Butuan

Butuan (pronounced /buːˈtwɑːn/), officially

the City of Butuan (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa
Butuan; Butuanon: Dakbayan hong Butuan),
or simply known as Butuan City, is a 1st
class highly urbanized city and regional
center of the Caraga Region, Philippines.
According to the 2015 census, it has a
population of 337,063 people.[7]
 Butuan
Highly Urbanized City

City of Butuan

From top, left to right: Aerial view of urban

Butuan, Macapagal Bridge, View of Downtown
Butuan City, Father Saturnino Urios University
swimming pool, and the Guingona Park.

Seal
 Nicknames: 
Home of the Balangays[1][2]
Timber City of the South[3]
BXU

Map of Caraga with Butuan highlighted

Wikimedia | © O penStreetMap
 Butuan

Location within
the Philippines

Coordinates: 8°57′N 125°32′E

Country  Philippines

Region Caraga (Region XIII)

Province Agusan del Norte

(geographically only)

District 1st District with Butuan

Founded 31 January 1901

Cityhood 2 August 1950

Highly Urbanized City 7 February 1995
Barangays 86 (see Barangays)[4]

Government [5]

 • Type Sangguniang
Panlungsod

 • Mayor Ronnie Vicente C.

Lagnada

 • Vice Mayor Jose S. Aquino II

 • Congressman Lawrence Lemuel H.

Fortun

 • Electorate 218,828 voters (2019)

Area [6]

 • Total 816.62 km2
(315.30 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[7]
 • Total 337,063

 • Density 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)

Demonym(s) Butuanon

Economy

 • Income class 1st city income class

 • Poverty incidence 26.58% (2015)[8]

 • Revenue (₱) 1,537,341,402.56

(2016)

Time zone UTC+8 (PST)

ZIP code 8600

PSGC 160202000

IDD : area code  +63 (0)85

Climate type tropical rainforest

climate
Native languages Cebuano • Butuanon •
Agusan • Higaonon •
Mamanwa

Website www.butuan.gov.ph

It served as the former capital of the

Rajahnate of Butuan before 1001 until
1756. The city used to be known during
that time as the best in gold and boat
manufacturing in the entire Philippine
archipelago, having traded with as far as
Champa, Ming, Srivijaya, Majapahit, and the
Bengali coasts. It is located at the
northeastern part of the Agusan Valley,
Mindanao, sprawling across the Agusan
River. It is bounded to the north, west and
south by Agusan del Norte, to the east by
Agusan del Sur and to the northwest by
Butuan Bay.

Butuan City was the capital of the province

of Agusan del Norte until 2000, when
Republic Act 8811 transferred the capital
to Cabadbaran City. For statistical and
geographical purposes, Butuan City is
grouped with Agusan del Norte but
governed administratively independent
from the province while legislatively
administered by the province's 1st
congressional district.

Etymology
The name "Butuan" is believed to have
originated from the sour fruit locally called
batuan. Other etymological sources say
that it comes from a certain Datu Buntuan,
a chieftain who once ruled over areas of
the present-day city.

According to Datu Makalipay, Butuan was

named after the wife of Datu Balansag
who was the tiniente de barangay of the
area before.

History
Old Butuan
The Butuan Ivory Seal, housed and displayed at the
National Museum of the Philippines.

Butuan, during the pre-colonial times, was

known as the Rajahnate of Butuan, an
Indianized kingdom known for its
metallurgic industry and sophisticated
naval technology. The rajahnate flourished
at the 10th and 11th centuries CE, and had
an extensive trade network with the
Champa civilisation and the Srivijaya
Empire.[9][10]
By 1001, the rajahnate had established
contact with the Song dynasty of China.
The History of Song recorded the
appearance of a Butuan mission at the
Chinese imperial court, and the rajahnate
was described as a small Hindu country
with a Buddhist monarchy, which had a
regular trade connection with Champa. The
mission, under a king named "Kiling", asked
for equal status in court protocol with the
Champa envoy, but ultimately was denied
by the imperial court.[11][12] However, under
the reign of Sri Bata Shaja, the diplomatic
equality was eventually granted to the
kingdom, and as a result the diplomatic
relations of the two nations reached its
peak in the Yuan dynasty.[13]

Evidence of these trading links are in the

discovery of 11 balangay boats around
Ambangan in Barangay Libertad, which
was described as the only concentration
of archaeological, ancient, ocean-going
boats in Southeast Asia. Other evidences
of the post are the discovery of a village in
Libertad that specializes in gold, deformed
skulls similar to reports in Sulawesi, and
the discovery of many artifacts by locals
and treasure hunters.

Colonial period
On March 31, 1521, an Easter Sunday,
Ferdinand Magellan ordered a mass to be
celebrated. This was officiated by Friar
Pedro Valderrama, the Andalusian
chaplain of the fleet, the only priest then.
Another priest, the French Bernard
Calmette (Bernardo Calmeta) had been
marooned at Patagonia with Juan de
Cartagena for being implicated in the
mutiny at Puerto San Julián. Conducted
near the shores of the island, the Holy First
Mass marked the birth of Roman
Catholicism in the Philippines. Rajah
Colambu and Siaiu were said to be among
the first natives of the soon-to-be Spanish
colony to attend the mass among other
Mazaua inhabitants, together with visitors
from Butuan who came with the entourage
of Colambu, king of Butuan.

Controversy has been generated regarding

the holding of the first mass—whether it
was held in Limasawa, Leyte in Masao,
Butuan City, in the hidden isle made up of
barangays Pinamanculan and Bancasi
inside Butuan, in the latest discovered site
in between Agusan del Sur and Surigao del
Sur, the small barangay of Barobo, or
elsewhere. It is sure, however, that
Ferdinand Magellan did not drop anchor by
the mouth of Agusan River in 1521 and
hold mass to commemorate the event
which was held at Mazaua, an island
separate from 1521 Butuan which, in the
geographical conception of Europeans
who wrote about it, was a larger entity than
what it is now. Antonio Pigafetta who
wrote an eyewitness account of Magellan's
voyage described in text and in map a
Butuan that stretched from today's Surigao
up to the top edge of Zamboanga del
Norte.

The first municipal election in Butuan took

place in March 1902 in accordance with
Public Law No. 82[14] which coincided with
the American occupation of the place.
During the Japanese occupation of the
Philippines in World War II, more than half
of Butuan, if not all of it, was burned when
local guerrilla forces attacked the enemy
garrison on 12 March 1943 in the Battle of
Butuan.[15][16]:318[17]:7 On January 17, 1945,
guerrillas attacked Japanese troops on the
road between Cabadbaran and Butuan to
prevent the Japanese garrison at Butuan
from being reinforced. When the guerrillas
depleted their ammunition supply, they
were forced to retreat.[18] Later in 1945, the
Philippine Commonwealth troops in Butuan
together with the recognized guerrillas
attacked the Japanese forces during the
Battle of Agusan. On October 20, 1948, still
recovering from the war, the entire
municipality was ruined by a fire.

Modern era

By the late 1940s to the 1970s, Butuan's

industry specialized in timber, earning it
the nickname "Timber City of the South".
The plentiful trees of the area invited many
investors to the city, and inspired then-
Congressman Marcos M. Calo to file a bill
elevating Butuan for cityhood. On August 2,
1950, this was passed, converting Butuan
into a city.[19]
However, by the early 1980s, the logging
industry of the city began to decline,
although the city was still an economic
haven to many investors. The city's main
income by that time frame and until this
day depended on small and medium
business, and large-scale projects by
investors. On February 7, 1995, the city
was reclassified from a chartered city to a
Highly Urbanized city. Sixteen days later,
on February 23, the region of Caraga was
created by virtue of Republic Act 7901,
with Butuan as its regional center, and the
provincial capital of Agusan del Norte. In
2000, Republic Act 8811 formally
transferred the capital of Agusan del Norte
from Butuan to Cabadbaran, however most
provincial offices are still located in the
city.

Geography
Butuan City has a land area of 81,662
hectares (201,790 acres), which is roughly
4.1% of the total area of the Caraga
region.

The existing land use of the city consists

of the following uses: agriculture areas
(397.23 km2), forestland (268 km2),
grass/shrub/pasture land (61.14 km2) and
other uses (90.242 km2). Of the total
forestland, 105 km2 is production forest
areas while 167.5 km2 is protection forest
areas.

The forestland, as mentioned earlier,

comprised both the production and
protection forest. The classified forest is
further specified as production forest and
protection forest. In the production forest
industrial tree species are mostly grown in
the area. The protection forest on the
other hand, is preserved to support and
sustain necessary ecological
performance. Included in this are the
watershed areas in Taguibo, which is the
main source of water in the area,
The city is endowed with swamplands
near its coastal area. These swamp areas
are interconnected with the waterways
joined by the Agusan River. Most of the
swamplands are actually mangroves that
served as habitat to different marine
species.

Filling material needs of the city are

extracted usually from the riverbank of
Taguibo River. Others are sourced out from
promontories with special features and for
special purpose.

The fishing ground of Butuan is the Butuan

Bay of which two coastal barangays are
located. It extends some two kilometers to
the sea and joins the Bohol Sea. These are
the barangays of Lumbocan and Masao.

Climate

Butuan has a tropical rainforest climate

(Köppen climate classification Af).
 Climate data for Butuan, Agusan del Norte (1981–2010, extremes 1980–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Record
35.4 35.3 35.8 37.8 37.8 37.6 37.7 36.1 36.4 36.3 35.5 35.2
high °C
(95.7) (95.5) (96.4) (100.0) (100.0) (99.7) (99.9) (97.0) (97.5) (97.3) (95.9) (95.4)
(°F)
Average
30.2 30.8 31.8 33.1 33.7 33.1 32.6 32.9 32.9 32.4 31.7 30.8
high °C
(86.4) (87.4) (89.2) (91.6) (92.7) (91.6) (90.7) (91.2) (91.2) (90.3) (89.1) (87.4)
(°F)
Daily
26.3 26.6 27.3 28.3 28.9 28.5 28.2 28.4 28.3 28.0 27.5 26.9
mean °C
(79.3) (79.9) (81.1) (82.9) (84.0) (83.3) (82.8) (83.1) (82.9) (82.4) (81.5) (80.4)
(°F)
Average
22.5 22.5 22.8 23.5 24.2 24.0 23.7 23.9 23.7 23.6 23.4 22.9
low °C
(72.5) (72.5) (73.0) (74.3) (75.6) (75.2) (74.7) (75.0) (74.7) (74.5) (74.1) (73.2)
(°F)
Record
18.3 17.5 18.5 20.0 18.0 18.5 17.5 19.0 19.0 20.0 18.5 18.5
low °C
(64.9) (63.5) (65.3) (68.0) (64.4) (65.3) (63.5) (66.2) (66.2) (68.0) (65.3) (65.3)
(°F)
Average
rainfall 318.0 225.0 145.4 109.7 115.5 154.0 143.9 105.6 126.3 178.4 197.9 238.2
mm (12.52) (8.86) (5.72) (4.32) (4.55) (6.06) (5.67) (4.16) (4.97) (7.02) (7.79) (9.38)
(inches)
Average
rainy
21 16 16 13 14 17 16 13 14 16 18 20
days
(≥ 0.1 mm)
Average
relative
88 85 84 82 82 83 84 82 82 84 86 88
humidity
(%)
Source: PAGASA[20][21]

Barangays

Butuan is subdivided into 86 barangays

and group into 13 districts.[22] Also,
barangays 1 thru 26 form the Poblacion
(city proper) of Butuan City.
District Barangay Population (2015)

1st Agao (Bgy 3) • 5,875

Datu Silongan
(Bgy 5) •
Diego Silang
(Bgy 6) •
Humabon (Bgy
11) •
Leon Kilat (Bgy
13) •

San Ignacio (Bgy

15) •
Sikatuna (Bgy
10) •
 Rajah Soliman
(Bgy 4) •
Urduja (Bgy 9)

Dagohoy (Bgy
7) •
Golden Ribbon
(Bgy 2) •
Imadejas (Bgy
24) •
2nd 14,616
JP Rizal (Bgy
25) •
Lapu-Lapu (Bgy
8) •
New Society Vil.
(Bgy 26)
3rd Holy Redeemer 17,414
(Bgy 23) •
Limaha (Bgy
14) •
Tandang Sora
(Bgy 12)

Ambago •
Bayanihan (Bgy
27) •
4th 34,768
Doongan •
Manila de
Bugabus

5th Agusan 41,640

Pequeño •
Babag •
 Bading (Bgy
22) •
Fort Poyohon
(Bgy 17) •
Lumbocan •
Obrero (Bgy 18) •
Ong Yiu (Bgy
16) •
Pagatpatan

Bancasi •
Dumalagan •
6th Libertad • 34,054
Masao •
Pinamanculan

7th 43,605
 Bonbon •
Kinamlutan •
Maon (Bgy 1) •
Pangabugan •
San Vicente •
Villa Kananga

Amparo • Bit-os •
Bitan-agan •
Dankias • Dulag •
Bugabus (MJ
8th 22,173
Santos) •
Nongnong •
San Mateo •
Tungao
9th Bilay • 13,077
Don Francisco •
Florida •
Maguinda •
Maibu •
Mandamo •
Sumile

10th Aupagan • 20,854

Buhangin (Bgy
19) •
Camayahan •
Lemon • Mahay •
Pigdaulan •
 Salvacion •
Tagabaca

Baan Km 3 •
Baan Riverside
(Bgy 20) •
Banza • Bobon •
11th Cabcabon • 40,371
Mahogany (Bgy
21) •
Maug •
Tiniwisan

12th Ampayon • 27,787

Antongalon •
Basag •
 Bugsukan •
De Oro •
Taligaman

Anticala •
Baobaoan •
Los Angeles •
13th Pianing • 24,586
Santo Niño •
Sumilihon •
Taguibo

Demographics
 Year Pop. ±% p.a. Year Pop. ±% p
1970131,094 —     2000267,279+1.70
1975132,682+0.24% 2007298,378+1.53
1980172,489+5.39% 2010309,709+1.37
1990227,829+2.82% 2015337,063+1.62
1995247,074+1.53%

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[7][23][24][25]

With a total population of 337,063 in the

2015 census, it has an average density of
413 persons per km2, higher than the
regional average density of 120 persons
per km2.

Economy
Robinsons Place Butuan

Butuan City is the commercial, industrial,

and administrative center of Caraga
region.[26] It is a strategic trading hub in
Northern Mindanao with major roads
connecting it to other main cities in the
island such as Davao, Cagayan de Oro,
Malaybalay, Surigao, and soon, Tandag. It
hosts one of the busiest airports in the
country, the Bancasi Airport, serving
around 525,000 passengers in 2012.[27]
Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines are
flying to and from Butuan City. Meanwhile,
the nearby Nasipit International Port and
in-city Masao Port are providing for its
shipping and cargo needs.

The total number of businesses registered

in 2013 was 9,619—reflecting a growth of
9.86% and almost 3 times that of the next
major Caraga city. New businesses
registered numbered 2,032 with a
combined capitalization of P504,598,667,
an expansion of 75.63 from 2012.

As further proof of its dynamic economy,

Butuan City's local income reached
P330,510,000 in 2013 besting other major
cities in the country. By 2014, its local
income is expected to reach
P513,870,000.00 or register a growth of
55%; and total income (including IRA) will
be P1,515,970,000.[28] Butuan City was
ranked 4th and 16th Most Competitive City
for the years 2012 and 2014 by the
National Competitiveness Council of the
Philippines.

Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center

More than 260 financial institutions are
operating in the city such as Metrobank,
Banco de Oro, Bank of the Philippine
Islands (BPI), Land Bank of the Philippines
(Landbank), Philippine National Bank
(PNB), Chinabank, EastWest Bank, Rizal
Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC),
Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank),
Security Bank and Maybank. Rural banks
are also expanding aggressively. Based on
a report from PDIC (as of December 2013),
total savings deposit in Butuan City
amounted to P18,944,854,000, comprising
45% of the total deposits in Caraga
Region.[29] The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) opened its regional office here to
take advantage of the vibrant gold trading
industry in the region. Insurance
companies, led by Philam Life, are also
present in the city.

The city's major agricultural produce are

rice, bananas, coconuts, poultry, shrimp,
and milkfish. Its key industries include rice
milling, food processing, wood processing,
furniture, fuel distribution, shipbuilding, and
construction. The manufacturing sector
will soon get a boost as an industrial park
is currently being developed. Butuan has
also proven to be a haven for renewable
energy with investments in solar and
hydroelectric power generation pouring in
the city.[30][31]

Downtown Butuan City

Butuan is also fast-becoming a

cosmopolitan city. Currently, there are
three (3) major commercial centers
catering its populace. These are
Robinsons Place Butuan, Puregold Price
Club (both opened in 2013), and Gaisano
(Unipace). Leading mall developer, SM, is
expected to break ground by the end of
2016 until it will open by late 2019,
although some of the mall developers in
the Philippines have also expressed their
interest in the city such as Gaisano Capital
to name a few.[32] 7-Eleven opened its first
two stores in the city. Currently, it has eight
branches in the city. High-end real estate
developers, such as Filinvest and Vista
Land, have started their residential
projects in the city.[33][34] The A. Brown
Group is also developing another exclusive
community with a 9-hole golf course. More
low- and medium-cost housing projects
are sprouting in the outskirts of the city
evident of the city's strong market for
shelter. Famous food brands have also
opened shops in the city such as Jolibee,
McDonald's, Chowking, Dunkin' Donuts,
Mister Donut, Greenwich, Mang Inasal, Red
Ribbon, Goldilocks, Pizza Hut, Gerry's Grill,
Max's Restaurant, Yellow Cab Pizza and
Bo's Coffee. KFC has finally opened since
December 2016 and Shakey's Pizza
reopened its first doors at the new SM
Mall by the end of 2019 since it relocated
from Montilla Blvd. a decade later.

As for the telecommunications

infrastructure of the city, Smart
Communications, Globe Telecom, PLDT,
PhilCom and Bayantel are able to serve its
ever-growing needs.

Precolonial economy

Butuan City is becoming one of the

highlights of the tourism programs in the
Philippines, as more and more people,
both local and foreign, are discovering the
wonders and secrets of this ancient and
beautiful city. It is customary for any
traveler to learn a little bit of history
concerning the place that will be visited,
and the history of Butuan City is one of the
most fascinating. Unlike other lands
whose development only began during the
Spanish colonization, Butuan was already
a progressive and full fledge city centuries
before the arrival of the Spaniards.
Historical records show that as early as
the 10th century, the local people were
already engaged in trade and commerce
with other nations and cultures, like the
Champa (now Vietnam) and the Srivajaya
peoples of Java, Indonesia. This is
confirmed by the unearthing of several
artifacts such as boats used for plying
their trade. During the Spanish and
American occupation, Butuan continued to
make progress and the number of people
who were settling increased steadily. A
large number of its inhabitants were
converted to Christianity, and in fact one of
the issues is whether the first mass was
actually held in the city.

Festivities and annual

celebrations
This section is written like a travel guide rather
than an encyclopedic description of theLearn
subject.
more

Contingents from Mati NHS during Kahimunan

Festival 2018 (Left) and Dancers from Butuan City
during one of its Cultural Festivals (Right)
Kahimunan Festival
The Kahimunan Festival is celebrated
every third Sunday of January in
celebration of the city patron Sr. Santo
Niño. This celebration is a Butuanon
version of Sinulog of Cebu City.
Kahimunan is a Lumad term which
means "gathering".
Balangay/Balanghai Festival
Butuan celebrates its annual fiesta, the
Balangay Festival, for the celebration of
the city patron Saint Joseph every whole
month of May, with the exact feast day
of St. Joseph on May 19. The city holds
many events such as summer league
basketball championship games,
thanksgiving mass, and more.
Butwaan Festival: The newest festival
is a feast day celebration of St.
Joseph, patron of Butuan, which is
held every May 19. This was created
last 2013 as replacement to Balangay
Festival during the specific date. Both
festivals will still celebrates the feast
of St. Joseph with Butwaan focus on
the Church activities while Balangay
will focus on the city government
activities.
Cultural Festivals
The Cultural festival/tourism
consciousness is a week-long
celebration that lasts from the last week
of July up to August 2 in celebration of
the Charter Day of Butuan.
Abayan Festival: The Abayan Festival,
a part of the Cultural Festival, is held
in celebration of St. Anne, patroness
of Agusan River, which is celebrated
every last Sunday of July.
Palagsing Festival: "Palagsing" is a
local delicacy popularly made in
Banza, one of the old poblacion of
Butuan City. The popularity of making
Palagsing in Banza is attributed to the
abundance of Lumbiya (Metroxylon
sagu Rottb.) where Unaw or lumbiya
starch is harvested from the palm
tree. Another popular ingredient is
young coconut meat. The mixture of
unaw, young coconut and brown sugar
make palagsing moist and chewy.
They are delicately wrapped by
banana leaves and are boiled for 30
minutes to create the soft consistency
of palagsing. The Palagsing Festival
usually held on Adlaw Hong Butuan
Celebration every 2nd day of August.
Adlaw Hong Butuan: Adlaw Hong
Butuan is the charter day celebration
of Butuan, which includes a
thanksgiving mass, motorcade,
palagsing festival, street party
recognitions of outstanding
 Butuanons and City Government
Employees' Night.
Unaw Festival: The Unaw Festival is
usually held on Adlaw Hong Baan Tres
Celebration every 3rd or 4th Week of
June.

Tourism
This section is written like a travel guide rather
than an encyclopedic description of theLearn
subject.
more

Natural landmarks
Agusan River: The Agusan River is the
widest and most navigable river in
Mindanao. Natives who live on the
banks of this river pay tribute to their
patroness, Senora Santa Ana (Saint
Anne) every last Sunday of July in the
Abayan festival.
Mount Mayapay: Looming southwest of
the Agusan Valley is this majestic
mountain plateau. It rises to 2,214 feet
(675 m) above sea level. Mount
Mayapay got its name from the ancient
Madjapahit Empire. The history behind
the Sri-Vishaya period bears much
meaning and influence of Butuan's pre-
historic and archaeological discoveries.
Guingona Park

The Butuan National Museum

Replica statue of the Golden Tara

Man-made landmarks
Ramon Magsaysay Bridge: The old
Magsaysay Bridge in Butuan, an arched-
type steel bridge built during the early
sixties spans the mighty Agusan River.
For years this bridge serve as a lone
vital conduit of the city to the rest of
Mindanao island until its new more
modern pair came at the city’s southern
side. The bridge links the main urban
center to eastern suburbs of Baan and
Ampayon.[35]
Balangay Boats: The Balangays (or
Balanghai) are ancient boats that were
found in Butuan. They were excavated in
the Balangay Shrine, across the Masao
River from Bood Promontory. They
played a major role in Butuan because
Butuan was, and still is, 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. So far
they have only sailed around Southeast
Asia. They are planning to sail around
the world.
Balangay Shrine Museum: The Balangay
Shrine Museum, located in Barangay
Libertad, lays the graveyard of the
Balangay 1 dated 320 A.D. or 1688 years
old. The Balangay shrine museum is
located at Balanghai, Libertad, Butuan
City. This wooden plank-build and edge-
pegged boats measured an average of
15 meters in length and 3 meters wide
across the beam. To date, 9 Balangays
have already been discovered in
Ambangan, Libertad. Three have been
excavated and others are still in Site.
National Museum (Butuan City Branch):
This museum is the repository of
historical and cultural materials and
artifacts that proves Butuan's prehistoric
existence and rich cultural heritage.
There are two exhibit galleries. The
Archaeological Hall and Ethnological
Hall specimens of stone crafts, metal
crafts, woodcrafts, potteries, goldsmith,
burial coffins, and other archaeological
diggings are exhibited. At the
Ethnological Hall are exhibits of
contemporary cultural materials the
Butuanon or every Filipino for matter
used for a living.
Guingona Park: Guingona Park is the
native name for that park. Changes of
government, however, resulted in a
change of name to Rizal Park. It was
contended that Rizal went there and that
they named the park after him. Recently,
the government of Butuan City headed
by Mayor Amante reconstructed the
park and put the name back to
Guingona, as it was he who donated the
said park some decades past.
Delta Discovery Park: Delta Discovery
Park is a newly opened zip-line in
Butuan. Delta Discovery Park is at
Barangay Bonbon, Butuan City. A hidden
paradise in the heart of the city, it is also
known as the longest zip-line in
Mindanao and in Asia with a length of
1.3 kilometers.
Bood Promontory Eco Park: This historic
hill is believed to have been the site
where Magellan and his men celebrated
the first Catholic Mass on Philippine soil
and erected a cross when he landed in
Mazaua on March 31, 1521. The highest
elevation nearest the seaside village of
present-day Masao, Bood is a wooded
area at a bend in the Masao River (El Rio
de Butuan), overlooking Butuan Bay and
ancient Butuan as well as the serpentine
Masao River. Today, the indigenous
Hadlayati tree abound, lording over a
clonal nursery and tree park, amidst
fishponds and archaeological treasures.
According to the chronicles of Spanish
historian Pigafetta, the event took place
in the afternoon of March 31, 1521 after
the Easter Mass was celebrated in the
morning of the same date. Two
Butuanon brother kings attended these
 Easter ceremonies. Pigafetta also noted
the surrounding fields and balanghai
boats on the bay that could be seen
from the hill. The eco-park was
established to provide the people of
Butuan and its visitors a place to
rekindle the past amidst a relaxing
natural setting.

Local government

The city hall

The local government of Butuan City is
headed by an elected Mayor and is
considered to be the local chief executive
of the city. He exercises the general
supervision and control over all programs,
projects, services, and activities of the city
government.[36] He is then accompanied by
the law making body of the city which is
called, The Sangguniang Panlungsod
headed by the elected Vice Mayor as the
presiding officer, together with ten (10)
elected Sangguniang Panlungsod
Members and the President of the Liga ng
mga Barangay as an ex-officio member.[37]
City officials

Elected officials 2019-2022

Executive
Mayor: Engr. Ronnie Vicente Lagnada
Vice Mayor: Jose S. Aquino II—Presiding
Officer
Legislative
15th Sangguniang Panlungsod
Members:
Omar Andaya
Rema E. Burdeos
Cherry Mae Busa
Glenn Carampatana
Ferdinand Nalcot
 Cromwell P. Nortega
Derrick A. Plaza
Vincent Rizal Rosario
Ernest John Sanchez
John Gil Unay, Sr.
Gemma Plaza Tabada (ABC Liga ng
mga Barangay President)[4]
Engr. Wen Kok Lim Chiang II (SK
Federation President)

Barangay Council

Association of Barangay Captains (Liga ng

mga Barangay)
 President: Gemma Plaza Tabad
(Barangay Baan Km. 3)[4]
Vice President: Juby Ignacio F. Del Gado
(Barangay Golden Ribbon)

Sangguniang Kabataan Federation

President: Engr. Wen Kok Lim Chiang II

(Barangay Golden Ribbon)
Vice President: Stephanie Dawn Salise -
Acting Vice President (Barangay
Sumilihon)

Note: Due to the postponement of

Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections in
2013, there was no set of SK Chairperson
for each barangay. Hence, there was no
election of officers for the Sangguniang
Kabataan Federation Butuan City Chapter.
The positions, thus, was remained vacant
until SK Elections was held again.[38]

Infrastructure
Transportation

Air

The Butuan National Airport, called

Bancasi Airport, serves the general area
of Butuan City, located in the province of
Agusan del Norte in the Philippines. It is
the only airport in the province and
largest in the Caraga region. The airport
is classified as a trunkline airport, or a
major commercial airport, by the Air
Transportation Office, a body of the
Department of Transportation and
Communications that is responsible for
the operations of not only this airport
but also of all other airports in the
Philippines except the major
international airports. It also serves
more than 400,000 travelers yearly that
includes 250,000 local and foreign
tourists. Butuan National Airport can
also accommodate 5 to 10 flights a day
including large number of aircraft via
Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines
operated by PAL Express.
Sea

As a regional commercial and economic

hub, the Port of Masao is Butuan's
seaport. It was built to avoid having the
city depend on the port of Nasipit,
Agusan del Norte. The said port will be
having more expansion and
development to become a seaport with
international standards in the region and
in Mindanao.
Land
Butuan bus terminal

The main modes of transportation

within the city proper is the "orange"
tricycle which can accommodate up to 6
or 7 passengers. Another mode of
transportation is the small-type jeepneys
or multicab vehicles with a seating
capacity of at least 15 passengers via
fixed routes going to big barangays such
as Bancasi, Libertad, Ampayon, Los
Angeles and De Oro. Jeepneys, Vans
and Buses is also available in Jeepney
Terminal, New Integrated Van Terminal
and City Integrated Bus Terminal
respectively located Langihan Public
 Area. They also follow fixed routes to
outlying barangays, neighboring towns,
municipals, cities and provinces. Long
distance routes also include cities of
Manila, Ormoc, Legazpi, Tacloban,
Surigao, Tandag, Bislig (Mangagoy),
Davao City, Tagum, Cagayan de Oro,
Carmen, Balingoan, Gingoog and
Malaybalay.

The Macapagal Bridge

Mayor Democrito O. Plaza II Avenue
Circumferential Road and Diosdado
Macapagal Bridge
The said circumferential is a 14
kilometer diversion road from Barangay
Bancasi to the southern part of the city
proper crossing to a PP2.1 Billion
Diosdado Macapagal Bridge to the main
highway in Baan Km.3 and in Barangay
Antongalon. The Diosdado Macapagal
Bridge is the longest bridge in Mindanao,
which is .3 kilometers upstream of the
old Magsaysay Bridge and provides an
alternate route across the Agusan River
to connect the Philippine-Japan
Friendship Highway (Surigao-Agusan-
Davao road) and the Butuan City-
Cagayan-Iligan road. The bridge is
gaining popularity as the only cable
stayed bridge with steel deck and single
tower in Mindanao, and it has a total
length of about .806 kilometers.
It was during the Presidency of Joseph
Estrada that the project was approved
which was lobbied by the city
government way back President Fidel
Ramos' time to decongest the traffic of
the more than 50-year-old Magsaysay
Bridge and create an alternate route.
However, it was President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo who approved and
implemented the project. The bridge
was funded through a Special Yen Loan
Package from Japan Bank for
International Cooperation (JBIC). The
project was started on May 6, 2004 and
completed in May 2007.
New Circumferential Road and Four (4)
New Bridges (Proposed)
The new circumferential road consists
of 20 kilometer 2-lane road and four (4)
new bridges that connects Barangay
Sumilihon to Brgy Banza which crosses
2 small rivers (Taguibo and Banza)
before crossing to the Third Bridge in
Agusan River and connects to Barangay
Pagatpatan to Barangay Lumbocan then
crosses again in Masao River to reach
 Barangay Masao and Barangay
Pinamanculan before connecting to the
National Highway in Barangay Bancasi.
The proposed circumferential road will
be worth closed to PP2.9 Billion.
Butuan City-Malaybalay Road
The secondary road, known as the
Butuan City-Malaybalay Road, is
scheduled to complete in the future
connecting Butuan to Malaybalay via
Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.

Sports and recreation

Photo montage of the Butuan Polysports Complex
(top left to right: Logo of the Butuan Polysports
Complex, Polysports Baseball Park, Polysports
Basketball Gymnasium, and Polysports Football
Stadium).

With new developments surrounding the

old unfinished sports complex facility,
the City Government has transferred the
sports complex from the 8 hectare
complex in Barangay Libertad to the 38
hectare complex in Barangay
Tiniwisan/Ampayon. The said complex
is worth P250 Million for Phase I will be
 one of the biggest international standard
complex in the Philippines. Phase I
consists of a 4,000 seater football main
bleacher, a 4,000 seater basketball
gymnasium, grass football field, and a
rubberized track oval. The Phase I of the
Polysports Complex was officially
opened in 2015. Phase II will consist of
a 2nd main bleacher, an Olympic-size
swimming pool, and a baseball/softball
field with bleachers.

Education
 The newly renovated Urios Gym (Left) and Saint
Joseph Institute of Technology at night (Right).

Being the regional center of Caraga,

Butuan is also the region's center of
education. There are two universities in the
city. The first, Father Saturnino Urios
University, a privately run school founded
by Rev. Fr. Urios, S.J. in 1901. The second,
the Caraga State University—Main Campus,
formerly known as the Northern Mindanao
State Institute of Science and Technology,
is a state-run school founded in 1918.
They are among the top two performing
universities in the region.

Butuan City is known for its education

competence. Proof of these are in awards
earned. Teachers and school staff of the
Butuan Central Elementary School, Butuan
City SPED Center and Agusan National
High School have large-scale exposure to
specialization techniques, as well as
seminars and workshops to complement,
with partnerships like Philippine-Australia
Project on Basic Education (PROBE).

There are also Chinese schools in the city

like the Timber City Academy and Butuan
Faith Christian School. National high
schools include the Agusan NHS, Tungao
NHS, San Vicente NHS, Libertad NHS and
Ampayon ISS (Integrated Secondary
School). The city is also home of the
Butuan City School of Arts and Trades
(BCSAT), a specialization school in the
fields of arts and in vocational courses.

As an education hub, Butuan has colleges

with a variety of courses. Examples are the
Agusan College, Inc., AMA Computer
Learning Center (ACLC), Butuan Doctors
College, Saint Joseph Institute of
Technology, Agusan Business and Arts
Foundation, Agusan Institute of
Technology, Asian College Foundation,
Balite Institute of Technology—Butuan,
Butuan City Colleges, Butuan City Liga
College, Corjesu Computer College, Elisa
R. Ochoa Memorial Northern Mindanao
School of Midwifery, Father Urios Institute
of Technology of Ampayon, Inc., Grand
View College, Holy Child Colleges of
Butuan City, Philippine Electronics and
Communication Institute of Technology,
Saint Peter College Seminary, and the
Sunrise Christian College Foundation of
the Philippines.

Big private universities like the Ateneo, De

La Salle Philippines and Iglesia Ni Cristo-
owned New Era University (NEU) have also
expressed to put up local branches.

Other schools include Enfant Cheri Study

Centre, Rainbow of Angels Learning Center,
Solid Rock Shilo Mission Academy,
Ampayon Central Elementary School,
Angelicum Montessori School, Butuan
Grace Christian School, Butuan Christian
Community School, Florencio R. Sibayan
Central Elementary School, Libertad
Central Elementary School, Obrero
Elementary School, and the Ong Yiu Central
Elementary School.

Notable people
Edelmiro A. Amante, Sr.: Former
Executive Secretary of Pres. Fidel V.
Ramos. Former Congressman and
Governor of Agusan del Norte Second
District.
Susan Fuentes: The Queen of Visayan
Songs (1954–2013). She popularized
the songs like Matud Nila, Usahay, Miss
Kita Kung Christmas and Rosas Pandan.
Laurice Guillen: Award-winning film
director and actress, also the wife of the
actor Johnny Delgado (deceased).
Ardy Larong: Small Forward/Shooting
Guard of Alaska Aces in the Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA).
Marky Cielo: Actor of GMA Network. He
died so young at the age of 20 on
December 7, 2008 in Antipolo City, Rizal.
The cause of his death is still unknown.
Dino Claudio Sanchez, deputy mayor
Stephany Stefanowitz: She represented
Butuan in the Miss Philippines Earth
2010. In 2012, she joined Miss
Philippines Earth and won the title as
Miss Philippines Earth 2012 but she
represented Quezon City. She grabbed
the title as 1st runner-up in the Miss
Earth 2012 pageant held in the country.
Her mother is from Barangay Ampayon,
Butuan City and her father is from
Hamburg, Germany.
Lt. Gen. Hernando DCA Iriberri: The
former Chief of Staff of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines from 2015 to
2016. He is not from Butuan City but an
alumnus of Fr. Saturnino Urios University
High School department.
Jason James Dy: The grand champion
of the Voice of the Philippines Season 2.
Roy Señeres: Presidential candidate of
2016 National and Local elections. He
was the representative of the OFW Club
Partylist from 2013 to 2016. He was
also the ambassador to the United Arab
 Emirates during Fidel Ramos
administration.
Lance Tupaz Busa: The grand winner of
the first edition of Michael Bolton's
singing competition "Bolt of Talent".
Elaine Colima Duran: The grand winner
of the third season of Tawag ng
Tanghalan.

Sister cities
This section needs additional citations for
verification. Learn more

Local Sisterhood Pact

Baguio (since 16 May 2011 via SP Res.

No. 403-2011)
Cebu City (since 27 June 2011 via SP
Res. No. 493-2011) and Lapu-Lapu
(since 27 June 2011 via SP Res. No. 493-
A-2011)
Iligan (since 8 August 2011 via SP Res.
No. 538-2011)
Malaybalay
Bayugan
Makati (since 13 June 2011 via SP Res.
No. 419-2011)
Maragusan, Compostela Valley (since 18
July 2011 via SP Res. No. 527-2011)
Dumaguete (since 2 September 2013 via
SP Res. No. ___-2013)
Gallery
 Roman Catholic Church's Saint Joseph
Cathedral (inside shot)

The Archbishop Carmelo D.F. Morelos

Campus of Father Saturnino Urios
University. This campus houses its
Preschool, Grade School and High School.
 The Church Ruins in Barangay Banza

The site of the First Easter Mass in the

Philippines located at Barangay
Pinamangculan
McDonald's Gaisano Mall Branch along
Jose S. Aquino Avenue

Prince Hotel in Montilla Boulevard

 Development Bank of the Philippines and
street scenario along J. C. Aquino Avenue
Cor. J. Rosales Ave

See also
Agusan del Norte
Caraga
Rajahnate of Butuan
Roman Catholic Diocese of Butuan
 List of mayors and vice mayors of
Butuan
List of Butuan city officials
List of radio stations in Butuan

References
1. "House Bill No. 974" (PDF). House of
Representatives of the Philippines. 15
November 2016. Archived from the
original (PDF) on 11 October 2018.
Retrieved 19 April 2019.
2. "CESB CONCLUDES FIRST PAGLAUM
WORKSHOP IN MINDANAO" . Career
Executive Service Board. 20 June
2012. Archived from the original on
 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
"The Career Executive Service Board,
in partnership with the Association of
CARAGA Executives (ACE), brought
the Project Paglaum to Butuan City,
the home of the Balangays."
3. "JrNBA starts nationwide sweep with
basketball clinic in Butuan" . Manila
Standard. 7 February 2016. Archived
from the original on 19 April 2019.
Retrieved 19 April 2019. "Butuan came
to national prominence during the late
1940s to the 1970s as the “Timber
City of the South” because of its
booming logging industry."
4. "Brgy" . Butuan.gov.ph. Archived from
the original on 2014-01-10. Retrieved
2014-01-02.
5.
6. "Province: Agusan del Norte" . PSGC
Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines:
Philippine Statistics Authority.
Retrieved 12 November 2016.
7. Census of Population (2015).
"Caraga" . Total Population by
Province, City, Municipality and
Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June
2016.
8. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and
City Level Poverty Estimates" . Quezon
 City, Philippines. Retrieved 12 October
2019.
9. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2012-07-01. Retrieved
2013-02-06.
10. UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
"Butuan Archeological Sites" .
UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Retrieved 2014-01-02.
11. "Timeline of history" . Archived from
the original on 2009-11-23. Retrieved
2009-10-09.
12. Scott, William Prehispanic Source
Materials: For the Study of Philippine
History, p. 66
13. Song Shi Chapter 7 to 8
14. "A general act for the organization of
municipal governments in the
Philippine Islands" . LawPH.com.
Archived from the original on 2012-
07-10. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
15. Kent Holmes, Wendell Fertig and His
Guerrilla Forces in the Philippines:
Fighting the Japanese Occupation,
1942-1945 (Jefferson, N.C.:
McFarland & Co., 2015), p. 112.
16. Keats, J., 1963, They Fought Alone,
New York:J.B. Lippincott Company
17. Childress, C., 2003, Wendell Fertig's
Fictional "Autobiography": A Critical
 Review of They Fought Alone, Bulletin
of the American Historical Collection,
Vol. 31, No. 1(23), January 2003
18. Holmes, pp. 116-7.
19. "R.A. No. 522, Butuan City Charter" .
LawPH.com. Archived from the
original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved
2011-04-09.
20. "Butuan, Agusan del Norte
Climatological Normal Values" .
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical
and Astronomical Services
Administration. Archived from the
original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved
8 October 2018.
21. "Butuan, Agusan del Norte
Climatological Extremes" . Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration.
Archived from the original on 8
October 2018. Retrieved 8 October
2018.
22. Butuan City District and Barangays
"Butuan City District and Barangays"
23. Census of Population and Housing
(2010). "Caraga" . Total Population by
Province, City, Municipality and
Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June
2016.
24. Censuses of Population (1903–2007).
"Caraga" . Table 1. Population
Enumerated in Various Censuses by
Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903
to 2007 . NSO.
25. "Province of Agusan del Norte" .
Municipality Population Data. Local
Water Utilities Administration
Research Division. Retrieved
17 December 2016.
26. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2014-07-30. Retrieved
2014-08-05.
27. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2016-05-13. Retrieved
 2016-04-21.
28. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2016-11-15. Retrieved
2014-08-07.
29. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2016-11-11. Retrieved
2016-04-21.
30. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2014-10-30. Retrieved
2014-08-07.
31. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved
2014-08-07.
32. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved
 2014-04-24.
33. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved
2014-08-07.
34. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2016-11-23. Retrieved
2014-08-07.
35. "Magsaysay Bridge" . Archived from
the original on 2014-04-07.
36. http://www.dilg.gov.ph/PDF_File/resou
rces/DILG-Resources-201162-
99c00c33f8.pdf Archived 2012-05-
19 at the Wayback Machine
37. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2015-07-24. Retrieved
 2014-07-03.
38. "Archived copy" . Archived from the
original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved
2013-11-20.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media

related to Butuan City.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for

Butuan.

Butuan City Government Website

Butuan City on Facebook
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Butuan&oldid=924128932"

Last edited 1 day ago by an anonymous user

Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless

otherwise noted.