Political Divisions
The island group of Mindanao is an arbitrary grouping of islands in the Southern Philippines which encompasses six administrative regions. These regions are further subdivided into 26 provinces, of which only four are not on Mindanao island itself. Some of the areas are semi-autonomous Muslim areas. The island group includes the Sulu Archipelago to the southwest, which consists of the major islands of Basilan, Jolo, and Tawi-Tawi, plus outlying islands in other areas such as Camiguin, Dinagat, Siargao, Samal.
The six regions are:
| Administrative region | Area (km²) | Population 2010 Census | Population density (/km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zamboanga Peninsula | 16,823 | 3,407,353 | 202.54 |
| Northern Mindanao | 20,132 | 4,297,323 | 213.50 |
| Davao Region | 20,244 | 4,468,563 | 220.74 |
| SOCCSKSARGEN | 22,466 | 4,109,571 | 182.92 |
| Caraga | 21,471 | 2,429,224 | 113.14 |
| ARMM* | 26,974 | 3,256,140 | 120.71 |
| Mindanao (Group) | 128,110 | 25,375,527 | 198.10 |
Mindanao is composed of 26 provinces, each headed by a Governor. A governor is elected by popular vote and can serve a maximum of three terms consisting of three years each.
As for representation in the Philippine Congress, Mindanao is represented by 46 Congressmen elected in the same manner as the governors.
Read more about this topic: Mindanao
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