Initao

Last updated
Initao
Municipality of Initao
Flag of Initao, Misamis Oriental.png
Ph locator misamis oriental initao.png
Map of Misamis Oriental with Initao highlighted
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Initao
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Initao
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°30′00″N124°19′00″E / 8.5°N 124.3167°E / 8.5; 124.3167
Country Philippines
Region Northern Mindanao
Province Misamis Oriental
District 2nd district
Barangays 16 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
  Type Sangguniang Bayan
   Mayor Mercy Grace J. Acain
   Vice Mayor Enerito J. Acain V
   Representative Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano
   Municipal Council
Members
  • Louie Jay Ban Jarales
  • Richard Magno
  • Cora Sayre
  • Richard Go
  • Ariel Galaroza
  • Agustin Caberte
  • Hernan Carbonilla
  • Victoria Galarroza
   Electorate 22,655 voters (2022 general election)
Area
[2]
  Total
111.27 km2 (42.96 sq mi)
Elevation
51 m (167 ft)
Highest elevation
409 m (1,342 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census) [3]
  Total
34,445
  Density310/km2 (800/sq mi)
   Households
8,756
Economy
   Income class 1st municipal income class
   Poverty incidence
25.5
% (2021) [4]
   Revenue 267 million (2022)
   Assets 731 million (2022)
   Expenditure 194.4 million (2022)
   Liabilities 236.5 million (2022)
Service provider
  ElectricityMisamis Oriental 1 Rural Electric Cooperative (MORESCO 1)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
9022
PSGC
IDD : area code +63(0)88
Native languages Cebuano
Binukid
Subanon
Tagalog
Websitenone

Initao, officially the Municipality of Initao (Cebuano : Lungsod sa Initao; Tagalog : Bayan ng Initao), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines based on the new reclassification of Department of Finance DOF-DO-074.2024 (Annex A Page 27). According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 33,902 people. [5]

Contents

It is seated about 39 kilometres (24 mi) west of the provincial capital of Cagayan de Oro, 29 kilometres (18 mi) east of Iligan City, and about 767 kilometres (477 mi) south-south-east of Philippine capital, Manila. The nearest primary road network is the Butuan–Cagayan de Oro–Iligan Road. The nearest airport is Laguindingan International Airport located 39 minutes away towards Cagayan de Oro.

HazardHunterPh app assessment on seismic hazard marks the town safe from ground rupture, prone to ground shaking and generally susceptible to liquefaction. Volcanic Hazard assessment mainly identifies it as having no immediate volcanic hazard threat base on its location to the nearest active volcano. However, it has high susceptibility to flooding at 1 to 2 meters flood height and lasting for more than 3 days.

Economic activity in the area is mainly dependent on fishing, agriculture, retail, tourism and government services such as The Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital-Initao, Regional Trial Court Branch 44, Initao-Libertad 8th Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Initao College, the BJMP, DENR, DepEd etc. According to the Bureau of Local Government Finance, the annual regular revenue of Initao for the fiscal year of 2022 was ₱225,963,427.43 and for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024, Initao has total fund/cash available amounting to ₱200,255,983.98 with ₱11,494,867.01 total payments of prior year/s accounts payable and ₱5,823,799.61 total continuing appropriation which results to ₱182,937,317.36 total fund/cash balance based on the Statement of Receipts and Expenditures (SRE) by LGU for the fiscal year of 2024 Q1.

Tourism sites include the Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape which locals simply call "lasang" or forest in the local dialect, various beaches dotting its shorelines and recent additions of agritourism sites developed by locals.

Significant town celebrations include the town fiesta celebrated by Roman Catholics in honor of the Patron Saint Francis Xavier which is held every December 2 and 3 although the celebration stretches for a week. Various festivals promoting tourism are also being spearheaded by the LGU and the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental.

History

White sand beach at Initao Beach in Initao, Misamis Oriental, Philippines 2.jpg
White sand beach at Initao

Based on the research report submitted by L.M. Neri, A.M.M. Ragrario, E.C.R. Robles, and A.J. Carlos, the original settlers of Initao were the Bukidnons. They were described as warlike and aggressive and ready to sacrifice their lives in defending their territory. It is said that the early community in Initao was ruled by three (3) brothers named Datu Hukom, Datu Tamparong, and Datu Pulagoyan, who had to protect early settlers in Initao against Moro invasions in the sixteenth century.

Because of the frequent threat by the Moro pirates, the people of Initao became war-like. They were considered to be hot-blooded or hot-tempered, fearless fighters. Hence, the word Initao comes from the word init which means “hot” and tao which means “people.” They were people perpetually prepared to fight their enemy to defend their territory and community. Legend also has it that the Moro raiders were defeated, the people planted bamboo along the Initao River as a symbol of peace and truce among them.

The word Initao, originally spelled by the Spaniards as Ynitao, was mentioned on August 6, 1838, in the inventory of livestock, fruits, exotic and cereal plants in the Provincia de Misamis (Ereccion de Pueblos, Misamis 1808–1839). In May 1858, Ynitao was headed by Gobernadorcillo Francisco Antonio and succeeded by Gobernadorcillo Abariano Caburratan in 1894.

In 1838, Initao was a Spanish pueblo composed of 3 cabecerias (Ereccion de Pueblos, Misamis 1808–1839). On October 27, 1877, Ynitao had 7 cabecerias which became 8 on June 30, 1882. It was decreased to 1 cabeceria, known as Apas, on June 30, 1883, until 1884 with a total population of 1,514. On June 30, 1887, Ynitao again increased its number of cabeceria to 19 and decreased to 12 on October 3, 1892.

In 1896–1902, Ynitao was in the province of Lanao. In 1903, Initao once again became a pueblo. The municipality is one of the oldest in the western part of Misamis Oriental.

Initao, which became part of the then-undivided Misamis, reduced its territory following the establishment of Moro Province in 1903 through Act No. 787. [6]

In 1957, the barrio of Naawan, then part of Initao, was constituted into the town of Naawan. [7]

Moreover, the municipalities of Manticao and Lugait were once part of Initao until 1948.

Geography

Barangays

Rural area Rural Area.jpg
Rural area

Initao is politically subdivided into 16 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate

Climate data for Initao, Misamis Oriental
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)28
(82)
29
(84)
30
(86)
31
(88)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
30
(85)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
25
(77)
26
(79)
26
(79)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
Average precipitation mm (inches)271
(10.7)
217
(8.5)
193
(7.6)
178
(7.0)
344
(13.5)
423
(16.7)
362
(14.3)
358
(14.1)
329
(13.0)
320
(12.6)
322
(12.7)
260
(10.2)
3,577
(140.9)
Average rainy days23.219.522.022.829.628.930.329.828.128.826.124.1313.2
Source: Meteoblue [8]

Demographics

Population census of Initao
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 4,374    
1918 7,371+3.54%
1939 19,576+4.76%
1948 39,462+8.10%
1960 17,272−6.65%
1970 16,904−0.21%
1975 18,906+2.27%
1980 21,842+2.93%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 23,113+0.57%
1995 23,340+0.18%
2000 27,035+3.20%
2007 29,624+1.27%
2010 29,331−0.36%
2015 32,370+1.90%
2020 33,902+0.98%
2024 34,445+0.38%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

In the 2020 census, the population of Initao, Misamis Oriental, was 33,902 people, [14] with a density of 300 inhabitants per square kilometre or 780 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Initao

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
53.62
2003
45.44
2006
44.30
2009
48.85
2012
30.46
2015
31.86
2018
17.00
2021
25.50

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

Tourism

Lasang Lasang.jpg
Lasang
Initao Beach Initao Beach.jpg
Initao Beach

Insfrastructure

Health Care

Transportation

Communication

PLDT Home Fibr, Globe, TM, Smart and Sun are serviceable in this town. DITO Telecommunity lines have also been constructed to cater customers in the event of its activation.

Electricity

Misamis Oriental Electric Cooperative (Moresco 1) is the only electric provider of the municipality.

Roads

Butuan-Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Road passes through the town.

Provincial, Municipal, and Barangay roads makes the interior barangay accessible. The state of these roads ranges from concreted to nerve-wracking dirt roads.

Government Agencies

Education

References

  1. Municipality of Initao | (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. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  6. "Act No. 951". Lawyerly. October 22, 1903. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  7. "An Act Creating the Municipality of Naawan, Province of Misamis Oriental". LawPH.com. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
  8. "Initao: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  9. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  10. Census of Population (2015). "Region X (Northern Mindanao)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  11. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region X (Northern Mindanao)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  12. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region X (Northern Mindanao)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  13. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  14. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  15. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  16. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  17. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  18. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  19. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  20. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  21. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  22. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.