Loay, Bohol

Loay
Municipality
View of Loboc River at Loay harbour
Map of Bohol with Loay highlighted
Loay Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°36′N 124°01′E / 9.6°N 124.02°E / 9.6; 124.02Coordinates: 9°36′N 124°01′E / 9.6°N 124.02°E / 9.6; 124.02
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas (Region VII)
Province	Bohol
District	3rd district of Bohol
Established	1740
Barangay	24 (see § Barangays) Agape Alegria Norte Alegria Sur Bonbon Botoc Occidental Botoc Oriental Calvario Concepcion Hinawanan Las Salinas Norte Las Salinas Sur Palo Poblacion Ibabao Poblacion Ubos Sagnap Tambangan Tangcasan Norte Tangcasan Sur Tayong Occidental Tayong Oriental Tocdog Dacu Tocdog Ilaya Villalimpia Yanangan
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Rochelle Imboy (PDP‑Laban)
• Vice mayor	Brigido Imboy
• Town Council	Members Lahar Ayuban Jan Jan Cubarol Bong Bullecer Paul Tejano Raimundo Sagaral Nelson Lagura Sinio Maquiling Willy Flores 2016 unofficial result
• Representative	Arthur Yap
Area
• Total	48.24 km2 (18.63 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)
• Total	16,691
• Density	350/km2 (900/sq mi)
• Voter (2016)	11,777
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	6303
IDD : area code	+63 (0)38
Income class	5th class
PSGC	071228000

Loay is a 5th municipal income class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines located at the mouth of the Loboc River. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 16,691. In the 2016 electoral roll, it had 11,777 registered voters.

The town can be divided into a lower and an upper part. The lower part used to be called Canipa‑an because of the presence of nipa swamps in this part of the town, while the upper part is named Ibabao, being located on a plateau.

Recent historical research found that instead of being in Bool, Tagbilaran, the actual site of the Blood Compact between Legazpi and Sikatuna may be in barangay Hinawanan. Loay is also known for the many antiques discovered in its soils, thus indicating a civilization before the Spanish came to Bohol: it has become an haven for the treasure hunters.

During the period 1751–1754, Loay was a small village called Santissima Trinidad located at the strip of the Loboc River, as mentioned in the accounts of Father Juan Delgado (1892).

As a visita, it formerly belonged to the Municipality of Loboc. It was separated from the Loboc mission in 1795, although some state 1815 as the foundation date, and Redondo 1886 reflects that it became an independent parish in 1799.

Loay comprises 24 barangays:

In the 2016 electoral roll, it had 11,777 registered voters, meaning that 71% of the population are aged 18 and over.

Loay is one of the locations to take a Loboc river lunch cruise.

The church and belfry of Loay were severely damaged by the 2013 earthquake.

Lunch cruise on the Loboc river

Loay church 2006

Remains of Loay church post-2013 earthquake