Vintar

Vintar, officially the Municipality of Vintar (Ilocano: Ili ti Vintar; Tagalog: Bayan ng Vintar), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 33,339 people.^[5]

Vintar
Municipality
Municipality of Vintar (Ili ti Vintar)
Vintar Bikeline 2020
Flag
Motto:  Dur-asen, Vintaren! - Ragsak, Ayat ken Dungngo: Napudpudno a Serbisyo
Anthem: Vintar Hymn (Agbiag Ka Vintar)
Map of Ilocos Norte with Vintar highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Vintar Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 18°13′50″N 120°38′56″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region
Province	Ilocos Norte
District	1st district
Founded	1909
Barangays	33 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Hon. Richard A. Degala
• Vice Mayor	Hon. Maribel A. Albano, MD
• Representative	Ferdinand Alexander Marcos III
• Municipal Council	Members SBM Amando Federico "Rik-Rik" E. Ong II SBM Randy "Antikel" A. Degala SBM Maricel "Marie" B. Foronda SBM Antero A. Caluya SBM Josey Florian C. Foronda SBM Jobel Fred M. Forona SBM Lindbergh "Lindy" S. Castillo SBM Carlito V. Rasdas SBM/LNB Pres. Rolando B. Boque SBM/PPSK Pres. Vincent Kyle R. Dalere SBM/MIPMR Macario B. Gudayan
• Electorate	22,505 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	614.35 km2 (237.20 sq mi)
Elevation	59 m (194 ft)
Highest elevation	338 m (1,109 ft)
Lowest elevation	8 m (26 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	35,051
• Density	57/km2 (150/sq mi)
• Households	8,422
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	6.61 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 419.8 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 870.2 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 232.1 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 95.5 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2915
PSGC	0102823000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)77
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog

Vintar is the largest municipality in Ilocos Norte by land area. Its patron saint is Saint Nicholas de Tolentino. It is home to one of the biggest convents in the province, which also hosts the Saint Nicholas Academy.

The town is also where the Vintar Dam, the first dam funded by the World Bank in Southeast Asia and an important cultural property listed by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), is located. It is also the site of the Umok ni Siwawer Eco-Tourism Nature Park, the town's popular picnic resort.

Etymology

Vintar derived its name from the Ilocano word, "intar", which used to describe the formation or order taken by the subject from their ruler whenever the chief called them to attention. It is said that a visiting Spanish missionary heard the word and added the letter V, referring to the “V” formation that the missionary saw.

History

The town's earliest settlers are believed to be of Malay in origin. They first settled on a hill overlooking the Bislak. The town was founded by the Spanish missionaries who got lost in the woods while hunting between Sarrat and Piddig. Vintar became a visita of Bacarra but it was later established as a Parish of San Nicolas de Tolentino. Earlier in 1763, Vintar was reverted to a visita until it became independent in 1774.

In 1903, Vintar was annexed as a barrio of Bacarra. It gained its separation and independence in 1909.

The town is home to one of the biggest convents in Ilocos Norte. In 1931, an earthquake partially destroyed its church and convent. Five years later, it was restored. The convent which houses the Saint Nicolas Academy was restored in 1982.

Vintar was one of the Ilocos region municipalities where various human rights violations were documented during the martial law era, despite public perception that the region was supportive of the Marcos administration.^[6] Three indigenous community members in Vintar are documented to have been "salvaged" in 1984,^[6] the same year as eight farmers in Bangui also disappeared, while farmers from the towns of Vintar, Dumalneg, Solsona, Marcos and Piddig were also documented to have been tortured.^[6]

Culture

Vintar celebrates the feast of St. Nicholas every 10 September, a religious tradition inherited from the Augustinians lives that still practice the distribution of “tinapay ni San Nicolas” (unleavened bread). But the Siwawer Festival, the annual town fiesta of Vintar is held from December 26–30 of every year.

The people of Vintar engage in farming, fishing and herding. The town is generally rural but famous all over the province for its beautiful women with strongly Spanish features. Hence the town has its monicker, “The Home of Beautiful People”.

Vintar is also the site of four (4) important cultural properties listed by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. These are Vintar Dam, the Old Municipal Building, San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church and the Gabaldon Building.

Vintar was once known for Abel Iloco or Inabel, especially the classic Binandera Abel, which flourished “in the north of the river,” as proven by a loom displayed at the Museo de Siwawer in Barangay Abkir.^[7]

Geography

The Municipality of Vintar is considered as the sixth major river system in the region. Its head waters are on the western Cordillera slopes at the Kalinga and Apayao borders. It flows eastward and irrigates most of the flat lands of Ilocos Norte before making its exit into the South China Sea. Vintar has the largest land area in Ilocos Norte.

It is located on a plain land surrounded by mountains. Vintar is surrounded and bordered by:

• Bangui, Adams, Dumalneg, Burgos, and Pagudpud in the north;
• Laoag, Sarrat, Piddig, and Carasi in the south;
• Pasuquin and Bacarra in the west;
• Calanasan, Apayao in the east.

Vintar is situated 9.43 kilometres (5.86 mi) from the provincial capital Laoag, and 490.99 kilometres (305.09 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Vintar is politically subdivided into 33 barangays. ^[8] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Abkir
• Alejo Malasig
• Alsem
• Bago
• Bulbulala
• Cabangaran
• Cabayo
• Cabisocolan
• Canaam
• Columbia
• Dagupan
• Dipilat
• Esperanza
• Ester
• Isic Isic
• Lubnac
• Mabanbanag
• Malampa (Malampa-Paninaan)
• Manarang
• Margaay
• Namoroc
• Parparoroc
• Parut
• Pedro F. Alviar
• Salsalamagui
• San Jose/Santo Tomas (Lipay/Saricao)
• San Nicolas (Poblacion)
• San Pedro (Poblacion)
• San Ramon (Poblacion)
• San Roque (Poblacion)
• Santa Maria (Poblacion)
• Tamdagan
• Visaya

Sub-divisions

Poblacion Poblacion is the center-most subdivision of Vintar. Poblacion is composed of 5 barangays namely:

• 1- San Roque
• 2- San Nicolas
• 3- San Pedro
• 4- Santa Maria
• 5- San Ramon

Metro Poblacion Metro Poblacion is located on the outer-most of the center of the poblacion and composed of 5 barangays namely:

• 6- Parut
• 7- Alejo Malasig
• 8- Margaay
• 9- Lubnac
• 10- Parparoroc
• 15- Visaya

Pallas Valley It is located at the north-east of Vintar. Pallas Valley is composed of 4 barangays namely:

• 11- Bulbulala
• 12- Namoroc
• 13- Mabanbanag
• 14- Ester

North of the River (Amian ti Karayan) North of the River or "Amian ti Karayan" is located north of the Bislak River from Poblacion. It is called so after the Ilocano word "Amian" which means north. Amian ti Karayan is composed of 8 barangays namely:

• 16- Salsalamagui
• 17- P.F. Alviar
• 18- Abkir
• 19- Columbia
• 20- Cabisuculan
• 21- Malampa
• 22- Manarang
• 24- Alsem

Lower Surong Valley

• 23- Dipilat
• 25- Tamdagan
• 26- Canaam
• 27- Esperanza
• 28- Bago
• 29/30- San Jose/Sto.Tomas

Upper Surong Valley Upper Surong Valley is composed of 4 barangays namely:

• 31- Dagupan
• 32- Cabangaran
• 33- Cabayo
• 34- Isic Isic

Sitios/Puroks

Barangay #6 Parut

• Sitio Pugapog
• Sitio Lubong
• Sitio Turod

Barangay #7 Alejo Malasig

• Purok Liwliwa
• Purok Saldet
• Purok Namnama Proper
• Purok Namnama 1
• Purok Sadiri
• Purok Sinamar
• Purok Rang-ay 1
• Purok Rang-ay 2

Barangay #9 Lubnac

• Purok Rang-ay 1
• Purok Rang-ay 2
• Purok Namnama West 1
• Purok Namnama West 2
• Purok Namnama West 3
• Purok Namnama East
• Purok Saniata
• Purok Silnag
• Purok Liwliwa
• Purok Sadiri
• Purok Sinamar East
• Purok Sinamar West

Barangay #10 Parparoroc

• Sitio Bucana (Purok Linglingay)
• Sitio Madangro (Purok Namnama)
• Sitio Baldi (Purok Saniata)
• Purok Rang-ay
• Purok Saranay
• Purok Sarikedked
• Purok Sadiri

Barangay #17 PF Alviar

• Sitio Diaton
• Sitio Baybayawas
• Sitio Salsalamagui
• Purok 1 - Sirmata
• Purok 2 - Rang-ay
• Purok 3 - Namnama
• Purok 4 - Saranay
• Purok 5 - Ragsak
• Purok 6 - Gin-awa

Barangay #18 Abkir

• Sitio Lubong (Purok 5 - Ilang-Ilang)
• Sitio Salinong (Purok 6 - Kamia)
• Purok 1 - Rose
• Purok 2 - Rosal
• Purok 3 - Sampaguita
• Purok 4 - Gumamela

Barangay #19 Columbia

• Sitio Maapgad (Purok Maapgad South, Purok Maapgad North & Purok Maapgad East)
• Sitio Bacsil (Purok Bacsil South & Purok Bacsil North)
• Sitio Columbia Centro

Barangay #20 Cabisuculan

• Sitio Maipangal West
• Sitio Maipangal East
• Sitio Maipangal Centro
• Sitio Turod
• Sitio Marabanos Proper
• Sitio Marabanos West
• Sitio Marabanos East

Barangay #21 Malampa-Peninaan

• Sitio Malampa Proper
• Sitio Upper Peninaan
• Sitio Lower Peninaan
• Sitio Marabanos

Barangay #26 Canaam

• Sitio Masadsaduel
• Sitio Canadem
• Sitio Borbor
• Sitio Mangrapon
• Sitio Gubang
• Sitio Casgayan
• Sitio Hacienda

Barangay #29/30 San Jose/Sto. Tomas

• Sitio Lipay (Purok Namnama, Purok Regta & Purok Timpuyog)
• Sitio Saricao (Purok Sinamar, Purok Ninniog & Purok Balbalay)

Vintar town with mountains in the background

Mount Baguinsuso

Mount Baguinsuso, also known as Mount Masadsada (Ilocano which means "passable valley"), is among the most recognized landmarks located in Barangay 15-Visaya.

Climate

Climate data for Vintar, Ilocos Norte
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	26 (79)	28 (82)	30 (86)	32 (90)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (84)	28 (82)	26 (79)	29 (85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	20 (68)	20 (68)	21 (70)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	23 (73)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	55 (2.2)	41 (1.6)	37 (1.5)	41 (1.6)	184 (7.2)	215 (8.5)	261 (10.3)	256 (10.1)	245 (9.6)	216 (8.5)	142 (5.6)	129 (5.1)	1,822 (71.8)
Average rainy days	14.1	11.1	11.8	12.5	21.8	25.2	25.5	24.9	23.8	18.2	16.4	17.0	222.3
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[9]

Vintar is divided into two types of climate:

• 90% or the Western Part: Two pronounced seasons, dry from December to May and wet from June to November. Maximum rain period is from June to September.
• 10% or the Eastern Part: No very pronounced maximum rain period, with a short dry season lasting only from one to three months.

Demographics

Population census of Vintar

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 9,435 —     1918 11,686 +1.44% 1939 14,153 +0.92% 1948 14,882 +0.56% 1960 17,359 +1.29% 1970 19,455 +1.15% 1975 21,655 +2.17% 1980 23,356 +1.52%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 27,084 +1.49% 1995 27,460 +0.26% 2000 29,031 +1.20% 2007 29,405 +0.18% 2010 31,448 +2.47% 2015 32,220 +0.46% 2020 33,339 +0.72% 2024 35,051 +1.21%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14]

In the 2020 census, the population of Vintar was 33,339 people,^[15] with a density of 54 inhabitants per square kilometre or 140 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Vintar

10 20 30 40 2000 32.92 2003 36.77 2006 18.70 2009 16.79 2012 15.30 2015 8.50 2018 4.18 2021 6.61 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

Transportation

Vintar can be reached through air via Laoag International Airport at Laoag City, then hiring a tricycle or any other public transportation. From Manila by bus, it will take about 10 to 12 hours in reaching the center of Vintar. Farinas and Maria De Leon are the major companies that have a daily trip to Vintar.

Festival

Siwawer Festival is the annual festival of Vintar. This festival of the town is being celebrated in honor of the Siwawer, the local name of the brahminy kite species of eagle that soars the skies of Vintar. The Festival starts on December 4, which is also Vintar Day, the foundation of the municipality when it was separated from the town of Bacarra in 1909.

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Vintar, belonging to the first 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.

Municipal Elected Officials

Members of the Municipal Council
(2022–Present)^[24]

Position	Name	Other Title/Chairmanship
Congressman	Hon. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos III	Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Representative, First District of Ilocos Norte
Municipal Mayor	Hon. Richard A. Degala	Local Chief Executive
Municipal Vice-Mayor	Hon. Maribel A. Albano, MD	Presiding Officer/ Chairperson, Committee on Health and Sanitation
Sangguniang Bayan Members	Hon. Amando Federico "Rik-Rik" E. Ong II	Chairperson, Committee on Social Welfare and Community Development/ Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management/ Committee on Zoning, Urban and Rural Development Housing and Land Utilization
	Hon. Randy "Antikel" A. Degala	Chairperson, Committee on Ways and Means/ Committee on Education, Manpower, Development and Public Information
	Hon. Maricel "Marie" B. Foronda	Chairperson, Committee on Women, Children and Family Welfare/ Committee on Labor and Employment
	Hon. Antero A. Caluya	Chairperson, Committee on Peace and Order, Public Safety and Human Rights/ Committee on Agriculture and Food Security
	Hon. Josey Florian C. Foronda	Chairperson, Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Industry/ Committee on Environmental Protection, Natural Resources Conservation and Ecological Security
	Hon. Jobel Fred M. Foronda	Chairperson, Committee on Cooperatives and Livelihood/ Committee on Markets, Slaughterhouse and other Municipal Economic Enterprises/ Committee on Games and Amusements
	Hon. Lindbergh "Lindy" S. Castillo	Chairperson, Committee on Laws, Rules, Ethics and Privileges/ Committee on Appropriation and Finance/ Committee on Infrastructure and Public Works
	Hon. Carlito V. Rasdas	Chairperson, Committee on Good Governance, Public Ethics and Accountability/ Committee on Tourism, Culture and Arts/ Committee on Transportation, Communications, and other Public Utilities (Power and Water Facilities)
LNB President/SB Ex-Officio Member	Hon. Rolando B. Boque	Chairperson, Committee on Barangay Affairs
PPSK President/SB Ex-Officio Member	Hon. Kyle Vincent R. Dalere	Chairperson, Committee on Youth Welfare and Sports Development
Municipal IPMR/SB Ex-Officio Member	Hon. Macario "Chieftain Macky" B. Gudayan	Chairperson, Committee on Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples

Municipal seal

• The shield is derived from the provincial seal of Ilocos Norte.
• The letter V stands for the word Vintar, the name of the municipality.
• The eagle represents the native hawk, commonly called Siwawer by the old folks and after which the people of Vintar are referred to.
• Landscape, plow, rice stalk, onion, garlic, mango, eggplant and tobacco leaf, at the left side of the shield representing the municipality's principal farming industries.
• Dam, gate valve, water and fish at the right side of the shield represent Vintar-Laoag-Bacarra irrigation system. The dam also stands for the Umok ni Siwawers, a resort the town is famous for; the fish symbolizes one of the main income-generating products of the locality.

Education

There are two schools district offices which govern all public and private schools within the municipality. These are Vintar I School District Office, and Vintar II School District Office.^[25]

Primary and elementary schools

• Abkir Elementary School
• Alejo Malasig Elementary School
• Alsem Elementary School
• Andres Agpalza Memorial Learning Center
• Bago Elementary School
• Bulbulala Primary School
• Cabayo Elementary School
• Cabangaran Elementary School
• Cabisuculan-Columbia Elementary School
• Canaam Elementary School
• Columbia Primary School
• Danao Elementary School
• Dasar Elementary School
• Dimamaga Elementary School
• Dipilat Elementary School
• Esperanza Elementary School
• Ester Elementary School
• Gubang Elementary School
• Isic-Isic Elementary School
• Lipay Elementary School
• Lubnac Elementary School
• Mabanbanag Primary School
• Magabobo Elementary School
• Malampa Elementary School
• Manarang Elementary School
• Margaay Primary School
• Masadsaduel Elementary School
• Namoroc-Mabanbanag Elementary School
• Parparoroc Elementary School
• Parut Elementary School
• Sagpat Elementary School
• Salsalamagui Elementary School
• Saricao Elementary School
• Tamdagan Elementary School
• Tungel Elementary School
• Vintar Central Elementary School
• Visaya Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Florentino Camaquin Integrated School
• Isic-Isic National High School
• Pallas Integrated School
• Salpad Integrated School
• Vintar Academy
• Vintar National High School