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Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives

Quezon City, Metro Manila
as

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.2693

Introduced by the Honorable Ann K. Hofer

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

As early as in the 1960s, several bills were already filed in congress in an attempt to
divide Zamboanga del Sur into two (2) provinces such as House Bill (HB) No.17574 by the
late Representative Vincenzo Sagun, HB Nos. 341 and 8546 by Representatives Vicente M.
Cerilles and Belma Cabilao, respectively. A Batasan Parliamentary Bill has also been
sponsored by then parliament members (i.e., Antonio Ceniza, Manuel M. Espaldon, Hussien
Loong, Kalbi Tupay, and Minister Romulo Espaldon). Unfortunately, all of the aforementioned
bills remained unacted and were relegated to the recesses of the archives.

In 1993, another initiative known as the Zamboanga Occidental Movement started
which ushered a renewed political consciousness among the people of the 3rd District of
Zamboanga del Sur. Through said movement, a People’s Initiative was conducted
simultaneously with the May 1997 Barangay Elections. In this exercise, majority of the voters
signed in favor of forming a new province. It was then that Congressman George T. Hofer
sponsored HB No. 1311. He managed to push the bill in congress and notably, the Province of
‘Zamboanga Sibugay was created by virtue of Republic Act (RA) 8973 which was enacted into
law by President Joseph Estrada on November 07, 2000. On February 24, 2001, RA 8973 was
ratified through a plebiscite conducted in 44 municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian
City. Said milestone paved the way for Zamboanga Sibugay to become the 79" province of the
Philippines.

The Province of Zamboanga Sibugay, with a total land area of 3,363.22 square
kilometers, is comprised of sixteen (16) municipalities with 389 barangays. Based on 2015
Census, the total population of the province is about 633,129 inhabitants.

This bill seeks to declare February 24 of every year as a special non-working holiday
in the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay, in commemoration of its founding anniversary, to be
known as “Araw ng Sibugay.” It is but fitting and proper that the Sibugaynons be given full
opportunity to celebrate and take part in this special occasion.

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In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

HOFER
Second District, Zamboanga Sibugay


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

5693

HOUSE BILL Ni

Introduced by the Honorable ANN K. HOFER

AN ACT
DECLARING FEBRUARY 24 OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL NON-WORKING
HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, IN
COMMEMORATION OF ITS FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY, TO BE KNOWN AS
“ARAW NG SIBUGAY”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. February 24 of every year is hereby declared to be a special non-working
public holiday in the entire Province of Zamboanga Sibugay, in commemoration of its founding
anniversary, to be known as “Araw ng Sibugay.”

SEC 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

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Approved,