Ayungon

Last updated
Ayungon
Lungsod sa Ayungon
Municipality of Ayungon
Flag of Ayungon, Negros Oriental.png
Ph locator negros oriental ayungon.png
Map of Negros Oriental with Ayungon highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Ayungon
Philippines location map (square).svg
Red pog.svg
Ayungon
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°51′30″N123°08′48″E / 9.8584°N 123.146758°E / 9.8584; 123.146758
Country Philippines
Region Negros Island Region
Province Negros Oriental
District 1st district
Barangays 24 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
  Type Sangguniang Bayan
   Mayor Dennis N. Amancio (NPC)
   Vice Mayor Nelda A. Favillaran (PFP)
   Representative Emmanuel L. Iway (PFP)
   Municipal Council
Members
  • Kizzle Mae D. Opada
  • Gerryl B. Opada
  • Roger O. Baldado
  • Keith B. Enardecido
  • Rizaldy N. Gumba
  • Joseph A. Dayahan
  • Wilfelito B. Arinaza
  • Romulo P. Alforque
  • Ramel L. Mandate
  • Wilfe Jun Arinaza
  • ex officio ABC president
  • ex officio SK chairman
   Electorate 32,173 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
  Total
265.10 km2 (102.36 sq mi)
Elevation
112 m (367 ft)
Highest elevation
669 m (2,195 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census) [3]
  Total
50,688
  Density190/km2 (500/sq mi)
   Households
11,443
Economy
   Income class 2nd municipal income class
   Poverty incidence
38.42
% (2021) [4]
   Revenue 258.9 million (2022)
   Assets 671.3 million (2022)
   Expenditure 237.1 million (2022)
   Liabilities 108.3 million (2022)
Service provider
  ElectricityNegros Oriental 1 Electric Cooperative (NORECO 1)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6210
PSGC
IDD : area code +63(0)35
Native languages Cebuano
Tagalog
Website www.ayungon.gov.ph

Ayungon (Cebuano : Lungsod sa Ayungon; Tagalog : Bayan ng Ayungon), officially the Municipality of Ayungon, is a municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 47,102 people. [5]

Contents

Attractions include the Karalaon Bird Sanctuary, the subterranean area of the Mabato Caves, a man-made lake in Banban, and the Pagsalsalan Twin Falls (Maaslum Falls). [6]

History

There are at least two variations of the name's origin. According to Dr. Tomoteo S. Oracion of Silliman University, during the pre-colonial periods, a certain locality is named after the most popular person living in it. The most popular person happened to be a fisherman named "Ayung", who has his own hut where travellers would stop by. It was referred to as "Ayung's Place," which was later suffixed with "-on" to form "Ayungon". Another variation revolves around the Spaniards asking a native, who was cutting a tree, about the name of the place. The native thought they were asking for his name, so he answered "Ayung". The Spaniards asked the same question again, but this time, the native thought they were asking the name of tree he was cutting, so he answered "Dungon". The Spaniards coined the term "Ayung-Dungon" to refer to this area, which was later shortened to "Ayungon". [7]

During the Spanish regime, the original town plaza was located at the beach, which was transferred further inland due to a massive flood. The town also suffered an epidemic of smallpox which took away two-thirds of the town's population. Old municipal profiles refer to Ayungon as Todos los Santos, though there are no legends to explain that Hispanic name, just as there are no tales elaborating on the ruins of apparently Hispanic fortifications on the Tampocon II shoreline, perhaps because Ayungon's colonial past was not entirely its own. For many years, it was a mere barrio of Tayasan, until 1924 when Governor General Leonard Wood came to establish Ayungon as a full-fledged municipality through the recommendation of the then-provincial governor, Enrique Villanueva.

During World War II, numerous houses were burned, as well as people being tortured and killed. Many of them passed away due to famine and malaria. Maximo Romano Enardecido, the mayor at the time, evacuated the municipal government to Pangi, a mountainous village located south of the Poblacion. Captain Eugenio “Kusgan” Antonio led the town's guerilla movement. The town was liberated in October 1944, and the Americans came in to rehabilitate the town by lending money to pay for war damages. [7]

Geography

82 kilometres (51 mi) from the provincial capital Dumaguete, Ayungon is located on the midriff of Oriental Negros’ northern stretch, nearly two hours from Dumaguete. [6]

Of only three virgin forests said to be still remaining on Negros Island, one is located in barangay Banban. [6]

Barangays

Barangays of Ayungon. Ph Ayungon Negros Oriental (Barangay Map).png
Barangays of Ayungon.

Ayungon is politically subdivided into 24 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2024 [8] 2010 [9]
074602001 Amdus 2.1% 1,049 1,407 −2.04%
074602003 Anibong 4.1% 2,102 2,131 −0.10%
074602004 Atabay 2.8% 1,398 1,225 0.93%
074602005 Awa-an 5.4% 2,718 2,474 0.66%
074602006 Ban-ban 5.2% 2,622 2,299 0.93%
074602007 Calagcalag 3.4% 1,718 1,711 0.03%
074602008 Candana-ay 2.2% 1,098 1,958 −3.99%
074602009 Carol-an 6.7% 3,375 2,899 1.08%
074602010 Gomentoc 4.3% 2,173 2,065 0.36%
074602011 Inacban 3.6% 1,803 1,588 0.90%
074602012 Iniban 2.6% 1,298 1,273 0.14%
074602002 Jandalamanon 2.2% 1,107 1,167 −0.37%
074602013 Kilaban 1.5% 744 846 −0.90%
074602014 Lamigan 2.4% 1,195 844 2.48%
074602015 Maaslum 3.4% 1,741 1,799 −0.23%
074602016 Mabato 6.2% 3,164 3,253 −0.19%
074602017 Manogtong 2.7% 1,348 1,603 −1.21%
074602018 Nabhang 2.4% 1,228 1,463 −1.22%
074602024 Poblacion 4.0% 2,036 1,837 0.73%
074602019 Tambo 8.3% 4,189 3,188 1.94%
074602020 Tampocon I 4.2% 2,127 1,944 0.63%
074602021 Tampocon II 4.3% 2,196 2,674 −1.38%
074602022 Tibyawan 3.5% 1,797 1,867 −0.27%
074602023 Tiguib 5.7% 2,876 2,631 0.63%
Total50,68846,1460.66%

Climate

Climate data for Ayungon, Negros Oriental
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)29
(84)
30
(86)
31
(88)
32
(90)
31
(88)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
30
(86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)23
(73)
22
(72)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)42
(1.7)
34
(1.3)
40
(1.6)
61
(2.4)
124
(4.9)
188
(7.4)
190
(7.5)
191
(7.5)
189
(7.4)
186
(7.3)
124
(4.9)
73
(2.9)
1,442
(56.8)
Average rainy days10.08.59.512.822.326.828.427.927.327.620.513.1234.7
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally) [10]

Demographics

Population census of Ayungon
YearPop.±% p.a.
1939 12,777    
1948 14,797+1.64%
1960 21,539+3.18%
1970 23,165+0.73%
1975 23,639+0.41%
1980 27,656+3.19%
1990 33,317+1.88%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1995 36,928+1.95%
2000 40,744+2.13%
2007 42,643+0.63%
2010 46,146+2.91%
2015 46,303+0.06%
2020 47,102+0.36%
2024 50,688+1.78%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [11] [12] [9] [13] [14]

Economy

Poverty incidence of Ayungon

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2000
64.64
2003
60.66
2006
49.70
2009
51.59
2012
51.33
2015
52.41
2018
30.50
2021
38.42

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

Ayungon is mostly rural with vast rice fields, dense coconut groves and expansive plantations of sugar cane, bananas and pineapple. [6]

As of May 2025, the once quiet town is starting to commercialize by bringing in numerous known international and national businesses in its Poblacion . Businesses like Mr. DIY, Crispy King, and Arnok's Fried Chicken started to show up in town during Dennis Amancio's mayoral term. 7-Eleven is soon to open at the Callao-Nacional Business Arcade, alongside with Mr. DIY as the first business to start operating at the arcade.

As the town is growing economically, it has been conferred with the status of 1st class income municipality . [23]

Education

The public schools in the town of Ayungon are administered by two school districts under the Schools Division of Negros Oriental.

Elementary schools:

High schools:

Private schools:

References

  1. Municipality of Ayungon | (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. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Negros Oriental Tourism " Archived 2014-02-19 at the Wayback Machine ", About | Cities & Towns. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  7. 1 2 "Municipality of Ayungon".
  8. Census of Population (2020). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  9. 1 2 Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. "Ayungon: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  11. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  12. Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  13. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  14. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  15. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  16. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  17. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  18. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  19. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  20. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  21. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  22. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  23. Municipality of Ayungon (2025). "Municipality of Ayungon now a First Class Municipality". Facebook. Retrieved May 8, 2025.