BRIEF HISTORY
The Subanens who are the original inhabitants of Gutalac before Christian settlers came in 1938 formerly named the place as "Mongolot". One time, he met a Subano bringing two baskets and asked what was inside the first basket in his own dialect and the native answered "GOTONG" meaning Monkey. The Boholano asked again the place, not minding his finger pointing at the second basket, w
hich the native immediately answered "GOTONG LAK" meaning it's still monkey in the other hand, not able understand the Visayan language. Since then, the place was called Gotonglak by the settlers and later improved to such name as "GUTALAC". During that time, Gutalac was a sitio of Labason that was still a barangay of the Municipality of Sindangan. Gutalac became a barangay when the Municipality of Labason was created in 1947. In 1979, Batas Pambansa Bilang 19, approved on March 6, 1979, created Gutalac into a Municipality. on April 17, 1979, a plebesite was held which ratified and unanimously approved the creation of the Municipality of Gutalac. Candelaria, Sr. was appointed Mayor of the new Municipality who was also elected during the subsequent election in 1980. The 1986 EDSA Revolution made sudden change of the administration when Eulalio Salcedo was appointed Municipal Mayor-Officer In charge on April 17, 1986. it was followed by the short-lived administration of Egbert Calumba then Godofredo S. Dinapo as caretakers. regained control of the Municipality after elected in the 1988 mayoral race and serve for three consecutive terms until June 30, 1998. Pet Angeli R. Carloto became the new Municipal Mayor of Gutalac after winning in the May 1998 election. she was re-elected on 2001 and 2004 election to serve her second and last term as Local Chief Executive of Gutalac. From February 1, 2006, to September 26, 2006, Mariano C. Candelaria, Jr. served as Municipal Mayor by virtue of court declaring him as the winner following his protest on the May 2004 election. After which the Municipality had suffered political instability when the leadership changes hand every now and then by the two contesting mayors prior to the May 14, 2007, election, that eventually put Angel M. Carloto the municipal mayor after elected in that election. Mariano Candelaria, Jr. became the Municipal Mayor after elected on the May 10, 2010, election first automated election. During the May 13, 2013, election the municipal leadership was replaced by Onesimo L. Coma, Jr., and re-elected during the mayoral race on May 2016 and May 2019 election. Eddie Justin T. Quimbo was elected in the recent national and local elections and serves as the new Municipal Mayor of the Municipality of Gutalac. Gutalac today is considered one of the province fast growing municipalities measured by its improved economy, social reforms and infrastructure development. As a 2nd class municipality with an estimated income of 240 million pesos for budget year 2022, it has proven its capability and efficiency as Local Government Unit more than three decades of successful operation.
