The governor of Palawan is the local chief executive and head of the Provincial Government of Palawan in the Philippines. Along with the governors of Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon, the province's chief executive is a member of the Regional Development Council of the Mimaropa Region.
History In 1622, Governor General Alonso Fajardo de Entenza and Catholic Bishop Pedro de Arce of the Diocese of Cebu started the colonization of Palawan by sending Augustinian Recollects missionaries, led by Fr. Juan de Santo Tomas to Cuyo and Taytay. Southern Palawan that was still then controlled by the Bruneian Empire. Eventually, a garrison was built in Taytay to support the missionaries.
However, in 1658, Governor-General Sabiniano Manrique de Lara, ordered the removal of the garrison in Calamianes to reinforce the capital, which was then threatened by Chinese raids. Upon the removal of the garrison, a series of Moro raids occurred stealing the islands. Recollects unable to maintain themselves in Calamianes, eventually abandoned it. The Bishop of Cebu put clerics in their place but they were also forced to flee from the threat of Moro pirates.
It was only in 1718 under the administration of the Marshal, Governor-General Fernando Manuel de Bustillo Bustamante y Rueda, the Recollects returned to Calamianes, with the support of rebuilding of the garrison in Taytay, as the capital and the fortifications in various towns. Furthermore, the Recollects asked for another garrison to be set up in Paragua. In order to proceed accordingly, Bustamante sent Antonio Faveau, to Sultan of Borneo to ask the part he owned on the southern portion of Paragua. With no objection to granting it, and Bustamante eventually assigned Faveau as in-change and the new governor of the garrison. The province of Calamianes (now Palawan) was established which is includes the islands of Paragua, Cuyo, Lutaya, Calamianes, and other surrounding islands.
On December 14, 1857, Governor-General Fernándo Norzagaray y Escudero established the naval-military province of Balabac consisting of Agutayan, Bugsuk, Cabuliga, Carandurian (Candaraman), Catagupan (Gugupan), Dalauan (Indalawan), Panaan (Bancalaan), Pasig, Rabor (Labor), Tagagailo, and Singalo (Silom-Silom).
On May 16, 1859, Governor-General Norzagaray ordered the division of province into Calamianes and Paragua. Calamianes includes Cuyo as the capital, Agutaya, Busuanga, Coron, Culion, and Linapacan. While Paragua includes Taytay (as capital) in mainland Paragua, and Dumaran. On March 4, 1872, Puerto Princesa became an independent pueblo from Taytay, and established as the new capital of Paragua.
List of governors of Palawan Governors of Palawan
1. FIRST PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (1898–1901) Image Name Term Origin Note(s)1Esteban CausapinJune 18, 1898 - March 24, 1899—Representative of Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo in Calamianes as chief of revolutionary army with seat of government in Taytay. Appointed head of provincial government.2Santiago M. PateroDecember 1898 - July 1899CulionHe served as provincial president (governor) of Paragua3Hermogenes ConstantinoMarch 24, 1899 - August 31, 1900BulacanAppointed commissioner of Paragua. Later confirmed Governor-delegate to the central government.4Rufo SandovalSeptember 1, 1900 - July 4, 1901CulionFormer gobernadorcillo of Culion, appointed governor of Paragua by Gen. Baldomero Aguinaldo.
2. AMERICAN GOVERNORS (1901–1914) Image Name Term Note(s)1John BrownJuly 4, 1901 - June 23, 1902 designated Lieutenant Governor of Paragua.June 23, 1902 - December 8, 1902appointed Governor of Paragua, after its official reorganization and defining its boundaries.2William PhillipsDecember 8, 1902 -19033John Elmick1903 - 19044Luke Edward Wright1904 - 1905Governor-General of the Philippines5 Edward Y. Miller1905 - May 7, 1910During his time Paragua was changed to Palawan. Longest serving American governor. Died while in office, drowned in Aborlan river.6John Henry EvansMay 7, 1910 - 19137Herbert J. Detrick1913 - April 6, 1914Acting governor, returned to US, and later resigned.
3. PHILIPPINE LEGISLATURE (1914–1937) Image Name Term Origin Note(s)1Ambrosio PabloApril 6, 1914 - 1916San VicenteFormer provincial secretary-treasurer. Appointed governor.2Francisco Sanz y Perez1916 - June 30, 1919SibuyanActing capacity. Former governor of Romblon.3Vicente Manlave SandovalJune 30, 1919 - June 30, 1922Coronfirst elected governor.4Anastacio ManaloJune 30, 1922 - June 30, 1925Puerto Princesaelected5Perfecto AbordoJune 30, 1925 - October 18, 1926AgutayaElected but later found not to have met the minimum residency requirement at the time of election. Governor General Leonard Wood declared office of the governor vacant.6Sotero F. CacdacOctober 18, 1926 - March 27, 1927TaytayAppointed governor in acting capacity.7Rufo San JuanMarch 27, 1927 - June 30, 1928AgutayaDeclared winner in last 1925 election after vote recount.(4)Anastacio ManaloJune 30, 1928 - June 30, 1931Puerto PrincesaOn his second term.8Higinio Acosta Mendoza Sr.June 30, 1931 - October 4, 1931Puerto Princesa Elected but later vacate the position due to election protest.9Eduardo V. ValenciaOctober 5, 1931 - November 4, 1931Puerto PrincesaSenior board member. Acting capacity as governor.(8)Higinio Acosta Mendoza Sr.November 5, 1931 - June 30, 1934Puerto Princesa Continued the remainder of this first term.June 30, 1934 - December 30, 1937Reelected. Filipino patriot, later executed on January 24, 1944, in Canigaran, Puerto Princesa upon orders of Japanese officials.
4. COMMONWEALTH PERIOD (1937–1946) Image Name Term Origin Note(s)10Sofronio T. EspañolaDecember 30, 1937 - December 30, 1940Puerto PrincesaElected.December 30, 1940 - September 6, 1941Reelected but later resigned to run in 1941 Congress.11Gaudencio E. AbordoSeptember 6, 1941 - May 18, 1942AgutayaIncumbent vice-governor, succeeded Española when the latter ran in Congress.May 18, 1942 - March 4, 1945Governor of Free Local Civil Government during Japanese occupation. Capital was transferred to Aborlan.12Iñigo Racela Peña May 18, 1942 - November 25, 1942AborlanCaptured by Japanese militia and forced to serve as governor. Former justice of Peace of Aborlan and Congressman.13Patricio FernandezNovember 25, 1942 - January 1944Puerto PrincesaAppointed governor during Japanese Occupation.14Amando K. GaitosJanuary 1944 - January 1945—Appointed governor. Former provincial treasurer.15Felix BlancoJanuary 1945 - March 4, 1945—Appointed governor.(11)Gaudencio E. AbordoMarch 4, 1945 - May 25, 1946 AgutayaProvincial civil government reinstated. Later resigned to run in Congress.16Ramiro CastroMay 25, 1946 - June 6, 1946—Appointed governor upon the resignation of Abordo.
5. THIRD PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (1946–1978) Image Name Term Origin Note(s)17Alfredo Mendoza Abueg Sr.June 6, 1946 - December 30, 1947Brooke's PointAppointed governor. December 30, 1947 - December 30, 1951Elected.(13)Patricio FernandezDecember 30, 1951 - December 30, 1955Puerto PrincesaElected.(17)Alfredo Mendoza Abueg Sr.December 30, 1955 - December 30, 1959Brooke's PointElected on this second term.18Telesforo S. Paredes Sr.December 30, 1955 - December 30, 1959Puerto PrincesaFirst governor to be elected in two consecutive terms.19Salvador Paredes SocratesDecember 30, 1967 - June 30, 1980 CuyoElected in two consecutive terms.
6. FOURTH PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (1980–1986) Image Name Term Origin Note(s)(19)Salvador Paredes SocratesJune 30, 1980 - March 15, 1986CuyoElected but later vacated the office upon the assumption of President Corazon C. Aquino.
7. FIFTH PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (1986–present) Image Name Term Origin Note(s)20Victoriano J. RodriguezMarch 16, 1986 - January 31, 1988Puerto PrincesaAppointed by President Corazon C. Aquino.February 1, 1988 - June 30, 1992Elected(19)Salvador Paredes SocratesJune 30, 1992 – July 2, 2000CuyoElected for 3 consecutive terms. Longest serving governor. Died on a plane crash off the sea of Cagayancillo.21Mario Joel Tolentino ReyesJuly 3, 2000 -June 30, 2001Coron incumbent vice-governor, succeeded Socrates.June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010Elected for 3 consecutive terms.22Abraham Kahlil Blanco MitraJune 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013Puerto PrincesaElected.23Jose Chaves AlvarezJune 30, 2013 – June 30, 2022Kidapawan, resident of RizalElected for 3 consecutive terms.24Victorino Dennis M. SocratesJune 30, 2022 – June 30, 2025Puerto Princesa25Amy AlvarezJune 30, 2025 – presentSan VicenteIncumbent
References