Greetings!
Welcome to BLGF Region IX Website – Our official communicator. It is our desire to promote transparency and standard display of vital information relative to local government finance in this part of Mindanao – the back-door of the Philippines.
Consequently, we intend to invite stakeholders and other end–users throughout the country and elsewhere, most especially our valued taxpayers and probable investors, to utilize our website.
It is our hope that through our website, your interest to invest and/or visit our region would be enhanced.
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ABOUT US
Vision
BLGF of the Department of Finance is the focal agency and an authority in local finance that aims to be at the forefront of local economic growth leading the way towards national development.
Functional Statement
- Supervises and coordinate the conduct of local treasury and assessment operations of the provinces, cities and municipalities within the region for proper implementation of laws, decrees, rules and regulations and administrative issuances of the Department.
- Establish liaison and linkage with other regional offices and agencies of the national government in the region for the purpose of closer coordination in the execution of national regional plans or programs in the area.
- Coordinate in the prosecution of local government projects.
- Undertake researches, studies and related activities for purpose of formulation and execution of policies that would promote the financial stability and growth of the local government.
- Supervises and monitor the execution of taxmapping and other real property assessment projects of the local government units within the region.
- Approve the individual schedules of values of real property prepared by the provincial and city assessors in the region.
- Coordinate the plans, programs and activities of local treasury and assessment offices in the conduct of tax collections drives and tax information and education campaigns.
- Subject to the approval of the Department of Finance, conduct regional training programs, seminar-workshops, conferences, and other allied activities designed primarily for the improvement of administrative and technical skills in the local treasury and assessment offices.
- Perform such other functions as may be prescribed by law or as may be delegated by the Secretary of Finance.
REGIONAL STAFF
Dir. Patricia M. Mar
Regional Director
Mohayla B. Amud
Local Treasury Operations Officer IV
Editha V. Arak
Financial Analyst IV
Carlito V. Eisma, Jr.
Local Assessment Operations Officer IV
Peterleo R. Rabulan
Financial Analyst Officer III
Sheryl Lee Q. Lapitan
Administrative Officer V
Perlita O. Fernandez
Special Investigator III
Marina C. Lopez
Financial Analyst I
Ofelia N. Alaide
Administrative Officer I
Judith A. Mijares
Administrative Assistant II -
PROFILE OF THE REGION
Historically, when after the United States annexed the Spanish East Indies in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American War, Zamboanga Peninsula briefly became an independent republic. But when the Department of Mindanao and Sulu were instituted on August 16, 1916, Zamboanga Peninsula became one of its provinces.
Geographically, Zamboanga Peninsula is located at the Western portion of Mindanao. It lies between the Sulu Sea on the north and west and the Moro Gulf part of the Celebes Sea on the South. The isthmus situated between Panguil Bay and Yllana Bay on the east is the only land connecting the Zamboanga Peninsula and Mainland Mindanao.
Originally, and pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1, the Administrative Region of Western Mindanao consists of the Sulu archipelago and the Peninsula minus the province of Misamis Occidental, with Zamboanga City as the Regional Center. It consisted of the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte and the cities of Zamboanga, Pagadian, Dapitan, Dipolog and Isabela. However, by virtue of Executive Order No. 36 dated September 19, 2001, and with the inclusion of the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan (excluding the City of Isabela) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in a previous plebiscite, the Western Mindanao Administrative Region was renamed Zamboanga Peninsula Region IX now consisting only of the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay (a newly created province taken from Zamboanga del Sur) including the afore-mentioned cities with Pagadian City as the new Regional Center.
Province/City Capital Area
(KM2)Population Density
(KM2)Zamboanga
del NorteDipolog City 6,618.0124.4 124 Zamboanga
del SurPagadian City 3,480.7240.2 203 Zamboanga
SibugayIpil 3,087,9161.0 151 Zamboanga City – 1,483,4405.7 522 Isabela City – 140,7519.1 625 Sulu Jolo 2,135.3 397.9 Tawi-Tawi Bongao 3,426.6 131.4 Basilan Isabela City- 1,994.1 204.9 Component Cities
- Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte
- Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte
- Isabela City, Basilan
- Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur
Source: Wikipedia.com
Climate
Zamboanga Peninsula is endowed with favorable climate,sufficient rainfall and typhoon belt free with an average temperature of 27-33 degrees celcius which make it conducive for farming and fishing activities. From November to April, the region experiences a relatively dry season, and wet for the rest of the year.
Languages and Dialects
The Zamboanga Peninsula region has various dialects spoken like; Visayan, Tagalog, Tausug, Muslim, Subanen and Chavacano.
Major Industries
Fishing and farming are the main economic activities of the region. It also has aqua farms for salty water and freshwater fishes. Corn and rice mills are scattered among the rich farmlands. Processing plants for oil, coffee, and latex are, likewise, ever-present. Moreover, home industries such as rattan, furniture, basket, and weaving crafts and brass works could be found in different parts of the region.
Specialty Food
Famous Activities/Festivals
Zamboanga Sibugay
Sibug – Sibug Festival – an annual grand event every Ferbuary 15 to 26, in celebration of the founding anniversary of the province. Highlighted, Binibining Sibugay, Street Dancing, Trade Fair, Sports Fest and the longest Talaba Grill. Showcasing the biggest, juiciest and meatiest “Talaba” (Oyster). Capitol Site, Ipil Heights, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay the site of the festival.
Bangus Festival – every December Bangus Festival is celebrated at Barangay Monching, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay as thanksgiving festuring the abundance of Bangus or Milk Fish as prime product in the locality and it is highlighted with Culinary Contest.
Zamboanga del Norte
Hudyaka Festival – a week long celebration from May 29 to June 7, show window of Zamboanga del Norte´s best, agri-tourism booth, costume, of the fair ladies, street dancing and face off participated in by the different municipalities of the province.
Zamboanga del Sur
Megayon Festival – (September 11 to 17)It is a week long celebration of the solidarity of the various cultural groups held every September on the occasion of the province´s founding day. One of the most popular forms of entertainment in the Philippines is the festival, more popularly known locally as fiestas. It is almost always acknowledged by those who have visited the country that by nature, Filipinos are a celebratory lot, and every province in the country has at least three different fiestas being celebrated every year. Usually, these are dedicated to a town´s patron saint, or its founding, or even seasonal changes. Festivals are often designated as major or minor, with the former being much more well-known and extravagant, and is usually attended by people of neighboring towns or provinces. The Megayon Festival in Zamboanga del Sur is one of them, and unlike other festivals which have been celebrated for decades, the Megayon Festival is relatively new.
The festival is a week-long gathering held in September to celebrate the unity among the three settlers that contribute to the founding of Zamboanga del Sur: the Subanons (or Subanens), the Muslims, and the local settlers (megayon is a Subanen word for “unity”). The festival is also held to celebrate the founding of Zamboanga del Sur and, to a lesser extent, the rich harvest of crops. Because of these reasons, the Megayen Festival is considered as Zamboanga del Sur´s official festival.
Originally started in 2001, the festival highlights the cultural diversity of the three groups of people that populate Zamboanga del Sur. Main staples of the celebration include the unique cultural dances of each group. Traditional costumes as well as arts and crafts are also usually proudly displayed, which shows off the diversity of each settler group. Usually, the festival has an overarching theme that gives cohesion to each celebration, and these themes differ year after year; for example, the theme for Megayon 2008 was“Responsible Usage of Natural Resources, Key to Sustainable Progress and Unity”.
Recent festivals also saw the inclusion of a beauty pageant, as well as the participation of other neighboring provinces, such as Zamboanga del Norte. There is also a cultural tour that will give tourists and visitors a unique glimpse of the province´s various cultural villages.
Zamboanga City
Zamboanga Hermosa Festival (Fiesta Pilar) . Highlighted by the October 12 Fiesta Pilar in honor of the miraculous image of Our Lady of the Pillar at the legendary Fort Pilar.
The festival features week-long novena masses, cultural shows, agricultural fairs, art/ photo/flower garden exhibits, a two-day mardi gras parade, the bandoreal, a regatta, torch parades, fireworks, and carnivals. It all ends with a solemn procession and a mass at the Fort.
Dapitan City
Kinabayo Festival Street Dancing Competition – the centerpiece of Dapitan´s annual fiesta which is celebrated every July 25. A reenactment of the Spanish-Moorish wars particularly the Battle of Covadonga. The blaze of local colors and innovations make this annual festival the one to watch and join in
Pagadian City
Pasalamat Festival – every 3rd Sunday of January is Pasalamat Festival, ethnic streetdancing with rituals depicting the goods harvest of the Subanen community.
Dipolog City
P´gsalabuk Festival -3rd week of April to 4th Saturday of May is the P´gsalabuk Festival, the festival starts 2nd week of May with colourful ethnic inspired street dancing, sports, concerts, pageants, cultural shows and culminates on July 1st, Adlaw sa Dipolog celebration.
(Source: Department of Tourism-Region IX)
Population
Province/Cities Land Area Population Basilan 322,447.0000 408,520 Sulu 343,699.0000 849,670 Tawi-Tawi 362,655.0000 450,346 Zamboanga del Norte 730,100.0000 907,238 Zamboanga del Sur 591,416.0000 914,278 Zamboanga Sibugay 360,775.0000 546,186 Dapitan City 39,093.1267 72,792 Dipolog City 24,113.0000 113,118 Isabela City 22,376.0000 87,985 Pagadian City 37,880.0000 161,312 Zamboanga City 148,338.0000 774,407
