Burgos Disdis
Municipality
Municipality of Burgos
Burgos town center along Naguilian Road
Flag Seal
Map of La Union with Burgos highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Burgos Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 16°31′30″N 120°27′30″E / 16.525°N 120.4583°E / 16.525; 120.4583
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region
Province	La Union
District	2nd district
Named for	José Burgos
Barangays	12 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Delfin C. Comedis Jr.
• Vice Mayor	Annie A.Patinglag
• Representative	Dante S. Garcia
• Municipal Council	Members Annie L. Patinglag Marlon C. Gumba Efren A. Hidalgo Edgar L. Sallatic Rolando A. Cachero Alano N. Gascon Silverio C. Juanbe Betty Jean L. Arsitio
• Electorate	6,733 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	70.80 km2 (27.34 sq mi)
Elevation	336 m (1,102 ft)
Highest elevation	1,010 m (3,310 ft)
Lowest elevation	21 m (69 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	9,006
• Density	130/km2 (330/sq mi)
• Households	2,145
Economy
• Income class	5th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	10.69 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 69.93 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 243.4 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 76.96 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 19.51 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	La Union Electric Cooperative (LUELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2510
PSGC	013308000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)72
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog
Website	www.burgoslaunion.gov.ph

Burgos, officially the Municipality of Burgos (Ilocano: Ili ti Burgos; Filipino: Bayan ng Burgos), is a 5th class municipality in La Union, Philippines, named after the Filipino martyr Father Jose Burgos. It is the least populated municipality in the province, with a population of 9,006 according to the 2020 census.^[3] The town is known for its production of colored soft brooms made from tiger grass.

Geographically, Burgos is located 29 kilometers from the provincial capital, San Fernando City, and 28 kilometers from Baguio City. It is 278 kilometers from Metro Manila.

Burgos, has its roots in the swampy region once called "Desdes" or "Disdis," a Nabaloi word meaning "to roll up pants or sleeves," which reflected the swampy nature of the land. The name aptly described the locals' need to wade through the area's numerous springs, creeks, and rivers that meandered through the region. In the Iloco, "Desdes" also means "big spring," further emphasizing the significance of the water sources in the region's early identity.^[5][6]

The first inhabitants of this swampy land were the Ibalois (Mangatibekbek) from Atok and Kapangan in Benguet, along with the Kankanaeys (Mangalkali) and later joined by the Ilocanos from towns like Vigan, Candon in Ilocos Sur, and other parts of La Union (San Fernando, Sto. Tomas and Naguilian) and Pangasinan (Dagupan). These diverse groups lived in peace for decades, forging a strong sense of community despite their varied backgrounds. The integration of cultures between the highlanders and lowlanders gave the town a unique identity that would persist through the years.

During the Spanish period, the region was divided into two major settlements: Rancheria Disdis in the northwestern part and Rancheria Galiano in the southern part. For much of its early history, the area was a part of the larger administrative territories in Benguet. However, in 1903, the Philippine Commission passed Act No. 662, which realigned the boundaries between La Union and Benguet. As a result, Rancheria Disdis became part of La Union, while Rancheria Galiano remained under Benguet’s jurisdiction. Over the next few decades, the borders were redrawn several times, and by 1920, the boundary revisions returned the area of Disdis to La Union.

The formation of Burgos as a distinct administrative entity came on November 27, 1925, with the issuance of Executive Order No. 54 by Governor General Leonard Wood. This order formally created the Municipal District of Burgos under the province of La Union, comprising several barrios: Pappa, Bilis Northwest, Ribsuan, Libtong Norte, and Bayabas West. The district was named in honor of the Filipino martyr Father Jose Burgos, a prominent figure in the struggle for Filipino rights during the Spanish colonial period. According to local accounts, Father Burgos once sought refuge in the area while fleeing Spanish persecution and officiated a mass at Sitio Domingo in Agpay, an event that left a lasting impression on the community.

Leadership of the newly established district was entrusted to Don Polon Bentrez, who is widely regarded as the founder of the municipality of Burgos. He was appointed as the first municipal president and oversaw the construction of a simple town hall, or presidencia, made of bamboo and cogon grass in Barrio Ribsuan (now part of Naguilian). One of Don Polon’s most notable contributions was the distribution and allocation of lands to the early settlers, a gesture that fostered stability and growth in the community. Tragically, his leadership was cut short in 1929 when he sustained fatal injuries during a boundary inspection in Bantay Siam, a remote area in Barrio Libtong. After his death, his vice president, Don Cornelio Abenes, assumed the leadership role until 1930, when Don Juan Abellada became the first elected municipal district mayor.

The district continued to evolve, with the creation of additional barrios in the 1930s, including Cauayan, Tumapoc, Linuan, Delles, and Central. When Barrio Ribsuan was later annexed to the municipality of Naguilian, the seat of government was moved to Central. By the late 1960s, the seat of governance was once again relocated, this time to New Poblacion, marking the town’s growth and its quest for a more central and accessible administrative hub. Around the same time, more barrios were formed, such as Agpay, Dalacdac (from Cauayan), Imelda (from Libtong), New Poblacion (from Bilis), and Upper Tumapoc (from Tumapoc).

In 1960, the transformation of Burgos from a municipal district into a regular municipality was formally recognized, a milestone that cemented its place as an independent and thriving community in La Union. Despite its early challenges, the town’s development over the years is a testament to the perseverance and unity of its people. Today, Burgos stands not only as a symbol of the harmonious blending of different cultures but also as a living legacy of those who came before, particularly Father Jose Burgos, whose memory continues to inspire the town that bears his name.^[6]

Burgos, La Union, is a highland municipality with a predominantly hilly terrain, covering a total land area of 7,082 hectares. It is bordered by Bagulin to the north, Naguilian to the south and west, and Sablan, Benguet, to the east. The town is traversed by the Naguilian River, with 11.40 kilometers of riverbanks. The land classification includes 2,307.93 hectares of certified Alienable and Disposable (A&D) land. In terms of land use, Burgos has 2,263.93 hectares of agricultural areas, 43.51 hectares of bare land, 24.11 hectares of grasslands, 114.79 hectares of wetlands, 536.59 hectares of forest areas (with 507.59 hectares of public forest), and 48.81 hectares of built-up areas.

Burgos is politically subdivided into 12 barangays, with 9 upland barangays and 3 lowland barangays. Each barangay is further divided into puroks, and some have sitios. Each barangay is led by a Chairman and its Councilors, while the Sangguniang Kabataan, represented by its Councilor, focuses on youth representation.

According to the 2020 Philippine Statistics Authority census, the population of Burgos, La Union, is recorded at 9,006 individuals.^[3] The population density is calculated at 130 inhabitants per square kilometer, or 340 inhabitants per square mile. The official language of the town is Iloco, while Ibaloi and Kankanaey are also spoken among the residents. The growth rate for the town is 1.63% with the largest age group is children aged 5 to 9, while the senior population (70 years and above) is the smallest.

In terms of religious affiliation, Christianity is the predominant faith, with Roman Catholics being the majority, followed by Iglesia ni Cristo and various other denominations. The literacy rate within Burgos stands at 98.83%. The total number of households in the town is 1,596.

The labor force consists of 5,491 individuals. The poverty incidence in Burgos is reported at 53.15%, with the magnitude of poor families at 34.82% and the magnitude of the poor population at 37.18%.

Burgos, La Union, possesses an economy primarily driven by the agricultural sector, with key crops including rice, corn, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. The town is also engaged in fishing, trade, and small-scale industries. As of the latest statistics, the employment distribution in Burgos is heavily skewed towards agriculture, which accounts for 96% of the workforce, while industry and services represent 1.8% and 2.06%, respectively. According to the 2021 census conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, the poverty incidence rate in the town stands at 10.69%.

As according to 2024 DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index report, the economy of Burgos is characterized by a moderate level of economic dynamism, ranking 161st with a score of 4.18. The town shows strengths in local economy growth (60th place) and cost of living (20th place), while areas like safety compliance (223rd) and employment generation (180th) present challenges. There are also notable efforts in productivity and presence of business and professional organizations, which rank 166th and 44th, respectively. The town's focus is on improving local economic conditions while managing the cost of doing business and financial deepening.^[12]

Poverty incidence of Burgos

Burgos, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of La Union, 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.

• Naguilian Road

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Local Governance Performance Management System