Zamboanga Sibugay

Zamboanga Sibugay is a province located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao, established in 2001 from the third district of Zamboanga del Sur. Its capital and largest municipality is Ipil. The province borders Zamboanga del Norte to the north, Zamboanga del Sur to the east, and Zamboanga City to the southwest, with Sibuguey Bay of the Moro Gulf to its south. Zamboanga Sibugay is predominantly agricultural, with vast lands dedicated to crops, and a significant coastal area that supports its fisheries sector. While it’s the 79th province created in the Philippines, it is gaining recognition for its natural resources and potential for agri-fishery development.

Agricultural Sector

Agriculture is the primary livelihood for the majority of Zamboanga Sibugay’s residents, particularly in rural areas. The province is highly reliant on its land resources, with farming activities employing a significant portion of the population. Coconut is the top agricultural product, followed by rice, corn, banana, and mango. Zamboanga Sibugay is also a notable area for rubber production. While the sector faces challenges common to agricultural regions, such as climate change impacts and the need for modernization, efforts are being made to enhance productivity. For instance, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has provided floating seaweed dryers to farmers’ associations, indicating a focus on value-added products and improving farming practices.

Fisheries Sector

The fisheries sector is a crucial part of Zamboanga Sibugay’s economy, especially given its longest coastline in Mindanao and diverse marine life. Sibuguey Bay is a major fishing ground for the province. While the Zamboanga Peninsula as a whole is a top commercial fish producer, the region has seen some declines in municipal fisheries and aquaculture recently. However, specific efforts are being made to boost the sector in Zamboanga Sibugay. Seaweed farming is a significant activity in coastal communities like Barangay Magdaup in Ipil, with government agencies supporting seaweed growers to improve productivity. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is actively involved in providing aid to fisherfolk, aiming to enhance fishing efficiency and boost incomes.

Poverty Situation

Zamboanga Sibugay faces significant poverty challenges. According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s “Listahanan 3” assessment from 2022, Zamboanga Sibugay had the second-highest poverty magnitude in the Zamboanga Peninsula region, with approximately 50.21% of its households identified as poor. This indicates that about half of the households in the province live below the poverty line. In 2023, the Zamboanga Peninsula region had the highest poverty incidence among the country’s regions at 24.4%, and Zamboanga Sibugay contributes significantly to this regional figure. The high poverty rate underscores the need for continued and intensified interventions to improve basic services, economic opportunities, and agricultural and fishery livelihoods, particularly in its rural and coastal communities.

Project Profile

DA

The DA (Department of Agriculture) SAAD (Special Area for Agricultural Development) program is actively implementing projects in Zamboanga Sibugay to address poverty among farmers. As part of SAAD Phase 2, the program focuses on 5th and 6th class municipalities within the poverty threshold. In May 2025, DA-SAAD conducted training on project management and values formation for newly identified farmers’ associations (FAs) in Zamboanga Sibugay (along with other provinces in Zamboanga Peninsula). Participating groups from Zamboanga Sibugay included Kahayagan FA from Olutanga, Aurora FA from Talusan, Sto. Niño FA from Mabuhay, and Canaan FA from Imelda. This training aims to strengthen their organizational capacity and prepare them to receive and effectively manage livelihood support for agricultural development.

Year CoveredMunicipalityBarangayProjectAssociationMembersInput Amount
2023ImeldaIsrael (Balian Israel)Goat Production ProjectIsrael Fa251,619,000.00
2023MabuhaySan RoqueCattle ProductionSan Roque Fa251,326,000.00
2023OlutangaMatimCattle ProductionMatim Fa251,179,000.00
2023TalusanKasigpitanProvision of Farm Machineries for Rice ProductionKasigpitan Fa251,150,000.00
2024IMELDABALUNGISANLayer Chicken Egg ProductionBolunguisan Saad Fa251,534,000.00
2024IMELDAIsrael (Balian Israel)Support to Goat Production integrated with High Value Crop ProductionIsrael Fa251,133,000.00
2024MABUHAYBAGONG SILANGBanana production Integrated with LivestocksBagong Silang Fa251,460,000.00
2024MABUHAYSAN ROQUESupport for Cattle Production ProjectSan Roque Fa25718,000.00
2024OLUTANGAMATIMSupport for Cattle Production ProjectMatim Fa25697,000.00
2024OLUTANGAVILLAGONZALOLayer Chicken Egg ProductionVillagonzalo Makugihon Fa251,554,000.00
2024TALUSANBOLINGANLayer Chicken Egg ProductionBolingan Fa251,534,000.00
2024TALUSANKASIGPITANSupport in Integrated project on Farm machineries and Corn ProductionKasigpitan Fa251,417,500.00
2025IMELDABalungisanLAYER CHICKEN EGG PRODUCTIONBologuisan Saad Farmers Association25445,800.00
2025IMELDACANAANINTEGRATED CATTLE AND VEGETABLECanaan Farmers Association25749,720.00
2025IMELDAIsrael (Balian Israel)INTEGRATED GOAT AND HVC PRODUCTIONIsrael Farmers Association -1251,144,180.00
2025MABUHAYBAGONG SILANGINTEGRATED LAYER CHICKEN EGG AND BANANA PRODUCTIONBagong Silang Farmers Association25725,300.00
2025MABUHAYSAN ROQUEINTEGRATED CATTLE AND CORN PRODUCTION PROJECTSan Roque Farmers Association25560,000.00
2025MABUHAYSanto Niño (Caliran)LAYER CHICKEN EGG PRODUCTIONSto. Nino Farmers Association25989,200.00
2025OLUTANGAKAHAYAGANLAYER CHICKEN EGG PRODUCTIONKahayagan Farmers Association25994,000.00
2025OLUTANGAMATIMCATTLE PRODUCTIONMatim Farmers Association25743,000.00
2025OLUTANGAVILLAGONZALOLAYER CHICKEN EGG PRODUCTIONVillagonzalo Farmers Association25447,300.00
2025TALUSANAURORALAYER CHICKEN EGG PRODUCTIONAurora Farmers Association25997,500.00
2025TALUSANBOLINGANLAYER CHICKEN EGG PRODUCTIONBolingan Farmers Association25447,300.00
2025TALUSANKASIGPITANPROVISION OF FARM MACHENERIESKasigpitan Farmers Association25590,750.00
2026IMELDABalungisanSupport to Chicken Layer Egg ProductionBolunguisan Saad Fa25976,500.00
2026IMELDACANAANINTEGRATED CATTLE AND VEGETABLECanaan Farmers Association25778,400.00
2026IMELDAIsrael (Balian Israel)INTEGRATED GOAT AND HVC PRODUCTIONIsrael Farmers Association -a25417,200.00
2026MABUHAYBAGONG SILANGINTEGRATED LAYER CHICKEN EGG AND BANANA PRODUCTIONBagong Silang Farmers Association25695,200.00
2026MABUHAYSAN ROQUEINTEGRATED CATTLE AND CORN PRODUCTION PROJECTSan Roque Farmers Association25507,050.00
2026MABUHAYSanto Niño (Caliran)LAYER CHICKEN EGG PRODUCTIONSto. Nino Farmers Association251,407,500.00
2026OLUTANGAKAHAYAGANLAYER CHICKEN EGG PRODUCTIONKahayagan Livestock Farmers Association251,016,800.00
2026OLUTANGAMATIMIntegrated project on Cattle and Corn ProductionMatim Farmers Association25441,200.00
2026OLUTANGAVILLAGONZALOSupport to Chicken Layer Egg ProductionVillagonzalo Farmers Association251,006,500.00
2026TALUSANAURORASupport to Chicken Layer Egg ProductionAurora Farmers Association251,008,500.00
2026TALUSANBOLINGANSupport to Chicken Layer Egg ProductionBolingan Farmers Association25986,200.00
2026TALUSANKASIGPITANSupport to Corn Production projectKasigpitan Farmers Association25463,000.00

BFAR

The BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) SAAD (Special Area for Agricultural Development) Project is actively supporting fisherfolk in Zamboanga Sibugay as part of its Phase 2 implementation. BFAR SAAD provides various forms of livelihood assistance to enhance fish production and improve the incomes of beneficiaries. For example, in April 2024, DA-BFAR SAAD Region 9 distributed fishing gears and paraphernalia to the Talusan Badjao Fisherfolk Association in Talusan, Zamboanga Sibugay, aiming to improve their fishing efficiency and post-catch handling. The program also conducts site validations for potential aquaculture projects, such as Marine Cage Grouper (Lapu-lapu) Culture, showing a commitment to diversifying and strengthening the fisheries sector in the province. These projects emphasize empowering marginalized fisherfolk and fostering community-based enterprises.

Year CoveredMunicipalityBarangayProjectAssociationMembersInput Amount
2023TALUSANPoblacion (Talusan)Multiple Hook and Line with Motorized Boat (32 footer)Talusan Badjao Fisherfolk Association401,823,620.00
2024TALUSANPoblacion (Talusan)Grouper Culture in Cage (11m x 11m x 3m)Talusan Badjao Fisherfolk Association40673,010.00
2025TALUSANPoblacion (Talusan)Assorted Trash Fish in Support to Grouper Culture in CageTalusan Badjao Fisherfolk Association40195,000.00
2025TALUSANPoblacion (Talusan)Post-Harvest Shared Station Facility with Equipment/MaterialsTalusan Badjao Fisherfolk Association401,275,409.00