Libona
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Libona, officially the Municipality of Libona (Bukid and Higaonon: Banuwa ta Libona; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Libona; Tagalog: Bayan ng Libona), is a municipality in the province of Bukidnon, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 51,555 people.
Libona is situated in the northern part of the province and is approximately 103 kilometers from Malaybalay, the capital city of Bukidnon. The municipality can be reached from Cagayan de Oro, the major trade center of Northern Mindanao, through a 52 kilometer-route passing Barangay Alae of Manolo Fortich, or through a 32 kilometer road northward passing Barangay Indahag, Cagayan de Oro.
History
According to folk history, gold had flourished in the locality that prompted people from the neighboring towns flocked into this place in their quest for the golden fame and fortune. It was said that on January 17, 1817, A Spanish soldier who was on patrol was tasked to write down the names of the places he would come across within the course of his mission. He happened to pass by a group of men who were digging gold on one of the gold mines. Talking in Spanish, the soldier inquired about the name of the place. The natives, who did not understand the language, thought the soldier was asking them how many gold ores they have already gathered. In response, the natives answered "libo na", meaning a thousand already. The Spanish soldier jotted the word "Libona" in his logbook believing it was the name of the locality.
Libona was once a municipal district of Maluko, now the Municipality of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, created under EO No. 5 dated April 4, 1917 issued by then acting Governor Ponciano C. Reyes of the defunct Department of Mindanao and Sulu. Due to its progressive stride in both the socio-economic and political infrastructure, Libona was finally able to separate itself from its mother municipality when it was granted political identity. then President Carlos P. Garcia, issued EO No. 272, dated October 4, 1957 declaring Libona a regular municipality. By virtue of the said order, Libona became the 14th municipality in the province of Bukidnon.
Geography
Barangays
Libona is politically subdivided into 14 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
| PSGC | Barangay | Population | ±% p.a. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2010 | |||||
| 101311001 | Capihan | 4.4% | 2,273 | 2,067 | ▴ | 0.68% |
| 101311002 | Crossing | 8.9% | 4,578 | 4,369 | ▴ | 0.34% |
| 101311003 | Gango | 12.0% | 6,173 | 4,884 | ▴ | 1.69% |
| 101311004 | Kiliog | 4.7% | 2,418 | 1,440 | ▴ | 3.78% |
| 101311005 | Kinawe | 7.9% | 4,062 | 3,815 | ▴ | 0.45% |
| 101311006 | Laturan | 5.7% | 2,927 | 2,921 | ▴ | 0.01% |
| 101311007 | Maambong | 4.3% | 2,239 | 1,917 | ▴ | 1.12% |
| 101311008 | Nangka | 3.5% | 1,784 | 1,515 | ▴ | 1.18% |
| 101311009 | Palabucan | 3.1% | 1,594 | 1,333 | ▴ | 1.29% |
| 101311010 | Poblacion | 6.7% | 3,471 | 3,113 | ▴ | 0.78% |
| 101311011 | Pongol | 6.9% | 3,579 | 3,485 | ▴ | 0.19% |
| 101311012 | San Jose | 7.3% | 3,738 | 3,387 | ▴ | 0.71% |
| 101311013 | Santa Fe | 4.2% | 2,154 | 2,506 | ▾ | −1.08% |
| 101311014 | Sil‑ipon | 5.8% | 2,979 | 2,641 | ▴ | 0.87% |
| Total | 51,555 | 39,393 | ▴ | 1.94% |
Climate
| Climate data for Libona, Bukidnon | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 26 (79) | 27 (81) | 27 (81) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 25 (77) | 26 (79) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21 (70) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 21 (70) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 21 (70) | 21 (70) | 21 (71) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 271 (10.7) | 217 (8.5) | 193 (7.6) | 178 (7.0) | 344 (13.5) | 423 (16.7) | 362 (14.3) | 358 (14.1) | 329 (13.0) | 320 (12.6) | 322 (12.7) | 260 (10.2) | 3,577 (140.9) |
| Average rainy days | 23.2 | 19.5 | 22.0 | 22.8 | 29.6 | 28.9 | 30.3 | 29.8 | 28.1 | 28.8 | 26.1 | 24.1 | 313.2 |
| Source: Meteoblue |
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1918 | 1,547 | — |
| 1939 | 3,727 | +4.28% |
| 1948 | 4,406 | +1.88% |
| 1960 | 10,653 | +7.63% |
| 1970 | 14,988 | +3.47% |
| 1975 | 16,481 | +1.92% |
| 1980 | 21,229 | +5.19% |
| 1990 | 29,652 | +3.40% |
| 1995 | 31,897 | +1.38% |
| 2000 | 33,273 | +0.91% |
| 2007 | 35,670 | +0.96% |
| 2010 | 39,393 | +3.68% |
| 2015 | 43,969 | +2.12% |
| 2020 | 48,965 | +2.29% |
| 2024 | 51,555 | +1.25% |
| Source: Philippine Statistics Authority |
In the 2024 census, the population of Libona was 51,555 people, with a density of 140 inhabitants per square kilometre or 360 inhabitants per square mile.
Economy
Poverty incidence of Libona
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority
Local government
Municipal officials (2022-2025):
- Mayor: Aurelio B. Lopez
- Vice Mayor: Leonardo Genesis T. Calingasan
- Sangguniang Bayan Members: Hanalee T. Calingasan Noel B. Woo Czar Ian R. Abas Feliciano C. Gabito Jr. Vladimir P. Gallego Rex W. Tacandong Fernando P. Ibarita Rella A. Fernandez
Education
- Learning Centers
The MSWDO have established several Children learning centers in the municipality where in fact every barangays have one or two centers and it includes the National Child Development Center.
- Preparatory
The most notable one is the San Miguel Escuela de Jesus Nazareno in the barangay of Crossing.
DepEd Libona are divided into two districts; the Libona 1 and Libona 2
- Elementary Schools
Currently Libona have 23 public and 2 private Elementary Schools that caters the youth of the different barangays in the municipality.
- Junior/Senior High Schools
1.Libona National High School (Crossing) 2.Kinawe National High School (Kinawe) 3.Hossana Academy of Bukidnon Inc. (Gango) 4.Sil-ipon Integrated School (Sil-ipon)
Tertiary/Higher institutions
1.Bukidnon State University - Libona Campus
Vocational/Training School
1. Woo Stride Training and Assessment Center
And also every barangay hosted Alternative Learning Systems for the out of-school-youth in the municipality.