Barangay Payeo

Situated in Besao, Mountain Province, Barangay Payeo is one of 14 barangays that make up the municipality within CAR.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Payeo had a population of 408. This made it the 8th largest of 14 barangays in Besao by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Payeo accounted for approximately 5.94% of the total population of Besao, which stood at 6,873 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 417 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 408 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of -2.2%, consistent with a contracting settlement. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay Payeo as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Besao is a municipality comprising 14 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Payeo, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Mountain Province, which contains 144 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Payeo ranks 118th by 2020 population. Mountain Province is classified as a 4th by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay Payeo is led by an elected Punong Barangay (barangay captain) supported by seven Sangguniang Barangay members (kagawads), an SK Chairperson, a Barangay Secretary, and a Barangay Treasurer. The next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, with officials serving four-year terms under Republic Act No. 12232.