Sual, officially the Municipality of Sual (Pangasinan: Baley na Sual; Ilocano: Ili ti Sual; Tagalog: Bayan ng Sual), is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 38,625 people.
It is one of the towns where the Spanish galleon brought their goods to trade. The Philippines largest coal power plant, the 1,200 megawatt Sual Power Station, is located in this municipality. It used to be owned by Mirant Services LLC.
History
Sual used to be a part of a town called San Isidro Labrador de Tobuang (now called Labrador). However, Sual would separate from this town when an issue was decreed by the Spanish Governor-General Rafael María de Aguilar y Ponce de León. San Isidro was later made part of Sual from 1903 to 1908.
Naval Base Lingayen built a PT boat base at Sual in 1945.
On November 18, 1986, Vice Mayor Fernando R. de la Cruz was assassinated in Barangay Paitan West by unknown gunmen while on his way home with two companions. De la Cruz was then the vice chairman of the Pangasinan chapter of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) when the shooting took place.
In May 1994, President Fidel V. Ramos ordered the construction of a canal in Quezon similar to the Suez Canal to directly link the Pacific Ocean with the South China Sea. During an inspection of the 700-megawatt Pagbilao thermal power plant being built by Hong Kong-based Hopewell Holdings Ltd., Ramos also discussed several infrastructure proposals with firm officials, including a six-lane highway linking Manila to Pagbilao, an extension of the South Luzon Expressway (also known as the South Superhighway) to Batangas and Quezon, and a highway connecting the Pagbilao plant to the Sual plant. However, the idea was never materialized.
Maritime issues
In January 2008, Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste said the local government will file for damages against the Indonesian owners of the barge APOL 3003. The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) stated that the environmental damage was ₱54.9 million. The barge towed by a tug boat from Indonesia to the power plant in Sual on November 27 when Typhoon Mina destroyed its anchor and rope, then hurled it to Ilog Malino reef, spilling 95% of its coal cargo. The hard coal spill spread to 33 hectares (82 acres) of coral and sea grass areas.
Geography
Sual is situated 20.06 kilometres (12.46 mi) from the provincial capital Lingayen, and 228.99 kilometres (142.29 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila. It is between Alaminos, Pangasinan and Labrador on the Olongapo–Bugallon Road.
Barangays
Sual is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
- Baquioen
- Baybay Norte
- Baybay Sur
- Bolaoen
- Cabalitian
- Calumbuyan
- Camagsingalan
- Caoayan
- Capantolan
- Macaycayawan
- Paitan East
- Paitan West
- Pangascasan
- Poblacion
- Santo Domingo
- Seselangen
- Sioasio East
- Sioasio West
- Victoria
Economy
Poverty incidence of Sual (%)
10
20
30
40
50
2000 41.94
2003 36.75
2006 36.70
2009 26.69
2012 11.80
2015 13.53
2018 10.10
2021 22.73
2023 14.29
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Government
Local government
Sual is part of the first congressional district of the province of Pangasinan. It is governed by a mayor, designated as its local chief executive, and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.
Tourism
- St. Peter the Martyr Parish Church
- Limahong Beach Resort in Cabalitian island
Education
The Sual 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
- Baquioen Elementary School
- Ballog Elementary School
- Batidape Comm.Sch.
- Baybay Elementary School
- Bolaoen Elementary School
- Caarosipan Elementary School
- Cabalitian Elementary School
- Cacao Elementary School
- Calombuyan Elementary School
- JETSOO School
- Raymunda Verzosa Elementary School
- Macaycayawan Elementary School
- Modesto V. Ferrer Elementary School
- Napo-Logolog Elementary School
- Seselangen Elementary School
- Sioasio Elementary School
- Sto. Domingo Elementary School
- Sual Catholic School
- Sual Central School
Secondary schools
- Paitan Integrated School
- Pangascasan Integrated School
- St. Peter Martyr Academy
- Sual National High School