Location
Located at 8°11’N, 125°51’E, Loreto is the largest municipality in Agusan del Sur, covering an extensive area of 1,850.54 square kilometers (185,054 hectares). In 2007, it ranked 7th among 1,634 municipalities nationwide, as documented in www.atlas.com.
This vibrant municipality consists of 17 regular barangays, with Barangay Kasapa notably encompassing a substantial land area of 76,828 hectares, representing 41% of Loreto's total land area.
Land Resources
Examining its land resources, Barangay Kasapa features the largest timberland area at 76,625 hectares, while Barangay Johnson has the smallest with only 64 hectares. The general land use plan designates specific areas for various purposes, including residential, commercial, and institutional zones, as well as timberland, agricultural areas, infrastructure utilities, tourism sites, industrial zones, cemeteries, river easements, parks, and plazas.
The landscape is primarily defined by production forests covering 69,631 hectares, followed by protected forests spanning 47,759 hectares. Agricultural activities occur on 15,884 hectares, while settlement areas occupy 765 hectares.
Notably, Barangay Poblacion dedicates 5,663.93 hectares to urban land use, bordered by the Umayan River to the north. The urban layout features nine municipal streets arranged in a grid pattern, with the current urban area extending to 5,276 hectares, which includes swamps and marshlands. Agriculture accounts for 43.68% of the land area, while residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and infrastructure areas combined make up 1.52%.
(Source: Loreto, Agusan del Sur MPDCO, CBMS 2018)
In summary, Loreto in Agusan del Sur is a diverse municipality rich in natural resources, showcasing a planned approach to land utilization that harmonizes urban development with environmental preservation. This makes Loreto an attractive location for both residents and investors looking for opportunities in sustainable growth and development.