Introduction
Municipality in Bohol, Philippines
Municipality in Central Visayas, PhilippinesBaclayonMunicipalityMunicipality of BaclayonBaclayon Municipal Hall
FlagMap of Bohol with Baclayon highlightedInteractive map of BaclayonBaclayonLocation within the PhilippinesCoordinates: 9°37′22″N 123°54′48″E / 9.622681°N 123.913472°E / 9.622681; 123.913472CountryPhilippinesRegionCentral VisayasProvinceBoholDistrict
1st districtFounded1595Barangays17
(see Barangays)Government  • TypeSangguniang Bayan • MayorHon. Atty. A. Alvin J. Uy, ECE • Vice MayorHon. Atty. Jodel Theodore C. Cabahug, CPA • RepresentativeHon. John Geesnell Yap II • Municipal CouncilMunicipal Councilors:
Hon. Romulo A. Balangkig
Hon. Francis Florfin C. Abay-abay
Hon. Romulo S. Caballo
Hon. Rosendo B. Guingguing
Hon. Clarice Elaine B. Davila
Hon. Engr. Edilberto M. Salamat Jr.
Hon. King King L. Tacusalme
Hon. Atty. Amon Uy
Ex-Officio Member, LNB President:
Hon. Ulyses M. Tomarong
Ex-Officio Member, SK Federated President:
Hon. Johanna Mae Adovo
SB Secretary:
Erico Joseph T. Cañete
 • Electorate14,164 voters (2025)Area • Total34.43 km2 (13.29 sq mi)Elevation43 m (141 ft)Population (2024 census) • Total22,754 • Density660.9/km2 (1,712/sq mi) • Households5,096Economy • Income class4th municipal income class • Poverty incidence11.98% (2021) • Revenue₱ 166.7 million (2024) • Assets₱ 369.4 million (2024) • Expenditure₱ 85.7 million (2024) • Liabilities₱ 77.18 million (2024)Service provider • ElectricityBohol 1 Electric Cooperative (BOHECO 1)Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)ZIP code6301PSGC071205000IDD : area code +63 (0)38Native languagesBoholano dialect Cebuano TagalogWebsitewww.baclayon.gov.ph
Baclayon, officially the Municipality of Baclayon (Cebuano: Munisipalidad sa Baclayon; Tagalog: Bayan ng Baclayon), is a municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 22,754 people.
It is the home town of actor Cesar Montano, and physicist Caesar Saloma.
Baclayon celebrates its feast day every 8 December to honor the town patron, The Immaculate Conception.
History
[edit]
Baclayon was the first municipality to be established in Bohol by the Spaniards and included originally the areas now made up by the municipalities of Alburquerque, Balilihan, Corella, and Sikatuna. Its original name was Bacayan, from the root word bacay, meaning "detour" in reference to the fact that travellers used to make a detour there around a rocky cliff.
In 1595, two Jesuit priests, Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sanchez, arrived in Bohol to convert the local populace to Catholicism. With native help, they built a stone church which is considered one of the oldest stone churches in the Philippines, and marked the beginning of the town. In 1600, Moros raided the fledgling settlement, which prompted the Jesuits to relocate their residencia to Loboc.
In 1717, Baclayon gained status of a parish. In 1742, Tagbilaran was separated from Baclayon. The 1818 census recorded 3,549 native families and 3 Spanish-Filipino families.: 609  The separation from Baclayon by Alburquerque happened in 1868, Balilihan in 1828, and Corella in 1884.
Geography
[edit]
Baclayon is 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from Tagbilaran, the provincial capital. The municipality also has jurisdiction over Pamilacan Island.
Barangays[edit]
Baclayon is politically subdivided into 17 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
PSGC
Barangay
Population
±% p.a.
2024
2010
071205003 Buenaventura
1.7%
395
426
▾
−0.53%
071205001 Cambanac
1.8%
407
395
▴
0.21%
071205002 Dasitam
3.3%
752
700
▴
0.51%
071205004 Guiwanon
6.5%
1,474
1,249
▴
1.18%
071205005 Landican
3.8%
869
708
▴
1.46%
071205006 Laya
4.7%
1,068
1,001
▴
0.46%
071205007 Libertad
5.8%
1,315
1,219
▴
0.54%
071205008 Montana
7.6%
1,719
1,613
▴
0.45%
071205009 Pamilacan
6.2%
1,418
1,422
▾
−0.02%
071205010 Payahan
4.0%
920
821
▴
0.81%
071205011 Poblacion
8.8%
2,009
1,905
▴
0.38%
071205012 San Isidro
4.0%
919
775
▴
1.21%
071205013 San Roque
6.5%
1,478
1,424
▴
0.26%
071205014 San Vicente
5.5%
1,249
1,130
▴
0.71%
071205015 Santa Cruz
8.4%
1,913
1,442
▴
2.02%
071205016 Taguihon
8.2%
1,877
1,689
▴
0.75%
071205017 Tanday
3.6%
809
711
▴
0.92%
Total
22,754
18,630
▴
1.43%
Climate[edit]
Climate data for Alburquerque, Bohol
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
28(82)
29(84)
30(86)
31(88)
31(88)
30(86)
30(86)
30(86)
30(86)
29(84)
29(84)
29(84)
30(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
23(73)
22(72)
23(73)
23(73)
24(75)
25(77)
24(75)
24(75)
24(75)
24(75)
23(73)
23(73)
24(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)
102(4.0)
85(3.3)
91(3.6)
75(3.0)
110(4.3)
141(5.6)
121(4.8)
107(4.2)
111(4.4)
144(5.7)
169(6.7)
139(5.5)
1,395(55.1)
Average rainy days
18.6
14.8
16.5
16.7
23.9
26.4
25.6
24.1
24.4
26.3
23.7
20.5
261.5
Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)
Demographics
[edit]
Population census of BaclayonYearPop.±% p.a.1903 8,055—    1918 9,000+0.74%1939 9,453+0.23%1948 8,379−1.33%1960 9,050+0.64%1970 10,704+1.69%1975 10,490−0.40%1980 10,776+0.54%1990 11,986+1.07%1995 12,808+1.25%2000 14,996+3.44%2007 18,015+2.56%2010 18,630+1.23%2015 20,591+1.92%2020 22,461+1.85%2024 22,754+0.31%Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Economy
[edit]
Poverty incidence of Baclayon
5
10
15
20
25
30
2000 24.95
2003 15.50
2006 25.10
2009 23.88
2012 15.08
2015 15.78
2018 11.20
2021 11.98
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Tourism
[edit]
Baclayon church
Baclayon church (during a wedding)
Baclayon is known for its historic Catholic church, declared a National Cultural Treasure in 1995 because it is considered the best preserved of its kind in the region. Its first structure was built in 1595, but the current building is from 1724 and is of Spanish Colonial architecture. The church includes a small museum, with relics dating back to the early 16th century, and adjoining 21-metre (69 ft) high bell tower. Nearby are centuries-old stone buildings like the hermita, and elementary school, as well as the historic public marketplace, a Spanish-era building with giant stone columns supporting the roof. In 2013, the church and bell tower were severely damaged by the 2013 Bohol earthquake.
There are 67 or more Spanish colonial ancestral houses in the municipality, many of them along the main road. The houses, in various stages of preservation or neglect, show Spanish-Filipino wooden craftsmanship and styling, some of which were constructed as early as 1853. They are often utilized for cultural shows and tours, festivals and fiestas, as well as some having been turned into inns.
The island of Pamilacan is a tourist destination for dolphin- and whale-watching.
