Bara District lies the Narayani Zone. It is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Kalaiya as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,190 km² and has a population (2001) of 559,135. Pasaha, Dudhaura and Bangari are the main rivers of Bara. Gamahariya (Dakshin Jhitkaiya) is one of the villages of Bara District which is situated near the border area of India.
The main languages spoken here in Bara are Nepali and Bhojpuri.
Towns and villages Map of the VDC's in Bara DistrictAmarpatti, Amlekhganj, Amritganj, Avab, Babuain, Bachhanpurwa, Badaki Fulbariya, Bagadi, Bahuari, Balirampur, Bandhuwan, Banjariya, Barainiya, Bariyarpur, Basantpur, Batara, Beldari, Benauli, Bhagwanpur , Bhaluyee Arwaliya, Bharatganj Singaul , Bhatauda , Bhaudaha, Bhuluhi Marwaliya, Bishnupur , Bishnupurwa, Bishrampur, Biswambharpur , Brahmapuri, Buniyad , Chhata Pipra , Chhatawa , Dahiyar , Dewapur, Dharma Nagar, Dohari , Dumbarwana, Fattepur , Gadhahal , Ganj Bhawanipur, Golaganj, Haraiya , Hardiya , Hariharpur, Inarwamal , Inarwasira , Itiyahi, Jhitakaiya , Jitpur Bhawanipur, Kabahigoth , Kabahijabdi , Kachorwa , Kakadi , Karaiya , Khopawa , Khutwajabdi , Kolhabi , Kudawa , Laxmipur Kotwali, Lipanimal , Madhurijabdi , Mahendra Adarsha, Maheshpur, Maini, Majhariya , Manaharwa , Matiarwa , Motisar , Naktuwa , Narahi , Nijgadh , Pakadiya Chikani , Paparpati Ek, Paparpati Jabdi , Parsurampur , Paterwa , Patharhati , Pathora , Pheta , Pipara Simara , Piparpati Dui , Piparpati Parchrouwa , Pipra Basantapur , Piprabirta , Pipradhi Goth, Prasauni , Prasona , Prastoka , Purainiya , Raghunathpur, Rampur Tokani, Rampurwa, Ratnapuri , Rauwahi , Sapahi , Shreenagar Bairiya, Sihorwa , Sinhasani , Sisahaniya, Tedhakatti, Telkuwa , Terariya, Uchidiha, Umarjan,
HistoryOnce called “BADAS” during the early Spanish Colonization of the archipelago. Some elders recall that Baras, centuries back was once s progressive fishing village located over a small mountain projecting towards the sea on the western side of Baras Bay. The poblacion was its cemetery and the cemetery now was its former poblacion site. The old site was chosen because it was an elevated area over looking the sea.
The villagers could easily see approaching pirates that occasionally plundered the sea, giving them ample time to evacuate their families and prepare for the encounter. Several Skirmishes had been taught in the present poblacion.
Excavation in the Church Plaza reveals human remains of evaders. The pirates gone, the villagers later settled in what are now Baras. A splintered group of insurrecturs headed by a certain CATALINO CATAKUTAN who was facing the advantage of the insurrection taking place in the Southern Tagalog region, braved the rough seas to set a place in the long quest for Philippine Independence in the Island, forced by the gusty Southeast Monsoon wind they finally set anchor in the once rich fishing village called “Cabadasan” posing as fisherman.
By befriending the villagers and at the same time working on the growing discontent among the people against the tyrannical rule of Capitan CARLOS MACAPUGAY who was then Bat’s town executive, the rebel grouped the men folk of the village to form a fierce fighting bond.
Out of this uprising led by Catalino Catakutan, the umbilical cord through which Cabadasan ruled was detached and the town of Baras was born.
Married to Maria Timola from Bato, Capitan Catalino Catakutan, with the burning desire for independence, did not live long to set office in the entire province. The Spaniards caught up with him while attending a wedding feast. Tortured and chained by the neck, he was paraded around the Poblacion of Bato to serve as warning to the people.
He was hanged near the church of Bato. In his stead, Capitan Mariano Teologo was installed as Bara’s first town executive on May 11, 1897. Its original barrios were Tilod, Macutal, Paniquihan and Gigmoto.
How It Got Its Name?The village town then was luxurious and verdant with “BADAS” plants. As to what kind of vegetation “BADAS” is a subject of conjunction, for some believed that it was kind of Bamboo, now called “Bagacay”. Others believed it to be kind of study tree, but majority believed that it is a wild rattan plant abounding the surrounding mountains. But one common belief is the fact that this “BADAS” was a source of materials for making spears, a weapon used by the native to repel the raiders and pirates.
It is also believed that “BADAS” was a much in-demand material for building the native huts. Because of its abundance in the area, villagers called the place “Cabadasan”, meaning a place where “Badas” thrive. The colonizers however, hispanized it and so the town was called “BARAS” up to this time.
Baras - A Town and BarrioBaras’s first town executive was Capitan Mariano Teologo who served until the close of 1897. To minister the town’s spiritual needs was Rev. Father Pablo Zuniega, Baras first Parish Priest whose tenure ended in the middle of the 1904.
The early year of Baras as a town was a period of difficult adjustment. In 1905, Capitan Quirico Arcilla, the town’s fourth executive started the construction of a semi-permanent Municipal Building called “TRIBUNAL”. A dynamic and a dominant figure in Baras politics, his centering effort in the administration of local affairs was well as his proven integrity, enabled the town to experience a period of prosperity. In 1906, Capitan Alvaro Vergara succeeded him. In 1907 due to financial difficulties the town was reverted to a barrio status. A few days later after its reversion into a barrio of Bato, its executive appointed Reymundo Tanael as Cabeza (barrio executive). Baras existed as a barrio up to the last days of 1909.
In a period of 3 years as barrio, Cabezas had ruled it, namely: Cabezang Reymundo Tanael, Agustia Tanael, Felix Teologo, Lucas Arcilla and Catalino Guerrero. Before the end of the year 1909, Civic religious and business leaders of the community demanded from the ruling governing power that Baras be re-created into a municipality.
In 1910, Baras, became a town for the second time. Appointed to steer the rains of government was Capitan Juan Pablo, a tagalog immigrant who found a local boil for his life partner. In the election of 1911, he lost to Capitan Pedro Vergara, only to be elected again in 1913. From then Baras move on experiencing the test of time as a municipality. In 1927 Palaviano Camu then was constructing Camu Street connecting it to San Lorenzo Street. In 1929 the present sight house it barrio Putsan was constructed.
May 1933, the Bato-Baras road was opened to traffic. In 1935 the gold boom reached Baras, an American firm headed by certain Mr. Torchand dug sitio Banog in Agban and started what it seemed a flourishing firm, the Agban gold mines, at the same time the abaca and copra industry for which Baras had been famous was at its peach.
For some known reason the firm had to close shop at the end of 1938. On the 10th of December 1941, one year after “Oguis” , a Japanese fleet consisting of an aircraft carrier and a destroyer landed at Batalay in Bato, bombarded Virac, then slightly of Japanese planes their might to the surprised inhabitant, swooped down on Barrio Guinsaanan, releasing three medium bombs hitting Sayao rock off making Baras ghost town by night.
Nobody complained, the country was at war. After a month with no governing officials reporting to their office, the incumbent Mayor Victor Tanael returned from hiding and once again everything returned normally. Other Municipal officials reported to their office. In the early part of 1943, Mayor Tanael died of sickness and so the Japanese occupation government appointed Mr. Deonesio Tolledo as Mayor, Atty. Severiano de Leon as Municipal Judge, Mr. Pedro Teston as Chief of Police, Mr. Reynato Magistrado and Jaime Templonuevo as Policemen. They were the only officials appointed.
In the early morning of February 1944, the town folk were surprised by rain of bullets. Major Salvador Rodulfo of Tilod, Bara’s fresh from his guerilla exploits in Albay landed at Tilod with soldiers and started organizing independent guerilla outfit later to be known as the Catanduanes Liberators Battalion. Baras became the sanctuary of the resistance movement in the province.
It was his group was responsible for the annihilation of all Japanese Soldiers in the island, killing most of them and capturing the remaining that were caught alive and raising to the ground their garrisons and hideouts.
Immediately after the liberation of the country from the Japanese warriors in 1945, President Osmeña appointed some Municipal Heads of the town. Bara’s biggest barrio Gigmoto was created into separate municipality by special law in 1950.
Bato---Mother Municipality Gigmoto—Formerly a barrio of Baras East Poblacion—A barangay where a seat of the municipal government of Baras is located
SlopeThe surface landscape within Baras is made up of varying slopes. It is dominated however by slopes ranging 18-30% (Rolling to hilly) with land area of 38.0700 square kilometers or 49.830% and 30-50% (Steep Hills and Mountains) with land area of 29.6200 square kilometers or 38.770%. comprising the last slope surfaces are slopes 0-3% (level to very gently sloping) with land area of 7.2600 square kilometers or 9.500% and 50%-Above (very steep hills and mountains).
Land AreaThe municipality of Baras comprises twenty nine (29) barangays with six (6) urban barangays and twenty thee (23) rural barangays for a total land area of 76.400 square kilometers. Urban barangays have a total land area of only 1.0200 square kilometers or 1.332% made up of Barangays Bagong Sirang, Buenavista, Eastern Poblacion, San Lorenzo, Quezon and Western Poblacion. On the other hand, rural barangays comprise the remaining 75.3800 square kilometers or 96.668% made up of Barangays Abihao, Agban, Batolinao, Benticayan, Caragumihan, Danao, Genitligan, Guisaanan, J.M. Alberto, Macutal, Moning, Nagbarorong, Osmena, Paniquihan, P. Teston, Putsan, Sagrada, Rizal, Puraran, San Miguel, Salvacion, Sta. Maria and Tilod.
Barangays with smaller land area are Barangays Bagong Sirang, Buenavista, Eastern Poblacion, San Lorenzo, Quezon, Western Poblacion and Sta. Maria. On the contrary, barangays with the largest land areas are Agban, Benticayan, Genitligan, J.M. Alberto, San Miguel and Tilod.
Land ClassificationBased on the land classification, the Municipality of Baras is divided into Alienable and Disposable lands and Forest lands. Alienable and Disposable Lands occupy land area of about 57.600 square kilometers or 75.390%. On the other hand, Forest Lands occupy only about 18.800 square kilometers or 24.610%
Soil ClassificationThe municipality of Baras possesses varying soil types particularly Bantog Clay, Mountain soil, Atimodian Clay, and Luciana Clay. Most dominant soil types are Luciana Clay occupying about 56.1700 square kilometers or 73.590% and mountain soil occupying about 17.2800 square kilometers or 22.620%. The least soil types are Bantog Clay with land area of only about 2.1900 square kilometers or 2.860% and Atimodian Clay with land area of only about 0.7600 square kilometers or 0.930%. municipality (Filipino: "bayan" or "munisipalidad") is a local government unit in the Philippines. Municipalities are also called towns (which is actually a better translation of "bayan"). They are distinct from cities, which are a different category of local government unit (LGU).
Provinces are composed of cities and municipalities. Municipalities, in turn, are composed of barangays or barrios.
Municipalities have some autonomy from the National Government of the Republic of the Philippines under the Local Government Code of 1991. They have been granted corporate personality enabling them to enact local policies and laws, enforce them, and govern their jurisdictions. They can enter into contracts and other transactions through their elected and appointed officials and can tax. They are tasked with enforcing all laws, whether local or national. The National Government assists, supervises and ensures that the local government does not violate national law. Local Governments have their own Executive and Legislative Branches and the check and balance between these two major branches, along with their separation, are more pronounced than that of the national government[citation needed]. The Judicial Branch of the Republic of the Philippines also caters to the needs of local government units. Local governments, such as a municipalities, do not to have their own judicial branch: their Judiciary is the same as that of the national government.
A municipality is headed by a municipal mayor who is the executive officer. The legislature is composed of the vice-mayor (bise-mayor) and eight councilors (kagawad or konsehal). The eight councilors, along with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) (Youth Council) President and the Liga ng mga Barangay President, form the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council). All are elected and serve 3-year terms. They cannot serve more than three consecutive terms (9 years).
The Vice-Mayor presides over the legislature, but cannot vote except to break a tie. Laws or ordinances proposed by the legislature (Sangguniang Bayan) may be approved or vetoed by the Mayor. If approved they become law. If the Mayor neither vetoes nor approves the proposal of the Sangguniang Bayan for ten (10) days from the time of receipt, the said proposal becomes law as if it had been signed. If vetoed, the draft is sent back to the Sangguniang Bayan. The latter may 'override' the Mayor by a vote of at least 2/3 of all its members, in which case, the proposal becomes Law.
A municipality, upon reaching a certain requirements-minimum population size, and minimum annual revenue-may opt to become a city. First, a bill must be passed in Congress, then signed into law by the President and then the residents would vote in the succeeding plebiscite to accept or reject cityhood. One benefit in being a city is that the city government gets more budget, but taxes are much higher than in municipalities.
SMS Messages- Click Here
