Atok, Benguet

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 (tax collection stations) in the area and its surrounding settlements.{{cite web|title=Municipality of Atok|url=http://www.benguet.gov.ph/index.php/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=252&Itemid=255|website=Province of Benguet (official website)|accessdate=25 October 2014}}

The Ibaloi phrase Nay patok shi Chontog, which means "on the mountain top", was later shortened to Atok.{{cite web|title=Municipality of Atok, Benguet |url=http://www.dilgcar.com/index.php/lgu/car-profile/benguet/atok |website=Department of the Interior and Local Government - Cordillera Administrative Region |accessdate=25 October 2014 |date=29 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006202036/http://www.dilgcar.com/index.php/lgu/car-profile/benguet/atok |archivedate=6 October 2014 }}

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.{{cite web|title=Facts & Figures: Benguet Province|url=http://www.nscb.gov.ph/rucar/fnf_benguet.htm|website=Philippine Statistics Authority - National Statistical Coordination Board - Cordillera Administrative Region|accessdate=9 October 2014}}{{cite web|title=History: Benguet Province |url=http://www.benguet.gov.ph/index.php?Itemid=268 |website=Province of Benguet (official website) |accessdate=9 October 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019211257/http://www.benguet.gov.ph/index.php?Itemid=268 |archivedate=19 October 2014}}

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.

During the Second World War, Atok was the scene of fierce pitch battles between the military forces and guerrilla fighters of the 66th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFIP-NL 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.

On June 25, 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Executive Order No. 42 converting eight (8) of the thirteen (13) towns (designated as municipal districts) of Benguet into regular municipalities. Atok was among them.{{cite web|title=Executive Order No. 42, s. 1963: Declaring Certain Municipal Districts in the Philippines as Municipalities|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1963/06/25/executive-order-no-42-s-1963/|website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines|date=25 June 1963 |accessdate=25 October 2014}}

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.{{Republic Act 4695}}

File:Highest Point Philippine Highway System.jpg]]

Atok is located at {{coord|format=dms}}, 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 municipality has a land area of {{convert|214.99|km2}}{{PSGC detail|area}} constituting {{percentage|214.99|2,769.08|2|pad=yes}} of the {{convert|2,769.08|km2|2|adj=mid|-}} total area of Benguet.

The land is characterized as mountainous with many steep cliffs. It is home to [https://danielsecotravels.com/mt-timbak-atok-benguet/ Mt. Timbak], 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 {{convert|2255|m|ft|-1}} above sea level.{{cite web|title=Natural Attractions found in Atok|url=http://www.benguet.gov.ph/index.php/tourism/local-attractions/atok|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331195958/http://www.benguet.gov.ph/index.php/tourism/local-attractions/atok|archive-date=31 March 2016|publisher=Province of Benguet|accessdate=12 December 2016}}{{cite book|last1=Lancion, Jr.|first1=Conrado M.|last2=de Guzman|first2=Rey (cartography)|title=Fast Facts about Philippine Provinces|date=1995|publisher=Tahanan Books|location=Makati, Metro Manila|isbn=971-630-037-9|pages=38–39|edition=The 2000 Millennium|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r0EOAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=16 January 2015|chapter=The Provinces}} 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 (DPWH-CAR) Regional Office last January 2019 declaring a new highest point at 2,428.66 meters (7968.045 feet) along the Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Road in Tinoc Town some 55 Kilometers east via Atok, Benguet.

Atok is situated {{convert|42.57|km}} from the provincial capital La Trinidad, and {{convert|295.50|km}} from the country's capital city of Manila.

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{{Weather box

| location = Atok, Benguet

| width = auto

| metric first = Yes

| single line = Yes

| Jan high C = 11

| Jan low C = 4

| Feb high C = 13

| Feb low C = 6

| Mar high C = 16

| Mar low C = 8

| Apr high C = 19

| Apr low C = 11

| May high C = 19

| May low C = 13

| Jun high C = 18

| Jun low C = 13

| Jul high C = 18

| Jul low C = 12

| Aug high C = 17

| Aug low C = 12

| Sep high C = 16

| Sep low C = 12

| Oct high C = 15

| Oct low C = 11

| Nov high C = 13

| Nov low C = 9

| Dec high C = 12

| Dec low C = 7

| Jan precipitation mm = 42

| Feb precipitation mm = 48

| Mar precipitation mm = 74

| Apr precipitation mm = 110

| May precipitation mm = 269

| Jun precipitation mm = 275

| Jul precipitation mm = 362

| Aug precipitation mm = 325

| Sep precipitation mm = 330

| Oct precipitation mm = 306

| Nov precipitation mm = 126

| Dec precipitation mm = 61

| Jan rain days = 11.2

| Feb rain days = 12.0

| Mar rain days = 17.1

| Apr rain days = 21.2

| May rain days = 27.1

| Jun rain days = 26.8

| Jul rain days = 28.1

| Aug rain days = 27.0

| Sep rain days = 26.0

| Oct rain days = 24.5

| Nov rain days = 17.7

| Dec rain days = 12.4

| source 1 = Meteoblue

{{cite web

| url = https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/atok_philippines_1729969

| title = Atok: Average Temperatures and Rainfall

| publisher = Meteoblue

| accessdate = 21 March 2020 }}

| date = 21 March 2020

}}

Like most part of Benguet it has subtropical highland climate, during the cold months of the year, the municipality experiences very low temperatures reaching {{convert|9|C|abbr=off}}. This causes common frost to settle on the ground, causing millions of damage to crops, but drawing tourists to the town.{{cite news|last1=Diola|first1=Camille|title=Icy 9-degree temperature frosts crops in Benguet town|url=http://www.philstar.com/news-feature/2014/01/02/1274364/icy-9-degree-temperature-frosts-crops-benguet-town|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205100606/http://www.philstar.com/news-feature/2014/01/02/1274364/icy-9-degree-temperature-frosts-crops-benguet-town|archive-date=5 February 2016|accessdate=16 September 2014|work=The Philippine Star|date=2 January 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Cabreza|first1=Vincent|last2=Quitasol|first2=Kimberlie|title=Benguet frost welcomed by visitors, hated by tillers|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/558279/tourists-glad-at-benguet-frost-vegetable-farmers-see-losses|accessdate=16 September 2014|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=6 January 2014}}

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Atok is politically subdivided into 8 barangays.{{PSGC detail|nscb}} Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

{{PH brgy table lite|top}}

{{PH brgy table lite|141101001| Abiang | 1643| 1766}}

{{PH brgy table lite|141101002| Caliking | 3368| 3155}}

{{PH brgy table lite|141101003| Cattubo | 2674| 2674}}

{{PH brgy table lite|141101004| Naguey | 1678| 1723}}

{{PH brgy table lite|141101005| Paoay | 4285| 4181}}

{{PH brgy table lite|141101006| Pasdong | 1304| 1078}}

{{PH brgy table lite|141101007| Poblacion | 1914| 2045}}

{{PH brgy table lite|141101008| Topdac | 2352| 2620}}

{{PH brgy table lite|bottom|19218}}

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{{Philippine Census

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| title= Population census of {{PH wikidata|name}}

| 1903 = {{PH census population|1903}}

| 1918 = {{PH census population|1918}}

| 1939 = {{PH census population|1939}}

| 1948 = {{PH census population|1948}}

| 1960 = {{PH census population|1960}}

| 1970 = {{PH census population|1970}}

| 1975 = {{PH census population|1975}}

| 1980 = {{PH census population|1980}}

| 1990 = {{PH census population|1990}}

| 1995 = {{PH census population|1995}}

| 2000 = {{PH census population|2000}}

| 2007 = {{PH census population|2007}}

| 2010 = {{PH census population|2010}}

| 2015 = {{PH census population|2015}}

| 2020 = {{PH census population|2020}}

| 2025 =

| 2030 =

| footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|2015}}{{PH census|2010}}{{PH census|2007}}{{LWUA population data}}

}}

In the 2020 census, Atok had a population of 19,218.{{PH census|current}} The population density was {{convert|{{sigfig|19,218/214.99|2}}|PD/km2}}.

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{{PH poverty incidence}}

{{main|Sangguniang Bayan}}

Atok, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Benguet, 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.

The Atok Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2021 |title=Masterlist of Schools |url=https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SY-2020-2021-Masterlist-of-Schools-Address-only-1-1.pdf |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Department of Education}}

As of 2014, Atok has 22 public elementary schools and 2 public secondary schools.{{cite web|url=http://www.deped.gov.ph/sites/default/files/datasets/2013/Masterlist%20of%20Elementary%20Schools.xlsx|title=Masterlist of Public Elementary Schools for the School year 2012- 2013|format=XLSX|publisher=Department of Education (Philippines), July 15, 2013|accessdate=28 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053100/http://www.deped.gov.ph/sites/default/files/datasets/2013/Masterlist%20of%20Elementary%20Schools.xlsx|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.deped.gov.ph/sites/default/files/datasets/2014/SY%202013-2014%20Masterlist%20of%20Schools.xlsx|title=Masterlist of Public Schools SY 2013-2014|format=XLSX|publisher=Department of Education (Philippines), 22 October 2014|accessdate=28 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421172857/http://www.deped.gov.ph/sites/default/files/datasets/2014/SY%202013-2014%20Masterlist%20of%20Schools.xlsx|archive-date=2016-04-21|url-status=dead}}

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Sayangan Church, Atok, Benguet, June 2023.jpg|Sayangan Church

Old Atok Municipal Hall, Benguet, June 2023.jpg|Old Atok Municipal Hall

New Atok Municipal Hall, Benguet, June 2023.jpg|New Atok Municipal Hall

Northern Blossom Flower Farm, Atok, Benguet.jpg|Northern Blossom Flower Farm

• Benguet–Kōchi Sisterhood Park

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{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{wikivoyage inline|Atok}}
• [{{NSCB detail}} Philippine Standard Geographic Code]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Atok

| North = Kibungan

| Northeast = Kabayan

| Southeast = Bokod

| Southwest = Tublay

| West = Kapangan

}}

{{Benguet|state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Municipalities of Benguet