Placer, Surigao del Norte

Placer, officially the Municipality of Placer (Surigaonon: Lungsod nan Placer; Tagalog: Bayan ng Placer), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,616 people.[3]

Placer
Municipality of Placer
Cagbantoy Beach
Cagbantoy Beach
Flag of Placer
Map of Surigao del Norte with Placer highlighted
Map of Surigao del Norte with Placer highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Placer is located in Philippines
Placer
Placer
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°39′25″N 125°36′06″E / 9.65703°N 125.60161°E / 9.65703; 125.60161
CountryPhilippines
RegionCaraga
ProvinceSurigao del Norte
District 2nd district
Founded1850
Barangays20 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorJovymarie C. Villazon
 • Vice MayorRyan Fel B. Napuli
 • RepresentativeRobert Ace S. Barbers
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate23,204 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total61.29 km2 (23.66 sq mi)
Elevation
42 m (138 ft)
Highest elevation
315 m (1,033 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total29,616
 • Density480/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
 • Households
6,792
Economy
 • Income class4th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
29.53
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 115.2 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 443.3 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 90.43 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 181.6 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricitySurigao del Norte Electric Cooperative (SURNECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
8405
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)86
Native languagesSurigaonon
Agusan
Cebuano
Tagalog

History

In 1850, the town was founded by Captain Felipe Custodio and Capitan Luis Patino. It was named "Placer" (Spanish for "pleasure" or "delight") by Custodio in reference to the happiness derived from local gold mining, as well as the abundant fish and rice harvests. In 1860, this name was officially approved.[5]

In 1930, the municipality lost some of its territory when the Municipality of Mainit was formed, and again in 1947, when the Municipality of Tagana-an was established.[5]

World War II

After the Japanese obtained the surrender of American and Filipino troops on Mindanao in May and June 1942, Placer, along with much of Mindanao, remained free of Japanese occupation. In late September 1943, Japanese troops landed and occupied Placer. Their goals seemed to be to fill drums with oil from a storage tank there for their use and to search for lumber. About 300 to 400 Japanese troops were in town. Some began moving south toward Claver. On October 10, guerrillas under American leadership attacked with 135 men from both the north and south to dislodge the Japanese from Placer. This attack failed, leaving the town in Japanese hands.[6]

Geography

Placer is in the northeast of Mindanao Island, facing the Hinatuan Passage to the east. Its territory includes the small islands of Tinago, Banga, and Mahaba, as well as half of Masapelid Island where barangays Ellaperal, Lakandula, and Sani-sani are located.[5]

Its topography consists of low rising hills that are interspersed by plains.[5]

Barangays

Placer is politically subdivided into 20 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

In 1956, the sitios of Santa Cruz, Anislagan, Alangalang, Soyoc, and Pananay-an were converted into barrios, while barrio Macalaya was divided into Upper and Lower Macalaya.[7]

  • Amoslog
  • Anislagan
  • Bad-as (contains the intersection of the Pan-Philippine Highway (or National Highway) & the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road)
  • Boyongan
  • Bugas-bugas
  • Central (Poblacion)
  • Ellaperal (Nonok)
  • Ipil (Poblacion)
  • Lakandula
  • Mabini
  • Macalaya
  • Magsaysay (Poblacion)
  • Magupange
  • Pananay-an
  • Panhutongan
  • San Isidro
  • Sani-sani
  • Santa Cruz
  • Suyoc
  • Tagbongabong

Climate

Climate data for Placer, Surigao del Norte
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)27
(81)
27
(81)
28
(82)
29
(84)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
28
(82)
29
(83)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)210
(8.3)
161
(6.3)
123
(4.8)
85
(3.3)
148
(5.8)
186
(7.3)
164
(6.5)
157
(6.2)
141
(5.6)
190
(7.5)
223
(8.8)
200
(7.9)
1,988
(78.3)
Average rainy days21.016.818.518.224.927.728.427.026.127.624.622.0282.8
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[8]

Demographics

Population census of Placer
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 2,791—    
1918 12,116+10.28%
1939 14,443+0.84%
1948 9,330−4.74%
1960 10,849+1.26%
1970 11,673+0.73%
1975 12,931+2.07%
1980 14,470+2.27%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 18,478+2.48%
1995 20,712+2.16%
2000 21,542+0.85%
2007 22,743+0.75%
2010 24,600+2.90%
2015 27,094+1.86%
2020 29,616+1.77%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[9][10][11]

Economy

Poverty incidence of Placer

10
20
30
40
50
2006
30.60
2009
47.71
2012
29.47
2015
34.40
2018
32.65
2021
29.53

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

References