Santiago, officially the Municipality of Santiago (; ), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

The town was named in honor of Saint James (). One of the town's attractions, Santiago Cove, is dubbed as the "Boracay of Ilocos Sur" because of its white sand.

Geography

Santiago is situated from the provincial capital Vigan, and from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Santiago is politically subdivided into 24 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Al-aludig
  • Ambucao
  • San Jose (Baraoas)
  • Baybayabas
  • Bigbiga
  • Bulbulala
  • Busel-busel
  • Butol
  • Caburao
  • Dan-ar
  • Gabao
  • Guinabang
  • Imus
  • Lang-ayan
  • Mambug
  • Nalasin
  • Olo-olo Norte
  • Olo-olo Sur
  • Poblacion Norte
  • Poblacion Sur
  • Sabangan
  • Salincub
  • San Roque
  • Ubbog

Climate

Demographics

thumb|St. James the Greater Parish Church

In the 2024 census, Santiago had a population of 19,771 people. The population density was .

Language

The main language of Santiago is Ilocano.

Economy

Santiago is the headquarters of the Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO), which distributes electricity to the entire province.

Government

Local government

Santiago, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of Ilocos Sur, 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/>(2019–2022)

|-

! Position

! Name

|-

| Congressman

| style="text-align:center;" | Kristine Singson-Meehan

|-

| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Josefino E. Miranda

|-

|Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Adrien Lawrence S. Miranda

|-

|rowspan=8| Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Joselito S. Miranda Jr.

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Lydia B. Locquiao

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Michael S. Miranda

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Warlito H. Gacoscos

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Virgilio C. Pasion

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Eddie G. Carranza

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Jonathan A. Trinidad

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Ernesto C. Galano

|-

|}

Education

The Santiago Schools District Office governs all public and private education system within the municipality. The Schools District Office (SDO) oversees the operations of private and public elementary and high schools.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Ambucao Elementary School
  • Butol Elementary School
  • Caburao Elementary School
  • Dan-ar Community School
  • Gabao Elementary School
  • Olo-olo Elementary School
  • Sabangan Elementary School
  • Salincub Elementary School
  • San Roque Elementary School
  • Santiago North Central School
  • Santiago South Central School

Secondary schools

  • Santiago Catholic School
  • Santiago Institute
  • Santiago National High School

Higher educational institution

  • Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College

<gallery widths=200 heights=150>

File:TobaccoField.JPG|A field of tobacco growing in Baybayabas

File:Fishing in Ilocos Sur.JPG|A man fishing just offshore near Gabao Beach.

File:SabanganBeach.JPG|A beach in Ambucao

</gallery>

References

  • Pasyalang Ilocos Sur
  • Philippine Standard Geographic Code
  • Philippine Census Information
  • Local Governance Performance Management System