Municipality of Kauswagan

In this particular place after the Americans paved the way for settlers, a long list of families came pouring in. They were the families of Datu Elme M. Mohamad, a ranking datu from Cabingan, Sulu; Restituto Cagas from Tudela, Misamis Occidental; the Montebons, Borres’s, Cole’s, Masukol’s, Montecillo’s, Ruelan’s, Paglinawan’s, Comendador’s, Samson’s, Cordero’s and many others coming from different provinces of Visayas particularly Cebu.

Notably among the settlers the family of Datu Elme Mohamad occupied about half of the site and the family of Restituto Cagas occupied a portion of what was known as Dalicanan, a short for the word DALI-CANCANAN referring to the fresh water underground spring located in the beach which could easily be retrieved during low tide after scrapping the sand that buried the spring that drew the settlers to concentrate their settlements in Dalicanan.

By 1917 Dalicanan was already a progressive village and the Christian settlers re-named Dalicanan to Kauswagan which means “progressive”. The name Kauswagan later on was applied to the whole site when it became a barrio under the municipality of Iligan (now Iligan City) and Dalicanan became its sitio.

In 1947 Jose Q. Balazo, a councilman of the Municipality  of Iligan aided by Pedro Pernia, Sr., Ricardo Capa and Rustico Panares worked out the pertinent papers for the creation of Kauswagan as a separate municipality from the town of Iligan. Councilman Balazo with Santiago Ramirez and Anacleto Conde, Sr., carried the papers to Malacañang Palace for approval.

On April 25, 1948 by virtue of Executive Order No.126 duly signed by President Manuel Roxas, barrio Kauswagan was created into a municipality.

Kauswagan is the second coastal municipality next to the Municipality of Linamon from Iligan City going West. It is roughly 20 kilometers from Iligan City bounded on the North  by Iligan Bay, on the East  by the Municipality of Linamon, on the South by the Municipality of Poona Pingapo, and on the West of the Municipality of Bacolod.

The total land area of Kauswagan is 6,037,5922 hectares covering 13 barangays namely Poblacion, Bagumbayan, Baraason, Cayontor, Delabayan, Inudaran, Kawit Occidental, Kawit Oriental, Libertad, Paiton, Tacub, Tingintingin and Tugar.

Kauswagan has a well-defined road network. Through the effort of former Mayor Maximo P. Arnado Sr., with former Governor Ali Dimaporo, Rev. Fr. Oliver T. Whyte, the then Parish Priest of the town and Engr. Ramon Viña in the Dept. of Public Works in Lanao del Norte, the circumferential road of the Poblacion was concreted - the first in Lanao del Norte. Other streets were concreted by the succeeding administration.

The municipal building of Kauswagan underwent a series of repairs and innovations since the time of former Mayor Joseph Sanguila Sr. who donated the lot and its surroundings. The major innovation and expansion of the structure of the front section of the building from wood to concrete as it stands today was done during the administration of former Mayor Dr. Maximo P. Arnado, Sr. with the funds given by Congressman Abdullah (Bobby) Dimaporo.

Some repairs and innovations inside and outside the building were made by the succeeding administrations.

The major innovation and expansion of the Auditorium before the administration of Mayor Rommel Arnado was done during the administration of former Mayor Myron B. Rico with fund allotted by former Congressman Mariano Badelles.

With the effort of former Mayor Myron Rico the Municipal Hospital now Provincial Hospital was established in barangay Bagumbayan.

The first high school in Kauswagan, the KJC (Kauswagan Junior College was founded in the early 50’s through the effort of tower Mayor Joseph Sanguila Sr. By 1960, the St. Vincent’s Academy was established after the KJC was sold by the Mendoza’s of Ozamis City to Rev. Fr. Oliver T. Whyte.

Sometime in the mid 60’s the St. Vincent’s Academy represented the private schools in Lanao del Norte and Iligan City in the NOMPRISAA (Northern Mindanao Private Schools Athletics Association) meet held in Cagayan de Oro City, after capturing the championship in a series of tight competitions among the athletes in the above areas in track and fields, and ball games events. In the NOMPRISAA meet the St. Vincent’s Academy players tagged the championship in the softball girl’s category.

THE APPOINTED AND ELECTED MUNICIPAL MAYORS

OF KAUSWAGAN FROM ITS CREATION TO THE PRESENT