Santa Monica, Surigao del Norte

Municipality in Surigao del Norte, Philippines

Municipality in Caraga, Philippines

Santa Monica

Sapao

Municipality

Municipality of Sta. Monica

Flag

Map of Surigao del Norte with Santa Monica highlighted

OpenStreetMap

Santa Monica

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 10°01′12″N 126°02′17″E﻿ / ﻿10.02°N 126.038°E﻿ / 10.02; 126.038
Country| Philippines
Region| Caraga
Province| Surigao del Norte
District| 1st district
Renamed (as Santa Monica)| June 17, 1967
Named after| Saint Monica
Barangays| 11 (see Barangays)
Government

[1]

• Type| Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor| Ricardo Lasco
• Vice Mayor| Mario Virtudazo
• Representative| Francisco Jose F. Matugas II
• Electorate| 9,709 voters (2025)
Area

[2]

• Total

| 39.19 km2 (15.13 sq mi)
Elevation

| 21 m (69 ft)
Highest elevation

| 183 m (600 ft)
Lowest elevation

| 0 m (0 ft)
Population

(2024 census)[3]

• Total

| 9,757
• Density| 250/km2 (640/sq mi)
• Households

| 2,321
Economy

• Income class| 5th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence|

26.99

% (2021)[4]
• Revenue| ₱ 143.7 million (2022)
• Assets| ₱ 263.7 million (2022)
• Expenditure| ₱ 82.44 million (2022)
• Liabilities| ₱ 46.53 million (2022)
Service provider

• Electricity| Siargao Electric Cooperative (SIARELCO)
Time zone| UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code|

8422

PSGC|

1606721000

IDD : area code | +63 (0)86
Native languages| Surigaonon
Agusan
Cebuano
Tagalog

Santa Monica, officially the Municipality of Sta. Monica (Surigaonon: Lungsod nan Santa Monica; Tagalog: Bayan ng Santa Monica), is a municipality in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 9,423 people.[5]

It is also known as Sapao. Santa Monica is one of the two northernmost towns of Siargao Island. The other is the municipality of Burgos.

Although many sources refer to it as "Santa Monica" it is officially named "Sta. Monica".

## Etymology

[edit]

Santa Monica is named after its patron saint, Saint Monica, in shortened Spanish term. It was originally known as Sapao, a name given by the first Spaniards who reached the area. According to one version of the story, a fisherman, upon being asked by the Spaniards about the name of the place, replied "no sapao," meaning he missed catching the school of fish. Another version suggests that a fisherman responded "sapao," meaning his banca was full of fish.[6]

## History

[edit]

Santa Monica was originally known as a pueblo (town) named Sapao during the Spanish regime. Eventually, Sapao was reverted into a barrio, part of the municipality of Numancia (now Del Carmen). It regained its municipal status on October 1, 1953, by virtue of Executive Order No. 623. It then consisted of barrios Alegria, Baybay, Bailan, Bitaug, Burgos, Cabugsan, Libertad, Rizal, and Sapao.[6][7]

On June 17, 1967, the municipality of Sapao was renamed Santa Monica and five barrios, including Burgos, and three sitios were separated from it to form the new municipality of Burgos.[8][9]

## Geography

[edit]

### Barangays

[edit]

Santa Monica is politically subdivided into 11 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

* Abad Santos
* Alegria
* Bailan
* Garcia
* Libertad
* Mabini
* Mabuhay (Poblacion)
* Magsaysay
* Rizal
* T. Arlan (Poblacion)
* Tangbo

### Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Santa Monica, Surigao del Norte

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 27
(81)  | 27
(81)  | 28
(82)  | 29
(84)  | 30
(86)  | 29
(84)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 29
(84)  | 29
(84)  | 28
(82)  | 29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 23
(73)  | 23
(73)  | 23
(73)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 23
(73)  | 24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 161
(6.3)  | 132
(5.2)  | 112
(4.4)  | 87
(3.4)  | 136
(5.4)  | 169
(6.7)  | 146
(5.7)  | 148
(5.8)  | 132
(5.2)  | 156
(6.1)  | 176
(6.9)  | 170
(6.7)  | 1,725
(67.8)
Average rainy days  | 21.0  | 16.8  | 18.5  | 18.2  | 24.9  | 27.7  | 28.4  | 27.0  | 26.1  | 27.6  | 24.6  | 22.0  | 282.8
Source: Meteoblue[10]

## Demographics

[edit]

Population census of Santa MonicaYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1903 | 1,462| —
1960 | 6,522| +2.66%
1970 | 5,438| −1.80%
1975 | 5,993| +1.97%
1980 | 6,272| +0.91%
1990 | 7,167| +1.34%
1995 | 7,219| +0.14%
2000 | 7,757| +1.55%
2007 | 7,916| +0.28%
2010 | 8,715| +3.56%
2015 | 8,808| +0.20%
2020 | 9,423| +1.43%
2024 | 9,757| +0.84%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15]

## Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Santa Monica

2000
54.66

2003
57.67

2006
45.40

2009
52.43

2012
36.10

2015
33.05

2018
33.65

2021
26.99

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Municipality of Sta. Monica |  (DILG)
2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
6. ^ a b "Sta. Monica History". Municipality of Sta. Monica. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
7. ^ Executive Order No. 623 (October 1, 1953), Creating the Municipality of Sapao in the Province of Surigao, retrieved October 25, 2024
8. ^ Republic Act No. 5093 (June 17, 1967), An Act Creating the Municipality of Burgos in the Province of Surigao del Norte, retrieved October 25, 2024
9. ^ Republic Act No. 4998 (June 17, 1967), An Act Changing the Name of the Municipality of Sapao in the Province of Surigao del Norte to Santa Monica, retrieved October 25, 2024
10. ^ "Santa Monica: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
11. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
12. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
13. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Caraga" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
14. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Caraga". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
15. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
16. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
17. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
18. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
19. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
20. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
21. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
22. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
23. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Santa Monica Profile at PhilAtlas.com
* Santa Monica Profile at the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index
* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
* Philippine Census Information
* Local Governance Performance Management System

Places adjacent to Santa Monica, Surigao del Norte

|  | Philippine Sea |

|
|

|  |
Dinagat Sound |

Santa Monica

| Burgos
|  |
| San Benito | San Isidro

* v
* t
* e

Province of Surigao del Norte

Surigao City (capital)

Municipalities|

* Alegria
* Bacuag
* Burgos
* Claver
* Dapa
* Del Carmen
* General Luna
* Gigaquit
* Mainit
* Malimono
* Pilar
* Placer
* San Benito
* San Francisco
* San Isidro
* Santa Monica
* Sison
* Socorro
* Tagana-an
* Tubod

Component city|

* Surigao City

*[PSGC]: Philippine Standard Geographic Code
*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate. Executive Order 135 §6 states that for "census years" (years divisible by 10) the reference date would be May 1st, but for all other years, the reference date is to be the "middle of the year". This means that growth rates, although correct, are not necessarily simple year-on-year comparisons.
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template