Creation During the time of the United States' purchase of the Philippines (1898), the
Republic of Zamboanga had its own independence and jurisdiction on what is now Zamboanga City. After the dissolution of the republic, Zamboanga was eventually consolidated into one major administrative area by the American government of the Philippines, consisting of an enormous region that was the Mindanao island's western peninsula,
Basilan Island, and the entire Sulu archipelago, with the ancient namesake town/fort of Zamboanga as the seat of its government, and was called the
Moro Province of the Philippines. The Moro Province, in 1914 was replaced by the
Department of Mindanao and Sulu. It was divided into Zamboanga,
Sulu,
Cotabato,
Davao,
Agusan and
Surigao. The town of Zamboanga as its capital. Luis Lim was appointed as the first governor of Zamboanga. In 1920, the
Department of Mindanao and Sulu was officially dissolved and Zamboanga became an independent province. In 1922, elections were held for the first elected provincial officials of Zamboanga. Florentino Saguin was elected as first elected governor. At that time, the province was composed of five municipalities: •
Dipolog •
Dapitan •
Lubungan •
Isabela • Zamboanga Zamboanga was also sub-divided into 12 municipal districts: •
Bangaan •
Dinas •
Kabasalan •
Kumalarang •
Lamitan •
Maluso •
Margosatubig •
Panganuran •
Sibuko •
Sindangan •
Sirawai •
Taluksangay World War II When the
Japanese invaded the Philippines, Zamboanga acting Governor Felipe Azcuna moved the capital from Zamboanga City to
Dipolog. After the defeat of the American-Filipino forces in
Corregidor, most of the province went under Japanese control. After the war, on June 16, 1948,
Molave was designated as Zamboanga's capital by the virtue of Republic Act No. 286 signed by President
Elpidio Quirino.
Division On June 6, 1952, the Republic Act 711, authored by Zamboanga
Congressman Roseller Lim was passed by the
Philippine House of Representatives to divide the province of Zamboanga to
Zamboanga del Norte and
Zamboanga del Sur, while the chartered City of Zamboanga and Basilan became part of Zamboanga del Sur . The bill was signed by President
Elpidio Quirino in a ceremony held at the
Malacañan Palace. The towns of
Dapitan, Dipolog,
Rizal,
New Piñan,
Polanco,
Katipunan,
Manukan,
Sindangan,
Liloy,
Labason and
Siocon are composed of the province of Zamboanga del Norte. The City of
Zamboanga & Island of
Basilan and towns of Molave,
Pagadian,
Labangan,
Margosatubig,
Dimataling,
Dinas,
Ipil,
Buug,
Malangas,
Kabasalan and
Aurora are under Zamboanga del Sur. The town of
Dipolog was designated capital of Zamboanga del Norte and the town of
Pagadian as Zamboanga del Sur's capital. In 2001, a brand new Zamboanga province,
Zamboanga Sibugay, was created from the province of Zamboanga del Sur with
Ipil as its provincial capital.
Governors ==Timeline==