San Francisco, Agusan del Sur

History

The birth of San Francisco is associated with the history of Agusan and Surigao del Sur. Before San Francisco became a municipality, it was part of the District of Gibong, which was then governed by Deputy Governor Francisco Cataylo. During this period, the district comprised the barrios of Santa Ana, Caimpugan, Ebro, Borbon, La Caridad, Prosperidad, Azpetea and Los Arcos, with Santa Ana the seat of government. Like other barrios, Santa Ana comprised several sitios, including Sitio Hagpa, which was the site of the present day San Francisco. Hagpa was coined from a Manobo word for "swampy" as the sitio was a small village nestled along the Adlayan River and inhabited by Manobo tribes.

The opening of the Province of Agusan del Sur to most parts of Mindanao came during the government of President Ramon Magsaysay who ordered the first road survey to be conducted by the Department of Highway in 1952. In early 1954, road construction began paving the way for the institution of public land subdivision and the in-migration of different local tribes and settlers from the various provinces of Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon.

Hagpa was later renamed San Francisco in honor of Deputy District Governor Francisco Cataylo. In early 1955, the first local government was established as San Francisco was created as a Municipal District. Francisca Tesoro Samson was appointed as the first Municipal District Mayor by then Provincial Governor Felixberto Dagani. On June 21, 1959, through Republic Act No. 2518, San Francisco was officially created into a regular municipality of the Province of Agusan. In the same year, the first local officials of the municipality were elected with Atty. Paquito Fuentes as the first elected municipal mayor, who served for three consecutive terms of office. He was succeeded by Engr. Bienvenido Y. Tumulak, Sr. and was succeeded by his vice mayor, Cresencio Ausmolo who stayed in office by operation of law during the latter half-portion of his last term.

Eight years after its creation as a regular municipality, on June 17, 1967, through Republic Act No. 4979, the Province of Agusan was divided into the Provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, in which San Francisco was part of the latter. The continued growth of Agusan del Sur also saw the development of the municipality of San Francisco. Its growing population later paved the way for the creation of the municipality of Rosario through Republic Act No. 5760 approved by President Diosdado Macapagal on June 21, 1969, just two years after the creation of Agusan del Sur. As a result, the several barrios of San Francisco including Bayugan III, Wasi-an, Santa Cruz, Cabawan, Cabantao, Marfil and Tagbayagan were incorporated in the newly created municipality. The barrios of Buenasuerte, Caimpogan, Pasta, Lapinigan, Ebro, New Visayas, Bayugan II, Borbon, Tagapua, Pisaan, Santa Ana, Hubang, Alegria, San Isidro, Das-agan, Ladgadan, Lucac, Bitan-agan and Poblacion consisting of five barrios as stated in PD No. 86 dated December 31, 1972, remained to form part of the 39,253-hectare Municipality of San Francisco. The barrios of Rizal, Ormaca, Mate and Karaos were later created and added to form final 27 barangays of the present day San Francisco.

Geography

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 392.53 km2 constituting of the 9,989.52 km2 total area of Agusan del Sur.

San Francisco is also the site of the Mt. Magdiwata Watershed and Forest Reserve which was established by Proclamation No. 282 issued on October 23, 1993. Mount Magdiwata itself is 633 m high. It provides forest cover for the town although it was historically a site for logging.

Climate

Barangays

San Francisco is politically subdivided into 27 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, San Francisco had a population of 80,760. The population density was {{sigfig|80,760/392.53|2}} PD/km2.

Economy

San Francisco is the "Commercial Capital of Agusan del Sur", serving as the primary commercial and service center in the province of Agusan del Sur. Situated within the crossroad leading to other production centers in the region, San Francisco serves as the primary distribution point of goods and people for the province. The presence of malls, hotels, restaurants, communication and transportation facilities makes San Francisco the training convention center of the province and a favored place for tourists to stay with Mount Magdiwata boosting its tourism sector.

Transportation

San Francisco has a bus terminal named San Francisco Transport Terminal. All major buses including Bachelor Express, Davao Metro Shuttle and GO Mindanao bound for Davao, Butuan, Surigao, Tandag and Mangagoy. Philtranco also serve San Francisco, to and from Pasay.

San Francisco also have another public transportation called jeepney and multicab, their destination is Prosperidad, Rosario, Talacogon and Barobo.

Public Utility Van (PUV) also served San Francisco, bound for Davao, Butuan, Tandag, Mangagoy and Tagum.

Education

List of public and private educational institutions:

• Agusan del Sur National High School
• ACLC College of San Francisco
• Bayugan 2 National High School (formerly Bayugan 2 Integrated School)
• Bukidnon State University (San Francisco - External Studies Center)
• D.O. Plaza National High School
• Lapinigan National High School
• Mount Carmel College of San Francisco
• Saint Francis Xavier College
• San Francisco Colleges
• Southway College of Technology

References

References

1. {{DILG detail
2. (31 July 2013). "CDO tops list of Phl's most competitive cities". The Philippine Star.
3. (21 June 1959). "Republic Act No. 2518 - an Act Creating the Municipality of San Francisco, Province of Agusan".
4. (17 June 1967). "Republic Act No. 4979; An Act Creating the Provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur".
5. (21 June 1969). "Republic Act No. 5760; An Act Creating the Municipality of Rosario in the Province of Agusan".
6. (27 July 2013). "People power guards Agusan mountain". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
7. (23 February 2025). "Agusan’s Mt. Magdiwata: From logging hot spot to living forest". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
8. (31 August 2025). "Special Report {{!}} Mt. Magdiwata: from 54% forest cover to restored ecosystem". MindaNews.