Tubo, officially the Municipality of Tubo (Ilocano: Ili ti Tubo; Tagalog: Bayan ng Tubo), is a municipality in the province of Abra, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 5,674 people.[3]
History
The municipality was created on June 17, 1967, from the former municipal district of the same name, through Republic Act 5161.[5]
Beew massacre
On May 6, 1983, Sitio Beew in Tubo was the site of several attacks by the 623rd Philippine Constabulary (623rd PC) led by Captain Berido, Lt. Rehaldo Lebua and Lt. Juanito Puyawan, which would collectively come to be known as the "Beew Massacre." The 623rd PC burned down four houses and a rice granary, which still contained the remains of three villagers including an unborn baby, and Barangay Councilman Rodolfo Labawig, pregnant mother Josefina Cayandag, and her unborn child.[6] Beew residents,including babies and toddlers, were beaten and their houses looted in response to the residents' alleged support of protests against the logging operations of Herminio Disini's Cellophil Resources Corporation in their area.[6]
The residents fled to Sagada where they took refuge in the Church of the St. Mary. There, they were given succor by Fr. Paul Sagayo Jr. until they could finally be aided by Atty Pablo Sanidad of the Free Legal Assistance Group and journalist Isidoro Chammag of the Bulletin Today.[7]: 197–198
The government denied the incident, and filed a case against Chammag but the Baguio Press supported Chammag and launched the "Piso para kay Chammag" campaign to raise bail for him. The charges were later dismissed and Chammag's became a landmark case in Philippine Jurisprudence.[7]: 197–198
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 409.87 square kilometres (158.25 sq mi)[8] constituting 9.84% of the 4,165.25-square-kilometre- (1,608.21 sq mi) total area of Abra.
It is situated approximately 55 kilometres (34 mi) from the provincial capital Bangued, and is at the southern tip of Abra. The town is bounded on the west by Ilocos Sur and Luba, Abra, north by Boliney, east by Kalinga and Mountain Province, and south by Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur.
The inhabitants belong to the Maeng tribe and speak the dialect of the same name. There is however one barangay, Tabacda, that speaks a different dialect. This is because they are believed to have originated from Kalinga and Mountain Province. Everyone can however understand and speak the common evolving dialect called Maeng together with those of Luba and parts of Villavicioa of the Province of Abra and likewise in the other municipalities of the Province of Ilocos Sur, who refer themselves as the Bago tribe.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood but various industries are starting to grow.
All barangays and their respective sitios do now have dirt roads leading to them but can still become accessible via trails permanently established even during the Spanish era. Electricity is available except in only one barangay and two sitios. The relative nearness of the three barangays of Dilong,Tubtuba and Alangtin to the Province of Ilocos Sur provided them the privilege of being served by ISECO while all others remaining are served by ABRECO.
In the 2020 census, Tubo had a population of 5,674.[3] The population density was 14 inhabitants per square kilometre (36/sq mi).
Tubo, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Abra, 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.
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