Region 9: Zamboanga

Peninsula
Location/Composition
The Region 9 or Zamboanga Peninsula, as it is
known now, was formerly Western Mindanao is
in the southernmost portion of the country. It is
bounded by: Sulu Sea on the north; Illana Bay and
Moro Gulf on the south; Misamis Occidental,
Lanao del Norte and Panguil Bay on the east; and
the Celebes Sea on the west.
It now has three provinces and five cities the
provinces
of
Zamboanga
del
Norte,
Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga del
Sur as well as the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog,
Pagadian, Zamboanga, and Isabela.
Physiography

The Zamboanga Peninsula is surrounded

by bodies of water; the region relied on
fishing as one of its major industries.

Bays: Sindangan, Sibuco, Sibuguey,

Dumanquilas, Maligay, Taguite & Pagadian

Rivers: Kumalarang, Sibuguey, Dinas &

Labangas

ZAMBOANGA RANGE forms the backbone of

the Zamboanga Peninsula stretching from Mt.
Dabiak in Zamboanga del Norte and arching to
Zamboanga City in the Southwest.
NO ACTIVE VOLCANOES

Zamboanga
mountainous
coastlines.

del
with

Norte
plains

hilly &
along the

Zamboanga del Sur flat coastal plain

with interior mountains.

Climate
*Dry Season from November to April.
*Wet Season from May to October.
Provinces
*Zamboanga del Norte
*Zamboanga del Sur
*Zamboanga Sibugay
Cities
*Zamboanga
*Dapitan
*Dipolog
*Pagadian
*Isabela
Zamboanga City

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 Chavacano, a local
dialect composed of Eighty percent (80%)
Spanish words and the remaining Twenty percent
(20%) a mixture of other local dialects such as
Visayan, Ilonggo, Subanon, Yakan and Tausug.
Dapitan City
The City of 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
beautiful beach resort of Dakak. The city
continues to exude an atmosphere of primeval
charm amidst a growing presence of modern-day
sophistication.
Dipolog City
The City of Dipolog is also known as the
"Gateway to Western Mindanao" and "Orchid
City" of the Philippines and the "Bottled Sardines
Capital of the Philippines." Peace-loving and
genial Dipolognons proudly celebrate their rich
culture and colorful history. It is a city whose rich
natural wonders beckon everyone to its natural
shores.
Pagadian City
The City of Pagadian is also known as the
"Little Hongkong of the South because of its
topographical feature that is reminiscent of
Hongkong, China. It also has an affluent Chinese
community that officially celebrates the Chinese
Lunar New Year. The city of Pagadian is the
regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula.
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.
Population & Demography

In the latest census count of 2007, the

total population of Region 9 reached
3.230 million, up from 2.831 million
recorded in census year 2000.

Yearly average increase of 57,000 people

Region
IX
accounts
for
15%
of
Mindanaos population and about 3.6%
of the national population of 88.6 million.

1.83% average annual growth rate

Population will reach 3.487 million in 2010

and 4.205 million by 2020.

Hudyaka Festival celebrate founding

of Zamboanga del Norte

Zamboanga City has the largest and

fastest
growing
population.
(3.54%
annually)

Sibug-Sibug
Festival

celebrate
founding of Zamboanga Sibugay

Buklog Festival - thanksgiving festival of

the Subanen

More people reside in rural areas.

There are
females.

Kinabayo Festival held in Dapitan City

and Zamboanga del Norte; colorful
pageant re-enacting the Spanish-Moorish
wars.

People with ages 15-64 years old

comprised a larger percentage of the
population.

The
Hermosa
Festival
or
the
Zamboanga La Hermosa Festival or
popularly known as Fiesta Pilar (held in
Zamboanga City)

slightly

more

males

than

Ethnic Composition
About a third of the regions population is
composed of ethnic people. These groups, usually
erroneously classified under the general heading
of Muslims, are actually distinct from each other
in culture. They are generally divided into the
Tausugs, Yakans, Badjaos, Samals, and the
Subanons of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga
del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

*Catholics
*Protestants
*Muslims

weaving, basketry, metalwork

Music:
kulintang
dabakan, etc.)

Chavacano:
Spanish-based
Creole
language (derived from the Spanish word
"chabacano",
meaning "poor
taste,"
"vulgar," "common," "of low quality)

Cebuano (Bisaya)

Zamboangueo

Magindanaon

Sama

Subanon (Tuboy-Salog; Kanluranin/Siocon;

Lapuyan)

Cultural Festivals

ensemble(gandingan,

Agriculture and Fisheries

Total agricultural land area comprised

almost half of the entire land area
(45.2%).

Due to the increase in the no. of farms and

area planted over 1991 estimates, the
average farm size increased from 2.87
ha. (per farm) to 3.11 ha. in 2002.

Area harvested
5.8%.

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE

highest number of farms.

Languages and Dialects

Unique cultural dances, traditional

costumes

Art:

Religion
According to statistics compiled by the Philippine
government, the most dominant religion in the
city is Christianity with 73% of the population
adhering to the faith. The majority of Christians
are
Roman
Catholics
with
minorities
of Protestants, Iglesia Ni Cristo and Jesus Miracle
Crusade. The remaining 27% percent belongs to
other non-Christian faiths such as Islam and
Buddhism.

Megayon Festival - highlights the

cultural diversity of the three groups of
people that populate Zamboanga del Sur

*Subanens
*Badjaos
*Samas
*Tausugs
*Yakans

Held in honor of the miraculous

image of Our Lady of the Pillar, the
patroness of Zamboanga City
which is held every October 12

likewise

increased

has

by

the

The total farms for the province

accounted for 41.2 % of the total farms in
the region.

PALAY is the major temporary crop in the

region. Total palay production increased
by 2.62%.

COCONUT is the dominant permanent

crop.

All provinces have the same top three

crops namely, COCONUT, RUBBER &
BANANA both in 2002 and 1991.

Among these are Santa Cruz Island, Vista del

Mar, Zamboanga Golf and Country Club, and
Dakak Beach Resort.

Zamboanga City showed a large

increase in fishery production, which offset
the declines in other provinces.

*Vintas (slim boats) with colorful sails and a

number of beautiful mosques are just a few of its
ethnic attractions. Fort Pilar in Zamboanga
City, a walled fortification built by the Spaniards
and the Shrine of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the
Philippine national hero, in Dapitan City, are a
must-see for historical buffs.

Region 9 makes up 10% of aquaculture

production in the country. (2 nd among
regions)

*Sta. Cruz Island

SARDINES CAPITAL of the Philippines

*Vista del Mar

i.e. With companies such as Mega

Fishing Corporation based in the
region

Supplies 70% of the Philippine domestic

requirements for DRIED FISH

Total of 104 big dried

processors in the region

fish

Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte is

renowned for pioneering the production of
in-glass or bottled sardines in the
country.

Region 9 ranks third in terms of

seaweeds
production
contributing
roughly 12% of the total national output.

Raising of chicken is the primary poultry

raising activity. (Zamboanga del Sur
contributed most.)

Other agricultural activities:

Ornamental & flower gardening

(excluding
orchid)
are
more
common.
High percentage increases
mushroom
culture
sericulture/silk/cocoon activity

Coastline is about 43% of Mindanao's

total coastline.

Major sea products include tuna,

herring sardines, anchovies and mackerel.
Shrimps, prawns, lobsters, crabs, squid
and cuttlefish also abound.
Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone
and Freeport Authority (ZamboEcozone)

Only
Freeport
Mindanao

in

Visayas

*Dakak Beach Resort

*Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City
*Vintas
Energy
*

In 1995, kerosene and electricity

were the most widely used types of
fuel. Kerosene is usually employed
in the fishing industry, which codominates the regions economic
activities.

In 1995, fuel wood was the most

widely
consumed,
especially
for
cooking and food preparation.
Electricity
may
not
have
been
accessible to everyone yet.

Trade
*

Exports for 2009 amounted to $191.18

million, or a decrease of 49% compared to
those generated in the same period in
2008 in the amount of $284.44 million.

Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City

registered increases of 60% and 28%
respectively.
Zamboanga
del
Sur
registered the highest decrease.

The reasons for the decrease in exports

are the following:

Indirect exports were included in 2008.

The focus in 2009 was on those exports

which the DTI Region 9 had direct
interventions like market matching, trade
fairs, trade missions and marketing
consultancy.

But the ZamboEcozone, on top of

generous incentives granted to investors
and locators, also guarantees free flow,
entry ,and movement of machineries and
other good tax free within its jurisdiction.

in
&

*Zamboanga Golf and Country Club

&

Natural Tourist Attractions

The region is blessed with numerous tourist
attractions. Besides many enchanting islands and
islets, there are cultural and historical shrines as
well as exotic scenic spots and pristine beaches.

REPORTED BY:

JESSICA PRIASMOSCARDON
BEED-4