Siocon, officially the Municipality of Siocon (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Siocan; Subanen: Benwa Siocan; Chavacano: Municipalidad de Siocan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Siocan), is a municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 48,524 people.[5]
Visitors describe Siocon as a "hidden paradise".[citation needed]
Local industry includes the Canatuan mine.
In 1955, the following barrios were created:[6]
In May 2003, the municipality was attacked by 150 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Abu Sayyaf guerrillas.[7] The attack commenced at 12 a.m. on May 4. A small group of policemen led by 27-year-old police senior inspector Ranie Planilla Hachuela defended Siocon during the assault, which lasted nine hours. Hachuela managed to rally his men in putting up stiff resistance against the wave of attacks by the rebels trying to overrun the municipal hall, police station, and hospital. For this reason he was awarded the Medal of Valor for risking his life and for rescuing the town mayor and his family.
The rebels created an intricate plan of securing the entry and exit points of the Poblacion (town center). Responding government troops were ambushed as they tried to aid the outnumbered policemen.
That frightening feeling was expressed by Wiljun "Pido" Cubero as he narrated how the rebels stormed the municipal hall and fire station right next to their house at Micubo's compound.
Thirteen of the 150 rebels were killed, including Jairullah Hassan (aka Commander Hairon of the MILF) who headed the attack.
Eleven government troops and 25 civilians also lost their lives in the assault, including two seminarians.[8] The public market was burned down, while civilians were taken out of their homes to be used as human shields as rebels withdrew. Some hostages were released hours later, while other strong men were held for days as they were tasked to carry wounded rebels through the thick forest in the municipality of Sibuco.
The day after the attack, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu expressed that it was a show of force by the MILF and Abu Sayyaf within the area.
Siocon is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
| Climate data for Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30 (86) |
30 (86) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
29 (84) |
30 (86) |
30 (86) |
30 (86) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23 (73) |
23 (73) |
24 (75) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (76) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 98 (3.9) |
78 (3.1) |
116 (4.6) |
115 (4.5) |
222 (8.7) |
281 (11.1) |
272 (10.7) |
282 (11.1) |
237 (9.3) |
258 (10.2) |
180 (7.1) |
108 (4.3) |
2,247 (88.6) |
| Average rainy days | 19.6 | 18.6 | 21.8 | 22.9 | 29.0 | 28.6 | 28.7 | 28.3 | 27.0 | 28.6 | 25.9 | 22.1 | 301.1 |
| Source: Meteoblue[9] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 10,526 | — |
| 1948 | 11,751 | +1.23% |
| 1960 | 16,953 | +3.10% |
| 1970 | 18,842 | +1.06% |
| 1975 | 26,723 | +7.26% |
| 1980 | 29,519 | +2.01% |
| 1990 | 26,544 | −1.06% |
| 1995 | 28,196 | +1.14% |
| 2000 | 32,699 | +3.23% |
| 2007 | 41,221 | +3.25% |
| 2010 | 41,637 | +0.37% |
| 2015 | 46,907 | +2.30% |
| 2020 | 48,524 | +0.72% |
| 2024 | 51,239 | +1.32% |
| Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14] | ||
Poverty incidence of Siocon
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2000
51.71 2003
50.31 2006
59.80 2009
63.56 2012
49.24 2015
48.20 2018
51.36 2021
47.26 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] |
Most of its 26 barangays have their respective public elementary schools and only few have public secondary schools. In the town proper has its elementary and secondary public schools and a state university.[23]
Places adjacent to Siocon | |
|---|---|
 Province of Zamboanga del Norte | |
|---|---|
Dipolog (capital and largest city) | |
| Municipalities | |
| Component cities | |
| Islands |
|
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