Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur

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Pitogo is a 5th class municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 21,064 people in 4,235 households.

[edit] Barangays

Pitogo is politically subdivided into 15 barangays.

• Balabawan
• Balong-balong
• Colojo
• Liasan
• Liguac
• Limbayan
• Lower Paniki-an
• Matin-ao
• Panubigan
• Poblacion (Pitogo)
• Punta Flecha
• San Isidro
• Sugbay Dos
• Tongao
• Upper Paniki-an

Pitogo was popularly known in the early days as “Sibahongan”, a native name given by her original Subanen settlers which derived from a native plant called “Sibahong” which densely flourished along the shores where the first Subanen settlers lived. This plant is among the best raw materials used by the natives of weaving mats and mats. With the coming of the Visayan pioneers in the early 50’s, the nearby site was occupied which they later organized into a sitio called “Pitogo” because of the abundance of an ornamental Pitogo plant in the area. Years later as the population grew and the need to establish a school became pervasive, together they put up a school and finally named the place “Pitogo” in honor of the early visayan settlers who pioneered the establishment of an educational institution. This is how the place was named.

The municipality of Pitogo lies on the western shore of a portion of land protruding towards the south of the Province of Zamboanga del Sur – the Baganian Peninsula Poblacion Pitogo is about 60 kilometers south of the Capital City of Pagadian which can be reached either by boat from the ports of Pagadian City and Margosatubig or through the provincial highway. Its 8,200 hectares tract of land is generally suited for agriculture with also rich spawning and fishing grounds.

Pitogo became part of the political jurisdiction of the Municipality of Dimataling prior to its creation into an independent municipal entity. It was created under Republic Act No. 6490 which was finally passed by the 7th Congress of the Philippines during its 3rd Regular Session on April 20, 1972. The implementation of the said law was deferred due to the proclamation of Martial Law in the same year when at that time the municipality of Dimataling suffered terrible and hostile attacks by Muslim Rebels which resulted to the burning into ashes almost all residential, commercial and government establishments and claimed several hundreds of civilian lives and caused eventual massive evacuation of its residents.

It was only on July 16, 1978, the municipality of Pitogo started to operate as a regular municipality with the first appointed Municipal Officials headed by Mayor Doroteo F. Garban. Since then, the municipality of Pitogo has become recipient of various infrastructure projects from the national government including the opening of the Provincial Highway fro m Pagadian City through the Philippine-Australian Development Assistance Program (PADAP) and of the installation of electricity by the Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative (ZAMSURECO).

What you will see today is the product of the collegial efforts, leadership and dedication of the Municipal Officials for the past 24 years. The municipality is now on its stride to booming development with the passage of Republic Act No. 7916 declaring the entire municipality as a Special Economic Zone of the Country.

Its 8,200 hectares of land is politically subdivided into fifteen (15) barangays, of which one is classified as urban and the rests are small and medium barangays. Barangay Poblacion with a population of 5,947 represent 30% of the total 19,870 population of the municipality based on the 1995 census. The Cebuanos constitute 60%, Subanens 25% and Muslim 15% with annual growth rate of 1.46%.

The municipality’s soil is generally classified into two (2) major types, the faraon clay (loam soil) and hydrosol. The first type dominates the mainland which suited for coconut, tobacco, corn and root crops. The second type mostly found in the lowland areas is also suited for lowland rice production. Like other municipalities in the province, Pitogo enjoys only two (2) major seasons throughout the year. The dry season usually starts late of December and ends in the early part of May which will be accompanied by moderate easterly winds while the rainy season starts early of June and ends late of December of each year.

Basically, Pitogo is an agricultural town. About 85% of its soil is devoted to agriculture with a total of 6,136 hectares, 3,947 hectares of which are for corn production, 1,880 hectares for coconut and 280 hectares for upland rice production. Farming becomes one of the most important livelihood of almost 80% of the population. Those residing along the coastal areas combine farming and fishing as their sources of income.

Considerable number of commercial fishing boats are operating within the territorial waters of the municipality stretching far of Barangay Limbayan of the Maligay Bay to Barangay Balongbalong of the Mumanquillas Bay. Fishing is throughout the year making it as one of the chief sources of local revenues. The municipality also maintains one (1) Fish Market of more than fifty (50) stalls, one (1) Central Public Market which accommodates the dry goods, vegetables and cafeteria. It has ten (10) carinderia sections which cater foods and refreshments for our local residents and transient visitors. Pitogo is also known to have the most number of passenger buses servicing our commuting public with regular routes to Pagadian City at 15 – 30 minutes interval.

The municipality also maintains one (1) Fish Market of more than fifty (50) stalls, one (1) Central Public Market which accommodates the dry goods, vegetables and cafeteria. It has ten (10) carinderia sections which cater foods and refreshments for our local residents and transient visitors. Pitogo is also known to have the most number of passenger buses servicing our commuting public with regular routes to Pagadian City at 15 – 30 minutes interval. Identified as Special Economic Zone pursuant to Republic Act No. 7916, Pitogo will soon rise as one of the important municipalities in the province of Zamboanga del Sur and in the entire Region IX. LOCATION & BOUNDARIES

Pitogo is a coastal town in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur, that lies on the Western shore of the Baganian Peninsula. It is located 65 KM. from the Capital City of the Pagadian going Southwest to the Poblacion Proper which can be reach the Provincial road by passengers jeepneys, bus or boat from the port of Margosatubig and Pagadian City. The municipality of Dimataling on the east by municipality of Tabina, on the South by the vast Celebes, on the North by Margosatubig and Maligay Bay.

TOPOGRAPHY & LAND FEATURES Most of the areas of the municipality of Pitogo is characterized be rolling terrain which dominate the Central part of its locality. Its mountainous areas predominantly located along the North Eastern side while the Western part is coastal lowland and its plain areas are confined along the highways to its boundary of the municipality of Dimataling. The municipality principal products are rice, corn, and coconut, while the sea yields a planrenous marine resources. The trading center is located in the heart of the Poblacion where traders from neighboring municipalities and Pagadian City merged together and engaged business. It is also in Poblacion where markets, shopping Center and transportation terminal are found.

                                                        EDITED BY: "Cloyd"

[edit] External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information