Argao, officially the Municipality of Argao (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Argao; Tagalog: Bayan ng Argao), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 78,187 people.

Geography

The municipality of Argao is located in the southeast of the province of Cebu, 67 kilometres (42 mi) from Cebu City.

Argao is bordered to the north by the municipality of Sibonga, to the west are the municipalities of Ronda, Alcantara and Moalboal, to the east is the Cebu Strait, and to the south is the municipality of Dalaguete.

Barangays

Argao is politically subdivided into 45 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020		2010
072205001	Alambijud	2.1%	1,655	1,514	▴	0.89%
072205002	Anajao	1.2%	911	907	▴	0.04%
072205003	Apo	0.8%	654	664	▾	−0.15%
072205004	Balaas	1.1%	892	985	▾	−0.99%
072205005	Balisong	2.9%	2,275	1,944	▴	1.58%
072205006	Binlod	5.2%	4,067	3,343	▴	1.98%
072205007	Bogo	5.1%	3,967	3,505	▴	1.25%
072205009	Bug‑ot	1.1%	889	837	▴	0.60%
072205010	Bulasa	5.0%	3,943	3,523	▴	1.13%
072205008	Butong	1.3%	1,011	924	▴	0.90%
072205012	Calagasan	1.3%	1,029	875	▴	1.63%
072205013	Canbantug	1.2%	932	843	▴	1.01%
072205014	Canbanua	3.5%	2,731	2,179	▴	2.28%
072205015	Cansuje	3.3%	2,562	2,206	▴	1.51%
072205016	Capio‑an	1.5%	1,146	1,192	▾	−0.39%
072205017	Casay	1.3%	1,040	788	▴	2.81%
072205018	Catang	0.8%	645	651	▾	−0.09%
072205019	Colawin	1.5%	1,198	943	▴	2.42%
072205020	Conalum	0.8%	611	615	▾	−0.07%
072205021	Guiwanon	2.4%	1,839	1,726	▴	0.64%
072205022	Gutlang	1.0%	811	770	▴	0.52%
072205023	Jampang	3.5%	2,741	2,217	▴	2.14%
072205024	Jomgao	1.3%	998	1,102	▾	−0.99%
072205025	Lamacan	3.4%	2,662	2,256	▴	1.67%
072205026	Langtad	4.4%	3,417	2,887	▴	1.70%
072205027	Langub	1.0%	768	804	▾	−0.46%
072205028	Lapay	0.8%	605	677	▾	−1.12%
072205029	Lengigon	1.6%	1,245	989	▴	2.33%
072205030	Linut‑od	1.4%	1,071	1,024	▴	0.45%
072205031	Mabasa	1.9%	1,487	1,281	▴	1.50%
072205032	Mandilikit	0.9%	722	645	▴	1.13%
072205033	Mompeller	1.2%	944	753	▴	2.29%
072205034	Panadtaran	0.8%	617	524	▴	1.65%
072205035	Poblacion	7.7%	6,009	5,570	▴	0.76%
072205036	Sua	1.0%	797	755	▴	0.54%
072205037	Sumaguan	1.3%	1,026	883	▴	1.51%
072205038	Tabayag	1.3%	983	999	▾	−0.16%
072205039	Talaga	5.0%	3,937	3,485	▴	1.23%
072205040	Talaytay	2.4%	1,891	1,438	▴	2.78%
072205041	Talo‑ot	5.4%	4,233	3,683	▴	1.40%
072205042	Tiguib	1.4%	1,104	1,202	▾	−0.85%
072205043	Tulang	1.0%	756	869	▾	−1.38%
072205044	Tulic	3.8%	2,992	2,494	▴	1.84%
072205045	Ubaub	1.5%	1,141	968	▴	1.66%
072205046	Usmad	1.6%	1,233	1,064	▴	1.48%
	Total		78,187	69,503	▴	1.18%

Climate

Demographics

Population census of Argao

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	35,448	—
1918	39,121	+0.66%
1939	37,331	−0.22%
1948	33,596	−1.16%
1960	32,684	−0.23%
1970	38,039	+1.53%
1975	39,778	+0.90%
1980	44,060	+2.07%
1990	52,157	+1.70%
1995	54,447	+0.81%
2000	61,010	+2.47%
2007	62,226	+0.27%
2010	69,503	+4.11%
2015	72,366	+0.77%
2020	78,187	+1.53%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Economy

Poverty incidence of Argao

10 20 30 40 50 2006 41.70 2009 43.55 2012 24.74 2015 25.25 2018 15.90 2021 35.00 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Tourism

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The economy of the town of Argao heavily revolves around farming, baking, and tourism. Argao is renowned in Cebu as the "Torta Capital of the Province" because of its local delicacy, the Torta, a Cebuano tart that is inspired from the Spanish tart, but differs in its recipe by using tubâ or palm wine as the rising agent instead of the usual yeast. There are three Cebuano baking towns, the others are Liloan and Santander.

The La Torta Festival, which replaced the Pitlagong Festival in 2011, is the municipality's local food festival in honor of St Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of Argao. La Torta Festival happens every 28–29 September to celebrate Argao's Tart Economy and the torta as an Argaoanon delicacy, as well as cultural heritage from the Spanish period, which includes the tradition of making the torta.

Argao is also a producer of Cebuano tsokolate (chocolate). Much of the cocoa production originates from Argao. The raw cacao, once harvested, is molded, while melted, into disk-shaped tablets called tablea. These are often used in sikwate, a Cebuano version of hot chocolate. The production of chocolate in Argao is said to have been pre-colonial. Maria Cacao, a goddess of the Lantoy Mountain, is said to have been the giver of the cacao tree to the natives of Argao, according to legend. It is said that she and her husband Mangao reside in a cave in that area, surrounded by cacao trees.

Argao is, additionally, a producer of vinegar in the province. When the tubâ ferments or when it is aged too long, it becomes sour. It eventually turns into vinegar which is used as sauce or as component for a sauce in main courses. The palm vinegar is referred to as sukang tubâ. It is often accompanied with spices such as garlic and chili peppers and usually comes by the bottle.

• 
  St Michael Parish Church
• 
  Rizal statue at Municipal plaza
• 
  Argao Public Market

Education

The public schools in the town of Argao are administered by two school districts under the Schools Division of Cebu Province.

Elementary schools:

High schools:

• Argao National High School — San Miguel Street, Canbanua
• Bulasa National High School — Bulasa
• Calagasan National High School — Calagasan
• Cansuje National High School — Cansuje
• Colawin National High School — Colawin
• Mandilikit National High School — Mandilikit
• Talaga National High School — Talaga
• Usmad National High School — Usmad

Integrated schools:

• Taloot Integrated School — Taloot

Notable personalities

• Cerge Remonde - former Press Secretary
• Francisco Remotigue - former Governor of Cebu
• Hilario Davide Jr. - former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

See also

• Philippine Science High School Central Visayas Campus