Payao

Payao is a municipality in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines. It is a local government unit, not a commercial brand or company. The municipality was established on November 11, 1977, by Presidential Decree No. 1238, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, separating thirteen barangays from Siay, which was then part of Zamboanga del Sur. Payao was designated as the seat of government. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 33,156 people. The municipality is politically subdivided into 28 barangays. It is a coastal municipality, and its official website provides information about its history, mission and vision, and local governance. Payao has been involved in a territorial dispute with the neighboring municipality of Imelda over Barangay Guintolan, which was resolved by the Supreme Court in 2021 in favor of Imelda. As a government entity, Payao does not operate as a commercial brand, but it serves as the local government for its residents, providing essential public services and promoting local development.

The municipality of Payao was established on November 11, 1977, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1238 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos. It was created from thirteen barangays that were separated from the municipality of Siay, which was then part of Zamboanga del Sur. Payao was designated as the seat of government. The creation of Payao was part of a broader wave of municipal creations during the Marcos administration. In 1987, a territorial dispute arose with the neighboring municipality of Imelda over Barangay Guintolan, which was situated between the two municipalities. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Sur issued resolutions approving the transfer of Guintolan to Imelda, but Payao filed a petition for nullification, which was granted by the Pagadian Regional Trial Court Branch 19 on November 18, 1987. Imelda later filed two petitions for mandamus against Payao; the first was dismissed in 2001, but the second was granted by the Ipil Regional Trial Court Branch 24 in 2015. Payao lost its appeals before the Court of Appeals in 2018 and the Supreme Court on June 28, 2021, finalizing the transfer of Guintolan to Imelda. Throughout its history, Payao has developed as a coastal municipality with a population of 33,156 as of the 2024 census, and it continues to function as a local government unit providing services to its 28 barangays.

• Established as a municipality by Presidential Decree No. 1238 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos.

• Territorial dispute with Imelda over Barangay Guintolan begins; Payao files petition for nullification.

• Pagadian RTC Branch 19 grants Payao's petition, nullifying the transfer of Guintolan to Imelda.

• Imelda's first petition for mandamus against Payao dismissed by Pagadian RTC Branch 21.

• Imelda's second petition for mandamus granted by Ipil RTC Branch 24.

• Court of Appeals rules against Payao in the territorial dispute.

• Supreme Court rules against Payao, finalizing Guintolan's transfer to Imelda.

1. 1Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay | The Official Website Of Payao, Zamboanga Sibugaypayaosibugay.gov.ph
2. 2History | Payao, Zamboanga Sibugaypayaosibugay.gov.ph
3. 3About Us | Payao, Zamboanga Sibugaypayaosibugay.gov.ph
4. 4Mission & Vision | Payao, Zamboanga Sibugaypayaosibugay.gov.ph
5. 5Payao - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org