The principal industries in San Simon are steel, farming, fishing and poultry and swine industries. It is acknowledged that the significant economic growth in San Simon was brought about by the Comprehensive Municipal Development and Land Use Plan enacted by the Municipal Council. The zoning ordinance reclassified the entire stretch of Quezon Road as Industrial and Commercial Zone, but limited only to light and medium size industries and those that are environmental friendly. Central Luzon's "W" Growth Corridor Another factor that contributes to the potential economic growth of San Simon in the 21st century is its geographic location. It is strategically located in the central part of the “W” Growth Corridor of Central Luzon and it is accessible from major road networks and arteries coming from the different provinces of Central Luzon and Metro Manila
For elementary and high school education,residents of San Simon are served by thirteen elementary schools, two barangay public high schools and three private schools.
For telecommunications, the town is served by Digitel, PLDT, PILTEL, DATELCOM, SMART , and GLOBE . Another wireless internet service provider is COMCLARK SureStream
Like most Kapampangan people, residents of San Simon retain their Kapampangan language and traditional culture and arts brought about by their Malay ancestors and enriched by Chinese, Spanish, American, Japanese and other ethnic and foreign cultures.
We envision San Simon to be the leading LGU of Central Luzon through its diversified economy in Argriculture, Commercial, Industrial and Infrastructures sustained by God loving, disciplined, healthy, educated competitive and participative people living in a peaceful, safe and clean environment in harmony with committed, responsive and innovative good local governance.
To elevate the standards of government service by implementing comprehensive and sustainable Programs, Projects and Activities which are geared towards a holistic and balanced development of San Simon and of all Simonians.
San Simon, an emerging business haven in Central Luzon particularly in the province of Pampanga had its humble beginnings in 1770 as a farming village when it was founded by Don Mariano del Pilar de los Reyes and named it Barrio Del Pilar. It was located in a productive agricultural area between the towns of San Luis in the North and Apalit in the South. As the population kept on growing in the local community, the leading citizens of the progressive village initiated a petition to consolidate a portion of the southern part of the town of San Luis and a land area from the northern part of the municipality of Apalit to form an independent municipality. Appraised of the economic potential of a new town and confidence in the management capability of the leaders, the Spanish Governor General at the time during his second term as chief administrator of the Philippines, Don Simon de Anda y Salazar approved the official creation of the town on November 15, 1771.
The town was named in honor of the Spanish Governor General who approved its creation and of the Apostle Simon Peter, the Patron Saint of the illustrious town of Apalit. Like any other typical Spanish town (pueblo) it was administered by a “Capitan del Pueblo” and had a municipal policy making body called today as Municipal Council. The Catholic Parish Church, the Public Market, the Town Plaza and homes of prominent families were located within the proximity of the Municipal Hall. The people of San Simon celebrate two town fiestas, one in honor of Lady of the Pillar, the patron saint of the first barrio and the other in honor of the Apostle Simon Peter. In 1898, the retreating military forces of General Antonio Luna on their way to Nueva Ecija burned the parish church. In 1979, through the effort and financial contributions of the Ibanez, Guevarra, Santos, Punsalan, Pangan and other families, the church was rebuilt and named as Nuestra Senora Del Pilar.
Among the early settlers of the town were the Macapagal, Simbulan, Santos and Pangan families. By the year 1835, the town had eight barrios. However, since the late 1940s, the number of barrios increased to fourteen in a land area of 5,736 hectares and by the early years of the 21st century, the population grew to more than 39,000 people. As of this writing, the barrios in San Simon are the following
NAME | YEAR | TITLE |
---|---|---|
Juan Agulo | 1898 | Kapitan del Pueblo |
Solomon Ibanez | 1899 | Kapitan del Pueblo |
Diego de los Santos | 1900 | Kapitan del Pueblo |
Macario Santos | 1901 | Kapitan del Pueblo |
Basilio de los Santos | 1902 | Kapitan del Pueblo |
Manuel Ibanez | 1903 | Kapitan del Pueblo |
Mariano Pangan | 1904 | Kapitan del Pueblo |
Mariano Vergara | 1905 | Kapitan del Pueblo |
Sisenando Pineda | 1906-1908 | Presidente Municipal (San Luis) |
Pablo Cruz | 1908-1910 | Presidente Municipal (San Luis) |
Teodoro Punsalan | 1910-1912 | Presidente Municipal |
Macario Perez | 1913-1915 | Presidente Municipal |
Urbano Guevara | 1916-1918 | Presidente Municipal |
Servillano Ibanez | 1919-1924 | Presidente Municipal |
Catalino Ibanez | 1935-1936 | Mayor |
Domingo Pineda | 1937-1938 | Mayor |
Patrocinio Yabut | 1938-1939 | Acting Mayor |
Patrocinio Yabut | 1939-1941 | Elected Mayor |
Agustin Sese | 1941-1942 | Acting Mayor |
Ramon Ibanez | 1942-1944 | Appointed Mayor by Japanese |
Felipe Almario | 1945-1946 | Mayor |
Eusebio Francisco | June–Dec 1946 | Appointed Mayor |
Fernando Galang | 1947-1949 | Appointed Mayor |
Jose S. Yabut Sr. | 1949-1952 | Elected Mayor |
Gregorio Santillan | 1953-1956 | Elected Mayor |
Jose S. Yabut Sr. | 1957-1960 | Elected Mayor |
Felicisimo Pamandanan | 1960 (6 months) | Officer-In-Charge (OIC) |
Cornelio S. Sanga | 1961-1968 | Elected Mayor |
Lamberto Punsalan | 1969-1975 | Elected Mayor |
Ruben Dagdag | 1976-1979 | Acting Mayor |
Jose Yabut Jr. | 1980-1986 | Elected Mayor |
Gaudencio Pineda | 1986-Jan 1988 | Appointed Mayor |
Manuel S. Bondoc | 1988-1998 | Elected Mayor |
Azor L. Sitchon | 1998-2001 | Elected Mayor |
Rodrigo M. Canlas | 2001-2010 | Elected Mayor |
Leonora Simbulan Capule Wong | 2010-2019 | Elected Mayor |
Abundio Simbulan Punsalan Jr. | 2019-Present | Elected Mayor |
In 1904, the town of San Simon was merged with the municipality of San Luis and about three years after, it became an independent municipality. In 1920, the geographical boundaries of San Luis, Apalit and San Simon were officially established. Like most Kapampangan people, residents of San Simon retain their Kapampangan language and traditional culture and arts brought about by their Malay ancestors and enriched by Chinese, Spanish, American, Japanese and other ethnic and foreign cultures. The principal industries in San Simon are farming, fishing and poultry and swine industries.