Mercedes, Camarines Norte

Mercedes
Municipality
Municipality of Mercedes
Downtown area
Flag Seal
Map of Camarines Norte with Mercedes highlighted
Interactive map of Mercedes
Mercedes Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°06′33″N123°00′39″E / 14.1093°N 123.0109°E / 14.1093; 123.0109
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region
Province	Camarines Norte
District	2nd district
Founded	1948
Barangays	26 (see Barangays)
Government   [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
•  Mayor	Alexander Pajarillo
•  Vice Mayor	Jeana T. Yapyuco
•  Representative	Rosemarie C. Panotes
•  Municipal Council	Members Francisco Noel Y. Ong Charlie O. Villamarzo Jesus R. King Ruel A. Nael Raymond I. Bautista Francisca L. Ramos Jr. Princess B. Torralba Maria Velia Flor N. Ibasco
•  Electorate	35,954 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	173.69 km2 (67.06 sq mi)
Elevation	3.0 m (9.8 ft)
Highest elevation	61 m (200 ft)
Lowest elevation	−2 m (−6.6 ft)
Population  (2024 census) [3]
• Total	53,702
• Density	309.18/km2 (800.78/sq mi)
•  Households	12,571
Economy
•  Income class	2nd municipal income class
•  Poverty incidence	22.41 % (2021) [4]
•  Revenue	₱ 263.9 million (2022)
•  Assets	₱ 768.4 million (2022)
•  Expenditure	₱ 197.6 million (2022)
•  Liabilities	₱ 166.2 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative (CANORECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4601
PSGC	0501607000
IDD  :  area code	+63 (0)54
Native languages	Central Bikol Tagalog

Mercedes, officially the Municipality of Mercedes (Central Bikol : Banwaan kan Mercedes; Tagalog : Bayan ng Mercedes), is a municipality in the province of Camarines Norte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 53,702 people. ^[5]

The town's offshore islands are home to the easternmost population of the critically-endangered Irrawaddy dolphin. ^[6]

Etymology

The town was originally named "Barra", and it was a barangay of Daet, the provincial capital. Its name was changed to Mercedes after Doña Mercedes, a rich woman who devoted her life of helping the community, especially the poor.

History

Mercedes was created from the barrios of Babatnon, Lanot, Lalawigan, Pinagdamhan, Hamoraon, Colasi, Tarum, Pambuhan, Masalong-salong, Hinipaan, Matoogtoog, Cayucyucan, Mambongalon, Manguisoc, Gaboc, Mercedes, Tanayagan, Tagontong, Catandonganon, Cariñgo Island, Quinapaquian Island, Apuao Island, all formerly part of Daet, Camarines Norte, by virtue of Republic Act No. 341, approved on July 26, 1948. ^[7]

Geography

Barangays

Mercedes is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Apuao
• Barangay I (Poblacion)
• Barangay II (Poblacion)
• Barangay III (Poblacion)
• Barangay IV (Poblacion)
• Barangay V (Poblacion)
• Barangay VI (Poblacion)
• Barangay VII (Poblacion)
• Caringo
• Catandunganon
• Cayucyucan
• Colasi
• Del Rosario (Tagongtong)
• Gaboc
• Hamoraon
• Hinipaan
• Lalawigan
• Lanot
• Mambungalon
• Manguisoc
• Masalongsalong
• Matoogtoog
• Pambuhan
• Quinapaguian
• San Roque
• Tarum

Climate

Climate data for Mercedes, Camarines Norte
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	27 (81)	27 (81)	29 (84)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	27 (81)	29 (84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	24 (74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	85 (3.3)	55 (2.2)	53 (2.1)	47 (1.9)	112 (4.4)	156 (6.1)	213 (8.4)	159 (6.3)	201 (7.9)	216 (8.5)	197 (7.8)	141 (5.6)	1,635 (64.5)
Average rainy days	15.4	11.6	13.6	12.3	19.9	23.7	27.3	26.0	26.0	24.6	21.8	19.1	241.3
Source: Meteoblue [8]

Demographics

Municipal hall

Population census of Mercedes

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1948	7,247	—
1960	13,983	+5.63%
1970	19,674	+3.47%
1975	25,161	+5.06%
1980	27,645	+1.90%
1990	34,300	+2.18%
1995	38,641	+2.26%
2000	41,713	+1.65%
2007	44,375	+0.86%
2010	47,674	+2.64%
2015	50,841	+1.23%
2020	55,334	+1.80%
2024	53,702	−0.72%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

In the 2024 census, the population of Mercedes was 53,702 people, ^[14] with a density of 310 inhabitants per square kilometre or 800 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Mercedes

10

20

30

40

50

2000
49.39

2003
42.29

2006
42.40

2009
43.39

2012
27.85

2015
43.70

2018
36.88

2021
22.41

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

Tourism

Apuao Island

Port of Mercedes

Waterfalls: ^[23]

• Colasi Falls - barangay Colasi
• Malunay Falls - sitio Malunay
• Bahaw Falls - barangay Hamoraon
• Hinipaan Falls - barangay Hinipaan

Education

The Mercedes 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. ^[24]

Primary and elementary schools

• Cayucyucan Elementary School
• Claro Ibasco Elementary School
• Colasi Elementary School
• Gaboc Elementary School
• Hamoraon Elementary School
• Hinipaan Elementary School
• Lalawigan Elementary School
• Lanot Elementary School
• Lope Manlangit Elementary School
• Mambungalon Elementary School
• Manguisoc Elementary School
• Mansalongsalong Elementary School
• Matoogtoog Elementary School
• Mercedes Elementary School
• Quinapaguian Elementary School
• Pambuhan Elementary School
• San Roque Elementary School
• Tagongtong Elementary School
• Tarum Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Don Pablo S Villafuerte National High School
• Manguisoc National High School
• Mercedes High School
• San Roque National High School

Higher educational institution

• Camarines Norte State College - Mercedes Campus (formerly Mercedes School of Fisheries)

References

1.   Municipality of Mercedes | (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. https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?208457/New-Population-of-Rare-Irrawaddy-Dolphins-Found-in-Palawan
7. "An act creating the municipality of Mercedes, province of Camarines Norte". LawPH.com. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
8. "Mercedes, Camarines Norte: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
9. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
10. Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
11. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region V (Bicol Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
12. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
13. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
14. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
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. "Take Me To Mercedes: Why Colasi Falls Trek is good for Soul Searching". SoleSearchingSoul. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
24. "Masterlist of Schools" (PDF). Department of Education. January 15, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2025.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information