Argao

Last updated
Argao
Municipality
Municipality of Argao
Old cannons of Argao.JPG
Old cannons of Argao
Flag of Argao, Cebu.png
Flag
Ph locator cebu argao.png
Map of Cebu with Argao highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Argao
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Argao
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°53′N123°36′E / 9.88°N 123.6°E / 9.88; 123.6
Country Philippines
Region Central Visayas
Province Cebu
District 2nd district
Founded 1608  [1]
Barangays 45 (see Barangays)
Government
 • Type Sangguniang Bayan
 •  Mayor Allan M. Sesaldo (1Cebu)
 •  Vice Mayor Orvi G. Ortega (IND)
 •  Representative Edsel Galeos (Lakas)
 •  Municipal Council
Members
  • Herculene Raymund H. Rizon
  • Reno Rhine A. Mamac
  • Jessa Mae S. Flores-Mier
  • Annabelle C. Almirante-Birondo
  • Fedlemido R. Albero
  • Guillermo S. Caminero, Jr.
  • Gus Anthony L. Bacalso
  • Vip F. Semilla
 •  Electorate 56,384 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
 • Total
191.50 km2 (73.94 sq mi)
Elevation
43 m (141 ft)
Highest elevation
442 m (1,450 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census) [3]
 • Total
78,111
 • Density410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
 •  Households
19,017
Economy
 •  Income class 1st municipal income class
 •  Poverty incidence
35
% (2021) [4]
 •  Revenue ₱ 103 million (2012), 118.2 million (2013), 133.8 million (2014), 182.7 million (2015), 190.2 million (2016), 207.4 million (2017)
 •  Assets ₱ 176.5 million (2012), 235.5 million (2013), 272.3 million (2014), 334.1 million (2015), 408.7 million (2016), 478.8 million (2017)
 •  Expenditure ₱ 92.66 million (2012), 99.12 million (2013), 106.1 million (2014), 128.2 million (2015), 129.5 million (2016), 117.4 million (2017)
 •  Liabilities ₱ 49.33 million (2012), 119.8 million (2013), 139.2 million (2014), 120.9 million (2015), 124.8 million (2016), 121.6 million (2017)
Service provider
 • ElectricityCebu 1 Electric Cooperative (CEBECO 1)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6021
PSGC
072205000
IDD  :  area code  +63 (0)32
Native languages Cebuano
Tagalog
Patron saintArchangel Michael

Argao, officially the Municipality of Argao (Cebuano : Lungsod sa Argao; Tagalog : Bayan ng Argao), is a municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 78,187 people. [5]

Contents

Geography

The municipality of Argao is located in the southeast of the province of Cebu, 67 kilometres (42 mi) from Cebu City.

Argao is bordered to the north by the municipality of Sibonga, to the west are the municipalities of Ronda, Alcantara and Moalboal, to the east is the Cebu Strait, and to the south is the municipality of Dalaguete.

Barangays

Argao is politically subdivided into 45 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2024 [6] 2010 [7]
072205001 Alambijud 2.0% 1,587 1,514▴ 0.33%
072205002 Anajao 1.1% 831 907▾ −0.61%
072205003 Apo 0.7% 525 664▾ −1.63%
072205004 Balaas 1.2% 906 985▾ −0.58%
072205005 Balisong 2.6% 2,035 1,944▴ 0.32%
072205006 Binlod 5.5% 4,280 3,343▴ 1.74%
072205007 Bogo 5.2% 4,090 3,505▴ 1.08%
072205009 Bug‑ot 1.1% 829 837▾ −0.07%
072205010 Bulasa 5.4% 4,202 3,523▴ 1.24%
072205008 Butong 1.0% 772 924▾ −1.25%
072205012 Calagasan 1.5% 1,180 875▴ 2.11%
072205013 Canbantug 1.1% 870 843▴ 0.22%
072205014 Canbanua 2.1% 1,676 2,179▾ −1.81%
072205015 Cansuje 3.7% 2,854 2,206▴ 1.81%
072205016 Capio‑an 0.9% 688 1,192▾ −3.76%
072205017 Casay 1.9% 1,463 788▴ 4.41%
072205018 Catang 0.8% 637 651▾ −0.15%
072205019 Colawin 1.7% 1,333 943▴ 2.44%
072205020 Conalum 0.7% 513 615▾ −1.26%
072205021 Guiwanon 2.3% 1,787 1,726▴ 0.24%
072205022 Gutlang 1.1% 832 770▴ 0.54%
072205023 Jampang 3.5% 2,710 2,217▴ 1.41%
072205024 Jomgao 1.2% 925 1,102▾ −1.21%
072205025 Lamacan 3.0% 2,347 2,256▴ 0.28%
072205026 Langtad 4.5% 3,504 2,887▴ 1.36%
072205027 Langub 0.9% 697 804▾ −0.99%
072205028 Lapay 1.0% 748 677▴ 0.70%
072205029 Lengigon 1.4% 1,101 989▴ 0.75%
072205030 Linut‑od 1.2% 919 1,024▾ −0.75%
072205031 Mabasa 1.9% 1,467 1,281▴ 0.95%
072205032 Mandilikit 1.6% 1,278 645▴ 4.89%
072205033 Mompeller 1.3% 985 753▴ 1.89%
072205034 Panadtaran 0.9% 740 524▴ 2.44%
072205035 Poblacion 9.2% 7,196 5,570▴ 1.80%
072205036 Sua 0.9% 736 755▾ −0.18%
072205037 Sumaguan 1.4% 1,080 883▴ 1.42%
072205038 Tabayag 1.0% 818 999▾ −1.39%
072205039 Talaga 5.1% 3,991 3,485▴ 0.95%
072205040 Talaytay 2.3% 1,766 1,438▴ 1.44%
072205041 Talo‑ot 5.2% 4,033 3,683▴ 0.64%
072205042 Tiguib 1.3% 1,014 1,202▾ −1.18%
072205043 Tulang 0.8% 600 869▾ −2.55%
072205044 Tulic 4.3% 3,369 2,494▴ 2.12%
072205045 Ubaub 1.6% 1,236 968▴ 1.72%
072205046 Usmad 1.2% 961 1,064▾ −0.71%
Total78,11169,503▴0.82%

Climate

Climate data for Argao, Cebu
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)29
(84)		30
(86)		31
(88)		32
(90)		31
(88)		30
(86)		30
(86)		30
(86)		30
(86)		29
(84)		29
(84)		29
(84)		30
(86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)23
(73)		22
(72)		23
(73)		24
(75)		25
(77)		25
(77)		24
(75)		24
(75)		24
(75)		24
(75)		24
(75)		23
(73)		24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)42
(1.7)		34
(1.3)		40
(1.6)		61
(2.4)		124
(4.9)		188
(7.4)		190
(7.5)		191
(7.5)		189
(7.4)		186
(7.3)		124
(4.9)		73
(2.9)		1,442
(56.8)
Average rainy days10.08.59.512.822.326.828.427.927.327.620.513.1234.7
Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.) [8]

Demographics

Population census of Argao
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 35,448—    
1918 39,121+0.66%
1939 37,331−0.22%
1948 33,596−1.16%
1960 32,684−0.23%
1970 38,039+1.53%
1975 39,778+0.90%
1980 44,060+2.07%
1990 52,157+1.70%
1995 54,447+0.81%
2000 61,010+2.47%
2007 62,226+0.27%
2010 69,503+4.11%
2015 72,366+0.77%
2020 78,187+1.64%
2024 78,111−0.02%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [10] [7] [11]

Economy

Poverty incidence of Argao

10
20
30
40
50
2000
47.65
2003
29.00
2006
41.70
2009
43.55
2012
24.74
2015
25.25
2018
15.90
2021
35.00

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

Tourism

The economy of the town of Argao heavily revolves around farming, baking, and tourism. Argao is renowned in Cebu as the "Torta Capital of the Province" because of its local delicacy, the Torta, a Cebuano tart that is inspired from the Spanish tart, but differs in its recipe by using tubâ or palm wine as the rising agent instead of the usual yeast. There are three Cebuano baking towns, the others are Liloan and Santander.

The La Torta Festival, which replaced the Pitlagong Festival in 2011, is the municipality's local food festival in honor of St Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of Argao. La Torta Festival happens every 28–29 September to celebrate Argao's Tart Economy and the torta as an Argaoanon delicacy, as well as cultural heritage from the Spanish period, which includes the tradition of making the torta.

Argao is also a producer of Cebuano tsokolate (chocolate). Much of the cocoa production originates from Argao. The raw cacao, once harvested, is molded, while melted, into disk-shaped tablets called tablea . These are often used in sikwate , a Cebuano version of hot chocolate. The production of chocolate in Argao is said to have been pre-colonial. Maria Cacao, a goddess of the Lantoy Mountain, is said to have been the giver of the cacao tree to the natives of Argao, according to legend. It is said that she and her husband Mangao reside in a cave in that area, surrounded by cacao trees.

Argao is, additionally, a producer of vinegar in the province. When the tubâ ferments or when it is aged too long, it becomes sour. It eventually turns into vinegar which is used as sauce or as component for a sauce in main courses. The palm vinegar is referred to as sukang tubâ. It is often accompanied with spices such as garlic and chili peppers and usually comes by the bottle.

Education

The public schools in the town of Argao are administered by two school districts under the Schools Division of Cebu Province.

Elementary schools:

High schools:

Integrated schools:

Notable personalities

See also

References

  1. ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica (1911). "Argao". Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 2 (11th ed.). p. 457.
  2. ↑ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. Aug 2016. ISSN   0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 16 Jul 2021.
  3. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 Jul 2025. Retrieved 18 Jul 2025.
  4. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 Apr 2024. Retrieved 28 Apr 2024.
  5. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 Jul 2025. Retrieved 18 Jul 2025.
  6. ↑ Census of Population (2020). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 8 Jul 2021.
  7. 1 2 Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved 29 Jun 2016.
  8. ↑ "Argao: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  9. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 Jul 2025. Retrieved 18 Jul 2025.
  10. ↑ Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 Jun 2016.
  11. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  12. ↑ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 28 Dec 2020.
  13. ↑ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 Nov 2005.
  14. ↑ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 Mar 2009.
  15. ↑ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 Aug 2012.
  16. ↑ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  17. ↑ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 Jul 2019.
  18. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 Dec 2021. Retrieved 22 Jan 2022.
  19. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 Apr 2024. Retrieved 28 Apr 2024.

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