Iriga City was once an
inconspicuous settlement where it used to be a mere barrio of Nabua town in
the early 1570's. The establishment of Y-ragga as a barrio happened upon the
recommendation of Padre Felix Huertas, the curate of Nabua, who encouraged
the people to migrate to a place where there was a better land to cultivate.
Some parishioners took the
advise of Fr. Huertas and soon they stumbled upon a place which best fit the
description, a stretch of mountain range that include two prominent
landmarks in the Bicol region, that of Mt. Asog(now Mt. Iriga) and Mt.
Isarog. With this startling discovery, the people went back to their old
community and announced to the people "I Raga sa Sumagang", spoken in local
vernacular which means "There is land or higher land in Sumagang". They then
returned back home and announced to their fellow that they found a place
which has a fertile land. Thus, the creation of a place known as Y-ragga.
It was more than a hundred
years later, in 1683, when Y-ragga became a town and likewise installing St.
Anthony of Padua as their patron saint.
Four barangays were
established in the year 1710 which include: San Nicolas, San Isidro, San
Agustin and San Antnio de Abad.
Republic Act 5261 which was
promulgated on June 15, 1968 made the way for the conversion of the
Municipality of Iriga into a chartered city, making it as the third city in
the Bicol region.
Iriga City was inaugurated as
the youngest city in the Bicol region on September 3, 1968 by the then
President Ferdinand Marcos.
