Iligan City

     The name Iligan is from the Higaunon word "iligan" or "ilijan," meaning "fortress of defense" against frequent attacks by pirates and other hostile Mindanao tribes.

     But now, Iligan City is described as the” City of Majestic Waterfalls” in the Philippines because of its unique natural attractions. It’s not only known for its rich natural resources, but also the home of nationally acclaimed artist, poets, cultural workers, and writers.

     It encompasses 44 barangays with a land area of 81,337 hectares, which is about 25 percent of the total land area of Lanao del Norte and is 3.13 percent of the land area of Central Mindanao. As of Year 2000, the estimated population of the city is 325,184. By Year 2010, the population is projected to be 461,370. New household formation is estimated to be 26,000. Their major dialect in the city is Cebuano, which is reported as the mother tongue of the population.

     Iligan City's topography is characterized by a narrow coastal alluvial plain fronting Iligan Bay at the foot slopes of undulating hills and mountains. Several river valleys are found in the city with relatively steep slopes. At the mouth of Agus River, very steep slopes separate the coast line and the highland areas. Over 12% of the city's land area has elevations of less than 100 meters above mean sea level (amsl), 21% are within 100 to 300 meters amsl, while the remaining areas of more than 65% are with elevations of 300 meters amsl and above. It’s a cross road of the cultural mix of the Lanao del Sur, Bukidnon, and the Christian settlers and migrants from the Visayas and other places of Mindanao.

     Their predominant vegetative cover consists of coconut groves and banana plantations which are found in plateaus and other lowlands as well as in slopes and highlands. Heavy tropical forests are found in slopes of 30% and greater and these are mostly located inland. A few swampy areas covered with marsh grass are within the barangays of Del Carmen and Bagong Silang. Some fruit trees such as mango, durian, jackfruit and tropical hardwood like lauan, molave, apitong, etc., are scattered in cultivated areas in the hinterland barangays.

     Their climate is Type C, characterized by a short dry period of one to three months. Heavy rains usually occur in the months of January, February, June, September and December. Lowest rainfall recorded is in the month of April.

Original essay by Patricia Nicole
October 4, 2004

 

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