Titay, officially the Municipality of Titay (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Titay; Chavacano: Municipalidad de Titay; Tagalog: Bayan ng Titay), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 53,994 people.

It was declared as a separate municipality on May 24, 1959, by virtue of Executive Order No. 395.

History

There are two versions about the origins of the municipality's name.

One version suggests that Subanens and Kalibugans are the original inhabitants of the area known as Taytay (a Subanen and Visayan word for bridge) referring to bridges seen along their houses, thus it later spelled as Titay.

The other states that in 1933 Custodio P. Mariano Sr., the first Ilocano settler from Nueva Ecija, discovered a small place in the center of the poblacion and registered the name of the place in honor of his favorite cousin back in Luzon who is Cristita Mariano nicknamed "Titay" knowing that a woman's name would bring good luck to the place. The Mariano families were among the first batch of Ilocanos who came from Luzon followed by the Dar families who are cousins of the Marianos as well as friends and other relatives from Ilocandia.

Titay was formerly a barrio within the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Kabasalan, Zamboanga del Sur. However, with the creation of the Municipality of Ipil in 1951, Titay was placed under its Municipal jurisdiction.

The continued influx of settlers from Luzon and Visayas in the area resulted in the cultivation of a wide area of agricultural lands. Along with development, the National Highway to Dipolog City was opened in 1958 traversing through the Barangay of Titay. Consequently, private businessmen were attracted to develop and establish agricultural, commercial and industrial establishments that greatly contributed to the development and programs of the locality.

Thus, on May 24, 1959, through the recommendation of former Zamboanga del Sur Governor Bienvenido Ebarle under Executive Order No. 395 was signed by President Carlos P. Garcia, creating Titay as a corporate Municipality of the Province of Zamboanga del Sur.

Geography

Barangays

Titay is politically subdivided into 30 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

Population census of Titay

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1970 19,008 —     1975 20,005 +1.03% 1980 24,983 +4.54% 1990 31,994 +2.50% 1995 35,065 +1.73%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2000 39,730 +2.71% 2007 43,723 +1.33% 2010 46,456 +2.23% 2015 49,673 +1.28% 2020 53,994 +1.65%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Economy

Poverty incidence of Titay

10 20 30 40 50 2006 38.20 2009 45.10 2012 33.22 2015 45.91 2018 33.52 2021 28.81 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Notable personalities

• George Hofer (died in 2019) - doctor, former Mayor of Titay (1992-1998); former Representative of the 3rd legislative district of Zamboanga del Sur (1998-2001); and first Governor of Zamboanga Sibugay (2001-2010)