Paoay

Not to be confused with Panay or Pasay.

Paoay, officially the Municipality of Paoay (Ilocano: Ili ti Paoay; Filipino: Bayan ng Paoay), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 25,001 people.^[5]

Paoay
Municipality
Municipality of Paoay
Paoay Church Malacañang of the North Paoay Lake
Flag Seal
Map of Ilocos Norte with Paoay highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Paoay Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 18°03′45″N 120°31′13″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region
Province	Ilocos Norte
District	2nd district
Barangays	31 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Shiella A. Galano
• Vice Mayor	Leah R. Buduan
• Representative	Eugenio Angelo M. Barba
• Municipal Council	Members Efren V. Valdez Rosemarie D. Castillo Dante B. Langaman Philip G. Bagasani Edgar C. Padayao Alfonso Conrado E. Diaz Mary Jane A. Casil Pacifico T. Clemente, Jr. Romel R. Ragual (ABC President) Krizette Charm G. Cabel (SK Federated President)
• Electorate	17,720 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	76.24 km2 (29.44 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Highest elevation	87 m (285 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	24,204
• Density	320/km2 (820/sq mi)
• Households	6,233
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	4.8 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 196 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 791.3 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 130.1 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 114.5 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2902
PSGC	0102816000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)77
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog
Feast date	August 28
Patron saint	Augustine of Hippo

History

In 1701, Paoay was established as a municipality by virtue of a Royal Decree that also designated Don Martin Guiang as its founding head. He served in this capacity as Kapitan Bosar from 1701 to 1704.^[6]

Geography

The Municipality of Paoay is home to the Paoay Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Paoay is situated 19.810 kilometres (12.309 mi) from the provincial capital Laoag, and 466.19 kilometres (289.68 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Paoay is politically subdivided into 31 barangays. ^[7] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Bacsil
• Cabagoan
• Cabangaran
• Callaguip
• Cayubog
• Dolores
• Laoa
• Masintoc
• Monte
• Mumulaan
• Nagbacalan
• Nalasin
• Nanguyudan
• Oaig-Upay-Abulao
• Pambaran
• Pannaratan (Poblacion)
• Paratong
• Pasil
• Salbang (Poblacion)
• San Agustin
• San Blas (Poblacion)
• San Juan
• San Pedro
• San Roque (Poblacion)
• Sangladan Poblacion (Nalbuan)
• Santa Rita (Poblacion)
• Sideg
• Suba
• Sungadan
• Surgui
• Veronica

Climate

Climate data for Paoay, Ilocos Norte
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	31 (88)	32 (90)	33 (91)	34 (93)	34 (93)	34 (93)	33 (91)	32 (90)	32 (90)	33 (91)	32 (90)	31 (88)	33 (91)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	19 (66)	20 (68)	21 (70)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	22 (72)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	6.2 (0.24)	11.7 (0.46)	10.1 (0.40)	14 (0.6)	192.7 (7.59)	258.9 (10.19)	470.9 (18.54)	475.9 (18.74)	405.7 (15.97)	92.5 (3.64)	44.8 (1.76)	3 (0.1)	1,986.4 (78.23)
Average rainy days	3	2	2	2	12	15	20	20	17	10	6	3	112
Source: World Weather Online[8]

Demographics

Population census of Paoay

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	12,743	—
1918	16,639	+1.79%
1939	11,867	−1.60%
1948	11,257	−0.58%
1960	13,189	+1.33%
1970	15,218	+1.44%
1975	15,994	+1.00%
1980	17,016	+1.25%
1990	20,680	+1.97%
1995	21,253	+0.51%
2000	21,745	+0.49%
2007	23,117	+0.85%
2010	23,956	+1.31%
2015	24,866	+0.71%
2020	25,001	+0.11%
2024	24,204	−0.77%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[9][10][11][12][13]

In the 2020 census, the population of Paoay was 25,001 people,^[14] with a density of 330 inhabitants per square kilometre or 850 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Paoay

5 10 15 20 25 30 2000 27.70 2003 27.85 2006 12.20 2009 14.89 2012 6.80 2015 8.44 2018 4.51 2021 4.80 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Paoay Municipal Hall

Paoay, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of Ilocos Norte, 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)^[23]

Position	Name
Congressman	Eugenio Angelo M. Barba
Mayor	Shiella A. Galano
Vice-Mayor	Leah R. Buduan
Councilors	Efren V. Valdez
	Rosemarie D. Castillo
	Dante B. Langaman
	Philip G. Bagasani
	Edgar C. Padayao
	Alfonso Conrado E. Diaz
	Mary Jane A. Casil
	Pacifico T. Clemente, Jr.
	Romel R. Ragual (ABC President)
	Krizette Charm G. Cabel (SK Federated President)

Tourism

Paoay Lake

Main article: Paoay Lake

Another prominent feature of the municipality is Paoay Lake. Legend has it that it was the site of a prosperous barangay, called San Juan de Sahagún (Saint John of Sahagún), that sank following a massive earthquake.^[24]

On the shores of the lake lies a mansion once used by the Marcoses. Called Malacañang of the North, it is now a museum that is open to the public. Adjacent to the mansion is the Paoay Golf Course.

Education

The Paoay Schools District Office governs all public and private schools within the municipality.^[25]

Primary and elementary schools

• Bacsil Elementary School
• Evangelista Elementary School
• Monte Elementary School
• Mumulaan Elementary School
• Nagbacalan Elementary School
• Nagbacalan West Elementary School
• Nalasin Elementary School
• Nanguyudan Elementary School
• Paoay Central Elementary School
• Paoay East Central Elementary School
• Paoay Faith Academy
• Pasil Elementary School
• Salbang Elementary School
• Sideg Elementary School
• Suba Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Paoay Lake National High School
• Paoay National High School
• Paoay North Institute
• Malaguip Integrated School

Gallery

• 
  Paseo de Paoay
• 
  View of Poblacion Area
• 
  Buttress of the Paoay Church
• 
  Details on the side of a door of the church

Notable personalities

• Conchita Carpio-Morales, a Filipino judge
• Mans Carpio, a Filipino lawyer