AThe region has a new province — Zamboanga Sibugay.

Voters from 44 municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City, voted in favor of the creation of Zamboanga Sibugay separate from Zamboanga del Sur during the plebiscite last week..

Lawyer Helen Flores Aguila, Commission on Elections regional director, announced that out of 200,000 voters registered in the different towns, 141,35 voted Yes against 60,332 who voted No.

The author of the bill creating the new province, Rep. George Hoffer of the third district of Zamboanga del Sur, said Zamboanga Sibugay is now a new province.

"I sincerely thank the people for supporting the creation of the new province," Hoffer said in a radio interview adding that it was indeed a smooth, peaceful and orderly conduct of plebiscite.

Hoffer said the victory of the Yes votes will enable local candidates to file their certificates of candidacy for the position of governor, vice governor and board members for the new province before the Feb. 28 deadline.

The new province will comprise 16 municipalities, all belonging to the third district of Zamboanga del Sur, with Ipil as its capital town.

Sibugay refers to the vast track of land in Sibugay valley, also considered as the province’s rice granary.

President Arroyo declared Friday a non-working holiday to allow residents to cast their votes in the plebiscite.—Hader Glang