Agusan del Norte

Agusan del Norte (Cebuano: Amihanang Agusan; Butuanon: Probinsya hong Agusan del Norte) is a province in the Philippines located in the Caraga region of Mindanao. Its capital is the city of Cabadbaran and it is bordered on the northeast by Surigao del Norte; mid-east by Surigao del Sur; southeast by Agusan del Sur, and southwest by Misamis Oriental. It faces Butuan Bay, part of the Bohol Sea, to the northwest.

Agusan del Norte
Province
Province of Agusan del Norte
From top, left to right: Lake Mainit at Kitcharao; Magellan Shrine; Brgy. Poblacion in Jabonga; Agusan del Norte Provincial Capitol
Flag
Seal
Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°10′N 125°30′E
CountryPhilippines
RegionCaraga (Region XIII)
Founded17 June 1967
Capital
Government
 • TypeSangguniang Panlalawigan
 • GovernorDale B. Corvera (PDP-Laban)
 • Vice GovernorRamon Alejandro G. Bungabong (PDP-Laban)
Area
 • Total2,730.24 km2 (1,054.15 sq mi)
Area rank48th out of 81
 (excluding Butuan City)
Highest elevation
(Mount Hilong-Hilong)
1,920 m (6,300 ft)
Population
 (2015 census)[2]
 • Total354,503
 • Rank64th out of 81
 • Density130/km2 (340/sq mi)
 • Density rank62nd out of 81
 (excluding Butuan City)
Divisions
 • Independent cities
 • Component cities
 • Municipalities
 • Barangays166
including independent cities: 252
 • Districts1st and 2nd districts of Agusan del Norte (shared with Butuan City)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PHT)
ZIP code
8600–8611
IDD : area code +63 (0)85
ISO 3166 codePH-AGN
Spoken languages
Income classification3rd class
Websitewww.agusandelnorte.gov.ph
‡ As per RA 8811, Cabadbaran is the officially designated capital of the province. However, the provincial government still holds office in Butuan City, pending the actual transfer of provincial offices to the new capital.

History

Spanish and American era
Further information: Agusan (province)
Map of Agusan province in 1918

Prior to its creation as an independent province, Agusan, as it was once undivided, was under the jurisdiction of Surigao province during the Spanish colonial period. In 1911, Agusan was separated from Surigao by the American government, creating the Agusan province.[3]

World War II

During World War II in 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Northern Agusan.

In 1945, Filipino soldiers of the 6th, 10th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 107th and 110th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the 10th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary together with the recognized Agusan guerrilla fighter units against the Japanese forces beginning the liberation in Northern Agusan during World War II.

During the war, a unit of the joint Philippine-American defense force were located at Manot, Talacogon, in the interior of the Agusan Valley.

Independence

In 1967, Republic Act 4979 divided Agusan into two independent provinces: Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.[4]

On August 16, 2000, the seat of provincial government was transferred from Butuan City to Cabadbaran through Republic Act 8811,[5] although the province is yet to complete the transfer of provincial services and functions to the new capital.

Geography
Landscape in Tubay

Agusan del Norte is situated in Mindanao's western section of Caraga. It is bordered on the northwest by the Butuan Bay; northeast by Surigao del Norte; mid-east by Surigao del Sur; southeast by Agusan del Sur, and southwest by Misamis Oriental. Agusan del Norte has a total land area of 2,730.24 square kilometres or 1,054.15 square miles. When Butuan City is included for geographical purposes, the province's land area is 3,546.86 square kilometres (1,369.45 sq mi).[6]

The central portion of the province forms the lower basin of the third longest river in the country, the Agusan, its mouth located at the Butuan Bay. Consequently, the terrain surrounding the river features flat to rolling lands. Mountainous terrain dominate the northeastern and western areas.[3]

The country's fourth largest lake, Lake Mainit is situated at the northern border between the province of Surigao del Norte.[7]

Administrative divisions

Agusan del Norte comprises 10 municipalities and 1 component city.

The city of Cabadbaran is the officially designated capital of the province per Republic Act 8811.[5] The highly urbanized city of Butuan is geographically within but administratively independent from the province.

Political map of Agusan del Norte
City or municipality [lower-roman 1] Population ±% p.a. Area[6] Density (2015) Brgy.
(2015)[2] (2010)[8] km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Buenavista 17.4%61,614 56,139 +1.79% 475.61 183.63 130 340 25
Butuan ‡ — 337,063 309,709 +1.62% 816.62 315.30 410 1,100 86
Cabadbaran † 20.8%73,639 69,241 +1.18% 214.44 82.80 340 880 31
Carmen 5.9%20,839 19,781 +1.00% 311.02 120.09 67 170 8
Jabonga 6.5%23,184 23,833 −0.52% 293.00 113.13 79 200 15
Kitcharao 5.3%18,659 17,377 +1.36% 171.92 66.38 110 280 11
Las Nieves 8.0%28,414 26,856 +1.08% 582.69 224.98 49 130 20
Magallanes 5.9%21,007 21,481 −0.42% 44.31 17.11 470 1,200 8
Nasipit 11.8%41,957 40,663 +0.60% 144.40 55.75 290 750 19
Remedios T. Romualdez 4.5%16,058 15,735 +0.39% 79.15 30.56 200 520 8
Santiago 6.8%24,200 20,955 +2.78% 275.61 106.41 88 230 8
Tubay 7.0%24,932 20,426 +3.87% 138.09 53.32 180 470 13
TOTAL [lower-roman 2] 354,503 332,487 +1.23% 2,730.24 1,054.15 130 340 166
 †  Provincial capital and component city      Municipality

 ‡  Highly urbanized city (geographically within but independent from the province)

  1. The globe  icon marks the city/town center.
  2. Total figures exclude the highly urbanized city of Butuan.

Demographics
Population census of
Agusan del Norte
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 237,629—    
1995 267,411+2.24%
2000 285,570+1.42%
2007 314,027+1.32%
2010 332,487+2.10%
2015 354,503+1.23%
(excluding Butuan City)
Source: PSA[2][8][9][10]

The population of Agusan del Norte in the 2015 census was 354,503 people,[2] making it the country's 64th most populous province. It had a density of 130 inhabitants per square kilometre or 340 inhabitants per square mile.

When the highly urbanized city of Butuan is included for geographical purposes, the province's population is 691,566 people, with a density of 195 inhabitants per square kilometre (510/sq mi).

Religion

In 2013, the Diocese of Butuan (Catholic-Hierarchy) reported that Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion of the province comprising roughly 71% of the population and significant minority belongs to Iglesia Filipina Independiente with 10% . The remaining beliefs usually belong to other Christian denominations as well as Islam.

Further information: Roman Catholic Diocese of Butuan

Economy

The economy of the province is dominantly agricultural, major crops of which include rice, corn, coconut, abaca, banana and mango.[11]

Government
Current Provincial Capitol in Butuan (Left) and unfinished New Provincial Capitol in Cabadbaran (Right)

Agusan del Norte has two congressional districts encompassing its 10 municipalities and 1 component city, as well as the highly urbanized city of Butuan.

District Representative[12] City or municipality District population (2015)
1st Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun
365,477
2nd Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba
326,089

Tourism

The province has many beaches in Cabadbaran and the municipalities of Carmen, Buenavista, and Nasipit. Mount Hilong-Hilong, one of the tallest in the province, is located in Cabadbaran.

From the top of Prayer Mountain (Mount Pongkay), visitors can have a panoramic view of Cabadbaran which includes buildings, churches, rivers and the sea. The Agusan River, the longest in Mindanao and the third longest in the Philippines is in Butuan City. Looming southwest of the Agusan Valley is Mount Mayapay, a mountain plateau. The ancient Balangay boats were found in Butuan, excavated in the Balangay Shrine across the Masao River from Bood Promontory. They played a major role because of Butuan being a port city. Since its discovery, the Balangays have become an icon of Butuan. The Kaya ng Pinoy, Inc. recreated the Balangay boats and have sailed it as part of their project, the Balangay Voyage.

References
  1. "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  2. Census of Population (2015). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  3. Lancion, Jr., Conrado M.; cartography by de Guzman, Rey (1995). "The Provinces; Agusan del Norte". Fast Facts about Philippine Provinces (The 2000 Millenium ed.). Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines: Tahanan Books. p. 18. ISBN 971-630-037-9. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  4. "Republic Act No. 4979; An Act Creating the Provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur". The LawPhil Project. 17 June 1967. Retrieved 4 December 2015. Section 1. The Province of Agusan is hereby divided into two provinces, to be known as Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
  5. "Republic Act No. 8811; An Act Transferring the Capital and Seat of Government of the Province of Agusan del Norte from Butuan City to the Municipality of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte" (PDF). Congress of the Philippines (official website). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  6. "Province: Agusan del Norte". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  7. Catoto, Roel (2 October 2014). "Caraga lawmakers push for Lake Mainit Development Authority". MindaNews. Retrieved 22 April 2016. Lake Mainit, the fourth largest lake in the country, occupies an area of 17,060 hectare and straddles the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte.
  8. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities (PDF). NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Caraga". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  11. "Agricultural Crops". Official Web Site of Agusan del Norte. Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2016. Major agricultural crops in Agusan del Norte are rice, corn, coconut, abaca, banana and mango. The province also produces cassava, durian, pineapple, coffee, vegetables and root crops. The three highest producing crops are coconut, banana and rice with corresponding production of 75,184.35 MT, 43,924.92 MT and 26,151.81 MT, respectively.
  12. "House Members; 17th Congress". House of Representatives of the Philippines. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
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