Calayan, Cagayan

Calayan, officially the Municipality of Calayan (Ilocano: Ili ti Calayan; Ivatan: Kavahayan nu Calayan; Ibanag: Ili nat Calayan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Calayan), is a municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 18,008 people. It is home to the Calayan rail, a flightless bird identified as a separate species in 2004 and endemic to Calayan Island. History The municipality's name in the Ibanag language literally means "where laya (ginger) abounds". While Calayan was officially conquered by the Spanish starting in 1619, authorities were only able to maintain a sporadic presence in the area due to its isolated location. It was taken over by the Americans in 1900. In the 1920s, it was briefly placed under the jurisdiction of Aparri after a clerk ran off with the municipal treasury's funds. Geography Calayan is located in the Luzon Strait north of Luzon Island and south of Taiwan via Bashi Channel to Luzon Strait. The town is composed of four of the five major islands of the Babuyan Islands namely: Calayan, Camiguin, Dalupiri and Babuyan Island. Calayan Island is the largest of the Babuyan Islands. Fuga Island, the fifth island within the Babuyan Islands, is part of Aparri municipality despite being closer to Claveria. Calayan Island is located about 24 miles (39 km) west-south-west of Babuyan Island off the north coast of the Philippines and belongs to the Babuyan Islands group in the China Sea. The island is hemmed between Aparri and Batanes islands and it is larger than the Fuga Island, which is 25 miles (40 km) away. It is the second district in the province of Cagayan and its 29th municipality. Calayan is situated 207.75 kilometres (129.09 mi) from the provincial capital Tuguegarao, and 692.90 kilometres (430.55 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila. Barangays Calayan is politically subdivided into 12 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios. Climate Weather conditions are generally wet with heavy rainfall occurring during November and December. The cold winds are the northerly and north-easterly winds. The island is also affected by typhoons. Calayan Island publishes tide tables and solunar tables, daily forecasts for high tides and low tides, other fishing-related data such as the lunar phase, tidal coefficient, sun and moon rising and setting times, hours of maximum fish activity and weather conditions. This data is also useful for all fishing operations in the Calayan Island, apart from navigation of other commercial and transport vessels. Demographics In the 2024 census, the population of Calayan was 18,008 people, with a density of 36 inhabitants per square kilometre or 93 inhabitants per square mile. Economy Poverty incidence of Calayan Source: Philippine Statistics Authority Local government Calayan is part of the second legislative district of the province of Cagayan. It 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 municipal councilors are elected directly by the people through an election that is held every three years. Elected officials Members of the Municipal Council (2022-2025) Education The Schools Division of Cagayan governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. The Calayan West District Office governs the public and private elementary and high schools throughout the municipality. Primary and elementary schools Cabudadan Primary School Calayan Central School Caniwalan Elementary School Dadao Elementary School Dalupiri Elementary School Dibay Elementary School Dilam East Primary School Dilam Elementary School Magsidel Elementary School Pilid Elementary School Secondary schools Calayan High School Calayan High School - Dibay Extension Calayan High School - Dilam Extension References This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: the U.S. Government Elihu Root collection of United States documents relating to the Philippine Islands (1906) External links Philippine Standard Geographic Code