Lantapan

The town is on a plateau in the heart of Bukidnon, situated between the Kalatungan and Kitanglad Mountain Ranges, after which its native name of "lantapan" was derived which means "level-on-top".

Lantapan is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Sumilao and Impasugong; east by Malaybalay City; south by Valencia City; and west by Talakag. It lies above sea level at an average of {{Convert|600|m}} and a maximum of {{Convert|2938|m}} of the Kitanglad range.

It has an aggregate area of 318.2 km², mostly agriculture and forest lands. It has six river channels and 40 creeks and springs traversing across different points in the landscape. Lantapan is strategically located between two cities of Bukidnon, Malaybalay and Valencia. It can be reached via Aglayan crossing, which is a potential convergent zone of four cities: Iligan, Butuan, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

Lantapan is politically subdivided into 14 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

File:Lantapan political map.PNG

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{{PH brgy table lite|101310001| Alanib | 6436| 5811}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310002| Baclayon | 1881| 1734}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310003| Balila | 3747| 3633}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310004| Bantuanon | 6130| 5671}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310005| Basak | 3373| 3052}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310006| Bugcaon | 5412| 5182}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310007| Ka{{nbhyph}}atoan (Kaatuan) | 1775| 1624}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310008| Capitan Juan | 2156| 1805}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310009| Cawayan | 2710| 2631}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310010| Kulasihan | 6433| 5565}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310011| Kibangay | 7867| 7107}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310012| Poblacion | 8025| 7142}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310013| Songco | 3737| 3236}}

{{PH brgy table lite|101310014| Victory | 2094| 1741}}

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Lantapan's virgin forests are home to a diverse variety of flora and fauna. There are orchids, berries, pitcher plants, lichens, and a host of other wild flowers. A number of mammal species also thrive in the dense forests, including squirrels, monkeys, bats, flying lemurs, deer, tarsiers and wild pigs among others. The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) along with other bird species such as the serpent eagle and sparrow hawk takes its home within the Mt. Kitanglad Range.

{{Weather box

| location = Lantapan, Bukidnon

| width = auto

| metric first = Yes

| single line = Yes

| Jan high C = 24

| Jan low C = 18

| Feb high C = 24

| Feb low C = 18

| Mar high C = 26

| Mar low C = 18

| Apr high C = 27

| Apr low C = 19

| May high C = 26

| May low C = 20

| Jun high C = 25

| Jun low C = 20

| Jul high C = 25

| Jul low C = 20

| Aug high C = 25

| Aug low C = 19

| Sep high C = 26

| Sep low C = 20

| Oct high C = 25

| Oct low C = 20

| Nov high C = 25

| Nov low C = 19

| Dec high C = 25

| Dec low C = 19

| Jan precipitation mm = 118

| Feb precipitation mm = 73

| Mar precipitation mm = 66

| Apr precipitation mm = 74

| May precipitation mm = 175

| Jun precipitation mm = 261

| Jul precipitation mm = 271

| Aug precipitation mm = 281

| Sep precipitation mm = 267

| Oct precipitation mm = 258

| Nov precipitation mm = 164

| Dec precipitation mm = 93

| Jan rain days = 16.0

| Feb rain days = 13.8

| Mar rain days = 12.4

| Apr rain days = 13.1

| May rain days = 24.2

| Jun rain days = 27.6

| Jul rain days = 28.9

| Aug rain days = 28.5

| Sep rain days = 27.1

| Oct rain days = 27.4

| Nov rain days = 21.0

| Dec rain days = 16.1

| source 1 = Meteoblue

{{cite web

| url = https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/lantapan_philippines_1707437

| title = Lantapan: Average Temperatures and Rainfall

| publisher = Meteoblue

| accessdate = April 29, 2020 }}

| date = April 29, 2020

}}

The climatic condition of Lantapan is relatively cool and humid for Philippine standards with winds blowing at a northward direction. The temperature around noon tends to be 5-7 °C cooler than nearby coastal areas to the north. November to April is relatively dry and May brings the start of the rains which continue 'til October. Mountains of neighboring towns in the north protect it from cyclone storms.

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| footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|2015}}{{PH census|2010}}{{PH census|2007}}{{LWUA population data}}

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File:Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Lantapan, Bukidnon.jpg

In the 2020 census, the population of Lantapan was 65,974 people,{{PH census|current}} with a density of {{convert|{{sigfig|65,974/328.35|2}}|PD/km2|disp=or}}.

Originally, the Talaandig were the main inhabitants of Lantapan. Then, migrants from the Visayas and northern Luzon started to settle in the area, even during the Spanish colonial period. More inflow took place after the Second World War. This stream of settlers eventually led to the varied mix of ethnic groups in Lantapan. Visayan is the predominant language, followed by Binukid. 2010 Census showed Lantapan's population have reached 55,934 with the Poblacion as the most populated barangay. Its population growth rate between 1980 and 1990 of 4.18% was well above the national rate of 2.3 percent.

The Talaandig (one of the 7 Indigenous peoples of Bukidnon) ancestral territory includes Barangay Songco, where there are attempts to preserve Indigenous ways and customary law. A school for living tradition was built to teach the young the traditional Talaandig way of life, including its history, rituals, music, arts, embroidery, dance, and literature. Other activities involved earth paintings (painting utilizing soil as a medium), singing and dancing to traditional music, and making musical instruments and Indigenous accessories among others.

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File:Community solar dryer in Lantapan.JPG dryer. Lantapan's economy is basically agri-based.]]

Agriculture

{{Further|Agriculture in the Philippines}}

Lantapan has agriculture-based economy. Farming has remained a dominant economic activity among the Lantapanons. The major crops grown are corn, coffee, cabbage and potatoes, sugarcane and other high valued crops and bananas also becoming an important commercial crop.

Lantapan is also home to two banana plantations: the Mount Kitanglad Agri-Ventures Inc. (MKAVI) and the Dole Banana Plantation with thousands of hectares of lands in the highland-barangays of the town planted with export quality bananas. The plantations started their operation in 1998 with thousand of residents of the municipality employed.

Commerce

There are 428 commercial establishments registered at the Licensing Division of the municipality, 15 of which are classified under agro-industrial, manufacturing and servicing. Trading activities include wholesale buying of corn, coffee and vegetables by traders from within Lantapan, neighboring towns in Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro.

Finance

For finance, the informal credit or "suki" system prevails. In this arrangement, the trader is usually the "suki" who provides credit too and buys the products of the farmer. A few cooperatives in some barangays also extend small loans to their members. An Asian Hills Bank located at the Poblacion and established in 1978, is owned by a private corporation. Its portfolio includes agricultural, commercial and real estate loans.

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File:Kitanglad mountain range songco.JPG

;Kitanglad Mountain Range: The Kitanglad Mountain Range is a very significant landmark in the cultural history of the Indigenous peoples of Bukidnon with Mount Dulang-dulang considered as a sacred place. Being an ancestral domain, permission to enter must be secured from the tribal leaders of the Talaandig people of Lantapan in deference to the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) mandated by the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act.

:The long trek to Mount Dulang-dulang’s summit goes through virgin dense forests, home to old trees covered with moss and lichens. At the highest peak, there is a panoramic view of the entire Kitanglad range, and on clear days, the distant Mount Apo. Sitio Bol-ogan in Barangay Songco of Lantapan is the shortest route towards the major start point to the peaks of Mount Kitanglad (with an elevation of {{Convert|2938|m}} above sea level) and Mount Dulang-dulang (with an elevation of {{Convert|2987|m}} above sea level) which is the country’s second-highest mountain, next to Mount Apo at {{Convert|3144|m}} above sea level

;Cinchona Forest Reserve: The Cinchona Forest Reserve was established through a presidential proclamation in 1936, and now forms part of the protected area of the Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park. It is home to the Cinchona Plantation, established at Barangay Kaatuan in 1929, and said to be the only of its kind left in Asia and the Pacific where the medicinal plant Cinchona (Cinchona ledgeriana) is grown. Cinchona, is a medium-sized tropical tree that can grow up {{Convert|24|m}} with a {{Convert|60|cm}} diameter, is a source of quinine that is used for malaria treatment. The farm covers an area of {{Convert|1725|ha}} where 7 Cinchona tree species are found and is planted mostly with Albizza falcataria (= Falcataria moluccana) and other medicinal trees. Located {{Convert|1140|m}} above sea level, the area is considered as the coldest place in Bukidnon with temperatures ranging from {{Convert|13|to|18|C}}.

;Binahon Agro-forestry Farm: The Binahon Agro-forestry Farm, located at Sitio Bol-ogan, Barangay Songco, on the slopes of Mt. Kitanglad, is a learning institution for farmers, agriculturists, and rural development workers. Situated some {{Convert|1300|m}} above sea level, it cultivates various forest species such as Caribbean pine trees, lawaan, falcata, abaca, and eucalyptus. Fruit trees are also planted in the area with vegetables sown in between. Farm animals such as carabaos, horse, goats, sheep, hogs and other livestock animals are grown in the farm together with honeybees and tilapia. The farm also offers facilities for lodging to visiting tourists, researchers, scientists and mountaineers.

Barangay Kaatuan is also home to 8 conjoint water falls: 7 water falls pouring its contents onto another water falls. This conjoint waterfall is supplied by the Kulasihan River, and situated five kilometers from the barangay proper of Kaatuan called Block 2.

File:Road in Lantapan.JPG

The rural health unit (RHU) maintains one central health unit and 14 barangay health stations. The RHU provides medical, dental, family planning and laboratory services. It provides special care and rehabilitation to malnourished children. One privately owned clinic for urgent care on minor cases and two registered mini-pharmaceutical stores are found in the Poblacion.

Potable water is distributed through individual installations of 3,958 households. A feasibility study is being developed for the establishments of an improved and modern water system for Lantapan which entails tapping the Kulasihan and Songco water sources for an estimated flow of 45,018.168 cubic meters per hour.

Lantapan is generally peaceful. Security in the area is ably maintained by the local police force. Trained civilian forces, the "Bantay-Bayan" and the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) in the barangays also provide support to crime prevention.

Presently, there is a total of 24 primary, elementary and secondary schools in Lantapan. These schools serve approximately 7,000 children. Day care centers under the Department of Social Welfare and Development provide preparatory education to pre-schoolers in the barangays.

• Richard Heydarian{{Cite news |last=Saliring |first=Alwen |date=March 19, 2025 |title=More Mindanao execs move to declare Heydarian persona non grata |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/107172/more-mindanao-execs-move-to-declare-heydarian-persona-non-grata/story/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=GMA Regional TV}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [{{NSCB detail}} Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131004104825/http://census.gov.ph/ Philippine Census Information]

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Lantapan

|North = Malaybalay

|East = Malaybalay

|South = Valencia

|West = Talakag

|Northwest = Mount Kitanglad

}}

{{Bukidnon}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Municipalities of Bukidnon