Iligan City has 44 barangays, of which 32 are classified as urban and 12 as rural in the Philippine Statistics Authority’s current Philippine Standard Geographic Code listing. The city has a published total land area of 813.37 square kilometers, or 81,337 hectares, but a current official public table giving an exact land area for every barangay was not located.
For that reason, this guide separates verified classification and population data from land-area figures that still require confirmation from the Iligan City Planning and Development Office or the DENR-Land Management Bureau.
That distinction matters. A barangay’s urban-rural label is a statistical classification based on population, employment establishments and nearby facilities. It is not a simple description of whether the barangay looks mountainous, agricultural or built-up.
Rogongon, for example, is listed by the PSA as urban even though it covers a large upland area and includes remote communities.
Data note: The classification and population figures below come from the PSA PSGC page for Iligan City, which lists 44 barangays and a 2024 population of 368,132. The land-area column is marked as not publicly confirmed where no authoritative barangay-level figure was found.
Iligan City at a Glance
| Measure | Verified figure |
|---|---|
| Total city land area | 813.37 km² |
| Equivalent in hectares | 81,337 hectares |
| Total barangays | 44 |
| Urban barangays | 32 |
| Rural barangays | 12 |
| 2024 population | 368,132 |
| Population in urban-classified barangays | 338,728 |
| Population in rural-classified barangays | 29,404 |
Iligan is a highly urbanized city in Northern Mindanao. It is geographically situated in Lanao del Norte but is administered independently from the province.
Its territory extends from coastal communities along Iligan Bay to inland river systems, industrial zones, agricultural areas, forest land and high-elevation communities.
The citywide land-area figure is useful for regional comparison and broad planning. It does not show how large each barangay is.
Barangay-level land area requires an official boundary dataset or a validated table from the city planning office, DENR-Land Management Bureau or another competent mapping authority.
What Does Urban or Rural Barangay Classification Mean?
The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies a barangay as urban when it meets at least one of the following operational criteria:
- It has a population of 5,000 or more.
- It has at least one establishment with 100 or more employees.
- It has at least five establishments with 10 to 99 employees and at least five specified facilities within a two-kilometer radius of the barangay hall.
A barangay that does not meet any of these criteria is classified as rural.
All barangays in the National Capital Region are automatically classified as urban. Highly urbanized cities outside NCR, including Iligan City, are still assessed using the operational criteria.
This explains how Iligan can be a highly urbanized city while still containing rural-classified barangays.
The urban-rural label is primarily statistical. It supports population reporting, settlement analysis and planning. It does not automatically:
- Convert agricultural land into residential or commercial land
- Change property zoning
- Redraw barangay boundaries
- Alter land ownership
- Remove the barangay’s local government powers
Classification Is Not the Same as Zoning
| Concept | What it describes |
|---|---|
| Urban-rural classification | PSA statistical classification of a barangay |
| Land-use classification | How land is designated or used, such as residential, agricultural, industrial, commercial or forest land |
| Zoning | Local rules governing permitted development and uses in specific areas |
A rural barangay can contain built-up residential clusters. An urban barangay can include farmland, watershed areas or mountain terrain.
The legal use of a parcel depends on zoning, land classification, titles, environmental restrictions and applicable permits, not on the urban-rural label alone.
Complete List of Iligan City’s 44 Barangays
The following table uses the current names, classifications, 2024 population counts and 10-digit PSGC codes published by the PSA.
The table does not invent barangay land-area measurements.
| # | Barangay | Classification | 2024 Population | PSGC Code | Verified Land Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abuno | Urban | 6,506 | 1030900001 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 2 | Bonbonon | Rural | 2,701 | 1030900002 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 3 | Bunawan | Rural | 2,093 | 1030900003 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 4 | Buru-un | Urban | 17,714 | 1030900005 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 5 | Dalipuga | Urban | 21,200 | 1030900006 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 6 | Digkilaan | Urban | 6,089 | 1030900007 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 7 | Hinaplanon | Urban | 16,155 | 1030900008 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 8 | Kabacsanan | Rural | 2,267 | 1030900010 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 9 | Kiwalan | Urban | 7,742 | 1030900011 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 10 | Mahayahay | Urban | 8,092 | 1030900012 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 11 | Mainit | Rural | 2,798 | 1030900013 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 12 | Mandulog | Rural | 4,612 | 1030900014 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 13 | Maria Cristina | Urban | 11,458 | 1030900015 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 14 | Palao | Urban | 10,832 | 1030900016 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 15 | Poblacion | Urban | 3,615 | 1030900017 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 16 | Puga-an | Urban | 7,151 | 1030900018 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 17 | Rogongon | Urban | 7,699 | 1030900019 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 18 | Santa Elena | Urban | 11,000 | 1030900021 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 19 | Santa Filomena | Urban | 7,016 | 1030900022 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 20 | Suarez | Urban | 19,184 | 1030900024 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 21 | Tambacan | Urban | 17,796 | 1030900025 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 22 | Saray | Urban | 9,347 | 1030900026 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 23 | Tipanoy | Urban | 15,388 | 1030900027 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 24 | Tomas L. Cabili | Urban | 10,225 | 1030900028 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 25 | Upper Tominobo | Rural | 3,892 | 1030900029 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 26 | Tubod | Urban | 31,813 | 1030900030 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 27 | Bagong Silang | Urban | 6,808 | 1030900031 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 28 | Del Carmen | Urban | 9,631 | 1030900032 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 29 | Dulag | Rural | 1,234 | 1030900033 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 30 | San Miguel | Urban | 3,722 | 1030900034 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 31 | Santiago | Urban | 9,063 | 1030900035 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 32 | Santo Rosario | Rural | 2,029 | 1030900036 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 33 | Tibanga | Urban | 8,003 | 1030900037 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 34 | Acmac-Mariano Badelles Sr. | Urban | 6,986 | 1030900038 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 35 | Ditucalan | Urban | 4,303 | 1030900039 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 36 | Hindang | Rural | 990 | 1030900040 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 37 | Kalilangan | Rural | 2,042 | 1030900041 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 38 | Lanipao | Rural | 2,924 | 1030900042 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 39 | Luinab | Urban | 11,359 | 1030900043 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 40 | Panoroganan | Rural | 1,822 | 1030900044 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 41 | San Roque | Urban | 5,321 | 1030900045 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 42 | Ubaldo Laya | Urban | 15,124 | 1030900046 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 43 | Upper Hinaplanon | Urban | 6,627 | 1030900047 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
| 44 | Villa Verde | Urban | 5,759 | 1030900048 | Not published in the cited PSA table |
Why the Land-Area Cells Are Not Filled With Estimates
Online maps can calculate approximate polygon areas. Those figures become unreliable when barangay boundary files are outdated, generalized, incomplete or unofficial.
Publishing those estimates as exact government data would create a false sense of precision.
For a defensible barangay land-area table, GoIligan should obtain one of the following:
- A certified barangay boundary and land-area table from the Iligan City Planning and Development Office
- A validated master list from the DENR-Land Management Bureau
- A current city ecological profile containing barangay-level land areas
- An updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan containing barangay-level areas
- Official GIS boundary files with metadata, coordinate reference system and validation date
Once an official dataset is available, each barangay figure should include:
- Source agency
- Source date
- Measurement unit
- Boundary reference
- Mapping method
- Any rounding or boundary discrepancy
The total of the 44 barangay areas should also be checked against the citywide land area. Differences caused by coastal waters, disputed boundaries, mapping methods or rounding should be clearly explained.
Urban Barangays of Iligan City
Iligan has 32 urban-classified barangays in the current PSA listing:
Abuno, Buru-un, Dalipuga, Digkilaan, Hinaplanon, Kiwalan, Mahayahay, Maria Cristina, Palao, Poblacion, Puga-an, Rogongon, Santa Elena, Santa Filomena, Suarez, Tambacan, Saray, Tipanoy, Tomas L. Cabili, Tubod, Bagong Silang, Del Carmen, San Miguel, Santiago, Tibanga, Acmac-Mariano Badelles Sr., Ditucalan, Luinab, San Roque, Ubaldo Laya, Upper Hinaplanon and Villa Verde.
Together, these barangays account for 338,728 people, or about 92 percent of Iligan’s 2024 population.
The classification reflects the PSA’s operational criteria. Some barangays qualify through population alone. Others can qualify through the presence of qualifying employment establishments or a combination of establishments and facilities.
Several urban barangays form the city’s denser residential, institutional, commercial and industrial corridors.
The five most populous urban barangays in the 2024 listing are:
| Barangay | 2024 Population |
|---|---|
| Tubod | 31,813 |
| Dalipuga | 21,200 |
| Suarez | 19,184 |
| Tambacan | 17,796 |
| Buru-un | 17,714 |
The presence of Rogongon in the urban list shows why the label should not be read as a visual description.
Published studies describe Rogongon as Iligan’s largest barangay. One study reports a land area of 35,555 hectares, approximately 44 percent of the city’s land area. That figure is useful as a research reference, but it should be confirmed against a current official city or Land Management Bureau table before being treated as the final cadastral measurement.
Good to know: A barangay with fewer than 5,000 residents can still be classified as urban when it meets the employment or facilities criteria. Poblacion, San Miguel and Ditucalan show why population alone does not explain every classification.
Rural Barangays of Iligan City
Iligan’s 12 rural-classified barangays are:
Bonbonon, Bunawan, Kabacsanan, Mainit, Mandulog, Upper Tominobo, Dulag, Santo Rosario, Hindang, Kalilangan, Lanipao and Panoroganan.
Their combined 2024 population is 29,404.
These barangays include communities with smaller population bases and fewer qualifying establishments or facilities under the PSA criteria.
The rural group is not one uniform landscape.
| Rural Barangay | 2024 Population |
|---|---|
| Mandulog | 4,612 |
| Upper Tominobo | 3,892 |
| Lanipao | 2,924 |
| Mainit | 2,798 |
| Bonbonon | 2,701 |
| Kabacsanan | 2,267 |
| Bunawan | 2,093 |
| Kalilangan | 2,042 |
| Santo Rosario | 2,029 |
| Panoroganan | 1,822 |
| Dulag | 1,234 |
| Hindang | 990 |
Rural classification does not mean a barangay lacks roads, schools, health services or economic activity. It means the barangay did not meet the PSA’s urban criteria for the reference classification.
For local planning, rural barangays can require different service strategies because households and sitios are spread across longer distances.
Important concerns can include:
- Road access
- Water systems
- Evacuation routes
- Agricultural support
- Mobile connectivity
- Access to health services
- Access to barangay facilities
- Public transportation
- Disaster-response coverage
Largest and Smallest Barangays by Land Area
Largest Barangay
Rogongon is repeatedly identified in public reports and studies as Iligan City’s largest barangay.
A 2023 research paper reports a land area of 35,555 hectares, representing about 44 percent of Iligan City’s total land area.
A separate report describes Rogongon as covering about one-fourth of the city. The difference shows that published secondary descriptions are not fully consistent.
The safest wording is:
Rogongon is widely documented as Iligan City’s largest barangay. A current certified barangay land-area table should be used before publishing an exact official measurement or percentage.
The discrepancy is another reason not to copy figures from unsourced lists.
Boundary measurements can differ because of:
- Source year
- Mapping method
- Coordinate reference system
- Inclusion of disputed areas
- Treatment of waterways
- Boundary updates
- Rounding
Smallest Barangay
A current authoritative public source identifying Iligan City’s smallest barangay by land area was not found.
Population size cannot be used as a substitute for land area.
Hindang is the least populous barangay in the 2024 PSGC list, but that does not prove it has the smallest territory.
The smallest-by-area claim should remain unfilled until an official land-area dataset is obtained.
How Land Area Affects Planning and Funding
Land area matters in city planning because a large barangay can contain:
- Longer road networks
- Dispersed sitios
- Watersheds
- Agricultural zones
- Forest land
- Mountainous terrain
- Rivers and drainage systems
- Remote communities
These conditions can increase the cost and complexity of service delivery even when the population is modest.
For the allocation of the National Tax Allotment among provinces, cities and municipalities, the Department of Budget and Management identifies population, land area and equal sharing as formula components.
The distribution among barangays follows a different formula based on population and equal sharing.
This means a barangay’s land area does not directly enter the standard barangay NTA formula in the same way land area is used for provinces, cities and municipalities.
Land area still matters operationally.
A geographically large barangay can require:
- More travel time for health and social-service outreach
- Longer roads and drainage systems to maintain
- Additional evacuation and disaster-response planning
- Wider communications coverage
- More complex land-use monitoring
- Environmental protection measures
- Service points for remote sitios
Classification should therefore be read together with:
- Population
- Terrain
- Accessibility
- Hazard exposure
- Settlement pattern
- Economic activity
- Distance from the city center
- Infrastructure coverage
Barangay Governance in Iligan City
Each barangay is governed by a Punong Barangay and a Sangguniang Barangay under the Local Government Code.
Barangay officials handle local legislation and community-level functions within the powers granted by law.
The barangay also serves as the first public office residents approach for many local concerns, including:
- Barangay certifications
- Community mediation
- Peace and order concerns
- Local referrals
- Social programs
- Disaster coordination
- Youth programs
- Community records
- Local consultations
Barangay governments work with the City Government of Iligan on programs that cross administrative levels.
These can include:
- Public health
- Social welfare
- Disaster preparedness
- Solid-waste management
- Infrastructure coordination
- Peace and order
- Youth development
- Local data collection
- Environmental management
Urban-rural classification does not remove or expand the basic statutory powers of the barangay.
It provides a statistical description that helps government understand settlement patterns and service needs.
How Residents Should Use This Data
Residents should start with the purpose of their search.
For Population and Urban-Rural Status
Use the PSA Philippine Standard Geographic Code listing.
For Property Zoning
Consult the Iligan City zoning ordinance and the City Planning and Development Office.
For Titled Property Boundaries
Use the technical description, survey plan and records from the Land Registration Authority, Registry of Deeds or DENR.
For Barangay Boundaries
Request the current official boundary map or GIS layer from the appropriate city or national agency.
For Taxes and Zonal Values
Use the current BIR zonal value schedule and records from the City Assessor’s Office.
For Disaster Risk
Use official hazard maps from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, GeoRiskPH and the local disaster risk reduction and management office.
For Construction or Business Permits
Confirm requirements with the city office responsible for the intended activity.
A barangay classification cannot answer every land question.
It is one layer in a larger information stack that includes:
- Legal boundaries
- Zoning
- Land ownership
- Environmental regulation
- Hazard exposure
- Land-use planning
- Public infrastructure
Future Development and Reclassification
The PSA updates urban-rural classifications when new census and community data become available.
Population growth, new employment centers and additional facilities can move a barangay across the operational threshold.
Reclassification does not happen simply because:
- A new road opens
- A subdivision is announced
- A commercial project begins
- A barangay becomes more visible online
The barangay must meet the official statistical criteria used for the reference period.
A change in classification also does not automatically amend:
- Local zoning
- Parcel-level land classification
- Property ownership
- Environmental restrictions
- Building regulations
For Iligan City, future updates should be tracked through:
- PSA urban population releases
- PSGC updates
- City ecological profiles
- Updated Comprehensive Land Use Plans
- Zoning ordinances and amendments
- Official barangay boundary validation projects
A future version of this page can add exact land area, population density and relative-size charts once a certified 44-barangay area dataset is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total land area of Iligan City?
Iligan City has a published land area of 813.37 square kilometers, equivalent to 81,337 hectares.
How many barangays are in Iligan City?
The PSA PSGC lists 44 barangays in Iligan City.
How many Iligan barangays are urban and rural?
The current PSA listing classifies 32 barangays as urban and 12 as rural.
What is the largest barangay in Iligan City by land area?
Rogongon is widely documented as the city’s largest barangay. A research paper reports 35,555 hectares, but the exact current official measurement should be confirmed through a certified city or Land Management Bureau dataset.
What is the smallest barangay in Iligan City by land area?
No current authoritative public source identifying the smallest barangay by land area was found. The least populous barangay should not be assumed to be the smallest in territory.
Why is Rogongon classified as urban?
The PSA urban definition is based on population, employment establishments and facilities. A barangay does not need to be densely built-up across its entire territory to qualify as urban.
Does urban classification change property zoning?
No. Urban-rural classification is statistical. Property use is governed through zoning, land classification, titles, environmental rules and permits.
Where can exact barangay land-area figures be requested?
The best starting points are the Iligan City Planning and Development Office and the DENR-Land Management Bureau. The request should ask for the latest certified table or GIS dataset covering all 44 barangays.
