BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE MUNICIPALITY
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

 

 

THE history of Wao emanates from the telling of significant events from the voices of the people themselves. According to few living pioneer settlers who lived in Wao until today, there were people of various ethnicities, from the south and north Cotabato, who were then gathered in Maramag, Bukidnon and sacrificed themselves hiking from Maramag to the place now called “Wao” on January 19, 1954, in order to resettle under the LASEDECO Program of the late President Ramon Magsaysay.

The commingling was the Filipino nation in a nutshell. All were searching for land to work on as their own as they had to live in dignity. Those settlers were welcomed by the Muslim resident of Wao, led by Sultan Mamaco Saripada, the first appointive and elective Mayor of Wao together with other Muslim brethren.

The newcomers and even the old-timers were recipients of government subsidy and support. For Wao to be viable in its beginnings, help from the central government subsidy and support. For Wao to be viable in its beginnings, help from the central government proved to be necessary. Eons past, the place, was a “no man’s land”. It was a hunting ground and a temporary place for agricultural activities. In their first few years, they had to clear the age-old trees. They flattened the land and replaced them with upland rice to survive on. They employed the technology of tagad in their farming. There was bayanihan, the people helped one another willingly without financial remuneration. The goal was to solidify comradeship as things were very informal in terms of land occupation. Legality of ownership would only commence in the late 1950s.

After seven (7) years, Wao was officially declared as Municipality of the Republic of the Philippines on February 22, 1961 by virtue of executive order no. 418. That historic event on January 19, 1954, withnessed by Col. Labaun, Chief of Police of Maramag, Bukidnon marked camaraderie among various tribes/ethnic groups in town (Ilokanos, Ilonggos, Cebuanos, Boholanos, Maranaos, Tausugs, Warays, Ivatans, Tagalogs, Batangueños, Manobos and few other ethnics) living together harmoniously among others, which are generally classified as Muslim and Christians.. In fact, 2 among those first batch of settlers became the Municipal Mayor of Wao: Captain Silverio Eleazar and Elvino Balicao, Sr.

Geographically, Wao spans an area of 35,404 hectares of rich and verdant flat, rolling and steep lands. It is one of the 39 municipality of Lanao del Sur, ARMM and geographically the farthest from the seat of the provincial government which is Marawi City, located at the southern tip of the province. It is landlocked municipality and located away from the crossroads of Bukidnon and Cotabato Province and is accessible by land and air transportation. The municipality is located outside the typhoon belt and is protected by mountains and hills against the onslaught of strong winds or heavy rains. Wao has 26 barangays, 4 of which are considered urban while the remaining 22 possess more of rural characteristics. 

In summary of Wao’s political history, the first appointed mayor of Wao was Sultan Mamaco Saripada. He served from 1961 until 1963, and won the first local election in 1963, there by ending his term in 1967. Captain Silverio Eleazar then followed; who was Re-elected in 1971, hence completed his 15 years of administration in 1982. Dionisio Baldeviso was the third elected mayor of Wao who served from 1982 to 1986. During the people power revolution, an officer in charge was designated in the person of Wilfredo Villalba to serve as Mayor. In the 1988 local elections, Attorney Remedios Guiab won over former Mayor Villalba and was re-elected in 1992, there by served her full three terms as Municipal Mayor until 1998. Next to her was Hon. Elvino C. Balicao, Sr, the former Vice Mayor who also served office of three consecutive terms from 1988 to 2007. After him, his son Hon. Elvino B. Balicao, Jr, the former ABC president, was elected and also served three consecutive terms as Mayor of the municipality from 2007-2016. Ret.Col. Bobby B. Balicao, AFP, 2016-2019 and presently Hon. Elvino B. Balicao, Jr. the 2022 elected Municipal Mayor of Wao.

Under the Governance of various mayors, Wao was able to accomplish great things for its advancement. The Municipality received two (2) GALINGPOOK AWARDS (2010) for its Watershed Management and Solid Waste Management. Also, Wao has been a constant awardee of Seal of Good Housekeeping since 2011 and awarded with the Seal of Good Local Governance from DILG National Office to name a few. And Wao has received numerous awards making it one of the Most Competitive Municipality in BARMM.
In addition to these advancement, are the establishment of Land Bank of the Philippines Wao Branch, Wao Water District, FIBECO Field Office, Schools, Wao District Hospital, Birthing Clinic, Philhealth Service Desk, Category 1 Sanitary Landfill, tourism sites, business establishment and many more. Wao is almost complete of its facilities that cater the needs of its constituents. All of these are the fruits of sacrifices done by our settlers and Muslim residents of Wao who welcomed them and worked together in making Wao a better place to live in. Waonians is truly a proof of success though unity in diversity. And that makes Wao a Wonderland of Adventure and Opportunities

-Wao Municipal Tourism Office