Zamboanga del Norte is the largest province of the
Zamboanga Peninsula region by land area covering 7,301.00 square kilometres (2,818.93 sq mi).[1] Zamboanga del Norte is the 26th populous province in the Philippines.
The early history of Zamboanga del Norte is shared with that of
Zamboanga City, which had been the center of the entire
Mindanao area, most notably during the American era. When Zamboanga City became a chartered city on October 12, 1936, it encompassed the southern tip of the
Zamboanga Peninsula and the island of
Basilan, making it the largest city in the world in terms of land area.
Philippine independence
Foundation
Through Republic Act No. 711 issued on June 6, 1952, Zamboanga province was divided into two independent provinces, which included Zamboanga del Sur.[3]
Zamboanga del Norte was the site of at least one major assassination during the Marcos Martial law era - the gunning down of Human Rights lawyers
Jacobo Amatong and
Zorro Aguilar by two soldiers of
the Marcos government, who were never caught.[4][5][6] Both lawyers have since been honored by having their names inscribed on the wall of remembrance at the Philippines’
Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which honors the heroes and martyrs who fought against
Ferdinand Marcos and his
martial law regime.[4]
It has an average elevation of 243.8 metres (800 ft), with Mount Dabiak in
Katipunan as the highest peak at 2,600 metres (8,500 ft). Other parts, near the coastlines, are plains. The province's irregular coastline runs some 400 kilometres (250 mi) from north to south.
Climate
Zamboanga del Norte has a mild and moderate climate due to evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year. Its southern portion has a longer dry season.
Sibuco is the largest municipality by land area, constituting 10.72% (782.54 square kilometers) of the total provincial area.
Sibutad is the smallest, with 0.90% (65.57 square kilometers).[10]
The population of Zamboanga del Norte in the 2020 census was 1,047,455 people,[2] with a density of 140 inhabitants per square kilometre or 360 inhabitants per square mile.
Dipolog is the most populated locality in the province, followed by the town of
Sindangan and city of
Dapitan.
The predominant religion was
Islam until the Spanish regime took over the region and spread
Christianity with the help of the church's mission orders like the
Jesuits,
Augustinians, and
Dominicans. The province's first martyr of faith, soon to be raised as a saint, in
Mindanao island was Padre
Francesco Palliola,
S.J. He was a Jesuit missionary from
Nola, Italy, and was assigned to Zamboanga Peninsula. He was active as a missionary in Lubungan (Katipuan), Zamboanga del Norte, Iligan, Dapitan, and met his martyrdom at the barrio of Ponot, now a town of
Jose Dalman.
Roman Catholicism is a significant majority with about 50% adherence. The province has one diocese – the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Dipolog under the
Archdiocese of Ozamis, covering the entire province. There are also followers of other
Christian sects.
About half of the province's land area is devoted to
agriculture. Corn, coconut, and rice are the major crops. The province being rich in marine and mineral sources, its fish production has accelerated through the development of fishponds. Commercial fishing has steadily increased through the years, with the yellow fin tuna as the primary species.
In 2006, a study by
National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB), found Zamboanga del Norte Province to be the Philippines' poorest province with a
poverty incidence rate of 64.6%, an increase from 47% in year 2000 statistical figures.[22]
As of 2015, the province's poverty incidence has dropped to 51.6% (ranking 8th).[23] Large foreign mining companies operating within the province such as Canadian company
TVI Resource Development and
Philex Mining Corp. cause adverse effects to the culture and traditions of the indigenous
Subanon and other poor settlers.[24][25][26]
^
ab"List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from
the original on May 18, 2001. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
^Fiel, Tito N. (12 November 2011).
"Zamboanga del Norte ban on open-pit mining stands". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Inquirer Mindanao. Retrieved 19 April 2016. The provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte stands fast on its ban on open-pit mining and will fight in court the Canadian-mining company TVI Resources' efforts to have the ordinance declared unconstitutional.