Pilar, Surigao del Norte
| Pilar | ||
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| Municipality | ||
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 Map of Surigao del Norte with Pilar highlighted |
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 Pilar
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| Coordinates: 09°52′N 126°06′E / 9.867°N 126.100°ECoordinates: 09°52′N 126°06′E / 9.867°N 126.100°E | ||
| Country | Philippines | |
| Region | Caraga (Region XIII) | |
| Province | Surigao del Norte | |
| District | 1st district of Surigao del Norte | |
| Barangay | 15 | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Lucio Tiu Gonzales | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 77.11 km2 (29.77 sq mi) | |
| Population (2015 census) | ||
| • Total | 9,752 | |
| • Density | 130/km2 (330/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) | |
| ZIP code | 8420 | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)86 | |
| Income class | 5th municipal income class | |
| 166716000 | ||
| Electorate | 7,476 voters as of 2016 | |
Pilar is a fifth class municipality on Siargao Island in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. It is bounded by the Municipality of San Isidro to the north, Municipality of Del Carmen to the west, Municipality of Dapa to South and Philippine Sea to the east. It used to be a barrio of Dapa until its creation as a separate municipality on October 31, 1953 by virtue of Executive Order No. 638 issued by then President Elpidio Quirino. Pilar has a natural harbor through a small inlet called Port Pilar. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 9,752 people.
Pilar is politically subdivided into 15 barangays, listed here with 2010 populations.
Town Proper Barangays (Poblacion)
Outlying Barangays
Almost all inhabitant are Christians and majority follows Roman Catholicism. Pilar is a parish under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Surigao. The town got its name from its patron saint, Our Lady of the Pillar.
Surigaonon is the local language. Cebuano, Filipino and English are also understood.
The town's economy is largely based on fishing and agriculture. Major agricultural produce are rice and coconut (copra).
Magpupungko is the most popular tourist destination in Pilar. It is famous for its lagoons which can only be seen during low tide. It also features picturesque limestone rock formations.
Other areas that can be explored by tourists are Taglungnan Beach and Tagbayanga Islets, which are across town proper and can be reach in 15–20 minutes by boat ride. Other beaches are Lukod Beach and Caridad Beach.
Pilar is also one of the surfing spots in Siargao and is less crowded. It is one and a half hour boat ride from General Luna, where the more popular surfing spot Cloud 9 is located. It holds many good lefts and is best surfed during NE swells. There are good breaks in front and near the town proper and in Barangay Caridad.
Pilar is popular to game fishing enthusiasts. The town hosts an annual invitational sport fishing event dubbed as Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament.
Pilar has an extensive mangrove forest reserve.
Various homestay facilities are available in town for tourists.
Thirty-six Philippine freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) were released in Paghongawan Marsh (misspelled by media as Paghowangan) in BarangayJaboy last March 2013 as part of conservation effort to bolster the population of this endangered reptile. The released crocodiles are all yearlings and were bred in captivity. The marsh extends 300 acres (120 hectares) in the dry season and more than 1,500 acres (600 hectares) in the wet season. These crocodiles are not endemic to Siargao and are smaller compared to saltwater crocodiles which can be found in the western side of Siargao, in the mangrove forest of Del Carmen town.
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Wikipedia