PROFILE OF THE CITY

Butuan City is located in the central portion of the province of Agusan del Norte
in Northern Mindanao. It is the regional center of Caraga Administrative Region 13. It
lies at 125 27’ 23” and 125 43’ 13” east longitude and 8 44’ 27” to 9 0.2’ 53” north
latitude. It is bounded in the west by the Municipality of Buenavista, in the east by the
Municipality of Sibagat, in the south by the municipality of Las Nieves, and in the north
by the Municipality of Magallanes, Cabadbaran and Butuan Bay forming the natural
boundary and drainage of Agusan River toward the body of water. It has a total land
area of about 81,728 hectares. Out of this area, 67.21% or 54,928 hectares are alienable
and disposable lands with the remaining areas classified as forestlands.

Geographic Location Information

The City is made up of a wide coastal plain connecting the Las Nieves-Bayugan -
San Luis alluvial plain which is part of the Agusan-Davao trough. A mountain range
straddles in the southeast boundary with the 675 meter high Mount Mayapay
dominating the area. To the east of the area is the Agusan River which flows northward
into the Butuan Bay. Said river the biggest in Agusan is one of the seven major rivers in
the country. The river is moderately deep and is navigable by small water vessels
reaching as far as Agusan del Sur. The river is winding with ox-bow lakes at some points
along its channel. Agusan Valley is constricted at Barangay Amparo at the southern part
of Butuan. There are flood plains downstream with extensive marsh delta lining up and
adjacent to the mouth of the river.
The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) study of the area reveal
eight (8) geological formations in Butuan. The oldest rock formation belongs to
metamorphic rocks constitutes the basement complex unit found on a small host
structure in between the boundaries of Magallanes and Butuan City. The peridotite and
gabbo rocks manifest in the Mount Mayapay and its surrounding vicinities. In
northeastern portion of Butuan, Bislig volcanic rocks emerge in close contact with
extensive Taguibo Limestone. The most extensive geological formation in Butuan is that
of sedimentary rock which includes classic materials of sandstone and extensive
quaternary alluvium which occur on valley floors, coastal and littoral zones including the
mangrove/swampy areas. These types of sedimentary rocks present in the area are:
sandstone, siltstone and shale, nestone formation, clay and conglomerate formation and

Butuan City Ecological Statistics Profile 2016 / Geo-Physical Environment

alluvium dominated a large part of the area especially the western and eastern sections
of the city. In terms of land forms the BSWM study classified Butuan City into eight
broad landform categories as follows:
 Coastal Lowlands is formed by the combined of waves, streams and sediments
that includes the deposition of heterogeneous masses like sediments, coral and
shell debris. This major landscape comprises the coastal areas like fishponds,
mangrove/nipa stands that can be found in the seashore of Butuan Bay
particularly in Barangays Lumbocan and Masao and in the flat areas of Maug,
Babag, Agusan Pequeno and Banza.

 Broad Alluvial Plains – this landscape was mainly formed by the accumulation of
unsorted and unconsolidated clay, silt, sand, pebble and gravel size fragments of
mixed volcanic and sedimentary origins eroded and transported through surface
run-off and flows the surrounding hills and mountains. These physiographic
units are the river levee, river terrace, broad plain, swamp and marshes. River
levees are in the adjacent to Agusan River and other streams which have been
affected by over bank flow. Rice terraces are those composed of upper and lower
terraces found along the areas of Barangays Amparo, Mandamo, Bilay, Maguinda
and San Mateo. Broad plains constitute the broad alluvial plains of Abilan,
Ampayon, Mahay, Los Angeles, Aupagan, Libertad and Dankias.

 Minor Alluvial Plains – represent the valley floors which were formed by the
accumulation of alluvial materials which found in Barangay Bitan-agan and some
areas base of the hill north of Butuan near the boundary of Municipality of
Remedios T. Romualdez.
 Terrace (Residual Slopes) - this land is slightly above the alluvial landscape can
be found in Barangays Bancasi, Pinamanculan and Dumalagan.
 Plateau Landscape – it is formed either in the uplift area consolidated by
sediments erosion originally much larger areas of gently sloping older rocks from
Barangay Bonbon and Nongnong to the ultra-basic Mount Mayapay.
 Hilly Landscape – are areas having crest of 500 meters and below are classified
as hilly landscapes. The sedimentary composed of land facets such as lime
stones are found in the upper portion of Barangay Los Angeles.
 Mountain Landscape – mountain terrains are results of the uplift due to tectonic
stresses that produce high relief landscapes elevates of more than 500 meters
above sea level with steep to very steep slopes of moderately to severely
dissected mountain ranges. Mount Mayapay exhibits this type of topography.

Butuan City Ecological Statistics Profile 2016 / Geo-Physical Environment

  Miscellaneous Landform - these landforms consist of sand bars found at the
shoreline of Barangay Masao, a waterlogged area are found in Barangays
Doongan, Villa Kananga, Kinamlutan between Aupagan and Tagabaca, Mahay
and areas between Libertad and Ambago. Brackish water engulf these places
especially these areas near the sea or mouth of rivers.

Riverwash

River wash occurs as formation of flat to undulating of sand and gravel recently
deposited by streams and subject to frequent changes through stream/river overflow.
Said landscape is found at Taguibo River of Barangay Taguibo where quarrying of sand
and gravel is being undertaken.

Topography, Slope and Elevation

As shown in the slope map, topography of Butuan City varies from flat to rolling
and steep to very steep. The flat areas with a slope range of 0-2% are those situated
along the coastal Barangays of Masao, Lumbucan, Pagatpagatan and Pinamanculan.
These flat areas can also be observed within the alluvial plains of the city. The steep to
very steep areas are located on the eastern, western and southern portion of Butuan
with the highest elevations extended to about 700 meters.

Soils
Based on the landform categories, BSWM classified the soils of Butuan City into 14
soil series. The soil series are differentiated according to parent of material of the soil,
physiographic position, a texture depth and drainage conditions. These soils were
further sub-classified into 33 soil mapping units grounded of a range of characteristic
such slope, erosion, class, rockiness and flooding (See Ecological Statistical Profile (ESP
2019)

Land Use and Vegetative Cover

The land use pattern of Butuan revealed that the city is still primarily a rural
locality. A large chunk of the total land area of the city about 52.08% is utilized for
agricultural purposes. The area categorized the forest purposes is about 26,800
hectares or 32.79% of the city’s land area. On the other hand, the built-up or urban
area consists only of about 3,232.63 hectares or 3.96% of the entire city. The area
coverage of each general land use is shown in (Table 1.0, the existing land use,
ESP2019)

Butuan City Ecological Statistics Profile 2016 / Geo-Physical Environment

Mineral Resources
Distribution and allocation for Built-Up areas as delineated in the Bureau of Soil
and Water Management (BSWM) placed thirteen (13) barangays are potential in
mineral resources such as gold, nickel, limestone, copper and black sand (See Mining
Tenement Map, ESP 2019). Based from the distribution of Strategic Agriculture and
Fisheries Development Zone SAFDZ there are 195 hectares delineated to open pit
mining and quarrying.

Location and Extent/Size of Surface Freshwater Resources

Surface freshwater is an abundant resource in Butuan as evidenced by the

presence of numerous rivers and creeks. Based on the BSWM study there are
seventeen (17) major water ways draining into Butuan, the most prominent of which is
the Agusan River. The other river channels includes the Ampayon River, Mahay River,
Tagabaca River, Agusan Pequeño River, Mantange River, Masao River, Manapa River,
Taguibo River, Ambago River, Bitan-agan River, Bilay River, Masago River, Mambatua
River, Subait River and Bugabus River (See Hydrologic Map, ESP 2019).
The rivers and streams are currently being used for irrigation and domestic uses.
The continuous siltation and sedimentation of said channels brought about by the
degradation of watersheds however threaten their viability to provide suitable water
for the purposes. Potable drinking water meanwhile is source from pump wells of the
local water district Butuan City Water District (BCWD) and the level 2 and level 1 water
system of rural barangays.

Natural Hazards

The eighty-six (86) barangays are categorized into four (4) ecosystems the
coastal, lowland, upland and urban. Of the fifty-nine (59) rural barangays, three (3)
barangays are near in the coastline are Masao, Lumbocan and Pagatpatan considered as
coastal ecosystem, 30 barangays with a slope level of 8%-30% are in lowland ecosystem
and twenty-six (26) barangays with a slope level higher than 30% are in upland
ecosystem. The twenty-seven (27) urban barangays remain its categorization.
Based on the Climate Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) hazard inventory matrix
the City has a total of nine (9) identified hazards which five (5) are climate related and
three (3) geologic hazards. Out of the nine (9) there are six (6) hazard events that all
ecosystems are susceptible. In terms of possible occurrences Flood, Rain-Induced

Butuan City Ecological Statistics Profile 2016 / Geo-Physical Environment

Landslide and Drought are classified as frequent which occur during the wet and dry
seasons. The remaining hazard events ranging from moderate to rare.

Hazard Inventory Matrix

HAZARD ECOSYSTEM
COASTAL LOWLAND UPLAND URBAN
Flood / / / /
Rain-Induced Landslide / / /
Storm Surge / / / /
Drought / / / /
Sea Level Rise / / / /
El Nino / / / /
Earthquake Induced Landslide / /
Liquefaction/Sinkhole / / / /
Ground Shaking / / / /
Source: Climate Disaster Risk Assessment (CIDRA)

Soil erosion is becoming a serious problem in Butuan City. It does not only depletes
the upland areas of its thin but rich top soil but also contributes to a large extent in
the siltation and sedimentation of the rivers and other bodies of water in Butuan.
There is no updated erosion survey for the City. The latest date available is the 1984
study of the BSWM. The study showed that almost 40% of the total land area of
Butuan is subjected to moderate to severe soil erosion. With the prevalence of
shifting cultivation and inappropriate farming and illegal open pit mining and
quarrying practices in the uplands, it can be assumed that the current soil erosion
rates in the city would not be any better for number of barangays that are affected.
Flooding usually occur during heavy rains where rivers overflow from adjacent
elevated areas. Flush floods and landslides happen from the month of November to
February when Agusan River and its tributaries (creeks and rivers) overflow causing
damages to property and crops.

Typhoon is not subject to destructive because it is protected by the Diwata mountain

range in the east which tends to prevent the winds into the northwestern direction.

Earthquakes the city seldom experience earthquakes though it lies above a fault zone.
One of the major faults found in the area is an extension of the Philippine Master Fault
which runs on a southeast direction from Dingalan Bay in Northern Luzon passing
through the Bondoc Peninsula, Camarines to Masbate, through Leyte, Surigao, Agusan
and ends in the Davao Gulf. This fault runs parallel of Agusan River north of Butuan

Butuan City Ecological Statistics Profile 2016 / Geo-Physical Environment

 following the river’s upstream route south direction to Agusan Del Sur. Other minor
faults trend northeast and northwest are generally perpendicular to the master fault.
Barangay De Oro, Taligaman, Antongalon, Taguibo, Sumilihon, Los Angeles, Santo Nino
to Municipality of RTR had a solid trace of fault lines.

DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS
The City of Butuan has a population of 337,063 which shares 12.98% of
2,596,709 of the entire population of Caraga Region, and 0.33% of the Philippines’
total population of 100, 981,437 as of 2015 (actual census). This count has an
increase of 27,354 persons more than the recorded population of 309,709 in the censal
year of 2010 and more than twice the population size of 131,094 persons as recorded
in 1970. During the last three decades the growth in the city’s population was mainly
dominated by its natural increase or the balance between birth and death among
residents who have been around for at least five years, which primarily drives the
population growth in Butuan. The rate of natural increase continued to decline from
an annual average of 3.66 percent in 1975-1980 to 2.69 percent in the next ten years.
It slightly declined to 2.24 percent in 1990-1995. In the inter-censal years 1995-2000,
these trends continued to occur with a natural increase of 1.85 percent and 1.21
percent in 2000-2007. It slightly gained headway in 2010 by 1.32 percent and slightly
dropped again in 2010-2015 by 1.17. It is notable that the natural growth of the
population is in a very minimal increase (Table 6.0, Natural Increase and Net Migration
Pattern, ESP 2019).
This minimal increase in the population count translates into an annual
population growth rate of 1.53 percent for the period of fifteen years, 2000-2015,
slightly higher by 0.05 percentage point from the annual population growth rate of
1.48 percent for the period of ten year as of 2000-2010. This nominal increase may be
attributed to the increasing awareness and participation of the populace on the
population programs provided by both private sector and the government (Table 5.0,
Historical Growth of Population and Growth Rate- Ecological Statistical Profile 2019).
Number of household members per household beginning1990 was 5.60 or 6
members above the usual pacing in the succeeding censuses during 1995, 2000, 2007,
2010 and 2015 where household members are declined to 4.4 (Table 3.0, Number of
Household and Average Household Size, ESP 2019 ).
The gross population density in 2015 is 4.12 persons per hectare or about 412
persons per square kilometre which signifies four (4) persons per hectare of land.

Butuan City Ecological Statistics Profile 2016 / Geo-Physical Environment

 Urban barangays of the city has a total area of 1,389.7488 hectares and a total
population of 86,929. Gross urban density is 62.55 or roughly 63 persons in one
hectare among the 27 urban barangays. Barangay Agao has the highest population
density of 280 persons per hectare.
However population density in the urban barangays disproportionate from rural
barangays with a larger area and a more dispersed distribution of inhabitants by
250,134 population counts in 2015 and a gross density of 2.67 persons per hectare.
Barangay Agusan Pequeno has the highest population density of 46 persons per
hectare (Table 23.0, Total Population, Land Area, Density and Distance by Barangay, ESP 2019 ).
Urban-Rural population distribution concentrated more in the rural barangays.
The rural population reached to its peak at 250,134 or 74.21 percent in 2015 while
urban population reached to 26% or 86,929. Among the 86 barangays of Butuan City
rural barangays took the lead as most densely populated like Libertad with a
population size of 6.44% or 21,703 followed by Barangay San Vicente 4.80% or 16,187,
Doongan 4.07% 13,728, Ampayon 3.77% or 12,720, Ambago 3.75% or 12,656, Baan
Km.3 3.35% or 11,308, Villa Kananga 3.31or 11,173.
Some of the urban barangays contributed less than 3.0% with a small juridical
areas mostly located in commercial districts like barangay Sikatuna has a 0.01% or 43
portion of the total population of the city followed by Urduja 0.02% or 83, Humabon .
04% or 137, Leon Kilat 0.05% or 163, Rajah Soliman 0.13% or 465 and Agao 0.23% or
778 (See Table 23.0, Total Population, Land Area, Density and Distance by Barangay).

Net Migration
The city’s pace of net migration reflected a down trend manner. A negative net
migration is attained when the number of people going out of the city (out-migration)
exceeds the number of people coming to live in the city (in-migration). From having a
positive net migration of 1.73 % in 1975-1980 and 0.46 % in 1980-1990, the city
experienced a dwindling population in the twenty-year period (1990-2000). An
increase in net migration was again experienced in the city in 2000-2007 by 0.37 %
and dropped again by negative 0.13 % in 2007-2015.
Migration showed an erratic trend following the socio-economic standing of the
city during the period mainly caused by the slowdown of the logging businesses in the
years 1970-1975 and the main issue of brain-drain most likely to nurses, caregivers
and domestic helpers (Table 6.0, Natural Increase and Net Migration, ESP).

Butuan City Ecological Statistics Profile 2016 / Geo-Physical Environment

 Urbanization
Between 1980 and 1990 the city’s pace of urbanization displayed positive results.
However from 1995 to 2015, its rate of urbanization continuously exhibited a declining
movement. It is the rural population distribution that characterized population
movement in Butuan City. More people preferred to live in the rural rather in the
urban barangays. Urban population declined by -1.49 % in 2015 in a trend that
started in 2010. This could be attributed to the development and expansions of many
housing projects, business establishments such as commercial, industrial and
institutional in the rural areas. This could also mean that more economic and social
activities have risen outside the urban settlement wherein rural areas consistently draw
more people for a settlement and business activities.
The rural areas where majority of population prefer to settle are classified as
urbanizing barangays. These are Barangays Libertad, San Vicente, Doongan, Ampayon,
Ambago, Baan Km.3, Villa Kananga, Pagatpatan, Tungao, Bonbon, Los Angeles, Agusan
Pequeno, Bancasi, Banza, Lumbocan, Mahay, Sumilihon, Taguibo and Taligaman (Table
2.0, Population Enumerated in various census by Barangay, ESP 2019)

Male-Female Distribution and Median Age

In terms of the distribution count by age and sex in 2015 there were more males
than females as can be gleaned from the figures of which 51% or 170,885 are males
and 49% or 166,178 are females. These show that there are 103 males for every 100
females of the total population age distribution. Males still outnumbered females by
about 4,707. The dominance of male is more evident in the young population (0-14)
and the working population (15-64 years old). This age-group bracket constitutes
32.89% and 62.40% respectively of the total population. The 15-64 age group
brackets constitute the population’s labour force. The elderly (65 and over) which is
about 4.70% of the total population is female dominated indicates 75 male per 100
female.
The City’s Median Age in 2015 census is 24 years old meaning half of the total
population was younger by 24 which is higher than the median age of 21 years old
recorded in 2000 to 2007 census.

Dependency Burden
One important classification of the age structures is the concept of economic
dependency or the Dependency Burden. The age groups 15-64 years old are

Butuan City Ecological Statistics Profile 2016 / Geo-Physical Environment

 considered as the working forces of the population and those below 15 and above 64
years old are the dependent groups. Ages below 15 years old are young dependents
and above 65 are old dependents.

The young dependents (0-14 years old) had grown in ratio beginning in the
actual census of 1990 by 41% slightly dropped by 40% in1995 and 2000. It went down
significantly to 32.89% during the 2015 census survey. Conversely old dependents
aged 65 and above elevated the ratio during 1995 census by 4.10% went up to 6% in
2000 and went down to 4.70% in 2015. The economic dependency ratio entails for
every 100 working populations 60 are dependents (Table 4.0- Age Level, Age
Dependency Ratio, ESP, 2019).

Religion
The major religion of the city is Roman Catholic with 254,685 or 83% of the
household population. This is followed by Evangelical Church with 14,035 or 5%,
Iglesia ni Cristo with 8,662 or 1.24% and the remaining 10.76% belong to other
religious affiliation like the Seventh Day Adventist 1.44%, Aglipayan 1.25%, United
Church of Christ in the Philippines 1.17% (Table 9.0, Household Population by Religious
affiliation and by Sex, ESP 2019).

Ethnicity and Dialect Spoken

The Ethnicity groupings among residents of the city are Butuanon with 116,766 or
35% of the household population, Cebuano 79,939 or 24%, Bisaya/Binisaya are
migrants from various places in the Visayas and Mindanao where Bisayan dialect are
spoken with 48,888 or15%, Boholano 26,414 or 8%, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 7,089 or 2%,
Ilocano 4,800 or 1.44% and the remaining 14.56% or 48,226 of the population are
distributed to different ethnicity groups (Table 22.0, Household Population by Ethnicity
and by Sex).
Language spoken in the city is predominantly Cebuano which is 47.03% or 33,875
followed by the Bisaya/Binisaya which is 40.58% of the population or 29,227. Local
dialect called Butuanon is spoken only by 6% or 4,355 (Table 21.0, Dialect Generally
Spoken in the Households, ESP 2019).

Butuan City Ecological Statistics Profile 2016 / Geo-Physical Environment

LGU Classification and Its Economic Base

Butuan is classified as an independent highly urbanized city, a gateway and a

regional center of Caraga Region. It comprised with 86 barangays 27 Urban and 59
Rural.
The economic base activities in Butuan City composed of primary sources the
agriculture, fishery and forestry which allocating 48,952.3 hectares wherein 62% or
30,275.8 average hectares were utilized and planted with main products of rice, corn,
coconut, banana and other various crops. Fishery potential areas covered with 1,050
hectares with 48.25 hectares utilized in fresh water, 1,001.75 hectares utilized in brackish
water while fish cages has a potential area of 16,640 square meters with an area
developed of 10,400 square meters. Forest areas as stated in general land use allocation
has an existing land area of 26,800 hectares wherein 1,530.8 hectares utilized to falcata
farming. Domestic and export disposition of lumber production are also one of major
industries of fourteen (14) permittees registered with wood species processed like
falcata, gmelina, mangium, bagras, mahogany and mixed with lauan and some bearing
trees.
Trade and Industry are the secondary sources comprised of mining and
quarrying with a total land area of 8,563.219 hectares; 47.219 hectares utilized in
quarrying areas with 16 permitted, four (4) from mining and 12 in quarrying industries
with capitalization of 5 million and 3 million and annual sales of 4.9 million and 1.5
million respectively. Manufacturing ranked third in capitalization and annual gross sales
in business categories from 2016 to 2019 which comprises food and beverages,
garments/fashion accessories, wood-based industry, metal fabricators, base metal,
printing/publishing and manufacturing unclassified. Wholesale and retail trading are
consistently booming together with its annual sales of Php 13,049,867,463.00 and
2,075,040,251.00 and the growing number of business establishments that boost the
economic development of the city. Finance, Insurance and other related services
classifies as banking and the non-banking institutions provides development funds in
domestic trading serves as the local industries and commerce. There are 50 banks and
319 non-banks which includes cooperatives that ran lending services, insurance and
pawnshops
Construction, electricity, water, gas and utilities are aligned in the services major
type which rank second in capitalization and annual sales.

Butuan City Ecological Statistics Profile 2016 / Geo-Physical Environment

 Tourism, transportation and communication are the tertiary sources in economic
activity in the city. Tourist arrivals are also one of the city economic drives both
domestic and foreign however domestic tourists decreased from the succeeding years
of 2017 to 2019 although foreign tourists moved better in 2018 and significantly
dropped to 46.85% in 2019. Accommodation establishments like resorts, hotels, inns,
motels, lodges and pension houses, fast food establishments, restaurants, coffee shops,
bars are providing reasonable charges that entice people from other places to visit.
Registered transportation and communication establishments increased in the
succeeding years 2016-2018 a slight dropped by 4% in 2019 with annual sales of Php
592,709,360.00 and capitalization of Php 211,111,395.00 in 2019 (See or refer to
Ecological Statistical Profile (ESP) 2019) paki dugang nalang Jan your portion,
thanks….

Butuan City Ecological Statistics Profile 2016 / Geo-Physical Environment