Ask an older Bisliganon about PICOP and you will likely hear it described as the reason Mangagoy grew the way it did. The Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines began operating in Bislig in 1963, and at its peak in 1984, it was the largest paper mill in Asia.
What PICOP actually built
PICOP built the first road into the area via Mabog, opening up land that would eventually become part of Mangagoy's development. The company's concession included a man-made lake, and its operations shaped the layout and economy of the district for decades. Pier Uno, part of the former PICOP site, remains a recognizable landmark from that era.
The decline
PICOP's operations wound down over the years and ceased entirely by 2008, ending a run of more than four decades as one of the biggest single employers in the region. For a company town built around a single industry, that closure reshaped the local economy and pushed Bislig toward the more diversified base it has today: trade, services, agriculture, and tourism.
Why it still matters
PICOP's legacy is part of why Mangagoy exists as the dense, commercially active barangay it is now. The roads, the population base, and much of the built infrastructure trace back to decisions made during PICOP's decades of operation. Understanding that history helps explain why Bislig's economy looks the way it does today, and why the city has spent years building new industries to replace what PICOP once provided.
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