Magsaysay, Davao del Sur : A Tribute to My Hometown

Hence, the municipality is basically an agricultural town where majority of the people are farmers. Agriculture comprised 60.33% of the total land area of the municipality. However, only 10,910.50 has. or 45.56% are fully cultivated and considered productive areas.

The town produces other crops like cacao, mango, coffee, banana, sugarcane, rootcrops and a variety of vegetables.

VISION:

A prosperous municipality with empowered, law abiding and God-fearing citizenry who are capable and committed of maintaining a sound ecology guided through leadership by transparency, professionalism and people empowerment geared towards sustainable development with the end-in-view of improving quality of life

MISSION:

We, the strongly motivated leaders and constituents are committed to work in solidarity to promote sustainable development for the general well-being and to transform communities into agriculturally productive, environmentally sound, progressive, economically active, peaceful, responsive and participative in local governance.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

On the Northwest, Magsaysay is bounded by point of the Davao-Cotabato National Highway extending to the west following the Davao-Cotabato boundary, on the Southwest point upstream to the National Highway and to the south is the western Bansalan boundary.

Magsaysay is composed of 22 barangays namely: Poblacion, Bacungan, Balnate, Barayong, Blocon, Dalawinon, Dalumay, Glamang, Kanapolo, Kasuga, Lower Bala, Mabini, Malawanit, Malongon, Maibo, New Ilocos, New Opon, San Isidro, San Miguel, Tacul, Tagaytay and Upper Bala.

The total land area of the municipality is 26,899.63 hectares which is about seven percent of the total land area of the province. Among the 22 barangays of the municipality, the largest is barangay Bacungan with an area of 2,9969.202 hectares or 11 percent of the total land area. The municipal land area is traversed by numerous creeks and two major rivers namely; Blocon river which flows from the western side; and the Balatukan river which flows from the northern side which are all considered potential flooding hazards.

The topographical description of the municipality is characterized by 55% mountainous areas and gently sloping hills while the rest are generally plain. Climate falls under the fourth type category where no pronounced wet and dry season.

DEMOGRAPHY

The total population of the municipality per 2000 census is 43,172 with a total household of 7,195. This is about 4% of the total population of the entire province. Gross density of the municipality is .62 hectare per person. Growth rate for the period is __ percent.

People in the municipality are predominantly Cebuano speaking comprising 81% or a total of 34,965 populace. Ilocano speaking people account a total of 1,726 populace or 4% of the household population in the municipality. The Bilaan tribe of the cultural minorities group is considered the pioneer settlers of the locality comprising 3,885 households. Other cultural groups present in the municipality are the Hiligaynons, Warays, Bagobos, Butuanos, Tibolis and Manobos.

Majority of the people in the municipality are Roman Catholic believers with a total household of 31,515 or 73% of the entire populace. Other persisting religious groups include the Christians and Missionary Alliance, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Iglesia ni Kristo and few denominations.

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

The municipality of Magsaysay is bascally an agricultural area where majority of the people are farmers. Agriculture comprised 60.33% of the total land area of the municipality. However, only about 4.5 % of this or a total of 10,910.50 hectares are fully cultivated and considered productive areas.

Agri. Sec. Arthur Yap during his visit at the Municipality of Magsaysay

There are three major crops being grown in the municipality namely: rice,coconut and corn. The municipality is tagged as the ‘rice granary of Davao del Sur’ because it accounts the largest rice production in the entire province. Other crops grown are coffee, cacao, mango, banana, sugarcane, sorghum, rootcrops and vegetables.

The income classification of the municipality of Magsaysay has just been elevated from fifth to fourth class. Internal Revenue Allotment(IRA) of the municipality for 2002 was 38,149,457.00 while its local revenue taxes was only a meager 3,704,673.78 .

Newly elected local officials

Newly elected officials who take their oath and assumed offices on June 30, 2007, to wit:

Mayor Jess L. Lumanog

Vice-Mayor Arthur D. Davin

Councilors:

Atty. Marty R. Basunillo

Engr. Cirilo Hernan

Rebecca G. Antonio

Crispin A. Ambayan

Benjamin Dumayas

Ferdinand Corsino

Noel Pantinople

Joy P. Ferolino