# Mercedes, Camarines Norte

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 2020 census, it has a population of 55,334 people.

## 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.

## 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 ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Mercedes, Camarines Norte, was 55,334 people, with a density of 320 inhabitants per square kilometre or 830 inhabitants per square mile.

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Mercedes
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 50
* 2006 42.40
* 2009 43.39
* 2012 27.85
* 2015 43.70
* 2018 36.88
* 2021 22.41
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Tourism

Waterfalls:
* Colasi Falls - barangay Colasi
* Malunay Falls - sitio Malunay
* Bahaw Falls - barangay Hamoraon
* Hinipaan Falls - barangay Hinipaan

## Education

* Mercedes Elementary School
* Mercedes High School (San Roque)
* Manguisoc National High School
* Camarines Norte State College - Mercedes Campus (formerly Mercedes School of Fisheries)
* Tagongtong Elementary School
* San Roque National High School
* Don Pablo S Villafuerte National High School
* Claro Ibasco Elementary School
* Quinapaguian Elem. School
* Lope Manlangit Elem. School
* Mambungalon Elem. School
* Cayucyucan Elem. School
* Pambuhan Elem School
* Gaboc Elementary School
* Lalawigan Elem. School
* San Roque Elem. School
* Manguisoc Elem. School
* Tarum Elem. School
* Colasi Elem. School
* Hamoraon Elem. School
* Lanot Elementary School
* Mansalongsalong Elem. School
* Matoogtoog Elementary School
* Hinipaan Elementary School