NUNUNGAN, Lanao del Norte -- Nunungan, a 3rd class town of Lanao del Norte is among the oldest municipalities of the province together with Sapad, Salvador, Lala, Kapatagan , Sultan Naga Dimaporo and Sultan Gumander (formerly Pekong) in Lanao del Sur.
Based on population census in 2005 Nunungan, a land-locked hinterland municipality has an estimated population of more than 18,350 people mostly Maranaw inhabitants in 25 upland barangays to include Abaga, Bangco, Canibongan, Karcum, Dimayon, Inayawan, Kaludan, Kalubuan, Cabasaran, (Laya) Liangan ,Lupitan, Mangan, Malaig, Masibay, Poblacion, Notongan, Putadon (Nunungan proper), Panganapan, Pantar, Paridi, Rarab, Raraban, Rebucon, Songgod and Taraka.
To date , Nunungan has P123 Million Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA for development in human resources, infrastructure, livelihood , agriculture, environment protection and management and others.
Nunungan is also blessed with natural wonders like Mt. Inayawan of the Mount Inyawan Ranges Natural Park, a protected area of forested mountains in the Northern Mindanao. The park covers a total land area of 3,632 hectares with a buffer zone of 889.04 hectares.
The area was officially designated as a natural park on July 30, 2007 through Proclamation No. 1344 signed by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
It is a critical watershed area and has the largest remaining rainforest in the province.
The park is situated in the barangay of Inayawan in Nunungan, some 115 kilometers southwest of Iligan City near the border with the province of Lanao del Sur and some 14 kilometers north from Magapu Point and Illana Bay.
Mt. Iyawan has an altitude of 5,204 feet. At the foot of Mt. Inayawan are Lake Pantar at 1,535 meters high, Lake Tongkod and Lake Malaig which supply water for the municipalities in Kapatagan Valley.
Wildlife
Mt. Inayawan Range Natural Park is the home to a diverse fauna. They include endangered and rare species such as the Philippine Eagle, Philippine deer, Mindanao flying squirrel, Mindanao cops owl, white collared king fisher, Philippine warty pig and Mindanao hornbill.
Incumbent town mayor Marcos Mamay said the municipality has been deprived of development for the past 30 years. The 15 kilometers road network towards poblacion will take three and a half hours to travel due to bad roads. Dump trucks and all-wheel drive Korean cargo truck are the only means of transportation available to Nunungan.
A barangay road improvement project, however, will be implemented this year to access Mt. Inayawan.
Mamay committed to protect Mother Earth by preserving wildlife in the Mt. Inayawan mountain ranges.
Mamay said 900 Million worth of national road concreting project from the boundary of Sapad to Nunungan to Sultan Naga Dimaporo will begin this year with Six qualified contractors that will simultaneously undertake the project.
Once completed the agricultural products from the fertile grounds of Nunungan will be able to reach market in the region
Mamay, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, also vows to bring about change in Nunungan by, among other things, helping end several family feuds to prevent further conflict and bloodshed that may lead to the collapse of peace and order.
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