Malangas
Malangas, officially the Municipality of Malangas ; Zamboangueño/Chavacano: Municipio de Malangas, is a municipality in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 32,022 people.
The municipality is generally rolling near the shorelines and mountainous in the hinterland with some patches of flat land located within the mangroves near the shorelines. It borders Buug to the north-east; Diplahan to the north-west; Imelda to the west; Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur, to the east; and Alicia to the south.
Malangas is the site of coal mining in Western Mindanao area, operated by the Philippine National Oil Company - Exploration Corporation. The coalmine is one of the largest in the country. Its town center nests in a harbor in Dumanquilas Bay, boasts of its twin ports, one for coal, the other for passengers.
Etymology
The name Malangas got its name from a sitio later named Malangas Gamay, probably of Spanish origin. Though the exact origin of “Malangas” is unclear, the word itself might have Spanish origins, probably taken from the word “Malanga” which means “Taro” in English, as the natives of Malangas might have been planting this crops during the time when the Spaniards paid them a visit.History
Malangas is one of the oldest municipality of its former province, Zamboanga del Sur.The municipality was created through Republic Act No. 654, issued on June 16, 1951, during the leadership of President Elpidio Quirino, upon separation of twenty barrios from Margosatubig in the old province of Zamboanga.
After the partition of Zamboanga, Malangas became part of Zamboanga del Sur, and its territory was later reduced. In 1956, six barrios and sitios, along with parts of Kabasalan, were separated to establish Siay.
In 1977, Imelda was created, constituting seven barangays, including Sta. Fe which would be the seat of government in the newly-created municipality, detached from Malangas, along with parts of Siay and Alicia.
A booming coal town during the 1900s, and the mother town of various towns namely Buug, Diplahan, Imelda, part of Siay in Zamboanga Sibugay and the towns of Bayog and Kumalarang in Zamboanga del Sur.
For much of its modern history, from the 70's up until the mid 2010's, Malangas was governed by the Tura political family/clan. Starting with strongman Mayor Cecilio G. Tura, whose no-nonsense approach to crime and injustice endeared him deeply to his constituents. He was followed by his politically savvy daughter Mayor Denia Tura-Tapodoc, who also served as Board Member in the undivided province of Zamboanga del Sur. After suffering a setback when she lost the vice-gubernatorial bid in the early 90s, she would run and return as Mayor for most of the 90s until 2001. Another daughter would take the mantle in 2001 when Mayor Cecille L. Tura won her first term as Mayor of Malangas. She would serve as Mayor until 2010. Then as vice-mayor until 2013.
Geography
The town is Located on the south-eastern tip of Zamboanga Sibugay province. It is bounded on the east by Dumanquilas Bay and south by the Celebes Sea. The total distance from Manila to Malangas, Philippines is. This is equivalent to 792 kilometers or. It is two and a half hours away from Pagadian city, 45 minutes drive from the Provincial capital, and 133 kilometers away from the city of Zamboanga.Malangas also includes the island of Muyong, having endowed with white sand beaches, and other of uninhabited islands near the shorelines. Mainland area are steeply sloping terrain of hills and mountains. Due to its topography and elevation the town do not experience flooding.
Climate
The Municipality of Malangas enjoys a location that is free from the typhoon belt area. March to May is hot and dry, with temperature at, while in June to October is rainy, and November to February is cool, with temperatures ranging from. Average humidity year round is 77%.Barangays
Malangas is politically subdivided into 25 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.- Bacao
- Basakbawang
- Bontong
- Camanga
- Candiis
- Catituan
- Dansulao
- Del Pilar
- Guilawa
- Kigay
- La Dicha
- Lipacan
- Logpond
- Malongon
- Molom
- Mabini
- Overland
- Palalian
- Payag
- Poblacion
- Rebocon
- San Vicente
- Sinusayan
- Tackling
- Tigabon
Demographics
The large majority of the population of Malangas is Roman Catholic. Other religions represented are Protestant, and Islam.
Language
The Main language of Malangas is Bisaya. Locals can also speak well in Tagalog and English.English is widely used in education and understood. Other languages of the Philippines are also spoken, mostly between family members, relatives, or neighbors belonging to the same ethnic group. Among these languages, the most spoken include Chavacano languages, Maguindanaon, Tausug and the Subanen.
Economy
Coal mining has been in operation in Malangas since the early 1930s, which strengthens the local economy as well as that of the entire province Zamboanga Sibugay. In 1938, the Malangas Coal Reservation was established. Although the scale of the present operations is relatively modest, the production is of considerable national significance. There are relatively large deposits of coal and this estimates to contain nearly 10 million tons of coal some of which is of coking quality - a small quantity to be sure, but one that gains added significance in light of the general overall shortage of mineral fuels in the Philippines. The present production of Malangas coal is being shipped to the Iligan Industrial area.The rest of Malangas is still heavily dependent on agriculture and aquaculture, while in the coastal areas there is also commercial fishing.
Manufacturing:
- Rice and Corn Milling
- Coffee Milling
Coal mining
In the year 1995, a worst tragedy happened when a huge methane gas explosion ripped through a coal mine tunnel in Malangas town, killing more than 100 people. The blast set off a fireball, which swept through nine kilometers of mines, and setting off other explosives which had been stockpiled inside the tunnel. Ten years later, six miners were killed when a coal tunnel collapsed in Diplahan town.
News about the coal mine in Malangas has been rumored that PNOC-EC may sell mine to San Miguel Corp.
According to the news, the Philippine National Oil Company - Exploration Corp. is in talks with diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. to sell a coal mine in Mindanao and this is probably in Zamboanga Peninsula where Malangas is located. For 2009, total coal production in Malangas amounted to 91,440 metric tons, a decrease from the 2008 output of 110, 549 metric tons due to major repair and rehabilitation “conducted immediately upon takeover of the mines.” Today, Mining operators are still operating in the coal reservation of the town.
Tourism
Malangas is endowed with several islets that are ideal for resort development. One of these is Isla Muyong, comparable to Buluan island of Ipil. One characteristic that they have in common is their white sand beaches. Others are also sprawled in some of the town's coastline.The most notable beach in Malangas is the Municipal Government owned beach resort, located in Bunker, the site of the town's coal port. Many people who live in the nearby towns like it because of the proximity of the place.
Government
Local government
The local council is administered by the mayor, with the assistance of the vice mayor. There is only one representative Sangguniang Kabataan and Association of Barangay Captains.Malangas has been administered by elected and appointed officials since July 23, 1951, with a strong Mayor-council government.