City of Golden Friendship

Location

Cagayan de Oro is geographically located along the central coast of Northern Mindanao. between the latitude 8^o 14' to 8^o 31'5" and longitudes 124^o 27' to 124^o 49' cast. It borders two provinces on the south namely: Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon. It is bounded by two municipalities of Misamis Oriental - Tagoloan and Opol on the east and west respectively. Its strategic location and its considerable coastline have made it the principal commercial center of Northern Mindanao.

Political Subdivision

• Cagayan de Oro is divided into 80 barangays, 40 of which are within the Poblacion, and 40 other barangays are outside the Poblacion.
  
  
• Based on the criteria set by the National Statistics Office, the urban barangays as of 1995 include: all Poblacion barangays (Barangays 1-40). Agusan, Bayabas, Bonbon, Bugo, Bulua, Camaman-an, Carmen, Consolation, Gusa, Kauswagan, Lapasan, Macabalan, Macasandig, Nazareth, Patag, Puntod and Tablon
  
  
• The rural barangays on the other hand consist of Baikingon, Balubal, Balulang, Bayanga, Besigan, Canitoan, Cugman, Dansolihon, F.S. Catanico, Indahag, Iponan, Lumbia, Mambuaya, Pagalugan, Pagatpat, Pigsag-an, Puerto, San Simon, Taglimao, Tagpangi, Tignapoloan, Tuburan, and Tumpagon.

Land Area and Land Forms

The total land area of Cagayan de Oro is 48,885.83 hectares or 488.86 square kilometers representing 13.9% of the entire Misamis Oriental. It includes about 25 kilometers of coastline and a fine deep water harbor, Macajalar Bay.

Its major landforms are describe below

Population Size, Growth and Distribution

At the beginning of the Spanish existence the population of Cagayan de Oro was only 900. In 1750, the population was estimated to between 1,660 and 3,000. Over the span of one century, the population multiplied several times reaching about 11,500 in 1879.

By 1903, the population was roughly, 21,179. It took more than a century to double the population. Some thirty-one years later, the population had double again. Since then, the time was between 1960 and 1971 at an annual population growth rate of 6.552%.

The fastest population growth that the City experienced was in 1975-80 period with an annual rate of 6.589%. In 1980-1990 intercensal period the rate dropped to 4.096%, but it slightly increased to 4.751% during 1990-1995.

With the City's 1995 population of 428,314, growing at an annual rate of 4.751%, it is expected that this number will double by the year 2010.

Population Density

In 1975, Cagayan de Oro barely had 338 persons in every kilometer. Through the years, the steady population incrase consequently made the City denser by 876 persons per square kilometer in 1995.

Apparently, the more densely settled part of the City is the core which consist of 40 poblacion barangays and 17 adjoining non-poblacion barangays. These 57 barangays occupy 20% of the entire city, yet 82% of its population are concentrated here, revealing an average density of 3,519 person per square kilometer in 1995. Owing to this, these barangays are now classified urban.

The remaining, 23 barangays, which are sparely populated are considered rural. The average density is only 203 person per square kilometer.

Fertility and Morality

General fertility rate has remarkably been declining from 146 birth per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years in 1985 to 134 to 1990 and down to 108 in 1995.

Crude birth rate in 1985 was 36 birth per 1,000 population and reduced to 30 in 1995.

It also depicts that death of senior citizens (65 years old and over) recorded highest in number registering more than 26% of the total deaths. This was followed by infants, 11% then by those aged 60-64, 8%. Among the age groups, children between ages of 10 to 14 years have had the lowest morality.

The excess of birth over deaths or the natural incrase which was largely responsible for the population growth. It can be observed however, that the proportion of natural incrase to the total population increment has dropped from 73% to 51% in 1985 and 1995, respectively.

Public Safety

The total strength of the Philippine National Police personnel assigned with Cagayan de Oro Police Command is 383. This reflects an average ratio of one policeman is every 1,118 people.

The City Command has its headquarters located at the Maharlika Building in Barangay Carmen. It has nine sub-station strategically located in the following areas.

The City maintains three centers for prisoners/offenders, namely Lumbia Rehabilitation and Detention Center; the Maharlika Jail; and the Tahanan (for minor offenders).

Crimes statistics shows declining rate, indicates 83% decreases in crime incidence for the period of 1990-1995.

Crime incidence very month is about 62, 38 of which were index crimes. On the average, one index crime is committed everyday.

Agriculture

The City's total land area is 48,885.83 hectares. Approximately 65% of the City is devoted to agriculture in 1995. Of the agricultural cover, 2,276.4 hectares are devoted to crops. Some 809.62 hectares have been added to the 1992's crop area.

• Production has increased in 1995, which may be partly attributed to the aforsaid expansion. Total volume harvested has surged up to 18,002.53 metric tons in 1995., posting a 427% rise over 3,100.329 kgs of 1992.
• Crops produced are both food and commercial crops. Food crops include rice, corn and vegetables, while commercial crops are banana, cacao, coffee, rootcrops and fruits and nuts. Among the crops, banana production is dominant, constituting 68% (12,302 m.t.).
• To some extent, the City has been dependent on the supply of rice and corn from neighboring provinces and countries despite of its increasing local production.

Natural Resources

Cagayan de Oro is endowed with mineral resources, metallic and non-mettalic. Data metallic deposits, however, are not available.

Non-metalic deposits are the most popular and are widely used for industrial agricultural purposes. These include sand, gravel, limestone, and feldspar.

It should be noted that many of the areas in Cagayan de Oro are bedded with limestones bodies. Larger exposed limestone bodies are in the vicinity of Indahag.

Trade and Industry

The level of investment in the City has continuously been accelerating. Indicative to this is the increasing magnitude of business establishments - up by 20% over 8,312 of 1992. Wholesale and retail trade remain preponderate, constituting 60% of the businesses.

Consonant with the incrase of business activities is the rise of employment opportunities. The community, social and personal services sector has generated the most number of opportunities, employing 39,000 persons in 1995. Wholesale and retail trade have employed 35,000 people.

83,000 or 56% of the employed persons in all industry groups are depending on salaries and wages. Family workers who are not paid represent the smallest group 15,000 or 10%.

The highest inflation rate during the 1992-1995 period was felt in 1994 when the average consumer price index grew by 9.27%. The present inflation rate is lower by 1.33% than in the previous year.

By commodity group, fuel/light/water has consistently been the highest index annually during the same period.

Foreign - Performance in foreign trade has improved in 1995. Total export earnings reach P7,497.234M in 1995, higher by 187 percent from P2,611,212M of 1992. Export items are sent to 45 different countries, but the bulk are concentrated to ten countries.