Location and Total Land Area
About 400 kilometers from the nation’s capital lies the enigmatic Municipality of Sta. Catalina. It is located along the western part of the historical City of Vigan, the capital town of the Province of Ilocos Sur that belongs to the first congressional district of Ilocos Sur. It is a 5 minutes’ drive from the City of Vigan.
The municipality is bounded on the North by the Municipality of San Vicente, on the West by the vast West Philippine Sea, on the South and East by the City of Vigan which is the capital town of the province.
From Vigan proper, the municipality’s town hall is only 2.970 kms. away. It is accessible to all types of vehicles. The linkage to Vigan is the national secondary road. Barangays are located in a satellite type of settlement, as well as linear type of settlement, and are connected with each other by a barangay road.
Specifically, Sta. Catalina is located within latitudes 17º37’2.9’’ to 17º33’44.6’’ north and within the longitude 120º20’11.2’’ to 120º20’9.8’’ east. Its western boundary faces directly the West Philippine Sea, thereby having the shoreline as its natural boundary towards this direction.
The municipality has a total land area of 935.4677 hectares. Sta. Catalina is the smallest municipality in Ilocos Sur in terms of land area.
The municipality of Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur with an area of 935.4677 hectares is divided by nine barangays. There is only one identified urban barangay with a total land area of 31.2966 hectares and eight (8) rural barangays with an area of 904.1711 hectares, consist most of the total area of the municipality. See table below.
Table 1: Existing Land Area per Barangay (Urban -Rural)
| Barangay | Area ( has. ) | Percentage % |
| Urban | ||
| Poblacion | 31.2966 | 3.3 |
| Rural | ||
| Cabaroan | 53.2290 | 5.7 |
| Cabittaogan | 263.1302 | 28.1 |
| Cabuloan | 65.0541 | 7 |
| Pangada | 36.6935 | 3.9 |
| Paratong | 86.1074 | 9.2 |
| Sinabaan | 80.3589 | 8.6 |
| Subec | 99.1067 | 10.6 |
| Tamorong | 220.4913 | 23.6 |
| Total | 935.4677 | 100.00 |
Topography and Slope
Table 2: Slope Category and Description
| Slope | Land Area (HAS.) | % | Physical Description | Recommended Use |
| 0 – 3 | 935.4677 | 100 | Level to Nearly level | Intensive agriculture, high density development |
| Total | 935.4677 | 100 |
The municipality is generally flat plains and lowlands in scope at less than 20 meters above sea level in elevation and with a 0-3-slope classification, at level to nearly level descriptive slope. Sta. Catalina is also blessed with sixty eight percent (68%) arable lands where its farmers adequately raise produce for self-sufficiency and self-reliance.
The municipality sits on a 935.4677 hectares area occupying an estimated 0.36% of Ilocos Sur’s 257,958 hectares. It has nine (9) barangays of which majority of the barangays are devoted into farming and fishing. Urbanized elements and urban influences flow from the neighboring city that serves as the main trade center for all of Sta. Catalina’s produce.
Study Area / Corridors
Population Trends
Two main factors determine a certain LGU’s population density: the total population and the entire acreage of the given locality.
Using the projected population for Fiscal Year 2022, the total population of 14,493 and a total land area of 935.47 hectares, Sta. Catalina has a total population density of 16 persons per hectare. The urban area of the town which is Barangay Poblacion has an aggregate land area of 31.30 has. With its 1,435 projected residents, a density of 46 persons per hectare was noted.
The other eight barangays comprising the rural area has a total population of 13,058 over a total land area of 904.17 hectares has a total population density of 15 persons per hectare.
The population density of the urban barangay is significantly higher than each of those located in the rural areas. This can be attributed to the accessibility to basic needs and services which are generally located at Barangay Poblacion.
Table 3. Population Density, 2022
| BARANGAY | POPULATION | AREA
(HECTARES) |
POPULATION DENSITY |
| Urban | |||
| Poblacion | 1,435 | 31.30 | 46 |
| Sub-total | 1549 | 31.30 | 46 |
| Rural | |||
| Cabaroan | 1,362 | 53.23 | 26 |
| Cabittaogan | 2,490 | 263.13 | 9 |
| Cabuloan | 1,408 | 65.05 | 22 |
| Pangada | 902 | 36.69 | 25 |
| Paratong | 1,206 | 86.11 | 14 |
| Sinabaan | 1,435 | 80.36 | 17 |
| Subec | 1,379 | 99.11 | 12 |
| Tamorong | 1,168 | 220.49 | 14 |
| Sub-total | 13,058 | 904.17 | |
| Total | 14,493 | 935.47 | 16 |
Table 4. Projected Population and Households (Base Year 2020)
| Year | Population | Households |
| 2020 | 14493 | 3337 |
| 2021 | 14606 | 3363 |
| 2022 | 14719 | 3389 |
| 2023 | 14833 | 3415 |
| 2024 | 14948 | 3441 |
| 2025 | 15064 | 3467 |
| 2026 | 15181 | 3494 |
| 2027 | 15299 | 3521 |
| 2028 | 15418 | 3548 |
| 2029 | 15538 | 3575 |
| 2030 | 15659 | 3602 |
Ethnicity
Ethnicity is a term used to categorize group of people according to their cultural expression and identification. Majority of Sta. Catalinians are using the Iloco dialect and predominantly Catholics, hence, it is believed that they originated from the Ilocano tribe belong to this ethnic group.
Religion
Roman Catholic religion, as influenced by the Spaniards in the 16th century is continuously predominant until the present age. Table 4 shows the different religious affiliation of the people in Sta. Catalina based from the 2020 PSA data.
Table 5.
| POPULATION BY RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION BASE YEAR 2000 |
||
| Roman Catholics | 14,200 | 97.98% |
| Aglipay | 27 | 0.19% |
| Iglesia Ni Cristo | 13 | 0.09% |
| United Church of Christ of the Philippines | 140 | 0.96% |
| Jehova’s Witnesses | 31 | 0.21% |
| Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association | 15 | 0.11% |
| Seventh Day Adventist | 3 | 0.02% |
| Born Again Christians | 11 | 0.08% |
| Bible Baptist | 5 | 0.04% |
| Others | 43 | 0.29% |
| Not Stated | 5 | 0.04% |
| Total | 14,493 | |
Language/Dialects
Next to Ilocano mother tongue being the predominant language used in the Municipality, is the Tagalog dialect which becomes compulsory for the townspeople to learn as it is the prevalent dialect in the country’s Capital Region. Significant population from students and workforce migrate either permanently or temporarily anywhere in Metro Manila for employment. Also, Tagalog also forms part in the education of every school-goers as some subjects are taught in this dialect.
Based from the PSA 2020 data, Table 5 shows the different languages spoken in the municipality.
Table 6.
| Household Population by Mother Tongue | ||
| B’laan | 4 | 0.03% |
| Hamtikanon | 5 | 0.04% |
| Ilocano | 14392 | 99.30% |
| Isinai | 3 | 0.02% |
| Kankanaey | 7 | 0.05% |
| Rombloanon | 1 | 0.01% |
| Tagalog | 57 | 0.39% |
| Waray | 3 | 0.02% |
| Other Local Dialect | 4 | 0.03% |
| Not stated | 16 | 0.11% |
| Total | 14,493 | |
Population Composition
In 2020, more than half or 65.83% percent of the total population of Sta. Catalina belonged to the working age group (15 – 64 years old). This translates to a large working force available for the municipality. Moreover, dependent age groups (ages 0 –14 and 65 years old and over) is said to be the least populated group; with only 3,592 out of 14,493, or 34.2 percent of the population under 15 and only 1,065 or 7.35 percent being over 64 where 37.85 percent are male while 62.13 percent are female.
Projected Population & Number of Household
Projections were made for the next ten- year period: 2020-2030. The population and household of the municipality and by barangay. For this particular study the Mathematical Method of projection, specifically the Geometric and Linear Growth Approaches were used. Ratios and proportion were also used in the other computations. The annual growth rate of the municipality’s population is based from the PSA data and that is 0.64%.
Table 7. Population Composition by Age Group and Sex 2020
| Age Group (Years) | Both Sexes | Male | Female | |
| 0 – 4 | 1,171 | 626 | 545 | 8.08% |
| 5 – 9 | 1,182 | 638 | 544 | 8.16% |
| 10 – 14 | 1,239 | 671 | 568 | 8.55% |
| 15 – 19 | 1,200 | 634 | 566 | 8.28% |
| 20 – 24 | 1,270 | 682 | 588 | 8.76% |
| 25 – 29 | 1,130 | 564 | 566 | 7.80% |
| 30 – 34 | 1,125 | 588 | 537 | 7.76% |
| 35 – 39 | 1,060 | 534 | 526 | 7.31% |
| 40 – 44 | 907 | 482 | 425 | 6.26% |
| 45 – 49 | 812 | 429 | 383 | 5.60% |
| 50 – 54 | 756 | 382 | 374 | 5.22% |
| 55 – 59 | 679 | 337 | 342 | 4.69% |
| 60 – 64 | 602 | 277 | 325 | 4.15% |
| 65 – 69 | 461 | 199 | 262 | 3.18% |
| 70 – 74 | 368 | 136 | 232 | 2.54% |
| 75 – 79 | 236 | 85 | 151 | 1.63% |
| 80 years and over | 295 | 95 | 200 | 2.04% |
| Total | 14,493 | 7,359 | 7,134 | 100% |
Graph 1. Population Composition by School-Age, Working Age, Dependent-Age Group and Sex, 2020
Source: Philippine Statistic Authority, 2020 CPH Census
Table 8. Population Composition by Age Group and sex, 2020
| Age Group | Age (year) | Both Sexes | Male | Female | ||
| No. | % | No. | % | |||
| School-Age | 5-24 years old | 4,891 | 2,625 | 53.67% | 2,266 | 46.33% |
| Working Age | 15 – 64 years old | 9,541 | 4,909 | 51.45% | 4,632 | 48.55% |
| Dependent Age | 0 – 14 and 65 years old and Over | 4,657 | 2,727 | 58.56% | 2,827 | 60.70 |
| Child Dependency | 0-14 years old | 4,952 | 2,450 | 49.47% | 2,502 | 50.53% |
| Old-Age Dependency | 65 years old and over | 1,360 | 515 | 37.87% | 845 | 62.13% |
| Voting Age | 18 years old and over | 10,901 | 5,424 | 49.76% | 5,477 | 50.24% |
| Senior Citizen | 60 years old and over | 1,962 | 792 | 40.37% | 1,170 | 59.63% |
| All Ages | Under 1 to 80 years old and over | 14,493
|
7,359 | 50.78% | 7,134 | 49.22% |
Graph 2. Population Composition by Age Group and Sex, 2020
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
Age Group and Sex
Age-sex structure of the population was commonly used by planning agencies to measure the level of development of an economy. In 2020, ages 20-24 years old was recorded as the most populous age group in Sta. Catalina, with 1,239 or 8.76% of the municipality’s total population. Expansive population pyramid as shown in Graph 3 indicates higher fertility and that the population in the municipality is young and growing.
Graph 3. Population Distribution by Age Group and Sex
Gender Distribution
Female population in Sta. Catalina is almost equal to the population of male residents with 49% and 51%, respectively. Based on the 2020 total population count. Given the almost equal gender population distribution, there an even greater need to ensure that equal opportunity and privileges for women be incorporated in providing for public services and public utilities
