Maguing

Maguing, officially the Municipality of Maguing, is a local government unit in the province of Lanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro region of the Philippines. It is situated in the eastern part of the province and is connected by road to Marawi City, the nearest major trading center. The municipality is bordered by Wao, Bumbaran and areas of Bukidnon to the east, Lumba-Bayabao to the south, Mulondo and Bubong to the north, and Taraka to the west. Its local names include Inged a Maguing in Maranao and Bayan ng Maguing in Tagalog. The present municipality emerged from administrative changes involving the former municipality of Lumba-Bayabao and neighboring areas. The locality’s historical administrative identity also includes the names Lumba-Bayabao, Lumba-Bayaboo, Woo and Bumbaran. Lumba-Bayaboo was established under Republic Act No. 1420 in 1956 and became a regular municipality in 1961 through Executive Order No. 420. Maguing was subsequently created from the former municipality of Lumba-Bayabao on May 4, 1977, under Presidential Decree No. 1134. Two additional barangays, Lumbac-Dimarao and Pindolonan, were created in 2005. Maguing covers approximately 815 square kilometres and is politically divided into 34 barangays. The municipality includes extensive agricultural land, forest areas, settlements and natural waterways. The Putiyan River, also referred to in local and government descriptions as the Taraka River or Puliyan River, passes through the area and is regarded as a potentially important source of water. Springs, waterfalls, creeks and other small rivers contribute to the municipality’s environmental resources, although many remain underdeveloped for tourism or public infrastructure. Farming is the dominant source of livelihood. The local agricultural base includes rice, corn, sorghum, legumes, root crops, tree crops, abaca, vegetables and citrus. Soil conditions are generally associated with Ruguan clay loam, which can support diversified crops but presents challenges involving low fertility, drought and slight alkalinity. Production is heavily dependent on rainfall because irrigation infrastructure is limited. This contributes to low yields and exposes households to dry-season conditions, pests and plant diseases. Local commerce is comparatively modest. Sari-sari stores, groceries, car washes, water-refilling stations and construction businesses serve residents, while transient merchants travel from Marawi City and nearby municipalities. Limited employment opportunities and low farm productivity have encouraged some residents to seek work elsewhere. Municipal initiatives have included acquiring pre- and post-harvest equipment such as rice threshers and hand tractors, distributing agricultural inputs in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, and supporting farmers through equipment and related assistance. The municipality’s official profile has also identified the need for improved irrigation, modern farming methods and agricultural training. According to the 2024 Philippine census, Maguing had 37,292 residents. Earlier municipal information cited a population of 24,531 in the 2015 census and described a substantial share of households as living below the local poverty threshold. These figures and local development concerns underline the municipality’s continuing emphasis on agricultural productivity, basic services, employment and infrastructure. In 2024, legislation was filed in the Bangsamoro Parliament proposing the separation of 14 barangays from Maguing to create a new municipality named Raya Maguing; the proposal represented a potential territorial and administrative change rather than an established reorganization.

Maguing’s administrative history is linked to the changing boundaries and names of municipalities in eastern Lanao del Sur. The locality was historically associated with a wider administrative area that included Lumba-Bayabao, Woo and Bumbaran. Under Republic Act No. 1420, dated June 10, 1956, the municipality was renamed Lumba-Bayaboo. It later became a regular municipality in 1961 through Executive Order No. 420, issued on June 1 of that year. The current Municipality of Maguing was created from the former Municipality of Lumba-Bayabao on May 4, 1977, through Presidential Decree No. 1134. The new municipality occupied a strategically agricultural portion of eastern Lanao del Sur, with road access toward Marawi City and neighboring municipalities. Its territory includes broad plains, forest areas, waterways and settlements distributed among numerous barangays. Two barangays, Lumbac-Dimarao and Pindolonan, were created in 2005, bringing the municipality’s political subdivisions to 34 barangays. Each barangay is further organized into puroks, with some also containing sitios. Municipal development has been shaped by the area’s rural geography and by the difficulty of providing infrastructure across a large land area. Agriculture has remained the foundation of Maguing’s economy. Rice, corn, root crops, legumes, abaca, citrus and vegetables are among the crops associated with the municipality. However, much of the farming system depends on rainfall. The limited availability of communal irrigation, combined with soil constraints and low access to modern technology, has restricted productivity. Municipal and national agricultural programs have attempted to address these issues through farm machinery, seed and fertilizer distribution, and farmer support, but crop losses from pests and disease have also affected results. The Putiyan River, known in some official and local descriptions as the Taraka River or Puliyan River, is a significant geographic feature. Springs, waterfalls and smaller waterways add to the municipality’s natural-resource base. These resources have been identified as potential sources of water supply and possible foundations for future environmental or tourism initiatives, although they remain largely undeveloped. Maguing’s commercial economy consists mainly of small retailers and service providers, supplemented by merchants from Marawi City and nearby municipalities. Employment limitations and low farm yields have contributed to outward migration in search of work. Municipal policy has consequently emphasized farm productivity, equipment access, agricultural training, irrigation and basic local economic development. In 2024, a Bangsamoro Parliament bill proposed creating Raya Maguing from 14 barangays of Maguing. At the time described by the available reference material, this was a legislative proposal and not a completed administrative change.

• 2024

  Proposal for Raya Maguing

  [1]Maguingen.wikipedia.org

  A bill was filed in the Bangsamoro Parliament proposing the separation of 14 barangays to form a new municipality called Raya Maguing.

• 2024

  Latest cited population count

  [1]Maguingen.wikipedia.org

  The 2024 census recorded 37,292 residents in Maguing.

• 2005

  Creation of two barangays

  [1]Maguingen.wikipedia.org

  Barangays Lumbac-Dimarao and Pindolonan were created, contributing to the municipality’s current 34-barangay structure.

• 1977

  Creation of Maguing municipality

  [1]Maguingen.wikipedia.org

  Maguing was created from the former Municipality of Lumba-Bayabao through Presidential Decree No. 1134 on May 4, 1977.

• 1961

  Becoming a regular municipality

  [1]Maguingen.wikipedia.org

  Executive Order No. 420 dated June 1, 1961 established the locality as a regular municipality.

• 1956

  Renaming as Lumba-Bayaboo

  [1]Maguingen.wikipedia.org

  Republic Act No. 1420 renamed the locality Lumba-Bayaboo on June 10, 1956.

A rural agricultural municipality focused on local governance, farming livelihoods, basic services and gradual infrastructure development.

• Agricultural crop

  Rice

  Rice is one of the municipality’s principal agricultural products and a major component of local livelihoods. Production is constrained by reliance on rainfall, limited communal irrigation and exposure to pests and plant diseases. Municipal support has included farm machinery and agricultural input programs intended to improve cultivation and post-harvest handling.

• Agricultural crops

  Corn and diversified field crops

  Corn, sorghum, legumes and root crops are suited to the municipality’s agricultural land and form part of its diversified crop base. Their cultivation reflects the area’s broad plains and clay-loam soils, while yields remain affected by soil fertility, drought and limited access to modern farming technology.

• Plantation and horticultural crops

  Abaca, citrus and vegetables

  Abaca, orange or other citrus fruits, and vegetables are associated with plantations and agricultural areas, particularly in the upper portions of the municipality. These products supplement staple-crop farming and provide opportunities for diversification, although commercial scale and market access are limited.

• Local commerce

  Local retail and services

  Maguing’s non-farm economic activity includes sari-sari stores, groceries, car washes, water-refilling stations and construction businesses. These services primarily meet local demand, with additional trade supplied by merchants from Marawi City and surrounding municipalities.

• 2024

  Proposed creation of Raya MaguingOther

  Background

  A legislative proposal sought to separate 14 barangays from Maguing in response to a possible reorganization of local government units in the area.

  Action taken

  A bill was filed in the Bangsamoro Parliament to create the proposed Municipality of Raya Maguing.

  Aftermath

  The available reference identifies the measure as a proposal; it does not establish that the separation was enacted.

  Source

1. 1Maguingen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Maguing official municipal websitemaguing-lds.gov.ph