Veruela, Agusan del Sur

Veruela
Municipality
Location within Agusan del Sur province
Veruela Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°04′N 125°58′E / 8.07°N 125.96°ECoordinates: 8°04′N 125°58′E / 8.07°N 125.96°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Caraga (Region XIII)
Province	Agusan del Sur
District	2nd district of Agusan del Sur
Barangays	20 (see Barangays)
Government [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Salimar T. Mondejar
Area[2]
• Total	385.45 km^2 (148.82 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[3]
• Total	43,706
• Density	110/km^2 (290/sq mi)
• Voter (2016)[4]	20,675
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	8509
IDD : area code	+63 (0)85
Income class	2nd class
PSGC	160313000
Website	www.veruela.gov.ph

Veruela, officially the Municipality of Veruela (Filipino: Bayan ng Veruela), is a municipality in the province of Agusan del Sur in the Caraga (Region XIII) of the Philippines. The population was 43,706 at the 2015 census.^[3] In the 2016 election, it had 20,675 registered voters.^[4]

History

Veruela is considered the oldest town of upper Agusan del Sur. It was believed the name "Veruela" was derived from the word "virus", as the entire area was suffering from smallpox and cholera in the late 18th century when the Spanish missionaries encountered the tribe. From then on, the name Veruela existed out of the Spanish word La Verus.^[5]

The Manobo tribes later moved to Manning, also known as Linongsuran along the Agusan River. In 1916 however, a great earthquake destroyed the settlement leaving no trace of the it, forcing the survivors to evacuate and reorganize themselves into another place, now the barangay poblacion of the municipality.^[5]

In the 18th century, the Muslim tribes in Davao invaded the Manobos in Agusan. The Manobos fought against the Muslims. The first known leader of the inhabitants was Eladio Manguyod, a strong and influential datu of the Manobo tribe, who led his people to victory after a hard fought battle that drove the Muslims out of Agusan. It was also during those times when the tribe was converted into Christianity. The inhabitants owed their victories to Datu Manguyod as well as their patron, Saint John.^[5]

Veruela became a municipality through Executive Order No. 147 proclaimed by President Diosdado Macapagal on March 31, 1965^[6] during the term of Congressman Guillermo Sanchez, who once also served as mayor of the town. Since its formal creation as a municipality, Veruela had undergone a series of eight different administrations.

The municipality of Veruela has a silent dispute with the nearby province of Compostela Valley regarding the boundary between the two in Barangay Del Monte. The local governments are trying to solve the issue amicably.

Geography

Veruela is located at 8°04′N 125°58′E / 8.07°N 125.96°E.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 385.45 square kilometres (148.82 sq mi)^[2] constituting 3.86% of the 9,989.52-square-kilometre- (3,856.98 sq mi) total area of Agusan del Sur.

Barangays

Veruela is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.^[7]

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2015[3]		2010[8]
160313013	Anitap	1.4%	595	560	+1.16%
160313014	Bacay II	2.5%	1,085	994	+1.68%
160313001	Binongan	4.0%	1,735	1,477	+3.11%
160313015	Caigangan	2.4%	1,029	726	+6.87%
160313016	Candiis	1.5%	655	553	+3.28%
160313002	Del Monte	5.4%	2,375	2,260	+0.95%
160313003	Don Mateo	3.3%	1,452	1,269	+2.60%
160313017	Katipunan	2.2%	958	922	+0.73%
160313004	La Fortuna	14.7%	6,418	6,045	+1.15%
160313005	Limot	2.2%	973	1,104	−2.38%
160313006	Magsaysay	3.7%	1,628	1,563	+0.78%
160313007	Masayan	3.9%	1,726	1,430	+3.65%
160313008	Poblacion	13.5%	5,891	5,643	+0.82%
160313009	Sampaguita	13.6%	5,950	5,581	+1.23%
160313010	San Gabriel	5.9%	2,569	2,115	+3.77%
160313018	Santa Cruz	2.4%	1,059	1,021	+0.70%
160313011	Santa Emelia	3.4%	1,483	1,463	+0.26%
160313019	Sawagan	2.5%	1,099	1,214	−1.88%
160313012	Sinobong	8.5%	3,706	3,206	+2.80%
160313020	Sisimon	3.0%	1,320	1,311	+0.13%
	Total		43,706	40,457	+1.48%

Demographics

Population census of Veruela
Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 20,129 —     1995 28,185 +6.51% 2000 28,685 +0.38%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2007 36,862 +3.52% 2010 40,457 +3.44% 2015 43,706 +1.48%
Source: PSA[3][8][9]

In the 2015 census, Veruela had a population of 43,706.^[3] The population density was 110 inhabitants per square kilometre (280/sq mi).

In the 2016 election, it had 20,675 registered voters.^[4]

References

1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
2. "Province: Agusan del Sur". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
3. "CARAGA". Census of Population (2015): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
4. "2016 National and Local Elections Statistics". Commission on Elections. 2016.
5. "Municipality of Veruela". Province of Agusan del Sur. Provincial Information Management Office (PIMO). Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
6. "Executive Order No. 147; Declaring Certain Municipal Districts in the Province of Agusan as Municipalities". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 31 March 1965. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
7. "Municipal: Veruela, Agusan del Sur". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
8. "CARAGA". Census of Population and Housing (2010): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
9. "CARAGA". Census of Population (1995, 2000 and 2007): Total Population by Province, City and Municipality (Report). NSO. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011.

External links