Conner, Apayao, Philippines

About the Municipality of Conner, Apayao

Location and Access

Conner is an inland municipality in the province of Apayao, within the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in northern Luzon. It lies in a mountainous area traversed by rivers and valleys, and is reached mainly by overland travel from other parts of Apayao and neighboring provinces.

By land, Conner is accessible via provincial and national roads linking it to other municipalities of Apayao and to junction towns in Cagayan and Kalinga. From regional centers such as Tuguegarao City (Cagayan) and Laoag City (Ilocos Norte), passengers typically travel by bus or van to gateway towns and then continue by jeepney, van, or bus to Conner. Within the municipality, the main road network passes through central barangays including Caglayan (New Pob.) and Malama, which host many public services and commercial activities.

As Apayao is a landlocked province, the nearest practical seaports used by residents are found along the northern coasts of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte, such as the port area of Aparri in Cagayan and coastal ports in Ilocos Norte. For air travel, the closest regularly used airports are Tuguegarao Airport in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, and Laoag International Airport in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, both connected to Conner by overland routes.

Location of Municipality Hall

The municipal hall of Conner is located in Barangay Caglayan (New Pob.), which serves as the present town center or new poblacion of the municipality. From this central location, the municipal government administers services to all barangays of Conner.

Economy of Conner

The economy of Conner is predominantly agricultural. Households rely on the cultivation of rice (palay), corn, root crops, bananas, and other fruits and vegetables suited to the upland climate. Coffee and other highland crops are also grown on sloping areas, and many families maintain backyard gardens and small livestock such as pigs, poultry, and goats.

Forest resources, including timber, bamboo, and non-timber forest products, play an important supplemental role in household income, especially in upland barangays. Small-scale trading, sari-sari stores, and marketplace commerce in barangays like Malama and Caglayan (New Pob.) provide basic goods and services to residents. Some families earn income from employment in government offices, schools, health facilities, construction, transport services, and through remittances from relatives working elsewhere in the Philippines or abroad. Tourism is still modest and generally nature-based, centered on the municipality’s rivers, forests, and mountain landscapes.

Natural Resources and Rivers

Conner is rich in natural resources typical of the Cordillera uplands. Large portions of the municipality are covered by forests and brushlands that serve as watersheds and habitats for diverse flora and fauna. Fertile valleys and river plains support rice paddies and mixed farms, while higher elevations are used for corn, root crops, and other upland agriculture.

The municipality forms part of the Apayao–Abulug river system. Major rivers and tributaries, including sections of the Apayao (Apayao–Abulug) River and the Matalag River, flow through or near several barangays. These rivers, along with smaller creeks and streams, are used primarily for irrigation, domestic water sources in some communities, small-scale fishing, and local transport in limited stretches. Springs and upland water sources are also important for gravity-fed community water systems.

Power, Water, and Utilities

Electric power in Conner is supplied through the regional distribution network of the Kalinga-Apayao Electric Cooperative (KAELCO), which extends lines to the municipality and its barangays. While most populated areas have access to electricity, service quality may vary, and some remote sitios still experience limited or intermittent supply.

Residents mainly rely on community-managed water systems. These include spring-fed pipelines, communal faucets, level I and level II water systems, and individual deep wells or hand pumps. A large, formally organized water district has not been widely documented, so water provision is typically managed by barangay local governments, people’s organizations, or water associations with support from the municipal government and national agencies.

Telecommunications are provided primarily through mobile networks, with stronger signal coverage in the poblacion area and nearby barangays such as Caglayan (New Pob.), Malama, and adjacent communities. Internet access is available through mobile data and selected establishments, while service in more distant barangays may be limited or intermittent.

Banking, Commerce, and Health Services

Conner’s commercial activity is concentrated in and around the town center. The municipality has a public market in Barangay Malama, where agricultural produce, fish, meat, and basic household goods are traded. Numerous sari-sari stores, small eateries, and service shops are scattered across the barangays, providing daily necessities to residents.

Formal banking services are available through a rural bank branch and cooperatives operating in the municipality, including institutions located in Malama. Microfinance groups, farmers’ cooperatives, and savings-and-loan associations also play an important role in providing credit and savings facilities. For a wider range of banking services and larger financial transactions, residents may travel to bigger commercial centers in Apayao and neighboring provinces.

Health services in Conner are delivered through a combination of a district or community hospital, the Municipal Rural Health Unit (RHU), and barangay health stations. These facilities provide basic medical consultations, maternal and child care, immunization, and public health programs. For specialized treatment, surgery, or higher-level hospital care that is not available locally, patients are usually referred to provincial hospitals or regional medical centers in nearby cities.

Education in Conner

Basic education is widely available in Conner. Most barangays have public elementary or primary schools, ensuring that children can attend the early grades within or near their own communities. Multi-grade teaching is common in smaller or more remote schools, reflecting the municipality’s dispersed settlement pattern.

Secondary education is provided by several public high schools and national high schools located in different barangays. These include high schools in Barangay Ili, Barangay Sacpil, Barangay Guinaang, and Barangay Talifugo, among others, which serve students from surrounding communities. Students from more distant barangays often commute daily or stay with relatives near these schools during the week.

Conner also hosts the main campus of Apayao State College in Barangay Malama, offering tertiary education and technical or professional courses within the municipality. For degree programs not yet available locally or for further specialization, students commonly proceed to universities and colleges in Tuguegarao City, Laoag City, and other regional centers in northern Luzon.

Local Transportation

Local transportation in Conner reflects the typical patterns of upland municipalities in the Cordillera region. Within the town center and nearby barangays, motorized tricycles and motorcycles (habal-habal) are the most common means of short-distance travel, carrying passengers between the market, schools, the municipal hall, and residential areas. Pedicabs or non-motorized tricycles may also be used in some flat portions of the poblacion, but motorized units are more common given the terrain.

Between barangays and to other municipalities, residents usually travel by jeepneys, vans, or minibuses that run along the main roads on scheduled or semi-scheduled trips, depending on passenger demand. Many remote sitios are reached by motorcycle, four-wheel-drive vehicles, or on foot, especially during periods of heavy rain when roads can become difficult to pass. There are no regular taxicab services operating within Conner; instead, public utility jeepneys, vans, and tricycles remain the primary modes of public transport for both people and goods.

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.