Pilar, Surigao del Norte

Pilar
Municipality
Municipality of Pilar
Cottage at Magpupungko
Cottage at Magpupungko
Flag of Pilar
Flag
Official seal of Pilar
Seal
Map of Surigao del Norte with Pilar highlighted
Map of Surigao del Norte with Pilar highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Pilar is located in Philippines
Pilar
Pilar
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°51′50″N 126°06′03″E / 9.8639°N 126.1008°E / 9.8639; 126.1008
CountryPhilippines
RegionCaraga
ProvinceSurigao del Norte
District 1st district
FoundedOctober 31, 1953
Barangay15 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorMaria Liza G. Resurreccion
 • Vice MayorEdito E. Salvaloza
 • RepresentativeFrancisco Jose F. Matugas II
 • Electorate8,422 voters (2022)
Area
[2]
 • Total
77.11 km2 (29.77 sq mi)
Elevation
27 m (89 ft)
Highest elevation
259 m (850 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total
10,374
 • Density130/km2 (350/sq mi)
 • Households
2,569
Economy
 • Income class5th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
28.61
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 77.69 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 260.8 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 82 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 53.42 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricitySiargao Electric Cooperative (SIARELCO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
8420
PSGC
166716000
IDD : area code +63 (0)86
Native languagesSurigaonon
Agusan
Cebuano
Tagalog

Pilar, officially the Municipality of Pilar (Surigaonon: Lungsod nan Pilar; Tagalog: Bayan ng Pilar), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 10,374 people.[3]

It is located on Siargao Island, bounded by the municipality of San Isidro to the north, municipality of Del Carmen to the west, municipality of Dapa to south and Philippine Sea to the east. It used to be a barrio of Dapa until its creation as a separate municipality on October 31, 1953, by virtue of Executive Order No. 638 issued by then President Elpidio Quirino.[5] Pilar has a natural harbor through a small inlet called Port Pilar.

Geography

[edit]

Barangays

[edit]

Pilar is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Asinan (Poblacion)
  • Caridad
  • Centro (Poblacion)
  • Consolacion
  • Datu
  • Dayaohay
  • Jaboy
  • Katipunan
  • Maasin
  • Mabini
  • Mabuhay
  • Pilaring (Poblacion)
  • Punta (Poblacion)
  • Salvacion
  • San Roque

Climate

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Climate data for Pilar, Surigao del Norte
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81) 		27
(81) 		28
(82) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		29
(84) 		28
(82) 		29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 161
(6.3) 		132
(5.2) 		112
(4.4) 		87
(3.4) 		136
(5.4) 		169
(6.7) 		146
(5.7) 		148
(5.8) 		132
(5.2) 		156
(6.1) 		176
(6.9) 		170
(6.7) 		1,725
(67.8)
Average rainy days 20.0 16.2 18.3 17.5 24.0 26.7 27.5 27.5 26.5 26.4 23.8 21.1 275.5
Source: Meteoblue[6]

Demographics

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Population census of Pilar
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 5,227—    
1970 6,291+1.87%
1975 7,504+3.60%
1980 8,646+2.87%
1990 7,873−0.93%
1995 8,299+0.99%
2000 8,401+0.26%
2007 8,023−0.63%
2010 9,456+6.16%
2015 9,752+0.59%
2020 10,374+1.22%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[7][8][9][10]

Religion

[edit]

Almost all inhabitant are Christians and majority follows Roman Catholicism. Pilar is a parish under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Surigao. The town got its name from its patron saint, Our Lady of the Pillar.

Language

[edit]

Surigaonon is the local language. Cebuano, Filipino and English are also understood.

Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Pilar

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2006
54.40
2009
62.75
2012
46.38
2015
36.80
2018
37.41
2021
28.61

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]

The town's economy is largely based on fishing and agriculture. Major agricultural produce are rice and coconut (copra).

Tourism

[edit]

Various homestay facilities are available in town for tourists.

Magpupungko Lagoons and Rock Formations

[edit]
Magpupungko Rock Formations

Magpupungko is the most popular tourist destination in Pilar. It is famous for its lagoons which can only be seen during low tide. It also features picturesque limestone rock formations.

Other Beaches and Rock Formations

[edit]

Other areas that can be explored by tourists are Taglungnan Beach and Tagbayanga Islets, which are across town proper and can be reach in 15–20 minutes by boat ride. Other beaches are Lukod Beach and Caridad Beach.

Surfing

[edit]

Pilar is also one of the surfing spots in Siargao and is less crowded. It is one and a half hour boat ride from General Luna, where the more popular surfing spot Cloud 9 is located. It holds many good lefts and is best surfed during NE swells. There are good breaks in front and near the town proper and in Barangay Caridad.[19]

Game Fishing

[edit]

Pilar is popular to game fishing enthusiasts. The town hosts an annual invitational sport fishing event dubbed as Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament.[20]

Mangrove Forest

[edit]

Pilar has an extensive mangrove forest reserve.

Philippine Freshwater Crocodile

[edit]

Thirty-six Philippine freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) were released in Paghongawan Marsh (misspelled by media as Paghowangan) in Barangay Jaboy last March 2013 as part of conservation effort to bolster the population of this endangered reptile. The released crocodiles are all yearlings and were bred in captivity. The marsh extends 300 acres (120 hectares) in the dry season and more than 1,500 acres (600 hectares) in the wet season. These crocodiles are not endemic to Siargao and are smaller compared to saltwater crocodiles which can be found in the western side of Siargao, in the mangrove forest of Del Carmen town.[21]

Infrastructure

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]

Pilar is connected to Surigao City through the Port of Dapa. Jeepneys ply between Pilar and Dapa daily. It is connected to Cebu City and Metro Manila through Sayak Airport in the adjacent Municipality of Del Carmen. Habal-habal (motorcycle) can also be rented to service transportation needs.

Healthcare

[edit]

Pilar has a district hospital but now mostly serve lying-in and maternity services. There is also a rural health center in the town proper.

Telecommunications

[edit]

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company provides fixed line services. Wireless mobile communications services are provided by Smart Communications and Globe Telecommunications.

Education

[edit]

Pilar is served by 2 high schools, Pilar National High School in the town proper and Pilar National High School - Caridad Annex in its biggest barangay, Caridad. There are also 12 elementary schools led by Pilar Central Elementary School.

References

[edit]
  1. ^  Municipality of Pilar | (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 Census of Population (2020). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Pilar Historical Background". Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  6. ^ "Pilar: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  7. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  8. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Caraga" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  9. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Caraga". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  10. ^ "Province of Surigao del Norte". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  12. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  13. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  14. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  15. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  17. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  18. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Pilar Siargao Surfing". Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  20. ^ "PGMA opens 1st Siargao International Game Fishing". Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  21. ^ "Philippine Freshwater Crocodile Introduction in Siargao". Archived from the original on April 1, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
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