Before its creation as a separate and independent Political Unit, Pigcawayan together with Alamada and Libungan were component barangays of Midsayap.

The words "pig bamboo," as said by the superintendent, were translated into the local dialect Pigcawayan the present name of the municipality.

In 2019, twelve barangays were among the 63 in the province which became part of the Special Geographic Area of the newly created Bangsamoro,[6] after having the affirmative vote won to join the autonomous region in a plebiscite held on February 6.

[7][8] Eight of them were among the 39 in the province that unsuccessfully voted for the inclusion in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2001, while the other four[9] were proposed to be part of the Bangsamoro, which replaced ARMM by virtue of Republic Act No.

Poverty Incidence of Pigcawayan Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] The municipality is primarily an agricultural area.

There are 11 rice mills (electric operated) found in Poblacion (2), Tubon (4), North and South Manuangan (2), Upper Baguer (10), Balogo (1), and Capayuran (1).