Mahayag, officially the Municipality of Mahayag (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Mahayag; Subanen: Benwa Mahayag; Chavacano: Municipalidad de Mahayag; Tagalog: Bayan ng Mahayag), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 48,258 people.[3]

Mahayag
Municipality of Mahayag
Poblacion of Mahayag
Poblacion of Mahayag
Flag of Mahayag
Official seal of Mahayag
Map of Zamboanga del Sur with Mahayag highlighted
Map of Zamboanga del Sur with Mahayag highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Mahayag is located in Philippines
Mahayag
Mahayag
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°07′47″N 123°26′18″E / 8.1297°N 123.4383°E / 8.1297; 123.4383
CountryPhilippines
RegionZamboanga Peninsula
ProvinceZamboanga del Sur
District 1st district
FoundedMarch 9, 1960
Barangays29 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorManuel T. Saladaga
 • Vice MayorLester Ace S. Espina
 • RepresentativeDivina Grace C. Yu
 • Municipal Council
Members
 • Electorate33,491 voters (2022)
Area
 • Total194.90 km2 (75.25 sq mi)
Elevation
64 m (210 ft)
Highest elevation
486 m (1,594 ft)
Lowest elevation
17 m (56 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total48,258
 • Density250/km2 (640/sq mi)
 • Households
11,185
Economy
 • Income class3rd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
35.37
% (2018)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 214.9 million (2020)
 • Assets₱ 596.8 million (2020)
 • Expenditure₱ 192.3 million (2020)
 • Liabilities₱ 154.8 million (2020)
Service provider
 • ElectricityZamboanga del Sur 1 Electric Cooperative (ZAMSURECO 1)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
7026
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)62
Native languagesSubanon
Cebuano
Chavacano
Tagalog
Websitewww.mahayag.gov.ph

History edit

The town's name is derived from the Cebuano term "mahayag" (ma = to become + hayag = bright) which means to become bright or sunny. When the Visayan migrants first trickled into the area after World War II, the place was heavily forested, which, to some looks dark and forbidding. Local historical sources had it that when a large "Dao" tree which stands in the townsite was felt, the place becomes bright, hence the expression "mahayag".

Mahayag used to be the sitio of the barangay Molave in the municipality of Aurora. Early settlers of the area had endeavored for the creation of another municipality to fast-track development which is possible only by having a distinct political subdivision from the municipality of Molave. The town site for the new municipality was donated by Zacarias dela Torre and Pedro Alquizar Sr.

The municipality of Mahayag was officially created on March 9, 1960, pursuant to Executive Order No. 393 by President Carlos P. Garcia, with Saturnino Mendoza as its first appointed and subsequently elected Municipal Mayor. It was formed by the separation of 20 barrios from the municipality of Molave and 3 barrios from the municipality of Dumingag.[5]

Geography edit

Climate edit

Climate data for Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30
(86)
30
(86)
31
(88)
32
(90)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29
(84)
29
(84)
30
(86)
29
(84)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
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)
23
(73)
24
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 48
(1.9)
44
(1.7)
56
(2.2)
56
(2.2)
112
(4.4)
135
(5.3)
124
(4.9)
124
(4.9)
115
(4.5)
134
(5.3)
90
(3.5)
56
(2.2)
1,094
(43)
Average rainy days 13.0 11.7 15.6 18.1 25.6 25.7 25.2 24.1 23.8 26.1 22.3 16.5 247.7
Source: Meteoblue[6]

Barangays edit

Mahayag is politically subdivided into 29 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Bag-ong Balamban
  • Bag-ong Dalaguete
  • Boniao
  • Daniel C. Mantos (Sicpao)
  • Delusom
  • Diwan
  • Guripan
  • Kaangayan
  • Kabuhi
  • Lourmah (Lower Mahayag)
  • Lower Salug Daku
  • Lower Santo Niño
  • Malubo
  • Manguiles
  • Marabanan (Balanan)
  • Panagaan
  • Paraiso
  • Pedagan
  • Pugwan
  • Poblacion (Upper Mahayag)
  • San Isidro
  • San Jose
  • San Vicente
  • Santa Cruz
  • Tuboran
  • Tulan
  • Tumapic
  • Upper Salug Daku
  • Upper Santo Niño

Demographics edit

Population census of Mahayag
YearPop.±% p.a.
1970 22,493—    
1975 25,305+2.39%
1980 29,692+3.25%
1990 37,690+2.41%
1995 40,806+1.50%
2000 42,462+0.86%
2007 44,087+0.52%
2010 45,015+0.76%
2015 46,516+0.63%
2020 48,258+0.73%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[7][8][9][10]

Economy edit


Government edit

 
Municipal Hall

Elected officials edit

Members of the Mahayag Municipal Council (2019-2022)[18] Municipal officials:

  • Mayor Manuel Saladaga
  • Vice Mayor Lester Ace S. Espina
  • Councilors:
  1. Teomila A. Nobleza
  2. Felipe E. Caylan
  3. Elmer Perez
  4. Apolinar G. Sebandal
  5. Felipe Capadngan
  6. Eduardo B. Borado Jr
  7. Helen M. Maglasang
  8. Antonio Watin

Tourism edit

 
Eriberta Resorts

The town of Mahayag has a high eco-tourism potential, particularly, the cold springs in Barangay Tuburan, the cave system in Barangay Kaangayan, and the Salug River that traverses the Municipality.

Although the municipality has good eco-tourism potential, to date, only the cold springs in Barangay Tuburan have been developed as evidenced by the three private resorts in the area. This is the only tourist destination in Mahayag as of this time.

Government investment to promote and to develop eco-tourism remains to be desired. The cave system in Barangay Kaangayan, for example, due to its proximity to the national highway, can be developed to promote spelunking activities. On the one hand, studies can be undertaken on the feasibility of promoting whitewater rafting in the rapids of Salug River.

Education edit

In addition to the daycare centers in each barangay, at least one public elementary school exists in each of the 29 barangays in the municipality.

There are six public high schools and one private high school run by the Catholic Church in the municipality.

Although permitted to operate and offer Collegiate courses since the later part of the 1990s, no tertiary courses had been offered by the Santa Maria Goretti Diocesan School except during the time when it served as an extension campus of the Saint Columban College, Pagadian City.

College students who cannot afford to obtain their education from far places like Ozamiz or Pagadian, may still enroll post secondary classes or TESDA accredited short-term courses at the Pagadian Institute of Technology (PIT) campus in Mahayag, and college degrees like Bachelor in Secondary Education (BSED), Bachelor in Elementary Education (BEED) and Associate in Information Technology (AIT) at Josefina H. Cerilles State College- Mahayag External Studies Unit.

References edit

  1. ^ Municipality of Mahayag | (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). "Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Executive Order No. 393: Creating the Municipality of Mahayag in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Manila, Philippines: Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. May 10, 1960. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Mahayag: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  7. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  8. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  9. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Province of Zamboanga del Sur". 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. ^ "#PHVote 2019: Lone District, MAHAYAG Member, Sangguniang Bayan Race". ph.rappler.com. Retrieved 2021-02-11.

External links edit