Lanao del Norte | |
|---|---|
 .jpg)  .jpg) (from top: left to right)Maria Cristina Falls, Provincial Capitol,Downtown Iligan,Port of Mukas in Kolambugan and Iligan Poblacion | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nicknames: "The Land of Beauty and Bounty" "Motocross Capital of the Philippines"[1] | |
| Anthem: "Himno ng Lanao del Norte" | |
 Location in the Philippines | |
OpenStreetMap  | |
| Coordinates:8°02′N124°00′E / 8.03°N 124°E /8.03; 124 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Northern Mindanao |
| Founded | May 22, 1959 |
| Capital | Tubod |
| Largest city | Iligan |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo (Lakas) |
| • Vice Governor | Allan Lim (Lakas) |
| • Legislature | Lanao del Norte Provincial Board |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,354.16 km2 (1,295.05 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 40th out of 81 |
| (excluding Iligan which is the First district) | |
| Highest elevation | 1,535 m (5,036 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 761,725 |
| • Rank | 42nd out of 81 |
| • Density | 227.099/km2 (588.183/sq mi) |
| • Rank | 46th out of 81 |
| (excluding Iligan) | |
| Demonym | North Lanaonon |
| Divisions | |
| • Independent cities | 1
|
| • Component cities | 0 |
| • Municipalities | |
| • Barangays |
|
| • Districts | |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PHT) |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)63 |
| ISO 3166 code | PH-LAN |
| Spoken languages | |
| Income classification | 1st class |
| Website | www |
Lanao del Norte (Cebuano:Amihanang Lanao;Filipino:Hilagang Lanao;Maranao:Pangotaraan Ranao), officially theProvince of Lanao del Norte, is aprovince in the Philippines located in theNorthern Mindanaoregion. Its capital isTubod.
The province bordersLanao del Sur to the southeast,Zamboanga del Sur to the west,Illana Bay to the southwest,Iligan Bay to the north,Misamis Oriental to the northeast, and is separated fromMisamis Occidental byPanguil Bay to the northwest. According to the 2020 census, the province has a total population of 722,902 people.[3]
Situated within Lanao del Norte is the highly urbanized city ofIligan, which is governed independently from the province and also the largest city in both land area and population.
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The province ofLanao existed from 1914 until 1959. In 1959, Republic Act No. 222 was passed by the Philippine Congress, partitioning Lanao into two provinces: Lanao del Norte andLanao del Sur.[4] The new province was inaugurated on July 4, withIligan City as its capital. Back in the Spanish period, Iligan was founded by thousands of Visayan immigrants and garrisoned by a hundred Spanish soldiers.[5]
The province then consisted of the municipalities of Balo-i, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod, Baroy, Lala, Kapatagan, Karomatan and the following municipal districts that got converted into regular municipalities of Matungao, Pantao Ragat, Munai, Tangcal, and Nunungan.
In 1977, PresidentFerdinand E. Marcos signed Resolution No. 805, s. 1977 of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Parliamentary Bill No. 586) sponsored by Assemblyman Abdullah D. Dimaporo, into Presidential Decree 181 transferring the province's capital fromIligan City to the municipality ofTubod.
In October 1984, inaugural ceremonies were held to celebrate the occasion of the transfer of the Provincial Capitol from Poblacion, Tubod to the Don Mariano Marcos Government Center (now Governor Arsenio A. Quibranza Provincial Government Center) at Pigcarangan, in Tubod.
Despite the outbreak of the conflict of theMILF led by AbdullahCommander Bravo Goldiano Macapaar bin Sabbar and thePhilippine Army inKauswagan in March 2000, through the provincial government's effort, peace and order was restored in the province.[6][7]
In 2018, the Bangsamoro Organic Law was passed into law; this law provided for the establishment of a newBangsamoroautonomous region to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. According to this law, the six municipalities of Munai, Tagoloan, Pantar, Balo-i, Tangcal, and Nunungan would be incorporated into this new region should a majority of voters in both the affected municipality and the parent province vote in favor of inclusion of the aforementioned municipalities in the proposed autonomous region in a plebiscite.The plebiscite was held the following year.[8] A majority of voters in the affected municipalities voted in favor of inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region; however, the rest of Lanao del Norte voted strongly against,[9] and as a result, none of the six municipalities were included in the new autonomous region after the provincial government campaigned against their inclusion.[10]
Lanao del Norte is a rugged province that ranges from the coastal shorelines in the north to the high plateaus and mountains in the south. It has also diverse flora and fauna.[further explanation needed]
Lanao del Norte covers a total area of 3,346.57 square kilometres (1,292.12 sq mi)[11] occupying the southwestern section of theNorthern Mindanao region inMindanao. When Iligan is included for geographical purposes, the province's land area is 4,159.94 square kilometres (1,606.16 sq mi).[11] The province is bordered byLanao del Sur to the southeast,Zamboanga del Sur to the west,Illana Bay to the southwest,Iligan Bay to the north, andMisamis Oriental to the northeast, andPanguil Bay to the northwest.
Lanao del Norte comprises 22municipalities. The city ofIligan administers itself independently as ahighly urbanized city.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 8,272 | — |
| 1918 | 25,928 | +7.91% |
| 1939 | 99,427 | +6.61% |
| 1948 | 131,606 | +3.16% |
| 1960 | 270,603 | +6.19% |
| 1970 | 245,449 | −0.97% |
| 1975 | 262,456 | +1.35% |
| 1980 | 293,691 | +2.27% |
| 1990 | 387,524 | +2.81% |
| 1995 | 440,783 | +2.44% |
| 2000 | 473,062 | +1.53% |
| 2007 | 538,283 | +1.80% |
| 2010 | 607,917 | +4.53% |
| 2015 | 676,395 | +2.05% |
| 2020 | 722,902 | +1.41% |
| 2024 | 761,725 | +1.26% |
| (excluding Iligan) Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][13] | ||
| Language | Speakers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cebuano/Bisaya/Boholano | 601,525 | |||
| Maranao | 283,007 | |||
| Others | 43,740 | |||
The population of Lanao del Norte in the 2020 census was 722,902 people,[3] with a density of 220 inhabitants per square kilometre or 570 inhabitants per square mile. When Iligan is included for geographical purposes, the province's population is 1,019,013 people, with a density of 245 inhabitants per square kilometre (630/sq mi).
The people in Lanao del Norte are a mixture of Maranaos and Cebuanos, with someMaguindanaons,Zamboangueños,Subanens,Tausugs,Yakans, andSama-Bajaus. Historically, immigrants who came from the Christian provinces of Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon tended to settle in the northern part of Lanao while the Maranaos inhabited the south. There are also a minority of Higaonons settling in the hinterlands of Iligan.Kankanaey, an ethnic group from theCordilleras inLuzon, can also be found as a minority in the province.[16]
The Maranao had settled in the area long before the arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines. Like other groups, they possess their own culture which makes them quite unique. Their language, customs, traditions, religion, social system, costumes, music, and other features are factors that make Lanao peculiar and distinct from other Philippine provinces.
The main languages areMaranao,Cebuano, andBinukid, with the latter being the native language of majority of the citizens of the province.
| Religion | percentage | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | 47.3% | |||
| Islam | 45.5% | |||
| Other Christian, including Protestants | 6.4% | |||
| Others | 0.8% | |||
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report in 2020,Roman Catholicism makeup for 47.3% of the population of Lanao del Norte while 45.5% are adherents ofIslam.[17] Other religions include other denominations of Christianity, Buddhism and other beliefs.
The economy in Lanao del Norte is predominantly based on agriculture and fishing. Factories are mostly based in Iligan City. Lanao del Norte is the home of Agus Power plants 4-7 that stretch fromBalo-i to Iligan City. It serves major parts of power supply in Mindanao.[26][27] Tourism is also a growing economy in the province.
Salvador T. Lluch was the first Governor of Lanao del Norte. Second wasMohammad Ali Dimaporo, who ruled from January 1960 to September 1965 when he ran and won the congressional seat of the province. By operation of the law of succession, Vice Governor Arsenio A. Quibranza became the third Provincial Chief Executive of the province. By the mandate of the inhabitants, Quibranza was elected governor in 1967 and almost unanimously re-elected in 1971 and again in 1980.[28][29] When Martial Law was declared, Quibranza was arrested as ordered by President Marcos. While in prison, Vice Governor “Toto” Felix Z. Actub would succeed him as Governor
By virtue of the power and impact of thePeople Power Revolution onEDSA on February 25, 1986, local government all over the Philippines changed the political atmosphere overnight. Lanao del Norte became one among the many provinces affected by the sudden changes brought by the "Snap Election" in February 1986. Local heads of offices and employees particularly those holding political positions were removed but with the installation of PresidentCorazon Aquino as president, OIC Atty. Francisco L. Abalos became the appointed governor of the province on March 3, 1986. On February 2, 1988, Abalos was elected as governor of the province.
In the synchronized National Election of May 11, 1992, Congressman Abdullah D. Dimaporo, a legislator, economist and son of Mohammad Ali Dimaporo, was elected Provincial Governor. The Provincial government embarked on a comprehensive planning and set the groundwork for the development of the province.
In the 1998 national and local elections,Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo, wife of Governor Abdullah D. Dimaporo was elected as Provincial Governor until 2007, and from 2016 up to present.
The eldest son of former governor and now 2nd district representative Abdullah D. Dimaporo and Imelda Q. Dimaporo,Mohammad Khalid Q. Dimaporo entered the politics in the province from 2007 until 2016.[30]
Media related toLanao del Norte at Wikimedia Commons
Geographic data related toLanao del Norte atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Lanao del Norte | |
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 Province ofLanao del Norte | |
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| Highly urbanized city |
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