Balindong (formerly Watu) is a 4th class municipality in the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 24,470 people in 3,220 households.
Profile of Balindong
Contents |
The Municipality of Balindong was known as Uato or Wato from 1918 to 1948. Wato, the lower western portion of the present day municipality which is surprisingly rocky. In 1956 by virtue of Republic Act 1419 dated June 10, 1956, Wato was renamed Balindong in honor of a great ruler of the Pangampong fame who ruled the Pangampong of Masiu from Wato.
On April 29, 1963, Balindong was converted into a regular Municipality under Executive Order no. 42. Balindong is comprised by 38 barangays. During the martial regime, there were 54 barangays in the municipality. When Corazon C. Aquino came into presidency, the number of barangays was reduced to 38.
Maranao recalls the tradition of the fabled kingdom of Bumbaran as the origin of the people and of the towns therein. Tradition claim that the Maranao descended from Bantugan of the fabled kingdom of Bumbaran, some believed is the present day Lake Lanao, while a few scholars point of Cabadbaran of Agusan based on geographical explanations provided in the Darangan, Maranao epic.The myth around the destruction ofBumbaran remain shrouded, yet many believed a great volcanic eruption completely erased the kingdom from the face of the earth and in place- the present Lake Lanao.
Tradition claims that at the time of the destruction, a brother of four were out on a hunting safari. The brothers reached kamanga, a village at the edge of a forest in what is now Bubong. Learning the event that befall the fabled Kingdom of Bumbaran, the brothers agreed to build their own kingdoms on what is now the two Lanao provinces. Butuanun Kalinan, the eldest of the four chose the largest area stretching from the municipality of Marantao on the northwest side of the Lake to the northern part going to the east of the rimming mountain and towards the southeast. This was the principality of Bayabao. The inggued or towns comprising Bayabao are the present day municipalities of Marantao, Saguiaran, Baudi-Puso Buntong, Piagapo, Maguing, Bumbaran, Wao, Lumbabayabao, Poonabayabao, Ditsaan-Ramain, Bubong and Marawi City. The second brother, Dimaampao Kalinan, to take Principality of Onayan, now comprised by the municipalities of Butig, Lumbayanague, Lumbatan, Bayang, Tubaran, Binidayan, Marogong, Ganassi, Paulas, Madamba, Kalanogas, Sultan Gumander, Malabang, Balabagan, Kapatagan and Karomatan.
The third brother, Batara Kilatun, chose the area around the southwest-southeaster side to the northwest side across the lake. This is the Principality of Masiu composed of present-day municipalities of Taraka, Molundo, Tamparan, Masiu, Madalum, Munai, Kalawi-Bacolod, Tugaya and Balindong.
Amerogong Topa-an, the fourth brother took the northwest side across the Agus river down to Iligan bay and called the Principality of Balo-I, now composed of the municipalities of Pantar,Tagoloan, Balo-I, Matungao, Pantao-Ragat, Poona Piagapo, Tangcal, Magsaysay, Lapayan, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan and Iligan City. The traditional principality is now located mostly in Lanao del Norte.
The four principalities is to the Maranaos the Pat A Pangampong Ko Ranao, built on the Igma Ago Taritib (Order and Consensus) among the founding fathers, this is the unwritten constitution that binds the Maranao since then up to the present. To safeguard the agreement, the forefathers instituted the Maratabat or Maranao psychology that is deeply ingrained in the cultural matrix. The origin maybe mythical but the operation of the Pengampong and adherence to the consensus remain alive and sustained. The coming of Islam to Lanao is contingent to the coming of Islam to Sulu and Maguindanao during the 14th century. Sharif Kabungsuan who descended from a line of missionaries tracing lineage to Prophet Mohammad, first reached Maguindanao and proceeded to Lanao. The Salsila or genealogy is zealousy guarded recording line of descent from Prophet Mohammad. The other Arab missionary, Sharif Alawi also came to Lanao by way of Tagoloan, now the municipality of Tagoloan in the province of Misamis Oriental.
Thus, the coming of Islam to Lanao further sustained the already existing principalities thereby further claiming affinity to the Muslim world. The ethno-linguistic matrix of the Maranao finds strong affinity to that of the Maguindanao of the Cotabato provinces and the Ilanun, who settled partly in Maguindanao and in Lanao. The Maranao claim that Ilannun group, from the Maranao word Irana-on or from the Lake region, were actually Maranao who ventured to trade in the flourishing Sulu-China trade route cutting across Malaysia and Indonesia. Recorded History cites that the Sulu sultanate employed Illannun mariners in their trade. Many of the Illanuns who reached Sabah and other areas in Borneo settled in these places. Hence, to this day there are groups there who are still referred to as Illanun and traces descent to the Ilannun in both Maguindanao and Lanao.
Balindong is one of thirty eight (38) municipalities comprising the Province of Lanao del Sur. It lies on the western part of the province. It is bounded on the north by the Municipality of Piagapo, on the south by Lake Lanao. On the east and western side, it is bounded by the municipalities of Tugaya and Marantao, respectively.
The Municipality has a close proximity to Marawi City on a 16 kilometer distance, and 53 kilometers from the nearest seaport of Iligan City.
Its geographical local plays a major role in the development of agro-industrial potential in the province and region. Balindong contributes raw materials including forest products. While cottage industry had been home-based for most part, is has high development potentials given sufficient inputs including market access.
Balindong is gifted with good and cool climatic condition. Climate is classified as Type IV characterized by the absence of distinct dry of wet season. Its coldest period is usually during rainy days when temperature dips down to a low 15 degrees Celsius while the average temperature rises to 27 degrees Celsius during dry season.
The total land area of Balindong is approximately 28,650 hectares. Of this figure, only about 25% is plain or flat suitable for rice farming. By classification, some 37% of the total land area is forest land.
Balindong, other than having its own rural health unit, is a site of the District Hospital. Currently, Balindong’s Rural Health unit is manned by a physician, 1 public health nurse, 3 midwives, and twelve Barangay Health Workers.
Health records indicate that leading causes of morbidity, especially among children, include acute respiratory tract infection, influenza, acute gastroenteritis, hypertension, measles with bronchopneumonia, severe dehydration, cancer, and diabetes mellitus. On the other hand, the leading causes of mortality for both adults and children include cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary tuberculosis, vehicular accidents, measles with bronchopneumonia, severe dehydration, cancer and diabetes mellitus.
Data culled out from the 2000Census indicate that the history of Balindong’s housing trend is one of decreasing from 1960 at 2,236 units to as low as 1,332 dwelling units in 1980. In 1990, Balindong’s dwelling units numbered 1,807 and in 2000 the dwelling units increased to 2,145.
Ninety-seven percent of the dwelling units in Balindong are of single house type. The average number of households occupying a single dwelling unit stands at 1.5 with an household population of 11.41 persons per dwelling unit.
Census data of 2000 reports that the literacy rate of Balindong stands at 86.02% while the Province’ literacy rate was at 80.12%. There are seven (7) elementary schools and two (2) secondary schools in Balindong which caters to the education needs of its population. Figure 4. List of School and Location in Balindong
Name of School Location A. Elementary 1. Balindong Central Elementary School Brgy. Salipongan 2. Lombayao Elementary School Brgy. Lombayao 3. Malaig Elementary School Brgy. Malaig 4. Bubong Elementary School Brgy. Bubong 5. Raya Elementary School Brgy. Raya 6. Lilod Elementary School Brgy. Lilod 7.Dilausan Elementary School Brgy. Dilausan B. Secondary 1. MSU Balindong Comm. High School Brgy. Malaig 2. Balindong national High School Brgy. Salipongan E. Employment
E.1 Labor Force Participation Of the 2000 population of 24,470, 51% of this (12,524) are in the labor force, meaning those aged 14 to 64 years old which are classified as economically active sector. However, viewed from the provincial labor force participation rate of 50%, it can be deduced that Balindong’s situation is not far from that reality.
E.2 Agriculture And Crop Production While total agricultural area in the municipality stands at 7,024 hectares, representing 24% of the total land area, only about 832 hectares or 12% is effectively utilized for rice (203 has.) and corn (632 has.) farming. Rice farms are mainly rain fed (153 has.) as there is absence of a developed irrigation system in the municipality.
E.2 1 Livestock and Poultry Production Due to existence of wide track of land for grazing and pasture, Balindong is one of the Province source for cattle and carabao and other livestock products. Inventory of livestock indicate that there exist (2002): cattle – 145 heads, carabao – 131 heads, goat – 135, chicken 417, ducks – 210. The data indicate a decreasing inventory of animals, therefore, a need to replenish the stock.
E.2.2 Aqua Culture Production A survey of annual fish catch from the lake and in-land fish-ponds in the municipality from 1997 to 2002 indicate reduction of catch from 17% metric ton to only 8.02 metric tons. Fish species in the lake include Tilapia, Mudfish, Sirung, Carp, Gaby, and Catfish.
F. Income And Expenditure
The Municipality of Balindong is a 5th class in terms of income. Its revenue is derived mainly from its share of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from the national government. Currently, the municipality receives an annual IRA of Php28,892,000. Of this revenue, some php5,784,000.00 or 20% of the revenue is earmarked for development activities.
G. Incidence of poverty
The 1995 survey of Family Income And Expenditures (FIES) indicate that an average Balinndong household earns an annual income of P33,660.00 or P2,805.00 a month. In the same period, Poverty Threshold Income (PTI) in the Province of Lanao del Sur was estimated at P9,364 or a poverty incidence of about 52%. PTI implies that households earning below the rate are considered poor or in the poverty group.
Balindong is politically subdivided into 38 barangays.
|
|
|