Imelda, officially the Municipality of Imelda (Chavacano: Municipalidad de Imelda; ), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 26,020 people. The municipality is the least populous in the province and the third smallest in area.

History

The municipality was established on November 11, 1977, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1239 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, constituting a total of nineteen barangays taken from Malangas (7, including Sta. Fe which would be the seat of government), Siay (9), and Alicia (3), all then part of Zamboanga del Sur. It is named after First Lady Imelda Marcos.

Territorial dispute (Guintolan)

Issues concerning territorial jurisdiction over Barangay Guintolan led to two judicial proceedings between Imelda and Payao (also created, same day). Guintolan was situated between the municipalities, both are geographically adjacent. Residents later petitioned the transfer of the barangay from the jurisdiction of Payao to that of Imelda. In 1987, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Sur issued resolutions, unanimously approving and, with the approval of the involved municipal mayors, proclaiming that Guintolan would be under the territorial jurisdiction of Imelda. However, on November 18, 1987, the Pagadian Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 19 nullified the transfer upon granting a petition filed by Payao, which questioned the provincial board's authority to do so. Imelda, seeking to regain Guintolan, later twice filed Petitions for Mandamus. The first was filed against Payao and provincial officials of Zamboanga del Sur before Pagadian RTC Branch 21, which was dismissed in August 15, 2001. The second was filed against Payao before Ipil RTC Branch 24. (In 2000, Zamboanga Sibugay had been created, separating portions of Zamboanga del Sur.) In 2006, the Sangguniang Bayan of Imelda requested various government agencies for the immediate transfer of Guintolan to its territorial jurisdiction. The provincial government of Zamboanga Sibugay later assessed the matter as a boundary dispute. The latter petition was granted on April 1, 2015. The decision was affirmed, both by the Court of Appeals on February 28, 2018, and eventually, by the Supreme Court on June 28, 2021.

Geography

Barangays

Imelda is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

Economy