Cateel History

Cateel is one of the oldest towns in the region and was once a part of the encomienda system during the Spanish regime.  A certain province of Caraga was composed of four encomiendas namely: Encomienda de Butuan, Encomienda de Surigao, Encomienda de Tandag and Encomienda de Bislig.  Cateel formed part of Encomienda de Bislig. This remarkable event is recorded in the history of Cateel.  It was created as regular municipality on October 29, 1903, by virtue of Organic Act No. 21, creating Cateel as one of the municipalities in the entire region. This Act emanated from the Philippine Commission through the passage of the Legislative Council of the Moro Province. As provided for in this Act , the town’s territorial jurisdiction shall include all territories bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by the eight parallel of north latitude, on the west by the watershed of the mountains parallel  the coast and on the South  by the parallel of latitude about seven degrees thirty-five minutes north which runs through the middle of the swamp lying between the Rio Matuban and the puegle of Quinablangan, and all islands within the three marine league limit.

Sergeant Juan Camacho dela Peña and Father Miguel de Sto. Tomas arrived in Cateel in 1610.  They landed at the northern side of the river bank now called Sitio Lapad, Barangay San Rafael.  After giving their offering for a safe landing, the two (2) encomenderos entered within the vicinity following the path. They came to a land where a man was busy splitting a piece of rattan vine.  Then the strangers asked the man what the place was called. The man thinking that what the strangers were asking him was what he was splitting the man replied ‘CATEEL’ From then on, the valley and the river has been called “CATEEL”.

In 1840, Governor Luis Lardizabal sent an expedition to the eastern Mindanao to organize municipalities and settlements having a considerable number of inhabitants.  Cateel was one of these places that had been organized.  Several events happened in the succeeding years.  In 1856, the town site was moved from Lapad to the seacoast where it is presently located in the poblacion.

Shortly after the Spanish regime in 1901, the American Military Government was established. Remegio Magno was the first Municipal President appointed to the town’s premier post. The American Civil Government followed after the Military Government. The appointment to the post of Mariano Dacuycuy as the town’s Municipal President was timely because his most famous act at that time was primarily focused on the ‘giving of freedom to the slaves in Cateel’. Few years later, Cateel was created under Organic Act No. 21 October 29, 1903.

The inauguration of the Philippine Republic on July 4, 1946 marked another milestone for the Philippine History.  Francisco Castro became the first elected mayor while Gregorio Dacuycuy, Sr. was elected member of the provincial board.  The town’s chief executives had the titular post as municipal presidents during the early part of the American Regime. The titular post Municipal Mayor has been addressed to the town’s Chief Executives since the Commonwealth period to present are as follows: The following town’s Chief Executive who were either appointed or elected to office are the following:

Town’s Chief Executives- from 1900 up to the Present

NEMESIO GONZALES MAGNO, SR. (1986-1987)

He was appointed OIC Municipal Mayor by Pres. Corazon C. Aguino under a revolutionary Government replacing OIC-Mayor Agardo D. Reyes (1987). The July 23, 1986 big fire that razed the ground more than half the number of residential and commercial establishments in the...

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AGARDO DIANSAY REYES, SR. (1986)

Elected Municipal Councilor in 1972 later appointed OIC Municipal Mayor by Pres. Corazon C. Aquino under a revolutionary Government on April 28, 1986. He initiated and caused the opening of the then Cateel Community College in 1986.

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GISELO VELASCO CASTILLONES (1983-1986)

He was elected Municipal Vice-Mayor of Cateel in 1982, later assumed the office of the Municipal Mayor by law of succession. He continued the construction of the new municipal building left by his predecessor by securing funds for its completion at then same time...

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PROCULO BAGTUSAN ABARCA, SR. (1972-1983)

It was during his term that the Cateel-Boston road was opened through his constant follow up from the then Provincial Governor the late Teodoro Palma Gil. This road has made accessible to the road users since 1980 up to the present. The construction of the new...

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ELANO AGUJETAS CABRERA (1968-1971)

He devoted to developing agriculture as his administration primary concern by encouraging communal irrigation for rice farmers. Relatively, he also caused the availability of potable water system. at the same time improved the electric light system. He worked hard for...

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Municipality of Cateel Barangays

The Municipality of Cateel is composed of sixteen (16) barangays with the opposite legal basis for its creation as illustrated below:

 

BARANGAY BASIS OF CREATION DATE CREATED
1 Abejod Resolution No. 80 May 15, 1968
2 Alegria RA 3590 June 22, 1963
3 Aliwagwag Resolution No. 169-A August 28,1968
4 Aragon RA 3590 June 22,1963
5 Baybay Resolution No. 79 May 15, 1968
6 Maglahus RA 3590 June 22, 1963
7 Mainit RA 3590 June 22, 1963
8 Malibago Resolution No. 322 August 16, 1969
9 Poblacion RA 3590 June 22, 1963
10 San Alfonso RA 3590 June 22, 1963
11 San Antonio RA 3590 June 22, 1963
12 San Miguel Resolution No. 347 May 15, 1969
13 San Rafael RA 3590 June 22, 1963
14 San Vicente Resolution No. 90 May 22, 1968
15 Sta. Filomena RA 3590 June 22, 1963
16 Taytayan RA 3590 June 22, 1963
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