Lacub, Abra, Philippines

About the Municipality of Lacub, Abra

Location and Access

Lacub is a 5th class, landlocked municipality in the province of Abra, within the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) of northern Luzon. It lies in the upland northeastern part of the province, surrounded by steep mountains and valleys.

Access to Lacub is primarily by land. Travelers usually proceed first to the provincial capital Bangued, which serves as the main jump-off point for interior municipalities of Abra. From Bangued, public transport typically consists of a daily jeepney service and other high-clearance vehicles that follow a narrow, winding mountain road to the poblacion of Lacub. Travel time can take several hours and may be affected by weather and road conditions.

Being landlocked and mountainous, Lacub has no direct seaport or airport. Long-distance travelers coming from other regions or islands generally enter Northern Luzon via major airports or seaports in neighboring lowland provinces, then continue by bus or private vehicle to Bangued and onward to Lacub by jeepney or similar land transport.

Municipal Hall Location

The municipal hall and other main local government offices are located in the poblacion area of Lacub, within the barangay of Poblacion (Talampac). As with all municipalities in the Philippines, these government facilities are situated inside a specific barangay, which in Lacub’s case is the urban barangay serving as the town center.

Economy

The economy of Lacub is predominantly rural and agriculture-based. Households cultivate rice (both lowland irrigated plots where terrain allows and upland fields), corn, root crops, vegetables, and assorted fruit trees. Small-scale livestock raising, such as pigs, poultry, and carabao, complements crop production and supports household food security.

Some communities engage in small-scale mineral extraction, including gold ore mining, as a supplementary source of income. Forest resources—such as wood for fuel and construction and various non-timber products—also contribute to local livelihoods, while the poblacion hosts basic trade and services through sari-sari stores, small eateries, and stalls that buy and sell farm produce and daily necessities.

Natural Resources and Rivers

Lacub is part of a mountain watershed system characterized by forested slopes, river valleys, and small alluvial plains suitable for agriculture. The municipality is drained primarily by the Binongan River and its tributaries, including the Malanas River, which run through or near several barangays. These rivers, along with numerous creeks and springs, provide water for irrigation, household needs, small-scale fishing, and livestock.

Fertile river terraces and gently sloping areas are used for rice paddies and other crops, while surrounding uplands retain forest cover that supports biodiversity and helps protect the watershed. In some sitios, gravity-fed community water systems tap springs and streams to supply drinking water and domestic use.

Power, Water, and Utilities

Electric power in Lacub is supplied by the Abra Electric Cooperative (ABRECO), which distributes electricity to the poblacion and various barangays. Due to the municipality’s mountainous terrain and scattered settlements, some remote sitios may still experience limited or intermittent service, or rely on small generators and solar panels where grid extension is not yet in place.

Lacub does not have a large, formal water district. Residents mainly rely on community-managed systems such as spring- and gravity-fed pipelines, communal tap stands, and small rural water projects. In upland communities like those in Lan-Ag, for example, dedicated community water systems have been developed to bring water from higher-elevation sources down to households. Irrigation structures, often managed in coordination with national and provincial agencies, support rice production in valley and riverine areas. Mobile phone and data services are generally available in the poblacion but may be weak or absent in more remote barangays and sitios.

Banking, Commerce, and Health Services

Lacub is classified as an unbanked municipality, with no commercial bank branches operating inside its territory. For full banking services—including deposits, withdrawals, and loans—residents typically travel to Bangued or other larger towns in Abra and nearby provinces.

Local commerce is concentrated in Poblacion (Talampac), where small stores, market stalls, and service shops sell basic goods, dry and wet market products, and agricultural inputs. In the rural barangays of Bacag, Buneg, Guinguinabang, Lan-Ag, and Pacoc, commerce is typically limited to sari-sari stores and small-scale trading of farm produce and household supplies.

Health services are anchored by the Lacub Rural Health Unit, which is located in the poblacion area and functions as the main primary care and public health facility for the municipality. Barangay health stations and outreach activities extend basic health services—such as immunizations and maternal and child care—to outlying communities. For hospital-level care, diagnostic services, and specialist treatment, residents generally go to provincial hospitals and private clinics in Bangued and other urban centers in the region.

Education

The municipality’s schools are supervised by the Lacub Schools District Office, which oversees public basic education from primary to secondary levels. Most barangays have their own elementary or primary schools, including Bacag Elementary School in Bacag, Buneg Primary School in Buneg, Lan-ag Elementary School in Lan-Ag, Pacoc Elementary School in Pacoc, and Lacub Central School in the poblacion. Other elementary schools operate in smaller communities such as Sap-al and Talipugo, helping to ensure that children in remote sitios have access to primary education.

Lacub has one public secondary school, Alfredo D. Bersamina National High School, which serves learners from all barangays of the municipality. There are no colleges or universities based in Lacub; students seeking tertiary and technical education typically enroll in institutions located in Bangued, other towns of Abra, or larger cities such as Baguio and those in the lowland provinces.

Local Transportation

Local transportation in Lacub reflects its upland, rural setting. Between Lacub and the provincial capital, the primary mode of public transport is the jeepney, with daily trips connecting the poblacion to Bangued. These trips often use high-clearance vehicles capable of navigating steep, unpaved, and sometimes muddy mountain roads.

Within the town center and along accessible barangay roads, residents commonly use motorcycles, tricycles, and other small vehicles for everyday mobility. Pedicabs, where present, are generally confined to relatively flat sections of the poblacion. There are no regular taxicab services in Lacub; longer journeys are made by jeepney, van, or private vehicles.

In remote sitios and upland farms, walking and hiking remain essential modes of travel. Many residents cross footpaths, hanging bridges, and river crossings to reach schools, farms, markets, and the rural health unit, particularly during the rainy season when road conditions become more challenging.

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.