Matnog

Matnog
Municipality
Municipality of Matnog
Skyline of Matnog
Matnog Port from the San Bernardino strait
Sunrise over Matnog Bay
Flag of Matnog
Flag
Official seal of Matnog
Seal
Nicknames: 
Gateway of Luzon
Gateway to Visayas
Map of Sorsogon with Matnog highlighted
Map of Sorsogon with Matnog highlighted
Interactive map of Matnog
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 12°35′08″N 124°05′08″E / 12.5856°N 124.0856°E / 12.5856; 124.0856
CountryPhilippines
RegionBicol Region
ProvinceSorsogon
District 2nd district
FoundedMay 17, 1800
Barangays40 (see Barangays)
Government
 
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorBobet Lee Rodrigueza
 • Vice MayorEmilio Ubaldo III
 • RepresentativeWowo Fortes
 • Municipal Council
Members
  • Celerina H. Ubaldo
  • Osmundo Garay
  • Edward Ruel Berlin, Jr.
  • Mercy G. Gata
  • Atorni Junnar Oro Garcia
  • Antonio S. Bilazon
  • Leopoldo Sabado Jr.
  • Joseph Alan Gacis
 • Electorate30,571 voters (2025)
Area
 • Total
162.40 km2 (62.70 sq mi)
Elevation
49 m (161 ft)
Highest elevation
354 m (1,161 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)
 • Total
42,444
 • Density261.35/km2 (676.91/sq mi)
 • Households
9,455
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
40.25
% (2023)
 • Revenue₱ 292.7 million (2024)
 • Assets₱ 456.3 million (2024)
 • Expenditure₱ 293.7 million (2024)
 • Liabilities₱ 261.8 million (2024)
Service provider
 • ElectricitySorsogon 1 Electric Cooperative (SORECO 1)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
4708
PSGC
0506212000
IDD : area code +63 (0)56
Native languagesSorsogon language
Tagalog

Matnog, officially the Municipality of Matnog (Waray Sorsogon: Bungto san Matnog; Waray: Bungto han Matnog, Tagalog: Bayan ng Matnog), is a municipality in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines and is the southernmost part of Luzon. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 42,444 people.

The town's port is one of the busiest in the region, playing host to millions of people crossing the San Bernardino Strait to Northern Samar annually. It is the jump off point to Visayas and vice versa.

Etymology

Local elders say that the name Matnog comes from the Bicol word "matonog", which means very audible that describes the loud sound of the waves. Some attribute the name to the sound of the gong used by early chieftains to call council meetings, while others link it to the noise of the tidal rip in the San Bernardino Strait.

History

Old municipal hall of Matnog, built on the old Presidencia building

In 1785, Matnog became a barrio of Bulusan, with Juan Evangelista serving as its first head. Fifteen years later, it was designated as Puerto Civil. It later became a separate parish on November 21, 1963.

Geography

Matnog is 65 kilometers (40 mi) from Sorsogon City and 646 kilometers (401 mi) from Manila.

Barangays

Matnog is politically subdivided into 40 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Balocawe
  • Banogao
  • Banuang-daan
  • Bariis
  • Bolo
  • Bon-Ot Dako (Big)
  • Bon-Ot Saday (Small)
  • Cabagahan
  • Calayuan
  • Calintaan
  • Caloocan (Poblacion)
  • Calpi
  • Camachiles (Poblacion)
  • Camcaman (Poblacion)
  • Coron-coron
  • Culasi
  • Gadgaron
  • Genablan Occidental
  • Genablan Oriental
  • Hid-hid
  • Laboy
  • Lajong
  • Mambajog
  • Manjumlad
  • Manurabi
  • Naburacan
  • Paghuliran
  • Pange
  • Pawa
  • Poropandan
  • Santa Isabel
  • Sinalmacan
  • Sinang-Atan
  • Sinebaran
  • Sisigon
  • Sua
  • Sulangan
  • Tablac (Poblacion)
  • Tabunan (Poblacion)
  • Tugas
  • Para sa Training

Climate

Climate data for Matnog, Sorsogon
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81)		 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 28
(82)		 29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22
(72)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 65
(2.6)		 44
(1.7)		 42
(1.7)		 39
(1.5)		 87
(3.4)		 150
(5.9)		 184
(7.2)		 153
(6.0)		 163
(6.4)		 154
(6.1)		 127
(5.0)		 100
(3.9)		 1,308
(51.4)
Average rainy days 13.9 9.2 11.0 12.5 19.6 24.3 26.5 25.0 25.5 24.4 19.4 15.1 226.4
Source: Meteoblue

Demographics

Population census of Matnog
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 2,457—    
1918 4,437+4.02%
1939 10,119+4.00%
1948 12,036+1.95%
1960 15,570+2.17%
1970 20,330+2.70%
1975 20,680+0.34%
1980 24,193+3.19%
1990 25,957+0.71%
1995 29,309+2.30%
2000 32,712+2.38%
2007 34,517+0.74%
2010 37,641+3.20%
2015 41,101+1.69%
2020 41,989+0.45%
2024 42,444+0.26%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

The native people that settled in Matnog are the Agta, Tabangon, and Cimaron Tribe.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Matnog (%)

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
56.73
2003
57.60
2006
46.70
2009
43.15
2012
45.21
2015
45.25
2018
37.12
2021
32.96
2023
40.25

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Transportation

Matnog Port

Transportation includes buses going to and from Metro Manila and Bulan and ferries going to and from Allen, Northern Samar.

In order to spur development in the municipality, The Toll Regulatory Board declared Toll Road 5 the extension of South Luzon Expressway. A 420-kilometer (260 mi), four-lane expressway starting from the terminal point of the now under construction SLEX Toll Road 4 at Barangay Mayao in Lucena, Quezon, to Matnog, Sorsogon, near the Matnog Ferry Terminal. On August 25, 2020, San Miguel Corporation announced that they will invest the project which will reduce travel time from Lucena to Matnog from 9 hours to 5.5 hours.

Education

The Matnog Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Balocawe Elementary School
  • Banogao Elementary School
  • Banuang-Daan Elementary School
  • Bolo Elementary School
  • Bon-ot (Big) Elementary School
  • Bon-ot (Small) Elementary School
  • Cabagahan Elementary School
  • Calayuan Elementary School
  • Calintaan Elementary School
  • Calpi Elementary School
  • Coron-Coron Elementary School
  • Culasi Elementary School
  • Gadgaron Elementary School
  • Genablan Occidental Elementary School
  • Genablan Or. Elementary School
  • Hidhid Elementary School
  • Jose C. Frencillo Elementary School
  • Laboy Elementary School
  • Lajong Elementary School
  • Mambajog Elementary School
  • Manjumlad Elementary School
  • Manurabi Elementary School
  • Matnog Central School
  • Matnog Seventh Day Adventist Elementary School
  • Paghuliran Elementary School
  • Pange Elementary School
  • Pawa Elementary School
  • Poropandan Elementary School
  • Sinang-Atan Elementary School
  • Sinalmacan Elementary School
  • Sinebaran Elementary School
  • Sta. Isabel Elementary School
  • Sua Elementary School
  • Tablac Elementary School
  • Tugas Elementary School
  • Vicente Dorotan Elementary School

Secondary schools

  • Culasi National High School
  • Matnog National High School
  • Pacific View Academy
  • Sisigon Integrated School
  • Sua High School
  • Tiong Hen So Memorial High School

References

  1. ↑  Municipality of Matnog | (DILG)
  2. ↑ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "881 Cities and Municipalities Recorded Poverty Incidence of 20 Percent or Lower in 2023". Philippine Statistics Authority. 6 February 2026. Archived from the original on 3 June 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  5. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". psa.gov.ph. July 17, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Matnog Executive Summary" (PDF). Commission on Audit. 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Matnog, Sorsogon : Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  8. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  9. ↑ Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  10. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region V (Bicol Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  11. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  12. ↑ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  13. ↑ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "2003 Small Area Estimates of Poverty (Full Report)" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 11 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  16. ↑ "2006 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 21 May 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  18. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  19. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  20. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  21. ↑ "881 Cities and Municipalities Recorded Poverty Incidence of 20 Percent or Lower in 2023". Philippine Statistics Authority. 6 February 2026. Archived from the original on 3 June 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  22. ↑ Bloom, Greg (September 15, 2010). Philippines. Lonely Planet. p. 202. ISBN 9781742203706.
  23. ↑ "SLEX Toll Road 5 to connect Quezon province to Sorsogon". YugaTech. August 18, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  24. ↑ "San Miguel investing P122B for SLEX Toll Road 5, Pasig River Expressway projects". GMA News Online. August 25, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Masterlist of Schools" (PDF). Department of Education. January 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2025.