CARAGA

PROFILE

Agusan del Norte l Agusan del Sur l Dinagat Island l Surigao del Norte l Surigao del Sur

--- AGUSAN DEL SUR ---

Physical Profile:

The province of Agusan del Sur is located in the Northeastern Mindanao, bounded on the North by Agusan del Norte, on the South Compostela Valley, on the west Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon and on the east by Surigao del Sur.

The province is landlocked and can be reached only by land transportation through the Davao-Butuan National Highway. Three minor roads also provide access for travelers coming from Tandag, Lianga, Barobo and Bislig City in Surigao del Sur and one road connect the southwestern part of the province with Asuncion, Compostela Valley province. All four roads intersect the national highway at different points.

Although Agusan River is a potential route towards the province, no existing ferry facilities regularly ply from Butuan City or Compostela Valley Province.

The province’s approximate area is 896,550 hectares or 8,965.50 sq. km. It ranks as the fourth largest province in the country. The river municipalities of Loreto, Lapaz, Esperanza, and San Luis are the fourth largest municipalities in the land, comprising almost sixty percent of the province’s total land area. On the other hand, Sta. Josefa and Talacogon, also river towns, have the smallest land area.

The Agusan del Sur population is predominantly composed of immigrants from the Visayas. Intermarriages between immigrants and natives have pulled down the percentage of the lumad stock. Cebuano is the most common language spoken in Agusan del Sur.

The province is subdivided to two (2) district which are composed of fourteen (14) municipalities.

Agricultural Profile:

The province is dubbed as the rice granary of Caraga Region since it occupies the largest cultivated area. Corn is another major crop in the province followed by oil palm (fresh fruit bunch), banana, coconut (with husk), banana saba and sweet potato or kamote.

Poultry and chicken dominated as the poultry raising activity in the province followed by duck raising. For the livestock sector swine top followed by carabao, goat, cattle, and sheep.

--- SURIGAO DEL SUR ---

Physical Profile:

The Province of Surigao del Sur is located in the Caraga region. Its capital is Tandag City. 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 Pacific Ocean, and the West and Southwest by the Provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. This strategic location enables the province to establish favorable economic linkages with other neighboring provinces.

Surigao del Sur comprises 17 municipalities and two cities, further subdivided into 309 barangays. Two congressional districts are encompassing all cities and towns.

Surigaonon and Tandaganon are spoken in most parts of Surigao del Sur (except in Bislig City and the towns of Barobo, Hinatuan, Lingig and Tagbina, where most of the inhabitants speak Cebuano and their native Kamayo, a different language but distantly related to Surigaonon, is spoken by the rest of the population), with Cantilangnon, a northern variation of Surigaonon which is very much similar to the dialect of Surigaonon as spoken in Surigao del Norte, being spoken mostly in the five northern municipalities of the province namely Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen and Lanuza (or the municipal clusters called CarCanMadCarLan).

Agricultural Profile:

Surigao del Sur has a total land area of 523,050 hectares wherein 214,032 is dedicated to agriculture. Table 2 shows the major crops of Surigao del Sur wherein cash crops such as coconut, banana, and cassava are also included. Upland farms are usually intercropped with long-term crops like coconut.

Poultry and chicken dominated as the poultry raising activity in the province. For the livestock sector carabao top followed by goat/sheep and cattle.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION ACCOUNTS

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority