Shariff Kabunsuan, Former province in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines
Shariff Kabunsuan was a province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that consisted of ten municipalities with Datu Odin Sinsuat as its administrative center from 2006 to 2008. The territory was divided among several local government units including Barira, Buldon, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Upi.
The province was created in 2006 as the first province established by the Regional Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao under Republic Act 9054. The Supreme Court of the Philippines invalidated its creation in 2008, ruling that only Congress had the authority to establish provinces.
The name comes from Shariff Mohammed Kabungsuwan, a 16th-century figure who introduced Islamic teachings across central Mindanao. This naming reflects the Islamic heritage that defines the region's identity.
Visitors can explore the former province today through its individual municipalities, as the provincial boundaries no longer exist officially. Local authorities in Datu Odin Sinsuat and other towns can provide information about the region's former organization and background.
Shariff Kabunsuan was a constitutional experiment to test whether the autonomous region could create its own structures. Its swift invalidation became a turning point in debates about decentralization and regional powers in the Philippines.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
