Libona, officially the Municipality of Libona (Bukid and Higaonon: Banuwa ta Libona; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Libona; Tagalog: Bayan ng Libona), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bukidnon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 48,965 people.

Libona is situated in the northern part of the province and is approximately 103 kilometers from Malaybalay, the capital city of Bukidnon. The municipality can be reached from Cagayan de Oro, the major trade center of Northern Mindanao, through a 52 kilometer-route passing Barangay Alae of Manolo Fortich, or through a 32 kilometer road northward passing Barangay Indahag, Cagayan de Oro.

History

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According to folk history, gold had flourished in the locality that prompted people from the neighboring towns flocked into this place in their quest for the golden fame and fortune. It was said that on January 17, 1817, A Spanish soldier who was on patrol was tasked to write down the names of the places he would come across within the course of his mission. He happened to pass by a group of men who were digging gold on one of the gold mines. Talking in Spanish, the soldier inquired about the name of the place. The natives, who did not understand the language, thought the soldier was asking them how many gold ores they have already gathered. In response, the natives answered "libo na", meaning a thousand already. The Spanish soldier jotted the word "Libona" in his logbook believing it was the name of the locality.

Libona was once a municipal district of Maluko, now the Municipality of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, created under EO No. 5 dated April 4, 1917 issued by then acting Governor Ponciano C. Reyes of the defunct Department of Mindanao and Sulu. Due to its progressive stride in both the socio-economic and political infrastructure, Libona was finally able to separate itself from its mother municipality when it was granted political identity. then President Carlos P. Garcia, issued EO No. 272, dated October 4, 1957 declaring Libona a regular municipality. By virtue of the said order, Libona became the 14th municipality in the province of Bukidnon.

Geography

Barangays

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

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2020		2010
101311001	Capihan	4.6%	2,273	2,067	▴	0.95%
101311002	Crossing	9.3%	4,578	4,369	▴	0.47%
101311003	Gango	12.6%	6,173	4,884	▴	2.37%
101311004	Kiliog	4.9%	2,418	1,440	▴	5.32%
101311005	Kinawe	8.3%	4,062	3,815	▴	0.63%
101311006	Laturan	6.0%	2,927	2,921	▴	0.02%
101311007	Maambong	4.6%	2,239	1,917	▴	1.56%
101311008	Nangka	3.6%	1,784	1,515	▴	1.65%
101311009	Palabucan	3.3%	1,594	1,333	▴	1.80%
101311010	Poblacion	7.1%	3,471	3,113	▴	1.09%
101311011	Pongol	7.3%	3,579	3,485	▴	0.27%
101311012	San Jose	7.6%	3,738	3,387	▴	0.99%
101311013	Santa Fe	4.4%	2,154	2,506	▾	−1.50%
101311014	Sil‑ipon	6.1%	2,979	2,641	▴	1.21%
	Total		48,965	39,393	▴	2.20%

Climate

Demographics

Population census of Libona

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1918	1,547	—
1939	3,727	+4.28%
1948	4,406	+1.88%
1960	10,653	+7.63%
1970	14,988	+3.47%
1975	16,481	+1.92%
1980	21,229	+5.19%
1990	29,652	+3.40%
1995	31,897	+1.38%
2000	33,273	+0.91%
2007	35,670	+0.96%
2010	39,393	+3.68%
2015	43,969	+2.12%
2020	48,965	+2.14%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

In the 2020 census, the population of Libona, Bukidnon, was 48,965 people, with a density of 130 inhabitants per square kilometre or 340 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Libona

10 20 30 40 2006 38.10 2009 35.49 2012 37.17 2015 37.38 2018 27.73 2021 33.12 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Local government

Municipal officials (2022-2025):

• Mayor: Aurelio B. Lopez
• Vice Mayor: Leonardo Genesis T. Calingasan
• Sangguniang Bayan Members:
  • Hanalee T. Calingasan
  • Noel B. Woo
  • Czar Ian R. Abas
  • Feliciano C. Gabito Jr.
  • Vladimir P. Gallego
  • Rex W. Tacandong
  • Fernando P. Ibarita
  • Rella A. Fernandez

Education

• Learning Centers

The MSWDO have established several Children learning centers in the municipality where in fact every barangays have one or two centers and it includes the National Child Development Center.

• Preparatory

The most notable one is the San Miguel Escuela de Jesus Nazareno in the barangay of Crossing.

DepEd Libona are divided into two districts; the Libona 1 and Libona 2

• Elementary Schools

Currently Libona have 23 public and 2 private Elementary Schools that caters the youth of the different barangays in the municipality.

• Junior/Senior High Schools

1.Libona National High School (Crossing) 2.Kinawe National High School (Kinawe) 3.Hossana Academy of Bukidnon Inc. (Gango) 4.Sil-ipon Integrated School (Sil-ipon)

Tertiary/Higher institutions

1.Bukidnon State University - Libona Campus

Vocational/Training School

1. Woo Stride Training and Assessment Center

And also every barangay hosted Alternative Learning Systems for the out of-school-youth in the municipality.