Benito Soliven

Benito Soliven, officially the Municipality of Benito Soliven, is a municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,752 people.^[6]

Benito Soliven
Municipality
Municipality of Benito Soliven
Aerial view from San Mariano
Flag Seal
Map of Isabela with Benito Soliven highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Benito Soliven Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 16°59′N 121°57′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Cagayan Valley
Province	Isabela
District	2nd district
Founded	May 18, 1967[1]
Barangays	29 (see Barangays)
Government  [2]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Roberto T. Lungan
• Vice Mayor	John Paul S. Azur
• Representative	Ed Christopher S. Go
• Electorate	19,914 voters (2025)
Area [3]
• Total	184.40 km2 (71.20 sq mi)
Elevation	79 m (259 ft)
Highest elevation	144 m (472 ft)
Lowest elevation	40 m (130 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[4]
• Total	30,682
• Density	170/km2 (430/sq mi)
• Households	7,373
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	20.51 % (2021)[5]
• Revenue	₱ 201.8 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 630.1 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 165.1 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 118.1 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Isabela 2 Electric Cooperative (ISELCO 2)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	3331
PSGC	0203104000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)78
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog
Website	www.benitosoliven-isabela.gov.ph

Etymology

Benito T. Soliven

The town is named after the late Benito Tagorda Soliven, Congressman of Ilocos Sur's 1st district from 1935 to 1941.^[7]

History

Benito Soliven was once known as Melappia of the Municipality of San Mariano. The municipality came to existence with the passage of Republic Act No. 4873 on May 18, 1967.^[8] The first elected municipal officials were proclaimed following the November 1967 elections, and the new town's administration began on January 1, 1968. It is now a fourth-class municipality with 29 barangays.^[9]

Geography

Benito Soliven is 30.31 kilometres (18.83 mi) from the provincial capital Ilagan, and 400 kilometres (250 mi) from the capital Manila.

Barangays

Benito Soliven is politically subdivided into 29 barangays. ^[10] Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

• Andabuen
• Ara
• Binogtungan
• Capuseran (Capurocan)
• Dagupan
• Danipa
• District II (Poblacion)
• Gomez
• Guilingan
• La Salette
• Makindol
• Maluno Norte
• Maluno Sur
• Nacalma
• New Magsaysay
• District I (Poblacion)
• Punit
• San Carlos
• San Francisco
• Santa Cruz
• Sevillana
• Sinipit
• Lucban
• Villaluz
• Yeban Norte
• Yeban Sur
• Santiago
• Placer
• Balliao

Climate

Climate data for Benito Soliven, Isabela
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29 (84)	30 (86)	32 (90)	35 (95)	35 (95)	35 (95)	34 (93)	33 (91)	32 (90)	31 (88)	30 (86)	28 (82)	32 (90)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	19 (66)	20 (68)	21 (70)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	20 (68)	22 (71)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	31.2 (1.23)	23 (0.9)	27.7 (1.09)	28.1 (1.11)	113.5 (4.47)	141.4 (5.57)	176.4 (6.94)	236.6 (9.31)	224.9 (8.85)	247.7 (9.75)	222.9 (8.78)	178 (7.0)	1,651.4 (65)
Average rainy days	10	6	5	5	13	12	15	15	15	17	16	15	144
Source: World Weather Online[11]

Demographics

Population census of Benito Soliven

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1970	14,850	—
1975	13,475	−1.93%
1980	16,710	+4.40%
1990	20,236	+1.93%
1995	20,685	+0.41%
2000	22,192	+1.52%
2007	25,151	+1.74%
2010	27,337	+3.08%
2015	29,624	+1.54%
2020	29,752	+0.09%
2024	30,682	+0.74%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16]

In the 2020 census, the population of Benito Soliven was 29,752 people,^[17] with a density of 160 inhabitants per square kilometre or 410 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Benito Soliven

10 20 30 40 50 60 2000 53.66 2003 38.38 2006 32.00 2009 25.39 2012 23.61 2015 21.72 2018 19.74 2021 20.51 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]

Aerial view of Benito Soliven, with San Mariano in the background

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

As a municipality in the Province of Isabela, government officials at the provincial and municipal levels are voted by the town. The provincial government has political jurisdiction over most local transactions of the municipal government.

The municipality of Benito Soliven 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 municipal councilors are elected directly by the people through an election held every three years.

Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.

Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council
(2022-2025)^[26]

Position	Name
Congressman	Ed Christopher S. Go
Mayor	Roberto T. Lungan
Vice-Mayor	John Paul S. Azur
Councilors	Rose Jane S. Azur
	Roxan V. Lungan
	Ernie John B. Abu
	Rommel L. Rinion
	Amado G. Viernes
	Marshal Ancheta
	Jade Carreon
	Ferdinand Dela Cruz
SKF President	Isidro Carmelo L. Siquian

Congress representation

Benito Soliven, belonging to the second legislative district of the province of Isabela, is currently represented by Ed Christopher S. Go.^[27]

Education

The Schools Division of Isabela governs the town's public education system.^[28] The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region.^[29] The office governs the public and private elementary and public and private high schools throughout the municipality.