Carcar, officially the City of Carcar (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Carcar; Filipino: Lungsod ng Carcar), is a 5th class component city in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 136,453 people.
Carcar City is bordered to the north by the town of San Fernando, to the west are the towns of Barili and Aloguinsan, to the east is the Cebu Strait, and to the south is the town of Sibonga.
Carcar lies on the southernmost part of Metro Cebu area.
Carcar was known as "Kabkad" or "Sialo" before Spanish colonization. It became a town in 1599. Carcar is considered one of the oldest towns in Cebu, with its Spanish influence lasted more than 300 years ago.
In July 2007, the municipality of Carcar was converted into a component city of the province of Cebu after ratification of Republic Act 9436.
On November 18, 2008, Supreme Court ruled that the cityhood charters of Carcar and 15 other cities as unconstitutional as a result of a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines. A year later, on December 22, Carcar and 15 other municipalities regained their status as cities again after the court reversed its November 18, 2008, ruling. On August 23, 2010, the court reinstated its ruling on November 18, 2008, causing Carcar and 15 cities to revert to municipalities. Finally on February 15, 2011, Carcar and the other 15 municipalities regained their cityhood status.
In 2013, after a six year legal battle, the League of Cities of the Philippines acknowledged and recognized the cityhood of Carcar and 15 other cities on July 19, 2013.
Carcar is 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Cebu City, 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Barili, and 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Aloguinsan. It has a land area of 116.78 square kilometres (45.09 sq mi).
The land is generally level with less than 18% slope comprising 78.7% of the total land area. Areas with slopes ranging from 18 to 50% cover 19.3% of the total land area and those over 50% slope comprise approximately 1.9%. The highest recorded elevation is a little over 660 metres (2,170 ft) above sea level, located within the barangay of Napo.
The municipality has five dominant soil types namely: Faraon Clay, Steep Phase, the Lugo Clay, the Mandaue clay loam & the Hydrosol type.
Carcar is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
The wet season occurs during the months of May to October and the dry season, from January to May.
Poverty incidence of Carcar
- As a Heritage City of Cebu, Carcar contains various Spanish and American period structures. The Carcar plaza alone hosts several heritage structures, the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria dominates the area. Within the complex various structures stand, including quaint houses and their distinctive architectural details.
- Surrounding the Rotunda and in the public market one will find the famous Carcar chicharon, lechon, ampao, bucarillo, gorgorias and puso – just some of the local delicacies.
- Guadalupe Mabugnao Mainit Hot Spring National Park
- Heritage Houses such as the Mercado Mansion
- Tuyom Beach – Beach Houses
- The Kabkaban Festival, which is the town's local festival in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria. The name of the festival comes from the old name of the town, which was taken from the local term for the Oakleaf Fern (Aglaomorpha quercifolia) which is abundant in the town, even to this day. Celebrated from the November 23 to 25, it highlights the rich culture, faith, and musical history of Carcar.
The public schools in Carcar are administered by the Schools Division of Carcar City.
- Bolinawan Elementary School — Bolinawan
- Buenavista Elementary School — Buenavista
- Calidngan Elementary School — Calidngan
- Canal Elementary School — Sitio Canal, Bolinawan
- Can-asujan Elementary School — Can-asujan
- Cara-atan Elementary School — Sitio Cara-atan, Buenavista
- Carcar Central Elementary School — P. Nellas Street, Poblacion III
- Guadalupe Elementary School — Guadalupe
- Hunob Elementary School — Sitio Hunob, Guadalupe
- Kalangyawon Elementary School — Sitio Kalangyawon, Napo
- Kamanggahan Elementary School — Sitio Kamanggahan, Guadalupe
- Kayam Elementary School — Sitio Kayam, Napo
- Liburon Elementary School — Liburon
- Lunas Elementary School — Sitio Lunas, Calidngan
- Mainit Elementary School — Sitio Mainit, Guadalupe
- Manghupi Elementary School — Sitio Manghupi, Can-asujan
- Maximina V. Barangan Elementary School — Poblacion I
- Moag Elementary School — Sitio Moag, Guadalupe
- Napo Elementary School — Napo
- Ocaña Central Elementary School — Ocaña
- Perrelos Elementary School — Perrelos
- Pit-os Elementary School — Sitio Pit-os, Calidngan
- Sa-ay Elementary School — Sitio Saay, Can-asujan
- Tagaytay Elementary School — Sitio Tagaytay, Can-asujan
- Tal-ot Elementary School — Sitio Tal-ut, Valencia
- Tapal Elementary School — Sitio Tapal, Guadalupe
- Tawog Elementary School — Sitio Tawog, Valladolid
- Tuyom Elementary School — Tuyom
- Upland Elementary School — Poblacion I
- Valencia Elementary School — Valencia
- Valladolid Elementary School — Valladolid
- Can-asujan National High School — Can-asujan
- Carcar Central National High School — P. Nellas Street, Poblacion III
- Gelacio C. Babao, Sr. Memorial National High School — Valladolid
- Kalangyawon National High School — Sitio Kalangyawon, Napo
- Liburon National High School — Liburon
- Maximino Noel Memorial National High School — Guadalupe
- Ocaña National High School — Ocaña
- Perrelos National High School — Perrelos
- Pit-os National High School — Sitio Pit-os, Calidngan
- Roberto E. Sato Memorial National High School — Calidngan
- Tal-ut National High School — Sitio Tal-ut, Valencia
- Tuyom National High School — Tuyom
- Tuyom Senior High School — Tuyom
- Valencia National Vocational High School — Valencia
- Puesto Integrated School — Sitio Puesto, Napo
- Carcar City College - P. Vasquez St., Poblacion I
Notable personalities
edit- Rizal Monument at Old Town Plaza
- Carcar City Museum (formerly, Carcar Dispensary)
- St. Catherine of Alexandria Church Interior
- Carcar Former Municipal Complex
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