BRIEF HISTORY OF DON VICTORIANO
(Formerly Don Mariano) Misamis Occidental
By: Paul E. Pacalioga

Batas Pambansa No.1200 - An Act creating the Municipality of Don Mariano on May 21,1982. The hinterland barangays of Mt. Malindang, Province of Misamis Occidental was created into one unified municipality by virtue of B.P. No.1200 “An Act creating the municipality of Don Mariano in the Province of Misamis Occidental” 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

Appointed 1982-1986 Government Officials

                                             Mayor Quinciano J. Ninang, Sr.

Vice Mayor Sulpicio de la Vega (deceased)

                                                                    Councilors

Martin Magsayo

Perfecto Lumbay

Enesto Palma

Acrosildo Lapura

Virgilio Ending

Felicisimo Balbuena

Regulo Cabasag - ABC President

Elected 1982-1986 Government Officials

Mayor - Jenaro S. Par&des (resigned in the year 1988)

Catalino J. Maloloy-on took over, reelected 1990

Councilors

Martin Magsayo

Ernesto Palma

Agustin Montipon

Perfecto Sumibay

Virgilio Ending

Pablito Gulane

Diosdado Damdas

Acrosildo Lapura (Replacing Pardillo)

Don Victoriano Basic Information

Classification: 6^th class municipality. Timoay of their Chieftains were their recognized leaders and they recently organized themselves into an organization known, as TRICAP with their respective members are purely Subanon in origin.

TRICAP – Tribal Community Association of the Philippines (Misamis Occidental Chapter)

Location - Southwestern part of the Province of Misamis Occidental.

Land Area - 53,000 hectares (approximate value).

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.

Population and Demography - In 1990 the total population of Don Victoriano municipality is approximately estimated at 11,664 or 35 per square kilometer, the lowest population density in the Province (Ozamiz City has the highest at 554 per square kilometer) with 85% of its population being Subanen. However, Don Victoriano has the largest number of tribes’ people. In general, the municipality of Don Victoriano is purely agricultural, relatively depressed and an isolated municipality.

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.

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).

Barangays of Don Victoriano

1. Liboraon

2. Lake Duminagat

3. Gandawan

4. Mansawan (Nueva Vista)

5. Napangan

6. Lalud

7.Tono

8. Lampasan

9. Bag-ong Clarin

10. Petianan

11. Maramar


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.