Let's Tour Mindanao

      Mindanao (Tagalog: Kamindanawan) is the second largest and southernmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country (the other two being Luzon and the Visayas), which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. Davao City is the largest city in Mindanao. Of the island's 21,968,174 population, according to the 2010 census, 10 percent is Muslim.

       Mindanao is the only area of the Philippines with a significantly large Muslim presence. Due to widespread poverty and religious differences, the island has been the site of a separatist movement by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Fighting between MILF and Philippine forces has displaced more than 100,000 people.
       
       Mindanao is considered the agricultural basin of the Philippines, where eight out of top 10 export agri-commodities come from.

Six Administrative Regions

                Mindanao is composed of 26 provinces, each headed by a governor. A governor is elected by popular vote and can serve a maximum of three terms consisting of three years each.

                As for representation in the Philippine Congress, Mindanao is represented by 46 congressmen elected in the same manner as the governors.

Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9)

                Zamboanga Peninsula, located in Western Mindanao, is an administrative region located in the Philippines. The regional center is Pagadian. The provinces and independent cities are:

• Isabela
• Zamboanga City
• Zamboanga del Norte
• Zamboanga del Sur
• Zamboanga Sibugay

Northern Mindanao (Region 10)

                Northern Mindanao is an all occupying the north-central part of Mindanao island, and the island-province of Camiguin. The regional center is Cagayan de Oro. The provinces and cities are:

• Bukidnon
• Camiguin
• Lanao del Norte with Iligan
• Misamis Occidental
• Misamis Oriental with Cagayan de Oro

Davao Region (Region 11)

                Davao Region / Southern Mindanao is one of the regions of the Philippines, located on the southeastern portion of Mindanao. The regional center is Davao City. Its provinces are:

• Compostela Valley
• Davao del Norte
• Davao Oriental
• Davao del Sur with Davao City

SOCCSKSARGEN Region (Region 12)

                SOCCSKSARGEN is a region of the Philippines, located in central Mindanao. The regional center is Koronadal. The name is an acronym that stands for the region's four provinces and one of its cities:

• South Cotabato with General Santos City
• Cotabato
• Cotabato City is a part of Maguindanao but a part of SOCCSKSARGEN Region
• Sultan Kudarat
• Sarangani Province

Caraga Region (Region 13)

                Caraga is an administrative region of the Philippines, on the northeastern portion of the island of Mindanao. The regional center is Butuan City. Its provinces are:

• Agusan del Norte with Cabadbaran City
• Agusan del Sur with Prosperidad
• Surigao del Norte with Surigao City
• Surigao del Sur with Tandag City
• Island Province of Dinagat with San Jose

Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM Region)

                Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is the region, located in the Mindanao island group of the Philippines, that is composed of predominantly Muslim provinces. The regional center is Cotabato City although it is not administratively part of the ARMM. Its provinces are:

• Basilan except Isabela
• Lanao del Sur
• Maguindanao except Cotabato
• Sulu
• Tawi-Tawi