Cabadbaran

Cabadbaran
Component City
City of Cabadbaran
Cabadbaran City proper with Cabadbaran River on the right side and Butuan Bay in the rear
Seal
Map of Agusan del Norte showing the location of Cabadbaran City
Cabadbaran Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°07′N 125°32′E / 9.12°N 125.53°E / 9.12; 125.53Coordinates: 9°07′N 125°32′E / 9.12°N 125.53°E / 9.12; 125.53
Country	Philippines
Region	Caraga (Region XIII)
Province	Agusan del Norte
District	2nd District of Agusan del Norte
Incorporated	1894 (town)
Cityhood	2007
Barangays	31
Government[1]
• Mayor	Katrina Marie Mortola (Nacionalista)
• Vice Mayor	Rey Jamboy (Liberal)
Area[2]
• Total	214.44 km2 (82.80 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	73,639
• Density	340/km2 (890/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	8605
IDD : area code	+63 (0)85
Income class	6th city income class
PSGC	160203000
Electorate	43,153 voters as of 2016
Languages	Cebuano, English, Tagalog
Website	www.cabadbaranadn.gov.ph

Cabadbaran (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Cabadbaran; Filipino: Lungsod ng Cabadbaran) is the provincial capital city of Agusan del Norte, in Caraga, Mindanao, Philippines. It has a population of 73,639 according to the 2015 census.^[3] In the 2016 elections, it had 43,153 voters.^[4]

Founded in 1894, the city rose from its Spanish period beginnings to become the premier town of Agusan del Norte. Its rich cultural heritage is evident in its preserved colonial period houses and its archaeological collections.

On August 16, 2000, the seat of provincial government was transferred from Butuan to Cabadbaran through Republic Act 8811,^[5] although the provincial government still holds office in Butuan City, pending the actual transfer of provincial offices to the new capital. Cabadbaran was officially declared a city in 2007.

Geography

Cabadbaran lies 9 degrees north latitude and 125 degrees and 30 minutes east longitude in the northeastern part of Mindanao. Its boundaries are Tubay and Santiago to the north, Butuan Bay to the west, Magallanes and R. T. Romualdez to the south, and Sibagat, Agusan del Sur to the east. It is 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Butuan. It is generally flat with rolling hills and swamplands in its western part. The highest of all mountains in the Caraga region, Mount Hilong-Hilong (with an altitude of 2,012 metres (6,601 ft) above sea level), rises in this city.

Barangays

Cabadbaran is politically subdivided into 31 barangays.

Barangay map of Cabadbaran City

Climate

The city belongs to the Second Climatic Type of the Corona Classification. No definite dry season in the place and maximum rainfall occurs from October to January. The average rainfall is 171.29 millimetres (6.744 in) per month, average annual temperature 28 °C (82 °F).

History

Spanish period

Traces of 12th century villages can be found near the waterways that pass through the territory of Cabadbaran. No records are found before the Spanish colonization except for a site in Sanghan where Chinese ceramics from 15th to 16th century were found.

Cabadbaran was first mentioned by the Spanish as a small village chosen by the Spanish authorities to be turned into a reduction called "La Reunion de Cabarbaran" in 1867. The reduction was mostly populated by people from Southern Agusan. Then in 1879, the reduction was disbanded. The inhabitants of the reduction went back to their places of origin while the remaining migrated to Tubay.

In 1880-1881, the reduction was revived by Father Saturnino Urios, but was named Tolosa to honor Father Urios' hometown in Spain. In 1880, Tolosa was headed by the Teniente del Barrio Don Eduardo Curato. He petitioned to the Spanish authorities for the township application of Tolosa to be approved. In January 31, 1894, the petition was approved. The population and the economy grew, which was driven by agriculture and commerce. But the growth suddenly came to a halt when the revolution against Spain started. No significant turmoil affected the city until the coming of the American forces in 1901.^[6]

American period

When the Americans arrived, Spanish forces were forced to surrender. Included with them was Capt. Andres Atega. Under the Americans, the town was called again as Cabadbaran (according to Don Andres Atega's proposal).

In 1903, the public education system was established with George Bohner as the first American teacher. Public health also improved when Dr. Pedro Malbas was appointed as the Public Health Officer in the 1920s and constructed sanitary toilets, deep wells and drainage canals. Public infrastructure was also improved by the Americans.

Then in the 1935 Constitutional Convention, Apolonio "Oyok" Curato, a lawyer, represented Agusan. He then became the Governor and Congressman of the province of Agusan.

The local economy grew when it started producing abaca from coconut plantations established by the Americans. Rice was also grown and remained as staple crop grown in the fields up to this day. The Agusan-Surigao road opened in the 1930s and several bus lines started public service along this route.^[6]

World War II

Cabadbaran had been occupied at one time by those resisting the Japanese occupation of Mindanao.^[7] Eventually the Japanese occupied it. On January 17, 1945, combined American and Filipino troops including recognized guerrillas fought a force of Japanese troops on the road between Cabadbaran and Butuan. The Japanese were in the process of reinforcing their garrison at Butuan. The guerrillas retreated when Japanese reinforcements arrived. The guerrillas also had depleted their ammunition.^[8]

On March 31, 1945, Major Juan Rivera and a guerrilla detachment attacked the Japanese at Cabadbaran; the Japanese abandoned the post after an hour-long battle.^[9]

The general headquarters of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary was active on 1945 to 1946 in Cabadbaran during and aftermath of World War II.

Cityhood

During the 11th Congress (1998–2001), Congress enacted into law 33 bills converting 33 municipalities into cities. However, Congress did not act on a further 24 bills converting 24 other municipalities into cities.

During the 12th Congress (2001–2004), Congress enacted into law Republic Act No. 9009 (RA 9009), which took effect on 30 June 2001. RA 9009 amended Section 450 of the Local Government Code by increasing the annual income requirement for conversion of a municipality into a city from ₱20 million to ₱100 million. The rationale for the amendment was to restrain, in the words of Senator Aquilino Pimentel, "the mad rush" of municipalities to convert into cities solely to secure a larger share in the Internal Revenue Allotment despite the fact that they are incapable of fiscal independence.

After RA 9009 went into effect, the House of Representatives of the 12th Congress adopted Joint Resolution No. 29, which sought to exempt from the ₱100 million income requirement in RA 9009 the 24 municipalities whose cityhood bills were not approved in the 11th Congress. However, the 12th Congress ended without the Senate having approved Joint Resolution No. 29.

During the 13th Congress (2004–2007), the House of Representatives re-adopted former Joint Resolution No. 29 as Joint Resolution No. 1 and forwarded it to the Senate for approval. However, the Senate again failed to approve the Joint Resolution. Following the suggestion of Senator Aquilino Pimentel (Senate President), 16 municipalities filed, through their respective sponsors, individual cityhood bills. The 16 cityhood bills each contained a common provision exempting it from the ₱100 million income requirement of RA 9009 –

"Exemption from Republic Act No. 9009. — The City of x x x shall be exempted from the income requirement prescribed under Republic Act No. 9009."

On 22 December 2006, the House of Representatives approved the cityhood bills. The Senate also approved the cityhood bills in February 2007, except that of Naga, Cebu which was passed on 7 June 2007. These cityhood bills lapsed into law on various dates from March to July 2007 after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo failed to sign them.

The point of law at issue in 2007 was whether there had been a breach of Section 10, Article X of the 1987 Constitution, which provides –

No province, city, municipality, or barangay shall be created, divided, merged, abolished or its boundary substantially altered, except in accordance with the criteria established in the local government code and subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly affected.

– and in each case the established criteria were far from met.

In November 2008, Cabadbaran and 15 other cities lost their cityhood after the Supreme Court of the Philippines granted a petition filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines, and declared unconstitutional the cityhood law (RA 9434) which had allowed the town to acquire its city status.^[10] The Supreme Court ruled that they did not pass the requirements for cityhood.^[11][12]

On 10 December 2008, the 16 cities affected acting together filed a motion for reconsideration with the Supreme Court. More than a year later, on 22 December 2009, acting on said appeal, the Court reversed its earlier ruling as it ruled that "at the end of the day, the passage of the amendatory law" (regarding the criteria for cityhood as set by Congress) "is no different from the enactment of a law, i.e., the cityhood laws specifically exempting a particular political subdivision from the criteria earlier mentioned. Congress, in enacting the exempting law/s, effectively decreased the already codified indicators."^[13] Accordingly cityhood status was restored.

But on 27 August 2010, the 16 cities lost their city status again, after the Supreme Court voted 7-6, with two justices not taking part, to reinstate the 2008 decision declaring as "unconstitutional" the Republic Acts that converted the 16 municipalities into cities. A previous law required towns aspiring to become cities to earn at least ₱100 million annually, which none of the 16 did.^[14]

On 15 February 2011, the Supreme Court made another volte-face and upheld for the third time the cityhood of 16 towns in the Philippines.^[15]

Finally, on 12 April 2011, the Supreme Court, in an en banc ruling delivered in Baguio City, affirmed the finality of the constitutionality of the 16 cityhood laws by resolving that:

We should not ever lose sight of the fact that the 16 cities covered by the Cityhood Laws not only had conversion bills pending during the 11th Congress, but have also complied with the requirements of the LGC prescribed prior to its amendment by R.A. No. 9009.^[14] Congress undeniably gave these cities all the considerations that justice and fair play demanded. Hence, this Court should do no less by stamping its imprimatur to the clear and unmistakable legislative intent and by duly recognizing the certain collective wisdom of Congress. WHEREFORE, the Ad Cautelam Motion for Reconsideration (of the Decision dated 15 February 2011) is denied with finality.^[15]

On 28 June 2011 the Supreme Court directed the Clerk of Court to issue the entry of judgment on the cityhood case of 16 municipalities.^[16]

Demographics

Economy

The Baug Carp Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BCBMPC) Cabadbaran Branch

Cabadbaran produces several agricultural crops such as:

• Rice
• Corn
• Coconut
• Abaca
• Banana
• Mango

Cabadbaran has the biggest area planted with coconuts in Agusan del Norte with 18.46% of the total land area planted with the crop.

The city also has a booming economy based on agro industry, commerce and trade, source of several export and industrial products; it has also varied ecotourism destinations ranging from Caraga's highest peak, mile long tunnels to adventure tourism sites.

Easily accessible from the cities of Surigao and Butuan, the city has modern transport, communications, banking and accommodation facilities.

Tourism

Like the popular destinations situated on neighboring provinces, Cabadbaran experiences a growing ecotourism industry. Annual climbs to reach CARAGA's highest peak Mt. Hilong-Hilong (2,012 meters above sea level) has been organized by trekkers and mountaineers, there are also organized climbs to Mt. Mas-ai, a plateau located in Puting Bato which has a mountain top lake. Locals have also put up white water tubing adventures along Cabadbaran River including rappelling at some of the steep falls located at the foot of Mt. Hilong-hilong. Mt. Pongkay, which is a hill that can be seen from the city proper, can be a great destination for families who wants to experience the value of the Holy Week's penance and devotion. It is also a destination for mountain climbers and for those people who wants to see the panoramic view of Agusan del Norte and Butuan Bay.

Cabadbaran also has cheap inland pools by local residents that is an alternative to inland resorts. Many of these pools have sprouted through the years because of Cabadbaran's abundant fresh water which the city is known for. The city is also a beach destination for people from neighboring municipalities because of its crystal clear water and gray sandy beaches. The city has multiple hotels as well like Loreta's, Gazebo, and Casa Alburo.

Although Cabadbaran does not yet have any mainstream fast food restaurants, the city has various restaurants that offers Filipino, Japanese, and Chinese cuisine, an alternative to people who wants to have their fine dining locally than in the neighboring Butuan City.

Festivals and celebrations

Dagkot Festival

• Charter Day Celebration - held annually every July 28 to commemorate the cityhood of Cabadbaran.
• Dagkot Festival - It is the sole important event during the fiesta celebration of Cabadbaran City. The weeklong festivity features socio-civic activities, sporting events, trade fairs and capped by a grand street dancing parade and competition to celebrate the historic past and the bright future that awaits the city also in honor of Nuestra Seniora de Candelaria.
• Musikainan Food and Music Festival - It is a celebrational tribute to the city's "culture and history as well as the local's cooking tradition".^[20]

Language

The entirety of Cabadbaran speaks Cebuano. There are also significant number of people who speak Surigaonon, for these people have lived or have ancestries from the northern municipalities and speak in a variety of the Jabonganon, Mainitnon and Gigaquitnon dialects of the Surigaonon language. Hiligaynon, Waray, Manobo languages, Butuanon, Boholano dialect, and Maranao have also less significant speakers in the area while English and Filipino are also widely used spoken.

Government

Cabadbaran City Hall

Provincial Seat of Government

After the Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte attain the reclassification of their land conducted by the Dept. of Agriculture (DA) in Brgy. Sanghan, Cabadbaran City where the new Capitol building will be constructed, the land conversion by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will soon follow. It will feature a modern design, including an employees village at the back of the new building intended for the provincial employees.

List of mayors

The list of mayors th at took office in Cabadbaran starting in 1896.^[21]

Transportation

By land

Cabadbaran city is accessible by bus from Bachelor Express or Surigao Bus via Butuan-Surigao routes or vice versa. There are also vans, jeep and multi-cabs that have routes towards both Surigao City and Butuan City which are stationed in the City Transport Terminal.

By air and sea

Currently the city has no sea and airports. Cabadbaran can be reached by air from Manila and Cebu via Butuan City which is 30 kilometers away. From the Visayas, it can be accessed via the Nasipit Municipal Port in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte (60 km) or via the Lipata Port and Verano International Port both in Surigao City (79 km) through the Maharlika Highway

Education

Public Schools

Private Schools and SUCs

• Agape Christian Academy
• Bishop Haden Institute
• Cabadbaran Baptist Academy
• Candelaria Institute of Technology of Cabadbaran Inc.
• Caraga State University - Cabadbaran Campus
• Mindanao Institute
• Montessori de Cabadbaran
• Northern Mindanao Colleges Inc.
• Rainbows Speechworld Learning Center Inc.
• Trailblazer Study Center

Sister cities

• Makati, Philippines
• Naga, Cebu, Philippines
• Rizhao, China
• Batac, Philippines

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cabadbaran.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Cabadbaranon Network
• Cabadbaran Today
• Philippine Information Agency

Adjacent places of Cabadbaran
	Bohol Sea	Tubay / Santiago
	Butuan Bay		Sibagat, Agusan del Sur
		Cabadbaran
		Magallanes / R. T. Romualdez

Articles Related to Cabadbaran

Province of Agusan del Norte Cabadbaran (capital) Municipalities Buenavista Carmen Jabonga Kitcharao Las Nieves Magallanes Nasipit Remedios T. Romualdez Santiago Tubay Component city Cabadbaran Highly urbanized city Butuan (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Agusan del Norte by the Philippine Statistics Authority.) Caraga (Region XIII) Regional Center Butuan Provinces Agusan del Norte Agusan del Sur Dinagat Islands Surigao del Norte Surigao del Sur Highly Urbanized City Butuan Component Cities Bayugan Bislig Cabadbaran Surigao City Tandag Provincial Capitals Butuan (de facto) Cabadbaran (de jure) Prosperidad San Jose Surigao City Tandag Municipalities Alegria Bacuag Barobo Basilisa Bayabas Buenavista Bunawan Burgos Cagdianao Cagwait Cantilan Carmen (Agusan del Norte) Carmen (Surigao del Sur) Carrascal Claver Cortes Dapa Del Carmen Dinagat Esperanza General Luna Gigaquit Hinatuan Jabonga Kitcharao La Paz Lanuza Las Nieves Lianga Libjo Lingig Loreto (Agusan del Sur) Loreto (Dinagat Islands) Madrid Magallanes Mainit Malimono Marihatag Nasipit Pilar Placer Prosperidad Remedios T. Romualdez Rosario San Agustin San Benito San Francisco (Agusan del Sur) San Francisco (Surigao del Norte) San Isidro San Jose San Luis San Miguel Santa Josefa Santa Monica Santiago Sibagat Sison Socorro Tagana-an Tagbina Tago Talacogon Trento Tubajon Tubay Tubod Veruela Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines Cities of the Philippines Highly Urbanized Cities Angeles Bacolod Baguio Butuan Cagayan de Oro Caloocan Cebu City Davao City General Santos Iligan Iloilo City Lapu-Lapu Las Piñas Lucena Makati Malabon Mandaluyong Mandaue Manila Marikina Muntinlupa Navotas Olongapo Parañaque Pasay Pasig Puerto Princesa Quezon City San Juan Tacloban Taguig Valenzuela Zamboanga City Independent Component Cities Cotabato City Dagupan Naga Ormoc Santiago Component Cities Alaminos Antipolo Bacoor Bago Bais Balanga Batac Batangas City Bayawan Baybay Bayugan Biñan Bislig Bogo Borongan Cabadbaran Cabanatuan Cabuyao Cadiz Calamba Calapan Calbayog Candon Canlaon Carcar Catbalogan Cauayan Cavite City Danao Dapitan Dasmariñas Digos Dipolog Dumaguete El Salvador Escalante Gapan General Trias Gingoog Guihulngan Himamaylan Ilagan Imus Iriga Isabela Kabankalan Kidapawan Koronadal La Carlota Lamitan Laoag Legazpi Ligao Lipa Maasin Mabalacat Malaybalay Malolos Marawi Masbate City Mati Meycauayan Muñoz Naga, Cebu Oroquieta Ozamiz Pagadian Palayan Panabo Passi Roxas Sagay Samal San Carlos, Negros Occidental San Carlos, Pangasinan San Fernando, La Union San Fernando, Pampanga San Jose San Jose del Monte San Pablo San Pedro Santa Rosa Silay Sipalay Sorsogon City Surigao City Tabaco Tabuk Tacurong Tagaytay Tagbilaran Tagum Talisay, Cebu Talisay, Negros Occidental Tanauan Tandag Tangub Tanjay Tarlac City Tayabas Toledo Trece Martires Tuguegarao Urdaneta Valencia Victorias Vigan Provincial capital cities and municipalities of the Philippines Luzon Abra: Bangued Albay: Legazpi Apayao: Kabugao / Luna1 Aurora: Baler Bataan: Balanga Batanes: Basco Batangas: Batangas City Benguet: La Trinidad Bulacan: Malolos Cagayan: Tuguegarao Camarines Norte: Daet Camarines Sur: Pili Catanduanes: Virac Cavite: Imus / Trece Martires1 Ifugao: Lagawe Ilocos Norte: Laoag Ilocos Sur: Vigan Isabela: Ilagan Kalinga: Tabuk La Union: San Fernando Laguna: Santa Cruz Marinduque: Boac Masbate: Masbate City Mountain Province: Bontoc Nueva Ecija: Palayan Nueva Vizcaya: Bayombong Occidental Mindoro: Mamburao Oriental Mindoro: Calapan Palawan: Puerto Princesa Pampanga: San Fernando Pangasinan: Lingayen Quezon: Lucena Quirino: Cabarroguis Rizal: Antipolo Romblon: Romblon Sorsogon: Sorsogon City Tarlac: Tarlac City Zambales: Iba Visayas Aklan: Kalibo Antique: San Jose de Buenavista Biliran: Naval Bohol: Tagbilaran Capiz: Roxas Cebu: Cebu City Eastern Samar: Borongan Guimaras: Jordan Iloilo: Iloilo City Leyte: Tacloban Negros Occidental: Bacolod Negros Oriental: Dumaguete Northern Samar: Catarman Samar: Catbalogan Siquijor: Siquijor Southern Leyte: Maasin Mindanao Agusan del Norte: Cabadbaran / Butuan1 Agusan del Sur: Prosperidad Basilan: Lamitan Bukidnon: Malaybalay Camiguin: Mambajao Compostela Valley: Nabunturan Cotabato: Kidapawan Davao del Norte: Tagum Davao del Sur: Digos Davao Occidental: Malita Davao Oriental: Mati Dinagat Islands: San Jose Lanao del Norte: Tubod Lanao del Sur: Marawi Maguindanao: Buluan / Sultan Kudarat2 Misamis Occidental: Oroquieta Misamis Oriental: Cagayan de Oro Sarangani: Alabel South Cotabato: Koronadal Sultan Kudarat: Isulan Sulu: Jolo Surigao del Norte: Surigao City Surigao del Sur: Tandag Tawi-Tawi: Bongao Zamboanga del Norte: Dipolog Zamboanga del Sur: Pagadian Zamboanga Sibugay: Ipil 1 de facto seat of provincial government · 2 seat of legislative branch of provincial government