Barangay Marcela (Pob.)

Barangay Marcela (Pob.) forms part of Santa Marcela, a municipality in Apayao, and is classified as a small barangay.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Marcela (Pob.) had a population of 1,368. This made it the 3rd largest of 13 barangays in Santa Marcela by population, placing it in the upper half of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Marcela (Pob.) accounted for approximately 10.27% of the total population of Santa Marcela, which stood at 13,317 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay Marcela (Pob.) moving from 1,296 residents to 1,368 residents, an intercensal change of +5.6%. The trajectory indicates a growing community. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay Marcela (Pob.) as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Santa Marcela is a municipality comprising 13 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Marcela (Pob.), including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Apayao, which contains 133 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Marcela (Pob.) ranks 27th by 2020 population. Apayao is classified as a 3rd by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

The barangay's legislative and executive affairs are handled by a Punong Barangay and the Sangguniang Barangay, elected nationwide during the Barangay and SK Elections. The next BSKE is scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, following the synchronized election schedule set by COMELEC Resolution No. 11191.