acres) or 59.24 percent seen in Biñan's land area. Agricultural land in these areas is primarily devoted to rice and sugar production.^[1]

Barangays

Biñan is politically subdivided into 24 barangays - as indicated below - all classified as urban. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.^[1]

Climate

The climate of Biñan is characterized by two pronounced seasons: dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Maximum rainfall occurs from June to September with an annual average rainfall of 200 mm (7.9 in). Biñan is protected by mountains in the peripheral areas, and thus it is making the area cooler.^[1]

Religion

The majority of the people of Biñan are Roman Catholics. Other religious groups include Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry (JMCIM), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Members Church of God International, Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ), Evangelical Christians, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Churches, Baptist and Bible Fundamental churches.^[1]

Location

Biñan City is based in CALABARZON, Laguna, Biñan City.^[2]

Online presence

Biñan City works in local government and places. Its website is binan.gov.ph.^[2]