Sudipen (<small>Southern Ilocano pronunciation:</small> ), officially the Municipality of Sudipen (; ), is a landlocked municipality in the northernmost province of La Union, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.

It is separated from the Amburayan River and is known for its bamboo basket weaving industry.

Etymology

The name "Sudipen" originated from the Spanish colonial period. According to local history, a group of Spanish soldiers reached a barrio known today as Old Central, where they encountered villagers repairing the roof of a barrio hall. When the soldiers asked for the name of the place, the villagers, misunderstanding the question, responded in Iloco language: “suksukdipan mi toy abong apo,” meaning, “we are patching the roof, sir.” The soldiers recorded the word "Sukdipan," which was later modified to "Sudipen" under the American regime.

History

Sudipen was originally a settlement for cultural minorities from the Mountain Province. Early settlers primarily consisted of the Kankanaey and Bago tribes, who lived along the Amburayan River and the foothills of the Cordillera Central.

During the Spanish colonization, Sudipen was a barrio of Bangar, La Union. In 1906, Bartolome Laoagan Apusen, a notable leader from Pias, Salcedo, Ilocos Sur, organized the area into a township under the province of Lepanto-Bontoc with the sub-province of Amburayan. He was instrumental in rallying the support of the locals to gain recognition as a formal township, paving the way for its eventual growth. The law placed Sudipen under the jurisdiction of La Union together with municipal districts of San Gabriel and Santol.

Geography

left|thumb|213x213px|[[Amburayan River]]

The Municipalioty of Sudipen has a total land area of 10,048.714978 hectares, making it the fifth-largest municipality in La Union.

The town's geography is shaped by two major rivers: the Amburayan River, which marks its northern and eastern boundaries, and the Lalonga or Chico River, which flows through the barangays of Bigbiga, Bulalaan, and Maliclico. These rivers are vital for agricultural and domestic needs and also supply water to neighboring towns like Bangar, Luna, and Balaoan.

| date = 26 April 2020

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Sudipen was 17,187 people, with a density of .

Economy

Government

Local government

Sudipen, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of La Union, 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;" | Pablo C. Ortega

|-

| Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Wendy Joy D. Buquing

|-

|Vice-Mayor

| style="text-align:center;" | Melvin G. Macusi

|-

|rowspan=8| Councilors

| style="text-align:center;" | Tita D. Mostoles

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Edwin M. Belisoa Jr.

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Joebet L. Dee

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Demy L. Danguecan

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Thelma R. Peña

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Bery A. Yadao

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Marcelina P. Leonen

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | Yna P. Castro

|-

|}

Education

The Sudipen Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public elementary and high schools.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Badang Elementary School
  • Basig Elementary School
  • Castro Elementary School
  • Duplas Elementary School
  • Maliclico Elementary School
  • Old Sudipen Elementary School
  • Porporiket Elementary School
  • San Francisco Elementary School
  • San Jose Elementary School
  • Sengngat Elementary School
  • Sudipen Central School
  • Up-uplas Elementary School

Secondary schools

  • Duplas National High School
  • Old Sudipen National High School
  • San Francisco National High School
  • Sudipen Vocational High School

<gallery widths=200 heights=150>

FvfSudipenLaUnion4899 02.JPG|Municipal hall

File:FvfSudipenHallChurch4945 03.JPG|Town center

File:FvfSudipen4745 20.JPG|Sudipen Farmers Public Market

File:FvfSudipen4775 05.JPG|Sudipen Central School

File:FvfSudipenLU4827 17.JPG|Sudipen terminal

</gallery>

References

  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
  • Philippine Census Information
  • Local Governance Performance Management System