Governor of Palawan
{{Short description|Local chief executive}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Governor
| body = Palawan
| native_name = Gobernador ng Lalawigan ng Palawan
| image =
| imagesize =
| incumbent = Amy Alvarez
| incumbentsince = June 30, 2025
| style = The Honorable
| residence =
| seat = Palawan Provincial Capitol, Puerto Princesa
| termlength = 3 years, renewable
maximum not eligible for re-election immediately after three consecutive terms
| formation = June 23, 1902
| succession =
| inaugural = Antonio Faveau (de facto, appointed governor)
Vicente Sandoval (de jure, first elected Filipino Governor of Palawan)
| deputy = Vice Governor
| website =
}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/169558097/Palawan-as-a-Sovereign-State-Psu-Study-Committee-Output|title=Palawan as a Sovereign State, Report of the Study Committee on the Proposed Federal State of Palawan|work=Palawan State University| date=December 30, 2022|access-date=April 6, 2023}}
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.{{cite book|title=Estadismo de las Islas Filipino, Tomo Segundo|url=http://www.xeniaeditrice.it/zu%C3%B1igaIIocrpdf.pdf|date=December 1893|work=Acabose de Imprimir este Volumen en Madrid|access-date=April 2, 2023}}
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).{{cite book|url=https://issuu.com/naniegonzales/docs/thepuertoprincesastory|title=The Puerto Princesa Story|author=Walfrido R. Ponce de Leon, Ph.D.|date=2004|work=The City Government of Puerto Princesa|accessdate=March 16, 2023}}
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
| class=wikitable style="font-size:95%;"
! style="font-size:110%;width:49em;" | Governors of Palawan |
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="vertical-align:top;text-align:center;font-size:95%;"
! style="background-color:white;font-size:105%;width:51em;" colspan=6| 1. FIRST PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (1898–1901) | |||||
| style="width: 1em;text-align:center" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! style="width: 7em;text-align:center" | Image ! style="width: 10em;text-align:center" | Name ! style="width: 9em;text-align:center" | Term ! style="width: 6em;text-align:center" | Origin ! style="width: 11em;text-align:center" | Note(s) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Esteban Causapin | June 18, 1898 - March 24, 1899 | — | Representative of Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo in Calamianes as chief of revolutionary army with seat of government in Taytay.{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/510986642/Palawan-as-a-Sovereign-State-PSU-Study-Committee-Output|title=REPORT OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE ON THE PROPOSED FEDERAL STATE OF PALAWAN|work=Palawan State University|author=Rafie Bonoan|date=August 24, 2005|accessdate=March 16, 2023}} Appointed head of provincial government. | |
| 2 | 150x150px | Santiago M. Patero | December 1898 - July 1899 | Culion | He served as provincial president (governor) of Paragua |
| 3 | Hermogenes Constantino | March 24, 1899 - August 31, 1900 | Bulacan | Appointed commissioner of Paragua. Later confirmed Governor-delegate to the central government. | |
| 4 | Rufo Sandoval | September 1, 1900 - July 4, 1901 | Culion | Former gobernadorcillo of Culion, appointed governor of Paragua by Gen. Baldomero Aguinaldo. |
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="vertical-align:top;text-align:center;font-size:95%;"
! style="background-color:white;font-size:105%;width:51em;" colspan=6| 3. PHILIPPINE LEGISLATURE (1914–1937) | |||||
| style="width: 1em;text-align:center" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! style="width: 7em;text-align:center" | Image ! style="width: 10em;text-align:center" | Name ! style="width: 9em;text-align:center" | Term ! style="width: 6em;text-align:center" | Origin ! style="width: 11em;text-align:center" | Note(s) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ambrosio Pablo | April 6, 1914 - 1916 | San Vicente | Former provincial secretary-treasurer. Appointed governor.{{cite web|url=https://palawanperfection.com/history-of-palawan/|title=History of Palawan|date=December 30, 2022|access-date=March 18, 2023|work=Palawan Perfection}} | |
| 2 | Francisco Sanz y Perez | 1916 - June 30, 1919 | Sibuyan | Acting capacity. Former governor of Romblon.{{cite web|url=https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LBMS-587/francisco-sanz-y-perez-1872-1945|title=Francisco Sanz y Perez|date=March 25, 1945|work=Family Search.org|access-date=March 18, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/06/02/16/is-denise-laurel-ready-to-enter-politics|title=Is Denise Laurel ready to enter politics?|work=ABS-CBN News|date=June 2, 2016|access-date=March 18, 2023}} | |
| 3 | Vicente Manlave Sandoval | June 30, 1919 - June 30, 1922 | Coron | first elected governor.{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/534782757/american-palawan|title=The American Palawan|work=Scribd.com|date=December 30, 2022|access-date=April 11, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1909/feb1909/gr_l-4206_1909.html|work=LawPhil.net|title=G.R. No. L-4206|date=February 1, 1909|access-date=April 11, 2023}} | |
| 4 | Anastacio Manalo | June 30, 1922 - June 30, 1925 | Puerto Princesa | elected | |
| 5 | Perfecto Abordo | June 30, 1925 - October 18, 1926 | Agutaya | Elected 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.{{cite web|url=https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1927/sep1927/gr_28320_1927.html|title=G.R. No. 28320 |date=September 20, 1927|access-date=April 14, 2023|work=Lawphil.net}} | |
| 6 | Sotero F. Cacdac | October 18, 1926 - March 27, 1927 | Taytay | Appointed governor in acting capacity. | |
| 7 | Rufo San Juan | March 27, 1927 - June 30, 1928 | Agutaya | Declared winner in last 1925 election after vote recount. | |
| (4) | Anastacio Manalo | June 30, 1928 - June 30, 1931 | Puerto Princesa | On his second term. | |
| 8 | 150x150px | Higinio Acosta Mendoza Sr. | June 30, 1931 - October 4, 1931 | Puerto Princesa | Elected but later vacate the position due to election protest. |
| 9 | Eduardo V. Valencia | October 5, 1931 - November 4, 1931 | Puerto Princesa | Senior board member. Acting capacity as governor.{{cite web|url=https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1932/dec1932/gr_l-37523_1932.html|date=December 10, 1932|access-date=April 9, 2023|title=G.R. No. L-37523, PATRICIO FERNANDEZ, protestant-appellant, vs. HIGINIO MENDOZA, protestee-appellee|work=LawPhil.net}} | |
| rowspan=2|(8)
|rowspan=2|150x150px |rowspan=2|Higinio Acosta Mendoza Sr. | November 5, 1931 - June 30, 1934
|rowspan=2|Puerto Princesa | Continued the remainder of this first term. | |||
| |June 30, 1934 - December 30, 1937 | Reelected. Filipino patriot, later executed on January 24, 1944, in Canigaran, Puerto Princesa upon orders of Japanese officials.{{cite news|url=https://palawandailynews.com/feature/who-is-dr-higinio-a-mendoza/ |title=Who is Dr. Higinio A. Mendoza?|author=Gerardo Reyes Jr. |date=January 24, 2022|access-date=April 9, 2023|work=Palawan Daily News}} |
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="vertical-align:top;text-align:center;font-size:95%;"
! style="background-color:white;font-size:105%;width:51em;" colspan=6| 5. THIRD PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (1946–1978) | |||||
| style="width: 1em;text-align:center" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! style="width: 7em;text-align:center" | Image ! style="width: 10em;text-align:center" | Name ! style="width: 9em;text-align:center" | Term ! style="width: 6em;text-align:center" | Origin ! style="width: 11em;text-align:center" | Note(s) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=2|17
|rowspan=2| |rowspan=2|Alfredo Mendoza Abueg Sr. | June 6, 1946 - December 30, 1947
|rowspan=2|Brooke's Point | Appointed governor. | |||
| |December 30, 1947 - December 30, 1951 | Elected. | ||||
| |(13) | Patricio Fernandez | December 30, 1951 - December 30, 1955 | Puerto Princesa | Elected. | |
| |(17) | Alfredo Mendoza Abueg Sr. | December 30, 1955 - December 30, 1959 | Brooke's Point | Elected on this second term. | |
| |18 | Telesforo S. Paredes Sr. | December 30, 1955 - December 30, 1959 | Puerto Princesa | First governor to be elected in two consecutive terms.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1963/05/13/presidents-week-in-review-may-5-may-11-1963/
|title=President's Week in Review, May 5 - 11, 1963|date=May 11, 1963|work=Official Gazette (Philippines)|accessdate=April 13, 2023}} | |
| |19 | Salvador Paredes Socrates | December 30, 1967 - June 30, 1980 | Cuyo | Elected in two consecutive terms.{{cite book|title=Report of the Commission on Elections to the President and the Congress of the Philippines on the manner the Elections were held on November 14, 1967|work=COMELEC, Manila Bureau of Printing|date=1969|page=249|place=Manila}} |
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="vertical-align:top;text-align:center;font-size:95%;"
! style="background-color:white;font-size:105%;width:51em;" colspan=6| 6. FOURTH PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (1980–1986) | |||||
| style="width: 1em;text-align:center" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! style="width: 7em;text-align:center" | Image ! style="width: 10em;text-align:center" | Name ! style="width: 9em;text-align:center" | Term ! style="width: 6em;text-align:center" | Origin ! style="width: 11em;text-align:center" | Note(s) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |(19) | Salvador Paredes Socrates | June 30, 1980 - March 15, 1986 | Cuyo | Elected but later vacated the office upon the assumption of President Corazon C. Aquino. |
