Bayugan City of Agusan del Sur

Bayugan is a newly proclaimed city in the 1st Congressional District o and the only city in the province of Agusan del Sur. According to the NSO Census of 2010, it has a population of 99,361. And it is classified as a third class city accordiing to The Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160).

The city has this "not-so-hot" climate especially the highland barangays which is conducive to high yield cutflower production and because of this, the city is known as the "Cutflower Capital" in the province of Agusan del Sur. But the city is not only famous on Flower production but also rice and vegetables production, where, it is one of the major producers that provides the needs of neighboring municipalities and provinces.

History

Bayugan was formerly a sitio of Barangay Maygatasan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. There are different speculations/versions regarding where it gets its name. But there are two main versions about the origin of the name "Bayugan" and these are the following.

First, "Bayugan" is a Manobo term for Pathway. Because according to them, the place was located along the river which serve as the pathway of the native in going to the town of Esperanza.

Second, "Bayug" trees are abundant on this place and the natives uses this tree as their bell, by knocking this tree because it is a hollow tree and it produces sound.

Same with the other cities and provinces around Mindanao, Bayugan was also occupied by Japanese troops on 1942. And on 1945 it was liberated by the Filipino soldiers and guerrillas from the Japanese occupation.

And on the same year, 1945, a survey was conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways, for a national highway that will connect Butuan City and Davao city. Then, the Bureau of Lands surveyed the places that would be get crossed by the proposed road and possible town sites were identified and among them was Barangay Maygatasan. Nevertheless, the National Highway passed through the sitio of Bayugan instead of Barangay Maygatasan. Migrants started to migrate in sitio Bayugan, thus, suggesting the transfer f the proposed town site.

In the early months of 1960, the denizens led by Mr. Jose Joson submitted a solution creating the sitio Bayugan into a Barrio. On April on that same year, Barangay Bayugan was introduced and Mr. Joson as the Teniente del Barrio.

A year later, the barangay officials led by late Sergio Mullaneda created a solution to create Bayugan as a Municipality with the assistance of the Governor of Agusan, Hon. Democrito O. Plaza. By virtue of Executive Order No. 440 of the President Carlos P. Garcia, the request to create Bayugan into a municipality was granted. It was August 6, 1961 and automatically Mr. Mullaneda became the 1st appointed Municipal Mayor.  By the year 2007, Bayugan town turned into Bayugan City.