Zamboanga Sibugay

History

United States 1898–1942 Japan 1942–1945 United States 1945–1946 Philippines 1946–present

The earliest recorded mention of Sibugay was in Historia de las islas de Mindanao, Jolo y sus adyacentes (1667) by the Spanish priest Francisco Combés, which describes the village of "Sibuguey" along the river Sibuguey.

Zamboanga Sibugay was formerly part of Zamboanga del Sur. Attempts to divide Zamboanga del Sur into two separate provinces date as far back as the 1960s. Several bills were filed in the Philippine Congress, but remained unacted.

It started in the 1960s when several bills were filed in Congress such as House Bill No. 17574 by the late Rep. Vincenzo Sagun, HB No. 8546 of Congresswoman Belma Cabilao, HB No. 341 through Congressman Vicente M. Cerilles and the Batasan Parliamentary Bill sponsored by parliament members (Antonio Ceniza, Manuel M. Espaldon, Hussien Loong, Kalbi Tupay, and Minister Romulo Espaldon). All of these bills were relegated to the recesses of the archives.

In 1993, the Zamboanga Occidental Movement ushered in a renewed political consciousness among the people of the 3rd district of Zamboanga del Sur. The movement was so intense that a People's Initiative was conducted simultaneously with the May 12, 1997 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. In this exercise, the majority of the voters signed in favor of forming a new province. It was then that Representative George T. Hofer sponsored House Bill No. 1311. He managed to push the bill in Congress and gave it a new identity by naming the proposed province as Zamboanga Sibugay. He lobbied for its approval in the Senate and the new province was finally created by Republic Act No. 8973 signed into law by President Joseph Estrada on November 7, 2000. On February 22, 2001, Republic Act No. 8973 was ratified through a plebiscite conducted in 44 municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City. Zamboanga del Sur Third District Representative George Hofer was appointed and later elected as its first governor in 2001.

Government

Presently, former representative Dr. Dulce Ann K. Hofer is the governor of the province, while former Sangguniang Panlalawigan member, Richard Olegario serves as her Vice Governor. Furthermore, the House Representatives of the first and second districts are Atty. Marlo Bancoro and Doc. Marly Hofer-Hasim, respectively.

Geography

Zamboanga Sibugay covers a total area of 3,607.75 km2 occupying the south-central section of the Zamboanga Peninsula in western Mindanao, at 7°48’N 122°40’E.

To the north it intersects the common municipal boundaries of Kalawit, Tampilisan, and Godod of Zamboanga del Norte. It is bordered to the west by the municipalities of Sirawai, Siocon, and Baliguian, to the south by the Sibuguey Bay, and to the east by the municipalities of Bayog and Kumalarang of Zamboanga del Sur. It is further bordered on the southwest by Zamboanga City.

Climate

The climate of the province is moderately normal (climate type III). Annual rainfall varies from 1599 to. Temperature is relatively warm and constant throughout the year ranging from 22 to. The province is situated outside the country's typhoon belt.

Administrative divisions

Zamboanga Sibugay comprises 16 municipalities, organized into two congressional districts and further subdivided into 389 barangays.

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NOTE: Municipality with caret symbol (^) marks the province's largest settlement.

Demographics

The population of Zamboanga Sibugay in the 2020 census was 669,840 people, with a density of {{sigfig|669,840/3,607.75|2}} PD/km2.

The vast majority of the people of Zamboanga Sibugay speak Cebuano and Chavacano. Other languages such as Subanen, Ilocano, Maguindanaon and Tausug, among others, are also spoken, followed by English and Filipino.

Religion

The province is predominantly Christian. Roman Catholics are the predominant Christians comprising 60.29% of the population. Various sectarian groups are also present such as Baptists, Born-again Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, Iglesia ni Cristo, and Seventh-Day Adventist. Islam comprises about 15.94% of the population.

Economy

The leading industries are in the areas of semi-processed rubber, rice and corn milling, ordinary food processing, wood and rattan furniture making, dried fish and squid processing, and home-made food processing. New industries include concrete products, garments, wax and candle factories, lime making, and other home and cottage industries.

Major crops produced include rice, corn, coconuts, rubber, fruit trees, vegetables, tobacco, coffee, cacao, and root crops. Livestock and poultry productions are predominantly small-scale and backyard operations. Coal mining in large and small scale and precious metal mining in small scale category are likewise present in some areas of the province.

Tourism

• Rotunda Obelisk
• Provincial Capitol
• Buluan Island

Education

Private schools include:

• St. Paul School of Buug
• Dr. Aurelio Mendoza Memorial Colleges (Dr. AMMC)
• Marcelo Spinola School (MSS)
• Marian College (MC)
• Sibugay Technical Institute, Inc. (STII)
• Universidad de Zamboanga (UZ)
• Mindanao State University Buug Campus (MSU-BC)
• Saint John College Buug (SJC)
• Medina College Ipil (MC)
• Sibugay Technical Institute, Inc. Imelda Branch (STII)
• Western Mindanao State University (External Studies Unit (ESU)) in the following: Alicia, Diplahan, Imelda, Ipil, Mabuhay, Naga, Olutanga, Siay, Tungawan

Notable people

• Marlo Bancoro - lawyer, incumbent representative of Zamboanga Sibugay's 1st congressional district since 2025, former member of the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Board (2022 - 2025).
• George Hofer (died in 2019) - doctor, former mayor of Titay (1992 - 1998); former Representative of the 3rd legislative district of Zamboanga del Sur (1998 - 2001); and first Governor of Zamboanga Sibugay (2001 - 2010).
• Sylvester Lopez - boxer.
• Dhan Ryan Alar Bayot (1992 - 2017) - soldier and Marawi siege hero.

References

References

1. "List of Provinces". National Statistical Coordination Board.
2. (1667). "Historia de las islas de Mindanao, Jolo y sus adyacentes: Progressos de la religion, y armas catolicas". Herederos de Pablo de Val.
3. "Republic Act No. 8973; An Act Creating the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay from the Province of Zamboanga del Sur and for Other Purposes". PhilippineLaw.info.
4. [https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachments/ird/pressrelease/3_Statistical%20Table%20for%20Religious%20Affiliation%20%28for%20Posting%29_RML_12082022_PMMJ_CRD_1.xlsx Table for religious affiliation] psa.gov.ph
5. (4 June 2015). "Rubber processing facility upgraded". Sun.Star Publishing, Inc..
6. Baguio, Dennis. (7 January 2019). "Zamboanga Sibugay 'founding-father' passes away at 80".
7. (6 January 2019). "Former Zamboanga Sibugay governor passes away".