Santa Elena, Camarines Norte
Municipality in Camarines Norte, Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Santa Elena, officially the Municipality of Santa Elena (Tagalog: Bayan ng Santa Elena), is a municipality in the province of Camarines Norte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 42,585 people.[5]
Santa Elena | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Santa Elena | |
|
Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname: Gateway to Bicolandia | |
 Map of Camarines Norte with Santa Elena highlighted | |
 Interactive map of Santa Elena | |
.svg)  Santa Elena Location within the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 14°10′47″N 122°23′31″E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Bicol Region |
| Province | Camarines Norte |
| District | 1st district |
| Founded | June 21, 1969 |
| Named after | Saint Helena |
| Barangays | 19 (see Barangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Bernardina E. Borja |
| • Vice Mayor | Ryan Jeffrey T. Mendoza |
| • Representative | Josefina B. Tallado |
| • Municipal Council | Members |
| • Electorate | 28,229 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 199.35 km2 (76.97 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 68 m (223 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 530 m (1,740 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 42,585 |
| • Density | 213.62/km2 (553.27/sq mi) |
| • Households | 10,205 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 3rd municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 23.62 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 216.8 million (2024) |
| • Assets | ₱ 739.4 million (2024) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 172.5 million (2024) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 211.3 million (2024) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative (CANORECO) Quezon I Electric Cooperative (QUEZELCO I) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 4611 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)54 |
| Native languages | |
History
Santa Elena, formerly known as Ilayang Santol, was then a sitio of barrio Pulonguit-guit, Capalonga. In 1948, through the efforts of local leaders, it became an independent barrio.[6]
Santa Elena became a municipality with ten barangays out of Capalonga by virtue of Republic Act No. 5480 on June 21, 1969.[6][7]
Territorial dispute
Santa Elena and Calauag in Quezon province were involved in a decade-long boundary dispute, leading to a Supreme Court case and presidential intervention. The dispute involved nine barangays: Don Tomas, Guitol, Kabuluan, Kagtalaba, Maulawin, Plaridel, Patag Ibaba, Patag Iraya, and Tabugon. In 1991, the Provincial Government of Quezon and Municipal Government of Calauag ordered the demolition of a boundary marker installed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. In 1995, President Fidel V. Ramos intervened during his visit to Calauag, initially allowing Calauag to retain jurisdiction. However, the Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of Camarines Norte, transferring these barangays from Calauag's jurisdiction.[8]
Geography
Santa Elena is 80 kilometers (50 mi) from Daet and 262 kilometers (163 mi) from Manila.
Barangays
.jpg)
Santa Elena is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
- Basiad
- Bulala
- Don Tomas
- Guitol
- Kabuluan
- Kagtalaba
- Maulawin
- Patag Ibaba
- Patag Ilaya
- Plaridel
- Polungguitguit
- Rizal
- Salvacion
- San Lorenzo
- San Pedro
- San Vicente
- Santa Elena (Poblacion)
- Tabugon
- Villa San Isidro
The indicated barangays (‡) were formerly disputed with Calauag, Quezon, due to boundary realignment from Macahadok River to Tabugon Stream adjoining Quezon Canal in Barangay Tabansak in Calauag. In 2001, the case was elevated to the Supreme Court. The Case of Province of Quezon vs. Province of Camarines Norte eventually ruled in favor of Camarines Norte and Santa Elena was granted the said barangays.[8]
Climate
| Climate data for Santa Elena, Camarines Norte | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26 (79) |
27 (81) |
29 (84) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
27 (81) |
29 (84) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22 (72) |
22 (72) |
22 (72) |
23 (73) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
23 (74) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 51 (2.0) |
35 (1.4) |
37 (1.5) |
39 (1.5) |
91 (3.6) |
131 (5.2) |
168 (6.6) |
132 (5.2) |
162 (6.4) |
184 (7.2) |
166 (6.5) |
101 (4.0) |
1,297 (51.1) |
| Average rainy days | 13.4 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 12.0 | 19.8 | 24.1 | 26.7 | 25.1 | 25.3 | 23.9 | 21.2 | 17.6 | 231.4 |
| Source: Meteoblue[9] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
In the 2024 census, the population of Santa Elena was 42,585 people[15] with a density of 210 inhabitants per square kilometre or 540 inhabitants per square mile.
Economy
Education
The Santa Elena Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.[24]
Primary and elementary schools
- Basiad Elementary School
- Bulala Elementary School
- Don Tomas Elementary School
- Dygico Elementary School
- Earth's Bounty Elementary School
- Guitol Elementary School
- Juan A. Amparo Elementary School
- Kagtalaba Elementary School
- M. Hebrado Elementary School
- Maria Aurora Academy
- Maulawin Elementary School
- Patag Ibaba Elementary School
- Patag Ilaya Elementary School
- Pulongguit-Guit Elementary School
- R. Oquindo Elementary School
- Rizal Elementary School
- Salvacion Elementary School
- San Pedro Elementary School
- Sta. Elena Adventist Elementary School
- Sta. Elena Parochial School
- Tabugon Elementary School
- Villa San Isidro Elementary School
Secondary schools
- Bulala High School
- E.P. Borja High School
- Leocadio Alejo Entienza High School
- Lyceum of St. Dominic
- Maulawin National High School
- Rizal National High School
- San Pedro - Domingo Llarena High School
- Sta. Elena Integrated School
Higher educational institutions
- Sta. Elena Adventist Academy
- Sta. Elena College
- Sta. Elena Institute of Science & Technology
- Southern Tagalog Rural High School