During the period August 1 to September 30, 2004, a municipality was created in Maguindanao, Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The new municipality of Rajah Buayan was created per Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 166 dated October 28, 2002 and was ratified thru plebiscite on September 4, 2004 to be a separate and distinct municipality comprising of eleven (11) barangays from the municipality of Sultan sa Barongis.

The following eleven (11) barangays were transferred to the new municipality of Rajah Bauyan from the municipality of Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao:

1. Bakat
2. Baital
3. Dapantis
4. Gaunan
5. Malibpolok
6. Mileb
7. Panadtaban
8. Pidsandawan
9. Sampao
10. Sapakan
11. Tabungao

Luzon, the largest island group in the country, has 8 regions with 38 provinces, 57 cities, 714 municipalities and 20,487 barangays. Visayas has 3 regions, 16 provinces, 32 cities, 376 municipalities and 11,443 while Mindanao has 6 regions, 25 provinces, 27 cities, 411 municipalities and 10,044 barangays.

As of September 30, 2004, the Philippines had 17 regions, 79 provinces, 116 cities, 1,501 municipalities and 41,974 barangays.

Number of Local Government Units (LGUs), by Island Group
(As of Sept. 30, 2004 and as of Jul. 31, 2004)

Source: National Barangay Operations Office of the Department of Interior and Local Government (NBOO/DILG)