Tubo, Abra, Philippines

About the Municipality of Tubo, Abra

Location and Access

Tubo is a highland municipality located at the southern tip of the province of Abra in the Cordillera region of northern Luzon. It is a landlocked area bordered by the province of Ilocos Sur and the municipality of Luba to the west, Boliney to the north, and the provinces of Kalinga and Mountain Province to the east and south. The municipality is reached primarily by land from the provincial capital Bangued, usually via the towns of Peñarrubia, Bucay, Manabo, and Luba, then onward along upland roads into Tubo’s interior barangays. Public transport is limited, with jeepneys and other local vehicles providing trips from Bangued to selected barangays such as Poblacion (Mayabo), Dilong, Supo, Tiempo, and Kili. For sea and air travel, residents generally connect by road to Bangued and then onward to major coastal cities and airports in the Ilocos Region and other parts of northern Luzon.

Location of Municipality Hall

The municipal hall and most local government offices of Tubo are located in Barangay Poblacion (Mayabo). This barangay functions as the administrative center of the municipality, hosting the municipal government, the rural health unit, and other key public services that serve residents from the outlying barangays.

Economy of Tubo

Tubo has a predominantly rural and agriculture-based economy. Households rely mainly on upland farming, producing rice, corn, root crops, and vegetables suited to the mountainous terrain and cooler climate. Small-scale livestock raising, backyard gardening, and the gathering of forest products such as fuelwood and bamboo also support local livelihoods. Many residents complement these activities with seasonal work, small sari-sari stores, or remittances from family members working outside the municipality. Emerging tourism centered on natural attractions like waterfalls, hot springs, and rice terraces provides additional, though still modest, income opportunities for some communities.

Natural Resources and Rivers

The municipality of Tubo is rich in natural resources, with extensive forested slopes, river valleys, and terraced hillsides. Its rugged landscape forms part of important watershed areas that provide water for domestic use, small-scale irrigation, and downstream communities. Among its well-known natural features are the rice terraces, river landscapes, and the Kili Falls and hot spring area in Barangay Kili, which draw visitors for nature-based recreation. Local rivers and streams are used for bathing, washing, and watering crops and animals, and the surrounding forests contribute to biodiversity and climate regulation. Sustainable management of these natural resources is important for the long-term well-being of the indigenous Maeng communities and other residents who depend on them.

Power, Water, and Utilities

Electric power in Tubo is supplied by two electric cooperatives. Most barangays are served by the Abra Electric Cooperative (ABRECO), while some communities, particularly those closer to Ilocos Sur such as Dilong, Tubtuba, and Alangtin, receive electricity from the Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO). Despite this coverage, power supply can still be limited or intermittent in some remote sitios. Potable water generally comes from spring sources and small gravity-fed or community-managed systems, with individual households often maintaining their own water lines or storage containers. Formal piped water districts are not widely documented, so residents in many barangays rely mainly on local springs, wells, and communal water projects. Mobile phone and internet service are present in selected areas but may be weak or unreliable, especially in more remote mountain barangays.

Banking, Commerce, and Health Services

Given Tubo’s small population and mountainous setting, there are no major commercial banks or large shopping centers in the municipality. Residents typically travel to Bangued or to larger lowland towns in Abra or Ilocos Sur for formal banking, government transactions, and access to bigger commercial establishments. Within Tubo, commerce is centered on the public market area and small businesses in Barangay Poblacion (Mayabo), supplemented by sari-sari stores and periodic trading of agricultural products in the different barangays.

Health services are anchored on the Tubo Rural Health Unit located in Barangay Poblacion (Mayabo), which provides primary care, maternal and child health services, and basic medical consultations. Barangay health stations and barangay health workers support the delivery of health programs in outlying communities. For hospital-level treatment, specialized care, surgery, or emergency services beyond the capacity of the Rural Health Unit, residents usually travel to provincial or private hospitals in Bangued and other nearby urban centers.

Education in Tubo

Basic education in Tubo is overseen by the Tubo Schools District Office under the Department of Education. Most barangays host either an elementary school or a primary school, ensuring that younger children can attend classes within or near their own communities. Elementary and primary schools are found in barangays such as Alangtin, Amtuagan, Dilong, Kili, Supo, Tabacda, Tiempo, Tubtuba, Wayangan, and at Tubo Central School in Poblacion (Mayabo).

For secondary education, there are three public high schools serving different clusters of barangays: Dilong National High School in Barangay Dilong, Supo National High School in Barangay Supo, and Tiempo National High School in Barangay Tiempo. These schools offer junior and senior high school education to students from Tubo’s 10 barangays. There are no colleges or universities located within the municipality, so students seeking tertiary education generally proceed to higher education institutions in Bangued, other parts of Abra, Baguio City, or major cities in the Ilocos and lowland regions.

Local Transportation

Local transportation in Tubo reflects its mountainous and sparsely populated setting. Jeepneys remain the primary public transport connecting the municipality with Bangued and linking the more accessible barangays, often following narrow, winding mountain roads and, in some sections, crossing rivers by small barges or fords. Within and between barangays, residents commonly rely on single motorcycles or habal-habal, as well as walking along footpaths and trails, especially in areas where road access is limited or affected by weather. Tricycles may be used in some of the more gently sloping and road-linked sections near the municipal center, but they are less common in steep or remote areas. There are no regular taxicab services, and most longer trips for goods, markets, or services involve coordination with jeepney schedules or hired vehicles from outside the municipality.

January 7, 2026

1️⃣ Andas for Traslación 2026 now ready, with upgrades

The Andas carrying the Black Nazarene for January 9 Traslación features new steering wheel and reinforced underchassis to handle massive devotee crowds safely.

2️⃣ Over 3,500 affected by Mayon volcano unrest

NDRRMC reports 3,515 people from 964 families evacuated in Albay due to recent magmatic eruptions, ashfall, and pyroclastic flows; all in permanent danger zone.

3️⃣ Magnitude 6.4 quake hits off southern Philippines

USGS detects 6.4 quake off Davao Oriental coast—no tsunami threat reported, but locals feel shaking; no immediate damage confirmed.