Natonin

Natonin, officially the Municipality of Natonin (Balangao: Babley hen Natonin; Bontok: Ili nan Natonin; Ilocano: Ili ti Natonin; Tagalog: Bayan ng Natonin; Spanish: Municipio de Natonin), is a municipality in the province of Mountain Province, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 10,339 people.^[3]

Natonin
Municipality
Municipality of Natonin
Flag Seal
Map of Mountain Province with Natonin highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Natonin Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 17°06′32″N 121°16′47″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Cordillera Administrative Region
Province	Mountain Province
District	Lone district
Founded	1915
Barangays	11 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Jose T. Agagon
• Vice Mayor	Raymundo L. Lapasen
• Representative	Maximo Y. Dalog Jr.
• Municipal Council	Members Rafael L. Bulawe Jose F. Biangalen Jerry N. Chumilang Leon T. Pangsiw Fernando S. Magranga Jr. Fernandez D. Linggayo Oscar L. Fangonon Jimmy G. Todco
• Electorate	8,191 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	252.00 km2 (97.30 sq mi)
Elevation	831 m (2,726 ft)
Highest elevation	1,879 m (6,165 ft)
Lowest elevation	276 m (906 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	10,339
• Density	41/km2 (110/sq mi)
• Households	2,280
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	15.15 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 153.1 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 212.1 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 132.9 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 101.5 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Mountain Province Electric Cooperative (MOPRECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2624
PSGC	1404405000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)74
Native languages	Balangao Bontoc Ilocano Tagalog

Geography

Natonin is bordered by Kalinga to the north, Paracelis to the east, Barlig to the west, and Ifugao to the south. The barangays are mostly carved at the foot of the mountains along which the now National Highway was carved with the exception Barangay Maducayan and some far-flung sitios of Barangay Banawel.

Natonin is 72 kilometres (45 mi) from Bontoc and 464 kilometres (288 mi) from Manila.

Barangays

Natonin is politically subdivided into 11 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Alunogan
• Balangao
• Banao
• Banawal
• Butac
• Maducayan
• Poblacion
• Pudo
• Saliok
• Santa Isabel
• Tonglayan

Climate

Climate data for Natonin, Mountain Province
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	20 (68)	21 (70)	23 (73)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	23 (73)	22 (72)	20 (68)	23 (74)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	14 (57)	15 (59)	16 (61)	17 (63)	18 (64)	18 (64)	18 (64)	18 (64)	18 (64)	18 (64)	17 (63)	16 (61)	17 (62)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	103 (4.1)	73 (2.9)	49 (1.9)	38 (1.5)	141 (5.6)	144 (5.7)	172 (6.8)	181 (7.1)	155 (6.1)	148 (5.8)	147 (5.8)	208 (8.2)	1,559 (61.5)
Average rainy days	17.1	12.8	11.0	9.6	18.9	21.5	23.5	24.5	21.7	16.1	17.1	20.5	214.3
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[5]

Demographics

Population census of Natonin

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1918 5,118 —     1939 5,999 +0.76% 1948 5,847 −0.28% 1960 9,397 +4.03% 1970 5,690 −4.89%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1975 6,691 +3.30% 1980 7,325 +1.83% 1990 9,813 +2.97% 1995 8,997 −1.61% 2000 9,065 +0.16%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2007 9,431 +0.55% 2010 10,048 +2.33% 2015 10,272 +0.42% 2020 10,339 +0.13%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[6][7][8][9]

The locals of Natonin are generally called iNatonin. By ethnolinguistics, the majority of the locals belong to the tribe Balangaos, or Iferangao, and speak the Finerangao language. However, there are two sub-tribes: the Hakki, who inhabit the western part of the town, and the Majukayong (the people are called iMajukayongs), who inhabit the barangays of Saliok and Maducayan. The iMajukayongs are closely related to the Ga'dang people of Paracelis, and speak the iMajukayong dialect which has similarities to the dialects of the iKalingas. Populations of the town are of Igorot lineage. Headhunting was practiced throughout Natonin as late as the mid-1930s, but was set aside in favor of Christianity and education after World War II.

Languages

Natonin is home to two indigenous languages which have existed there since before the arrival of the Spanish: the Balangaw language and the Majukayong language. Immigrants from the Ilocos Region came in the 1970s and imported the Ilocano language during the era of martial law.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Natonin

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2000 69.47 2003 60.56 2006 59.20 2009 37.44 2012 39.74 2015 35.67 2018 23.07 2021 15.15 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

The primary crop is rice, although limited arable space, mechanization and innovative agriculture renders the harvest to a subsistence level only. Backyard piggery mostly produce the pork supply. Vegetable gardening, fruit tree growing and tilapia raising are also starting to see commercial viability. Whatever is of shortage or lacking are imported outside the municipality. Few local handicrafts are promoted and are only made to order.

Government

Local government

Former flag of Natonin

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Natonin, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Mountain Province, 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):^[18]

• Congressman: Maximo Y. Dalog Jr.
• Mayor: Jose T. Agagon
• Vice-Mayor: Raymundo L. Lapasen
• Councilors:
  • Rafael Bulawe
  • Jose F. Biangalen
  • Leon Pangsiw
  • Jimmy G. Todco
  • Fernandez Linggayo
  • Jerry N. Chumilang
  • Fernando Magranga Jr.
  • Oscar Fangonon

Transportation

Since the widening of the national highways started in 2010, the Paracelis-Natonin Road is paved now. Although, some parts are either eroded or slipping away, and during rainy seasons landslides can render the roads impassable. Public utility or for-hire vans are the easiest transportation either to and from the municipality (e.g. Baguio and Manila).

Tourism

Though it's not yet that improved, Natonin has the following sites:

• The Legendary Silent Mountain of Finaratan, located in Barangay Maducayan.
• The Apatan Rice Terraces
• The Balococ Waterfall
• The Naropaan Waterfall
• Tonglayan Rice Terraces
• Lagan River in Balangao
• Penadna Waterfalls
• Lettalet Waterfalls
• Fuyoun Spring in Siffu River located at Brgy. Saliok
• Elephant Head located in Banao