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Besao
Municipality of Besao
Flag of Besao
Official seal of Besao
Map of Mountain Province with Besao highlighted
Map of Mountain Province with Besao highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Besao is located in Philippines
Besao
Besao
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 17°05′43″N 120°51′22″E / 17.0953°N 120.8561°E / 17.0953; 120.8561
CountryPhilippines
RegionCordillera Administrative Region
ProvinceMountain Province
District Lone district
Founded1904
Barangays14 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorBryne O. Bacwaden
 • Vice MayorElizabeth A. Buyagan
 • RepresentativeMaximo Y. Dalog Jr.
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate6,152 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total173.62 km2 (67.04 sq mi)
Elevation
1,405 m (4,610 ft)
Highest elevation
2,059 m (6,755 ft)
Lowest elevation
721 m (2,365 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total6,873
 • Density40/km2 (100/sq mi)
 • Households
1,738
Economy
 • Income class5th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
16.63
% (2018)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 84.37 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 228 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 65.53 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 25.75 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityMountain Province Electric Cooperative (MOPRECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
2618
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)74
Native languagesKankanaey
Balangao
Bontoc
Ilocano
Tagalog
Websitebesao.gov.ph

Besao, officially the Municipality of Besao is a 5th class municipality in the province of Mountain Province, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 6,873 people.[3].

Besao is 27 kilometres (17 mi) from Bontoc and 403 kilometres (250 mi) from Manila.

The town is known for the Agawa people's Agricultural Stone Calendar of Gueday. The stone calendar is one of the most enigmatic artifact in the Cordillera mountains. It is a testimony to the accurate scientific outlook of the ancient Agawa people in the cycle of weathers, agriculture, and heavenly bodies.[5]

Geography[edit]

Cordillera Central mountains in Besao

Barangays[edit]

Besao is politically subdivided into 14 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Agawa
  • Ambaguio
  • Banguitan
  • Besao East
  • Besao West
  • Catengan
  • Gueday
  • Kin-iway (Poblacion)
  • Lacmaan
  • Laylaya
  • Padangan
  • Payeo
  • Suquib
  • Tamboan

Climate[edit]

Climate data for Besao, Mountain Province
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 19
(66)
20
(68)
21
(70)
23
(73)
23
(73)
22
(72)
21
(70)
21
(70)
21
(70)
21
(70)
20
(68)
19
(66)
21
(70)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 12
(54)
12
(54)
13
(55)
15
(59)
16
(61)
17
(63)
17
(63)
17
(63)
16
(61)
15
(59)
14
(57)
13
(55)
15
(59)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 35
(1.4)
46
(1.8)
63
(2.5)
117
(4.6)
402
(15.8)
400
(15.7)
441
(17.4)
471
(18.5)
440
(17.3)
258
(10.2)
94
(3.7)
68
(2.7)
2,835
(111.6)
Average rainy days 9.9 19.5 13.9 18.9 26.0 27.3 28.9 28.5 26.1 19.7 14.5 12.8 246
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[6]

Demographics[edit]

Population census of Besao
YearPop.±% p.a.
1918 4,642—    
1939 5,144+0.49%
1948 5,799+1.34%
1960 8,174+2.90%
1970 9,286+1.28%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1975 7,051−5.37%
1980 9,093+5.22%
1990 8,473−0.70%
1995 9,147+1.44%
2000 9,875+1.66%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2007 7,295−4.09%
2010 7,818+2.55%
2015 7,040−1.98%
2020 6,873−0.47%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[7][8][9][10]

The population of the town has been decreasing due to younger generations migrating to cities seeking for work.

Religion[edit]

Besao's main religion is animism.[citation needed] The town is one of the few animist towns in the southern Cordillera mountains. Much of its ancestral worship intangible heritage has been preserved by the older generations. However, the younger generations have been migrating to cities, making the animist religions of Besao in great danger in the long-term. Christian groups have been surfacing in the town since the younger generations have been moving into cities.

Economy[edit]


Government[edit]

Local government[edit]

Besao, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Mountain Province, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials[edit]

Members of the Municipal Council (2019–2022):[18]

  • Congressman: Maximo Y. Dalog Jr.
  • Mayor: Johnson D. Bantog II
  • Vice-Mayor: June T. Lopsoten
  • Councilors:
    • Bryne O. Bacwaden
    • Joel D. Lacsigen
    • Elizabeth A. Buyagan
    • John M. Antiyag
    • Dennis L. Bing-il
    • Edna S. Kidangen
    • James B. Badongen Sr.
    • William S. Beswilan

References[edit]

  1. ^ Municipality of Besao | (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). "Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Secrets of the Calendar Stone of Besao in the Philippines Revealed". 4 June 2009.
  6. ^ "Besao: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  7. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  8. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  9. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Province of Mountain Province". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  12. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  13. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  14. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  15. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  17. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  18. ^ "2019 National and Local Elections" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved March 13, 2022.

External links[edit]

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