Pagbilao, officially the Municipality of Pagbilao (Tagalog: Bayan ng Pagbilao), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 78,700 people.

It is located on the northern shore of Tayabas Bay on Luzon, just east of Lucena, the provincial capital.

Pagbilao is 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from Lucena and 139 kilometres (86 mi) from Manila.

Etymology

The name of Pagbilao is said to have been derived from the Tagalog words papag (bamboo beds) and bilao (winnowing basket).

Geography

Barangays

Pagbilao is politically subdivided into 27 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

Population census of Pagbilao

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	6,085	—
1918	6,879	+0.82%
1939	11,379	+2.43%
1948	12,978	+1.47%
1960	17,303	+2.43%
1970	26,587	+4.38%
1975	29,304	+1.97%
1980	31,681	+1.57%
1990	41,635	+2.77%
1995	49,605	+3.34%
2000	53,442	+1.61%
2007	62,561	+2.20%
2010	65,996	+1.96%
2015	75,023	+2.47%
2020	78,700	+0.95%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Economy

Poverty incidence of Pagbilao

5 10 15 20 25 30 2006 12.90 2009 13.41 2012 12.09 2015 10.06 2018 6.31 2021 24.88 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Most of the land area in Pagbilao are for agricultural use consisting of coconut, rice and poultry farms. Some lands are used for industrial purposes which include mostly of industrial plants and ice plants.

The Province of Quezon announced that they are planning to make an industrial park or economic zone in the Barangays of Alupaye and Bantigue of Pagbilao. It will really help the employment of the people of Quezon Province.

Commerce has rapidly grown especially in the downtown area but is starting to spread in other parts of the town. There are also a growing number of commercial establishments. La Suerte Mega Warehouse, for instance, is considered the largest center of commerce in Pagbilao.

In terms of tourism, there is an observed growth in Pagbilao. Many hotels can be found especially in highways or beachfronts in Barangay Bantigue.

The DEPED-Division of Quezon Province has its main office in town. Both the DepEd division and municipal government are top employers in the municipality.

The Pagbilao Power Station, which is also one of the largest job providers in the town, is located in Isla Grande in Pagbilao.

Government

Elected officials

Municipal council (2019–2022):

• Mayor: Shierre Ann Portes-Palicpic
• Vice Mayor: Joseph C. Garcia
• Councilors:
  • Michael E. Martinez
  • Manuel D. Luna
  • Joahnnes R. Mercado
  • Aldrien R. Calabia
  • Lolito M. Merle
  • Apolinar R. Martinez
  • Bernardita D. Ayaton
  • Jacinto A. Piñon
  • Wilfredo C. Zafra (ABC)
  • Joseph Manuel G. Luce (SKMF)

Infrastructure

Transportation

The municipality is connected with Manila by the Pan-Philippine Highway. Until 2014, there were also daily rail services to and from Naga and Legazpi provided by the Philippine National Railways. A new Pagbilao station has already been set for construction under the PNR South Long Haul project, a reconstruction of the PNR South Main Line that passes through the area.

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, four lane expressway starting from the terminal point of the now under construction SLEX Toll Road 4 at Barangay Mayao, Lucena City in 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.

Another expressway that will serve Pagbilao is the Quezon-Bicol Expressway (QuBEx), which will link between Lucena and San Fernando, Camarines Sur.

Communications

Pagbilao has numerous mobile phone, internet and cable services providers. The following are:

Education

Pagbilao has numerous primary and secondary educational institutions. The following are: