# Benito Soliven

Benito Soliven, officially the Municipality of Benito Soliven, is a municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,752 people.

## Etymology

The town is named after the late Benito Tagorda Soliven, Congressman of Ilocos Sur's 1st district from 1935 to 1941.

## History

Benito Soliven was once known as Melappia of the Municipality of San Mariano. The municipality came to existence with the passage of Republic Act No. 4873 on May 18, 1967. The first elected municipal officials were proclaimed following the November 1967 elections, and the new town's administration began on January 1, 1968. It is now a fourth-class municipality with 29 barangays.

## Geography
### Barangays

Benito Soliven is politically subdivided into 29 barangays.  Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
* Andabuen
* Ara
* Binogtungan
* Capuseran (Capurocan)
* Dagupan
* Danipa
* District II (Poblacion)
* Gomez
* Guilingan
* La Salette
* Makindol
* Maluno Norte
* Maluno Sur
* Nacalma
* New Magsaysay
* District I (Poblacion)
* Punit
* San Carlos
* San Francisco
* Santa Cruz
* Sevillana
* Sinipit
* Lucban
* Villaluz
* Yeban Norte
* Yeban Sur
* Santiago
* Placer
* Balliao

### Climate

Climate data for Benito Soliven, Isabela :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 32 (90) | 35 (95) | 35 (95) | 35 (95) | 34 (93) | 33 (91) | 32 (90) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 28 (82) | 32 (90) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19 (66) | 20 (68) | 21 (70) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 21 (70) | 20 (68) | 22 (71) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 31.2 (1.23) | 23 (0.9) | 27.7 (1.09) | 28.1 (1.11) | 113.5 (4.47) | 141.4 (5.57) | 176.4 (6.94) | 236.6 (9.31) | 224.9 (8.85) | 247.7 (9.75) | 222.9 (8.78) | 178 (7.0) | 1,651.4 (65) |
| Average rainy days | 10 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 144 |
| Source: World Weather Online ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Benito Soliven was 29,752 people, with a density of 160 inhabitants per square kilometre or 410 inhabitants per square mile.

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Benito Soliven
* 10
* 20
* 30
* 40
* 50
* 60
* 2000 53.66
* 2003 38.38
* 2006 32.00
* 2009 25.39
* 2012 23.61
* 2015 21.72
* 2018 19.74
* 2021 20.51
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Government
### Local government

As a municipality in the Province of Isabela, government officials at the provincial and municipal levels are voted by the town. The provincial government has political jurisdiction over most local transactions of the municipal government.
The municipality of Benito Soliven 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 municipal councilors are elected directly by the people through an election held every three years.
Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.

### Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council (2022-2025) :
| Position | Name |
| Congressman | Ed Christopher S. Go |
| Mayor | Roberto T. Lungan |
| Vice-Mayor | John Paul S. Azur |
| Councilors | Rose Jane S. Azur |
| Councilors | Roxan V. Lungan |
| Councilors | Ernie John B. Abu |
| Councilors | Rommel L. Rinion |
| Councilors | Amado G. Viernes |
| Councilors | Marshal Ancheta |
| Councilors | Jade Carreon |
| Councilors | Ferdinand Dela Cruz |
| SKF President | Isidro Carmelo L. Siquian |

### Congress representation

Benito Soliven, belonging to the second legislative district of the province of Isabela, is currently represented by Ed Christopher S. Go.

## Education

The Schools Division of Isabela governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. The office governs the public and private elementary and public and private high schools throughout the municipality.