Atok (), officially the Municipality of Atok (; ), is a 3rd-class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 19,346 people.

History

Spanish period

The area of Atok was previously referred to by the natives and Spanish colonizers as Chontog, an Ibaloi word for "mountainous". Spanish military officials and missionaries arrived at Chontog in 1892, establishing precedencias (tax collection stations) in the area and its surrounding settlements.

The Ibaloi phrase Nay patok shi Chontog, which means "on the mountain top", was later shortened to Atok.

American period

During the American rule, Atok was established as one of the 19 townships of the province of Benguet, upon the issuance of Act No. 48 by the Philippine Commission on November 22, 1900.

On August 13, 1908, Benguet was established as a sub-province of the newly created Mountain Province with the enactment of Act No. 1876. As a result, six townships of Benguet were abolished, but Atok remained a constituent town of Benguet sub-province.

On June 18, 1966, the sub-province of Benguet was separated from the old Mountain Province and was converted into a regular province. Atok remained to be a component municipality of the newly established province. It held formerly the title as the highest point in the Philippine Highway System since World War II until early 2019. This is after the validation and assessment conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways - Cordillera Administrative Region (DPWH-CAR) Regional Office last January 2019 declaring a new highest point at 2,428.66 meters (7968.045 feet) along the Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Road in Tinoc Town some 55 Kilometers east via Atok, Benguet.

Atok is situated from the provincial capital La Trinidad, and from the country's capital city of Manila.

Climate

Like most part of Benguet it has subtropical highland climate, during the cold months of the year, the municipality experiences very low temperatures reaching . This causes common frost to settle on the ground, causing millions of damage to crops, but drawing tourists to the town.

Barangays

Atok is politically subdivided into 8 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

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Demographics

In the 2024 census, Atok had a population of 19,346 people. The population density was .

Economy

Government

Local government

Atok, 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

<!--NOTE: Update needed by June 30, 2022 after oath-taking of the declared winners in the May 9, 2022 local elections.-->

{| class="wikitable" style="line-height:1.20em; font-size:100%;"

|+ Members of the Municipal Council<br />(2019–2022)

|-

! Position

! Name

|-

| Congressman

| style="text-align:center;" | Nestor B. Fongwan<br />

Eric G. Yap (since January 20, 2020)

|-

| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Franklin L. Smith

|-

| Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Angelito D. Galao Sr.

|-

|rowspan=8| Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Franklin L. Smith

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Arthur B. Binay-an

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Constantina L. Lupante

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Edward S. Beliano

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Remejio F. Silog

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Oliver N. Bodong

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Alma A. Bumakil

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Marilou A. Zarate

|-

|}

Education

The Atok Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.

Public schools

As of 2014, Atok has 22 public elementary schools and 2 public secondary schools.

{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable" style="font-size:90%;background-color:#FDFDFD;"

|+ Elementary

|-

! scope="col" | School

! scope="col" | Barangay

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | Atok National High School

| Poblacion

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | Atok National High School - Caliking Annex

| Caliking

|}

<gallery>

Sayangan Church, Atok, Benguet, June 2023.jpg|Sayangan Church

Old Atok Municipal Hall, Benguet, June 2023.jpg|Old Atok Municipal Hall

New Atok Municipal Hall, Benguet, June 2023.jpg|New Atok Municipal Hall

Northern Blossom Flower Farm, Atok, Benguet.jpg|Northern Blossom Flower Farm

</gallery>

See also

  • Benguet–Kōchi Sisterhood Park

Notes

References

  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]