Bacnotan, officially the Municipality of Bacnotan (; ), is a municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

Etymology

The name Bacnotan may come from the word "bakunuttan", which means "to flog".

History

Around 1571, the Spaniards occupied Ilokos Province. In February 2, 1818, the Real Cedula separated the region into two parts: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Bacnotan is part of the Ilocos Sur around the time. Around 1846 to 1849, La Union was established, and that province included Bacnotan.

Geography

The Municipality of Bacnotan is surrounded by Balaoan from the North, San Gabriel from the east, and San Juan from the south, and South China Sea from the west.

Barangays

As of 2020, Bacnotan is politically subdivided into 47 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

| date = 26 April 2020

Demographics

The household population of Bacnotan as of the 2024 Census of Population and Housing, was recorded at 45,203 people.

Education

As of 2020-2021, in the public sector, there are 16 elementary schools, 1 public secondary school, and 1 public integrated school that offers K to 12 education. In the private sector, there are 2 private elementary schools and 1 private secondary school. There is 1 state university for higher education.

Economy

Government

Local government

Bacnotan, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of La Union, 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;" | Pablo C. Ortega

|-

| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Francisco Angelito L. Fontanilla

|-

|Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Divina C. Fontanilla

|-

|rowspan=8| Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Jane A. Gonzales

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Edijer F. Valmonte

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Olga Jane C. Panelo

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Virgilio C. Antolin

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Franklin N. Almodovar

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Francisco H. Fontanilla Jr.

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Federico R. Corpuz

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Tomas Joaquin B. Ortega

|-

|}

Notable personalities

Bacnotan has produced notable personalities in various endeavors. Some of them are as follows:

  • Erlinda Fadera-Basilio — Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland; first woman Vice President of the UN Human Rights Council. Currently Philippine ambassador to China, Mongolia and North Korea.
  • Fr. Bienvenido Nebres — longest-serving university president of Ateneo de Manila University

<gallery widths="200" heights="150">

File:FvfBacntanLaUnion0040 20.JPG|Bacnotan Public Market

File:FvfBacnotaLaUnion0275 18.JPG|Town plaza

File:Centennial Tree.jpg|Centennial Tree

File:FvfBacntanLaUnion0040 24.JPG|Town Proper

File:FvfBacnotan0158 40.JPG|Saint Michael the Archangel Parish Church

File:FvfBanotanLaUnion0235 31.JPG|Street view

</gallery>

References

  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
  • Philippine Census Information
  • Local Governance Performance Management System