| Region IX Zamboanga Peninsula Western Mindanao |
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|---|---|
| — Region — | |
| Map of the Philippines showing the location of Region IX | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Island group | Mindanao |
| Regional center | Zamboanga City (retained as of March 4, 2011) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16,823 km2 (6,495.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 3,230,094 |
| • Density | 192/km2 (497.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| Provinces | 3 |
| Cities | 5 |
| Municipalities | 67 |
| Barangays | 1,904 |
| Cong. districts | 8 |
| Languages | Zamboangueño Chavacano, Cebuano, Subanon, others |
Zamboanga Peninsula / Western Mindanao is a peninsula and an administrative region in the Philippines. Designated as Region IX, the region consists of three provinces, namely, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay, its component cities of Dipolog, Dapitan, Pagadian, and Isabela (Capital of Basilan Province, which is a part of the ARMM) and the Highly-urbanized, Independent and Chartered city of Zamboanga. March 4, 2011, the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region IX voted to retain Zamboanga City as the regional center. The region was previously known as Western Mindanao before the enactment of Executive Order No. 36[1] on September 19, 2001.
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After the United States annexed the Spanish East Indies in 1898, Zamboanga was briefly independent as the Republic of Zamboanga. It became a part of the Moro Province, which consisted of the Central and Western parts of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. The name and status of Moro province soon changed to the Department of Mindanao and Sulu on August 16, 1916, that caused Zamboanga to become a province.
On 1942, the occupied by the Japanese Imperial forces taken in Zamboanga Peninsula
On 1945, the liberation at Zamboanga Peninsula by joint United States and Philippine Commonwealth armed forces against the Japanese Imperial forces during the World War II.
On June 6, 1952, the province was divided into two provinces, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, while the chartered City of Zamboanga became an independent city.
Together with the Sulu Archipelago, the provinces that formerly made up Zamboanga province were organized into Region IX by order of Presidential Decree No. 1[2] as part of the Integrated Reorganization Plan of President Ferdinand Marcos that was signed in September 24, 1972.
Between 1975 to 1989 the old Region IX (Western Mindanao) was divided into two sub-regions by Presidential Decree No. 773[3] dated August 21, 1975. Sub-Region IX-A is to be consisted of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi with Jolo, Sulu as the sub-regional center while Sub-Region IX-B consisted of the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, with the chartered city of Zamboanga City as the sub-regional center.
In 2001, Zamboanga Sibugay, was created from the province of Zamboanga del Sur with Ipil as the seat of government with the virtue of Republic Act No. 8973.
In the same year, the residents of Basilan opted to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in a plebiscite. However, the citizens of the capital, Isabela City, did not want to join so the city remained a part of this region as a result of Executive Order No. 36.
In 2004, Pagadian City officially became the Regional Center for Region IX- Zamboanga Peninsula, despite opposition from Zamboanga City, the former Regional Center. However, on March 4, 2011, the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region IX voted to retain Zamboanga City as the regional center.
In 2011, a group of politicians led by former Zamboanga del Norte Governor Romeo Jalosjos forged a group, whose aim is to create a new region called the Western Peninsula. This proposal includes Misamis Occidental in Region IX, which is nearer than Northern Mindanao to promote progress and development among the provinces and cities in the newly formed region. Its group membership includes all of the three provinces and component cities, excluding Zamboanga and Isabela Cities.[1][2]
| Province/City | Capital | Population (2007) |
Area (km²) |
Pop. density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zamboanga del Norte | Dipolog City | 907,238 | 7,301.0 | 137.0 |
| Zamboanga del Sur | Pagadian City | 914,278 | 4,499.5 | 262.6 |
| Zamboanga Sibugay | Ipil | 546,186 | 3,607.8 | 176.8 |
| Zamboanga City | 774,407 | 1,483.4 | 522.0 | |
| Isabela City¹ | — | 87,985 | 140.7 | 625.3 |
¹ Isabela City is a component city and capital of the province of Basilan. Isabela City continues be under the jurisdiction of Basilan for the administration of provincially-devolved services and functions. But for the administration of regional services, the city is part of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region despite the rest of Basilan being under the authority of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Zamboanga Peninsula lies between the Moro Gulf, part of the Celebes Sea, and the Sulu Sea. Along the shores of the peninsula are numerous bays and islands. Its territory consists of the three Zamboanga provinces and Zamboanga City, as well as the Northern Mindanao 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 boundary between the peninsula and the mainland is artificially marked by the border between the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Lanao del Norte.
The region has vast forest resources and previously used to export logs, 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. Its fishing grounds are devoted to commercial and municipal fishing. It has also aqua farms for brackish water and freshwater fishes.
Zamboanga Peninsula has five cities: Dipolog City, Dapitan City, Isabela City, Pagadian City, and the highly-urbanized city of Zamboanga City. Isabela City is a part of the island-province of Basilan to the south of the peninsula.
Dapitan is also known as the "Shrine City in the Philippines" because the place where Jose Rizal, the National Hero, was exiled. It is also known for the old St. James Parish and the beach resort of Dakak.
Dipolog is also known as the "Gateway to Western Mindanao" and "Orchid City" of the Philippines and the "Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines".
Isabela, dubbed "The Rising City of the South", was the southernmost outpost of the Spanish in the Philippines until the fall of Jolo in 1878. Having hosted Catholic residents since 1637, and a Spanish Fort (destroyed in World War II) since 1848, it was likewise the Primary Naval Base of the Spanish for Mindanao until 1899. Named after Spanish Queen Isabella II, the city is the southernmost predominantly Christian enclave of the Philippines, and serves as the entrepot for trade and commerce of Basilan island.
Pagadian is also known as the "Little Hong Kong of the South"[3] because of its topographical feature that is reminiscent of Hong Kong, China. It also has an affluent Chinese community that officially celebrates the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Ciudad de Zamboanga is the only Highly Urbanized and independent city in the region. It is a tourist destination known for its old Spanish fort, Fort Pilar. It is also known as the third oldest chartered city in the Philippines and now serves as the center of trade, commerce, industry and education in the region and it is also the third largest city in the Philippines. [[El Orgullo de Mindanao -The Pride of Mindanao, Ciudad de Flores - City of Flowers, Zamboanga Hermosa - Beautiful Zamboanga, Ciudad Latina de Asia - Asia's Latin City Motto: "Adelante Zamboanga" Zamboangueño "Onward Zamboanga"]].
Dated March 4, 2011, Zamboanga City retain its position as the regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula as members of the Regional Development Council IX voted for the city during RDC’s 135th meeting held in Dipolog City.[4][5]
Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority is the only Freeport in Visayas and Mindanao. Zamboanga Freeport Authority was conceptualized to be an economic hub that is designed to generate local economic activities that will serve as a springboard for the promotion of trade, investments, and ecology tourism not only in Zamboanga City but also throughout the region. By nature of its operation, Zamboanga Freeport Authority is unique being both an Economic Zone.[6]
Ciudad de Zamboanga is the only member of BIMP-EAGA in the Zamboanga Peninsula. BIMP-EAGA which stands for Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area. BIMP-EAGA is an agreement among the four Southeast Asian neighbor countries for economic cooperation. It has put Ciudad de Zamboanga in touch with towns in Malaysia and Indonesia. As a result of contacts arising from BIMP-EAGA, an air and sea route has been opened between Ciudad de Zamboanga and Sandakan in Malaysia and even a free-trade of goods to other BIMP-EAGA members.
In 2006, Zamboanga City was re-labeled from "City of Flowers" to "Asia's Latin City". The new label is the brainchild of mayor Celso L. Lobregat believing that this was a more relevant and significant label given the fact that the people of Zamboanga speak Zamboangueño Chavacano, official language of Zamboanga City evovled from ancient/old Castillan (Spanish) with influences from other Romance languages, e.g., Portuguese and Italian; from Native American, e.g., Quechua, Taino, Mexican-Indian, Nauhtl; and from Philippine Austronesian languages, e.g., Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Subanon, Sama, Yakan, Tausug and other native Philippine languages.
It has the first export-processing zone in Mindanao. Farming and fishing are the main economic activities of the region. It also has rice and corn mills, oil processing, coffee berry processing and processing of latex from rubber. Its home industries include rattan and furniture craft, basket making, weaving and brass work.
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