Manolo Fortich, officially the Municipality of Manolo Fortich (Bukid and Higaonon: Banuwa ta Manolo Fortich; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Manolo Fortich; Tagalog: Bayan ng Manolo Fortich), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bukidnon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 113,200 people.[3]

Manolo Fortich
Maluko
Municipality of Manolo Fortich
Sign in Manolo Fortich
Sign in Manolo Fortich
Flag of Manolo Fortich
Official seal of Manolo Fortich
Nickname: 
Adventure Capital of Bukidnon
Map of Bukidnon with Manolo Fortich highlighted
Map of Bukidnon with Manolo Fortich highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Manolo Fortich is located in Philippines
Manolo Fortich
Manolo Fortich
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°22′03″N 124°51′56″E / 8.3675°N 124.8656°E / 8.3675; 124.8656
CountryPhilippines
RegionNorthern Mindanao
ProvinceBukidnon
District 1st district
FoundedApril 4, 1946
Named forMayor Manolo Fortich
Barangays22 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorRogelio N. Quiño
 • Vice MayorReynaldo L. Bagayas Jr.
 • RepresentativeJose Manuel F. Alba
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate65,072 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total
413.60 km2 (159.69 sq mi)
Elevation
504 m (1,654 ft)
Highest elevation
664 m (2,178 ft)
Lowest elevation
170 m (560 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total
113,200
 • Density270/km2 (710/sq mi)
 • Households
26,196
Economy
 • Income class1st municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
25.21
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 555 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 1,848 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 567.8 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 613 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityBukidnon 2 Electric Cooperative (BUSECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
8703
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)88
Native languagesBinukid
Cebuano
Ata Manobo
Tagalog
Websitemanolofortich.com.ph

Manolo Fortich used to be known as Maluko; it was renamed in 1957. Maluko also happens to be the name of one of the municipality's barangay.[5]

History

edit

Before the coming of the Spaniards, the term "Bukidnon" referred to as the semi-sedentary Indigenous inhabitants of the high plateaus and rugged mountain ranges of central Mindanao. The more prominent of these peoples were the Manobo people who were the earliest settlers of this region. Located on the northern part of Bukidnon, is the Municipality of Manolo Fortich.

 
The MacArthur Monument in Barangay Diclum, the site of the World War II Del Monte Airfield from which Douglas MacArthur was evacuated to Australia from the Philippines after the fall of Corregidor and Bataan
 
The Forest Camp in barangay Dahilayan

The great pre-historic Asiatic migration was believed to have brought the early settlers of Bukidnon. It was theorized that they came from places of what is now known as Indonesia. Traveling by the sea, these migrants reached the gulf of Davao where some ventured further to areas of what is now known as Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental. The Asiatic beginnings of these people can be seen from their oral tradition and folktales, like the "Kalikat Hu Mga Elaw Dini Ta Mindanao" (Origin of the People of Mindanao). This folktale revolved on the story of two brothers from Asia "who crossed the seas" in their long journey "towards the east" which refers to the islands of the Philippines. The brothers reportedly landed in the island of Mindanao. With the region experiencing a drought, one of the brothers was forced to venture Northward in order to survive. He did this by following a dried up river to its almost dried up source, a lake. He settled and inter-married with the local inhabitants in the upstream of what is now known as Pulangi River. He and his family were considered as the ancestors of the present Bukidnons.

During the pre-historic era, the Bukidnons, also called Monteses or mountain-people, had settled in the area of what is now the Province of Bukidnon. These people have remained traditional till 1860 preserving most of their customs and traditions. Furthermore, these people had not been significantly influenced by the Spanish colonizers because of their isolation. The rugged mountain ranges and high plateaus which serve as home to these people presented an overwhelming obstacle to these colonizers. The Bukidnons undoubtedly have links to the culture predominant in the Southeast Asian region as evidenced by the similar customs and traditions. Their presence here can be traced to the early migration of these Asians throughout the region. Today, the surviving tribes inhabiting the mountains of Bukidnon still bear the culture they have inherited from their ancestors.

Manolo Fortich is named after Don Manuel "Manolo" González Fortich, a provincial resident of Barrio Damilag who became the first governor (1907-1914) of the Sub-province of Bukidnon. Don Manuel Fortich was born on November 27, 1879, in San Nicolas (now Barangay Basak San Nicolas), Cebu City. A Philippine Constabulary officer, he served as a guide to Dean C. Worcester while on expedition to Bukidnon. Upon retirement from government service in 1920, he established ranches in Maluko and Maramag, and acquired 3,000 cows. He died on January 15, 1943, at the age of 64.[6]

The original name of the town was Maluko, and was headed by Santiago Mambinonsad who was appointed as Alcalde de Barrio from 1922 to 1924. It was during the term of Ciriaco Asilan as Presidente del Barrio from 1926 to 1928, that the seat of municipal government was permanently transferred to Tangkulan. Mateo Gumaling was the first appointed municipal mayor of Maluko and in 1940 Margarito Cabang became the first elected Mayor.

World War II

edit

Manolo Fortich was captured by Japanese forces of the Kawamura Detachment of the IJA 5th Division attacking from Cagayan on May 6, 1942. They advance further eastward two days later.

Post-war

edit

Maluko was then renamed to Manolo Fortich by virtue of Republic Act No. 1720 on June 21, 1957.[7] [8]

Geography

edit
 
Mangima Canyon

The municipality of Manolo Fortich has a total area of 506.64 square kilometres (195.61 sq mi), accounting 6.1% of the total land area of the province of Bukidnon.

Manolo Fortich is situated in the northern part of the province of Bukidnon. It is about 40 minutes away from the bustling commercial center of Cagayan de Oro.

It is bounded in the north by Cagayan de Oro and the municipality of Malitbog. In the east by the municipality of Sumilao, in the west by the municipality of Libona and Baungon and in the south by the rugged ranges of Mount Kitanglad.

Barangays

edit
 
Manolo Fortich political map
 
Del Monte Pineapple fields with the Kitanglad Mountain Range in the background from Camp Phillips

Manolo Fortich is politically subdivided into 22 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.


PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2020[3] 2010[9]
101314001 Agusan Canyon 8.8% 9,985 9,850 0.14%
101314002 Alae 8.1% 9,135 8,552 0.66%
101314003 Dahilayan 1.5% 1,743 1,527 1.33%
101314004 Dalirig 4.3% 4,844 3,541 3.18%
101314005 Damilag 10.3% 11,713 11,385 0.28%
101314006 Dicklum 3.6% 4,033 3,731 0.78%
101314007 Guilang‑guilang 1.1% 1,247 1,152 0.80%
101314008 Kalugmanan 3.3% 3,684 2,986 2.12%
101314009 Lindaban 2.1% 2,325 2,017 1.43%
101314010 Lingion 5.6% 6,336 5,496 1.43%
101314011 Lunocan 6.5% 7,346 6,341 1.48%
101314012 Maluko 3.6% 4,125 3,871 0.64%
101314013 Mambatangan 3.8% 4,349 3,248 2.96%
101314014 Mampayag 1.2% 1,334 1,312 0.17%
101314015 Minsuro 0.9% 981 870 1.21%
101314016 Mantibugao 2.8% 3,185 2,678 1.75%
101314017 Tankulan (Poblacion) 7.7% 8,711 7,907 0.97%
101314018 San Miguel 4.3% 4,867 4,524 0.73%
101314019 Sankanan 3.3% 3,737 3,287 1.29%
101314020 Santiago 1.4% 1,554 2,066 −2.81%
101314021 Santo Niño 3.3% 3,704 3,445 0.73%
101314023 Ticala 1.1% 1,272 1,240 0.26%
Total 113,200 91,026 2.20%

Climate

edit
Climate data for Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 25
(77)
25
(77)
26
(79)
28
(82)
27
(81)
27
(81)
27
(81)
27
(81)
27
(81)
26
(79)
26
(79)
25
(77)
26
(80)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 21
(70)
21
(70)
21
(70)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
21
(70)
22
(71)
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 days 23.2 19.5 22.0 22.8 29.6 28.9 30.3 29.8 28.1 28.8 26.1 24.1 313.2
Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)[10]

The climate is classified as belonging to type IV or Intermediate. It is characterized by a moderate dry season with average rainfall of about 2,000 millimetres (79 in). Its temperature is relatively cool and humid making the place suitable for production of any kind of crops. Production of high valued crops, which include vegetables, cut flowers and ornamentals is a big potential in the area.

Demographics

edit
Population census of Manolo Fortich
YearPop.±% p.a.
1918 3,780—    
1939 7,677+3.43%
1948 9,560+2.47%
1960 16,833+4.83%
1970 27,159+4.89%
1975 31,840+3.24%
1980 42,493+5.94%
1990 61,329+3.74%
1995 67,400+1.78%
2000 74,252+2.10%
2007 82,051+1.39%
2010 91,026+3.85%
2015 100,210+1.85%
2020 113,200+2.43%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][9][12][13]

In the 2020 census, the population of Manolo Fortich was 113,200 people,[3] with a density of 270 inhabitants per square kilometre or 700 inhabitants per square mile.

In the 2010 census, the population of the municipality was 91,026 people, up from 82,051 in 2007. Manolo Fortich belongs to a very low-density area which has only approximately 162 persons per square kilometre. The urban population is confined in barangays Agusan Canyon, Damilag and Tankulan.

Ethnic origin

edit

There are three major ethnic groups in Manolo Fortich and they are the Higaonon, Talaandig and the Cebuano-Bohol ethnic groups, the latter were mostly migrants from Cebu and Bohol who came to work as agricultural laborers in the plantation and orchard farms of the highland plateau, about 55% of the residents are Higaonons who are indigenous people in the area.

Languages

edit

Cebuano, a Visayan language, is the major spoken language of the town. In the upland barangay plateau areas of Dahilayan, Guilang-guilang, Kalugmanan, Santiago and Ticala, the Higa-onons and Talaandigs speak their indigenous language called "Binukid".

Economy

edit
 
Del Monte welcome marker

Poverty incidence of Manolo Fortich

10
20
30
40
2006
31.60
2009
33.52
2012
33.95
2015
35.73
2018
23.07
2021
25.21

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

While Del Monte Philippines' manufacturing plant is located in nearby Cagayan de Oro, yet its pineapple plantation is located in the municipality specifically in Camp Phillips Road, Barangay Agusan Canyon while the company's clubhouse is located at Barangay San Miguel, still in Camp Phillips Road. The Del Monte Golf Course & Country Club on the other hand is located in Sitio Cawayanon, Barangay San Miguel. Just a few meters from the golf course is the Del Monte School, still located in Sitio Cawayanon. The Cawayanon Compound also located in Sitio Cawayanon is a residential area mostly inhabited by Del Monte employees.

Infrastructure

edit
The Dahilayan Adventure Park is located in the municipality. The park is popular for its single and dual zip-lines, drop zones, Sky Tower Base Jump (the highest of its kind in the country), "Python Roller Zipride" (the first of its kind in Asia) and the "Flying Lizard" canopy glider. The park's dual zipline has 840 meters in length making it Asia's longest dual zip-line.

Water/drainage systems

edit

Manolo Fortich has three major river systems crisscrossing the upstream and downstream agricultural lands. These are the Tagoloan, Mangima and Agusan Rivers, which serve as natural boundaries and drainage of excess water and run-off from around the municipality. The other rivers of the municipality are, among others: Dicklum, Kumaykay, Guihian, Tasaon and Kulaman Rivers. The river systems also serve as sources of potable water supply for domestic use. About 26 creeks spread across nine barangays in the municipality.

Natural resources

edit

Forests

edit

Forest areas in Manolo Fortich are found in two barangays along the Mt. Kitanglad Range. Mt. Kitanglad hosts a diverse species of flora and fauna, many of them rare and endemic, making it a potential for tourism and bio-diversity research.

Minerals

edit

The major metallic mineral found in the municipality is chromite and the non-metallic includes semi-precious stones. Also available are clay, limestone, feldspar, silica quartz and schist.

Notable personalities

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Municipality of Manolo Fortich | (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. ^ a b c d Census of Population (2020). "Region X (Northern Mindanao)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. ^ Republic Act No. 1720 (June 21, 1957), An Act Changing the Name of the Municipality of Maluko, Province of Bukidnon, to Municipality of Manolo Fortich
  6. ^ "Sagisag Kultura: Fortich, Manolo". Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  7. ^ "An Act Changing the Name of the Municipality of Maluko, Province of Bukidnon, to Municipality of Manolo Fortich". ChanRobles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  8. ^ "Sagisag Kultura: Fortich, Manolo". Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region X (Northern Mindanao)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  10. ^ "Manolo Fortich: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  11. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region X (Northern Mindanao)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 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 Bukidnon". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  14. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  15. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  16. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  17. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  18. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  19. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  20. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  21. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
edit