Misamis Occidental: The Municipality of Don Victoriano Chiongbian

Don Victoriano Chiongbian (Formerly Don Mariano, May 21,1982 ) is a 4th class municipality in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 9,319 people in 1,815 households.It’s located in the southwestern part of Misamis Occidental with approximately 53,000 land hectares.

Climate

Distinct dry season from the month of February to April and wet throughout the remaining months. The rainfall pattern is slightly bimodal with the months of August and September somewhat dryer while the months of June to July and October to November exhibit relatively high rainfall, peaking in the later period and declining significantly in December. Average temperatures ranges from 22-25 degrees Celsius, and average relative humidity are 82 degrees Celsius.

Income and Products

The major agricultural activity of the province of Misamis Occidental is the coconut industry- based as the majority of its land use is reserved for coconut production. Most Commercial activities are centered on a spring of municipal towns located around the coastal fringes, where business establishments are concentrated.

Most of the inhabitants of Don Victoriano earn their livelihood from crop production, though a major undeclared source of livelihood is small-scale illegal logging. The main crops planted by the farmers are corn (100%), rice (55%) and coconut (27%). The total area annually planted to crops includes 1.0 hectare of corn, 0.5 hectares of coconut, and other include coffee.

Most farmers claim about one hectare is also planted with fruit trees though this usually refers to old established kaingin, Although crops yield are generally low 50-90 and of harvest are sold. Most farmers also raised livestock including carabaos, swine, goats and a dozen chickens.

Early Settlers

Most families are Subanon while migrants are mostly of Boholano Origin and have resided in the area since.

Socio-Economic Conditions

The average farmer is about 40 years old and most own their dwellings. About 45% are owner cultivators, 28% are claimants, 18% are share tenants and 9% are pseudo tenants. Sixty-four percent (64%) of the settlers are full-time farmers while 18% work part time on their farms. About 20% of wives work part time or assist their husbands on the farm.

Most children also help in the farm work. The municipality has the second highest rate of severely underweight pre-school children in Misamis Occidental. Municipality of Concepcion ranks first throughout the province.

Due to distance, poor roads and the rugged terrain not normally being passable by vehicular transport to the nearest school, very few children have the chance to finish high school, aggravating high incidence of poverty. Majority of the Subanens (55%) are illiterates. Two thirds (64%) of the settlers have had the opportunity for schooling only to elementary grade. About 10% are high school graduates and a few have earned college degrees.

Six elementary schools, aside from schools, support the educational needs of the municipality of Don Victoriano but three of this lie outside the municipality in the adjoining provinces. There are only (3) three schools in Don Victoriano municipality at Barangays Lalud, Napangan and Nueva Vista. All are elementary only.

Barangays

Don Victoriano Chiongbian is politically subdivided into 11 barangays

Bagong Clarin
Gandawan
Lake Duminagat
Lalud
Lampasan
Liboron
Maramara
Napangan
Nueva Vista (Masawan)
Petianan
Tuno

These former barangays were extracted horn their mother municipality listed hereunder and enumerated as follows, to wit:

          I. Municipality of Tudela
                    a. Barangay Lampasan
                    b. Barangay Lalud
                    c. Tuno

          II. Municipality of Jimenez
                    a. Barangay Liboron
                    b. Barangay Lake Duminagat
                    c. Barangay Gandawan
                    d. Barangay Mansawan (Nueva Vista)

III. Municipality of Sinacaban
a. Barangay Napangan

IV. Municipality of Clarin
a. Barangay Bag-ong Clarin

          V. Municipality of Bonifacio
                    a. Barangay Petianan
                    b. Barangay Maramara

          VI. Municipality of Panaon (Portion)
                    a. Sitio Sinampongan
                    b. Sitio San Juan

Bounded on the North by the Municipality of Concepcion and the City of Oroquieta; on the South by the Municipality of Bonifacio; on the East by the Municipalities of Sinacaban, Clarin, Tudela and Jimenez; on the We& by the Province of Zamboanga del Sur (Municipality 6f Josefina).

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