ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/17 January) – A group of elected officials from the three Zamboanga provinces which together with Zamboanga City compose Region 9, as well as those of Misamis Occidental in Region 10 reportedly wants the two regions reorganized by moving Misamis Occidental to Region 9 or what is presently known as the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Curiously, however, it was former Zamboanga del Norte first district Congressman Romeo Jalosjos who revealed the plan to reconfigure the two regions Monday over Radio Mindanao Network-Zamboanga.
Jalosjos said that if the plan succeeds, the reconfigured region will be known as the Western Peninsula.
He said that except those from Zamboanga del Sur the members of the group “would like to drop the word Zamboanga” as they wanted to have distinct identities.
He explained that the word Zamboanga “is deceiving and confusing a lot of people” who are from the other parts of the country.
“They don’t know how to distinguish Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte,” he added.
Jalosjos said Zamboanga Sibugay may just carry the name Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte Zanorte.
He said the governors and nine congressmen of the four provinces agreed on the decision in a recent meeting. He did not disclose the exact date of the meeting except to say that it lasted five hours and took place at the family-owned Dakak Beach Resort in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.
Jalosjos said the primary purpose of the reconfiguration is to enhance the economic development, peace and order, and tourism industry of the four provinces.[]
He said they would come up with a development master plan for the four provinces with each province having its own development goals.[]
