Barlig

The Municipality of Barlig is bounded in the east by Natonin in the west by Bontoc and Sadanga. In the north, it is bounded by Tinglayan and in the south by the town of Mayoyao. The town is separated into three settlements or cluster of villages such as Barlig town proper, Lias and Kadaclan.

Barlig is situated 31.80 kilometres (19.76 mi) from the provincial capital Bontoc, and 430.57 kilometres (267.54 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Barlig is politically subdivided into 11 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Chupac
• Fiangtin
• Gawana
• Kaleo
• Latang
• Lias Kanluran
• Lias Silangan
• Lingoy
• Lunas
• Macalana
• Ogoog

Climate

Barlig has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) closely bordering a subtropical highland climate ("Cwb") with relatively dry winters.

In the 2024 census, the population of Barlig was 4,363 people, with a density of 19 inhabitants per square kilometer or 49 inhabitants per square mile.

The people of Barlig are predominantly of Igorot and Ilocano descent. Locals call themselves Ifiallig which is a reference to someone born or having roots from villages. In the cluster of villages in Lias, people call themselves I-lias while those from Kadaclan villages call themselves Ekachakran. Despite living in a single town, the people speak different languages and probably traditions.

Languages

Bontoc (Eastern Bontoc) is the main language of Barlig with the Ilocano as a lingua franca in the municipality.

Barlig is home to the Finalig language or Eastern Bontoc. The Finallig language has 3 dialects: iFialikia, iLias, and eKachakran. The Finallig language is spoken by the natives in Barlig.

Poverty incidence of Barlig (%)

10 20 30 40 50 2000
47.79 2003
40.86 2006
20.20 2009
27.37 2012
16.66 2015
18.03 2018
14.43 2021
9.73 2023
14.68

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

The key economic sectors of Barlig are agriculture and handicrafts. Rice cultivation is the primary crop of Barlig, supported by root crops and small-scale vegetable and fruit production. Barlig is famous for rattan weaving like the native backpack known as pasiking.

Local government

Barlig, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Mountain Province, 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

Barlig town boasts of its own rice terraces, the Barlig Rice Terraces in the near the center of the town and Lias Rice Terraces in the Lias, which is a cluster of villages. In Kadaclan, which is another cluster of villages, the annual Menaliyam festival is held. Its most popular destination is Mount Amuyao which stands at more than 2,702 meters above sea level. That makes it one of the highest mountains in the Philippines and the fourth highest mountain in Luzon. The mountain includes a campsite and TV transmission facilities of GMA and ALLTV (formerly ABS-CBN).

The Barlig 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

• Barlig Central School
• Kadaclan Elementary School
• Kaleo Elementary School
• Latang Elementary School
• Lias Elementary School
• Lingoy Primary School
• Lingoy-Chatol Elementary School
• Lunas Primary School
• Mog-ao Primary School
• Ogo-og Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Barlig National High School
• Eastern Bontoc National Agricultural Vocational High School
• Kadaclan National High School
• Lias National High School

Higher educational institution

• Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (under construction)