Tandag, officially the City of Tandag (
Tandaganon/
Surigaonon: ''Siyudad nan Tandag'';
Cebuano: ''Dakbayan sa Tandag''; ), is a
component city
A city ( or ) is one of the units of local government in the Philippines. All Philippine cities are chartered cities (Filipino: ), whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own specific municipal charters in a ...
and capital of the
province
A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of
Surigao del Sur
Surigao del Sur (Surigaonon language, Surigaonon: ''Probinsya nan Surigao del Sur''; ; ), officially the Province of Surigao del Sur, is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Caraga Regions of the Philippines ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 62,669 people.
Farming and fishing are the main economic activity for most of the people in Tandag. The chief farm products are rice, corn, and coconut. Livestock- and poultry-raising are also important sources of income. Tandag has a national
secondary airport and a seaport.
Tandag has a land area of 291.73 square kilometers or 112.64 square miles. This constitutes 5.91% of the land area of Surigao del Sur. The population density of the city is at 193 inhabitants per square kilometer or 500 inhabitants per square mile.
Etymology
Many versions have been given regarding the name of Tandag. One version states that Father Calan, Father Encarnacion, and another priest were on their way to visit chieftain Suba to baptize his people. When one of the missionaries asked a
native
Native may refer to:
People
* '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood
* '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth
* Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory
** Nat ...
rowing their boat what name of the place was with fingers pointing downward, the native thought the priest meant the school of fish. He answered "tamda", meaning 'look down'. This name later became ''Tandag''. Father Encarnacion, a member of the group, was later killed by the natives.
Another version states that when Spanish-Peruvian historian and explorer
Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (12 April 1539 – 23 April 1616), born Gómez Suárez de Figueroa and known as El Inca, was a chronicler and writer born in the Viceroyalty of Peru. Sailing to Spain at 21, he was educated informally there, where he li ...
landed in Tandag to subdue the ferocious Caragas (as the rebellious natives were called then), he did not know the name of the place so he inquired from a native who was gathering the leaves of an herb locally known as
tanglad. The native, who did not understand Spanish, answered "tangad". Later the name was changed to ''Tandag''.
One more account tells of a group of Spanish soldiers and missionaries who lost their way around the settlement. When they asked for correct directions, the natives, who could not understand Spanish, merely laughed at them, continually saying the word "tarantados", meaning 'lost'. Thus, the name ''Tandag meant lost.
History

Long before Tandag became what it is today—the bustling capital town of Surigao del Sur was inhabited by the
Manobo
The Manobò (sometimes also spelled Menobò, Manuvù , Menuvù , or Minuvù) are an indigenous peoples from Mindanao in the Philippines, whose core lands cover most of the Mindanao island group, from Sarangani island into the Mindanao mainland in ...
s and the
Mamanwa
The Lumad are a group of Austronesian indigenous peoples in the southern Philippines. It is a Cebuano term meaning "native" or "indigenous". The term is short for Katawhang Lumad (Literally: "indigenous people"), the autonym officially ado ...
s who lived along the river banks under the leadership of Suba, their Chieftain. Suba was later converted into Christianity by Father Juan de la Encarnacion, a Spanish missionary. After
Legazpi’s final conquest to the Philippines in 1609, the Spanish government sent missionaries accompanied by platoons of guardia civil to subdue the hostile natives. One of these missionaries was Father Juan de la Vega who was assigned in Tandag. In an effort to establish a symbol of authority, Fr. dela Vega erected a stone fort and built a small settlement about a size of a football field enclosed by a stone wall. Out of this settlement rose the town of Tandag, which later on became a center of faith.
During this period Tandag became a port-of-call for the
Spanish galleon
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas
**Spanish cuisine
** Spanish history
**Spanish culture ...
s that sailed along the southern part of
Mindanao
Mindanao ( ) is the List of islands of the Philippines, second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and List of islands by population, seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the ...
. It is still believed that somewhere underneath the sea near Tandag's Linungao Islands lies a sunken galleon ship.
After the Spanish missionaries' visit to Tandag, a group of Italian explorers and soldiers then landed in the city. They did what the Spanish did, but mandated that Italian be one of the city's primary language aside from Surigaonon, Cebuano, and Filipino. Strict compliance was enforced during those times, which explains why Italian became Tandag's local dialect aside from the mainstay Surigaonon.
In 1650, Tandag became the capital town of Surigao or
Caraga
Caraga, officially the Caraga Administrative Region (or simply known as Caraga region) and designated as Region XIII, is an Regions of the Philippines, administrative region in the Philippines occupying the northeastern section of Mindanao. Th ...
, then a district that covered the present provinces of
Agusan del Sur
Agusan del Sur, officially the Province of Agusan del Sur (; Butuanon: ''Probinsya hong Agusan del Sur''; ), is a province in Caraga region, Mindanao, Philippines. Its capital is the municipality of Prosperidad. It is bordered on the northwest ...
,
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Norte, officially the Province of Agusan del Norte (; Butuanon: ''Probinsya hong Agusan del Norte''; ), is a province in the Caraga region of the Philippines. Its ''de jure'' capital is the city of Cabadbaran with several government o ...
,
Surigao del Sur
Surigao del Sur (Surigaonon language, Surigaonon: ''Probinsya nan Surigao del Sur''; ; ), officially the Province of Surigao del Sur, is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Caraga Regions of the Philippines ...
,
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Norte ( Surigaonon: ''Probinsya nan Surigao del Norte''; ; Tagalog: ''Hilagang Surigao''), officially the Province of Surigao del Norte, is a province in the Philippines located in the Caraga region of Mindanao. The province was fo ...
, and a part of
Davao. As the center of faith and capital town, Tandag was fortified with
cottas which were erected sometime in the 18th century. The cottas were placed in the northern part of the town and near the old cemetery on the western side. These fortifications served to protect the town from
Moro raids.
In several separate attacks between 1754 and 1767, the Moro pirates wrought havoc and destruction to Tandag. Father Jose Ducos, a
Jesuit
The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...
from
Iligan
Iligan, officially the City of Iligan (; Bukid: ''Ciudad ta Iligan''; Maranao: ''Bandar a Iligan''; ), is a highly urbanized city in the region of Northern Mindanao, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 363,115 ...
, came to the rescue and rebuilt Tandag. He established the Tandag Garrison and restored the Tandag
priory
A priory is a monastery of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. They were created by the Catholic Church. Priories may be monastic houses of monks or nuns (such as the Benedictines, the Cistercians, or t ...
. Although a part of the Tandag fort survived, it was demolished during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. Calamities like
typhoon
A typhoon is a tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere and which produces sustained hurricane-force winds of at least . This region is referred to as the Northwestern Pacific Basin, accounting for a ...
s and earthquakes destroyed what remained of it. This explains why there are no remains of these structures that could be seen today.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, for much of the war Tandag was free from the
Japanese occupation that followed the American and Filipino military forces' surrender in May 1942. However, on April 27, 1944, about 500 Japanese troops landed by a number of boats a short distance outside town. Most of the residents fled to the mountains nearby when the Japanese arrived. The 10th Military District of the U.S. Army maintained a
guerrilla presence in Mindanao in World War II. Capt. Charles Hansen led a small group of guerrillas against the Japanese. Outnumbered, the guerrillas were unable to dislodge the Japanese and about ten days later another group of guerrillas made a second attempt to force the Japanese out. The Japanese remained in town several weeks and left after causing much damage in Tandag.
Real transformation was finally afforded to Tandag via Republic Act No. 2786, an act that created Surigao del Sur and whose salient measure made Tandag the capital and seat of the provincial government of Surigao del Sur.
Cityhood
On June 23, 2007, Tandag, by virtue of Republic Act No. 9392, became a city.
The
Supreme Court
In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
declared the cityhood law of Tandag and 15 other cities unconstitutional after a petition filed by the
League of Cities of the Philippines in its ruling on November 18, 2008. On December 22, 2009, the cityhood law of Tandag and 15 other municipalities regain its status as cities again after the court reversed its ruling on November 18, 2008. On August 23, 2010, the court reinstated its ruling on November 18, 2008, causing Tandag and 15 cities to become regular municipalities. Finally, on February 15, 2011, Tandag becomes a city again including the 15 municipalities declaring that the conversion to cityhood met all legal requirements.
After six years of legal battle, in its board resolution, the
League of Cities of the Philippines acknowledged and recognized the cityhood of Tandag and 15 other cities.
Geography

Tandag City is located along the northeastern coast of Mindanao facing the Philippine Sea. It is bounded on the north by the municipalities of
Cortes
Cortes, Cortés, Cortês, Corts, or Cortès may refer to:
People
* Cortes (surname), including a list of people with the name
** Hernán Cortés (1485–1547), a Spanish conquistador
Places
* Cortes, Navarre, a village in the South border of ...
and
Lanuza, on the east by the
Philippine Sea
The Philippine Sea is a List of seas#Marginal seas by ocean, marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean, Western Pacific Ocean east of the list of islands of the Philippines, Philippine Archipelago (hence the name) and the List of seas#Largest seas ...
, on the south by the towns of
Tago and
San Miguel, and on the west by the Municipality of
Sibagat in the province of
Agusan del Sur
Agusan del Sur, officially the Province of Agusan del Sur (; Butuanon: ''Probinsya hong Agusan del Sur''; ), is a province in Caraga region, Mindanao, Philippines. Its capital is the municipality of Prosperidad. It is bordered on the northwest ...
. It is located 448 nautical miles from
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
and 150 nautical miles from
Cebu
Cebu ( ; ), officially the Province of Cebu (; ), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. The coastal zone of Cebu is identified as a ...
. The distance from
Surigao City
Surigao City, officially the City of Surigao ( Surigaonon: ''Siyudad nan Surigao''; ; ), is a component city and capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. It is the most populous in the province with a population of 171,107 peop ...
in the north to Tandag is about and is the distance from
Davao City
Davao City, officially the City of Davao, is a City of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Davao Region, Philippines. The city has a total land area of , making it the List of Philippine cities and municipalities ...
to the south.
Barangays
Tandag is politically subdivided into 21
barangay
The barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as ''barrio'', is the smallest Administrative divisions of the Philippines, administrative division in the Philippines. Named after the Precolonial barangay, precolonial po ...
s. Each barangay consists of
purok
A ''purok'' () is an informal division within a barangay in the Philippines. While not officially considered a local government unit (LGU), a ''purok'' often serves as a unit for delivering services and administration within a barangay. ''Pur ...
s while some have
sitios
A ''sitio'' (Spanish language, Spanish for "site") in the Philippines is a territorial enclave that forms part of a barangay. Typically rural, a ''sitios location is usually far from the center of the barangay itself and could be its own bar ...
.
Most of the barangays are considered rural areas.
* Awasian (Tandag Airport)
* Bag-ong Lungsod (Poblacion)
* Bioto
* Bongtud (Poblacion)
* Buenavista (includes Mahayag)
* Dagocdoc (Poblacion)
* Mabua (Poblacion)
* Mabuhay
* Maitum
* Maticdum
* Pandanon
* Pangi
* Quezon
* Rosario
* Salvacion
* San Agustin Norte
* San Agustin Sur or Dawis
* San Antonio
* San Isidro
* San Jose
* Telaje (Poblacion)
Climate
Tandag has a
tropical rainforest climate
A tropical rainforest climate or equatorial climate is a tropical climate sub-type usually found within 10 to 15 degrees latitude of the equator. There are some other areas at higher latitudes, such as the coast of southeast Florida, United States ...
(Af) with heavy-to-very-heavy rainfall year-round and extremely heavy rainfall in January.
Demographics
It consists of twenty-one (21) barangays. Six of which are urban barangays, five are coastal barangays, four are built-up expansions, and six are hinterland barangays. The urban barangays comprise 1,594.10 hectares; 3,464.61 hectares for coastal barangays; 2,233.15 hectares for built-up expansion barangays and 4,964.34 hectares for hinterland barangays.
Languages
Major languages spoken in the area are
Tandaganon,
Surigaonon,
Filipino, and
Cebuano (Mindanao variant).
English is widely used in schools, businesses, and government offices.
Economy
Commercial retail

*
Gaisano Capital
Gaisano Capital is a chain of malls and supermarkets owned by Edmund S. Gaisano Sr., the second son of Henry S. Gaisano Sr. In the 1970s, he had his own construction business independent of his Gaisano family, relatives. One of his projects was to ...
Tandag is located along Cabrera and Navales Street. Gaisano Capital Group is a shopping mall chain in the Philippines, owned by Cebu-based
Gaisano family.
*TT & Company
*Prince Town Tandag
*Ultrastar Supermart
Culture
* Tandag annually celebrates the
feast day
The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context does n ...
of
San Nicolas de Tolentino, Tandag's
patron saint
A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy or Oriental Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, fa ...
, every September 10. A
novena
A novena (from , "nine") is an ancient tradition of devotional praying in Christianity, consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days or weeks. The nine days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost, when the ...
in honor of San Nicholas is held for nine consecutive days starting September 1 in the San Nicholas de Tolentino Cathedral. It is the highlight of the city's Fiesta. In connection to this, a week-long celebration is organized by the
Local Government Unit
In the Philippines, local government is divided into three levels: provinces and independent cities, component cities and municipalities, and barangays, all of which are collectively known as local government units (LGUs). In some areas, abo ...
of Tandag. Parades, concerts, and bazaars are just some of the activities lined up for the said celebration.
* Diwatahan Festival is held every January in honor of the
Santo Niño. Tandag City also organizes a one-day cultural dance competition for interested dance groups held at the Tandag City
Plaza
A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Rela ...
. Diwatahan Festival is the counterpart of Cebu City's
Sinulog festival
The Sinulog Festival (also known as Sinug and Sulog) is an annual Filipino cultural and religious festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu, with the center of the activities being in Cebu City; and is the core of Santo Niño Chr ...
.
* Since Tandag is the capital of the province of
Surigao del Sur
Surigao del Sur (Surigaonon language, Surigaonon: ''Probinsya nan Surigao del Sur''; ; ), officially the Province of Surigao del Sur, is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Caraga Regions of the Philippines ...
, it hosts the annual Araw ng
Surigao del Sur
Surigao del Sur (Surigaonon language, Surigaonon: ''Probinsya nan Surigao del Sur''; ; ), officially the Province of Surigao del Sur, is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Caraga Regions of the Philippines ...
Celebration. A trade fair showcasing products from the different municipalities of
Surigao del Sur
Surigao del Sur (Surigaonon language, Surigaonon: ''Probinsya nan Surigao del Sur''; ; ), officially the Province of Surigao del Sur, is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Caraga Regions of the Philippines ...
is one of the events in the celebration. Another event is a local pageant, Mutya ng
Surigao del Sur
Surigao del Sur (Surigaonon language, Surigaonon: ''Probinsya nan Surigao del Sur''; ; ), officially the Province of Surigao del Sur, is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Caraga Regions of the Philippines ...
, held at the Tandag City
Gymnasium in Bongtud.

* Charter Day is held every 23rd day of June to celebrate the cityhood of Tandag. Different events are held during the day. Laguboh! is a drums and lyre corps competition among elementary and secondary schools in the city.
* Summer Kite Festival – an annual event initiated by the City Government of Tandag enhancing the artistic talent and creativity among the teenagers through the making of fantastic designs of kite enjoying the sun, sand and sea during summer time.
* Eco Sports Festival – Tandag City is a coastal city, with 10 of its 21 barangays facing the Pacific Ocean. Thus, the City Government of Tandag initiates a three-day event consisting of activities that promote the good care for the ocean. The events are participated by the youth sector, enhancing their skills in different activities like
skim boarding,
Frisbee
A frisbee (pronounced ), also called a flying disc or simply a disc, is a gliding toy or sporting item generally made of injection-molded plastic and roughly in diameter with a pronounced lip. It is used recreationally and competitively for ...
,
beach volleyball
Beach volleyball is a team sport played by two teams of two to four players each on a sand court divided by a net. Similar to indoor volleyball, the objective of the game is to send the ball over the net and to ground it on the opponent's side o ...
, urban adventure race, and sand castle sculpture making. For the culmination of the Ocean Month Celebration, there are live performances of bands from all over the country.
* TAMDA Festival – a Tandaganon variation of the word "Tan-awa" which means to "see beneath" or "to take care of". This showcases the correct and historically accurate cultural festival and explains the Tandaganons' art – dances, rituals, music, life ways, and creative expressions. It is an annual event of Tandag City in celebration of the Charter Day held every June 23.
Tourism

* Tago �
Green Falls*San Isidro – Busay Falls
* Bioto – Cold Spring
* Pangi – Bugsukan Falls & Tagbak stream
* Salvacion –
Abaca Plantation
Plantations are farms specializing in cash crops, usually mainly planting a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. Plantations, centered on a plantation house, grow crops including cotton, cannabis, tob ...
* Quezon – Cave, Falls, &
Wild Life
* Maticdum – Falls, Water Spring, Cave, Forest, &
Wild Life Conservation
* San Agustin – Norte Beach Resort &
Mangrove
A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows mainly in coastal saline water, saline or brackish water. Mangroves grow in an equatorial climate, typically along coastlines and tidal rivers. They have particular adaptations to take in extra oxygen a ...
s
* Mabuhay – Panugmakan Creek (Potable Water Source) Mt. Resort & Cave
* Dagocdoc – Board Walk (Dike) & Floating Restaurant
* Awasian – Ihawan Mt. Spring Resort/Hitaub IP Gawad Kalinga Project
* Pandanon – Cold Spring
* Rosario – Andap Falls & Spring
* Bag-ong Lungsod – Tandag City Boulevard
* Bongtud – Twin Linungao Island, Mancagangi Island & MPA (Fish Sanctuary)
* Buenavista – MPA (Fish Sanctuary)
* Mabua Beach Resort (MPA) – Fish Sanctuary
Transportation
City proper

*
Tricycle
A tricycle, sometimes abbreviated to trike, is a Human-powered transport, human-powered (or gasoline or electric motor powered or assisted, or gravity powered) Three-wheeler, three-wheeled vehicle.
Some tricycles, such as cycle rickshaws (for pa ...
(roams around the vicinity of the city)
*
Pedicab
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport. It is a type of tricycle designed to carry passengers on a for-hire basis. It is also known by a variety of other names such as bike taxi, velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, be ...
*
Jeepney
A jeepney (), or simply a jeep (), is a type of Public transport, public utility vehicle (PUV) that serves as the most popular means of Transportation in the Philippines, public transportation in the Philippines. Known for its crowded seating ...
Accessibility
By air
*via
Tandag Airport
Tandag Airport is an airport serving the general area of Tandag, the capital city of Surigao del Sur in the Philippines. It is one of two airports in Surigao del Sur - the other being Bislig Airport, which was later inundated beyond use. The ...
: From
Cebu
Cebu ( ; ), officially the Province of Cebu (; ), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. The coastal zone of Cebu is identified as a ...
, you can take direct flight to Tandag through
Cebgo
Cebgo, Inc., operating as Cebgo (stylized in all lowercase), is the wholly-owned regional subsidiary of Cebu Pacific. It is the successor company to South East Asian Airlines and Tigerair Philippines. It is now owned by JG Summit, the parent com ...
, which flies this route every M-W-F (destination terminated as of September 2018).
*via
Francisco Bangoy (Davao) International Airport: From
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
or
Cebu
Cebu ( ; ), officially the Province of Cebu (; ), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. The coastal zone of Cebu is identified as a ...
to
Davao City
Davao City, officially the City of Davao, is a City of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Davao Region, Philippines. The city has a total land area of , making it the List of Philippine cities and municipalities ...
as transit point,
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered at the Philippine National Bank, PNB Financial Center in Pasay, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the oldest operating commercial airline in Asia.
Philippine ...
,
Cebu Pacific
Cebu Air, Inc. (), operating as Cebu Pacific (stylized in lowercase), is a Philippine low-cost airline based in Pasay, Metro Manila. Founded in 1988, the airline was the first low-cost carrier in Asia and is also the largest airline in the Phi ...
and
Cebgo
Cebgo, Inc., operating as Cebgo (stylized in all lowercase), is the wholly-owned regional subsidiary of Cebu Pacific. It is the successor company to South East Asian Airlines and Tigerair Philippines. It is now owned by JG Summit, the parent com ...
fly the
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
-
Davao (and vice versa) route (approx. 1- hours travel time) and the
Cebu
Cebu ( ; ), officially the Province of Cebu (; ), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. The coastal zone of Cebu is identified as a ...
-
Davao (and vice versa) route (approx. 45 minutes travel time) several trips daily.
*via
Surigao Airport: From
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
or
Cebu
Cebu ( ; ), officially the Province of Cebu (; ), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. The coastal zone of Cebu is identified as a ...
to
Surigao City
Surigao City, officially the City of Surigao ( Surigaonon: ''Siyudad nan Surigao''; ; ), is a component city and capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. It is the most populous in the province with a population of 171,107 peop ...
as transit point,
Cebgo
Cebgo, Inc., operating as Cebgo (stylized in all lowercase), is the wholly-owned regional subsidiary of Cebu Pacific. It is the successor company to South East Asian Airlines and Tigerair Philippines. It is now owned by JG Summit, the parent com ...
flies these routes (approx. 1- hours travel time) daily.
*via
Bancasi (Butuan) Airport: From
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
or
Cebu
Cebu ( ; ), officially the Province of Cebu (; ), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. The coastal zone of Cebu is identified as a ...
to
Butuan
Butuan (pronounced ), officially the City of Butuan (; Butuanon: ''Dakbayan hong Butuan''; ), is a highly urbanized city and the regional center of Caraga, Philippines. It is the '' de facto'' capital of the province of Agusan del Norte ...
as transit point, PAL Express, Cebu Pacific, and
Cebgo
Cebgo, Inc., operating as Cebgo (stylized in all lowercase), is the wholly-owned regional subsidiary of Cebu Pacific. It is the successor company to South East Asian Airlines and Tigerair Philippines. It is now owned by JG Summit, the parent com ...
fly these routes (approx. 1- hours travel time) three times a week.
By land

*
Multicab
A multicab is a small light truck in the Philippines that is usually used as public transport. Like jeepneys, they usually have fixed routes, although there are multicabs that serve as taxicabs to take passengers where they want, as a motorized ...
s, vans and
jeepneys around northern and southern
Surigao del Sur
Surigao del Sur (Surigaonon language, Surigaonon: ''Probinsya nan Surigao del Sur''; ; ), officially the Province of Surigao del Sur, is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Caraga Regions of the Philippines ...
routes include Butuan, (fastest are the white vans plying the Butuan-Tandag route; their terminal is at the Bancase Airport),
Surigao City
Surigao City, officially the City of Surigao ( Surigaonon: ''Siyudad nan Surigao''; ; ), is a component city and capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. It is the most populous in the province with a population of 171,107 peop ...
,
San Francisco, Agusan del Sur and
Bislig
Bislig, officially the City of Bislig (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city in the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
.
*
Buses
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a motor vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van, but fewer than the average rail transport. It is most commonly used ...
– direct travel with bus companies like Bachelor Express are serving routes from
Davao City
Davao City, officially the City of Davao, is a City of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Davao Region, Philippines. The city has a total land area of , making it the List of Philippine cities and municipalities ...
,
Butuan
Butuan (pronounced ), officially the City of Butuan (; Butuanon: ''Dakbayan hong Butuan''; ), is a highly urbanized city and the regional center of Caraga, Philippines. It is the '' de facto'' capital of the province of Agusan del Norte ...
,
Surigao City
Surigao City, officially the City of Surigao ( Surigaonon: ''Siyudad nan Surigao''; ; ), is a component city and capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. It is the most populous in the province with a population of 171,107 peop ...
, and
Bislig
Bislig, officially the City of Bislig (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city in the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
.
Philtranco
Philtranco Service Enterprises, Inc. (, ; Philippine Transportation Company) is a bus company in the Philippines, servicing routes to Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region, and Northern Mindanao. It is the oldest bus operator in the Phi ...
and PP Bus Line serving
Pasay
Pasay, officially the City of Pasay (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 Philippine census, 2020 census, it has a ...
/
Cubao
Cubao may refer to:
* Cubao, Quezon City, a district of Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
** Araneta Center–Cubao station (LRT) on Line 2
** Araneta Center–Cubao station (MRT) on Line 3
** Cubao Cathedral
The Immaculate Conceptio ...
via
Cantilan
Cantilan, officially the Municipality of Cantilan (Surigaonon language, Surigaonon: ''Lungsod nan Cantilan''; ), is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. According ...
are also available.
* Buses, vans and jeepneys can be located at Tandag City Overland Transport (TCOTT) (Balilahan Bus Terminal).
* Some jeepneys and tricycles bound for
Surigao City
Surigao City, officially the City of Surigao ( Surigaonon: ''Siyudad nan Surigao''; ; ), is a component city and capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. It is the most populous in the province with a population of 171,107 peop ...
,
Cantilan
Cantilan, officially the Municipality of Cantilan (Surigaonon language, Surigaonon: ''Lungsod nan Cantilan''; ), is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. According ...
,
Cortes
Cortes, Cortés, Cortês, Corts, or Cortès may refer to:
People
* Cortes (surname), including a list of people with the name
** Hernán Cortés (1485–1547), a Spanish conquistador
Places
* Cortes, Navarre, a village in the South border of ...
,
Tago,
San Miguel, and nearby municipalities and barangays can be found at Moonglow Public Market.
By sea
*Inter-island vessel
Cokaliong Shipping Lines
Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Inc. (CSLI) is a shipping line based in Cebu City, Philippines. It operates both passenger and cargo ferries on routes in the Visayas and Mindanao regions and is one of the youngest List of shipping companies in the Phi ...
ply the
Cebu
Cebu ( ; ), officially the Province of Cebu (; ), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. The coastal zone of Cebu is identified as a ...
-
Surigao City
Surigao City, officially the City of Surigao ( Surigaonon: ''Siyudad nan Surigao''; ; ), is a component city and capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. It is the most populous in the province with a population of 171,107 peop ...
routes on regular schedules with Surigao City Port as transit point. Multi-cabs and tricycles are available at the wharf going to Surigao City Integrated Terminal for the regular bus trips to Tandag.
Healthcare
*
Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center – On February 15, 1993, the Surigao del Sur Provincial Hospital was renamed
Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center by Virtue of RA No. 7433 authored by then Congressman Mario Serra Ty.
*Pama Polyclinic
*
Philippine Red Cross
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC; ; ) is a non-profit humanitarian organization and a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The PRC was established in 1947, with roots in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colon ...
Tandag
Education
Basic education

* Tandag Pilot Elementary School
* Tandag Central Elementary School
* Telaje Elementary School
* Quintos Elementary School
*
Saint Theresa College of Tandag, Inc.
* Jacinto P. Elpa National High School
*
Tandag National Science High School
The Tandag National Science High School () (TNSHS) is a secondary public science high school system located in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state ...
* Vicente L. Pimentel Sr. National High School
* Buenavista Nursery School
* Buenavista Elementary School
* Buenavista National High School
* Tandag Christian School, Inc.
* Tandag City SpEd Center
* Tandag Science Elementary School
* Engr. Nestor Ty Memorial Elementary School
* Bongtud Elementary School
* Meliton M. Ajos Memorial Elementary School
* San Jose Elementary School
* Mahanon Elementary School
* Mabuhay Elementary School
* Pandanon Elementary School
* Carmen Integrated School
* San Antonio Elementary School
Higher education
* Saint Theresa College of Tandag – College Dept.
*
North Eastern Mindanao State University – Main Campus
Telecommunication
Sports and recreation

The Surigao del Sur Sports Center (formerly named as Gregorio P. Murillo Sports Complex) is a multi-sports complex, located near the provincial capitol situated in Tandag City, which has hosted the Caraga Regional Athletic Meet, several times. The Tandag City Gymnasium is an indoor gymnasium located at Luis Perez corner Serra Street, adjacent the local police station.
Sister cities
*
Malaybalay
Malaybalay City, officially the City of Malaybalay (Bukid language, Binukid: ''Bánuwa ta Malaybaláy''), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Bukidnon, ...
, Philippines
References
External links
Tandag Profile at the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index*
Philippine Standard Geographic Code The Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) is a systematic classification and coding for geographic areas in the Philippines. It classifies areas based on the country's four levels of administrative divisions: regions, provinces, municipalities ...
{{Authority control
Cities in Surigao del Sur
Provincial capitals of the Philippines
Populated places established in 1650
1650 establishments in the Philippines
States and territories established in 2009
Component cities in the Philippines