FOREWORD

Tourism in Agusan del Norte is an infant industry. However, blessings of history, culture and the arts, natural endowments and people make her a blue-chip mix destination for heritage, sports, adventure and eco-tourism.

A heritage tour brings one back in time with visits to the 1872 Magellan Marker and the 15th Century Bitaog Tree in Magallanes, the 1878 Our Lady of Assumption Parish and Museum in Jabonga, and a first-hand look at Cabadbaran’s beautifully preserved Ancestral Houses and Community Museum.

Sports tourism destinations like the Arnis Camp in Jabonga, Badminton Camp in Cabadbaran and Table Tennis Camp in Nasipit are strong reflections of the province’s effort to preserve culture and the arts, on one hand, and grassroots sports specialization as a formula to sports development, on the other.

Teeing off, therefore, from her romance with the “baoto” o native dug-out canoe, the available adventure and eco-tourism menu on sale includes: canoeing the historic Lake Mainit and Kalinawan River; climbing the mystical Mt. Hilong-hilong; scuba diving the abysmal Vito Wall; trekking the panoramic Malimono Ridge; snorkeling the kaleidoscopic Goso-on Fish Sanctuary; rappelling the vertical entrance of Anibongan Cave; sailing at Nasipit Cove; sunset viewing at Mt. Carmel; camping at Looc Cove; Mamanwa encounter at Corro and others.

From the famous outdoor-saying, “The World is your Backyard . . . Go Outside and Play” – we invite one and all from ages 6 to 60 to come and play with us here in amazing Agusan del Norte.

Brief Description

Agusan del Norte is a second-class province and the smallest in the Caraga Region. It is mountainous along its northeastern and western parts. In between are flat, rolling lands particularly where the Agusan River cuts through as it empties into Butuan Bay. Agusan del Norte’s highest peak is Mt. Hilong-hilong, with 2,012 m. above sea level and is located in the Diwata Mountain Ranges near the eastern boundary of Surigao del Sur. Indigenous people of the Mamanwa, Manobo and Higa-onon tribes populate her majestic mountains.

History

Agusan was named after a Malay word “agasan” meaning “where water flows” probably because of a mighty river that traverses the area. Early migrants from Borneo and Celebes came to the region in Balangays or wooden boats. Nine such boats where excavated in the 70’s. One dates back to 320 A.D. pre-dating the European Boat and the Chinese Junk.

By the time the Spaniards arrived, the natives were already trading with foreign merchants as evidenced by 10th century ceramics unearthed near Butuan. Some historians claimed that Magellan held the first mass in the Philippines in Masao at the mouth of the Agusan River, and not in Limasawa, Leyte, on Easter Sunday of 1521.

Agusan del Norte was part of the province of Surigao during the Spanish Colonial Administration. By virtue of R.A. 1306 of 1914, it became an independent province of Agusan during the American Administration. On June 17, 1967, Congress passed R.A. 4979 dividing the province of Agusan into Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

Other Facts:

Capital : Cabadbaran
Land Area : 2,503.9 sq./km.
Administrative Center : Cabadbaran
Predominant Industry : Agriculture

Geography

Located in the northeastern part of Mindanao, it is bounded on the north by Butuan Bay and Surigao del Norte; east by Surigao del Sur; west by Misamis Oriental; and south and southwest by Agusan del Sur.

Political Subdivision

The province has 11 municipalities, 164 barangays and 2 congressional districts. District 1 is composed of Butuan City and the municipality of Las Nieves. District II is composed of the municipalities of Carmen, Nasipit, Buenavista, Magallanes, RTR, Cabadbaran, Tubay, Santiago Jabonga and Kitcharao. Caraga Region XIII is composed of 4 provinces including the province of Agusan del Norte and 3 cities.

Population

As of December 2003, the total population of Agusan del Norte is 299,313. Annual growth rate – 1.89%

Language/Dialect

Cebuano is the major dialect. Filipino and English are widely spoken. Minor dialects are Butuanon, Ilonggo, Mamanwa, Manobo, Higa-onon, Maranaw and Fukienese.

Climate

The province is located outside the typhoon belt and has no definite dry season. Rainfall is pronounced throughout the year occurring heavily from November to January. Temperature ranges from 22.8 C to 32.1 C. Relative humidity is 84%.

Industries

Primarily an agricultural province, Agusan del Norte is the region’s leading rice producer. Other major crops are coconut, corn, mango, bananas, vegetables and prawns.

The province continues to be a major timber producer despite its extensive deforested areas. There are 23 lumber producers and plywood plants most of them operating in Butuan City. Minor licenses concentrate on gathering rattan which is considered the best in the country.

The emerging industry mix is on agri-business where its 2 special economic zones (TAPCEN & NANIE) Tubay Agricultural Processing Center & Nasipit, Agusan del Norte Industrial Estate will play a vital role in transforming the place from a timber dependent industry to a balanced agri-forestry-tourism industry.

Accessibility

The province is accessible by 2 daily flights from Manila; daily trips by ship from Manila and Cebu via the Ports of Nasipit and Surigao City; and by bus every 30 minutes from the cities of Surigao, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

Distance of Municipalities from the Provincial Capital (CAPITAL: CABADBARAN)

MUNICIPALITY DISTANCE (In kms.)
• Buenavista 47
• Carmen 60.8
• Jabonga 30.7
• Kitcharao 44.9
• Las Nieves 64
• Magallanes 11
• Nasipit 54.4
• Remedios T. Romualdez (RTR) 9
• Santiago 18
• Tubay 10.1

The Resources.

Agriculture and forestry are the predominant occupations in the area. Its rich agricultural lands and climate are ideal for the growing of raw materials and plantation crops such as banana, mango, abaca, and coconut. Its grasslands are ideal for cattle raising while its lush virgin forest is a potential source of timber.

Minerals such as limestones, marble, manganese and the province’s estimated 1,566,200 metric tons of gold deposits are generally untapped. The town of Kitcharao alone has 179 hectares of high quality limestone and marble with mineral reserves of at least 23,370,000 cubic meters.

TOURIST DESTINATIONS:
Cultural/Heritage Destinations

1872 Magellan Marker (Magallanes, Agusan del Norte)
1878 Our Lady of Assumption Parish Church (Jabonga, Agusan del Norte)
500 Year–Old Bitaug Tree (Brgy. Caloc-an, Magallanes)
Municipal Museum (Cabadbaran)
Ancestral Houses (Cabadbaran)

Archeological Sites
Brgys. Caasinan, Kauswagan, Cabadbaran
Brgy. La union, Cabadbaran
Brgy. Calibunan, Cabadbaran
Brgy. Sanghan, Cabadbaran
Brgy. Taod-oy, Magallanes
Brgy. Rizal Buenavista
Brgy. Abilan, Buenavista

Adventure/Eco-Tourism Destination
Canoeing
Lake Mainit
Kalinawan River
Mountain Climbing
Scuba Diving
Snorkeling/Skin Diving
Caving
Windsurfing/Sailing
Camping
Trekking
White Water
Waterfalls
Cultural Villages
Sports Tourism Destinations
Industrial (Educational) Destinations
Agri-tourism Destinations

Festivals / Events

Mango Festival
Baoto Festival
Musikainan
Sumayajaw Festival
Lisagan Festival
Araw ng Agusan del Norte