Atok, Benguet


Atok, officially the , , is a of the Philippines| in the province of,. According to the, it has a population of people.

History

Spanish period

The area of Atok was previously referred to by the natives and Spanish colonizers as Chontog, an Ibaloi word for "mountainous". Spanish military officials and missionaries arrived at Chontog in 1892, establishing precedencias in the area and its surrounding settlements.
The Ibaloi phrase Nay patok shi Chontog, which means "on the mountain top", was later shortened to Atok.

American period

During the American rule, Atok was established as one of the 19 townships of the province of Benguet, upon the issuance of Act No. 48 by the Philippine Commission on November 22, 1900.
On August 13, 1908, Benguet was established as a sub-province of the newly created Mountain Province with the enactment of Act No. 1876. As a result, six townships of Benguet were abolished, but Atok remained a constituent town of Benguet sub-province.

World War II

During the Second World War, Atok was the scene of fierce pitch battles between the military forces of the 1st, 2nd, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, 1st Constabulary Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary, the USAFIP-NL 66th Infantry Regiments, the Igorot and Cordilleran guerrilla fighters and the Japanese Imperial Army forces. The steep terrain along the Halsema road suited Filipino troops, the Philippine Commonwealth military, and guerrillas to mount ambushes against the Japanese forces. One of these battles took place in what is now “Guerrilla Saddle” located at km. 26, in barangay Caliking.

Post-war era

On June 25, 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Executive Order No. 42 converting eight of the thirteen towns of Benguet into regular municipalities. Atok was among them.
On June 18, 1966, the sub-province of Benguet was separated from the old Mountain Province and was converted into a regular province. Atok remained to be a component municipality of the newly established province.

Geography

Atok is located at, situated at the central portion of Benguet. It is bounded by Kibungan on the north, Kabayan on the north-east, Bokod on the southeast, Tublay on the south-west, and Kapangan on the west.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the has a land area of constituting of the total area of Benguet.
The land is characterized as mountainous with many steep cliffs. It is home to , the third highest mountain in Luzon. The second highest point in the Philippine Highway System is also located at Barangay Paoay along Halsema Highway, at above sea level. It held formerly the title as the highest point in the Philippine Highway System since World War II until early 2019. This is after the validation and assessment conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways - Cordillera Administrative Region Regional Office last January 2019 declaring a new highest point at 2,428.66 meters along the Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Road in Tinoc Town some 55 Kilometers east via Atok, Benguet.
Atok is from Baguio City.

Climate

During the cold months of the year, the municipality experiences very low temperatures reaching. This causes frost to settle on the ground, causing millions of damage to crops, but drawing tourists to the town.

Barangays

Atok is politically subdivided into 8 barangays.

Demographics

In the, had a population of. The population density was.

Education

Public schools

As of 2014, Atok has 22 public elementary schools and 2 public secondary schools.
SchoolBarangay
Adoyunan Elementary SchoolAbiang
Beckes Pol-oc Primary SchoolPaoay
Bilis Primary SchoolCaliking
Boneng Elementary SchoolNaguey
Bonglo Elementary SchoolPaoay
Bosleng Elementary SchoolPaoay
Busoc Primary SchoolPoblacion
Cagui-ing Elementary SchoolCaliking
Calasipan Elementary SchoolCattubo
Caliking Community SchoolCaliking
Camp 30 Elementary SchoolCaliking
Celo Haights Elementary SchoolPaoay
Dalmacio Miguel Primary SchoolAbiang
Englandad Primary SchoolPaoay
Filomena P. Cating Elementary SchoolPoblacion
Ja'pa Primary SchoolTopdac
Mauro Laruan Elementary SchoolPoblacion
Naguey Elementary SchoolNaguey
Oyusan Primary SchoolCattubo
Pasdong Elementary SchoolPasdong
Rufino Alawas Elementary SchoolCattubo
Topdac Elementary SchoolTopdac

SchoolBarangay
Atok National High SchoolPoblacion
Atok National High School - Caliking AnnexCaliking