Misamis Occidental

For other places with the same name, see Misamis (disambiguation).

Misamis Occidental
—  Province  —
Province of Misamis Occidental
Seal
Nickname(s): Mis Occ
Motto: where the color of nature is greener
Map of the Philippines with Misamis Occidental highlighted
Coordinates: 8°20′N 123°42′E / 8.333°N 123.7°E / 8.333; 123.7Coordinates: 8°20′N 123°42′E / 8.333°N 123.7°E / 8.333; 123.7
Country	Philippines
Region	Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Founded	November 8, 1929
Capital	Oroquieta City
Government
- Governor	Herminia M. Ramiro (Lakas Kampi CMD)
- Vice Governor	Atty. Henry S. Oaminal (Nacionalista Party)
Area
- Total	2,055.2 km2 (793.5 sq mi)
Area rank	62nd out of 80
Population (2007)
- Total	531,680
- Rank	49th out of 80
- Density	258.7/km2 (670/sq mi)
- Density rank	26th out of 80
Divisions
- Independent cities	0
- Component cities	3
- Municipalities	14
- Barangays	490
- Districts	1st and 2nd Districts of Misamis Occidental
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code	7200 up to 7215
Spoken languages	Cebuano, Subanen, English, Filipino(Tagalog), Meranao
Website	http://www.misocc.gov.ph

Misamis Occidental (Filipino:Kanlurang Misamis)(Subanen:Sindepan Mis'samis) is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Oroquieta City. The province borders Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur to the west and is separated from Lanao del Norte by Panguil Bay to the south and from Misamis Oriental by Iligan Bay to the east. The province of Misamis was originally inhabited by Subanons whose an easy target by the sea pirates from Lanao. Misamis is taken from the early settlement of the Spaniards at the entrance to the Panguil Bay.

The name "Misamis" is believed to have been derived from the Subano word "Kuyamis" which is a variety of sweeto coconut - the staple food of the early settlers in this place. During the years the name persisted as an inference of the geographical location and upon the advent of the Spanish settlers, the word "kuyamis" easily gave way to the more convenient pronounceable but corrupted word "Misamis".^[1]

Misamis Occidental comprised the original nine towns of Baliangao, Lopez Jaena, Tudela, Clarin, Plaridel, Oroquieta, Aloran, Jimenez, and Misamis. The original nine municipalities of the province of Misamis Occidental grew into the present three cities of Ozamiz, Oroquieta, and Tangub and the 14 municipalities of Aloran, Baliangao, Bonifacio, Calamba, Clarin, Concepcion, Don Victoriano, Jimenez, Lopez Jaena, Panaon, Plaridel, Sapang Dalaga, Sinacaban, and Tudela

History

In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Misamis Occidental, beginning their brief occupation of the province as part of World War II. In 1945, combined American and Philippine Commonwealth forces liberated the province, and with the help of the recognized guerilla units, defeated the Japanese forces.

Geography

Misamis Occidental is located near the narrow strip of land linking Northwestern Mindanao, to the Northcentral part of the island. Shaped like a collapsible fan it is bounded on the northeast by the Mindanao Sea, east by the Iligan Bay, southeast by the Panguil Bay, and the west by the Zamboanga del Norte and Sur. The fact that three of its boundaries are bodies of water gives away water life as one of its natural resources and fishing as one of its main industries. Except along the coastal area, hilly and rolling land characterized the provincial terrain. Towards the western border, the terrain is particularly rugged.

Political

• Congressman
  • 1st District: Rep. Jorge T. Almonte
  • 2nd District: Rep. Loreto Leo S. Ocampos

Present Governor : Herminia M. Ramiro Present Vice - Governor: Atty. Henry S. Oaminal

Misamis Occidental is subdivided into 14 municipalities and 3 component cities.

Cities

• Oroquieta City
• Ozamiz City
• Tangub City

Municipalities

Aloran Baliangao Bonifacio Calamba Clarin Concepcion Don Victoriano Chiongbian (Don Mariano Marcos)

Jimenez Lopez Jaena Panaon Plaridel Sapang Dalaga Sinacaban Tudela

People and culture

The dense population along the coast consists mainly of migrants from Cebu and Bohol, thus the major dialects are Cebuano and Boholano. The native Subanens live in the interior uplands.

Economy

The province economy depends firstly on fishing, secondly on coconuts, thirdly on rice. The province has 169 kilometers of coastline fronting the rich fishing grounds of Panguil and Iligan bays. It also has the biggest area of brackish-water fishponds in the region. Tangub City is a fishing port on Panguil Bay famous for seafoods. Coconut is the chief crop. This is processed into oil, desiccated coconut, and coir, most of which are shipped to Cebu. Coconut processing is the main industry in Oroquieta City. Other crops grown are rice, corn, abaca, coffee, cacao and rubber.

Resources

Wood is the major forest product. Predominant species are the lauan group, apitong, tanguige yakal, and Philippine Mahogany. There is also an abundant supply of bamboo, rattan and various vines. Forest land in the province has an area of 66,002.46 hectares; 53,262 hectares of which are considered a national park (which has legal implications).

The province has a considerable deposit of clay especially in the municipalities of Lopez-Jaena and Concepcion.

There is also an abundant source of sand and gravel.

The province is traditionally a net exporter of various commodities. Historical data from the Ozamiz Port District of the Bureau of Customs show that outgoing commodities, which is mainly of coconut products, far outweigh incoming cargoes.

Being a coco-based province, major manufacturing firms in Misamis Occidental are engaged in the production of crude coconut oil, cooking oil, lard, margarine, laundry soap and desiccated coconut. Other products are furniture, ceramics gifts toys and housewares, processed food like banana chips and marine products.

Locally fabricated agri-industrial machines and equipments are also available in the province.

Tourism and Attractions

• Binalbal Festival, Tudela, Misamis Occidental
• Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park
• Hoyohoy Highland Adventure Park, Tangub City
• Fort Santiago, Ozamiz City
• Immaculate Conception Cathedral Pipe Organ, Ozamiz City

See also

• Misamis Oriental
• Northern Mindanao, designated as Region X in the Philippines.
• Cagayan de Oro
• Laguindingan International Airport, the first International airport in Northern Mindanao region.

References

1. ^ http://trc.dost.gov.ph/SocioEconomicBriefHistoryPage.jsp?provinceid=476

Former Governors

• José Ozámiz
• Henry Regalado
• Gedeon G. Quijano

External links

• http://www.popcom.gov.ph/regions/10/Misamis%20Occidental%20Profile.htm