Siocon

Siocon, officially the Municipality of Siocon (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Siocan; Subanen: Benwa Siocan; Chavacano: Municipalidad de Siocan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Siocan), is a municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 48,524 people.^[5]

Siocon
Municipality
Municipality of Siocon
Flag Seal
Map of Zamboanga del Norte with Siocon highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Siocon Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°42′24″N 122°08′10″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Zamboanga Peninsula
Province	Zamboanga del Norte
District	3rd district
Founded	December 23, 1936
Barangays	26 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Ceasar C. Soriano (PFP)
• Vice Mayor	Marlyn M. Duhaylungsod (Lakas)
• Representative	Adrian Michael A. Amatong (Liberal)
• Municipal Council	Members Liz Ellaine L. Solmayor Gemma G. Romina Ailene C. Arabi Ian Gay I. Cardenas Erdulfo G. Comisas, Jr. Salam S. Madjales Eriberto D. Canama Farrah-Aiza A. Pawaki
• Electorate	30,503 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	503.20 km2 (194.29 sq mi)
Elevation	41 m (135 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	51,239
• Density	100/km2 (260/sq mi)
• Households	11,885
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	47.26 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 341.9 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 766.6 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 297.9 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 171 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Zamboanga del Sur 2 Electric Cooperative (ZAMSURECO 2)
• Water	Siocon Water District
• Telecommunications	Globe Telecom
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	7120
PSGC	0907219000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)65
Native languages	Subanon Chavacano Tagalog
Catholic diocese	Diocese of Dipolog
Patron saint	Saint Vincent Ferrer
Website	siocon.zamboangadelnorte.com

Visitors describe Siocon as a "hidden paradise".^{[citation needed]}

Local industry includes the Canatuan mine.

History

In 1955, the following barrios were created:^[6]

• Lituban - from the sitios of Lituban, Pangian, Quibanbanan and Tabayo;
• Tibangao - from the sitios of Tibangao, Daanlawas, Mangcabing, Cuab and Matiag;
• Balagunan - from the sitios of Baliguian, Mamad and Balagunan Grande; and
• Malipot - from the sitios of Malipot, Siay, Kanibungan, Baliangan and Pisawak.

In May 2003, the municipality was attacked by 150 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Abu Sayyaf guerrillas.^[7] The attack commenced at 12 a.m. on May 4. A small group of policemen led by 27-year-old police senior inspector Ranie Planilla Hachuela defended Siocon during the assault, which lasted nine hours. Hachuela managed to rally his men in putting up stiff resistance against the wave of attacks by the rebels trying to overrun the municipal hall, police station, and hospital. For this reason he was awarded the Medal of Valor for risking his life and for rescuing the town mayor and his family.

The rebels created an intricate plan of securing the entry and exit points of the Poblacion (town center). Responding government troops were ambushed as they tried to aid the outnumbered policemen.

That frightening feeling was expressed by Wiljun "Pido" Cubero as he narrated how the rebels stormed the municipal hall and fire station right next to their house at Micubo's compound.

Thirteen of the 150 rebels were killed, including Jairullah Hassan (aka Commander Hairon of the MILF) who headed the attack.

Eleven government troops and 25 civilians also lost their lives in the assault, including two seminarians.^[8] The public market was burned down, while civilians were taken out of their homes to be used as human shields as rebels withdrew. Some hostages were released hours later, while other strong men were held for days as they were tasked to carry wounded rebels through the thick forest in the municipality of Sibuco.

The day after the attack, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu expressed that it was a show of force by the MILF and Abu Sayyaf within the area.

Geography

Barangays

Siocon is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

• Andres Micubo Jr. (Balili)
• Balagunan
• Bucana
• Bulacan
• Candiz
• Datu Sailela
• Dionisio Riconalla
• Jose P. Brillantes Sr. (Old Lituban)
• Latabon
• Makiang
• Malambuhangin
• Malipot
• Manaol
• Mateo Francisco
• Matiag
• New Lituban
• Pangian
• Pisawak
• Poblacion
• S. Cabral
• Santa Maria
• Siay
• Suhaile Arabi
• Tabayo
• Tagaytay
• Tibangao

Climate

Climate data for Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	30 (86)	30 (86)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (76)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	98 (3.9)	78 (3.1)	116 (4.6)	115 (4.5)	222 (8.7)	281 (11.1)	272 (10.7)	282 (11.1)	237 (9.3)	258 (10.2)	180 (7.1)	108 (4.3)	2,247 (88.6)
Average rainy days	19.6	18.6	21.8	22.9	29.0	28.6	28.7	28.3	27.0	28.6	25.9	22.1	301.1
Source: Meteoblue[9]

Demographics

Population census of Siocon

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1939	10,526	—
1948	11,751	+1.23%
1960	16,953	+3.10%
1970	18,842	+1.06%
1975	26,723	+7.26%
1980	29,519	+2.01%
1990	26,544	−1.06%
1995	28,196	+1.14%
2000	32,699	+3.23%
2007	41,221	+3.25%
2010	41,637	+0.37%
2015	46,907	+2.30%
2020	48,524	+0.72%
2024	51,239	+1.32%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14]

Economy

Poverty incidence of Siocon

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2000 51.71 2003 50.31 2006 59.80 2009 63.56 2012 49.24 2015 48.20 2018 51.36 2021 47.26 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Education

Most of its 26 barangays have their respective public elementary schools and only few have public secondary schools. In the town proper has its elementary and secondary public schools and a state university.^[23]

Elementary

• Siocon CS
• Balagonan ES
• Bliss ES
• Bucana ES
• Bulacan ES
• Candiz ES
• Canatuan ES
• Cuyan ES
• C. Callao ES
• Pedro Torio ES
• Lituban ES
• Malipot ES
• Ma. Ybarsabal ES
• Makiang ES
• Malambuhangin ES
• Matiag ES
• Pisawak ES
• Siay Integrated School
• Sta. Maria ES
• S. Cabral ES
• Tibangao ES
• Latabon ES
• Mambong ES
• JP Brillantes ES
• Lu Tian Po ES
• Tabayo ES
• Tibangao ES
• Panubigan PS
• Paduan ES
• Jolito Camatura ES
• Imam Nasaron Haron PS
• Kono Mais ES

Secondary

• Siocon National Science High School
• Santa Maria National High School
• Canatuan National High School
• Siay Integrated School
• Makiang National High School
• Julian Soriano Memorial Comprehensive High School (formerly known as Siocon National Vocational School)
• Celestino T. Montano Sr. National High School

Tertiary

• Jose Rizal Memorial State University – Siocon
• Florita Soriano College

Notable personalities

• Jonathan "Lightning" Taconing (b. 1987) - Filipino boxer