Pudtol, officially the Municipality of Pudtol, (; ), is a municipality in the province of Apayao, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 15,676 people.
History Pudtol, taken from Luna, was created as a municipal district on December 3, 1956, through executive order no. 217.Pudtol - A Brief History Retrieved July 26, 2022."Pudtol: Executive Summary, 2019" (PDF) Commission on Audit. Retrieved Aug. 1, 2022."Executive Order No. 217, s. 1956" Official Gazette. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
Prior to its creation, Pudtol was once the center of the Spanish mission in the entire province of Apayao and served as the center of Catholicism in the province.
Pudtol consisted of the last remaining territories of the municipal district of Tauit (the first sub-provincial capital of Apayao), which was abolished on January 21, 1936, through EO No. 13 and annexed as a single barrio to Luna."Executive Order No. 13, s. 1936" Official Gazette. Retrieved July 26, 2022. Tauit also comprised the present-day municipalities of Luna, Santa Marcela, Flora, and some parts of Lasam, Allacapan, and Pamplona, Cagayan."Brief History of Pudtol" Municipality of Pudtol. Retrieved Aug. 1, 2022.
Barangays Aga, Cacalaggan, Malibang and Mataguisi are comprised by then-Barrio Tawit, Tauit's seat of government.History and government of Luna, Apayao (via Department of the Interior and Local Government–CAR). Retrieved July 28, 2022.
On March 31, 1959, Pudtol was converted into a municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 335."Executive Order No. 335, s. 1959" Official Gazette. Retrieved July 26, 2022. It became the first regular municipality in the entire sub-province of Apayao.
On June 22, 1963, via Republic Act No. 3672, several barrios and sitios were separated from Pudtol and constituted into the newly created municipality of Flora.
Tauit Tauit (later spelled as Tawit), is an Isneg settlement along the lower Apayao-Abulug River. It was a former municipal district and served as Apayao's first sub-provincial capital from July 13, 1907, until the capital was moved to Kabugao on August 1, 1915, by virtue of Executive Order No. 45 signed by Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison.—Executive Order 45 (1915): —Executive Order 68 (1927): It had been existed by the time of creation of the sub-province of Apayao.
Tauit is said to be the forerunner of the present-day Pudtol."Brief History of Pudtol" Municipality of Pudtol. Retrieved Aug. 1, 2022."Pudtol: Executive Summary, 2020" (PDF) Commission on Audit. Retrieved Aug. 1, 2022. Its seat of government at Barrio Tawit was later divided into four barangays in the municipality.
In 1913, a band of Isneg attacked Tauit, as they were infuriated by the large number of Ilocano settling in the territory under the protection of the local government.
In 1926, Allacapan was founded as its municipal district. On July 1, 1927, the area was separated from Tauit and was organized into an independent one with the same name by virtue of EO No. 68. It was ceded to the province of Cagayan in 1928."Municipalities: Allacapan" CagayaNET. 1997–1998. Retrieved 08-01-2022.
In 1929, a separate municipal district taken from Tauit, Macatel (later renamed Luna through a resolution), was organized through EO No. 200."Brief History" Municipality of Luna, Apayao. Retrieved July 28, 2022
Difficulties in transportation led to the decision to abandon Tauit as a municipal district and to be represented by Luna.
Tauit was abolished through EO No. 13, issued on January 21, 1936, and effective February 1, with remaining territories annexed as a single barrio to Luna."Executive Order No. 13, s. 1936" Official Gazette. Retrieved July 26, 2022. These territories were established as the municipal district of Pudtol upon its creation on December 3, 1956, through EO No. 217."Executive Order No. 217, s. 1956" Official Gazette. Retrieved Aug. 1, 2022.
Parts of the territories of Pudtol and Luna were later established as the municipalities of Flora and Santa Marcela; meanwhile, Tauit also comprised some parts of Lasam and Pamplona, Cagayan.
Geography According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the total area of Apayao.
Pudtol is situated from the provincial capital Kabugao, and from the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays Pudtol is politically subdivided into 22 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Climate The municipality falls under the Coronas type III climate where dry and wet season is not very much pronounced. Dry season is usually observed from the months of February to July while wet season is felt during the months of August to January. However, there are cases when rainy season occurs early and happens towards the end of May.
Demographics
The creation and separation of the municipality of Flora in 1963 resulted to a population decrease and a negative growth rate in 1970. The table shows significant increase in population in the succeeding censal years until the latest census.
In the 2024 census, Pudtol had a population of 15,676 people. The population density was .
Economy
The economy of Pudtol primarily relies on agriculture, forestry, and tourism. Rice and corn serve as the main agricultural staples of Pudtol. The municipality is known for specialized crops such as pineapples, bananas, root crops, and fruit-bearing trees. The farmers are raising small-scale livestock and poultry.
Pudtol is mainly known for forests that cover 70% of Pudtol's total land area. The tourism of Pudtol represents farm tourism sites and river attractions.
Government
Local government
Pudtol, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Apayao, 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) Position Name Congressman Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang Mayor Edmar D. Pascua Vice-Mayor Teresita A. Bulsao Councilors Benigno M. Baydan III Ma. Mina Grace A. Sangil Russell V. Galut Efleda A. Garde Loreto C. Pascua Maribel L. Sipsip Cleofil C. Collado Julian C. Patayan Jr. LnB President Brando S. Adriano IP Mandatory Representative Edaño T. Patayan SK Fed. Pres. Lyndyll John C. Lorenzo
List of Mayors of Pudtol From the time Pudtol was established as a distinct and independent municipality, its governance has been entrusted to a Chief Executive, either appointed or elected.
The following are the list of elected or appointed mayors of Pudtol.
+ Municipal Mayors of Pudtol(1957–Present) Name Term Emilia Almazan 1957 - 1960 Juan Madriaga 1960 - 1963 Antonio Jadsac 1963 - 1980 Domingo Agngarayngay 1980 - 1986 Robert Bangay 1986 –1987 Russel Caluducan 1987 - 1988 Batara P. Laoat 1988 - 1995 Johnny U. Ilayat 1995 - 2007 Batara P. Laoat 2007 - 2016 Hector Reuel D. Pascua 2016 - 2025 Edmar D. Pascua 2025 – Present
List of Vice-Mayors of Pudtol The following are the list of elected or appointed vice-mayors of Pudtol.
+ Municipal Vice Mayors of Pudtol(1957–Present) Name Term Joaquin Pascua Sr. 1957 - 1960 Fernando M. Diaz 1960 - 1963 Serverino Caluducan 1963 - 1968 Felimon Caluducan 1968 - 1979 Domingo Agngarayngay 1979 - 1980 Lydia A. Bancod 1980 - 1986 Florentino Galut 1986 - 1987 Severino Saquiton 1987 - 1988 Roman Balliente 1988 - 1992 Johnny U. Ilayat 1992 - 1995 Mino A. Babayan 1995 - 1998 Edaño T. Patayan 1998 - 2007 Cleofil C. Collado 2007 - 2010 Loreto C. Pascua 2010 - 2016 Randy A. Laoat 2016 - 2025 Teresita A. Bulsao 2025–Present
Education The Pudtol Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.
Primary and elementary schools
Aga Elementary School Alem Elementary School Aurora Elementary School Cabatacan Elementary School Cacalaggan Elementary School Capannikian Elementary School Dona Loreta Elementary School Lower Maton Elementary School Lt. Balag Elementary School Lydia Elementary School Malibang Elementary School Mataguisi Elementary School Pudtol Central School San Jose Elementary School San Mariano Elementary School Swan Elementary School Upper Maton Elementary School Upper Swan Elementary School
Secondary schools Mataguisi Comprehensive High School Pudtol Vocational High School Swan National Agricultural and Trade High School Santo Rosario School of Pudtol Tawit National High School
References
External links
[ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]