Cateel

Cateel
Municipality of Cateel
Aliwagwag Falls
Map of Davao Oriental with Cateel highlighted
Interactive map of Cateel
Cateel
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 7°47′24″N 126°27′11″E / 7.79°N 126.4531°E / 7.79; 126.4531
CountryPhilippines
RegionDavao Region
ProvinceDavao Oriental
District 1st district
EstablishedOctober 29, 1903[1]
Barangays16 (see Barangays)
Government
[2]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorErlinda C. Nuñez
 • Vice MayorCamilo T. Nuñez
 • RepresentativeCorazon N. Malanyaon
 • Municipal Council
Members
  • Patrocenio I. Veroy
  • Anna Cheryl N. Castro
  • Alderito A. Silverio
  • Michael D. Rosalia
  • Isidro S. Castro
  • Wilbur Y. Chua
  • Brillo P. Quibo
  • Nemesio C. Magno III
 • Electorate33,776 voters (2025)
Area
 • Total
545.56 km2 (210.64 sq mi)
Elevation
233 m (764 ft)
Highest elevation
2,484 m (8,150 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)[4]
 • Total
45,623
 • Density83.626/km2 (216.59/sq mi)
 • Households
10,902
Economy
 • Income class2nd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
30.58
% (2021)[5]
 • Revenue₱ 306.9 million (2022)
 • Assets₱ 397.2 million (2022)
 • Expenditure₱ 256.6 million (2022)
 • Liabilities₱ 163.2 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityDavao Oriental Electric Cooperative (DORECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
8205
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)87
Native languagesDavawenyo
Surigaonon
Cebuano
Kalagan
Kamayo
Mandaya
Websitewww.cateel.gov.ph

Cateel ([kɐtiʔil]), officially the Municipality of Cateel (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Cateel; Tagalog: Bayan ng Cateel), is a municipality in the province of Davao Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,207 people.[6]

Cateel is home of the Aliwagwag Falls, located in Barangay Aliwagwag within the Aliwagwag Protected Landscape. It is a multi-tiered cascade regarded by hydraulic engineers as the highest waterfall in the country and is considered one of the most beautiful in the Philippines.

The falls consist of 84 cascading tiers resembling a stairway, with individual drops ranging from 2 to 33.5 meters (7 to 110 ft). Some of the notable tiers measure approximately 22 meters (72 ft) and 20 meters (66 ft). Overall, Aliwagwag Falls has a total height of about 340 meters (1,120 ft) and a width of around 20 meters (66 ft).

The waterfall is set within a largely undisturbed forest, and a river flows at its base, featuring 13 rapids.

History

Cateel is considered the first municipality established in Mindanao. It is also believed to be among the earliest landing sites of Spanish colonizers in the region, which is reflected in the predominantly Catholic composition of its population.

In 1959, Mainit and Alegria were converted into barrios.[7]

The municipality was one of the hardest-hit towns by Typhoon Bopha when it crossed the town on December 3, 2012.[8]

Geography

Climate

Cateel has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round with extremely heavy rainfall in December and January.

Climate data for Caraga
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.7
(85.5)
29.9
(85.8)
30.7
(87.3)
31.6
(88.9)
31.8
(89.2)
31.6
(88.9)
31.5
(88.7)
31.8
(89.2)
32.0
(89.6)
31.7
(89.1)
31.3
(88.3)
30.4
(86.7)
31.2
(88.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.7
(78.3)
25.9
(78.6)
26.3
(79.3)
27.1
(80.8)
27.4
(81.3)
27.2
(81.0)
27.0
(80.6)
27.2
(81.0)
27.3
(81.1)
27.1
(80.8)
26.9
(80.4)
26.3
(79.3)
26.8
(80.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 21.8
(71.2)
21.9
(71.4)
22.0
(71.6)
22.6
(72.7)
23.0
(73.4)
22.8
(73.0)
22.5
(72.5)
22.6
(72.7)
22.6
(72.7)
22.6
(72.7)
22.5
(72.5)
22.2
(72.0)
22.4
(72.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 794
(31.3)
581
(22.9)
532
(20.9)
344
(13.5)
233
(9.2)
113
(4.4)
110
(4.3)
92
(3.6)
92
(3.6)
182
(7.2)
300
(11.8)
675
(26.6)
4,048
(159.3)
Source: Climate-Data.org[9]

Barangays

Cateel is politically subdivided into 16 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

  • Abihod
  • Alegria
  • Aliwagwag
  • Aragon
  • Baybay
  • Maglahus
  • Mainit
  • Malibago
  • San Alfonso
  • San Antonio
  • San Miguel
  • San Rafael
  • San Vicente
  • Santa Filomena
  • Taytayan
  • Poblacion

Demographics

Population census of Cateel
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 4,101—    
1918 5,906+2.46%
1939 9,243+2.16%
1948 10,671+1.61%
1960 14,586+2.64%
1970 14,633+0.03%
1975 15,849+1.61%
1980 20,084+4.85%
1990 26,144+2.67%
1995 27,211+0.75%
2000 28,655+1.11%
2007 33,109+2.01%
2010 38,579+5.72%
2015 40,704+1.03%
2020 44,207+1.75%
2024 45,623+0.76%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[10][11][12][13][14]

Economy

Poverty incidence of Cateel

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
42.29
2003
39.32
2006
23.10
2009
53.49
2012
28.83
2015
30.61
2018
32.70
2021
30.58

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

References

  1. ^ "[Act No. 21] AN ACT Providing for the establishment of the municipalities of Mati, Davao, Makar, Cottabato, Malabang, Dapitan, Cateel, Baganga and Caraga, and enlarging the municipalities of Iligan and Zamboanga" (PDF). Report of the Governor of the Moro Province.: 29–30. October 29, 1903. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  2. ^ Municipality of Cateel | (DILG)
  3. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  5. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  6. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  7. ^ "R.A. No. 2105, An Act Creating Certain Barrios in the Municipality of Cateel, Province of Davao". LawPH.com. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  8. ^ "Typhoon death toll climbs to over 200". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  9. ^ "Climate: Cateel". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  10. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  11. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region XI (Davao Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  12. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region XI (Davao Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  13. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region XI (Davao Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  14. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  15. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  16. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  17. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  18. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  19. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  20. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  21. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  22. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.