Barangay San Rafael West

Situated in Santa Maria, Isabela, Barangay San Rafael West is one of 20 barangays that make up the municipality within Cagayan Valley.

According to the 2020 Philippine census, Barangay San Rafael West had a population of 793. This made it the 18th largest of 20 barangays in Santa Maria by population, placing it among the smaller barangays of the municipality. Residents of Barangay San Rafael West accounted for approximately 3.08% of the total population of Santa Maria, which stood at 25,758 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay San Rafael West moving from 763 residents to 793 residents, an intercensal change of +3.9%. The trajectory indicates a growing community. Barangay San Rafael West is officially classified as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Santa Maria is a municipality comprising 20 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay San Rafael West, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Isabela, which contains 1,055 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay San Rafael West ranks 776th by 2020 population. Isabela is classified as a 1st by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay San Rafael West 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.