FAST FACTS PLACES TO SEE

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

B UTUAN CITY H O M E O F T H E B A L A N G AY

L OCATION

Butuan City is located at the northeastern part of the Agusan Valley sprawling across the mighty Agusan River.

HOW TO REACH BUTUAN? • Through Bancasi Airport

• Through Bus Terminal @ Langihan, Butuan City

Flights : Butuan to Manila & Butuan to Cebu vice versa

B RIEF HISTORY “In the Beginning, there was no Philippines but there was BUTUAN” Butuan’s history, culture, arts and people date back to the 4th century which makes Butuan an exciting source of cultural artifacts in Mindanao. As early as the 10th century, according to the Chinese Song Shi (History), people from Butuan have already established trading relations with the Kingdom of Champa which is now South Vietnam. By the 11th century,

Butuan was the center of trade and commerce in the Philippines. The best evidence to prove this fact is the discovery of the 9 balangays (The Butuan Boat) and other archeological finds in the vicinities of Butuan City, particularly in Ambangan, Libertad near the old EL RIO de BUTUAN

and MASAO RIVER.

G ENERAL INFORMATION Butuan City is strategically located at the center of the CARAGA REGION. Classification:

Area:

Highly Urbanized City 81,728 hectares 27 Urban Barangays

Population: Industries:

59 Rual Barangays

298,378 (2007)

Banana,Wood, Prawn, Furniture, Handicrafts, Coconuts

PLACES OF INTEREST NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE PHILIPPINE FLAG IN MINDANAO RIZAL PARK This flagpole was erected to commemorate the first formal hoisting of the Philippine Flag in Mindanao on January 17, 1989. The Philippine Centennial Commission and the National Historical Institute declared this very site as an official marker.

BANZA CHURCH RUINS LILO, BARANGAY BANZA Do you know where to find the oldest stone church in Mindanao? You should head straight to Barangay Banza. It was in Butuan that the first church in Mindano was consecrated on September 8, 1957 by Fr. Valerio de Ledesma, a Jesuit Missionary.The stone chruch was built in the 1600s by the Recollect Missionaries but it was razed to the ground by Moro invaders in 1753. It was rebuilt but was falls into disuse due to the transfer of Pueblo in Baug in 1865. What is left now is one of its pillar wrapped by huge Balite Tree.

ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL E LUNA ST.

This is the mother church of the Catholic diocese of Butuan.The stained-glass windows of the cathedral depict the life of St. Joseph, the patron saint of the church and the religious history of the historic city.

AGUSAN RIVER

It is the 3rd Longest river in the Philippines and the most navigable. While most rivers are drying u, the famous “sawgan” of Agusan Valley has the highest overflow of water. Through the ages this serves the civilization that once dotted its banks and the present communities in river highway.

BALANGAY SHRINE MUSEUM PARADISE, BRGY. LIBERTAD Nine Balangays boats relics have been identified by National Museum archaeologists.The first discover is at the Balangay Site Museum in Ambangan Brgy. Libertad. It was carbon-dated 320 A.D by the Gakushin University of Tokyo.The Balangays were the vessels that linked Butuan with other Asian Kingdoms during an intense period of trade.

A memorial sculpture to the Magellan expedition was erected at Brgy. Masao, part of the anchorage area where the first circumnavigators of the world stayed for a week they celebrated our country’s first recorded Christian Activity:The first Easter Mass

NATIONAL MUSEUM- BUTUAN BRANCH BRGY. DOONGAN This museum is the repository of archeological and cultural materials and artifacts.

BOOD PROMONTORY & ECO PARK BRGY. PINAMANCULAN Top of a small hill, “Bood” or “Bud” in Butuanon, lies the First Easter Mass Eco Park.This park was constructed to commemorate the first recorded Christian activity in our country.

MAGSAYSAY BRIDGE

This bridge was built in the early 50’s. It was inaugurated by President Carlos P. Garcia on May 19, 1953. It was the first bridge that linked the east and west banks of Agusan making possible the land trips to Cabadbaran and Surigao at that time.

GOLDEN TARA A 21 carat gold Buddhist figurine which is the earliest know image identified to be Indian in Origin. This specimen was recovered from the left bank of WaWa River.

BEQUIBEL SHELL MIDDEN An ancient site where vast deposit of fresh water shells is found and believed to be the principal food source of the local civilization way back in the Neolithic Period. Carbon dating by archeology experts proved that this site existed as early as 7,000 years ago.

FESTIVALS ABAYAN FESTIVAL (Fluvial Procession )

KAHIMUNAN FESTIVAL (Feast of Sto. Nino)

BALANGHAI FESTIVAL EVERY MONTH OF MAY

PLACES TO CHECK IN ACCOMODATIONS IN BUTUAN:

DOTTIES PLACE

PLACES TO EAT RESTAURANTS IN BUTUAN:

PLACES TO DRINK COFFE & TEA SHOPS IN BUTUAN:

PLACES TO RELAX SPAs IN BUTUAN:

PLACES TO STROLL

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES INVESTMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM Benefits:

TAX HOLIDAYS ON BUSINESS AND REAL PROPERTY TAXES Qualifications:

•New enterprise or investments for expansions or diversification of existing enterprise •Business operation within Butuan City •Capitalization of more than P3M

INVESTMENT READY AREAS Co-Management Area

11,000 hectares of timberland area best suited for agro-forestry & industrial tree plantation ventures CLOA Areas

Seven strong agrarian reform beneficiary associations with record in project management covering some 28,500 hectares spread across the identified agricultural areas ready to do business with partner investors Fishpond Areas

Some 1,200 hectares of developed but partially utilized areas suited for aquaculture and fishpond ventures

COME & VISIT

CREDITS: IRA MANTILLA

Source: Butuan City Fast Facts