Kabugao, officially the Municipality of Kabugao (; Itawis: Babalay yo Kabugao; ), is a municipality and de jure capital of the province of Apayao, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 16,425 people.
History
On July 12, 1915, Governor General Francis Burton Harrison issued Executive Order No. 45, transferring the capital of then sub-province of Apayao from Tauit to Kabugao, to be effective on August 1.
Kabugao was occupied for a year by the Japanese during the Second World War. It was captured in December 1942, after the USAFIP NL retreated from the town.
Geography
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Apayao.
Kabugao is situated from the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays
Kabugao is politically subdivided into 21 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Dibagat
thumb|A typical home in Barangay Dibagat
Barangay Dibagat is inhabited by the Isnag and the Ilocano. There is a small grass airstrip built by SIL in 1985. Dibagat was only accessible before by canoe or by specialized aircraft, until the construction of Ilocos Norte–Apayao Road.
Climate
Demographics
In the 2024 census, Kabugao had a population of 16,425 people. The population density was .
Language
Ilocano and Isnag are the main languages spoken in Kabugao.
Economy
Government
Local government
Kabugao, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Apayao, 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 />(2022–2025)
|-
! Position
! Name
|-
| Governor
| style="text-align:center;" | Elias C. Bulut Jr.
|-
| Mayor
| style="text-align:center;" | Bensmar B. Ligwang
|-
| Vice-Mayor
| style="text-align:center;" | Fabulous Tucjang
|-
| rowspan="7" | Councilors
| style="text-align:center;" | Benjie Ace Talimbatog
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Gregorio B. Ligwang
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Venancio Culdong
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Pedro Dandan
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Felipe Irving
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Vandolf Alitan
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Arellano C. Culdong Jr.
|-
|LNB President
|Frederick C. Amid
|-
|IPMR
|James S. Amid
|-
|SK Federation President
|Jazreal Jamila C. Enciso
|}
Education
The Kabugao 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.
In 1948, Rev. Louis Saunders of an evangelical Protestant sect, The Disciples of Christ, opened the Apayao Christian Academy, Kabugao's first secondary school. In 1950, amidst rivalry among churches, the Catholics started its own secondary school, Our Blessed Lady of Lourdes.