Zamboanga del Sur was built upon the foundations of various migrants and settlers. The early settlers of the area which would ultimately be known as Zamboanga del Sur were the the “Subanons” or “Subanens”, which mean “river folks”, and established settlements on the riverbanks.
Muslim immigrants from neighboring communities with some coming from as far as Malaysia also formed settlements in the area: The Maguindanaoans and Kalibugans were mostly farmers by trade; the Tausugs, Badjaos, and Samals were fishermen; and the Maranaos were traders and artisans. A major occupation for the Muslims was mat weaving, which is still being practiced today.
More and more people migrated to the area from the Visayas, particularly Cebu, Negros, and Bohol. These migrations have formed Zamboanga del Sur into the vibrant province it is known today.
Before the Second World War, the Moro Province was established, composing of five districts: Cotabato, Davao, Sulu, Zamboanga, and Lanao, and Zamboanga City became its capital. In 1940, the five districts became individual provinces, Zamboanga City became the capital of Zamboanga province. After World War II, the capital was transferred to Dipolog and Molave became the provincial capital of Zamboanga when Republic Act 286 was passed on June 16, 1948.
On September 15, 1952, by virtue of Republic Act 711, Zamboanga province, which encompassed the entire peninsula in the southwestern Mindanao, was split into two, with Zamboanga del Sur being one of the half. Zamboanga del Sur became the 52nd province in the Philippines, originally having 11 towns which were later broken down into 42 municipalities and one city, Pagadian. Pagadian City also became Zamboanga del Sur’s capital.
Today, Zamboanga del Sur comprises 26 municipalities and 1 component city, organized into two congressional districts and further subdivided into 681 barangays.
Component City:
- Pagadian City
1st District:
- Aurora
- Dumingag
- Josefina
- Labangan
- Mahayag
- Midsalip
- Molave
- Ramon Magsaysay (Liargo)
- Sominot (Don Mariano Marcos)
- Tambulig
- Tukuran
2nd District:
- Bayog
- Dimataling
- Dinas
- Dumalinao
- Guipos
- Kumalarang
- Lakewood
- Lapuyan
- Margosatubig
- Pitogo
- San Miguel
- San Pablo
- Tabina
- Tigbao
- Vincenzo Sagun
