Sibagat
', officially the ', is a of the Philippines| in the province of,. According to the, it has a population of people.
Located in the northeastern tip of the province, the town is away from Butuan City.
The town is a major producer of agriculture products such as coconut, banana, vegetables and especially abaca in the province.
Etymology
The word Sibagat is from the word bagat which means "meet" or "meeting place". According to the oral history, the Sibagat River near Sibagat was the place where the warring tribes meet and fight. Sibagat River is tributary of a bigger river, the Wawa River. The losing tribe would retreat downstream to the Wawa River and disappear.History
The territories of Sibagat were formerly part of the town of Esperanza, in the historical province of Agusan. In August 1961, through Executive Order No. 440, s. 1961, the barrios and sitios of Bayugan, Maygatasan, Nueva Sibagat, Verdo, Mambutay, Salvacion, Caridad, Sagmone, Calaitan, Sinadyap, Malindao, Noli and other adjacent barrios and sitios were separated from Esperanza and constituted into the newly created municipality of Bayugan. On February 1, 1980, Sibagat was created into a municipality when the barangays of Ilihan, Sinai, Sibagat, El Rio, Afga, Tabontabon, Perez, Magsaysay, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, San Isidro, Villangit, Del Rosario, Anahauan, Mahayahay and San Vicente were segregated from the municipality of Bayugan and organized into the newly created ton, through Batas Pambansa Blg. 56. The seat of Municipal Local Government is located in Barangay Sibagat, now called Barangay Poblacion. On November 6, 1980, the first set of Municipal Officials assumed office and Mr. Vicente B. Benigian, Sr. was the first appointed Municipal Mayor.Geography
Sibagat is located at.According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the has a land area of constituting of the total area of Agusan del Sur.
Sibagat is bordered by the province of Surigao del Sur to the north and northeast; Bayugan City to the east, southeast, south and southwest; Butuan City and Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte to the west; and Cabadbaran City, Santiago, Agusan del Norte and Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte to the northwest.
Sibagat is away from the Regional Center Hub of Caraga region and from the nearest airport in Butuan City. It is also away from Bayugan, the only city of the province. The town is geographically situated between the two cities of Butuan and Bayugan.
Climate
Sibagat has a Type II climate which has no dry season but with pronounced maximum rain period occurring from December to January.Barangays
Sibagat is politically subdivided into 24 barangays.Demographics
In the, had a population of. The population density was.Most of the inhabitants are Visayan migrants from Bohol, Cebu, Leyte and Negros provinces. Indigenous people include the Manobo and Higaonon.
Economy
The economy of Sibagat is dependent heavily on subsistence agriculture. Its major agricultural products are coconut, corn, coffee, cacao, fruits, vegetables, and root crops.It also plays a major role in Abacá Industry in Agusan del Sur as well as the entire Caraga Region.
Trading
- Buena Palma Corporation - Address: Purok 2, Afga, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur. Established in 2010 as a corporation producing organic coconut sugar as natural low glycemic index sweetener. The coconut sugar they used has been selected from the time of harvesting through the assessment of the quality of the sap of Coconut water to produce the best sap to make the HBM Featured sweetener product, the Organic Premium Pure Coconut sugar. Their certified organic products went famous and global when their company had joined with DTI - Caraga Region to an International Food Expo in Malaysia. Buena Palma Corporation, one of the famous regional food companies in Caraga that brought their products were cited by world's food firms in the recent 7th Sabah International Expo 2012 held at the Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Officials of the Department of Trade and Industry said that these products recognized by the international business community will spur the economic prosperity in this fastest-growing region in Southern Philippines. The Sabah International Expo or SIE is Sabah's premier trade fair organized biennially since 2000. Since its inception, SIE has become one of the largest and most successful trade events in BIMP-EAGA.
- Sibagat Federation of Abaca Weavers Association, Inc. - as Sibagat town is leading and major producer of "sinamay" who played vital role in the growing and production of abaca products in the province. Abaca is the identified "One Town One Product". Their major product is Sinamay, a woven stalks of the abaca tree which fiber is stronger than cotton or silk, and as a result of that sinamay holds a very firm shape. Sibagat "sinamay" shines every time they will participate in trade fairs in both regional and national events. Members of Sibagat Abaca Weavers Association make rolls of fabric from sinamay or the first-class fiber from the Tagongon and Laylay varieties of abaca. The woven fabric is used as material for handicraft, housewares and fashion accessories, which are sold in the home and export markets.
- Kolambugan Tribal Tree Farmers Association - a major player of abaca trading and a licensed abaca local trader based in Kolambugan, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur authorized and registered by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority.
Industrial
- Global Sibagat Hydro Power Corporation - is a subsidiary of Jowood Industries Inc., Philippines. The company has initially awarded by the Department of Energy a Renewable Energy Service contracts for multiple hydropower projects in the Municipality of Sibagat with a combined potential capacity of 24-Megawatts. The said contracts were executed through a ceremonial signing with Global Sibagat President James G. Ong and the then Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla last February 6, 2014. The RE projects are the Managong Hydroelectric Power Plant, Wawa Hydro Power Plant and Bugsukan Hydro Power Plant all located in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur.
Hydro Power Plant Projects
- 13MW Wawa Hydropower Plant Project -
- 6MW Managong Hydroelectric Power Plant Project - Location: Managong Falls, Barangay Padiay
- 5MW Bugsukan Hydropower Plant Project - Location: Bugsukan River
- 5MW Hilong-hilong 4 Hydropower Plant Project - Location: Barangay Kolambugan
- 7.7MW Wawa 1 Hydropower Project - Location: Wawa River, Barangay Kolambugan and Padiay
- 7.0MW Wawa 2 Hydropower Project - Location: Wawa River, Barangay Kolambugan and Padiay
- 5.6MW Wawa 3 Hydropower Project - Location: Managong River, Barangay Padiay
Banking and Finance
- People's Bank of Caraga, Inc. - a Rural Bank branch in the Municipality of Sibagat located in Barangay Poblacion.
Other Financial Center
- Palawan Express Pera Padala - Purok 9, Barangay Poblacion
- Palawan Pawnshop - Purok 9, Barangay Poblacion
Transportation
In town, Tricycles and Motorized tricycles convey passengers to short distance destination within the town and to other accessible adjacent barangays. Motorcycle taxi, locally known as Habal-habal, is a single motorcycle modified to seat more than two persons that caters passengers to barangays with rough and steep terrain. In Sibagat, the more complex Habal-habal can seat up to twelve persons or more including their baggages.
Communication
DXCN-FM 99.1 Radyo Kaagapay - the only broadcast radio station in the town of Sibagat. The Nutriskwela Community Radio is a Project of the National Nutrition Council to address the problem of hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines by providing correct and updated Nutrition and Health information to areas with high prevalence of malnutrition and no access to broadcast media. It was implemented in 2008, and Radyo Kaagapay in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur was its pioneering recipient in Caraga.Local government
Elected municipal officials 2019-2022:Executive officials
- Municipal Mayor: Maria Liza Lamanilao Evangelista, CPA, REB, REP
- Municipal Vice Mayor: Diosdado Gonzaga Villarivera
Municipal councilors
- Josephine Dacera Benegian
- Roland Canono Vergara
- Marlon Page Muldez
- Allan Mira Lanas
- Franklin Larapan Dumdom
- Felipe Dapinagan Mabasle
- Gines Gablines Coranes
- Joel Sardon Quitoriano
Educational institutions
Central elementary schools
Name | District | Barangay |
Sibagat Central Elementary School | District I | Poblacion |
Afga Central Elementary School | District II | Afga |
Secondary schools
There are Six high schools in the town.Name | Type | Barangay |
Afga National High School | Public | Afga |
Father Saturnino Urios College of Sibagat, Inc. | Private | Poblacion |
Magsaysay National High School | Public | Magsaysay |
New Tubigon National High School of Home Industries | Public | New Tubigon |
Padiay National High School | Public | Padiay |
Sibagat National High School of Home Industries | Public | Poblacion |
College
Name | Type | Barangay |
Father Saturnino Urios College of Sibagat, Inc. | Private | Poblacion |
Other Schools
Name | Type | Barangay | District |
Afga Central Elementary School | Public | Afga | District II |
Anahawan Elementary School | Public | Anahawan | District II |
Balonbon Elementary School | Public | Padiay | District II |
Banagbanag Elementary School | Public | Banagbanag | District II |
Bantolinao Elementary School | Public | Padiay | District II |
Causwagan Elementary School | Public | Kauswagan | District I |
Dandanon Elementary School | Public | Kolambugan | District II |
Del Rosario Elementary School | Public | Del Rosario | District II |
El Rio Elementary School | Public | El Rio | District II |
Father Saturnino Urios College of Sibagat, Inc. | Private | Poblacion | District I |
Goshen Primary School | Public | New Tubigon | District I |
Ilihan Elementary School | Public | Ilihan | District I |
Kioya Elementary School | Public | Kioya | District I |
Kolambugan Elementary School | Public | Kolambugan | District II |
Magkalape Elementary School | Public | Magkalape | District II |
Magsaysay Elementary School | Public | Magsaysay | District II |
Mahayahay Elementary School | Public | Mahayahay | District I |
New Tubigon Elementary School | Public | New Tubigon | District I |
Padiay Elementary School | Public | Padiay | District II |
Perez Elementary School | Public | Perez | District II |
San Isidro I Elementary School | Public | San Isidro | District I |
San Isidro II Elementary School | Public | Afga | District II |
San Roque Elementary School | Public | Magsaysay | District II |
San Vicente Elementary School | Public | San Vicente | District I |
Sinai Elementary School | Public | Sinai | District I |
Sibagat Central Elementary School | Public | Poblacion | District I |
Santa Cruz Elementary School | Public | Santa Cruz | District II |
Santa Maria Elementary School | Public | Santa Maria | District II |
Tabontabon Elementary School | Public | Tabontabon | District II |
Tag-oyango Elementary School | Public | Tag-oyango | District I |
Villangit Elementary School | Public | Villangit | District I |
Other Educational and Learning Institutions
Name | Type | Barangay |
Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc. | Learning Center | Padiay |
Bible Baptist Church Children's Learning Center of Sibagat, Inc. | Learning Center | Sibagat |
Light and Life Learning Center of Sibagat, Inc. | Learning Center | Poblacion |
Sidlak Child Development Center | Learning Center | Poblacion |
Negosyo Center Sibagat | Learning Center | Poblacion |
HOPE Center Sibagat | Learning Center | Poblacion |
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation-Integrated Development Center | Learning Center | Tag-uyango |
Poder y Prosperidad dela Comunidad Day Care Center | Learning Center | Poblacion |
Poblacion Sibagat Day Care Center | Learning Center | Poblacion |
Barangay Day Care Centers | Learning Center | All Sibagat Barangays |
Religious
Religious Churches in Sibagat
- Saint Anthony of Padua Parish church - Poblacion
- Saint Isidore the Laborer Parish church - Afga
- Seventh-day Adventist Church - Baluyot
- Seventh-day Adventist Church - Balonbon
- Seventh-day Adventist Church - Bayabas
- Seventh-day Adventist Church - Kahayag
- Seventh-day Adventist Church - Mahayahay
- Seventh-day Adventist Church - New Tubigon
- Seventh-day Adventist Church - Padiay
- Seventh-day Adventist Church - Perez
- Seventh-day Adventist Church - Poblacion
- Seventh-day Adventist Church - Tabontabon
- Afga Free Methodist Church - Afga
- Sibagat Free Methodist Church - Poblacion
- United Church of Christ in the Philippines - Poblacion
- United Church of Christ in the Philippines - El Rio
- United Pentecostal Church Philippines, Inc. - Oneness Pentecostal tradition|Oneness Apostolic Pentecostal - Poblacion
- United Pentecostal Church Philippines, Inc. - Oneness Pentecostal tradition|Oneness Apostolic Pentecostal - Camponay
- Pentecostal Church of God - Poblacion
- Iglesia ni Cristo Chapel - Lokal ng Poblacion
- Iglesia ni Cristo Chapel - Lokal ng Afga
- Iglesia Filipina Independiente Church - Poblacion
- Bread of Life Ministries - Poblacion
- Born Again Christian Church - Poblacion
- Kingdom Hall of Jehova's Witnesses - Poblacion
- Church of Christ - Poblacion
- Baptist Church - El Rio
- Jesus is Lord Church - Poblacion
- Maharlican Ecumenical Catholic Apostolic Church of Christ Jesus, Inc. - Tabontabon
- Things to Come Mission Philippines, Inc. - Grace Gospel Church of Christ - Afga
- Things to Come Mission Philippines, Inc. - Grace Gospel Church of Christ - Kioya
- Things to Come Mission Philippines, Inc. - Grace Gospel Church of Christ - Padiay
Tourist Attractions
Nature and Man-made Attractions
- Pinandagatan Falls — a newly discovered untouched hidden paradise, a beautiful in nature, fantastic and amazing waterfalls with a jaw-dropping view located in Barangay New Tubigon. According to Caraga Backpackers Group, Pinandagatan Falls could be the best waterfalls they saw in the entire Caraga Region.
- Camponay Falls — located in Sitio Camponay in Barangay Tabon-tabon
- Managong Falls — the biggest and tallest falls in the province located in Brgy Padiay.
- Tughongon Falls — located in Barangay Kolambugan
- Katugsok Falls — located in Barangay Poblacion
- Sibagat River — a secondary river named after the town, a tributary river to a larger Wawa River
- Wawa River — the largest river in the town, a tributary river to the Agusan River
- Wawa River Dam and Irrigation System — located adjacent to the Wawa bridge in Barangay San Vicente
- Wawa Bridge — the longest Steel Bridge in the province that serves as road boundary of Bayugan City and Sibagat
- Managong River — a tributary river to a larger Wawa River located in Barangay Padiay
- Tambagoko River — a tributary river to a larger Wawa River located in Barangay New Tubigon and Magsaysay
- Municipal Hall and Plaza
- Poblacion-Tag-oyango Hanging Bridge - a beautifully designed suspended 200-meter hanging footbridge worth PhP 11 Million that connects Barangay Poblacion to Brgys. Tag-oyango and Kioya and is now artery that links farmlands in the Poblacion to the National Highway.
Festivals
- Bagat Festival — held every 6th day of November. The term bagat is a native word for "encounter". The festival is the convergence of natives of surrounding areas of Wawa and Sibagat and is highlighted by Manobo dancers and industrial fair.
- Sibagat Town Fiesta — Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua, celebrated every 13th day of June
Notable people
- Dennis Laurente —, a Filipino Professional Boxer and a former holder of World Boxing Council Asian Boxing Council Super Welterweight Champion belt. Born in Palompon, Leyte but raised in Barangay Mahayahay, Sibagat. He attended his early education at Mahayahay Elementary School and secondary at Sibagat National High School of Home Industries until he relocated in Manila when he pursued his boxing career.