History[edit]

The Agusan Valley was settled by a variety of cultural communities like the Manobos,
Mamanwas and Higaonons. Archeological excavations in the lower Agusan valley plains have
uncovered evidence of strong relationships between the region and the Southeast Asian
states. A golden image of Javan-Indian design unearthed in the 1920s and molten jars
uncovered in Prosperidad are indications that the region had commercial and cultural ties with
the coast.[citation needed]
The Augustinian Recollects established a mission in Linao, in the vicinity of present-
day Bunawan, in 1614. However, mission work was hampered by the hostility of the
surrounding Manobo tribes. At the height of the power of the Sultanate of Maguindanao in the
mid-17th century, the Manobos of the Agusan Valley were in alliance with Sultan Kudarat.
Linao was attacked several times during the 1629 Caraga Revolt and the 1649 Sumuroy
Revolt. Nevertheless, the Recollects were able to establish themselves in their mission work,
and remained there until the middle of the 19th century.

In the late 19th century, the Recollects (under protest) turned over many of their mission
territories, including those in the upper Agusan region, to the reconstituted Jesuit order (the
Jesuits had been banned by Papal edict in the 1760s, and ejected from the Philippines in
1768). Missionary work was interrupted by the Philippine Revolution when the Jesuits either
fled or were arrested by revolutionaries.[citation needed] During the American
occupation, lumbering became an important activity in Agusan del Sur. Visayanmigrants
settled in the cleared plains, pushing indigenous communities farther into the mountainous
slopes.
The territory of Agusan del Sur was governed as part of the province of Caraga during most of
the Spanish period. In 1860, it was placed under the comandancia of Butuan, a district of
the province of Surigao. In 1914, the province of Agusan was created by the American
government.

In the Second World War, Japanese troops landed in the province of Agusan in 1942 and
occupied the province until their defeat by combined U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth
troops as well as recognized guerilla units in 1945 at the Battle of Agusan.

The general headquarters and military camp and base of the Philippine Commonwealth
Army was active from January 3, 1942, to June 30, 1946, and the 10th Infantry Regiment of
the Philippine Constabulary was active again from October 28, 1944, to June 30, 1946, are
military stationed in the province of Surigao was composed to engaging operations against
the Japanese Occupation.[clarification needed]
In 1945, Filipino soldiers of the 6th, 10th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 107th and 110th Infantry
Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and the 10th Infantry Regiment of
the Philippine Constabulary together with the recognized Agusan guerrilla fighter units
against the Japanese forces beginning the liberation in Northern Agusan during World War II.
[incomprehensible]

During World War II, a unit of the joint Philippine-American defense force were located at
Manot, Talacogon, in the interior of the Agusan Valley.

The province of Agusan del Sur was established on June 17, 1967, under Republic Act No.
4969 providing for the division of the province of Agusan into Agusan del Norte and Agusan
del Sur.[3] In January 1970, the first set of provincial officials assumed office after the
provincial election of November, 1969. The same law provided that the capital of Agusan del
Sur be the municipality of Prosperidad. The Government Center has been set up in Barangay
Patin-ay.