BASILAN 

     Basilan province was created in 1973 and organized to render the area more responsive to the pacification, rehabilitation and development programs of the government. As originally conceived, the new province was composed of the whole island of Basilan and the adjacent island which comprised the towns of Isabela, except its own proper, and the former municipal districts of Lamitan and Maluso.

   The country�s leading grower of rubber trees, Basilan also grows coconut, another principal product. The province has mineral deposits, some of which are gold, iron and copper. 

Former Name: None

Land Area: 1,327.2 square kilometers

Capital: Isabela

Population: 201,407 (1980)

Principal Dialect: Cebuano

Income Classification: Fifth Class Province

No. of Cities: 1 (Basilan) 

No. of Municipalities: 7 (Isabela, Lamitan, Lantawan, Maluso, Sumisip, Tipo-Tipo, and Tuburan) 

No. of Municipal Districts: None

Topography: Terrain is rugged and hilly, with sizeable timberlands. 

No. of Principal Rivers: None

No. of Mountains: 23 (with Zamboanga del Sur) 

Climate: The province has a naturally mild climate. 

Average Annual Rainfall: 44.25 inches

Principal products/crops: Rubber and coconut. 

Industries: Rubber sapping and logging

Mineral Resources: Gold, manganese, iron ore, copper and coal

Forest Resources: Timber 

Tourist Attractions: Rubber plantation of B.F. Goodrich in Tumajubong, the Malawi Channel, an underwater garden of multi-colored corals, seaweeds and fishes, and the Mamburing Falls. 

Governor: Gerry Ajul Salapuddin

Congressman: Alvin G. Dans

SULU 

   Sulu ranks third in population among the Western Mindanao provinces with 360,588 (1980). It is one of the provinces in the country which registers the lowest literacy rate.

  The early inhabitants of Sulu were the Baranums, Taguimahas, Baklayanons and Badjaos who were the ancestors of the Tausogs, the dominant Muslim group in Sulu today.

   In the historical front, Sulu did not participate in the 1896 Philippine Revolution. In 1899, the Bates Treaty of the American administration recognized the sovereignty of the sultan and the free exercise of the Islamic tradition. Furthermore, during the World War II, the guerillas of the Sulu Command Area under Lt. Col. Alejandro Suarez, facilitated the landing of the American forces in Tawi-tawi, Siasi and Jolo in 1945. 

Former Name: None

Land Area: 1,600.4 square kilometers

Capital: Jolo

Population: 360,588 (1980)

Principal Dialects: Tausog and Samal

Income Classification: Fourth Class Province

No. of Cities: None 

No. of Municipalities: 18 (Indanan, Jolo, Kalingalan-Cauang, Lugus, Luuk, Maimbung, Marunggas, Pananaw, Pandami, Panglima Estino, Pangutaran, Parang, Pata, Patikul, Siasi, Talipaw, Tapul, and Tungkil) 

No. of Municipal Districts: None

Topography: The Sulu archipelago is marked by a number of mountain ranges that traverse the mid-section of the Jolo Island. It is a volcanic region which lies outside the typhoon belt. 

No. of Principal Rivers: None

No. of Mountains: 56 

Climate: The province has a climate that is generally warm and humid. The prevalent wind direction is southeasterly, at a velocity of 3 knots. 

Average Annual Rainfall: 80.64 inches

Principal products/crops: Abaca and coconut 

Industries: Fishing and cattle-raising

Mineral Resources: None

Forest Resources: Timber 

Tourist Attractions: Quezon Beach and Mosque at Maimbung, Sulu 

Governor: Tupay Loong

Congressman: Arden S. Anni 

TAWI-TAWI 

     This province, composed of 12 municipalities and 307 islands is the southern-most portion of the Philippine archipelago. The proximity of Tawi-tawi to north Borneo makes it the boundary between the Philippines and Malaysia.

    Tawi-tawi was once a part of Sulu. Today, it is the fourth province in Region IX with a land area of 1,087.4 sq. kilometers, and a population of 194,651 (1980)

    The ethnic groups which inhabit Tawi-tawi are the Samals, Badjao and Tausogs. The Tausog dialect, a muslim variant, is widely spoken among the ethnic communities, while Cebuano is prominent among non-Muslim groups.

 Former Name: None

Land Area: 1,087.4 square kilometers

Capital: Bato-batu and Balimbing

Population: 194,651 (1980)

Principal Dialects: Tausog and Cebuano

Income Classification: Sixth Class Province

No. of Cities: None 

No. of Municipalities: 10 (Balimbing, Bonggao, Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, Languyan, Sapa-Sapa, Simunul, Sitangkay, South Ubian, Tandu Bas, and Turle Islands) 

No. of Municipal Districts: None

Topography: Tawi-tawi Island has a number of extinct volcanoes with elevations reaching 1,900 ft. The island is heavily fringed by reefs, bays, islets and lagoons.

No. of Principal Rivers: None

No. of Mountains: 3 (major) 

Climate: Warm and humid, suited to growing a variety of crops. Tawi-tawi lies outside the typhoon belt. 

Average Annual Rainfall: 80.64 inches

Principal products/crops: Coconut, rice and tropical fruits 

Industries: Barter trade (major industry), fishing, copra production, boat building, lumbering, cattle raising, pottery, mat and basket weaving. 

Mineral Resources: None

Forest Resources: Timber

Tourist Attractions: Turtle Islands 

Governor: Hadjiril D. Matba

Congressman: Alawaddin T. Bandon Jr. 

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE 

     Formerly named �Jamboanga�, Zamboanga del Norte was created on June 6, 1952, under Republic Act. No.711. The present administrative organization of the province includes two cities and 19 municipalities. The 1980 National Census and Statistics data shows that Zamboanga del Norte is second largest province in Western Mindanao region in terms of land area and population.

    Although most of the inhabitants are Muslim Tausogs and Maranaos, the natives of this province speak fluent chabacano dialect which is a mixture of Spanish nouns, unconjugated verbs and a dozen native dialects.

     Due to its proximity to North Borneo, Zamboanga del Norte was once noted for smuggling activities. The kumpits (long, deep, enclosed motorboats) illegally carried cargo between Zamboanga and Borneo. 

Former Name: Jamboanga

Land Area: 6,618.1 square kilometers

Capital: Dipolog

Population: 588,015 (1980)

Principal Dialects: Cebuano and Chabacano

Income Classification: Third Class Province

No. of Cities: 2 (Dipolog and Dapitan) 

No. of Municipalities: 24 (Baliguian, Bacungan, Godod, Gutalac, Jose Dalman, Katipunan, La Libertad, Labason, Liloy, Manukan, Mutia, Pinan, Polanco, Pres. M. A. Roxas, Rizal, Salug, Sergio Osme�a, Siayan, Sibuco, Sibutad, Sindangan, Siocon, Siraway, and Tampilisan) 

No. of Municipal Districts: None 

Topography: The province is generally elevated. The northern and southern portions are rough and mountainous even along the coastal areas. 

No. of Principal Rivers: None

No. of Mountains: 9 

Climate: Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year. The maximum rainfall occurs in October while the dry season is between January and April. 

Average Annual Rainfall: 92 inches

Principal products/crops: Coconut, abaca, rubber, rice, corn, rootcrops, vegetables, coffee and peanuts. 

Industries: Cattle raising, fishing and logging (major industries), lumbering and weaving 

Mineral Resources: Copper

Forest Resources: Timber 

Tourist Attractions: Historical spots such as Dapitan and Bayanihan (a man-made island in Rizal town), Bulanit Mountain, Siyacab Beach Resort and Aligway Island (white sand and corals) 

Governor: Isagani S. Amatong

Congressman: Artemio A. Adasa Jr., Ernesto S. Amayong, Angel Melicor Carloto. 

ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR

     Among the provinces forming Region IX, Zamboanga del Sur is the largest and the highest number of barangay centers. It is the center of trade and commerce and other economic activities in the region.

    In terms of population, the province registers the highest number of inhabitants in the region. The relatively young population of the province accounts for the high number of dependents. Furthermore, Zamboanga del Sur is one of the provinces in the country with the lowest literacy rate. Only 6 out 10 can read and write.

    The cultural groups in the province are the Subanos who live principally in the hinterlands, the Yakans who dwell largely in Basilan and the Maguindanaos who reside along the coastline. 

Former Name: Jamboanga

Land Area: 8,051.9 square kilometers

Capital: Pagadian City

Population: 1,183,845 (1980)

Principal Dialect: Cebuano

Income Classification: Second Class Province

No. of Cities: 2 (Pagadian and Zamboanga) 

No. of Municipalities: 40(Alicia, Aurora, Bayog, Buug, Dimataling, Dinas, Diplahan, Don Mariano Marcos, Dumalinao, Dumingag, Imelda, Ipil, Josefina, Kabasalan, Kumalarang, Labangan, Lakewood, Lapuyan, Mabuhay, Mahayag, Malangas, Margosatubig, Midsalip, Molave, Naga, Olutanga, Payao, Pitogo, R. Magsaysay, Roseller Lim, San Miguel, San Pablo, Siay, Tabina, Talusan, Tambulig, Titay, Tukuran, Tungaan, and Vicenzo Sagun)

No. of Municipal Districts: None

Topography: The northern part of the province is characterized by lowlands and hilly lands. There are many short rivers which crisscross their way through most of the 35 municipalities. 

No. of Principal Rivers: None

No. of Mountains: 23 

Climate: There is no pRonounced dry or wet season. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year. The province is outside the typhoon belt. 

Average Annual Rainfall: 44.25 inches

Principal products/crops: Rubber, corn, rice, abaca and coconut 

Industries: Lumbering, gold and coal mining, and fishing 

Mineral Resources: Gold, manganese, iron ore, and coal

Forest Resources: Timber 

Tourist Attractions: Lake Dasay in San Miguel and Pasonanca Park in Zamboanga City. 

Governor: Javier A. Ariosa

Congressman: Isidro F. Real Jr., Antonio H. Cerilles, Wilfredo G. Cainglet, Maria

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