Nampicuan, officially the Municipality of Nampicuan (Ilocano: Ili ti Nampicuan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Nampicuan), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 14,471 people, making it the least populated municipality in the province.

History

The name Nampicuan emanated from the word “Nagpicuan” which means a curve road, originated in a trail called “Curva” as inhabitants of Pangasinan used to call. According to the first settlers, the site was a sitio named used “Surgue” or ‘SULI” situated in the eastern part of what eventually became the poblacion of Nampicuan and was the point where the feeder road from Moncada, Tarlac turned abruptly north-east towards the town of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija.

The first known settlers were the Ilocanos. They came from Paoay, Ilocos Region, Pangasinan and Zambales. In 1880, having found the soil productive for agricultural purposes, the early settlers cleared the place, cultivate the land and cut down the trees. The trees were sawed into lumber out of which their houses were constructed. At time passes and population continues to grow, more and more demands are made for land and its resources. So much so, on the end of the 19th century, the barrio Nampicuan became a municipality and the first “alcalde mayors” were Andres Tabilangan and Feliciano Cuaresma. Before its formal creation and declaration as a municipality, Nampicuan was then a part and under the political jurisdiction of the town of Cuyapo.

In 1903, while the Philippines was still under the American Occupation, Nampicuan was reverted to the status of a barrio of the Cuyapo town. Upon proper presentation however of the prominent residents of this place, Nampicuan was again elevated to the status of municipality. In 1907, the first church was constructed led by REV. Luis Corpuz and the establishment of Gabaldon Primary School under the first Principal/Teacher, Clodualdo Bringas. After a year Nampicuan become a third class municipality of Nueva Ecija with the first leaders, President Laureano O. Gonzales and Vice – President Simeon Quiaoit.

Geography

Barangays

Nampicuan is politically subdivided into 21 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

Population census of Nampicuan

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 4,180 —     1918 4,632 +0.69% 1939 5,023 +0.39% 1948 5,377 +0.76% 1960 6,084 +1.03% 1970 6,639 +0.88% 1975 7,350 +2.06% 1980 7,597 +0.66%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 8,426 +1.04% 1995 10,708 +4.59% 2000 11,033 +0.64% 2007 11,786 +0.91% 2010 13,303 +4.50% 2015 14,954 +2.25% 2020 14,471 −0.64%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Economy

Poverty incidence of Nampicuan

5 10 15 20 25 30 2006 28.10 2009 25.79 2012 16.31 2015 19.09 2018 6.62 2021 10.73 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Education

• Nampicuan Central School
• Nampicuan Christian Academy
• Alzate Village Elementary School
• United Methodist Church Learning Central
• Cabawangan Elementary School
• Mayantoc Elementary School
• Recuerdo Elementary School
• Monic Elementary School
• Maeling Elementary School
• Nampicuan High School
• St. Pius X Institute of Nampicuan, Inc.
• Recuerdo National High School

In 2020, a bill was filed at the Congress of the Philippines to construct a regular NEUST campus in Nampicuan.