Bacnotan, officially the Municipality of Bacnotan (; ), is a coastal

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

in the

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

La Union La Union (), officially the Province of La Union (; ; ; ; ; ), is a coastal province in the Philippines situated in the Ilocos Region on the island of Luzon. The province's capital, the San Fernando, La Union, City of San Fernando, is the most ...

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,388 people.

Etymology

The name ''Bacnotan'' is derived from the hispanized Iloco word ''"bakunutan"'' or ''"basnótan"'', which translates to ''"to flog"'' or ''"to whip"'' in English. Historically, the area was a vast expanse of wilderness inhabited by a group of natives governed by a rudimentary form of leadership. At one point, the town fell under the rule of a despotic chieftain who wielded absolute authority over his constituents. Under his oppressive regime, disobedience to his decrees was met with severe punishments, including public flogging. Flagellation in Europe

After enduring years of tyranny, the people rose against their chieftain, ultimately overthrowing him and subjecting him to the same punishment he had inflicted upon them. He was flogged to death by his own people. The act of flogging, expressed in the local dialect as ''bakunutan'', became a defining moment in the community's history. The term ''bakunutan'' eventually evolved into a colloquial byword among the inhabitants and inspired the name of the settlement. During the Spanish colonial period, the name ''Bakunutan'' was hispanized to ''Bacnotan'', a modification reflected in official documents preserved in the

National Archives National archives are the archives of a country. The concept evolved in various nations at the dawn of modernity based on the impact of nationalism upon bureaucratic processes of paperwork retention. Conceptual development From the Middle Ages i ...

in Manila. This etymology highlights the enduring legacy of the community's resistance and the transformative power of unity in shaping its identity.

History

Early History

During its early history, the town was a settlement of early Ilocanos, known as ''Samtoy'', who practiced

animistic Animism (from meaning 'breath, Soul, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct Spirituality, spiritual essence. Animism perceives all things—animals, plants, Rock (geology), rocks, rivers, Weather, ...

culture and traditions. These early inhabitants actively engaged in trade with neighboring maritime regions in

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

, including the Pangasinenses to the south, the

Igorots The indigenous peoples of the Cordillera in northern Luzon, Philippines, often referred to by the exonym Igorot people, or more recently, as the Cordilleran peoples, are an ethnic group composed of nine main ethnolinguistic groups whose domains ...

in the highlands, and even Chinese and Japanese traders. The exchange of goods included gold, silk, porcelain, earthen jars (burnay), honey, beeswax, and other items.

Spanish Colonization

In 1572, Spanish forces led by conquistador

Juan de Salcedo Juan de Salcedo (; 1549 – 11 March 1576) was a Spanish conquistador. He was the grandson of Spanish general Miguel López de Legazpi. Salcedo was one of the soldiers who accompanied the Spanish conquest to the Philippines in 1565. He joined th ...

arrived at the settlement after landing in Dalandan (now

San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John (disambiguation), Saint John, most commonly refers to: * San Juan, Puerto Rico * San Juan, Argentina * San Juan, Metro Manila, a highly urbanized city in the Philippines San Juan may also refer to: Places Arge ...

). However, they did not remain long and continued their expedition northward to ''"pacify the people"'' in those areas. By 1599, the town of Bacnotan was formally established as part of the Ilocos province and was initially named “''Bakunutan''.” During the administration of Governor-General José Basco in 1785, Bacnotan became part of

Pangasinan Pangasinan, officially the Province of Pangasinan (, ; ; ), is a coastal Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region of Luzon. Its capital is Lingayen, Pangasinan, Lingayen while San Carlos, Pangasi ...

. When the province of La Union was created in 1850, Bacnotan was among the first 12 towns that constituted the newly formed province. Historically, Bacnotan was a vast wilderness inhabited by native people governed by a rudimentary system. At one point, the town was ruled by a despotic

chieftain A tribal chief, chieftain, or headman is a leader of a tribe, tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies There is no definition for "tribe". The concept of tribe is a broadly applied concept, based on tribal concepts of societies of weste ...

who exerted absolute control over his constituents, with severe punishments, including

flogging Flagellation (Latin , 'whip'), flogging or whipping is the act of beating the human body with special implements such as whips, rods, switches, the cat o' nine tails, the sjambok, the knout, etc. Typically, flogging has been imposed ...

, meted out for disobedience. After enduring years of tyrannical rule, the people revolted, overthrowing and flogging the chieftain to death. The term "basnutan," meaning "to flog" in the local dialect, became a common expression among the inhabitants and eventually inspired the town's name. During the Spanish colonial period, the name was modified to "Bacnotan," as evidenced by historical documents preserved at the

in Manila. In October 1849, Governor-General Narciso Clavería issued a decree creating

province by merging towns from Pangasinan,

Ilocos Sur Ilocos Sur (), officially the Province of Ilocos Sur (; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the capital of Vigan, while Candon is ...

, and the

Cordillera A cordillera is a chain or network of mountain ranges, such as those in the west coast of the Americas. The term is borrowed from Spanish, where the word comes from , a diminutive of ('rope'). The term is most commonly used in physical geogra ...

(''La Montañosa''). This was formalized on March 2, 1850, by Governor-General Antonio María Blanco, with Bacnotan, as one of the founding towns. The province’s creation was confirmed by Queen Isabella II on April 18, 1854. The town's history is linked with the deeds of heroic men who fought, bled, and died for their own native land. At the turn of the century, during the

Spanish–American War The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was fought between Restoration (Spain), Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine (1889), USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the ...

, Dumarang (now known as Quirino), was a scene of carnage and plunder.

American Colonization

American forces led by General Samuel Baldwin Marks Young in pursuit to

Emilio Aguinaldo Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (: March 22, 1869February 6, 1964) was a Filipino revolutionary, statesman, and military leader who became the first List of presidents of the Philippines, president of the Philippines (1899–1901), and the first pre ...

set foot on La Union soil on November 20, 1899, Filipino

guerrillas Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, Partisan (military), partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians, which may include Children in the military, recruite ...

were prepared for action, with the town becoming a center of resistance led by Guerrilla Unit No. 3 under the leadership of Captain Angeles Bunder General Manuel Tinio. The unit operated in Bacnotan and nearby areas, including San Juan, Santol and Balaoan. These guerrilla efforts played a crucial role in resisting American forces and defending the town's autonomy during the conflict. By 1901, La Union including the town was fully under American control. Throughout the American colonial government, they introduced several public services in the area. A public education system was established, with American teachers known as

Thomasites The Thomasites were a group of 600 American teachers who traveled from the United States to the newly occupied territory of the Philippines on the USAT Thomas, US Army Transport ''Thomas''. The group included 346 men and 180 women, hailing from ...

sent to assimilate Filipinos into American culture. Public hospitals were also built, and a local governance system was introduced, allowing Filipinos to elect their own leaders for the first time. These developments marked significant changes in Bacnotan's social, educational, and political landscape during the American occupation.

Japanese Occupation

During the first days of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, invading Japanese forces reached Bacnotan on December 21, 1941 by Colonel Kanno and General Shizuichi Tanaka's detachments before invading the

Lingayen Gulf Lingayen Gulf is a large gulf on northwestern Luzon in the Philippines, stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central (Luzon), Cordillera Central. The Agno ...

On January 4, 1945, the tides of war changed in La Union as Filipino and American soldiers captured the strategic Baroro Bridge in Bacnotan, which connects the rest of Northern Luzon to San Fernando. It was followed by the historic Battle of San Fernando and Bacsil Bridge. The victory ensured the liberation of La Union Province by joint Filipino and American troops at the end of

. After the war, Bacnotan became the provisional seat of the provincial government, since San Fernando was then in ruins. As a consequence of this transfer, the La Union National High School was also moved to Bacnotan. When things went back to normal, the provincial government was again moved to San Fernando and the La Union National High School followed afterward. The transfer of the provincial high school in Bacnotan resulted in the establishment of the North Provincial High School (now Bacnotan National High School.)

Post-war Era

In 1949, the vast mineral deposits of limestone used in

portland cement Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world as a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar (masonry), mortar, stucco, and non-specialty grout. It was developed from other types of hydraulic lime in England in th ...

production were noticed in Barrio Dumarang (now Quirino) by a mining engineer who was then a municipal councilor at that time. Because of the desire to create economic activity, the municipal council, through the efforts of this mining engineer, invited potential investors to set up a Portland cement plant. Within a year, a cement plant called Cebu Portland Cement (CEPOC), was established. On May 11, 1957, CEPOC, a government-owned corporation, was sold to the privately owned Bacnotan Consolidated Industries (BCI). BCI is the manufacturer of "Union Cement". In 2004, BCI was sold to

Holcim Holcim is a Swiss-based global building materials and Construction aggregate, aggregates flagship division of the Holcim Group. The original company was merged on 10 July 2015 with Lafarge (company), Lafarge to form LafargeHolcim as the new c ...

Cement. On June 18, 1960, the La Union Agricultural School was established. Nestling at the foot of the mountains of Barangay Sapilang, the agricultural school progressed and was later named

Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU ; ) is the State Universities or Colleges of the Philippines, state university system serving the province of La Union in the Philippines. Its main autonomous unit is in Bacnotan. It was creat ...

. Its campus occupies an area of about 6 square kilometers.

Geography

The Municipality of Bacnotan is a coastal municipality bordered to the north by the municipality of Balaoan, to the east by San Gabriel, to the south by

, and to the west by the

South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by South China, in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan island, Taiwan and northwestern Philippines (mainly Luz ...

. Bacnotan is situated from the provincial capital San Fernando, and from the country's capital city of

Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

Topography

The topography of the town is characterized by hilly and mountainous terrain rising gradually eastward. The western side of Bacnotan is defined by a long stretch of black sand beaches facing the South China Sea, indicative of the area's abundant magnetite deposits. Certain parts of the coastline also feature

pebble A pebble is a clastic rocks, clast of rock (geology), rock with a grain size, particle size of based on the Particle size (grain size), Udden-Wentworth scale of sedimentology. Pebbles are generally considered larger than Granule (geology), gra ...

and

limestone formations Limestone is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science), crystal forms of calcium carbo ...

. These beaches, which span approximately 16 kilometers, are well-suited for various recreational activities such as fishing, boating, swimming, snorkeling, diving, and surfing. While San Juan is widely known as a popular destination for serious surfers, the waves in Bacnotan's Quirino area have also gained recognition for being excellent for

surfing Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suita ...

. The eastern boundary of Bacnotan is characterized by predominantly mountainous terrain forming part of the foothills of the Central Cordillera. This area features vast forests and rolling hills and serves as the home of indigenous groups, primarily the Bago and Kankanaey people. The region's natural resources and biodiversity contribute significantly to its cultural and environmental importance. The Baroro River, located along the southern boundary of Bacnotan, is the town's primary waterway. This river supports various activities, including freshwater fishing, aquaculture, and recreation, while also contributing to the local ecosystem.

Barangays

Bacnotan is politically subdivided into 47

barangay The barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as ''barrio'', is the smallest Administrative divisions of the Philippines, administrative division in the Philippines. Named after the Precolonial barangay, precolonial po ...

s. Each barangay consists of

purok A ''purok'' () is an informal division within a barangay in the Philippines. While not officially considered a local government unit (LGU), a ''purok'' often serves as a unit for delivering services and administration within a barangay. ''Pur ...

s and some have

sitios A ''sitio'' (Spanish language, Spanish for "site") in the Philippines is a territorial enclave that forms part of a barangay. Typically rural, a ''sitios location is usually far from the center of the barangay itself and could be its own bar ...

. * Agtipal * Arosip * Bacqui * Bacsil * Bagutot * Ballogo * Baroro * Bitalag * Bulala * Burayoc * Bussaoit * Cabaroan * Cabarsican * Cabugao * Calautit * Carcarmay * Casiaman * Galongen * Guinabang * Legleg * Lisqueb * Mabanengbeng 1st * Mabanengbeng 2nd * Maragayap * Nagatiran * Nagsaraboan * Nagsimbaanan * Nangalisan * Narra * Ortega * Oya-oy * Paagan * Pandan * Pang-pang * Poblacion * Quirino * Raois * Salincob * San Martin * Santa Cruz * Santa Rita * Sapilang * Sayoan * Sipulo * Tammocalao * Ubbog * Zaragosa

Climate

The climate in Bacnotan is dry from November to May and wet from mid-May to October. The south-west monsoon brings an abundant rainfall experienced during the wet season. The relatively dry season is caused by the north-east monsoon passing over the Cordillera Mountain Range. Average temperature is .

Demographics

The household population of Bacnotan as of the 2020 Census of Population and Housing, was recorded at 44,374 persons. This figure reflects an increase of 2,420 individuals from the population of 41,954 recorded in 2015. The number of households in the municipality also rose significantly, reaching 11,675 in 2020, which was an increase of 1,712 from the 9,963 households recorded in 2015. The population density of Bacnotan is approximately 580 inhabitants per square kilometer, which is equivalent to 1,500 inhabitants per square mile. Sixty years ago, in 1960, the population of Bacnotan was recorded at only 15,859 persons, which was less than one-third of the population recorded in the 2020 Census.

Barangay Populations

Among the 41

barangays The barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as ''barrio'', is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines. Named after the precolonial polities of the same name, modern barangays are political subdivisio ...

in Bacnotan, Barangay ''Poblacion'' was recorded as the most populous barangay, comprising 8.16 % of the total municipal population. Barangay ''Baroro'' was the second most populous barangay, contributing 6.59 % of the total population. Barangay ''Cabaroan'' followed, with a population share of 4.62 %, while Barangay ''Bitalag'' contributed 3.62 %, Barangay ''Tammocalao'' contributed 3.27 %, and Barangay ''Cabarsican'' contributed 3.15 % of the total population. The remaining barangays in the municipality each contributed less than 3.0 % to the total population. Among these barangays, Barangay ''Bagutot'' was recorded as the least populated barangay in 2020, contributing only 0.59 % of the total municipal population. In the 2015 Census, Barangay ''Pang-pang'' was recorded as the least populated barangay, with a population share of 0.47 %.

Sex Ratio

The

sex ratio A sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. As explained by Fisher's principle, for evolutionary reasons this is typically about 1:1 in species which reproduce sexually. However, many species deviate from an even sex ratio, ei ...

in Bacnotan, La Union, remained consistent at 102 males for every 100 females in 2020. Of the total household population of 44,374 recorded in 2020, males accounted for 50.53 %, while females comprised 49.47 %. Among children aged 0 to 14 years, the sex ratio was recorded at 108 males for every 100 females. For the working-age population, or those aged 15 to 64 years, the sex ratio was recorded at 104 males for every 100 females. Among the elderly population, or those aged 65 years and over, the sex ratio was significantly lower, with only 65 males for every 100 females.

Age and Dependency Ratios

The

median age A population pyramid (age structure diagram) or "age-sex pyramid" is a graphical illustration of the distribution of a population (typically that of a country or region of the world) by age groups and sex; it typically takes the shape of a pyramid ...

of Bacnotan’s population increased to 30.37 years in 2020, up from 28.58 years in 2015, indicating an aging population. * Largest age groups: ** 15-19 years (8.76%) ** 10-14 years (8.56%) ** 20-24 years (8.40%) The

dependency ratio The dependency ratio is an age-population ratio of those typically not in the labor force (the ''dependent'' part ages 0 to 14 and 65+) and those typically in the labor force (the ''productive'' part ages 15 to 64). It is used to measure the press ...

—the number of dependents (young and old) per 100 working-age persons—dropped from 51 in 2015 to 48 in 2020: * Young dependents (0-14 years): 24.18% * Old dependents (65+ years): 8.39% * Working-age population (15-64 years): 67.43%

Marital Status

Of the household population aged 10 years and over in Bacnotan, 43.90 % were recorded as

married Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

. A total of 36.56 % of this population group were recorded as never married, with males comprising 54.64 % of the never-married population and females comprising 45.36 %. The percentage of the population who were widowed was recorded at 5.97 %, while 11.72 % of the population were in common-law or live-in arrangements. A total of 1.85 % of the population were recorded as annulled or separated.

Household Size

The average household size in Bacnotan decreased from 4.2 persons in 2015 to 3.8 persons in 2020. The number of households in 2020 was recorded at 11,675, which was an increase of 1,712 from the 9,963 households recorded in 2015.

Birth Registration

The 2020 Census of Population and Housing revealed that a total of 44,154 persons in Bacnotan had their births registered with the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO). This figure represents 99.50 % of the total household population in the municipality in 2020. Among the population with registered births, males accounted for 50.56 %, or 22,323 individuals, while females comprised 49.44 %, or 21,831 individuals.

Healthcare

Bacnotan is served by the Bacnotan District Hospital, which was established in 1975. This hospital is the main healthcare facility in the municipality, providing medical services to residents.

Ethnicity and Language

The majority of the population in Bacnotan are Ilocano, with indigenous groups such as the Bago and Kankanaey residing primarily in the upland areas. Iloco is the primary language spoken in Bacnotan and serves as the official language of the province. English and Filipino are also commonly used in government, while English serves as the primary medium of instruction in schools.

Religion

The majority of Bacnotan’s residents identify as

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

. Various other

Christian denominations A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words '' Christ'' and ''C ...

, including

Iglesia ni Cristo The (INC; ; ) is an independent Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, church founded in 1913 and registered by Felix Manalo, Félix Manalo in 1914 as a corporation sole, sole religious corporation ...

, Protestant groups, Aglipayan Church,

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a movement within the broader Evangelical wing of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes direct personal experience of God in Christianity, God through Baptism with the Holy Spirit#Cl ...

and Jehovah’s Witnesses, also have a significant presence in the municipality. Smaller communities of individuals practicing

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

and

Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

are also present.

Education

The Bacnotan Schools District Office governs all private and public educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of elementary and secondary schools. Of the household population aged five years and over, 23.31 % had attended or completed elementary education. A total of 38.95 % of the population had reached or completed high school, while 10.36 % were college undergraduates. In addition, 18.06 % of the population had attained academic degrees. Among those with academic degrees, females comprised 57.42 %, while males made up the remaining 42.58 %. Among individuals who had pursued post-baccalaureate courses, females accounted for 64.00 %, while males comprised 36.00 %. The literacy rate in Bacnotan was recorded at 99.42 % among the household population aged five years and over. The literacy rate among males was slightly higher at 50.35 %, compared to 49.65 % among females. Bacnotan has 18 public elementary schools, 2 public secondary schools and 1 state university which is

which provide accessible education to its residents.

Primary and elementary schools

* Arosip Elementary School * Baroro Elementary School * Cabaroan Elementary School * Carcarmay Elementary School * Bacnotan Central School * Galongen Elementary School * Guinabang Elementary School * Mabanengbeng Elementary School * Nangalisan Elementary School * Ortega Elementary School * Oya-oy Elementary School * Paratong Elementary School * Quirino Elementary School * Salincob Elementary School * St. Michael Archangel Learning Center * Sta. Cruz Elementary School * UCCP Bacnotan Pre-School Center * Yena Learning Center * Zaragosa Elementary School

Secondary schools

* Bacnotan National High School * Bitalag Integrated School

Higher educational institutions

* Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University * Sta. Veronica College

Economy

Bacnotan a first-class income municipality in La Union, with a poverty incidence of 6.52%. In 2020, the municipality recorded a revenue of ₱236.5 million, assets of 1,216 million, expenditure of ₱ 201.5 million, and liabilities of 112.7 million. The economy of Bacnotan is primarily based on

agriculture Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment (Freshwater ecosystem, freshwater or Marine ecosystem, marine), but may also be caught from Fish stocking, stocked Body of water, ...

, industry, and

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...

, with significant contributions from the manufacture of Portland cement. Farming serves as the backbone of the town’s economy, with

rice Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...

corn Maize (; ''Zea mays''), also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout Poaceae, grass that produces cereal grain. It was domesticated by indigenous peoples of Mexico, indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago ...

, and various fruits and vegetables as the main agricultural products. Fishing, particularly

aquaculture Aquaculture (less commonly spelled aquiculture), also known as aquafarming, is the controlled cultivation ("farming") of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae and other organisms of value such as aquatic plants (e.g. Nelu ...

, is also a vital economic activity, with the Baroro River supporting the cultivation of tilapia, hito (

catfish Catfish (or catfishes; order (biology), order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Catfish are common name, named for their prominent barbel (anatomy), barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, though not ...

), and bangus ( milkfish), providing livelihood and sustenance for the community. Bacnotan is recognized as the center of the

beekeeping Beekeeping (or apiculture, from ) is the maintenance of bee colonies, commonly in artificial beehives. Honey bees in the genus '' Apis'' are the most commonly kept species but other honey producing bees such as '' Melipona'' stingless bees are ...

industry in La Union, and it is also known for its traditional products such as '' basi'' (sugarcane wine) and '' sukang Iloko'' (sugarcane vinegar). Other local industries include

basketry Basket weaving (also basketry or basket making) is the process of weaving or sewing pliable materials into three-dimensional artifacts, such as baskets, mats, mesh bags or even furniture. Craftspeople and artists specialized in making baskets ...

and pebble extraction, which utilize the town’s abundant natural resources. The presence of the Holcim Cement Factory underscores Bacnotan's role in the

cement A cement is a binder, a chemical substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel ( aggregate) together. Cement mi ...

manufacturing industry, which leverages the extensive limestone deposits found in Quirino (formerly Dumarang). A mining engineer from Bacnotan also identified deposits of coal and traces of natural gas in the area, further highlighting the town's mineral wealth. Tourism is an emerging economic driver, with Bacnotan’s natural attractions drawing visitors.

Surfing Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suita ...

has become increasingly popular, particularly near the Holcim Cement Factory, where a surfable break has been discovered. Although the sand bottom creates some inconsistency in wave quality, it is generally reliable for beginners learning the sport. Surfing instructors from neighboring towns, such as Urbiztondo, often bring students to Bacnotan for lessons. However, the local surfing infrastructure remains underdeveloped, with no surfboard rental services currently available. This diverse mix of agriculture, industry, and tourism continues to shape the economic landscape of Bacnotan.

Government

Local government

Bacnotan, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of

, 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

Notable personalities

Bacnotan has produced notable personalities in various endeavors. Some of them are as follows: * Erlinda Fadera-Basilio — Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland; first woman Vice President of the UN Human Rights Council. Currently Philippine ambassador to China,

Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...

and North Korea.Bacnotan
PRA.gov.ph, Retrieved 17 March 2016 * Fr. Bienvenido Nebres — longest-serving university president of Ateneo de Manila University

Gallery

File:FvfBacntanLaUnion0040 20.JPG, Bacnotan Public Market File:FvfBacnotaLaUnion0275 18.JPG, Town plaza File:Centennial Tree.jpg, Centennial Tree File:FvfBacntanLaUnion0040 24.JPG, Town Proper File:FvfBacnotan0158 40.JPG, Saint Michael the Archangel Parish Church File:FvfBanotanLaUnion0235 31.JPG, Street view

References

External links

* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
Philippine Census Information

Local Governance Performance Management System
{{Authority control Municipalities of La Union