Zamboanga City

Zamboanga City
Highly Urbanized City
City of Zamboanga
Clockwise from top: Zamboanga City Hall, Great Santa Cruz Island, Paseo del Mar, Zamboanga City view, Metropolitan Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Santa Barbara Mosque
Seal
Nickname(s): Asia's Latin City, City of Flowers, Sardines Capital of the Philippines
Motto: "Build Back Better Zamboanga"
Map with Zamboanga City highlighted
Zamboanga City Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°55′N 122°05′E / 6.92°N 122.08°E / 6.92; 122.08Coordinates: 6°55′N 122°05′E / 6.92°N 122.08°E / 6.92; 122.08
Country	Philippines
Region	Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)
Province	none
Districts	1st (West Coast) and 2nd (East Coast) districts of Zamboanga City
Established	June 23, 1635
Incorporated (city)	October 12, 1936
Established (city)	February 26, 1937
Official language	Zamboangueño Chavacano
Government
• Mayor	Beng Climaco (LP)
• Vice Mayor	César Iturralde (LDP)
• Representatives	Celso L. Lobregat District I (Costa Oeste) Manuel Jose M. Dalipe District II (Costa Este)
• City Council	District I Melchor Sadain Rogelio Valesco, Jr. Cesar Jimenez, Jr. Charlie Mariano Luis Biel III Josephine Pareja Myra Paz V. Abubakar Rodolfo Bayot District II Roel Natividad Benjamin Guingona IV Miguel Alavar III Kim Elago Eduardo Saavedra, Jr. Rommel Agan Percival Ramos Vincent Paul Elago
Area[1]
• Land	1,483.38 km2 (572.74 sq mi)
Area rank	3rd largest by land area
Elevation	16.0 m (52.5 ft)
Population (2015 census)[2]
• Total	861,799
Demonym(s)	Ethnicity: Zamboangueño people
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	7000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)62
Income class	1st city income class
PSGC	097332000
Electorate	412,795 voters as of 2016
Website	www.zamboanga.gov.ph

Zamboanga City (Chavacano: Ciudad de Zamboanga, Filipino: Lungsod ng Zamboanga) is a highly urbanized city located in Mindanao, Philippines. It has a population of 861,799 people as of the 2015 census. Zamboanga City is the 6th most populous and 3rd largest city by land area in the Philippines.^[2][3] It is the commercial and industrial center of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region.^[4] Zamboanga City is an independent, chartered city and was designated highly urbanized on November 22, 1983.

Zamboanga City used to be known as Samboangan in historical records. It was founded by the Subanen people during pre-Hispanic times. After independence from Spain in May 1899, Zamboanga became the Republic of Zamboanga with Chavacano as its official language and Spanish as its co-official language. After American armed intervention, the republic was incorporated into their Philippines colony and became the capital of the Moro Province, now Mindanao, from 1903 to 1913. On October 12, 1936, Zamboanga City became a chartered city under Commonwealth Act No. 39.^[5][6] It was inaugurated on February 26, 1937, which was declared a local holiday.

For geographical and statistical purposes, Zamboanga City is grouped with the province of Zamboanga del Sur but is governed independently from it.

Known for its Hispanic influenced culture, the city bears the nickname "Asia's Latin City."^[7]

History

Zamboanga City was founded in the late 12th or early 13th century as a settlement by the Subanen people. Zamboanga peninsula was also the homelands of the ancestors of the Yakan, the Balanguingui, and other closely related Sama-Bajau peoples.^[8][9]

During the 13th century, the Tausūg people started migrating to Zamboanga and the Sulu archipelago from their homelands in northeastern Mindanao. They became the dominant ethnic group after they were Islamized in the 14th century and established the Sultanate of Sulu in the 15th century. A majority of the Yakan, the Balanguingui, and the Sama-Bajau were also Islamized, though most of the Subanen remained animist (with the exception of the Kolibugan subgroup in southwestern Zamboanga).^[8][10][11]

The name for the city (and later the peninsula), "Zamboanga", is the Hispanicized spelling of the Sinama term for "mooring place" - samboangan (also spelled sambuangan; and in Subanen, sembwangan), from the root word samboang ("mooring pole").^[12] The name "Samboangan" is well-attested in Spanish,^[13] British,^[14][15] French,^[16][17] German,^[18] and American^[19] historical records from as far back as the 17th century.^[13]

This is commonly contested by folk etymologies which instead attribute the name to the Indonesian word jambangan (claimed to mean "place of flowers", but actually means "pot" or "bowl"), usually with claims that all ethnic groups in Zamboanga were "Malays". However, this name has never been attested in any historical records prior to the 1960s.^[20]

Spanish rule

Spanish explorers arrived in the Philippine archipelago in 1521.^[21] In 1569 Zamboanga was chosen as the site of the Spanish settlement and garrison on La Caldera (now called Barrio Recodo).^[22] Zamboanga City was one of the main strongholds in Mindanao, supporting colonizing efforts in the south of the island and making way for Christian settlements. It also served as a military outpost, protecting the island against foreign invaders and Moro pirates.

In 1599, the Zamboanga fort was closed and transferred to Cebú due to great concerns about attack by the English on that island, which did not occur. After having abandoned the city, the Spaniards as well as some Latin-American mercenaries from Peru and Mexico,^[23] joined forces with troops from Pampanga and Visayan soldiers (From Bohol, Cebu and Iloilo) and reached the shore of Zamboanga to bring peace to the island against Moro pirates.^[24]

Zamboanga became the main headquarters of the Spaniards on June 23, 1635 upon approval of King Philip IV of Spain, and the Spanish officially founded the city.^[24] Thousands of Spanish troops headed by a governor general from Spain took the approval to build the first Zamboanga fortress (now called Fort Pilar) in Zamboanga to forestall enemies in Mindanao like Moro pirates and other foreign invaders.^[25] The Zamboanga fortress became the main focus of a number of battles between Moros and Spaniards while the Spanish ruled the region from 16th to 18th centuries. Spain was forced to abandon Zamboanga temporarily and withdraw its soldiers to Manila in 1662 after the Chinese under Koxinga threatened to invade the Spanish Philippines.

While the region was already dominated by Catholicism, Muslims kept up a protracted struggle against the ruling Spaniards in the country into the 18th century.^[26][27] In January 1798 a British naval squadron conducted a Raid on Zamboanga but was driven off by the city's defensive fortifications.In 1831, the custom house in Zamboanga was established as a port, and it became the main port for direct communication, trading some goods and other services to most of Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America.^[28] The Americans arrived in the Philippines, headed by General Weyler with thousands of troops to defeat the Spaniards who ruled it more than three centuries. The Spanish government sent more than 80,000 Spanish troops to the Philippines. The Spanish government completely and peacefully surrendered the islands to the United States in the 1890s.^[29]

Early 20th century

Before the end of the 19th century, the Republic of Zamboanga was established right after when the Zamboangueño revolutionary forces defeated the last Spanish Government in Zamboanga and when Fort Pilar was turned over to General Vicente Álvarez, the first genuinely elected president who ruled the República de Zamboanga from 18th May 1899 until November 1899. The Republic of Zamboanga continued to exist until 1903 with Isidoro Midel as the 2nd President under a puppet government of the United States of America, and who was succeeded by Mariano Arquiza.^[30] Upon the firm establishment of American colonization and dissolution of the Republic in 1903, Zamboanga City, as a municipality, was placed under the Moro Province, a semi-military government consisting of five districts: Zamboanga, Cotabato, Davao, Lanao and Sulu. During this period, Zamboanga hosted a number of American regional governors, including General John J. Pershing, who was military commander/governor of the Moro Province from 1909 to 1914.

In 1920, Zamboanga City ceased to be Mindanao's capital city when the department was divided into provinces in which the city became under the large province of Zamboanga. It encompasses the present-day Zamboanga Peninsula with the inclusion of the whole province of Basilan.

Soon after the establishment of the commonwealth, it established itself the center of commerce, trade, and government of Mindanao Island as the capital of the Moro Province.^[31]

The 1936 City Charter and the commonwealth

When the Commonwealth government was established in 1935, calls to convert Zamboanga City into a city increased. On September 23, 1936, through Assemblyman Juan Alano, the National Assembly of the Philippines passed Commonwealth Act No. 39 making Zamboanga a chartered city consisting of "the present territorial jurisdiction of the municipality of Zamboanga, the municipality of Bolong, the municipal district of Taluksangay, the whole island of Basilan and the adjacent islands, i.e., the municipality of Isabela, the municipal district of Lamitan, and the municipal district of Maluso."^[5][6] It was later signed by President Manuel Quezon in October 12, 1936. The charter made Zamboanga City as the largest city in the world in terms of land area. During these times, Zamboanga was the leading commercial and industrial city of Mindanao.

Before World War II, Pettit Barracks, a part of the U.S. Army's 43d Infantry Regiment (PS), was stationed there.

World War II

When the Japanese invaded the Philippines, they were headed by Vice Admiral Rokuzo Sugiyama, accompanied by Rear Admiral Naosaburo Irifune. The Japanese landed at Zamboanga City on March 2, 1942.^[32]

The Japanese government in the city was overthrown by American and Filipino forces following a fierce battle on March 10–12, 1945.^[30] The rebuilt general headquarters of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary was stationed in Zamboanga City from March 13, 1945 to June 30, 1946 during the military operations in Mindanao and Sulu against the Japanese.

Post-World War II

After the war, new problems arose especially for the citizens of the island of Basilan. The people there found it difficult to appear in courts, pay their taxes, seek help from the mayor and other officials. Going from Basilan to the mainland required three or more hours of travel. To fix the problem, Representative Juan Alano filed a bill in Congress to separate Basilan from Zamboanga City. So the island of Basilan was proclaimed a separate city through Republic Act No. 288^[33] on July 16, 1948.

In April 7, 1953 by virtue of Republic Act No. 840.^[34]

In April 29, 1955, a special law changed the landscape of the city government when Republic Act No. 1210^[35] amended the City Charter that made elective the position of city mayor and the creation of an elective vice mayor and eight (8) elective city councilors. The vice mayor is the presiding-officer of the City Council. In November 1955, Liberal Party candidate Cesar Climaco with his running-mate, Tomas Ferrer won the first local elections. They were inducted into office on January 1, 1956 as determined by the Revised Election Code.^[36]

Martial law years

On September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081 placing the Philippines under martial law. Zamboanga City's local government came under presidential control for the first time since 1955. Marcos extended Enriquez's term when his tenure was about to end in 1975.

In November 14, 1975, President Marcos reorganized the local government and the city council was replaced by a Sangguniang Panglungsod with the mayor as its new presiding officer and members including the vice mayor, the chairman of the Katipunan ng mga Kabataang Barangay, the president of the Association of Barangay Captains, and sectoral representatives of agriculture, business and labor.^[37]

When Mayor Enriquez resigned and bid for the newly created Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978, Vice Mayor Jose Vicente Atilano II was appointed by President Marcos to replace him.

Climaco's return (1980–1984)

In 1980, Cesar Climaco staged his political comeback when he was elected again to the mayoral post under his new party, the Concerned Citizen's Aggregation. He had gone into exile to the United States in protest against Marcos' declaration of Martial Law.

In 1984, Climaco was elected a member of the Regular Batasang Pambansa. Climaco however declined to assume his seat until he had completed his six-year term as mayor in his consistent protest against Marcos.

21st century

On November 19, 2001, the Cabatangan Government Complex in Barangay Cabatangan, the seat of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, was raided by former MNLF fighters in protest of Misuari's ouster as Governor of the autonomous region in which they took residents hostage. The complex also houses the different regional government offices such as the Commission on Audit, Population Commission, Civil Service Commission, Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center, DECS Training Center and the Zamboanga Arturo Eustaquio College Department of Criminology. An air strike by the military began on November 27 in which the hostages were later released after the government agreed to escort the rebels to a safe zone in Panubigan where they were allowed to go free.^[38]

Mayor Erico Basilio Fabian decided to run for the congressional seat in the 2004 local elections in turn, incumbent Celso Lobregat ran for the mayorship in which he won pitting against businessman Lepeng Wee.

Lobregat pursued grand infrastructure projects including the rehabilitation of Plaza Pershing and Pasonanca Park in which he added Jardin Maria Clara in the memory of his mother, construction of Paseo Del Mar and the erection of uniformed Barangay halls around the city.

He was reelected twice in 2007 and 2010. In 2007, the city was divided into two legislative districts pursuant to Republic Act No. 9269.^[39] The city therefore is entitled to two representatives to the national congress.

District I Representative Maria Isabelle Climaco Salazar, niece of former Mayor Cesar Climaco, was elected as the second woman mayor of the city during the 2013 local elections.

Zamboanga City crisis

On September 9, 2013, a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under the leadership of Nur Misuari seized hostages in Zamboanga City and attempted to raise the flag of the self-proclaimed Bangsamoro Republik, a state which declared its independence earlier in August, in Talipao, Sulu. This armed incursion has been met by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which seeks to free the hostages and expel the MNLF from Zamboanga City. The standoff degenerated into urban warfare, and brought parts of the city under standstill for days.^[40]

Mayor Climaco-Salazar and her administration are relocating the internal displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the crisis to transitory sites and later, permanent housings in various places around Zamboanga City.^[41] Her rehabilitation plan, "Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Rehabilitation (Z3R)", envisions building back a better Zamboanga City and rehabilitating the areas affected by the crisis.^[42]

Geography

Geology

The southwest and eastern sides of Zamboanga City are bounded by irregular coastlines with generally rocky terrain and occasional stretches of sandy or gravelly beaches. The coastal profile usually descends abruptly towards the sea. Where rivers enter the sea, bays have formed, and the surrounding area has filled up with alluvial soils, producing small to large coastal plains.

Topography

The overall topography of the city could be described as rolling to very steep. There are some flat lands, mostly narrow strips along the east coast. The urban center is mostly flat with a gentle slope to the interior, ranging from 0 to 3%. The highest registered elevation is 1,200 metres. In terms of slope, a large portion of Zamboanga City, about 38,000 hectares, have slopes ranging from 18 to 30%. Another 26,000 hectares have been described as having slopes pf less than 3% while about 37% of the area or a total of 52,000 hectares have slopes ranging from 30% to more than 50%.^[43]

The territorial jurisdiction of the city includes the islands of big and small Sta. Cruz, Tictabon, Sacol, Manalipa, Tumalutap, Vitali, as well as other numerous islands. The total land area of the city is recorded to be 142,099.99 hectares or 1,420.99 kilometers. This does not include the area of about 25 other islands within the territorial jurisdiction of the city — which have an aggregate area of 6,248.5 hectares as verified by the Office of the City Engineer. Putting these all together, the city’s new total land area would come to 148,338.49 hectares.

Climate

Zamboanga City features a tropical wet and dry climate under the Köppen climate classification.

Climate data for Zamboanga City
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	39 (102)	42 (108)	37 (99)	41 (106)	37 (99)	42 (108)	40 (104)	38 (100)	41 (106)	37 (99)	37 (99)	38 (100)	42 (108)
Average high °C (°F)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	32 (90)	32 (90)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)
Daily mean °C (°F)	27 (81)	27 (81)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	27 (81)	28 (82)	27 (81)	27 (81)	27 (81)	27 (81)	28 (82)
Average low °C (°F)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)
Record low °C (°F)	17 (63)	17 (63)	20 (68)	13 (55)	21 (70)	20 (68)	17 (63)	21 (70)	15 (59)	13 (55)	21 (70)	20 (68)	13 (55)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	40 (1.57)	50 (1.97)	40 (1.57)	50 (1.97)	90 (3.54)	120 (4.72)	130 (5.12)	120 (4.72)	130 (5.12)	160 (6.3)	110 (4.33)	80 (3.15)	1,190 (46.85)
Average rainy days	1	1	2	3	6	4	3	3	4	6	4	1	38
Average relative humidity (%)	90	90	89	91	91	92	93	92	92	93	93	91	92
Source: Canty and Associates LLC [44]

Climate data for Zamboanga, Philippines
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	31.9 (89.4)	32.0 (89.6)	32.3 (90.1)	32.6 (90.7)	32.4 (90.3)	31.7 (89.1)	31.4 (88.5)	31.7 (89.1)	31.8 (89.2)	31.8 (89.2)	31.7 (89.1)	32.1 (89.8)	31.95 (89.51)
Daily mean °C (°F)	27.2 (81)	27.3 (81.1)	27.7 (81.9)	28.0 (82.4)	28.1 (82.6)	27.7 (81.9)	27.4 (81.3)	27.5 (81.5)	27.6 (81.7)	27.5 (81.5)	27.5 (81.5)	27.4 (81.3)	27.58 (81.64)
Average low °C (°F)	22.4 (72.3)	22.5 (72.5)	23.2 (73.8)	23.4 (74.1)	23.9 (75)	23.6 (74.5)	23.3 (73.9)	23.4 (74.1)	23.3 (73.9)	23.2 (73.8)	23.3 (73.9)	22.7 (72.9)	23.18 (73.72)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	32.4 (1.276)	45.6 (1.795)	37.1 (1.461)	53.3 (2.098)	81.3 (3.201)	125.8 (4.953)	136.4 (5.37)	114.0 (4.488)	133.9 (5.272)	157.1 (6.185)	98.8 (3.89)	51.0 (2.008)	1,066.7 (41.997)
Source: Hong Kong Observatory[45]

Barangays

The city of Zamboanga is politically subdivided into 98 barangays or barrios. These are grouped into two congressional districts, with 38 barangays or barrios in the West Coast and 60 barangays or barrios in the East Coast.

Political Boundaries and Population 2010 - 2015

Zamboanga City (98) ninety eight barangays Overview Administration Population Code and Class District Official name Area(ha)[46] Official 2015 Official 2010 Change Code Urban/Rural II Arena Blanco  51.5717 12,589 10,016 7001256888977635780♠+25.69% 97332001 Rural I Ayala  529.1303 22,547 20,096 7001121964570063690♠+12.20% 97332002 Rural I Baliwasan  126.5476 25,042 27,070 2999250831178426300♠−7.49% 97332004 Urban I Baluno  1,643.4602 3,155 2,315 7001362850971922250♠+36.29% 97332005 Rural I Zone I  14.7966 4,112 3,405 7001207635829662260♠+20.76% 97332061 Rural I Zone II  12.9338 2,143 2,865 2998747993019197210♠−25.20% 97332062 Rural I Zone III  29.0295 1,519 2,030 2998748275862068970♠−25.17% 97332063 Rural I Zone IV  27.1036 1,309 3,046 2998429743926460930♠−57.03% 97332064 Urban II Boalan  865.561 8,696 7,435 7001169603227975790♠+16.96% 97332010 Urban II Bolong  1,574.0594 6,460 5,862 7001102012964858410♠+10.20% 97332011 Rural II Buenavista  1,003.5189 6,485 5,837 7001111015932842210♠+11.10% 97332012 Rural II Bunguiao  2,562.0727 7,287 7,368 2999890065146579810♠−1.10% 97332013 Rural II Busay (Sacol Island)  436.3663 3,359 2,931 7001146025247355850♠+14.60% 97332014 Rural II Cabaluay  872.2986 6,350 5,802 7000944501895897970♠+9.45% 97332015 Rural I Cabatangan  896.6494 13,680 9,944 7001375703942075620♠+37.57% 97332016 Rural II Cacao  1,194.4581 1,347 1,045 7001288995215311000♠+28.90% 97332017 Rural II Calabasa  1,849.9353 3,222 2,685 7001200000000000000♠+20.00% 97332018 Rural I Calarian  253.8887 28,899 25,331 7001140855078757250♠+14.09% 97332019 Urban I Camino Nuevo  68.6803 7,739 8,295 2999329716696805300♠−6.70% 97332099 Urban I Campo Islam  26.2606 12,552 11,237 7001117024116757140♠+11.70% 97332020 Urban I Canelar  92.7185 11,100 11,160 3000462365591397850♠−0.54% 97332021 Urban I Capisan  490.5677 1,408 1,090 7001291743119266060♠+29.17% 97332098 Rural I Cawit  378.0762 9,249 9,124 7000137001315212630♠+1.37% 97332022 Rural II Culianan  900.5328 8,318 8,524 2999758329422806190♠−2.42% 97332023 Urban II Curuan  7,216.0695 8,796 7,378 7001192193006234750♠+19.22% 97332024 Urban II Dita  133.7222 2,085 3,831 2998544244322631170♠−45.58% 97332025 Rural II Divisoria  286.2707 9,218 9,042 7000194647201946470♠+1.95% 97332026 Rural II Dulian (Upper Bunguiao)  1,542.3299 2,570 2,023 7001270390509144830♠+27.04% 97332027 Rural I Dulian (Upper Pasonanca) 679.6396 1,325 1,363 2999721203228173150♠−2.79% 97332028 Rural II Guisao  567.3387 3,398 2,560 7001327343750000000♠+32.73% 97332030 Rural II Guiwan  178.0205 14,302 15,323 2999333681393982900♠−6.66% 97332031 Rural II Kasanyangan 14,114 8,425 7001675252225519290♠+67.53% 97332101 Rural I La Paz  1,740.0822 7,557 5,606 7001348019978594360♠+34.80% 97332032 Urban I Labuan  1,961.7203 11,457 11,470 3000886660854402790♠−0.11% 97332033 Urban II Lamisahan 2,125.8888 2,289 2,995 2998764273789649420♠−23.57% 97332034 Rural II Landang Gua  589.8559 2,993 2,980 6999436241610738250♠+0.44% 97332035 Rural II Landang Laum  268.547 4,768 4,803 3000271288777847179♠−0.73% 97332036 Rural II Lanzones  953.1401 3,287 2,743 7001198323004010210♠+19.83% 97332037 Rural II Lapakan  955.383 1,378 1,529 2999012426422498369♠−9.88% 97332038 Rural II Latuan (Curuan)  98.0766 2,457 2,125 7001156235294117650♠+15.62% 97332039 Rural II Licomo  1,707.8995 5,317 5,727 2999284092893312380♠−7.16% 97332100 Rural II Limaong 1,853.7832 4,000 3,445 7001161103047895500♠+16.11% 97332040 Rural I Limpapa  696.3089 5,782 5,160 7001120542635658910♠+12.05% 97332041 Rural II Lubigan  1,416.7021 2,945 1,149 7002156309834638820♠+156.31% 97332042 Rural II Lumayang  790.0515 1,471 1,377 7000682643427741470♠+6.83% 97332043 Rural II Lumbangan  440.1625 3,235 3,308 2999779322853688029♠−2.21% 97332044 Rural II Lunzuran  742.5246 9,931 8,221 7001208003892470500♠+20.80% 97332045 Rural I Maasin  556.426 8,958 7,978 7001122837803960890♠+12.28% 97332046 Rural I Malagutay  627.8804 6,657 5,654 7001177396533427660♠+17.74% 97332047 Rural II Mampang  726.0937 34,312 22,857 7001501159382246140♠+50.12% 97332048 Rural II Manalipa  288.4444 2,143 1,922 7001114984391259110♠+11.50% 97332049 Rural II Mangusu  828.1945 4,783 4,776 6999146566164154090♠+0.15% 97332050 Rural II Manicahan  1,801.7465 10,081 9,129 7001104283054003720♠+10.43% 97332051 Urban I Mariki  0.3085 1,775 5,895 2998301102629346900♠−69.89% 97332052 Rural II Mercedes  1,288.5634 14,721 12,050 7001221659751037340♠+22.17% 97332053 Urban II Muti  1,233.2268 2,983 3,123 2999551713096381679♠−4.48% 97332054 Rural I Pamucutan  563.1417 4,059 3,764 7000783740701381510♠+7.84% 97332055 Urban II Pangapuyan  9.2339 590 534 7001104868913857680♠+10.49% 97332056 Rural II Panubigan  431.0032 1,610 982 7001639511201629330♠+63.95% 97332057 Rural II Pasilmanta (Sacol Island)  664.1481 2,122 1,480 7001433783783783780♠+43.38% 97332058 Rural II Pasobolong 3,758 3,257 7001153822536076140♠+15.38% 97332102 Rural I Pasonanca  1,146.665 27,374 27,231 6999525136792626049♠+0.53% 97332059 Urban I Patalon  1,400.8893 8,128 7,187 7001130930847363290♠+13.09% 97332060 Rural II Putik  279.215 19,681 19,653 6999142471887243680♠+0.14% 97332065 Rural II Quiniput  1,031.6762 3,329 2,647 7001257650170003779♠+25.77% 97332066 Rural I Recodo  176.6764 17,395 18,172 2999572419106317410♠−4.28% 97332067 Urban I Rio Hondo  180.372 3,326 10,565 2998314813061997160♠−68.52% 97332068 Urban II Salaan  1,698.946 4,073 3,310 7001230513595166160♠+23.05% 97332069 Rural I San Jose Cawa-cawa  36.2309 6,173 7,991 2998772494055812790♠−22.75% 97332070 Urban I San Jose Gusu  154.6178 16,723 24,542 2998681403308613799♠−31.86% 97332071 Urban I San Roque  406.6463 27,889 25,531 7000923583095060910♠+9.24% 97332072 Urban II Sangali  1,259.3212 20,766 19,230 7000798751950078000♠+7.99% 97332073 Urban I Santa Barbara  14.7966 4,762 7,961 2998598166059540260♠−40.18% 97332074 Rural II Santa Catalina  54.2083 17,294 17,955 2999631857421331110♠−3.68% 97332075 Rural I Santa Maria  355.8146 25,185 21,926 7001148636322174590♠+14.86% 97332076 Urban I Santo Niño  25.0831 4,129 6,790 2998608100147275400♠−39.19% 97332077 Rural II Sibulao (Caruan)  1,148.7588 4,244 2,748 7001544395924308590♠+54.44% 97332078 Rural I Sinubung  905.1368 4,689 2,690 7001743122676579930♠+74.31% 97332079 Rural I Sinunuc  852.8397 16,507 16,942 2999743241647975450♠−2.57% 97332080 Urban II Tagasilay  1,616.5975 2,971 2,607 7001139624088991180♠+13.96% 97332081 Rural II Taguiti  1,377.338 1,460 899 7001624026696329250♠+62.40% 97332082 Rural II Talabaan  891.854 5,340 4,181 7001277206409949770♠+27.72% 97332083 Urban I Talisayan 3,498.2387 8,220 7,285 7001128345916266300♠+12.83% 97332084 Urban II Talon-talon  591.8379 34,916 30,535 7001143474701162600♠+14.35% 97332085 Urban II Taluksangay  25.0707 10,237 8,108 7001262580167735570♠+26.26% 97332086 Rural II Tetuan  304.2304 29,785 29,082 7000241730279898219♠+2.42% 97332087 Urban II Tictapul  202.7718 3,817 3,515 7000859174964438119♠+8.59% 97332088 Rural II Tigbalabag  1,357.9765 1,803 1,491 7001209255533199200♠+20.93% 97332089 Rural II Tigtabon  22.1714 5,292 5,071 7000435811477026230♠+4.36% 97332090 Rural II Tolosa  551.3498 2,773 3,157 2998878365536902120♠−12.16% 97332091 Rural II Tugbungan  380.7098 23,837 23,001 7000363462458153990♠+3.63% 97332092 Rural I Tulungatung  278.0743 9,246 6,055 7001527002477291490♠+52.70% 97332093 Rural I Tumaga  273.9979 30,824 25,184 7001223951715374840♠+22.40% 97332094 Urban II Tumalutab  76.393 2,417 2,048 7001180175781250000♠+18.02% 97332095 Rural II Tumitus  1,786.5 3,026 2,494 7001213311948676820♠+21.33% 97332096 Rural II Victoria 2,802 2,326 7001204643164230440♠+20.46% 97332103 Rural II Vitali  5,409.2099 9,406 8,895 7000574480044969080♠+5.74% 97332097 Urban II Zambowood 10,166 7,627 7001332896289497840♠+33.29% 97332104 Rural NA 25/33 other Islands [47] [48] 6,248.5 0000000000000000000♠NA 0000000000000000000♠NA 0000000000000000000♠NA NA NA Zamboanga City 861,799 807,129 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority 2015 Census August 1, 2015

District I (West Coast)

District II (East Coast)

Demographics

Population census of Zamboanga City
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	20,692	—
1918	42,007	+4.83%
1939	73,894	+2.73%
1948	103,317	+3.79%
1960	131,489	+2.03%
1970	199,901	+4.27%
1975	265,023	+5.82%
1980	343,722	+5.34%
1990	442,345	+2.56%
1995	511,139	+2.75%
2000	601,794	+3.56%
2007	774,407	+3.54%
2010	807,129	+1.52%
2015	861,799	+1.26%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[2][49][50][51]

Population

Zamboanga City is the 6th most populous in the Philippines and the 2nd most populous in Mindanao after Davao City. The population of Zamboanga City had an increase of 54,670 persons over the five years between the 2010 and 2015 census. The annual population growth rate in this period was 1.26%, down from 2.98% over the previous 10 years (2000–2010).^[2] The city's population is expected to reach 1 million between the 2020 and 2025 census years.^[52]

Among the 98 barangays in this City of Zamboanga, Talon-Talon was the most populous with a 4.1 percent share of this city’s population, followed by Mampang (4.0%), Tumaga (3.6%), Tetuán (3.5%), Calarian (3.4%), San Roque and Pasonanca (both with 3.2%).

Religion

According to statistics compiled by the Philippine government, the most dominant religion in Zamboanga City is Christianity at 70 percent followed by Islam at 25 percent; small numbers follow Buddhism, Paganism, Animism, Atheism and Agnosticism.

Christianity

The titular patroneses is Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar de Zaragoza, and its secondary patron is St. Pius X, Pope.

Roman Catholicism

Roman Catholicism dominates amongst Christians with minorities adhering to Protestantism , Iglesia Ni Cristo, Jesus Miracle Crusade, Orthodox Christianity, Seventh-day Adventist and many more.

The city of Zamboanga contains the first Catholic diocese in Mindanao, today's Archdiocese of Zamboanga City. The two Catholic parishes named below serve downtown Zamboanga City faithful. There are several other Catholic parishes all throughout Zamboanga City. Most of the Catholics are of the Zamboangueño ethnicity with sizable numbers of other ethnicities who are either Tausug, Sama, Cebuano or Subanon.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the seat of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga. It was designed by Domingo Abarro III. The first church was located at the front of Plaza Pershing, where the present Universidad de Zamboanga stands. The church was designated a cathedral in 1910 when the diocese of Zamboanga City was created. In 1943, the cathedral was one of the edifices bombarded by Japanese soldiers during World War II. In 1956, the cathedral was relocated beside Ateneo de Zamboanga University, formerly known as the Jardin de Chino.

Protestants

With the inception of the American era, Protestant sects were introduced. Christian and Missionary Alliance, Seventh-day Adventist, Church of Latter day Saints, and United Church of Christ in the Philippines are included. Most Protestants are migrants who are mostly of Cebuano or Ilocano ethnicity.

Iglesia Ni Cristo

Several members of Iglesia ni Cristo live in Zamboanga City and have created several locales.

Islam

Like the Christians, the Muslims have also been an integral part of Zamboanga City after Pagans and Animists. It is estimated that approximately 25% of the people in Zamboanga City are sunni, traditional and folk Muslims mostly belong to the Sama and Badjao. Some barangays of Zamboanga City today are now populated by 100% Muslims due to migration from people of Sulu who are mostly Tausug. These barangays with Muslim majority population, do not celebrate Fiestas. Instead, they celebrate Hari Raya (the eid celebration). However, Christians in the area do celebrate their Barrio's Patron Saint. Most of the Muslims are Sama and Migrant Tausug of Sulu, and of other ethnicities including Tagalog, Zamboangueño, Yakan, and Badjao people.

Pagans and Animists

Prior to arrival of foreign religions both Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam; Paganism and Animism were the first to set foot in the Kingdom of Jambangan (present-day: City of Zamboanga, Zamboanga Sibugay Province, Sirawai, Sibuco and Siocon) or as per the actual the territory of the Kingdom of Jambangan's Punta Gorda to Punta Flecha.

Ethnolinguistic Nationality

Zamboangueño is the major ethno-linguistic nation in the Independent and Chartered City of Zamboanga and are just one of the two offsprings evolved from the Subanon Ethnic, the other offspring is the Kalibogan Ethnic. The Kalibogan Ethnic were once Subanon who were Islamized, while Zamboangueño Ethnic were also once Subanon who were Christianized and Hispanized. Although some of them have migrated to other areas in the southwestern mindanao particularly in Basilan and parts of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and even parts of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Sabah. Minor ethnolinguistic nations native to Zamboanga city are the Subanon and Sama and other migrant minority ethnolinguistic nations are the Yakan, Tausug and Badjao.

Language

Zamboangueño is a dialect and one of the six dialects of Chavacano Language, a Spanish-based creole language, originated in Zamboanga City in the seventeenth century and is the native language of inhabitants living around Zamboanga City, Basilan and in the Filipino diaspora, and particularly the Mother Tongue of people belong to the Zamboangueño Ethnolinguistic Nation. English, Tausug, Cebuano and Hiligaynon are also spoken, mostly by migrants to the city.^[53] Subanon is mainly spoken by Subanons living in the city.

Economy

Sardine industry

Zamboanga City is called the Sardines Capital of the Philippines,^[54] because 9 out of 12 sardines companies in the country are operating in the city. The canning factories are converged in the west coast of Zamboanga. Sardine fishing and processing account for about 70 percent of the city's economy. Situated at the western tip of the Mindanao mainland, Zamboanga City is a natural docking point for vessels traversing the rich fishing grounds of the Zamboanga peninsula and the Sulu archipelago.

Canned sardine firms in this city that have upgraded their production to conform to international food safety and quality standards are looking to enter new markets in Russia and other European countries. In 2008, Zamboanga City exported 13,000 tonnes of canned sardines, worth approximately $16 million.^[55]

Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority

The Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority and Freeport (Zamboecozone) also known as Zamboanga Freeport Authority (ZFA), was created by virtue of the Republic Acts of the Philippines 7903 of the Philippines Constitution in the year 1995. It was authored by the then congresswoman and late mayor of the city of Zamboanga, María Clara Lobregat.^[56]

The Special Economic Zone was enacted into law on February 23, 1995 and made operational a year later with the appointment of a chairman and administrator and the members of the Board by former President Fidel V. Ramos. It is located about 23 km from the city proper. It is one of the three current Economic Freeport Zones outside Luzon.

Shopping malls

Seaweed industry

Seaweed production plants in Zamboanga City, along with Cebu and Southern Luzon, produce most of the world's supply of carrageenan. Seventy-five percent of the country's eucheuma and kappaphycus seaweed is produced mostly in the Zamboanga peninsula and the Sulu archipelago.^[57]

Tourism

The Department of Tourism has selected Zamboanga City as a flagship tourism destination in Zamboanga Peninsula.^[58] Domestic and foreign tourist arrivals increased 8 percent to 439,160 in 2005, according to data from the regional tourism office. The same report notes that Filipinos accounted for 80 percent of the tourist arrivals. Moreover, 50 percent of those tourists visited Zamboanga City before.^[59]

• 
  Merloquet Falls
• 
  La Isla de La Santa Cruz
• 
  Pangapuyan Island
• 
  Rio de Abong Abong

Parks, landmarks and other sites

Numerous landmarks, tourist spots and parks in Zamboanga City include:

• Fort Pilar
• Great Santa Cruz Island
• Pasonanca Park
• Pasonanca Natural Park
• Paseo del Mar
• Pettit Barracks
• Climaco Freedom Park
• Plaza Pershing
• Plaza del Pilar.
• Merloquet Falls
• Once Islas (11 Islands)
• Mount Pulong Bato (a monolith rock)
• Limpapa Bridge

Festivals and events

The Día de Zamboanga (Day of Zamboanga City) is celebrated every February 26, the day when Zamboanga was declared as a chartered city under the Commonwealth Government in 1937. The Hermosa Festival, a month-long festival held every October, is celebrated in honor of the miraculous image of Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of Zamboanga City.^[60]

Governance

Executive

Zamboanga City is the third oldest city in the Philippines, with a mayor-council form of government.^[61]

The city government of Zamboanga was in a commission form shortly between 1912 and 1914 with an appointed mayor. It then was replaced by a municipal form of government headed by a municipal mayor assisted by a municipal vice-president.

When the City Charter of Zamboanga was signed on October 12, 1936, the municipal government was converted into a city one headed by a mayor appointed by the President of the Philippine Commonwealth.

With the passage of Republic Act No. 1210 on April 29, 1955, the position of mayor became elective and the post of vice mayor was created.

Representation in Congress

The city received its own representation for the Philippine Congress in 1984 when the Regular Batasang Pambansa was convened. Previously, Zamboanga City was part of the representation of the Zamboanga Province from 1935 to 1953, of Zamboanga del Sur from 1953 to 1972 and of Region IX from 1978 to 1984.

The former lone congressional district was further divided into two separate districts: the West Coast District from the City Proper to Barangay Limpapa represented by Congressman Celso Lobregat, while in the East Coast District from Barangay Tetuán to Barangay Licomo is represented by Congressman Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe.

The city of Zamboanga is composed of more than 774,407 people since 2007.^[62] Under the Republic Act No. 9269, Zamboanga City is qualified to have a third district representative in the House of Representatives.^[63]

Legislative

The first legislative body of Zamboanga City was established in 1914 composed of councilors who represented the different districts of barrios of then-municipality of Zamboanga.

When the City Charter of Zamboanga was signed on October 12, 1936, the municipal council was replaced by the City Council presided by the mayor and consisted of five councilors, the city treasurer and the city engineer. All members are appointed by the President of the Philippine Commonwealth.

With the passage of Republic Act No. 1210 on April 29, 1955, the position of mayor became elective and the post of vice mayor was created. The Council also became elective and its membership was increased to eight presided by the vice mayor.

During the Marcos regime, the city council was renamed to Sangguniang Panglungsod and its membership shuffled. The mayor became the presiding-officer while the vice mayor became a regular member. Other representatives such as the agriculture, business and labor sectoral representatives; chairman of the Kabataan Barangay Federation and the president of the Association of Barangay Captains was added to the council. All members of the council except for the mayor and the vice mayor are all appointed by the President

After Marcos was deposed, a new Local Government Code was enacted in 1991 and the mayor was restored to the executive branch. The city council organization existed since.

The current local Sangguniang Panglungsod is composed of 19 members:

• the Vice Mayor as its presiding officer elected citywide;
• 8 councilors elected from the two legislative districts;
• Chairman of the Liga ng mga Barangay of the city as ex officio member; and
• President of the Federasyon ng Federasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan of the City as ex officio member.

Judiciary

House Bill 1455 entitled "An Act Amending Sections 14 (J) and 29 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, Otherwise Known as The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", principally authored by Representative Climaco calls for the creation of four additional Regional Trial Court branches in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur, and the Cities of Pagadian and Zamboanga City with an overall total of nineteen branches.^[64]

Out of the 19 branches, ten seats shall be for Zamboanga City, and the remaining seats for Pagadian City, Molave, San Miguel, Ipil, and Aurora.

Armed forces and law enforcement

Zamboanga City hosts one of the largest number of military, police and coast guard bases in the country. The Edwin Andrews Air Base, which hosts the Air Force unit in the city is located at the Zamboanga International Airport complex. The Camp General Basilio Navarro, the main operating base of the Western Mindanao Command, hosts the main headquarters of Armed Forces of the Philippines in Western Mindanao.

The Western Mindanao Command, known officially as the WestMinCom, is one the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Wide Support Commands Combating Terrorism and Insurgency in Mindanao.

Camp General Basilio Navarro serves as the main operating base of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the Southwest Philippines, and is the Headquarters of the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM).

The Coast Guard District South Western Mindanao is located at Upper Calarian while Coast Guard Station Zamboanga City is located at Port Area Zamboanga City. Aside from performing law enfocement functions, the coast guard has been very active in rendering search and rescue operations to maritime incidents and floodings in low lying barangays of the city. Moreover, environmental protection activities were being spearheaded by the coast guard.

Transportation

Air

The Zamboanga International Airport has a 2,610-metre primary runway and can serve international flights and bigger planes such as the C-17 Globemaster III, Antonov An-124, Airbus A330 and Boeing 747.^[65][66] The government has already earmarked more than 240 million pesos to complete the rehabilitation of the existing facilities of the airport.^[67] The airport was ranked the tenth busiest airport in the Philippines in 2008.^[68]

Land

The primary modes of transportation within the city are serviced by jeepneys, tricycles, and habal-habal.^[69] Bicycles with sidecars (locally known as sikad) are also available for short-distanced trips, while taxis aren't available yet to the city.^[70] Regular and air-conditioned buses of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies serve the long-haul routes from Zamboanga City to other areas in Mindanao and in the Visayas. Other smaller bus companies ply the routes to neighboring municipalities in the Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay areas.

Sea

Zamboanga City has nineteen seaports and wharves, twelve of them are privately owned and the rest are owned by the government. This includes some ports of Basilan which are registered as a part of Zamboanga City port management. The biggest and most modern seaport is the government-operated main port in Zamboanga City, which can accommodate 20 ships at any given time. There are 25 shipping companies whose vessels regularly dock at the port of Zamboanga. The city also has fastcraft services to Sandakan, Malaysia, and one shipping cargo company from Vietnam is also serving the routes from and to Zamboanga City to deliver goods from Vietnam.^[71]

In 2002, the Port of Zamboanga City, including the area ports of Basilan, registered 5.57 million passenger movement, surpassing Batangas by 1.3 million passengers, and Manila by over 1.59 million passengers.^[72]

Last May 28, 2009, the PHP700 million port expansion project, funded by the national government was inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.^[73]

Infrastructure

Telecommunication

Major telecommunications firm, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, maintains operations in the city. Mabuhay Satellite Corporation has set up a facility in Zamboanga City in order to improve existing communications infrastructure.^[74]

Power

The Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative is the franchise holder of electric power distribution covering the entire city.

Conrado Alcantara and Sons (Conal) Holdings constructed a coal-fired power plant with an initial capacity of 100MW on a 60-hectare land inside the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority. The company expects to complete the power plant in about four years to meet the expected rise in the demand in electricity of the city by 2014.^[75]

Water

The Zamboanga City Watershed is only a few kilometers north of Zamboanga City, at the tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula in southwestern Mindanao. It has the largest block of old growth lowland dipterocarp forest remaining in this part of Mindanao.

Zamboanga City relies heavily on surface water from the Tumaga River for its water supply. The ZCWD is serving only 48% of the total population of the total water production, 38% is accounted water. Given the projected population and the fact that the city is a highly urbanising one, it is likely that future water requirements will not be satisfied unless other sources such as rivers and springs be tapped to augment water supply sources.^[76]

The Zamboanga City Water District has 24 production wells. These are located in the following strategic areas within the city of Zamboanga that are producing 1,304 m³ daily.^[77]

Health

There are several medical centres and hospitals in Zamboanga. The Zamboanga Peninsula Medical Center is regarded as one of the largest and most modern in the region likened to the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig, Bonifacio Global City. The Zamboanga City Medical Center is the largest medical facility in Zamboanga Peninsula in terms of bed capacity. The hospital was founded in 1918 as the Zamboanga City General Hospital. The Brent Hospital and Colleges, Inc. was founded on February 2, 1914 by Charles Henry Brent, the first Protestant Episcopal missionary bishop in the Philippines. Today, it operates a school within its compound, offering nursing and allied health courses.

The Zamboanga City Red Cross chapter was established on June 17, 1946, known originally as Zamboanga City Chapter. The original Zamboanga City Chapter comprised the city of Zamboanga and the 3 provinces of Basilan, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur.^[78]

In 2006, the Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship, USNS Mercy (T-AH-19), anchored off of the coast of Zamboanga City, to provide of medical, dental and veterinary care for the people of the city.^[79]

Sports and recreation facilities

Convention centers that host several events and congregations include the Garden Orchid Convention Centre, Marcian Convention Centre, Zamboanga City Convention Centre, Astoria Regency in Pasonanca, and Patio Palmeras Convention Centres.

Sport venues in Zamboanga City include the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex, the Southern City Colleges Citadel Sports Arena and the Zamboanga City Coliseum.

Zamboanga City's team was in the 1992 Little League World Series and initially won the championship, but was stripped of their title after a number of players failed to meet age and residency requirements.

Hidilyn Diaz^[80][81][82] is a Filipino Zamboangueño weightlifter and airwoman. She competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics where she was the youngest competitor in the women's 58-kg category.^[83] She was a bronze medalist in the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand and achieved 10th place at the 2006 Asian Games in the 53-kilogram class. she won two golds and one silver in the Asian Youth/Junior Weightlifting Championship held in Jeonju, South Korea.^[84]

In the 2016 Summer Olympics, Diaz won the silver medal in the women's 53-kg weight division, ending the Philippines' 20-year Olympic medal drought.

Education

The formal education in Zamboanga City is patterned after the American system, with English as the medium of instruction. There are a number of foreign schools with study programmes.^[85][86] Universities and major colleges include: Ateneo De Zamboanga University, Universidad De Zamboanga, Western Mindanao State University, Southern City Colleges, Pilar College, Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College. and Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology.

Media

Zamboanga City has 16 radio stations. There are also 11 regular TV stations and 3 cable TV stations. Several local publications are operating in the various parts of the city and nearby provinces and regions such as, The Daily Zamboanga Times, The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper, Voz de Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula Journal, Zamboanga Star, Zamboanga Today and Zamboanga Forum.

International relations

Zamboanga City is a member of East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), a regional economic cooperation initiative between the several countries in Southeast Asia. As a result of its membership, air and sea routes have been opened between Zamboanga City and Sandakan in Malaysia. The two cities have existing trade relations and have had historical cultural interactions.^[87]

Sister cities

Zamboanga City is twinned with the following cities:

Local
Davao City, Davao del Sur Makati City, Metro Manila San Mateo, Rizal

International
Pekanbaru, Indonesia Sandakan, Malaysia[88] Zaragoza, Spain Zhoushan, China

See also

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zamboanga
• Cagayan de Oro
• Davao City
• General Santos

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "Zamboanga City".

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zamboanga City.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Zamboanga (city).

• Official website of the City Government of Zamboanga