Tandag is a 5th class city ansd is a capital of the province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. It has estimated population of 56,364 and population density of 190 per km. Tandag is politically subdivided into 21 barangays. Majority of the barangays are considered rural areas.
There are many version of the name origin of Tandag. One such version said that Father Calan, Father Encarnacion and other priest were on their way to visit chieftain Suba to baptize his people. When one of the missionaries asked the native rowing their boat what name of the place was with fingers pointing downward, the native who naught the priests meant the school of fish, answered “tamda”, meaning look down. This name later became Tandag.
Farming and fishing are the main ecomic activity for most of the people in Tandag. 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 seaport.
The city celebrates the “Diwatahan festival” on every third week of January in honor of Senior Sto. Nino. It also celebrates “Araw ng Tandag” every September 10 showcasing the city’s blissful achievements through the years.
Best places in Tandag are the San Isidro (Busay Falls), Bioto (cold spring), Pangi (bugsukan falls and tagbak stream), Salvacion (abaca plantation), Quezon ( cave, falls, and wild life), Maticdum (falls, water spring,cave,forest and wild life conversation), San Agustin (norte beach resort/mangroves prod’n), Mabuhay (panugmakan creek, potable water source, Mt. Resort&Cave), Mabua Beach Resort (fish Sanctuary) and many more others in nearby cities.