Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur
Barangay Diwan
Barangay Diwan is a hilly area with a total land area of 824.80 hectares and is classified as an upland area. It is located at the Eastern part of the Municipality of Mahayag at geographical coordinates N 8 7’39.1 E 123 27’ 53’3”, and is being bounded on the north by Barangay Balanan, on the South by Barangay San Isidro, on the east by the Municipality of Molave and on the West by Barangay Tuboran.
Barangay History
Before Mahayag was declared as a town, Barangay Diwan was under the Municipality of Aurora. It was in the year 1938 Barangay Diwan was born and founded by pure Subanen people and was headed by Teniente Tano Untag. The barangay was named after the Diwan River which is the boundary between this barangay and Parasan. During the Second World War in 1942, Leon Japos acted as Teniente del Barrio. After the war in 1945, the evacuees returned to their respected homes. During those time, the Mayor, treasurer and Chief of Police, Esklewenti went from one barangay to the next to conduct vaccination. The first Visayan residents in Diwan were Dading Palomo and Juan Vargas.
After 4 years, Jose Dumen was replaced by Barangay Captain Anecito Capapas and ruled from the year 1960 to 1964. He was then replaced by Barangay Captain Lucilo Amores together with his 6 councilmen. Barangay Captain Amores served for two decades in Diwan from 1964-1982. An election was held in May 1982 and Valentin Racines was elected as Barangay Captain and he served up to January 7, 1995. Mr. Racines was allegedly shot to death according to some residents in Diwan by an unknown person and up until today the case remain unsolved. Due to the unwanted incident, on January 9, 1995, the first rank Kagawad, Pedro Calago, was appointed as the Barangay Captain. In 2006, Estrella Sarsaba and Precila Lumarda was replaced by Crisitina Somabot and Eireen V. Kilat as Barangay Treasurer and Barangay Secretary.
