Mahatao

Mahatao, officially the Municipality of Mahatao^[a], is a municipality in the province of Batanes, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it had a population of 1,745 people.^[6]

Mahatao
Municipality
Municipality of Mahatao
Maydangeb Beach
Flag Seal
Map of Batanes with Mahatao highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Mahatao Location within the Philippines Show map of Philippines Mahatao Mahatao (Luzon) Show map of Luzon Mahatao Mahatao (Batanes) Show map of Batanes
Coordinates: 20°25′N 121°57′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Cagayan Valley
Province	Batanes
District	Lone district
Barangays	4 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Geronimo Carba
• Vice Mayor	Genes Galarion
• Representative	Ciriaco B. Gato Jr.
• Municipal Council	Members Noe Avelino Fabro Macario Cabrito Jr. Unching Tabig Ethel Avanceña Joel Fabre Donald Cariaso Bhaybie Fagut Jig Balasbas
• Electorate	1,515 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	12.90 km2 (4.98 sq mi)
Elevation [3]	63 m (207 ft)
Highest elevation	1,013 m (3,323 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[4]
• Total	1,745
• Density	140/km2 (350/sq mi)
• Households	497
Economy
• Income class	6th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	7.84 % (2021)[5]
• Revenue	₱ 65.78 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 144.8 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 47.8 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 48.77 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Batanes Electric Cooperative (BATANELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	3901
PSGC	0200904000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)78
Native languages	Ivatan Tagalog Ilocano

History

Aerial view of Mahatao, 1937

Geography

Diura fishing village

Mahatao is located at 20°25′N 121°57′E.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 12.90 square kilometres (4.98 sq mi) ^[7] constituting 5.89% of the 219.01-square-kilometre- (84.56 sq mi) total area of Batanes.

Barangays

Mahatao is politically subdivided into 4 barangays.^[8] These barangays are headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. All are elected every three years.

Hanib was corrected into Hañib by the Philippine Statistics Authority.^[9]

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2024[10]		2010[11]
020904001	Hañib	22.2%	387	372	▴	0.28%
020904002	Kaumbakan	27.9%	486	483	▴	0.04%
020904003	Panatayan	26.5%	462	416	▴	0.74%
020904004	Uvoy (Poblacion)	23.5%	410	312	▴	1.93%
	Total		1,745	1,583	▴	0.68%

Climate

Climate data for Mahatao, Batanes
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	26 (79)	28 (82)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	27 (81)	26 (79)	24 (75)	26 (79)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	25 (77)	27 (81)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	27 (81)	26 (79)	25 (77)	23 (73)	25 (78)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	44 (1.7)	35 (1.4)	29 (1.1)	48 (1.9)	204 (8.0)	238 (9.4)	291 (11.5)	325 (12.8)	304 (12.0)	202 (8.0)	141 (5.6)	60 (2.4)	1,921 (75.8)
Average rainy days	11.1	9.1	8.3	9.2	15.7	17.1	19.4	21.9	21.1	18.4	16.3	12.4	180
Source: Meteoblue [12]

Demographics

Population census of Mahatao

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	1,129	—
1918	1,054	−0.46%
1939	1,238	+0.77%
1948	1,492	+2.10%
1960	1,242	−1.52%
1970	1,475	+1.73%
1975	1,476	+0.01%
1980	1,388	−1.22%
1990	1,724	+2.19%
1995	1,556	−1.90%
2000	1,895	+4.32%
2007	1,539	−2.83%
2010	1,583	+1.03%
2015	1,555	−0.34%
2020	1,703	+1.93%
2024	1,745	+0.59%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][11][15][16]

In the 2024 census, Mahatao had a population of 1,745.^[17] The population density was 140 inhabitants per square kilometre (360/sq mi).

Economy

Poverty incidence of Mahatao

5 10 15 20 25 30 2000 19.85 2003 18.40 2006 13.50 2009 8.88 2012 21.44 2015 17.96 2018 17.83 2021 7.84 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Mahatao is part of the lone congressional district of the province of Batanes. It 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
(2025–2028)^[26]

Position	Name
Congressman	Ciriaco B. Gato Jr.
Mayor	Geronimo Carba
Vice-Mayor	Genes Galarion
Councilors	Noe Avelino Fabro
	Macario Cabrito Jr.
	Unching Tabig
	Ethel Avanceña
	Joel Fabre
	Donald Cariaso
	Bhaybie Fagut
	Jig Balasbas

Education

The Schools Division of Batanes governs the town's public education system and the entire province as a whole. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region.^[27] The Mahatao Schools District Office governs the public and private elementary and secondary schools throughout the municipality.^[28]

Primary and elementary schools

• Diura Barrio School
• Mahatao Elementary School

Secondary school

• Mahatao National High School

Notes

1. Ivatan: Kavahayan nu Mahatao; Ilocano: Ili ti Mahatao; Tagalog: Bayan ng Mahatao