Agusan (province)

Agusan was a province of the Philippines. It existed from 1907 to 1967, when it was divided into the present-day provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

Map of Agusan in 1907

Prior to its creation as an independent province, Agusan was divided between the provinces/districts of Misamis, and Surigao during the Spanish colonial period. On August 20, 1907, Agusan was separated from Misamis and Surigao, composed of the sub-provinces of Bukidnon and Butuan, by virtue of Act No. 1693. The law became effective when the province's first governor was appointed.

The sub-province of Bukidnon became an independent province on July 23, 1914 through Act No. 2408 and Butuan sub-province assumed the name of Agusan. Both Agusan and Bukidnon were put under the Department of Mindanao and Sulu from 1913 to 1920.

During World War II and the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in 1942, Japanese forces landed in Agusan and occupied the area until they were defeated by combined American and Philippine Commonwealth troops, along with recognized guerrilla units, in 1945. Filipino soldiers from several infantry divisions of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the Philippine Constabulary played key roles in liberating Agusan from Japanese control. A unit of the joint Philippine-American defense force was stationed at Manot, Talacogon, in the interior of the Agusan Valley, to engage in military operations against the occupying forces.

On June 17, 1967, Agusan was dissolved and was split into the two provinces of Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur, through Republic Act No. 4979. The law was ratified through a plebiscite held on November 14, 1967, dissolving the old province.

Map of Agusan in 1918

Agusan was located on the northeast portion of Mindanao island. By the time of its dissolution in 1967, Agusan comprised 18 municipalities and 1 city:

The Agusan Provincial Capitol in Butuan served as the final provincial seat of government for Agusan. It later became the seat for Agusan del Norte.

Agusan's provincial government was last headed by the governor.

Agusan was initially under the Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes and unrepresented in the Philippine Assembly that existed until 1916. In 1913, it was placed under the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, with its legislative representative appointed by the Governor-General. It was later represented in national legislatures through the 12th senatorial district from 1916 to 1935 and the province's at-large congressional district beginning in 1935.

• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Bukidnon