Loboc
Loboc, officially the Municipality of Loboc (Cebuano: Munisipalidad sa Loboc; Tagalog: Bayan ng Loboc), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 17,418 people.
Loboc | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Loboc | |
Poblacion, Loboc | |
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Flag Flag (reverse) | |
Map of Bohol with Loboc highlighted | |
OpenStreetMap | |
Loboc Location within the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 9°38′N 124°02′E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Central Visayas |
| Province | Bohol |
| District | 3rd district |
| Founded | 1602 |
| Barangays | 28 (see Barangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Leon A. Calipusan |
| • Vice Mayor | Pablio D. Sumampong |
| • Representative | Kristine Alexie B. Tutor |
| • Councilors | List |
| • Electorate | 13,855 voters (2022) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 57.65 km2 (22.26 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 131 m (430 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 500 m (1,600 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2020 census) | |
| • Total | 17,418 |
| • Density | 300/km2 (780/sq mi) |
| • Households | 3,958 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 4th municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 12.80 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 113.8 million (2020) |
| • Assets | ₱ 279.3 million (2020) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 126 million (2020) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 62.95 million (2020) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Bohol 1 Electric Cooperative (BOHECO 1) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 6316 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)38 |
| Native languages | Boholano dialect Cebuano Tagalog |
| Website | www |
Located 28 kilometres (17 mi) east of Tagbilaran, Loboc is widely known for its lunch cruises along the scenic and winding Loboc River. The Loboc Children's Choir, who perform in different floating stations located at the river's end, has won numerous competitions both domestic and international. Tourists also visit to see the tarsier, a small, nocturnal, monkey-like mammal with large, red eyes. It is one of the world's smallest primates.
Until the 2013 earthquake, portions of the Loboc Church complex (specifically parts of what became the convent or priests' residence) were amongst the oldest standing religious structures in the island of Bohol. The earthquake also damaged the lunch cruise's Docking Port, and caused damage to the pedestrian river bridge and its passenger elevator.
In late 2014, Tropical storm Seniang passed directly over the Loboc river area. Although the winds were relatively weak, Seniang brought substantial rainfall. This caused the river to burst its banks in several places: the entire poblacion main plaza was flooded, including the town hall; many of the lunch cruise boats were damaged; and the accumulated debris of the church was disturbed and some washed away. It was fortunate that the new replacement bridge across the river had been completed just a few weeks before, allowing traffic to reach Tagbilaran via Sikatuna since the Loay interior road was damaged and impassable.
The Loboc Church is currently in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension). A proposal has been suggested by scholars to make a separate UNESCO inclusion for the Old Centre of Loboc which includes the Loboc Church. The same would be made for other churches listed in UNESCO's tentative sites, where each town plaza and surrounding heritage buildings would be added. At present, government agencies are still yet to take action on the proposal.