ROMEL "BHOY" BACKIAN: THE BEAUTIFUL ATOK

The official seal of the Province of Atok

ZIP Code: 2612

Atok is a 4th class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines.
According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 16,657 people in 3,397 households.

1. HOW ATOK WAS NAMED

The name of the municipality was derived from its location. It is a short term of the Ibaloi phrase "Nay Patok shi chontog" which means "on the mountain top". When the Americans came, the Philippine Commission enacted Act No. 48 on November 48 organizing the sub- province of Benguet into 19 towns: Baguio, La Trinidad, Galiano, Itogon, Tublay, Atok, Kapangan, Balakbak, Palina, Ampusongan, Loo Kabayan, Buguias, Adaoay, Bokod, Daklan, Sablan, Kibungan and Ambuklao. On June 25, 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Executive Order No. 42 converting eight (8) of the thirteen towns (13) of Benguet into regular municipalities. Atok was among them.

2. WHERE CAN I LOCATE ATOK

Atok is centrally located in the heart of the province of Benguet. It is bounded by the municipality of Kibungan and Baguias on the north, the municipalities of the Kabayan and Bokod on the east, the municipality of Kapangan on the west and the municipality of Tublay on the south.

3. HOW WIDE IS THE MUNICIPALITY

It has a total land area of 21,912.1863 hectares (or 137.00 Sq. Km.) more or less.
It ranks no. 8 in size in the entire Province of Benguet.
The total land area represents 8.37% of the total area of 261,648 hectares of Benguet more or less.

4. HOW HIGH IS THE PLACE

Atok has as elevation of 2,400 meters above sea level located at Paoay and Cattubo. Likewise, the highest point in the Philippine Highway System along the Halsema Highway with 2,256.10 meters above sea level is also located at Cattubo.

The lowest elevation at 600 meters above sea level is located at Naguey proper.
The terrain is generally mountainous with slopes ranging from 40-60% degrees.

5. THE EIGHT BARANGAYS FOUND AT ATOK

Atok is politically subdivided into 8 barangays:

*Abiang-this barangay is the barangay found next to Topdac.
*Caliking-the first barangay you will find when you are travelling from Baguio to halsema highway
*Cattubo-the last barangay you will find when youre travelling to Bontoc.
*Naguey-found below barangay Pobalcion.
*Paoay-where you can find the Atok Municipal Hall, found at Syangan, Atok, Benguet.
*Pasdong-the farthest barangay, the way here is to pass through Poblacion.
*Poblacion-found at the heart of Atok.
*Topdac-the second barangay found next to Caliking