Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines

About Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur

The **Municipality of Labangan** is a coastal municipality located in the eastern portion of the province of **Zamboanga del Sur** in the Zamboanga Peninsula. It serves as a major gateway to the province due to its strategic location along the national highway connecting the peninsula to the rest of Mindanao. Labangan is distinctively known for hosting the **Kuta Major Cesar L. Sang-an**, the headquarters of the **1st Infantry (TABAK) Division** of the Philippine Army, which occupies a significant portion of its land area. The municipality is composed of 25 barangays and is named after the river that irrigates its vast rice fields.

Location and Access

Labangan is situated along the northern shores of **Illana Bay**. While it has a coastline, it does not host a major commercial seaport; instead, residents and businesses utilize the nearby **Pagadian City Port** for sea transport. For air travel, the **Pagadian Airport** is the primary hub. Notably, the airport’s location sits on the boundary of Pagadian City and Labangan, specifically bordering the barangay of Upper Pulacan, making air access immediate for the municipality. Public land transport is served by the Integrated Bus Terminal located in the adjacent Pagadian City.The municipality shares its borders with the following:To the North, it touches the Municipality of Midsalip, near barangays like Langapod.To the East, it shares a border with the Municipality of Tukuran, specifically along barangays Cogonan and Combo.To the South, Labangan opens up to **Illana Bay**, with coastal barangays such as Bulanit and areas near the river mouth.To the West, it is bounded by Pagadian City and the Municipality of San Pablo. The barangay of Tawagan Norte sits directly adjacent to the city’s expansion, while San Isidro shares boundaries with San Pablo.

Location of Municipality Hall

The **Labangan Municipal Hall** is located in the barangay of New Labangan (sometimes referred to as part of the Poblacion area along the highway). It is situated directly along the Maharlika Highway, ensuring easy access for constituents coming from both the coastal areas and the upland agricultural barangays.

Economy of Labangan

The economy is primarily agricultural, earning Labangan the reputation as one of the “Rice Granaries” of Zamboanga del Sur. The flatlands along the river are dedicated to intensive rice production, while corn and coconuts are grown in the rolling terrain. Several rice mills and post-harvest facilities are scattered along the highway barangays such as New Labangan and Old Labangan. Additionally, the presence of the military camp in Upper Pulacan contributes significantly to the local service economy and commerce. The town celebrates the **Araw ng Labangan** annually, which showcases its agricultural produce and cultural heritage.

Natural Resources and Rivers

The municipality is geographically defined by the **Labangan River**, a major waterway that provides crucial irrigation for the rice paddies in barangays like Langapod and Dalapang before emptying into Illana Bay. The land is rich in fertile alluvial soil suitable for wet

Municipalities in the Zamboanga Del Sur Province within Region IX (zamboanga peninsula) in the Republic of The Philippines
Aurora • Bayog • Dimataling • Dinas • Dumalinao • Dumingag • Guipos • Josefina • Kumalarang • Labangan • Lakewood • Lapuyan • Mahayag • Margosatubig • Midsalip • Molave • Pitogo • Ramon Magsaysay • San Miguel • San Pablo • Sominot • Tabina • Tambulig • Tigbao • Tukuran • Vincenzo A. Sagun
Cities in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur: Pagadian City

January 7, 2026

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The Andas carrying the Black Nazarene for January 9 Traslación features new steering wheel and reinforced underchassis to handle massive devotee crowds safely.

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3️⃣ Magnitude 6.4 quake hits off southern Philippines

USGS detects 6.4 quake off Davao Oriental coast—no tsunami threat reported, but locals feel shaking; no immediate damage confirmed.