AUTONOMOUS REGION INMUSLIMMINDANAO

A R M M

Created by virtue of Republic Act 6734 otherwise known as the Organic Act of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which was signed into law by then President Corazon C. Aquino on August 1, 1989 and ratified through a plebiscite in November 19, 1989.

It was originally composed of the four (4) provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

The region was strengthened and expanded through the passage of Republic Act 9054 in 2001 as an offshoot of the signing of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).The plebiscite was conducted on September 2001 and resulted to the inclusion of the province of Basilan and Marawi City in the area of autonomous region.

ARMM is home of 4.1 million population as of 2007 and has a total land area of 27,581.79 square kilometers, mostly devoted to agriculture.

The economy of the region is dominantly agriculture and fishery and most of the people are fisherfolks and farmers. Some of them are engaged in small and medium entrepreneurship and few industries, mostly in the processing of agricultural outputs like starch manufacturing.

The region has per capita gross regional domestic product of only P3,433.00 in 2005, which is 75.8 percent lower than the national average of P14,186.00. It is the lowest compared to the other regions in the country.

It is the country's poorest region, where average annual income was just P89,000 pesos in 2006, less than 1/3 of Metro Manila level.

GEOGRAPHY

The ARMM spans two geographical areas: Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao (except Cotabato City) in south westernMindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan (except Isabela City), Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in theSulu Archipelago. The region covers a total of 12,288km

The ARMM is politically subdivided into five (5) provinces, two (2) component cities, one hundred eighteen (118) municipalities and two thousand four hundred fifty nine (2,459) barangays.

HISTORY

For the most part ofPhilippines' history, the region and most ofMindanaohas been a separate territory, which enabled it to develop its own culture and identity. The region has been the traditional homeland ofMuslim Filipinossince the 15th century, even before the arrival of theSpanishwho began to colonize most of thePhilippinesin 1565.Muslimmissionaries arrived inTawi-Tawiin 1380 and started the conversion of the native population toIslam. In 1457, theSultanate of Suluwas founded, and not long after that the sultanates of MaguindanaoandBuayanwere also established. At the time when most of thePhilippineswas underSpanish rule.

Thesesultanates maintained their independence and regularly challenged Spanish domination of thePhilippinesby conducting raids on Spanish coastal towns in the north and repulsing repeated Spanish incursions in their territory. It was not until the last quarter of the 19th century that the Sultanate of Sulu formally recognized Spanishsovereignty, but these areas remained loosely controlled by the Spanish as their sovereignty was limited to military stations and garrisons and pockets of civilian settlements in Zamboanga andCotabato,until they had to abandon the region as a consequence of their defeat in theSpanish-American War.

SEALPROVINCECAPITALPOPULATION (2010)Area (km)Pop. density (per km)BasilanIsabelaCity293,2221,994.1147.0Lanao del SurMarawi933,26012,051.977.4MaguindanaoShariff Aguak944,7187,142.0132.2SuluJolo719,2902,135.3336.4Tawi-TawiBongao366,5503,426.6107.0

BASILAN

Basilan is home to three main ethnic groups, the indigenousYakans and the later-arrivingTausugsandChavacanos. The Yakans and Tausugs are predominantly Muslim, while theChavacanosare mainly Christian. There are also a number of smaller groups. Although the official languages areFilipinoandEnglish, the major language is Yakan, but other languages are well represented, including Tausug, Samal, andZamboangueo Chavacano

GEOGRAPHY

Basilan is located between latitudes 615' and 700', and longitudes 12115' and 12230'. The island is bordered by theBasilan Straitto the north, theSulu Seato the northwest and west, theMoro Gulfto the northeast, and theCelebes Seato the south, southeast and east. It is one of the 7,107 islands that make up the Philippine archipelago.

PROVINCE OF LANAO DEL SUR

Lanao del Sur is aprovinceof thePhilippineslocated in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(ARMM). The capital is theIslamic City of Marawiand it bordersLanao del Norteto the north,Bukidnonto the east, and MaguindanaoandCotabatoto the south. To the southwest liesIllana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf. Found in the interior of Lanao del Sur isLanao Lake, the largest lake in Mindanao.

SULTANATE OF LANAO

Lanao comes from the wordranao, meaning "lake." Lanao centers on the basin ofLake Lanao; thus, it is the land of the Maranaos, the "people of the lake."Lanao is the seat of theSultanate of Lanao.When the Spaniards first explored Lanao in 1689, they found a well-settled community named Dansalan at the lake's northern end. Dansalan became a municipality in 1907 and a city in 1940

JOINING THE ARMM

In a 1989 plebiscite, Lanao del Sur voted to join theAutonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao(ARMM), but Marawi City elected to remain outside ARMM. It later joined ARMM in 2001 following the plebiscite that sought to expand the autonomous region.

TAWI-TAWI

is an islandprovinceof thePhilippineslocated in theAutonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(ARMM). The capitals of Tawi-Tawi areBongaoandPanglimaSugala. The province is the southernmost of the country sharing sea borders with the Malaysian State ofSabahand the IndonesianNorth Kalimantanprovince. To the northeast lies the province ofSuluand to the west isSabahinMalaysia. Tawi-Tawi also covers some islands in theSulu Seato the northwest, theCagayan de Tawi-Tawi Islandand theTurtle Islands, just 20 kilometers away from Sabah.

Tawi-Tawi was previously part of the province ofSulu. On September 11, 1973, pursuant toPresidential Decree No. 302, the new province of Tawi-Tawi was officially created, separate from Sulu. The seat of the provincial government was established inBongao.The name of Tawi-Tawi is a projection of theMalay word"jauh" meaning "far." Prehistoric travelers from the Asian mainland would repeat the word as "jaui-jaui" to mean "far away" because of the distance of the islands from the continent of Asia. The word "Tawi-Tawi" was picked up to later become the official name of the province.

ECONOMY

Agriculture, fishing, and agar-agar farming are the leading source of livelihood of the people of Tawi-Tawi, with quite a number engaged in the barter trade business. Copra is the top agricultural product, followed by root crops, fruits, and vegetables

MAGUINDANAO

Maguindanaois aprovinceof thePhilippineslocated in theAutonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(ARMM). Its capital isShariffAguak. It bordersLanao del Surto the north,Cotabatoto the east, andSultan Kudaratto the south

GOVERNMENT

Maguindanao is divided intotwo congressional districts, which elect members to theHouse of Representatives. For the brief period that the province ofShariff Kabunsuanexisted, Maguindanao became a lone-district province. Since the appointment of a new set of provincial officials for the reunified province of Maguindanao by the ARMM Governor in January 2009.

The provincial government has reverted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan setup (coterminous with the restored 1st and 2nd Congressional districts of Maguindanao) from before Shariff Kabunsuan was created.Having elected to join theAutonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(ARMM), Maguindanao also sends six representatives (three per district) to theARMM Regional Legislative Assemblythat convenes in Cotabato City.

2009 ELECTION VIOLENCEOn November 23, 2009, a 2010 gubernatorial election caravan supportingEsmael Mangudadatu,vice mayorofBuluan, was attacked.Fifty-seven people were killed, including Mangudadatu's wife and sisters, supporters, local journalists, and bystanders.On December 4, 2009 a number of homes belonging to the Ampatuan political family were raided in connection with the massacre.

SULU

is an autonomous islandprovinceof thePhilippineslocated in theAutonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(ARMM). Its capital isJoloand occupies the middle group of islands of theSulu Archipelago, betweenBasilanandTawi-Tawi.

HISTORY

The peaceful advent ofIslamaround 1138 through merchants and traders had a distinct influence onSoutheast Asia. The coming ofArabs,Persiansand otherMuslimspaved the way for the arrival of religious missionaries, traders, scholars and travelers to Sulu andMindanaoin the 12th century.

ECONOMY

The province of Sulu is predominantly agricultural with farming and fishing as its main livelihood activities. Its fertile soil and ideal climate can grow a variety of crops such asabaca,coconuts,oranges, andlanzonesas well as exotic fruits seldom found elsewhere in the country such asdurianandmangosteen.

Fishing is the most important industry since theSulu Seais one of the richest fishing grounds in the country. The province also have an extensivepearlindustry.Pearlsare extensively gathered and apearl farmis established at Marungas Island. The backs ofsea turtlesare made into beautiful trays and combs. During breaks from fishing, the people build boats and weave mats. Other industries include coffeeprocessing and fruit preservation.

Tourist spots of ARMM

Houses on Stilts

A typical fishermens village at Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi. The Sama and Tausug houses are built on stilts.

Are anindigenousethnic groupofMaritime Southeast Asia. Bajau continue to live a seaborne lifestyle.

Bajau Kids

Benolen Hot Spring

Ligawasan Marsh

Ligawasan Marsh is the largest swamp and marsh area in Mindanao and one of the largest in the Philippines.

Seit Lake, Panamao, Sulu

Bunbun Beach

Powdery white beach sand, pristine waters and a breathtaking view at Bunbun Beach, Patikul, Sulu.

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