Araceli, Palawan

Araceli, officially the Municipality of Araceli (Tagalog: Bayan ng Araceli), is a municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 14,434 people.^[5]

Araceli
Municipality
Municipality of Araceli
Flag
Map of Palawan with Araceli highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Araceli Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°33′10″N 119°59′25″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Mimaropa
Province	Palawan
District	1st district
Founded	June 15, 1954
Barangays	13 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Sue S. Cudilla
• Vice Mayor	Eddie S. Daculap
• Representative	Franz Josef George E. Alvarez
• Municipal Council	Members Romeo S. Gandola Lucibar A. Beronio Jr. Rafael V. Abiog Antonio S. Daculap Elvin G. Batiancila Arcelito P. Manongsong Ami R. Rodriguez Reymond C. Gadiano
• Electorate	9,735 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	204.30 km2 (78.88 sq mi)
Elevation	11 m (36 ft)
Highest elevation	160 m (520 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	14,554
• Density	71/km2 (180/sq mi)
• Households	3,505
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	39.08 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 152.8 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 309.8 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 120 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 137.6 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5311
PSGC	1705303000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)48
Native languages	Palawano Cuyonon Tagalog

The municipality covers roughly the northern half of Dumaran Island. Cuyono is the principal language of the area.

Etymology

The town's Catholic parish is Nuestra Señora de Araceli, a Spanish term that can be translated to "Our Lady of Altar of the Sky" (from ara, meaning altar; and celi, meaning sky).

History

Araceli was formerly known as Dumaran until it was renamed on June 15, 1954.^[6][7] In 1961, barrios Dumaran, Bacao, Bohol, Calasag, and San Juan were excised from Araceli to form part of the new municipality of Dumaran, effective upon the election of its new municipal officials later that year.^[8]

Geography

Barangays

Araceli is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Balogo
• Calandagan (formerly Tudela^[9])
• Dagman
• Dalayawon
• Lumacad
• Madoldolon
• Mauringuen
• Omulan
• Osmeña
• Poblacion (Centro)
• San Jose De Oro
• Santo Niño
• Taloto
• Tiemad
• Tinintinan

Climate

Climate data for Araceli, Palawan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30 (86)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	45 (1.8)	34 (1.3)	62 (2.4)	64 (2.5)	127 (5.0)	159 (6.3)	172 (6.8)	147 (5.8)	167 (6.6)	182 (7.2)	172 (6.8)	88 (3.5)	1,419 (56)
Average rainy days	12.1	9.4	13.0	14.3	22.7	26.9	28.0	26.4	27.0	27.0	22.7	17.8	247.3
Source: Meteoblue[10]

Demographics

Population census of Araceli

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 2,146 —     1960 4,955 +1.48% 1970 4,444 −1.08% 1975 5,552 +4.57% 1980 6,030 +1.66% 1990 8,708 +3.74% 1995 10,556 +3.67%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2000 10,894 +0.68% 2007 13,233 +2.72% 2010 14,113 +2.37% 2015 14,909 +1.05% 2020 14,434 −0.68% 2024 14,554 +0.20%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15]

In the 2020 census, the population of Araceli, Palawan, was 14,434 people,^[16] with a density of 71 inhabitants per square kilometer or 180 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Araceli

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2000 62.90 2003 59.50 2006 43.90 2009 35.09 2012 27.72 2015 21.23 2018 19.18 2021 39.08 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]