Agusan del Norte

Agusan del Norte, officially the Province of Agusan del Norte (Cebuano: Amihanang Agusan; Butuanon: Probinsya hong Agusan del Norte; Tagalog: Hilagang Agusan), is a province in the Caraga region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Cabadbaran with several government offices located in the highly-urbanized city of Butuan. It is bordered on the northwest by 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
Province
Province of Agusan del Norte
[[File:|Lake Mainit at Kitcharao|250px]]
Magallanes Bay Walk
[[File:|Brgy. Poblacion, Jabonga|124px]]
Agusan del Norte Provinvial Capitol
From top, left to right: Lake Mainit at Kitcharao; Magallanes Bay Walk; Brgy. Poblacion in Jabonga; Agusan del Norte Provincial Capitol
Flag of Agusan del Norte
Flag
Official seal of Agusan del Norte
Seal
Location in the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 9°10′N 125°30′E
CountryPhilippines
RegionCaraga
Founded17 June 1967
CapitalCabadbaran
Administrative centerButuan
Largest cityButuan
Government
 • GovernorMa. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba (PDP–Laban)
 • Vice GovernorEnrico Corvera (PDP–Laban)
 • LegislatureAgusan del Norte Provincial Board
Area
[1]
 • Total2,730.24 km2 (1,054.15 sq mi)
 • Rank48th out of 81
 (excluding Butuan)
Highest elevation
(Mount Hilong-Hilong)
2,012 m (6,601 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[2]
 • Total387,503
 • Rank64th out of 81
 • Density140/km2 (370/sq mi)
  • Rank62nd out of 81
 (excluding Butuan)
Divisions
 • Independent cities
1
  • Butuan
  • (Highly urbanized city)
 • Component cities
1
 • Municipalities
10
 • Barangays167
including independent cities: 253
 • DistrictsLegislative districts of Agusan del Norte (shared with Butuan)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PHT)
ZIP code
8600–8611
IDD : area code +63 (0)85
ISO 3166 codePH-AGN
Spoken languages
Income classification3rd class
WebsiteOfficial Website of Agusan Del Norte
‡ As per Republic Act No. 8811, Cabadbaran is the province's official capital. However, the provincial government still holds office in Butuan, pending the actual transfer of provincial offices to the new capital.

History

Spanish colonial 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.

American invasion era

In 1907, Agusan was separated from Surigao by the American government, creating the Agusan province.[3]

Japanese occupation era

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.

Philippine 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 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 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 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 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. There are 253 barangays (including the independent city of Butuan).

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 (2020) Brgy.
(2020)[2] (2015)[8] km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Buenavista 17.8%68,892 61,614 +2.15% 475.61 183.63 140 360 25
Butuan ‡ — 372,910 337,063 +1.94% 816.62 315.30 460 1,200 86
Cabadbaran † 20.7%80,354 73,639 +1.68% 214.44 82.80 370 960 31
Carmen 6.0%23,172 20,839 +2.04% 311.02 120.09 75 190 8
Jabonga 6.4%24,855 23,184 +1.33% 293.00 113.13 85 220 15
Kitcharao 5.5%21,278 18,659 +2.53% 171.92 66.38 120 310 11
Las Nieves 7.8%30,240 28,414 +1.19% 582.69 224.98 52 130 20
Magallanes 5.8%22,293 21,007 +1.14% 44.31 17.11 500 1,300 8
Nasipit 11.6%44,822 41,957 +1.27% 144.40 55.75 310 800 19
Remedios T. Romualdez 4.4%17,155 16,058 +1.27% 79.15 30.56 220 570 8
Santiago 7.4%28,657 24,200 +3.27% 275.61 106.41 100 260 8
Tubay 6.7%25,785 24,932 +0.64% 138.09 53.32 190 490 13
TOTAL [lower-roman 2] 387,503 354,503 +1.71% 2,730.24 1,054.15 140 360 166
 †  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.
1903 13,752—    
1918 24,729+3.99%
1939 64,121+4.64%
1948 88,917+3.70%
1960 177,333+5.92%
1970 146,959−1.86%
1975 168,053+2.73%
1980 192,932+2.80%
1990 237,629+2.11%
1995 267,411+2.24%
2000 285,570+1.42%
2007 309,338+1.11%
2010 332,487+2.66%
2015 354,503+1.23%
2020 387,503+1.77%
(excluding Butuan)
Source: PSA[8][9][10][11]

The population of Agusan del Norte in the 2020 census was 387,503 people,[2] making it the country's 64th most populous province. It had a density of 140 inhabitants per square kilometre or 360 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).

Cebuano is the most common language spoken in the province.

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
Poverty Incidence of Agusan del Norte
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13]
[14][15][16][17]

The economy of the province is dominantly agricultural, major crops of which include rice, corn, coconut, abaca, banana and mango.[18] Agusan del Norte is also home of the 24.9mw Lake Mainit Hydro Power Plant and 8mw Asiga Hydro Power Plant that will serves Agusan del Norte.[19]

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[20] City or municipality District population (2015)
1st Jose S. Aquino II
365,477
2nd Dale B. Corvera
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. 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, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  2. Census of Population (2020). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  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 (2015). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  9. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Caraga" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  10. Census of Population and Housing (2010). Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities (PDF). National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  11. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Caraga". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  12. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  13. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  14. "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 27 August 2016.
  15. "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 27 August 2016.
  16. "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 27 August 2016.
  17. "Updated Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population with Measures of Precision, by Region and Province: 2015 and 2018". Philippine Statistics Authority. 4 June 2020.
  18. "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.
  19. "PBBM hopes for more renewable energy projects". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 12 July 2023. During the inauguration of the 24.9-megawatt (MW) Lake Mainit Hydroelectric Power Plant in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, Marcos expressed hope that the private sector would continue to help his administration in realizing its goal of advancing "affordable, reliable, and clean" energy in the country.
  20. "House Members; 17th Congress". House of Representatives of the Philippines. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
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