Zamboanga Sibugay, officially the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay (Cebuano: Lalawigan sa Zamboanga Sibugay; Filipino: Lalawigan ng Zamboanga Sibugay), is a province in the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Ipil and it borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north, Zamboanga del Sur to the east and Zamboanga City to the southwest. To the south lies Sibuguey Bay in the Moro Gulf.

Zamboanga Sibugay
Province of Zamboanga Sibugay
(from top: left to right) Provincial Capitol in Ipil, San Antonio Road in Titay, Diplahan Bus Terminal and Festival in Buug.
Flag of Zamboanga Sibugay
Official seal of Zamboanga Sibugay
Location in the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Map
Coordinates: 7°48′N 122°40′E / 7.8°N 122.67°E / 7.8; 122.67
CountryPhilippines
RegionZamboanga Peninsula
Founded22 February 2001
Capital
and largest municipality
Ipil
Government
 • TypeSangguniang Panlalawigan
 • GovernorDulce Ann Hofer (PFP)
 • Vice GovernorRey Andre C. Olegario (NP)
 • LegislatureZamboanga Sibugay Provincial Board
Area
 • Total3,607.75 km2 (1,392.96 sq mi)
 • Rank36th out of 81
Highest elevation899 m (2,949 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[2]
 • Total669,840
 • Rank45th out of 81
 • Density190/km2 (480/sq mi)
  • Rank49th out of 81
Demonym(s)Sibugaynon, Subanen
Divisions
 • Independent cities0
 • Component cities0
 • Municipalities
16
 • Barangays389
 • DistrictsLegislative districts of Zamboanga Sibugay
Time zoneUTC+8 (PHT)
ZIP code
7001–7039
IDD:area code+63 (0)62
ISO 3166 codePH-ZSI
Spoken languages
Income classification2nd class
Websitewww.sibugayprovince.com

Zamboanga Sibugay is the 79th province created in the Philippines, when its territories were carved out from the third district of Zamboanga del Sur in 2001.

History edit

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.[3]

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. The new province was finally created by Republic Act No. 8973[4] signed into law by President Joseph Estrada on November 7, 2000. On February 22, 2001, R.A. 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 edit

Presently, former representative Dr. Dulce Ann K. Hofer is the governor of the province, while the representatives of the first and second districts are Wilter Palma and Antonieta "Tata" Eudela, respectively.

Geography edit

Zamboanga Sibugay covers a total area of 3,607.75 square kilometres (1,392.96 sq mi)[5] 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 edit

The climate of the province is moderately normal (climate type III). Annual rainfall varies from 1,599 to 3,500 millimetres (63.0 to 137.8 in). Temperature is relatively warm and constant throughout the year ranging from 22 to 35 °C (72 to 95 °F). The province is situated outside the country's typhoon belt.

Administrative divisions edit

 
Administrative divisions

Zamboanga Sibugay comprises 16 municipalities, organized into two congressional districts and further subdivided into 389 barangays.[5]

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

Demographics edit

Population census of Zamboanga Sibugay
YearPop.±% p.a.
1918 9,843—    
1939 15,882+2.30%
1948 19,037+2.03%
1960 110,085+15.74%
1970 236,005+7.91%
1975 252,916+1.40%
1980 278,762+1.96%
1990 407,038+3.86%
1995 450,340+1.91%
2000 497,239+2.15%
2007 546,186+1.30%
2010 584,685+2.51%
2015 633,129+1.53%
2020 669,840+1.11%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[6][7][7]

The population of Zamboanga Sibugay in the 2020 census was 669,840 people,[2] with a density of 190 inhabitants per square kilometre or 490 inhabitants per square mile.

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 edit

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[citation needed]. Islam comprises about 15.94% of the population.[8]

Economy edit

The leading industries are in the areas of semi-processed rubber,[15] 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 edit

  • Rotunda Obelisk
  • Provincial Capitol
  • Buluan Island

Education edit

Private schools include:

In BUUG, there are two colleges in Buug. One is the government-owned, Mindanao State University - Buug Campus which offers courses in education, liberal arts, agriculture, and aquaculture. It also has a high school which also serves as the laboratory school of the College of Education. The other is the privately owned and medically oriented St. John General Hospital and College, Inc. Another private school, managed by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres is also located here, the St. Paul School (formerly Holy Trinity Academy) which offers primary and high school education. The first high school which opened in Buug is Gabaldon Institute which is now called Western Mindanao Institute, another privately owned school. The first technical and vocational school which opened in Buug year 2009 is INTERNACIONAL COLEGIO DE TECNOLOGIA (ICT) which offers courses in Electronics and Communication Technology, Electrical Technology, Information Technology, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Automotive and Metal Technology and now also offers SHS Grade-11 and Grade-12 courses offer in Academic Track in GAS and TVL Track in Industrial Arts strand, ICT strand, and Home Economics Strand. managed by ZALDY MASAYON GUMALANG the School President (SP-GUMALANG).

References edit

  1. ^ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on May 18, 2001. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Census of Population (2020). "Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  3. ^ Combés, Francisco (1667). Historia de las islas de Mindanao, Jolo y sus adyacentes: Progressos de la religion, y armas catolicas (in Spanish). Madrid: Herederos de Pablo de Val.
  4. ^ "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. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d "Province: Zamboanga Sibugay". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  6. ^ a b Census of Population (2015). "Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  7. ^ a b Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  8. ^ Table for religious affiliation psa.gov.ph
  9. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  10. ^ "2009 Official Poverty Statistics of the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 8 February 2011.
  11. ^ "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 27 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 27 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 27 August 2016.
  14. ^ "Updated Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population with Measures of Precision, by Region and Province: 2015 and 2018". Philippine Statistics Authority. 4 June 2020.
  15. ^ Garcia, Bong (4 June 2015). "Rubber processing facility upgraded". Sun.Star Zamboanga. Sun.Star Publishing, Inc. Retrieved 19 April 2016. THE Department of Science and Technology (Dost) has improved the rubber processing facility in Zamboanga Sibugay, as part of the agency's effort to upgrade the rubber industry in the region.

External links edit

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