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Pulilan, officially the Municipality of Pulilan (Tagalog: Bayan ng Pulilan, Kapampangan: Balen ning Pulilan), is a municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 111,384 people.[6]

Key Information

The town is famous for its Carabao Festival where carabaos are paraded and kneel as they pass through San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, in honor to the town's patron saint, San Isidro Labrador.[7]

Many years ago, Pulilan was primarily a little-known rural town in the northern part of Bulacan where its economy heavily dependent on farming and poultry raising. Most of the population committed their entire lives on farming as their livelihood. Today, the town is moving towards commercialization and industrialization as it is becoming one of the major growth-rate area and center of commerce and industry in the province.

Because of the major economic growth, due to presence of commercial establishments, real estates, industrial plants and major road projects. Pulilan has experienced increased in the total gross income in the past few years. The town's income in year 2016 was P323.86 million, an increase of P69.27 million from its previous income in 2014. It surpass the income of fifteen municipalities in Bulacan such as San Miguel, Bocaue, Plaridel, Hagonoy and Calumpit.

With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, Pulilan is part of Manila's built-up area which reaches San Ildefonso, Bulacan at its northernmost part.

Etymology

[edit]

Pulilan was originally a marshy swampland which forms part of Pampanga, along the Candaba Bay. Because of the vastness of its area, Pulilan was created out of the districts of Baliuag and Quingua (now Plaridel) and coming from the Pampango word "Kengwa", meaning on the other side of the shore or kabilang ibayo.

In 1794, the place was named San Isidro by the missionary Augustinian friars in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of the farmers. On January 20, 1796, it was called Pulilan. There are no written records how the place is named Pulilan; but legend has it that is derived from Pulo ng Ilan, literally, clusters of small communities or isles.

According to Antoon Postma in his "The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI) – A Valuable Philippine Document" this copperplate with inscription discovered at Lumbang River near the Laguna Lake area in Laguna dates back to 900 A.D. In this inscription was mentioned the name Puliran, as the old name for southeastern lake area. The toponyms or place names Puliran is Pulilan, Bulacan and Pulilan is in Laguna de Bay. However, Postma is convinced in his studies that Pulilan in the LCI is the Pulilan along the Angat River in Bulacan, north of Manila.[8][9]

History

[edit]
See also: Laguna Copperplate Inscription, Greater India, and Indosphere
Old Plaridel–Pulilan Bridge and Angat River bridge of the former Bigaa–Cabanatuan branch line of the Philippine National Railways, in the 1930s. The municipality is visible in the background.

The first time Pulilan was settled was unknown but if existing records of the towns of Calumpit and Baliuag, between which the town lies, be made a basis, it could be deduced that in the early part of the 17th century it could have had a sprinkling of settlers. However, the ancient town of Pulilan was first documented as Puliran in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription, a pre-colonial oldest document of Philippines written in 900 A.D in Indianized script. The native population at the time of the document were ruled by the sovereign Lord Ka-Sumuran.

During Spanish regime, an Augustian friar, Fray Vicente Villamanzaro, was made to declare the settlement of a town on January 20, 1796. It was assigned a patron saint, San Isidro Labrador, after whose name he wanted the town identified. On this time, the head of the town was called Kapitan. It was only in 1819 that Pulilan has as its first Kapitan, Kapitan Francisco Paltao. In 1898, the first Presidente Municipal was Froilan Cahiwat. In 1904, when Anacleto Batongbacal was the Presidente Municipal, Pulilan was annexed to Quingua and became its sitio. In 1908, as the Pulilenos rallied behind the candidacy of their son Adriano Salvador, he was elected Presidente Municipal of Quinqua. Then in 1909, representations were made by Eugenio Tiangco, Hilario Esguerra, Adriano Salvador and others with Governor Teodoro Sandico to separate Pulilan from Quingua. It was granted. Pulilan then became a town, with Tiangco as its Presidente. In 1946, Catalino Flores was appointed as the first Mayor of Pulilan.

Third Republic

[edit]

Former government official Paquito Ochoa Sr. ran as a Liberal candidate for mayor in 1967 and won, defeating Nacionalista candidate Arsenio Sulit.[10] On August 21, 1971, senator Ninoy Aquino attended Ochoa's birthday celebration in Pulilan, which resulted in Aquino avoiding the Plaza Miranda bombing that occurred on the same day in Manila where his partymates were.[11]

Geography

[edit]

Topography

[edit]

Pulilan is one of the 21 towns of Bulacan province, located in about its center—from north to south. It lies 43 kilometres (27 mi) north-west of Manila, the national capital, 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Malolos, the provincial capital, and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Plaridel. It has an area of about 4,073 hectares (40.73 sq. kilometers). It is bounded on the north by Apalit in Pampanga; on the east by Baliwag; on the south by Plaridel; and on the west by Calumpit. The Angat River cutting its way through the eastern edge of Baliwag, and the southern fringes of Pulilan down to the tributary of Manila Bay south-west of Calumpit, serves as the boundary with Plaridel.

The municipality is generally of flat topography. Eleven (11) of its barangays are bounded by the Angat River. The rest are flat irrigated rice lands. Soil types vary from sandy loam to clay loam which makes the municipality suitable to a wide range of agricultural products.[12]

Most of the barangays in Pulilan have low susceptibility to flooding. Those portion with moderate to high susceptibility to flooding are barangays that are near or adjacent to creeks that are tributaries of the Angat River and barangays that are low-lying such as Dulong Malabon and Inaon.

Land use

[edit]

Most of the existing municipal land use area is for agricultural purposes, about 27.92 square kilometres (10.78 sq mi) or 68.55% of the town's land area is primarily for crop production. While the 12.8076 square kilometres (4.95 sq. mi) or 31.45% of available land is dedicated for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional purposes.[13]

Climate

[edit]

Based on the Köppen climate classification system, the climate is tropical in Pulilan. During most months of the year, there is significant rainfall in Pulilan. There is only a short dry season. According to Köppen and Geiger, this climate is classified as Am. The temperature here averages 27.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 792 mm. The driest month is February. There is 4 mm of precipitation in February. Most precipitation occurs in July, with an average of 151 mm. With an average of 29.2 °C, May is the warmest month. In January, the average temperature is 25.5 °C. It is the lowest average temperature of the whole year. The precipitation varies 147 mm between the driest month and the wettest month. The average temperatures vary during the year by 3.7 °C.

Climate data for Pulilan, Bulacan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 28
(82) 		29
(84) 		31
(88) 		33
(91) 		32
(90) 		31
(88) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		28
(82) 		30
(86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 20
(68) 		20
(68) 		21
(70) 		22
(72) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		23
(73) 		22
(72) 		21
(70) 		22
(72)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 6
(0.2) 		4
(0.2) 		6
(0.2) 		17
(0.7) 		82
(3.2) 		122
(4.8) 		151
(5.9) 		123
(4.8) 		124
(4.9) 		99
(3.9) 		37
(1.5) 		21
(0.8) 		792
(31.1)
Average rainy days 3.3 2.5 11.7 6.6 17.7 22.2 25.2 23.7 23.2 17.9 9.2 5.2 168.4
Source: Meteoblue[14]

Barangays

[edit]
Pulilan Map

Pulilan is politically subdivided into 19 barangays, as shown in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

The biggest barangay in terms of land area is Dulong Malabon while the most populated barangay is Poblacion and the least populated barangay is Santa Peregrina.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2024[15] 2010[16]
031418001 Balatong A 1.7% 1,877 1,553 ▴ 1.38%
031418002 Balatong B 3.7% 4,100 3,402 ▴ 1.36%
031418003 Cutcot 7.5% 8,320 4,844 ▴ 3.99%
031418005 Dampol 1st 6.1% 6,770 5,602 ▴ 1.38%
031418006 Dampol 2nd A 4.4% 4,896 3,001 ▴ 3.60%
031418007 Dampol 2nd B 4.8% 5,317 3,958 ▴ 2.16%
031418008 Dulong Malabon 3.7% 4,114 4,180 ▾ −0.12%
031418009 Inaon 8.5% 9,453 7,530 ▴ 1.66%
031418010 Longos 5.2% 5,817 5,105 ▴ 0.95%
031418011 Lumbac 4.3% 4,766 3,958 ▴ 1.35%
031418018 Paltao 5.8% 6,457 5,705 ▴ 0.90%
031418020 Peñabatan 2.1% 2,377 1,925 ▴ 1.54%
031418022 Poblacion 12.0% 13,353 11,858 ▴ 0.86%
031418025 Sta Peregrina 1.5% 1,666 1,335 ▴ 1.62%
031418026 Sto Cristo 6.9% 7,700 6,405 ▴ 1.34%
031418033 Taal 7.1% 7,912 5,711 ▴ 2.39%
031418034 Tabon 4.4% 4,931 3,649 ▴ 2.20%
031418035 Tibag 4.4% 4,857 2,845 ▴ 3.95%
031418037 Tinejero 3.7% 4,153 2,845 ▴ 2.77%
Total 111,384 85,844 ▴ 1.90%

Land area

[edit]
Overview of Pulilan and Angat River
Barangays
Land Area
(km2)
 Classification[17]
Density
(/km2)
Balatong A (South Munland) 1.19 Urban 1,392
Balatong B (North Munland) 1.91 Urban 1,932
Cutcot (Stravengie) 3.22 Urban 2,221
Dampol 1st (Lower Dalapeny) 1.46 Urban 4,129
Dampol 2nd A (Upper Dalapeny) 1.16 Urban 3,642
Dampol 2nd B (New Dalapeny) 1.48 Urban 3,180
Dulong Malabon (Cornerwood) 5.46 Rural 720
Inaon (Brizzia) 3.50 Urban 2,295
Longos (Lonivia) 1.19 Urban 4,560
Lumbac (Valle de Bao) 1.24 Rural 3,247
Paltao (Shantena) 2.18 Urban 3,001
Peñabatan (Pineaville) 3.10 Rural 644
Poblacion (Ciudad Centralle) 2.27 Urban 5,326
Sta Peregrina (Perigine) 1.51 Urban 1,028
Sto Cristo (La Croix) 1.54 Urban 4,436
Taal (Mont Nord) 3.42 Urban 2,779
Tabon (Tabostan) 2.37 Rural 1,839
Tinejero (Atiny) 1.29 Urban 3,283
Tibag (Zorbenia) 1.26 Urban 3,087
Total 39.89 2,440
  1.   ^ industrial barangays (included in TDTIA and DIA Area)
  2.   ^ commercial barangays
  3.   ^ agricultural/residential barangays

Demographics

[edit]
Population census of Pulilan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 9,665—    
1918 10,160+0.33%
1939 12,693+1.07%
1948 16,843+3.19%
1960 20,436+1.62%
1970 28,923+3.53%
1975 34,234+3.44%
1980 38,110+2.17%
1990 48,199+2.38%
1995 59,682+4.09%
2000 68,188+2.90%
2007 85,008+3.09%
2010 85,844+0.36%
2015 97,323+2.42%
2020 108,836+2.38%
2024 111,384+0.56%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[18][19][16][20][21]

The municipality's population grew twice by 49,124 from 48,199 in 1990 to 97,323 in 2015. The continuous increase in the population of Pulilan may not only be attributed to growing population of the natives but also to the influx of migrants from nearby places.[citation needed] In the 2020 census, the population of Pulilan, Bulacan, was 108,836 people,[22] with a density of 2,700 inhabitants per square kilometre or 7,000 inhabitants per square mile.

10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
1990
1,210/km2
1995
1,500/km2
2000
1,700/km2
2007
2,100/km2
2010
2,200/km2
2015
2,400/km2

Ethnic groups

[edit]

The original settlers and natives in Pulilan are primarily Tagalog people, one of the most widespread groups of people in the Philippines. Several Kapampangans also started settling here before. The municipality is currently experiencing influx of migrants by being a part of the Greater Manila Area (GMA), so there is also a considerably minor population of Bicolano, Ilocano, Ilonggo, Pangasinense and Visayans.[citation needed]

Languages

[edit]

Like other places in Luzon, the most spoken language in Pulilan is Tagalog. Some of its residents speak and use Kapampangan language due to its proximity to the province of Pampanga.[citation needed] However, in schools and other institutions, English and Tagalog are alternately use as medium of instruction.

Literacy

[edit]

In 2008, the total number of households are 17,002. Ninety-nine percent of the total number of household members are literate. They are able to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect.[23]

Religion

[edit]
Mahal na Señor Jesus Nazareno Chapel in Lumbac
Iglesia ni Cristo chapel – Paltao

Like other municipalities in the Philippines, majority of the inhabitants of Pulilan are adherents of the Catholic Church. This is evident by their strong faith and devotion to the town's patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. Each barangay and sitio has their own respective chapel where they perform their mass and other liturgical services. The San Isidro Parish Church and Our Lady of Miraculous Medal are the parish churches in the municipality and it is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Malolos.[24]

Iglesia ni Cristo also holds a strong presence in the municipality by establishing worship centers in barangay Cutcot, Dampol 2nd-A, Inaon and Santo Cristo. These locales are included in the Ecclesiastical District of Bulacan North.[25]

Other religious groups represented include the following: Members Church of God International (Ang Dating Daan), Jesus Is Lord Church, Baptist, Jehovah's Witness, Methodist and other evangelical groups.

Economy

[edit]
SM Center Pulilan
Pulilan Public Market

Poverty incidence of Pulilan

5
10
15
20
2000
19.91
2003
11.59
2006
10.60
2009
6.92
2012
4.80
2015
7.43
2018
4.59
2021
14.35

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]

The municipality of Pulilan has basically an agri-based economy. Farming, fishing, swine and poultry raising were the dominant economic industries and livelihood of the natives of the town. Structural changes in the economy become evident due to the rapid rate of urbanization characterized by increasing encroachment of industries and manufacturing establishments on productive agricultural land of the municipality.[34] Now, the municipality is known as one of the emerging centers of trade and commerce in the province of Bulacan and continuously outshining its neighboring municipalities. According to the 2017 COA Annual Financial Report, the municipality has an annual income of 383.60 million, 59.74 million or 18% higher than its previous income. Making it one of the richest municipalities in Bulacan and Central Luzon.

2015–2020 Municipality of Pulilan Financial Highlights
(Amounts in Thousand Pesos)
2020[35] 2019[36] 2018[37] 2017[38] 2016[39] 2015[40]
Assets 656,753 659,863 593,462 524,218 464,106 392,596
Liabilities 153,104 127,294 165,753 162,440 141,525 112,340
Equity 503,649 532,570 427,709 361,778 322,581 280,256
Revenue 498,486 494,989 428,960 383,602 323,861 294,211
Expenses 505,504 394,765 365,286 315,337 282,300 225,064

The major income sources in the municipality come from flowers/ornamental plants, food/food processing, garments and embroidery, gifts/house decors, marble/marble processing, poultry and hog raising, furniture, crop production, and services.[41]

Agriculture

[edit]

Rice production and livestock/poultry raising are the most common agribusiness in Pulilan. In 2,226.75 hectares or 5,502.42 acres of irrigated area planted, 10,660.25 metric tons of rice are produced. While 65,470 swine and chickens are produced in 12 commercial farms/poultries and 638 swine are raised in 86 backyard farms.[42]

Banking

[edit]

There are 12 major and local commercial banks that provide financial services in the municipality. Some of these are the following: Banco de Oro (BDO), Metrobank, Landbank, Philippine National Bank, Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) and Bank of Florida (BoF). As of December 2017, Pulilan recorded a total deposits of 4.048 billion pesos by adding the demand/now deposits, savings deposits, time deposits and FCDU deposits. The municipality also has 30,785 registered accounts from its 12 banks.[43]

Industry and Trade

[edit]

Manufacturing is a dominant business and source of income and employment in the municipality. In 2010, there are 26 registered manufacturing businesses in Pulilan with 4,136 employees. The biggest manufacturers include the following: Nestle Philippines (Tibag), New Hope Agriculture Inc.(Tibag), Anderson Asphalt Philippines (Tibag), Feedmix Specialist Inc. II (Dampol 2nd A), Foster Foods Inc. (Dampol 2nd A), Leighton Contractors Asia (Tibag), Marquee Mills Manufacturing Corp. (Dampol 2nd B), Tyson Agro-Ventures (Tinejero), Jockers Food Industry (Santo Cristo), TJN Pasalubong (Paltao), Cargill Philippines, Inc. (Dampol 1st), R.M Foods (Dampol 2nd B) and Rombe (Dampol 1st).[44] These manufacturing establishments are mostly situated in Dampol Industrial Area (DIA) and the Tabon-Dampol-Tibag Industrial Area (TDTIA).[45]

Shopping malls

[edit]
Robinsons Townville Pulilan

In 2010, Robinsons Supermarket, later renamed as Robinsons Townville, started to operate in Barangay Cutcot, in front of Pulilan Public Market. Massway Supermarket also established its branch in Barangay Santo Cristo and in 2017 SM Center was inaugurated in a 27,000 sq.m. lot in Barangay Santo Cristo along Pulilan-Plaridel Diversion Road, making it the very first full-service shopping mall in the municipality.

Government

[edit]

Local government

[edit]
Main article: Sangguniang Bayan
Façade of Pulilan Municipal Hall

Just like the national government, the municipal government of Pulilan is divided into three branches which are the executive, legislative, and judiciary. The Local Government Units (LGUs) have control of the executive and legislative branches. While the judicial branch is administrated solely by the Supreme Court (SC).

The executive branch is composed of the mayor and barangay captain for the barangay. The legislative branch is composed of the Sanguniang Bayan (town council) and Sanguniang Barangay (Barangay council). The council is in charge of creating the municipality's policies in the form of ordinances and resolutions. The Mayor is the executive head and leads the municipal department in executing ordinances and improving public services. The Vice Mayor heads a council consisting of 10 members, 8 councilors, and 2 ex-officio members (ABC President and SK Federation President).

All of the barangays in the municipality is administrated by its duly-elected barangay captain. The barangay captain is aided by the Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council) whose members, seven Barangay Kagawad (Councilors), are also elected. On the other hand, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) council represent the youth in each barangay.

Elected officials

[edit]

Below is the list of the elected officials of the Municipality of Pulilan:

Municipal Government of Pulilan Officials (2025-2028)
Position Name Term Votes
received		 Party Other alliance
Mayor Rolando S. Peralta Jr. 1st term 24,211 Lakas
Vice Mayor Imelda D. Cruz 1st term 29,186 Lakas
Councilors Robert Marlo E. Domingo 1st term 29,478 Independent
Joselito T. Borlongan 1st term 26,333 Independent
Juene Adrianne S. Buquid 1st term 24,848 PFP
Lovy Leslie B. Valenzuela 1st term 23,212 Lakas
Zandro C. Hipolito 2nd term 21,232 Independent
Peter John T. Dionisio 2nd term 21,222 NUP
John J. Nethercott 3rd term 20,398 Lakas
Ryan P. Espiritu 1st term 19,240 NUP
Ex Officio
ABC President
Dennis M. Cruz
Santo Cristo Nonpartisan
SK Federation President
Paolo Aldrin Agno
Poblacion Nonpartisan

List of local chief executives

[edit]
Maritz Ochoa-Montejo
2019–2022 Municipal Officials[46][47]
Position Name Party
Mayor Maritz Ochoa-Montejo Nacionalista
Vice Mayor Ricardo Candido Lakas
Councilors
Lovy Leslie Valenzuela Nacionalista
Rolando "RJ" Peralta Jr. Nacionalista
John Nethercott Nacionalista
Atty. Renan Castillo PDP–Laban
Rodolfo "Rudy" Arceo Nacionalista
Rolando Payumo Independent
Bernardino Santos Nacionalista
Reynaldo "Jr" Clemente Jr. Nacionalista
2016–2019 Municipal Officials[48]
Position Name Party
Mayor Maritz Ochoa-Montejo Liberal
Vice Mayor Ricardo Candido PDP–Laban
Councilors
Enoc L. Santos, Jr. PDP–Laban
Rolando S. Peralta, Jr. Liberal
Renan B. Castillo PDP–Laban
Rodolfo E. Arceo Liberal
Bernardino L. Santos Liberal
Reynaldo J. Clemente, Jr. Liberal
Restituto T. Esguerra Independent
Lauro A. Valenzuela Liberal
  • Paquito Ochoa (1967–1971)[10][11]
  • Aurelio Plamenco (1988–1998)
  • Elpidio C. Castillo (1998–2007)[49][50]
  • Vicente Esguerra (2007–2016)[51]

Barangay officials

[edit]
Association of Barangay Captains[52]
Barangay Name
Balatong A Laureano Sicat
Balatong B Edgardo Hipolito
Cutcot Reynaldo San Pedro
Dampol 1st Gerardo Arellano
Dampol 2nd A Maria Felicidad Ylagan
Dampol 2nd B Marcelo Tayao
Dulong Malabon Rolando Tayao
Inaon Alfredo Arceo
Longos Armando Tandoy
Lumbac Leonila Flores
Paltao Servy Deo Manapat
Peñabatan Bernardino Santos
Poblacion Ryan Espiritu
Sta Peregrina Jorge Santos, Jr.
Sto Cristo Dennis Cruz
Taal Noel Bondoc
Tabon Felino Cruz
Tibag Renz Bryan Esguerra
Tinejero Vicenta Leonardo
Sangguniang Kabataan Federation
Barangay Name
Balatong A Ken Jairus Geronimo
Balatong B Jordan Opiaza
Cutcot Mark Joseph Tolentino
Dampol 1st RM Cipriano
Dampol 2nd A Meann Cruz
Dampol 2nd B Diane Claire Dela Cruz
Dulong Malabon Arnel Resurreccion
Inaon Angela Cruz
Longos Joshua Mercado
Lumbac Neil Anthony Paguia
Paltao Nikko Ramos
Peñabatan Justine Jay Tinjoco
Poblacion Paolo Aldrin Agno
Sta Peregrina Roselyn Joy Cabarles
Sto Cristo Dan Kenneth Sato
Taal Marc Hernest Castro
Tabon Hannah Mae Manuel
Tibag Christian Tovera
Tinejero Hannah Raccell Driza
  • After multiple postponements, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) finally took place on October 30, 2023. As per the ruling by the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the elected barangay officials are slated to serve a term of just two (2) years. The next BSKE election is set to happen on the first Monday of December 2025, with subsequent elections taking place every three years thereafter.[53] However, this is still subject to changes as the Commission on Election (COMELEC) seeks to postpone the December 2025 BSKE elections to October 2026.[54]

Municipal seal

[edit]

The official seal of the municipality of Pulilan serves as the towns identity for many years. Each of the symbols incorporated into this emblem represents the glorious past of the town and its culture and traditions. It includes the following:

  • The Kneeling Carabao – is where the town is famous of. Every 14 May, the feast of the Kneeling Carabao is celebrated as a festival and at the same time a thanksgiving for their ever guiding patron saint San Isidro Labrador.
  • San Isidro Labrador Parish Church – the home of the town's patron saint. This is the religious center of the town where religious activities, particularly worship services are held.
  • Rice Fields – one of the major source of income in the municipality.
  • Nipa hut – the ancient house or residence of most of the Pulileños.
  • Mango tree – are abundant in the town and one of the major industry here.
  • Bamboo pieces – it serve as the border of the emblem. It also represents how Pulileños are resilient and optimistic in their life.

Tourism

[edit]

Tourism is one of the emerging industry in the municipality of Pulilan. Every year, thousands of tourists visited this magnificent town. Most of the tourists come to witness the Kneeling Carabao Festival wherein the town is prominent. It is a bountiful occasion where different kinds of buffalos such as carabaos led the parade in the streets of the town together with the street dancers, marching bands and colorful floats. When they reach the church, they kneel in front of it as giving respect to their saint.

This spectacular yet remarkable festivity is held every 14 May, one day before the feast of San Isidro Labrador, the town's patron saint. This is not only a tribute on their patron saint but also to the carabaos for their hard work during farming season. This festival is also a celebration for a year-long bountiful harvest. Pulilan is not only well known for its festival but also famous because of numerous tourist attractions located in the vicinity of the town.

Historical and religious edifices

[edit]

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church

[edit]
Main article: San Isidro Labrador Church
San Isidro Labrador Parish Church

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church is where the carabaos during the feast are made kneel as tribute to their patron saint. This is a 19th-century baroque church located at the Kabayanan or the town's administrative center (Poblacion). It is also a famous pilgrimage site in Bulacan during the Holy Week or "Kuaresma". Aside from the St Augustine Parish church located in the nearby town of Baliwag, it is the only church that features more than 110 floats or Carozas in its Holy Week Processions. The Museo San Ysidro Labrador is also situated here.

Pulilan Municipal Trial Court

[edit]

Museo de Pulilan is the new name of Pulilan Municipal Trial Court after it was restored in 2013. It is also known by the locals as the former Gabaldon Building located in Barangay Poblacion near the Municipal Hall Compound. Now, it is one of the famous tourist destinations not only in the municipality but in the whole province of Bulacan because of its cultural and historical features. Inside this museum are different sculptures, paintings and old documents about the flourishing history of the town.

Adriano Salvador Heritage House

[edit]
Adriano Salvador Heritage House

It is dubbed as the "Malacañang of Pulilan", in 1908 this historical house served as the joint municipal of two ancient towns of Quingua (Plaridel) and San Isidro (Pulilan).

Casanova-Aguirre Ancestral House

[edit]
Casanova-Aguirre Ancestral House

This ancestral house is one of the most well-preserved old house in Bulacan. It is situated near the boundaries of barangay Poblacion and Lumbac. This is a famous tourist spot in the entire town because of its preserved beauty and scenic view. It is also known as the site of the 2006 Filipino romantic film, Moments of Love, starring Iza Calzado and Dingdong Dantes.

Aguirre Centennial House

[edit]

This Centennial House is located inside the Butterfly Haven Resort and one of the main tourist attraction inside the resort because of its unique and distinct architecture. This 100-year-old house is owned by the family of Revenue Deputy Commissioner Lita Aguirre.

Mandalá Art Festival

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Mandalá Art Festival is an annual gathering of visual artists and cultural workers from various parts of the country every month of May as part of Pulilan town fiesta. This cultural event showcases the best artistic skills and traditions of Central Luzon. During this occasion, several exhibitions are open to the public and mural painting activities (Kalye Art) in different locations around municipality are held. This has been led by Jefarca Arts and Historical Society Inc., National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Museo de Pulilan and the Municipality of Pulilan since its inception in 2012. The word Mandalá is based on a local term meaning "the best of the harvest".[55]

Infrastructure

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Transportation

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Pulilan Junction

Pulilan can be accessed through private vehicles, jeepneys, tricycles, and even buses.

Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) are stationed at Robinsons Townville terminal which have routes passing through Pulilan Regional Road (or N115 of the Philippine highway network) and several barangays to Lumbac, Dampol 2nd-B (Camachile) and to its neighboring town of Calumpit. Tricycles, on the other hand, serve the interiors of barangays and residential areas.

Bus and UV Express are also common mode of transportation in the municipality. Buses and UV Express transport passengers in Pulilan to and from Grace Park, Divisoria, Monumento, and Cubao in Metro Manila. They commonly picked commuters along Pulilan junction and in SM Center Pulilan terminal. Several taxis also transport passengers from Metro Manila to Pulilan.

Road networks

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North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) is the only expressway in Pulilan which passes through the municipality with 2 entrances and exits in Barangays Dampol II-A and Tibag.

Main national highways include the Pan-Philippine Highway or commonly called as Maharlika Highway (part of AH26, Pulilan to Baliwag), which passes through barangay Santo Cristo, Cutcot and Longos. Other arterial roads include Pulilan Regional Road (N115, Pulilan to Calumpit), Pulilan–Plaridel Diversion Road which is connected to Plaridel Bypass Road, Old Cagayan Valley Road and Pulilan-Apalit Road.

In May 2019, the Pulilan-Baliwag Diversion Road or commonly referred to as Pulilan Bypass Road was formally opened to motorists. The project is expected to alleviate the humongous traffic congestion in Pan-Philippine Highway and Pulilan Regional Road and spur further developments in the municipality. This 9.62-kilometer diversion road transvers the barangays of Tibag, Dulong Malabon, Tabon, Peñabatan, Santa Peregrina, and Balatong B and ends in Barangay Tarcan in Baliwag.

The project had a multi-year funding from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) infrastructure program amounting to PHP 582 million for civil works and PHP 150 million for road right of way acquisition.[56]

Utilities

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Power and Water Supply

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The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is the sole company that provides electric services in Pulilan. All the 19 barangays have supply of electricity already. In 2003, 63.65 million kWh of power was consumed by the municipality. The water system and services of Pulilan is provided by LWUA (Local Water Utilities Administration) through the Pulilan Water District in which its office is situated in Barangay Cutcot. The municipality will also be a beneficiary of P24.4-billion Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project (BBWSP) as it will soon provide additional water supply to its water district.[57]

Communication Services

[edit]

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Digital Telecommunications Philippines (DIGITEL), Smart Communications and DATELCOM are the main landline telephone service provider in Pulilan while the three major cellular companies here are Smart Communications, Globe Telecom and Dito Telecommunity. Telegraph and express mail services are being provided by the municipal post office in Barangay Poblacion and private companies like LBC, Western Union, etc.[58]

Social services

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Health

[edit]

As of 2010, there are 25 medical facilities as well as 2 government operated rural health units that provide healthcare services in the municipality. Three of which are hospitals and that include the following: Our Lady of Mercy General Hospital (OLMGH) in Longos, The Good Shepherd Hospital in Poblacion and F.M. Cruz Orthopedic & Gen. Hospital in Santo Cristo. Several clinics can also be found in the municipality.[59]

Peace and Order

[edit]

In the area of peace and order, Pulilan is one of the more peaceful towns in the province. The crime rate is very minimal. Pulilan has a crime solution efficiency of 90.90% and an average crime rate of 1.8. It ranks third in the crime solution and in peace and order in Bulacan. As of 2010, the municipality is being served by 30 policemen and 9 firemen.[60]

Education

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Bulacan State University campus

The Pulilan 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.[61]

Education had been a priority in Pulilan. It is evidently shown in having a literacy rate of 99%. The number of households that are literate is 16,832 out of 17,002, which are able to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect.

Pulilan also had become an educational hub within the province. As it hosts numerous public and private-owned school where many of its constituents and neighboring locals went to study. As of 2016, there are 16 public schools in Pulilan. Several private schools can also be found in the municipality. Most of which offers primary and secondary education. There are also 5 tertiary institutions in the municipality.[62]

In 2013, Bulacan State University (BulSU) was established in Barangay Paltao where it started to operate an extension program aligned in education courses.[63] While, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) resides in the former municipal hall building in Barangay Poblacion. There are also technical / vocational schools and training centers here.

The private schools in Pulilan are members of Bulacan Private Schools Association (BULPRISA). On the other hand, all primary and secondary schools in the municipality are under the supervision of Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Bulacan.

Primary and elementary schools

[edit]
  • Academia de Pulilan
  • Balatong Elementary School
  • Balatong B Elementary School
  • Dampol B Elementary School
  • His Sanctuary Christian Academy
  • Inaon Christian Learning Center
  • Jose C. Castro Memorial Elementary School
  • La Consolacion Montessori School of Pulilan
  • M. Del Rosario Memorial School
  • Maria Scholastica Montessori School
  • Montessori School of Pulilan
  • Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Academy of Bulacan
  • Praise Christian Learning Academy
  • Pulilan Central School
  • Pulilan Christian Revival Crusade Academy
  • R. Cruz Memorial Elementary School
  • S. ESguerra Sr. Memorial School
  • St. Dominic Academy
  • St. Gabriel Academy of Pulilan
  • St. Michael Academy Foundation
  • Sta. Peregrina Elementary School
  • Sto. Cristo Elementary School
  • Tabon Elementary School

Secondary schools

[edit]
  • Bajet-Castillo High School
  • Dampol 2nd National High school
  • Dulong Malabon Integrated School
  • Inaon Integrated School
  • Engr. Virgilio V. Dionisio Memorial High school
  • Sta. Peregrina High school

Higher educational institutions

[edit]
  • Colegio de Santa Philomena
  • Colegio de Sto. Cristo
  • College of Our Lady of Mercy of Pulilan Foundation
  • Emmanuel System College of Bulacan
  • Holy Angels Colleges of Pulilan
  • Liceo de Pulilan Colleges
  • Mary Chiles College of Arts and Sciences

Notable personalities

[edit]
[edit]
  • Overview of La Pulilan Resort and Angat River from Pulilan-Plaridel Bridge
    Overview of La Pulilan Resort and Angat River from Pulilan-Plaridel Bridge
  • Robinsons Townville Mall situated in Pulilan, Bulacan
    Robinsons Townville Mall situated in Pulilan, Bulacan
  • Pulilan Municipal Trial Court
    Pulilan Municipal Trial Court
  • Kneeling Carabao Statue in Longos
    Kneeling Carabao Statue in Longos
  • View of Angat River
    View of Angat River
  • Gat.Jose P. Rizal Statue at Pulilan Plaza
    Gat.Jose P. Rizal Statue at Pulilan Plaza
  • Pulilan Gymnasium
    Pulilan Gymnasium
  • Pulilan Kneeling Carabaos Festival 2023
    Pulilan Kneeling Carabaos Festival 2023

Sister cities

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Pulilan

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Pulilan is a first-class municipality in the province of , region, , established as a on January 20, 1796, by Augustinian friar Fray Vicente Villamanzo and named after its patron saint, San Isidro Labrador, though popularly derived from "Pulo ng Ilan" referring to clustered settlements. Covering 40.73 square kilometers of generally flat topography, much of it irrigated rice lands bounded by the Angat River, the municipality consists of 19 barangays and recorded a population of 108,836 in the 2020 census. Historically a rural agricultural contributing to through and resilience during colonial periods, Pulilan's economy remains anchored in production across over 2,500 hectares of production lands, though significant portions—exceeding 50% in some classifications—have been reclassified for industrial and commercial expansion amid pressures from nearby . The town gained prominence for its unique Kneeling Carabao Festival, held annually on May 14 and 15 to honor San Isidro Labrador, where farmers parade adorned water buffaloes trained to kneel before the in for agricultural abundance, symbolizing the vital role of carabaos in local traditions. This event underscores Pulilan's tied to agrarian life, even as land conversions challenge traditional practices.

Geography and Environment

Location and Topography

Pulilan is situated in province, , , at approximately 14°54′N 120°51′E. It lies about 38 kilometers north of by road. The municipality borders to the northwest (in province), to the west, Plaridel to the south, and to the northeast, all within except Apalit. The terrain consists of flat alluvial plains, primarily irrigated lands, with an average elevation of around 14 meters above . Eleven of its 19 barangays are bounded by the Angat River, contributing to the flat topography shaped by riverine deposits. The total land area spans 39.89 square kilometers.

Climate and Natural Features

Pulilan has a tropical monsoon climate characterized by high temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons. Average daily high temperatures range from 28°C in January to 32°C in March, with overall annual averages around 27°C; lows rarely drop below 22°C. Annual rainfall totals approximately 1,600 to 2,000 mm, concentrated in the wet season from June to October due to the southwest monsoon and frequent typhoons, while the dry season from November to May sees minimal precipitation. The region faces high exposure to tropical cyclones, with Bulacan province recording over P626 million in damages from recent typhoons as of 2025, exacerbating seasonal flooding risks. The Angat River traverses Pulilan, originating from the Sierra Madre and providing essential irrigation for local agriculture, while the nearby River system contributes to the basin's hydrological dynamics. These rivers enable fertile alluvial conditions but cause recurrent inundation; for instance, the 1972 floods, lasting six weeks, submerged parts of Pulilan amid heavy rains. Soil types predominantly consist of sandy to clay , supporting cultivation as the primary crop due to their nutrient-rich, water-retentive properties suited to the flat . Urbanization has constrained , with and from agricultural runoff and industrial expansion leading to empirical declines in native and ; remaining natural features are largely limited to riparian zones along rivers, where and further degrade ecosystems.

Barangays and Land Use

Pulilan is administratively subdivided into 19 barangays, each serving primarily rural agricultural functions except for the more densely populated , which functions as the urban center with commercial and residential activities. The barangays, along with their populations from the latest municipal data, are listed below, reflecting a total population of 108,470 across 29,566 households. Eleven barangays are bounded by the Angat River, supporting irrigated rice production, while others feature similar agricultural landscapes. Peri-urban characteristics emerge in barangays like Dampol 1st, Dampol 2nd A and B, and Inaon, where proximity to major roads facilitates mixed residential-commercial-industrial uses.
BarangayPopulation
Balatong A2,147
Balatong B4,890
Cutcot8,430
Dampol 1st7,767
Dampol 2nd A5,845
Dampol 2nd B5,758
Dulong Malabon4,733
Inaon11,012
Longos7,146
Lumbac5,092
Paltao7,404
Peñabatan2,841
Poblacion15,096
Sta. Peregrina1,982
Sto. Cristo8,544
Taal9,367
Tabon5,502
Tenejero4,711
Tibag6,013
Land use in Pulilan totals approximately 4,073 hectares, with dominating at 2,792 hectares or 68.55% of the municipal area, primarily devoted to cultivation and some . Residential areas occupy 997.52 hectares (24.49%), while industrial zones cover 186.7 hectares (4.58%) and commercial spaces 65.88 hectares (1.62%). This allocation reflects a historical emphasis on farming, with about 2,500 hectares dedicated to riceland as of recent assessments. However, shifts have occurred, reducing agricultural share from around 81% in to the current figure, driven by conversions along major roads like the Pulilan-Calumpit Road for factories and commercial developments in peri-urban barangays. The Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) 2024-2036 guides further to balance growth, prioritizing industrial expansion in designated areas without verified large-scale recent reclassifications exceeding official land use metrics.

History

Pre-Colonial and Early Settlement

The area encompassing present-day Pulilan, situated along the Angat River in , featured small, decentralized settlements of Tagalog-speaking communities prior to Spanish arrival in the . These groups subsisted primarily through riverine , wet-rice supported by seasonal flooding and from the river, and limited inter-barangay in goods such as fish, rice, and forest products. No archaeological excavations or primary records indicate the presence of large-scale polities, fortified structures, or centralized authority in the vicinity, aligning with the predominant barangay-based in the region, where kinship-led villages numbered in the dozens of households and lacked evidence of hierarchical complexity beyond local leadership. Claims linking the site to "Puliran" in the 900 AD lack corroboration from the document's context, which references locales near rather than northern , rendering such associations speculative folklore rather than verifiable history. Initial European contact integrated the sparsely populated Pulilan territory into the system administered from nearby , established as an by 1572 under Spanish conquistadors. As a peripheral visita of , the area saw gradual influxes of settlers, including Tagalog migrants and possibly Kapampangan from adjacent influences via river trade routes, though no distinct Kapampangan dominance is documented. Formal records of habitation emerge only in the early , with families establishing riverbank dwellings for reliable water access amid expanding colonial agricultural demands for and abaca. By the late , population growth and missionary efforts under Augustinian friars from prompted petitions for pueblo status, culminating in Pulilan's separation as an independent parish in , marking the transition from informal visita to structured settlement without reliance on pre-colonial legends of ancient grandeur. This development reflected pragmatic colonial consolidation rather than indigenous initiative, as empirical records show no prior autonomous community capable of such organization.

Spanish Colonial Period

Pulilan emerged as a settlement under Spanish colonial administration through the missionary activities of Augustinian friars, who extended their influence across following the early pacification of the region in the late . Initially integrated into the parish of Quingua (now Plaridel), the area functioned as a dependent outpost amid marshy suited to agrarian pursuits. By 1794, it achieved status as an independent under Augustinian oversight, marking a key step in ecclesiastical consolidation driven by the need to administer growing populations and enforce Catholic conversion alongside tribute collection. On January 20, 1796, Fray Vicente Villamanzo formally declared Pulilan a , assigning it the patronage of San Isidro Labrador, the laborer saint revered by farmers for intercession in agricultural yields. This dedication underscored the causal role of missionary expansion in fostering settled communities reliant on rice cultivation and carabao-powered plowing, within the broader Spanish framework of reduccion—concentrating dispersed natives into nucleated towns for evangelization and fiscal control. The traces to "Pulo ng Ilan," denoting clusters of islets or small habitations amid the swamplands, a name that evolved as the locale transitioned from peripheral visita to autonomous entity. Economic foundations rested on riverine , with settlers along the Angat and its tributaries harnessing water for under encomienda-like systems that imposed forced labor for such as churches and roads. While not a direct hub in the trade, Pulilan's position in Bulacan's fertile lowlands contributed peripherally through and abaca production funneled to coastal ports. Parish records from the , prioritized for their contemporaneous documentation over later secular accounts, indicate steady demographic consolidation, though precise tribute tallies for Pulilan remain elusive amid provincial aggregates exceeding 36,000 tributes by the .

American Era and Japanese Occupation

Following the Philippine-American War, American military authorities established control over Bulacan province, including Pulilan, by late 1899. Municipal officers in Pulilan formally pledged allegiance to the United States on January 21, 1901, signaling the transition toward civil governance amid ongoing pacification efforts. The Philippine Organic Act of 1902 formalized civil government nationwide, with Pulilan reorganized as a municipality on April 28, 1904, under Act No. 1135 of the Philippine Commission; Cornelio Nable was appointed its first municipal president shortly thereafter, overseeing initial administrative reforms focused on local taxation and public works such as road improvements to connect rural areas to markets. Imperial Japanese forces invaded in December 1941 and occupied Pulilan as part of the broader conquest of by early 1942, imposing military administration that disrupted agriculture and trade. Local structures, including heritage homes like Casa San Francisco in , were requisitioned for Japanese use, reflecting the occupation's resource extraction and control measures. Guerrilla units operated in , conducting against Japanese supply lines, though specific engagements in Pulilan remain sparsely documented; reprisals included on civilian properties, as evidenced by destroyed homes in the province. Allied forces, primarily the U.S. Sixth Army, liberated starting January 1945, with Pulilan falling within the rapid advance through central by February, aided by local intelligence from resistance networks. War damage led to immediate postwar reconstruction, supported by U.S. for repair, though agricultural output stagnated due to disrupted and labor shortages until stabilization in the late 1940s.

Post-Independence to Third Republic

Following Philippine independence in 1946, Pulilan's residents focused on local advancement, leveraging agricultural foundations in cultivation and production to sustain economic activity amid rural conditions. The municipality, already integrated within province since the Spanish era, emphasized self-improvement in governance and welfare, with early post-war leadership under appointed officials directing resources toward basic and farming enhancements. Infrastructure progress during the Third Republic included the erection of a new municipal hall in 1957, symbolizing administrative modernization, alongside expansions in public education facilities to accommodate growing enrollment in rural schools. National electrification initiatives reached Pulilan through Republic Act No. 6013, enacted on August 4, 1969, which authorized private franchise for , heat, and power distribution, enabling gradual rural connectivity and supporting agro-processing activities. Agrarian policies under presidents like initiated land tenure improvements, distributing portions of larger estates to tenant farmers and facilitating a transition from subsistence to semi-commercial rice and operations, though implementation varied locally without comprehensive dissolutions in Pulilan records. This era's resilience was challenged by the July 1972 Great Luzon Floods, triggered by Typhoon Rita and prolonged rains, which submerged areas including municipalities like Pulilan, damaging crops and prompting community-led recovery efforts.

Contemporary Developments

In the post-1986 period, Pulilan has undergone significant infrastructure modernization to support economic expansion, exemplified by the completion of the (NLEX) Candaba 3rd Viaduct in December 2024. This P7.8-billion, 5-kilometer structure, positioned between existing bridges linking Pulilan in to Apalit in , enhances traffic capacity and reduces congestion on the vital route connecting to northern regions, thereby facilitating faster goods transport and industrial logistics. Housing initiatives have advanced under national programs, with the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and Pulilan launching the MOM's Ville project under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program on May 16, 2025, targeting over 1,000 affordable units in Barangay Bukid-Baboy for low-income families. This effort addresses urban housing shortages amid population pressures, prioritizing resilient and inclusive development in partnership with private and public entities. Pulilan's development aligns with the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) 2024-2036 for , approved by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development in February 2025, which emphasizes sustainable , economic corridors, and to position the as a financial powerhouse. This framework guides local policies toward balanced growth, integrating Pulilan's agricultural base with emerging commercial zones. has more than doubled since , from approximately 48,000 to over 108,000 by , driven by industrial and residential influxes that generate employment but necessitate to mitigate urban strains.

Demographics

According to the 2020 of Population and Housing by the , Pulilan recorded a total population of 108,836, marking an increase of 11,513 persons from the 97,323 counted in the 2015 census. This reflects an annualized growth rate of 2.38% over the intercensal period, higher than the national average but consistent with Bulacan's provincial trends driven by net in-migration and natural increase.
Census YearPopulationAnnualized Growth Rate from Prior Census (%)
201085,844-
201597,3232.56
2020108,8362.38
The municipality's land area spans 3,882.6 hectares, yielding a of approximately 2,804 persons per square kilometer in 2020, concentrated in urban barangays that accounted for 85.1% of residents. This density underscores ongoing , with built-up areas covering 29.28% of the land (1,168.16 hectares), fueled by rural-to-urban shifts within Pulilan as agricultural zones transition toward residential and commercial uses. Projections in the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) 2024-2036 estimate Pulilan's reaching 122,419 by 2025, assuming sustained growth at the 2015-2020 rate of 2.38% amid provincial strategies for managed densification and housing development. These trends align with broader patterns of , where rural depopulation in farming-dependent barangays contributes to urban consolidation, though the overall demographic remains youthful with a provincial age of 24.72.

Ethnic and Linguistic Composition

The population of Pulilan is predominantly composed of , the primary ethnic group in the municipality and reflective of 's broader demographic makeup as a core Tagalog-speaking province in . Historical records identify the original settlers as Tagalog, deriving from the term "taga-ilog" denoting riverside-dwelling Malays with practices emphasizing cleanliness and communal living. Proximity to introduces limited Kapampangan ethnic influence through cross-border migration and trade, though this remains marginal without altering the Tagalog majority. Indigenous groups, such as Dumagat-Remontado, have negligible representation in Pulilan, confined largely to remote upland areas elsewhere in Bulacan with populations under 1% province-wide per available ethnographic surveys. Tagalog serves as the dominant mother tongue and everyday for virtually all residents, aligning with national patterns where it accounts for the plurality in households. The local Bulakenyo variant prevails, characterized by retained archaic Tagalog features and minimal divergence from Manila-standard forms, sustained by endogamous marriages and regional labor mobility that reinforce linguistic homogeneity. English functions as a secondary in formal settings, , and , with bilingual proficiency near-universal given the 99% literacy rate—defined as the ability to read and write simple messages in any or among household members aged 5 and over. No substantive data indicate erosion from other dialects, as assimilation via and interprovincial ties has homogenized speech patterns without multicultural fragmentation.

Religious Demographics

The religious composition of Pulilan is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, aligning with the broader region's high adherence rates, where the Diocese of Malolos reports approximately 83% of its 4.4 million population as Catholic as of 2021. This dominance is rooted in historical Spanish colonial evangelization and sustained by local devotion to San Isidro Labrador, the of farmers, whose serves as the central institution for worship and community rituals. Empirical indicators include the annual Festival on May 15, which draws thousands in processions and offerings, linking agrarian livelihoods to Catholic practices through conditioned animal behaviors observed during events. Protestant and evangelical groups constitute a small minority, estimated at around 5% nationally but likely lower in rural due to entrenched Catholic institutions; local examples include Victory Christian Fellowship's outpost and the Pulilan Christian Center, reflecting modest post-2000 growth amid and outreach efforts targeting socioeconomic shifts like migration and informal economies. No significant data indicates widespread declines specific to Pulilan, though national surveys show only 38% of attending services weekly, potentially influenced by work demands in nearby industrial zones. Muslim affiliation remains negligible, consistent with Luzon's overall low Islamic population outside migrant communities, comprising less than 1% provincially per 2015 census extrapolations. Other affiliations, such as , exist in trace numbers without dedicated locales in Pulilan, underscoring Catholic hegemony amid gradual diversification driven by rather than conversion surges. ![San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, Pulilan][float-right]

Economy

Agricultural Foundations

Pulilan's agricultural sector relies heavily on production, with irrigated and rainfed fields covering approximately 4,100 s in recent assessments, supporting yields averaging 5.23 metric tons per as recorded in 2017, resulting in a total output of 21,510 metric tons that year. Yields in the broader province, where Pulilan is situated, averaged 4.57 metric tons per in 2018, exceeding the national average of 4.09 metric tons per , reflecting favorable soil and water conditions but also dependence on external inputs like fertilizers. Livestock and raising complement farming, with significant populations of chickens, , and carabaos integrated into local operations; for instance, duck flocks exceeding 3,600 heads have been documented in specific barangays like Balatong A, contributing to diversified through and draft animal uses. These sectors historically formed a core of rural livelihoods, with and related activities providing steady revenue amid seasonality, though exact shares vary by scale and market fluctuations. Irrigation infrastructure, managed by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), underpins productivity through systems like the Pulilan Pump Irrigation Project and connections to the larger Angat-Masim River Irrigation System, enabling cycles in lowland areas served by the Angat River basin. In 2016, municipal initiatives promoted methods, including and organic inputs, to reduce chemical reliance and enhance on select rice plots, aligning with provincial efforts to test resilient varieties amid variable weather. Land conversion pressures have eroded agricultural foundations, with over 53 percent of Pulilan's farmland reclassified for industrial and commercial development by recent municipal , including a major 80.6 percent shift in 2015 that directly reduced cultivable area and contributed to output declines by limiting expansion and intensifying competition for resources. This trend mirrors broader patterns, where urbanization has shrunk rice hectarage and pressured yields through fragmented holdings, though empirical emphasize causal links to policy-driven reclassifications rather than inherent sector inefficiencies.

Industrial and Commercial Expansion

Pulilan's industrial sector has expanded through poultry processing facilities, including Cargill's feed plant in the municipality, which employs approximately 135 workers and focuses on poultry feed production. Foster Foods maintains a processing plant at Dampol 2nd A along the national road, supporting local manufacturing of poultry products. These operations leverage the municipality's proximity to agricultural inputs while adding value through processing, with enhanced logistics via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) facilitating distribution and potential exports from Bulacan's industrial base. Commercial growth gained momentum post-2010 with the establishment of retail anchors, exemplified by the November 2017 opening of SM Center Pulilan, spanning 16,623.79 square meters of gross floor area to serve the expanding local market. This development aligns with broader provincial trends, where constitutes the largest GDP share amid 7% overall in 2024, driven by and industry rather than sole agricultural reliance. Such investments underscore deregulation's role in fostering non-farm employment, diversifying from traditional rural activities evident in pre-2000 data showing heavy dependence on farming and basic poultry raising.

Employment and Economic Indicators

The unemployment rate in , encompassing Pulilan, was recorded at 4.8 percent in January 2023, reflecting robust labor absorption amid regional economic activity. This figure aligns with national trends of declining joblessness, driven by expansions in services and industry, though the informal sector remains dominant, employing a majority of workers in , , and small-scale without formal contracts or benefits. Average annual family income in reached PHP 375,240 in 2023, exceeding the national average of PHP 353,230 and indicating higher earning potential for Pulilan households compared to rural benchmarks elsewhere. This elevated income level is bolstered by patterns, with many residents traveling to for employment in formal sectors, supplementing local wages through daily or periodic remittances. Local data from community monitoring suggest monthly family incomes averaging PHP 6,000 to 8,000 in various barangays as of 2022, though these figures likely underrepresent total earnings when including external sources. Poverty incidence in province, including Pulilan, has remained among the lowest nationally, with rates below 5 percent in recent assessments, contributing to a sustained decline since 2010 amid industrial growth and infrastructure improvements. These metrics counter narratives of by demonstrating steady labor force participation and income gains, with employment rates consistently above 95 percent regionally.

Challenges in Land Conversion and Sustainability

Significant land conversion in Pulilan from agricultural to urban, commercial, and industrial uses has accelerated since the early , driven by the municipality's strategic location along major highways and proximity to , leading to expanded subdivisions, factories, and retail developments. Municipal land use statistics indicate that agricultural areas still comprise 68.55% of Pulilan's total land, but this share has declined amid rapid , with residential zones expanding to 24.49% and industrial areas to 4.58%. This shift has generated fiscal revenues through higher property assessments and business taxes, while fostering job creation in manufacturing and services that offer wages often exceeding those from farming. However, it has eroded the local farming base, which historically supported self-sufficiency, prompting farmers to sell holdings amid low crop profitability and high input costs. Environmental repercussions include heightened from industrial effluents discharged into the Angat River, which traverses Pulilan and serves as a vital watershed, resulting in degraded , , and risks to aquatic life and human health. Factories, concentrated along riverbanks due to inadequate enforcement, release untreated , exacerbating downstream and levels that impair for remaining farmlands. Concurrently, conversion reduces permeable surfaces, intensifying vulnerability during typhoons—a perennial issue in — as impervious concrete displaces absorbent fields, channeling runoff more rapidly into low-lying areas and overwhelming drainage systems. Provincial assessments link such changes to amplified risks, with Pulilan's topography amplifying these effects despite watershed-wide mitigation efforts. Debates pit economic proponents, who cite multipliers from non-farm employment and infrastructure investments yielding verifiable GDP contributions in , against conservation advocates emphasizing irreversible losses to and ecological heritage. Studies on regional land shifts reveal net economic gains from conversion, as industrial output surpasses foregone agricultural value, though unmitigated externalities like import dependency for —evident in national deficits exceeding 1.4 million metric tons in 2019—underscore sustainability trade-offs. In Pulilan, unchecked conversions have correlated with farmer displacement and production uncertainties, yet localized initiatives, such as trials, demonstrate potential for hybrid models balancing growth with soil restoration. Empirical data favors development's poverty-alleviating effects when paired with regulatory oversight, rather than blanket preservation that sustains low-yield subsistence.

Government and Administration

Local Governance Structure

Pulilan's local governance adheres to the structure outlined in Republic Act No. 7160, the Local Government Code of 1991, which establishes a decentralized system empowering municipalities with executive, legislative, and limited judicial functions. The executive branch is led by an elected who oversees administration, service delivery, and policy execution, supported by department heads in areas such as finance, health, and engineering. The legislative arm, the , consists of the vice mayor as presiding officer and eight elected councilors responsible for enacting ordinances, approving budgets, and addressing local issues through committees on finance, appropriations, and urban poor affairs. Subordinate to the municipal level are 19 barangays, each with its own autonomous council comprising seven members and headed by a elected every three years, focusing on community-level services like peace and order, infrastructure maintenance, and basic welfare programs. These barangay units facilitate grassroots participation and report to the municipal government, enhancing administrative efficiency through localized decision-making. Municipal funding relies heavily on the (IRA), which provides the primary operating revenue share based on population, land area, and equal sharing formulas, supplemented by local sources including taxes, business permits, and fees generating empirical fiscal self-reliance. In 2023, Pulilan enacted its Code to mainstream gender considerations in and budgeting, aligning with national PCW guidelines for responsive programming while prioritizing evidence-based outcomes over prescriptive quotas. Despite devolved powers, municipal autonomy is bounded by provincial oversight from , where the reviews ordinances, coordinates , and ensures alignment with plans, preventing fragmentation while promoting coordinated efficiency under the Code's hierarchical framework.

Elected Officials and Leadership

Rolando S. Peralta Jr. serves as of Pulilan, having been elected on May 12, 2025, and assuming office on July 1, 2025, for a three-year term. His administration emphasizes the "Ramdam na Serbisyo" program, which prioritizes direct citizen engagement through weekly People's Days and partnerships such as a memorandum of agreement with Veterans Bank for senior citizen benefits including ATM-linked birthday cash gifts. In the 2025 State of the Municipality Address delivered on October 13, 2025, Peralta reported infrastructure progress including the operationalization of a in Barangay Tabon, construction of the Pulilan Marker along the Bypass Road, initiation of a master drainage plan, and planting of 2,000 fire trees donated by a private firm. Other metrics from the first 100 days encompass a serving 427 participants with 74 immediate hires, distribution of 1,000 TUPAD jobs via the Department of Labor and Employment, daily anti-rabies vaccinations for approximately 40 individuals, increased financial aid for school personnel from ₱2,000 to ₱5,000 per recipient, quarterly tanod allowances of ₱5,200, and a second surgical mission. These figures reflect self-reported . The vice mayor is Atty. Imelda D.J. Cruz, who presides over the , the municipal legislative body comprising eight elected councilors.
PositionName
CouncilorRobert Marlo E. Domingo
CouncilorJoselito T. Borlongan
CouncilorJuene Adrianne S. Buquid
CouncilorLovy Leslie B. Valenzuela
CouncilorZandro C. Hipolito
CouncilorPeter John T. Dionisio
CouncilorJohn J. Nethercott
CouncilorRyan P. Espiritu
No party affiliations for the current officials are specified in official records.

Historical Chief Executives

During the Spanish colonial period, Pulilan's local governance was led by capitanes municipales responsible for administering the pueblo's affairs, including tax collection and public order. The first recorded kapitan was Francisco Paltao, who assumed office in 1819, marking the formal organization of local leadership amid the town's agricultural economy centered on and . With the shift to American administration following the , the position evolved to presidente municipal. Froilan Cahiwat served as the inaugural holder in 1898, overseeing the transition to a more structured municipal system under U.S. civil governance, which emphasized infrastructure like roads connecting to neighboring Baliuag and . Eugenio Tiangco later acted as presidente during the early phase after Pulilan's separation from Plaridel (formerly Quingua), focusing on post-liberation stabilization amid wartime disruptions. Under Japanese occupation and , executive roles were disrupted by military governance, with local leaders often collaborating or resisting under duress. Post-liberation in 1946, Catalino Flores was appointed as Pulilan's first modern mayor, initiating reconstruction efforts such as rebuilding war-damaged barangays and restoring agricultural productivity, which had been halved by conflict-related destruction. The declaration of in 1972 centralized power, replacing elected mayors with presidential appointees to ensure alignment with national policies, including and projects like canals along the Angat River. This period saw tenure stability through appointments rather than elections, reducing local autonomy but facilitating uniform implementation of development initiatives. Following the 1986 , governance reverted to elected executives, restoring democratic selection and enabling localized decision-making on issues like flood control and market expansions, with successive terms reflecting voter priorities for economic recovery.

Culture and Heritage

Festivals and Local Traditions

The Kneeling Carabao Festival occurs annually on May 14 and 15 in Pulilan, , coinciding with the feast day of San Isidro , the patron saint of farmers and laborers. During the event, farmers parade hundreds of decorated through the streets, with the animals trained to kneel before the San Isidro as a of thanksgiving for agricultural abundance. This underscores the historical reliance on carabaos for farming in the region, where the beasts perform essential plowing tasks during planting seasons, linking the festival directly to the agrarian calendar and rural productivity. The festival's practices, including the afternoon of colorful carts pulled by the carabaos starting around 2 p.m., serve to reinforce communal bonds among farmers and preserve husbandry amid modern pressures. Originating from observable farmer devotions rather than documented ancient rites, the event draws participants who adorn their animals with flowers and fabrics, culminating in blessings that pragmatically align with seasonal cycles to sustain rice yields in Bulacan's fertile plains. The Mandala Art Festival, an annual cultural initiative held in May, features murals and exhibits by local and regional artists to promote Pulilan's heritage and foster artistic identity. The 12th edition in 2024, themed "Ang Ating Sining sa Nagbabagong Panahon" (Our Art in Changing Times), involved 95 visual artists from creating and displays at venues like SM Center Pulilan, emphasizing sustainable cultural expression tied to community evolution. This event builds on prior iterations during National Heritage Month, using public murals to highlight local motifs without relying on unsubstantiated , thereby supporting observable artistic practices that enhance town cohesion and visibility.

Religious and Historical Sites

The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Isidro Labrador in , Pulilan, was established as an independent parish by Augustinian friars in 1794, separating from Quingua (now Plaridel). Construction of the current Baroque-style church began in 1826 under Father Juan Rico, with records indicating ongoing work as late as 1829. The structure features typical 19th-century ecclesiastical elements adapted to local materials and seismic considerations prevalent in the . In 2020, the of elevated it to diocesan shrine status, recognizing its role in regional Catholic devotion. Associated with the parish is the local of carabaos, originating in the early 1900s amid a severe when water buffaloes reportedly knelt before the statue of San Isidro Labrador, prompting farmers to pray for rain. This event, transmitted through and later formalized in community practices, lacks contemporaneous written records or empirical verification beyond anecdotal accounts, aligning with patterns of folk etiological narratives attributing natural resolutions to saintly . The story underscores agrarian dependence on and but does not constitute substantiated historical evidence of a occurrence. Pulilan preserves several 19th- and early 20th-century heritage houses exemplifying architecture, blending Spanish colonial stone foundations with elevated wooden upper levels for flood and earthquake resilience. The Adriano Salvador House, constructed in the early 1900s, temporarily functioned as the joint municipal hall for Pulilan and Quingua in 1908, reflecting administrative adaptations post-Spanish rule. Similarly, the Casanova-Aguirre Ancestral House, built in 1929 for Dr. Francisco R. Casanova and Dra. Felicidad D. Aguirre, represents transitional influences in a well-maintained residential form. These structures, restored through local initiatives, anchor community historical awareness and social continuity without reliance on devotional embellishment.

Architectural and Artistic Heritage

The architectural heritage of Pulilan features several preserved ancestral houses reflecting early 20th-century bahay-na-bato styles blended with American colonial influences, such as the Casanova-Aguirre House constructed in 1927 and restored for public viewing near Barangay Poblacion. Other notable structures include Casa Balbina, built in 1910 as a veranda-style residence, and the Casa San Francisco (formerly Laxamana House), erected in 1929 and repurposed as a and event venue to sustain its upkeep. These homes, often enclosed by walls and featuring ventanillas for ventilation, embody transitional designs from Spanish-era foundations but adapted post-1898 American occupation, prioritizing durability in a over ornate colonial facades. Artistic expressions in Pulilan include over 40 street murals completed by 2018, depicting rice farming motifs to raise awareness against agricultural land loss, executed by local artists like those from the Jefarca collective as part of community-driven initiatives. The annual Mandala Art Festival, ongoing since the 2010s, has produced additional kalye (street) art installations, such as the 2024 "Juan Masipag" mural highlighting industrious themes, fostering public engagement with local culture amid urban pressures. Museo de Pulilan, housed in a reconstructed 1908 Gabaldon schoolhouse designed by William Parsons under Act 1801, exhibits artifacts from American-era education and local history, underscoring preservation's role in documenting Pulilan's transition from agrarian roots. These efforts contribute to heritage-based , with restored sites drawing visitors for low-impact tourism that generated supplementary income without displacing farming, though quantifiable data on returns versus restoration costs remains limited. Rapid urbanization poses threats to these assets, as commercial expansion since the has converted agricultural lands—reducing rice fields by an estimated significant margin—for factories and housing, potentially accelerating deterioration of wooden structures vulnerable to flooding and neglect. Preservation balances cultural value against development opportunity costs, where sustains identity and minor revenue streams (e.g., via entries) but yields lower short-term economic gains compared to industrial , as evidenced by Pulilan's shift from farm-dependent economy pre-2000s.

Tourism

Key Attractions and Events

The Kneeling Carabao Festival, celebrated annually on May 14 and 15, serves as Pulilan's premier event, honoring San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. It features a of hundreds of elaborately decorated led by farmers through the town streets, culminating in the animals kneeling before the of the . In 2025, 427 carabaos participated in the parade, preserving a rooted in agricultural gratitude. Key attractions complement the festival, including the Kneeling Carabao Monument, which depicts the iconic kneeling posture, and historical sites such as the Adriano Salvador House and Dr. Pacifico Cruz House, offering glimpses into local heritage architecture. The North Club provides equestrian facilities for polo matches and riding, appealing to sports tourists in a rural setting north of . These drawcards attract thousands of visitors yearly, particularly during the , boosting local commerce through vendor stalls and related activities. However, the influx leads to seasonal congestion on main roads and around the church, straining temporary management despite economic benefits.

Tourism Infrastructure and Impact

Pulilan's tourism infrastructure remains modest, characterized by a limited number of small-scale accommodations such as guesthouses, farm stays, and resorts like Nature Care Resort and Klir Waterpark Resort, which cater primarily to budget travelers and short stays. Larger hotels are scarce within the , with most visitors opting for nearby options in Plaridel or Baliuag, reflecting a reliance on day-trippers from drawn by events like the annual . Road connectivity has improved with the completion of the NLEX Candaba 3rd Viaduct in December 2024, a five-kilometer linking Pulilan to major highways and facilitating easier access for tourists, thereby supporting trade and visitor influx. Economically, tourism provides a supplementary boost to Pulilan's primarily agricultural and poultry-based , generating through local spending on , , and festival-related activities, though specific figures for the sector's contribution remain undocumented at the municipal level. The influx of day visitors, particularly during religious and cultural events, stimulates short-term in markets and eateries, but the absence of extensive limits overnight stays and associated expenditures. Post-COVID recovery has aligned with national trends, with Philippine revenues reaching a record P760.5 billion in 2024, aiding local resurgence through eased restrictions and domestic travel; in Pulilan, this has supported gradual reactivation of sites like river tours along the Angat, though challenges in promotion persist. The Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program integrates housing development to bolster , with projects in Pulilan launching in May 2025 to provide over 1,000 affordable units in Peñabatan, potentially accommodating tourism-related workers amid urbanizing pressures. Environmentally, tourism's footprint includes risks to the Angat River, a key attraction and Metro Manila's water source, where industrial already degrades quality and could be exacerbated by increased visitor traffic without stringent management. While proponents view expanded as an economic engine, underscore the need for sustainable practices to mitigate cultural overload during peaks and ecological strain, prioritizing evidence-based scaling over unchecked growth.

Infrastructure

Transportation and Connectivity

Pulilan connects to the (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), enabling rapid travel to and regions. Entry from Pulilan incurs a toll of 190 pesos for Class 1 vehicles to key destinations. The NLEX Candaba 3rd Viaduct, a 5-kilometer structure linking Pulilan to in , opened in December 2024 after reaching full completion on schedule and within budget. This addition expands NLEX capacity, reduces bottlenecks during peak hours, and supports commerce by shortening travel times across the viaduct's wetlands area. Intra-municipal mobility depends on and tricycles navigating local roads such as the N115-designated Pulilan-Calumpit Road and Pulilan-Baliwag Bypass. These vehicles handle short-haul trips between barangays, markets, and residential zones. Inter-city commuters access via buses from terminals like SM Center Pulilan or direct NLEX entry, with travel times averaging 1-2 hours under normal conditions. In 2025, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) advanced Local Route Plan (LPTRP) guidelines to streamline jeepney routes, enforce ordinances for orderly operations, and integrate eco-friendly vehicles, aiming to curb congestion and enhance reliability for daily flows.

Utilities and Public Works

The in Pulilan is managed by the Pulilan Water District under the Local Water Utilities Administration, serving 19,620 households and a of 78,480 across 19 s through three reservoirs and 14 water pumps. Level III (pressurized, metered) service coverage varies significantly by , ranging from 34% in Inaon to 77% in Cut-Cot, reflecting disparities between more urbanized and rural areas. Electricity is distributed by , which maintains a 69 kV–13.8 kV substation along the Plaridel-Pulilan Diversion Road to meet local demand, contributing to Bulacan's provincial household electrification rate of 97.48% as of 2015. Recent upgrades, including a 50 MVA bank commissioned in , aim to enhance reliability amid growing industrial and residential needs. Solid waste management relies on a Materials Recovery Facility in Barangay Longos, where three MRFs are clustered for segregation and processing, with residuals directed to the Waste Custodian Management facility in Norzagaray. A waste transfer station is planned under the Bulacan Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) 2024–2036 to improve efficiency, though challenges persist, including improper disposal in rural barangays like Cut-Cot and the need for cross-municipal coordination due to shared waterways. Public works prioritize flood control along the Angat River, which has caused significant damage, such as P51.6 million in agricultural losses over 3,226 hectares during Typhoon Pepeng in 2009. The PDPFP outlines provincial initiatives like drainage improvements, levees, and the Mega Dike project to mitigate risks, with Pulilan integrated into broader efforts including potential expansion via the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project's later stages, though rural expansion faces cost barriers from dependency and .

Education

Primary and Secondary Education

Public primary education in Pulilan is delivered through multiple elementary schools supervised by the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Bulacan. Key institutions include Balatong Elementary School, which enrolled 155 students in School Year (SY) 2022-2023; Dampol B Elementary School with 69 enrollees; and Dulong Malabon Integrated School serving 97 students during the same period. Other public elementary schools, such as Inaon Integrated School (204 enrollees), Cutcot Elementary School, and Longos-Colares Elementary School, collectively handle the bulk of primary-level enrollment, focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy under the K-12 curriculum. Secondary education features public high schools like Pulilan National High School, the primary public institution for junior and senior high levels in the municipality. These schools emphasize core subjects including , , and English, with enrollment data reflecting steady participation amid post-pandemic recovery efforts by DepEd. Private secondary options, such as Liceo de Pulilan Colleges Inc., provide alternatives with programs extending to Grade 7 and beyond, emphasizing comprehensive skill development despite varying resource levels compared to public counterparts. Facility upgrades post-2020 have included structural integrity inspections and maintenance drives, such as those conducted in October 2025 across public schools in collaboration with , addressing wear from extended use and exposure. Programs like Brigada Eskwela in 2022 facilitated community-led repairs and cleanliness initiatives at sites including Dulong Malabon Integrated School, enhancing learning environments. Performance in national assessments remains average for Bulacan schools, with socioeconomic factors like historical incidence—lower in the province at 36.2% in 1988 versus the national 40.2%—linked to outcomes through reduced access to supplementary resources, though recent data shows provincial improvements in enrollment stability.

Higher Education and Literacy Rates

Higher education in Pulilan is characterized by a limited number of local institutions, primarily extensions or branches of larger state universities and a small private college, leading many residents to commute to nearby cities like or for broader program options. The (PUP) maintains a campus in Pulilan offering undergraduate degrees such as in Entrepreneurial Management and major in Public Financial Management, focusing on accessible public tertiary education under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. Similarly, operates a Pulilan Extension Campus, established in 2013, which provides select programs as part of its provincial network, though it lacks the full range of offerings available at the main campus. The private College of Our Lady of Mercy (COLM) in Barangay Longos supplements this with college-level courses alongside vocational training, emphasizing affordable, community-responsive education. Access to higher education remains constrained by these modest facilities, with enrollment data indicating that a significant portion of Pulilan's —estimated at over 108,000 residents in recent censuses—pursue degrees at adjacent institutions like State University's main campus or Polytechnic University branches, facilitated by proximity via major roads like the Pulilan-Calumpit Road. efforts include scholarships and partnerships to boost retention, yielding returns through skilled labor in 's agro-industrial economy, though empirical outcomes show variable graduation rates tied to burdens and program alignment with local needs like and . Pulilan's basic rate stands at 99 percent, reflecting strong foundational outcomes comparable to national averages and indicative of in enrollment and proficiency as reported in municipal demographics. However, functional metrics, including in rural settings, reveal gaps; a 2025 study of secondary students in Pulilan highlighted persistent challenges in oral reading comprehension despite high nominal , aligning with broader Philippine trends where basic exceeds 96 percent but deeper skills lag due to resource disparities. Provincial data from Bulacan's Functional , , and Survey underscore these rural-urban divides, with investments in adult programs yielding incremental improvements but not fully bridging comprehension deficits evident in empirical assessments.

Healthcare and Social Services

Health Facilities and Access

The primary public healthcare infrastructure in Pulilan consists of the Municipal Health Office (MHO), which oversees preventive and curative services, and multiple Rural Health Units (RHUs) serving the municipality's 19 barangays. RHU I and II, upgraded in January 2023 through a partnership between UNIQLO Philippines and SM Foundation, provide expanded outpatient consultations, maternal care, and immunization services, operating on a 24-hour basis for emergencies. RHU V, inaugurated in Brgy. Inaon, includes a dedicated birthing facility to reduce maternal referrals to higher-level hospitals. Barangay health stations supplement these, focusing on basic care and community outreach, though data on exact utilization rates remains limited to national benchmarks where primary care facilities handle over 80% of routine cases in similar rural settings. Private facilities have proliferated amid Pulilan's proximity to and economic growth, offering specialized services absent in public units. Key institutions include Our Lady of Mercy General Hospital, a Level 2 facility opened on September 8, 2000, providing general inpatient and outpatient care along Highway, and FM Cruz Orthopedic and General Hospital, the municipality's sole orthopedic center in Brgy. Sto. Cristo. The Good Shepherd Hospital in further supports local access for non-emergency procedures. Diagnostic centers like Ma. Trinity Diagnostic Center, operational since 1997, cater to rising demand from urbanization-driven population influx, with services including laboratory testing and imaging. Access challenges persist due to the ' nationwide physician shortage, estimated at over 60,000 doctors in public facilities as of 2025, disproportionately affecting rural municipalities like Pulilan where units struggle to attract specialists amid low salaries—often 65% below national standards for entry-level roles. Residents frequently refer complex cases to tertiary centers like Medical Center in , 15 kilometers away, exacerbating delays. During the , Pulilan's health system demonstrated resilience, administering 183,422 vaccine doses by December 2022, achieving near-universal coverage among eligible adults through MHO-led drives and partnerships, with zero active cases reported at peak resolution. Routine rates, however, mirror provincial trends, with experiencing measles coverage drops to 70% in 2018 due to hesitancy factors like , underscoring ongoing needs for public education despite infrastructure investments.

Public Safety and Community Services

The Pulilan Municipal Police Station, operating under the Philippine National Police's Provincial Police Office, maintains peace and order through routine patrols, , and response operations. Local protective services data record 17 incidents of crimes against property and 501 non-index crimes, with 506 cases solved and only 5 unsolved, reflecting a detection rate exceeding 99% and effective enforcement in a population of approximately 114,000 as of the 2020 census. Traffic safety falls under the dedicated Traffic Management Office, headed by Amado E. Cruz Jr., which conducts enforcement, road safety campaigns, and collaborative activities such as flushing operations with the and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office to address congestion on key routes like the Pulilan-Calumpit Road. These efforts mitigate risks from the municipality's rapid and proximity to industrial zones, though provincial data indicate moderate concerns with crimes and drug-related issues in overall. Community services emphasize welfare and participatory governance, with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) supporting initiatives like the Vigilance to Volunteerism Program, launched to integrate organizations into local administration for enhanced and peace-building. The municipal Committee on Social Services, chaired by figures such as Vice Mayor Maritz Gelito, coordinates gender-sensitive activities and community outreach to foster safer, more cohesive neighborhoods amid . Complementary DILG-backed efforts, including financial inclusion pilots like the 2024 Paleng-QR Ph Program rollout in public markets, aid vulnerable groups by streamlining transactions and reducing cash-handling risks. These programs prioritize empirical outcomes over expansive rhetoric, with high case resolution underscoring community policing's role in sustaining low unsolved levels despite regional pressures.

Notable Individuals

[Notable Individuals - no content]

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