Misamis Occidental

Misamis Occidental
Province
Province of Misamis Occidental

Flag

Seal
Nickname(s): Mis Occ

Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°20′N 123°42′E / 8.33°N 123.7°E / 8.33; 123.7Coordinates: 8°20′N 123°42′E / 8.33°N 123.7°E / 8.33; 123.7
Country Philippines
Region Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Founded November 8, 1929
Capital Oroquieta
Government
  Type Sangguniang Panlalawigan
  Governor Herminia M. Ramiro (NUP)
  Vice Governor Aurora Virginia M. Almonte (LP)
Area[1]
  Total 2,055.22 km2 (793.52 sq mi)
Area rank 60th out of 81
Highest elevation (Mount Malindang) 2,404 m (7,887 ft)
Population (2015 census)[2]
  Total 602,126
  Rank 47th out of 81
  Density 290/km2 (760/sq mi)
  Density rank 26th out of 81
Divisions
  Independent cities 0
  Component cities
  Municipalities
  Barangays 490
  Districts 1st and 2nd Districts of Misamis Occidental
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code 7200–7215
IDD:area code +63(0)88
ISO 3166 code PH
Spoken languages
Website misocc.gov.ph

Misamis Occidental (Cebuano: Kasadpang Misamis; Subanen: Sindepan Mis'samis) is a province located in the region of Northern Mindanao in the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Oroquieta. The province borders Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur to the west and is separated from Lanao del Norte by Panguil Bay to the south and Iligan Bay to the east. The province of Misamis was originally inhabited by Subanens who were an easy target by the sea pirates from Lanao.

The province is named after the early settlement of the Spaniards at the entrance to the Panguil Bay. The name Misamis is believed to have been derived from the Subanen word Kuyamis which is a variety of coconut, the staple food of the early settlers. During the years the name persisted as an inference of the geographical location, and upon the advent of the Spanish settlers, the word kuyamis easily gave way to the more convenient pronounceable but corrupted word Misamis.[3]

History

The area of now Misamis Occidental was first occupied by Subanen and later Visayans settled in the coastal areas. The name Misamis is derived from Subanen word kuyamis which is a variety of coconut. During the 1750s was the time that the coastal villages in Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao suffered attacks from bands of Muslim pirates, who burned houses and crops, and captured people to be sold as slaves in Maguindanao, Sulu, Borneo or the islands now known as Indonesia. In response, the colonial government in Manila created a flotilla and appointed a Spanish Jesuit missionary, José Ducos, as its commander.

After several successful battles against the pirates, when some peace had been restored, it was decided to build a stone fort at the mouth of Panguil Bay, at a place called Misamis, and Ducos was put in charge of the construction. The construction began in 1756. It was officially called “Fuerte de la Concepción y del Triunfo.”[4]

Maps of Misamis, before its division into two provinces
Mindanao map in 1880 showing Misamis
in 1880 
Misamis map in 1899
in 1899 
Misamis map in 1918
in 1918 

Geography

Misamis Occidental is located near the narrow strip of land linking Northwestern Mindanao, to the North-central part of the island. Covering a total area of 2,055.22 square kilometres (793.52 sq mi)[7], the province is bounded on the northeast by the Mindanao Sea, east by the Iligan Bay, southeast by the Panguil Bay, and the west by the Zamboanga del Norte and Sur. Except along the coastal area, hilly and rolling land characterized the provincial terrain. Towards the western border, the terrain is particularly rugged.

Administrative divisions

Misamis Occidental comprises 14 municipalities and 3 component cities, which are organized into two legislative districts and further subdivided into 490 barangays.

  •    Provincial capital and component city
  •    Component city
  •      Municipality

Demographics

Population census of
Misamis Occidental
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 248,371    
1970 319,855+2.56%
1990 424,365+1.42%
1995 458,965+1.48%
2000 486,723+1.27%
2007 531,680+1.23%
2010 567,642+2.41%
2015 602,126+1.13%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[2][8][8]

The population of Misamis Occidental in the 2015 census was 602,126 people,[2] with a density of 290 inhabitants per square kilometre or 750 inhabitants per square mile.

The dense population along the coast consists mainly of migrants from Cebu and Bohol. Thus, Cebuano is the lingua franca of the province, with the Boholano dialect of the Cebuano language also having some speakers. The native Subanens live in the interior uplands.

Religion

In 2013, Roman Catholicism remains the predominant faith of the people of Misamis Occidental having 70 percent affiliation and the second most members are with the Aglipayan Church with 20% while several Protestant Churches as well as Islam are the minorities.

Economy

The province economy depends firstly on fishing, secondly on coconuts, thirdly on rice. The province has 169 kilometres (105 mi) of coastline fronting the rich fishing grounds of Panguil and Iligan bays. It also has the biggest area of brackish water fishponds in the region. Tangub City is a fishing port on Panguil Bay famous for seafood. Coconut is the chief crop. This is processed into oil, desiccated coconut, and coir, most of which are shipped to Cebu. Coconut processing is the main industry in Oroquieta City. Other crops grown are rice, corn, abaca, coffee, cacao and rubber.

Resources

Wood is the major forest product. Predominant species are the lauan group, apitong, tanguige yakal, and Philippine mahogany. There is also an abundant supply of bamboo, rattan and various vines. Forest land in the province has an area of 66,002.46 hectares; 53,262 hectares of which are considered a national park (which has legal implications).

The province has a considerable deposit of clay especially in the municipalities of Lopez Jaena and Concepcion. Plaridel is the largest in rice production, and the longest coastal town in the province.

There are also an abundant sources of sand and gravel.

The province is traditionally a net exporter of various commodities. Historical data from the Ozamiz Port District of the Bureau of Customs show that outgoing commodities, which is mainly of coconut products, far outweigh incoming cargoes.

Being a coco-based province, major manufacturing firms in Misamis Occidental are engaged in the production of crude coconut oil, cooking oil, lard, margarine, laundry soap and desiccated coconut. Other products are furniture, ceramics gifts toys and housewares, processed food like banana chips and marine products.

Locally fabricated agri-industrial machines and equipment are also available in the province.

Tourism and attractions

Government

Congressman
Governor
Vice Governor
Board Members

Former governors

  • Diego Ty Deling
  • Anselmo Bernad
  • Gella Caay
  • Loreto Leo S. Ocampos
  • José Ozámiz
  • Gedeon G. Quijano
  • Henry Y. Regalado Sr.
  • Atty. Ernie D. Clarete
  • Gorgonio F. Buaquiña II
  • William Chiongbian
  • Benito Chiongbian
  • Fortunato Sagrado

See also

References

  1. "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Census of Population (2015). "Region X (Northern Mindanao)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  3. http://trc.dost.gov.ph/SocioEconomicBriefHistoryPage.jsp?provinceid=476
  4. BERNAD, M.. Father Ducos and the Muslim Wars, 1752-1759. Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints, North America, 16, dec. 1968. Available at: <http://philippinestudies.net/ojs/index.php/ps/article/view/2272/4273>. Date accessed: 10 Feb. 2015.
  5. http://oroquietacity.gov.ph/index.php/history
  6. "Republic Act No. 321 - An Act Creating the City of Ozamiz". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "Province: Misamis Occidental". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region X (Northern Mindanao)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
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