Region XIII or the Caraga Administrative Region is the newest region created under Republic Act No. 7901 approved on February 23,1995. It consists of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. Its cities are Surigao and Butuan.
It has a land area of 18,847 sq. kms. Butuan Bay and Surigao Strait surrounds it on the north, and the Philippine Sea on the east. On the South are the Davao provinces and Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon on the west.
Its proximity to other growth areas such as the Cagayan - Iligan corridor and the Davao Gulf Economic Zone is an advantage.
POPULATION
In 2000, its population was 2,076,000 with an increase of 6.42% from its population of 1,942,687. In 1990, there were 947,199 (51%) and 912,982 females.
In 2000, its population was 2,076,000 with an increase of 6.42% from its population of 1,942,687. In 1990, there were 947,199 (51%) and 912,982 females.
CULTURAL GROUPS
Majority of the inhabitants of the region are of Visayan lineage. The ethnic residents include the Manobo, the Mamanwa and other tribes.
It is reported that during the early years of the Caraga region, its inhabitants came from mainland Asia, followed by Malayans, Arabs, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Americans. Migrants from the Visayan and Luzon provinces later settled in the area. Most of its inhabitants speak the Cebuano dialect and reside in the rural areas.
Majority of the inhabitants of the region are of Visayan lineage. The ethnic residents include the Manobo, the Mamanwa and other tribes.
It is reported that during the early years of the Caraga region, its inhabitants came from mainland Asia, followed by Malayans, Arabs, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Americans. Migrants from the Visayan and Luzon provinces later settled in the area. Most of its inhabitants speak the Cebuano dialect and reside in the rural areas.
CLIMATE
The region in general has no definite dry season. Rainfall occurs throughout the year with heavy rains from November to January. Storms might occur on the northern and eastern portions facing the Pacific Ocean. The rest of the region are relatively typhoon-free.
The region in general has no definite dry season. Rainfall occurs throughout the year with heavy rains from November to January. Storms might occur on the northern and eastern portions facing the Pacific Ocean. The rest of the region are relatively typhoon-free.
LAND USE
Forestland in the region accounts for an estimated 71% of its total land area. The rest are devoted to agriculture and other purposes. Forest cover is decreasing due to encroachment/poaching.
Forestland in the region accounts for an estimated 71% of its total land area. The rest are devoted to agriculture and other purposes. Forest cover is decreasing due to encroachment/poaching.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Rich in natural resources, the region has large tracts of land available for development. The region is noted for its wood based economy, its extensive water resources and its rich mineral deposits such as iron, gold, silver, nickel, chromites, manganese and copper. Its leading crops are palay, banana and coconut.
Rich in natural resources, the region has large tracts of land available for development. The region is noted for its wood based economy, its extensive water resources and its rich mineral deposits such as iron, gold, silver, nickel, chromites, manganese and copper. Its leading crops are palay, banana and coconut.
It has excellent tourism potentials because of its unspoiled and beautiful beaches, abundant and fresh seafood, ancient and historical landmarks, hot and cold springs, evergreen forests and balmy weather.
FACILITIES The entire region is connected by roads from and to the major commercial, trading and processing centers of Cagayan de Oro and Davao. Butuan City is being developed as the regional center with modern facilities. There are secondary seaports and airports in the region. It has an increasing number of telecommunication facilities and the presence of LIPATA ferry services . |
Caraga Administrative Region XIII was created in pursuance of Republic Act No.7901 on February 23, 1995 by President by President Fidel V. Ramos. This new born region we now call Caraga was named after the historic Caraga: an extensive land mass covering some provinces in the Northeastern seaboard of island of Mindanao , Philippines . It was an existing Lumad territory even before the arrival of the Spaniards in the country as chronicled by Antonio Pigafetta, this was located in the Pacific Coast between Butuan or Benaiam in the Southeast somewhere in the vicinity of the province of Davao Oriental.
In 1538 the Eastern cost of Mindanao which includes the present province of Surigao was visited by a Portuguese explorer Francisco de Castro, who found the place inhabited by the Caraga tribe who were believed to be of Visayan origin.
Five years later, a Spaniard Ruy Lopez de Villalobos landed in the same region. His navigator, Bernardo de la Torre, named it "Cesaria caroli" in honor of the reigning Spanish Monarch, Carlos V. The name however never persisted since the Spaniards preferred to name the area " Caraga after its inhabitants.
The Jesuits Missionaries in 1597 tried to evangelize the people of Butuan (Agusan) and Caraga (Surigao ), with much difficulty and intermittent success, there followed in 1622 by the Augustinians Recollects ,who establishes parishes in Tandag and Bislig in 1642. The Recollects stayed until 1875 , then secular priests took over, followed by the Benedictine Monks from 1893 to1908.
The ancient District of Caraga, which was established in 1609 comprised all of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, the Northern part of Davao Oriental and Eastern Misamis Oriental.
Caraga comes from the word Calagan which means "Land of the Brave" or "fierce people". The Italian adventurer Francisco Giovanni Careri, who published a book of travel in the country, cited Francisco Combes, S.J. as a source in saying that Calagan is derived from the two Visayan words: kalag or calag which means soul or people and an for land.
Caraga Administrative Region 13 is located in the eastern part of Mindanao Island, Philippines. It is bounded on the north by the Pacific Ocean, on the South by the province of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, on the East by the province of Davao del Norte , and on the West by the Mindanao Sea.
The Region covers four provinces and two cities. These include the Cities of Butuan (as the Regional Center) and Surigao, and the provinces of Agusan del Norte , Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
The four provinces of Caraga are composed of seventy-three (73) municipalities with a total of 1,309 barangays.
Caraga's Economy. The region has strong wood-, mineral-, and fishery-based industries. Rice, corn, palm oil, banana, coconut, abaca, rubber, fruits, and root crops are its major agricultural products.
Human Resources. Well organized farmer cooperatives, English speaking managers, training systems, and schools support enterprises in the region.
Cultural communities
Caraga is home to several cultural communities. In 1995, they had a total of 675,722, representing 34.7% of the region's population. the biggest in number were the manobos with 294,284 or 43.55% of the total population of cultural communities. Most of them reside in the province of Agusan del Sur. Other cultural communities in the region with significant population were the Kamayo, Higa-onon, Banwaon, Umayamnon, and Mamanwa.
Minerals. Caraga sits on 3.5 billion metric tons of metallic and non-metallic reserves the largest concentration of which is found in Surigao . Mineralogist consider NOnoc Island as having the largest nickel deposits in Asia, Surigao del Sur has one of the largest iron deposits in the world. Large reserves of limestone for cement manufacture are found in Surigao City.
Marine & Acquaculture. Caraga's long coastline and inland waters, which include Lake Mainit, the country's third largest, hold enormous fishery resources. Over 930,000 hectares produce prawn for export, and milkfish, crab, shrimp and tilapia for domestic consumption.
Agribusiness & Exports. Wood-based products, prawn, and banana chips comprise the region's major exports. Marine exports include tuna, skipjack and Atlantic bonito which are shipped from Surigao City. Corporate plantations covering thousands of hectares are planted with oil palm and timber trees.
Major products
Its long stretch of shoreline promises abundance in production of fisheries and aquatic products. With its large tract of fertile lands, the region has a great capacity in producing varied commercial crops as well as livestock and poultry. Major agricultural products of the region are palay, corn, coconut, gold, banana, rubber, oil palm, calamansi, prawns, milkfish, crabs, seaweeds and mango. Caraga's proximity to Cebu and Manila makes it a favorable shipping point for products to and from these markets. Nasipit Port can serve as a secondary shipping hub to Cagayan de Oro when traffic volume from other points in Mindanao increases. With a roll-on, roll-off (RORO) ferry service now in place, Surigao City serves as a vital transportation link for trucks and buses bound for Luzon.
Seaports . Caraga is served by an international port in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte ,by the Surigao City port, and by wharves in Tandag, Bislig and Dapa. The Lipata Ferry Terminal in Surigao City serves as Mindanao's gateway to the Visayas and Luzon.
Seaports . Caraga is served by an international port in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte ,by the Surigao City port, and by wharves in Tandag, Bislig and Dapa. The Lipata Ferry Terminal in Surigao City serves as Mindanao's gateway to the Visayas and Luzon.Airports. Direct commercial flights to Manila and Cebu are available in both Butuan and Surigao. Feeder airports in Bislig and Tandag, as well as corporate airstrips, supplement air transport facilities.
Bus /Jeepney Terminal. Surigao City has just constructed a Tourist class Bus Terminal which serves some Bus from any point in the Philippines (Philtranco etc..) and especially Bus from some neighbouring Provinces and Cities in Mindanao. Butuan City also has a new bus terminal which can accomodate some bus from other cities and provinces in Mindanao . It soon construct an intergrated jeepney terminal for jeepneys from the municipalities. Throughout the region theres several bus terminals to serve travellers.
Energy. Local cooperatives distribute electric power generated by the National Power Corporation.
Road Network. Well-paved roads connecte Caraga's processing and trading centers to Cagayan de Oro and Davao City and to other regions to the north through the Lipata Ferry Terminal.
Telecommunications. Caraga's telecommunication network consists of Telephones capable of NDD,IDD,FAX , cellular phones, Internet , and sattelite broadcasting.
Surfing
Lying at the edge of the Philippine archipelago, Siargao is reputed as the surfing capital of the Philippines, and hosts an annual international surfing event. Its waves combine the best features of top-rated waves of Hawaii's fabled "pipeline" and the top-billed waves of Indonesia. The huge and powerful "pacific rollers" have been ranked among the top five breaks in the world, including the "Cloud Nine" which is considered one of the world's top surfing waves. Other excellent breaks, which offer the adventurous surfer top-class exploratory surfing without crowds, are found in the towns of Tandag and Lanuza.
Mountain-biking
Great trails run all around the Cities of Butuan and Surigao, Surigao del sur, Agusan del Norte and Siargao. There are regular cross-country and downhill competitions done in these areas which are participated by local and international bikers. Caraga has an active and hospitable biking scene. Butuan or Surigao-based bikers regularly tour the rugged terrain of the region and are eager to show their routes to new comers. ΣΧΕ fraternity and sorority is a part of this.
Trekking
Mt. Mas-ai and Mt. Hilong-Hilong are the best sites for trekking or mountain climbing. The views from the mountains are superb, taking in the full scope of the vast lower Agusan Valley. Close to Mt. Mas-ai lies the picturesque Lake Mainit, which is considered the fourth-largest lake in the country, with a total land area of 147 km². Through the years, the lake has been a known lair for pidjanga, tilapia, kasili, banak, haw-an, gingaw, saguyon and igi. Migratory birds, pagosi and tabokali flowers are its intermittent added attractions. From the coastal areas of Lake Mainit to the hills of Jabonga, Tubay, and Santiago, hikers are offered the opportunity to explore the quiet and interesting life of these places. There are a few established treks in the region, but everywhere else you will be hiking in areas virtually untouched by tourism.
Surigao first became famous for its surf, so kayakers who like big waves enjoy it very much. There are also mangrove swamps in the island where you can paddle both in the main channel and through narrow passages in the mangroves while seeing some wildlife and enjoying the serenity of the place. The first is just behind the Pansukian Tropical Resort while the other one is in del Carmen, where the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the Philippines is located. The "must see" place in Caraga where you can paddle around spectacular limestone formations to a point where you can enter a narrow channel which soon becomes a cave is in Sohoton Cave and Lagoon in Bucas Grande Island, which is more than an hour boat ride from Siargao. Since the sport is new here, only Pansukian Tropical Resort offers kayak tours in several locations around Siargao. Aside from sea kayaking, Masao & Agusan Rivers, Lake Mainit and the Agusan Marshland have tremendous potential for paddling using wooden canoes.
Capital | Population (2000) | Pop. density (per km²) | |||
 | 285,570 | 1,773.2 | 161.0 | ||
 | 559,294 | 8,966.0 | 62.4 | ||
 | 802.1 | ||||
 | 481,416 | 1,936.9 | 175.8 | ||
 | 501,808 | 4,552.2 | 110.2 | ||
 | — | 267,279 | 817.3 | 327.0 | |
Sources:
-Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
-National Census and Statistics Office (NCSO)
-(NAMRIA)
-Department of Tourism (DOT)
-Abigan Jr., Edmundo R. Philguides Maps Regions I - XIII
(Manila: Philippine Guides, Inc.) 1999
-Regional Development Plan: Directions for the 21st Century
Regions I –XIII, Cordillera Administrative Region
(Philippines: Regional Development Council) 1998
-NEDA Medium Term Development Plan
(Philippines, National Economic and Development Authority), 1999.
-Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
-National Census and Statistics Office (NCSO)
-(NAMRIA)
-Department of Tourism (DOT)
-Abigan Jr., Edmundo R. Philguides Maps Regions I - XIII
(Manila: Philippine Guides, Inc.) 1999
-Regional Development Plan: Directions for the 21st Century
Regions I –XIII, Cordillera Administrative Region
(Philippines: Regional Development Council) 1998
-NEDA Medium Term Development Plan
(Philippines, National Economic and Development Authority), 1999.
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