Brief History of Caraga and some facts

Caraga Adminstrative Region XIII was created in pursuance of Republic Act No.7901 on February 23, 1995 by President by President Fidel V. Ramos. This new born region we now call Caraga was named after the historic Caraga: an extensive land mass covering some provinces in the Northeastern seaboard of island of Mindanao , Philippines . It was an existing Lumad territory even before the arrival of the Spaniards in the country as chronicled by Antonio Pigafetta, this was located in the Pacific Coast between Butuan or Benaiam in the Southeast somewhere in the vicinity of the province of Davao Oriental.

In 1538 the Eastern cost of Mindanao which include the present province of Surigao was visited by a Portuguese explorer Francisco de Castro, who found the place inhabited by the Caraga tribe who were believed to be of Visayan origin.

Five years later, a Spaniard Ruy Lopez de Villalobos landed in the same region. His navigator, Bernardo de la Torre, named it "Cesaria caroli" in honor of the reigning Spanish Monarch, Carlos V. The name however never persisted since the Spaniards preferred to name the area "Caraga" after its inhabitants.

The Jesuits Missionaries in 1597 tried to evangelize the people of Butuan (Agusan) and Caraga (Surigao ), with much difficulty and intermittent success, there followed in 1622 by the Augustinians Recollects ,who establishes parishes in Tandag and Bislig in 1642. The Recollects stayed until 1875 , then secular priests took over, followed by the Benedictine Monks from 1893 to 1908.

The ancient District of Caraga, which was established in 1609 comprised all of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, the Northern part of Davao Oriental and Eastern Misamis Oriental.

Caraga Admistrative Region 13 is located in the eastern part of Mindanao Island, Philippines. It is bounded on the north by the Pacific Ocean, on the South by the province of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, on the East by the province of Davao del Norte and on the West by the Mindanao Sea.

The Region covers four provinces and two cities. These include the Cities of Butuan (as the Regional Center) and Surigao, and the provinces of Agusan del Norte , Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.

The four provinces of Caraga are composed of 73 municipalities with a total of 1,309 barangays.

Caraga's Economy: The region has strong wood-, mineral-, and fishery-based industries. Rice, corn, palm oil, banana, coconut, abaca, rubber, fruits, and root crops are its major agricultural products.

• Human Resources: Well organized farmer cooperatives, English speaking managers, training systems, and schools support enterprises in the region.
• Minerals: Caraga sits on 3.5 billion metric tons of of metallic and non-metallic reserves the largest concentration of which is found in Surigao . Mineralogist consider NOnoc Island as having the largest nickel deposits in Asia, Surigao del Sur has one of the largest iron deposits in the world. Large reserves of limestone for cement manufacture are found in Surigao City.
• Marine & Acquaculture: Caraga's long coastline and inland waters, which include Lake Mainit, the country's third largest, hold enormous fishery resources. Over 930,000 hectares produce prawn for export, and milkfish, crab, shrimp and tilapia for domestic consumption.
• Agribusiness & Exports: Wood-based products, prawn, and banana chips comprise the region's major exports. Marine exports include tuna, skipjack and Atlantic bonito which are shipped from Surigao City. Corporate palntations covering thousands of hectares are planted with oil palm and timber trees.
• Seaports: Caraga is served by an international port in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, by the Surigao City port, and by wharves in Tandag, Bislig and Dapa. The Lipata Ferry Terminal in Surigao City serves as Mindanao's gateway to the Visayas and Luzon.
• Airports: Direct commercial flights to Manila and Cebu are available in both Butuan and Surigao. Feeder airports in Bislig and Tandag, as well as corporate airstrips, supplement air transport facilities.
• Bus /Jeepney Terminal: Surigao City has just constructed a Tourist class Bus Terminal which serves some bus from any point in the Philippines (Philtranco etc..) and especially Bus from some neighbouring Provinces and Cities in Mindanao. Butuan City also has a new bus terminal which can accomodate some bus from other cities and provinces in Mindanao . It will soon construct an intergrated jeepney terminal for jeepneys from the municipalities. Throughout the region there are several bus terminals to serve travellers.
• Energy: Local cooperatives distribute electric power generated by the National Power Corporation. Provided by the 10MV Powerline of Surigao Electric Cooperative sources from the Maria Cristina Hydroelectric Power Plant. 100% of municipalities of Surigao City with electricity.
• Water: Sourced from the Surigao Metropolitan Water District with a production capacity of 320,000 cu.m. per month
• Health Facilities: 16 public and private hospitals
• Schools: 11 higher educational institutions, over 500 elementary and secondary schools
• Financial Institutions: 6 commercial banks, 3 government banks and 7 rural banks
• Road Network: Well-paved roads connect Caraga's processing and trading centers to Cagayan de Oro and Davao City and to other regions to the North through the Lipata Ferry Terminal.
• Telecommunications: Caraga's telecommunication network consists of Telephones capable of NDD, IDD, FAX, cellular phones, Internet and satellite broadcasting. PLDT and other networks like PHILCOM, SMART, GLOBE Cruztelco and Bayan Tel are operating in the province to serve the growing demand of industrial and residential requirements

Source:
Home Page About Caraga Region, Philippines and other Fun Stuff
By Henry Cabataña (members.tripod.com/~hnricbtn)