Loreto, Agusan del Sur

Loreto
Municipality
Map of Agusan del Sur with Loreto highlighted
Loreto Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 08°11′N 125°51′E / 8.183°N 125.850°ECoordinates: 08°11′N 125°51′E / 8.183°N 125.850°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Caraga (Region XIII)
Province	Agusan del Sur
District	2nd district of Agusan del Sur
Founded	March 30, 1965
Barangays	17
Government[1]
• Mayor	Romeo O. Magadan (acting)
Area[2]
• Total	1,462.74 km^2 (564.77 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	39,474
• Density	27/km^2 (70/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	8507
Dialing code	85
Income class	1st

Loreto is a first class municipality in the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 39,474 people.^[3]

Geography

The municipality of Loreto is one of the river towns situated south-west of the Province of Agusan del Sur. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of La paz, in the north-east by the municipality of Bunawan, in the southeast by the municipality of Veruela, all of The Province of Agusan del Sur. The Provinces of Bukidnon and Davao del Norte bound its Western and Southern portion. Loreto occupies a land area of 1,462.7 km² comprising 17 regular barangays and 6 special barangays with a total population of 39,474 as of CY 2009.

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, Prosperidad has three main routes. The Loreto-Sta. Josefa-Trento route of 118.36 kilometers. The Loreto-Lapaz -Talacogon route of 85.53 kilometers and Loreto-Bunawan route of 87.52 kilometers with two hours of Pump boat cruising Agusan river.

Barangays

Loreto is politically subdivided into 23 barangays.^[2]

• Binucayan
• Johnson
• Magaud
• Nueva Gracia
• Poblacion
• San Isidro
• San Mariano
• San Vicente
• Santa Teresa
• Santo Tomas
• Violanta
• Waloe
• Kasapa
• Katipunan
• Kauswagan
• Santo Niño
• Sabud
• Mabuhay
• Maitom
• Manawe
• Bugdangan
• Ferdinand
• Aces

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 beloved 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.^{[4] [5][6]}

Demographics

Population census of Loreto
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	21,133	—
1995	24,022	+2.43%
2000	31,365	+5.88%
2007	34,549	+1.34%
2010	39,474	+4.97%
Source: National Statistics Office[3]

References

1. "Official City/Municipal 2013 Election Results". Intramuros, Manila, Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 1 July 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
2. "Province: AGUSAN DEL SUR". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
3. "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
4. Jereco O. Paloma (January 15, 2012). "Agusan’s 'rain of fish' natural although unusual". SunStar Davao. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
5. Lani Nami Buan (January 15, 2012). "‘Fish rain’ puzzles residents in Agusan Sur’s Loreto town". GMA News. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
6. Charmane Awitan (January 13, 2012). "Fish rain down on Agusan del Sur town". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 16, 2012.

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code