Sablan, officially the Municipality of Sablan (Ilocano: Ili ti Sablan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Sablan), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 11,588 people, making it the least populated municipality in the province.

Etymology

The term "Sablan" was derived from the local word "Sabdang", a local tree which thrived in the area.

History

Sablan was created officially as a municipal district on July 1, 1927, under Executive Order No. 61 dated May 17, 1927 by then American Governor General Leonard Wood.

Geography

Sablan is at the mid-western tip of Benguet. It is bounded by Kapangan on the north, Tublay on the northeast, La Trinidad on the east, Baguio in the southeast, Tuba in the south, Aringay on the southwest, and Burgos to the west.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 105.63 square kilometres (40.78 sq mi)  constituting 3.81% of the 2,769.08-square-kilometre- (1,069.15 sq mi) total area of Benguet.

Sablan is 21 kilometres (13 mi) from Baguio, 26 kilometres (16 mi) from provincial capital La Trinidad, and 285 kilometres (177 mi) from Manila.

Barangays

Sablan is politically subdivided into 8 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020		2010
141112002	Bagong	6.2%	719	764	▾	−0.61%
141112003	Balluay	5.8%	667	507	▴	2.78%
141112004	Banangan	17.2%	1,994	1,756	▴	1.28%
141112005	Banengbeng	7.7%	889	1,108	▾	−2.18%
141112006	Bayabas	21.3%	2,465	2,068	▴	1.77%
141112007	Kamog	12.8%	1,488	1,064	▴	3.41%
141112010	Pappa	5.4%	624	594	▴	0.49%
141112011	Poblacion	23.7%	2,742	2,650	▴	0.34%
	Total		11,588	11,588		0.00%

Climate

Demographics

Population census of Sablan

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1939	2,930	—
1948	2,786	−0.56%
1960	4,741	+4.53%
1970	5,681	+1.82%
1975	7,345	+5.29%
1980	7,900	+1.47%
1990	8,440	+0.66%
1995	9,170	+1.57%
2000	9,652	+1.10%
2007	10,890	+1.68%
2010	10,511	−1.28%
2015	11,457	+1.65%
2020	11,588	+0.22%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

In the 2020 census, Sablan had a population of 11,588. The population density was 110 inhabitants per square kilometre (280/sq mi).

Economy

Poverty incidence of Sablan

5 10 15 20 2006 14.10 2009 19.29 2012 9.19 2015 6.75 2018 8.71 2021 10.58 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Government

Local government

Sablan, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Benguet, 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
(2022–2025)

Position	Name
Congressman	Eric G. Yap
Mayor	Alfredo B.Dacumos Jr.
Vice-Mayor	Arthur C. Baldo
Councilors	Johny C. Cutay
	Harold H. Busoy
	Cesar B. Calado
	Romeo P. Amboy
	Jefferson I. Carame
	Cornelio I. Almacen
	Jerry W. Olanio
	Arthur F. De Leon

Education

Public schools

As of 2014, Sablan has 14 public elementary schools and 2 public secondary schools.

Private schools

Saint Louis School of Sablan is the only private secondary school in the municipality, located at Barangay Poblacion.

Transportation

Major roads within the Sablan include the Naguilian Road (formerly Quirino Highway) and Asin–Nangalisan–San Pascual Road.

Gallery

• 
  Municipal hall
• 
  Downtown Sablan
• 
  Fruit and souvenir stalls along Naguilian Road
• 
  Immaculate Conception Parish Church
• 
  Rural landscape