Bokod, officially the Municipality of Bokod, (; ), is a municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 16,071 people.

History

Pre-colonial and Spanish periods

According to folklore, Bokod, once a heavily forested village, got its name from a man named Ebokot (or Ekbot), who introduced agricultural development to the area. Ebokots name was associated with the village and was registered as a pueblo during the Spanish Regime.

American period

Bokod was established as one of the 19 townships of Benguet during the American Rule with the enactment of Act No. 48 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, among them were Ambuklao and Daclan which were integrated into the township of Bokod.

Post-war era

One of the principal infrastructure in Bokod is the Ambuklao Dam. Built in 1950 and opened in 1956, it is one of the most important hydroelectric facilities in Luzon.

On June 25, 1963, 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. Bokod was among them.

On June 18, 1966, the sub-province of Benguet was separated from the old Mountain Province and was converted into a regular province. Bokod remained to be a component municipality of the newly established province.

Geography

The Municipality of Bokod is located at . It is bounded by Kabayan on the north-east, Atok on the north-west, Tublay on the mid-west, Itogon on the south-west, and Kayapa on the east.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Benguet.

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

Barangays

280px|thumb|Ambuklao Dam

Bokod is politically subdivided into 10 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

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Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, Bokod had a population of 16,071 people. The population density was .

Economy

Government

Local government

Bokod, 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

(2022-2025)

! Position

! Name

|-

| Congressman

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

|-

| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Thomas K. Wales Jr.

|-

| Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Erik Donn Ignacio

|-

|rowspan=8| Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Miguel G. Cosalan, Jr.

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Doroteo S. Beray

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Marian D. Calawen

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Elinger G. Dayotao

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Arthur L. Solano

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Johnny A. Sama

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Alejandro C. Basilio

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Sonny E. Olas

|-

|}

Attractions

  • Ambuklao Dam
  • Mount Amalkatan
  • Badekbek Sulfur Springs
  • Palansa Panoramic View
  • Bila Mountain Saddle
  • Ekip Mossy Forest
  • Palpalan Waterfalls
  • Adwagan River
  • Bobbok Second Growth Pine Forests
  • Mount Pulag
  • Mount Purgatory
  • Mount Patoktok

Education

The Bokod 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, Bokod has 37 public elementary schools and 3 public secondary schools.

thumb|Immaculate&nbsp;Conception School of&nbsp;Bokod compound

{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable collapsed plainrowheaders" style="font-size:90%;"

|+ Elementary<br /><small>(2013-2014)</small>

|-

! scope="col" | School

! scope="col" | Barangay

|-

! scope="row" | Bokod National High School - Main

| Pito

|-

! scope="row" | Bokod National High School - Daclan Extension

| Daclan

|-

! scope="row" | Ambuklao National High School

| Ambuklao

|}

Universities

  • Benguet State University Bokod Campus (BSAT) (Ambangeg)

Private schools

  • Immaculate Conception School of Bokod, Inc. (Poblacion)

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

File:FvfBokodBenguet0413 06.JPG|Municipal hall

File:FvfBokod0368 15.JPG|Downtown Bokod

File:FvfBokodChurch0434 04.JPG|Immaculate&nbsp;Conception Parish&nbsp;Church

File:FvfBokod0260 27.JPG|A road in town

File:FvfBokod0104 12.JPG|Pine&nbsp;forests in&nbsp;Bokod

</gallery>

Notes

References

  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]