Alfonso Lista


Alfonso Lista, formerly known as Potia, officially the Municipality of Lista is a municipality in the province of Ifugao, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 34,810 people.

History

Potia was created as the municipal district by virtue of Republic Act No. 1222 on 11 May 1955, from the barrios of Potia, Dolowog, San Juan, San Quintin, Cabicalan, Pinto, Busilac, Santa Maria, and Namillangan in the municipal district of Mayoyao; the seat of government then was designated at Barrio Potia.
Originally called Mun-uupag by the Ifugao natives, Potia was derived from the term Putiak, a phenomenon wherein plants and flowers in the area opened their pods as they dried and cracked open. The administration of President Sergio Osmeña annexed the area presently composed of Alfonso Lista to present-day San Mateo, Isabela. However, due to opposition by local settlers in the area, a major part of the area was later transferred to Mayoyao of then Ifugao sub-province of the old Mountain Province.
On 25 June 1963, then President Diosdado Macapagal signed Executive No. 42 elevating Potia as a full pledged municipality.
On 18 June 1966, the old Mountain Province was divided into four political entities, one of which is Ifugao, by virtue of Republic Act No. 4763. Barrio Kiling was transferred from the adjacent Paracales to Potia, thus finishing efforts to recover the "lost" territories of the municipality.
In 1959, the name of Potia was renamed Lista in honor of its first mayor, Alfonso Lista. It was formalized on 15 December 1988 through Republic Act No. 6687; Barangay Sta. Maria was confirmed as the seat of the municipal government.
However, several government documents including the Philippine Statistics Authority, Commission on Audit, and the municipality itself used the style "Alfonso Lista" as its name.
To avoid confusion with the name used on Republic Act No. 6687, on 24 May 2021, House Bill No. 9451, introduced by Rep. Solomon Chungalao of the Ifugao Lone District, was filed and approved.
On 2 June 2022, Republic Act No. 11813, the act renaming Lista as Alfonso Lista, lapsed into law. A plebiscite, having no final schedule yet, will be supervised by the Commission on Elections.

Geography

Alfonso Lista is situated from the provincial capital Lagawe, and from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Alfonso Lista is politically subdivided into 20 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
  • Bangar
  • Busilac
  • Calimag
  • Calupaan
  • Caragasan
  • Dolowog
  • Kiling
  • Laya
  • Little Tadian
  • Namnama
  • Namillangan
  • Ngileb
  • Pinto
  • Potia
  • San Jose
  • San Juan
  • San Marcos
  • San Quintin
  • Santa Maria
  • Santo Domingo

    Climate

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Alfonso Lista was 34,810 people, with a density of.
The indigenes are largely Ifugao, with smaller numbers of Bontoc and Gaddang originating in the surrounding areas. The majority of the population are Ilocano who began farming the area in the 1930s.

Economy

Government

Local government

Alfonso Lista, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Ifugao, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials

PositionName
CongressmanSolomon R. Chungalao
MayorEdralin B. Alipio
Vice-MayorAgapito B. Dominguez Jr.
CouncilorsDioney B. Macadangdang
CouncilorsWilliam C. Taganas
CouncilorsHermand D. Tuguinay
CouncilorsJaime H. Dog-e
CouncilorsRex C. Aniceto
CouncilorsNoel R. Prudenciano
CouncilorsCarl Marx P. Aliguyon
CouncilorsVirginia J. Dinagtuan

Education

There are two schools district office which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. These are the Alfonso Lista I Schools District Office, and Alfonso Lista II Schools District Office.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Alfonso Lista Christian Academy
  • Alfonso Lista Central School
  • Balligi Elementary School
  • Bangar Elementary School
  • Busilac Elementary School
  • Calimag Elementary School
  • Calupaan Elementary School
  • Caragasan Elementary School
  • Catubangan Elementary School
  • Dolowog Elementary School
  • Kiling Elementary School
  • Laya Elementary School
  • Little Tadian Elementary School
  • Malalupa Elementary School
  • Namnama Elementary School
  • Namillangan Elementary School
  • Ngileb Elementary School
  • Pinto Elementary School
  • Potia Elementary School
  • Mabanutan Elementary School
  • Maligaya Elementary School
  • San Jose Elementary School
  • San Juan Elementary School
  • San Marcos Elementary School
  • San Quintin Elementary School
  • Sto. Domingo Elementary School
  • Sto. Domingo Elementary School Annex
  • Tallo Purok Elementary School

    Secondary schools

  • Caragasan National High School
  • Eastern Potia National High School
  • Namillangan National High School
  • Pinto National High School
  • Sta. Maria National High School