San Benito, Surigao del Norte

San Benito, officially the Municipality of San Benito (Surigaonon: Lungsod nan San Benito; Tagalog: Bayan ng San Benito), is a municipality in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 5,663 people.^[3]

San Benito
Municipality
Municipality of San Benito
Flag
Map of Surigao del Norte with San Benito highlighted
OpenStreetMap
San Benito Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°57′29″N 126°00′25″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Caraga
Province	Surigao del Norte
District	1st district
Founded	September 17, 1971
Named for	Saint Benedict of Nursia
Barangays	6 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Ma. Gina S. Menil
• Vice Mayor	Wellybel A. Requirme
• Representative	Francisco Jose F. Matugas II
• Electorate	5,732 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	45.63 km2 (17.62 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Highest elevation	204 m (669 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	5,663
• Density	120/km2 (320/sq mi)
• Households	1,339
Economy
• Income class	6th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	30.83 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 59.72 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 153.7 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 71.23 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 60.12 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Siargao Electric Cooperative (SIARELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	8423
PSGC	166718000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)86
Native languages	Surigaonon Agusan Cebuano Tagalog
Website	sanbenito.gov.ph

Etymology

San Benito is derived from the Spanish for Saint Benedict, the town's patron saint. A chapel was built in the area and had hosted the saint's relic. It was previously named Talisay, after the namesake trees (Terminalia catappa) that grew abundantly in the area.^[5]

History

San Benito traces its origin as a barrio of the town of Sapao (now Sta. Monica). When Sapao was reverted to a barrio and became part of Numancia (now Del Carmen), San Benito also became part of Numancia and its largest barrio.^[5]

Surigao del Norte Representative Constantino Navarro Sr. authored and sponsored a bill to create San Benito as a municipality. The creation of the municipality was formalized on September 17, 1971, out of five barrios from the municipalities of Del Carmen and Sta. Monica, by virtue of Republic Act No. 6396.^[6]

Geography

Barangays

San Benito is politically subdivided into 6 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

• Bongdo
• Maribojoc
• Nuevo Campo
• San Juan
• Santa Cruz (Poblacion)
• Talisay (Poblacion)

Climate

Climate data for San Benito, Surigao del Norte
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	27 (81)	28 (82)	28 (82)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	29 (84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	210 (8.3)	161 (6.3)	123 (4.8)	85 (3.3)	148 (5.8)	186 (7.3)	164 (6.5)	157 (6.2)	141 (5.6)	190 (7.5)	223 (8.8)	200 (7.9)	1,988 (78.3)
Average rainy days	21.0	16.8	18.5	18.2	24.9	27.7	28.4	27.0	26.1	27.6	24.6	22.0	282.8
Source: Meteoblue[7]

Demographics

Population census of San Benito

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1975	3,202	—
1980	3,748	+3.20%
1990	4,315	+1.42%
1995	4,498	+0.78%
2000	4,750	+1.18%
2007	5,275	+1.46%
2010	5,505	+1.57%
2015	5,404	−0.35%
2020	5,663	+0.92%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11]

Economy

Poverty incidence of San Benito

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2006 48.20 2009 62.62 2012 42.40 2015 39.91 2018 38.74 2021 30.83 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

San Benito is one of Siargao Island's richest fishing grounds. Fishing ranks second as the locals' source of income. Products of the municipality include coconut trees, copra, fish, and other agricultural crops like cassava, sweet potato (kamote), taro (gabi), rice, root crops, and corn.

Being on Siargao Island, the town is also a tourist destination, with attractions such as the Poneas Hilltop Hidden Lake, Kangkangon White Beach, Pagbasayan Islet, Litalit Islet, and Camblinling Naked Island.^[5]

References

1.  Municipality of San Benito | (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). "Caraga". 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. "Municipality of San Benito". Province of Surigao del Norte. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
6. Republic Act No. 6396 (September 17, 1971), An Act Creating the Municipality of San Benito in the Province of Surigao Del Norte, retrieved October 26, 2024
7. "San Benito: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
8. Census of Population (2015). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Caraga" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
10. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Caraga". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
11. "Province of Surigao del Norte". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
12. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
13. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
14. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
15. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
16. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
17. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
18. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
19. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

External links

• San Benito Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• San Benito Profile at the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System