Natonin, Mountain Province

Natonin
—  Municipality  —

Seal
Map of Mountain Province showing the location of Natonin.
Natonin
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates:
Country  Philippines
Region Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
Province Mountain Province
District Lone District
Founded
Barangays 11
Government
 • Mayor Marie Rafael-Banaag
Area
 • Total 252.00 km2 (97.3 sq mi)
Population (2007)
 • Total 9,431
 • Density 37.4/km2 (96.9/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 2624
Income class 4th class
Population Census of Natonin
Census Pop. Rate
1995 8,997
2000 9,065 0.16%
2007 9,431 0.55%

Natonin is a 4th class municipality in the province of Mountain Province, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 9,431 people in 1,768 households.

Contents

Barangays

Natonin is politically subdivided into 11 barangays. The town is composed from people of different tribes, foremost of these tribes are the Balangaos and the Majukayongs.

Geography

The municipality is very mountainous, with very little level ground lending itself to agriculture. The barangays are geographically isolated by high (700m) mountains covered in jungle.

Transportation

Transportation throughout Natonin is largely undeveloped roads. The only paved roads (as of 2007) are in Poblacion proper. Roads frequently become impassable in the rainy seasons. Some barangays (notably Maducayan) are inaccessible by road. Maducayan lies one mile beyond a recent road extension from the center of Saliok to the western most situ of Saliok.

Economy

The primary crop is rice, although a lack of arable land, lack of mechanization and no access to fertilizers limits the harvest to a subsistence level only. Families rely on small livestock populations to supplement the diet. Fruits and wild coffee are harvested from the forest. Poblacion boasts of numerous family ponds which raise tilapia for consumption. Due to the terrain, rice is planted on terraced fields. Locals consider the rice terraces of Natonin to be equal or surpassing those of Banaue to the south.

People and Culture

The people of Natonin are from two distinct ethnic groups. Most of the population are of Igorot stock. The Madukayyong tribe identifies itself as Igorot, in that they are geographically in Igorot territory, yet many of their traditions and dialects are more closely related to Kalingan. It could be argued that the Madukayyong are the southernmost Kalingan tribe. Head hunting was practiced in Maducayan as late as the mid-1930s, and was set aside in favor of Christianity and education after World War II.

Points of interest

External links