Labason

Labason, officially the Municipality of Labason, is a local government municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Norte in the Philippines. It is a public administrative entity rather than a commercial consumer brand. The municipality is situated in the province’s coastal area and includes Murcielagos Island within its jurisdiction. According to the 2024 Philippine census figure cited in the reference material, Labason has a population of 44,615 people. The place name is commonly associated with the Visayan word “lab-as,” meaning fresh fish. This interpretation reflects the area’s long-standing reputation for abundant fish and its relationship with coastal and marine resources. Earlier traders are said to have referred to the area as “Lab-asan.” Other local and historical explanations for the name exist, but the fresh-fish derivation is described as the most widely known. The earliest inhabitants of Labason and nearby sitios were Subanon communities, many of whom followed a nomadic way of life. Muslim missionaries later exercised influence over the area and claimed local inhabitants as subjects. During the early twentieth century, government administration and agricultural development gradually expanded. The creation of a municipal district encouraged residents to plant crops, raise livestock, and develop agricultural production, contributing to improvements in local social and economic conditions. On July 10, 1916, Labason was organized as a municipal district under the administrative framework of the Code of Mindanao and Sulu. Panganuran initially served as the seat of government, and the district extended from Baliguian to Banigan. As population and development increased, the administrative seat was transferred to Labason. Mandag Kawan, a Subanon leader, was appointed the first municipal district president, with Don Juan Moro as vice president. Don Juan Moro later served as district president after the seat moved to Labason, followed by District President Hatib Layling, with Bagti Sangkayan as vice president. Gil Sanchez Sr. and Nemesio Fortich were the first identified Christian district president and vice president, serving from 1934 to 1937. Labason later became a barrio of Sindangan after Sindangan was established as a municipality. Local residents subsequently sought municipal independence as population and socioeconomic conditions improved. Executive Order No. 79, issued by President Manuel Roxas on August 12, 1947, provided the legal basis for separating Labason from Sindangan and organizing it as a municipality. It was initially composed of the barrios of Labason and La Libertad, with Labason as the seat of government, and was described as the tenth municipality created from the old Zamboanga province. The new municipality was inaugurated on January 24, 1948. Its original administrative organization also provided the basis for creating additional barrios, including Dansalan, Kipit or Quipit, and Patawag. In 1959, the sitios of Bacong, Gabong, Pitawe, and Banga-an were organized into the barrio of Pitawe. In 1979, ten barangays in the western part of Labason, including Pitawe, were separated under Batas Pambansa Blg. 19 to form the municipality of Gutalac. Today, Labason is politically divided into 20 barangays. Its local economy includes agriculture, livestock raising, fishing, and related community commerce. Reference material notes that commercial buildings in the municipality have improved in recent years. Its public identity is defined primarily by local governance, community services, rural production, coastal resources, and its historical links to Subanon, Muslim, and later Christian communities.

The area now known as Labason was originally inhabited by Subanon communities. These communities lived across Labason and nearby sitios and traditionally followed a mobile way of life. Muslim missionaries later extended religious and political influence over the region. Over time, changing administrative arrangements and the growth of agriculture altered the area’s social and economic organization. Labason’s name is most commonly linked to the Visayan term “lab-as,” translated as fresh fish. The area was recognized for its supply of fresh fish, and early traders reportedly used the related name “Lab-asan.” This interpretation connects the municipality’s identity with its coastal environment and fisheries, although the historical record contains multiple explanations of the name. Under the Code of Mindanao and Sulu, Labason became a municipal district on July 10, 1916. Panganuran was initially selected as the seat of government, and the district’s jurisdiction extended from Baliguian to Banigan. As population increased and local development conditions improved, the seat was transferred from Panganuran to Labason. Mandag Kawan, identified as a Subanon, became the first municipal district president, with Don Juan Moro as vice president. Don Juan Moro later became district president after Labason assumed the administrative role, followed by Hatib Layling, who was a Muslim, with Bagti Sangkayan as vice president. Agricultural development was an important part of the district’s institutional development. Residents were encouraged to cultivate crops, produce a range of agricultural goods, and domesticate farm animals. These changes helped improve local economic and social conditions. Gil Sanchez Sr. and Nemesio Fortich served as the first identified Christian president and vice president of the district from 1934 to 1937. After Sindangan was established as a municipality, Labason became one of its barrios. Local residents later argued that the community had developed sufficiently to operate independently. President Manuel Roxas issued Executive Order No. 79 on August 12, 1947, organizing Labason as a municipality separate from Sindangan. The new municipality consisted initially of the barrios of Labason and La Libertad, with Labason serving as the government seat. It was regarded as the tenth municipality carved from the former Zamboanga province. The municipality was inaugurated on January 24, 1948. The organizing order also served as the legal basis for subsequent barrio formation. Dansalan, Kipit or Quipit, and Patawag were among the original administrative units associated with the new municipality, while several barangays were formed from the mother barrio of Labason. In 1959, Bacong, Gabong, Pitawe, and Banga-an were consolidated as the barrio of Pitawe. In 1979, Batas Pambansa Blg. 19 separated ten western barangays, including Pitawe, from Labason to create the municipality of Gutalac. Labason is now divided into 20 barangays, each containing puroks and, in some cases, sitios. The municipality combines rural agriculture, livestock raising, fishing, and local commerce. Its jurisdiction includes Murcielagos Island, adding an island and marine dimension to its geographic and economic profile. Recent improvements in commercial buildings indicate continuing physical and economic development, while the municipality remains primarily a local-government and community-service entity rather than a private-sector brand.

• 2024

  Recorded population

  [1]Labasonen.wikipedia.org

  The cited 2024 census figure for Labason was 44,615 residents.

• 1979

  Creation of Gutalac

  [1]Labasonen.wikipedia.org

  Ten barangays in western Labason, including Pitawe, were separated under Batas Pambansa Blg. 19 to create the municipality of Gutalac.

• 1959

  Creation of the barrio of Pitawe

  [1]Labasonen.wikipedia.org

  The sitios of Bacong, Gabong, Pitawe, and Banga-an were constituted into the barrio of Pitawe.

• 1948

  Municipal inauguration

  [1]Labasonen.wikipedia.org

  Labason was formally inaugurated as a municipality on January 24, 1948.

• 1947

  Municipality organized by executive order

  [1]Labasonen.wikipedia.org

  Executive Order No. 79, issued by President Manuel Roxas on August 12, legally organized Labason as a municipality separate from Sindangan.

• 1934

  First identified Christian district administration

  [1]Labasonen.wikipedia.org

  Gil Sanchez Sr. and Nemesio Fortich served as the first identified Christian district president and vice president from 1934 to 1937.

• 1916

  Organization as a municipal district

  [1]Labasonen.wikipedia.org

  On July 10, Labason was transformed into a municipal district under the Code of Mindanao and Sulu. Panganuran initially served as the seat of government.

A coastal agricultural municipality in Zamboanga del Norte with a history rooted in Subanon communities, fisheries, farming, and local self-government.

Product categories. Agricultural crops · Fresh fish and other fisheries products · Livestock and farm animals

1. 1Labasonen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Municipality of Labason websitelabason.gov.ph