Molave, Zamboanga del Sur

It can also refer to the wood of Vitex cofassus and Vitex parviflora.

Molave
Municipality
Municipality of Molave
Seal
Map of Zamboanga del Sur with Molave highlighted
Molave Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 8°05′36″N 123°29′06″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Zamboanga Peninsula
Province	Zamboanga del Sur
District	1st District
Founded	June 16, 1948
Barangays	25 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Ireneo Q. Glepa
• Electorate	34,204 voters (2022)
Area
• Total	251.50 km2 (97.10 sq mi)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total	53,140
• Density	210/km2 (550/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	7023
PSGC	097319000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)62
Income class	1st municipal income class
Revenue (₱)	₱ 261.2 million (2020)
Native languages	Subanon Cebuano Chavacano Tagalog
Website	molave.gov.ph

Molave, officially the Municipality of Molave, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 53,140 people.

The name "Molave" refers to the hard, strong and resilient tree that abounds in the place during the 1950s. It was created through the efforts of Congressman Juan Alano, as a daughter municipality of Aurora by Republic Act No. 286 on June 16, 1948. Molave is located in the eastern part of the province of Zamboanga del Sur. It has a total land area of 21,685 hectares.

Molave was designated as the new capital of the province of Zamboanga when it was created on June 16, 1948. Molave served as its capital until Zamboanga's division into Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. Molave came under the Zamboanga del Sur with the town of Pagadian as its capital.

Geography

Molave is located in the north-eastern part of the Province of Zamboanga del Sur, at the foot of a verdant hill and bounded by Salug Diut River and mountain ranges that makes it free from typhoons. It is bounded by the municipalities of Tambulig in the east, Mahayag in the west, Josefina and Province of Zamboanga del Norte in the north and Ramon Magsaysay in the south. It is approximately 38 kilometres (24 mi) from its capital Pagadian City and 58 kilometres (36 mi) to Ozamiz City. It is situated at longitude 123 deg 29 min 50 sec, latitude 7 deg 5 min 50 sec and is 15 metres (49 ft) above sea level.

Topography

Molave is divided into two topographical areas. The lowland area which covers 30% of the total land area is composed of nine barangays and is situated in the east and south-west portion. It is generally flat, swampy and marshy. The upland portion which covers 70% of the total land area is hilly and mostly deforested. The terrain and slope pattern is moderately sloping to rolling with two slope variations from 10% in the lowland to 27% in the mountainous areas.

Two types of soil are found within the municipality. In the lowland areas and part of the upper barangays, the type of soil is San Miguel silt loam. It is best suited for cultivation and requires only simple and good farm management practices. Adtoyon clay loam is found in the upland areas, and can be used for grazing and diversified crops like corn, cassava, and camote.

Climate

As shown in the climatologic map of PAG-ASA, Molave is of the fourth type, where rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year. The area is a fairly warm, with an average temperature of 29.7 °C (85.5 °F).

Barangays

Molave is politically subdivided into 25 barangays.

• Alicia
• Ariosa
• Bagong Argao
• Bagong Gutlang
• Blancia
• Bogo Capalaran
• Culo
• Dalaon
• Dipolo
• Dontulan
• Gonosan
• Lower Dimalinao
• Pablo Bahinting Sr. (Lower Dimorok)
• Mabuhay
• Madasigon (Poblacion)
• Makuguihon (Poblacion)
• Maloloy-on (Poblacion)
• Miligan
• Parasan
• Rizal
• Santo Rosario
• Silangit
• Simata
• Sudlon
• Upper Dimorok
• Masakit

History

Its creation started in the early 1930s as a small patch of settlement in a marshy jungle that was originally known as Salug. The fertile land in the Salug Valley attracted more settlers from distant places of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, which made it a conglomeration of Cebuano, Boholano, Ilongo, Tagalog, Ilocano, Leyteño, Misamisnon, Surigaonon and other different Muslim and ethnic groups. However, the Subanons were known to be the early settlers of this place. Many Chinese and Pure Filipino businessmen settled in this region before World War II and prospered.

The continuous influx of people from different places made possible the rapid development of this small start-up settlement. On June 16, 1948, Molave was created into a municipality by virtue of Republic Act No. 286 authored by Cong. Juan S. Alano from its mother town Aurora.

Dr. Pelagio Blancia was the first mayor by appointment. He was defeated in the 1951 local elections and the newly elected Mayor Javier Ariosa transferred the seat of government from Camp 7 (now Barangay Blancia) to its present site.

Dr. Pelagio Blancia's only son, Dr. Ramon Blancia, Sr., was a delegate with Roseller T. Lim and Lobregat to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. He is married to Encarnacion Blancia, who came from the Ortega Clan of Negros, and also became mayor of the town.

Vice Mayor Ireneo 'Loloy' Glepa is the incumbent mayor of this town. Glepa once became the youngest and longest serving Vice Mayor of Molave. He was unopposed for two terms as a vice mayor before being elected overwhelmingly in the May 2010 election.

Demographics

Population census of Molave

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1960	38,568	—
1970	21,579	−5.64%
1975	22,363	+0.72%
1980	29,698	+5.84%
1990	36,556	+2.10%
1995	40,423	+1.90%
2000	45,082	+2.37%
2007	48,215	+0.93%
2010	48,939	+0.54%
2015	52,006	+1.16%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Economy

• Gross sales of registered firms: PHP 1,358,640,795.00
• Total capitalization of new businesses, 2015: PHP 150,000,000.00
• Growth of the total capitalization of new businesses, 2014-2015: 286.90%

The town is the hub of commerce and trade in the Salug Valley area. When the local government unit earns revenues from taxes and its public economic enterprises, this will mean more, bigger and better projects and programs for the people. Rice trading, milling and farming are the major industries in the area. Its rice supplies the Mindanao and Visayas areas, and even Metro Manila. The towns of Midsalip, Sominot, Ramon Magsaysay, Aurora, Mahayag, Josefina, Dumingag, Sergio Osmeña, Don Victoriano, Tambulig, Bonifacio, Tangub City all converge to this bustling town due to its proximity, much cheaper goods and commodities than some major cities like Ozamiz City and Pagadian City. Goldilocks and Jollibee Corporation have branches in this town. Metrobank, PNB, Landbank, First Consolidated Bank, 1st Valley Bank, LTMPC, Paglaum, RFC and Salug Valley Rural Bank are just a few of the financial establishments in this town.

Molave Glass House (MGH) is also based here and is one of the municipality's famous non-agricultural business establishments. It is owned by the Molave Glass Group of Companies of the Arapoc family. MGH is known for its affordable and quality glass, aluminum cladding supply and installation services offering excellent service for 23 years. It also sells hardware and construction supply and is located in Roxas Street. Major customers of Molave Glass are not only in the town but also in Pagadian, Dipolog, Tangub, Ozamis, Oroquieta, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Visayas and Luzon. Customers from these big cities come here just to avail of Molave Glass House's services. Its major projects have included the Laguindingan International Airport, Crown Regency Towers and Avalon Condominium in Cebu City and the Hyundai Car Showroom in Alabang, Metro Manila.

Molave Glass House has diversified in other businesses such as Furniture Arts Appliance and Samsung, selling good-quality furniture, appliances and gadgets, and SSJ Real Estate and Leasing, which handles the leasing of its commercial spaces. In March 2016, Molave Glass house ventured another business, the Courtyard Business Hotel Function Hall and Suites. It offers rooms, function halls, a 300 capacity air conditioned function hall, and rental spaces on the ground floor which includes Metrobank-Molave and Aimcoop as its tenants. The Courtyard, a mall type establishment with a grocery shop, will soon be opened.

The municipality also has other mall type establishments like Cinema Square and Juanita Enterprises. Ogis Lechon Manok is based in this town with its dressing plant located in Mabuhay, Zamboanga del Sur.

G-7 Cybercafe has its main branch here in town, with other branches in Cagayan de Oro, Pagadian City, Ozamis City, Iligan City and Cebu City.

Agriculture

The municipality is basically an agricultural community; 91.85% of the total land area is devoted to agriculture. 1,378.50 hectares of fertile land is fully irrigated and planted with rice. Other agricultural crops are corn, coconut, cassava, banana, camote and various kinds of vegetables. These are produced within the locality and marketed to neighboring towns and cities, and even reach to Cebu. There are 23 farmer cooperatives within the municipality, of which 19 are registered and four are not registered, with a total of 7,566 farmer members. However, the commerce and industry activity of the municipality is fast developing due to its strategic location making it the hub of commerce and trade of the Salug Valley area. Various large commercial and industrial establishments are sprouting within the poblacion area and attracting more investors to engage in business within the municipality.

Health

The municipality has ten existing barangay health stations, one lying-in (maternity) clinic, 26 health and nutrition posts and a municipal health center, staffed by one rural health physician, one dentist, one sanitary inspector, three nurses and 11 midwives. Further, it has three private hospitals, five private clinics, ten pharmacies and two funeral chapels.

Lumapas Hospital, Salug Valley Medical Center and Blancia Hospital are located in this bustling town with modern facilities.

Molave and Salug Valley's first and oldest funeral service provider is the Valley of Angels Memorial Chapel. It located at Guillen Street, Molave, has been in service for more than 50 years, and has a branch in the municipality of Dumingag. Celerian Funerial Homes is also based in this town.

Sports and recreation

Sporting facilities include a municipal gymnasium, three tennis courts, four basketball courts, three volleyball courts and a sports complex facility of the Molave Regional Pilot School. The municipal plaza provides recreation with its playground paraphernalia, and a landscaped tourism spot. A pylon stands at the heart of the plaza to serve as a landmark.

A driving range golf course is located 4 km away from the town in barangay Parasan. Eriberta Springs is a favorite attraction located at Brgy. Diwan, Mahayag, formerly part of Molave.

Hotels, especially the Courtyard Business Hotel, Function Hall and Suites, offer affordable yet luxurious rooms with free breakfast. It has a 300 capacity air conditioned function hall on its 3rd floor that offers a great view of the town, mini function halls as well as a penthouse on its 4th floor and a garden court for outdoor events. It is located just above La-Pergola Restaurant and Catering Services.

Other hotels like Alecksandra Hotel, Casa Maria Pension, Guest House and RJYM offer modern amenities to visitors. Mercury Drugs has its branch in this town. Reilina Suites and Hotel offers modern amenities in the hospitality business. Molave has a spa and gyms.

Nightlife is fun, with La Pergola Cafe, which offers delicious and affordable Italian cuisine, located at the 2nd floor of the Courtyard Business Hotel in Rizal Avenue, Molave. In the summer of 2016, Vine Cafe Molave opened and offers dishes including dessert frappes, sparkling fizz juices and satisfying food. The Resto-bar is open at night in Alecksandra Hotel near the municipality's plaza.

Barbecue stands and karaoke stalls are located at the back of Molave Gymnasium.

Peace and order

The Molave Municipal Police station has two PCOs and 24 PNCOs serving the populace. This station has two outposts/detachments situated at barangays Dipolo and Sudlon.

Molave is generally peaceful with a crime efficiency rate of 95% and 160 crime incidents reported as of 2007, a decrease of 5% or 8 crime incidents compared to 2006's or a recent year's 168 crime incidents. The presence of the 10th Infantry Battalion of the 1st Infantry Division stationed at Barangay Bag-ong Argao and the 906th Provincial Mobile Group have helped in keeping a peaceful environment for the whole municipality and the Salug Valley area.

Education

As a center of education and culture, there are four private pre-schools, 23 public and one private elementary school six primary schools, five secondary schools and two (one private and one public) tertiary schools.

To meet the growing needs of young Molavenians for quality basic education, the LGU shouldered an equity of P600,000.00 for a six-room, two-storey TEEP building for MRPS. At MVTS another six-room, two-storey SEDIP building and a two-room science laboratory have been built for P6.8M with the 10% equity put up by the joint efforts of the LGU and the PTCA, whose president happens to be Mayor Saniel.

This linkage dates back to a time long before MVTS principal Dr. Linda M. Saniel assumed the leadership of MVTS.

All barangay elementary and secondary schools have also been recipient of TEEP/SEDIP rehab or construction funds.

Colleges:

• Blancia Carreon College Foundation, Inc.
• Josefina H. Cerilles State College, Molave Campus
• Our Lady Of Triumph Institute of Technology, Molave
• Western Mindanao State University - External Studies Unit, Molave
• Zamboanga del Sur Maritime Institute of Technology

High schools:

• Blancia Carreon College Foundation, Inc. (High School Department)
• Molave Vocational Technical School (MVTS)
• Parasan National High School
• Sacred Heart Diocesan School
• Simata National High School

External links

• Molave official website
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine census information
• Life 4 Water, Inc. Zamboanga Del Sur Projects