GIGAQUIT- is one of the oldest municipalities in the Province of Surigao del Norte, founded in 1850 and is the mother municipality of Bacuag and Claver which became separate municipalities in 1918 and 1955 under executive order number 61 & 125 respectively.
The municipality of Gigaquit consists of 13 barangays, interiorly located facing the pacific ocean and bounded in the east by the municipality of Claver, on the west by the municipality of Bacuag, on the north by the sea and on south by the municipalities of Alegria and Kitcharao in the Province of Agusan del Norte. It is the second to the last municipality of Surigao del Norte going to Surigao Del Sur in the south via the coastal highway. It lies approximately between the grid 125 o 40 o to 125 o 45 o north latitude and between the grids 9 o 26 o East longitude.
The climate is similar to the rest of the municipalities of the Province of Surigao del Norte which is classified as type II. It has the absence of the pronounced dry season but with maximum rainfall from November to January. It occupies a land area of 24,147 hectares including the land used for agriculture, built up, swamp/marshland, rivers/creek, forest land and open grass. Two barangays are situated in the urban area barangay Alambique and Ipil and 11 barangays found in rural area. It is 550 nautical miles from Manila and 58km. away from Surigao city, the provincial capital. Accessibility and mobility is highly concrete from the national road to the provincial road down to the municipal road and other infrastructure which contains gravel in some barangay road.
PEOPLE
Majority of the community folks speaks Surigaonon (with unique Gigaquitnon accent). Boholanon, English and Tagalog are also widely spoken. Some Gigaquitnons especially in the upland areas still have same cultures and tradition inherited from the local ancestors but which are now seldom practiced by the new generation due to today’s new trends. Gigaquit has a total population of 18,870. Barangay San Isidro is the most populous having 3,184 residents and the least populated is Barangay Anibongan containing only 217 people. Christianity is the religion by almost all in the municipality while a few has different religious practices.
ECONOMY
Although Gigaquit is classified as a 4th class municipality within the province of Surigao del Norte, the wages of government employees are considered to be in 3rd class category. The major economic activities are agriculture, industry, and fishing. The municipality is blessed with continuous productivity given by Mother Nature through its rich environmental assets.
During ancient times, early settlers have established a busting economic activity known as “barter trade” between the natives and foreign traders from as far as China and India. Eventually, this activity vanished owing to the advent of new inventions that changed the dynamics of trade.
In the urban area, general merchandising is quite active which contribute to local employment opportunities. Commerce and trade in Barangay San Isidro is flourishing as the area served as the center for economic production due to central location and proximity to the provincial road. The tourism sector has a great potential also for economic contribution. It needs to be developed to meet and satisfy visiting tourists needs for good quality service.
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