Creation of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur

May 22, 1959

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2228

AN ACT TO CREATE THE PROVINCES OF LANAO DEL NORTE AND LANAO DEL SUR

SECTION 1. The Province of Lanao is hereby divided into two provinces, one to be known as Lanao del Norte and the other as Lanao del Sur. cd

SECTION 2. The Province of Lanao del Norte shall consist of that portion of the present Province of Lanao which comprises the municipalities of Baloi, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod, Baroy, Lala, Kapatagan and Caromatan and the municipal districts of Matungao, Pantao-Ragat, Munai, Tangcal and Nunungan.

SECTION 3. The Province of Lanao del Sur shall consists of the other portion of the present Province of Lanao comprising the Municipality of Malabang and the municipal districts of Pualas, Tatarikan, Tubaran, Binidayan, Bayang, Ganassi, Butig, Lumbatan, Masiu, Madamba, Madalum, Bacolod-Grande, Tugaya, Balindog, Marantao, Saguiaran, Kapai, Wao, Ramain, Babong, Molundo, Taraka, Lumba-a-Bayabao, Poon-a-Bayabao and Tamparan.

SECTION 4. The capital of Lanao del Norte shall be the City of Iligan and that of Lanao del Sur shall be the City of Marawi. cdt

SECTION 5. Except as hereinafter provided, all provisions of law now or hereafter applicable to the regular provinces shall be applicable to the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur and the qualified electors of the City of Iligan shall continue to vote for Provincial Governor and members of the Provincial Board for the Province of Lanao del Norte.

SECTION 6. The present elective provincial officers of Lanao shall, until their successors shall have been elected and shall have qualified, perform their respective duties as such officers in either of the two provinces herein created which they shall individually choose within thirty days from the date of the approval of this Act: Provided, That they shall continue to receive the salaries they are receiving at the time of the approval of this Act until a new readjustment of salaries in accordance with existing law. Such elective officers as may be necessary to fill vacancies in either of the said provinces shall for the time being be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments and shall hold office until their successors shall have been elected in the election for provincial and municipal officials following the approval of this Act, and shall have qualified.

SECTION 7. The present appointive provincial officers and employees of Lanao shall likewise perform their respective duties as such in either of the two provinces herein created which they shall individually choose within thirty days from the date of the approval hereof: Provided, That they shall continue to receive the salaries they are receiving at the time of the approval of this Act until the new readjustment of salaries in accordance with existing law. Such appointive officers and employees as may be necessary to organize, or to complete, the government personnel of either province shall be appointed as provided by law.

SECTION 8. The provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur shall each have one Representative: Provided, That the present Representative of the Province of Lanao shall, during his term of office as such, be the Representative for the Province of Lanao del Norte: Provided, further, That he shall likewise be the Representative for the Province of Lanao del Sur until a Representative for the latter province shall have been elected in the next general election for national officials. acd

SECTION 9. Upon effectivity of this Act, the obligations, funds, assets and other properties of the present Province of Lanao shall be divided equitably between the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Auditor General.

SECTION 10. The two new provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur shall be considered to have been formally established upon proclamation by the President of the Philippines.

SECTION 11. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: May 22, 1959. cdt

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 55, No. 28, p. 5177 on July 13, 1959