Pilar, Surigao del Norte

Pilar, officially the Municipality of Pilar (Surigaonon: Lungsod nan Pilar; Tagalog: Bayan ng Pilar), is a municipality in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 10,374 people.^[5]

Pilar
Municipality
Municipality of Pilar
Cottage at Magpupungko
Flag Seal
Map of Surigao del Norte with Pilar highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Pilar Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°51′50″N 126°06′03″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Caraga
Province	Surigao del Norte
District	1st district
Founded	October 31, 1953
Barangay	15 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Maria Liza G. Resurreccion
• Vice Mayor	Edito E. Salvaloza
• Representative	Francisco Jose F. Matugas II
• Electorate	8,989 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	77.11 km2 (29.77 sq mi)
Elevation	27 m (89 ft)
Highest elevation	259 m (850 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	11,135
• Density	140/km2 (370/sq mi)
• Households	2,569
Economy
• Income class	5th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	28.61 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 133.6 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 286.4 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 121.4 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 50.5 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Siargao Electric Cooperative (SIARELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	8420
PSGC	1606716000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)86
Native languages	Surigaonon Agusan Cebuano Tagalog

It is located on Siargao Island, 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.^[6] Pilar has a natural harbor through a small inlet called Port Pilar.

Geography

Barangays

Pilar is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

• Asinan (Poblacion)
• Caridad
• Centro (Poblacion)
• Consolacion
• Datu
• Dayaohay
• Jaboy
• Katipunan
• Maasin
• Mabini
• Mabuhay
• Pilaring (Poblacion)
• Punta (Poblacion)
• Salvacion
• San Roque

Climate

Climate data for Pilar, Surigao del Norte
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	27 (81)	27 (81)	28 (82)	29 (84)	30 (86)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	29 (84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	161 (6.3)	132 (5.2)	112 (4.4)	87 (3.4)	136 (5.4)	169 (6.7)	146 (5.7)	148 (5.8)	132 (5.2)	156 (6.1)	176 (6.9)	170 (6.7)	1,725 (67.8)
Average rainy days	20.0	16.2	18.3	17.5	24.0	26.7	27.5	27.5	26.5	26.4	23.8	21.1	275.5
Source: Meteoblue[7]

Demographics

Population census of Pilar

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1960	5,227	—
1970	6,291	+1.87%
1975	7,504	+3.60%
1980	8,646	+2.87%
1990	7,873	−0.93%
1995	8,299	+0.99%
2000	8,401	+0.26%
2007	8,023	−0.63%
2010	9,456	+6.16%
2015	9,752	+0.59%
2020	10,374	+1.31%
2024	11,135	+1.71%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11][12]

Religion

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.

Language

Surigaonon is the local language. Cebuano, Filipino and English are also understood.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Pilar

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 2000 65.14 2003 72.64 2006 54.40 2009 62.75 2012 46.38 2015 36.80 2018 37.41 2021 28.61 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

The town's economy is largely based on fishing and agriculture. Major agricultural produce are rice and coconut (copra).

Tourism

Various homestay facilities are available in town for tourists.

Magpupungko Lagoons and Rock Formations

Magpupungko Rock Formations

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 Beaches and 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.

Surfing

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.^[21]

Game Fishing

Pilar is popular to game fishing enthusiasts. The town hosts an annual invitational sport fishing event dubbed as Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament.^[22]

Mangrove Forest

Pilar has an extensive mangrove forest reserve.

Philippine Freshwater Crocodile

Thirty-six Philippine freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) were released in Paghongawan Marsh (misspelled by media as Paghowangan) in Barangay Jaboy 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.^[23]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Pilar is connected to Surigao City through the Port of Dapa. Jeepneys ply between Pilar and Dapa daily. It is connected to Cebu City and Metro Manila through Sayak Airport in the adjacent Municipality of Del Carmen. Habal-habal (motorcycle) can also be rented to service transportation needs.

Healthcare

Pilar has a district hospital but now mostly serve lying-in and maternity services. There is also a rural health center in the town proper.

Telecommunications

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company provides fixed line services. Wireless mobile communications services are provided by Smart Communications and Globe Telecommunications.

Education

Pilar is served by 2 high schools, Pilar National High School in the town proper and Pilar National High School - Caridad Annex in its biggest barangay, Caridad. There are also 12 elementary schools led by Pilar Central Elementary School.