| Flag Size: | 120x80px | ||
| Seal Size: | 100x80px | ||
| Image Map1: |
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| Pushpin Map: | Philippines | ||
| Pushpin Label Position: | left | ||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the | ||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
| Subdivision Name: | Philippines | ||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
| Subdivision Type2: | Province | ||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||
| Established Title: | Founded | ||
| Established Date: | 1900 | ||
| Parts Type: | Barangays | ||
| Parts Style: | para | ||
| P1: | (see Barangays) | ||
| Leader Name: | Manny E. Fermin | ||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||
| Leader Name1: | Mayo D. Eslay | ||
| Leader Name2: | Nestor B. Fongwan | ||
| Leader Title3: | Councilor | ||
| Leader Title4: | Electorate | ||
| Leader Name4: | voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|) | ||
| Elevation Max M: | 1459 | ||
| Elevation Min M: | 540 | ||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||
| Population Blank1 Title: | Households | ||
| Timezone: | PST | ||
| Utc Offset: | +8 | ||
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code | ||
| Demographics Type1: | Economy | ||
| Demographics1 Title2: | Poverty incidence | ||
| Demographics1 Info2: | % | ||
| Demographics1 Title3: | Revenue | ||
| Demographics1 Title4: | Revenue rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title5: | Assets | ||
| Demographics1 Title6: | Assets rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title7: | IRA | ||
| Demographics1 Title8: | IRA rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title9: | Expenditure | ||
| Demographics1 Title10: | Liabilities | ||
| Demographics Type2: | Service provider | ||
| Demographics2 Title1: | Electricity | ||
| Demographics2 Title2: | Water | ||
| Demographics2 Title3: | Telecommunications | ||
| Demographics2 Title4: | Cable TV | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Native languages | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Crime index | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Major religions | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec2: | Feast date | ||
| Blank3 Name Sec2: | Catholic diocese | ||
| Blank4 Name Sec2: | Patron saint | ||
Kapangan, officially the Municipality of Kapangan, (Iloko: Ili ti Kapangan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Kapangan), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 19,297 people.
Kapangan was formerly called Takdang (or Tacdang), which means "people from the east". The early natives, who came from eastern settlements such as Tinec in Buguias and Bontoc, settled along the Amburayan River and lived by the kaingin system. They traveled to Naguilian in La Union to trade goods with the Ilocano people The appointed first town president (before now mayor) is Espiritu Cariño (1898–1900) .[1]
During the Spanish Regime, Kapangan was organized into four barrios; Balacbac, Paykek, Pongayan, and Taba-ao. The Spaniards appointed Espiritu Cariño as the first Capitan del Barrio, whose duty was overseeing tax collection from local land owners. They also appointed Juan Ora-a Cariño to the position, eventually promoting him to Commandantes, one of the highest ranks in office during the time. Both Espiritu Cariño and Juan Ora-a Cariño appointed eight people in eight different barrios to serve as barrio capitans, whose tasks were to oversee the construction of Spanish trails throughout the mountain region.
Under the American Civil Government, Kapangan was established as one of the 19 townships of the province of Benguet, upon the issuance of Act No. 48 on November 22, 1900[2] [3]
On August 13, 1908, Benguet was established as a sub-province of the newly created Mountain Province with the enactment of Act No. 1876. Six townships of Benguet were later abolished, one of which was Balakbak, which was integrated into the township of Kapangan.[4] [5]
According to some stories, Kapangan got its name when an American once asked a local resident what was the name of the place. Since the resident doesn't understand English and so happened that they were about to eat in the party where they were in, she just said "kapangan" which means go eat in English. The American thought that the name of the place is Kapangan and hence the name .
On June 25, 1963, then-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. Kapangan was among them.[6]
On June 18, 1966, the sub-province of Benguet was separated from the old Mountain Province and was converted into a regular province. Kapangan remained to be a component municipality of the newly established province.
Kapangan is at the mid-western section of Benguet. It is bounded by Kibungan on the north-east, Atok on the east, Tublay on the southeast, Sablan and Bagulin on the south-west, San Gabriel on the mid-west, and Sugpon on the north-west.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the 2769.08adj=mid2adj=mid total area of Benguet.
The municipal's terrain is characterized by rugged mountains and hills. Rugged mountains have slopes of 50% while hills have slopes from 30%-50%. The highest elevation is above sea level with the lowest at above sea level.
Kapangan is from the capital town of La Trinidad, from Baguio, and from Manila.
Kapangan is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate is divided into two seasons – the wet and the dry. Wet season occurs from May to October while dry season occurs November to April.
In the 2020 census, Kapangan had a population of 19,297. The population density was NaN19,297/164.39.
Kapangan, 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.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Congressman | Nestor B. Fongwan Eric G. Yap (since January 20, 2020)[8] |
| Mayor | Manny E. Fermin |
| Vice-Mayor | Mayo D. Eslay |
| Councilors | Bruno M. Canuto |
| Harris M. Dizon | |
| Jennylyn A. Ebes | |
| Santos M. Bastian | |
| Andrew C. Bentres Jr. | |
| Rex L. Balangcod | |
| Lauro C. Lorenzo | |
| Marcelo L. Tayaban |
As of 2014, Kapangan has 27 public elementary schools, 1 private secondary school, and 4 public secondary schools.[9] [10]
| School | Barangay | |
|---|---|---|
| Ampongot Elementary School | Sagubo | |
| Baguionas Barrio School | Gaswiling | |
| Balakbak Elementary School | Balakbak | |
| Beleng-Belis Barrio School | Beleng-Belis | |
| Boklaoan Elementary School | Ampucao | |
| Catiaoan Barrio School | Gaswiling | |
| Cayapes Barrio School | Cayapes | |
| Cuba Barrio School | Cuba | |
| Datakan Elementary School | Datakan | |
| Gadang Elementary School | Gadang | |
| Gaswiling Barrio School | Gaswiling | |
| Kaliwaga Barrio School | Gaswiling | |
| Kapangan Central School | Poblacion (Central) | |
| Laoangan Barrio School | Gadang | |
| Liblibeng Barrio School | Gadang | |
| Lomon Elementary School | Paykek | |
| Longboy Elementary School | Labueg | |
| Pakawan Barrio School | Cuba | |
| Paykek Elementary School | Paykek | |
| Pongayan Barrio School | Pongayan | |
| Pudong Elementary School | Pudong | |
| Sagubo Elementary School | Sagubo | |
| Taba-ao Elementary School | Taba-ao | |
| Tadayan Barrio School | Pudong | |
| Tawang Barrio School | Beleng-Belis | |
| Toplac Barrio School | Cuba | |
| Ubod Barrio School | Taba-ao |
| School | Barangay | |
|---|---|---|
| Governor Bado Dangwa Agro-Industrial School | Balakbak | |
| Governor Bado Dangwa Agro-Industrial School Extension – Taba-ao Annex | Taba-ao | |
| Kapangan Central National High School | Poblacion (Central) | |
| Kapangan National High School | Sagubo |