Agusan Del Sur

HISTORY

Veruela was considered the oldest town of upper Agusan del Sur. As handed from generations, it was believed that Veruela got its name from the word “virus”. This happened in the later part of the 18th century where the whole area was suffering from small pox and cholera when the Spanish missionaries chanced upon this tribe. From then on, thus, the name Veruela existed out of the Spanish word “La Verus”.

Later, the Manobo tribes moved to Manning better known as Linungsuran along the enormous Agusan River.  However, in 1916 when a great earthquake destroyed the settlement, it erased the Linungsuran from the map of Agusan Province leaving no trace of the settlement. The survivors evacuated and reorganized into another place, now the Barangay Poblacion of the municipality.

In the 18^th century, the Muslim tribes in Davao invaded the Manobos in Agusan. But the Manobos fought back against Muslims. The first known leader of the inhabitants was Eladio Manguyod, a strong and influential Datu of the Manobo tribe, who led his people to victories after a hard fought battle and drove the Muslim out of Agusan. It was also during those times when the tribe was converted to Christianity.

It was their strong belief that they owed their victories to Datu Manguyod as well as their patron Saint John.

Veruela became a barangay on 1877 and later became a municipality by virtue of an Executive Order No. 147 proclaimed by President Diosdado Macapagal on March 31, 1965 during the term of Congressman Guillermo Sanchez, who once also served as mayor of the town. Since its formal creation as a municipality, Veruela had undergone a series of seven (7) different administrations.

On April 18, 1986, right after EDSA Revolution, Vicente C. del Rosario was appointed as officer – in Charge of the municipality of Veruela by President Corazon

Aquino. From then on, he ran and served several terms as mayor of the Municipality of Veruela.

The present people of the municipality are now a mixture of various ethnic groups of the archipelago. Before it used to be the domain of the Manobo tribe, but now Veruela is inhabited by the Ilongos, Boholanos, Cebuanos and all the ethnic tribes from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These people have adopted the Agusanon way of life and are now considered Agusanons in thoughts, ideas and philosophy.

PROFILE

The Municipality of Veruela is one of the 14 municipalities that comprise the landlocked Agusan del Sur province and is comprised of 20 barangays.

It is located within the north latitudes 7⁰ 55’ and 8⁰ 7’ 30”, and east longitudes 125⁰ 43’ 40” and 125⁰ 58’ 50” (see figure 1). It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Bunawan; on the east by the Municipality of Sta. Josefa; on the west by the Municipality of Loreto and on the south by the Municipality of La-ak, Province of Compostela Valley.

The distance between Veruela to Prosperidad, the capital town of the province is 99.13 kilometers while its distance to Butuan City is 167.36 kilometers up northwest.

The easiest route to access the municipality is passing the Trento-Sta. Josefa- Veruela Provincial road. The most common vehicles used to transport passengers in and out the municipality are the single motorcycles. Its frequency of transport is not determined, since each trip depends on the number of passengers available. Usually, a minimum of 3 persons gets the trip started.

Service of Public Utility Buses (PUBs) and Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) are also available at a frequency of one and two trips per day, respectively. However, only the barangays with good road networks avail of these services. Regular traveling time from Trento Terminal to the Municipal proper is 45 minutes for motorcycles and one hour for PUBs and PUJs.

Furthermore, the nearest port of entry when it comes to air and water transportation are located in Butuan City which is 167 kilometers away and in Davao City which is 172 kilometers away from the municipal proper.

QUICK FACTS

LOCATION
INCOME CLASS	:  2nd Class Municipality
LAND AREA	:  38 545 hectares
POPULATION	:  33 583 (2009 CBMS survey)
REGISTERED VOTERS	:  17 360

ELECTED OFFICIALS