Sanchez Mira, officially the Municipality of Sanchez Mira (Ibanag: Ili nat Sanchez Mira; Ilocano: Ili ti Sanchez Mira; Tagalog: Bayan ng Sanchez Mira), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 26,164 people.

It is 155 kilometres (96 mi) from the provincial capital Tuguegarao and 632 kilometres (393 mi) from Manila. Lying on a latitude of 18 degrees, 34 minutes north and a longitude of 121 degrees, 14 minutes east, the municipality is bounded on the north by the Babuyan Channel; on the south by the municipality of Luna, Apayao; on the east by the municipality of Pamplona, Cagayan; and on the west by the municipality of Claveria, Cagayan.

History

Formerly called Malukkit or Naluqui, meaning "a place of conflict/destruction", the name "Sanchez Mira" was given in honor of Manuel Sanchez Mira, a Spanish Brigadier General assigned in the Cagayan Valley who served as alcalde mayor of Cagayan. It was formally established as a town in 1894. Its first inhabitants were mostly Ilocanos from Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

Geography

Barangays

Sanchez Mira is politically subdivided into 18 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

Population census of Sanchez Mira

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 4,329 —     1918 6,221 +2.45% 1939 9,066 +1.81% 1948 10,611 +1.76% 1960 12,315 +1.25% 1970 16,182 +2.77% 1975 17,696 +1.81% 1980 18,185 +0.55%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 17,873 −0.17% 1995 18,904 +1.06% 2000 21,475 +2.77% 2007 23,044 +0.98% 2010 23,257 +0.34% 2015 24,541 +1.03% 2020 26,164 +1.27%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

In the 2020 census, the population of Sanchez Mira was 26,164 people, with a density of 130 inhabitants per square kilometre or 340 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Sanchez Mira

5 10 15 20 2006 12.80 2009 13.44 2012 17.23 2015 9.89 2018 8.27 2021 8.13 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Government

Local government

Sanchez Mira, belonging to the second legislative district of the province of Cagayan, 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	Aline Vargas-Alfonso
Mayor	Abraham B Bagasin
Vice-Mayor	Asela B Sacramed
Councilors	Chel Monje
	Melbina Mangosing
	Kap Mama Agabin
	John Langgaman
	Jay-Ar Cabulisan
	Benjamin Oroceo
	Napoleon Malto
	Mario De Castro

Education

The Schools Division of Cagayan governs the town's public education system. The division office is a field office of the DepEd in Cagayan Valley region. The office governs the public and private elementary and public and private high schools throughout the municipality.