Mercedes, Camarines Norte

Mercedes, officially the Municipality of Mercedes (Central Bikol: Banwaan kan Mercedes; Tagalog: Bayan ng Mercedes), is a municipality in the province of Camarines Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 55,334 people.^[3]

Mercedes
Municipality
Municipality of Mercedes
Downtown area
Flag Seal
Map of Camarines Norte with Mercedes highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Mercedes Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°06′33″N 123°00′39″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region
Province	Camarines Norte
District	2nd district
Founded	1948
Barangays	26 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Alexander Pajarillo
• Vice Mayor	Jeana T. Yapyuco
• Representative	Rosemarie C. Panotes
• Municipal Council	Members Francisco Noel Y. Ong Charlie O. Villamarzo Jesus R. King Ruel A. Nael Raymond I. Bautista Francisca L. Ramos Jr. Princess B. Torralba Maria Velia Flor N. Ibasco
• Electorate	35,954 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	173.69 km2 (67.06 sq mi)
Elevation	3.0 m (9.8 ft)
Highest elevation	61 m (200 ft)
Lowest elevation	−2 m (−7 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	55,334
• Density	320/km2 (830/sq mi)
• Households	12,571
Economy
• Income class	2nd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	22.41 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 263.9 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 768.4 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 197.6 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 166.2 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative (CANORECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4601
PSGC	0501607000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)54
Native languages	Central Bikol Tagalog

Etymology

The town was originally named "Barra", and it was a barangay of Daet, the provincial capital. Its name was changed to Mercedes after Doña Mercedes, a rich woman who devoted her life of helping the community, especially the poor.

History

Mercedes was created from the barrios of Babatnon, Lanot, Lalawigan, Pinagdamhan, Hamoraon, Colasi, Tarum, Pambuhan, Masalong-salong, Hinipaan, Matoogtoog, Cayucyucan, Mambongalon, Manguisoc, Gaboc, Mercedes, Tanayagan, Tagontong, Catandonganon, Cariñgo Island, Quinapaquian Island, Apuao Island, all formerly part of Daet, Camarines Norte, by virtue of Republic Act No. 341, approved on July 26, 1948.^[5]

Geography

Barangays

Mercedes is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Apuao
• Barangay I (Poblacion)
• Barangay II (Poblacion)
• Barangay III (Poblacion)
• Barangay IV (Poblacion)
• Barangay V (Poblacion)
• Barangay VI (Poblacion)
• Barangay VII (Poblacion)
• Caringo
• Catandunganon
• Cayucyucan
• Colasi
• Del Rosario (Tagongtong)
• Gaboc
• Hamoraon
• Hinipaan
• Lalawigan
• Lanot
• Mambungalon
• Manguisoc
• Masalongsalong
• Matoogtoog
• Pambuhan
• Quinapaguian
• San Roque
• Tarum

Climate

Climate data for Mercedes, Camarines Norte
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	27 (81)	27 (81)	29 (84)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	27 (81)	29 (84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	24 (74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	85 (3.3)	55 (2.2)	53 (2.1)	47 (1.9)	112 (4.4)	156 (6.1)	213 (8.4)	159 (6.3)	201 (7.9)	216 (8.5)	197 (7.8)	141 (5.6)	1,635 (64.5)
Average rainy days	15.4	11.6	13.6	12.3	19.9	23.7	27.3	26.0	26.0	24.6	21.8	19.1	241.3
Source: Meteoblue[6]

Demographics

Municipal hall

Population census of Mercedes

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1948	7,247	—
1960	13,983	+5.63%
1970	19,674	+3.47%
1975	25,161	+5.06%
1980	27,645	+1.90%
1990	34,300	+2.18%
1995	38,641	+2.26%
2000	41,713	+1.65%
2007	44,375	+0.86%
2010	47,674	+2.64%
2015	50,841	+1.23%
2020	55,334	+1.68%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[7][8][9][10]

In the 2020 census, the population of Mercedes, Camarines Norte, was 55,334 people,^[3] with a density of 320 inhabitants per square kilometre or 830 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Mercedes

10 20 30 40 50 2000 49.39 2003 42.29 2006 42.40 2009 43.39 2012 27.85 2015 43.70 2018 36.88 2021 22.41 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]

Tourism

Apuao Island

Port of Mercedes

Waterfalls:^[19]

• Colasi Falls - barangay Colasi
• Malunay Falls - sitio Malunay
• Bahaw Falls - barangay Hamoraon
• Hinipaan Falls - barangay Hinipaan

Education

• Mercedes Elementary School
• Mercedes High School (San Roque)
• Manguisoc National High School
• Camarines Norte State College - Mercedes Campus (formerly Mercedes School of Fisheries)
• Tagongtong Elementary School
• San Roque National High School
• Don Pablo S Villafuerte National High School
• Claro Ibasco Elementary School
• Quinapaguian Elem. School
• Lope Manlangit Elem. School
• Mambungalon Elem. School
• Cayucyucan Elem. School
• Pambuhan Elem School
• Gaboc Elementary School
• Lalawigan Elem. School
• San Roque Elem. School
• Manguisoc Elem. School
• Tarum Elem. School
• Colasi Elem. School
• Hamoraon Elem. School
• Lanot Elementary School
• Mansalongsalong Elem. School
• Matoogtoog Elementary School
• Hinipaan Elementary School