Maconacon, officially the Municipality of Maconacon (Ibanag: Ili nat Maconacon; ; Tagalog/Kasiguranin: Bayan ng Maconacon), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 3,977 people, making it the least populous municipality in the province.

History

Maconacon was a former barrio of Cabagan. It became a separate municipality on June 21, 1969, by virtue of Republic Act No. 5776. In June 2009, municipal mayor Francisco Talosig was shot in an ambush and died after being in a coma for four months. His successor, Erlinda Domingo, was also assassinated in 2013. On April 12, 2024, the town is declared an insurgency-free municipality from the influence of CPP, NPA, and NDF, along with Divilacan.

Geography

Maconacon is one of the four coastal municipalities of the province of Isabela facing the Philippine Sea to the east. Separated from the rest of the province by the mighty Sierra Madre mountains, it is considered to be one of the most remote and isolated community in the province. The town is bounded to the north by Peñablanca in the province of Cagayan, San Pablo and Cabagan to the west, Tumauini to the southwest, Divilacan to the south and the Philippine Sea to the east.

Barangays

Maconacon is politically subdivided into 10 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate

Maconacon has a tropical monsoon climate (Am) with moderate rainfall from January to May and heavy to very heavy rainfall from June to December.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Maconacon was 3,977 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

Economy

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 Maconacon 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

Congress representation

Maconacon, belonging to the first legislative district of the province of Isabela, is currently represented by 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. The office governs the public and private elementary and public and private high schools throughout the municipality.

Infrastructure

Maconacon is accessible via sea and air. Its primary gateway is the Maconacon Airport which connects this isolated town to the rest of the province through Cauayan Airport, also in Cauayan and Tuguegarao Airport in Tuguegarao.