PROFILE OF LANAO DEL SUR

Brief History

Lanao del Sur has a long, colorful history to share. The Darangen epic, famous among the Maranao, relates about the events and people and gives description to the old towns during pre-colonial times. Lanao is the home of the Maranao Sultanate known today as the four principalities or Pat a Pangampong sa Ranao, namely Masiu, Unayan, Balo-i and Bayabao. The Sultanate governs independently yet it is still identified with the national community. Its political power and domain is equally recognized like those in Sulu and Maguindanao. In the heyday of colonialism, Lanao is proud to have resisted the succeeding foray of Spanish, American and Japanese invaders. The saga of Maranao heroes who fought bravely in the so-called Moro Wars during the Spanish colonization along with their Tausug and Maguindanao brothers are living proofs. The legendary battles of Bayang, Sultan Gumander, Ganassi and Tugaya where Maranao fighters faced the canons and rifles of the Americans armed with bow and arrow and kris, further proved their love for freedom and distinct political identity. The Japanese likewise failed following the fate of its predecessors.

The creation of Lanao del Sur is dated during the height of government campaign for settlement in Mindanao. The undivided Lanao was administratively part and a political unit of the Moro province by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 787. Thereafter, in May 27, 1959 by virtue of Republic Act No. 2228, the unified Lanao was divided into two distinct provinces, namely Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte. Lanao del Sur was officially chartered on July 4, 1959.

Lanao del Sur went through a lot of political changes. As a result of the negotiated settlement with the MNLF (Tripoli Agreement) during the Martial Law years, President Marcos issued P.D. No. 742 which included Lanao del Sur in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The constituents of Lanao del Sur affirmed the province inclusion in ARMM during the plebiscite on February 19, 1989. Although Marawi City refused to join first, it reconsidered its position later.

Lanao del Sur is composed of 38 municipalities and Marawi City. It has a sum of 1,059 barangays and is divided into two congressional districts.

District I                                           District II

1. Buadipuso Buntong                      1. Bacolod Kalawi

2. Bubong                                         2. Balabagan

3. Bumbaran                                      3. Balindong

4. Ditsaan-Ramain                            4. Bayang

5. Kapai                                             5. Butig

6. Lumba Bayabao                             6. Binidayan

7. Marantao                                       7. Ganassi

8. Maguing                                         8. Calanogas

9. Masiu                                             9. Kapatagan

10. Mulondo                                     10. Lumbatan

11. Piagapo                                      11. Lumbayanague

12. Poona Bayabao                          12. Malabang

13. Saguiaran                                   13. Madamba

14. Tamparan                                   14. Madalum

15. Tagoloan                                    15. Marogong

16. Taraka                                        16. Pagayawan

17. Wao                                            17. Pualas                                                                                                  

                                                         18. Sultan Gumander

                                                         19. Sultan Domalondong

                                                         20. Tubaran

                                                         21. Tugaya

Geographical Location

The province of Lanao del Sur is located at latitude 7’ 24’ 34” and nestled in the hinterland of Mindanao at an elevation of 702 meters above sea level. It occupies the extensive plateau of North Central Mindanao and surrounds the basin of Lake Lanao. The province of Bukidnon bounds it on the east, on the south of it is Maguindanao and North Cotabato, on the west is Illana Bay and on the northwest is the province of Lanao del Norte.

Lanao del Sur is well-enclosed within the Bukidnon-Lanao highland areas with a series of plateaus, plains, highlands and basins, rolling hills and volcanoes which mountain ranges serve as a natural boundary from Maguindanao and Cotabato. The province has a total land area of 12,061.82 square kilometers with 340.0 sq. km. of water area composed of lakes and swamps.

Accessibility

Along the northwest portion, the province of Lanao del Sur is accessible through the 36-kilometer Iligan City-Marawi City National Highway. The province is also about 137-kilometer from Cagayan de Oro City through a concrete road traveled by many public vehicles. On the other hand, the Marawi City-Malabang-Cotabato City route, passing through the Narciso Ramos Highway, connects the province to Maguindanao and other southern Mindanao provinces.

There are regular flights everyday from Metro Manila to Cagayan de Oro City. Fast and reliable buses operate between Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City. Two superior express buses are in service, but they are somewhat expensive than the regular buses because they are popular for their spacious seats, air-conditioned interiors and facilities like the built-in music and VCR television.

Ten-seater air-conditioned FX public vehicles await passengers for Lanao del Sur from Cagayan de Oro at the communal bus stop in Iligan City. They offer more passenger space and a high standard of service. The usual fare between Iligan City and Marawi City is P60.00 . There is no late-night surcharge. Jeepneys dubbed as “armacs” are also in service. They are frequent, reliable and inexpensive.

Passengers carrying large amounts of baggage may find them convenient. Rental cars are available for visitors, and charges are from P500.00 to P700.00 per day. Driving safely in Lanao del Sur takes some practice. Due to the unfamiliarity with the roads and humps, it is advisable to hire a driver along with the car. Visitors who wish to hire a chauffeur-driven car should be prepared to pay the driver’s meals. The cost of hiring a driver in Marawi City ranges from P700.00 to P1200.00 for ten hours a day, including the car rental. It might be advisable for the foreign traveler to get help from a Maranao friend or from the Provincial Information Office.

If the tourist wishes to travel by sea, there are expected ferry routes in Iligan City to and fro Metro Manila. The WG&A Super Ferries provides regular service between Iligan City and Metro Manila, while the Negros Navigation provides service between Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Cebu City and Metro Manila. Temporary entry is allowed for private cars with proper documentation belonging to all visitors to Iligan City arriving by ferry.

Land Area and Classification

The province has a total land area of 12, 061.82 square kilometers with an estimate of 36,687 hectares of water area composed of useful lakes and swamps. The municipality of Bubong occupies the biggest land area of 798.50 square kilometers while the municipality of Sultan Domalondong has the smallest land area of 51.35 square kilometers.

Soil type of the province varies from loam to upland soil types. The loam type is suitable for rice and corn production while upland soil is limited to forestlands. Seasonal and permanent crops like fruit-bearing and trees find propagation in sandy loam soil.

The total land area of Lanao del Sur is classified as forestland which is classified further into production forest, and agriculture constitute 2,540.7 square kilometers, and alienable and disposable land which includes production areas, protection areas and built-up areas have a total area of 1,331.00 square kilometers.

Climate

The thick and lush forest surrounding the province provides a natural shield against typhoons and floods. Lying hundreds of meters below sea level, the province has a cool temperature, which dwindles between 16.0 to 22.0°C adding to its tourism potential during summers. The lowest recorded temperature was 12° C.

Mostly sunny days can be expected from March to May. Monsoon rains usually begin around the mid of June and last until mid-to-late of October. November to February is cold months. During these months, four or five days of awfully cold weather are often followed by a few warmer days.

Demography

As of May 2000, the population of the province was recorded at  668,467 (25.6 of the total population of ARMM) with an annual growth of 3.42%. The literacy rate of the Maranao is 79.76%, the highest among the ARMM provinces.

The NSO has not come yet of the census for urban and rural population except for the projection but the available record of the PPDO shows that for the past ten years from 1989 to 1990 population growth in urban areas including Marawi City being the highly urbanized among the municipalities have been projected at 91.98% or 124,535 increase as of 2002. Rural population had an estimate of 50.55% or 234,257 growth in the same year.

Employment

Lanao del Sur is a province less traveled by merchants from its suburbs but is seen as one great opportunity to do business upon discovery. Lanao del Sur enjoys a relaxing setting amidst unfounded stories of instability. It is a fabled community of cunning traders chasing after the sun in various business engagements.

The employment rate of the province posted at 50.98 of the total workforce or 28.11% of the total population. In 2000, NSCB indicated that the labor and employment of Lanao del Sur ranked 56 and 19 respectively in the entire region.