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Category: Region Caraga Profile

Published: 03 November 2020

The National Nutrition Council Caraga, together with the members of the National and Regional Team of Planning Facilitators (N/RTPF) conducted the 3-day Online Workshop on Integrating Nutrition in the Annual Investment Program via Zoom Video Conferencing with the participating LGUs from the Province of Surigao del Sur and the cities of Bislig and Tandag and Butuan City.

The online workshop aims to (1) increase the recognition of the alarming malnutrition problem in the country its impact on children, women, families, communities, and the nation, the imperative to invest in nutrition, and the critical role of LGUs in curbing the malnutrition problem, following the pandemic situation and in achieving the outcomes of PPAN; (2) formulate the 2021 and 2022 AIP with strong budgetary items on nutrition focused on the first 1000 days to reduce and prevent stunting and safeguard nutrition in the post-pandemic period; and (3) define the set of actions required from the LGU team to ensure implementation and sustainability, along with timelines and relevant processes that needs to be influenced in order to ensure the implementation of the nutrition budget items planned for the 2021 and 2022 AIP.

Day 1 started with the presentation of the: [Session 0] Overview of the Workshop presented by NO IV Mr. Reggie Guillen of NNC NPPD; [Session 1] on Building Pandemic Resilient LGUs through Local Investments in Nutrition presented by Mr. Cecilio Adorna of Nutrition International/UNICEF; and [Session 2] the Guidance and Mechanics of the Workshop presented by NOII Leah Vina Vargas of NNC Caraga.

Day 2 was dedicated for the completion of the workbooks. RTPF and the technical staff of NNC Caraga provided one-on-one virtual technical assistance to the participants most especially in accomplishing the various project templates in the AIP costing workbooks. Participants were grouped according to their respective breakout rooms where they can privately collaborate with their key personalities in their LGUs to effectively plan for their 2021 nutrition PPAs.

Day 3 focused on the presentation of the accomplished AIP costing workbooks as well as the Re-entry Plan wherein participants share to the plenary their PPAs and their budgetary allocation for each of the programs and projects.

At the closing of the workshop, Ms. Lourdes Louella A. Escandor, the City Administrator of Tandag City, representing Tandag City Mayor Roxanne C. Pimentel, gave her inspirational message, thanking first of all the health and nutrition workers who continuously serve amidst the pandemic. She also shared the commitment of Tandag City to continue to champion for nutrition as they aim for a zero-malnutrition city.

NNC Caraga, spearheaded by OIC-NPC Retsebeth M. Laquihon, and the National and Regional Team of Planning Facilitators sincerely thank the participating LGUs for the success of the online workshop. 

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Category: Region Caraga Profile

Published: 07 April 2011

CARAGA Region History and Geography

The Caraga Region was created through Republic Act Number 7901 on February 25, 1995. The region is composed of five (5) provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur; six (6) cities: Butuan, Cabadbaran, Bayugan, Surigao, Tandag and Bislig; sixty-seven (67) municipalities and 1,308 barangays. Butuan City is the regional center.

History

The history of Caraga can be traced back to the 15th century when explorers discovered the existence of “Kalagans”, believed to be of Visayan Origin in one of the three districts in Mindanao. The word Caraga originated from the Visayan word “Kalagan”: “Kalag” meaning soul or people and “An” meaning land. The “Kalagans has a long history of being brave and fearless. Thus, the region was called by early chroniclers as the “Land of the Brave and Fierce People”.

The “Kalagans”, called “Caragans” by the Spaniards occupied the district composed of the two provinces of Surigao, the northern part of Davao Oriental and Eastern Misamis Oriental. The two Agusan Provinces were later organized under the administrative jurisdiction of Surigao and became the independent Agusan province in 1914. In 1960, Surigao was divided as Norte and Sur, and in June 1967, Agusan followed suit. While Butuan then was just a town of Agusan, the logging boom in the 1950s drew business and businessmen to the area. On August 2, 1950, by virtue of Republic Act 523, the City Charter of Butuan was approved.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Region XIII or the Caraga Administrative Region is the newest region created under Republic Act No. 7901 approved on February 23, 1995. It consists of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. Its cities are Surigao and Butuan.

It has a land area of 18,847 sq. kms. Butuan Bay and Surigao Strait surround it on the north and the Philippine Sea on the east. On the South are the Davao provinces and Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon on the west.

Its proximity to other growth areas such as the Cagayan - Iligan corridor and the Davao Gulf Economic Zone is an advantage.

POPULATION

In 2000, its population was 2,076,000 with an increase of 6.42% from its population of 1,942,687. In 1990, there were 947,199 (51%) and 912,982 females.

CULTURAL GROUPS

Majority of the inhabitants of the region are of Visayan lineage. The ethnic residents include the Manobo, the Mamanwa and other tribes.

It is reported that during the early years of the Caraga region, its inhabitants came from mainland Asia, followed by Malayans, Arabs, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Americans. Migrants from the Visayan and Luzon provinces later settled in the area. Most of its inhabitants speak the Cebuano dialect and reside in the rural areas.

CLIMATE

The region, in general, has no definite dry season. Rainfall occurs throughout the year with heavy rains from November to January. Storms might occur on the northern and eastern portions facing the Pacific Ocean. The rest of the region is relatively typhoon-free.

LAND USE

Forestland in the region accounts for an estimated 71% of its total land area. The rest is devoted to agriculture and other purposes. Forest cover is decreasing due to encroachment/poaching.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Rich in natural resources, the region has large tracts of land available for development. The region is noted for its wood-based economy, its extensive water resources and its rich mineral deposits such as iron, gold, silver, nickel, chromite, manganese and copper. Its leading crops are palay, banana and coconut.

It has excellent tourism potentials because of its unspoiled and beautiful beaches, abundant and fresh seafood, ancient and historical landmarks, hot and cold springs, evergreen forests and balmy weather.

FACILITIES

The entire region is connected by roads from and to the major commercial, trading and processing centers of Cagayan de Oro and Davao. Butuan City is being developed as the regional center with modern facilities. There are secondary seaports and airports in the region. Seaports are in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte and Lipata, Surigao City. Airports are in Butuan City, Surigao City, Tandag City and Siargao Islands.

It has an increasing number of telecommunication facilities.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION

5  Provinces, 1 Higly Urbanized City  (HUC) and 5 Component Cities:

-Agusan del Norte

-Agusan del Sur

-Surigao del Nrote

-Surigao del Sur

-Province of Dinagat Islands

-Butuan City (HUC and Regional Capital)

-Bayugan City(Component City of Agusan del Sur),

-Bislig City (Component City of Surigao del Sur)

-Cabadbaran City (Component City  of Agusan del Norte)

-Surigao City (Component City of Surigao del Norte)

-Tandag City (Component City of Surigao del Sur)

Caraga Region has 67 Municipalities ; and 1308 Barangays