Zamboanga Sibugay is new province

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Residents ratified in a plebiscite last Thursday a law creating the province of Zamboanga-Sibugay from three districts of Zamboanga del Sur.

Lawyer Helen Aguila-Flores, Commission on Elections regional director, told reporters yesterday that 141,035 out of 201,367 voters favored the law, while 60,332 wanted to remain within Zamboanga del Sur.

Flores said the towns of Buug, Diplahan, Malangas, Imelda, Alicia, Mabuhay, Olulanga, Talusan, Payao, Siay, Kabasalan, Naga, Ipil, Tilay, R.T. Lim and Tungawan will comprise Zamboanga-Sibugay.

Zamboanga del Sur third district Rep. George Hoffer, who authored the bill creating Zam-boanga-Sibugay, said the new province would usher in the development of "neglected areas" in Zamboanga del Sur. — Roel Pareño