Sablan, Benguet

Sablan, officially the Municipality of Sablan (Ili ti Sablan; 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 km2 constituting NaN% of the 2,769.08 km2 total area of Benguet.

Sablan is 21 km from Baguio, 26 km from provincial capital La Trinidad, and 285 km from Manila.

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

Demographics
In the 2020 census, Sablan had a population of 11,588. The population density was undefined PD/km2.

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.

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.