Surigao del Sur
| Surigao del Sur | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Province | |||
|
Capitol building in Tandag | |||
| |||
 Location in the Philippines | |||
| Coordinates: 08°40′N 126°00′E / 8.667°N 126.000°ECoordinates: 08°40′N 126°00′E / 8.667°N 126.000°E | |||
| Country | Philippines | ||
| Region | Caraga (Region XIII) | ||
| Founded | June 16, 1960 | ||
| Capital | Tandag | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Province of the Philippines | ||
| • Governor | Johnny T. Pimentel (Liberal Party) | ||
| • Vice Governor | Manuel O. Alameda, Sr. (Liberal Party) | ||
| • Congressman 1st District | Philip A. Pichay (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) | ||
| • Congressman 2nd District | Florencio C. Garay(Liberal Party) | ||
| Area[1] | |||
| • Total | 4,932.70 km2 (1,904.53 sq mi) | ||
| Area rank | 23rd out of 81 | ||
| Population (2010)[2] | |||
| • Total | 561,219 | ||
| • Rank | 52nd out of 81 | ||
| • Density | 110/km2 (290/sq mi) | ||
| • Density rank | 67th out of 81 | ||
| Divisions | |||
| • Independent cities | 0 | ||
| • Component cities | 2 | ||
| • Municipalities | 17 | ||
| • Barangays | 309 | ||
| • Districts | 1st and 2nd districts of Surigao del Sur | ||
| Time zone | PHT (UTC+8) | ||
| ZIP code | 8300 to 8318 | ||
| Dialing code | 86 | ||
| ISO 3166 code | PH-SUR | ||
| Spoken languages | Surigaonon or/and Tandaganon, Kamayo, Cebuano, Manobo languages, Tagalog, English | ||
| Website |
www | ||
Surigao del Sur (Tagalog: Timog Surigao; Cebuano: Habagatang Surigao; Surigaonon/Tandaganon: Probinsya nan Surigao del Sur) is a province in the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tandag City.[3] Surigao del Sur is located at the eastern coast of Mindanao and faces the Philippine Sea.
History
Before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, the aborigines of the province were the Mamanua and Manobo. Later, Austronesian people from the Visayas came to settle with the natives. It was with the arrival of the immigrants that the province acquired its name from one of the natives, Saliagao who are now known as Surigaonon, who lived near the mouth of the river. The name Saliagao was later pronounced Surigao by the inhabitants.
It is also said that long time ago, some Visayan fishermen forced by the strong current of the Surigao Strait, sought refuge in one of the huts somewhere in the province. The Mamanua who thought that these fishermen wanted to occupy the hut by force said “Agaw”, the term which was later given a prefix “Suri” by an immigrant.
Surigao formerly, was extended from what is known as Agusan, including the islands east of it and the northern regions of Davao and the capital of the province that time was Caraga and so the Spaniards called the people Caragas.
The aborigines of Surigao del Sur were a conglomeration and mixture of different racial types, namely: Mandaya, Mamanua, Mansaka and Manobo. These racial groups were of Malayan-Indonesian ancestry which took place thousand years ago. In the course of their migration, these primitive nomads were believed to have separated their ways in some portions of the archipelago in a spirit of adventure and search for food (i.e., during the pleistocene of the glacial ages). It was believed further that they first settled in the northern island of the country who later took their bancas and reach the shores of Mindanao particularly in the Provinces of Surigao and Davao. They scattered among themselves in spots either in pairs or by family clans, retaining their own customs, dialects and ways of life.
There was no trace of exact dates and places of arrival. But it was known that this group of people were very nomadic and were the remnants of the present Mamanua and Manobo found in the wilderness of the northern part of Davao bordering the Province of Surigao. Their migratory movement was said to have come from the hinterlands of Agusan and along the foothills of western and southern part of Surigao del Sur. It was pointed out that the cause of migration was due to famine and occurrence of death from diseases believed caused by evil spirits.
The Province of Surigao del Sur was created as the 56th Philippine province on June 19, 1960 by virtue of Republic Act 2786 and was formally organized or separated from its mother province, Surigao del Norte, on September 18, 1960.[4]
At the time of its inception, it was classified as 4th Class province with an annual income of over P300,000.00. Seven years later, because of rapid increase of revenue collection particularly from the logging ventures, it has been reclassified as Ist Class B and in 1980 as Ist Class A with an estimated annual income of around P13,000,000.00. Presently, it is reclassified as 2nd Class with a revenue adding up to P315,888,300.63.
Recaredo B. Castillo was the appointed the first governor and subsequently elected governor and Vicente L. Pimentel as the first elected congressman. Johnny T. Pimentel is the ninth and incumbent provincial executive.
Originally the province had 13 municipalities. In subsequent years, six more were added raising the number to 19 with Tandag as the capital. Now, two of its municipalities have been elevated to cities; the first was Bislig City. In 2007 Tandag was granted cityhood but it was nullified via a controversial decision by the Supreme Court a year later. In 2009, Tandag would get back its city status after the SC reversed its own ruling on December 22, 2009..
Geography
The province is located along the northeastern coast of Mindanao facing the Pacific Ocean between 125°40' to 126°20' east longitudes and 7°55' and 9°20' north latitudes. It is bounded on the northwest by the province of Surigao del Norte, on the southeast by Davao Oriental, on its eastern side by the Philippine Sea, and on the west and southwest by the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
Land area
The land area of the province is 493,270 hectares (1,218,900 acres),[1] representing 27.75 percent of the total land area of Caraga Administrative Region and about 5.14 percent and 1.74 percent of the total land area of Mindanao and Philippines, respectively. It is elongated in shape extending from the northeastern part of Carrascal to the southernmost municipality of Lingig. It is approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi) in length and 50 kilometres (31 mi) at its widest point which runs from Cagwait to San Miguel. Municipal-wise, San Miguel has the biggest land area accounting for 11.08 percent of the total provincial land area while Municipality of Bayabas has the smallest constituting about 0.64 percent only.
Of the 5,230.50 sq. kilometers land, only 1,703.72 sq. kilometers or 32.22 percent are classified as alienable and disposable (A and D) while 3,583.523 sq. kilometers or 67.78 percent are forest land. Tagbina has the biggest share of alienable and disposable land with 234.21 sq. kilometers or about 56.51 percent of its land area followed by Hinatuan with 202.52 sq. kilometers or 63.56 percent of its land area.
Out of the 3,583.523 sq. kilometers of forest land, 636.076 sq. kilometers are protection forest, 2,582.43 sq. kilometers production forest, 12.68 sq. kilometers are non-forest agriculture and 352.337 sq. kilometers are for non-forest mining. As of today, the province still has vast area of remaining old growth and mossy forest.
Climate
The province falls under Type II climate of the Philippines, characterized by rainfall distributed throughout the year, although there is a distinct rainy season which begins from the month of November and ends in March. However, the climatic behavior of the province for the past few years has shown variations wherein the onset of the rainy seasons no longer occurs on the usual time. Months with low rainfall are from July to October with September as the driest month. Wet months are from November to June with January as the wettest month.
Administrative divisions
Surigao del Sur is divided into 17 municipalities and two cities, which are further subdivided into 309 barangays. There are two congressional districts encompassing all cities and towns.
Mineral resources
Surigao del Sur is endowed with metallic and non-metallic minerals, among which are copper, gold, chromite, cobalt, nickel and lead zinc. The non-metallic minerals include limestone, coal and feldspar, clay diatomite/bentomite and coarse/fine aggregates. There are small and large scales mining activities in the province. One of the corporations operating in a large scale is the Marc Ventures Mining Development Corporation located at Carrascal and Cantilan operating in an area of 49.7389 sq. kilometers on gold mining. Another is the CTP Construction and Mining Corporation, also in Carrascal, which focus on gold and nickel mining in an area of 35.64 and 48.6916 sq. kilometers, respectively. The Carac-an Development Corporation, also in Carrascal, has an area of 506.3764 sq. kilometers. Small scale mining activities are found in the municipalities of Barobo, Carmen and San Miguel.
Demographics
| Population census of Surigao del Sur | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1990 | 452,098 | — |
| 1995 | 471,263 | +0.78% |
| 2000 | 501,808 | +1.36% |
| 2007 | 541,347 | +1.05% |
| 2010 | 561,219 | +1.32% |
| Source: National Statistics Office[2] | ||
Surigao is home to the Mamanwa and Manobo tribe. Their dances are showcased in a local festival called "Sirong Festival", held especially during the town fiesta of Cantilan. The Sirong Festival depicts the early Christianization of the early Cantilangnons (the Mamanwas and Manobos) wherein the natives tried to defend their land against Visayan invaders.
The Mamanwas and Manubo, the ethnic tribe of Surigao, have been converted to Christianism long ago, during the early times of the Spanish conquest.
Languages
Surigaonon or/and Tandaganon is spoken in most part of Surigao del Sur (except in the City of Bislig, Municipalities of Barobo, Hinatuan, Lingig and Tagbina wherein most of the inhabitants are descendants of Cebuanos who migrated from Visayas who speak Cebuano and the natives who speak Kamayo a different language but distantly related to Surigaonon).
Cebuano, Tagalog, and English are also widely spoken throughout the province.
Economy
Surigao del Sur is one of the suppliers of agricultural items such as rice, bananas and some tropical fruits. Copper, chromite and silver are also found here. Marine and aqua culture is very abundant in the province as well. It is one of the primary livelihood of the native people in the place as the province is well known for producing seafood and sea by-products.
Tourism
Bislig's main tourist attraction is the Tinuy-an Falls, known as the little "Niagara Falls" of the Philippines. It is a white water curtain that flows in three levels about 55 meters high and 95 meters wide. Its unique natural formation once appeared in the International Travel Magazine. It is also known as the widest waterfall in the Philippines.
Surfing in Surigao del Sur is widely known and has been one of the local tourist attractions. This extreme sport can be found in Cantilan and Lanuza. Another sport being played is the skimboarding in which several municipalities have been attracting tourists.
-
Deep-blue waters of the world-renowned underground river in Brgy. Talisay, Hinatuan known as the "Hinatuan Enchanted River"
-
The Tinuy-an Falls, located in Burboanan, Bislig City
-
Surfing in Lanuza
See also
References
- 1 2 "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- 1 2 "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- ↑ http://www.philippinecountry.com/provcitmun.html#ssur
- ↑ "Republic Act No. 2786 - An Act to Create the Provinces of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. 19 June 1960. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "Province: Surigao del Sur". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority - National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
- ↑ "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010 (Caraga)" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Surigao del Sur. |
Geographic data related to Surigao del Sur at OpenStreetMap- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- Local Governance Performance Management System
- Surigao del Sur provincial profile at Philippine Provincial Profiles
 |
Agusan del Norte | Surigao del Norte | | |
| Agusan del Sur |  |
Philippine Sea | ||
| ||||
 | ||||
| Davao Oriental |
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||