Plaridel, Misamis Occidental

History

The Municipal Government of Plaridel, Misamis Occidental was one of the original towns of the Province of Misamis before it was divided into two (2) provinces (Oriental & Occidental) under Legislative Act. No. 3537 passed November 2, 1929.

“LANGANAN”, the local term for “delay” . A river so named because of its circuitous, winding route that traverses many kilometers. This river then was the highway by which people travelled on to reach the different settlements located along the riverbanks. Tales have it that the first Spaniard who arrived in one of the riverbank settlements asked what the name of the place was. Thinking that the Spaniard was asking for the name of the river, the settlers answered, “LANGANAN”.

The Spaniard found it hard to pronounce and instead uttered “LANGARAN” . This became the name of the place which now is the Municipality of Plaridel. Original settlers of LANGARAN were the Subanens. Farming, fishing and hunting were their means of livelihood. With their slash and burn (Kaingin) way of farming, they opened tracts of land for agricultural purposes. These tracts were later on bartered for axe heads and salt with the migrants.

The town named Langaran was changed into “Plaridel” in the year 1907 , when the late Santos Palma was elected municipal President. From that period the town Langaran disintegrated bringing along a big portion of its territorial area which later on formed into a separate municipality now known as the Municipality of Sapang Dalaga and the district of Concepcion. Later on, the sitio of Daisug became a town now known as the Municipality of Lopez Jaena. During the administration of the late President Manuel Acuna Roxas , Sitio Solinog now known as Calamba was created into a separate municipality.

Geographic Location

The Municipality of Plaridel is situated at the northern portion of the Province of Misamis Occidental, Region X with coordinates 8o 55’ to 8o 65’ north latitude and 123o 65‘to 123o 75’ east longitude. It is bounded by three municipalities: Baliangao to the north, Lopez Jaena to the south and Calamba to the west. The Mindanao Sea cradles Plaridel to the east. It is composed of thirty-three (33) barangays with a total area of 8,000 hectares.

It is located between the major cities of Ozamis (67 km) and Dipolog (68 km) of Zamboanga del Norte. Plaridel can be reached from Manila or Cebu by plane through these cities. It can also be reached by boat from Manila or Cebu to Ozamis, Dipolog or even direct to Plaridel. It also has a harbor in Looc that is very well sheltered from strong winds. A passenger boat (Lite Shipping) travels to Cebu City everyday, with stops in Siquijor and Tagbilaran, Bohol. Daily boat service to Cebu is also available in the port of Ozamiz City about 67 kilometres (42 mi) to the south.

Land Use, Topography and Slope

Plaridel is suited for intensive agriculture since 51% of the land area is level to gently sloping. Rolling hills are found at the southern portion extending to the boundaries of the Municipalities of Calamba and Lopez Jaena. The existing general land use of Plaridel are classified into: Built-up, Agricultural, Timberland,Nipaland, special uses and other uses such as Riparian Zone, Cemeteries, Roads and Streets, Water Bodies. Of the total land area of the municipality, agricultural area got the biggest chunk; it has 7,385 hectares or about 92% of the municipal land area. Built up in most barangays are concentrated on 6 urban barangays of No. Poblacion, Southern Poblacion, Southern Looc, Looc Proper, Eastern Looc and Lao Proper and along major roads and thoroughfares, the total built-up area of the 33 barangays comprises about 4%. Timberland or Mangrove areas are concentrated at the southern and northern boundaries of the municipality.

Agriculture

Just like other municipalities in the province, Plaridel’s economy depends on agriculture. Coconut has the biggest area with more than 6,000 hectares, other crops are planted under coconut such as banana, corn, fruit trees such as mango, pomelo and lanzones. Rootcrops also are planted under coconut such as sweet potato, cassava and others. Rice ranked as 2nd in the municipality in terms of area planted and 2nd also in the entire province of Misamis Occidental but ranked 1st, in terms of productivity. Rice are harvested 5 times in 2 years with a yield of 6-6.5MT/ha. Unlike other municipalities in the province, Plaridel is a member of the League of Organic Agriculture Municipalities (LOAM) in the Philippines. It grows organic, and rice is farmed using rice-duck farming technology, balanced fertilization and the use of vermi fertilizers.

Poverty Incidence

The municipality of Plaridel has a poverty incidence of 37.4. This is due mainly to insufficient income derived from agriculture and fisheries. Plaridel has an average landholding of 1.5 hectares/household.

Tourism

The LGU has a spot at barangay Panalsalan although undeveloped, is already frequented by local residents sometimes others with the company foreign guests. The place is good for picnics or plain sight seeing. This is a group of islets in a shape of broken necklace evenly scattered on an area facing Mindanao Sea. Summing it up, it has an aggregate land area of 23.00 hectares or only .24% of the total land area embraced by the municipality.

Transportation

Plaridel has a total road network covers 164 km, of which 85% are barangay roads, 42.56 km roads are mainly of gravel and earth type. Meanwhile, 100% of the National Highway is paved with asphalt. 13.57% of the Provincial Roads are paved with concrete, 11.24% of the Municipal Road pave with concrete and 37.43% barangay roads/farm-to-market roads.

The municipality itself has its own seaport with a regular trip to Siquijor, Tagbilaran, Cebu and vice versa, which caters passengers only. Lite Shipping Lines also plying the same route with regular thrice a week schedule during lean months and 5 times a week during peak months of April, May and June catering passengers and cargo as well. The Philippine Ports Authority managed the port and it has an on-going construction project worth more than a Hundred Million Pesos which covers the expansion and raising up of the port area designed to cater larger vessels to dock and a passenger terminal.

Water Supply

The Municipality of Plaridel is served by the Plaridel Waterworks Office, an LGU-run enterprise that caters to Twenty (20) barangays namely: Northern Poblacion, Southern Poblacion, Lao Proper, Looc Proper, Eastern Looc, Southern Looc, Mamanga Daku, Kauswagan, Sta. Cruz, Lao Sta. Cruz, Usocan, Clarin, Tipolo, Unidos, Mangidkid, New Look, Catarman, Puntod, Danao, and Calacaan. It has two (2) pumping stations at Barangays Mamanga Daku and one pumping station at Tipolo and Unidos. It has a total of 3,500 consumers. Barangays Panalsalan, Katipunan, Cartagena Proper, New Cartagena, Cebulin, Ilisan, Mamanga Gamay, Divisoria, Buena Voluntad, Deboloc, Quirino, Agunod, and Bato has its own Level II and III systems, making the Municipality of Plaridel to be the first municipality in the province of Misamis Occidental to make 100% performance on the provision of potable water to all thirty (33) barangays. Based on actual survey of households conducted by the Municipal Health Office, the actual number of households served by the different water systems all over the municipality reaches 6,929 or 84% of the total household population.

Power Supply

The municipality of Plaridel set the record as the first municipality who has 100% energization level in terms of barangay. It has total connections of 4,333 all throughout the municipality, 3,933 of which are residential connections, 111, commercial, 23 industrial, 7 streetlights, 130 for public buildings and 129 connections assigned to Barangay Power Association (BAPA). It has an average consumption of 215,270 KWH/Month for the year 2000. Recently, a standby Power Generation Plant is now established at Brgy Map-an, Pana-on by the Kings Energy Group (KEG) in case the supply of energy will dropped due to prevailing circumstances.

Communication

Communication is very vital in the development of a certain locality. It connects to the neighboring towns, cities and major growth centers for purposes of revitalizing the economy.

Telephone system of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone, Co. is established in this municipality in 1994 and managed by Paglaum Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PMPC). It covers 12 barangays with a total of 178 consumed including commercial establishments and churches. It accommodates domestic and international calls.

Cellular Phone Service is also available for Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular Phone subscribers. There are six (6) repeater towers installed in 6 different strategic locations within the urban and rural area.

PLDT through the Paglaum Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Smart and Globe Communications are the main Internet Service Providers in the municipality.

The Municipality of Plaridel has the Bureau of Posts for postal services which is concerned in the delivery and handling of mails for both domestic and foreign purposes. Telecom, a government-owned telegraphic facility, is available and is accommodating an average of 1,112 telegrams transmitted and 1,561 telegrams received.

Radio communications is accessible in the municipality. The PNP has its own radio system, which is capable in sending and receiving messages province wide. All municipal officials and members of the Association of Barangay Captains have their own individual handheld radio with repeater tower installed at Barangay Mamanga Daku for provincial wide coverage and linkage.

Hospital

There are medical institutions in the municipality, the existing one is a ten (10) bed Tan Ho Medical Clinic and a twenty five (25) bed St. Augustine Hospital. However, the latter is a newly constructed and still processing its permit to operate at the Department of Health. These two (2) medical institutions are privately owned. The Local Government Unit also is now has a blue print and funding from the National Government for the Establishment of a Community Hospital at Barangay Panalsalan with an initial funding of P10,000,000.00. The construction is expected to start within this year 2015.

Skills

The Provincial Manpower Training Center is strategically located at Barangay Panalsalan, Plaridel which caters skills development need of the province and even to the nearby province of Zamboanga del Norte. It initially offered Automotive Mechanics/ Auto Servicing, Welding, Electricity/House Wiring and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. TESDA also can offer courses that will suit the demand and need of the locality.

Elevation

It has an average elevation of 23m above sea level with undulating terrain. A creek is located on the western side of the area that flows to Lobog River.

Peace and Order

Plaridel experienced relatively peaceful environment for more than 2 decades. It has no organized crime group and it was declared by the Arm Forces of Philippines (AFP) as a Conflict-manageable Area and Investment- ready municipality.

Why Invest in Plaridel?

1. The Municipality has its port with regular trip to Siquijor, Bohol and Cebu.

2. Plaridel is midway between Ozamis and Dipolog Cities.

3. Proposed site is only 4 km from the port.

4. Incentive is assured for every investment.

5. Stable Peace and Order Condition.

6. Investment-ready municipality.

7. Streamlined Business Licensing System.

Government

The current Municipal Mayor of the town is Engr. Diego Cacho Ty, a businessman, who won the 2016 election with a lead of 3,359 votes against his opponent; former Mayor-turned Governor and Congressman, Atty. Ernie D. Clarete.

Municipal Mayor:

Municipal Vice-Mayor:

SB Members:

Barangays

Plaridel is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.