Loreto, Agusan del Sur

Loreto
Municipality
Location within Agusan del Sur province
Loreto Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°11′N 125°51′E / 8.19°N 125.85°ECoordinates: 8°11′N 125°51′E / 8.19°N 125.85°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Caraga (Region XIII)
Province	Agusan del Sur
District	2nd district of Agusan del Sur
Founded	March 30, 1965
Barangays	17 (see Barangays)
Government [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Romeo O. Magadan (acting)
Area[2]
• Total	1,462.74 km^2 (564.77 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	42,501
• Density	29/km^2 (75/sq mi)
• Voter (2016)[4]	20,898
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	8507
IDD : area code	+63 (0)85
Income class	1st class
PSGC	160305000

Loreto, officially the Municipality of Loreto (Filipino: Bayan ng Loreto), is a municipality in the province of Agusan del Sur in the Caraga (Region XIII) of the Philippines. The population was 42,501 at the 2015 census.^[3] In the 2016 election, it had 20,898 registered voters.^[4]

History

It was in the year 1600 (please check this date, Fr. Urios came to Agusan in 1880's) when the Spaniards first came to the upper reaches of Agusan and discover the Manobos. In convincing the Manobos to organized themselves and lived in a settlement/community, the settlement was given the name of "Loreto" in remembrance of Fr. Urios town in Spain on March 30, 1965.

Rain of fish

On a rainy morning in January 13, 2012, Loreto became nationally notable when it became the site of a rain of fish. Seventy-two small fish were recovered and placed in an aquarium. They were about 3 in (7.6 cm) long and had small spots, but the species remains unknown. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources attributes the phenomenon to a waterspout.^[5][6][7]

Geography

Loreto is located at 8°11′N 125°51′E / 8.19°N 125.85°E.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 1,462.74 square kilometres (564.77 sq mi)^[2] constituting 14.64% of the 9,989.52-square-kilometre- (3,856.98 sq mi) total area of Agusan del Sur.

Loreto is a river town situated south-west of Agusan del Sur. It is bounded on the north by La Paz, north-east by Bunawan, and southeast by Veruela. The provinces of Bukidnon and Davao del Norte bound its Western and Southern portions.

Loreto is a strategically situated as a junction point to various destination within Agusan del Sur and nearby provinces. The accessibility of Loreto to Provincial Center, Patin-ay in Prosperidad has three main routes: the Loreto-Santa Josefa-Trento route of 118.36 kilometres (73.55 mi), the Loreto-La Paz Talacogon route of 85.53 kilometres (53.15 mi), and the Loreto-Bunawan route of 87.52 kilometres (54.38 mi) with two hours of Pump boat cruising the Agusan River.

Barangays

Loreto is politically subdivided into 23 barangays.^[8]

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2015[3]		2010[9]
160305001	Binucayan	6.5%	2,781	3,605	−4.82%
160305002	Johnson	3.4%	1,433	1,547	−1.45%
160305013	Kasapa	4.1%	1,738	3,122	−10.55%
160305014	Katipunan	1.2%	525	677	−4.73%
160305015	Kauswagan	5.8%	2,445	2,182	+2.19%
160305003	Magaud	7.8%	3,314	2,303	+7.18%
160305004	Nueva Gracia	5.3%	2,270	1,928	+3.16%
160305005	Poblacion	15.0%	6,384	6,456	−0.21%
160305017	Sabud	10.3%	4,367	779	+38.85%
160305006	San Isidro	3.8%	1,601	1,532	+0.84%
160305007	San Mariano	5.7%	2,411	2,709	−2.19%
160305008	San Vicente	5.1%	2,163	2,227	−0.55%
160305009	Santa Teresa	5.5%	2,325	2,324	+0.01%
160305016	Santo Niño	2.6%	1,088	1,221	−2.17%
160305010	Santo Tomas	9.1%	3,859	3,674	+0.94%
160305011	Violanta	3.4%	1,439	1,174	+3.95%
160305012	Waloe	5.5%	2,358	2,014	+3.05%
	Total		42,501	39,474	+1.42%

Demographics

Population census of Loreto
Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 21,133 —     1995 24,022 +2.43% 2000 31,365 +5.88%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2007 34,549 +1.34% 2010 39,474 +4.97% 2015 42,501 +1.42%
Source: PSA[3][9][10]

In the 2015 census, Loreto had a population of 42,501.^[3] The population density was 29 inhabitants per square kilometre (75/sq mi).

In the 2016 election, it had 20,898 registered voters.^[4]

References

1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
2. "Province: Agusan del Sur". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
3. "CARAGA". Census of Population (2015): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
4. "2016 National and Local Elections Statistics". Commission on Elections. 2016.
5. Jereco O. Paloma (January 15, 2012). "Agusan's 'rain of fish' natural although unusual". SunStar Davao. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
6. Lani Nami Buan (January 15, 2012). "'Fish rain' puzzles residents in Agusan Sur's Loreto town". GMA News. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
7. Charmane Awitan (January 13, 2012). "Fish rain down on Agusan del Sur town". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
8. "Municipal: Loreto, Agusan del Sur". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
9. "CARAGA". Census of Population and Housing (2010): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
10. "CARAGA". Census of Population (1995, 2000 and 2007): Total Population by Province, City and Municipality (Report). NSO. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011.