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City of Butuan Dakbayan hong Butuan Lungsod ng Butuan
—  Highly-urbanized city  —
Official seal of City of Butuan Seal
Nickname(s): The Home of the Balangays, Timber City of the South, Historical Meca of the Philippines,
Map of Agusan del Norte showing the location of Butuan City.
City of Butuan Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°57′N 125°32′E / 8.95°N 125.533°E / 8.95; 125.533Coordinates: 8°57′N 125°32′E / 8.95°N 125.533°E / 8.95; 125.533
Country	Philippines
Region	Region XIII (Capital City of CARAGA)
Province	Agusan del Norte (Seat of Government)
Districts	Second District of Agusan del Norte
Barangays	86
Official Languages	Cebuano Widely Spoken, Butuanon, Filipino, English
Incorporated (town)	1902
Incorporated (city)	August 2, 1950
Government
• Mayor	Ferdinand M. Amante Jr.(LP) (2010-Present)
• Vice Mayor	Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun (LP) (2010-Present)
• Congress	Jose Aquino II (LKS KMPI) (2007-Present)
Area
• Total	817.28 km2 (315.55 sq mi)
Population (2010)[1]
• Total	309,709
• Density	379/km2 (980/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	8600
Area code(s)	85
Income class	1st Class Highly Urbanized City
Website	www.butuan.gov.ph

The City of Butuan (Filipino: Lungsod ng Butuan; Butuanon: Dakbayan hong Butuan) is the regional center of Caraga, serving as an administrative region of the Philippines; it is a highly urbanized city. It is located at the northeastern part of Agusan Valley, Mindanao, sprawling across the Agusan River. It is bounded to the north, west and south by Agusan del Norte, to the east by Agusan del Sur and to the northwest by Butuan Bay. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 309,709 people.^[2]

The name "Butuan" is believed to have originated from the sour fruit, batuan. Other etymology sources say that it comes from a certain "Datu Buntuan", a chieftain who once ruled over Butuan.^{[citation needed]}

Butuan was the capital of Agusan del Norte until 2000 when Republic Act 8811 transferred the capital to Cabadbaran City. However many of the provincial government offices are still located there, including the provincial capitol, as are many the Caraga regional offices of the national government agencies.

History[link]

By the 10th century, Butuan had established trading relations with the Kingdom of Champa, in what is now southern Vietnam, and Srivijaya empire of Sumatra.

By the 11th century, Butuan was a center of trade and commerce in the Philippines and was the location of the prehispanic Indianized Kingdom of Butuan. Archaeological finds from that era include the nine balanghai called "the Butuan boats," and the finds in Ambangan, Libertad near the old El Rio de Butuan and Masao River.

Controversy has been generated with regard to the holding of the first mass—whether it was held in Limasawa, Leyte in Masao, Butuan City, in the hidden isle made up of barangays Pinamanculan and Bancasi inside Butuan, in the latest discovered site in between agusan sur and surigao sur, the little barangay of Barobo, or elsewhere. It is sure, however, that Ferdinand Magellan did not drop anchor by the mouth of Agusan River in 1521 and hold mass to commemorate the event which was held at Mazaua, an island separate from 1521 Butuan which was in the geographical conception of Europeans who wrote about it was a larger entity than what it is now. Antonio Pigafetta who wrote an eyewitness account of Magellan's voyage described in text and in map a Butuan that stretched from today's Surigao up to the top edge of Zamboanga del Norte.

The first municipal election in Butuan took place on March 1902 in accordance with Public Law No. 82^[3] which coincided with the American occupation of the place.

During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II, Butuan was razed to the ground when the guerrilla forces attacked the enemy garrison during the middle of 1943. In 1945, the Philippine Commonwealth troops in Butuan together with the recognized guerrillas attacked the Japanese forces during the Battle of Agusan. On October 20, 1948, still recovering from the war, the entire municipality was ruined by a fire.

The boom of the logging industry from the 1950s to the middle of 1970s made Butuan the "Timber City of the South" and led to an influx of business and fortune seekers from other provinces. The flourishing logging industry inspired and prompted Congressman Marcos M. Calo to file a bill converting Butuan into a city and on August 2, 1950, Butuan became a city.^[4]

Butuan was reclassified from a chartered city to a "highly urbanized city" on February 7, 1995.

Geography[link]

Topography[link]

Butuan City has a land area of 816.62 km², which is roughly 4.1% of the total area of the Caraga region. With an estimated total population of 300,000, it has an average density of 367 persons per km², higher than the regional average density of 101 persons per km².

The existing land use of the city consists of the following uses: agriculture areas (397.23 km²), forestland (268 km²), grass/shrub/pasture land (61.14 km²) and other uses (90.242 km²). Of the total forestland, 105 km² is production forest areas while 167.5 km² is protection forest areas.

The forestland, as mentioned earlier, comprised both the production and protection forest. The classified forest is further specified as production forest and protection forest. In the production forest industrial tree species are mostly grown in the area. The production forest on the other hand, is preserved to support and sustain necessary ecological performance. One is the watershed areas will dry up and during heavy rain, rapid water run-off will occur creating flash floods. And in sunny days, rapid evaporation happens, leaving the area arid.

The city is endowed with swamplands near its coastal area. These swamp areas are interconnected with the waterways joined by the Agusan River. Most of the swamplands are actually mangroves that served as habitat to different marine species.

Filling material needs of the city are extracted usually from the riverbank of Taguibo River. Others are sourced out from promontories with special features and for special purpose.

The fishing ground of Butuan is the Butuan Bay of which two coastal barangays are located. It extends some two kilometers to the sea and joins the Bohol Sea. These are barangays Lumbocan and Masao.

Barangays[link]

Butuan City is politically subdivided into 86 barangays (abbreviated as "Brgy." or "Bgy."). Of these, 36 are classified as urban and the remaining 50 are classified as rural.

Education[link]

Butuan City is the center of education in the Caraga region. There are now two universities in the city. The first home grown university of the region is the Father Saturnino Urios University. The second is the Caraga State University (CSU), which was formerly known as the Northern Mindanao Institute of Science and Technology (NORMISIST). There is also the Timber City Academy, the oldest Chinese school in the region. Other than the privately run academic institutions that address the collegiate-level needs of the locals, most basic-level schools are publicly run, notably the Butuan City SPED Center, the Butuan Central Elementary School, and the Agusan National High School (ANHS) which are adjacent to each other and found at the old center of the city. Teachers from these two schools have significant exposure to complimentary seminars and workshops with partnership programs such as the Philippine-Australia Project on Basic Education (PROBE), enabling these schools and others to maintain high rating National Achievement Test results.^{[citation needed]} There are also religious schools in the city, like the Liberty Foundational Christian Academy (LFCA), that are aimed at producing "God-loving, smart and trust-worthy students."

Festivals[link]

The Kahimunan Festival is celebrated every third Sunday of January in celebration of the city patron Sr. Sto. Niño. This celebration is the version of the Sinulog festival of Cebu City. Kahimunan is a Lumad term which means "gathering".

Cultural festival/tourism consciousness week is a long celebration that lasts from the last week of July up to August 2 in celebration of the Charter Day of Butuan.

Abayan Festival is part cultural festival in celebration of St. Anne patroness of Agusan River celebrated every last Sunday of July.

Adlaw Hong Butuan is the charter day celebration of Butuan, which includes a thanksgiving mass, motorcade, palagsing festival, street party recognitions of outstanding Butuanons and city government employees night.

Butuan celebrates its annual fiesta for the celebration of city patron St. Joseph every May 19 of the year. Many events will be seen such as summer league basketball championship game, thanksgiving mass, and more.

Food delicacies[link]

“Palagsing” is a local delicacy popularly made in Banza, one of the old poblacion of Butuan City. The popularity of making “Palagsing” in Banza is attributed to the abundance of Lumbiya (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) where “Unaw”(lumbiya starch) is harvested from the Palm Tree. Another popular ingredient is young coconut meat taken from coconut trees. The mixture of “unaw”, young coconut, and brown sugar make “palagsing” moist and chewy. They are delicately wrapped by banana leaves and are boiled for 30 minutes to create the soft consistency of “palagsing.”

Butuan shopping malls & department stores[link]

Shops in Butuan include:

• Gaisano Mall, Butuan City
• Asia Link Central Mall JC Aquino Ave. Butuan City
• Unicity, North Montilla Blvd. Butuan City
• Villahermosa Chain of Stores, Butuan City
• Mancao Square Butuan City San Jose St., Butuan City
• Ronwood Commercial Complex, J.Rosales Ave., Butuan City
• Amadeo Lim Commercial Complex, Imadejas, Butuan City
• Palmera Promenade (Under construction)JC Aquino Ave., Butuan City
• Robinsons Place (Under Construction),Brgy. Bayanihan,Butuan City

Economy of Butuan City[link]

Butuan City now considered new investment destination in Mindanao,with an educated workforce, reasonable labor cost and strategic business location, some local and foreign investors are now taking a second look at Butuan City as the new investment destination in Mindanao. Because of its strategic geographical location, Butuan City is ideal for offices and investments especially in the transport of people, products, and services to different or points in Mindanao.With the ongoing Butuan City-Bukidnon road up for completion, the movement of agricultural products between Bukidnon, Visayas and Luzon will be easier at a lower cost. An international seaport in Barangay Masao will soon be established which would complement the busy Nasipit International Wharf here. Atty. Gemma Reserva, Butuan City general services head, added that a P1-billion shipyard facility will also be soon established in the city. Japan is now looking for Butuan for the PPP Pilot Project. The study marks the first time that Toyo University conducted such study outside Japan, choosing Butuan City as its first non-Japanese LGU subject. The Japan-Butuan Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) move is seen as a very positive business outlook and is also expected to provide impetus to the city’s economic growth in next year and beyond.Butuan City also considered as one of the fastest growing City in the Philippines.

Radio and television[link]

Radio[link]

AM[link]

• Bombo Radyo Butuan 981 kHz
• RMN Radyo Agong 693 kHz
• Radyo ng Bayan 792 kHz
• Radyo Asenso 756 kHz
• Hope Radio 1323 kHz

Defunct AM stations[link]

• Angel Radio 873 kHz
• Radio Ukay 945 kHz
• Radyo Kaalyado 1125 kHz

FM stations[link]

• Radyo Trumpeta FM 103.9 mHz
• Killer Bee FM 102.3 mHz
• Real Radio 88.7 mH
• Love Radio 95.1 mHz
• Magik FM 97.5 mHz
• Wild FM 98.5 mHz
• I-FM 100.7 kHz

Defunct FM stations[link]

• Star FM 91.7 mHz
• MRS 96.7 mHz
• AIT Radio 93.5 mHz
• Beat FM 107.3 mHz
• Lite FM 106.5 kHz
• Campus Radio 99.7 mHz
• HCCB FM 94.3 mHz

TV[link]

• TV 11 ABS-CBN DXAJ (Kapamilya Network)
• TV 7 GMA DXNS (Kapuso Network)
• TV 9 HCCB NBN DXBN
• TV 22 Studio 23
• TV 39 UNTV
• TV 5 Kapatid Network (soon)
• TV 13 PECBC

List of schools, universities and colleges[link]

• Butuan Doctors College
• Father Saturnino Urios University
• Caraga State University
• Rainbow of Angels Learning Center, Inc.
• Saint Joseph Institute of Technology
• Holy Child Colleges
• Colegio de Holy Trinity,Inc (new)
• AMA Computer Learning Center College
• STI College
• Agusan Colleges
• Asian College Foundation
• Butuan City Colleges
• Corjesu College
• Philippine Electronics and Communications Institute of Technology
• Sunrise Christian College
• Agusan Institute of Technology
• Balite Institute of Technology Butuan
• EROM-Northern Mindanao School of Midwifery (formerly Northern Mindanao School of Midwifery)
• St. Peter College Seminary
• Agusan National High School
• Father Urios High school of Ampayon
• Libertad National High School ( Libertad Butuan City )
• Butuan City School Of Arts And Trades
• Light and Light Bible College

Basic education[link]

• Angelicum Montessori School, Inc.
• Libertad National High School (LNHS)
• Agusan National High School (ANHS)
• Enfant Cheri Study Centre, Inc.
• Light and Life Learning Center
• Good Shepherd Christian Academy
• Rainbow of Angels Learning Centre (ROALC)
• Timber City Academy (Formerly Butuan Chinese School)
• Butuan Grace Christian School
• Butuan Christian Community School (BCCS)
• Butuan Child Learning and Development School (BCLDS)
• Butuan Faith Christian School
• Butuan City Special Education (SPED) Center
• Butuan City School of Arts and Trades (BCSAT)
• Butuan United Christian School (BUCS)
• Butuan Central Elementary School (BCES)
• Pearl of the Orient School
• Butuan Child Learning and Development School (BCLDS)
• St. Therese of Lisieux Montessori School
• Saint Joseph Institute of Technology (SJIT)
• Gabriel Elementary School
• Libertad Central Elementary School
• Starland International School Inc.
• Northeastern Mindanao Academy (NEMA)
• Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU)
• Caraga State University (CSU)

Tourist Attractions[link]

This section is written like a travel guide rather than an encyclopedic description of the subject. Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style. (July 2011)

Agusan River[link]

Agusan River is the widest, deepest and longest navigable river in Mindanao. A cruise along the river barangays reveals much about Butuan's history, culture, arts, and people, and as a tribute to the Patroness of the Agusan River Senora Sta. Ana, the Abayan Festival was born – a day-long celebration of baroto races and fluvial procession at the Agusan River.

Asian Century Museum[link]

This is the newest museum in Butuan City. It is a proper museum, with a curator and actors. This museum states that this century, the 21st century, is the Asian century. The exhibit level shows the tools and weapons used in Asia before and after the time of Christ. Three Board rooms show history written.

Balangay[link]

The Balangays (or Balanghai) are ancient boats found in Butuan. They were excavated in the Balangay Shrine, across the Masao River from Bood Promontory. They played a major role in Butuan because Butuan was, and still is, a port city. Since its discovery, the Balangays are an icon of Butuan. Now, the Kaya ng Pinoy, Inc. recreated the Balangay boats and sailed it on their project, the Balangay Voyage. So far they have only sailed in Southeast Asia, though they are planning to sail around the world.

Balangay Shrine Museum[link]

Five kilometers east of the city proper lays the graveyard of the Balangay 1 dated 320 A.D. or 1688 years old. The Balangay shrine museum is located at Balanghai, Libertad, Butuan City. This wooden plank-build and edge-pegged boats measured an average of 15 meters in length and 3 meters wide across the beam. To date, 9 Balangays have already been discovered in Ambangan, Libertad. Three have been excavated and others are still in Site.

National Museum-Butuan branch or the regional museum[link]

This museum is the repository of historical and cultural materials and artifacts that proves Butuan's prehistoric existence and rich cultural heritage. There are two exhibit galleries. The Archaeological Hall and Ethnological Hall specimens of stone crafts, metal crafts, woodcrafts, potteries, goldsmith, burial coffins, and other archaeological diggings are exhibited. At the Ethnological Hall are exhibits of contemporary cultural materials the Butuanon or every Filipino for matter used for a living.

Mount Mayapay[link]

Looming southwest of the Agusan Valley is this majestic mountain plateau. It rises to 2,214 feet (675 m) above sea level. Mount Mayapay got its name from the ancient Madjapahit Empire. The history behind the Sri-Vishaya period bears much meaning and influence of Butuan's pre-historic and archaeological discoveries.

Delta Discovery Park[link]

Delta Discovery Park is a newly opened zip-line in Butuan. Delta Discovery Park is located at Brgy. Bonbon, Butuan City. A Hidden Paradise in the heart of the city. This is also known as the longest zip-line in Mindanao and in Asia as well with a length of 1.3 kilometers. a project of former gov. Democrito Plaza.

U/C : Butuan - China Friendship Gate and Rotunda Project[link]

The project is complemented by the proposed Butuan-China Friendship Park-cum-museum to be constructed inside the rotunda. target completion of the Bancasi Airport Section project is on August 7, 2012.

Sister cities[link]

• Bacolod City, Philippines
• Baguio City, Philippines
• Bayugan City, Philippines
• Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
• General Santos City, Philippines
• Iligan City, Philippines
• Legazpi City, Philippines
• Mandaue City, Philippines
• Marikina City, Philippines
• Ozamiz City, Philippines
• Tagum City, Philippines
• Sabrosa, Portugal

References[link]

Ranking[link]