Wao, Lanao del Sur

' officially the ' (Maranao/Iranun: "Inged a Wao"; ; ), is a in the province of , . According to the , it has a population of people.
Wao is the only municipality in Lanao del Sur where Catholicism is the dominant religion (80% of the population. Wao is the only municipality in the Philippines that starts with "W".
Geography.
Wao is also surrounded by Amai Manabilang in the north and west, Bukidnon in the east, and Cotabato in the south.
Barangays.
Wao is politically subdivided into 26 barangays.
History.
The LASEDECO resettlement program of then-President Ramon Magsaysay made possible the foundation of Wao as a municipality in Lanao del Sur province on February 22, 1961. The first settlers in the area were sixty (60) families of various ethnicity from the then-undivided Cotabato province. Only one person (Elvino B. Balicao, Sr) among the 1st batch of settlers became one of the Municipal Mayors of Wao. Mr Balicao, along with members of the 1st batch of 60 settlers that included the late couple Aludio & Sofia Emborgo, were welcomed by the native Muslim inhabitants of Wao led by Sultan Mamaco Saripada (the municipality's first appointed and elected mayor), Datu Tao Pagul and Datu Maki Saripada. They were treated to a sit-down meal in the house of Sultan Mamaco Saripada.