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.^[3]

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Argao
Municipality
Municipality of Argao
Old cannons of Argao
Flag
Map of Cebu with Argao highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Argao Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°53′N 123°36′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas
Province	Cebu
District	2nd district
Founded	1608 [1]
Barangays	45 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Allan M. Sesaldo (1Cebu)
• Vice Mayor	Orvi G. Ortega (IND)
• Representative	Edsel A. Galeos
• Municipal Council	Members Jonathan C. Villegas Sr. Herculene Raymund H. Rizon Reno Rhine A. Mamac Annabelle C. Almirante-Birondo Gus Anthony L. Bacalso Fedlemido R. Albero Sr. Venerando Ramoncito D. Villaflor Eliezer P. Canada
• Electorate	55,846 voters (2022)
Area [2]
• Total	191.50 km2 (73.94 sq mi)
Elevation	43 m (141 ft)
Highest elevation	442 m (1,450 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[3]
• Total	78,187
• Density	410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
• Households	19,017
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	15.90 % (2018)[4]
• Revenue	₱
• Assets	₱
• Expenditure	₱
• Liabilities	₱
Service provider
• Electricity	Cebu 1 Electric Cooperative (CEBECO 1)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6021
PSGC	072205000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)32
Native languages	Cebuano Tagalog
Patron saint	Michael

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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.

This section does not cite any sources. (December 2023)

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

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

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

• Philippine Science High School Central Visayas Campus