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BASILAN
Basilan province was created in 1973 and organized to
render the area more responsive to the pacification,
rehabilitation and development programs of the
government. As originally conceived, the new province
was composed of the whole island of Basilan and the
adjacent island which comprised the towns of Isabela,
except its own proper, and the former municipal
districts of Lamitan and Maluso.
The country’s leading grower of rubber trees, Basilan
also grows coconut, another principal product. The
province has mineral deposits, some of which are gold,
iron and copper.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 1,327.2 square kilometers
Capital: Isabela
Population: 201,407 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Cebuano
Income Classification: Fifth Class Province
No. of Cities: 1 (Basilan)
No. of Municipalities: 7 (Isabela, Lamitan,
Lantawan, Maluso, Sumisip, Tipo-Tipo, and Tuburan)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: Terrain is rugged and hilly, with
sizeable timberlands.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 23 (with Zamboanga del Sur)
Climate: The province has a naturally mild
climate.
Average Annual Rainfall: 44.25 inches
Principal products/crops: Rubber and coconut.
Industries: Rubber sapping and logging
Mineral Resources: Gold, manganese, iron ore,
copper and coal
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Rubber plantation of B.F.
Goodrich in Tumajubong, the Malawi Channel, an
underwater garden of multi-colored corals, seaweeds and
fishes, and the Mamburing Falls.
Governor: Gerry Ajul Salapuddin
Congressman: Alvin G. Dans
SULU
Sulu ranks third in population among the Western
Mindanao provinces with 360,588 (1980). It is one of the
provinces in the country which registers the lowest
literacy rate.
The early inhabitants of Sulu were the Baranums,
Taguimahas, Baklayanons and Badjaos who were the
ancestors of the Tausogs, the dominant Muslim group in
Sulu today.
In the historical front, Sulu did not participate in the
1896 Philippine Revolution. In 1899, the Bates Treaty of
the American administration recognized the sovereignty
of the sultan and the free exercise of the Islamic
tradition. Furthermore, during the World War II, the
guerillas of the Sulu Command Area under Lt. Col.
Alejandro Suarez, facilitated the landing of the
American forces in Tawi-tawi, Siasi and Jolo in 1945.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 1,600.4 square kilometers
Capital: Jolo
Population: 360,588 (1980)
Principal Dialects: Tausog and Samal
Income Classification: Fourth Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 18 (Indanan, Jolo,
Kalingalan-Cauang, Lugus, Luuk, Maimbung, Marunggas,
Pananaw, Pandami, Panglima Estino, Pangutaran, Parang,
Pata, Patikul, Siasi, Talipaw, Tapul, and Tungkil)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: The Sulu archipelago is marked by a
number of mountain ranges that traverse the mid-section
of the Jolo Island. It is a volcanic region which lies
outside the typhoon belt.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 56
Climate: The province has a climate that is
generally warm and humid. The prevalent wind direction
is southeasterly, at a velocity of 3 knots.
Average Annual Rainfall: 80.64 inches
Principal products/crops: Abaca and coconut
Industries: Fishing and cattle-raising
Mineral Resources: None
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Quezon Beach and Mosque at
Maimbung, Sulu
Governor: Tupay Loong
Congressman: Arden S. Anni
TAWI-TAWI
This province, composed of 12 municipalities and 307
islands is the southern-most portion of the Philippine
archipelago. The proximity of Tawi-tawi to north Borneo
makes it the boundary between the Philippines and
Malaysia.
Tawi-tawi was once a part of Sulu. Today, it is the
fourth province in Region IX with a land area of 1,087.4
sq. kilometers, and a population of 194,651 (1980)
The ethnic groups which inhabit Tawi-tawi are the Samals,
Badjao and Tausogs. The Tausog dialect, a muslim
variant, is widely spoken among the ethnic communities,
while Cebuano is prominent among non-Muslim groups.
Former Name: None
Land Area: 1,087.4 square kilometers
Capital: Bato-batu and Balimbing
Population: 194,651 (1980)
Principal Dialects: Tausog and Cebuano
Income Classification: Sixth Class Province
No. of Cities: None
No. of Municipalities: 10 (Balimbing, Bonggao,
Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, Languyan, Sapa-Sapa, Simunul,
Sitangkay, South Ubian, Tandu Bas, and Turle Islands)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: Tawi-tawi Island has a number of
extinct volcanoes with elevations reaching 1,900 ft. The
island is heavily fringed by reefs, bays, islets and
lagoons.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 3 (major)
Climate: Warm and humid, suited to growing a
variety of crops. Tawi-tawi lies outside the typhoon
belt.
Average Annual Rainfall: 80.64 inches
Principal products/crops: Coconut, rice and
tropical fruits
Industries: Barter trade (major industry), fishing,
copra production, boat building, lumbering, cattle
raising, pottery, mat and basket weaving.
Mineral Resources: None
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Turtle Islands
Governor: Hadjiril D. Matba
Congressman: Alawaddin T. Bandon Jr
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
Formerly named “Jamboanga”, Zamboanga del Norte was
created on June 6, 1952, under Republic Act. No.711. The
present administrative organization of the province
includes two cities and 19 municipalities. The 1980
National Census and Statistics data shows that Zamboanga
del Norte is second largest province in Western Mindanao
region in terms of land area and population.
Although most of the inhabitants are Muslim Tausogs and
Maranaos, the natives of this province speak fluent
chabacano dialect which is a mixture of Spanish nouns,
unconjugated verbs and a dozen native dialects.
Due to its proximity to North Borneo, Zamboanga del
Norte was once noted for smuggling activities. The
kumpits (long, deep, enclosed motorboats) illegally
carried cargo between Zamboanga and Borneo.
Former Name: Jamboanga
Land Area: 6,618.1 square kilometers
Capital: Dipolog
Population: 588,015 (1980)
Principal Dialects: Cebuano and Chabacano
Income Classification: Third Class Province
No. of Cities: 2 (Dipolog and Dapitan)
No. of Municipalities: 24 (Baliguian, Bacungan,
Godod, Gutalac, Jose Dalman, Katipunan, La Libertad,
Labason, Liloy, Manukan, Mutia, Pinan, Polanco, Pres. M.
A. Roxas, Rizal, Salug, Sergio Osmeña, Siayan, Sibuco,
Sibutad, Sindangan, Siocon, Siraway, and Tampilisan)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: The province is generally elevated.
The northern and southern portions are rough and
mountainous even along the coastal areas.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 9
Climate: Rainfall is evenly distributed
throughout the year. The maximum rainfall occurs in
October while the dry season is between January and
April.
Average Annual Rainfall: 92 inches
Principal products/crops: Coconut, abaca, rubber, rice,
corn, rootcrops, vegetables, coffee and peanuts.
Industries: Cattle raising, fishing and logging (major
industries), lumbering and weaving
Mineral Resources: Copper
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Historical spots such as
Dapitan and Bayanihan (a man-made island in Rizal town),
Bulanit Mountain, Siyacab Beach Resort and Aligway
Island (white sand and corals)
Governor: Isagani S. Amatong
Congressman: Artemio A. Adasa Jr., Ernesto S.
Amayong, Angel Melicor Carloto.
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
Among the provinces forming Region IX, Zamboanga del Sur
is the largest and the highest number of barangay
centers. It is the center of trade and commerce and
other economic activities in the region.
In terms of population, the province registers the
highest number of inhabitants in the region. The
relatively young population of the province accounts for
the high number of dependents. Furthermore, Zamboanga
del Sur is one of the provinces in the country with the
lowest literacy rate. Only 6 out 10 can read and write.
The cultural groups in the province are the Subanos who
live principally in the hinterlands, the Yakans who
dwell largely in Basilan and the Maguindanaos who reside
along the coastline.
Former Name: Jamboanga
Land Area: 8,051.9 square kilometers
Capital: Pagadian City
Population: 1,183,845 (1980)
Principal Dialect: Cebuano
Income Classification: Second Class Province
No. of Cities: 2 (Pagadian and Zamboanga)
No. of Municipalities: 40(Alicia, Aurora, Bayog,
Buug, Dimataling, Dinas, Diplahan, Don Mariano Marcos,
Dumalinao, Dumingag, Imelda, Ipil, Josefina, Kabasalan,
Kumalarang, Labangan, Lakewood, Lapuyan, Mabuhay,
Mahayag, Malangas, Margosatubig, Midsalip, Molave, Naga,
Olutanga, Payao, Pitogo, R. Magsaysay, Roseller Lim, San
Miguel, San Pablo, Siay, Tabina, Talusan, Tambulig,
Titay, Tukuran, Tungaan, and Vicenzo Sagun)
No. of Municipal Districts: None
Topography: The northern part of the province is
characterized by lowlands and hilly lands. There are
many short rivers which crisscross their way through
most of the 35 municipalities.
No. of Principal Rivers: None
No. of Mountains: 23
Climate: There is no pronounced dry or wet
season. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the
year. The province is outside the typhoon belt.
Average Annual Rainfall: 44.25 inches
Principal products/crops: Rubber, corn, rice,
abaca and coconut
Industries: Lumbering, gold and coal mining, and
fishing
Mineral Resources: Gold, manganese, iron ore, and
coal
Forest Resources: Timber
Tourist Attractions: Lake Dasay in San Miguel and
Pasonanca Park in Zamboanga City.
Governor: Javier A. Ariosa
Congressman: Isidro F. Real Jr., Antonio H.
Cerilles, Wilfredo G. Cainglet, Maria
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