Agusan Del Sur

LOCATION

Agusan del Sur occupies an accoastal portion of Northeastern Mindanao, Bounded on the north by Agusan del Norte, on the South by Compostela Valley, on the West by Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon and on the East by Surigao del Sur. The province is landlocked and can be reached only by land transportation through the Davao-Butuan National Highway. Three minor roads also provider access for travelers coming from Tandag, Lianga, Barobo, and Bislig City in Surigao del Sur, and one road connects the southwestern part of the province with Asuncion, Compostela Valley province, no existing ferry facilities regularly operate from Butuan City or Comval province.

LAND AREA

Agusan del Sur’s approximate area is 890,500 hectares or 8,965.50 sq. km. ranking as the fourth largest province in the country. The three largest provinces are: first, Palawan with an area of 14,890.30 sq. km., second, Isabela with an area 10,664.50 sq. km. and third, Cagayan Valley with an area 9,002.70 sq. km.

The municipalities of Loreto, La Paz, Esperanza and San Luis are the four largest municipalities in the land area comprising almost sixty percent of the province’s total land area. On the hand, Sta. Josefa and Talacogon, also river towns, have the smallest land area.

LANGUAGE & DIALECT

Cebuano is dominantly spoken followed by boholano and ilongo. Of the native tounge, Manobo dialect is the most popular. Other popular dialects are the Hiligayon, Butuanon Surigaonon and Kamayo. A good portion of the population, however, can understand and communicate in Filipino, the national language.

English is usually in conversations with tourist who cannot communicate in Filipino, and in government transactions. It is also the medium of instruction in schools.

TOPOGRAPHY & LAND FEATURE

Agusan del Sur is an elongated basin formation with mountain ranges in the eastern and western sides forming a valley, which occupies the center longitudinal section of the land. The Agusan River which flows from Compostela Valley in the south towards Agusan del Norte in the North runs almost in the middle of the valley and empties into Butuan Bay.

The river has twelve tributaries, namely, Wawa, Gibong, ang Simulao River in the eastern side: and Ojot, Pusilao, Kasilayan, Libang, Maasam, Agdawan, Cawayan, and Ihaoan River in the western side. The tributaries are fed by numerous streams and creeks. The southern half of the province from the municipality of Veruela is an area filled with many swamps and lakes, the biggest of which is the Talacogon Lake.

SOIL TYPES

Agusan del Sur is endowed with rich and fertile soil. Because of its soil fertility, varied crops can be grown. Based in the land Resource Evaluation Project conducted by Bureau of Soils in 1983, Agusan del Sur’s soil types are characterized from deep, moderately deep to shallow and shallow to slightly acidic, strongly acidic, moderately acidic and neutral high fertility and low fertility. It has also varied colors dark-brown, brown, dark yellowish brown, very dark grayish brown, and reddish brown. Among soil types are clay, clayey, loam, silty, sandy, considered effect on many factors which affect plant growth and agriculture management.

CLIMATE & RAINFALL

The province is geographically situated below the typhoon belt but is usually affected by depressions forming in the typhoon regions of Visayas and Surigao del Norte. The climate map of the Philippines based on modified coronas classification shows that the province falls under type II.

Type II has no dry season with a very pronounced maximum rain period. Maximum rainfall generally occurs in December-January although there is no single dry month. Areas Characterized by this climate type are generally along or very near in the eastern coast thus are open to the northeast monsoon.