Lanao del Norte

Lanao del Norte (Cebuano: Amihanang Lanao; Template:Langx; Maranao: Pangotaraan Ranao), officially the Province of Lanao del Norte, is a province in the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Tubod.

The province borders Lanao del Sur to the southeast, Zamboanga del Sur to the west, Illana Bay to the southwest, Iligan Bay to the north, Misamis Oriental to the northeast, and is separated from Misamis Occidental by Panguil Bay to the northwest. According to the 2020 census, the province has a total population of 722,902 people.Template:PH census

Situated within Lanao del Norte is the highly urbanized city of Iligan, which is governed independently from the province and also the largest city in both land area and population.

History

Lanao province map in 1918

The province of Lanao existed from 1914 until 1959. In 1959, Republic Act No. 222 was passed by the Philippine Congress, partitioning Lanao into two provinces: Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.<ref name=ChanRobles-RA2228>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The new province was inaugurated on July 4, with Iligan City as its capital. Back in the Spanish period, Iligan was founded by thousands of Visayan immigrants and garrisoned by a hundred Spanish soldiers.<ref>San Agustín, Conquistas, lib. 2 cap 37: 545</ref>

The province then consisted of the municipalities of Balo-i, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod, Baroy, Lala, Kapatagan, Karomatan and the following municipal districts that got converted into regular municipalities of Matungao, Pantao Ragat, Munai, Tangcal, and Nunungan.

In 1977, President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Resolution No. 805, s. 1977 of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Parliamentary Bill No. 586) sponsored by Assemblyman Abdullah D. Dimaporo, into Presidential Decree 181 transferring the province's capital from Iligan City to the municipality of Tubod.

In October 1984, inaugural ceremonies were held to celebrate the occasion of the transfer of the Provincial Capitol from Poblacion, Tubod to the Don Mariano Marcos Government Center (now Governor Arsenio A. Quibranza Provincial Government Center) at Pigcarangan, in Tubod.

Despite the outbreak of the conflict of the MILF led by Abdullah Commander Bravo Goldiano Macapaar bin Sabbar and the Philippine Army in Kauswagan in March 2000, through the provincial government's effort, peace and order was restored in the province.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2018, the Bangsamoro Organic Law was passed into law; this law provided for the establishment of a new Bangsamoro autonomous region to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. According to this law, the six municipalities of Munai, Tagoloan, Pantar, Balo-i, Tangcal, and Nunungan would be incorporated into this new region should a majority of voters in both the affected municipality and the parent province vote in favor of inclusion of the aforementioned municipalities in the proposed autonomous region in a plebiscite. The plebiscite was held the following year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A majority of voters in the affected municipalities voted in favor of inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region; however, the rest of Lanao del Norte voted strongly against,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and as a result, none of the six municipalities were included in the new autonomous region after the provincial government campaigned against their inclusion.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

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Lanao del Norte is a rugged province that ranges from the coastal shorelines in the north to the high plateaus and mountains in the south. It has also diverse flora and fauna.Template:Explain

Lanao del Norte covers a total area of Template:ConvertTemplate:PSGC detail occupying the southwestern section of the Northern Mindanao region in Mindanao. When Iligan is included for geographical purposes, the province's land area is Template:Convert.Template:PSGC detail The province is bordered by Lanao del Sur to the southeast, Zamboanga del Sur to the west, Illana Bay to the southwest, Iligan Bay to the north, and Misamis Oriental to the northeast, and Panguil Bay to the northwest.

Administrative divisions

Lanao del Norte comprises 22 municipalities. The city of Iligan administers itself independently as a highly urbanized city.

City Template:Small municipalityTemplate:Ref label		DistrictTemplate:PSGC detail	Population			Template:PSGC rubric	AreaTemplate:PSGC detail		Density		Template:Abbr	CoordinatesTemplate:Ref label
			Template:SmallTemplate:PH census		Template:SmallTemplate:PH census		km2	Template:Nowrap	/km2	Template:Nowrap
Bacolod		1st	Template:Percent and number	23,034	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	16	Template:Coord
Balo-i		1st	Template:Percent and number	58,383	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	21	Template:Coord
Baroy		1st	Template:Percent and number	22,600	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	23	Template:Coord
Iligan City∞	‡	Lone District	—	363,115	342,618	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	44	Template:Coord
Kapatagan		2nd	Template:Percent and number	62,853	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	33	Template:Coord
Kauswagan		1st	Template:Percent and number	26,278	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	13	Template:Coord
Kolambugan		1st	Template:Percent and number	27,005	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	26	Template:Coord
Lala		2nd	Template:Percent and number	67,727	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	27	Template:Coord
Linamon		1st	Template:Percent and number	20,341	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	8	Template:Coord
Magsaysay		2nd	Template:Percent and number	19,019	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	24	Template:Coord
Maigo		1st	Template:Percent and number	21,666	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	13	Template:Coord
Matungao		1st	Template:Percent and number	13,975	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	12	Template:Coord
Munai		2nd	Template:Percent and number	32,973	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	26	Template:Coord
Nunungan		2nd	Template:Percent and number	18,367	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	25	Template:Coord
Pantao Ragat		2nd	Template:Percent and number	27,866	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	20	Template:Coord
Pantar		1st	Template:Percent and number	21,773	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	21	Template:Coord
Poona Piagapo		2nd	Template:Percent and number	27,018	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	26	Template:Coord
Salvador		2nd	Template:Percent and number	31,845	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	25	Template:Coord
Sapad		2nd	Template:Percent and number	21,309	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	17	Template:Coord
Sultan Naga Dimaporo		2nd	Template:Percent and number	56,764	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	37	Template:Coord
Tagoloan		1st	Template:Percent and number	13,253	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	7	Template:Coord
Tangcal		2nd	Template:Percent and number	15,181	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	18	Template:Coord
Tubod	†	1st	Template:Percent and number	47,165	Template:PAGR	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	24	Template:Coord
TotalTemplate:Ref label				722,902	676,395	Template:PAGR	3,346.57	Template:Convert	Template:Sigfig	Template:Convert	462	Template:Small

Demographics

People in traditional Maranao attire doing a performance as part of the Araw ng Lanao del Norte (Template:Literal translation) festivities.

Template:Philippine Census Template:Bar box The population of Lanao del Norte in the 2020 census was 722,902 people,Template:PH census with a density of Template:Convert. When Iligan is included for geographical purposes, the province's population is 1,019,013 people, with a density of Template:Convert.

The people in Lanao del Norte are a mixture of Maranaos and Cebuanos, with some Maguindanaons, Zamboangueños, Subanens, Tausugs, Yakans, and Sama-Bajaus. Historically, immigrants who came from the Christian provinces of Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon tended to settle in the northern part of Lanao while the Maranaos inhabited the south. There are also a minority of Higaonons settling in the hinterlands of Iligan. Kankanaey, an ethnic group from the Cordilleras in Luzon, can also be found as a minority in the province.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Maranao had settled in the area long before the arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines. Like other groups, they possess their own culture which makes them quite unique. Their language, customs, traditions, religion, social system, costumes, music, and other features are factors that make Lanao peculiar and distinct from other Philippine provinces.

The main languages are Maranao, Cebuano, and Binukid, with the latter being the native language of majority of the citizens of the province.

Religion

Template:Bar box According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report in 2020, Roman Catholicism makeup for 47.3% of the population of Lanao del Norte while 45.5% are adherents of Islam.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other religions include other denominations of Christianity, Buddhism and other beliefs. Template:Clear left

Economy

Template:Stack The economy in Lanao del Norte is predominantly based on agriculture and fishing. Factories are mostly based in Iligan City. Lanao del Norte is the home of Agus Power plants 4-7 that stretch from Balo-i to Iligan City. It serves major parts of power supply in Mindanao.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tourism is also a growing economy in the province. Template:Clear left

Politics and government

Salvador T. Lluch was the first Governor of Lanao del Norte. Second was Mohammad Ali Dimaporo, who ruled from January 1960 to September 1965 when he ran and won the congressional seat of the province. By operation of the law of succession, Vice Governor Arsenio A. Quibranza became the third Provincial Chief Executive of the province. By the mandate of the inhabitants, Quibranza was elected governor in 1967 and almost unanimously re-elected in 1971 and again in 1980.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When Martial Law was declared, Quibranza was arrested as ordered by President Marcos. While in prison, Vice Governor “Toto” Felix Z. Actub would succeed him as Governor

By virtue of the power and impact of the People Power Revolution on EDSA on February 25, 1986, local government all over the Philippines changed the political atmosphere overnight. Lanao del Norte became one among the many provinces affected by the sudden changes brought by the "Snap Election" in February 1986. Local heads of offices and employees particularly those holding political positions were removed but with the installation of President Corazon Aquino as president, OIC Atty. Francisco L. Abalos became the appointed governor of the province on March 3, 1986. On February 2, 1988, Abalos was elected as governor of the province.

In the synchronized National Election of May 11, 1992, Congressman Abdullah D. Dimaporo, a legislator, economist and son of Mohammad Ali Dimaporo, was elected Provincial Governor. The Provincial government embarked on a comprehensive planning and set the groundwork for the development of the province.

In the 1998 national and local elections, Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo, wife of Governor Abdullah D. Dimaporo was elected as Provincial Governor until 2007, and from 2016 up to present.

The eldest son of former governor and now 2nd district representative Abdullah D. Dimaporo and Imelda Q. Dimaporo, Mohammad Khalid Q. Dimaporo entered the politics in the province from 2007 until 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Notable persons

Within the province's jurisdiction

• Marlon Tapales - Professional Boxer (Kapatagan)

Outside the province's jurisdiction (highly-urbanized city of Iligan)

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See also

• Lanao
• Lanao del Sur

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline
• Template:OSM relation
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code