Agusan del Norte

Agusan del Norte, officially the Province of Agusan del Norte (Amihanang Agusan; Butuanon: Probinsya hong Agusan del Norte; Hilagang Agusan), is a province in the Caraga region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Cabadbaran with several government offices located in the highly-urbanized city of Butuan. It is bordered on the northwest by Butuan Bay; northeast by Surigao del Norte; mid-east by Surigao del Sur; southeast by Agusan del Sur, and southwest by Misamis Oriental.

Spanish colonial era


Prior to its creation as an independent province, Agusan, as it was once undivided, was under the jurisdiction of Surigao province during the Spanish colonial period.

American invasion era
In 1907, Agusan was separated from Surigao by the American government, creating the Agusan province.

Japanese occupation era
During World War II in 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Northern Agusan.

In 1945, Filipino soldiers of the 6th, 10th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 107th and 110th Infantry Divisions of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the 10th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary together with the recognized Agusan guerrilla fighter units began the liberation of Northern Agusan from Japanese forces during World War II.

During the war, a unit of the joint Philippine-American defense force were located at Manot, Talacogon, in the interior of the Agusan Valley.

Philippine independence
In 1967, Republic Act 4979 divided Agusan into two independent provinces: Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

Contemporary
On August 16, 2000, the seat of provincial government was transferred from Butuan to Cabadbaran through Republic Act 8811, although the province is yet to complete the transfer of provincial services and functions to the new capital.

The capital town of Cabadbaran became a component city by virtue of Republic Act No. 9494 which sought to convert the municipality into a city. The law was ratified on July 28, 2007. However, the cityhood status was lost twice in the years 2008 and 2010 after the LCP questioned the validity of the cityhood law. The cityhood status was reaffirmed after the court finalized its ruling on February 15, 2011 which declared the cityhood law constitutional.

Geography


Agusan del Norte is situated in Mindanao's western section of Caraga. It is bordered on the northwest by Butuan Bay; northeast by Surigao del Norte; mid-east by Surigao del Sur; southeast by Agusan del Sur, and southwest by Misamis Oriental. Agusan del Norte has a total land area of 2,730.24 km2. When Butuan is included for geographical purposes, the province's land area is 3546.86 km2.

The central portion of the province forms the lower basin of the third longest river in the country, the Agusan, its mouth located at Butuan Bay. Consequently, the terrain surrounding the river features flat to rolling lands. Mountainous terrain dominate the northeastern and western areas.

The country's fourth largest lake, Lake Mainit is situated at the northern border between the province of Surigao del Norte.

Administrative divisions
Agusan del Norte comprises 10 municipalities and 1 component city. There are 253 barangays (including the independent city of Butuan).

The city of Cabadbaran is the officially designated capital of the province per Republic Act 8811. The highly urbanized city of Butuan is geographically within but administratively independent from the province.



Demographics
The population of Agusan del Norte in the 2020 census was 387,503 people, making it the country's 64th most populous province. It had a density of undefined PD/km2.

When the highly urbanized city of Butuan is included for geographical purposes, the province's population is 691,566 people, with a density of undefined PD/sqkm.

Cebuano is the most common language spoken in the province. Tagalog and English are also widely used and understood, often used for administrative functions by the local government and in education and business. Indigenous inhabitants in the province speak their respective languages and dialects fluently in addition to Cebuano. Descendants of other settlers from Luzon and other parts of Visayas speak their own respective ethnic languages to varying degrees by their respective communities within the province.

Catholicism
In 2013, the Diocese of Butuan (Catholic-Hierarchy) reported that Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion of the province comprising roughly 71% of the population. Significant minority belongs to Iglesia Filipina Independiente with 10%.

Others
The remaining beliefs usually belong to other Christian denominations like Members Church of God International (MCGI) as well as Islam.

Economy
The economy of the province is dominantly agricultural, major crops of which include rice, corn, coconut, abaca, banana and mango. Agusan del Norte is also home of the 24.9mw Lake Mainit Hydro Power Plant and 8mw Asiga Hydro Power Plant that will serves Agusan del Norte.

Government
Agusan del Norte has two congressional districts encompassing its 10 municipalities and 1 component city, as well as the highly urbanized city of Butuan.

Tourism
The province has many beaches in Cabadbaran and the municipalities of Carmen, Buenavista, and Nasipit. Mount Hilong-Hilong, one of the tallest in the province, is located in Cabadbaran.

Also shared with the highest mountain peak in the province. Mount Hilong-hilong is the one of the tallest especially through the accessible area is located at Malvar Trail the center of Remedios T. Romualdez Municipality.

From the top of Prayer Mountain (Mount Pongkay), visitors can have a panoramic view of Cabadbaran which includes buildings, churches, rivers and the sea. The Agusan River, the longest in Mindanao and the third longest in the Philippines is in Butuan. Looming southwest of the Agusan Valley is Mount Mayapay, a mountain plateau. The ancient Balangay boats were found in Butuan, excavated in the Balangay Shrine across the Masao River from Bood Promontory. They played a major role because of Butuan being a port city. Since its discovery, the Balangays have become an icon of Butuan. The Kaya ng Pinoy, Inc. recreated the Balangay boats and have sailed it as part of their project, the Balangay Voyage.