Bacnotan

Bacnotan, officially the Municipality of Bacnotan (Ilocano: Ili ti Bacnotan; Filipino: Bayan ng Bacnotan), is a 1st class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 42,078 people.[3]

Bacnotan
Municipality of Bacnotan
Bacnotan town center
Seal
Nicknames: 
The Honey Capital of the North, The Cement Capital of the North
Map of La Union with Bacnotan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Bacnotan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 16°43′11″N 120°20′53″E
Country Philippines
RegionIlocos Region (Region I)
ProvinceLa Union
District1st District
Founded1599
Barangays47 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
  TypeSangguniang Bayan
  MayorFrancisco Angelito L. Fontanilla
  Vice MayorDivine Fontanilla
  RepresentativePablo C. Ortega
  Electorate27,244 voters (2019)
Area
[2]
  Total76.60 km2 (29.58 sq mi)
Elevation
22 m (72 ft)
Population
 (2015 census)[3]
  Total42,078
  Density550/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
  Households
9,692
Economy
  Income class1st municipal income class
  Poverty incidence5.26% (2015)[4]
  Revenue PHP 170,043,937.75 million (2.1%) (2018)
  Assets PHP 838,138,393.17 million (14.6%) (2018)
  Expenditure PHP 137,748,912.83 million (17%) (2018)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
2515
PSGC
IDD:area code+63(0)72
Climate typetropical monsoon climate
Native languagesIlocano
Tagalog
Websitewww.bacnotan.gov.ph

Economic activities in Bacnotan mostly involve farming, fishing, bee-keeping, pebble extraction, tourism, and Portland cement manufacture. Bacnotan is the seat of the beekeeping industry in La Union. A mining engineer from Bacnotan who saw the limestone deposits in Dumarang (renamed Quirino) also saw deposits of coal and traces of gas.

Surfing has become quite popular as well, surfers having discovered that there is a surfable break beside the Holcim Cement Factory. While there are no surfboard rentals yet, instructors from the nearby town of Urbiztondo have been known to bring their students to Bacnotan for lessons. The sand bottom causes an inconsistency in wave quality but is usually reliable for learning.[5]

Schools in Bacnotan include the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, the North Provincial High School (now Bacnotan National High School), the Bacnotan Elementary School, other elementary schools located in various barangays, and a prep school operated by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Bacnotan.

Geography

Bacnotan is bounded on the north by Balaoan, on the east by San Gabriel, on the south by San Juan, and on the west by the South China Sea.

The western side of Bacnotan faces the South China Sea and has a long stretch of black sand beaches, indicating a large amount of magnetite. Some portions of the seashore have pebble and limestone deposits. The beaches, stretching about 16 kilometers, are suitable for fishing, boating, swimming, snorkeling, diving, and surfing.

Although San Juan is a favorite place among serious surfers, the waves in Quirino have been discovered to be likewise excellent for surfing.

The Baroro River, located at the southern boundary of Bacnotan, provides freshwater fishing, aquaculture farming, and recreation.

Bacnotan is 283 kilometres (176 mi) from Metro Manila and 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from San Fernando, the provincial capital.

Climate

The climate in Bacnotan is dry from November to May and wet from mid-May to October. The south-west monsoon brings an abundant rainfall experienced during the wet season. The relatively dry season is caused by the north-east monsoon passing over the Cordillera Mountain Range. Average temperature is 27.2 °C (81.0 °F).

Climate data for Bacnotan, La Union
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 31
(88)
31
(88)
33
(91)
33
(91)
32
(90)
31
(88)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
Average low °C (°F) 21
(70)
22
(72)
23
(73)
25
(77)
26
(79)
26
(79)
26
(79)
26
(79)
25
(77)
24
(75)
23
(73)
22
(72)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 42
(1.7)
48
(1.9)
74
(2.9)
110
(4.3)
269
(10.6)
275
(10.8)
362
(14.3)
325
(12.8)
330
(13.0)
306
(12.0)
126
(5.0)
61
(2.4)
2,328
(91.7)
Average rainy days 11.2 12.0 17.1 21.2 27.1 26.8 28.1 27.0 26.0 24.5 17.7 12.4 251.1
Source: Meteoblue [6]

Barangays

Bacnotan is politically subdivided into 47 barangays,[7] listed here with their respective populations as of May 1, 2010.[8]

  • Agtipal — 514
  • Arosip — 453
  • Bacqui — 468
  • Bacsil — 719
  • Bagutot — 210
  • Ballogo — 920
  • Baroro — 2,489
  • Bitalag — 1,562
  • Bulala — 1,219
  • Burayoc — 395
  • Bussaoit — 634
  • Cabaroan — 1,751
  • Cabarsican — 1,103
  • Cabugao — 477
  • Calautit — 690
  • Carcarmay — 543
  • Casiaman — 867
  • Galongen — 982
  • Guinabang — 872
  • Legleg — 537
  • Lisqueb — 854
  • Mabanengbeng 1st — 323
  • Mabanengbeng 2nd — 339
  • Maragayap — 537
  • Nagatiran — 645
  • Nagsaraboan — 1,100
  • Nagsimbaanan — 661
  • Nangalisan — 741
  • Narra — 1,203
  • Ortega — 873
  • Oya-oy — 503
  • Paagan — 571
  • Pang-pang — 231
  • Pangdan — 1,142
  • Poblacion — 3,466
  • Quirino — 986
  • Raois — 925
  • Salincob — 544
  • San Martin — 798
  • Santa Cruz — 1,212
  • Santa Rita — 608
  • Sapilang — 878
  • Sayoan — 418
  • Sipulo — 934
  • Tammocalao — 1,263
  • Ubbog — 596
  • Zaragosa — 551

History

The town of Bacnotan was formally founded in 1599 as part of Ilocos Sur. In 1785, during the administration of the Governor-General Jose Basco, Bacnotan became a part of Pangasinan. When La Union was created in 1850, Bacnotan was one of the 12 towns that formed the province.

In the past, Bacnotan was only a vast expanse of wilderness inhabited by natives with a rudimentary form of government. There was a time when it was ruled by a despotic chieftain who had absolute control over all his constituents. Disobedience to his directives meant severe flogging of the culprit. After several years under the tyrannical rule of the chieftain, the people overthrew him and flogged their chieftain to death. The word "basnutan" means "flog" in the local dialect, and become a byword among the inhabitants, hence the name of the town. During the Spanish period, the name of the town was changed from "basnutan" to "Bacnotan" as shown by documents that are still kept intact at the National Archives in Manila.

The town's history is linked with the deeds of heroic men who fought, bled, and died for their own native land. At the turn of the century, during the Spanish–American War, Dumarang (now known as Quirino), was a scene of carnage and plunder.

During the first days of World War II, invading Japanese forces reached Bacnotan on December 21, 1941.

On January 4, 1945, the tides of war changed in La Union as Filipino and American soldiers captured the strategic Baroro Bridge in Bacnotan, which connects the rest of Northern Luzon to San Fernando. It was followed by the historic Battle of San Fernando and Bacsil Bridge. The victory ensured the liberation of La Union Province by joint Filipino and American troops at the end of World War II.

After the war, Bacnotan became the provisional seat of the provincial government, since San Fernando was then in ruins. As a consequence of this transfer, the La Union National High School was also moved to Bacnotan. When things went back to normal, the provincial government was again moved to San Fernando and the La Union National High School followed afterward. The transfer of the provincial high school in Bacnotan resulted in the establishment of the North Provincial High School (now Bacnotan National High School.)

In 1949, the vast mineral deposits of limestone used in portland cement production were noticed in Barrio Dumarang (now Quirino) by a mining engineer who was then a municipal councilor at that time. Because of the desire to create economic activity, the municipal council, through the efforts of this mining engineer, invited potential investors to set up a Portland cement plant. Within a year, a cement plant called Cebu Portland Cement (CEPOC), was established. On May 11, 1957, CEPOC, a government-owned corporation, was sold to the privately owned Bacnotan Consolidated Industries (BCI). BCI is the manufacturer of "Union Cement". In 2004, BCI was sold to Holcim Cement.

On June 18, 1960, the La Union Agricultural School was established. Nestling at the foot of the mountains of Barangay Sapilang, the agricultural school progressed and was later named Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University. Its campus occupies an area of about 6 square kilometers.

Demographics

Population census of Bacnotan
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 8,883    
1918 11,619+1.81%
1939 11,678+0.02%
1948 13,793+1.87%
1960 15,859+1.17%
1970 21,031+2.86%
1975 23,126+1.92%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1980 24,800+1.41%
1990 29,568+1.77%
1995 32,634+1.87%
2000 35,419+1.77%
2007 38,743+1.24%
2010 40,307+1.45%
2015 42,078+0.82%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[3][9][10][11]

In the 2015 census, the population of Bacnotan was 42,078 people,[3] with a density of 550 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,400 inhabitants per square mile.

Ilocano is the primary language spoken. English and Filipino are the languages used in government and business while English is the medium of instruction in schools.

Notable people from Bacnotan

Bacnotan has produced notable personalities in various endeavors. Some of them are as follows:

  • Erlinda Fadera-Basilio — Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland; first woman Vice President of the UN Human Rights Council. Currently Philippine ambassador to China, Mongolia and North Korea.[12]
  • Fr. Bienvenido Nebres — longest-serving university president of Ateneo de Manila University

References

  1. Municipality of Bacnotan | (DILG)
  2. "Province: La Union". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. http://windowseat.ph/la-union-philippines-surf-travel-guide/
  6. "Bacnotan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  7. "Province: La Union". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  8. "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  11. "Province of La Union". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  12. Bacnotan, PRA.gov.ph, Retrieved 17 March 2016
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