September 19, 2001

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 36

PROVIDING FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS IN MINDANAO AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

     WHEREAS, Article X, Section 4 of the Constitution provides that the President shall exercise general supervision over local governments;   TDcAaH

     WHEREAS, the administrative regions were established to promote efficiency in the Government, accelerate social and economic development and improve public services;

     WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections, in its Resolution No. 4561 dated August 28, 2001, has declared that the majority of the voters in the Province of Basilan (excluding Isabela City) and in the City of Marawi, respectively voted for the inclusion of their province and city in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM);

     WHEREAS, in view of the inclusion of the Province of Basilan and the City of Marawi in the ARMM and in order to facilitate the supervision of local governments and the direction of the executive departments, there is an urgent need to reorganize the administrative regions in Mindanao.   IESAac

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

    SECTION 1.   Region IX is hereby reorganized to be known as Zamboanga Peninsula and shall be composed of the following provinces and cities:

a.         Provinces

i.          Zamboanga del Norte

ii.         Zamboanga del Sur

iii.       Zamboanga Sibugay

b.         Cities

i.          Dapitan City

ii.         Dipolog City

iii.       Isabela City

iv.        Pagadian City

v.         Zamboanga City

    SECTION 2.   Region X, known as Northern Mindanao, is hereby reorganized and shall be composed of the following provinces and cities:

a.         Provinces

i.          Bukidnon

ii.         Camiguin

iii.       Lanao del Norte

iv.        Misamis Occidental

v.         Misamis Oriental

b.         Cities

i.          Cagayan de Oro City

ii.         Gingoog City

iii.       Iligan City

iv.        Malaybalay City

v.         Oroquieta City

vi.        Ozamis City

vii.       Tangub City

viii.      Valencia City

     SECTION 3.   Region XI is hereby reorganized to be known as Davao Region and shall be composed of the following provinces and cities:

a.         Provinces

i.          Compostela Valley

ii.         Davao del Norte

iii.       Davao del Sur

iv.        Davao Oriental

b.         Cities

i.          Davao City

ii.         Digos City

iii.       Panabo City

iv.        Island Garden City of Samal

v.         Tagum City

     SECTION 4.   Region XII is hereby reorganized to be known as SOCCSKSARGEN and shall be composed of the following provinces and cities:

a.         Provinces

i.          North Cotabato

ii.         Sarangani

iii.       South Cotabato

iv.        Sultan Kudarat

b.         Cities

i.          Cotabato City

ii.         General Santos City

iii.       Kidapawan City

iv.        Koronadal City

v.         Tacurong City

     SECTION 5.   Pursuant to Article II, Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9054, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) shall be composed of the following provinces and city:

a.         Provinces

i.          Basilan

ii.         Lanao del Sur

iii.       Maguindanao

iv.        Sulu

v.         Tawi-tawi

b.         City of Marawi

     SECTION 6.   The Department of the Interior and Local Government is hereby directed to supervise the foregoing reorganization of the administrative regions in Mindanao and publish the new composition of said administrative regions.

     SECTION 7.   All orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

     SECTION 8.   This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon approval.   aAHTDS

City of Manila, September 19, 2001.