Paracale, officially the Municipality of Paracale (Tagalog: Bayan ng Paracale), is a municipality in the province of Camarines Norte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 58,391 people.
History
Paracale was an active fishing and small scale mining community prior to the Spanish colonial period. In 1572, attracted by news of gold deposits, Juan de Salcedo petitioned to search for mines in the Bicol region. Arriving by boat from the North, Salcedo’s expedition found mining operations at Paracale, but was forced to retreat due to sickness and lack of provisions. A more permanent settlement and mission post was established by Franciscan friars in 1581. It was established as a town in 1611. However, the mission was abandoned in 1634, reestablished by the Franciscans in 1638, but was abandoned again in 1662. In 1687, the Franciscan missionaries returned to their mission. The 1818 census showed the area had 697 native families and 54 Spanish-Filipino families.:605
In 1863, Paracale was then formally established as a town. Seventeen years later, the Franciscans returned to Paracale to reestablish church administration.
1952 mining accident
On December 15, 1952, 56 miners of the Paracale Mining Co. perished when the Baluarte mine shaft they were working in collapsed and prevented them from escaping the rapidly flooding mine.
Gold mining
The town's name was derived from para cale, meaning 'canal digger".
Small scale mining in Camarines Norte pre dates the Spanish colonial period, but the region came to prominence in 1626 when a sizable gold deposit was identified close to the current location of Paracale town. Spaniards employed local labour to extract gold-bearing gravel from adjacent rivers and streams, although mining operations were described as intermittent, small in scale and rarely profitable due to frequent flooding, in 1688 it was recorded that miners in Paracale were paid three reals per week plus food for extraction of gold ore.
During the period of American colonial rule dredges were used to mine alluvial gold deposits.
Artisanal mining for gold still persists in many locations adjacent to the town. An ILO report published in 2017 estimated that about half the population of the town were engaged in small scale mining activities either as a financier, mine worker, processor or independent gold panner. Compressor mining, a hazardous informal mining method where ore is extracted by divers in flooded, narrow shafts while breathing through an air tube connected to makeshift compressor, was banned in the Philippines in 2012. Nonetheless Parcale attracted significant attention in November 2013 when a collapse of informal mining operations on the beach led to the deaths of a number of compressor mining divers. In 2021, the Philippine National Police sought the closure of all illegal mining activities in Camarines Norte after components of improvised explosive devices used by the New People’s Army were established as coming from illegal mining sites in the area.
Presence of uranium
According to the December 1976 study of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) there is the presence of uranium at Larap Mine in Paracale though it suggests that the Philippine geology is not likely to be favourable for a commercially viable volume of uranium.
Barangays
Paracale is politically subdivided into 27 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
In the 2024 census, the population of Paracale was 58,391 people, with a density of 300 inhabitants per square kilometre or 780 inhabitants per square mile.
Paracle’s economy is driven by agriculture and small scale, often informal gold mining and gold ore processing. Rice, corn, coconut and root crops and vegetables are the major agricultural products.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Land transportation is the primary means of transporting people, goods and services from the barangay to the town proper of Paracale. The municipality is connected to its different barangays by the municipality's major roads, namely the Maharlika Highway.
Water supply
The barangays of the municipality are being served by levels I, II and III water supply. Other barangays are being served by shallow wells, deep wells or dug wells.
Power supply
Paracale is being served by electric power, formerly by the defunct Hidalgo Electric Enterprise, now by the National Power Corporation through the Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative (CANORECO). After the establishment of this cooperative, there was a great improvement in terms of power supply condition in the municipality.
Communication
Paracale has a telecommunication system that is being run by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). There are two satellites of Smart, Globe. There is postal office and has a staff of one mail carriers serving all barangays in the municipality. These personnel cannot adequately serve the entire from the lack of personnel; another problem is the difficulty in the delivery of mails in the remote and far-flung barangays.
Mining companies
United Paragon Mining Corporation (Not operational)
Unidragon Mining and Development Corporation (Not operational due to cease-and-desist order by MGB)
Baotong Mining Corporation (Not operational due to cease-and-desist order by MGB)
Konka Fulim Mining and Development Corp. (KFMDC) (Not operational)
Media
Paracale and its surrounding area is being served by a local community radio, Radyo Natin 102.5
Churches
The canonically crowned image of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria de Paracale who is the patroness of the town.
Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, established in 1611, it is one of the first churches in Camarines Norte and was built by Franciscan Friars. The church features the canonically crowned miraculous image of Our Lady of Candelaria.
Parish of Saint Roch in Batobalani
Parish of San Roque in Tabas
Seventh Day Adventist
United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)
Government
Municipal officials:
Mayor: Romeo Yebra Moreno
Vice Mayor: Zaldy Moya
Councilors:
SALEN, JIMBOY
ASUTILLA, ADET
MORENO, RAV RUSSEL
OCO, MAC
VILLACRUZ, BONCHIT
MANARANG, ACE
CARIÑO, MARIO CESAR
ATTY. MOLINA, KAYE ANGELU
Education
The Paracale 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.
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