San Francisco, officially the Municipality of San Francisco (Cebuano: Lungsod sa San

Francisco; Tagalog: Bayan ng San Francisco), is a 1st class municipality in

the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population
of 74,542 people.[3]
In 2013, San Francisco topped first as the "Most Competitive Municipality in the Philippines"
according to the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) from out of the 163 first-class
municipalities covered by their index.[4]
The protected area of the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary can also be reached in San
Francisco thru the Barangays Caimpugan and New Visayas.

The town is known for the gigantic Toog Tree of Alegria, which is the most sacred tribal tree
for many of the indigenous peoples of San Francisco. The town is also popular for its Irosin
stone crafts, which has been the cottage industry of many indigenous families in the area for
hundreds of years. Due to the town's commendable folk arts and crafts made in stone, many
scholars have suggested for its nomination in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

The town's name is sometimes colloquially shortened to "San Franz" or alternately spelled
"San Frans".

History[edit]
The birth of San Francisco is associated with the history of Agusan and Surigao del Sur. Before
San Francisco became a municipality, it was part of the District of Gibong, which was then
governed by Deputy Governor Francisco Cataylo. During this period, the district comprised
the barrios of Santa Ana, Caimpugan, Ebro, Borbon, La Caridad, Prosperidad, Azpetea and Los
Arcos, with Santa Ana the seat of government. Like other barrios, Santa Ana comprised
several sitios, including Sitio Hagpa, which was the site of the present day San Francisco.
Hagpa was coined from a Manobo word for "swampy" as the sitio was a small village nestled
along the Adlayan River and inhabited by Manobo tribes.

The opening of the Province of Agusan del Sur to most parts of Mindanao came during the
government of President Ramon Magsaysay who ordered the first road survey to be
conducted by the Department of Highway in 1952. In early 1954, road construction began
paving the way for the institution of public land subdivision and the in-migration of different
local tribes and settlers from the various provinces of Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon.

Hagpa was later renamed San Francisco in honor of Deputy District Governor Francisco
Cataylo. In early 1955, the first local government was established as San Francisco was
created as a Municipal District. Francisca Tesoro Samson was appointed as the first Municipal
District Mayor by then Provincial Governor Felixberto Dagani. In June 21, 1959,
through Republic Act No. 2518, San Francisco was officially created into a regular municipality
of the Province of Agusan.[5] In the same year, the first local officials of the municipality were
elected with the Atty. Paquito Fuentes as the first elected municipal mayor, who served for
three consecutive terms of office. He was succeeded by his vice mayor, Cresencio Ausmolo
who stayed in office by operation of law during the latter half-portion of his last term.
Eight years after its creation as a regular municipality, on June 17, 1967, through Republic Act
No. 4979, the Province of Agusan was divided into the Provinces of Agusan del Norte and
Agusan del Sur, in which San Francisco was part of the latter. [6] The continued growth of
Agusan del Sur also saw the development of the municipality of San Francisco. Its growing
population later paved the way for the creation of the municipality of Rosario
through Republic Act No. 5760 approved by President Diosdado Macapagal on June 21, 1969,
just two years after the creation of Agusan del Sur. As a result, the several barrios of San
Francisco including Bayugan III, Wasi-an, Santa Cruz, Cabawan, Cabantao, Marfil and
Tagbayagan were incorporated in the newly created municipality. [7] The barrios of
Buenasuerte, Caimpogan, Pasta, Lapinigan, Ebro, New Visayas, Bayugan II, Borbon, Tagapua,
Pisaan, Santa Ana, Hubang, Alegria, San Isidro, Das-agan, Ladgadan, Lucac, Bitan-agan and
Poblacion consisting of five barrios as stated in PD No. 86 dated December 31, 1972,
remained to form part of the 39,253-hectare Municipality of San Francisco. The barrios of
Rizal, Ormaca, Mate and Karaos were later created and added to form final 27 barangays of
the present day San Francisco.

Geography[edit]
San Francisco is located at 8°31′N 125°59′E.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 392.53
square kilometres (151.56 sq mi) [2]constituting 3.93% of the 9,989.52-square-kilometre-
(3,856.98 sq mi) total area of Agusan del Sur.