The Philippines – Best Cities, Places In Caraga Region XIII Part 1 of 2

Caraga, known as the Karaga Region or the Caraga region XIII, designated as District XIII. An administrative region of the Philippines that occupies the northeastern part of Mindanao. The Caraga region established on February 23, 1995, through Republic Act No. 7901. The region includes 5 provinces: Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, and Dinagat; six cities: Bislig, Bayugan, Butuan, Surigao, Cabadbaran, and Tandag; 67 cities, and 1,311 towns. Butuan is a regional administrative center.

It is said that Caraga originated from Kalaga native words, meaning “the spirit of the soul.” The entire province of Caraga throughout 1622 called a vibrant region an “energetic region”. Another fictional source of the name comes from local legends, comes from the word Cagang. Which forms the beach of Caraga, known as the katang of the local population legend name of the city. Because the first Spanish missionaries who arrived in the early 17th century found many small crabs on the beach.

HISTORY

During the pre-colonial period, the Rajahnate of Butuan ruled the current Agusan del Norte and Butuan City. It has a great influence in Caraga, the northern part of Mindanao and the western part of Bohol. According to records, Butuan conflicts with Ternate Sultanate in Indonesia’s current Moluccas. Ternateans will attack and plunder Butuan and its wealth, but Butuan always has the edge. As everyone knows, Butuan’s Rajahnate has a friendly relationship with Cebu’s Rajahnate, which he considers being an ally. Butuan’s Rajahnate became a powerful Hindu country known for its goldsmiths and shipbuilding. The Butuan people used a huge ship called balangay, which contained countless people. The Philippine National Museum and other international museums unearthed and preserved the remains of these gold crafts and giant ships. Butuan has a cordial relationship with the Champa Kingdom, now the center of Vietnam.

The Best Cities, Places In Caraga Region XIII

The Butuan crossed the Sulu Sea and the South China Sea to trade in Champa. Although Butuan’s Rajahnate is free, the internal Lumads of Caraga are free and have a very advanced democratic society. Their society is known for its understanding of nature, medicine, mythology, and war. Chinese businessmen arrived in Butuan, China – China trade became the focus of the Champa-Butuan relationship. The two countries competed to win a better trade with Chinese businessmen. For the large-scale attack by Ternate, Butuan began to weaken. Cebu couldn’t help at the time because he attacked by Ternate. Kedatuan of Bohol Dapitan, “Venice of the Visayas”, destroyed by the attack of Ternate.

READ: The Philippines – Best Cities, Places In Caraga Region XIII Part 2 of 2

Calagan, known by the Spaniards as “Karagan”, occupies a region. It comprises the two provinces of Surigao, northeast of Davao and East Misamis. The two provinces of Agusan organized under the administrative jurisdiction of Surigao. It became the independent province of Agusan in 1940 in 1960. Surigao divided into South and North, and June 1967, Agusan did the same. Although Butuan was only a city in Agusan, the logging boom of the 1950s brought commercial interest in the field. On August 2, 1950, according to Republic Law 523, the “Butuan City Charter” approved. 

On February 23, 1995, the Caraga region established by Republican Law No. 7901 during administer President Fidel Ramos. The provinces of North Agusan, South Agusan and North Surigao (from the ancient part of northern Mindanao). South Surigao (from the ancient part of southern Mindanao) annexed as part of the created space.

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Corresponding to reports, in the first few years of the Caraga region, its residents came from the Asian continent. It followed by Malays, Arabs, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Americans. Immigrants from Visayas and Luzon settled in the city. Most residents say Cebuano, living in rural areas.

Caraga Region XIII: Geography

The Caraga region XIII, in the northeastern part of Mindanao, stationed between 8 00’ and 10 30’ north latitude. It has a longitude of 125 15’ to 126 30’E. It limits the Bohol Sea in the north; the Davao del Norte province in the south, the Davao Oriental in the Compostela Valley and XI districts; the Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental of X in the west; and the Pacific Ocean in the Philippines to the east.

The total space of ​​the territory 18,846.97 square kilometers. (7,276.86 square miles), accounting for 6.3% of the country’s total capacity. 18.5% of Mindanao 47.6% of the total land of ​​the region belongs to the province of Agusan del Sur. Among the total land space, the forest land section accounts for 71.22%. The total land and total land space account for 28.78%. The mainland used includes forest land, accounting for 31.36% and 23.98% of agriculture and open space.

Caraga Region XIII: Environment And Wildlife

The region has one of the last ecological boundaries of the Philippines. It is home to 12 key biodiversity areas identified by the Haribon Foundation. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines. Key areas of biodiversity include Mt. Redondo and Mt. Kambinliw in the Dinagat Islands. Dinagat, the mouse cloud-tailed family and endangered species. After decades of disappearance, rediscovered, Dina Ghat’s Dinagat Gymnure endangered species. They announced to plan EDGE species of animal learning. London as a world of different species of 100 major evolutionary and endangered species and rare subspecies.

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The Philippine tarsier, a large, darker in the Philippine ordinary larger and dark. The landscape of Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte and the protected sea view, the country’s surfing capital. Consuelo, Carrascal Bay in Surigao del Sur, Mt. Hilong-Hilong, and General Islands in Surigao del Sur. This shared by North Agusan, South Agusan, North Surigao, and Surigao del Sur. It considers one of the most extensive houses of the Philippine Eagles. The Magsaysay in Agusan del Norte, Mount Kaluayan -Mt. Kinabalian, shared by Agusan del Sur and Mindanao del Norte’s Bukidnon province. Surigao del Sur’s Cagwait, Mt. Diwata range, shared by Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur. The focal point of the western Mindanao ecological border. Surigao del Sur’s Hinatuan Bay Known for its fascinating Hintauan River. The Bislig rainforest between Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur. The Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur, part of the UNESCO temporary list.

Caraga Region XIII: Terrain

The zone characterized by mountains, flat and undulating. Their mountains divide the provinces of Agusan and Surigao. While the secondary mountains separate most of the lowlands on the Pacific coast. The most productive agricultural section in the region in the Agusan River Basin. Their famous Agusan Marsh in the middle of Agusan del Sur. Among the lakes in the territory, Lake Mainit is the widest lake. It spans eight cities: Alegría, Mainit, Tubod, and Sison in northern Surigao. And Santiago, Jabonga, Tubay, and Kitcharao in Agusan del Norte.

Caraga Region XIII: The Weather

The Caraga region is a category II climate with no obvious rainy and rainy seasons. Heavy rains often occur in the region between November and February.

Caraga Region XIII: Administrative Division

Includes Caraga 5 provinces, 1 urbanized city, 5 constituent cities, 70 municipalities, and 1,310 towns.

Caraga Region XIII: Demographics

According to the 2015 census, the total population of the region is 2,933,772. The annual growth rate during this period was higher than 20%. Among the five provinces, Agusan del Sur has the greatest population of 700,653. The Dinagat Islands has the lowest population of 127,152.

The total urban population of Butuan and Surigao is 337,063 and 154,137. From 2010 to 2015, the annual growth rate of Butuan City was 1.62%.

Caraga Region XIII: Languages

33.79% of the families in the territory say Cebuano. 33.21% of households use Surigaonon, followed by Butuanon 15%; Kamayo is 7.06% and Manobo is 4.73%. The rest said Boholanon, 5.87%; Hiligaynon, 2.87%; and 7.20% of other dialects.

Caraga Region XIII: Religion

The main religion in the region is Roman Catholicism, which accounts for 74% of the total population of Caraga family. Other major religious minorities include Protestants, who make up 20% of the total population of the family. Aglipayan, which accounts for 6% of the total family size.

Caraga Region XIII: Cultural Group

Majority of the inhabitants of the region are the Visayas heritage. The region is home to several national groups. In 1995, there were 675,722 people, accounting for 34.7% of the population of the region. The largest is Manobos, which accounts for 294,284 or 43.55% of the total minority population. Other cultural groups with a large population in the region are Kamayo, Banwaon, Higa-Onon, Kalagan, Umayamnon, and Mamanwa.

Most members of these cultural groups live in the province of Agusan del Sur.

Caraga Region XIII: Poverty Index

The poor people in the region decreased by 1.7%, from 44.7% in 1997 to 42.9% in 2000. Another positive development is the increase in regional annual household income based on the 1997 Household Income and Expenditure Survey. Compared with 2000, R $ increased by 13.65%. In 1997 it was $71,7126.00 and in 2000 it was $81,519.00. Regional annual household expenditures increased by 16.65%, from $61,815.00 in 1997 to $72,108.00 in 2000. The average annual savings reduced by 5% from ₱9,911.00 to 941 9411.00. Data on occur poverty in 2003 have not yet published.

From the perspective of Mindanao and the entire Mindanao, Caraga region one of the poorest regions in the country. From 1997 to 2000, the region the fourth highest incidence of household poverty in every part of the country. While in the Mindanao region, Caraga had the third highest incidence of poverty (in terms of incidence of the family).

Caraga Region XIII: Regional Economy

From 2001 to 2003, the Caraga region maintained its consistent performance in other parts of Mindanao. Caraga’s growth rate was 0.9%, while the growth rate in the 12th district was 9.5%. The growth rate of the Muslim Autonomous Region (ARMM) in Mindanao was 2.6%. The growth rate of Caraga in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 the same (0.9%). This far less than population growth. But, this performance is better than the economic performance of the region during 2000-2001. The region’s economy has declined by 1.4%.

Contribute the region to Mindanao’s national products was 7.58% in 2003. Caraga has the second lowest capital income in Mindanao and across the country. In 2003, the region accounted for 1.35% of the country’s gross national product.

Caraga Region XIII: Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP)

The region performed well in regional production. It contributes 8.01% to the GRDP in Mindanao in 1998, 8.25% in 1999 and 8.29% in 2000. The region contributed 1.44% to the Philippine economy in 1998, 1.48% in 1999 and 1.50% in 2000. In terms of growth rates, the region sped up from 1998 to 2000 and surpassed other parts of Mindanao. Except for the southern Mindanao region, which increased by 6.06% between 1999 and 2000. The Karaga region grew by 5.42% over the same period.

GRDP in 2000 was 1,433.6 billion pesos, compared with 135,59 billion pesos in 1999. The region’s economy slowed from 6.03% in 1999 to 5.42% in 2000. The slowdown in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry (AFF) sectors and services. It’s best performance of the industrial district, from 5.69% in 1999 to 6.69% in 2000. It eased the impact of a slowdown in the region.

With a 1.4% reduction in GRDP in 2000-2001, GRDP resumed in 2001-2002. With a growth rate of 0.9%. The positive trend continued in 2002-2003, with GRDP in the region increasing by 0.9%, the same as the earlier year.

The Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry Zone (AFF) the main economic district in Caraga. With growth trends of 3.8% and 6.8% in 2001 and 2003,. Although the growth trend of the agricultural and fisheries sub-sectors is declining. The much growth rate of the forestry sub-segment far offsets this downward trend. The forestry subsector increased by 36.3% in 2003, the highest growth rate for any sub-segment in the region. Important to remember the Caraga region has the highest GVA in the forest sub-sectors in every region of the Philippines.

The service industry is one highlight of the region’s economy. After experiencing a slowdown in growth in 2002 and a growth rate of 6.1% in the earlier year. The industry recovered in 2003 with a growth rate of 5.6%. In addition, the commercial sub-segment still a major sub-region. With growth rates of 5.6%, 6.6% and 6.3% from 2001 to 2003. Sub-sectors achieved positive growth in both 2001 and 2003. Transportation, communications and storage sub-zone has the highest growth rate in a service industry sub-district, at 8.4%.

The industrial division was the worst performing division in the regional economy and continued to decline from 2001 to 2003. Although the decline in the zone slowed in 2002. (a -6.7% in 2002, -13.3% in 2001), it was -12.1% in 2003. Construction sub-division fell by 16.6%, 11.3% and 33.5% in 2001 and 2002. The mining sub-part recorded a negative growth rate, but the downward trend of the sub-region slowed. The manufacturing industry made up reduce the two sub-sectors. Which increased by 8.9% in 2003, making it the largest contributor to the zone. Even though the mine and quarry segment performed low, Caraga was the second largest metal mining company. In 2001, metal mine production reached 1.25 billion Philippine pesos (Philippines Yearbook, 2003).

READ: The Philippines – Best Cities, Places In Caraga Region XIII Part 2 of 2