Past and Present Mayors of LGU Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya

Hon. Venancio Coloma Sr. was the first elected Alcalde Mayor of Bagabag during the Spanish Regime in 1934. His Bise Alcalde was Hon. Calixto M. Sierra who succeeded him. Hon. Sierra was then the First President (Head of Town) under the Commonwealth Government of President Manuel L. Quezon. His two major accomplishments were the opening of the road linking Bagabag to Careb (which was part of Murong) and the retention of One Hundred Hectares for the Tullag lake which he initiated into a communal irrigation system.

            Hon. Victor Bobila (1942-1943), was the second appointed Mayor by the Japanese Imperial Forces Government during the Japanese Occupation. He was succeeded by Hon. Vicente Gauan Sr. as the third Mayor during the Japanese Occupation.

            A teacher turned politician who hold the distinction as the first elected Municipal Mayor of Bagabag and one of the founding leaders of the Mayor’s League of Nueva Vizcaya is no other than Hon. Pedro Inaldo y Villa. Under his term, the CLISOC Field was inaugurated. CLISOC is an acronym of distinguished personalities in the Province that time wherein he was one of them.

            Hon. Benito Bagorio y Jimenez (June 11- October 1945) was appointed as Municipal Mayor by the Americans during the post-liberation period. It was during his month term as town executive that the Civil Government of Bagabag was formally organized after the war.

            Hon. Cesario Dumlao y Rico (1945-1946), was appointed Municipal Mayor by the Secretary of Interior during Commonwealth Government. He was one of the few Filipinos from Bagabag who testified against General Yamashita in the People’s Court of Manila.

            Hon. Emiliano Dadoy y Bagayas (1945-1946).

            Hon. Bernardo Bugayong y Amulacion (1946). He imposed or promulgated the three days a week market days as he believed, in the progress of agricultural production when there is a good market for the products.

Hon. Guillermo Aban y Peralta (1947-1955) was an educator officer during the World War II. He was the first Mayor elected after the war and was re-elected twice. He also occupied provincial positions as an elected Board Member and Vice Governor.

            Hon. Leon Pablo (1960-1964).

            Hon. Laureano Labaro y Rivera (December 9, 1964 - July 1, 1966).

            Hon. Gregorio Moreno y Dizon (July 2, 1966-1967), assumed the Mayorship of Bagabag after the assassination of Mayor Labaro by virtue of his being the number one elected councilor of the Municipality.

            Hon. Benigno Tabago y Millo (1968-1980, elected, 1986-1988, OIC).

            Hon. Jose P. Castillo (1979-1986, 1988-1995) was appointed Mayor of Bagabag in October 1979 and elected to the same position from 1980 to February 1986. And for more terms, he was re-elected as Mayor from 1988 to 1995. Under his leadership, his noteworthy accomplishments are: the irrigation system for multiple harvests, introduction of electrification, water system and telephone facilities, construction of the concrete road from junction to Poblacion, a gymnasium, a day care and a new town hall. He rebuilt the public market and undertook the purchase of land for the rural health center, Bagabag Hostel, slaughterhouse and NFA warehouse. He donated personally owned land for the Saranay Primary School and the Barangay Hall of Tuao North. In 1992, he has good sister town relationship with West Orange, New Jersey, USA which resulted in the construction of the Bagabag Public Library, the first of its kind within Region 2. With his determined massive tax collection effort, Bagabag was evaluated from a sixth to a forth class municipality. His leadership brought back order within the town. In recognition of his distinguished performance, Mayor Castillo was chosen the Most Outstanding Mayor of Region 2 for the year 1993 by the Department of Interior of Local Government, Republic of the Philippines.

            Hon. Arsenio P. Solimen y Pascua (1993-1995). The perimeter stalls and the meat section of the public market constructed and inaugurated during his term.

            Hon. Victor Castillo y Zapata (1995-2004) was a businessman turned politician due to the legacy of his father who got the respect of the people due to his invaluable performance and humility as Municipal Mayor of Bagabag.

            Hon. Nestor M. Sevillena (2004-2013), the Outstanding Public Servant to the Municipality of Bagabag, Province of Nueva Vizcaya. He was born on February 26, 1962. He started his political career as a Municipal Councilor of Bagabag in 1998-2001. He was elected as the Vice Mayor from 2001-2004. Inspired by the outpouring support from the town people, he joined the 2004 Mayorality race, won the position and served as the Municipal Mayor for three terms. During his terms of office, he became the Senior Councilor, President of Philippine Councilor’s League of the Province of Nueva Vizcaya that made him as an Ex-Officio Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (1998-2001), President of the Vice Mayor’s League (2001-2004), two-term President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Nueva Vizcaya Chapter (2007-2013) and National Author of the League of Municipalities (LMP). He had notable achievements to speak of directed towards the furtherance of the vision and mission to development, not only for the municipality, but to the Province of Nueva Vizcaya and to the country as a whole.

Hon. Johnny M. Sevillena (2013-present). He is the President League of the Municipalities of the Philippines Nueva Vizcaya Chapter. During his term, the Local Government of Bagabag performs very well and achieves outstanding awards like the Seal of Good Local Governance for two times, the Seal of Good Housekeeping in 2015 and the Hall of Fame Award in Agriculture for its outstanding performance towards the production of quality corn and the development of the corn industry for the last three consecutive years (2014-2016). (source: Posted at LGU Bagabag Building)