Itogon, officially the Municipality of Itogon, (; ), is a municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 59,736 people.
It is a mining town, being the site of the first large-scale mining operations in the country.). Balingway was later established as a town site and renamed after Codengs native place.
Mining operations started in Itogon in 1903, after Benguet Corporation, the Philippines' first mining firm, was established in the town under the name, Benguet Consolidated Mining Company (BCMC), by Americans Nelson Peterson and Harry Clyde.
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 Itogon remained a constituent town of Benguet sub-province.
On May 15, 1951, the town was converted into a regular municipality from the former municipal district of the same name, with the enactment of Republic Act No. 616.
On June 18, 1966, the sub-province of Benguet was separated from the old Mountain Province and was converted into a regular province. Itogon remained to be a component municipality of the newly established province.
| date = 21 March 2020
Demographics
In the 2024 census, Itogon had a population of 59,736 people. The population density was .
Generally inhabited by 60 percent Ibalois, 40 percent Kankanaey, and other ethnicities such as the Ilocano, Itogon was the most populous municipality in the province, with a population of 61,773 in the 1990 census. Its population abruptly declined five years after as illustrated in the census of 1995.
Economy
Itogon's main source of livelihood is mining.
Government
Itogon, 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
{| 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 Yap
|-
| Mayor
| style="text-align:center;" | Bernard S. Waclin
|-
| Vice-Mayor
| style="text-align:center;" | Dante Alain Xavier “DAX” D. Godio
|-
|rowspan=8| Councilors
| style="text-align:center;" | Jodea Brendalyn R. Acay-Camuyot
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Norberto I. Pacio
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Clint D. Galutan
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Cesar A. Altiga
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Jaime C. Laduan Sr.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Lison C. Latawan Jr.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Alejandro L. Palangdan
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Albino A. Diego
|-
|}
Tourism
thumb|120px|Alternate rendering of current seal
thumb|right|120px|Former seal of Itogon
Known tourist destination areas in Itogon include the Binga Dam in Tinongdan and Balatoc Mines Tours in Balatoc, Virac. Other tourist spots include the open pit mines in Loacan, hot spring in Dalupirip, Mount Ugo in Tinongdan, Level 1300 swimming pools in Poblacion with hot steams and bath and the mummies in Domolpos also in Tinongdan.
thumb|240px|St. Joseph Heritage Church in barangay Dalupirip.
Transportation
Highways through Itogon:
- Baguio–Bua–Itogon National Road
- Ambuklao Road
- Benguet–Nueva Vizcaya Road
Education
There are two schools districe offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are Itogon I Schools District Office, and Itogon II Schools District Office.
Public schools
As of 2014, Itogon has 39 public elementary schools and 7 public secondary schools.
thumb|left|240px|School buildings and quadrangle of the Fianza Elementary School in Dalupirip, Itogon, Benguet.
{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable collapsed plainrowheaders" style="font-size:90%;background-color:#FDFDFD;"
|+ Elementary<br />
|-
! scope="col" | School
! scope="col" | Barangay
|-
! scope="row" | Alejo M. Pacalso Memorial National High School
| Tuding
|-
! scope="row" | Ampucao National High School
| Ampucao
|-
! scope="row" | Binga National High School
| Tinongdan
|-
! scope="row" | Fianza Memorial National High School
| Tinongdan
|-
! scope="row" | Laurencio Fianza National High School
| Dalupirip
|-
! scope="row" | Laurencio Fianza National High School - Bantic Annex
| Dalupirip
|-
! scope="row" | Loacan National High School
| Loacan
|}
Private schools
- Sacred Heart High School of Itogon
- Saint Louis High School of Antamok
- Saint Louis High School of Balatoc
- Saint Louis High School of Philex
Notes
References
External links
- [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]