Surigao City
Template:Infobox City Philippines The City of Surigao is a 2nd class city and the capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 132,151 people. The total land area of the city is 245.34 sq. km.
Surigao City is a mosaic of islands that lies at the rim of the Asian continental shelf. It is perched at the northeastern tip of Mindanao, a southern island in the Philippines, and faces the Philippine Deep. The historic strait bound it on the north and east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the provinces of Agusan Del Norte and Surigao Del Sur and on the West. It is blessed with abundant mineral reserves, fisheries and aquatic resources, and tracts of fertile arable lands, which are the primary sources of its people's livelihood. Its location in the coast offered enough opportunities to enjoy its wide array of beaches ranging from white, grayish-sandy to the gravel smooth pebbled ones, as well as other places of interest. Its outlying islands fronting the Pacific further augment the fun and adventure, especially surfing.
Geography
The mainland and clustered islands of Surigao City has irregular or hilly topography with flat lands near the coast. It has an average elevation level of 19 meters or 65.5 ft. above sea level. The highest elevation in the mainland is the Kabangkaan Ridge situated along the border of the Municipality of San Francisco with a peak elevation of 465 meters above sea level. Along the border of Tagana-an is the Mapawa peak with an elevation of 245 meters above sea level with scattered descending slopes covering the barangays of Cabongbongan, Nabago and Capalayan.
In the islands, the highest range is the island of Nonoc with an elevation of 263 meters above sea level, overlooking the Cantiasay Channel and the Island of Hanigad with a peak elevation of 163 meters. The highest point in Hikdop Island is in Mt. Telegrapo with a peak of 0.05 meters. The island of Antoine Beltran located on the eastern part of Surigao City has a highest elevation of 3, 450 meters.
History
What is now the city proper of Surigao was formerly known as "Banahao", which contained a good port for ships called "Bilan-Bilan". Banahao was part of the old district of Caraga, which later on became the politico-military district of Surigao with Tandag (presently the capital of Surigao del Sur) as its capital. Caraga derives from the word Calagan which means "Land of the Brave" or "fierce people". The Italian adventurer Francisco Giovani Careri, who published a book of travel in the country, cited Francisco Combes, S.J. as a source in saying that Calagan is derived from the two Visayan words: kalag or calag which means soul or people and for land.
Surigao officially became the permanent residence of the Recollects on February 1, 1752 when all the canonical books were moved from Siargao to Surigao. The first canonical books bore the signature of Fr. Lucas de la Cruz. Previously, the place was just a "vista" of the parish in Caolo (Siargao). This date may be considered as Surigao's foundation day.
It was through Surigao Strait that the fleet of Ferdinand Magellan after a brief stay at the island of Homonhon, sailed into the Philippine Archipelago during the epic voyage of discovery and eventual circumnavigation of the world in 1521.
It was this body of water that the Battle of Surigao Strait was fought in World War II, from October 24-25, 1944 between United States, Filipino and Japanese fleets.
Surigao is named after the old province (district) of the same name (Surigao). There are many versions regarding the meaning of Surigao; how this was derived. Like Sulo, which means sulog or current. Surigao probably came from the Spanish Surgir, meaning swift water or current. With the division of Surigao into two provinces, Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte, the Municipality of Surigao became the capital of Surigao del Norte. It became a chartered city on August 31, 1970.
The City was severely affected by Hurricane Ike which hit the City in September 1984. This extract from The Times on 6 September 1984 reports on the aftermath:[1]
While more than 300 people are now known to have died, Mr Salvador Sering, the deputy governor, believes 1,000 died in the provincial capital [Surigao City] alone. The city has run out of coffins and people are being buried in mass graves. Some 200 residents of the town of Mainit were reported to have drowned when a lake burst its banks. As the clearing up continues, cholera and typhoid vaccines have been flown to the devastated areas.
Barangays
Surigao City comprises 54 barangays. Of these, 33 are mainland 21 are island barangays. The city proper is divided into 5 urban barangays: Taft, Washington, San Juan, Canlanipa and Luna. There are 36 coastal barangays, of which 15 are from the mainland and 21 are in the islands.
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Telecommunications
Cell Sites available: Smart Communications, Globe Networks/Touch Mobile and Sun Cellular
Landlines: PhilCom and CruztelCo.
Internet Providers: PhilCom DSL, CruztelCo. PLDT Broadband, Smart Broadband and BayanTel Broadband
Transportation
Air
Cebu Pacific flies 4 times weekly from Surigao to Cebu.
PAL Express flies 11 times weekly from Surigao to Manila and v.v. using Bombardier Q400 , a 76 seater plane.
Zest Air starting December 20, 2008
Sea
WG&A Supper Ferry
Sulpicio Lines
Cokaliong Shipping lines Fast Crafts:
Fortune Angel
Fortune Jet
Aska Queen
Ferry Boat
ASIAN MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION M/V SUPER SHUTTLE FERRY 10]]
Land
Tricycle (Around the City)
Multi cab
Bachelor Express
LCI Express
VAN
JEEPNEYS
External links
- Official Website of Surigao City Government
- Photos and Information of Surigao City
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
References
- ^ The Times, September 6, 1984
 Province of Surigao del Norte | |
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Surigao City (capital) | |
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