Dumingag

The first inhabitants of Dumingag were the Subanens who initially came from the coastal areas of the province and the neighboring province of Misamis Occidental. Prior to that, the place was once a vast expanse of jungle and marshland.

Originally, Dumingag was a barrio, and was part of the municipality of Molave. It was created in 1950 and the first barrio lieutenant back then was Jose Montuerto. On December 27, 1957, by virtue of Executive Order No. 283 issued by President Carlos P. Garcia, Dumingag finally became a municipality. Ever since it acquired its municipality status, a total of five people have handled the position of municipal mayor. They are Isidoro Y. Real, Sr (1957-1978), Julian C. Kho (1978-1986), Domeciano Y. Real (1986-1998), Edgardo J. Jamero (1998-2007), and Nacianceno M. Pacalioga, Jr., who's currently the mayor now. Of all the mayors who served the position, Isidro Y. Real, Sr. is widely considered to be the municipality's father and builder, him being the first mayor and the one who has served the longest.

The 1970s brought a period of numerous concurrent conflicts on the island of Mindanao, including Dumingag and Zamboanga del Sur.[6][7][8][9] This included land dispute conflicts arising from the influx of settlers from Luzon and Visayas,[10][11] and from the Marcos administration’s encouragement of militia groups such as the Ilaga.[7][8] News of the 1968 Jabidah massacre ignited a furor in the Moro community, and ethnic tensions encouraged with the formation of secessionist movements.[12][8] Additionally, an economic crisis in late 1969, violent crackdowns on student protests in 1970, and 1971, and eventually the declaration of Martial Law all led to the radicalization of many students.[9] Many of them left schools in Manila and joined New People's Army units in their home provinces, bringing a Communist rebellion in the Philippines to Mindanao for the first time.[6]

Dumingag became the site of a significant event during this period on February 12, 1982. Members of the Ilaga militia killed 12 persons in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, allegedly to avenge the death of their leader, who they believed had been killed by the NPA.[13]

Dumingag is slowly carving its name as one of the most rapidly improving municipalities of the whole region. It has been getting awards and citations in different fields, local and national. It is fast heading to progress and rapid development.