Pudtol, officially the Municipality of Pudtol, (Ilocano: Ili ti Pudtol; Tagalog: Bayan ng Pudtol), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Apayao, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 15,491 people.^[3]

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Pudtol Tawit
Municipality
Municipality of Pudtol
Pudtol Church ruins
Flag
Map of Apayao with Pudtol highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Pudtol Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 18°14′08″N 121°22′24″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Cordillera Administrative Region
Province	Apayao
District	Lone district
Barangays	22 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Hector Reuel D. Pascua (PDPLBN)
• Vice Mayor	Randy A. Laoat (PDPLBN)
• Representative	Eleanor Bulut-Begtang
• Municipal Council	Members Ricky A. Laoat Maximino A. Sabadao Teresita A. Bulsao Dennis C. Sinfuego Albert M. Buyag Benigno M. Baydan III Edison A. Caluducan Loreto C. Pascua
• Electorate	9,692 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	401.02 km2 (154.83 sq mi)
Elevation	37 m (121 ft)
Highest elevation	183 m (600 ft)
Lowest elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	15,491
• Density	39/km2 (100/sq mi)
• Households	3,608
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	21.01 % (2018)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 145.1 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 246.8 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 110 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 124.8 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Kalinga - Apayao Electric Cooperative (KAELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	3812
PSGC	148106000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)74
Native languages	Atta Isnag Ilocano Tagalog

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Pudtol, taken from Luna, was created as a municipal district on December 3, 1956 through executive order no. 217.^[5][6][7]

Prior to its creation, Pudtol was once the center of the Spanish mission in the entire province of Apayao and served as the center of Catholicism in the province.

Pudtol consisted of the last remaining territories of the municipal district of Tauit (the first sub-provincial capital of Apayao), which was abolished on January 21, 1936 through EO No. 13 and annexed as a single barrio to Luna.^[5][6][8][9] Tauit also comprised the present-day municipalities of Luna, Santa Marcela, Flora, and some parts of Lasam, Allacapan, and Pamplona, Cagayan.^[10]

Barangays Aga, Cacalaggan, Malibang and Mataguisi are comprised by then-Barrio Tawit, Tauit's seat of government.^[5][9]

On March 31, 1959, Pudtol was converted into a municipality by virtue of executive order no. 335.^[6][11] It became the first regular municipality in the entire Sub-Province of Apayao.

On June 22, 1963, via Republic Act No. 3672, several barrios and sitios were separated from Pudtol and constituted into the newly created municipality of Flora.^[12]

Tauit (later spelled as Tawit), is an Isneg settlement along the lower Apayao-Abulug River. It was a former municipal district and served as Apayao's first sub-provincial capital from July 13, 1907 until the capital was moved to Kabugao on August 01, 1915 by virtue of Executive Order No. 45 signed by Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison.^[13][14][15] It had been existed by the time of creation of the sub-province of Apayao.^[16]

Tauit is said to be the forerunner of the present-day Pudtol.^[17][18] Its seat of government at Barrio Tawit was later divided into four barangays in the municipality.^[16][9]

In 1913, a band of Isneg attacked Tauit, as they were infuriated by the large number of Ilocano settling in the territory under the protection of the local government.^[13]

In 1926, Allacapan was founded as its municipal district. In July 01, 1927, the area was separated from Tauit and was organized into an independent one with the same name by virtue of EO No. 68.^[14] It was ceded to the province of Cagayan in 1928.^[19]

In 1929, a separate municipal district taken from Tauit, Macatel (later renamed Luna through a resolution), was organized through EO No. 200.^[16][9][20]

Difficulties in transportation led to the decision to abandon Tauit as a municipal district and to be represented by Luna.^[9]

Tauit was abolished through EO No. 13, issued on January 21, 1936 and effective February 1, with remaining territories annexed as a single barrio to Luna.^[21][9] These territories were established as the municipal district of Pudtol upon its creation on December 3, 1956 through EO No. 217.^[16][22]

Parts of the territories of Pudtol and Luna were later established as the municipalities of Flora and Santa Marcela; meanwhile, Tauit also comprised some parts of Lasam and Pamplona, Cagayan. At present, remnants of Tauit are located in northeastern Apayao and in few parts of Cagayan.^[16][17][9]

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 411.371 square kilometres (158.831 sq mi) ^[23] constituting 9.32% of the 4,413.35-square-kilometre- (1,704.00 sq mi) total area of Apayao.

In the 2020 census, Pudtol had a population of 15,491.^[3] The population density was 39 inhabitants per square kilometre (100/sq mi).