# Bokod, Benguet

Bokod, officially the Municipality of Bokod, (Ilocano: Ili ti Bokod; Tagalog: Bayan ng Bokod), is a municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 14,435 people.

## History
### Pre-colonial and Spanish periods

According to folklore, Bokod, once a heavily forested village, got its name from a man named Ebokot (or Ekbot), who introduced agricultural development to the area. Ebokot's name was associated with the village and was registered as a pueblo during the Spanish Regime.

### American period

Bokod was established as one of the 19 townships of Benguet during the American Rule with the enactment of Act No. 48 on November 22, 1900.
On August 13, 1908, Benguet was established as a sub-province of the newly created Mountain Province with the enactment of Act No. 1876. As a result, six townships of Benguet were abolished, among them were Ambuklao and Daclan which were integrated into the township of Bokod.
Executive Order No. 24 dated March 23, 1910, signed by W. Cameroon Forbes created the township of Bokod.

### Post-war era

One of the principal infrastructure in Bokod is the Ambuklao Dam. Built in 1950 and opened in 1956, it is one of the most important hydroelectric facilities in Luzon.
On June 25, 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Executive Order No. 42 converting eight (8) of the thirteen (13) towns (designated as municipal districts) of Benguet sub-province into regular municipalities. Bokod was among them.
On June 18, 1966, the sub-province of Benguet was separated from the old Mountain Province and was converted into a regular province. Bokod remained to be a component municipality of the newly established province.

## Geography

Bokod is located at 16°29′29″N 120°49′48″E﻿ / ﻿16.4914°N 120.83°E﻿ / 16.4914; 120.83. It is bounded by Kabayan on the north-east, Atok on the north-west, Tublay on the mid-west, Itogon on the south-west, and Kayapa on the east.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 274.96 square kilometres (106.16 sq mi)  constituting 9.93% of the 2,769.08-square-kilometre- (1,069.15 sq mi) total area of Benguet.
Bokod is 53 kilometres (33 mi) from Baguio, 58 kilometres (36 mi) from La Trinidad, and 303 kilometres (188 mi) from Manila.

### Barangays

Bokod is politically subdivided into 10 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
| PSGC | Barangay | Population | Population | Population | ±% p.a. | ±% p.a. |
| | | 2020 | 2020 | 2010 | | |
| 141104001 | Ambuclao | 22.9% | 3,301 | 3,013 | ▴ | 0.92% |
| 141104002 | Bila | 10.3% | 1,484 | 991 | ▴ | 4.12% |
| 141104003 | Bobok‑Bisal | 8.6% | 1,246 | 1,086 | ▴ | 1.38% |
| 141104004 | Daclan | 12.1% | 1,748 | 1,748 | | 0.00% |
| 141104005 | Ekip | 6.7% | 962 | 806 | ▴ | 1.78% |
| 141104006 | Karao | 7.7% | 1,111 | 958 | ▴ | 1.49% |
| 141104007 | Nawal | 4.2% | 605 | 743 | ▾ | −2.03% |
| 141104008 | Pito | 7.4% | 1,065 | 838 | ▴ | 2.43% |
| 141104009 | Poblacion | 16.0% | 2,314 | 1,964 | ▴ | 1.65% |
| 141104010 | Tikey | 4.1% | 599 | 501 | ▴ | 1.80% |
| | Total | Total | 14,435 | 14,435 | | 0.00% |

### Climate

Climate data for Bokod, Benguet :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 26 (79) | 27 (81) | 27 (81) | 26 (79) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 23 (73) | 25 (77) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14 (57) | 15 (59) | 16 (61) | 18 (64) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 19 (66) | 18 (64) | 16 (61) | 15 (59) | 18 (64) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 21 (0.8) | 28 (1.1) | 34 (1.3) | 58 (2.3) | 160 (6.3) | 179 (7.0) | 226 (8.9) | 225 (8.9) | 215 (8.5) | 168 (6.6) | 59 (2.3) | 32 (1.3) | 1,405 (55.3) |
| Average rainy days | 7.5 | 8.5 | 10.9 | 14.9 | 23.9 | 25.7 | 26.7 | 25.3 | 24.9 | 18.9 | 11.8 | 8.9 | 207.9 |
| Source: Meteoblue ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

In the 2020 census, Bokod had a population of 14,435. The population density was 52 inhabitants per square kilometre (130/sq mi).

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Bokod
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 50
* 2006 5.10
* 2009 21.54
* 2012 9.15
* 2015 9.20
* 2018 9.88
* 2021 42.99
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Government
### Local government

Bokod, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Benguet, 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 (2022-2025) :
| Position | Name |
| Congressman | Eric Go Yap |
| Mayor | Thomas K. Wales Jr. |
| Vice-Mayor | Erik Donn Ignacio |
| Councilors | Miguel G. Cosalan, Jr. |
| Councilors | Doroteo S. Beray |
| Councilors | Marian D. Calawen |
| Councilors | Elinger G. Dayotao |
| Councilors | Arthur L. Solano |
| Councilors | Johnny A. Sama |
| Councilors | Alejandro C. Basilio |
| Councilors | Sonny E. Olas |

## Attractions

* Ambuklao Dam
* Mount Amalkatan
* Badekbek Sulfur Springs
* Palansa Panoramic View
* Bila Mountain Saddle
* Ekip Mossy Forest
* Palpalan Waterfalls
* Adwagan River
* Bobbok Second Growth Pine Forests
* Mount Pulag
* Mount Purgatory
* Mount Patoktok

## Education
### Public schools

As of 2014, Bokod has 37 public elementary schools and 3 public secondary schools.
Elementary (2013-2014) :
| School | Barangay |
| Adonot Primary School | Ambuklao |
| Akbot Alicnas Primary School | Pito |
| Alberto Cuilan Memorial School | Bila |
| Ambangeg Elementary School | Daclan |
| Ambayec Primary School | Poblacion |
| Ambuklao Elementary School | Ambuklao |
| Banao Elementary School | Ambuklao |
| Bangao Community School | Ambuklao |
| Bangen Elementary School | Ambuklao |
| Bantas Suanding Elementary School | Poblacion |
| Bawempeta Primary School | Nawal |
| Bila Elementary School | Bila |
| Bisal Elementary School | Bobok-Bisal |
| Bokod Central School | Poblacion |
| Bulo Elementary School | Poblacion |
| Bunagan Primary School | (Bunagan) |
| Camanggaan Elementary School | Tikey |
| Daklan Elementary School | Daclan |
| Ekip Elementary School | Ekip |
| Galsa Primary School | Pito |
| Karao Elementary School | Karao |
| Karao Tribe Primary School | Karao |
| Kawal Elementary School | Bobok-Bisal |
| Kiweng Primary School | Ambuklao |
| Lebeng Elementary School | Ambuklao |
| Liboong Primary School | Tikey |
| Line 10 Primary School - Palpalan | |
| Naswak Elementary School | Ekip |
| Nawal Elementary School | Nawal |
| Otbong Primary School | Bobok-Bisal |
| Palansa Elementary School | Bila |
| Pidile Primary School | Daclan |
| Pigingan-Diseb Primary School | Karao |
| Pilpiok Elementary School | Pito |
| Poodan Primary School | Ekip |
| Tikey Primary School | Tikey |
| Wakal Elementary School | Nawal |
Secondary (2013-2014) :
| School | Barangay |
| Bokod National High School - Main | Pito |
| Bokod National High School - Daclan Extension | Daclan |
| Ambuklao National High School | Ambuklao |

#### Universities

* Benguet State University Bokod Campus (BSAT) (Ambangeg)

### Private schools

* Immaculate Conception School of Bokod, Inc. (Poblacion)

## Gallery

* Municipal hall
* Downtown Bokod
* Immaculate Conception Parish Church
* A road in town
* Pine forests in Bokod