Magsingal

Magsingal, officially the Municipality of Magsingal (Ilocano: Ili ti Magsingal; Tagalog: Bayan ng Magsingal) is a 1st class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 31,308 people.^[5]

Magsingal
Municipality
Municipality of Magsingal
St. William the Hermit Church
Seal
Motto:  Agrimat Magsingal!
Map of Ilocos Sur with Magsingal highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Magsingal Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 17°41′06″N 120°25′28″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region
Province	Ilocos Sur
District	1st district
Barangays	30 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Alrico Favis.
• Vice Mayor	Arlyn A. Favis
• Representative	Deogracias Victor B. Savellano
• Municipal Council	Members Erwin B. Isaguirre Aquiles U. Udarbe Jr. Agustin I. Pichay Carlos G. Marañon John Felix P. Jurado Randy R. Ugale Lorenzo F. Unciano Cornelio T. Fuller
• Electorate	21,030 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	84.98 km2 (32.81 sq mi)
Elevation	22 m (72 ft)
Highest elevation	311 m (1,020 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	31,970
• Density	380/km2 (970/sq mi)
• Households	7,840
Economy
• Income class	3rd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	14.17 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 1,136 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 3,044 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 402.8 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 226 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2730
PSGC	0102912000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)77
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog
Website	www.magsingal.gov.ph

Etymology

The name of the municipality came from the term "Mayisingal," an Ilocano term which means "to be moved." It was applied when the belltower was moved from a previous location to its current site.

Captain Juan de Salcedo had a hand in founding the municipality; but before he reached the current site of the poblacion, he came to a village called Malongon, about half a kilometer to the south. The leader of the village refused Salcedo's request to establish a municipality there. He instead suggested that Salcedo establish the town a half kilometer north of the village, and the belltower be moved to that site, hence the origin of the town's name.

History

Itnegs were the original inhabitants of the place when Salcedo arrived. He attempted to convert the people to Christianity, but not all accepted the new faith. Those who refused conversion fled the town and settled to the east of Bantay Bul-lagaw (Bul-lagaw Mountain).

Geography

The Municipality of Magsingal is bordered by San Juan to the north, Santo Domingo and Bantay to the south, and Abra to the east.

Magsingal is situated 14.12 kilometres (8.77 mi) from the provincial capital Vigan, and 415.05 kilometres (257.90 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Magsingal is politically subdivided into 30 barangays. ^[6] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Alangan
• Bacar
• Barbarit
• Bungro
• Cabaroan
• Cadanglaan
• Caraisan
• Dacutan
• Labut
• Maas-asin
• Macatcatud
• Manzante
• Maratudo
• Miramar
• Namalpalan
• Napo
• Pagsanaan Norte
• Pagsanaan Sur
• Panay Norte
• Panay Sur
• Patong
• Puro (Puro Pinget)
• San Basilio (Poblacion)
• San Clemente (Poblacion)
• San Julian (Poblacion)
• San Lucas (Poblacion)
• San Ramon (Poblacion)
• San Vicente (Poblacion)
• Santa Monica
• Sarsaracat

Climate

Climate data for Magsingal, 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)	33 (91)	34 (93)	33 (91)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	31 (88)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	19 (66)	19 (66)	21 (70)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	22 (72)	21 (70)	19 (66)	22 (72)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	9 (0.4)	11 (0.4)	13 (0.5)	23 (0.9)	92 (3.6)	122 (4.8)	153 (6.0)	137 (5.4)	139 (5.5)	141 (5.6)	42 (1.7)	14 (0.6)	896 (35.4)
Average rainy days	4.6	4.0	6.2	9.1	19.5	23.2	24.0	22.5	21.5	15.2	10.5	6.0	166.3
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[7]

Demographics

Population census of Magsingal

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 7,134 —     1918 10,723 +2.75% 1939 11,193 +0.20% 1948 11,697 +0.49% 1960 13,437 +1.16% 1970 16,117 +1.83%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1975 17,341 +1.48% 1980 19,177 +2.03% 1990 22,271 +1.51% 1995 23,565 +1.06% 2000 25,580 +1.77% 2007 27,615 +1.06%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2010 28,302 +0.90% 2015 30,792 +1.62% 2020 31,308 +0.35% 2024 31,970 +0.50%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11][12]

In the 2020 census, Magsingal had a population of 31,308.^[13] The population density was 370 inhabitants per square kilometre (960/sq mi).

Economy

Poverty incidence of Magsingal

10 20 30 40 2000 35.78 2003 28.37 2006 18.90 2009 18.14 2012 21.76 2015 10.87 2018 4.42 2021 14.17 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Magsingal, belonging to the first 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.

In 1945, the first duly elected municipal mayor via landslide vote was Hon. Policarpio Cortez Jurado.

Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council
(2022-2025)^[22]

Position	Name
Congressman	Ronald V. Singson[23]
Mayor	Alrico A. Favis
Vice-Mayor	Victoria Ina P. Favis
Councilors	Tiburcio T. Tabarrejo
	Lorenzo F. Unciano
	John Felix P. Jurado
	Cornelio T. Fuller
	Sherwin J. Tiri
	Carlos G. Mara
	Randy R. Ugale
	Shella Marie T. Velasco

Education

The Masingal Schools District Office governs all private and public educational institutions within the municipality.^[24]

Primary and elementary schools

• Alangan Elementary School
• Arinaya Elementary School
• Barbarit Elementary School
• Caraisan Primary School
• Dacutan Primary School
• Maas-asin Elementary School
• Macatcatud Primary School
• Magsingal North Central School
• Magsingal South Central School
• Manzante Elementary School
• Maratudo Elementary School
• Miramar Elementary School
• Namalpalan Elementary School
• Napo Elementary School
• Pagsanaan Elementary School
• Panay Elementary School
• Patong Elementary School
• Puro Elementary School
• Saint William's Institute (Elementary)
• Sarsaracat Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Magsingal National High School
• Manzante National High School
• Puro National High School
• Saint William's Institute
• The Magsingal Institute