Alilem

Alilem, officially the Municipality of Alilem (Ilocano: Ili ti Alilem; Filipino: Bayan ng Alilem), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 7,361 people.^[5]

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	4,957 voters (2025)
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  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	7,736
• Density	65/km2 (170/sq mi)
• Households	1,648
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	22.62 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 211.7 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 837.2 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 91.71 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 79.13 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2716
PSGC	0102901000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)77
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog

Etymology

Long before Spanish colonizers landed on Philippine shores, there were already natives living in the area. These people lived 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 and 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 burst its banks. In the middle part of the river, there was a big “alicono” or whirlpool that the people feared so much. Even after the rains ceased, the ‘alicono’ remained, and the people believed that it was their god Kabunian's punishment for their sins. As it was their custom, the people performed the native ritual called “kaniaw”. The “alicono” then 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”.^{[citation needed]}

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 elders of the town, 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.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

Alilem is situated 105.77 kilometres (65.72 mi) from the provincial capital Vigan, and 319.18 kilometres (198.33 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Alilem is politically subdivided into 9 barangays. ^[6] 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)[7]

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% 1970 4,145 +1.43%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1975 4,409 +1.25% 1980 4,599 +0.85% 1990 5,314 +1.46% 1995 5,533 +0.76% 2000 6,353 +3.01% 2007 6,217 −0.30%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2010 6,640 +2.42% 2015 6,695 +0.16% 2020 7,361 +2.02% 2024 7,736 +1.20%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11][12]

In the 2020 census, Alilem had a population of 7,361.^[13] The population density was 62 inhabitants per square kilometre (160/sq mi).

Economy

Poverty incidence of Alilem

10 20 30 40 50 60 2000 53.36 2003 45.23 2006 37.50 2009 27.40 2012 33.35 2015 18.53 2018 8.69 2021 22.62 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

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)^[22]

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

Education

The Alilem-Sugpon Schools District governs all public and private education system within the municipality of Alilem, including the town of Sugpon. These include elementary and high schools.^[23]

Primary and elementary schools

• Aguiwas Elementary School
• Alilem Central School
• Amilongan Elementary School
• Anaao Elementary School
• Apang Elementary School
• Apaya Elementary School
• Batbato Elementary School
• Daddaay Elementary School
• Dalawa Elementary School
• Kiat Elementary School
• Guilong Primary School
• Naonao Elementary School
• Palasipas Elementary School
• Dagdag Elementary School

Secondary school

• Alilem National High School (Alilem Daya High School)