Zamboanga del Sur (Cebuano : Habagatang Zamboanga ; Chavacano : - TopicsExpress

Zamboanga del Sur (Cebuano : Habagatang Zamboanga ; Chavacano : Provincia del Zamboanga del Sur; Tagalog: Timog Zamboanga ; Subanon : Shelatan Sembwangan/Sembwangan dapit Shelatan ) is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao . Pagadian City is the capital. The province borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north, Zamboanga Sibugay to the west, Misamis Occidental to the northeast, and Lanao del Norte to the east. To the south is the Moro Gulf . Geography Zamboanga del Sur occupies the southern section of the Zamboanga peninsula that forms the western part of the Island of Mindanao . It is located at longitude 122° 30 and latitude 7° 15 north. It has a total land area of 473,491 hectares or 4,734.91 square miles. Stretching northward from Sibugay in the southwest and running along the northern boundary to Salug Valley in the east is the province’s mountainous countryside. The coastal plains extend regularly from south to west then spread into wide flat lands when reaching the coastal plains of the Baganian peninsula in the southeast. The province has a relatively high mean annual rainfall: 1,599 to 3,500 millimetres (63.0 to 137.8 in). Temperature is relatively warm and constant throughout the year: 22 to 35 °C (72 to 95 °F). The longest river in Region IX, the Sibugay River gets its water from the mountains of Zamboanga del Sur most specifically in Bayog and Lakewood, from where it flows into Sibugay Bay which is now part of Zamboanga Sibugay. Other notable rivers are the Kumalarang River and Salug River in Molave. Subdivisions Political map of Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga del Sur is subdivided into 26 municipalities and 1 city . These divisions are further subdivided into 681 barangays. The province comprises two congressional districts. Cities Pagadian City Municipalities Aurora Bayog Dimataling Dinas Dumalinao Dumingag Guipos Josefina Kumalarang Labangan Lakewood Lapuyan Mahayag Margosatubig Midsalip Molave Pitogo Ramon Magsaysay (Liargo) San Miguel San Pablo Sominot (Don Mariano Marcos) Tabina Tambulig Tigbao Tukuran Vincenzo A. Sagun Largest Barangays of Zamboanga del Sur Barangay Municipality Population Poblacion Margosatubig 13,773 Santo Niño Tukuran 7,747 Poblacion Pitogo 7,145 Poblacion Kumalarang 7,031 Poblacion Aurora 6,703 Poblacion Mahayag 5,758 Culo Molave 5,419 Madasigon Molave 5,138 Poblacion Lapuyan 5,125 Poblacion Tabina 5,100 Upper Pulacan Labangan 4,768 Poblacion Bayog 4,430 Poblacion Lakewood 4,318 Maloloy-on Molave 4,316 Poblacion Dimataling 4,182 Largest Barangays of Pagadian City Barangay City Population Balangasan Pagadian City 10,703 Sta.Lucia Pagadian City 9,612 Tiguma Pagadian City 9,089 San Pedro Pagadian City 8,990 Tuburan Pagadian City 8,690 Sto.Niño Pagadian City 8,393 San Jose Pagadian City 6,857 Kawit Pagadian City 6,133 Dumagoc Pagadian City 5,821 Napolan Pagadian City 5,816 Santiago Pagadian City 4,901 Lumbia Pagadian City 4,554 Dao Pagadian City 4,398 Sta.Maria Pagadian City 4,304 Banale Pagadian City 4,303 History Further information: Zamboanga (province) The name of Zamboanga was derived from the Malay word Jambangan, meaning a pot or place of flowers. The original inhabitants of the Zamboanga peninsula were the Subanens , who settled along the riverbanks. The next group of settlers to arrive were Muslim migrants from the neighboring provinces. The Maguindanaoans and Kalibugans were farmers; the Tausugs , Samals , and Badjaos were fishermen; and the Maranaos were traders and artisans. Mat weaving was the major occupation of the Muslim settlers. Then came an exodus of migrants from nearby provinces. Historians say most of them came from the Visayas, Cebu , Bohol , Negros , and Siquijor. Together with the original settlers, these pioneers helped develop Zamboanga del Sur into the abundant and culturally diverse province that it is. Historically, Zamboanga was the capital of the Moro Province presently known as Mindanao , which comprised five districts: Cotabato , Davao, Sulu, Lanao , and Zamboanga. In 1940, these districts became individual provinces. Zamboanga City became the capital of Zamboanga province. Soon after World War II , the provincial capital was transferred to Dipolog . Molave was created as the provincial capital in 1948. Zamboanga del Sur was carved out from the former Zamboanga province that encompassed the entire peninsula in the southwestern Mindanao on June 6, 1952 by virtue of Republic Act 711. [2] As the 52nd province of the Philippines, it originally consisted of 11 towns, which were later expanded into 42 municipalities and one city, Pagadian , its capital. Political developments in February 2001 saw another major change in the territorial jurisdiction of Zamboanga del Sur. Its inhabitants voted to create a new province out of the third congressional district, named Zamboanga Sibugay . Governors Main article: Governor of Zamboanga del Sur Demographics As of the 2010 census, Zamboanga del Sur had a population of 959,685, making it the 16th most populous province. [1] The population density was 3,480/km², the 20th most densely populated province. Population trend: Population in 2010: 959,685 Population in 2007: 914,278 Population in 2000: 836,217 Population in 1995: 766,918 Population in 1990: 695,741 Languages The most commonly spoken language is Cebuano . Also spoken, although in small percentage, are Zamboangueño , Tagalog , English, Hiligaynon , Maguindanao , Iranun , Subanun, and Ilocano. Economy The economy is predominantly agricultural . Products include coco oil, livestock feed milling, rice/corn milling, including the processing of fruits, gifts and housewares made from indigenous materials like handmade paper, roots, rattan, buri, and bamboo; wood-based manufacture of furniture and furniture components from wood, rattan, and bamboo; marine and aquaculture including support services; construction services and manufacture of marble, concrete, and wooden construction materials. There are also mining areas in the province, such as found in the Municipality of Bayog managed by TVI, a Canadian-based mining firm which concentrates on gold mining, and the Cebu Ore Mining which is handling the Ore- Copper-Steel mines. There are also small-scale mines in the Municipality of Dumingag.