Kitaotao

Kitaotao
Municipality
Municipal hall
Seal
Nickname(s):  The Municipality at the hips of Bukidnon; Friendly Municipality in Province of Bukidnon; Mango Capital of Bukidnon
Map of Philippines with Kitaotao highlighted
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Province	Bukidnon
District	3rd district of Bukidnon
Founded	June 18, 1966
Barangays	35
Government
• Mayor	Lorenzo A. Gawilan Jr.
Area
• Total	788.78 km2 (304.55 sq mi)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total	53,796
• Density	68/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	8716
IDD : area code	+63 (0)88
Income class	1st municipal income class
PSGC	101309000
Electorate	30,465 voters as of 2022
Website	www.kitaotaobuk.gov.ph

Kitaotao is a first class municipality in the province of Bukidnon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 53,796 people.

History

Cultural

During the Spanish regime, a Manobo Tribe in Bukidnon, headed by Datu Tayaotao, was known among its neighboring settlements for his bravery and leadership. When the Spaniards invaded Cotabato, in one of their drives to expand their colonial control over the Philippines, Datu Tayaotao was called upon for help by one Datu Muslim. The combined forces of the Muslims and Manobo successfully repulsed the Spanish operation.

A feast was declared by the Muslim chief to honor and thank Datu Tayaotao and his men. During the feast, the Muslim chief offered his only daughter to Datu Tayaotao to be his wife, as reward and bond, to strengthen the relation of the two tribes.

The wedding took place at Datu Tayaotao’s enclave, followed by a three-day feast. The Muslim Datu, overwhelmed by the gaiety and lavishness of the celebration, proclaimed and called Datu Tayaotao as Datu Kitaotao, the chief of the land of wealth. After his death, the locality was named after Datu Kitaotao.

Political

Kitaotao was once part of the district of Maramag. The creation of Kibawe in 1956 as a new district reclassified Kitaotao as part of Kibawe. After the Second World War, municipalities were created from the existing district and some settlements. In 1961, President Carlos P. Garcia issued Executive Order No. 444 for the creation of the municipality.

Under the sponsorship of Bukidnon Congressman Benjamin Tabios, House Bill No. 1655 was passed by Congress and approved by President Ferdinand E. Marcos as Republic Act No. 4801 for the creation of Kitaotao into a municipality on June 16, 1966. Its first political election was held in November 1967, electing Eusebio B. Pabualan as Kitaotao’s first municipal mayor. At present, Kitaotao is composed of 35 barangays and 108 sitios, with an approximate area of 52, 512 hectares.

Geography

Kitaotao is situated in the southern part of Bukidnon. It lies in the 124°24’ east longitude and 7°40’ to 7°39 south longitude. It is bounded in the north by the municipalities of Don Carlos, Quezon and San Fernando; and the municipalities of Kadingilan, Dangcagan, and Kibawe in the west; and then the province of North Cotabato in the south and Davao City in the east.

Topography

The area along the Sayre Highway is a plateau while the eastern portion including the Upper Pulangi region is mostly rolling hills with varying mountain slopes.

There are several mountains along the North Cotabato-Davao del Norte Border. Foremost of them are Mt. Sinaka, Mt. Malambo, Mt. Molawit, Mt. Makaayat, Mt. Kibinaton, Mt. Mahanao, Mt. Sumalili, Mt. Zita, and Mt. Kibanda which serve as the sanctuaries of the rare Philippine wildlife. It featured also the numerous waterfalls such as Sumalili, Kinanoran, Matigol and Lalapoy Falls which can be found in the Upper Pulangi region.

Drainage is generally directed southwards where the principal rivers: Pulangi, Muleta, Kulaman, Rawari, Zita, and Salog River.

Barangays

Kitaotao is politically subdivided into 35 barangays.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020		2010
101309001	Balangigay	2.0%	1,088	989	▴	0.96%
101309002	Balukbukan	3.2%	1,717	1,592	▴	0.76%
101309003	Bershiba	1.8%	949	884	▴	0.71%
101309004	Bobong	1.2%	629	948	▾	−4.02%
101309005	Bolocaon	1.5%	794	656	▴	1.93%
101309006	Cabalantian	1.5%	812	560	▴	3.78%
101309007	Calapaton	1.4%	731	776	▾	−0.60%
101309009	Sinaysayan (Dalurong)	1.7%	941	785	▴	1.83%
101309010	Kahusayan	2.7%	1,436	1,415	▴	0.15%
101309011	Kalumihan	1.2%	656	474	▴	3.30%
101309012	Kauyonan	2.2%	1,167	1,118	▴	0.43%
101309013	Kimolong	1.9%	1,018	948	▴	0.71%
101309014	Kitaihon	1.0%	544	550	▾	−0.11%
101309015	Kitobo	4.8%	2,601	2,371	▴	0.93%
101309019	Magsaysay	1.2%	660	499	▴	2.84%
101309020	Malobalo	1.2%	650	605	▴	0.72%
101309021	Metebagao	1.4%	747	788	▾	−0.53%
101309022	Sagundanon	2.2%	1,171	1,262	▾	−0.75%
101309023	Pagan	2.5%	1,333	1,274	▴	0.45%
101309025	Panganan	2.7%	1,457	1,216	▴	1.82%
101309026	Poblacion	9.7%	5,221	4,927	▴	0.58%
101309028	San Isidro	2.2%	1,210	1,064	▴	1.29%
101309029	San Lorenzo	1.5%	789	681	▴	1.48%
101309030	Santo Rosario	1.6%	878	703	▴	2.25%
101309031	Sinuda (Simod)	14.1%	7,580	8,725	▾	−1.40%
101309032	Tandong	1.5%	806	864	▾	−0.69%
101309033	Tawas	3.5%	1,896	2,274	▾	−1.80%
101309034	White Kulaman	4.7%	2,532	2,260	▴	1.14%
101309035	Napalico	1.4%	765	587	▴	2.68%
101309037	Digongan	3.1%	1,680	1,505	▴	1.11%
101309038	Kiulom	1.6%	847	626	▴	3.07%
101309039	Binoongan	1.2%	640	506	▴	2.38%
101309040	Kipilas	1.8%	965	1,379	▾	−3.51%
101309041	East Dalurong	2.5%	1,369	1,814	▾	−2.77%
101309042	West Dalurong	3.7%	1,981	1,863	▴	0.62%
	Total		53,796	49,488	▴	0.84%

Demographics

Population census of Kitaotao

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	34,472	—
1995	38,404	+2.04%
2000	26,073	−7.97%
2007	42,212	+6.87%
2010	49,488	+5.96%
2015	50,260	+0.30%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

In the 2020 census, the population of Kitaotao was 53,796 people, with a density of 68 inhabitants per square kilometre or 180 inhabitants per square mile.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information