# Kabugao

Kabugao, officially the Municipality of Kabugao (Ilocano: Ili ti Kabugao; Itawis: Babalay yo Kabugao; Tagalog: Bayan ng Kabugao), is a municipality and de jure capital of the province of Apayao, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 16,215 people.

## History

On July 12, 1915, Governor General Francis Burton Harrison issued Executive Order No. 45, transferring the capital of then sub-province of Apayao from Tauit to Kabugao, to be effective on August 1.
Kabugao was occupied for a year by the Japanese during the Second World War. It was captured in December 1942, after the USAFIP NL retreated from the town.

## Geography

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 935.12 square kilometres (361.05 sq mi)  constituting 21.19% of the 4,413.35-square-kilometre- (1,704.00 sq mi) total area of Apayao.
Kabugao is 606 kilometres (377 mi) from Manila.

### Barangays

Kabugao is politically subdivided into 21 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
| PSGC | Barangay | Population | Population | Population | ±% p.a. | ±% p.a. |
| | | 2020 | 2020 | 2010 | | |
| 148104001 | Badduat | 6.6% | 1,065 | 1,000 | ▴ | 0.63% |
| 148104002 | Baliwanan | 2.9% | 467 | 478 | ▾ | −0.23% |
| 148104004 | Bulu | 2.5% | 401 | 298 | ▴ | 3.01% |
| 148104007 | Cabetayan | 3.7% | 597 | 556 | ▴ | 0.71% |
| 148104005 | Dagara | 2.7% | 437 | 484 | ▾ | −1.02% |
| 148104006 | Dibagat | 3.8% | 616 | 797 | ▾ | −2.54% |
| 148104008 | Karagawan | 4.2% | 676 | 676 | | 0.00% |
| 148104009 | Kumao | 3.5% | 575 | 557 | ▴ | 0.32% |
| 148104010 | Laco | 2.6% | 427 | 410 | ▴ | 0.41% |
| 148104011 | Lenneng (Liyyeng) | 15.9% | 2,572 | 2,396 | ▴ | 0.71% |
| 148104012 | Lucab | 3.5% | 565 | 660 | ▾ | −1.54% |
| 148104013 | Luttuacan | 6.3% | 1,014 | 786 | ▴ | 2.58% |
| 148104014 | Madatag | 5.0% | 818 | 766 | ▴ | 0.66% |
| 148104015 | Madduang | 3.9% | 626 | 423 | ▴ | 4.00% |
| 148104016 | Magabta | 1.2% | 191 | 215 | ▾ | −1.18% |
| 148104017 | Maragat | 1.7% | 276 | 503 | ▾ | −5.82% |
| 148104018 | Musimut | 5.2% | 842 | 822 | ▴ | 0.24% |
| 148104019 | Nagbabalayan | 3.0% | 482 | 511 | ▾ | −0.58% |
| 148104020 | Poblacion | 19.5% | 3,154 | 3,217 | ▾ | −0.20% |
| 148104021 | Tuyangan | 1.4% | 223 | 334 | ▾ | −3.96% |
| 148104022 | Waga | 1.2% | 191 | 281 | ▾ | −3.79% |
| | Total | Total | 16,215 | 16,215 | | 0.00% |

#### Dibagat

Barangay Dibagat is inhabited by the Isnag and the Ilocano. There is a small grass airstrip built by SIL in 1985. Dibagat was only accessible before by canoe or by specialized aircraft, until the construction of Ilocos Norte–Apayao Road.

### Climate

Climate data for Kabugao, 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) | 29 (84) | 28 (82) | 27 (81) | 25 (77) | 29 (83) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 21 (70) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 21 (70) | 23 (72) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 133 (5.2) | 87 (3.4) | 68 (2.7) | 44 (1.7) | 127 (5.0) | 134 (5.3) | 160 (6.3) | 162 (6.4) | 134 (5.3) | 192 (7.6) | 194 (7.6) | 260 (10.2) | 1,695 (66.7) |
| Average rainy days | 18.1 | 13.3 | 13.3 | 11.8 | 19.7 | 20.9 | 22.8 | 22.8 | 20.3 | 16.6 | 18.4 | 21.7 | 219.7 |
| Source: Meteoblue ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

In the 2020 census, Kabugao had a population of 16,215. The population density was 17 inhabitants per square kilometre (44/sq mi).

### Language

Ilocano and Isnag are the main languages spoken in Kabugao.

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Kabugao
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 50
* 60
* 70
* 2000 51.96
* 2003 36.27
* 2006 39.20
* 2009 40.58
* 2012 63.90
* 2015 24.88
* 2018 35.34
* 2021 19.11
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Government
### Local government

Kabugao, 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 (2022–2025) :
| Position | Name |
| Governor | Elias C. Bulut Jr. |
| Mayor | Bensmar B. Ligwang |
| Vice-Mayor | Fabulous Tucjang |
| Councilors | Benjie Ace Talimbatog |
| Councilors | Gregorio B. Ligwang |
| Councilors | Venancio Culdong |
| Councilors | Pedro Dandan |
| Councilors | Felipe Irving |
| Councilors | Vandolf Alitan |
| Councilors | Arellano C. Culdong Jr. |
| LNB President | Frederick C. Amid |
| IPMR | James S. Amid |
| SK Federation President | Jazreal Jamila C. Enciso |

## Education

In 1948, Rev. Louis Saunders of an evangelical Protestant sect, The Disciples of Christ, opened the Apayao Christian Academy, Kabugao's first secondary school. In 1950, amidst rivalry among churches, the Catholics started its own secondary school, Our Blessed Lady of Lourdes.