Alilem

Alilem, officially the Municipality of Alilem (Ilocano: Ili ti Alilem; Filipino: Bayan ng Alilem), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 7,361 people.^[3]

Alilem
Municipality
Municipality of Alilem
Flag Seal
Motto:  Ali Alilem
Map of Ilocos Sur with Alilem highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Alilem Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 16°53′13″N 120°31′52″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region
Province	Ilocos Sur
District	2nd district
Barangays	9 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Velmor P. Sumabat
• Vice Mayor	Mar Ruel P. Sumabat
• Representative	Kristine Singson-Meehan
• Municipal Council	Members Rodolfo C. Ibea Rodelio P. Sumabat Remigio B. Lorenzana Samson L. Bangaoil Eduardo G. Mutong Justiniano D. Lacasandile Jr. Mario P. Tiglao Arvin S. Bangaoil
• Electorate	4,974 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	119.33 km2 (46.07 sq mi)
Elevation	282 m (925 ft)
Highest elevation	1,093 m (3,586 ft)
Lowest elevation	23 m (75 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	7,361
• Density	62/km2 (160/sq mi)
• Households	1,648
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	22.62 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 171.6 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 593.4 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 73.16 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 118.3 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2716
PSGC	012901000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)77
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog

Alilem is 106 kilometres (66 mi) from Vigan and 323 kilometres (201 mi) from Manila.

Etymology

Long before the Spanish colonizers landed on the Philippine shores, there were already natives living in this place. These people live in huts built on the hillsides located at the northern and eastern parts of the valley. This was so because the present valley was then the course of the Bakun River. For many years, the natives lived simply but peacefully but were soon disturbed by an unusual and fearful occurrence in the area. It all started with the continuous heavy downpour or “lemlem” in the native dialect. This “lemlem” caused the Bakun River to swell to an extraordinary size and overflow its banks. In the middle part of the river, there was a big “alicono” or whirlpool which the people feared so much. Even after the rains ceased, the ‘alicono’ remained; so the people believed it to their god Kabunian's punishment for their sins. As it was their custom, the people held the native feast called “kaniaw”, the “alicono” vanished and the Bakun River changed its course to the foot of the mountains in the southern part leaving a dry level land suited for residential lots and farms. The people moved their homes to the valley and named the place Alilem after the “alicono” and “lemlem”.

History

Accurate and reliable information on the exact date of the founding of the town cannot be secured because there are no complete historical records available. However, basing from its information gathered from the old folks, it could be deduced that the town of Alilem was founded sometime after 1820. What is certainly known only is that the lay-out of the town was done by the Spaniards. During the Spanish occupation, Alilem was noted for being the center of the district government of “commandancia politico-militar” of Amburayan. This commandancia was composed of Alilem, Sigay, Suyo, Tagudin, Sudipen, San Gabriel and Bakun. In 1908, the commandancia of Amburayan became a sub-province of the newly created special capital of the sub-province until the Americans transferred the seat to Tagudin.

Geography

Barangays

Alilem is politically subdivided into 9 barangays. ^[5] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Alilem Daya (Poblacion)
• Amilongan
• Anaao
• Apang
• Apaya
• Batbato
• Daddaay
• Dalawa
• Kiat

Climate

Climate data for Alilem, Ilocos Sur
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	30 (86)	31 (88)	32 (90)	33 (91)	32 (90)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	31 (88)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	20 (68)	21 (70)	22 (72)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	23 (74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	27 (1.1)	31 (1.2)	40 (1.6)	71 (2.8)	207 (8.1)	237 (9.3)	286 (11.3)	261 (10.3)	261 (10.3)	254 (10.0)	88 (3.5)	46 (1.8)	1,809 (71.3)
Average rainy days	9.4	9.3	12.7	17.0	25.4	26.8	27.4	26.1	25.0	21.0	15.5	10.6	226.2
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[6]

Demographics

Population census of Alilem

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 175 —     1918 1,621 +16.00% 1939 3,285 +3.42% 1948 3,049 −0.82% 1960 3,594 +1.38%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1970 4,145 +1.43% 1975 4,409 +1.25% 1980 4,599 +0.85% 1990 5,314 +1.46% 1995 5,533 +0.76%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2000 6,353 +3.01% 2007 6,217 −0.30% 2010 6,640 +2.42% 2015 6,695 +0.16% 2020 7,361 +1.88%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[7][8][9][10]

In the 2020 census, Alilem had a population of 7,361.^[3] The population density was 62 inhabitants per square kilometre (160/sq mi).

Economy

Poverty incidence of Alilem

10 20 30 40 2006 37.50 2009 27.40 2012 33.35 2015 18.53 2018 8.69 2021 22.62 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Alilem, 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

Members of the Municipal Council
(2019–2022)^[19]

Position	Name
Congressman	Kristine Singson-Meehan
Mayor	Velmor P. Sumabat
Vice-Mayor	Mar Ruel P. Sumabat
Councilors	Rodolfo C. Ibea
	Rodelio P. Sumabat
	Remigio B. Lorenzana
	Samson L. Bangaoil
	Eduardo G. Mutong
	Justiniano D. Lacasandile Jr.
	Mario P. Tiglao
	Arvin S. Bangaoil

References

1.  Municipality of Alilem | (DILG)
2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. Census of Population (2020). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. "Province: Ilocos Sur". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
6. "Alilem: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
7. Census of Population (2015). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
8. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region I (Ilocos Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
9. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region I (Ilocos Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
10. "Province of Ilocos Sur". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
11. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
12. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
13. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
14. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
15. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
16. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
17. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
18. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
19. "2019 National and Local Elections" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved March 11, 2022.

External links

• Municipal Government of Alilem, Ilocos Sur Archived 2022-01-17 at the Wayback Machine
• Pasyalang Ilocos Sur
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System