The new location Victoria, Tarlac

GEOGRAPHICAL SIZE AND LOCATION

                Victoria is situated on the most-western part of Tarlac Province with Guimba and Licab, Nueva Ecija as its immediate neighboring towns in the East. Towards north, the town is bounded by the Municipal territories of Gerona and Pura. Southern boundary is being shared with Lapaz, while in the west comes the City of Tarlac.

          Through the concretely-paved Provincial Road directed to the McArthur National High Way, Tarlac City can be accessed in approximately 14 kilometer or fifteen to twenty minute drive. The town is approximately 130 kilometers from Metro Manila. Twenty-six Barangays constitute the Municipality of Victoria: six barangays are in the poblacion district, while the remaining twenty are to be found in the rural areas.  

                The following table (Table 1.) shows the land area distribution of each Barangay.

Table 1

Land Area Distribution per Barangay

Victoria, Tarlac

List of Barangay	Land Area (Ha.)	Percent (%)
Poblacion Areas
1. San Gavino	49.03	0.44
2. San Nicolas	64.01	0.57
3. San Fernando	153.40	1.38
4. San Vicente	190.55	1.71
5. Santa Barbara	458.68	4.11
6. Santa Lucia	100.60	0.90
Sub-Total	1,016.27	9.11%
Rural Areas
1. Baculong	736.83	6.62
2. Balayang	729.41	6.54
3. Balbaloto	309.20	2.77
4. Bangar	424.22	3.80
5. Bantog	493.94	4.43
6. Batangbatang	168.40	1.52
7. Bulo	283.14	2.54
8. Cabuluan	221.94	1.99
9. Calibungan	680.09	6.10
10. Canarem	847.22	7.60
11. Cruz	580.13	5.20
12. Lalapac	493.77	4.43
13. Maluid	651.29	5.84
14. Mangolago	720.24	6.46
15. Masalasa	506.76	4.54
16. Palacpalac	706.32	6.33
17. San Agustin	447.40	4.02
18. San Andres	524.42	4.70
19. San Jacinto	321.99	2.89
20 San Francisco	286.98	2.57
Sub-Total	10,133.73	90.89%
GRAND TOTAL	11,150.00	100%

POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHY

          Victoria has a total population of 57,085 as of July 15, 2008 census of the National Statistics Office. It accounts to about 5.03% of the whole province of Tarlac. Through the Office of the Population Planning Office, it was estimated that in 2008, the population of the town had reached approximately 57,085. The following table (Table 2.) summarizes the population distribution in every barangay.

Table 2

Population Distribution per Barangay (2008 NSO)

Victoria, Tarlac

List of Barangay	Population	Percent (%)
Poblacion Areas
1. San Gavino	2,354	4.12
2. San Nicolas	3,059	5.36
3. San Fernando	3,123	5.47
4. San Vicente	2,244	3.93
5. Santa Barbara	3,915	6.86
6. Santa Lucia	1,669	2.92
Sub-Total	16364	28.67%
Rural Areas
1. Baculong	3,484	6.10
2. Balayang	2,973	5.21
3. Balbaloto	1,915	3.35
4. Bangar	1,932	3.38
5. Bantog	1,817	3.18
6. Batangbatang	1,161	2.03
7. Bulo	2,021	3.54
8. Cabuluan	1,237	2.17
9. Calibungan	2,079	3.64
10. Canarem	1,990	3.49
11. Cruz	1,540	2.70
12. Lalapac	1,935	3.39
13. Maluid	2,789	4.89
14. Mangolago	1,879	3.29
15. Masalasa	1,449	2.54
16. Palacpalac	1,824	3.20
17. San Agustin	2,607	4.54
18. San Andres	2,021	3.54
19. San Jacinto	2,617	4.58
20 San Francisco	1,451	2.54
Sub-Total	40,721	71.33%
GRAND TOTAL	57,085	100.00%

                From the summarized table above, approximately 16,364 individuals (27.67% of the total population of Victoria) are residing and could be found in the poblacion district where majority of the government establishments and activities and commercial district is located. On the one hand, a combined population of 40,721 (or 71.33% of the total population) comprises the rural areas where farming activities are prevalent.

          The Municipal population growth rate follows an arithmetic geometric increase of 1.64% per year, and is still in line with the provincial population average growth rate of 1.80%.

          As of 2000 and 2007 census of the NSCO, Victoria has an average population density of 22.83 (in poblacion district) and 4.50 (in rural areas).

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS

          Based on the 2008 Access File of the Provincial Research Institute, the labor force of Victoria comprises a rough estimate of about 30,906 heads or equivalent to 54.14% of the total population, and about 45.86% or 26,179 heads are not in the working force. Of the total population in the labor force, about 58.40% or 18,050 are employed and 41.60% or 12,856 are unemployed. The following table is a summary of the employment condition of Victoria.

Table 3

Employment Condition (Based on the 2008 Access File of Provincial Office)

Victoria, Tarlac

Unemployed                   =                         12,856                                 Self-employed                =                          8,774                                 Employed (Private)        =                         5,558                                 Employed (Gov’t)          =                          3,718                 SUB-TOTAL ( Labor Force)  =                30,906                        54.14%                                                 Student                           =           13,554                                 N/A                                =              12,625                 SUB-TOTAL (Not in the Labor Force)   26,179                         45.86%                                 TOTAL=                                                                         57,085                          100%

          On the one hand, based on the Municipal Profile, about 54.14% of the total population is in the labor force and about 45.86% are not in the labor force. Of the total population in the labor force about 58.40% or 18,050 are employed and 41.60% or 12,856 are unemployed.

Service Area

Victoria, Tarlac is composed of 26 barangays with  a total population of 57, 585 as of July 15, 2008. For a start, nine out of these barangays were chosen to be offered by our service. These are the ff:

Poblacion Area

Name of Barangay	Land Area (Ha.)	No. of Households	Population
San Vicente	190.55	422	2,244
Sta. Barbara	458.68	916	3,915
Sta. Lucia	100.60	333	1,669
San Fernando	153.40	611	3,123
San  Gavino	49.03	542	2,354
San Nicolas	64.01	504	3.059
Subtotal	1,016.27	3,328	16,364

Rural Area

Name of Barangay	Land Area	No. of Households	Population
Balbaloto	309.20	406	1,915
Bangar	424.22	425	1,932
San Andres	524.42	436	2,021
Subtotal	1,257.84	1,267	5,868

Barangays Outside Victoria

Name of Barangay	Land Area	No. of Households
Poblacion I	215.644	3026
Poblacion II	124.790	2206
Poblacion III	255.5362	2105
Total	746.289	11,352