Besao

Besao, officially the Municipality of Besao is a 5th class municipality in the province of Mountain Province, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 6,873 people..

Besao is 27 km from Bontoc and 403 km from Manila.

The town is known for the Agawa people's Agricultural Stone Calendar of Gueday. The stone calendar is one of the most enigmatic artifact in the Cordillera mountains. It is a testimony to the accurate scientific outlook of the ancient Agawa people in the cycle of weathers, agriculture, and heavenly bodies.

Barangays
Besao is politically subdivided into 14 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.


 * Agawa
 * Ambaguio
 * Banguitan
 * Besao East
 * Besao West
 * Catengan
 * Gueday
 * Kin-iway (Poblacion)
 * Lacmaan
 * Laylaya
 * Padangan
 * Payeo
 * Suquib
 * Tamboan

Demographics
The population of the town has been decreasing due to younger generations migrating to cities seeking for work.

Religion
Besao's main religion is animism. The town is one of the few animist towns in the southern Cordillera mountains. Much of its ancestral worship intangible heritage has been preserved by the older generations. However, the younger generations have been migrating to cities, making the animist religions of Besao in great danger in the long-term. Christian groups have been surfacing in the town since the younger generations have been moving into cities.

Local government
Besao, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Mountain Province, 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 (2019–2022):
 * Congressman: Maximo Y. Dalog Jr.
 * Mayor: Johnson D. Bantog II
 * Vice-Mayor: June T. Lopsoten
 * Councilors:
 * Bryne O. Bacwaden
 * Joel D. Lacsigen
 * Elizabeth A. Buyagan
 * John M. Antiyag
 * Dennis L. Bing-il
 * Edna S. Kidangen
 * James B. Badongen Sr.
 * William S. Beswilan