Legazpi, Albay

Legazpi, Albay
Component city
Legazpi Port District Legazpi Marker Legazpi City Hall Quezon Avenue St. Gregory the Great Cathedral Plaza Rizal View from Ligñon Hill St. Agnes Academy
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Queen City of Southern Luzon City of Fun and Adventure Gateway of Southern Luzon Gateway City of Bicol
Anthem: Legazpi Ngonyan
Map of Albay with Legazpi highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Legazpi, Albay Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°08′N 123°44′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region
Province	Albay
District	2nd district
Founded	1616
Cityhood	1892 (First time) July 18, 1948 (Second time) June 12, 1959 (Final date)
Named after	Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
Barangays	70 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlungsod
• Mayor	Hisham B.Ismail
• Vice Mayor	Luis Felipe L. Gutierrez
• Representative	Carlos A. Loria
• City Council	Members Vincent F. Baltazar Lourence M. Beltran Ismael Buban IV Alexander Jao Roberto Rafael N. Lucila Joseph Philip L. Lee Charlton Lajara Maria Paz Salud C. Imperial Alan O. Rañola Renato A. Valladolid
• Electorate	147,382 voters (2025)
Area
• Total	153.70 km2 (59.34 sq mi)
Elevation	149 m (489 ft)
Highest elevation	2,444 m (8,018 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)
• Total	210,616
• Density	1,400/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Legazpeños (masculine) Legazpeñas (feminine) Legazpians (English, occasionally)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4500
PSGC	050506000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)52
Catholic diocese	Diocese of Legazpi
Website	legazpi.gov.ph

Legazpi (Tagalog pronunciation: [lɛˈgaspɪ], American Spanish: Spanish pronunciation: [leˈɣaspi] ^ⓘ, European Spanish: Spanish pronunciation: [leˈɣaθpi] ^ⓘ), officially the City of Legazpi (Central Bikol: Syudad nin Legazpi; Filipino: Lungsod ng Legazpi), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Albay, Philippines. It occupies 161.6 km² on the western shore of Albay Gulf, about 560 km south-east of Manila, and had a population of 210,616 the 2024 census.

Legazpi serves as the regional administrative, economic, and transport hub of Bicol (Region V). The city's skyline is dominated by the near-perfect cone of Mayon Volcano, whose slopes rise just north of the urban core. The city handles most of the region’s passenger and cargo traffic via the Bicol International Airport, inaugurated on 7 October 2021 in neighbouring Daraga, and is linked to the national highway network and the ports along Albay Gulf. Legazpi's strategic location underpins its roles as Bicol’s centre for tourism, education, health care, and commerce.

Originally a pre-Hispanic coastal village called Sawangan, the settlement became a Spanish mission town in 1587 and was re-named in 1856 to honour conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi. Shaped by its geographic and historical context, Legazpi has developed a diversified service-based economy, with key sectors including trade, agro-processing, and a rapidly expanding adventure tourism industry promoted under the branding 'City of Fun and Adventure.'

Legazpi topped the National Competitiveness Council's Cities & Municipalities Competitive Index in 2018 and has remained in the index's top tier since, earning citations as a "most business-friendly" Philippine component city. Having met the statutory requirements for Highly Urbanized City (HUC) classification, the city is now being considered for reclassification, with officials expressing intent to pursue the process.

Etymology

Miguel López de Legazpi

The city of Legazpi was named after Miguel López de Legazpi, the Basque Spanish conquistador who officially annexed the Philippine Islands to the Spanish Empire in 1565, and whose surname came from a town in Gipuzkoa, Spain.

History

Early history

Human occupation around present-day Legazpi City and the wider Albay Gulf is documented by archaeological finds that extend back at least 4,000 years. The earliest securely dated artefact is the Mataas Shell Scoop—a bailer fashioned from the green-turban shell (Turbo marmoratus). Excavated from a midden on Cagraray Island, its deposit is radiocarbon-dated to approximately between c. 2000 BCE and 300 CE. The object was designated a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2010.

Stratified deposits in Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave, Camalig (≈ 15 km inland), have yielded primary and secondary jar burials with anthropomorphic lids. Associated Song- to Ming-period ceramic sherds indicate continuous use of the cave between roughly 900 BCE and 900 CE suggest participation in regional maritime exchange networks.

Comparable jar-burial complexes along the Albay–Sorsogon littoral—recorded by Henry Otley Beyer and later National Museum teams—contain plain and red-slipped vessels, stone adzes, and shell and glass beads attributed to the Philippine Early Metal Age (c. 100–500 BCE).

Sixteenth-century chronicler Miguel de Loarca described the same coast as “thickly peopled,” rich in irrigated rice, gold ornaments and imported silk—details that align with archaeological evidence and reflect the area’s precolonial prosperity prior to Spanish contact.

Spanish contact and early colonial settlement

The area occupied by present-day Legazpi originated as a coastal settlement called Sawangan, a cluster of fishing and farming hamlets spread across the mangrove flats on the western shore of Albay Gulf (the site of today’s port district).

Guzmán–Jiménez Expedition (1569)

The first Europeans to reach the gulf were Captain Luis Enríquez de Guzmán and Augustinian friar Alonso Jiménez, members of an expedition dispatched from Panay by Adelantado Miguel López de Legazpi. After calling at Masbate, Ticao and Burias, the party landed at the village of Gibalon (Ibalon)—now San Isidro, Magallanes, Sorsogon—where Fray Jiménez celebrated what local tradition recognises as the first Catholic Mass in Luzon and baptised several inhabitants. The group reconnoitered inland as far as Camalig (then a thriving balangay), recording the fertile valley at the foot of Mayon Volcano.

Salcedo’s northern expedition (1573)

In July 1573, a second force under Juan de Salcedo, grandson of Governor-General Legazpi, entered the peninsula from the north. Salcedo established the fortified Villa de Santiago de Libón on the shores of Lake Bato (present-day Libon, Albay), then pushed eastwards to a village called Albaybay, a name later shortened to Albay.

Ecclesiastical organisation and rise of Albay (1578–1616)

Franciscan missionaries replaced the initial Augustinian presence in 1578, administering Sawangan from the Doctrina de Cagsawa (now Daraga). Sawangan was elevated to a visita regular in 1605 and, eleven years later (1616), was constituted as the independent Pueblo de Albay—capital of the newly created Partido de Ibalon, a district that then encompassed present-day Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, large parts of Camarines Sur, and the islands of Catanduanes, Ticao and Burias.

Spanish colonial era

Missionary foundations and early settlement (1587–1636)

St. Gregory the Great Cathedral

By the 1580s, Spanish Franciscan missionaries were actively ministering to the local inhabitants. In 1587, the Franciscans established a mission chapel in the fishing village of Sawangan (the site of the present Legazpi Port), as a visita (satellite chapel) of the Cagsawa parish. Fray Francisco de Santa Ana, OFM, built the first wooden chapel dedicated to St. Gregory the Great, and this became known as the Misión de San Gregorio Magno de Sawangan.

As the village grew more populous, it was elevated to a visita regular (full mission station) by 1605 and eventually to an independent pueblo (town) with its own parish in 1616. The new town – often referred to at the time as Pueblo de Albay – became the capital of the Partido de Ibalón (the colonial province encompassing present-day Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, and nearby islands).

Fray Francisco de Santa Ana served as Sawangan’s first parish priest, and the mission continued to flourish into the 17th century. In 1636, during the tenure of Fray Martín del Espíritu, OFM, a larger and more permanent church structure replaced the original chapel to serve the growing Christianized community.

Sawangan under Spanish administration (17th-18th century)

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Sawangan (later known as Albay) developed as a coastal settlement engaged in farming and regional trade. Its location along Albay Gulf provided a sheltered harbor that served as an anchorage for galleons and other vessels traveling the Manila–Acapulco trade route. The nearby Sula Channel, separating the mainland from Cagraray Island, also offered safe refuge for ships during storms.

Sawangan's growth was periodically disrupted by external threats. Spanish colonial records describe incursions by raiding parties from Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago—referred to in those accounts as "Moro raiders"—as well as by Dutch privateers operating in Philippine waters during the 1600s. A major setback occurred in 1754, when the town's church was destroyed by fire amid renewed pirate attacks.

Despite these challenges, the community repeatedly rebuilt. It survived a severe typhoon in 1742 and a strong earthquake in 1811, along with other natural calamities. By the early 19th century, Sawangan—also referred to as the town of Albay—had expanded through the absorption of surrounding villages and remained an important provincial capital and port.

1814 eruption of Mt. Mayon

Façade of the old church of Cagsawa, destroyed in the eruption of Mt. Mayon on February 1, 1814

On February 1, 1814, Mayon Volcano—located just a few kilometers from the town—erupted in the most cataclysmic explosion in its recorded history. The 1814 eruption buried or obliterated several neighboring settlements (including the church of Cagsawa, and the villages of Budiao and Camalig) under volcanic ash and lahar flows web. Approximately 1,200 people were killed in the disaster, making it Mayon's deadliest known eruption. Sawangan itself was partly destroyed – the entire town was effectively leveled and a large portion of its inhabitants perished or fled.

In the aftermath, the parish priest of Sawangan, Fray Pedro Licup, OFM, led the survivors in evacuating to safer ground at Makalaya on the slopes of Mount Bariw (present-day Barangay Taysan). This highland area was deemed a temporary refuge from the volcano's devastation. However, many evacuees – being lowlanders accustomed to coastal living – grew uncomfortable in the uplands. Within a few years, groups of survivors began returning toward the lowlands. A significant number resettled in an area called Taytay (now Barangay Bagumbayan in downtown Legazpi), while others defied official orders and went back to the original site of Sawangan.

Those who returned to the old coastal site founded a new village they called Binanuahan (meaning "old town," also known as Banuang Gurang in Bikol) on the ruins of Sawangan. At the same time, the settlement at Taytay grew into a flourishing community. Spanish authorities, however, had issued a decree on October 1, 1829 prohibiting the establishment of new towns without government sanction. To comply with this policy, the growing lowland community at Taytay and the smaller coastal village at Binanuahan were officially treated as one combined town.

The Taytay side (inland) became the primary township known as Albay Nuevo or "New Albay," with Binanuahan designated as its visita (tributary barrio). Albay Nuevo – also called Bagumbayan ("new town") – essentially replaced the original town of Albay/Sawangan as the provincial capital in the 1820s–1830s. In practice, though, many residents of Binanuahan resented being subordinated to the new town's administration.

Twin-town era and ecclesiastical reconstruction (1834–1855)

In 1834, efforts were made to reestablish substantial churches in both the new and old settlements. In Albay Nuevo (Taytay), a grand stone church was planned to replace the makeshift structures that had served the relocated populace. Construction began a few years later, in 1839, under the design of Don José Ma. de Peñaranda, a Filipino-Spanish gobernadorcillo (town head and architect), with consultation from Fray José Yagres, OFM. This stone church – completed in the 1840s – would eventually become the present St. Gregory the Great Cathedral in Legazpi's Old Albay District.

Meanwhile, in Binanuahan (Sawangan), the returning villagers in 1834 built a modest chapel (ermita) dedicated to St. Raphael the Archangel, choosing St. Raphael as their new patron saint. This waterfront chapel, funded in part by a prominent local benefactor Don Pedro Romero, was later expanded; it stands today as the St. Raphael the Archangel Parish Church in the Legazpi Port District. For the next two decades, "Old Albay" (Bagumbayan) and "Binanuahan" functioned as two distinct sectors of the Albay town – one inland and one by the port – each with its own church and patron saint.

Creation of the town of Legazpi (1856)

On July 17, 1856, a major administrative reorganization took place. By decree of Governor-General Ramon Montero (then acting for the superior government in Manila), the coastal visita of Binanuahan and the adjacent barrios of Lamba, Rawis, and Bigaa were carved out from Albay Nuevo to form a new separate township.

This new municipality was initially called Pueblo Viejo ("Old Town"), acknowledging the older site of the community. A subsequent decree issued by Montero on September 22, 1856 officially conferred the name Legazpi on this town, in honor of Miguel López de Legazpi, the 16th-century conquistador who dispatched an expedition to Bicol during the Spanish conquest.

The town of Legazpi was formally inaugurated on October 23, 1856, with local officials taking office soon after. (The remaining inland settlement retained the name "Albay," later known as Albay Nuevo or Albay Viejo, and continued as the provincial capital enclave, corresponding to what is now the Old Albay District of Legazpi City). Legazpi's first gobernadorcillo (municipal governor) was Don Lorenzo Hao, and its first parish priest (in an acting capacity) was Rev. Camilo Abainza. The new town of Legazpi encompassed the port area and outlying barrios, positioning it to become an important commercial hub in the region.

Opening of Legazpi port to world trade (1872–1874)

Abaca fiber

Thanks to its geography, Legazpi's port had long played a role in regional commerce. Vessels bound for Nueva España (Mexico) during the galleon trade era frequented Albay Gulf as an anchorage point from the late 16th century onward. In the 19th century, as international trade expanded, Legazpi’s harbor grew in importance for maritime commerce in southern Luzon. On May 18, 1872, the Spanish Crown issued a royal decree in Madrid designating Legazpi as an official port of entry for foreign trade.

This decree was implemented locally two years later: on December 3, 1874, Governor-General Juan Alaminos y Vivar promulgated the order opening Legazpi's port to direct trade with overseas markets. The move allowed the export of local products (such as abacá fiber and copra from Bicol) and the import of goods via maritime routes, spurring economic growth in Albay.

By the late 19th century, Legazpi had become one of the busier ports in the archipelago outside Manila, albeit still limited by its modest dock facilities and the threat of seasonal typhoons.

Ayuntamiento and first city charter (1892–1894)

Parallel with its commercial rise, Legazpi saw political developments in the late Spanish period. In 1892, the town was elevated to city status (ciudad) for the first time under Spain's new Becerra Law on municipal government. This law merged the municipalities of Legazpi Port, Albay (Bagumbayan), and the outlying town of Daraga into a single unified city administration, called the Ayuntamiento of Legazpi (Albay).

The ayuntamiento (city council government) was formally established in 1894 by a decree of the Spanish Minister of Ultramar (Colonies). Under this arrangement, Daraga – which had been a separate town (formed by survivors of the Cagsawa eruption) – was annexed as part of the new city’s territory along with Albay Nuevo. This merger proved unpopular among many Daraga residents, who resented the loss of their town's autonomy. Nevertheless, by the mid-1890s Legazpi (sometimes referred to as Ayuntamiento de Albay) held the status of a chartered city.

Philippine revolution era (1898)

As the Philippine Revolution spread throughout the archipelago in 1898, Spanish rule in Albay came to an abrupt end. On September 22, 1898, with the colonial government collapsing, the Spanish civil governor of Albay, Don Ángel Bascarán y Federic, evacuated the provincial capital (Old Albay) along with the remaining Spanish troops and clergy. Spanish authorities and residents fled the town, effectively surrendering control. In their wake, local patriots organized a revolutionary junta to assume governance of Albay. The junta was initially led by Don Anacieto Solano, a prominent Filipino from the region who had been involved in the anti-colonial movement.

Shortly thereafter, General Vicente Lukbán arrived to take command. Lukbán had been appointed by Emilio Aguinaldo's revolutionary government as General-in-Chief for the southern Luzon provinces, and he formally took charge of military and civil affairs in Albay and neighboring areas. Under Lukbán’s leadership, the Philippine Republic’s authority was established in Legazpi and Albay by late 1898, marking the close of over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule.

American colonial era (1900–1941)

Old San Rafael Bridge in Legazpi, circa early 20th century

U.S. military occupation and the battle of San Rafael Bridge (1900)

On 23 January 1900, three companies of the U.S. 24th Infantry and two batteries of light artillery under Brig-Gen. William A. Kobbe landed at Legazpi to re-open the abaca port. About 800 Bicolano revolutionary troops led by Gen. José Ignacio Paua and Col. Antero Reyes contested the landing, fighting a day-long action on San Rafael Bridge that left 172 Filipino dead (including Reyes) and 12 wounded; U.S. casualties were 12 wounded. The skirmish is regarded by regional historians as the bloodiest single engagement of the Philippine–American War in Bicol. A granite obelisk, the Battle of Legazpi Pylon, now stands at the present Rizal St–Quezon Ave. intersection to mark the site.

Civic reorganization and municipal boundaries (1900–1922)

Aerial view of Legazpi, October 18, 1935

Aerial view of Legazpi City, February 27, 1931

The U.S. military government dissolved the short-lived Spanish-era ayuntamiento and, in 1908, reorganised the settlement into two separate municipalities: Legazpi Port (the coastal commercial quarter) and Albay (the inland district that became the provincial capital). A further territorial adjustment on 1 October 1922 restored the independence of Daraga, which had been administratively merged with Albay since the nineteenth century.

With peace restored, Legazpi resumed its role as the principal abacá and copra outlet of south-eastern Luzon. Maritime historians note that the port handled a sizeable share of Bicol's fiber and coconut cargoes during the 1920s and 1930s, helped by its connection to the Manila Railroad Company's Bicol Line.

Economic and educational growth during the American colonial rule (1922-1936)

Education expanded rapidly under American civil rule. Albay High School opened in a Gabaldon-type school building in 1906, and the Albay Normal School was established in 1921. Both institutions were later integrated into Bicol University, which was formally established in 1969. The oldest Catholic educational institution in the province, St. Agnes Academy, was founded on July 1, 1912 by the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing as Academia de Sta. Inés. It opened a secondary department in 1917 and moved to its present campus in 1920.

American colonial economic policies encouraged local enterprise.  Act No. 2475 (5 February 1915) granted entrepreneur Julian M. Locsin a 50-year franchise to install and operate an electric-light and power system in the municipality—one of the earliest such concessions outside Manila. Commercial agriculture likewise prospered: abaca (Manila hemp) exports from the Philippines reached an all-time peak in 1928–29, a boom that particularly benefited Bicol ports such as Legazpi which handled much of the fibre trade.

Aerial view of Sanborn Field (present-day Old Legazpi Airport), October 20, 1939

Transport links were dramatically improved in the 1930s. The final gap of the Manila Railroad Company's South Main Line was closed on May 8, 1938, when President Manuel L. Quezon hammered a ceremonial golden spike at Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, formally inaugurating through passenger and freight service between Tutuban and Legazpi (the famed "Bicol Express").

Air transport arrived even earlier: Sanborn Field—laid out before 1936 just outside the poblacion—served pre-war civilian flights and, after December 1941, became a strategic Japanese and later Allied air base (it is the site of today's Legazpi Airport).

World War II (1941-1945)

Japanese bombers from the aircraft carrier Ryujo attack Legazpi, December 12, 1941

Japanese occupation (1941–1945)

At dawn on December 12, 1941, a vanguard force of about 2,500 men of the IJA 16th Division under Major-General Naoki Kimura, backed by 575 naval infantry of the Kure 1st Special Naval Landing Force and covered at sea by the light cruiser Nagara and the carrier Ryūjō, came ashore at Legazpi without opposition.

Within hours they seized the Sanborn/Legazpi airfield and the south-coast section of the Manila–Bicol railway, giving Tokyo a forward fighter base to screen operations toward central Luzon and command of the strategic San Bernardino Strait. Two Far East Air Force P-40s and three B-17s struck the newly occupied strip that afternoon, destroying nine Japanese aircraft and killing several troops, but could not dislodge the garrison.

The airfield became a relay hub for Tainan Kōkūtai A6M "Zero" fighters (December 1941–January 1942) and later 33rd Sentai Ki-43 "Oscar" squadrons (1944), while coastal convoys used Albay Gulf to bypass American submarines farther north.

Resistance and guerrilla warfare

Japanese control seldom extended far beyond the rail line and gulf shore. In the interior, Bicolano resistance cells co-alesced under officers of the pre-war Philippine Army. By 1943, these bands were raiding supply trains, cutting telegraph lines and funneling intelligence to Allied headquarters. The most cohesive formation around Legazpi—later recognised by the National Historical Commission—was led by Lt. Col. Demetrio Camua, whose guerrillas guarded mountain passes south of the city and, in early 1945, helped seal road exits before the Allied landing.

Allied bombardment

From October 1944 the Fifth Air Force and carrier groups neutralising southern Luzon subjected Legazpi to almost-daily raids; contemporary local accounts note up to two strikes per day that month, part of a broader effort to pin Japanese air units and interdict road traffic on the Bicol Peninsula. These attacks, followed by preparatory naval gun-fire in March 1945, flattened much of the port district.

Liberation and aftermath

At 08:15 on April 1, 1945, Task Group 78.4 put the 158th Regimental Combat Team ("Bushmasters") of the U.S. 6th Army ashore at Rawis Beach. Meeting only scattered artillery fire, the regiment secured the town, port and airfield by the evening of April 2, then fanned north toward Daraga and Camalig. Their advance was expedited by Camua's guerrillas, who had already isolated Japanese outposts and guided Americans through mined approaches.

The landing reopened the San Bernardino Strait to Allied shipping and marked the final amphibious assault in Luzon. Yet the price for Legazpi was high: U.S. pre-invasion air strikes and naval bombardment obliterated many 19th-century structures, notably the original St Raphael the Archangel Church (1834) and the Academia de Santa Ines complex; both were extensively rebuilt in the late 1940s.

Post-War reconstruction and cityhood (1945–1959)

After the war, Legazpi's port and infrastructure were gradually rebuilt, and the advent of commercial air travel soon followed. The Sanborn airfield (a former U.S. airstrip) was secured from Japanese forces in 1945, and by 1946 Philippine Airlines had begun regular commercial flights linking Legazpi to Manila. This made Legazpi more accessible and marked its emergence as the gateway of southern Luzon.

A city for the second time (1948)

Legazpi's political status also changed significantly in the post-war era. On July 18, 1948, Legazpi became a chartered city for the second time when the municipalities of Legazpi and Daraga were merged under Republic Act No. 306. President Elpidio Quirino appointed Jose R. Arboleda as the first mayor of the new city. However, this cityhood was short-lived – on June 8, 1954, Republic Act No. 993 dissolved the city, reverting Legazpi and Daraga to separate towns. Legazpi spent the mid-1950s as a municipality once more.

During this period the city faced calamitous events, most notably Typhoon Trix in October 1952. Typhoon Trix smashed into southern Luzon with winds over 220 km/h, virtually destroying Legazpi City and ravaging nearby towns. The storm caused catastrophic floods and damage in Albay, with hundreds of residents killed in the region. Despite these setbacks, Legazpi rebuilt in the aftermath and continued to grow as a provincial capital.

A city for the third time (1959)

By the end of the 1950s, cityhood was restored. Republic Act No. 2234 – the current city charter of Legazpi – was approved on June 12, 1959, re-establishing Legazpi as a city for the third time. This 1959 charter remains the foundation of Legazpi's status up to the present. Upon its re-incorporation, Mayor Ramon A. Arnaldo – who had been serving as town mayor since 1954 – became the first city mayor under the new charter. Mayor Arnaldo’s administration in 1959 marked the start of modern Legazpi City under RA 2234. Subsequent amendments, such as RA 5525, fine-tuned the city’s charter in the 1960s.

Urban growth, education, and natural hazards (1960–1972)

During the 1960s, Legazpi City solidified its role as the Bicol region’s urban center while also weathering natural disasters. Regular Philippine National Railways service and improved roads strengthened Legazpi's connectivity, and in the late 1960s the city’s airport saw the "jet age" arrive as PAL introduced BAC One-Eleven jet flights on the Manila–Legazpi route. Infrastructure improvements like these spurred commerce and tourism. The city's progress, however, was punctuated by periodic calamities from its natural environment.

1968 Mayon Volcano eruption

Mayon Volcano eruption 2018

Mayon Volcano, looming over Legazpi, had one of its most notable eruptions of the century in April–May 1968. Beginning on April 21, 1968, Mayon unleashed a series of over 100 explosive eruptions, sending ash columns 3–10 km high. Pyroclastic flows and lava descended the slopes; roughly 100 square kilometers – including areas of Legazpi – were blanketed in ash and debris. At least 6 people were killed by this eruption and thousands were forced to evacuate. Ashfall darkened the skies over Legazpi and surrounding towns, but prompt evacuations helped limit the casualties. The 1968 Mayon eruption nonetheless caused heavy damage to agriculture and infrastructure, testing the city's disaster response capabilities.

Super Typhoon Sening (1970)

Two years later, another catastrophe struck in the form of Super Typhoon Sening (international name Joan). In mid-October 1970, Typhoon Sening roared through Bicol with sustained winds estimated at 275 km/h – at the time, the most intense typhoon on record in the Philippines. Legazpi City was among the hardest hit areas. The typhoon's violent winds and torrential rains battered Legazpi, leveling homes and buildings. Storm surges and widespread flooding inundated the city; in nearby municipalities like Tiwi, floodwaters swept residents out to sea.

Sening caused devastation across Albay province, and in Legazpi power lines and communications were knocked out for weeks. The disaster claimed many lives across the region (over 700 deaths were reported) and caused extensive property losses, making it one of the worst typhoons in Bicol’s history.

Establishment of Aquinas University of Legazpi and Bicol University (1968-1969)

The 1960s marked Legazpi's emergence as a regional hub for higher education. Legazpi Junior Colleges, founded on June 8, 1948, was transferred to the administration of the Dominican Order on July 1, 1965. Under their leadership, the institution was elevated to university status through the approval of Secretary of Education Carlos P. Romulo. The University Charter, signed by Acting Secretary Onofre D. Corpuz on August 30, 1968, formally established the institution as Aquinas University of Legazpi.

The following year, Republic Act No. 5521, enacted on June 21, 1969, established Bicol University by integrating six existing government-run educational institutions located in Legazpi, Daraga, and neighboring towns in Albay.

Martial-law era and consolidation as regional capital (1970–1985)

When President Ferdinand E. Marcos proclaimed Martial Law in September 1972 he simultaneously issued Presidential Decree No. 1, adopting the Integrated Reorganization Plan (IRP). Part IV of the IRP grouped the six Bicol provinces into Region V and formally designated Legazpi City as its administrative centre and regional capital. To give the new bureaucracy a physical seat, Proclamation No. 1676 (October 8, 1977) reserved a tract of land in Brgy. Rawis as the Bicol Regional Government Center, triggering the transfer or construction of regional offices of the Department of Education, Bureau of Customs, National Economic and Development Authority and dozens of other agencies over the next decade.

Papal visit (1981)

Legazpi received national and international attention when Pope John Paul II included the city in his first pastoral visit to the Philippines. On February 21, 1981, just three weeks after President Ferdinand Marcos formally lifted Martial Law, the pontiff presided over a "Mass for Farmers" held outside St. Gregory the Great Cathedral. Against the dramatic backdrop of Mayon Volcano, the Pope delivered a homily honoring the dignity and contributions of rural workers. The complete text of the homily is preserved in the official archives of the Holy See and was broadcast globally by Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).

Mayon eruption and Typhoon Nitang (1984)

In September 1984, Legazpi was struck by two major natural disasters. On September 1, Typhoon Nitang (Ike) battered the Albay Gulf coast with winds over 150 km/h. Days later, from September 9 to October 6, Mayon Volcano erupted in a Strombolian–Vulcanian event, sending pyroclastic flows down its southeastern flank toward the city.

Post-EDSA and the 1990s era (1986-1990s)

After the 1986 EDSA Revolution, President Corazon C. Aquino issued Executive Order No. 17 (May 28, 1986), installing interim officers until elections in 1988 when Benjamin S. Imperial was elected as mayor. A year earlier Super Typhoon Sisang (Nina) had sent floods crashing through barangays killing 77 in the entire province of Albay.

First female mayor and launch of Ibalong Festival

Imelda Crisol Roces became mayor of Legazpi City in December 1991 following the death of Mayor Benjamin S. Imperial becoming the city’s first female chief executive. She launched the inaugural Ibalong Festival in October 1992, based on the pre-Hispanic Ibalong epic, aimed at promoting cultural heritage and tourism. The festival was also conceived as a symbol of the resilience of Albayanos in the face of frequent natural calamities.

The festival's concept was proposed by Merito B. Espinas (1928–2002), a Bicolano scholar and professor at Aquinas University (now University of Sto. Tomas-Legazpi). Espinas authored the first English translation of the Ibalong and was instrumental in framing it as the basis for a civic festival. His academic work on Bicol literature helped shape the cultural identity the festival continues to celebrate.

1993 Mayon eruption and APSEMO founding

Barely four months later, Mayon Volcano erupted on February 2, 1993, killing 75 people and driving more than 45,000 residents into 43 evacuation centres. Roces coordinated city relief, permanent resettlement and hazard-zoning, and worked with the provincial government as it institutionalised the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) in 1995—widely cited as the country's first permanent disaster-risk-reduction office.

Notable developments in the 1990s

During Roces' administration, the city implemented urban renewal and Clean-and-Green programs. In 1997, Plaza Rizal, a 1920s-era park near the city port, was rehabilitated with new water features, resurfaced walkways, and a garden wall fronting St. Raphael Church, restoring its role as a civic landmark.

On the infrastructure front, the city secured funding from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to widen and extend Tahao Road, creating a north–south corridor identified in the 1999–2008 Comprehensive Land Use Plan as an emerging "Alternative Business District." In 2013, the road was officially renamed Imelda C. Roces Avenue under City Ordinance 0007-2013, in recognition of its contribution to commercial development in the area. The alternate road bisecting Roces Avenue was officially named Benjamin Imperial St. in recognition of her predecessor.

To support economic recovery, the city also initiated the Legazpi City Investment Incentive Code of 1996 (S.P. Ordinance 96-016), which offered real property tax holidays, fee waivers, and skills-training grants to investors in designated growth areas. In 1998, the city secured the issuance of Proclamation No. 1249 (9 June 1998), declaring a 33-hectare site in Sitio Caridad, Banquerohan as the Legazpi City Special Economic Zone, a PEZA-registered area offering both local and national investment incentives.

Early 2000s: Modernization and urban renewal

In the early 2000s, Legazpi City initiated a program of economic modernization and infrastructure development. The 2001 local elections marked the end of Mayor Imelda C. Roces' decade-long administration and the beginning of Mayor Noel Ebriega Rosal's tenure. Rosal prioritized investment in urban infrastructure, tourism promotion, and disaster-resilient planning, in response to the city's exposure to typhoons and volcanic activity. In 2001, the Landco Business Park, with the Pacific Mall Legazpi as its main locator, was inaugurated as the first master-planned commercial district in the Bicol Region, intended to attract business investments. During this period, Legazpi also experienced a rise in private sector growth, with the opening of its first full-sized shopping malls, upgrades to its road network, and redevelopment of public markets.

Natural disasters and emergency response (2006)

Typhoons Milenyo and Reming

Legazpi's disaster management systems were significantly challenged in late 2006 when the city was struck by two successive super typhoons: Typhoon Milenyo (Xangsane) in September and Typhoon Reming (Durian) in November. Typhoon Reming caused extensive damage across Albay province. In Legazpi, heavy rainfall triggered the remobilization of volcanic debris from Mayon Volcano, resulting in deadly lahars that buried several villages, including Barangay Padang. Approximately 600 people died across the province due to the disaster, with Legazpi among the most severely affected areas.

Rehabilitation and climate adaptation strategy

Following the 2006 disaster, city and provincial authorities implemented a range of rehabilitation and risk mitigation measures. A multi-phase coastal infrastructure project known as Legazpi Boulevard was constructed to function both as a scenic thoroughfare and a protective seawall against storm surges and coastal flooding. Additional flood control structures, including dikes and improved drainage systems, were developed along lahar- and flood-prone rivers and coastal areas. By 2007, Albay Province and Legazpi City had adopted a comprehensive Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCA-DRR) strategy. The initiative was cited by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as a model for effective local disaster governance.

Economic expansion and infrastructure growth (2009–2015)

Legazpi Boulevard

By the late 2000s, Legazpi City experienced notable economic growth, which led to a surge in construction activity. In 2009, the city inaugurated the Embarcadero de Legazpi, a waterfront commercial and entertainment complex built on reclaimed land near the port area. The development included an information technology park, designated in July 2009 as the first IT ecozone in the Bicol Region. The complex featured retail establishments, restaurants, and a marina, and also accommodated business process outsourcing (BPO) firms such as Sutherland Global Services. This initiative contributed to Legazpi's recognition as an emerging hub for outsourcing services in the Philippines.

Sawangan Park

In addition to commercial developments, Legazpi City pursued major infrastructure projects aimed at improving transportation and mitigating natural hazards. Legazpi Boulevard, a coastal highway and promenade, was constructed to serve as both a transport corridor and a seawall protecting against storm surges. The initial 4-kilometer segment, stretching from the port area through Barangays Dap-dap and Puro, was completed through a public–private partnership in the early 2010s.

In 2009, the city inaugurated the Legazpi Grand Central Terminal, a modern integrated transport facility developed through a public–private partnership. Constructed under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement without direct expenditure from the city government, the terminal became a recognized model for successful local PPP implementation. The project earned Legazpi a Galing Pook Award in 2014, recognizing it as one of the ten most outstanding local governance programs in the Philippines.

In Barangay Dap-dap, a public park and promenade known as Sawangan Park was later developed along the boulevard. Inaugurated in the late 2010s, the park features landscaped areas, recreational facilities, and views of Mayon Volcano and Albay Gulf.

The boulevard was extended northward beginning in 2017, with a 2.7-kilometer expansion traversing the coastal barangays of Sabang, Pigcale, Baybay, and San Roque. The ₱2.1-billion project, implemented in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), included the construction of a seawall, a four-lane road with bike lanes, and a 380-meter bridge. These were designed to reduce flood risk and improve access to northern Albay.

Additional road infrastructure was developed in southern Legazpi. An 18-kilometer concrete highway was constructed to connect the upland barangays of Buenavista, Cagbacong, and nearby communities with the city center. The project was also intended to facilitate access to the new airport in Daraga.

Also in 2014, Legazpi placed second in the national Livable Cities Design Challenge, which evaluated cities on urban planning and disaster resilience. Iloilo City ranked first, followed by Legazpi and Cebu City in third place.

Private sector boom and city awards (2016-2019)

Ayala Malls Legazpi

SM City Legazpi

Private sector investment in Legazpi increased significantly in the 2010s. In 2016, Ayala Land partnered with the local LCC Group to open Ayala Malls Legazpi – Liberty City Center, a four-story shopping complex on the site of the former public market. This marked Ayala's first mall in the Bicol Region. In the same year, SM Prime Holdings began construction of SM City Legazpi, an 87,000-square-meter shopping mall located beside the city's bus terminal. The mall opened on September 14, 2018, becoming the largest retail complex in Bicol.

The entry of national retail developers was accompanied by growth in hospitality, residential, and franchising sectors. Public infrastructure expanded in parallel. In 2018, Legazpi opened the Legazpi City Hospital, the city's first public hospital. That same year, a ₱100-million engineered sanitary landfill was completed in Barangay Banquerohan, noted as one of the first modern waste management facilities in the region.

On October 7, 2021, the Bicol International Airport was inaugurated in Daraga, Albay, replacing the old Legazpi domestic airport. Although located outside the city proper, it functions as Legazpi's primary air gateway and is projected to enhance regional connectivity.

Legazpi"s development efforts have received national recognition. In 2018, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry named Legazpi the Most Business-Friendly City (Component City category), citing its streamlined business registration processes and investor-oriented governance. That same year, the city ranked first in the National Competitiveness Council (NCC)'s competitiveness index for component cities, based on metrics such as economic dynamism, infrastructure, government efficiency, and resiliency. It had previously placed third in 2016 and fifth in 2017.

According to media reports and NCC assessments, Legazpi's performance was attributed in part to infrastructure investments following major disasters, particularly in flood control and urban planning. Legazpi has consistently passed the Seal of Good Local Governance administered by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Developments in the 2020s

By 2020, the number of registered business establishments in Legazpi had increased to over 6,000, with annual local government revenue exceeding ₱1 billion, indicating sustained economic growth. City officials subsequently expressed interest in pursuing the reclassification of Legazpi into a Highly Urbanized City (HUC), noting that the city had met the population and income criteria for HUC status based on the 2020 census.

A shift in political leadership occurred following the May 2022 elections, when then-mayor Noel Rosal was elected governor of Albay, and his wife Geraldine Rosal became mayor of Legazpi. Both were later disqualified by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for violating campaign spending regulations. Noel Rosal was removed from office in late 2022, followed by Geraldine Rosal’s removal between 2023 and 2024. Vice Mayor Oscar Cristobal briefly served as acting mayor, until former Ako Bicol party-list representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. assumed the mayoralty by late 2024. In the 2025 Philippine general election, Hisham Ismail, former barangay captain of Cabangan‑West and president of the city's Liga ng mga Barangay, was elected mayor of Legazpi City, becoming the youngest chief executive in the city's history.

Despite the political transitions, infrastructure development continued. The newly opened Bicol International Airport improved regional air connectivity, and plans were initiated to redevelop the site of the former domestic airport for government and commercial use. As of 2023, the construction of an international cruise terminal was in full swing, intended to accommodate large cruise vessels and support the city’s tourism sector. In 2024, the MS Hanseatic Spirit of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises carrying international tourists was the latest cruise ship to dock in Legazpi.

Ongoing urban development projects include the expansion of flood control infrastructure and drainage systems, and the construction of a 1,000-room permanent evacuation center in Barangay Homapon, originally announced in 2018 to serve residents in high-risk areas near Mayon Volcano. Discussions on the reclassification of Legazpi into an HUC have remained active, with local leaders citing the potential for greater administrative autonomy and increased fiscal allocations.

Geography

View to the north from Barangay Lamba located in the hilly southern areas of Legazpi

Legazpi is on the eastern portion of the province of Albay bounded on the north by the municipality of Santo Domingo, on the east by Albay Gulf, on the west by the municipality of Daraga, and on the south by the municipalities of Manito, Albay and Pilar and Castilla, Sorsogon. The city is located 527 kilometres (327 mi) south of Manila.

From north to south, the city spans approximately 29 kilometers; from east to west, the narrowest portion is about 3 kilometers (urban district) while the widest is about 15 kilometers (southeast area). Legazpi has a total land area of 20,437 hectares, 90 percent of which is classified as rural (18,431.66 hectares) while 10 percent is classified as urban (2,005.39 hectares).

Legazpi's topography is generally plain on the northeastern areas, with slopes ranging from five to fifteen degrees. The southern areas have mostly rolling to hilly terrain. In the city's coastal areas, the terrain varies from plain (north) to hilly (south). Legazpi is criss-crossed by several rivers including the Tibu, Macabalo and Yawa rivers with a number of swampy areas, particularly in the urban district. To mitigate flooding in these low-lying areas, the local government has built an urban drainage and flood control system consisting of dikes, canals, sea walls and three pumping stations located in Barangays San Roque, Bay-Bay and Victory Village.

Barangays

Legazpi is politically subdivided into 70 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Currently, there are 45 urban barangays and 25 rural barangays.

Political map of Legazpi, Albay

Barangay number	Barangay name	Class	Population (2015)	Barangay head
1	Em's Barrio	Urban	3,725	Irma Trinanes
2	Em's Barrio (South)	Urban	1,820	Leticia Tejada
3	Em's Barrio (East)	Urban	900	Jose P. Pispis
4	Sagpon	Urban	953	Gibsen Salvador E. De Leoz
5	Sagmin	Urban	1,375	Jude A. Rico
6	Bañadero	Urban	1,390	Arthur R. Marco
7	Baño	Urban	645	Domingo Alberto D. Pasano Jr.
8	Bagumbayan	Urban	3,400	Amore Rex B. Rañeses
9	Pinaric	Urban	1,493	Roy A. Nanoz
10	Cabugao	Urban	547	Victor R. Lapasaran
11	Maoyod	Urban	1,110	Romeo A. Madraso
12	Tula-Tula	Urban	2,586	Arnold Bahillo
13	Ilawod West Pob. (Ilawod 1)	Urban	721	Maria Lourdes F. Baltazar
14	Ilawod Pob. (Ilawod 2)	Urban	854	Gerald A. Ayque
15	Ilawod East Pob. (Ilawod 3)	Urban	2,879	Erlim A. Azotea
16	Kawit-East Washington Drive	Urban	5,372	Jonathan G. Rodenas
17	Rizal St. – Ilawod	Urban	2,048	Lina A. Chan
18	Cabañgan (West)	Urban	3,856	Hisham Ismail
19	Cabañgan	Urban	1,427	John B. Macalampad
20	Cabañgan (East)	Urban	641	Ma. Nimfa B. Bolanos
21	Binanuahan (West)	Urban	917	Jose T. Abiera
22	Binanuahan (East)	Urban	1,619	Carmen V. Sarona
23	Imperial Court	Urban	746	Gina M. Samaupan
24	Rizal	Urban	2,695	Ricardo V. Abunda
25	Lapu-Lapu	Urban	1,398	Karren Canon - Valdez
26	Dinagaan	Urban	798	Ma. Jocelyn L. Astor
27	Victory Village (South)	Urban	1,418	Joie M. Bahoy
28	Victory Village (North)	Urban	2,399	Antonio L. Loveriza
29	Sabang	Urban	1,656	Ismael G. Santillan
30	Pigcale	Urban	1,688	Fernando Lopez
31	Centro Baybay	Urban	1,879	Teresita L. Empig
32	San Roque	Urban	5,632	Joselito G. Martinez
33	PNR – Peñaranda St. – Iraya	Urban	2,773	Marife D. Velasco
34	Oro Site – Magallanes St.	Urban	1,633	Manuel Deladia
35	Tinago	Urban	375	Syri R. Sayco
36	Capantawan	Urban	644	Eric Sim B. Brizuela
37	Bitano	Urban	8,559	Bernard Y. Pacardo
38	Gogon	Urban	5,752	Perfecto D. Nacion
39	Bonot	Urban	3,521	Henry C. Asejo
40	Cruzada	Urban	5,853	Edsil N. Llaguno
41	Bogtong	Urban	4,753	Armando M. Toledo
42	Rawis	Urban	8,868	Joel A. Orosco
43	Tamaoyan	Rural	1,642	Sylvia M. Del Agua
44	Pawa	Rural	3,469	Ma. Yulina A. Que
45	Dita	Rural	1,791	Romeo A. Almayda Jr.
46	San Joaquin	Rural	2,260	Richard S. Ibarra
47	Arimbay	Urban	3,753	Janita B. Bea
48	Bagong Abre	Rural	1,627	Ester B. Cargullo
49	Bigaa	Rural	6,730	Ricardo A. Arienda
50	Padang	Rural	1.653	Harold L. Bembenuto
51	Buyuan	Rural	3,895	Ernesto B. Perez
52	Matanag	Rural	1,895	Reynaldo D. Poguilla
53	Bonga	Rural	3,503	Michael A. Mina
54	Mabinit	Rural	1,640	Levy Lourdes P. Nunez
55	Estanza	Rural	4,237	Josephine A. Baloso
56	Taysan	Rural	12,330	Albert P. Asaytuno
57	Dap-dap	Urban	2,287	Glenn J. Barcelon
58	Buraguis	Urban	4,549	Amelita T. Bariso
59	Puro	Rural	4,756	Nicasio G. Barrios Jr.
60	Lamba	Rural	1,352	Norberto M. Abion
61	Maslog	Rural	4,796	Felicidad A. Olimpo
62	Homapon	Rural	4,832	Benhur B. Ariola, Jr.
63	Mariawa	Rural	1,664	Cristina L. Arana
64	Bagacay	Rural	1,616	Julian A. Ariola
65	Imalnod	Rural	2,146	Valentino M. Llaneta
66	Banquerohan	Rural	6,976	Crispin A. Botin
67	Bariis	Rural	1,812	Geremias B. Leron Jr.
68	San Francisco	Rural	2,479	Rosemarie A. Barrameda
69	Buenavista	Rural	1,319	Ester P. Ardales
70	Cagbacong	Rural	2,776	Genaro M. Asilo

Climate

Climate data for Legazpi (1991–2020, extremes 1903–2023)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	32.7 (90.9)	33.7 (92.7)	35.0 (95.0)	36.5 (97.7)	37.7 (99.9)	37.6 (99.7)	36.6 (97.9)	36.9 (98.4)	36.0 (96.8)	35.3 (95.5)	34.4 (93.9)	33.2 (91.8)	37.7 (99.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28.9 (84.0)	29.4 (84.9)	30.2 (86.4)	31.7 (89.1)	32.5 (90.5)	32.3 (90.1)	31.5 (88.7)	31.5 (88.7)	31.5 (88.7)	31.1 (88.0)	30.4 (86.7)	29.4 (84.9)	30.9 (87.6)
Daily mean °C (°F)	26.1 (79.0)	26.3 (79.3)	27.0 (80.6)	28.2 (82.8)	29.0 (84.2)	28.8 (83.8)	28.2 (82.8)	28.3 (82.9)	28.1 (82.6)	27.8 (82.0)	27.4 (81.3)	26.7 (80.1)	27.7 (81.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23.3 (73.9)	23.3 (73.9)	23.9 (75.0)	24.8 (76.6)	25.6 (78.1)	25.3 (77.5)	24.9 (76.8)	25.0 (77.0)	24.8 (76.6)	24.4 (75.9)	24.4 (75.9)	24.0 (75.2)	24.5 (76.1)
Record low °C (°F)	17.0 (62.6)	16.0 (60.8)	17.0 (62.6)	16.7 (62.1)	17.1 (62.8)	18.9 (66.0)	15.8 (60.4)	19.4 (66.9)	19.0 (66.2)	17.2 (63.0)	17.9 (64.2)	13.9 (57.0)	13.9 (57.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	346.5 (13.64)	251.0 (9.88)	232.1 (9.14)	152.0 (5.98)	197.9 (7.79)	215.9 (8.50)	281.1 (11.07)	222.5 (8.76)	279.9 (11.02)	321.9 (12.67)	450.3 (17.73)	642.0 (25.28)	3,593.1 (141.46)
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm)	18	13	14	12	13	14	18	16	17	18	20	22	195
Average relative humidity (%)	85	84	84	82	82	83	85	84	85	86	86	87	84
Source: PAGASA

Legazpi City features a tropical rainforest climate with copious amount of rainfall throughout the year. Legazpi has noticeably wetter and drier periods of the year. However, the city's driest month, April, still sees on average of over 150 millimetres (5.9 in) of precipitation per month. Similar to many other cities with this climate, temperatures are relatively constant throughout the course of the year, with a mean annual average of 26.9 °C (80.4 °F). The coolest month is January with a daily mean of 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) and the hottest months are jointly May and June with a daily mean of 28.1 °C (82.6 °F). The all-time record high temperature was 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) on May 27, 1968, and the all-time record low temperature was 13.9 °C (57.0 °F) on February 28, 1971.

Disaster risk reduction

Because of its geographical location on the eastern coast of the Philippines and the close proximity of Mayon Volcano, Legazpi is vulnerable to typhoons, sea level rise and volcanic eruptions. To mitigate the effects of climate change and improve the city's resilience against disasters, the city government has adopted a disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategy. The City Government of Legazpi was recognized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) as a model locality in implementing risk reduction management practices in the Philippines.

On the provincial level, Albay has institutionalized disaster preparedness and disaster response by creating the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) in 1995. The APSEMO is tasked to design and implement a disaster risk management and reduction program. Its main objective is to develop more pro-active and disaster resilient communities. Specific disaster preparedness strategies in Albay and Legazpi include preemptive evacuation, 'zero casualty' policy, re-planning of the city's land use, mangrove reforestation, and the establishment of the Climate Change Academy as a training center for disaster risk management, evaluation of climate risk hazards and adaptive capabilities, planning, and programming. On March 12, 2018, Mayor Noel E. Rosal announced his administration's proposed plan to construct a permanent 1000-room evacuation center in Barangay Homapon for citizens living within the "eight-kilometer extended danger zone" near the volcano Mayon.

Demographics

Population census of Legazpi

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 23,255 —     1918 52,756 +5.61% 1939 41,468 −1.14% 1948 78,828 +7.40% 1960 60,593 −2.17% 1970 84,090 +3.33%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1975 88,378 +1.00% 1980 99,766 +2.45% 1990 121,116 +1.96% 1995 141,657 +2.98% 2000 157,010 +2.23% 2007 175,843 +1.57%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2010 182,201 +1.30% 2015 196,639 +1.46% 2020 209,533 +1.35% 2024 210,616 +0.12%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

According to the 2020 census, the population of Legazpi is 209,533 people, with a density of 1,400/km² or 3,600/sq mi.

Legazpi had an average annual population growth of 1.86% between 2000 and 2007 according to the 2010 census. About 58 percent of the city's population or 105,853 live in areas classified as urban while 42 percent or 76,348 live in rural areas. The city has a population density of 9 people per hectare (54 people per hectare in urban areas and 4 people per hectare in rural areas). Daytime population in Legazpi is estimated to reach 350,000 due to the daily influx of students, workers, entrepreneurs, and tourists.

Legazpi is the most populous city in the province of Albay and in the Bicol Region. It comprises 14.8% of the total population of Albay. The main language spoken is Central Bikol. In addition, English and Filipino/Tagalog are also widely used and spoken.

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in the city. Other religious denominations include Iglesia ni Cristo, Members Church of God International, Orthodoxy, Protestant churches such as Baptist, Methodist, Evangelical Christians, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Islam. The city is the ecclesiastical seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legazpi.

Economy

Legazpi at night, view from Barangay Estanza

Legazpi City is recognized as one of the major economic hubs in the Bicol Region, hosting a large concentration of business establishments and serving as a focal point for tourism, transportation, education, health services, and commerce. Classified by the Department of Finance as a first-class component city under Department Order 074-2024, Legazpi falls within the category of Philippine cities with average regular incomes exceeding ₱1.3 billion.

The city's economy is diversified across various sectors, including agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, services, manufacturing, and small-scale mining. This broad economic base reinforces Legazpi's strategic role as an important regional center for service delivery and logistics.

According to the 2024 Statement of Receipts and Expenditures data from the Bureau of Local Government Finance, Legazpi City generated ₱824.02 million in locally sourced revenue for fiscal year 2024, the highest among Bicol’s component cities, reflecting sustained business growth and fiscal management.

Tourism remains a leading driver of economic activity. The sector welcomed 1.27 million visitors in 2019 and has resumed growth following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, Albay province—of which Legazpi is the capital—was the most visited destination in the Bicol Region, with 1,391,170 domestic and 16,023 foreign tourist arrivals.

In 2023, The city's Business Permits and Licensing Office recorded 6,330 registered business establishments with total investments valued at ₱571.35 million, indicating continued expansion of the local enterprise base. Supporting visitor arrivals and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) traffic are more than 50 Department of Tourism–accredited hotels, inns, and resorts.

High-value agricultural products, such as pili nuts (canarium ovatum), also contribute significantly to the local economy. Approximately 90 percent of the national supply is produced in the Bicol Region and processed in Legazpi.

Legazpi is also among the 25 priority "Digital Cities 2025" designated by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP). The program identifies urban centers with strong potential for accelerated growth in the information technology and business process management (ICT-BPM) sector.

Agriculture and natural resources

Coconut is a major agricultural product of Legazpi

Agriculture remains a foundation of Legazpi's economy. The city and surrounding areas produce coconut, pili nuts, abaca fiber, rice, corn, and various root crops. Coconut farming is significant – Legazpi hosts the Legaspi Oil Company, a major coconut oil mill established in 1967 that can process 100,000 metric tons of copra annually. Coconut products such as crude coconut oil and copra meal are among Legazpi's top exports.

Bicol is also the Philippines' leading source of pili nuts, accounting for about 90% of national production. Legazpi has a long heritage in pili processing: in 1936 a Spanish entrepreneur, Don Antonio Regidor, pioneered the pili confectionery industry by founding the Central Pili Nut Candy factory in the city. This family-run enterprise (now known as Albay Pili Nut Candy) has operated in Legazpi for over 85 years and was handed down to Regidor's granddaughter in 2023, exemplifying the city’s role in developing pili nut products.

Pili nut

Other important crops include abaca (Manila hemp), for which Albay is a major producer, as well as banana, jackfruit, and vegetables. Abaca fiber from Legazpi is used in traditional woven textiles called pinukpok, and local cooperatives in Barangay Banquerohan continue to refine abaca processing (with government support for fiber softening and dyeing technology) to add value to this export crop.

In the fisheries sector, Legazpi’s coastal communities around Albay Gulf engage in commercial fishing. The city's natural resources also support mining and quarrying. In particular, deposits of perlite, a volcanic glass used in construction and horticulture, are mined and processed in the Legazpi area for export.

Additionally, sand, gravel, and other aggregates quarried from the slopes of Mt. Mayon supply the construction industry. Overall, Legazpi's primary industries of agriculture, fisheries, and mining provide raw materials for domestic use and industrial inputs, while also feeding into the city's manufacturing and export activities.

Trade and industry

Landco Business Park

Legazpi is a major trading center for Albay province and the broader Bicol Region. The primary commercial area is the Legazpi Port District, where economic activity is concentrated. As of 2023, a total of 6,330 business establishments were registered in the city, representing a 21.73% increase from 2021. The majority are micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) engaged primarily in retail and services, underscoring Legazpi's position as a regional hub for shopping and service-based industries.

The city government has implemented an electronic Business One-Stop Shop (e-BOSS) system to streamline business registration and renewal processes, supporting the continued expansion of the local enterprise base.

Shopping centers

Yashano Mall

LCC Mall Legazpi

Shopping centers and public markets are prominent features of Legazpi's commercial landscape. Liberty Commercial Center, Inc. (LCC), a homegrown Albayano company established in nearby Tabaco City in 1945, operates a major mall (LCC Mall Legazpi), three supermarkets and five Expressmarts (grocery stores) in the city. Adjacent to the port district, the Landco Business Park opened in 2001 as the first master-planned commercial district in the Bicol Region. The 7-hectare complex includes offices, banks, restaurants, and Pacific Mall Legazpi—the region’s earliest full-scale shopping mall.

SM City Legazpi

Retail trade constitutes a significant sector of the local economy. In recent years, national mall developers have expanded into Legazpi. Ayala Malls Legazpi (Liberty City Center) opened in 2016, followed by SM City Legazpi in 2018. The latter is a three-story, 87,000-square-meter complex located beside the integrated transport terminal, and is noted as SM Prime Holdings' 71st shopping mall and the largest in the Bicol Region.

Other retail centers include Yashano Mall, Embarcadero de Legazpi—a mixed-use waterfront development with an IT park—Gregorian Mall, A. Bichara Silverscreens and Entertainment Center, and 101 Shopping Center. Traditional public markets such as the Legazpi City Public Market and the Old Albay Public Market continue to serve as key venues for the trade of agricultural produce, seafood, and handicrafts.

Pacific Mall Legazpi

To support local enterprises and tourism, the city operates the Ibalong Pasalubong Center, which features handicrafts and regional products such as abaca textiles, pili-based confections, and woodcrafts.

External trade

External trade through the Port of Legazpi has historically played a role in the local economy, particularly in the handling of bulk commodities. The port facilitates inter-island and limited international shipping, with exports including coconut oil, copra cake, perlite ore, and abaca fiber products.

In 2023, the Bureau of Customs' Legazpi district reported a record revenue of ₱1.01 billion from January to August. This increase was attributed to the port's initial handling of bulk petroleum imports—authorized for the first time in 2023—as well as ongoing imports of grains, coal, and cement.

Investment zones

To support industrial development, the government has established designated economic zones and industrial parks in Legazpi. These include the Bicol Regional Agro-Industrial Center (BRAIC) and the First Legazpi Industrial Estate in Barangay Homapon, which are intended for agribusiness and light manufacturing enterprises.

Additional sites such as the Legazpi City Special Economic Zone in Banquerohan and the City Light Industrial Park (CLIP) in Barangay Bogtong have been identified for industrial use. The Embarcadero de Legazpi IT Park in Barangay Victory Village is a PEZA accredited IT and tourism facility.

These areas offer infrastructure and investment incentives aimed at attracting factories, warehouses, and technology-oriented firms. While large-scale manufacturing remains limited, the development of these zones is part of a broader strategy to diversify the local economy beyond agriculture and services.

Tourism

Colorful hot air balloons during the 2024 Bicol Loco Festival in Legazpi City.

ATV ride to Mayon, one of the adventure tourism activities in Legazpi

Tourism is a major contributor to the economy of Legazpi City, supported by its location at the foot of Mayon Volcano and its promotion as the "City of Fun and Adventure." The city offers a range of outdoor activities, including all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rides on volcanic trails, ziplining, skydiving, scuba diving, and water sports along the Albay Gulf.

Legazpi also serves as a gateway to eco-cultural attractions nearby such as the Cagsawa Ruins, Ligñon Hill Nature Park, Peñaranda Park, and heritage landmarks including Daraga Church and St. Gregory the Great Cathedral. Its proximity to surrounding destinations—including Sumlang Lake in Camalig, the caves of Jovellar, the beaches of Bacacay, and the whale shark interaction sites in Donsol—further positions it as a central hub for regional tourism.

Tourist arrivals and tourism revenue

The Oriental Legazpi

In 2024, the province of Albay recorded approximately 1.39 million domestic and 16,000 foreign tourist arrivals, according to the Philippine Information Agency, the highest in the Bicol Region. Regional tourism receipts reached ₱3.5 billion from domestic travelers, with Albay accounting for the largest share.

Legazpi's hospitality sector supports this growth, with 37 Department of Tourism–accredited hotels and 13 accredited resorts as of 2023. The opening of the Bicol International Airport in nearby Daraga in 2021 has improved air connectivity, replacing the old domestic airport and increasing the city’s accessibility to national and international visitors.

MICE tourism

Albay Astrodome

Aside from promoting adventure tourism, the city is also positioning itself as a destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) tourism. Facilities such as the Legazpi City Convention Center and the adjacent Exposition Building can accommodate a combined total of nearly 9,000 delegates. These are complemented by other large venues including the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation and the Albay Astrodome, enabling the city to host regional and national events.

Festival-driven tourism

Cultural festivals form an integral part of Legazpi’s tourism calendar. The Ibalong Festival, held annually in August, features parades and performances inspired by the Bicolano epic of Ibalong. The Magayon Festival, celebrated every May, highlights the province’s folklore and local arts through a month-long program of events.

In 2024, the city launched the Bicol Loco Festival, a three-day hot-air balloon and extreme sports event held at the former airport grounds. In its second year, the festival drew approximately 500,000 spectators and was recognized by the Department of Tourism as a key addition to the region’s tourism offerings.

A cruise destination

Legazpi has also become a frequent port of call for international cruise ships, underscoring its emerging importance in maritime tourism. Since October 2018, several vessels—such as Hapag‑Lloyd Cruises' MS Bremen, MS Hanseatic Spirit, and MS Hanseatic Nature as well as Heritage Expedition's Heritage Adventurer —have docked at Legazpi’s port, bringing international passengers to enjoy the city’s volcano vistas and cultural attractions. 

Recognizing this opportunity, the city and national government have initiated plans for a dedicated cruise ship terminal featuring a rock causeway, passenger building, and updated port facilities in a ₱920 million project started in 2021.

Sports tourism

The city hosts several prominent sports events centered on Mount Mayon and adventure racing. Prominent among these are the annual Mt. Mayon Triathlon, the Mayon 360° Ultramarathon—a solo 80 km or 50-mile endurance run circumnavigating Mayon—and various XTERRA off-road triathlon competitions . These events attract both local and international athletes, integrating sports tourism into the city's broader tourism strategy.

International exposure through travel media

Legazpi has also featured prominently in international travel media. Notably, Leg 5 and 6 of The Amazing Race Asia Season 4 (2010) and Leg 7 and 8 The Amazing Race Philippines Season 1 (2012) were filmed in and around Legazpi . These broadcasts amplified global awareness of Legazpi’s adventure tourism offerings and reinforced its “Fun and Adventure” branding.

Banking and finance

Legazpi City serves as the financial center of Albay and one of the primary banking hubs in the Bicol Region. As of 2024, it hosts over 50 bank branches—including major commercial banks like BPI, BDO, Metrobank, Land Bank, and DBP—alongside thrift and rural banks such as BPI Legazpi Savings Bank and Camalig Bank. The city is also home to a regional Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas branch, which underscores its role in overseeing banking operations across Bicol. According to BSP data, the total volume of bank deposits in Legazpi reached approximately ₱77.6 billion by the end of December 2024.

Beyond commercial banking, Legazpi supports a broad spectrum of financial services, including microfinance providers (e.g., SEDP), about 57 lending firms, 16 financing companies, 31 pawnshops, and 63 insurance offices as of 2024. This diversified financial ecosystem enhances access to credit, insurance, and remittance services for individuals and small businesses across the region. Regulatory and supervisory presence—including the BSP and SEC offices—further solidifies Legazpi's status as a regional financial hub, supporting economic growth and inclusion.

Business process outsourcing

Sutherland Global Services Legazpi

Legazpi City has long positioned itself as a growing IT‑BPO hub in the Bicol region. In national programs (formerly "Next Wave Cities," now Digital Cities 2025), Legazpi is identified alongside 25 priority cities for ICT‑BPM investment. The city government reports that about ₱30 billion in investments including BPO firms have flowed into Legazpi over the past decade.

Its sole IT park, the Embarcadero IT Park (a PEZA‑accredited ecozone on the waterfront), offers roughly 8,000 call‑center seats (enough for ~24,000 agents on three shifts). Sutherland Global Services is the park’s largest tenant.In all, Legazpi now hosts about ten IT‑BPM companies, employing roughly 5,000 full‑time staff. The local government actively supports this growth: for example, it secured a ₱10 million DILG grant (via the Training for Better Access to Job Opportunities program) to train local graduates for BPO work.

Housing

As of 2023, Legazpi City had a total of 140 residential subdivisions, reflecting steady urban and suburban expansion to accommodate its growing population.

Legazpi's housing market has also seen significant expansion with both public and private projects. The most notable recent project is Residencia de Legazpi, a Pambansang Pabahay (4PH) socialized housing complex that began construction in 2024. This Pag-IBIG Fund‑coordinated project will build three 4‑storey buildings (on a 7,379 sqm city lot in Brgy. Homapon) totaling 372 residential units plus ~32 commercial/shop spaces. The ₱387.6 million development is funded by Pag-IBIG and constructed by the Legazpi Premium Development Corporation; it will provide affordable home loans to ~400 qualifying families under President Marcos's 4PH housing program. (The city sold the lot to the developer to fast‑track the projectpna.gov.ph.) This is one of several new government‑backed housing initiatives in Legazpi under the Marcos administration's drive to address housing shortages.

Beyond socialized housing, Legazpi's private real estate sector has been active. Numerous subdivisions and condominium projects have been built by both national and local developers. For example, Vista Land's brands (Camella and Lumina Homes) have launched new residential subdivisions near the city proper, offering affordable house‑and‑lot lots. Local developer Deca Homes has also marketed housing estates around Legazpi. In addition, Sunwestville Realty has developed the Ecohomes Bayshores condominium complex in Brgy. Puro – a low-rise, resort‑style condo project (10 buildings, over 1,300 units) on a 2.5‑ha site by the gulf.

Legazpi Park Terraces, now in design development, is a proposed 17‑storey mixed‑use complex on a 5,857 m² site in downtown Legazpi. The twin towers would add roughly 44,000 m² of residential and retail space arranged around multi‑level "park terraces" that frame views of Mayon Volcano and Albay Gulf.

Poverty incidence

According to successive Philippine Statistics Authority data, Legazpi's poverty incidence has been cut by more than half in two decades, declining from 33.87% in 2000 to 17.62% in 2021; the rate reached a low of 13.78% in 2018 before edging up slightly amid the COVID‑19.

Poverty incidence of Legazpi

10 20 30 40 2000 33.87 2003 36.48 2006 26.20 2009 30.68 2012 17.32 2015 17.98 2018 13.78 2021 17.62 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Government

Legazpi City Hall

Legazpi is governed by a mayor, vice mayor, and ten councilors. Each city official is elected to serve for a three-year term. The representative of the Liga ng mga Barangay and the Sangguniang Kabataan also participates in the city council. The current city mayor of Legazpi is Hisham B. Ismail.

Mayors of Legazpi City

Inclusive years	Mayor
1898-1900	Agripino Imperial (Appointed by Gen. Emilio F. Aguinaldo)
1901-1903	Balbino Belarmino (President Mun. of Legazpi)
1901-1903	Florencio Magdaraog (President Mun. of Albay Viejo)
1904-1905	Severo M. Isidro (President Mun. of Legazpi)
1904-1908	Ramon Serrano (President Mun. of Albay Viejo)
1906-1907	Silvestre S. Siping (President Mun. of Legazpi )
1908-1909	Agripino Segovia (President Mun. of Albay Viejo)
1910-1921	Ramon Serrano (President Mun. of Albay Viejo)
1921-1925	Ramon Serrano (President Mun. of Legazpi )
1921-1925	Crispin de la Torre (President Mun. of Albay Viejo)
1925-1928	Ramon Serrano (President Mun. of Legazpi )
1928-1931	Catalino Elizondo (President Mun. of Legazpi)
1931-1934	Juan R. Serrano
1935-1937	Feliciano F. Imperial
1938-1941	Dr. Prudencio Papa
1941-1944	Vicente Nieves
August 26, 1941 – September 24, 1941	Alfredo Rebueno
1944-1945	Pedro Abaleta (Japanese Appointed)
1945-June 13, 1946	Antonio A. Azaña
June 14, 1946 – March 25, 1947	Feliciano F. Imperial
March 26, 1947 – 1947	Francisco de Leoz
1947-1948	Herculano E. Pareja
1948-1952	Jose A. Arboleda
1952-1953	Marcial O. Rañola
1953	Abelardo M. Imperial
1953	Domingo S. Bailon
1954-1959	Ramon A. Arnaldo
1960-1957	Luis S. Los Baños
January 1, 1968 – April 7, 1986	Gregorio S. Imperial
April 8, 1986 – December 1, 1987	Cezar A. Burdeos
December 2, 1987 – March 7, 1988	Juan D. Victoria
March 8, 1988 – December 1, 1991	Benjamin S. Imperial
December 2, 1991 – June 30, 2001	Imelda C. Roces
June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010	Noel E. Rosal
June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013	Carmen Geraldine B. Rosal
June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2022	Noel E. Rosal
June 30, 2022 – September 16, 2024	Carmen Geraldine B. Rosal
September 16, 2024 – November 11, 2024	Oscar Robert H. Cristobal (Acting Mayor)
November 11, 2024 – June 30, 2025	Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr.
Term Starts on Jun 30, 2025	Hisham B. Ismael (Mayor Elect)

Culture

Festivals

Magayon Festival

Legazpi City hosts several annual festivals. The Ibalong Festival is a non-religious cultural celebration held every August. It commemorates the ancient epic-fragment of Ibalong and its legendary heroes (Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong)  The nine-day festival features street dance presentations, trade fairs and markets, the Mutya ng Ibalong beauty pageant, and various sporting competitions such as the Mt. Mayon Triathlon.

Each May the province observes the Magayon Festival, a month-long cultural event celebrating the legend of Daragang Magayon (from the Bikol word magayon, "beautiful") and the iconic Mt. Mayon, with many of the events held in Legazpi City particularly in the Penaranda Park.  The festival’s activities typically include agricultural fairs and exhibits, cultural performances, parades, and the Daragang Magayon beauty pageant (portraying the legendary maiden Magayon).

A newly established festival is the Bicol Loco Hot Air Balloon Festival. First staged in 2024 at Legazpi's old airport, this is an annual mid-year event featuring dozens of colorful hot-air balloons against Mayon's backdrop. The multi-day festival includes aerial activities (such as skydiving jumps, paramotor and aerobatic displays) and nightly concerts and entertainment.

During the Christmas season, the city holds Paskuhan sa Legazpi (Christmas Village) in Sawangan Park. Launched in 2019, the Paskuhan is a holiday festival of lights and displays designed to attract tourists. The 2023 edition – the festival's second staging – featured large illuminated Christmas installations, a holiday night market, and nightly entertainment with live bands.

Legazpi's two city districts also observe annual patronal fiestas. In the Port District, the feast of St. Raphael the Archangel is celebrated every October 24. The city government has officially declared October 24 a special non-working holiday each year for this district fiesta. (The old Albay District similarly holds its own feast day on September 3 in honor of St. Gregory the Great.

There are also several local festivals held in the city's barangays including Santo Cristo Festival in Barangay Dap-Dap, Bankero Festival in Barangay San Roque, Biga Festival in Barangay Bigaa, Banua Festival in Barangay Binanuahan, Peñafrancia Festival in Barangay Sabang and Hikot Festival in Barangay Victory Village.

Cuisine

Laing

Bicol Express

Legazpi's cuisine reflects the bold, coconut-rich, and chili-infused flavors of Bicolano cooking. Common staples include laing (dried taro leaves in coconut milk), Bicol Express (pork stewed in spicy coconut cream), and pinangat (ground shrimp wrapped in taro leaves). These dishes rely on coconut milk (gata) and siling labuyo (bird's eye chili), giving Bicolano food its distinct richness and heat. Another local specialty is tinutungang manok, a spicy chicken stew made with "scalded" or charred coconut cream.

Street food and local eateries in Legazpi also serve dishes such as kinunot (shredded stingray or shark in coconut milk with malunggay), inolokan (a variety of pinangat, crab or shrimp stuffed in taro leaves and stewed in creamy coconut sauce), and kandingga, a spicy Bicolano version of bopis using pork offal.

For dessert, the city is known for sili ice cream, made with red chilies and popularized by 1st Colonial Grill. It is available in varying levels of spiciness. Other native sweets include pilinut candies and pili pastillas, highlighting the region's prized pili nut.

In recent years, Legazpi has seen the rise of food parks and hawker-style street food hubs, reflecting the city's evolving urban food culture. Sawangan Park, along the Albay Gulf, has open-air food kiosks and stalls offering grilled dishes, rice meals, and snacks. Legazpi Boulevard also becomes a food destination at night, with pop-up stalls serving skewers, seafood, and local street snacks.

The Legazpi City Food Park, located in the city proper, features a variety of vendors offering local specialties and modern Filipino snacks in a communal setting. Highlands Park Legazpi, located in Barangay Estanza, includes restaurants and kiosks offering grilled meats, snacks, and casual dining options with a view of Mayon Volcano.

Museums

Museo de Legazpi

There are a few museums in Legazpi that showcase and preserve the city's historical and cultural identity. The Legazpi City Museum and Library, located in a wing of City Hall along Rizal Street, contains displays of archaeological sherds, ethnographic items, 19th-century photographs, and dioramas, serving as the city's main repository of tangible heritage. Though modest in size, it is noted for its object-based storytelling on everyday life in the Mayon region.

Nearby, beside St. Gregory the Great Cathedral, is the Museo de Legazpi, opened in March 2019 on the second floor of Gregorian Mall. Operated by the City Tourism Office, it follows a three-gallery format: a chronological history exhibit, a heritage-object room, and a rotating gallery that has hosted themes such as a Catriona Gray national costume and St. John Paul II memorabilia exhibit.

For contemporary art, the Albay Capital Atrium Art Gallery in the atrium of the Albay Provincial Capitol regularly features juried exhibits by Bicolano artists and serves as a key venue during the Magayon Festival.

Just outside the city, in Busay, Daraga, the National Museum of the Philippines – Bicol has permanent exhibitions that cover the geology of Mayon Volcano, regional biodiversity, and archaeological finds from sites such as Cagsawa. The complex also includes a rock garden and has planned additions such as botanical and stargazing facilities.

Parks

Plaza Rizal

Legazpi City has several public parks that serve as recreational spaces, cultural sites, and components of the city's urban landscape. These parks vary in function and historical background, with some integrated into civic centers and others designed to support ecological awareness and leisure activities.

Peñaranda Park, also known as Freedom Park, is situated in the Old Albay District adjacent to the Albay Cathedral and the Legazpi City Hall. Named after Spanish colonial official José María Peñaranda, the park, newly-renovated in 2025, retains the traditional layout of a town plaza and has historically served as a venue for public assemblies and civic events. Its proximity to government institutions and heritage buildings has reinforced its role as a focal point for administrative and ceremonial functions.

Albay Park and Wildlife Lagoon

Plaza Rizal, located in the Port District near St. Raphael the Archangel Church, is another central open space named in honor of national hero José Rizal. The plaza includes a monument and landscaped areas and has been used historically for educational, religious, and civic gatherings.

In Barangay Gogon, Kalayaan Park—formerly known as Imelda Park—was redeveloped in 2022 as part of a city-led revitalization project. The site includes a central fountain, children's play areas, and landscaped walkways. The park serves as a recreational space for nearby residential neighborhoods and is occasionally used for barangay-level events and gatherings.

Ibalong Park (initially named People's Park), located along Legazpi Boulevard in Barangay Puro, was inaugurated in May 2025. Designed as a linear coastal park. The park contributes to the city's waterfront development and provides additional open space along the boulevard.

Within Camp General Simeon Ola, which houses the Philippine National Police regional headquarters, is the Bicol Heritage Park. The park includes a monument to General Simeon Ola, a revolutionary figure from Albay during the Philippine–American War. It functions primarily as a commemorative site and is accessible to the public.

The Albay Park and Wildlife, located near the Daraga–Legazpi boundary, is a zoological and botanical facility administered by the provincial government. It contains a variety of native and non-native animal species and features picnic areas and landscaped grounds. The park is primarily used for educational trips, family outings, and provincial environmental programs.

Lignon Hill Nature Park is located on a cinder cone rising approximately 156 meters above sea level. The site includes a paved trail to the summit, from which visitors can view Legazpi City, Mayon Volcano, and surrounding areas. In addition to its recreational use, the hill hosts a volcano monitoring station operated by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), underscoring its relevance to the region’s disaster risk management efforts.

Monuments

Battle of Legazpi Pylon

Legazpi City is home to several monuments that reflect its layered history and cultural identity. At the intersection of Rizal Street and Quezon Avenue stands the Battle of Legazpi Monument, a postwar concrete pylon commemorating the January 23, 1900 clash between Filipino defenders under Commander Antonio Reyes and U.S. forces during the Philippine–American War. In Peñaranda Park, the Liberty Bell, installed by American troops in 1945, symbolizes liberation from Japanese occupation. Its inscription invites people to ring it "whenever oppression knocks," embodying themes of freedom and postwar renewal.

At Plaza Rizal, a bronze statue of Dr. José Rizal, originally erected in 1924 and rebuilt after World War II, serves as a civic centerpiece and enduring tribute to the national hero. In Barangay Tamaoyan, the 15-meter Nuestra Señora de Salvación statue, sculpted by local artist Toi Napay, depicts the Virgin Mary and child and has become a modern pilgrimage site for devotees of Albay's patroness.

Along Legazpi Boulevard, statues of Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong, the legendary heroes of the Ibalong epic, stand sentinel at the entrances to bridges named after them. Created between 2021 and 2023 by sculptor Juanito Napay, these figures are central to Legazpi’s promotion of its indigenous folklore. A more somber reminder of the past, the Headless WWII Memorial in front of the post office commemorates unidentified Filipino guerrillas killed during the war, inspired by the discovery of a decapitated body on Sabang beach in 1945.

The Padang Memorial Shrine in Barangay Padang marks the devastation wrought by Typhoon Reming in 2006, when lahar flows buried much of the village. The site contains a tribute to the victims and is visited yearly for remembrance. In Barangay Bañadero, a statue of General José Ignacio Paua, the only full-blooded Chinese general in the Philippine revolution, honors his contributions to the anti-colonial struggle in the Bicol region.

Near Sawangan Park, the statue of Miguel López de Legazpi depicts the Spanish conquistador holding a scroll, representing the city's colonial foundation and namesake. On the coast of Barangay Rawis, the Albay Gulf Landing Pylon, built in 1995, commemorates the arrival of Allied forces in 1945 that led to the city's liberation from Japanese rule. Lastly, at the busy intersection of Rizal and Lapu-Lapu streets, the Ibalong Festival Monument features bas-relief panels of scenes from the Ibalong epic, serving as a year-round celebration of Legazpi’s mythic heritage.

Sports

The Albay Vulcans are a Philippine rugby union and rugby league team based in Legazpi. They play in the Philippines National Rugby League Championship.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Legazpi is considered as the gateway to Bicol because of its relative proximity to the provinces of the region due to its geographical location. With an airport, seaport, bus and rail terminals, the city is accessible to all modes of transportation.

Air

Bicol International Airport Terminal

Legazpi City is served by the Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Barangay Alobo, Daraga, which opened in October 2021 to replace the old Legazpi Airport. With a single runway 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) long and 45 meters (148 ft) wide and modern facilities, BIA is designed to handle wide-body jets and is envisioned as an international gateway to the Bicol region. In 2024, it handled over 2 million passengers annually, making it a major regional hub. It currently offers multiple daily flights connecting Daraga to Manila, Cebu and Iloilo through carriers like Cebu Pacific (including its Cebgo subsidiary) and Philippine Airlines.

The Department of Tourism is working with airlines to add new direct routes (e.g. to Davao, Palawan, Siargao) and is upgrading the airport (installing passport scanners, relocating immigration and customs offices) to facilitate future international flights. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has announced plans to invite foreign carriers and private investment under a PPP "Airport Bundles" program so that BIA can begin international service (proposed destinations include Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore) by the end of 2025.

Land

Legazpi Grand Central Terminal

Legazpi lies on the Philippine highway network (the Maharlika Highway, part of the Pan-Philippine Corridor), which connects the city by road to Manila to the north and Sorsogon to the south. The national government has approved major highway projects to improve connectivity. In particular, SLEX Toll Road 5 is a planned 420‑km, four‑lane expressway from Lucena City (Quezon Province) through the Bicol Region to Matnog (Sorsogon). This highway will significantly cut travel time along the eastern seaboard of Luzon: San Miguel Corporation has committed to build Toll Road 5, which will pass through Quezon, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon.

Public land transport in Legazpi includes buses, jeepneys, tricycles, taxis and pedicabs. Legazpi Grand Central Terminal (opened 2014) is the main intercity bus and van terminal for the city. This award-winning terminal was built under a 25‑year public-private partnership: a private developer constructed and now operates the 3.45-hectare "state-of-the-art" terminal complex at no cost to the city. It handles routes to Naga, Manila and other major cities, and has modern facilities for passengers. Local trips within the metro area are mainly by jeepney and tricycle, with taxi cabs and ride hailing services serving the central business district.

As of 2023, Legazpi City had a total road length of approximately 590.09 kilometers. Of this, the majority—520.90 kilometers—were concrete roads, reflecting extensive urban infrastructure development. The remaining network includes 54.16 kilometers of asphalt roads, 10.24 kilometers of gravel roads, and 4.79 kilometers of unpaved roads. This composition highlights the city's emphasis on durable road surfacing to support both urban mobility and regional connectivity.

Rail

PNR Legazpi Station

Legazpi was formerly the southern terminus of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Main Line. After years of service interruptions, commuter rail operations in the Bicol Region were partially restored with the resumption of the Naga–Legazpi route on December 27, 2023, following a six-year suspension attributed to a shortage of rolling stock. Services were again briefly disrupted in late 2024 due to typhoon-related damage but were fully reinstated on February 26, 2025. The current daily route includes stops at Pili, Baao, Iriga, Ligao, and Daraga.

In addition to these developments, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced plans for long-term rail modernization in the region. This includes efforts to secure funding for the revival of the long-distance Bicol Express and the proposed South Long Haul railway project, which envisions a standard-gauge connection between Manila and Legazpi.

Sea

Legazpi Port Terminal

Legazpi Port is classified as a national sub-port of entry, serving as a regional cargo and passenger port. It handles domestic and some foreign shipping, and for decades has been a key export port for Bicol’s agricultural and mineral products. Regular ferry services connect Legazpi to nearby islands: as of 2015, there were passenger boats from Legazpi to Rapu-Rapu Island (Albay) and to coastal communities in Sorsogon's Bacon District.

In recent years, Legazpi has also welcomed international cruise tourism. Notably, expedition ships from Hapag-Lloyd's Hanseatic cruise line began calling at Legazpi in 2023–24. For example, the Hanseatic Spirit arrived on May 16, 2024 with over 250 tourists, and the Hanseatic Nature made its first Philippine call in April 2023.

Local officials are capitalizing on this interest: Congressmen and city leaders are securing funds to build a proper international cruise ship terminal, projected to be one of the largest in eastern Philippines. This new port facility—estimated at around ₱920 million—has already received preliminary approvals from the Department of Tourism and TIEZA, and when completed, will enable Legazpi to host even larger cruise vessels and promote tourism in Albay.

Health

Legazpi City serves as a major healthcare hub in the Bicol Region, offering a mix of public and private medical services. As of 2023, the city had a total of 9 hospitals, 3 public and 6 private, with a combined 1,555 hospital beds (608 public and 947 private). In addition, the city hosted 487 clinics (70 public and 417 private) and 507 clinic beds (74 public and 433 private), reflecting the growing role of outpatient services in urban healthcare delivery.

The city also supports diagnostic and laboratory services through 497 laboratories and diagnostic clinics (79 public and 418 private), with 533 diagnostic beds (95 public and 438 private), underscoring the robust demand for preventive and diagnostic healthcare in the city and surrounding municipalities.

Notable medical facilities in and around Legazpi include the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC), a DOH-retained tertiary hospital and the region’s main public referral center. The city is also home to Albay Doctors' Hospital, Estevez Memorial Hospital, and Legazpi City Hospital. Neighboring Daraga hosts additional key institutions such as the Bicol University College of Medicine's training hospital and Daraga Doctors Hospital, further expanding access to tertiary and specialty care in the Albay area.

Waste management

The city government operates a 1.5-hectare (3.7-acre) sanitary landfill in barangay Banquerohan. Opened in 2011 through a grant from the Spanish government's Agencia Espanola Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID), the sanitary landfill has two cells that will contain the city's non-recyclable waste. In 2010, Legazpi implemented a solid waste management program with emphasis on reduction of waste in the household and business establishment level; resource recovery, recycling, and reusing at the barangay level; collection, transfer, transport and management of residual waste at the city level. The city also aims to reduce plastic waste by implementing the 'plastic for rice program' wherein citizens can exchange five kilos of residual plastic waste for a kilo of rice. The city government recognizes barangays that practice outstanding solid waste management.

As a result of its waste management programs, the city was able to successfully reduce solid waste generated per capita per day from 0.5 kilograms (1.1 lb) in 2009 to 0.29 kilograms (0.64 lb) in 2015. Meanwhile, the city is planning to build a septage and waste water treatment facility to protect its water resources. A Japanese firm has also proposed an organic fertilizer manufacturing project.

Flood control

To prevent flooding in the city's main business center, the city government is building a flood control project that is envisioned to turn Legazpi into an 'all weather city'. Components of the project include three pumping stations located in barangays San Roque, Baybay and Victory Village, dikes and drainage systems along the Tibu and Macabalo Rivers, and a 2.7 kilometer coastal road in barangays Pigcale, Sabang, Baybay, San Roque and Rawis that will serve as protection from storm surges.

Education

Legazpi City serves as the educational center of the Bicol Region, hosting a broad network of institutions that provide early childhood, basic, technical, tertiary, and graduate education. The city is home to both public and private universities, colleges, and specialized institutions in fields such as medicine, maritime education, and teacher training.

As of School Year (SY) 2022–2023, Legazpi recorded 4,398 graduates and 34,444 enrollees in higher educational institutions (HEIs) recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). In addition, there were 2,650 senior high school graduates under the Department of Education (DepEd), and 18,705 graduates from technical-vocational programs under TESDA. The city’s top disciplines in HEIs include Education Science & Teacher Training (13,617), Accountancy and Business Administration (8,113), Engineering & Mathematics (4,319), IT-related fields (2,852), and Medical and Allied Fields (1,736).

As of 2024, Legazpi had the following number of educational institutions:

• Daycare/Preschools: 25 private, 79 public
• Elementary schools: 23 private, 44 public
• Universities and Colleges: 9 private, 1 public
• Technical/Vocational institutions: 16 private, 14 public
• Special Education Centers: 2 private, 2 public

Bicol University Main Campus

Bicol University (BU), established in 1969, is a leading public university in the region. It enrolled approximately 26,346 students in 2023 and holds ISO 9001:2008 certification. The university offers programs across diverse fields such as education, engineering, agriculture, fisheries, medicine, nursing, business, law, and the arts. BU graduates consistently rank in national licensure exams. In March 2025, its Daraga campus achieved a 97.12% passing rate in the Licensure Examination for Teachers. In September 2024, a BU graduate topped the Social Workers Licensure Examination, with all 116 examinees passing. The university also produced board topnotchers in the 2025 Registered Electrical Engineer and Registered Master Electrician exams.

UST-Legazpi

University of Santo Tomas–Legazpi (UST–Legazpi), a private Catholic university administered by the Dominican Order, was established in 1948 and attained university status in 1968. It offers basic education, undergraduate, and graduate programs across five colleges: Arts, Sciences and Education; Health Sciences; Engineering, Architecture and Fine Arts; Business Management and Accountancy; and Law. Its College of Law produced the topnotcher of the 2019 Bar Examination. The Graduate School offers programs in education, nursing, psychology, business, and public administration. Its MBA program hold Level III accreditation from the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA).

Divine Word College of Legazpi

Divine Word College of Legazpi (DWCL) is a private Catholic institution operated by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). Founded in 1947, it offers both basic and higher education. Academic programs include teacher education, business, engineering, and nursing. Several of its programs are accredited by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). DWCL integrates religious instruction and values-based education in its academic offerings.

Ago Medical and Educational Center – Bicol Christian College of Medicine (AMEC–BCCM) is a private medical school established in 1975. It offers a Doctor of Medicine program and other allied health courses. The institution is affiliated with national medical education bodies and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. In 2022, it reported a high passing rate in the Midwifery Licensure Examination, including top ten placements.

Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF–Legazpi) specializes in maritime education and training. It offers programs in marine transportation, marine engineering, and related technical courses. In 2025, the institution completed its ISO 9001:2015 recertification audit. MPCF maintains partnerships with international shipping companies and reports regular student placement in the maritime industry. It also fields licensure examination passers in mechanical and marine engineering disciplines.

St. Agnes' Academy, Legazpi

St. Agnes’ Academy (SAA), founded in 1912 by the Missionary Benedictine Sisters, is the oldest Catholic school in Albay. It is a private, coeducational K–12 institution whose basic education program was granted PAASCU reaccreditation through February 2025.

Legazpi City Science High School (LEGASCI) is a public science high school established in 2004 and officially designated as a science high school in 2016. It offers a Special Program in Science, Technology, and Engineering (SPSTE) at the junior high level, and STEM, ABM, and ICT strands in senior high school. LEGASCI is government-funded, and its students—known locally as "Citinistas"—regularly participate in regional academic and press competitions, supported by the city government.

Notable personalities

• Ramon Obusan – National Artist of the Philippines for Dance.
• Susan Enriquez – journalistic, host
• Salvacion Lim-Higgins – National Artist of the Philippines for Fashion Design.
• Mariano Goyena del Prado – historian, ethnologist, and poet
• Everardo Napay – Iloilo-born zarzuela playwright, architect, sculptor, composer, and choreographer; worked in Legazpi for more than three decades
• Teotimo C. Pacis – Bishop, Biblical translator, and poet
• William 'Bogs' Adornado – three-time PBA Most Valuable Player (1975, 1976, and 1981), one of the PBA's 25 Greatest Players of All-Time
• Merlinda Bobis – contemporary Philippine-Australian writer and academic
• Irene Cortes – former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines; first female Dean of the UP College of Law
• Janelle Quintana – actress; 19th Aliw Awards Best New Female Artist nominee
• Valerie Weigmann – TV host, actress; Miss World Philippines 2014
• Athena Imperial - news field reporter, communication researcher and Miss Philippines Earth 2011.
• Vincent Aycocho - a Filipino actor, comedian, singer and TV show host. He is known for as a Filipino comedian in Comedy Bar.
• Miguel Solano White – track and field athlete; bronze medalist in the 400-metre hurdles at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Sister cities

Local

• Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
• Bacolod, Negros Occidental
• Bacoor, Cavite
• Masbate City, Masbate
• Sorsogon City, Sorsogon
• Castilla, Sorsogon
• Davao City, Davao del Sur

International

• Chōshi, Japan
• Hengyang, China
• Beaumont, Texas, USA

Gallery

• 
  Quezon Avenue
• 
  Plaza Rizal
• 
  Old Albay District
• 
  Legazpi Port District

See also

• Bicolano People
• List of Bicol Region Cities and Municipalities

External links

• Official website
• Legazpi City Tourism Information Guide
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code