Mankayan, officially the Municipality of Mankayan (; ), is a municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 38,647 people.
The municipality is known as a mining town, being the location of several mines, including the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company. composed of several rancherias which included Mankayan.
Seven different mines were discovered in the Mankayan-Suyoc region during Admiral Pedro Durán de Monforte's 1667 expedition, and Simón de Anda's administration (1770–1776) mentioned Igorot copperware. In 1833, Galvey sent ore samples from Gambang ("copper"), Suyoc, and Mankayan, to the governor. The first Spanish mining claim on the Cordillera was made by Tomás Balbas y Castro on 26 March 1856, and established a mining company called the Sociedad Minero-Metalurgica Cantabro Filipino de Mancayan.
Post-war era
After the war, the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company resumed the mining operations.
In 2018, in order to preserve the highly artistic gangsa-making intangible heritage of the Mankayan elders, the cultural masters of the town converged and began teaching the younger generations the process and importance of gangsa-making to their way of life, effectively preserving indigenous gong culture in the town.
Geography
Mankayan is on the north-western tip of Benguet. It is bordered by Bakun on the west, Buguias on the southeast, Tadian and Bauko on the east, and Cervantes on the north-west.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Benguet.
Mankayan is situated from the provincial capital La Trinidad, and from the country's capital of Manila.
Barangays
Mankayan is politically subdivided into 12 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
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Climate
Demographics
In the 2024 census, Mankayan had a population of 38,647 people. The population density was .
Economy
thumb|Mankayan vegetable terraces
Government
Local government
Mankayan, 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
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{| class="wikitable" style="line-height:1.20em; font-size:100%;"
|+ Members of the Municipal Council<br />(2025-2028)
|-
! Position
! Name
|-
| Congressman
| style="text-align:center;" | Eric Go Yap
|-
| Mayor
| style="text-align:center;" | Cesar D. Pasiwen
|-
| Vice-Mayor
| style="text-align:center;" | Aldrin S. Camiling
|-
|rowspan=8| Councilors
| style="text-align:center;" | Jeston S. Balong-angey
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Ambino T. Padawi
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Dick P. Tip-ac
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Alexander A. Dapiawen
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Reynald K. Manuit
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Camilo C. Muñoz
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Pacito K. Donato
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | Lloyd Mattgarette B. Luspian
|-
|}
Education
The Mankayan 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, Mankayan has 35 public elementary schools and 9 public secondary schools.
{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable collapsed plainrowheaders" style="font-size:90%;"
|+ Elementary<br /><small>(2013–2014)</small>
|-
! scope="col" | School
! scope="col" | Barangay
|-
! scope="row" | Balili National High School
| Balili
|-
! scope="row" | Balili National High School - Cabacab Annex
| Balili
|-
! scope="row" | Bedbed National High School
| Bedbed
|-
! scope="row" | Bulalacao National High School
| Bulalacao
|-
! scope="row" | Cabiten National High School
| Cabiten
|-
! scope="row" | Guinaoang National High School
| Guinaoang
|-
! scope="row" | Lepanto National High School
| Paco
|-
! scope="row" | Palatong National High School
| Tabio
|-
! scope="row" | Mankayan National High School
| Poblacion
|}
Notes
References
External links
- [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]