# Bakun, Benguet

Bakun, officially the Municipality of Bakun, (Ilocano: Ili ti Bakun; Tagalog: Bayan ng Bakun), is a municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 14,535 people.

## History

During the Spanish Period, Bakun was a rancheria of the Commandancia Politico-Militar de Amburayan. Ampusongan (currently a barangay of Bakun) was a rancheria of the Commandancia Politico Militar de Tiagan, Distrito de Benguet.
When the United States took control of the Philippines, the American Congress issued Act No. 48 in November 1900, placing Bakun under the province of Amburayan, and Ampusongan under the province of Benguet. On August 13, 1908, Benguet became a subprovince of the newly established Mountain Province with the enactment of Act No. 1876, and the municipal districts of Bakun and Ampusongan became part of the subprovince.
In 1917, the Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes recommended that the western border of the Mountain Province be pushed eastward, such that the entire subprovince of Amburayan and large slices of Lepanto and Benguet would be made part of Ilocos Sur and La Union. In early 1937, Ampusongan was merged with Bakun, the latter carrying the name of the township while the former became a barangay. The issuance of Republic Act No. 4695 in 1966 included Bakun as a regular municipality in the newly created province of Benguet.

## Geography

Bakun is located at 16°47′33″N 120°39′41″E﻿ / ﻿16.7925°N 120.6614°E﻿ / 16.7925; 120.6614, at the northwestern tip of Benguet. It is bounded by Mankayan on the east, Buguias on the southeast, Kibungan on the south, Sugpon on the south-west, Alilem on the north-west, and Cervantes on the north.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 286.91 square kilometres (110.78 sq mi)  constituting 10.36% of the 2,769.08-square-kilometre- (1,069.15 sq mi) total area of Benguet.
Bakun is 335 kilometres (208 mi) from Manila, 80 kilometres (50 mi) from La Trinidad, 85 kilometres (53 mi) from Baguio, 31 kilometres (19 mi) from Buguias, and 33 kilometres (21 mi) from Atok.

### Barangays

Bakun is politically subdivided into 7 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
| PSGC | Barangay | Population | Population | Population | ±% p.a. | ±% p.a. |
| | | 2020 | 2020 | 2010 | | |
| 141103001 | Ampusongan | 17.4% | 2,532 | 2,178 | ▴ | 1.52% |
| 141103002 | Bagu | 5.2% | 758 | 856 | ▾ | −1.21% |
| 141103004 | Dalipey | 17.7% | 2,568 | 2,164 | ▴ | 1.73% |
| 141103005 | Gambang | 26.0% | 3,783 | 3,705 | ▴ | 0.21% |
| 141103007 | Kayapa | 10.1% | 1,468 | 1,527 | ▾ | −0.39% |
| 141103009 | Poblacion (Central) | 13.4% | 1,946 | 1,834 | ▴ | 0.59% |
| 141103010 | Sinacbat | 10.2% | 1,480 | 1,323 | ▴ | 1.13% |
| | Total | Total | 14,535 | 14,535 | | 0.00% |

### Climate

Climate data for Bakun, Benguet :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 26 (79) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14 (57) | 15 (59) | 16 (61) | 18 (64) | 19 (66) | 18 (64) | 18 (64) | 18 (64) | 18 (64) | 17 (63) | 16 (61) | 15 (59) | 17 (62) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 42 (1.7) | 48 (1.9) | 74 (2.9) | 110 (4.3) | 269 (10.6) | 275 (10.8) | 362 (14.3) | 325 (12.8) | 330 (13.0) | 306 (12.0) | 126 (5.0) | 61 (2.4) | 2,328 (91.7) |
| Average rainy days | 11.2 | 12.0 | 17.1 | 21.2 | 27.1 | 26.8 | 28.1 | 27.0 | 26.0 | 24.5 | 17.7 | 12.4 | 251.1 |
| Source: Meteoblue ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

In the 2020 census, Bakun had a population of 14,535. The population density was 51 inhabitants per square kilometre (130/sq mi).

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Bakun
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 50
* 60
* 2006 17.00
* 2009 53.65
* 2012 26.48
* 2015 10.01
* 2018 17.92
* 2021 15.88
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Government
### Local government

Bakun, 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 G. Yap |
| Mayor | Bill Y. Raymundo |
| Vice-Mayor | Fausto T. Labinio |
| Councilors | Jesus D. Lozano |
| Councilors | June Raymundo C. Suni-en |
| Councilors | Florence L. Balakiao |
| Councilors | Marciano P. Kigisan Jr. |
| Councilors | Dixie L. La Madrid |
| Councilors | Mark C. Bayawa |
| Councilors | Jayson L. Tokias |
| Councilors | Edgar P. Ognaden |

## Education
### Public schools

As of 2015, Bakun has 30 public elementary schools and 4 public secondary schools.
Elementary (2014-2015) :
| School | Barangay |
| Ampusongan Elementary School | Ampusongan |
| Bagtangan Elementary School | Gambang |
| Bagu Elementary School | Bagu |
| Bakun Central School | Poblacion |
| Barbarit Primary School | Bagu |
| Batanes Primary School | Gambang |
| Bulisay Elementary School | Kayapa |
| Cabutotan Elementary School | Ampusongan |
| Cadsi-Amoy Elementary School - Main | Kayapa |
| Cadsi-Amoy Elementary School - Poway Annex | Kayapa |
| Copcopit Elementary School | Dalipey |
| Dalingoan Elementary School | Sinacbat |
| Dio-alan Primary School | Bagu |
| Guing-oy Primary School | Dalipey |
| Kayapa Elementary School | Kayapa |
| Ketagan-Cabatan Elementary School | Dalipey |
| Labinio-Acquisio Elementary School | Gambang |
| Labinio-Mariano Elementary School | Gambang |
| Lamew Elementary School | Sinacbat |
| Legab Elementary School | Kayapa |
| Nagawa Elementary School | Kayapa |
| Palidan Elementary School | Dalipey |
| Sinacbat Elementary School | Sinacbat |
| Talbino Elementary School | Dalipey |
| Tanas Elementary School | Ampusongan |
| Tap-ayao-Abiyang Elementary School | Poblacion |
| Tap-ayao-Abiyang Elementary School - Beyeng Extension | Poblacion |
| Tingbaoen-Galisen Elementary School | Gambang |
| Yugo Bantales Primary School | Gambang |
Secondary (2013-2014) :
| School | Barangay |
| Ampusongan National High School | Ampusongan |
| Ampusongan National High School - Kayapa Extension | Kayapa |
| Bakun National High School | Poblacion |
| Bakun National High School - Sinacbat Extension | Sinacbat |