Bakun, officially the Municipality of Bakun, (; ), is a municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 15,399 people.

History

During the Spanish Period, Bakun was a rancheria of the Commandancia Politico-Militar de Amburayan. Ampusongan (currently a barangay of Bakun) was a rancheria of the Commandancia Politico Militar de Tiagan, Distrito de Benguet.

When the United States took control of the Philippines, the American Congress issued Act No. 48 in November 1900, placing Bakun under the province of Amburayan, and Ampusongan under the province of Benguet. On August 13, 1908, Benguet became a subprovince of the newly established Mountain Province with the enactment of Act No. 1876, and the municipal districts of Bakun and Ampusongan became part of the subprovince.

In 1917, the Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes recommended that the western border of the Mountain Province be pushed eastward, such that the entire subprovince of Amburayan and large slices of Lepanto and Benguet would be made part of Ilocos Sur and La Union. In early 1937, Ampusongan was merged with Bakun, the latter carrying the name of the township while the former became a barangay.

| date = 21 March 2020

Demographics

In the 2024 census, Bakun had a population of 15,399 people. The population density was .

Economy

Government

Local government

Bakun, 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: Updated for June 30, 2022 official list 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 />(2022–2025)

|-

! Position

! Name

|-

| Congressman

| style="text-align:center;" | Eric G. Yap

|-

| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Bill Y. Raymundo

|-

| Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Fausto T. Labinio

|-

|rowspan=8| Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Jesus D. Lozano

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | June Raymundo C. Suni-en

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Florence L. Balakiao

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Marciano P. Kigisan Jr.

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Dixie L. La Madrid

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Mark C. Bayawa

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Jayson L. Tokias

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Edgar P. Ognaden

|-

|}

Education

The Bakun 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 2015, Bakun has 30 public elementary schools and 4 public secondary schools.

{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable collapsed" style="font-size:88%;background-color:#FDFDFD;"

|+ Elementary<br />

|-

! scope="col" | School

! scope="col" | Barangay

|-

! scope="row" | Ampusongan National High School

| Ampusongan

|-

! scope="row" | Ampusongan National High School - Kayapa Extension

| Kayapa

|-

! scope="row" | Bakun National High School

| Poblacion

|-

! scope="row" | Bakun National High School - Sinacbat Extension

| Sinacbat

|}

Notes

References

  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]