Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte

Municipality in Agusan del Norte, Philippines

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Municipality in Caraga, Philippines

Las Nieves

Municipality

Municipality of Las Nieves

Municipal Hall

Flag

Map of Agusan del Norte with Las Nieves highlighted

OpenStreetMap

Las Nieves

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 8°44′N 125°36′E﻿ / ﻿8.74°N 125.6°E﻿ / 8.74; 125.6
Country| Philippines
Region| Caraga
Province| Agusan del Norte
District|  1st district
Barangays| 20 (see Barangays)
Government

[1]

• Type| Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor| Karen S. Rosales
• Vice Mayor| Virgilio R. Escasiñas, Jr., LLB
• Representative| Jose S. Aquino II
• Municipal Council|

Members

*   * Florante G. Largo
* Rodrigo B. Calang
* Reinario P. Rosales
* Francisco G. Namuag Jr.
* Jacinto T. Fabro Sr.
* Joventino N. Manliguez
* Antonio N. Jongko
* Jessica H. Navarroza

• Electorate| 21,354 voters (?)
Area

[2]

• Total

| 582.69 km2 (224.98 sq mi)
Elevation

| 31 m (102 ft)
Highest elevation

| 155 m (509 ft)
Lowest elevation

| 7 m (23 ft)
Population

(2020 census)[3]

• Total

| 30,240
• Density| 52/km2 (130/sq mi)
• Households

| 6,513
Economy

• Income class| 2nd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence|

42.45

% (2021)[4]
• Revenue| ₱ 298.8 million (2022)
• Assets| ₱ 618.9 million (2022)
• Expenditure| ₱ 213.4 million (2022)
• Liabilities| ₱ 129.1 million (2022)
Service provider

• Electricity| Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO)
Time zone| UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code|

8610

PSGC|

160207000

IDD : area code | +63 (0)85
Native languages| Agusan
Butuanon
Cebuano
Higaonon
Tagalog
Website| www.lasnievesadn.gov.ph

Las Nieves, (Spanish for "The Snows"), officially the Municipality of Las Nieves (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Las Nieves; Tagalog: Bayan ng Las Nieves), is a municipality in the province of Agusan del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 30,240 people.[3]

## History

[edit]

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The first traders to enter Las Nieves were natives of Butuan City. They used to travel along the Agusan River in wooden dug-out boats or baoto using a long paddle called ga-o. The Manobo and Higaonon tribes which include the Jovellar, Tepnage, Bayan, Legis, Taga-ang and Kulisan were the first dominant families in the area. Respected warriors, or bagani, such as Dagohoy and Kulisan were considered influential leaders.

The Manobo and Higaonon used bags made from woven abaca fibers called camuyot to carry their belongings around. Their customary forms of entertainment were traditional war dances called kalasag and the other ceremonial dances such as binaylan, inamo and binanog. Their songs were accompanied by the musical instrument agong which was believed to have been made of pure gold.

In the year 1875, on orders from the Bishop of Cebu, a group of Spanish Jesuit Missionaries disembarked at the Port of Butuan. Although they were not the first missionaries to arrive, as Augustinian Recollects had been here before them, their coming promised something different, for they intended to do more than maintain the parishes that the Roman Catholic Church have established. The Jesuits wanted to civilize the province by converting the beliefs of local residents, the Manobo and the Higaonon into Christianity. They also wanted to establish the locals in villages where they could be taught the rudiments of religion, education and self-government.

It was in February of 1877 that Father Saturnino Urios, with two other Jesuit Missionaries, Father Ramon Pamies and Father Jose Casellas, announced the beginning of their mission to preach the gospel to the natives. They traversed the length and breadth of the Agusan Valley, its main river, and all its known tributaries, risking death from malarial mosquito, leeches and inhospitable tribal chieftains or datus. However, Father Urios and his companions persisted in their quest. It is to him and his fellow Jesuits that we owe the founding and early history of Las Nieves, which was about a day’s paddling upstream from Butuan.

The Jesuit missionaries paddled upstream and passed by the rancherias of Bugabus, Danquias and Pinanaan. Rancherias were small scattered settlements of Manobo clans along Agusan River.

In April 1877, Father Urios reported to his superior in Manila the successful founding of five villages along the Agusan River. The villages were Las Nieves, Remedios, Esperanza, Guadalupe and San Luis.

Las Nieves, the area that Father Urios first founded, was formerly named Pinana-an or a place for hunting as it was called by its early inhabitants. The natives or Manobos used to catch wild pigs, birds, fishes and other animals with their bows and arrows or panâ here.

There is an old story passed down through generations that upon their first day in this community, Father Urios and his companions were so amazed when they woke up. Intense cold and thick fog blanketed the valley that it seems as if snow was falling. Father Urios was reminded of his hometown in Jativa, Spain near Valencia, that they were overjoyed and shouted, “La nieve! La nieve!”, which means, “The snow! The snow!”

With its vast agricultural land, alluvial plains stretching up to the mountains and its cool weather, Las Nieves most closely resembled the home region of Father Urios in Jativa. It is of great significance that in honor of their patroness, the Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves or Our Lady of the Snow, he named this place Las Nieves.

There was no doubt whatsoever that Las Nieves was very close to Fr. Urios’ heart. He never failed to mention it in his numerous letter and reports to his superiors in Manila, that Las Nieves was never a source of sorrow or anxiety. It was unlike other towns and villages where killings, barbaric practices and uncivilized deeds were rampant.

No doubt this same legacy of peace has persisted. A convert named Jose Domingo, formerly a notorious bagani, was named gobernadorcillo or the equivalent of a mayor in present times. In 1890, a flotilla was prepared at Butuan and set out with eight bancas. It was a trip of jubilation and they performed baptisms along the way in Amparo, Las Nieves, Esperanza, Verdu and Remedios.

Father Urios repeatedly travelled in the jungles of Agusan that he suffered fevers and illnesses. In 1891, malaria forced him to go to Manila to rest and to recover. He returned to Agusan to visit before leaving for Tagoloan, Misamis, in preparation for his transfer to Davao.

He ended his Agusan mission with numerous accomplishments. After his death on October 1916, the loyal Roman Catholics in Butuan renamed the Butuan Parochial School to Father Urios College (now Father Saturnino Urios University) to honor the memory of the great Jesuit Missionary. Moreover, such honor was not deprived from him in his own hometown in Jativa, Spain and in Las Nieves. For there are only two places in the world which bears Father Urios’ name; Urios Street and Plaza in Jativa and Urios Street in Poblacion, Las Nieves.

In 1943, Las Nieves became the headquarters of the Agusan 110th and 113rd Infantry Division during the battle in Walao, Loreto, Agusan del Sur. Right after the battle, it was constituted as a Municipal District under the Municipality of Esperanza. The appointed officials were Bonifacio Jovellar, Canuto Calo, Eufronio Rosales, Lino Jovellar and Celso Torralba as mayor.

Eufronio Rosales was the first elected mayor in 1955 under the political line up of Congressman Guillermo R. Sanchez. He also became the first Municipal Mayor when the Municipality of Las Nieves was created by a Republic Act in July 2, 1962. It was formally and officially separated from Esperanza on June 25, 1963 by virtue of Executive Order Number 42 issued by the president of the Philippines, His Excellency Diosdado Macapagal.

On 27 March 2021, over 304 NPA militiamen and supporters of the New People's Army surrendered at Las Nieves in Barangay Ibuan to the Philippine Government, dismantling the rebels' key support in the area.[5]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 582.69 square kilometres (224.98 sq mi) [6] constituting 21.34% of the 2,730.24-square-kilometre- (1,054.15 sq mi) total area of Agusan del Norte.

Las Nieves is bounded by Butuan and Buenavista, Agusan del Norte to the north, municipality of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur to the northeast, Bayugan to the east, municipality of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur to the south and municipality of Claveria, Misamis Oriental to the west.

### Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 28
(82)  | 28
(82)  | 29
(84)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 29
(84)  | 28
(82)  | 29
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 23
(73)  | 23
(73)  | 22
(72)  | 23
(73)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 23
(73)  | 24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 154
(6.1)  | 101
(4.0)  | 78
(3.1)  | 59
(2.3)  | 95
(3.7)  | 130
(5.1)  | 131
(5.2)  | 137
(5.4)  | 125
(4.9)  | 145
(5.7)  | 141
(5.6)  | 121
(4.8)  | 1,417
(55.9)
Average rainy days  | 17.4  | 13.9  | 14.4  | 14.3  | 22.3  | 26.0  | 27.9  | 27.5  | 26.2  | 26.4  | 21.4  | 17.2  | 254.9
Source: Meteoblue[7]

### Barangays

[edit]

Las Nieves is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.[8] Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Barangay Casiklan was created in 2000.[9]

PSGC |  Barangay  |  Population  |  ±% p.a.

|
|
|

|  |  2020[3] |  2010[10] |
160207001 |  Ambacon  |  4.6% |  1,395 |  1,144 |  ▴ |  2.00%
160207015 |  Balungagan  |  2.7% |  814 |  770 |  ▴ |  0.56%
160207002 |  Bonifacio  |  5.2% |  1,585 |  1,544 |  ▴ |  0.26%
160207021 |  Casiklan  |  6.8% |  2,066 |  1,923 |  ▴ |  0.72%
160207003 |  Consorcia  |  4.2% |  1,276 |  1,337 |  ▾ |  −0.47%
160207017 |  Durian  |  6.9% |  2,085 |  1,774 |  ▴ |  1.63%
160207016 |  Eduardo G. Montilla (Camboayon)  |  4.5% |  1,372 |  1,195 |  ▴ |  1.39%
160207018 |  Ibuan  |  3.8% |  1,134 |  1,146 |  ▾ |  −0.11%
160207004 |  Katipunan  |  3.4% |  1,031 |  1,121 |  ▾ |  −0.83%
160207005 |  Lingayao  |  8.9% |  2,687 |  2,419 |  ▴ |  1.06%
160207006 |  Malicato  |  3.6% |  1,084 |  1,044 |  ▴ |  0.38%
160207007 |  Maningalao  |  5.0% |  1,527 |  1,450 |  ▴ |  0.52%
160207008 |  Marcos Calo  |  3.6% |  1,100 |  1,098 |  ▴ |  0.02%
160207009 |  Mat-i  |  6.9% |  2,081 |  2,006 |  ▴ |  0.37%
160207010 |  Pinana-an  |  5.0% |  1,515 |  1,472 |  ▴ |  0.29%
160207011 |  Poblacion |  4.7% |  1,428 |  1,315 |  ▴ |  0.83%
160207019 |  Rosario  |  4.9% |  1,484 |  1,344 |  ▴ |  1.00%
160207013 |  San Isidro  |  4.0% |  1,195 |  1,250 |  ▾ |  −0.45%
160207020 |  San Roque  |  1.8% |  551 |  510 |  ▴ |  0.78%
160207014 |  Tinucoran  |  3.3% |  1,004 |  994 |  ▴ |  0.10%
| Total  | 30,240  | 26,856  |  ▴ | 1.19%

## Demographics

[edit]

Population census of Las NievesYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1918 | 388| —
1939 | 803| +3.52%
1948 | 1,888| +9.96%
1960 | 4,262| +7.02%
1970 | 6,782| +4.75%
1975 | 8,609| +4.90%
1980 | 10,757| +4.55%
1990 | 15,409| +3.66%
1995 | 22,966| +7.76%
2000 | 21,530| −1.37%
2007 | 25,203| +2.20%
2010 | 26,856| +2.34%
2015 | 28,414| +1.08%
2020 | 30,240| +1.23%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][10][12][13]

In the 2020 census, Las Nieves had a population of 30,240.[3] The population density was 52 inhabitants per square kilometre (130/sq mi).

## Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Las Nieves

2000
67.72

2003
63.93

2006
52.30

2009
53.03

2012
59.41

2015
46.23

2018
37.24

2021
42.45

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Municipality of Las Nieves |  (DILG)
2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. ^ a b c d Census of Population (2020). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. ^ "304 NPA supporters, militiamen yield in Agusan Norte". Philippine News Agency.
6. ^ "Province: Agusan del Norte". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
7. ^ "Las Nieves: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
8. ^ "Municipal: Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
9. ^ NSCB - 2001 Factsheet - 12 New Cities Created Archived 2006-04-23 at the Wayback Machine, July–December 2000.
10. ^ a b Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Caraga" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
11. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
12. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Caraga". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
13. ^ "Province of Agusan del Norte". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
14. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
15. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
16. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
17. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
18. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
19. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
20. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
21. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Philippine Standard Geographic Code

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte

|  | Buenavista, Agusan del Norte / Butuan | Sibagat, Agusan del Sur

|
|

|  |
Claveria, Misamis Oriental |

Las Nieves

| Bayugan
|  |
| Esperanza, Agusan del Sur |

* v
* t
* e

Province of Agusan del Norte

Cabadbaran (capital)
Butuan (largest city)

Municipalities|

* Buenavista
* Carmen
* Jabonga
* Kitcharao
* Las Nieves
* Magallanes
* Nasipit
* Remedios T. Romualdez
* Santiago
* Tubay

Component city|

* Cabadbaran

Highly urbanized city|

* Butuan (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Agusan del Norte by the Philippine Statistics Authority.)

*[PSGC]: Philippine Standard Geographic Code
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate. Executive Order 135 §6 states that for "census years" (years divisible by 10) the reference date would be May 1st, but for all other years, the reference date is to be the "middle of the year". This means that growth rates, although correct, are not necessarily simple year-on-year comparisons.
*[Pop.]: Population
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template