Online Cantilangnon

Text and photos by Erwin Mascarinas, InterAksyon.com · Wednesday, May 30, 2012 · 5:34 pm

Ayoke Island’s clear cost facing the Pacific Ocean. Photo by Erwin Mascarinas, InterAksyon.com.

It’s hard not to be enticed by the stories from townfolk of an island blessed with nature’s bounty, superb beaches, and great surfing breaks only a few have visited and charted. With an extra day during my visit to the historic town of Cantilan in Surigao del Sur, I tried to find a way to set foot and discover one of the town’s four islands, namely Ayoke.

Fisherman in Ayoke Island checks his net for trapped fish. Photo by Erwin Mascarinas, InterAksyon.com.

Ayoke Island is a small fishing community of more than 100 families. Almost half of the island is part a marine protected area or a sanctuary wherein fishing, catching giant clams, and collecting coral is prohibited, making it perfect for snorkeling.

With the crystal clear blue water surrounding the island, you can choose from the different types of terrain you want to plunge yourself into. From the fine white-sand beach facing Cantilan to the rocky coastline facing the Pacific Ocean, whatever side of the island you’re on, the view is just amazing.

The pristine beach facing the mainland of the town of Cantilan. Photo by Erwin Mascarinas, InterAksyon.com.

The island has two areas for surfers who want to experience a different surfing experience. I enjoyed the scene when islanders between the ages of 9 to 13 years old started showing off their talents and surfing skills along the Tinago Reef crashing the waves like young professionals. A more challenging break for professional surfers is situated at the eastern end of the island where huge rock formations appear like sculptures on the coastline.

Young wave riders as young as 9 years old are already showing potential as future surfing champs. Photo by Erwin Mascarinas, InterAksyon.com.

Thirteen-year-old Lawrence Maturan shows a trick against the waves off Tinago Reef. Photo by Erwin Mascarinas, InterAksyon.com.

But what captivated me the most was the picturesque sunrise and sunset that engulf the sky above the island. Although sans the sun since the rainy weather gave way to the cloudy cover, nature took over and painted the sky with breathtaking colors. Discovering nature’s sky painting at it’s finest perfectly ended my day of discovering Ayoke Island.

Breathtaking view of sunset in Ayoke Island. Photo by Erwin Mascarinas, InterAksyon.com.

By Vanessa L. Almeda | Wednesday| September 19, 2012 | Filed under: Top Stories Mindanews

CARMEN, Surigao del Sur (MindaNews/18 September) – On August 18 and 19,  the Surigao Development Corporation (Sudecor), together with local police, apprehended some 190 round red Falcata logs or an equivalent of 157.62 cubic meters, estimated to cost P900,000 at the roadside of Barangay Cancavan, part of their concession area.

CLEAR CUT. Despite the log ban, illegal loggers managed to clear this portion of the forest managed by the Surigao Development Corporation. The company’s operation closure has opened the floodgates to illegal loggers. MindaNews photo taken September 8, 2012 by Roel N. Catoto

A month earlier, between July 14 and 17, round logs and sawn lumber of  yakal and red lauan hardwood species were found strewn and abandoned by illegal loggers  in various parts of Barangay Hinapuyan, also part of the Sudecor area, apparently waiting for transport under cover of darkness.

A documentation report sent to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) showed photographs of wreckers in Km. 18 along the Esperanza line in Sitio Gacub, Barangay Hinapuyan and another in Km. 20 at Sagimsim Spurline.

For the Social Action Center (SAC) and environmental watchdogs, the seizure of these logs has opened a Pandora’s box as it led to allegations of  involvement of  officials ironically tasked to oversee the implementation of  Executive Order 23.

Rowil Aguillon, Woods Division head of Sudecor’s Management Committee, said that on Aug. 18, a certain “Jhero King” talked to him over the phone and ordered the immediate release of the logs confiscated that day.  Aguillon narrated that when he refused, King, who was later identified as Roland Seblario, allegedly threatened him: “Wag niyong pakialaman yang mga kahoy ko kundi magkakaputukan tayo.”(Don’t you dare touch my logs or we’ll shoot it out).

Aguilon alleged that the logs documented in July were also owned by Seblario. “Iya man ni tanan ang kahoy, basta gani naa ng wrecker iya na.”(He owns all those logs; when you see a wrecker that is his).

He said they have been sending to Cenro and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office documentation reports, including photographs, of illegal logging activities within the Sudecor area, since June 2011, when the company shut down operations.

He said Seblario also started to drop names including “Gen. Miranda” and Secretary  Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“Gen. Miranda” is retired Marine Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda,  Executive Director of the national Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force.

A peeved Miranda told MindaNews in a telephone interview Monday that he will have Seblario arrested if he is found to be “violating a regulation.”

He said he will not tolerate the use of his name to  “commit a crime.”
Miranda figured in the national scene as one of the brains behind several coup attempts against the Arroyo administration. He has availed of the Aquino government’s amnesty program and was appointed head of the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force.

Miranda said DENR Caraga, headed by Undersecretary Marlow Mendoza is tasked to investigate the confiscated logs, not him.

In the company of

Aguillon narrated that sometime on August 28 and 29, a police official informed him that Seblario and retired Army colonel Harry Taladua, the regional head of  the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force  in Caraga, were at the Community Environment and Natural Resources (Cenro) here “presumably to retrieve the logs.”

“What we are wondering is why (Seblario) was with Taladua when he is with the anti-illegal logging task force,” Aguillon said.
But Taladua denied allegations he went to the Cenro to help Seblario retrieve the logs.

He told MindaNews in a telephone interview on Sunday night, that he was at the Cenro here, as representative of the task force. Part of his job, he said, is to attend to the concerns of businessmen involved in the buying and selling of wood.

Taladua said Seblario earlier went to his office in Butuan City in Agusan del Norte province to seek “clarification” but denied knowing him on a personal basis.

Private property

“I am not helping anybody. I am just giving them the opportunity to talk,” Taladua said, adding Seblario brought with him a copy of a land title of a Manobo named “Iligan” to show proof that he bought the logs from a private individual.

“It will be up to the Cenro to prove whether the documents are legal since it is now under  adjudication,” he said.

But Aguillon said the company has a GPS reading, pictures and other documents to show that the logs in question did not come from a private land.

He said the logs were cut along the Diwalwal, Plaka and Agasan areas in Sitio Gacub, Barangay Hinapuyan, Carmen and not in the supposed “private property” which he identified as Kadilotan.
Lanuza is the next town from Carmen, some 15 minutes away from the Sudecor compound.

Aguillon said the logs could not have come from Kadilotan because that place is inaccessible and if, indeed, cutting was done there, they would not have been able to take the logs out.

Taladua explained that his visit to the Cenro should not be a cause for alarm as he was “in the Cenro office and in front of the police” and  “not in other places.”
He also said the logs confiscated in August were planted species, not from natural and residual forests. EO 23 bans cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests.

But Aguillon asked, “who owns the land and who planted it?” He added the company still has authority to apprehend the logs because it is under their Integrated Forest Management
Agreement (IFMA) and even the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Merlinda Manila “has recognized this authority given to us.”

Permits

Aguillon also explained that the issue is not whether it was planted but Seblario failing to provide the pertinent permits needed to validate his claim. These include the transport and cutting permit and, if it is from a tree plantation, an ownership permit.

Taladua said the government encourages private entities to plant trees which is why it also has to provide help to people who engage in wood trading.

He said the groups who questioned his presence in the Cenro are alleging that the logs impounded in the Sudecor compound are “hot logs.”

“That’s why I told Cenro that it will be up to them to decide whether Seblario’s documents are valid.  “Mananagot din si Seblario niyan pag peke yung dokumento, pero pag hindi naman wag natin pigilan,” (Seblario will be answerable if the documents he presented are fake but if they are not, we should not stop him), he added.

He said those who question the propriety of his meeting with Seblario at the Cenro, “have a wrong impression. I am very strict when it comes to illegal logging.”

The Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA) listed a Roland Sevlario as one of its members through its website www.pwpa.org.ph with Jeroking Enterprises as his company.

MindaNews last week made several calls to Jeroking Enterprises in Upper Doongan, Butuan City, the company listed in Seblario’s name, but was informed by the person who answered the call that it was a residential number. Several calls were also made to his mobile number but these went unanswered.
MindaNews went to Jeroking Enterprises in Butuan City on Tuesday (September 18), a compound with an eight-foot high gate and a watch tower but no signage and was told by  Junry Umbal, who claimed to be a guard there, that Seblario was not around and that he left for Manila on August 29.  (Vanessa Almeda/MindaNews)

by: Gina Lopez

regina_lopez@abs-cbn.com

It’s been a pretty intense week. The climax was the mining forum – sponsored by Financial Executives of the Philippines (FINEX), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

While I welcomed being able to talk and share what I passionately believed in – it was a real challenge to talk before a largely unfriendly audience. I had presumed that there would be some individuals there who might perhaps share my passion for this country and the environment.

The entrance fee was Php1,500 so the people who could afford this was of course the business group. Nevertheless the texts, emails of encouragement and support I got from the multitude convinced me that I did the right thing.

What did set a reaction in me was when Gerry Brimo called me a liar – and an ignorant one at that. Hmmm. I really didn’t want to get into any kind of personal fight.

I may have overdone that effort by saying – “Gerry I love you – but the incidence of poverty in the area that you mine is double the national average (53%)”(Taken from the study of Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, UP School of Economics, Quezon City, 2011).

It is not easy to criticize a person’s company in front of a crowd, show visuals of what his company is doing and the person is just in front of you. On second thought, maybe I should have just bitten the bullet and said what I know to be true – and if feelings were hurt – I really can’t please everyone.

Although I expected it – I did get ticked off when the issue of the gas leak was brought up again. So, for the record, I would like to state that my family is spending hundreds of millions of pesos and they have committed to address the situation in 3 to 5 years – and that is much more than what the mining companies have done with their hundreds of abandoned mine sites.

Is the raising of this issue already a sign of desperation? Why not stick to the issues?

Because there has been a flurry of communication and some of them not very clear, and even faulty – it is important that I make the main issues clear so here goes:

1. Biodiversity holds pre-eminent value. 

Biodiversity is the different flora and fauna that provide our people with fresh air, food, forest and water, and materials for medicine and agriculture – it is LIFE. In the universe of what is important – it holds pre-eminent value. Our country ranks No. 1 in endemicity per unit area – which means the flora and fauna found here cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Given that our country is also the number one typhoon-hit country in the planet – it is disturbing that mining priority areas – are right on top of biodiversity areas, agricultural areas, water catchment areas.

Biodiversity areas are often also rich in mineral resources. Mining in these areas will damage our biodiversity irreversibly. Reforestation does not replicate an ecological system. No amount of planting trees will bring biodiversity back.

Our country and the world stand much more to gain by leaving these sites alone. The business community needs to understand that it is GOOD BUSINESS sense to keep our biodiversity alive. That an economic path which is just focused on money – is not to going to bring on the well being of our people.

2. Island Ecosystems. This is an interweave of different ecological systems: forests, mountains, coral reefs, mangroves, farmlands – all intertwined in a specific location – where rivers and streams lead into the sea. Any kind of mining in these islands whether they be large scale or small scale is grossly irresponsible – especially since our country is hit by typhoons every year!

3. Mining has a very poor track record in the country. The highest incidence of poverty is in the mining sector. The poorest areas in the country are mining areas : Samar, Surigao, Benguet, Zambaonga.

Even in mining areas where the municipality has upgraded to first class – the incidence of poverty remains high. (Taken from the study of Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, UP School of Economics, Quezon City, 2011) In Caraga for instance, from 2007 to 2009, the GDP went up by 40 billion pesos – however the incidence of poverty went up from 46 to 49% attributed to mining. (Taken from the study of Maita Gomez, Transparency Issues in the Philippine Mining Industry).

We have hundreds of unrehabilitated mine sites. After decades of mining, we do not even have one rehabilitated mine site – so why are we continuing this path?

4. The national government earns very little from mining: 1.3% GDP and 0.36% employment. (MGB 2010 – 2011) There is a 5-year tax holiday – so operations are usually frontloaded during these years. We have no standard of evaluating what we are giving up.

For all the billions of dollars that is poured into the country from mining – how much is NET to the country after we subtract the cost of their activities? At the end of the day – if the communities around the mine site remain poor and at risk – why do we continue to do it?

5. Alternatives to mining

This was my “fight” with Manny Pangilinan. When he said that the sites where there is mining are largely mined because not much else can be done there anyway. I so very much disagree!

There have been and there are beautiful sites that are currently being mined – which should NEVER have been mined. For example there is mining on top of the rice granary of Palawan. Why was this EVER allowed? There is mining in protected areas.

The reality is, our beautiful, protected areas are RE-ZONED to allow for mining applications–which only makes more glaring to the government’s inability to ensure the common good.

6. Mining Threatens Food Security

That is a FACT. Because mining threatens water. We have documents and lab reports where mining operations have damaged farm lands, and fishery resources and the disadvanted continue to lack in compensation.

FARMLANDS DESTROYED. Mining site (by Marcventures Mining Development Corporation) near a river in Surigao del Sur. (Photo by Gina Lopez)

RIVER AT RISK. The mining policy cannot and must not allow operations like this because people suffer (Photo by Gina Lopez)

7. Mining threatens HEALTH

We have documented cases where children and adults have suffered due to the mine sites. In Palawan, there are already documented evidences of rivers containing carcinogenic substances. Friends of the Earth Japan; Environmental Legal Assistance Center Inc. (ELAC), Palawan NGO Network Inc. (PNNI) and Department of Health conducted the abovementioned study. Friends of the Earth Japan stated excessive levels of hexavalent chromium in Togpon River near Bataraza, Palawan.

8. There is another way!

In Dipolog City – the sardines business provides jobs and income to 2,000 people from 14 barangays. This is all put to risk by APPROVED mining in Sergio Osmena – since the river that runs through Sergio Osmena is the same river that runs through Dipolog.

Last year the sales from the sardines reached Php78 Million. I have projects in Puerto Princesa where poor communites are now able to send their kids to college after only two years of ecotourism and where each family now earns up to Php15,000 a month.

The economy of Puerto Princesa is hitting the roof – without mining but through tourism and agriculture. Camarines Sur and Bohol are similar economic models that have gone tourism successfully.

Do we have any economic model of mining where the community AROUND is happy and healthy and the enviromment is beautiful and rehabilitated? As far as I know there is NONE. So why are we doing this?

We must remember we are not vast continents like Canada and Australia. We are 7,000 islands – with abundant natural resources and fragile ecosystems. We have to embark on our own economic programme which is pertinent to the resources that we have.

Yes, we are abundant in minerals. But if the extraction of these minerals will put at risk the well-being of our community and our foods security – then the intelligent choice must be made.

I am not saying ALL mining is bad. Yes, it has a role to play in our society. But the current mining situation in the Philippines cannot continue as it is. Our people are suffering. And that is a fact. That is the Truth.

We must be able to institute systems and structures to ensure the Common Good, which of course includes the people working at the mine site. Their needs, their families must also be provided – but they cannot continue to earn their keep at the expense of thousands of families around – and the generations of Filipinos to come.

Truth and the Common Good. If the government bases its policy on this we are good. It cannot and must not be based on the desire to make all parties happy. Our commitment to the people must be non- negotiable. It must hold sway over political or business interests.

Investments will continue to come in if institutions know that our government is steadfast on doing what is right by our people. It is impossible to please everyone. We need to act responsibly as stewards of God’s creation.

In areas where choices have to be made between extracting the minerals and our biodiversity, or our food supply, we must make the right choice.

I truly hope that the mining policy of this administration–which has pledged to hold people’s welfare above all else, and which has pledged to be unrelenting against corruption–will be manifestative of the spirit on which this administration is based.

The province of Surigao del Sur, being located near the coastal areas, has been endowed with numerous natural resources and so does the town of Cantilan. It is one of the few towns in Surigao del Sur which had long preserved its natural resources.

Cantilan is rich both in land, water and mineral resources. Its bountiful terrains are conducive for farming. Agriculture, being one of the main sources of living by the inhabitants of Cantilan, is flourishing because of the richness of the town’s land resources. There are various agricultural estates in the different barangays of Cantilan which includes but is not limited to rice, corn, and coconut plantations.

The town also values its rich water resources which are spread out all over the different barangays of Cantilan. The town has a rich sea and various rivers favorable for fishing. Fishing has also been regarded as one of the primary sources of livelihood by the people of Cantilan. Moreover, the town also possesses lots of fish ponds and fish pens which likewise contribute to the source of income of the town.

It has also just been recently discovered as well that the town of Cantilan is rich in mineral resources as well. A group of miners had proposed a mining operation which could provide large-scale job opportunities to the townspeople however, some Cantilangnons especially those in the poblacion areas strongly object to such a mining operation. The people of Cantilan firmly believe that the resources of the town be preserved for the upcoming generations. This indeed is an issue which has posed a lot of debates and divergence to the people of Cantilan.

The town of Cantilan is endowed with flourishing attractions and wonders composed of the gifts of Mother Nature. As such, local and foreign tourists flock in these tourist attractions which also contribute to the economy of the town of Cantilan.

There are indeed bounties of tourist attractions in the town. To begin with, the town has its different beach resorts that line along the so called “Bay-Bay” in Barangay San Pedro, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur. These resorts pride the fine beach sands and the warm waters which are soothing to the tourists as well as locals. There is also the beach in Barangay Consuelo, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur which as well boasts the fine beach sands and the calm waters which are bereft of large waves. There are also various islands that suits those tourists who love island hopping. For instance, there are the Ayoke Island and Casa Rica which are of close proximity. These two are composed of fine white sands and has a crystal clear waters. Another perfect island adventure would be in Inijakan, which is an islet gifted with a a shoreline covered with a very fine white sand and has a big cave with stalactites and stalagmites.

Another land mark in the town of Cantilan is the natural cold spring turned into a resort by the municipality which is the Malinawa Cool Spring located at Parang, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur. Malinawa, commonly known as “Silop” by the locals, is perfect for holding events because aside from the cottages in the resort, it also has a function room which caters special events.

These are but only a few of the tourist destinations in the town of Cantilan and indeed a lot more awaits tourists!

By: cantilangnon.com/posted Feb.14,2012/articles for Cantilan

A place is defined by the people occupying therein. Is characteristics, dynamics and distinctiveness are established by its inhabitants. The town of Cantilan is endowed with a vibrant population called Cantilangnons. The native tongue of the Cantilangnons is the dialect Cantelangnon which is a part of Surigao del Sur’s Surigaonanon dialect. According to the 2007 census, Cantilan has a population of 28,659 people in 5,378 households and a number of 17, 875 registered voters as of 2009.

The Manobos are deemed to be the natives of the Cantilangnons. But during the time of the Spaniards, Spanish blood had mixed with the natives which then gave rise to the looks of the Cantilangnon oftenly described as mestizas and mestizos. Subsequently, during the early 1900’s, a number of Chinese arrived to do business and some Americans came to teach as Thomasites.

Thus, the Cantilangnons are generally of Spainsh, American, Chinese, Manobo and Muslim lineage. Cantilangnons had sought for their own livelihood and conduct of living. But most of them are farmers since Cantilan has been bequeathed with a vast fields conducive for farming. An ample number of Cantilangnons are fishermen for Cantilan had been blessed with bountiful water resources contributing to an abundant catch. Other Cantilangnons are employed as government employees, carpenters, entrepreneurs, drivers, fish and fruit vendors, skilled workers and the like.

Cantilangnons are known for their distinct traits. One of which is hospitability. Every Cantilangnon entertains visitors with utmost zest and would even bother skipping work or class just to entertain such visitors. Cantilangnons are also known for the close family ties. Clan reunions are but one of the few exhilarating events in Cantilan. Food is also one thing that would keep Cantilangnons, the food lovers that they are, get together. A few of their favorite foods are sinugba, kinilaw, and tinuya.

Indeed, the people of Cantilan are a distinctive and appreciable class of people!

By: cantilangnon.com/posted Feb.14,2012/articles for Cantilan

Peace and order in a certain place would need distinct and responsible leaders to attain unity and progress. Cantilan, a municipality of Surigao del Sur, like any other municipality has its own Local Government Unit. It has its distinguished set of elected officials.

The local government unit of Cantilan is spearheaded by the Town Mayor Genito Baradillo Guardo, the son of the ex-mayor Tomasa Luga Guardo. The incumbent vice mayor is Virgilio Dumay Azarcon. The municipality councilors include Rolando Urbiztundo Julve, Erma Arreza Cuarteron, John Elven Guardalupe Vega, Preciliano Arpilleda Guardo, Peter Paul Ortega Pimentel, Jeanette Yparraguirre Palang, George Buniel Urbiztondo and Emmanuel Esguerra Plaza. These officials of Cantilan were elected last 2010 elections and will be serving the municipality until the year 2013.

The legislative body of the local government unit, in the persons of the counselors, comes up with ordinances and resolutions which are in keeping with the tranquility and affluence of the town.

On the other hand, the office of the municipal mayor, as the chief executive of the local government unit, secures the implementation of the aforementioned ordinances and resolutions. These officials work hand in hand in the furtherance of a progressive and flourishing town. Up to date, the local government unit of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur has been successful in upholding its towns serenity and progress.

By: cantilangnon.com/posted Feb.14,2012/articles for Cantilan

Every immense thing has its humble beginnings. Everything in this world we live in is but a product of the past. Nothing exists in the present nor will exist in the near future if it hadn’t been for the past.

Cantilan, as a town, has its own humble beginnings. It is considered as one of the oldest towns of Surigao del Sur. Its vast and dynamic history had its Spanish roots. The town of Cantilan, as a part of the province of Surigao del Sur, was officially established by the Spaniards in the early 18^th century. The old town was then regarded as “Daang Lungsod”.

On October 15, 1856, a hurricane hit Cantilan, increased to such intensity that tidal waves changed the whole town into a sea. For more than two hours waves kept rolling over the town. The result of the catastrophe was drastic and had washed away the whole “Daang Lungsod”. However, on October 16, 1856, Cantilangnon survivors from the tidal waves crossed the Cantilan river and established a new town we call now as the present Cantilan.

Cantilan used to encompass the other neighboring towns of Carrascal, Madrid, Carmen and Lanuza thus the so-called CarCanMadCarLan which at present are five municipalities in close proximity. It was on December 10, 1918 when an American Governor General Francis Burton Harrison decreed Executive Order No. 52 which divided Cantilan into three parts, Carrascal, Cantilan and Lanuza which comprised CARCANLAN. Subsequently, on February 2, 1953, Madrid was created as a municipality and thus it became CARCANMADLAN. Consequently, the whole area that was once Cantilan finally became CARCANMADCARLAN when Carmen, which used to be a barangay of Lanuza, was created as a town by R.A. 6367 on August 16, 1971. Finally, Cantilan became officially part of Surigao del Sur in 1960.

By: cantilangnon.com/posted Feb.14,2012/articles for Cantilan

The geographical coordinates of 9^o 20’ 1” North, 125^o 58’ 39” East corresponds to the town of Cantilan, one of the 17 Municipalities of the province of Surigao del Sur situated in the CARAGA region which is part of the Mindanao group of islands. It is situated about 32 km northwest of Surigao del Sur’s province capital Tandag City and about 797 km southeast of the Philippines’s capital Manila. Moreover, it has an estimated land area of 24,010 hectares.

Cantilan is politically subdivided into 17 barangays which includes Bugsukan, Buntalid, Cabangahan, Cabas-an, Calagdaan, Consuelo, General Island,  Lininti-an, Lobo, Magasan, Magosilom, Pag-Antayan, Palasao, Parang, San Pedro, Tapi and Tigabong. Two of these barangays, namely Lininti-an and Magosilom are situated in the very heart of Cantilan thus comprising its poblacion.

Cantilan has long been known as the “Cradle of Towns” in Surigao del Sur. It initially covered the entire area of the so-called CarCanMadCarLan which corresponds to the present towns of Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, and Lanuza. As such, Cantilan is the second municipality you will encounter upon entering the province of Surigao del Sur if your route was coming from Surigao del Norte.

Surigao del Sur, the province by which the town of Cantilan belongs is located on the Northeastern Coast of Mindanao opposite the Pacific Ocean and as such Cantilan is basically located in the coastal area on the Eastern part of Mindanao.

By: cantilangnon.com/posted Feb.14,2012/articles for Cantilan

Business establishments play an important role in the maintenance of the economic growth and stability of a town or of any place as the case may be. Such business institutions contribute to the tax of the state. Taxes, in general, are the lifeblood of the state. With regards to taxes obtained in local government units, such taxes become part of the local government funds. Aside from being a source of tax, businesses also foster employment opportunities among the inhabitants of the locality and thus creating a source of revenue.

The municipality of Cantilan has a few yet notable number of business establishments ranging from small to large-scale businesses, all of which have contributed to the income of the locality. As a part of the province of Surigao del Sur, the major establishments in the town of Cantilan are mostly that of which are present as well in the neighboring towns in the province of Surigao del Sur.

There are a number of business establishments in the town of Cantilan. These establishments include beach resorts among which are the Solar Beach Resort and Torpedo Beach Resort; convenience stores, of which the largest in town would be the so-called “etc.”; restaurants like Chan-lac; bakeries such as Janise Iriberri Bakeshop and Panaderia; tailor shops for instance Shan tailoring; pharmacies which include Solar Drugstore, Cherrymar Drug Store, and Farmacia Jelena; gas stations like Petron, Caltex, and Shell; hardwares, an example of which is Weylan hardware; pawnshops in the liking of Estal Pawnshop; various salons and spas; and more.