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Bontoc, Southern Leyte

Coordinates: 10°21′N 124°58′E / 10.35°N 124.97°E / 10.35; 124.97
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Bontoc
Municipality of Bontoc
Bontoc in 2022
Bontoc in 2022
Flag of Bontoc
Official seal of Bontoc
Map of Southern Leyte with Bontoc highlighted
Map of Southern Leyte with Bontoc highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Bontoc is located in Philippines
Bontoc
Bontoc
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°21′N 124°58′E / 10.35°N 124.97°E / 10.35; 124.97
CountryPhilippines
RegionEastern Visayas
ProvinceSouthern Leyte
District 1st district
FoundedJune 15, 1950
Barangays40 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorNoel E. Alinsub (Aksyon)
 • Vice MayorRodulfo V. Nablea (Aksyon)
 • RepresentativeLuz V. Mercado
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate20,982 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total102.10 km2 (39.42 sq mi)
Elevation
47 m (154 ft)
Highest elevation
390 m (1,280 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total29,799
 • Density290/km2 (760/sq mi)
 • Households
7,283
Economy
 • Income class4th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
27.33
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 109.2 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 265 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 94.68 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 81.72 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricitySouthern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6604
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)53
Native languagesBoholano dialect
Cebuano
Tagalog

Bontoc, officially the Municipality of Bontoc (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Bontoc; Tagalog: Bayan ng Bontoc), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,799 people.[3]

The town is home to the Bontoc Campus of the Southern Leyte State University, which offers agricultural and industrial courses.

The town celebrates their fiesta in honor of the Holy Child Jesus. The Ulang Festival, held annually on January 15, is celebrated by colorful participants dancing in honor of the icon of the Señor Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus). Some devotees to the Señor Santo Niño said that it can performed miracles that can heal sickness of those who touches the said icon.

Etymology

The name “Bontoc” is derived from an old creek called Bontoc creek near the present Roman Catholic Cemetery where old “pueblo” called Daan Lungsod existed during the early Spanish regime.

History

Before the coming of the Spaniards, Bontoc was a wilderness where few natives lived and wild animals roamed. When the Spaniards came, they found scattered warring tribes of primitive Malays who settled in prosperous villages near the mouth and along the fertile plains of the historic Salog river basin. They then successfully subjugated these warring tribes and immigrants and founded a cluster of villages which later on formed the nucleus of the Barrio of Bontoc.

As far as history could recall the most popular among the ancient warring chiefs, was Mariano Barcelon who was nicknamed as "Tahug". He was acclaimed to be the bravest of the braves. His name was a terror to the Moro pirates that swarmed Philippine waters during the 16th century.

During the Spanish time up to the early part of the American regime, Bontoc was ruled by a succession of native "Cabezas de barangay", a unit government organization during that time. Bontoc was at that time a tributary "pueblo" belonging to the old town of Libagon which governed the people for many years both in civil and religious matter by a line of "capitanes" or gobernadorcillos.

The cabezas de barangay who governed this little pueblo also earned for themselves the honor of being called "capitan" by their own people. The church wielded tremendous power at that time in the affairs of the government. Any person who offends the clergy or disobeys religious order is severely punished.

Among the well-known capitanes who controlled the reins of the local administration of this barrio were: Hilario Barcelon, Manuel Leyes, Romualdo Tubia, Florentino Flores, Felipe Aguilar and the last well-known cabeza or capitan was Gerardo Faelnar popularly known among the people as Capitan Dadoy whose administration lasted up to the early days of American occupation.

Shortly after the coming of the Americans, Bontoc became a unit barrio of Sogod.

During the Japanese occupation, the town served as the seat of resistance movement against the Japanese with its general headquarters in Sitio Mamingaw, Barangay Banahaw and under the command of Colonel Ruperto K. Kangleon. In one notable raid, an entire truckload of Japanese soldiers on patrol was completely annihilated at Sitio Trece, Barangay Santo Niño. A small monument stands in front of Bontoc motor pool at Sitio Trece commemorates this event.

On June 15, 1950, it became a regular municipality by the operative provisions of Republic Act No. 522.

Geography

The town is situated on a long stretch of rich alluvial plain, which considered as the greatest farming region in the entire Sogod Bay District, and is drained by the Salog and Divisoria Rivers. Because of its rich soil, there is much rice farming. The town is also the producer of abaca, copra and tobacco in the Bay District.

Barangays

Bontoc is politically subdivided into 40 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Anahao
  • Banahao
  • Baugo
  • Beniton
  • Buenavista
  • Bunga
  • Casao
  • Catmon
  • Catoogan
  • Cawayanan
  • Dao
  • Divisoria
  • Esperanza
  • Guinsangaan
  • Hibagwan
  • Hilaan
  • Himakilo
  • Hitawos
  • Lanao
  • Lawgawan
  • Mahayahay
  • Malbago
  • Mauylab
  • Olisihan
  • Paku
  • Pamahawan
  • Pamigsian
  • Pangi
  • Poblacion
  • Pong-on
  • Sampongon
  • San Ramon
  • San Vicente
  • Santa Cruz
  • Santo Niño
  • Taa
  • Talisay
  • Taytagan
  • Tuburan
  • Union

Climate

Climate data for Bontoc, Southern Leyte
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 28
(82)
29
(84)
29
(84)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22
(72)
22
(72)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
23
(73)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 78
(3.1)
57
(2.2)
84
(3.3)
79
(3.1)
118
(4.6)
181
(7.1)
178
(7.0)
169
(6.7)
172
(6.8)
180
(7.1)
174
(6.9)
128
(5.0)
1,598
(62.9)
Average rainy days 16.7 13.8 17.3 18.5 23.2 26.5 27.1 26.0 26.4 27.5 24.6 21.0 268.6
Source: Meteoblue[5]

Demographics

Population census of Bontoc
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 15,835—    
1970 17,325+0.90%
1975 20,452+3.38%
1980 22,655+2.07%
1990 24,818+0.92%
1995 24,047−0.59%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000 27,592+2.99%
2007 28,535+0.46%
2010 28,079−0.58%
2015 28,905+0.55%
2020 29,799+0.60%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [6][7][8][9]

Economy

Ancestral house in Barangay Paku

Poverty incidence of Bontoc

10
20
30
40
50
2006
35.80
2009
43.16
2012
39.81
2015
41.63
2018
29.69
2021
27.33

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

References

  1. ^ Municipality of Bontoc | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Census of Population (2020). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Bontoc, Southern Leyte : Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  6. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  7. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  8. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  9. ^ "Province of Southern Leyte". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  11. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  12. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  13. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  14. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  16. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  17. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.