In 1573, on his second expedition to Bicol, the great conquistador, Juan de Salcedo, discovered a flourishing Bicol village called Naga, because it is said, of an abundance of narra (naga in Bicol) trees growing in the place.
In 1575, Captain Pedro de Chavez, the commander of the garrison left behind by Salcedo, founded on the site of the present business center (across the river from the original Naga) a Spanish city which he named Ciudad de Caceres, in honor of Francisco de Sande, the governor general who was a native of the city of Caceres in Spain. It was still by this name that it was identified in the papal bull of August 14, 1595 that erected the See of Caceres (together with those of Cebu and Nueva Segovia) and made it the seat of the new bishopric.
In time, the Spanish city and native village merged into one community and became popularly known as Nueva Caceres, obviously to distinguish it from the namesake in Spain.
With the advent of the American rule, it was reduced to a municipality. In 1919, it lost its Spanish name, when, by law, it became officially known as Naga. It acquired its present city charter in 1948, and its city government was inaugurated on December 15 of the same year.
LOCATION
Situated at the center of the Bicol peninsula and surrounded on all sides by rich agricultural, forest and fishing areas. Naga is also the convergence of the Naga and Bicol rivers. Situated 377 kilometers south of Manila and 100 km. North of Legazpi. Located at the intersection of Maharlika Highway (Manila South Road) and the Philippine National Railway.
Between 13 to 14 degrees North Latitude and between 123 to 124 degrees East Longitude, Naga City is bounded on the North by Canaman and Magarao, on the East by Mt. Isarog and Pili, on the South by Milaor, and on the West by Camaligan.
TOPOGRAPHY
Land Use : Agricultural
Total land Area : 8, 448 hectares
GENERAL CLIMATE AND RAINFALL
Climatic Type : Type IV
Characteristic : tropical climate with relatively abundant rainfall and sunny day
Average Annual Rainfall (1977-2002) : 2,214.3 mm.
Average Temperature : 27.1°C
Three (3) Seasons : Dry if rainfall is less than 100; wet if rainfall is over 100
June to October : Wet and rainy season
November to February Cool and start of dry season
March to June: Hot, dry season
POPULATION (As of May 1, 2000)
Number of Persons– 137,810
Population Density– 16
Growth Rate (%)- 1.65
Number of Households– 25,317
TELECOMMUNICATION AND COURIER SERVICE
Telecommunication services are provided by Bayantel, Digitel, Smart, Globe, PT&T;, and PLDT. Direct dial telephone, facsimile, and e-mail services are available.
There are four (4) cable TV operators and a number of internet service providers (ISPs), two local TV stations, and nineteen (19) AM and FM radio stations.
All national and regional newspapers in English, Filipino or Bikol language are circulated within the city.
TRADE AND COMMERCE
Around 85% to 90% of the city’s income is derived from business activity in Trade and Commerce.
TRANSPORTATION
The Manila-Naga route is served by the Philippine Airlines (PAL’s 141-seater Boeing 737) flies daily except Tuesdays and Thursdays. Estimated travel time (ETT) is one (1) hour.
Manila to Naga buses have terminals and booking offices at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City and EDSA Bus Terminals in Pasay City. Estimated travel time is seven to eight hours.
The Philippine National Railways leaves the Naga station for Manila at 5 p.m. daily. Naga-bound train service leaves the Tutuban Station in Manila at 5 p.m. daily. Estimated time travel is eight to nine hours.
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