Greetings from BLGF Caraga!
The trend of data appreciation nowadays is how the information would bring about improvement in the target key result areas. The core messages therein are made more meaningful when there is timely and accurate delivery of relevant facts and figures.
Hence, the challenge is to scale-up our response and take full responsibility in data dissemination as posted in this site.
Over and above the technological gamut, it is our aim that our website is a source of raw and useful information.
This is our commitment.
ELVIRA S. DARADAR, REA
Acting – Regional Director
BLGF Regional Director and staff
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ABOUT US
CITIZENS CHARTER
VISION/MISSION
Bureau of Local Government Finance of the Department of Finance is the focal agency in treasury and assessment operations and an authority in local finance that aims to be at the forefront of local economic growth, leading the way towards national development.
GOALS
- To support national development programs and priorities
- To provide administrative and technical support to local treasury and assessment
- To provide consultative/technical assistance to the local government units for them to attain financial stability and growth
- To enable LGUs to deliver essential services more efficiently and effectively
- To continuously develop effective and responsive organizational internal processes
- To sustainably empower BLGF employees
REGIONAL STAFF
Elvira S. Daradar, REA
Acting – Regional Director
Melvin Joy L. Yu, MBA, CESE
Local Treasury Operations Officer IV
Elizabeth W. Caturan
Financial Anaylyst III
Sigrid Lynnette K. Morales, REA
Local Assessment Operations Officer III
Marithez Grace F. Montilla
Administrative Officer V
Gamalie Benvic O. Miones, REA, REB
Local Assessment Operations Officer II
Ariane T. Chan
Administrative Officer III
Wilfredo A. Lupoy, REA
Local Assessment Operations Officer I
Jethru Cyrus B. Sularte
Financial Analyst I
Michelle Hann P. Chinte
Administrative Officer I
Selmalyn B. Trillo
Administrative Assistant II
Noel T. Salvador
Administrative Aide I -
PROFILE OF THE REGION
Breif History of CARAGA Region
The history of Caraga can be traced back to the 15th century when explorers discovered the existence of “Kalagans”, believed to be of Visayan Origin in one of the three districts in Mindanao. The word Caraga originated from the Visayan word “Kalagan”: “Kalag” meaning soul or people and “An” meaning land. The “Kalagans have a long history of being brave and fearless. Thus, the region was called by early chroniclers as the “Land of the Brave and Fierce People”. The “Kalagans”, called “Caragans” by the Spaniards occupied the district composed of the two provinces of Surigao, northern part of Davao Oriental and Eastern Misamis Oriental. The two Agusan Provinces were later organized under the administrative jurisdiction of Surigao and became the independent Agusan province in 1914. In 1960, Surigao was divided as Norte and Sur, and in June 1967, Agusan followed suit. While Butuan then was just a town of Agusan, the logging boom in 1950’s drew business and businessmen to the area. On August 2, 1950, by virtue of Republic Act 523, the City Charter of Butuan was approved .
The early inhabitants of the region were ethnic tribes belonging to the Manobo, Mamanwa, Mandaya, Lapaknon and some migrants from the Visayan provinces.
Political Subdivision
Caraga is the newest region of the Philippines, also designated as Region XIII. Region XIII, the Caraga Administrative Region or the Caraga Region was created through Republic Act Number 7901 as approved by President Fidel V. Ramos on February 25, 1995. The region was previously composed of four (4) provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur; three (3) cities: Butuan, Surigao and Bislig; seventy (70) municipalities and 1,346 barangays which were once parts of Region X (Northern Mindanao) and Region XI (Southern Mindanao). Recent additions are the province of Dinagat Islands (RA No. 9355, February 10, 2010), cities of Bayugan, Agusan del Sur (RA No. 9405, March 23, 2007); Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte (RA No. 9434, April 12, 2007); and Tandag, Surigao del Sur (RA No. 9392, March 15, 2007).
Butuan City, a highly urbanized city, is the regional center of Caraga Region.
CARAGA Regional Climate
Caraga Region has Type II kind of climate, with no pronounced wet and dry season. It has been observed that during the months of November to February, occurrence of heavy rains is usually experienced in the region.
Languages and Dialects
Cebuano was spoken by 43.79% of the household population in the region. Other dialects spoken were Surigaonon, spoken by 25.21%; Kamayo, by 7.06% ; Boholanon, by 5.87%; Manobo, by 4.73%; Butuanon, by 31.9%; Hiligayon, by 2.87%; and other dialects by 7.20%.
Major Industries
Logging industry used to be the major industry of the region, thus, earning the moniker as “Timber Corridor of the Philippines”.
However, due to log ban imposed years ago, mining has become one of the promising industries in the region with the presence of different kinds of minerals such as, but not limited, to gold, silver, chromites, and nickel.
Common industries include rice mills, oil mill extraction, prawn processing, batching plant, pulp and paper, power supply, cement manufacturing, plywood and veneer manufacturing, wood treating plant, mini sawmills, fuel bulk plant, poultry dressing plant, match flint plant, piggery farm, and dessicated coconut.
Food Specialty
Provinces of the region offer a variety of food done in simple way like the ” Adobong Kasili” or eel of Agusan del Norte prepared with the usual adobo ingredients but added with “tausi” which provides a more palatable taste to it.
Agusan del Sur has dried “daing” or mudfish which is soaked in water before cooking it in oil. Other way in preparing mudfish is through “binaga” or grilling.
Salted “poot-poot” fish is a well-known appetizer that can only be found in General Luna, Surigao del Norte. Also found in the same province are fresh -water fish & other seaweeds which taste good when eaten raw or “kinilaw” in dialect.
Surigao del Sur is abundant with shrimps and lobsters and supplies the same to the central city of the nation. When cooking, they are usually done the adobo way.
Famous Major Activities/Festivals
In the tourism aspect, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, has its annual International Surfing Competition, specifically in the municipality of General Luna which has gained an undisputable name as Asia’s Surfing Paradise. Other well-known activities within the region are island hopping in the islands of Siargao and Dinagat; mountain biking in the cities of Butuan and Surigao, provinces of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur and in Siargao Island; trekking or mountain climbing in Mt. Mas-ai and Mt. Hilong-hilong in Agusan del Norte, sea kayaking in Siargao Island; scuba diving in Bolobolo, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte; Karihatag, Malimono, Surigao del Norte; Punta Diwata Reefs and Balete Wall in Vinapor, Carmen, Agusan del Norte; and artificial reefs in Calibunan, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.
Caving is also one activity in which tourists can enjoy particularly in Buenavista and Silop Caves in Surigao City and Libas Cave in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte. Recent discoveries can be found within the towns of Tagbina and Bislig City, both of Surigao del Sur, namely: Banbow and Tatol Caves which are ranked 6th and 9th longest caves of the country, respectively.
Caraga Region celebrates festivals all-year round starting with Kahimunan of Libertad, Butuan City, on the 3rd Sunday of January (Sto.Nińo Feast Day); Dagkot of Cabadbaran City on February 2nd (Candelaria Feast Day); Calagan of Bislig City on February 24th founding anniversary); Naliyagan of Agusan del Sur on June 17th (province’s founding anniversary); Kaliguan of Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, on June 24th (St. John, the Baptist Feast Day); Balangay of Butuan City on August 2nd (Charter Day); Bonokbonok of Surigao City on September 10th (St. Nichols’ Feast Day); Karawasan of Mangagoy, Bislig City, on September 18th); Lisagan of Magallanes, Agusan del Norte, on the 3rd Saturday of October (Our Lady of the Rosary Feast Day); and Bugkosan of Dinagat Islands on December 17th (province’s founding anniversary).
Population and Land Area
Based on the 2007 Census, Caraga Region has a total population of 2,293,480 broken down as follows: 1.) Butuan City – 298,378; 2.) Agusan del Norte – 314,027 (including Cabadbaran City); 3.) Agusan del Sur – 609,447 (including Bayugan City); 4.) Surigao del Norte – 409,468 (including Surigao City); 5.) Surigao del Sur – 541,347 (including Tandag and Bislig Cities); and 6.) Dinagat Islands – 120,813.
Of the total land area, 71.22 % is forestland and 28.78 % is alienable and disposable land. Major land uses include forestland comprising 31.36 % and 23.98 % of agricultural and open spaces.
Comprising the open spaces, among others, is the Agusan Marsh located in the interior of northeastern Mindanao or in the middle of the Agusan River Basin, Agusan del Sur, in which four (4) municipalities fall within its boundaries, namely: 1) Bunawan, 2) Loreto, 3) La Paz, and 4) Veruela. It is one of Asia’s biggest marshlands covering a protected area of 14,835 hectares and a buffer zone of 4,360 hectares which was declared as Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) under Presidential Proclamation No. 913 dated October 31, 1996. It is identified as one of the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) of the country.
