Zamboanga Peninsula

Zamboanga is a peninsula and also an administrative region of the Philippines. Designated Region IX, the region is made up of three provinces, namely Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga City to the southeast, with Pagadian City as its new regional center. The region was formerly known as Western Mindanao prior to the passage of Executive Order No. 36 on September 19, 2001.

History

Province

After US imperialism annexed the Spanish East Indies as part of its territory in 1898, Zamboanga briefly declared itself independent as the Republic of Zamboanga. It became a part of the Moro Province, which consisted of the junction of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. The name and status of the Moro Province was soon changed to the Department of Mindanao and Sulu on August 16, 1916, making Zamboanga a province.

In 1942, Imperial Japanese forces invaded the Zamboanga Peninsula.

In 1945, the liberation of the Zamboanga Peninsula by the Filipino people and the United States against Japanese Imperial forces during World War II.

On June 6, 1952, the province was divided into two provinces, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga City became an independent city.

Region

Along with the Sulu Archipelago, the provinces that formerly comprised the province of Zamboanga were organized into Region IX by order of Presidential Decree No. 1 as part of President Ferdinand Marcos' Integrated Reorganization Plan.

Between 1975 to 1989 the old Region IX (Western Mindanao) was divided into two sub-regions by Presidential Decree No. 773 dated August 21, 1975.

Sub-Region IX-A composed of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi with Jolo, Sulu is the sub-regional center.

Sub-Region IX-B made up of the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, together with the city of Zamboanga as the sub-regional center.

Present

Circa 2001, Zamboanga Sibugay was separated from the province of Zamboanga del Sur with Ipil as the capital and center of government.

In the same year, Basilan residents opted to merge into the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (RAMM) in a plebiscite. However, the citizens of the capital Isabela did not join the project so the city would remain part of this region as a result according to executive order No.36.

In 2004, Pagadian officially became the Regional Center for Region IX of the Zamboanga Peninsula, despite opposition from Zamboanga City, which was the previous regional center.

Political division

Political map of the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Main Cities

• Dapitan, North Zamboanga
• Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte
• Isabela1Basilán
• Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur

¹ Isabela is a city and capital of the province of Basilán that continues under the jurisdiction of Basilan for the administration of services and functions of the province. But for the administration of regional services, the city is part of the Zamboanga Peninsula region, which despite the rest of Basilan is under the authority of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

Geography

The Zamboanga Peninsula adjoins the Moro Gulf, part of the Celebes Sea, and the Sulu Sea. Along the coasts of the peninsula are numerous bays and islands. Its territory comprises the three provinces of Zamboanga and cities of Zamboanga, as well as Northern Mindanao which is a province of Misamis Occidental. The peninsula is connected to the main part of Mindanao through an isthmus situated between Panguil Bay and Pagadian Bay. The limit isthmus between the peninsula and the continent is artificially marked by the border between the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Lanao del Norte.

Resources

The region has extensive forest resources, which are used to export lumber, veneer and plywood. Mineral deposits include gold, chromite, coal, iron, lead, and manganese. Among its non-metallic reserves are coal, silica, salt, marble, silica sand, and gravel. Regarding fishing, they are dedicated to commercial and municipal fishing. It also has marine farms for healthy water and freshwater fish.

Cities

The Zambaoanga Peninsula has five cities: Dipolog, Dapitan, Isabela, Pagadian, and modern Zamboanga City. The city of Isabela is actually part of the island-province of Basilán in the south of the peninsula, and is also the capital of that province.

The cities of Zamboanga, Dipolog and Pagadian serve as centers of commerce and education in the region.

Zamboanga City, known for its old Spanish fortress, Fortaleza Pilar, is a tourist destination as well as being the most urbanized city in Western Mindanao.

Around 2006, Zamboanga City was renamed from the “City of Flowers” to the “Latin City of Asia”. this was thanks to Mayor Celso Lobregat who believed this was a more relevant and meaningful label given the fact that the people of Zamboanga speak Chabacano (33%), a local dialect based on eighty percent (80%) of their words from the Spanish language and the remaining twenty percent (20%) a mixture of other local dialects such as Visayan, Ilonggo, Subanon, Yakan and Tausug.

The city of Dapitan was the place where José Rizal, the national hero, was exiled. It is also known for the old St. James Parish and the beautiful Dakak beach resort. There is an atmosphere of primitive charm in the city and at the same time an increasing feeling of modernity and sophistication.

Dipolog City is known as the “Gateway to Western Mindanao” and “Orchid City” of the Philippines. Dipolog's people are known for being warm and friendly and proudly celebrate their rich culture and colorful history. It is a city in which its natural wonders enchant the tourists who visit it.

Pagadian City is also known as “Little Hong Kong of the South” due to its topographical feature of resembling Hong Kong in China. It also has a large Chinese community that officially celebrates the Chinese Lunar New Year. Currently this city is the new Regional Center of Western Mindanao, and is the second richest city in Western Mindanao, after Zamboanga.

Economy

It has the first processing and export zone in Mindanao. Farming and fishing are the main economic activities in the region. It also has rice and corn mills, processed oil, processed coffee and processed rubber latex. Its national industries include cotton and furniture craft and brass work.