Wao, Lanao del Sur

Wao واعو
Municipality
Flag Seal
Map of Lanao del Sur with Wao highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Wao Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°38′25″N124°43′33″E / 7.640375°N 124.725733°E / 7.640375; 124.725733
Country	Philippines
Region	Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Province	Lanao del Sur
District	1st district
Founded	February 22, 1961
Barangays	26 (see Barangays)
Government   [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
•  Mayor	Elvino B. Balicao Jr.
•  Vice Mayor	Elmer A. Mendoza
•  Representative	Ziaur-Rahman A. Adiong
•  Municipal Council	Members Rex R. Wagas Rolly A. Caballes Dennis L. Angeles Dante D. Doletin Sr. Nasrodin P. Macadato Mary Ruth C. Catalan Salic A. Abantas Jr. Jamal H. Adiong
•  Electorate	40,630 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	485.24 km2 (187.35 sq mi)
Elevation	603 m (1,978 ft)
Highest elevation	1,108 m (3,635 ft)
Lowest elevation	393 m (1,289 ft)
Population  (2020 census) [3]
• Total	50,366
• Density	100/km2 (270/sq mi)
•  Households	9,720
Economy
•  Income class	2nd municipal income class
•  Poverty incidence	65.07 % (2018) [4]
•  Revenue	₱ 233.4 million (2020)
•  Assets	₱ 444.2 million (2020)
•  Expenditure	₱ 216.6 million (2020)
•  Liabilities	₱ 19.4 million (2020)
Service provider
•  Electricity	First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative (FIBECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	9716
PSGC	153630000
IDD  :  area code	+63 (0)63
Native languages	Maranao Iranun Cebuano Tagalog
Major religions	Catholicism, Islam
Website	www.wao-lds.gov.ph

Wao officially the Municipality of Wao (Maranao/Iranun: Inged a Wao; Cebuano : Lungsod sa Wao; Tagalog : Bayan ng Wao), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 50,366 people. ^[3] Wao is the only Christian-majority municipality of its province.

Etymology

There are three possible etymology for the name of the municipality Wao. One is a local folklore which involved Bai Sa Raya, a Moro princess from a monarchy in Cotawato visited the area which is now known as "Wao" coincidentally during a serious drought. This led to the place to being called Wao from the word kawaw or uhaw in the local language which roughly translates to "I am thirsty". Another theory is that the place was named after a former creek in Eastern Wao which was extant prior to the arrival of Christian settlers in the 1950s. A third theory is that the name of the town was derived from the Maranao word liawao which means "high place", this is a reference to a Moro settlement existing in the current-day poblacion during the pre-1950 settlement era. Other nearby settlements are situated at a lower elevation that Liawao. ^[5]

History

The LASEDECO resettlement program of then-President Ramon Magsaysay made possible the foundation of Wao as a municipality in Lanao del Sur province on February 22, 1961. ^[6] The first settlers in the area were sixty families of various ethnicity from the then-undivided Cotabato province. Only one person, Elvino B. Balicao Sr. among the 1st batch of settlers became one of the Municipal Mayors of Wao. Balicao, along with members of the 1st batch of 60 settlers that included the late couple Aludio and Sofia Emborgo, were welcomed by the native Muslim inhabitants of Wao led by Sultan Mamaco Saripada, the municipality's first appointed and elected mayor, Datu Tao Pagul and Datu Maki Saripada. They were treated to a sit-down meal in the house of Sultan Mamaco Saripada. ^{[7] [ non-primary source needed ]}

In the late 1970s, the town experienced intercommunal violence between its native Moro community and the Christian settlers. ^{[8] [9]} Tensions arose after Bumbaran (now known as Amai Manabilang) was created from Wao by President Ferdinand Marcos through Presidential Decree No. 1243 in November 17, 1977. ^{[10] [11]}

In 2024, a new municipality named Pilintangan or Saripada was proposed to be carved from Wao in the Bangsamoro Parliament, which would entail the loss of 11 barangays. ^[12] This proposal was met with protests and opposition, fearing that this might cause a repeat of the violence the town experienced in the 1970s. Wao's mayor, Elvino Balicao Jr., also warned that the division would reduce the town into a third-class municipality due to reduced revenues and with most of its government buildings being located in the barangays to be separated. ^{[10] [13]}

Geography

Wao is also surrounded by Amai Manabilang in the north and west, Bukidnon in the east, and Cotabato in the south. Its border with Bukidnon is demarcated by the Maradugao River. ^[14]

Barangays

Wao is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

• Amoyong
• Balatin
• Banga
• Buntongan
• Bo-ot
• Cebuano Group
• Christian Village
• Eastern Wao (Poblacion)
• Extension (Poblacion)
• Gata (Pizawaoan)
• Kabatangan
• Kadingilan
• Katutungan
• Kilikili East
• Kilikili West
• Malaigang
• Manila Group (Poblacion)
• Milaya
• Mimbuaya
• Muslim Village
• Pagalongan
• Panang
• Park Area
• Pilintangan
• Serran Village
• Western Wao (Poblacion)

Climate

Climate data for Wao, Lanao de Sur
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	24 (75)	24 (75)	25 (77)	26 (79)	26 (79)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (68)	21 (70)	21 (70)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (68)	21 (70)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (69)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	159 (6.3)	143 (5.6)	166 (6.5)	183 (7.2)	357 (14.1)	414 (16.3)	333 (13.1)	309 (12.2)	289 (11.4)	285 (11.2)	253 (10.0)	166 (6.5)	3,057 (120.4)
Average rainy days	18.4	17.2	20.6	23.4	29.3	29.2	29.9	29.4	27.7	28.7	25.5	19.9	299.2
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally) [15]

Demographics

Wao is the only predominantly Christian municipality in Lanao del Sur, with 80% of the population adhering to Roman Catholicism as of 2017, brought by these settlers who came from Luzon, Visayas and other parts of Mindanao. ^[16] The Roman Catholic church administrates its constituents in Wao as part of the Bukidnon-based Diocese of Malaybalay. ^[17]

Among the significant ethnic groups in Wao are the Ilonggo, Ilocano, Cebuano, Maranao, Ivatan and Tagalog peoples. ^[5]

Population census of Wao

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1960	13,848	—
1970	16,577	+1.81%
1975	17,267	+0.82%
1980	15,962	−1.56%
1990	22,932	+3.69%
1995	27,503	+3.46%
2000	35,517	+5.63%
2007	42,186	+2.40%
2010	40,479	−1.49%
2015	45,862	+2.41%
2020	50,366	+1.86%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [18] [19] [20]

Economy

The Wao Development Corporation (WDC) maintains a pineapple plantation and package facility in Wao. ^{[21] [22]}

Sister cities

• Quezon City, since April 1990 ^[30]

References

1.   Municipality of Wao | (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. Census of Population (2020). "Bangsamoro (BARMM)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved July 8, 2021.
4. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
5. "Municipal Profile" (PDF). Local Government of Wao, Lanao del Sur. May 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
6. "Historical Background". Wao, Lanao del Sur Website. Wao Municipal Planning and Development Committee. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
7. Tales of Sofia Emborgo's early life in Wao by Evelyn E. Mills (aka Bebing of Wao)
8. Gallardo, Froilan (March 10, 2024). "Division of Wao, Lanao del Sur feared to provoke violence anew". MindaNews. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
9. Cabrera, Ferdinandh (May 3, 2015). "Lucman to Wao residents on killings: let justice take its course". MindaNews. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
10. "Bill seeking to split Lanao del Sur town stirs memories of place's bloody history". Rappler. February 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
11. Marcos, Ferdinand Sr. (November 17, 1977). "Presidential Decree No. 1243". The Lawphil Project. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
12. "Bangsamoro solon proposes creation of two municipalities in Lanao del Sur". Philippine Information Agency. BTA Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division. February 22, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
13. "Residents oppose division of Wao, Lanao del Sur into two towns". Philippine Daily Inquirer. February 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
14. Fumero, Pamela Joyce (March 28, 2023). "Feature: Wow Wao: Lanao del Sur's newest rising tourist attraction - Business Week National". Business Week Mindanao. Mindanao Daily News Publishing Corporation. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
15. "Bacolod-Kalawi, Lanao del Sur : Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
16. Mordeno, H. Marcos (March 14, 2017). "Bangsamoro, No; Good Governance, Yes". MindaNews.
17. Mordeno, H. Marcos (June 30, 2021). "Msgr. Noel Pedregosa is new Malaybalay bishop". MindaNews. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
18. Census of Population (2015). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved June 20, 2016.
19. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved June 29, 2016.
20. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
21. "More investments in Lanao del Sur linked to improved quality of life". Bangsamoro Information Office. February 25, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
22. "P306-M Worth Of Pineapple Packing Plant Launched In Wao, LD". Bangsamoro Information Office. February 13, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
23. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
24. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
25. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
26. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
27. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
28. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
29. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
30. "Sister Cities". The Local Government of Quezon City. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2019.

External links

• Wao Profile at the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Local Governance Performance Management System
• Philippine Census Information