Besao

Besao
Municipality
Municipality of Besao
Flag Seal
Map of Mountain Province with Besao highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Besao Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 17°05′43″N120°51′22″E / 17.0953°N 120.8561°E / 17.0953; 120.8561
Country	Philippines
Region	Cordillera Administrative Region
Province	Mountain Province
District	Lone district
Founded	1904
Barangays	14 (see Barangays)
Government   [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
•  Mayor	Bryne O. Bacwaden
•  Vice Mayor	Elizabeth A. Buyagan
•  Representative	Maximo Y. Dalog Jr.
•  Municipal Council	Members Johnny D. Ambucay Arleigh L. Pekas Raphael V. Clemente Joel D. Lacsigen Marcos I. Mangallay Benny S. Ballang Henry D. Bosigen Alfredo S. Beyden
•  Electorate	6,277 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	173.62 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  (2024 census) [3]
• Total	6,315
• Density	36/km2 (94/sq mi)
•  Households	1,738
Economy
•  Income class	5th municipal income class
•  Poverty incidence	6.82 % (2021) [4]
•  Revenue	₱ 121.8 million (2022)
•  Assets	₱ 301.1 million (2022)
•  Expenditure	₱ 86.81 million (2022)
•  Liabilities	₱ 44.39 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Mountain Province Electric Cooperative (MOPRECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2618
PSGC	1404403000
IDD  :  area code	+63 (0)74
Native languages	Balangao Bontoc Ilocano Tagalog Applai Kankanaey
Website	besao.gov.ph

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

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. ^[6]

Geography

Cordillera Central mountains in Besao

Besao is situated 25.43 kilometres (15.80 mi) from the provincial capital Bontoc, and 394.55 kilometres (245.16 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

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

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

Climate

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) [7]

Demographics

Population census of Besao

Year Pop. ±% 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%	Year Pop. ±% 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%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2007 7,295 −4.09% 2010 7,818 +2.55% 2015 7,040 −1.98% 2020 6,873 −0.50% 2024 6,315 −2.01%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

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

Religion

Besao,old traditional practices such as animal sacrifices (referred to as korban) were once a way to honor Kabunian (GOD), seek favor, ask for forgiveness, as well as for cleansing and thanksgiving. However, Christianity, specifically Episcopalianism, was introduced by American missionaries in the early 1900s, gradually becoming the dominant faith in the region. Besao's other practices include elements of animism. While animist traditions exist, they are not the primary faith of the community. The town is one of the few in the southern Cordillera mountains where aspects of ancestral worship and intangible heritage have been preserved by the older generations. However, with younger generations migrating to cities, these traditions face significant challenges to their continuity. Additionally, Christian groups have been gaining influence in the town, further contributing to changes in its religious landscape.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Besao

10 20 30 40 50 2000 47.10 2003 36.89 2006 19.20 2009 26.89 2012 16.30 2015 23.17 2018 16.63 2021 6.82 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

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

Members of the Municipal Council (2019–2022): ^[21]

• 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

Education

The Besao Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. ^[22]

Primary and elementary schools

• Agawa Elementary School
• Ambagiw Elementary School
• Banguitan Elementary School
• Besao Central School
• Besao Elementary School
• Bunga Elementary School
• Catengan Elementary School
• Dandanac Elementary School
• Gueday Elementary School
• Lacmaan Primary School
• Masameyeo Primary School
• Panabungen Elementary School
• Pangweo Elementary School
• Payeo Elementary School
• Suquib Primary School
• Tambuan Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Agawa National High School
• Banguitan National High School
• Besao National High School
• Panabungen School of Arts, trades, and Home Industries
• St. James High School of Mountain Province
• Tamboan National High School

References

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. "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. "Secrets of the Calendar Stone of Besao in the Philippines Revealed". 4 June 2009.
7. "Besao: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
8. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
9. Census of Population (2015). "Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
13. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
14. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
15. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
16. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
17. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
18. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
19. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
20. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
21. "2019 National and Local Elections" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
22. "Masterlist of Schools" (PDF). Department of Education. January 15, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2025.

External links

• Official Website of Besao, Mountain Province
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information