# Santa Marcela, Apayao

Santa Marcela, officially the Municipality of Santa Marcela (Ilocano: Ili ti Santa Marcela; Tagalog: Bayan ng Santa Marcela), is a municipality in the province of Apayao, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 13,317 people.

## History

Santa Marcela was created into an independent municipality on June 17, 1967, when several barrios were separated from Luna and Flora and constituted into the newly created town.

## Geography

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 196.32 square kilometres (75.80 sq mi)  constituting 4.45% of the 4,413.35-square-kilometre- (1,704.00 sq mi) total area of Apayao.
Santa Marcela is 126 kilometres (78 mi) from Kabugao, 675 kilometres (419 mi) from Manila, and 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Allacapan.

### Barangays

Santa Marcela is politically subdivided into 13 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
| PSGC | Barangay | Population | Population | Population | ±% p.a. | ±% p.a. |
| | | 2020 | 2020 | 2010 | | |
| 148107001 | Barocboc | 11.1% | 1,472 | 1,548 | ▾ | −0.50% |
| 148107002 | Consuelo | 6.8% | 900 | 871 | ▴ | 0.33% |
| 148107012 | Emiliana | 6.3% | 838 | 787 | ▴ | 0.63% |
| 148107003 | Imelda (Sipa Annex) | 7.0% | 927 | 850 | ▴ | 0.87% |
| 148107004 | Malekkeg | 8.8% | 1,169 | 970 | ▴ | 1.88% |
| 148107005 | Marcela (Poblacion) | 10.3% | 1,368 | 1,120 | ▴ | 2.02% |
| 148107006 | Nueva | 5.9% | 788 | 662 | ▴ | 1.76% |
| 148107007 | Panay | 7.3% | 969 | 766 | ▴ | 2.38% |
| 148107008 | San Antonio | 6.1% | 811 | 799 | ▴ | 0.15% |
| 148107013 | San Carlos | 11.2% | 1,498 | 1,138 | ▴ | 2.79% |
| 148107014 | San Juan | 4.5% | 596 | 461 | ▴ | 2.60% |
| 148107015 | San Mariano | 7.4% | 987 | 978 | ▴ | 0.09% |
| 148107011 | Sipa Proper | 8.0% | 1,060 | 1,060 | | 0.00% |
| | Total | Total | 13,317 | 13,317 | | 0.00% |

### Climate

Climate data for Santa Marcela, Apayao :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 25 (77) | 26 (79) | 29 (84) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 28 (82) | 27 (81) | 25 (77) | 29 (84) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 21 (70) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 21 (70) | 23 (73) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 120 (4.7) | 77 (3.0) | 62 (2.4) | 40 (1.6) | 118 (4.6) | 138 (5.4) | 162 (6.4) | 173 (6.8) | 143 (5.6) | 198 (7.8) | 185 (7.3) | 248 (9.8) | 1,664 (65.4) |
| Average rainy days | 16.9 | 12.2 | 11.5 | 10.6 | 18.7 | 20.1 | 21.2 | 23.3 | 20.8 | 16.9 | 16.5 | 20.0 | 208.7 |
| Source: Meteoblue ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

In the 2020 census, Santa Marcela had a population of 13,317. The population density was 68 inhabitants per square kilometre (180/sq mi).

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Santa Marcela
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 2006 18.20
* 2009 23.78
* 2012 32.63
* 2015 16.42
* 2018 12.20
* 2021 12.18
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Government
### Local government

Santa Marcela, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Apayao, 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 (2019–2022) :
| Position | Name |
| Congressman | Elias C. Bulut Jr. |
| Mayor | Evelyn B. Martinez |
| Vice-Mayor | Rolly U. Guiang |
| Councilors | Jayson M. Calban |
| Councilors | Revelina B. Umblas |
| Councilors | Geronimo A. Agustin |
| Councilors | Rasher R. Alegre |
| Councilors | Emely V. Aman |
| Councilors | Haydie P. Tesalona |
| Councilors | Wilfred G. Martinez |
| Councilors | Rolando S. Dayrit |