Sibagat, Agusan del Sur

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 8°49′N 125°41′E.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 567.82 square kilometres (219.24 sq mi)  constituting 7000568000000000000♠5.68% of the 9,989.52-square-kilometre- (3,856.98 sq mi) total area of Agusan del Sur.

Sibagat is bordered by the province of Surigao del Sur to the north and northeast; Bayugan to the east, southeast, south and southwest; Butuan City and Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte to the west; and Cabadbaran, Santiago, and Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte to the northwest.

Sibagat is 29 kilometres (18 mi) away from the Regional Center Hub of Caraga region and 34 kilometres (21 mi)from the nearest airport in Butuan City. It is also 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) 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 2015 census, Sibagat had a population of 30,442. The population density was 54 inhabitants per square kilometre (140/sq mi).

Most of the inhabitants are Visayan migrants from Bohol, Cebu, Leyte and Negros provinces. Indigenous people include the Manobo and Higaonon.

In the 2016 electoral roll, it had 18,027 registered voters.

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.

Transportation

Its primary mode of transportation are PUB's, PUJs and Passenger Vans plying the routes from Butuan to Bayugan and vice versa via the Pan-Philippine (Maharlika) Highway connecting Agusan and Davao provinces.

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.

Attractions

Festivals

Local government

Elected municipal officials 2016-2019:

Educational institutions

There are Six (6) high schools in the town.

Notable people