Mayor's Office, Veruela, Agusan Del Sur

Our Story

Municipality of Veruela, Agusan del Sur

VISION:

“An Agro-forestry producing municipality with high level of socio-economic growth sustained by empowered people, competent leaders, adequate infrastructure and ecologically balanced environment

HISTORY:

Veruela was considered the oldest town of upper Agusan del Sur. As handed from generations, it was believed that Veruela got its name from the word “virus”. This happened in the later part of the 18th century where the whole area was suffering from small pox and cholera when the Spanish missionaries chanced upon this tribe. From then on, the name Veruela existed out of the Spanish word “La Verus”.

Later, the Manobo tribes moved to Manning better known as Linongsuran along the enormous Agusan River. However, in 1916 when a great earthquake destroyed the settlement, it erased the “Linongsuran” from the map of Agusan Province leaving no trace of the settlement. The survivors evacuated and reorganized into another place, now the Barangay Poblacion of the municipality.

In the 18th century, the Muslim tribes in Davao invaded the Manobos in Agusan. But the Manobos fought back against Muslims. The first known leader of the inhabitants was Eladio Manguyod, a strong and influential Datu of the Manobo tribe, who led his people to victories after a hard fought battle and drove the Muslim out of Agusan.

The tribe was then converted to Christianity. It was their strong belief that they owed their victories to Datu Manguyod as well as their Patron, “Saint John the Baptist” which festivity is celebrated every 24th day of June and its most jubilated “Karudawan Festival”, commenced on the 1st day of December and will culminate every 8th day of December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which main purpose is merry-making and thanksgiving.

Veruela became a barangay on 1877 and later became a municipality by virtue of an Executive Order No. 147 proclaimed by President Diosdado Macapagal on March 31, 1965 during the term of Congressman Guillermo Sanchez, who once also served as mayor of the town. Since its formal creation as a municipality, Veruela had undergone a series of eight (8) different administrations.

On April 18, 1986, right after EDSA Revolution, Vicente C. del Rosario was appointed as officer – in Charge of the municipality of Veruela by President Corazon Aquino. From then on, he ran and served several terms as mayor of the Municipality of Veruela.

Jose Vicente A. del Rosario was elected as municipal mayor from 1998 to 2004, where he was not able to finish his last term of office because of his death.

It was during 2007 when the people of Veruela elected a new leader who has the heart for the development of Veruela, a person with dynamic leadership and strong political will and the man behind the transformation of the Municipality of Veruela, Salimar Torralba Mondejar. Mayor Mondejar through his “Pagbag-o Veruela” advocacy created a new face of Veuela into a more progressive, dynamic and competitive municipality.

On May 2017, Myrna Salazar Mondejar was elected as the first lady Mayor of Veruela. She continued the leadership of her husband with strong conviction in making Veruela a more livable and developed municipality. She proved her slogan during campaign period that “Kung kaya ni mister…kaya ni misis”.

The present people of the municipality are now a mixture of various ethnic groups of the archipelago. Before it used to be the domain of the Manobo tribe, but now Veruela is inhabited by the Ilongos, Boholanos, Cebuanos, Ilocanos and all other ethnic groups from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These people have adopted the Agusanon way of life and are now considered Agusanons in thoughts, ideas and philosophy.