Narvacan, officially the Municipality of Narvacan (; ), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
History A Spanish expeditionary force sent from Vigan by the military officer and navigator, Captain Juan de Salcedo was shipwrecked along the town's coast in 1576. When they were being rescued by the natives, the Spaniards asked the natives what the name of their place was. The resident's leader replied in an Ilocano dialect by asking the Spaniards, "Nalbakan?" (Are you shipwrecked?). The Spaniards thought this to be the answer to their question, and from then, the place was referred to as Narvacan.
Salcedo befriended the small tribe of indigenous peoples in the valley that resided in the area while Spanish families established a township in 1576. As part of the modern township, a Roman Catholic parish was established by the Augustinian religious order on 25 April 1587. The Narvacan parish became one of the first Roman Catholic parishes in present-day Ilocos Sur. Once dedicated to Saint Lucy, it was rededicated in 2017 to the patronage of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, leaving Saint Lucy as its secondary patron.
The parish church boasts a facade of baroque architecture, with a bell tower situated on the right side of the church and a cemetery on the left. A school, the Narvacan Catholic School, is situated beside the bell tower of Narvacan.
Narvacan was organized under the traditions of the royal government of Spain. The Habsburg royal family served as the heads of state which in turn appointed Santiago de Vera as President of the Royal Audiencia – governor of the region in which Narvacan was situated. In 1589, Governor Vera appointed Nicolas de Figueroa as the first Encomendero de Narvacan – principal administrator of the town and its neighbors in the encomienda system. His role eventually evolved into the office of alcalde.
Through Presidential Proclamation No. 684, October 23, 2024 was declared a special non-working day to commemorate the Aldaw Ti Wayawaya-lli A Narvacan (Foundation Day of Narvacan).
Geography
The Municipality of Narvacan is bordered by the municipality of Santa to the north, San Quintin, Abra, Nagbukel and Pilar, Abra to the east, and Santa Maria to the south.
Narvacan is situated from the provincial capital Vigan, and from the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays Narvacan is politically subdivided into 34 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Abuor Ambulogan Aquib Banglayan Bantay Abot Bulanos Cadacad Cagayungan Camarao Casilagan Codoog Dasay Dinalaoan Estancia Lanipao Lungog Margaay Marozo Nanguneg Orence Pantoc Paratong Parparia Quinarayan Rivadavia San Antonio San Jose (Poblacion) San Pablo San Pedro Santa Lucia (Poblacion) Sarmingan Sucoc Sulvec Turod
Climate
Demographics
In the 2024 census, Narvacan had a population of 46,265 people. The population density was .
Language The primary language spoken in Narvacan is Ilocano.
Economy
The main economic source of Narvacan is agriculture. Farmers produce rice, corn, cotton, and tobacco. Narvacan has established commercial spaces like the Narvacan Farmers Market.
Government Local government
Narvacan, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of Ilocos Sur, 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 Kristine Singson-Meehan Mayor Edna C. SanidadVice-Mayor Margarito A. Tejada Councilors Denille Lou V. Valera Luis Charles P. Singson Mark Jun A. Tejada Michael R. Velasco Virginia C. Pe Benito Teofilo M. Cabreros Benjamin C. Dela Cuadra Jr. Jose T. Corrales Jr.
Education There are two schools district offices which govern the educational institutions within the municipality. These are Narvacan North Schools District Office, and Narvacan South Schools District Office. They oversee the operations of private and public elementary and high schools. Both schools district offices (SDOs) also govern the operations of educational institutions in the municipality of Nagbukel.
Primary and elementary schools
Ambulogan Elementary School Anteng Primary School Aquib Elementary School Banglayan Elementary School Bulanos Elementary School Cadacad Elementary School Cagayungan Elementary School Camarao Elementary School Casilagan Elementary School Codoog Elementary School Dasay Elementary School Dinalaoan Primary School Kakaldingan Elementary School Lanipao Elementary School Little Angel Learning Center Marozo Elementary School Nanguneg East Elementary School Narvacan South Central School SPED Center Nanguneg West Primary School Narvacan North Central School Orence Elementary School Parparia Elementary School Pantoc Elementary School Paratong Elementary School Quinarayan Elementary School Rivadavia Elementary School San Antonio Elementary School San Pablo Elementary School San Pedro Elementary School Sarmingan Elementary School Sergeant Reynalie Elementary School St. Gregory Elementary School Sucoc Elementary School Turod Elementary School
Secondary schools Imelda National High School Lungog Integrated School Narvacan Catholic School Narvacan National Central High School San Pedro National High School Sulvec Integrated School
Higher educational institutions The Narvacan School of Fisheries, a branch of the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), has been located in Sulvec since 1964. It is also the base of operations of the Philippine Army's 503rd Infantry Brigade, which oversees the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Units.
Notable people Josefino Comiso (born 1940), American climatologist Raul Villanueva (born 1963), 195th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
References
External links
Municipality of Narvacan Homepage Pasyalang Ilocos Sur Philippine Standard Geographic Code Philippine Census Information Local Governance Performance Management System