Santo Tomas, officially the Municipality of Santo Tomas (Ibanag: Ili nat Santo Tomas; Ilocano: Ili ti Santo Tomas; Tagalog: Bayan ng Santo Tomas), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 24,528 people.

History

The municipality was established in 1949 from several barrios of Cabagan.

In 1952, Santo Tomas lost two barrios when the barrios of Abut and Minagbag were transferred to the newly created town of Mallig. In 1961, those barrios were transferred to the newly created municipality of Quezon.

Geography

Santo Tomas is a landlocked municipality situated in the northern portion of the province of Isabela. It is bounded to the west by Quezon, to the south by Delfin Albano, to the southeast by Tumauini, to the north and northeast by Cabagan and the Cagayan River.

Barangays

Santo Tomas is politically subdivided into 27 barangays.  Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Uauang-Galicia is now the population is 0 according in 2010 Census.

Climate

Demographics

Population census of Santo Tomas

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 3,678 —     1960 11,460 +2.01% 1970 13,575 +1.71% 1975 14,239 +0.96% 1980 15,915 +2.25% 1990 18,063 +1.27%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1995 20,089 +2.01% 2000 21,380 +1.34% 2007 22,172 +0.50% 2010 21,688 −0.80% 2015 23,005 +1.13% 2020 24,528 +1.27%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

In the 2020 census, the population of Santo Tomas, Isabela, was 24,528 people, with a density of 400 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,000 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Santo Tomas

5 10 15 20 25 30 2006 23.50 2009 18.46 2012 23.38 2015 21.17 2018 22.68 2021 17.36 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Farming is its primary source of income. The most widespread plantations were rice, corn and tobacco farms. Locals also raise livestock for extra income.

Government

Local government

As a municipality in the Province of Isabela, government officials in the provincial level are voted by the electorates of the town. The provincial government have political jurisdiction over local transactions of the municipal government.

The municipality of Santo Tomas 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.

Barangays are also headed by elected officials: Barangay Captain, Barangay Council, whose members are called Barangay Councilors. The barangays have SK federation which represents the barangay, headed by SK chairperson and whose members are called SK councilors. All officials are also elected every three years.

Elected officials

Members of the Santo Tomas Municipal Council
(2022-2025)

Position	Name
District Representative	Antonio T. Albano
Municipal Mayor	Antonio M. Talaue
Municipal Vice-Mayor	Amado Talaue
Municipal Councilors	Rona Lulu R. Talaue
	Eduardo T. Pua, Jr.
	Jose Amado S. Talaue
	Armando B. Lopez
	Eduardo S. Talaue, Jr.
	Jesus Canceran
	Marirose Angolluan
	Sonny P. Tallion

Congress representation

Santo Tomas, belonging to the first legislative district of the province of Isabela, currently represented by Hon. Antonio T. Albano.

Education

The Schools Division of Isabela 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.