REGION IX: WESTERN MINDANAO REGION (ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA)
Area and Location. The provinces of Western Mindanao lie in a peninsula located in the southwestern section
of the country. It is bounded by the Sulu Sea on the north, by the Celebes Sea on the south, and by the
provinces of Misamis Occidental and Lanao Del Norte on the east.
Geographic Profile. The region has a predominantly dipterocarp forest cover, making it one of the leading
exporters of timber in the country. It is also rich in inland and marine resources, including freshwater lakes
and swamps.
People. As of 2007, Region IX had a population of 3,230,094, about 35.8 percent of which were made up of
indigenous cultural groups. Most of the people in this region are the Tausugs, Yakans, Badjaos, Samals, and
Subanons. The majority of the people in this region are Muslims.
Political Profile. Region IX is divided into three provinces: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and
Zamboanga Sibugay. Its cities include Zamboanga, Dipolog, Pagadian, and Dapitan.
Zamboanga Del Norte
Capital: Dipolog City
Area and Location. Zamboanga del Norte is located at the northwestern tip of Mindanao bounded by the
Sulu Sea on the north and west, by Misamis Occidental on the east, and by Zamboanga del Sur on the south.
The province has a total area of 6,618 square kilometers.
Geographic Profile. The province has a generally mountainous and hilly terrain, with an average elevation
of243.8 meters. Mt. Dabiak in Katipunan is the highest point at 2,600 meters. Flatlands also exist in other parts
of the province, especially near the coastal areas. The climate is mild to moderate rainfall throughout the
year.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Name and Location Description
3,003 Steps to Linabo Peak These concrete steps, winding through tunnels of verdant trees, lead to
Dipolog's highest elevation point and a spectacular panoramic view of
Dipolog City
Zamboanga del Norte's twin cities.
Aliguay and Silinog Islands These island barangays offer white sand beaches and rich aquatic
resources.
Dapitan
Dapitan City Plaza The present city plaza is the same one developed and beautiful by Dr.
Jose Rizal with the assistance of Gov. Ricardo Carcinero. The plan was to
Dapitan City
make the plaza comparable to those found in Europe.
Dipolog City Hall Renovated not too long ago, the city hall once again captures the
Dipolog City original beauty of its overall design and façade.
Holy Rosary Cathedral This church was erected by Spanish friars in 1895, long before Dipolog
became a municipality. Records are showing that the altar was
Dipolog City
designed by Dr. Jose Rizal during his exile in Dapitan.
Ilihan Hill Atop Ilihan Hill lies Fort de Dapitan, constructed by the Spaniards to
protect thriving settlers from invasion. It provides a good view
Dapitan City
overlooking Dapitan Bay.
Linabo Park Dipolog's highest mountain provides a good view of the province's two
Dipolog City cities and their neighboring towns.
Relief Map of Mindanao,St. The 900-square meter map of Mindanao was created by Dr. Jose Rizal
with the assistance of Fr. Francisco de Paula Sanchez, SJ and was
James Church
intended to be a motivating device for teaching history and
Dapitan City geography to the natives.
Rizal Shrine This major landmark is the house that national hero Dr. Jose Rizal lived in
during his stay in Dapitan. It is composed of several structures that have
Dapitan City
been carefully restored to their original state.
Zamboanga del Sur
Capital: Pagadian City
Area and Location. Zamboanga del Sur is located in the northwestern part of Mindanao. It is bounded on
the north and west by Zamboanga del Norte; on the east by Misamis Occidental, Panguil Bay, and Lanao
del Norte, and on the south by the Moro Gulf and the Basilan Strait. The province has a total land area of
8,051.9 square kilometers.
Geographic Profile. Zamboanga del Sur is the largest province in the Western Mindanao Region in terms
of land area and population. The terrain consists of a flat coastal plain that gives way to mountain ranges
towards the interior. The coastline is irregular with numerous coves and harbors from three to 17 fathoms
deep.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Name and location Description
Bagalupa Hanging Bridge 80-meter-long bridge is made up of wooden floor planks suspended by
Brgy. Bagalupa, Pagadian cables.
Bogo Hill
The hill offers a panoramic view of Pagadian Bay.
Bgy.Bogo,Pagadian
The park was named after Zamboanga City's folk hero, Mayor Cesar
Climaco Freedom Park Climaco. It has numerous natural and man-made attractions that are
perfect for outings.
Zamboanga City
Great Sta.Cruz Island The island boasts a pink-sand beach with waters teeming with marine life.
Zamboanga City
Lison Valley Waterfall Cool and invigorating water gushes down a 20-to-25-meter cliff into a
spherical basin surrounded by verdant greenery. The site is ideal for
Sitio Santa Lucia, Brgy. Lison
picnics.
Valley, Pagadian
Lourdes Waterfalls The cool clear water flowing out from these falls makes swimming a
pleasurable experience.
Bgy.Lourdes, Pagadian
Manga Waterfalls The two-layered cascading water-falls are surrounded by large trees that
are home to white monkeys.
Brgy.Manga, Pagadian
Mt.Pinokis Mt. Pinokis is covered by a virgin forest that is home to several monkeys
and other wildlife.
Brgy. Lison Valley ,Pagadian
Pasonanca Park The park has a swimming pool with slides and a tree house where both
foreign and domestic tourists could stay.
Pasonanca,Zamboanga City
Rio Hondo This Samal water village may be losing its original ethnic charm, but it still is
a worthwhile place to visit. To get to it, one must cross a wooden bridge
Zamboanga City
that spans a narrow river.
Santa Cruz Islands The two Sta. Cruz islands, the Great and the Little, are both great dive
sites.
Zamboanga City
Their beaches are covered with sand with a distinctively pink color.
Yakan Weaving Village The Yakans, the original inhabitants of Basila province, display their fine
craftsmanship in the cloths that they weave, which command a high
Zamboanga City,
price in the market.
7 kilometers on the West Coast
Zambonga Sibugay
Capital: Ipil
Area and Location. Zamboanga Sibugay is one of the newest provinces in the Philippines, created only in
2001 through Republic Act 8973 signed by former President Joseph Estrada. It is located in the Zamboanga
Peninsula and is composed of 15 municipalities with a total land area of 3,363.22 square kilometers. It is
bounded on the southeast by Zamboanga City, on the north by Zamboanga del Norte, on the east by
Zamboanga del Sur, and on the south by the bays of Dumanquilieas and Sibuguey.
Geographic Profile. Aside from the mainland, four islands comprise the province, namely: Olutanga,
Laginugan, Letayen, and Polalaum Lutangan.
Name and Location Description
Baluran Falls The waters cascade down a craggy hillside and provide the centerpiece
Imelda to this picturesque area.
Moalboal Caves A great stone face carved by the elements over thousands of years
Moalboal,Titay guards the entrance to one of these caves.
Baluan Island The island boasts of pristine beaches with fine sands and calm waters
2 kilometers from the mainland ideal for swimming.
REGION X: NORTHERN MINDANAO REGION
Area and Location. Region X occupies a total land area of 14,193 square kilometers. It is bounded on the north by the
Bohol Sea, on the east by Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, on the south by Davao del Norte, and on the west
by Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.
Geographic Profile. Northern Mindanao is a contiguous landmass, except for two provinces, Camiguin and Misamis
Occidental. Forestland accounts for 62 percent of the total land area of the region, making it a major producer of
timber. It also has a huge water reserve consisting of 29 river basins.
People. The people here speak mostly Cebuano or Tagalog, except for migrants from other provinces who use other
dialects. Traces of ethnic dialects have also survived, and are still in circulation. As of 2007, 3,952,437 people were
residing in the region.
Political Profile. The region is composed of provinces; Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, and Bukidnon.
It also has five cities: Cagayan de Oro, Tangub, Ozamis, Oroquieta, and Gingoog.
Bukidnon
Capital: Malaybalay City
Area and Location. Bukidnon is a landlocked plateau, bounded in the north by Misamis Oriental, in the south by North
Cotabato and Davao del Sur, in the east by Agusan del Sur and Davao del Norte, and in the west by Lanao del Sur.
It has a total land area of 829,378 hectares.
Geographic Profile. There are two important landmarks in Bukidnon: Mt. Kitanglad and Pulangi River. Mt. Kitanglad
rises 9,696 feet and is one of the highest peaks in Mindanao. Pulangi River, on the other hand, traverses the
northeastern and southern part of the province towards the Rio Grande de Mindanao.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Name and Location Description
Alalum Falls The falls are located along the Sayre Highway, less than a kilometer from
Kisolon,Sumilao the municipality of Sumilao.
Del Monte Philippines, Inc.
Del Monte is considered the biggest pineapple plantation in the Far East,
Manolo Fortich, Libona, which includes a famous world-class 18-hole golf course located in
Imasugong,and Sumilao Cawayanon, San Miguel.
Kaamulan Festival Kaamulan is an indigenous Binukid term, which means "gathering
together for: purpose." The festival carries you to another world in another
Malaybalay
era by bringing
together different cultural groups whose ways have remained
unchanged over the centuries. The festival is held every first to the
second week of March
Kaamulan Park This pine tree-covered park is ideal for camping and rodeo activities. It is
also often the venue for provincial fairs, foremost of which is the
Provincial Capitol, Kamulan.
Malaybalay
Kitanglad National Park
The park is planted mostly with Alvizza falcatria and other medicinal trees.
North of Central Bukidnon
Matin-ao Spring This spring is the most popular among several picnic spots in the
province. It has good picnic facilities such as concrete dining tables and
Bangcud,Malaybalay benches.
ML Kitanglad the southern Rising 9,696 feet above sea level, Mt. Kitanglad is the second highest
portion of the province of peak in the Philippines.
Bukidnon
Pinamaloy lake
A tranquil lake frequented by picnickers and fishermen
Don Carlos
Pineview park
The park which is covered with pine trees is also known as “Little Baguio"
At the back of the provincial
capitol in malaybalay
Pilangi hydroelectric project Only one of the six hydroelectric power plants set to be built along the
Bukidnon pulangi river has been set up.
Camiguin
Capitol: Mambajao
Areas and location. Camiguin is a pear-shaped island in the Bohol sea. Gingoog and macajalar bays
separate it from mainland Mindanao in the south. It is approximately 54 kilometers southeast of the chocolate
hills, some 90 kilometers north of Cagayan De Oro city airport and 10 kilometers north of Misamis Oriental.
The island province has a total land area of about 300 square kilometers or 29,000 hectares.
Geographic Profile. Camiguin is a volcanic island with rugged and hilly terrain. It has seven volcanoes, the
three most well-known peaks are Mt. Tempoong, Mt. Mambajao, and Mt. Hibok-Hibok.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Name and location Description
Arden Hot spring The waters of this spring come from Mt. Hibok-Hibok and have a temperature
6 kilometers southwest of of about 40 degrees centigrade. It is best to swim here either early in the
Mambajao proper morning late in the afternoon. Since the water is quite hot bathing should not
exceed 20 minutes.
Katibawasan falls This 250-foot high waterfall forms a pool surrounded by rich vegetation.
Bathers and picnickers flock to this place especially during summer due to its
5kms southeast of Mambajao cold and refreshing water.
center
Lanzones festival/Dawit Dawit
This grand two-day festival held every third week of October, features agri -
ta buaha product exhibits, barangay beautification, indigenous sports, a fruit parade,
and much street dancing.
Mambajao
