History

1. Political

Historical Background

In the year 1927, evacuees from the province of Ilocos came to this place. They mingled with the people originally residing near a mountainous area. They were the Agtas and Ybanags earning a living through farming, hunting wild animals and raising domestic animals since the place is near to mountains.

In the year 1930, the place became progressive in terms of agricultural aspect as the population increases. As years passed by, the people living in this place, agreed together that there should be a name of the place where they are living. They came to think that they ill name the place “Dummun”.

After several years, the said barangay separated to Dummun and became part of Bario Tubungan. Until such time that the residents realized that they can stand and manage to have their own barrio and so they got separated to Tubungan and named their place Cunig.

They got its name through a plant named Cunig. It looks like a ginger plant and it can cure different illnesses such as stomachache, fever and wounds.

Political Subdivision

Barangay Cunig is politically subdivided into seven (7) zones; Zone 1 is headed by Kagawad Fe Emily Cabading, Zone 2 is headed by Kagawad Dennis Austral, Zone 3 is headed by Kagawad Elmer Salviejo , Zone 4 is headed by Kagawad Reynaldo Escobar, Zone 5 is headed by Kagawad Jojo Ancheta, Zone 6 is headed by Kagawad Ruben Luga, and Zone 7 is headed by Kagawad Amado Dumlao.

The Barangay Captain of this barangay is Honorable Ogie Taguiam.

2. Geography and Topography

Physical Resources

The total land area of Cunig Elementary School is approximately 1567.5 square meter.

Location and Boundaries of the Province

Cunig Elementary School is located at South Eastern part of Gattaran Cagayan approximately 3.5 km away from the national road. The school is within the vicinity of Cunig, Gattaran, Cagayan and a barrio across the river of Calaoagan Bassit, Gattaran, Cagayan. The school is 13.5 km away from the poblacion. It is 3.5 km from the nearest public elementary school - Calaoagan Bassit Elementary School. Gattaran National Trade School is the nearest public secondary school which is 7km away. The nearest private secondary school which is Saint Catherine’s Academy is approximately 13.5 km. It is 9km away from the district office and 105km away from the Division Office.

Land Area

Barangay Cunig has an aggregate land area of approximately 2,623.56 hectares which is composed of hills, corn lands and farm lands.

Climate

Cunig has three types of climate: Type II, III and IV. Type II climate has no pronounced dry season but has very pronounced rainfall from November to January. Type III climate is predominant in the Province in most areas within the valley. There is no pronounced season; although, it is relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. The northeast monsoon brings dry and cool winds from November to January. The southwest monsoon brings heavy rainfall as it blows over the mountains in the months of June to October, sometimes extending to the early part of November. Type IV climate is characterized by evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year mainly because of the northeast trade winds. This further enhances the suitability of these areas to planting various crops adapted to this climate type.

Generally, the driest months are January through April. Rainy months are June, July, August, and September. These rainfall patterns determine the appropriate mix of perennial crops that can be raised in specific period for optimal production.

The barangay experiences a normal cumulative rainfall from April to September but some areas drastically reduces cumulative rainfall for the period October to March. Prolonged drought usually extends to the months of May or June mostly along the province’s agricultural production areas or the valley floor.

As part of a tropical country, the barangay experiences only two seasons, the wet season and the dry season, based upon the amount of rainfall. Dry season is usually experienced from December to May and the wet season for the rest of the year. However, recent trend in the wet and dry seasons have changed significantly for the past five years where the province either experience an extended wet or dry season. Based on temperature, the seven warmest months of the year are from March to October; the winter monsoon brings cooler air from November to February. May is the warmest month, and January, the coolest.

3. Cultural Profile

There is only one known version of how Cunig got its name. It is named by a plant known as “Cunig”. Ilocano is widely spoken dialect in Cunig.

Population Size, Density and Growth Size

In the 2010 census, the population of Cunig has 542 individuals.

Population’s Level of Education

Of the household population age five years and over, 40.7 % has attended or completed elementary education, 30.7 reached or finished high school, 9.3% were college undergraduates and 9.5% were academic degree holders. Among those with academic degree, the females (57.3%) outnumbered their male counterparts (42.7%). There was also noted increase in the number of females that pursued or completed post-graduate education.

Population with Disabilities and Functional Difficulty

The barangay has also a fair share of population with disabilities and functional difficulties.

Access to Social Services

Education

Cunig Elementary School is located at the South Eastern part of Gattaran, Cagayan approximately 3.5 km away from the national road. The school in within the vicinity of Cunig, Gattaran, Cagayan. A barrio across the river of Calaoagan Bassit, Gattaran, Cagayan. The school was established in 2006 and it is now a complete elementary school with seven (7) teachers headed by a Teacher-In- Charge. It has a current enrolment of 112 school children.

The school is still on the process of completing its physical facilities since it is only 12 ­­­ years old.

Poverty

The factors surrounding poverty characteristics in the barangay are low income due to unemployment or underemployment, the problem of low income among families is intertwined with low productivity and inadequacy of livelihood and job opportunities in the province. A high price of goods and services is also a factor. The spiraling increase in prices of goods and services has made the living conditions of low income families more burdensome. More so, families who belong to poverty threshold level could hardly cope-up with the present inflation.